bandcampsnoop - Tumblr blog

[bandcampsnoop]

4/30/24.

Well, this was unexpected. Not the source, but the product. Munster Records (Spain) has made a habit of obscure reissues from around the world. Often those reissues are from the 1960s and 1970s. So, "It's A Beautiful Day" - a compilation of Peruvian bands from the 1970s was not a surprise. But I was not really expecting the soft rock/psych folk/yacht rock/AOR rock sound.

These bands were definitely a product of their time - think Crosby, Still and Nash or America. But these songs sound like they could be from current Curation Records bands Beachwood Sparks or Gospelbeach. Brent Rademaker take note!

[bandcampsnoop]

4/29/24.

Sun Cousto are a Swiss band. "Imaginery Girls" is their debut LP on Swiss label Chrüsimüsi Records.

When I first started listening to "I Don't Wanna Talk" (the only song currently available) I thought I was listening to an early 80s punk band that I'd never heard. Sun Cousto give off vibes similar to Kleenex/LiLiPUT or Neo Boys. Bands we've posted about - Lung Leg, and Teenage Burritos - also come to mind.

And, of course, somehow Mikey Young does the mastering here.

[bandcampsnoop]

4/28/24.

I've been following the explosion (insert bad Krakatoa metaphor) in indie pop coming out of Indonesia. Chaotic Pop Records is one of the several labels providing a steady diet of releases.

Chaotic Pop is teaming with Subjangle to release Race "Half Man, Half Sympathy". There is an undeniable C86 nod. And while Darrin (Subjangle) calls the vocals "fey", I wouldn't necessarily agree. I do agree with his assessment one can hear a Clean vibe at times. I also liken this to the underrated Sapphire Mansions. And finally, listen to "Resentment" - I'm sure Jed Brewer of San Kazakgaskar would love it.

Race is definitely an indie pop band, but the amount of noise and frenetic drumming help them stand out among the crowd.

[bandcampsnoop]

4/27/24.

On January 1st we posted about Audio Antihero's release from Nosferatu D2. While that band is no more, the Parker brothers are still making music as My Best Unbeaten Brother (Croydon, England).

At the time I mentioned how Nosferatu D2 reminded me of a cross between The Wedding Present and The Fall. My Best Unbeaten Brother immediately made me think of these comps, but this new band's music tends to be a bit more melodic.

"Slayer On a Sunny Day" is one of 15 tracks on the compilation "20 Years of Joy Vol. 2". This compilation celebrates the 20th anniversary of the blog/radio station Joyzine. While there isn't a traditional physical release, there is a card with a download card available. I've listened to this compilation and really enjoyed a lot - most notably My Best Unbeaten Brother and Sergeant Buzfuz.

Audio Antihero will be releasing "Pessimistic Pizza" in digital format at the end of June. Hopefully Jamie will find a way to make a physical release.

[bandcampsnoop]

4/26/24.

Happy Bandcamp Friday. Here's a post about an album not currently on Bandcamp. Yes, the music is The Pastels excellent debut compilation "Up For A Bit With The Pastels", but really this is about a new collaboration between Stephen Pastel (and at times members of The Pastels) and Gavin Thompson.

"This Is Memorial Device" is the musical companion to the theater production based on the cult novel by David Keenan. Memorial Device is the fictional band in the book, and Stephen Pastel and Gavin Thompson bring the book to life with their music. Geographic (sub-label of Domino Recording Co. curated by Stephen Pastel) is releasing the album. There are two tracks currently available: "Introduction To Why I Did It" and "We Have Sex". The latter is built upon teenage recordings Stephen made with his friend Corky.

According to the Domino release page, this sounds like The Pastels in some spots and nothing like The Pastels in others. This endeavor recalls the BMX Bandits' soundtrack to the film Dreaded Light.

[bandcampsnoop]

4/25/24.

The Verlaines (Dunedin, New Zealand) are one of my favorite bands of all time. Yes, their early work is in a world of its own. Their mid and later work really doesn't hold a candle to 1980s Verlaines.

I always thought the beginning of their demise of "Way Out Where". It has one of the worst album covers of all time and I always thought the songs were subpar.

