TEARS by HEALTH

“Tears” by HEALTH // Max Payne 3 - Official Score (2012)

From the onslaught of recent promo material for the new Max Payne game, I was aware that HEALTH contributed a song, but I had no idea that they were responsible for the entire score to the video game. That’s a nice little bonus to look forward to in the coming days. Also nice, is the lead off track that’s been featured in the bulk of those TV promos, the dark, buzzsawing electro shoegaze cut, “Tears”. It’s a haunting, blast of jagged synths, muted beats, and ghostly vocals. Definitely worth hearing. For fans of Crystal Castles, Pictureplane, and A Place to Bury Strangers. 

Dead Mellotron 'Making Up'

“Making Up” by Dead Mellotron // Glitter (2012)

Dead Mellotron’s excellent new album, “Glitter” (Out now on Sonic Cathedral) is a shoegaze album with character. Each track has something special that sets it apart from the last, but the overall affect remains consistent and progressive. Without getting into a full album review, I’d like to draw attention to one particular standout, in the dark, gorgeous shoegazer, “Making Up”. This track has a Sonic Youth vibe in it’s darker, mid-tempo beat, and forlorn guitars. Think of Dead Meadow’s “Old Growth” album, or last year’s excellent “Prom” from Grooms, and you’ll get why I’m so in love with this particular track. It’s eerie, melodic drone and haunting vocals sound custom made for a late night drive through Autumn months. It’s a killer track from a stellar album. Highest recommendation. 

Radio Slow Riot - Episode Twelve

RADIO SLOW RIOT /// EPISODE TWELVE (5.7.12)

The music has been coming swift and strong these past few weeks with absolutely stellar tracks landing almost daily. It’s made picking and choosing fairly easy for these podcasts, but sometimes to keep with a vibe, you’ve got to know when to let some things go. For this episode, I had enough material to make a two and half hour podcast, but to keep the flow right and the transitions appropriate, I’ve managed to whittle it down to 90 minutes of almost completely new material with a couple of old gems capping off the episode for good measure. I hope the dreamwave sounds good during your night time listening sessions. 

Please share/reblog with others if you like what you hear 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)

• “Five Seconds” by Twin Shadow
• “Night is Dark” by Grand Resort
• “Leave My Shadow” by Craft Spells
• “Funerals” by Airiel
• “Replica” by Flock of Dimes
• “Crystallized”  by Melody’s Echo Chamber
• “Through the Window” by Violens
• “Millions” by Eternal Summers
• “Come Near” by Lykke Li
• “Aloha Moon” by Magic Wands
• “Obedear” by Purity Ring
• “Ectocooler” by Alligator Indian
• “Say Goodbye” by Summer Heart
• “The Future” by Teen Daze
• “Walked into Diazapene” by Eight and a Half
• “Water Gun” by Gorgeous Bully
• “Tiffany Lou” by Daughn Gibson
• “Summer Music” by Advance Base
• “Pretend You Love Me” by Sonny and the Sunsets
• “Avalanche” by S. Carey
• “Hold You Down” by One Little Plane
• “Harry’ by Secret Shine
• “Diamond (Demo)” by Glass Ghost

gorgeous bully - M.A.W

“M.A.W.” by Gorgeous Bully // Bullring (2012)

Leave it to Cassette-Rewind to catch me sleeping on the job. While I was wondering why I wasn’t hearing much in store of new goodies over the past week, he goes and posts this wonderful track from UK Band, Gorgeous Bully. “M.A.W.” is a short, sweet fuzzy, dream pop jam with an instantly memorable hook. Seriously, this is one that you’ll find yourself humming for the better part of your day. There’s also good news in that you can download their latest EP for free from Bandcamp. Highest recommendation for fans of Wild Nothing, Craft Spells, and Cocteau Twins. 

Film School - P.S.

“P.S.” by Film School // Film School (2006)

Whenever I find myself missing the autumn months, or just looking for something familiar and comforting and lovely, this song does the trick. It’s been a quiet couple of days for new tracks, so being the weekend, I thought I’d post an old favorite that never gets old for me. “P.S.” is that perfect mixture of dream pop and shoegaze that hits all of the right notes. The droning, melancholic synth lines and somber guitar swirl together around the quiet, almost hushed vocals (that get more pronounced as the song progresses) creating some of the dreamiest sounds of the past ten years, but then when you’d think the song is going to start to fade away, the guitars shift and bulk up and everything starts to grow into this cacophonous shoegazer that leads the song to it’s incredible conclusion.  Film School has a lot of wonderful tracks in their catalog, but something about “P.S.” stays with me in a way that few songs are capable. It’s an absolute favorite that sounds best at night, under the stars. 

