Wild Nothing – Gemini

It’s been a busy year for the lo-fi artist, who’s Summer Holiday 7″ was just the beginning of a steady ascent to recognition for the Virginia based musician. Typically, hushed vocals can barely be heard beneath the sonic haze Tatum undertakes, one which sees fashionably murky recording styles in full use to emphasise general melody above individual arrangement. Splurges of chorus coincide with the overwhelming feeling of semi-ambient summer nostalgia – in particular on guitar heavy “Summer Holiday” and tracks such as “Live In Dreams”.

May 22nd, 2010  |  by thismusicwins  |  published in dreamwave/chillwave  |  3 comments

The Powder Kegs – Empty Side EP

Having relocated to Philadelphia, the trio’s modified sound has brought their music to more mainstream attention. Single “La Mariposa” did brilliantly on the Hype Machine recently, crossing languages and genres to create a half-Spanish, half-American beach jam song, with influence displayed from artists as far ranging as Paul Simon and Jason Mraz. Although they play music nothing like so sickeningly cheesy as the latter, their music could certainly appeal to the same audience if it was ever to reach their ears.

May 20th, 2010  |  by thismusicwins  |  published in folk-rock  |  1 comment

Darwin Deez – Darwin Deez

Darwin Deez is far more of a breath of fresh air in terms of mainstream entertainment than he is in musical innovation – its fair to say that the ten tracks and 32 minutes of his debut album will just about hold most people’s attention for long enough to reach second single “Radar Detector” at track nine.

May 6th, 2010  |  by thismusicwins  |  published in indie pop  |  6 comments

Trips and Falls – He Was Such A Quiet Boy

For me, the band strike a more organic similarity to High Places in vocal style – displaying mild twee elements above the mist of psychedelic brass sections. But despite all of this, structure is retained into something vaguely catchy, into cold-hearted pop songs whose chilling nature will come back to haunt you.

April 16th, 2010  |  by thismusicwins  |  published in experimental, indie pop  |  2 comments

Yeasayer – Odd Blood

The days of downbeat acoustic songs for charity compilations are over. Everything about this Middle Eastern-psych-snap-gospel band screams DANCE (and not in the conventional sense). This is hipster dancefloor 80s inspired funkpop with the sensibility of Peter Gabriel, worldbeat percussion and the downright quirkyness of Gang Gang Dance and Dirty Projectors’ endless list of mad collaborators.

February 8th, 2010  |  by thismusicwins  |  published in electronic, experimental, indie rock  |  6 comments