Apparently the music industry has shaken off the winter cold and gotten back into their studios. We had an absolute deluge of music hit our inbox, the majority of which was far and away whole EPs and albums. We also saw a number of returning artists as well as many, many bands releasing their debut albums and singles. What all of that means is that there was stiff competition for our staff picks this month. Have a look at our choices for best single and album of April below, and be sure to check out all of the other music news a little further down. There was quite an eclectic mix, and certainly a bit of something for everyone.

Staff Picks

Single(s) of the Month:

“Wildwood” – 5j Barrow

Jennifer

5j Barrow, a six-piece band from New York, have just released their first single from their upcoming full length album, From the Dim, Sweet Light. Wildwood is a gorgeous track with emotive vocals, sweet harmonies, and also features some lovely string arrangements throughout. Fans of The Civil Wars and Of Mice and Men will love their upbeat, folk rock sound and down to earth feel.

“Robber Barons” – Cloud Person

Lux

On the tails of the release of their second album, Monochrome Places, Seattle psych-folk act Cloud Person have recently published a music video for the track "Robber Barons". A decidedly folk tune, the track has a heavy Irish folk influence in the vein of The Swell Season, while Jordan's assertive yet sensitive vocals lend the track a very Mumford and Sons' feel. Watch the music video on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDwW7ALixWw) (and keep and eye out for Dane Ueland of &Yet, my pick for last month.) “Robber Barons” can be downloaded for free on Bandcamp (http://cloudperson.bandcamp.com/track/robber-barons), where you will also find Monochrome Places available for streaming and/or purchase. (http://cloudperson.bandcamp.com/album/monochrome-places). 

“The Art Of Giving Up” – Thought Beneath Film

Brandon

"The Art Of Giving Up" is the second track off of Thought Beneath Film's recent album Cartographers. The peppy beat of the song combined with an abundant use of harmonies reminded me a bit of Tally Hall. Although this song was the highlight for me, the album as a whole was also a strong contender for my staff pick this month. You can find the whole album – including my single pick – at the following link: https://soundcloud.com/thoughtbeneathfilm/sets/cartographers/s-uAsgf.

Album(s) of the Month:

Real Snow - Kye Alfred Hillig

Lux

While the diverse artistry on Real Snow gives me pause in defining Kye Alfred Hillig as a "singer-songwriter", his gift for melodic composition is self-evident. Tracks like "None of Them Know Me Now", with pop-friendly melodies and synth riffs, would seem right at home over the radio waves beside the likes of Bastille and Imagine Dragons. The album has great variety on both a macro and micro level, with delay and synth fuzz like something off an Angels and Airwaves track, accessible lyrics, and the occasional flourish of saxophone. The entire 12-song album is available for free download on Bandcamp (http://kyealfredhillig.bandcamp.com/album/real-snow).

Musicassette/Magnetic Memory – Night Windows

Jennifer

Musicassette/Magnetic Memory is the debut LP from Night Windows, a project started by artist, Benjamin Hughes. The album can best be described as folk rock, but Hughes manages to subtly blend a number of other influences like Weezer, Death Cab for Cutie, and John Vanderslice. The album tackles themes of false promises and coming to terms with unfulfilled expectations during the transition from youth to adulthood. Musicassette/Magnetic Memory carries a certain air of strength and hope despite the challenges of young adulthood, and is an impressive debut with charming lo-fi aesthetics and honest lyrics that everyone can relate to.

Suit of Armor - Paul Starling 

Brandon

It's been topping the 90s here in Florida and it's not even Memorial Day yet. Naturally I'm already thinking it's Summer which might also explain my choice for album of the month. Paul Starling – the project of musician Brian Bringelson – is no stranger here at The Indie Mine. I actually covered a prior album, Shipwrecked Commotion, a while back. Paul Starling's vintage sound in Suit of Armor evokes a 60s beach rock feel and makes a perfect match for the season. It was a close battle for this pick, though, with Jessica Bundy, Thought Beneath Film, and Youth Club all worthy of the honor. Be sure to check them out below.

