Fanuelle - Dirty Loverstuff

“Dirty Loverstuff” by Fanuelle // Fanuelle (2005//2012 Re-Issue)

What a strange, wonderful find. Fanuelle is Matthew Fanuelle, an NYC artist that released an album of DIY bedroom pop backed by a swarm of old keyboards seven years back and it apparently disappeared pretty soon after that. Recently, Swedish label, Emotion, dug it out, brushed it off and managed to get Fanuelle to agree to a remaster and re-release and now we’ve been given another chance to pay attention to what we missed out on the first time around. You can stream the entire, weird and wonderful avant-pop record over at Fader right now, and I assure you, there’s lost of great gems to discover within, as time has been quite kind to the album which feels right at home with today’s cavalcade of DIY bandcamp bedroom artists (yet, this is a diamond even in that capacity). Check out the track “Dirty Loverstuff” and see what I mean. It calls to mind a casio heavy version of the National, or a stripped back version of Future Islands. It’s definitely something you should be checking out. 

*”Fanuelle” by Fanuelle is now available for download.

Weird Dreams - Little Girl

“”Little Girl” by Weird Dreams // Choreography (2012)

This is a pleasant little surprise. “Little Girl” is a swooning, guitar pop throwback that feels like it was born out of three different generations, the 50’s teenage love song era, the 80’s new romantic revival, and today’s lo-fi retro pop that draws from garage and beach sounds. All of them are perfectly solid places to mine from, but Weird Dreams make it sound easy by reminding you of each of them all at once. It’s a pretty, dreamy little thing that is a must listen for fans of The Morning Benders, Gem Club, and Dum Dum Girls.

(download) “Little Girl” by Weird Dreams (via P4K)

The Holiday Crowd - Never Speak Of It Again

“Never Speak of it Again” by The Holiday Crowd // Over the Bluffs (2012)

There’s no getting around it, The Holiday Crowd is clearly inspired by The Smiths. I’ll leave it at that. They’ve got a knack for recreating that sound of moody-yet-dreamy love-lost while keeping the sounds upbeat and jangly and loaded with melodies. There are plenty of other bands that are much worse choices to draw heavy inspiration from, it’s just really out in front. This is an album that could have been made in 1986 and it’s actually kind of refreshing to hear it played so unabashedly tight to the time. The C86 sound has been a fairly popular touchstone in recent years with lo-fi indie bands embracing the sound wholeheartedly, but rarely has it sounded so purely from that time. Definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of The Smiths (or Morrissey), Orange Juice, or Belle & Sebastian. 

(stream) Over the Bluffs EP by The Holiday Crowd (via Soundcloud)

Heavenly Beat - “Faithless”

“Faithless” by Heavenly Beat // Faithless 7” (2011)

More wonderful sounds from the boys of Beach Fossils, this time from bassist, John Pena’s side project, Heavenly Beat. Unlike the darker, post punk influenced sounds of Dive, Heavenly Beat seems to be almost treading into Jens Lekman’s style of romantically orchestral indie pop. This is a good thing. Especially in the hands of someone who does it as well Pena does. Heavenly Beat and Dive are both bands to watch in 2012, but for the time being we can check out their few digital releases as they make their ways to our ears. 

Clearlake - Wonder If The Snow Will Settle

“Wonder If the Snow Will Settle” by Clearlake // Cedars (2003)

It’s the weekend, so I’m going to dig out some old favorites. Take a break from the new to celebrate the old(er). I recently listened to Clearlake’s Cedars for the first time in years and was surprised by how well it held up. Everything felt completely fresh as it did when I fell in love with in eight years ago. “Wonder If the Snow Will Settle” stands out still as a favorite. Those layered keys and somber guitars with that marching band drum beat still hit hard. Of course, the sad little tale of love lost (and possibly forgotten) is done superbly as well, and that’s one of the great things about Clearlake. They could write the fuck out of a great hook that carried weight. This song carries it’s own weight for me, but it’s still nice to revisit those places. 

The Horrors - Fact Mix 270

THE HORRORS // FACT MIX #270

The Horrors have recently put together a great mix for Fact Magazine loaded with with some of their favorite tracks and inspirations for their excellent new album, “Skying”. The Tracklist is as Follows:

• T.2. – No More White Horses
• Tame Impala – Desire Be, Desire Go
• David Essex – Rock On
• Connan Mockasin – Unicorn In Uniform
• Primal Scream – Inner Flight
• US 69 – 2069 A Space Oddity
• Gene Clark – Some Misunderstanding
• Roxy Music – In Every Dream Home A Heartache
• Bobak, Jons, Malone – On A Meadow-Lea
• The Beach Boys – Caroline No
• The Velvet Underground – The Ocean
• The Beatles – Dear Prudence
• Aphrodite’s Child – The Four Horsemen

• Stereolab – Metronomic Underground

(download) The Horrors // Fact Mix 270

Future Islands - Walking Through That Door

“Walking Through That Door” by Future Islands // In Evening Air (2010)

I’d recently posted the new track by Future Islands (“Before the Bridge”) a few weeks back, but with Pitchfork finally posting a review of it on their playlist this morning, I thought I’d break out one of my favorite tracks from their 2010 album, In Evening Air. This track holds a similar sound to “Before the Bridge”, if only a little more upbeat. The same vocal theatricality is present, as is the big whirling synths and late 80’s dance beats, which make for a pretty wonderful listen.

With the constant barrage of new music from the usual sites as well as the never ending new bands on Soundcloud and Bandcamp, I’m trying to do my best to occasionally look back and make sure I’m not missing something really great that slipped through the cracks. This album was one of those that slipped through for me, and catching back up with it has been a blast.

Mozart Parties - Black Cloud

“Black Cloud” by Mozart Parties // from the digital release, Black Cloud

This is something in which I can really sink my teeth. I’m finding it increasingly rare to find strong pop sensibilities and solid writing in the ocean of new music that finds its way onto the internet on a day to day basis. Sure, there are plenty of wonderful, atmospheric experimental tracks by forward thinking artists, but sometimes it’s just nice to hear someone use those pop sensibilities in conjunction with their other song experiments. That being said, the songcraft here is what shines. It’s got a great forlorn new romantic vibe with strong vocals and solid lyrics and smart, never-over-wrought production. It’s just a great song. Fuck it. Ignore all of what I wrote up there. None of that matters. This is what matters -

I think this is a wonderful, sweet, melancholic song worth a couple dozen listens. .

(mp3 @ Altered Zones // Mozart Parties @ Myspace)