Weekly Shoegaze / Dreampop / Psychedelic / Indie Tips – FEBRUARY 2025 – #05-25
Tune in:
♦ First Saturday of the month at noon, 4pm and 8pm PST on EDBZ.
♦ Every other Sunday or Monday at 8pm UK time on Slack City.
♦ Every Wednesday at 9pm UK time on Smile Radio.
PICKS OF THE WEEK:
- Jangle Indie-Pop duo of Swiss multi-instrumentalist Andy Jossi (The Churchhill Garden, Whimsical) and Los Angeles-based vocalist and lyricist Gretchen DeVault (The Icicles, Voluptuous Panic, and The Francine Odysseys), The Blue Herons “Demon Slayer” single
The well-established Translatlantic partnership seamlessly blends crystalline Jangle-Pop with reverb and distortion, as well as calm introspection with an explosive emotional rush in the epic and cinematic new single “Demon Slayer.” Equally stirring and uplifting, the song races forward through the bouncy unroll of urgent drum beats and warm pulsing basslines, to carry flowingly tinkling and shimmering spirals, radiating by wandering sparkling bittersweet guitar melodies, alongside sad, yet hopeful, sincere vocals, vibrantly soaring as one with sweeping and buoyant electric energy.
- Fresno, CA alt-rock /shoegaze band led by Chicano–American musician Rey Montano (FKA Infinite Vacation), Central Pacific State Beach “Wouldn’t be the first time” from the 2-track single “Wouldn’t be the first time / You make me wish I was perfect”
Californian misty shoegazer delivers an atmospheric, emotional-ridden slow burn that stumbles on plodding percussions and heavy buzzing waves of reverb and distortion, layered with excruciating, ringing guitar cries of pain, on which sad introspective vocals strive to stay afloat while trying gently to say, “It wouldn’t be the first time”, I’ve been wrong.
- Stockholm, Sweden Britpop /indie guitar rock duo of Magnus Haderborg (The Vapour Veils, The Jilted) and Gabriel Bergman Lahovary (Heart On My Sleeve, We Ahr), The Devines “Emily” debut single off forthcoming first album “Modern Life in Urban Wastelands”
New two-piece project by Magnus Haderborg (The Vapor Veils, The Jilted), where sweeping romance, combined with a 90s healthy dose of nostalgic anthemic Britpop flair, are all but guaranteed. While wondering if “Emily” will find him lovable, a lush swirling orchestration of wistful ringing guitar melodies frame deeply emotional romantic vocals, and sheets of falling back-ups, longing for a date and some good cheer amid poignant jingly piano keys.
- Berlin-based ambient /holy minimalism /pastoral psychedelia /harp /folklore /wyrd folk singer-songwriter, Andy Aquarius “Bell-Shaped Days” from the EP “Holy Glade”
- Manchester, UK-based folktronica /folk pop husband and wife duo Anthony Braithwaite & Suzy Mangion (George, Ghostwriter, Arbol, Piano Magic), aka The Winter Journey “English Estuaries” off the new album “Graceful Consolations” the first in over 15 years
- Manchester, UK ambient /drone /folk guitar solo project Etta Helfrich, aka Black Brunswicker “On a Cold Winter’s Morning (feat. Old Sun New Moon)” single
- Brooklyn, New York folktronica /electronic /indie folk project led by Elijah Schwelling, aka Halogen Beaches “Weathered” from the third LP “Into Cool Water, Into the Fog”
- Bristol, UK indie folk duo Mumble Tide “Mawpao” off the upcoming debut album “Might As Well Play Another One” [Breakfast Records]
- London-based Canadian-Serbian experimental indie-folk singer-songwriter Dana Gavanski “Leaving Home Again” from the upcoming EP “Again Again” [Full Time Hobby]
- Baltimore, MD mid-’80s lo-fi /bedroom pop /indie pop cassette artist (member of 80s post-punk band The Woods), Linda Smith “So Long Ago” single
- US experimental pop /folk singer-songwriter & musician Dagmar Zuniga “Even God Gets Stuck In Devotion featuring Austyn Wohlers” from the cassette album “In Filth Your Mystery is Kingdom / Far Smile Peasant in yellow music” (Recorded 2019-2024) [People’s Coalition of Tandy]
- Italian ambient /psych-pop /indie folk singer-songwriter Simona Catalani, aka simmcat “Forever” single [We Were Never Being Boring Collective]
- UK lo-fi /Americana /alt-rock /leftfield folk solo project of Tom Brown (Rural France, Teenage Tom Petties), Lone Striker “Blip One” off upcoming s/t LP [Safe Suburban Home (UK) / Repeating Cloud (US) / Hidden Bay Records (EU)]
- Amherst, Massachusetts indie rock guitarist, songwriter and Dinosaur Jr co-founder, J Mascis “Breathe” (The Cure cover) [Sub Pop Records]
