We’ve sorted through our packed inbox for this week’s New Tunes Guide, to bring you all best under-the-radar mp3s, Soundcloud links and YouTube videos. Among the highlights this week are Crushing Blows; taking their inspiration from the likes of Talking Heads and Pixies, the Derbyshire band have received significant radio support from 6Music and BBC Introducing amongst others. There’s also The Plea, who hail from Donegal and will follow up their impressive 2010 maiden EP with a debut full length album this year, and Winston Yellen’s main creative spark Night Beds, whose sound is described as occupying a place somewhere between ‘Mark Kozelek, Gram Parsons and the dreamier side of My Morning Jacket’.
Check out previous editions of the New Tunes Guide here.
“Crushing Blows are a two-piece, noise pop band from Derbyshire who have drawn comparisons to Battles, Broken Social Scene and Arcade Fire. Despite their broad influences (My Bloody Valentine, Talking Heads, Neil Young, Pixies) the band have a developed a sound that is both extremely distinctive and exceptional. Since forming in 2010, Crushing Blows have been championed by Tom Robinson, Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens (who put them on at The Social) and had airplay from BBC 6 Music, Radio 1 & BBC Introducing. They have also played festivals such as Y Not, T in the Park & Liverpool Sound City and supported Cerebal Ballzy, D/R/U/G/S & The Xcerts to name but a few.”
“Chemical Smile are an eclectic three-piece originally from the south coast of England who have fast become frequent faces on the London circuit, blending the sonic sounds of late 60’s Garage and Psychedelic rock n roll, with the angst and swagger of classic indie acts. Born out of the apathy of youth they combine soul-stomping melodies with quirky riffs and interrogating lyrics.”
CHEMICAL SMILE – “THANKS FOR THE COMPANY” // “SUEDE GLOVE” by The Playground PR
“Caviare Days are a psychedelic rock band fronted by Swedish sisters Lina and Maja Westin. The band’s driving force lies in creating a well-tailored but dirty rock that is more baroque than minimalist and more organic than mechanical. Their debut EP ‘The Awakening’ coming out 26th November was produced by Mats Björke of Mando Diao and Jorge Elbrecht of New York based Violens and mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios. The title track which created a buzz among music lovers and radio when it was released earlier this year in Sweden is replete with ethereal layers of spiralling guitars and reverb cleansed sexy allure.”
Caviare Days- ‘The Awakening’ EP by The Playground PR
“Donegal rock merchants The Plea continue to muster love and attention on the international circuit with the announcement that their debut album, The Dreamers Stadium, will be re-released internationally through Essential, rolling out around Europe and the rest of the world in 2013. The gang of four debuted their epic laden sound in 2010, when their first EP release Nothing But Trouble bagged a sound bed slot for an RTE TV campaign. They went on to release a collection of singles and the debut album in 2012, with the band and their music featuring on TV screens, radio shows and newspapers throughout Ireland. They bring the Irish album campaign to a head next month with the release of Staggers Anthem. In true Plea fashion, the tune deserves to be heard as a massive chorus chant reverberating around a packed out stadium.”
“After a brief period on the sidelines perfecting their art in the studio, Bauer are back with their beautiful reworking of the Fiction Factory cult 80’s mega classic “Feels Like Heaven” – this is a gorgeous, modern indie pop style take on a beautiful song that screams to be heard yet again by a new generation of listeners.”
“Io Echo is Ioanna Gika and Leopold Ross. Currently putting the finishing touches on their debut album which combines grand songs with unique textures such as Japanese koto harps and Chinese violins, the band have created towering tracks with a distinctive sound early listeners have been calling ‘the leaders of Grunge Goth’ and ‘New Orientalism’.”
IO ECHO – Ministry of Love by Luv Luv Luv
“Winter Garden Light is Dot Dash’s second album. Recorded over a few days in Summer 2012, it follows the band’s debut long player, issued by The Beautiful Music in Sept. 2011. For the new record, the Washington D.C.-based post punk pop band sought an increased level of audio clarity and overall sonic oomph. To get it, they headed north to the labyrinth, slightly cavernous environs of Lord Baltimore Studios, a hub of that city’s art, punk and indierock scenes.”
Writing On The Wall (from new album) by dotdashdc
“After a number of years of writing, producing, and recording, David Bronson has finished a 22-song cycle, broken into 2 albums, collective called The Long Lost Story. The first record, Story comes out January 7th. On the surface, the records begin with a description of a young man’s loss of hope and identity following the end of first love, and continue through the prolonged, arduous, and life-changing journey to re-find them.”
“Night Beds – Dead Oceans’ latest signing – was discovered via an email with a link to songs that stopped them in their tracks. The songs were raw, haunting and assured; something very special indeed. The creative voice of Night Beds, Winston Yellen, hails from Nashville by way of Colorado Springs. The 23 year-old songwriter boasts a new, great American voice that marks him out as a singular talent. Think of a space between Mark Kozelek, Gram Parsons and the dreamier side of My Morning Jacket; a heavenly place of pure country soul.”
“A couple of months after Brighton post-rock darlings Air Formation split up last April, songwriter Matt Bartram formed three-piece You Walk Through Walls alongside former bandmate James Harrison and new recruit Harry Irving. After spending a year writing songs and honing their live set, the band recorded their debut EP with renouned producer Pat Collier. The resulting EP, ‘Destroyed Places’ will be released on very limited transparent blue vinyl 10″ on the Club AC30 label, December 3rd 2012.”
Not Like You At All by YouWalkThroughWalls
