Weyes Blood – Everyday (2019)

YouTube – Amazon – iTunes – Discogs

Professionally known as Weyes Blood, singer-songwriter Natalie Mering has amplified her talent through her notable collaborations with Ariel Pink. But, there’s nothing ‘Everyday’ about her recent solo work. This wonderful song features on her latest album Titanic Rising released on Sub Pop Records.

Delta Spirit – California (2012)

YouTube – Amazon – iTunes – Discogs

Delta Spirit are from California and we know it. The group consists of Jonathan Jameson (bass), Brandon Young (drums), Matthew Vasquez (vocals and guitars), Kelly Winrich (multi-instrumentalist) and William McLaren (guitar), but it’s Winrich who wrote ‘California’ about his East Coast girl. They were having troubles. The song features on their self-titled third studio album. Have a great weekend.

Palehound – Carnations (2017)

YouTube – Amazon – iTunes – Discogs

Boston-based Ellen Kempner dominates the sound of Palehound. Well it was initially her solo project, but even though she’s now joined by Jesse Weiss on drums and Larz Brogan on bass, the frontwoman creates a classic indie sound with her storytelling and laced guitar. ‘Carnations’ features on 2017 album A Place I’ll Always Go.

Beirut – Gallipoli (2018)

YouTube – Amazon – iTunes – Discogs

Gallipoli will be the fifth studio album by indie folk band Beirut. It is expected to be released on 1 February 2019. The album is named after the Italian town where the title track was written. Welcome back Zach.

Snail Mail – Pristine (2018)

YouTube – Amazon – iTunes – Discogs

Don’t you just love an indie riff?! To instrumentation that echoes the work of New Order and The Cure, Snail Mail’s Lindsey Jordan sings of innocence and abandon. ‘Pristine’ features on the band’s 2018 album Lush.

9 of the best – sounds of 2018

Samuelsounds begins a short hiatus for the festive season. As is my way, I leave you with my favourite sounds of 2018. They are in no particular order. Merry Christmas, have a great holiday and see you in the New Year, when I will whittle 12 to 9. (Done!)

###

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Talking Straight

Father John Misty – Just Dumb Enough to Try

Natalie Prass – Lost

The Good, The Bad & The Queen – Merrie Land

Stephen Malkmus – Solid Silk

Vasser – Valerians

Let’s Eat Grandma – Donnie Darko

Oscar L – Monster Tube

Kokoroko – Abusey Junction

Honourable mentions also go to: Childish Gambino for ‘This Is America‘; Phum Viphurit for ‘Lover Boy‘; Fake Shark for ‘Wake Up‘; Phosphorescent for ‘New Birth in New England‘; Bodega for ‘Jack In Titanic‘; MorMor for ‘Heaven’s Only Wishful‘; Kanye West & Kid Cudi for ‘Reborn‘; Christine and the Queens for ‘Damn, dis-moi‘; Lana Del Rey for ‘Mariners Apartment Complex‘; The Voidz for ‘Leave It In My Dreams‘; Nilüfer Yanya for ‘Thanks 4 Nothing‘ and DJ Koze for ‘Pick Up‘.

Nilüfer Yanya – Thanks 4 Nothing (2018)

YouTube – Amazon – iTunes – Discogs

This next year could be the breakthrough year for 22-year-old Nilüfer Yanya. She grew up listening to Nina Simone, Amy Winehouse and the Pixies and if you listen carefully and open your mind, you can hear the references in her indie soul. ‘Thanks 4 Nothing’ featured on her 2018 EP Do You Like Pain.

Lana Del Rey – Mariners Apartment Complex (2018)

YouTube – Amazon – iTunes – Discogs

The world of Lana Del Rey is so alluring. The siren is certainly not as sea on her most recent single ‘Mariners Apartment Complex’.

9 of the best – sounds of 1995

A compilation to get the ears humming this weekend. My favourite 9 sounds of 1995, the swansong year for Britpop. Needless to say, Oasis and Blur feature.

The Smashing Pumpkins – 1979

The Flaming Lips – Placebo Headwound

Oasis – The Masterplan

Underworld – Born Slippy

Radiohead – Fake Plastic Trees

Sparklehorse – Cow

Teenage Fanclub – Versimilitude

Blur – The Universal

Moby – When It’s Cold I’d Like To Die

###

Honourable mentions also go to: Pavement for ‘We Dance‘; Yo La Tengo for ‘Blue Line Swinger‘; Ol’ Dirty Bastard for ‘Shimmy Shimmy Ya‘; Rob Dougan for ‘Clubbed To Death‘; Sparklehorse for ‘Saturday‘; and Radiohead for ‘Planet Telex’ and ‘Street Spirit’.

9 of the best – sounds of 1996

A compilation for the weekend. My favourite 9 sounds of 1996, the year before OK Computer, The Fat of the Land and Homework were released, wiping the sound slate clean.

Super Furry Animals – Something 4 The Weekend

Mansun – Wide Open Space

Red House Painters – Have You Forgotten

Ocean Colour Scene – The Day We Caught The Train

Wilco – Sunken Treasure

Fiona Apple – Criminal

DJ Shadow – Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt

Fugees – Ready Or Not

Chicane – Offshore

###

Honourable mentions also go to: Super Furry Animals for ‘If You Don’t Want Me To Destroy You‘ and ‘Hometown Unicorn‘; Primitive Radio Gods for ‘Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand‘; Eels for ‘Novocaine For The Soul‘; Mazzy Star for ‘Look On Down From The Bridge‘; Beck for ‘Where It’s At‘; and The Prodigy for ‘Breathe‘.

Starlight Mints – Submarine #3 (2000)

YouTube – Amazon – iTunes – Discogs

This morning’s a double-header, making up for yesterday. Starlight Mints were an indie pop band from Norman, Oklahoma. In August 2000, the band released the album The Dream that Stuff was Made Of. It was a hit in college circles, much like Pavement had been several years earlier. The echoes were appreciated.

Vasser – Valerians (2018)

YouTube – Amazon – iTunes – Discogs

For a 19-year old lad from Tunbridge Wells, electronic producer and recording artist Sam Breathwick (aka Vasser) has a maturity that foretells an exciting career. His new cut ‘Valerians’ is part electronic, part indie, part pop … and all good.

Juniore – Magnifique (2018)

YouTube – Amazon – iTunes – Discogs

Well done France! I hope to see you against England on Sunday. Juniore is the brainchild of Anna Jean, a singer who lent her voice to songs of Parisian electro acts like Jackson, Jérôme ”Tacteel” Echenoz and Bot’Ox. Joined by four other female musicians, Anna Jean has now created something completely different. Think Nico meets Françoise Hardy. ‘Magnifique’ is the title track of their second studio album.

Natalie Prass – Lost (2018)

YouTube – Amazon – iTunes – Discogs

Natalie Prass’s sophomore album, The Future And The Past, is an eclectic affair. Supported by producer Matthew E. White and his Spacebomb Studio house band, she’s found her groove borrowing from pieces of 1970s and 1980s pop. While much of the long player has a waltzy swing to it, something a little slower pricked my ears. The piano ballad ‘Lost’ shows that the singer-songwriter knows how to deliver a vocal chop too. Have a great start to the week.

Villagers – A Trick Of The Light (2018)

YouTube – Amazon – iTunes – No Discogs

‘Trick Of The Light’ is the first release from Villagers’ forthcoming album The Art Of Pretending To Swim. The track opens to a steady pulse and quickly creates a groove that is more than slightly R&B. The folk returns as the song progresses and Conor O’Brien chases ‘A Trick Of The Light’.