Catiline

“Catiline” by Fight Bite // Fight Bite (2012)

Fight Bite is the dream pop solo project of Leanne Macomber (Neon Indian). She makes haunting, ethereal dream pop soundscapes that sound like their being broadcast from some other plane of existence. Gauzy, hypnotic atmospherics layered over gorgeous vocal harmonies. Think something like Beach House and Sigur Ros  collaborating in a haunted house and you’re almost there. Fight Bite’s new self titled album is available now on Bandcamp, Spotify, and Soundcloud. Give it a listen, or press play above to hear the lush, ghostly album opener “Catiline”. This is one of the best albums that I’ve heard all year. Highest recommendation for fans of Beach House, Mum, Julianna Barwick. 

Arrange - I Want To Be Alright

“I Want to be All Right” by Arrange // New Memory (Bonus Track) (Out 7.2.12)

New tracks from Malcom Lacey’s Arrange project are always welcomed bits of goodness to my ears, but I was truly not expecting what I heard when I clicked play on “I Want to be All Right”. Lacey’s previous tracks have walked the line of songwriter confessional, ambient pop which often lead to some dark places. Here on “I Want to be All right” it sounds as if the darkness is sliding away and in it’s place is something warmer, more vibrant, and expansive. Sure, there are no vocals this time outside of a warped and looped sample, but the overall effect is something wonderful. It’s a gorgeous, ethereal bit of r&b infused, electronic dream pop. An absolute must hear, for fans of Top Girls, How to Dress Well, and Stumbleine. 

(pre-order) “New Memory” by Arrange (via Bandcamp)

CFCF - Excercise 7 (Loss)

“Exercise 7 (Loss)” by CFCF // Exercises (2012)

Montreal based producer, CFCF has been churning out some killer remixes and production work recently, but now he’s finally releasing his long awaited album “Exercises”. HypeFM has the first listen to the album and it’s a gorgeous, minimalist exploration of dream-like, ethereal, (near) ambient song structures. Think of the work of Phillip Glass, Brian Eno, and David Borden. CFCF has said that the album was inspired by “institutional architecture” and “70’s era Canadiana”. It’s a lovely, understated album from the producer and definitely a step in a direction that was not the most obvious area, but definitely one that’s all the better for sharing his presence. A must listen. 

(stream) The entire CFCF album, “Exercises now (via HYPEFM)

Blouse - Pale Spectre

“Pale Spectre” by Blouse // Originally by The Wake

Last year we got two wonderful covers of The Wake songs (by Beach Fossils and Wild Nothing) for record store day and this year, we get Blouse (and Craft Spells) doing the special Record Store Release. Luckily, Blouse has gone and posted a killer dream pop take on “Pale Spectre” from The Wake’s excellent 1987 EP, “Something That No One Else Could Bring”. It’s heavy post punk bass line guides the hymnal like synths while the ghostly vocals lock you into a lush lullaby sound. It’s a wonderful track from a great, underrated band, paying tribute to another excellent, underrated band from the past. Highly recommended. 

(pre-order) Blouse/Craft Spells - Gruesome Flowers 2 (via Captured Tracks)

h e r e, i n h e a v e n 4 & 5 (CFCF Remix)

“h e r e, i n h e a v e n 2 (CFCF Remix)” by Elite Gymnastics // Ruin 3 & 4 (2012)

“Here, In Heaven” has been reworked by a few artists to pretty wonderful effect (How to Dress Well springs to mind), but it’s Montreal producer CFCF that does the most remarkable work with it, turning it into a melancholic, strings and piano chopped ballad with all the markings of a sprawling, gorgeous cinematic score. It’s going to be available on the Ruin 4 package with the other remixes, but you can also download it now from the Ruin site. Absolutely highest recommendation. 

(download) h e r e, i n h e a v e n 2 (CFCF Remix) (via Elite Gymnastic’s Ruin site)

half string // Eclipse

“Eclipse” by Half String // Maps for Sleep (1991-1994) (2012 re-release)

Captured Tracks continue their absolutely fantastic work in collecting and re-releasing lost and forgotten shoegaze tracks from the halcyon days of the genre. Their latest work comes from Tempe, Arizona’s Half String and their run of wonderful EPs and unreleased tracks from 1991-1994. “Eclipse” is a taste of what you will find on the collection, and it’s a gorgeous reminder of how magnificent and otherworldly Half String could sound when they were around. As a fan of the band for years, this release is an excellent grab for the completest in me, but it’s also a great place for anyone to start. Captured Tracks has done stellar work on all of their shoegaze archive releases and “Maps for Sleep” is no exception. A must listen for fans of the genre. 

