“Berlin Lovers” by Still Corners // Strange Pleasures (Out May 2013)
Oh, Still Corners, you know just what I want to hear. Dreamy, ethereal vocals over hypnotic robo-beats and a otherworldly swirling synths. It’s pretty much my cup of tea every time this band comes to the table with new material, and “Berlin Lovers” is just the tip of the iceberg as it’s just a taster of the new album that arrives in May. Highly recommended for fans of Blouse, Porcelain Raft, and I Break Horses.
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“White Foxes” by Susanne Sundfør // The Silicone Veil (2012)
I’m late to the party on this one, but it’s a stunner, so I’m piling on the praise. Apparently this track was floating around earlier this year, but is seeing a re-release thanks to an opening spot on M83’s upcoming tour. Now, a whole pile of folks can be introduced to Susanne Sundfør’s otherworldly pop beauty, “White Foxes”. Built around her soaring vocals and chilly swirling synths, the song really takes off when the chorus lands and suddenly you feel like you’re hearing some ethereal ballad beamed in from some mystical ice planet (let’s call it “Norway”). It’s a fantastic sound and I for one will be digging out more of Sundfør’s catalog in hopes of some more of this magic. Highly recommended for fans of I Break Horses, Cocteau Twins, and Burning Hearts.
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“You Must Be Dreaming” by LTD // You Must Be Dreaming 7” (2012)
Alex Craig, the man behind LTD (Limited), also does time in the excellent jangle pop band, Big Troubles, and that band’s penchant for killer melodies carries over into this new track from LTD. The interesting thing about this jam is that it’s brand of electro pop feels indebted to both the early 80’s synth pop scene (OMD, The Human League), as well as the current crop of electro-shoegazers (M83, I Break Horses). Hell, there’s even a smidge of Big Trouble’s style of dream pop dashed in there. The point being, LTD isn’t settling on a simple brand of sentimental bedroom pop for a side project, as it sounds already like a fully realized band with loads of promise. The old school electronic percussion and howling synths fill the air with a bouncy optimism and the hazy vocals and atmospheric production add kind of a lovelorn dance-ability that makes for an excellent intro to an artist that I’ll be eagerly awaiting to hear from in the future.
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“Dream Analysis” by Jesse Ruins // Dream Analysis EP (2012)
This track has been floating around Soundcloud for a little while now, but it was finally released about six weeks back on Captured Tracks (also collecting their other online singles), and that’s as good of a time as any to highlight one of my favorite up and coming dream pop and ambient bands. “Dream Analysis” floats by on a humming synth line and the layers just effortlessly add to the chilled, dreamy vibe. Twinkling piano keys, buzzing ethereal synths, otherworldly vocal loops, it’s all just perfectly executed. It’s a lullaby for the late night come downs. When the excitement of a good evening doesn’t immediately dissipate and needs a lovely little track to help bring you to your night’s end. Highest recommendation - for fans of Keep Shelly in Athens, I Break Horses, and M83.
(order) “Dream Analysis EP” by Jesse Ruins (via Captured Tracks)
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“Safe in Sound” by Fotoshop // Lifeforms (2012)
Finland’s Fotoshop makes pretty, electronic-infused shoegaze lullabies. This track, “Safe in Sound”, taken from the recently released Lifeforms, is just such a song. What starts as an airy, idm-esque ambient track builds into an electro-shoegaze dream loaded with twinkling synths, warped blip-beats, and a sing-a-long hook. Great stuff. Highly recommended for fans of Mew, I Break Horses, and SPC ECO.
(stream & purchase) “Lifeforms” by Fotoshop (via Bandcamp)
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“Lafaye” by School of Seven Bells // Ghostory (2012)
Another taste of the forthcoming album from School of the Seven Bells. They’re two for two at this point with songs from Ghostory, after the first track “The Night” and now “Lafaye”. It’s another pop blast of dreamy neo-shoegaze that fans of M83, I Break Horses, and Zola Jesus should find absolutely appetizing. Check it out. Fantastic stuff.
(via halfgifts)
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DREAMING AWAKE SOMETIMES /// A SHOEGAZE PODCAST
For the latest installment of my Radio Slow Riot podcast, hosted by me, I’ve decided to do a year-end-roundup of some of my favorite shoegaze tracks (including new releases and re-issues). After taking a small poll to see what you guys wanted to hear, this was tied with the desert island mixtape, so just as time would have it, I had the shoegaze collection ready to go first. I kept the talking to a minimum so you can just focus on the music. Here you’ll find some classic tracks that were remastered and found their way back into your ears as well as lots of material from albums released this year (many found on Bandcamp) that may not have gotten a proper listen the first time around.
