Premiere | Heartbreaking Bravery

April 4, 2016

The Nudes – Nowhere To Be (Song Premiere)

thenudes

Only a few years ago, The Nudes sounded like a completely different band from their current iteration. A large part of that is thanks to the fact that they were a smaller unit with different personnel but, after several shifts, the band’s found a new level of confidence and a lineup that plays to their strengths. Their upcoming EP, Nowhere To Be, will be the full lineup’s first official release following a demo compilation that touched on everything the band’s done since forming several years ago.

The band’s latest drummer, celebrated artist and A Year’s Worth of Memories contributor Phil McAndrew, was kind enough to patch along the forthcoming EP’s title track a few days ago and it quietly (and unexpectedly) knocked me flat. Having been familiar with The Nudes‘ past work (largely in part to McAndrew’s recommendations before he was drafted into the band), “Nowhere To Be” seemed as if it was plucked from a separate universe.

Light and airy but played with a clear-eyed determination that grounds the whole affair, “Nowhere To Be” scans like a host of legitimately great powerpop acts (Alvvays, every Run For Cover-affiliated band from Sweden, etc.) while maintaining its own identity. It’s a miraculous track that takes aim at a handful of acute targets and hits them with the kind of beautiful flourishes that go a long ways in ensuring that “Nowhere To Be” isn’t just memorable but maintains an impressive longevity.

At a precise two-and-a-half minutes, “Nowhere To Be” both announces the band’s new era and capitalizes on its beaten, weary, and strangely hopeful narrative in an impressive amount of time. A heavenly chorus elevates the gentle, atmospheric verses with a shy smile and a backwards glance. Nearly everything in “Nowhere To Be” complements and enhances all of the song’s most minute aspects; from the incredibly impressive dynamics to the skyward riffing to the effective, minimalist rhythm section work to the captivating vocal performance, each segment combines into small grace notes of breathtaking perfection.

Easily one of 2016’s most unexpectedly triumphant moments, “Nowhere To Be” is a song worth discussing for several years to come. If the rest of the EP can live up to what The Nudes have accomplished here, it should stand as one of this year’s finest releases. Give this one all of the time, investment, and love it deserves.

Listen to “Nowhere To Be” below and keep an eye on both Spit Fam Tapes for the EP’s cassette run and this site for more details on The Nudes going into the future.

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March 29, 2016

Horse Teeth – Dark & Gloomy (Song Premiere)

One of the most notable advantages of running a blog that mostly focuses on non-marquee names is the increased likelihood of being clued into promising bands at the earliest stages of their list. About a week ago, this manifested in the form of the premiere of Inside Voices’ extraordinary “Nomad: Begin” and now that aspect of this site is being brought to the forefront once again with another premiere from a band just starting out: Horse Teeth.

Boasting a sound that’s not too dissimilar from the finest crop of Saddle Creek acquisitions (Hop Along, Big Thief, etc.), the trio’s already showing remarkable poise for a new project. Beyond that, Horse Teeth — a band comprised of Andrew Stocker, Adeline Hotel’s Dan Knishkowy, and Minor Moon’s Sam Cantor — seems so assured in their songwriting that it’s difficult to imagine they’ll be able to expand on an already fully-formed identity as they push their way into the future.

Folk, Americana, blues, and punk influences are all evident throughout “Dark & Gloomy”, the band’s lead-off track from their debut effort, the Horse Teeth EP. Recorded during a January blizzard, the song offers a tantalizing preview of the band’s exceptional songwriting and compelling aesthetic. Striking the absolutely perfect balance between polish and grit, Horse Teeth manage to secure a level of production that goes beyond just complementing their sound and winds up ensuring it’s enhanced.

On top of every other promising quality the band shows in great abundance both on “Dark & Gloomy” and throughout the EP is their vice-like grip on dynamic flourishes. From the breezy, wide-open riffing that drives the track to the effective rests and crescendos, there’s never a moment anything less than utterly captivating. From memorable couplets to well-versed rhythm work, “Dark & Gloomy” isn’t just a solid introduction to a tremendous new band, it’s a genre masterclass. Don’t make the mistake of letting this one slip by unnoticed.

Listen to “Dark & Gloomy” below and keep an eye out for both its April digital release and the EP’s limited tape run, courtesy of Bad Look Records.

