Weekly Shoegaze / Dreampop / Psychedelic / Indie Tips – JUNE 2024 – #24-24

Photo by Raina Vlaskovska
PICKS OF THE WEEK:
- French bedroom pop /c86 /jangle /indie pop DIY solo project Few Border “The One” from the debut EP “Blue Coast Weather”
I got there late in the evening but was immediately captivated upon first listening by an enigmatic Indiepop project from France, actually a one-band band, by virtue of a crystalline guitar sound, compelling emotive melodies, intimate vocals and fake trumpets à la Andy Diagram, theme, the latter, apparently recurring lately. A tantalizing brew of endearing unadulterated DIY guitar pop created by a musician with an accurate knowledge of the matter to best combine the extensive palette of suggestions at his disposal, from Creation to Sarah, C86 and The Smiths, in short, the imperishable sound with which the older devotees have grown up and younger ones have recovered, wistfully nostalgic as much as you like, but if appropriately used, always fresh, vibrant and intoxicating. It is difficult to pick just one song for a not-yet-deeply metabolized EP, “The One” is a beautiful love song led by nostalgic soul-stirring vocals over twinkly synth melodies, emotionally echoing chiming guitars, and driving heart-beats to evoke timeless feelings of uplifting passion. Highly recommended!
- San Diego, CA post-rock /noise /shoegaze band Distressor “Haunt” single
Heady heavy and atmospheric new single from Californian Shoegazers drowned in a droning sea of emptiness on abrasive, rippling and digging waves of fuzz-laden distortion, relentlessly surging with achingly ringing resonance over sad dreamy vocals that are lost, broken, and alone amid memories of a loved one.
- Moscow-based indie rock/dream pop /shoegaze band Mental Map “Snow in June” single
An intoxicating blend of Dreampop and Shoegaze sounds dusted with astral post-rock glimmers, steeped in an ethereal aura of bittersweet melancholy. The song is about seeing the magical poplar fluff, a mid-June swirling once-in-a-lifetime ‘snow’ experience. Deftly punctuated by a sparkling evocative guitar work that shifts from insistent rippling wistful piercing melodies, energetic strumming and buzzing fuzzed-out distorted riffs, layered with airy liquid synth washes and breathless dreamy vocals hovering in the ecstatic white winds of endless awe.
- Russian ambient /dreamy folk /folktronica trio of musicians Vladimir Karpov (X.Y.R.), Dmitriy Borodi and Aleksandra Evseeva (aka Andra Ljos), 2muchachos “I’m Not Afraid Of Cold Air” from the cassette compilation “Natura: 2009-2012” [Not Not Fun]
- Montreal, Québec indie-rock /dream-pop band Grand Eugène “Décembre” from the album “Les vacances d’été” via Delicieuse Records
- 60s/’70s Italian orchestral director and composer of film scores, Piero Umiliani “Orgasmo M27 (psychedelic trap) [feat. Alessandro Alessandroni & Giulia De Mutiis]” from the vinyl reissue of “Orgasmo” soundtrack to the 1969 erotic giallo thriller directed by Umberto Lenzi [Four Flies Records]
- São Paulo-based, Brazilian post-punk /shoegaze project of musician and producer, Matheus Nascimento (formerly one-half of Slowaves) and artist and designer Vita Conti, aka Whirle “Berlin Haircut” 2nd single via Midsummer Madness
- Australian lo-fi /drone /breakbeat /Bossanova /electro-pop /psych-folk /dream-pop project of Daniel Johann Lines, aka Salvia Palth “Last Chance to See” from the second LP “Last Chance to See” via Danger Collective Records
- Nashville / New Jersey dream pop /shoegaze project of Travis Trevisan and Christina Hernandez, Slow Salvation “Call A Friend” single
- Brooklyn, NY by way of VA indie folk /slowcore recording project of Gene Stroman and friends, Wandering Years “Everybody is Crazy” (Amen Dunes cover) ft. Katrina Urton from “Three Covers” EP
- Colorado drone /ambient /shoegaze /’heaven metal’ solo project of multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter Madeline Johnston aka MIDWIFE “Killdozer” from the fourth studio album “No Depression in Heaven” on The Flenser
- UK ambient /psychedelia /dream pop /shoegaze prject of Simon Scott from Slowdive, Three Quarter Skies “Crows” single
- Edmonton, Canada-based shoegaze /kraut /neo-psychedelic solo project of artist and guitarist Arthur Bennell, aka Blume “I Need You” from the cassette album “Echoes at Night”
- Dunedin, NZ‘s electronic /post-punk /shoegaze /dream-pop trio Death And The Maiden “River” from the third LP “Uneven Ground” via Fishrider Records and Occultation Recordings
- UK ’60s orchestral pop /wall of sound /dream pop musical collaboration between Andy Dragazis (Blue States) and Allison Brice (The 18th Day Of May, Lake Ruth), The Silver Abduction “Quarter To Two” first single from the self-titled debut album