Please don’t be afraid to share/reblog with others and or support any and all artists that strike your interest. Stream or download as you wish. Thanks for listening to Radio Slow Riot.
Featured Music (click the name for band info):
(download) DREAMING AWAKE SOMETIMES ///Radio Slow Riot Ep. 6 (mp3)
(soundcloud stream) DreamingAwakeSometimes /// Radio Slow Riot Ep. 6
(previous eps) Slow Riot @ P|M|W
Please support the artists that you find and enjoy. Buy their music, merchandise and tickets to see their shows. Supporting them is the only purpose in doing this blog. Contrary to the opinions of some, music blogs are a great way to discover new music, but there will only be so much new music to go around if these artists can’t afford to support themselves through their art and commerce. Only use these mixtapes as a guide to find something to throw your (financial and emotional) support behind.
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“In Icarus” by Jesse Ruins // A Bookshelf Sinks Into the Sand/ In Icarus (2011)
Recent Captured Tracks signees, Jesse Ruins, have just released this digital 7” of two dreamy synth-pop jams that you can sample on Bandcamp. The Tokyo based artists make a kind of synth pop that shares influences in disco and dream pop. Take this b-side, “In Icarus” for example that starts off with a cracking digital beat and a wah-wah synth line, but quickly collapses back into each itself with a lovely vocal sample that sounds like it’s being broadcast through a layer of dream and space. It’s a great jam that should excite fans of Neon Indian, I Break Horses, and M83. Also, make sure you check out the previously posted, “Shatter the Jewel”.
“Shatter the Jewel” by Jesse Ruins // TBD EP (2012)
These recent Captured Tracks signees have been getting some blog love over at GorillaVsbear, but it wasn’t until this track that my attention was grabbed and forced to take notice. Now, I don’t know what was with the hold up. Jesse Ruins hits all the right notes with this pulsing, dreamy bit of bedroom disco-pop. It feels like earlier, less stadium-ready M83 jams or perhaps like a more dance friendly I Break Horses.
(stream) Jesse Ruins - Soundcloud Page
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“Winter Beats (Bedroom Session)” by I Break Horses
This is a wonderful, stripped back, in-studio version of one of my favorite songs of the year. I Break Horses have been pretty much on a roll these past few months, releasing two great singles and a phenomenal album, and yet it’s still impressive seeing Maria Linden bring her songs to life in an in-studio session. Really great stuff.
THE DIMMING LIGHTS // The Afterglow : Episode 51
With the gap in time between each Afterglow mixtape growing, I’ve decided to try and make each one stand out as it’s own, by sticking to a more cohesive theme each time out. Sometimes it might be more lo-fi rock sounds, others might lean toward the ambient or chillwave, this one is more in the direction of darker, haunting sounds. It starts upbeat enough but works its way into more of a night atmosphere and takes the sounds into more of a dark synth pop and dream pop vibe.
This mix is comprised of newer tracks from all over the indie world and this time around the male/female vocals duties are pretty much split, which is a big change, as these are usually inadvertently male dominated. So, without further ado, this is The Dimming Lights, and as usual with these Afterglow Mixtapes, they’re best heard at night. Let it soundtrack you as you wish, but please enjoy the listen and support the acts that catch your attention.
Featured Music (click the band name for more info on the band):
(download) THE DIMMING LIGHTS // AFTERGLOW Ep.51 (mediafire)
(stream) The Entire Mix @ 8Tracks
Please support the artists that you find and enjoy. Buy their music, merchandise and tickets to see their shows. Supporting them is the only purpose in doing this blog. Contrary to the opinions of some, music blogs are a great way to discover new music, but there will only be so much new music to go around if these artists can’t afford to support themselves through their art and commerce. Only use these mixtapes as a guide to find something to throw your (financial and emotional) support behind.
“Pulse” by I Break Horses // Hearts (2011)
I’m working on a new mixtape series for the coming autumn months and I have a feeling that I Break Horses might factor heavily onto those compilations. I am had over heels in love with this album. Every track is a killer and then there are the occasional tracks such as “Pulse” that for me stand up with some of the absolute best of the year. I know, that might not mesh will with some others thoughts, but so be it. It’s a great fucking album loaded with dreamy, shimmering, ethereal moments. This song has those moments and then some.
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