(order) “Maps for Sleep” by Half String

Lower Dens- Propagation

“Propagation” by Lower Dens // Nootropics (2012)

Nootropics by Baltimore’s Lower Dens (for me) is an early front runner for album of the year. I’ve listened to it nonstop for the past few days and just can’t seem to shake the hazy, dreamlike atmosphere that envelopes the entire album. Ribbon Music has released the second official taster from the album in the form of the otherwordly, drone pop gem that is “Propagation”. Dark and melancholic, but oddly inviting as if calling out from another place and time. Just a phenomenal track. Highest recommendation. For fans of Broadcast, Atlas Sound, and Tamaryn. 

* Nootropics is available for pre-order now and is released on May 1st. 

Boy Friend - Drive (The Cars Cover)

“Drive” by Boy Friend // Originally by The Cars

Boy Friend have a sound that is firmly placed in my alley. Dreamy, ethereal pop music that bends to the somber and features haunting vocals. Yep, that’s pretty much their entire bag and they do it well. On their recent (and excellent) release, “Egyptian Wrinkle”, they’ve included a bonus disc for vinyl purchases and on that disc you will find an incredible cover of one of the best radio jams of the 80’s, “Drive” by The Cars. Now, plenty of people have stepped in and covered this synthed out ballad over the years (Deftones did a pretty excellent version a few years back), but I’m always up for someone taking a crack at this classic and Boy Friend do not disappoint. It’s a track built for a night drive so get out under the stars and push up that volume because it’s all going to be okay. 

Mister Lies - False Astronomy

“False Astronomy” by Mister Lies // Hidden Neighbours EP (2012)

If you’re looking for a chilly, dream-like lullaby to soundtrack your evening, Chicago’s Mister Lies has you covered. This ghostly, otherworldly track is gorgeous, but minimal - relying mostly on an iced static beat and haunting Joni Mitchell sample (“This Flight Tonight”) to provide the bulk of the weight. Outside of of hazy, floating synth lines, you’re left with just warped vocal sample, but it works perfectly. An absolute haunting, must hear for fans of Stumbleine, Burial, and Four Tet.

Exitmusic - "Passage"

“Passage” by Exitmusic // Passage (2012)

Danceyrselfclean said she knew this was just my kind of jam when she heard it and she’s absolutely right. Exitmusic is back with a taster of their forthcoming album (Passage, out May 22) and it’s a slow burning, goth pop beauty that explodes into something absolutely stunning and gigantic. Holy shit, I mean, Aleska Palladino and Devon Church’s Exitmusic might be on the verge of a monster breakout after this release. It’s kind of like what I would imagine Florence Welch fronting The Antlers to sound like, only bigger somehow. It’s a fucking doozy. Highest recommendation. 

(via danceyrselfclean)

Mirroring - Fell Sound

“Fell Sound” by Mirroring // Foreign Body (2012)

This collaboration of Tiny Vipers and Liz Harris’s Grouper project is, at once, exactly what you’d expect from these two masters of ambient minimalism, and oddly, something very different. While it maintains the same sort of slowcore ambiance of some of the material produced by both artists on their own, here there is more of a welcoming nature that blends into a widescreen atmospheric vibe, bordering on dream pop more than drone. It’s a gorgeous record for late night listening and it’s lead off track “Fell Sound” is one of my highlights of the year so far. It’s six and a half minutes of minimalist beauty that you can easily get lost in. Absolutely recommended for fans of Grouper, Julianna Barwick, or Stars of the Lid.

Boy Friend - False Cross

“The False Cross” by Boy Friend // Egyptian Wrinkle (2012)

The new Boy Friend full length is finally available for purchase at Bandcamp, and it’s a beauty that takes their dream pop sounds to more dark and atmospheric places. “The False Cross” originally appeared on their Boy Friend EP last year in a more subdued, ambient take, but here it appears with the production tweaked a bit and the hard driving piano line and vocals front and center. It’s a big improvement on an already stellar song. Highest recommendation for those who like Keep Shelly in Athens, Echo Lake, and Sleep ∞ Over. 

(pre-order) Egyptian Wrinkle by Boy Friend (via Bandcamp)

White Hinterland - Teenage Dream (Katy Perry cover)

“Teenage Dream” by White Hinterland // Originally by Katy Perry 

Over at Daytrotter, Casey Dienel’s White Hinterland project have turned in a pretty great session and the highlight might just be their take on Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream”. Stripping back all of the super-pop-production and pro-tools magic to just the core melody, we’re treated to a gorgeous, ethereal take on the pop jam. It’s pretty much just vocal layering and a quiet, crackling beat that backs her up, but it’s pretty much perfect. A must listen.