- Essen, Germany Indie-Pop /Dreampop /Synthpop band Orkestra Zajenie “Hey Kid! (Dig the Slowness) (feat. Alison)” single
- London, UK indie rock /folk band led by Blake Watt, Family Stereo “Unavoidable” from “Sometimes The Morning Is Different” EP
- Canada/US lo-fi /C86 /twee /noise /indie pop duo of Teresa Daniele and Ryan Marquez, aka The Haircuts “Umbrella Day” from “Words To Remember Me By (A Complete Retrospective)” CD album via Subjangle
- Buffalo, NY psych /jangle /indie pop band The Color Waves “Better Angels” from “Better Angels / Heartstrings”
- Clare, Australia indie /dream /jangle pop band The Boltons “I Said It Before, Do I Have to Say It Again?” single
- Dallas, TX Nü Wave /Jangle Pop /Post-Punk band Sculpture Club “Cursed or Hexed” from the third S/T album via Born Losers Records
- Buffalo, NY-based dream-pop solo project of The Daysleepers‘ Jeff Kandefer, aka Red Sun 1981 “Running Man” from “Running Man” [EP]
- San Francisco‘s ambient /electronic indie rock /post-rock /shoegaze band, ECHODRONE “Tranquility” from the upcoming double rock/ambient album “The Curvature of Sound”
- Chicago indie /synthpop /dream pop solo project COOL HEAT “Not My Fault (feat. Flowerbabe)” single on Spirit Goth Records
- Oakland, CA shoegaze /psych indie rock band In-Sides“Step” from the cassette EP “Salvo”
- San Francisco‘s power pop /noise indie pop project of singer and songwriter Christopher McVicker and friends (Aislers Set, The Bananas, Dirty Ghosts, Kelley Stoltz), aka SWIFTUMZ “Never Impress” from the debut LP “Simply The Best” via Empty Cellar Records
- Brighton And Hove, UK C86 /jangle indie pop trio formed in 2002, Assistant “You Should Know” from upcoming “You Should Know” E.P.
- Early 80s UK guitar rock Creation Records pioneers The Loft “Beware (BBC session version)” from “PRE 050: THE LOFT – Riley & Coe session 09.10.23″ 10” EP via Precious Recordings of London
- London, UK folk /psychedelic jangle pop band thelightshines “A Morning In Love” from “The Door To Your Room” EP
- Leeds, UK 60s inspired garage pop band The See No Evils – “Spring Time” from The See No Evils & The Smashing Times‘ split single “Spring Time / Breaking The Lawn” (With Issue 9 of the RPB! Magazine) via Raving Pop Blast! Recordings
- Oxford, UK indie rock band Nothing Dreams – “Mid Surgical Daydreams” from “Pressure Points” EP
- Vancouver BC indie rock /riot-twee /jangle pop trio WUT “Talking to Strangers” first single off upcoming sophomore album ‘‘Mingling with the Thorns’’ via HHBTM Records
- Oakland, CA indie rock /post-punk band Fake Fruit “Cause Of Death” from the upcoming second LP “Mucho Mistrust” on Carpark Records
- Sheffield, UK indie /post-punk trio Good News “Orange Juice In The Shower” from upcoming debut LP “Small Forms” via Bingo Records
- Nashville, TN new wave /post-punk /dream pop band led by songwriter and producer Joseph Lekkas, Palm Ghosts “Last Chance Kid” from “Façades 2 – Masks” EP via Sweet Cheetah / Poptek Records
- London-based indie rock /dreampop guitarist and songwriter Keeley Moss, aka Keeeley “Last Words” from the forthcoming long-anticipated second full-length album “Beautiful Mysterious” via Tiny Global Productions
- US shoegaze /indie rock /dream-pop duo Mario and Heather Macias, Winter Of Our Faith “Revolkar” single
- Burlington, Vermont indie rock /dream-pop band of Sean Joseph Klassen and Sabrina Valezquez, Former Lives “Some things never change is inevitable” 2-track 7″ single
- Bogor, Indonesia powerpop /indie rock band Texpack “(What is) Celebrity?” from “Gonggo Sound” EP
- Michigan Dream Pop duo Bluhm “Too Late” single
- Danish–American shoegaze /dreampop duo GLISS “21st Century” new single
- Washington, D.C. shoegaze /noise-pop group formed in 1989, Velocity Girl “Audrey’s Eyes” from the new edition of the 1993 debut album “UltraCopacetic (Copacetic Remixed and Expanded)” 2xLP via Sub Pop
- Bath, UK dream rock /shoegaze project of Jenn Zed, aka ZED POINT “Careless – remastered”
- Tokyo-based, Japanese shoegaze band Oeil “Quiet Lights” single
- Richmond, VA dream pop /shoegaze solo project Always Other “Evenings at the crave inn” single
- Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada shoegaze solo project lil dirtbag “I Had a Long Night” single
- El Paso, Texas dream-pop /shoegaze project by the bassist of Fever, In My Sleep “Dizzy” from the debut EP “You”
- Gold Coast, Australia indie rock /shoegaze project SHOEGAZER “Spiral” single
- Brooklyn, NY-based four piece shoegaze band Ringing “Spiralbound” from “It Light Out Where You Are?” EP
- Montreal, Québec shoegaze trio Fleeting Colours “Sling” single
- Cincinnati, OH dreamgaze /dream rock 5-piece SUNGAZE “So Light” single
- Chicago, IL Alt /Indie Rock /Shoegaze band, MUTED COLOR “Acid Rain” from the forthcoming debut LP “Take I Lovely You” via Fever Ltd.
