Hold you down

“Hold You Down” by One Little Plane // Into the Trees (2012)

One Little Plane is Chicago based folk musican Kathryn Bint, and her dreamy folk compositions have drawn some pretty impressive fans and collaborators in the form of Colin Greenwood (Radiohead) and Kieran Hebden (Four Tet). Both musicians play on “Hold You Down” (with Kieran Hebden producing the album and releasing it on his label, Text) and help build a lovely, melancholic atmosphere, but the real star is Kathryn Blint’s writing and restrained voice. Highly recommended for fans of Gem Club, Jen Wood, and Mark Kozelek. 

S. Carey - Avalanche

“Avalanche” by S. Carey // Hoyas (2012)

“These songs are for nighttime driving, for long exposures of stars circling overhead, for laying roadside, feeling small, for the cold rocks at Big Falls, for Marfa, that weird and beautiful oasis. These songs are about the ambient sides of life.”

This is the way that S. Carey describes his staggeringly pretty new EP, “Hoyas”, and anyone who knows me, knows that’s pretty much the vibe i look for in all of my favorites. “Avalanche” is a gorgeous, slice of latenight pop that takes its time grabbing you but by the mid-point you’ll have tapped the “repeat” button and settled in for an evening of multiple listens. The layered harmonies (especially when the female vocals slide in) and that subtle hum of the driving beat/synth line are just perfect, but the real master stroke here is the layered vocals, autotuned, warped, stretched, and formed into a dreamy beauty that will captivate ears (production was handled by Justin Vernon and Brian Joseph of Bon Iver) Absolutely highest recommendation. 

(pre-order) “Hoyas” by S. Carey (order now from SC Dist. and get immediate download of the whole EP)

Good Girl

“Good Girl” by Wildeflower // Good Girl 7” (2012)

Wildeflower have the sort of lived in sound that makes their brand of harmony-filled folk sounds all the more lush and authentic. “Good Girl” comes from a forthcoming 7” that’s being released on May 14th via Stella Mortos, and if it’s any indication of where this UK based band is heading with their sound, then count me in for the long haul. They’re going to get their Fleet Foxes comparisons, sure, but this feels like something less produced and more free form. Not to say that it sounds jammy, but it takes it’s time getting the harmonies right, and the rolling percussion matches up with the acoustic guitar and general atmospherics in a really dreamy, and gorgeous way. Highly recommended for fans of Daniel Rossen, Gold Leaves, and Fleet Foxes. 

Lost In The Trees - Red

“Red” by Lost in the Trees // A Church That Fits Our Needs (2012)

Sometimes I click play on something and have no idea where it’s going to take me and often times it ends in people banging on shit like low-rent Animal Collective wannabes and chirping/singing lyrics about kids playing in dead leaves. Other times i’m lucky enough to be absolutely floored on my ass by something new. Lost in the Tree’s is the project of Ari Picker, and “A Church That Fits Our Needs” is an album celebrating his mother’s short, chaotic life. It’s a sad, emotionally draining tale of a woman who battled cancer, lost twin daughters at birth, a crippling depression, and ultimately succumbed to suicide shortly after her son was married. The strange thing is that the moody, atmospheric orchestral productions actually offer up a cinematic and celebratory take on the subject matter. It’s the kind of music that you just don’t hear so often these days. Big, adventurous, gorgeous, haunting, and completely accessible. It’s an album’s worth of standout tracks that feel like they could have been lifted from the best days of Elbow, or Sufjan Stevens, or Active Child (you’ll get the comparisons). This song in particular has my absolute HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION. It will absolutely slay you. Press play. 

GOLD BEACH "Gold Beach"

“Gold Beach” by Gold Beach // Gold Beach EP (2012)

Austin’s Gold Beach have a dreamy folk sound that combines sounds you might hear on a Memoryhouse record with sounds that you might hear on an Okkervil River record. The folk/dream pop combo works especially well when the lush harmonies and the atmospheric production line up to make sort of a shimmering autumnal sound that is especially present on the track “Gold Beach” (featured on last year’s debut LP, as well as the recent EP release). It makes for a nice fusion that should play nicely to fans of Local Natives, Annuals, and Freelance Whales. 

The Shins - 

“Bait and Switch” by The Shins // Port of Morrow (2012)

Another delicious bit of earcandy from Port of Morrow, and the release of the full length can’t come soon enough. This weekend The Shins make their way to Saturday Night Live to promote the new release and “Bait and Switch” will probably be one of the songs they play (alongside, “Simple Song”), as it’s loaded with pitch perfect melodies and a killer hook - like most all of James Mercer’s fan favorites. I’m excited to hear the album and check out the forthcoming summer tour. Give “Bait and Switch” a listen to satiate that lust for the whole thing. 