But now I really see that these songs were betrayed by production. The Verlaines sonics were always key to their songs and this album sounds like it has one sound and gear. Today, in the spirit of George Michael, I listened without prejudice. If you're a Verlaines fan, and can imagine a different production, you'll hear songs ("Blanket Over the Sky") that rival some of their best.

Schoolkids Records released a remastered version of this for Record Store Day 2024.

[bandcampsnoop]

4/24/24.

At the beginning of February of this year, we a post about The Spatulas. The band is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but recently was based in Oregon. All the songs are written by Miranda Soileau-Pratt, and this was mastered by Fred Thomas. This LP (along with the cassette we posted about earlier this year) is released by Los Angeles based label Post Present Medium.

In the first post we mentioned label mates Chronophage, but really this does tend more to Barbara Manning. In fact, the Bandcamp write-up gets even more specific - World of Pooh era Barbara Manning. The page also cites musicians from Heather Lewis to Jonathan Richman.

This is their debut LP.

[bandcampsnoop]

4/23/24.

Leather Jacket Records (Christchurch, New Zealand) has been on a tear for the past couple of years. It seems lately they are trending to releasing new music rather than reissues. While "Children of the Rule b/w Waikouaiti" isn't a reissue, the music represents new music from someone who's been playing music for nearly 40 years. I was first introduced to Jay Clarkson's music on the amazing Tuatara compilation - Expendables' "Man With No Desire".

Now comes this single from Jay Clarkson & The Container (Waikouaiti, New Zealand). The Containers are a veritable who's who of New Zealand musicians - I mean Alan Haig (The Chills, Snapper, etc.) and Mike Dooley (Toy Love, The Enemy) are HEAVYWEIGHTS in the annals of New Zealand rock.

Paul Kean (another big hitter from The Bats) mixed and mastered this.

[bandcampsnoop]

4/22/24.

Henry Owings of Chunklet Industries wrote the Bandcamp blurb that accompanies this debut 7" release from Atlanta based band Ultra Lights. In it he described the opening set from Ultra Light (opening for Lewsberg and Dippers). Their music stuck with him long after they left the stage.

He then went on to proclaim, "Without question, “Nostalgia” is the feel good hit of the summer, and we defy anybody to prove otherwise. Nostalgia will eat the young."

I'm nothing if not a creature of nostalgia. With that, let me say that this reminds me of Love As Laughter, The Gotobeds and countless other bands from the early 1990s indie/pop/grungey scene.

[bandcampsnoop]

4/21/24.

When I saw that Chapter Music (Melbourne, Australia) was splitting a vinyl reissue of Guy Blackman (co-founder of Chapter Music and member of Minimum Chips), I was anticipating a good album.

I wasn't really expecting a great one. "Adult Baby" was originally released in 2007 and now is being reiussued by both Chapter Music and Pop Superette (Pierre, the label owner, is just amazing), a French label responsible for one of my favorite Bandcamp releases, Irmão Victor.

As usual, the Bandcamp write-up contains some gems I need to pass on. First, Guy Blackman is a "nerdy fan of Syd Barrett". His voice reminds me of the melancholy voices associated with Nick Drake, Belle and Sebastian, and Jens Lekman (who appears on the 3rd song!) And finally, the Bandcamp page hypothesizes how the Guy Blackman CD made it to France in the first place. The blame is laid at the feet of Maxwell Farrington - an Aussie living in France who says of Guy Blackman:

“Guy Blackman is one of Australia’s finest singer/songwriters. There are very, very few artists who can make me cry like he does. Normally I don’t give a damn about the lyrics, but with him it’s genius. After his moving (unpretentious) words come his graceful and sticky melodies and arrangements. ‘Adult Baby’ - this is a very important album for me, it’s the Mount Everest of Australian pop.”

[bandcampsnoop]

4/20/24.

Is/Ought Gap were part of the vibrant Athens, Georgia scene in the early 80s. And, really, once you know that you can really hear it. Pylon, The B-52s and R.E.M. In fact, Michael Stipe said they were the best bar band in the U.S. There is a bit of punk here and there that reminds me of the intensity of Fred Cole's early band The Rats.

