“Please Be My Third Eye” by La Sera // (dir. Vice Cooler)

Here’s a video for one of my favorite tracks of the year thus far, the insanely catchy “Please Be My Third Eye” by Katy Goodman’s La Sera project. Hopefully you have nothing against pretty girls singing in sunny SoCal locales (see that shit i did right there), because that’s exactly what you get with this video. Good stuff all around. 

Pretender

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“Pretender” by Black Marble // Weight Against the Door EP (2012)

Danceyrselfclean posted a new Bandcamp find from the good folks at Hardly Art’s new signing, Brooklyn’s Black Marble, and it’s a fantastic bit of lo-fi post punk. Both that track (“On My Head”) and this one (“Pretender”) are taken from a forthcoming EP titled, Weight Against the Door. If these tracks are any indication, Black Marble is absolutely a band to watch. For fans of the early years of The Cure, Little Girls, and Joy Division (and assorted other 80’s post punk). 

(stream) “Pretender” & “On My Head” by Black Marble (bandcamp)

Seapony - Sailing

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“Sailing” by Seapony // Sailing 7” (2011)

Seapony have a lockdown on the breezy, hazy, sepia toned romantic tracks. They have a knack for capturing the sound of a memory and this new track from a forthcoming 7” is no exception. It’s pretty melody and warm instrumentation feels like an outtake from some wonderful album that The Sundays never released. Definitely worth checking out. 

(pre-order) “Sailing” by Seapony

Gem Club - In Wavelengths

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“In Wavelengths” by Gem Club // Breakers (2011)

The new album from Gem Club is a quiet, chilly, ethereal beauty. Front to back, it’s a solid listen. My favorite of those tracks is the album closer, “In Wavelengths”, which has been one of my late night favorites for the past few months. It’s a somber, floating, beauty that is worth all sorts of your time. As is the entire album which you can now stream in it’s entirety at Soundcloud. 

(stream)  Gem Club’s “Breakers” (via Hardly Art @ Soundcloud)

Shimmering Stars - Nervous Breakdown

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“Nervous Breakdown” by Shimmering Stars // Violent Hearts (2011)

Nothing like a bit of throwback, echo pop to kickstart the day. This track is coming from Vancouver’s Shimmering Stars on Hardly Art records. It has sort of a Phil Spector-ish production vibe alongside a melancholic sound with gorgeous vocal melodies. Simple and sweet. Like the entire album, which is out now. Definitely worth hearing. 

(download) Shimmering Stars - “Nervous Breakdown” (via Hardly Art’s Soundcloud)

Seapony - Blue Star

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“Blue Star” by Seapony // from the forthcoming album Dream With Me

Here’s a peek into the forthcoming Seapony release, Dream With Me, which continues the fuzzy jangle pop that they displayed on their self titled EP. It’s got a dreamy, sun drenched sound that’s a perfect accompaniment to your warming days. 

(mp3 from GvB)