Bay Area fuzz pop duo Artsick recently released a vital new single to raise funds for The Trevor Project, truly the most worthy of causes. The release sent me on a voyage of discovery and I’ve been hooked on Riley Riley and Mario Hernandez’ raw and deeply real grooves ever since. Vocalist, guitarist and songwriterContinue reading “Artsick: Sticking with you, me and community…”
Tag Archives: San Francisco
above me – s/t
The Oakland based DIY label Dandy Boy Records has long been my go to for the deepest of Bay Area underground cuts, and so it continues with this release from former Blue Ocean man Rick Altieri’s new solo project above me. Expanding on his former band’s experimental shoegaze soundscapes, above me’s self-titled debut incorporates drumContinue reading “above me – s/t”
Cindy – Saw It All Demos
And so this year begins as the last one ended, with this writer totally swept away by the stark splendour of San Francisco based artist Karina Gill’s unparalleled songcraft. Initially released via Paisley Shirt Records to coincide with Cindy’s recent UK/EU tour, these predominantly solo home recordings find Gill completely at ease in her environment,Continue reading “Cindy – Saw It All Demos”
Ryli – I Think I Need You Around/When I Fall
Initially brought together for a Cleaners From Venus tribute album, Bay Area based Yea-Ming Chen (Yea-Ming and The Rumours) and Rob Good’s (The Goods) collaboration quickly flourished into a winning creative partnership, the first fruits of which being this tremendous single for Dandy Boy Records. Combining Chen’s pop sensibilities with Good’s keen ear for anContinue reading “Ryli – I Think I Need You Around/When I Fall”
Black Thumb – The Other Side
From seemingly out of nowhere comes this beautiful new track from Bay Area artist Colin Wilde’s DIY-psych project Black Thumb. Utilising a pandemic-era recording that had long been gathering dust, it was shared with Inna Showalter (Whitney’s Playland/Magic Fig) who contributed lyrics and a customarily breathtaking vocal. Beginning with Wilde’s plaintive acoustic guitar strum, TheContinue reading “Black Thumb – The Other Side”
Cindy – Swan Lake
The songwriting of Cindy’s Karina Gill has always suggested rather than demanded our attention. As listeners, we lean gently into a world reshaped by a keen eye for the peripheries and a heart open to all possibilities. Never has the above rang truer than across new EP Swan Lake’s six subtly contrasting arrangements. Working withContinue reading “Cindy – Swan Lake”
The Moment of Nightfall and Tony Jay – Winter Dream
In recent months I have seen the band The Moment of Nightfall mentioned frequently by folk who really know their stuff, none more so than Bay Area fog pop auteur Michael Ramos (Tony Jay/Flowertown). Imagine my delight then to learn of this collaboration between the two, a true match made in some kind of glacialContinue reading “The Moment of Nightfall and Tony Jay – Winter Dream”
Cindy: Ringing the changes – An interview with Karina Gill…
It’s no secret that Cindy are this blog’s favourite band. The stark, beautiful truths contained within Karina Gill’s writing frequently find parts of me I didn’t know existed, helping to gain understanding from even the most unfathomable of situations. Ahead of the release of new EP Swan Lake and a forthcoming second UK and debutContinue reading “Cindy: Ringing the changes – An interview with Karina Gill…”
Cindy – All Weekend
On the cusp of a second UK/EU tour and with a new line up in tow, Karina Gill’s San Francisco dreampop collective Cindy return with All Weekend, the lead track from forthcoming EP Swan Lake. Whilst arriving with customary style and grace, the change in personnel has inevitably lead to subtle shifts in the band’sContinue reading “Cindy – All Weekend”
Sad Eyed Beatniks – Ten Brocades
The 2022 release of Claudia’s Ethereal Weaver brought the work of Bay Area DIY musician (and Paisley Shirt Records boss) Kevin Linn to a wider audience via its release on the Madrid based label Meritorio Records. Two years on, its follow up Ten Brocades enlists the help of fellow San Francisco based friends/musicians Karina GillContinue reading “Sad Eyed Beatniks – Ten Brocades”
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