But all in all, Is/Ought Gap would not have sounded out of place on the Athens, GA soundtrack (in fact, members of Is/Ought Gap were in bands on the soundtrack - Time Toy and Kilkenny Cats). I'm not at all surprised to see Happy Happy Birthday To Me (HHBTM) Records release this. While this is a new release, HHBTM did release the collected works of Oh Ok, another Athens band whose members included Lynda Stipe.

[bandcampsnoop]

4/19/24.

There was a time where Ben Seretan was my go to comparison for any electric guitar virtuoso. Just look - from 2018 to 2015 he gets 7 mentions and one post of his own (his fabulous S/T album). I think Seretan got replaced by Chris Forsyth in my mind.

But now Tiny Engines (North Carolina) is releasing "Allora". "New Air" is the only song currently available, but it's 8:01 of intensity that recalls the finest work of Yo La Tengo, Neil Young, Michael Beach and the aforementioned Chris Forsyth. Yes, it is that good.

Speaking of guitar virtuosos - give a listen to William Tyler & The Impossible Truth.

[bandcampsnoop]

4/18/24.

While Volar Records (San Diego) might not be nearly as prolific as they were 5 to 10 years ago, their back catalogue is so large that there are still gems to mine.

Cat Scan were a Los Angeles, CA based band who released "In Nature" through Volar 5 years ago. I immediately thought of Foster Body. A Bandcamp user (while proclaiming that they don't like to make comparisons) mentioned both Suburban Lawns and Human Sexual Response. I would add another 1980s LA band - 100 Flowers.

While there are still regular-release copies of this available, Volar is also have test press copies up for sale.

[bandcampsnoop]

4/17/24.

I've been reigning in my tendency to buy everything I love on Bandcamp. I'm simply running out of room. But I'll be a monkey's uncle if I don't soon make a purchase from York, England based label Safe Suburban Homes.

Autocamper (Manchester, England) continue the string of solid releases from the label. The Bandcamp write-up name dropped Stephen Pastel, The Wake, McCarthy and The Close Lobsters.

Listening to Autocamper made me go back and listen to Captain Starlet and The Planes.

[bandcampsnoop]

4/16/24.

Dead Oceans just announced "Into The Blue" the new full-length album from Aaron Frazer - a solo soul artist who also serves as the drummer for Durand Jones.

"Introducing" has been worn out around my house since 2021. We just can't get enough. In fact, Aaron Frazer (Brooklyn, New York) opened the door to Holy Hive and various Big Crown Records artists.

But it has also made me open to listening to a lot of older soul. For example, last December Vampisoul reissued Marie Queenie Lyons "Soul Fever" - originally on James Brown's Deluxe label.

[bandcampsnoop]

4/15/24.

Tax day. Let's send some money to Slumberland. They're running a three-fer bundle and after today we'll have covered all three releases: lighthearted, Lunchbox, and this - the new LP from Oakland based Neutrals.

Allan McNaughton's (originally from Scotland) music (don't forget Giant Haystacks) has tended to the trebly/quick strum sound that you can hear on the lead single here - "Wish You Were Here". The sound reminds me of earlier Wedding Present. The songs also remind one of Television Personalities. A previous release on Bandcamp also mentioned Meat Whiplash - here is a link to Optic Nerve Recordings reissue of their "Don't Slip Up" 7".

[bandcampsnoop]

4/14/24.

I've just spent the past several hours listening to Columbus, Ohio based musician Winston Hightower (Winston Hytwr) on Bandcamp. His work in the mid 2010s can easily be described as experimental and lo-fi, but something appears to have changed starting in 2023. It looks like he got a band that helped give his songs form, direction and weight.

"Winston Hytwr" looks to be his debut LP on Perennial - a label based in Olympia, Washington who have brought us Ribbon Stage, The Smashing Times and The Real Distractions.

This has a definite post-punk sound - think of Ought. But also be sure to visit Winston Hightower's Bandcamp page - give those two most recent EPs a listen.