Listen: Bowerbirds - "July"

Another month draws to a close which of course means another song in Bowerbirds' ongoing shortform song experimentation series Small Songs from a Small Tiny House. If you thought that some of the songs before were a bit unlike what you've come to expect from Bowerbirds than you're in for possibly one of those most jarring experiences. "July" is as un-Bowerbirds like as possible, really. If you caught Bowerbirds' last tour as a three-piece where they unveiled their side project Island Dweller, then you'll have some idea what's going on.

Featuring beats and some high-pitched synth noddling, "July" falls into a sort of R&B-esque realm. There's still Bowerbirds trademark nature imagery but other than that, it's a pretty stark contrast from the Bowerbirds you'd be familiar with. "July" has a bit of an anthemic call to arms with a noticeable Bob Marley inspiration. It's actually pretty good and  highly enjoyable once you get over the initial shock of Bowerbirds leaping so far away from their art-pop/folky sound. 

Watch: Salt Cathedral - "Fields"

Brooklyn fivesome Salt Cathedral (formerly known as Il Abanico) have been making big waves as of late. Today marks the release of their self-titled EP, the first collection of new music since their name change earlier this year and it's full of those tropical beat inflected experimental pop rock jams. Case in point: "Fields"

The beautifully shot video, directed by SoftSpot's Sarah Kinlaw, features the shuffling glistening jam along with a rather unique story of a man in love with the ocean. In his home he has actresses put on a little puppet show before deciding that simply won't do and embarking out in the wilds of the world in a sort of low budget Hazmat suit to experience it himself. The video is the perfect blend of stunning, kind of weird, and slightly confusing that it just works. All the while it features Salt Cathedral vocalist Juliana Ronderos' fluttering bird song like vocals that soar high above the track's intricate psychedelic beat-intensive grooves.



You can now purchase Salt Cathedral's 5 song EP digital or on vinyl which I highly recommend here.

Listen: Writer - "IE"

Garage pop duo Writer may have just released their debut album Brotherface this past October but that's certainly not going to stop them from releasing new music it seems. The Brothers Ralph have a new 7" "I Make Neon" out August 6th and have offered up a preview in the form of cacophonous rabblerousing jam "IE". Despite the ever present clatter, Writer still manage to convey a sense of laid back cool as the track plows forward at walking tempo. There's a moment of sudden unexpected clarity that happens and the Ralphs engage in a bit of harmonic interplay. It's pretty nifty and goes an long way in establishing that this track isn't a long lost Brotherface cut. 

Writer's "I Make Neon" 7" in out August 6th on digital and August 31st on a limited edition clear vinyl via Nineteen98. You can preorder the 7" now. 

Listen: Johnny Flynn - "The Lady is Risen"

Well finally. UK folk singer/songwriter Johnny Flynn has certainly kept himself busy - mostly with plays and a couple shows but the news of an new album, a follow up to 2010's Been Listening, has hung around for a bit. Not quite announced but always seeming very well like it could/would be for at least the past year and finally that day is upon us. Country Mile, Johnny Flynn's third full length album will be out September 30 on Transgressive and Flynn is ringing in the occasion with a short tour.

Our first peak of Johnny Flynn's new album comes in the form of "The Lady is Risen", a new track Flynn debuted last year during a short tour between commitments and well, it's excellent. Where Flynn's previous musical ventures have recalled very specific times in folk song canon, "The Lady is Risen" kind of ignores all that in favor of just simple folk melodies and Flynn's ever increasing poetic lyricism. Flynn's band The Sussex Wit are used deftly, offering just enough musical padding and ornamental flourishes to make their presence known without at any point overwhelming Flynn and his guitar.

Meanwhile the lyric video is a combination word jumble, anagram, and word search which is pretty darn cool. September 30th sure cannot come quick enough. Enjoy "The Lady is Risen":

Listen: Mutual Benefit - "Advanced Falconry"

I've made absolutely no secret about the fact that Boston dream-pop maestro Mutual Benefit was far and above one of my favorite discoveries at FMLY Fest Brooklyn. Unaware of what I was in for, I was rewarded with aural bliss - a silky smooth and comfortable blanket of sound. One of my favorite songs of the set featured violinist Jake Falby called "Advanced Falconry" and apparently I can now listen to it whenever I want!



No longer do I have to just imagine what it felt like or seek out live videos. I can now download the first cut from Mutual Benefit's upcoming full length Love's Crushing Diamond and just bliss out wherever - on walks out in nature, in the dark in my room on a warm summer night, at picnics, at grad parties, you name it - I will be playing "Advanced Falconry" there. This is simply the best news. I urge you to listen to arrestingly beautiful track because it's more awe-inspiring than words can possibly express. Here's hoping details about Mutual Benefit's upcoming full length come out soon because if there's more songs like "Advanced Falconry" on it, I would like to own them.

 

Watch: Fiona Apple - "Hot Knife"

A little more than a year after it has made it's way into the world, "Hot Knife" arguably my favorite track off Fiona Apple's The Idler Wheel... gets a music video. Remember The Master? Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson was tapped for Fiona Apple latest video and the results are visually quite appealing.

Playing off of the tracks many layers, the simply shot video basically takes the form of recreating the song from all its base elements. The opening shot features Apple playing the timpani so prominently featured, before slowly incorporating through the use of split screens of Apple and her sister's canon. The visual style feeds directly off of the track's ever growing build as more are more split screens are incorporated and you get a sense of just how many plates Apple has spinning in the air during "Hot Knife". Just when you think the whole thing is going to collapse on itself, everything reverts to normal, to a single shot of first sister Maude, then Apple before grinding to its eventual end.

One of my favorite visual treats was the sudden shift from black and white to a warm light-bathed Apple right as she smiled. A further reminder of the cathartic nature of "Hot Knife", the one track on The Idler Wheel... not tangled up in self-doubt or even self-analysis. 

Listen: Lucius - "Hey, Doreen"

After their most recent announcement of signing to Mom + Pop, Brooklyn retro-pop outfit Lucius have wasted little time continuing the spree of good news. This fall, their much anticipated debut album Wildewoman will finally be released. October 15th will be a great day, mark my words.

If "Until We Get There" wasn't enough to satiate your need for new Lucius, they five-some have returned with the sassy "Hey, Doreen" which is rather unlike anything we've heard from them before. Sure, there's the same doo-wop & 60s girl group inspired sounds the group regular draws on but like "Until We Get There", "Hey, Doreen" is another band-centric gem. The ladies powerhouse vocals and trademark harmonies aren't spotlighted this time out, instead utilized during the most sumptuous of band grooves. "Hey, Doreen" is nearly 5 minutes of unadulterated jam and it's an infectious rumpshaker if their ever was on.

It's amazing the level of band growth Lucius has undergone in about a year and the results have been nothing short of spectacular. Wildewoman is going to a very special record. Until it's October release date, I'll be bumping "Hey, Doreen" and so should you.