Other Music

Singles:

Pennsylvania-based punk bands Shotgun No Blitz and Name Le release two tracks off upcoming split EP

Canada’s Arkells release first single, “Never Thought That This Would Happen”, off upcoming album

Brooklyn-based keyboard duo Isle of Rhodes release video for single “Tic Toc”

Marcus O’Neill releases second single, “Oilseed Fields And Innocent Dreams”, from upcoming album Way Beyond The Sugar Beet

YUCA releases music video for second single, “Maybe We’ll Riot”, off the album Rebuilding the Fallen Empire

Femmepop teams up with Robert Parker for dream poppish single “Not That Kind”

Terracotta Blue starts the Summer early with electronic hip-hop single “Sweetheart (featuring Karnegie)”

Toronto indie rock band CANVAS releases debut single “Keeping Score” 

Albums/EPs:

It’s Not A Cross, It’s A Curse! released by WTCHS in limited edition cassette format

Post-punk/alternative artist Daniel Harmann releases 2-track album Westroy Sessions Volume Three

80s-inspired and Greek musician Paris76 unveils EP Endless Blue

h2so4 releases techno/trance/house EP King of Kings

Maine-based alt rock musician Seth Majka releases 13-track album Wake To Mourning

Alt rock/post-punk band The Feel Bad Hit Of The Winter releases self-titled, debut album

Essex’s eclectic, four-piece band Youth Club releases debut EP Colours

Animal House releases disco/house blend album House Rock

Toronto folk singer Jessica Bundy releases five-track EP Careless Smile

Bollywood veteran Kumar Sanu enters UK music scene with album Hum-Tum

Alt rock band My Satellite release debut full length album Lift

Moral Panics hitting the local UK music scene with alt/pop album WLVS

Debut EP The Chase released by Brooklyn-based quartet The LoveHowl

Surf/garage rock duo Slim Wray release debut album Sack Lunch

Hip hop/electronic artist daysdeaf release experimental album When Colour Lost Light

German musician Klangschwester releases ten tracks as part of Sisterella EP

Pop rockers Cartographers release self-titled debut album

Sétamùr creates remix project for album Remix Eye Movement

Musician Sergi Boal creates electronic/experimental album The Man Without A Hat

Youthful, grunge/punk group Billy Moon releases new 5-track EP Young Adult

New, experimental EP Blu released by Leeds, UK band Suzy Blu

Daniel Harmann leads Session Four album of the Fastback Sessions series

Five years worth of pop, slowcore, and ambient music make up Simon Waldram’s compilation album Haven’t We Met Before?

Alternative piano project Allie Lauren releases Tales of a Glass Heart :: The B-Sides, an update to the band’s debut album from 2 years ago

Dreampop duo Ummagma revisits past work with the release of their Lama Remixes LP

Acoustic/folk/pop musician Alex Riggen releases greatest hits compilation Sixteen Free Songs

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Perhaps it was a much needed respite, but after two months of music coming at us at a blistering pace, August finally slowed down a bit. However it did bring us a lot more albums rather than singles, so there was still a lot of great music to listen to. We had two game soundtracks make the list this month, as well as a number of interesting concept bands and experimental albums. I’m not sure why I’m consistently surprised to come across something new, but it happens just about every month. Read on, have a listen, and enjoy!

Alex Riggen – Milk

Alex Riggen has been a member of a number of bands, counting Far From Words and Murnau among his ventures. He’s now gone solo and has released an album all his own. Milk is the second album from the Iowa-based musician, following last year’s debut Rabbit. This 8-song pop/alternative set starts off with the slow, organ-laden “Crown” and maintains a minimalist sound throughout in both the vocals and the instrumentation. The album is available now on Bandcamp.

Chris Christodoulou – Risk Of Rain OST

Chris Christodoulou is the composer behind the atmospheric soundtrack of upcoming space platformer Risk of Rain. Staff music writer Jennifer described the OST as “…not just an ordinary chiptune album – Christodoulou’s musical background adds a level of refinement that accentuates the feel of the game.” The game is currently in beta, but you can have a listen to the soundtrack below.