- Montreal, Québec ’60s psych /indie rock solo project of Corridor songwriter-vocalist-guitarist Jonathan Robert, aka Jonathan Personne “Deuxième vie” from the upcoming 4th album “Nouveau Monde” [Bonsound]
- South Australia-based Dream Pop /Shoegaze one-man band of songwriter, guitarist, and producer Dave Thomas, aka Hey Calamity “Learn To Fly” (stripped back bonus track)
- Wellington, NZ neo-psychedelia /cinematic folk /dream pop duo of Olivia Gallagher and Alvin Bartley, aka O & THE MO “All My Love” from the sophomore LP “Make Way For The Sun”
- Birmingham, UK new indie synth-pop band of Chris and Kim (ex Mary Queen of Scots), aka Marytronica “When We Kiss” from “Forgive & Forget” LP 10″ [Old Bad Habits Label]
- Sydney, Australia ambient /dream-pop /ethereal wave /electronic pop duo of Gina Graham & Mark Vee, aka Watchglass “Come Back Soon” from the LP “Long Ways Conversations”
- Italian ethereal /shoegaze /dream-pop /electronica collaborative project of London-based cosmic pop duo Lilies On Mars with composer-sound designer Stefano Guzzetti, Lilies On Mars & Stefano Guzzetti “Cosmic” from the album “Shine” [2020 Editions & Parallel Coast (EU) / Mint 400 Records (US) / Shore Dive Records (UK)]
- Seattle, WA dream pop duo Bubble Tea and Cigarettes “Lemongrass City” single [Lauren Records]
- Philadelphia indie guitar rock collaboration of glitchy Philly duo and singer-songwriter Samira Winter, aka Hooky & Winter “horseshoe” off upcoming “Water Season” EP [Julia’s War Recordings]
- Montreal, Québec dream-pop /experimental electronic pop of Montréal-based singer-songwriter Naomie de Lorimier, aka N NAO “Fleuron” off the album “Nouveau Langage” [Mothland]
- Oslo, Norway indie /dream pop singer-songwriter Yndling “It’s Almost Like You’re Here” first single off the upcoming second album [Spirit Goth Records]
- Singapore indie rock /shoegaze /dream-pop music producer Daryl Hor, aka Sun Cell “for now, not ever. (with motifs)” from the debut album “Movements (In The Dark)”
- Portland, Maine dream pop /shoegaze /indie rock singer-songwriter Darksoft – “After All” single [Spirit Goth Records]
- Adelaide, Australia dream pop /synth /jangle /ambient pop solo project Tokyo “Your Light” from the album “Life Stuck in Traffic”
- Montreal via Valencia lo-fi /bedroom grunge /noise pop solo project Rat Penat “Gamer BF” off the cassette album “Emo Beach” a collection of home recordings made between 2021-2023 [Discos Vertebrales]
- Newport, UK new wave /indie pop solo project of Rob Morgan, aka Armstrong “While The Getting’s Good” single
- Brighton, UK new wave /alt-rock /indie /psych /glam rock singer-songwriter Ellis Dickson aka ELLiS·D “Drifting” from the upcoming second LP “Spill” [Crafting Room Recordings]
- LA psych-pop trio The Memories “Like A Cigarette” first single from the upcoming new album “Late” [Gnar Tapes]
- UK indie popular beat combo featuring former members of The Bodines (Creation Records), Bison and The Soil Brothers, aka MAMTOR “Kissa Cwtcha” single
- Norfolk, UK alt-rock /post-punk band Sea Cadets “Kicks” singles
- Swansea, UK jangle /indie pop collaboration featuring musicians from the 90s Sarah Records band the Sweetest Ache, Summerhouse “Some Time With You (original version)”
- Spanish shoegaze /jangle /indie-pop group from Sevilla, The Royal Landscaping Society – “When There’s Nothing Left To Look Forward To” from 3-track ‘Fractals’ 7″ EP [Matinée Recordings]
- Phoenix, AZ indie rock /guitar pop band Fine China “Gonna Need A Vacation” the first single from the LP ”I Felt Called” [Velvet Blue Music]
- Hattiesburg, Mississippi surf rock /shoegaze /dream pop band Beach Novels “The Sound” single
- Durham, NC indie noise pop 4-piece Little Chair “Everything Everything” from “Ladybug Cat” album [beekeeper tapes & discs]
- San Francisco electronic /noise pop /shoegaze new project from former Blue Ocean co-conspirator, Rick Altieri, aka Above Me “Grass Mouth” from debut s/t EP [Dandy Boy Records]
- Californian ‘garage-pop’ singer, songwriter and musician Josh Hwang, aka Castlebeat “Ivy League” single [Spirit Goth Records]
- Melbourne indie jangle pop foursome (members of Chook Race, Dippers, Ill Globo, and Permits), The Sprouts “Black Leather Jacket” from “One Room To Another” EP
- Dortmund, Germany 4-piece indie rock band ZENQ “Roof” off “On Isolated Grounds” EP [Bureau Platiruma!!!]