Daniel Rossen - Up On High

“Up On High” by Daniel Rossen // Silent Hour / Golden Mile (2012)

Three for three. Daniel Rossen’s new EP for Warp Records comes out in a few weeks and so far, three tracks have made their way out there into the blogosphere. All three are absolute excellence. In fact, this most recent track, the EP’s kick off track is perhaps my favorite. It’s a bluesy, dreamy folk pop track that hits its stride early on and never lets up. Gorgeous writing and vocals and restrained atmospheric instrumentation make for a perfect fit here. Sadly, this is just a radio rip, so the quality suffers a tad, but no matter - you can here everything perfectly and it’s a nice taste to satiate the hunger for the full release on the 19th of March. 

Lost Lander - Wonderful World

“Wonderful World” by Lost Lander // Drrt (2012)

Last year, Lost Lander released the song “Cold Feet” which was one of my favorite tracks of the year. I waited patiently for the album to drop and it finally has (late January on Bandcamp), but it’s not exactly what I expected. Following the first single, I was expecting something of an indie-rock-throwback album that was loaded with tracks that felt like the late 90’s, melody rich indie pop bands that seemed to have inspired “Cold Feet”. Instead, I got a gorgeously, subtle, orchestral pop album that reminds me of Grandaddy one minute, Fleet Foxes the next. Let’s just say that I’m perfectly fine with the trade up. “Wonderful World” is one of the stand outs, with it’s somber tone, ghostly production, and killer harmonies. It reminds me of Midlake’s brilliant “Roscoe” from 2006, but colder, and melancholic (in a good way). It’s a fantastic album worth your time and you can stream it now and purchase it at Bandcamp. 

(stream/purchase) “Drrt” by Lost Lander (via Bandcamp)

Real Estate - In My Car (Smugglers Way FlexiZine)

“In My Car” by Real Estate // Domino Presents: Smugglers Way (Record Store Day) (2012)

What a pleasant surprise from Domino Records. They’ve gone and released a new studio cut from Real Estate that will be featured later on their Record Store Day release, Smuggler’s Way, which is going to be a magazine that comes with flexidiscs containing new music from the label’s bands (including John Maus, Cass McCombs, and Dirty Projectors). For now, you get the dreamy autumnal sounds of Real Estate to wet your whistle. Absolutely press play. 

Sun Kil Moon - Sunshine in Chicago

“Sunshine in Chicago” by Sun Kil Moon // Among the Leaves (2012)

Leave it to Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon) to release some new music that transports me to an autumnal place, just when i’m properly craving some seasonal shifts. “Sunshine in Chicago” is a new track from the forthcoming Sun Kil Moon album, Among the Leaves, and it has that familiar, warmth, wrapped in a melancholic acoustic number that we’ve come to expect from most of Kozelek’s projects. It’s a good track and a nice primer for the new album. Here’s hoping he breaks out some of those more dynamic sounds that he’s been exploring on recent Sun Kil Moon records (especially the darker stuff found on April). 

(download) “Sunshine in Chicago” by Sun Kil Moon (via P4k) 

Daniel Rossen - Silent Song

“Silent Song” by Daniel Rossen // Silent Hour / Golden Mile (2012)

Daniel Rossen is two for two on excellence on his forthcoming Warp Records EP. Previously he had released the quiet, melancholic piano heavy track, “Saint Nothing” and now he’s gone and dropped another. This one more upbeat and featuring a lush production with those familiar harmonies that you might find in his Grizzly Bear work. It’s a downright fantastic track worth all sorts of repeat listens. At this point I’m starting to think it’s safe to say that Chris Taylor (CANT) has some serious competition in the best of the Grizzly side-projects .

Bowerbirds - In the Yard

“In The Yard” by Bowerbirds // The Clearing (2012)

This haunting, slowly-building, new track from Bowerbirds is just the kind of right way to kick of a week. A dark, melancholic piano and drum combo lead the track through tempo changes that ultimately build to something all together wonderful. Most of this album was recorded at Bon Iver’s Wisconsin production studio and the close proximity might have worn off on Bowerbirds, because there’s something about this that reminds me of the Blood Bank EP. Then again, I might just be reading into it. Definitely a must listen. 

(download) “In The Yard” by Bowerbirds (via Pitchfork)

Daniel Rossen - Saint Nothing

“Saint Nothing” by Daniel Rossen // Silent Hour / Golden Mile (2012)

The members of Grizzly Bear never seem to let me down. Daniel Rossen’s work outside of the band has been especially interesting. His early work with Department of Eagles blended electronics and psych pop into some incredible material and later they matured into something of an experimental folk act that lead to similar excellent output. Now, Warp Records is releasing an EP of Rossen’s solo material titled Silent Hour/Golden Mile and they’ve dropped the first taste in the form of the haunting, melancholic piano led number, “Saint Nothing”. On paper you would think that you would know exactly what to expect from a sad, piano ballad from one of the Grizzly Bear guys, but you’d be underestimating Rossen’s talent. While the song is a gorgeous, must-listen on those merits, the real sell is the incredible production and multi-instrumental flourishes that are peppered throughout (the horn section and soft, jazz structure drums are especially gorgeous). I can’t say enough good about this song. Highest possible recommendation.