Levek - "French Lessons"

Where would I be without those lovely folks over at I Guess I'm Floating? Well, probably knowing a whole lot less about awesome new music releases. Just the other day they posted the second new track from Florida musician Levek's upcoming debut full length Look A Little Closer, "French Lessons" (his first was "Black Mold Grow").

"French Lessons" is equal parts whimsical interlude and frolicking groove-centric jam. While Levek's music is certainly no stranger to flights of fancy and almost fantastical sounds, "French Lessons" takes it up a notch. It's music that wouldn't be out of place accompanying a 70s B movie. That kind that you'd totally want to buy the soundtrack for. And maybe that's the appeal? Or at least part of it. Levek's music is a retro in a way that's not as obvious as those bands that set out to imitate bygone times. Retro in a way that's possible only through David Levesque's mastery of a very now assortment of electronics. Whatever the case one thing remains clear: Levek's music is great and the new track "French Lessons" is no exception.

Watch: Friend Roulette - "Just Woke Up" (preview)

Remember Brooklyn sextet Friend Roulette? The chamber pop rockers are currently among my favorite people making music right now so each time they reveal a little bit of enigmatic puzzle that is their incredible tunes and debut full length information I leap a little with joy.

Unbeknownst to pretty much anyone besides the band themselves, Friend Roulette recently went in and recorded some tracks at Converse Rubber Tracks and well, like anything the two individually crank out the results are pretty extraordinary.

In the latest Track of the Week from Converse Rubber Tracks you can hear bits of Friend Roulette's latest single "Just Woke Up" and it's pure amazingness. Taking a similar melodic page from arguable my favorite Friend Roulette song "Sailing Song", it once again pairs quirkiness with the band's intense, awe-inspiringly precise musicianship. In a word: Amazing.

The video features just enough of the brand new single to have you jonesing for more. No news yet when the single proper will go live but I hope it's soon.

Watch: River Whyless - "Widows Walk" Live at Audiotree

Earlier this year I had the intense pleasure of being introduced to North Carolina folk rock quartet River Whyless through their debut album A Stone, A Leaf, An Unfound Door as well as their opening slot for one of my new favorite bands Little Tybee's tour. I spoke pretty highly of their album - and rightly so as the the album is simply amazing. But if you're anything like me and haven't gotten the chance to see the band live just yet, you're in luck and you get to do the next best thing.

Not too long ago River Whyless recorded a live version of their song "Widows Walk" off A Stone, A Leaf, An Unfound Door for Audiotree Live and it's bewitching. Inspired by their time on Martha's Vineyard in an old cottage isolated from the rest of civilization, overlooking the ocean, and besieged by storms where the foursome went to record their debut album, "Widows Walk" is one of the album's strongest tracks: (a feat considering how strong the debut is all around) a spellbinding tale that displays River Whyless' narrative prowess. But in the live session, you get to display River Whyless' stellar musicianship firsthanded.

Watch River Whyless' live session of "Widows Walk" for Audiotree Live:

Buke & Gase - "Hiccup"

Well it's certain been awhile since we've heard from Brooklyn experimental instrument-makers Buke & Gase. Since the release of 2010's Riposte, the group has undergone a couple changes - most notable the name change from Buke & Gass to Buke & Gase. Not a significant change but that one letter is all you need to properly pronounce their name. While the duo have been touring (playing Crossing Brooklyn Ferry earlier this year), this week we finally get officially released new music from them. In the form of "Hiccup", off a free compilation you can download here.

 

Their first release in nearly two years, "Hiccup" both invokes the Buke & Gase you used to love while also hinting at new ideas. I mean just listening to the track there's a more polished sheen you didn't get on their album. Other than that, Buke & Gase still remain innovative purveyors of noisy pop. "Hiccup" is full but not chaotic or cluttered, it's catchy but smartly so. It's great and I certainly hope there's more to come from Buke & Gass otherwise this is just a special kind of torture.

Hunting For Teeth - "Ghost"

Buffalo folk pop quintet Hunting For Teeth are mere days away from the start of their first ever tour - a mini tour of upstate New York that'll take them from Buffalo to Rochester, Ithaca, Syracuse, and Albany. Basically all those really nifty New York cities most bands tend to ignore in favor of good old New York City.

To ring in the tour, Hunting For Teeth are offering up their ever record - a short tour EP that they'll be selling and in case you wanted to know what you were signing up for, they've released a single from the EP "Ghosts".

Hunting for Teeth is a rather young band: formed a little less than a year ago with just Shauna Presto and Corey Bzibziak on vocals on guitar and have since expanded into a tight rocking five piece. "Ghosts" is an unexpected treat in every aspect: beginning with a short but sweet flute prelude and tenderly stroked guitar, the track sudden takes on a more biting edge imbued with a punky edge aided by Presto's sultry airs. The track becomes a balancing act, pivoting between gentle, lush instrumentals and brisk start-stop rock at pretty much a moments notice. It's catchy but most importantly: it's good.

While I haven't heard any of the other tracks off their EP just yet, if they're half as good as "Ghosts" we may all be in trouble as we won't want to listen to anything else.


 

Illuminator - "Tangled With Bear"

When Brooklyn genre-straddling rockers Illuminator gave the first peek of their upcoming sophomore record Soul Sister with "Gulf Hymn", it was clear they were on to something special. A very different special from their fantastic debut record Answer Voice The Child but special nonetheless. Their latest single "Tangled With Bear" extrapolates on this in a way I don't thnk anyone expected.

"Tangled With Bear" unfurls with gentle, bluesy guitar licks before quickly picking up momentum (though making sure you're already on board with its slower, organic start) - snaking around exciting jags and boughs of restrained psychedelia. The emotive power of Bryn Bellomy's vocals all the more sublimating, more effective unhampered by effects. It's a 6.5 minute piece of moving, grooving rock sprawl with just a hint of drama that pushes it towards its eventful conclusion.

On "Tangled With Bear", Illuminator are certainly bringing their A game. Dishing up a soulful rock jam that might very well be one of the best songs the band has released thus far. It's the kind of track that makes the wait for the yet disclosed street date for the upcoming album or even the next single seem like a painful chore.  Until then I'll just keep "Tangle With Bear" on infinite repeat. You might want to do so too.




If you're in the New York area make sure you go to see Illuminator open up for Alt-J at Mercury Lounge (if you can score tickets), it's sure to be a night you won't soon forget. Tickets here.

Lord Huron releases more album trailers

In case the release of their first album trailer featuring newly unveiled single "Time to Run" wasn't enough to get you properly keyed up for the release of Lord Huron's debut full length album Lonesome Dreams, you're in luck. The band, who spent the better part of the year in more or less absolute cryptic time-bidding silence, have some more trailers for you to see. One of which features live staple "She Lit A Fire" and the other (the one I'm most fawning over) featuring brand spanking never before heard track " The Ghost on the Shore". If Lord Huron keep this relentless onslaught of album previews up, we're all sure to go insane when the album actually streets in October.

Check out the new teasers for Lonesome Dreams:




Lord Huron's Lonesome Dreams is out October 9th.

And in case you missed it, here's the first single "Time to Run":