Listen: Laura Marling - "Once"

British songstress Laura Marling continues to reveal track after track of her behemoth 16 track Once I Was An Eagle, this time dishing out track "Once".

On A Creature I Don't Know , Marling started to incorporate some decidedly American stylings (most notably in the jazzy piano riffs on "I Was A Card") and "Once" continues in a similar vein, recalling the blues in Marling's lingering drawl. Marling promised a far more stripped back album this time and "Once" is a pretty stellar example of that - sparse and far more openly featuring Marling's vocals than any of the tracks we've heard thus far.

Thank heavens we've only about a  week more to wait before the rest of Marling's narrative beast is uncovered. It's sure to be worth the wait.

Once I Was An Eagle is out May 28th on Ribbon Music.

Listen: Cemeteries - "Alberta" (ft. Foxes in Fiction)

Last year's CMJ I found myself in the most unexpected of places: a showcase put together by Portals and Stadiums & Shrines held in the back of a restaurant where lounging and relaxing was encouraged.

The night consisted of a handful of ambient-leaning bands that really helped cultivate the relaxing atmosphere the showcase sought to achieve. It ended up being one of my absolutely favor stops during the hustling and bustling fest.

Western New York based Cemeteries and Toronto export Foxes in Fiction ended up being two of my favorite acts from that night and it seems I'm not alone in that. Over at Stadiums & Shrines the two were tapped to contribute on a collaborative work for S&S ongoing Dream feature - creating a track based on a handmade  collage.

The result is a track very much in the same wheel house of the two artists - beautifully unfolding, enchantingly captivating dreamy soundscapes with just enough of a pop element to drive the tune forward towards a pleasant conclusion. Swooping vocals glance off one another like a sort of musical northern lights amongst a billowing, ever shifting electronic base.

Enjoy the wonderfully immersive stunner from Cemeteries and Foxes in Fiction made possible by those lovely folks over at Stadiums & Shrines. (Via Stadiums & Shrines)

Listen: Camp Counselors - "Attean" (ft. Psychic Twin)

Cemeteries mastermind Kyle Reigle has a brand new side project. If the sleek, dream pop stylings of his debut album The Wilderness was up your alley (which it totally should be - it was amazing) then the forthcoming album Huntress under the Camp Counselors moniker should tickle your fancy as well.

Inspired by old sci-fi and horror movie soundtracks, Camp Counselors takes a far more synth-heavy approach to the atmospheric pop Reigle dabbles in. "Attean", the latest track from the upcoming Huntress, sees Reigle pairing up with Psychic Twin's Erin Fein for a rather accessible supernatural-tinged synth-pop jam.

Fein's involvement is a subtle but notable touch providing another bit of coloring to an already modestly arranged textural palette. The two vocals mostly stand apart which is rather unexpected twist in such a collaboration but when they do occasionally interweave it feels properly earned.

It's enough to single-handedly usher in major excitement for Huntress which is slated for release later this month on Reigle's own Snowbeast Records. (Via Portals)

Listen: The Dodos - "Confidence"

San Francisco duo The Dodos are most know for their complex heavily percussive leaning rock pop and that's served as a pretty apt qualifier up until now.

"Confidence", the first single from their fifth studio album and Polyvinyl debut Carrier, takes a rather different approach. Relying far more on Meric Long's vocals accompanied by his ever present guitar. The guitar work isn't the clamoring, noisy beast of songs past either - instead offering a soft padding for Long's serpentine plod. The Dodos' trademark cacophony isn't completely abandoned however - waiting until just the right moment to elevate the track to a fierce stomper. The waiting makes it that much more enjoyable.

Welcome back Dodos, we've missed you.



Carrier is out August 27th on Polyvinyl.

Listen: Bowerbirds - "April"

Another month has come and gone meaning many things - the most important of which is another track in Bowerbirds short-form song experiment Small Songs from a Small Tiny House.

The third contribution, appropriately titled "April" introduces a far more pop savvy Bowerbirds than we've ever been privy to. They never go full on pop but there's undeniably catchy hooks and a simple but perfectly utilized recurring "oo" alongside some downright twangy, jangly guitar bits. The melodies still unfold like sprawling nature paths and the those trademark harmonies all present and accounted for but it's just the kind of brilliant pairing of old and new that has my hopes and anticipation rising exponentially for full length number four.

These songs might just be little experiments in somewhat more accessible songcraft but I have no doubt they're easing the way for more art-pop gems from the Bowerbirds.

Listen: Daughn Gibson - "The Sound of Law"

Little known fact: When I reached out to Daughn Gibson to participate in last month's blog birthday playlist extravaganza he was waist deep in the recording of his new upcoming album. It was probably some of the most exciting news I'd heard and while I had resigned myself to months of no new music or tours from the man that makes this new track all the more exciting.

"The Sound of Law", the first peek at Gibson's follow up to last year's All Hell, shows just the right amount of progress with slick production it sounds remarkably different than the sample-laden All Hell. And yet, it continues with Gibson's rural tales in his same smooth crooning baritone. It's just the right blend of old and new to get you excited which thankfully isn't that far away. Gibson's Sub Pop debut Me Moan comes out July 9th. Just under three months and I'm certainly excited to get my hands on it.   Not only that, Gibson's following the release and a short European jaunt with a pretty extensive US tour.

That's a lot of good news. Celebrate properly with the new track "The Sound of Law":

Listen: Laura Marling - "Master Hunter"

British folk songtress Laura Marling's certainly come a rather long way, of that there can be no question. From the days of her folk pop "Ghosts", she's solidified herself as a beacon of poignant, poetic lyricism and righteously melodic songwriting. This second single "Master Hunter", off her upcoming fourth album Once I Was An Eagle, continues a trend of Marling's elevation in overall badassery with a rock n' roll ramble.

Where in "Where Can I Go?" Marling at least pondered her loneliness, in "Master Hunter" her "You want a woman who will call your name? It ain't me, babe" makes it's rather clear, she's completely fine being alone. It's a percussive heavy track that functions in stark contrast to the emotive "Where Can I Go?" with a steely delivery that assures you Marling is no one to mess with and rightfully so. 

Marling's Once I Was An Eagle is out May 28th on Ribbon Music.