Pretty sure this band has my number down pat – big riff rock tucked inside psychedelic, shoegaze-y, space rock.  

The newest EP from NORM goes into some new territory – fully embracing the dance floor style anthems that he’s hinted at in the past. I’m still absorbing it but it’s a fresh style injection that I’m enjoying. The remainder of the EP isn’t quite as energetic but you gotta come down after such a blast, right?

I don’t post near enough hip-hop on the site. Despite that, this track by Rakso is inspired by MF Doom and is a solid listen. As with most hip-hop beats there’s not a ton of deviation but that’s part of the zoning out allure…

The second full-length album from Evan P Donohue has been out for awhile now and I’ve been soaking in its offerings to form a properly articulated take on it. It’s been a full four years since any significant output from Donohue and his growth as an artist is quite evident from the instant you dive into “My Mantra.” The mood is less anxious, filled with more swagger and comfortably playful but all anchored in just the right dose of melancholy. 

Overall, there’s a sincerity and vulnerability to it that was surprising and refreshing. I certainly wouldn’t file this record as an emotional burner that you only listen to at the darkest of times – quite the opposite actually. It’s a feel good time as you listen but if you happen to be paying attention, there’s a welcome bit of legitimate substance to it.

I hope Mr. Donohue is proud of this one, it’s a cohesive piece that deserves to make its way far and wide.

When you have the level of output that Hands Down Eugene / Matt Moody has, it’s entirely possible that some creations are going to slip through the cracks and be unearthed at a later time. Such is the case with the freshly released Tascam 388 Tapes – recordings lost from a previous 2011 session. The songs, as you would assume, were recorded and bounced down on a four-track – a technical consideration that really only matters when considering the fact that the songs are able to maintain their allure despite being recorded on rudimentary tools. Never let it be said that a fancy rig is required to have quality songs find their way out into the world.

Maybe this is being presumptuous but I never got the feeling that Gay Vibes was an undertaking that took itself too seriously. The latest release labels itself as:

An abstract collection of deconstructed moments, inspirations and reflections on Taylor Swift’s 1989

Is there any truth to this or is it just an excuse to make strange audio explorations full of feedback, distortion, squelches and other anamolies with the same titles as Taylor Swift’s latest? Maybe it’s a desperate cry for help as a documentation of feelings experienced during a listening party? Or maybe it’s an SEO scheme to gather new, befuddled, listeners looking for music inspired by Miss Swift. Or maybe it’s just something not to be taken seriously. Either way, worth a listen.

another excellent demo from Caitlin Rose has found its way to her Soundcloud. As with “Gemini Moon” this is a heartbreaking piece of work that I’m shocked was cut to become a b-side.  Really looking forward to whatever follows-up The Stand-In, because if this is a taste of it, I’m IN.

The first track from the forthcoming Natalie Prass debut self-titled full-length album is now available. I’ve read comparisons to Eleanor Friedberger but I honestly think that’s just the hair. It’s an interesting blend of pop, vulnerability and a dash of R&B. Loving this first bit of insight into a larger narrative of works.

Remember that preview track “Break Hearts” that recently debuted from How I Became the Bomb? Well, how about previewing the entire EP? It’s now available on Soundcloud. I am shocked and delighted.