- Helsinki, Finland indie /psychedelic rock band Pink Chameleons “Black Sky” from the second LP “Harmony”
- Austin, TX indie /garage /psychedelic rock duo of Christian Bland (of The Black Angels) and producer-songwriter David Galvan, aka The Welly Welly Wells “The Last Summer II” single [Little Cloud Records]
- Philadelphia power pop /indie /heartland rock quintet The Tisburys “Forever” from upcoming LP “A Still Life Revisited” [Double Helix Records / SofaBurn Records]
- Toronto lo-fi shoegaze /post-rock /slowcore musical project of musician & composer Charlie Berger, With Hidden Noise “Empty Skies” from the LP “Mayday” [Loss Leader Records]
- Los Angeles indie rock /shoegaze /dream pop solo project Falling Over Water “Mercy’s Blade” single
- Reno, NV slowcore /shoegaze band Frank Futility “Anyway” debut single
- Bratislava/Žilina, Slovakia alternative rock /indie /midwest emo /shoegaze young band Eversame “Still, Endlessly” 2nd single from the upcoming LP [Start-Track]
- Queens, NY indie rock /dream-pop /shoegaze /post-punk solo project Sea Shapes “Run” single
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania shoegaze /dreampop solo project, ShawnSongs “In You” title track of “In You” EP
- Raleigh, North Carolina Indie Shoegaze outfit My Sister Maura “Ozzy” single
- Perth shoegaze music project from Australian-born Steve Matzkov, Seven Hour Days “Down and Out” single
- Sydney, Australia alternative /grunge /heavy shoegaze band Airline “Magnify” from “Cassini” EP
- Spencer, Iowa alt-rock /fuzz /shoegaze band PURPLISH “Opened eyes of the dead” from the cassette album “Do not be deceived”
- Belfast-based heavy-gaze solo project from Virgins guitarist-songwriter, Michael Smyth, aka Silk “Faze” debut single
- Texas indie rock /dream-pop /shoegaze band Glare “Guts” from upcoming debut LP “Sunset Funeral” [Deathwish Inc. / Sunday Drive Records]
- Bay Area 5-piece doom-gaze /indie rock /shoegaze band Gloomhead “Adored” single
- Belgium dream pop /shoegaze band, SLOW CRUSH “Cherry” single [Pure Noise Records]
- Portland, OR shoegaze /psychedelic rock outfit True Primitives “Open Your Heart” from the second LP “Rise”
- Brooklyn, New York 4-piece noise pop /shoegaze /indie rock band Bounty “Wrist” from debut “Demo” EP
- Montreal, Québec Proto Punk /Power Pop solo project of Josh Herlihey, aka Plastic Act “TV Sex” from the second 7″ EP “Now!” [Bachelor Records]
- Sardinia, Italy 3-piece ’60s garage rockers (FKA Rippers), UGLY SOUNDS “You Can’t Keep Me Satisfied” from the upcoming LP ” Never Say I’m Doomed…” [GROOVIE RECORDS]
- US indie rock Suicide Squeeze all-star group featuring Julia Kugel of The Coathangers and Julia, Julia, Staz Lindes of The Paranoyds, Bonnie Bloomgarden of Death Valley Girls, and Rikki Styxx of The Two Tens, aka Julia & The Squeezettes “Cue Cards” (Lyn cover) from the 7″ single “Julia & The Squeezettes / Lyn” [Suicide Squeeze Records]
- Los Angeles glimmer indie rock act Vienna Vienna “God Save The Queens” single [Pulse Records]
- L.A. indie rock band MOMMA “I Want You (Fever)” from upcoming LP “Welcome to My Blue Sky” [Lucky Number]
- Seattle-based experimental indie Chinese psych /pop /rock duo Chinese American Bear “Dim Sum (点心)” single
- Chicago-based ambient /experimental /psych /post-rock /electro-acoustic /instrumental duo Allison Trumbo & Rob Logan (Desert Liminal drummer), Midnight Minds “Thunderstorm” off the cassette LP “Echo Poems” [radicaldocuments]
- San Francisco hip hop /krautrock /soundtrack /library music /psychedelic /jazz multi-instrumentalist, Jack Erin Brown “Espiritus” from the debut album “Door 1542” [Nudie Records / Tunnel Records]
- New York ambient /country /cinematic /cosmic pastoral /psychedelic multi-instrumentalist trio numün “Flower” from the third LP “Opening” [Centripetal Force (US) / Where It’s At Is Where You Are (UK)]