The Wild Mercury Sound - Hope There's Someone

I was fortunate to get an email the other day from The Wild Mercury Sound, one of my favorite up and coming indie bands from London, with their cover of Anthony and Johnson’s “Hope There’s Someone.”

Their cover infuses the original with a bit of a folk feel beginning quietly with mournful vocals and a single guitar strumming softly, but the track builds quite nicely as the rest of the band joins in with some great backing vocals and even a bit of experimental rock thrown in at the end.

In particular, the song’s ending really showcases the band’s impressive vocal range and ability to harmonize.

Have a look below and definitely keep these lads on your radar.

Thao & Mirah Review

My review for Thao & Mirah’s debut album just got posted over at Donnybrook yesterday.

Here’s a brief snippet:

“Not quite as fun, energetic, or whimsical as Thao with the Get down Stay Down and not quite as poignant as Mirah’s carefully composed folk, their joint effort lands somewhat awkwardly in the middle. That said, the album still has many bright moments and is impressive in their bold exploration of new territory, blending charm with disorder.

Pushing each other musically, Thao & Mirah have broken ground that they likely would not have been comfortable approaching on their own. Beginning with the jarring beats and amelodic sounds of the album’s opening track “Eleven,” it is readily apparent that they do things a bit diferently. Deftly juxtaposing chaos and beauty, “Eleven” vaguely resembles MIA with its electronic beats, dominating drums, and the chaotic swirl of noise (although the song distinguishes itself from any MIA effort as it has significantly better vocals).”

Head over to Donnybrook to read the rest.

Listen to “Little Cup” below.

AA Loves: The Belligerents

Keep an eye out for The Belligerents because these Aussies have penchant for making people dance.

They describe themselves as “dance/disco/punk band,” but I think the title of their debut EP sums up their sound best “Less Arty More Party.”

Combining intricate Explosions in the Sky-esque guitar melodies with catchy vocals and danceable beats, this quintet from Brisbane will have you shaking your groove thang and listening closely to their lyrics.

Now that the spring thaw is finally here and we’re starting to get some warm sunny days, this is the perfect backdrop for the weekend.

Be sure to check out my personal favorite “These Hands” below as well as “Such A Crime.”

Enjoy.





Such A Crime by The Belligerents

Quiet Lights – Bar Matchless 5/13 Concert Review

I spent the better part of my Friday night enveloped in the deafening shoe gaze din of Quiet Lights, who played at Brooklyn’s Bar Matchless.

The small venue was perfect as their sound literally consumed the entire space leaving me wrapped in the middle of their miasmic swirl of guitar effects.

The band took to the stage as the culmination of an evening filled with shoe-gaze acts replete with impressive array of guitar pedals, effects, and colored lights.

With minimal banter, the band dived straight into their set powering through each song in an inward looking fashion that let their music set the tone. With their amps set on high, the band’s spiraling crescendos literally overpowered your body, flooding it with aural vibrations that left you somewhat stunned as your ears continued to ring pleasantly.

Their breathy vocals are even more beautiful in person and the hushed whispers serve as a great juxtaposition to the frequent sonic explorations and meandering guitar lines. With a thickly layered and lush dreamy sound, their performance packed an impressive emotional punch.

Featuring new songs from their forthcoming EP Big Fear as well as their previous releases like “No More Canyons,” the night proved to be hypnotizingly delightful.

Be sure to keep an eye out for the Big Fear EP which is due out June 28^th on Old Flame Records.

In the meantime head over to their Bandcamp to listen to their previous releases.

Miami Horror

I’ve just found the perfect soundtrack for my summer. I have a sneaking suspicion that Miami Horror’s sunny electro-disco jams will be the only thing blasting from my speakers for the next several months.

Hailing from Melbourne, I suppose it’s no surprise that they resemble fellow Aussies Cut Copy a bit.

Insanely catchy beats, bouncing synth filled melodies, and blissed out vocals – need I say more.

Listen to a few stellar jams from “Moon Theory,” the band’s debut album, below.

Damn

Damn. That’s all I can say about this Oakland dance crew via France. It’s some of the rawest shit I’ve seen in a long time.

Yak Films.

Prepare to be blown away.

Side note: I miss the bay.

[Introducing] Extra Arms

Check out Extra Arms, the latest band to emerge from Brooklyn’s indie rock scene.

Their debut single “Race to Sleep” has generated plenty of attention for the band and for good reason.

Extra Arms has a truly unique style blending the sounds of Interpol with Radiohead-esque melancholy. Dark atmospherics collide with intricate guitar lines and abstract vocals like “The sky’s lit up like the clouds were on fire/A high white note dying on the way up/With no way to come down.”

Listen to their debut single “Race to Sleep” as well as the B-Side “Best Disguise Is No Disguise” below, and for those of you in NYC head over to Cameo Gallery in Williamsburg on May 21st for the release party.

01 - Race To Sleep by Extra Arms

02 - Best Disguise Is No Disguise by Extra Arms