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March 23, 2016

Inside Voices – Nomad: Begin (Song Premiere)

Every so often a band I had no prior knowledge of will show up in my inbox and gift me a song that swiftly knocks me backwards. A few weeks ago, Inside Voices became one of those rare bands. After making the move from Austin, TX to Brooklyn, NY, the band’s been gearing up for the release of their tremendous The Cold Equations EP, a record I’ll most certainly be circling back to at various points in the future.

Since Inside Voices are still a little-known name, they needed a hook to reel in an audience and The Cold Equations‘ opener, “Nomad: Begin”, is about as sharp as they come. Owing a debt to the magisterial sprawl of Cymbals Eat Guitars, “Nomad: Begin” finds a way to assert its own authority and make a startling impression. As the song slowly unfurls, it manages the delicate act of transforming from a gentle caress into an all-consuming roar.

It’s a staggering display of power and — just as importantly — nuance. As the rest of The Cold Equations will eventually attest, Inside Voices understand how to maximize impact via dynamic shifts, something easily evidenced in “Nomad: Begin”. That attention to atmospheric detail nearly distracts from legitimately compelling narratives, which often world-build as effectively as they present the kind of acutely-realized stories that often go untold.

Everything packaged together sees the band reaching a point of near sublimity on their first real trip to the plate. Not only does everything instantaneously connect, it gets sent hurtling outward with a demented vengeance. “Nomad: Begin” would register as an impressive feat for any band, let alone one that’s just starting to make their way out into the world. It’s the kind of song that reinvigorates my interest in both music and writing and it’s the kind of song you owe it to yourself to hear.

Listen to “Nomad: Begin” below and keep an eye on this site for more updates on both Inside Voices and The Cold Equations EP.

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March 10, 2016

INTRODUCING: Ubetcha

ubetcha

Before the massive 2016 catch-up overhaul resumes, it’s going to take one massive side step to introduce the world to Ubetcha. Comprised of Glueboy‘s Coby Chafets and Milk Dick‘s Brian Indig, Ubetcha is the product of two compellingly warped minds that crank out music at a genuinely alarming pace. Both Chafets and Indig have had dalliances with deeply experimental side projects to their main vehicles but Ubetcha sees the two embracing a gleeful collision course and staggering away from the crash with surprisingly sharp results.

Their first single, the punk-laced basement pop number “Always Tired” is an instant standout, full of playful eccentricities, jackknife riffing, and an abundance of energy that practically derails the entire thing. Somehow, “Always Tired” finds a way to contain that energy and play into the outsize persona that will undoubtedly come to define the band. Another defining aspect will likely be the tongue-in-cheek humor that permeates the entirety of “Always Tired”, a song ostensibly about being too exhausted to do anything enjoyable that — as noted — is fueled by a startling amount of energy.

From the gargled “Whoa, hey everybody!” that kicks “Always Tired” off, there’s not a moment of the 92-second track that goes to waste. While the duo switches responsibilities throughout their upcoming record, which is full of similarly feral tunes, Chafets handles the lead vocal, Indig does back-ups, both tackle the guitar parts, Chafets on bass, and Indig on drums. It’s one of the more complete — and effective — two-person collaborative efforts to come along in a while and will likely lead to a lot more exhilarating future material. For now, the best thing to do is just crank this up, figure out whether you’re exhausted or adrenalized, and let “Always Tired” take you wherever it damn well pleases.

Listen to “Always Tired” below and keep an eye on this site for more updates on the duo.

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December 1, 2015

Phooey! – Molly’s at the Laundromat (Song Premiere)

phoooey

Every once in a very rare while, a fascinating artist lands in my inbox. I’ve had the distinct fortune of finding out about some of my favorite music through unassuming emails, which is why I’ll always do my best to take at least a brief glance at everything that comes my way. Phooey! is a Ukraine-based project spearheaded by Nikita Ogurtsov, which came to my attention more than a year ago. Since our initial email exchanges, Phooey! has maintained a maniacal release schedule and is now preparing the release of Virgin Blues, the project’s third release of this year and 16th overall. After the fiery 7 Songs and the more experimental Songs for My Little Brother, the project’s taking the logical next step and marrying the strongest aspects of those releases.

“Molly’s at the Laundromat” is the first song to be unveiled from Virgin Blues and it easily ranks among the year’s most thrilling songs. Opening with a cascade of instrumentation that’s vaguely reminiscent of Beirut at their most playful, “Molly’s at the Laundromat” quickly shifts gears and erupts into a volcanic basement pop gut-punch. Over the course of its galvanizing two minutes, the song surges back between those two points before settling on a happy middle ground which then– almost immediately– gives way to a section where the rug’s pulled out from underneath and drops the song into a gorgeous outro run.