Digital Noise Academy - Synemy

The story behind Synemy is fascinating. The new album from 6-member Digital Noise Academy (aka DNA) was created through a process which is essentially the classic “Telephone Game”. Each song would be created by passing it around from one member to another, each adding something to the track. The band includes a mix of music producers, solo artists, and group musicians each bringing some of their personal flavor. Because the tracks are so different, it’s impossible to pin down a specific genre to classify the album under though alternative is fairly prevalent. You’ll just have to have a listen for yourself.

Summerays - Summer Daze

August has come and gone, but Summer’s not quite over yet. Summerays, a surf pop band from Cleveland, captures a bit of the Summer spirit in their 10-song EP Summer Daze. The album was actually released back in January, but was recently brought to our attention. I’m glad we were introduced to it, because it provides the perfect sound for the season. A second album, Daydream, was released back in late 2011 and contains that surf pop style though with a more subdued feel.

Post War Stories - Cold Wars

Post War Stories brings a couple of firsts to our music coverage at The Indie Mine. First, they’re from the Isle of Man which explains why their music contains themes of isolation. Second, their style falls under trip hop with a bit of prog rock mixed in. This all comes together in their debut EP Cold Wars. The 4-track compilation releases in September, but you can have a listen now.

Rich Douglas – Shadowgate OST

Shadowgate is one of those games where you’re flooded with memories or you are simply too young to remember it. The 25th anniversary of the original is upon us (1987 on Mac and 1989 on NES) and developer Zojoi is remaking the game for a modern generation. Rich Douglas is the composer behind the epic soundtrack which comes in at a whopping 25 tracks. That total also includes a number of bonus tracks not found within the game. The songs themselves have everything you want from a fantasy-based soundtrack with some wonderful orchestral and especially choral work. We’ve included the Shadowgate theme song below for your listening pleasure.

Stickman Cartel – “Accolade”

“Accolade” is the debut track from London-based band Stickman Cartel. When our music writer, Jennifer, recently reviewed the single, she called the style “indie disco” and described the song as “…fun, catchy, and it’s meant to get your feet moving.” That energy carries through to their live performances, but for those not living in the UK, the song officially releases on September 2nd.

Northern Hustle – Forgether

Northern Hustle is another band with an interesting premise behind their music. Forgether is the first of three albums which will contain one story. The Arizona-based concept band has an acoustic/folk rock sound, and their ten-track album has some great instrumentation including some interesting percussion choices along with a slide guitar. Although only a handful of their songs are available at the time of this writing , the uptempo beat on “Tangled” is contagious and I can’t wait to hear more when the album lands on September 6th.

Welch & Penn – Early Bird Gangsters

Welch & Penn are an interesting duo. Freddie Wilson (aka Fountain Penn) is a singer-songwriter and Donnie Welch is a performance poet. The two started the Welch & Penn project back in 2012 and are recorded their EP Early Bird Gangsters earlier this month. It’s easy to hear where each member’s influence came into play as each of the three tracks includes Welch’s intense poetry interspersed within – and sometimes overlaid on – Penn’s equally emotional vocal work. With such a heavy weight placed upon the lyrics, each of the songs needs a few listens to fully appreciate the message. Have a listen.

Tomas Sen – Try Solitude

Jeff Thomassen is a bit of a do-everything kind of artist. He’s the writer, composer, arranger, recorder, and producer behind Tomas Sen. He’s put all of that effort to use in creating his debut album Try Solitude. Like many of the other entries this month, this is an experimental album. Try Solitude is a compilation of ten tracks that range from folk to electronica to surf. A backdrop of bird song and whistling in a few of the early tracks helps perpetuate an easygoing acoustic feel. The middle of the album has more of an ambient electronica sound. As advertised, the album really is all over the place in terms of style, but it’s all tied together by the idea that these are all thoughts that pass through our minds when we’re alone.

Well that does it for August. A few of these albums come out in early September, so make sure you keep an eye on them if you enjoy them. As always, let us know if you had a favorite artist out of the bunch, or if there’s a band we’ve missed that you think highly of. Until next time…

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.