- Perth-based shoegaze music project from Australian born Steve Matzkov, Seven Hour Days “Once Again” single
- Los Angeles-based emo /indie rock /shoegaze band Teary “Dreamlife” from the 2-track single “Dreamlife / Weave”
- Vancouver, BC three piece alt rock /noise rock /shoegaze band SMUSH “Heartless” from the debut LP “If You Were Here I’d Be Home Now”
- Philadelphia, PN noise pop /shoegaze band Doused – “Asleep (In A Dream)” from the split single “Doused / Sparkler (Split)”
- Glasgow, UK post-punk /psych /shoegaze /indie rock /rock’n’roll duo Geography Of The Moon “Pick It Up (And Put It Down)” second single out of the upcoming album “Aberdeen-Hiroshima”
- Brooklyn, NY three-piece rock band Hello Mary “o% ” single
- Philadelphia, PA shoegaze /space /psych-rock three-piece Catatonic Suns “Slack” single
- Oakland, CA four piece garage /proto-punk /pub-rock band SMOKERS – “Cutting Class” from “The Rat That Gnawed the Rope” LP via Mouth Magazine Records
- Perth, Australia rock’n’roll /garage rock band Cool Guy Club “Bobby Blue” single
- Glasgow, UK 60s garage /r&b /Merseybeat /rock’n’roll /beat group The Kaisers “Voodoo Lily” from the forthcoming LP “More from The Kaisers”
- British renowned pub rock /new wave /power-pop singer-songwriter and musician since the late 60s (Brinsley Schwarz, Rockpile), Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets “Went to a Party” from the 17th full-length album “Indoor Safari” via Yep Roc
- Brighton, UK spaghetti western /surf rock band The Tridents “Atoll K” first single off the next E.P.
- Norway dream pop /synth-pop /indie rock artist OTHA “You’re The Best” single
- Los Angeles indie pop singer-songwriter Britta Raci “Benchwarmer” from “Striking Out” EP
- Spanish indie rock singer-songwriter Elena Nieto, Yawners “La estrella eres tú” single
- Montreal, Québec indie rock singer-songwriter Marlaena Moore Unfaded” single
- Bristol, UK bedroom /indie /dream-pop singer-songwriter Azzahra Jane Lewin, aka Ziggy 2000 “October” off debut EP, “Needles” via XYZ123 Recordings
- California indie folk singer-songwriter Donald Beaman “Glass Bottom Boat” from the 5th LP “Fog On Mirror Glass” via Royal Oakie Records
- California rock’n’roll /Americana /psych /folk /blue cosmic country singer-songwriter (Real Life Rock & Roll Band, Night Collectors, Andrew Weathers Ensemble, Common Eider, King Eider) Blaine Todd “Everyman” from “Goodbye ‘Til I Do Good By You” via Perpetual Doom
- California-based indie folk singer-songwriter Donald Beaman “Glass Bottom Boat” from the 5th LP “Fog On Mirror Glass” via Royal Oakie Records
- Dublin, Irish progressive folk duo formed in 1969 by Leo O’Kelly and Sonny Condell, Tír na nÓg “Tír na nÓg” from the remastered vinyl 12″ edition of the album “Transmissions” [Mega Dodo]
- Glasgow, UK ambient /avante garde /dreampop /shoegaze /field recordings /modern classical /spoken word music artist CLAIR “Cally” (bonus track) off 3-track taster EP from the forthcoming “Sonic Shorts” LP [HotGem]

photo by Kristamas Klousch