There are more ideas successfully packed into “Molly’s at the Laundromat” than most acts can manage over the course of their first few records. Urgent songwriting at its absolute finest, it’s a track that fills the usual void between immediacy, accessibility, and substance with an astounding amount of grace. Easily a high watermark for Ogurtsov (who recorded the entire thing on his lonesome), “Molly’s at the Laundromat” is an extremely tantalizing look at not just Virgin Blues but the project’s promising future.

Listen to “Molly’s at the Laundromat” below and keep an eye on this site for more updates on Phooey! and Virgin Blues, which is set to be released on cassette in Russia via Garage Karma Store Records.

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November 17, 2015

Adir L.C. – Buyer’s Instinct (Music Video Premiere)

When I first saw Adir Cohen, who goes under the moniker Adir L.C., it was immediately evident that he carried an easy magnetism. There was a quiet confidence in his posture and it was clear he was surrounded by friends; people gravitated towards him thanks to his soft affability. With all of that taken into account, it wasn’t too much of a surprise when he started setting up behind the microphone at DBTS. Equally unsurprisingly was that those same qualities translated seamlessly through the songs he performed that night, each a carefully constructed tale that were at least somewhat reflective of his wealth of experience as a frequent international traveler.

The bulk of that set was culled from Oceanside Cities, a beautiful collection of expressive, folk-oriented songs that often feel as vibrant as they do weary. Oceanside Cities also boasts a level of grandeur that’s beginning to feel increasingly uncommon in the DIY-leaning scenes. Songs like “Dinosaurs” (which was rightfully paired with a very strong music video) give the record a cinematic, widescreen feeling, which also heightens the record’s more fleeting moments of greater intimacy. One of the moments that hits hardest comes in the form of the heartbreaking “Buyer’s Instinct”, which now boasts a beautiful music video that’s premiering here.

“Buyer’s Instinct” does have a surprisingly optimistic core but it becomes abundantly clear throughout the course of the song that the optimism’s been brutalized over time. Enhancing that subtle, warring aspect of the song are the visuals provided for “Buyer’s Instinct”, which put Cohen in front of some of the most distinctive street art murals in his home of Tel Aviv. The visuals are a striking complement to the nature of the song, each feeding into each other to create something that feels singular even before the superimposed home movie imagery that characterizes a haunting solo section comes into play. As an examination of human nature and the way it can evolve, erode, and decay while still being preserved throughout time, it’s a startling piece of commentary. As a music video for an emerging artist? It’s just about perfect.

Watch “Buyer’s Instinct” below and pick up a copy of Oceanside Cities here.

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November 10, 2015

CITRIS – Little Scars (Music Video Premiere)

citris

It’s been a few weeks since anything that’s run on this site. During that time I’ve relocated from the center of seemingly everything (Brooklyn) back to the middle of nowhere (central Wisconsin). In that interim, I’ve kept an eye on the slew of releases that have made the rounds over the past few weeks and will be addressing the best of those shortly. Breaking the coverage drought– before getting to the several dozen clips, full streams, and songs– it’s my pleasure to once again be presenting a music video premiere for CITRIS.

The musical project of Angelina Torreano and Chris Krasnow, they released one of 2015’s more intriguing records in Panic In Hampton Bays, which came equipped with a handful of songs that had the potential to become very strong singles. One of the strongest, “Little Scars”, now has a beautiful visual accompaniment. Pairing with director Andy Martinez and cinematographer Stanley Steel (who together comprise the production team Andy Martinez and the Stanley Steel), they’ve concocted a hazy, color-damaged, practical effects-laden clip for the song.

Seltzer, emergency packets, home movie footage, pinkish hues, smoky wisps, and a decidedly ’90s aesthetic combine to create something genuinely engrossing. Torreano, as ever, maintains a commanding screen presence, imbuing “Little Scars” with a noir-ish sense of mystique and subdued (read: barely contained) energy. It’s a lively next step for a band that’s growing increasingly assured in its footing and stealthily proving to be a serious threat. Don’t miss out on one of the more compelling DIY clips in recent memory.

Watch “Little Scars” below and snag a copy of Panic In Hampton Bays here.

