“Hoping And Waiting”, off The Hush Now‘s upcoming sophomore LP Constellations, sees the band progressing in their ability to craft a great pop song. Simple and packed with pop sensibilities, “Hoping And Waiting” shows more promise than the singles off the group’s self-titled debut. The Hush Now’s sunny pop is excellent summer fun. Read More »The Hush Now: Hoping And Waiting [Track Review]
Vivian Girls‘ self-titled LP from 2008 was damn catchy. Listening again to songs like “All The Time” and “Tell The World”, I’m immediately rewarded with the garage-centric punk-pop style I absolutely adore. But Vivian Girls have a new one coming out soon, a new one called Everything Goes Wrong. The album’s title contrasts perfectly with the first single, “When I’m Gone”, as, despite the greatness of Vivian Girls, this is the group’s most accomplished song yet. Read More »Vivian Girls: When I’m Gone [Track Review]
It’s mid-Summer 2009 and we are finally treated with the creative meeting of two of the more eclectic and eccentric minds in independent music — Bradford Cox (Atlas Sound, Deerhunter) and Noah Lennox (Panda Bear, Animal Collective). Atlas Sound‘s “Walkabout” is the result, and it features Lennox’s pop-riddled vocals draped by the experimental sounds signature to Atlas Sound. The combination is brilliant; genius minds like these really should collaborate more often. Read More »Atlas Sound: Walkabout [Track Review]
Sea Wolf returns after a few years with a new album, White Water, White Bloom. “Stanislaus” comes from that album; more specifically, it comes as a bonus track on the vinyl version of the album. On “Stanislaus”, Sea Wolf continues their pop-heavy Americana-style folk. The song is impressive for a bonus track — such songs more often than not lean toward b-sides and outtakes, but “Stanislaus” finds Sea Wolf, who many considered a quite promising artist upon the release of their debut, fully realizing that promise. Read More »Sea Wolf: Stanislaus [Track Review]
Rock Plaza Central fit a comfortable medium between the highly intense and erratic folk of artists like O’Death and modern (and much more sane) artists like Megafaun and David Karsten Daniels. In all cases, these artists push the boundaries of folk and Americana despite maintaining a fairly comfortable lineup of instruments. “Handsome Men”, for example, is packed with fiddle and features an introductory trumpet. It’s backed by crashing cymbals and punchy percussion and a subtle guitar. Read More »Rock Plaza Central: Handsome Men [Track Review & Show Preview]
From Sweden comes Solander, a band made of one Fredrik Karlsson who is also an instrumental part of the band Fredrik (though whose namesake he shares only by coincidence). The relation is more than mere presence, as the two groups share a love for beautifully melodic pop. The latest news from Karlsson and Solander is that the band has signed to Swedish label Tenderversion for the release of debut LP Since We Are Pigeons. Read More »Solander [Feature Band]
Uvi.lov is a self-described dream pop band. Upon hearing the term dream pop, I was intrigued to discover what such a sound encompassed. More notably, how does dream pop sound from Mexico. When I think of such music, I often think of a little Brazilian label called Si No Puedo Bailar, No Es Mi Revolucion. And it’s no surprise, Uvi.lov would fit in amidst artists like Balún and Juan Stewart, whose pop sensiblities include highly melodic, hypnotic electronica, otherwise known as dream pop.
Read More »Uvi.lov [Feature Band] 
“Running” is my introduction to Sweden’s Erik de Vahl, who creates softly romantic experimental pop music. Experimental music comes in many forms, and experimental pop is no exception. On “Running” de Vahl focuses on melody and adds a variety of instruments, from subtle bongos in the background to various forms of keyed instruments and electronics. The result is a breathtaking concoction of underground pop genius. Read More »Erik de Vahl: Running [Track Review]
“Meet And Greet”, off Slaraffenland‘s upcoming debut LP We’re On Your Side, follows precisely the direction in which they embarked on last year’s EP Sunshine with tracks like “I’m A Machine” and “The Trick”. Slaraffenland continues to shovel out intricately orchestrated experimental pop melodies. “Meet And Greet” proves this band’s signature is quickly becoming hand claps and stomps featured at unique intervals and horn heavy instrumentation, fronted by ornate multi-part vocals that converge and spread into complex harmonies instantaneously. Read More »Slaraffenland: Meet And Greet [Track Review]
![[ingenting]](https://i0.wp.com/fensepost.com/main/images/bands/i/ingenting_2.jpg?w=1200)
Of the seemingly countless Swedish artists/groups I follow, rarely does one surface that sings in the native tongue. They instead tend to favor English. [ingenting] is one of the rarities and their new track “Halleluja” is packed with beautiful pop melodies and a title even the English-only speaking individuals on this side of the Western world can understand. Whether you can comprehend the rest of the words, however, is of little significance — the melodies are enough to carry the listener away, and there are more than enough hooks to… well, get hooked. Read More »[ingenting]: Halleluja [Track Review]