My Bloody Valentine - Don't Ask Why

“Don’t Ask Why” by My Bloody Valentine // EPs 1988-1991 (Remastered) (2012 Re-release)

Some of my favorite things in the world are the EPs that My Bloody Valentine released  throughout their career. Hearing them again compiled for the new re-issues of “Loveless” and “Isn’t Anything” is almost like hearing them all over again. Mostly because it’s been so long since I’ve listened to them all front to back, but also because it’s just another reminder that no one can do what MBV did. “Don’t Ask Why” has longtime been my favorite track from those EPs, and truth be told, it’s the track that for me epitomizes “Dream pop”. This doesn’t exactly push the sonic boundaries like “Loveless” did, but it establishes an absolutely brilliant sound and production that is as layered and dream-like as any pop song could hope to be. This is definitely a desert-island-song for me. I want this with me wherever I go, and usually I have it in some form. Definitely check out the new reissues of all of the My Bloody Valentine material. It’s essential hearing for lovers of music, but it’s also just as good of a time as any to get re-acquainted with the band who helped define two of the most exciting genres of music in the past 30 years. 

(stream) “Loveless (Remastered)” by My Bloody Valentine (via Guardian UK)

Lilys - Day of the Monkey

“Day of the Monkey” by Lilys // Eccsame the Photon Band (1994)

While putting together the next podcast/mixtape, I was going through some older material to pepper in with the new goodies, and I found myself diving heavily into the Lilys’ back catalog. They are truly one of the great underrated dream pop/shoegaze bands. Sure, they’ve branched out plenty oftimes and expanded into psych-pop, space rock and whatnot, but when they keep the sound tight to the space-y dream pop sound, they are damn near unbeatable. “Day of the Monkey” is one of my all time favorite songs, and after posting Airiel’s “Funerals” today and soaking up that classic shoegaze sound, I thought I’d extend that genre love a bit and post a classic in the absence of anything overwhelmingly new and exciting. There are so many wonderful components within this track that I can just lock it on repeat and live in it for hours. Those spaced out swirling synths and that hypnotic guitar line compiled withthose hazy, dreamy vocals and that killer melody just make for one incredible song. Highest possible recommendation for fans of Ride, Grandaddy, and Swervedriver.

Airiel - Funerals

“Funerals” by Airiel // Kid Games (2012)

Airiel first formed all the way back in 1997 and yet their output hasn’t been as much as you’d expect from a band that’s been around for 15 years. Several EPs, a handful of one-off compilation appearances and one full length are pretty much all that’s found it’s way to release. Luckily for fans of the band and for diehard shoegaze fans, they’re back with a stellar new EP that is loaded to the brim with gorgeous swooning guitars and reverbed atmospherics. Lead off track, “Funerals” sounds like “Disintegration“-era The Cure jamming with Ride. It’s a gorgeous, widescreen shoegazer that makes me want to dig out all of the old greats and get lost all over again. Highest recommendation for fans of Ride, Cocteau Twins, and Pale Saints. 

(stream) The entire “Kid Games EP” by Airiel (via Soundcloud)

Grand Resort - Night Is Dark

“Night is Dark” by Grand Resort // Night is Dark (Single) (2012)

Grand Resort is the moniker used by NY based musican, Andres Pichardo, and he traffics in the a particularly pretty type of dream pop that recalls autumnal vibes and city nights all at ones. Cassette-Rewind brought him to my attention and I’m thankful he has because I’ve been spinning “Night is Dark” (as well as Grand Resort’s two free tracks available at his Bandcamp). The charm in particular comes from the dreamy, early era New Order style guitar line that plays over the track while rising and falling synth lines, and twinkling percussion fill in everything but the killer melody, which are held tight by Pichardo’s warm voice. Absolutely highest recommendation for fans of Minks, Craft Spells, and Beach Fossils. 

(download) “Night is Dark” by Grand Resort (via Grand Resort’s Soundcloud)

(via cassette-rewind)

Siouxsie and the Banshees- Kiss Them For Me (School of Seven Bells Cover)

“Kiss Them For Me” by School of Seven Bells // Originally by Siouxsie and the Banshees

I’d forgotten about this Record Store Day release from School of Seven Bells until it just crossed my feed and reminded me that it required posting. Here you will find School of Seven Bells taking a rather sonically aggressive take on “Kiss Them For Me” by Siouxsie and the Banshees. It’s loaded with layers of buzzsaw synths, tribal electro beats, and swirling ethereal synth lines, but deep down there is that excellent Siouxsie melody that made the jam such ear candy years ago. Definitely worth checking out. 

(via themustycodpiece)

Craft Spells - Leave My Shadow

“Leave My Shadow” by Craft Spells // Gallery EP (2012)

Craft Spells have a nostalgic warmth to their sound that recalls the days of Cocteau Twins, Pale Saints, and (Power, Corruption, & Lies-era) New Order. They also have this special way of sounding absolutely of the moment. Perhaps it has a lot to do with the large influx of bands who draw inspiration from the dawning days of the dream pop sound, but I must say, of those bands doing it really well, Craft Spells are right up there at the top. Like Beach Fossils, they have a knack for drawing on some obscure sounds of the past and mixing them lush melodies and inviting atmospherics. “Leave My Shadow” is a shimmering dream pop beauty that sounds like it could be taken from a 1988 episode of 120 Minutes, or lifted from some killer blog-radio playlist out of Sirius XMU from tomorrow. Absolutely highest recommendation. This is top shelf dream pop.