Becca Mancari “Arizona Fire”

It’s been a good month for Becca Mancari. She recently debuted a new project with Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes) and Jesse Lafser over at The Basement East entitled Bermuda Triangle. Now she’s debuting her own solo work over on NPR for her forthcoming album, Good Woman. The first track, “Arizona Fire”, has an intimately personal vibe to it but continuously swells throughout the duration expelling a warming confidence. That’s a lot of flower language just say it wasn’t what I was expecting and I’m intrigued to hear more. 

The album is set for release on October 6th.

Birdcloud UK Tour

Birdcloud UK Tour

I’m biased but I think it’s noteworthy news that everyone’s favorite “controversial” country duo, Birdcloud, has booked a pretty massive European tour. Will their irreverent antics translate to those audiences? I’m willing to bet two adult women performing in diapers is amusing in any country but we’ll find out starting in late August.

GAY VIBES – Summerwave Mixtape Volume I

As previously mentioned, the latest from GAY VIBES (aka Seth Graves) is a much more collaborative effort than previous undertakings. The electronic backdrop is a much slicker affair than his 2013 release, My Baby’s Got Worms, but it’s a logical progression in accessibility from his previous works, i.e. Bougie Nights. 

Look for performances from Kyle Andrews, Leticia Wolf (Dead Deads), Hot Tub Club, Amy Wright, Crystal Wood and Arlene Sparacia (HR Lexy) throughout the release. That’s a whole host of talent to bring on board for a single release but GAY VIBES manages to bring them all together into a cohesive, chilled-the-fuck-out, cohesive, gathering.

Commander Keen – Cowboy Killer

I’ll admit it, I don’t keep up with much of the music coming out of Cookeville but that’s an oversight that stops now. The latest EP from Commander Keen is a big rock record with big rock party vibes. The energy is fast paced from the get-go and only gets more intense the further down the rabbit hole you go. The EP wraps with a 7-minute epic entitled “Nashville Pts I-III” that manages to squeeze in dueling squelching solos and a culmination into big, dank, dark riffs.

I imagine seeing this live would only intensify the experience even more. Just another reason to keep your eye on Cookeville.

Λ°C – Lambda Celsius

There’s something undeniably appealing about the dark vibes that permeate throughout the self-titled album from Anne Catherine Carter aka AC Carter aka AC aka Λ°C. For fans of the production style of late 70′s, early 80′s post-punk undertakings, this should feel right at home. It’s a wall of sound broadcast from a dark room, easily inspired by the likes of New Order bass tones and proto goth vocals. The lead track, “At Least You Make Me Feel”, features R. Stevie Moore (presumably on guitar) and certainly sets the template for the rest of the record.

Blank Range – “Opening Band”

Blank Range “Opening Band”

It’s hard to believe that Blank Range has never release a full-length album given that they’ve been releasing quality music since as far back as 2013. Fortunately, that will all change in August with the release of Marooned with the Treasure. The album was recorded over “a whirlwind 4 day session” in Durham, NC with producer Brad Cook and engineers Chris Boerner and James Wallace. 

The first track, “Opening Band”, is streaming everywhere and continues the band’s trend of exploring Americana vibes with just the right dose of guitar magic sprinkled in there. You can pre-order the full album now and rest assured we’ll be hearing more from the Blank Range camp in the coming months.

GAY VIBES “Two Wrongs (Make Us Right)”

New track from GAY VIBES featuring Arlene Sparacia of HR LEXY finds that nice balance between dance floor electronic banger and 80′s new wave goth. The guitar outro is especially perfect for the mixture. 

Look for the Summerwave Mixtape: Volume One on July 19th, 2017 featuring further collaborations with Leticia Wolf (The Dead Deads), Kyle Andrews, Hot Tub Club and more.

Sun Seeker “Won’t Keep Me Up At Night”

In order to keep your obsession with Sun Seeker’s debut EP, Biddeford, rolling right along I suggest you dive into the official video for “Won’t Keep Me Up At Night” in which a group of party goers demolish a house that’s on deck for a 32 unit condo. The subtle nod to the questionable growing pains of East Nashville is well balanced with the antics of the destruction crew.

Fun fact, this video concept isn’t really a stretch from reality. A group of friends of mine did this exact same thing to a home being demolished on 12th Ave S, even down to driving a scooter inside the home. What I’m saying is, if you want to live this video as a reality, you CAN do it.

Sun Seeker, Biddeford 

The beautiful debut from Third Man Record’s Sun Seeker is available everywhere today. Biddeford is six songs of melancholy pop perfection, awash in familiar 60′s influences but still maintaining a unique and fresh perspective. Everything from Alex Benick’s sorrow soaked vocals to the Buddy Hughen production to the mesmerizing artwork is a goddamn treat. 

Hammock “Mysterium”

The official video for the title track off of Hammock’s forthcoming album, Mysterium, was recently released and it’s a slow burning piece of ambient landscape. The black-and-white video is a blurred and textured affair; best experienced with your immersive attention.

Watch it here and pre-order the album here.

Welles “Life Like Mine”

Very very into this acid-trip / mindfuck of a video from Arkansas transport Welles. The underlying song, “Life Like Mine”, is a pop gem inspired by the likes of the druggiest era of the Beatles and their ilk. That’s to say, there’s a lot of unexpected instrumentation supporting a wonderfully memorable chorus.