Bananacondas

I like the internet. Bands from hundreds of miles away can send me their music and then I can listen to it and then sometimes I really like it and write words about it and other people who might be hundreds of miles away again might read it and like it and then they might tell their friends to listen to it and stuff. That's pretty cool, right?

Bananacondas are a Lansing, Michigan-based "not-so-typical punk" three-piece who write songs with riffs and licks and melodies and choruses that make me want to be at a house party with them doing silly but fun things. It's self-recorded but not to its detriment - the slightly rough sound suits their apparently pretty care-free take on writing songs. Music is supposed to make you feel something, and this makes me feel happy.

There are two free songs plucked from their bandcamp below, with apparently some more songs coming later this month and an album hoped for later this year. I am excited.


Facebook | Bandcamp | Tumblr

Sauna Youth - False Jesii Pt II / Oh Joel

Sauna Youth's 'Dreamlands' was without doubt one of my favourite albums of 2012 (better than Dirty Projectors, Animal Collective, and Grizzly Bear in my opinion, which isn't bad going) so an email about a new single from the London band was always going to be a pretty great way to start the day - especially when half of the single is a cover of Pissed Jeans.

'False Jesii Pt II / Oh Joel' is set to be released on 7" single through Static Shock Records on 21st January and sees the band taking a somewhat surprising step towards indie pop. Where debut 'Dreamlands' was full of largely aggressive, energetic punk songs (albeit sometimes aggressive, energetic punk songs that went on for 10 minutes...) with vocals from drummer Rich, the new single hears lead vocals handed to usual backing vocalist Jen and a definite switch in sound. Gone is the immediate punk sound, replaced with a more melodic and noisy pop-oriented core - though somehow with none of the punch and magic of Sauna Youth lost. This is mighty good stuff, I think.





Facebook | Bandcamp | Blogger

The Soft Walls - Never Come Back Again

Earlier this year, Cold Pumas guitarist and Faux Discx label-boss Dan Reeves released a debut solo album under the name The Soft Walls. The self-titled record was a delightful blend of Krautrock-ish loops and minimalist noise rock comparable to the likes of Deerhunter that was so impressive that Tough Love also offered to release it.

Today sees a brand new song from the Brighton-based musician and, as you'd expect, it's bloody ace. 'Never Come Back Again' (again comparable to the work Bradford Cox) slowly builds like a developing polaroid snap - electro din and a looping drum machine is gradually and delicately added to with spiralling bass-lines and repetitive guitar before being topped off with Dan's hushed vocals and synth to really quite excellent effect.



Facebook | Bandcamp

Joanna Gruesome - Do You Really Wanna Know Why Yr Still In Love With Me?

I bloody love Joanna Gruesome. I love their old songs. I love their new songs. I love their live shows. I love their faces. 'Do You Really Wanna Know Why Yr Still In Love With Me?' is their newest of their new songs, and I love that too.

I love the sinking guitar line. I love the crackling guitar sound. I love the crashing drums. I love the harmonies. I love the chorus melody. I love the breakdown. I love the filthy ending. I love this band.

The song is being released on 7" by Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records . Love it below.



Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter

Dolfinz - Yeah Right

It's almost 18 months since I first stumbled upon and wrote about Stonehaven noise-monsters Dolfinz. Since the days of those early rough recordings, the two-piece have been fairly busy - touring the UK and Europe with Slowcoaches; releasing a 7" with Tuff Wax; featuring on a Song, By Toad 12" split along with the likes of PAWS and Sex Hands; getting played on Radio 1 and 6Music. But it's been a while since we heard much new stuff from them.

So it's good to see that the band have finally unveiled some new(er) material in the form of 'Yeah Right' on Art Is Hard Records' Pizza Club single series. Slightly less lo-fi and maxed out than their earlier recordings but very much still rough and ready, it's arguably my favourite track of theirs so far. Yeah right. I don't feel right.



Facebook | SoundCloud | Twitter