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October 26, 2015

Slight – Hate the Summer (Song Premiere)

Photograph by Stepahnie Griffin // INDAFF

Ever since hearing Slight‘s Run (an online single that would go on to top this site’s odds and ends of 2014 list), they’ve been easy to pin down in the “favorite bands” category. While the respective successes of Painted Zeros, LVL UP, and Normal Person have kept its members occupied in 2015, the trio’s managed to find a way to keep pushing forward. Tomorrow, they’ll be releasing their Hate the Summer EP (which includes both songs from Run) in conjunction with their show at Palisades, which will also feature sets from Museum of Recycling, Normal Person, and The Glow.

In advance of the show (and the release), the band’s allowing everyone a look ahead with the EP’s title track. “Hate the Summer” is another basement pop triumph, expertly balancing a clear-eyed conviction with a determined grit that elevates the song well past the levels that most bands who attempt that feat achieve. Surging with a punk bite but grounded by Jim Hill’s enviable gift for pop songwriting, “Hate the Summer” comes across as both immediate and accessible without ever sounding or feeling hollow.

While the vocal and guitar hooks abound, the song’s kept anchored by the characteristically impressive rhythm section work laid down by Alberto Casadevall and Greg Rutkin, who provide the song with a remarkable amount of drive. Hard-hitting and heavy-hearted, the song’s eventually defined by its resilience in the face of a detached weariness. It’s nuanced, it’s effective, and it’s one of the finest songs to have found release in the past several months. By the time the bridge kicks in, it’s clear that Slight’s members haven’t placed this project on the back burner and are intent to push it forward with all the strength they can manage. We’re just fortunate enough to be along for the ride.

Listen to “Hate the Summer” below and keep an eye on this site for any upcoming news about the band.

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October 26, 2015

WASHA – Night/Day (Music Video Premiere)

Every so often, an offer to premiere something from an emerging artist lands in my inbox. Frequently, it’ll be the first I’ve heard of the artist and rarely will it be something that fits this site’s focus. So the moments when those offers actually hit their target, they hit especially hard. Enter: WASHA and the music video for “Night/Day”. Coming in advance of the artist’s upcoming full-length, The Bright.

The project of Dwight Pendleton, WASHA operates most frequently in a morose-leaning bedroom pop mode but continuously finds moments that allow for hope. WASHA also feels, even more than its contemporaries, like a deeply personal journey of self-discovery. “Night/Day” presents all of this and more in a 4:3 ratio that suggest an underlying self-awareness of historical context. Finding subtle ways to showcase the execution, process, and circumstance of an intimate performance, “Night/Day” far exceeds something that seems ostensibly simplistic at first glance to become far more nuanced and meaningful. Strung all together through a muted color palette that complements the song’s downtrodden atmosphere to thrilling effect, “Night/Day” effectively becomes a very tantalizing first look at a project worth anticipating.

Watch “Night/Day” below and keep an eye on this site for ongoing news about WASHA and The Bright.

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October 26, 2015

Young Jesus – Holy Ghost (Music Video Premiere)

Several months ago, this site offered up the premiere of the album teaser for Young Jesus’ outstanding Grow/Decompose, which remains one of this year’s finest releases. Now that the record’s out in the world and the band’s about to go on tour in support of Grow/Decompose, they’ve sent another item through the pipeline: the compelling animated video for “Holy Ghost”.

Once again, the direction and art comes courtesy of Young Jesus’ guitarist/vocalist (and principal songwriter) John Rossiter, who continues to impress with an ever-evolving collage of artistic mediums, all held within one frame as the irrepressible energy of “Holy Ghost” pushes the art to its furthest corners. It’s a staggering reminder of the band’s formidable talent, which remains largely overlooked. However, the band’s ready to combat that with some additional firepower that’s arrived in the form of their new label, Gigantic Noise, which will be reissuing Grow/Decompose on vinyl in early 2016.

With the impending reissue, approaching year-end lists, and the band’s gripping live show all factoring into the mix, Young Jesus seems set for a very promising year. They’re fully capable of infusing every facet of their band with the artistry that permeates “Holy Ghost”, making them one of music’s best-kept secrets. Don’t miss out on the reissue, this video, or any of the band’s upcoming tour dates, which can be found below the video.

Watch “Holy Ghost” below and pick up a copy of Grow/Decompose here.

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Tag: Premiere