Margaret O’Sullivan of Femmepop

Femmepop’s leading lady, Margaret O’Sullivan, is back with her third single, “Timescapes”. The infectious pop track is a collaboration with Timecop1983, the mastermind behind the synth loops and pulsating beat. Ms. O’Sullivan provided the lyrics and vocals, and together the two create a dreamy and uplifting electronic track that will stick with you.

O’Sullivan’s vocals are sweet and delicate, with powerful lyrics like, “Those days will never die cause they burn inside of me.” Delving into themes of memories and the pain of leaving someone behind, her vocals pour out with honesty and the power of love. At times, O’Sullivan’s voice is reminiscent of Madonna’s style in the 80s, accompanied perfectly by Timecop’s dreamy synth. Fans of the Drive soundtrack will also appreciate the track’s electronic 80s feel.

Femmepop’s debut album is slated for a summer 2014 release. “Timescapes” is available as a digital download from Bandcamp, and you can also listen to her previous singles, “1983” and “Beautiful Boy” as well as her 2009 EP, Kick.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

For many people, December is the heart of the holiday season. However, that doesn’t mean that the only music to listen to is about jingling bells and a fat guy in a red suit. There were plenty of bands releasing new albums, singles, music videos or otherwise making news.  Have a look at a few noteworthy releases that we came across during the past month.

Future History – Lungs

Recorded in the backwoods of Ontario, CA, Future History’s Lungs is a channeling of the changing of seasons. Following the success of last year’s Loss:/self, the four-member band released this latest album in late November. Eight tracks of alt rock goodness await those who listen. You can also check out the music video for single “Without (You)” here.

Nate “Suave” Cameron – “Let Me Dream”

Suave makes another return visit to our music roundup feature, most recently being featured back in July’s edition. As with previous releases, “Let Me Dream” is a team-up with New Orleans-based producer Prospek. Suave continues his message of making the world a better place, this time by encouraging listeners to ascend above the problems of their individual worlds. The single features the vocal stylings of Suave along with Prospek, Coco Dank, and Chuck (of Private Pile) manning the instrumentation.

Christine Leakey – “My Heart Has Been Broken By One Unfit To Name”

Although December is typically associated with a different set of holidays, Christine Leakey’s latest offering “My Heart Has Been Broken By One Unfit To Name” conjures up a mood more associated with Halloween. This makes sense considering it was released at the end of October. The single is laced with creepy sounds and vocals, though it maintains a bit of a jazz feel. Have a listen below, and you can also check out the music video here.

go nogo – Things Ain’t Right

go nogo is the musical brainchild of Markus “Fred” Scholl and guitarist Eric Scheimer. In December the duo released their EP Things Ain’t Right, but it’s not your typical compilation. The six tracks include the single “Things Ain’t Right” along with five interesting remixes that vary widely in how much they deviate from the original.

Abstraction – Do This Justice

Do This Justice sprang from the creative whirlwind that was this past November’s NaSoAlMo competition. Musicians like Abstraction were challenged with creating an entire album within the span of one calendar month. What emerged from that was a set of nine tracks which include everything from synth punk to spoken word. We’ve included the first track, “Got My Game”, but I’d recommend listening to the whole album since it’s so diverse.

Go Life – “I’m Not Really Here”/”Waves”

Earlier in December staff editor Jennifer reviewed two new singles from UK musician Rhys Viney who is working under the name Go Life. “I’m Not Really Here” and “Waves” both feature prominent synth sound, but whereas the former mixes in some chillwave, the latter includes underlying surf guitar. Check out the full review here.

YUCA - Rebuilding the Fallen Empire

Langley, Canada-based YUCA are no strangers to the indie music scene. In fact, the band has been rocking for a solid five years now. In October the band released their latest album, Rebuilding the Fallen Empire. Their sound reminds me most of Muse, though you can pick out a few other bands like U2 (especially in the vocals) in their influences.

Illitry – “Kingdom Perverted”

Last month we brought you news of Illitry’s latest single, “Kingdom Perverted”. Well, the band’s back again this month. After spending some quality time in an old textile mill, the group has released of a new music video for the song which you can check out below.

STACEY - Stacey

Stacey is the self-titled debut EP from musician STACEY. The five-song set contains motifs of longing, regret, and unrequited love, with STACEY’s vocals leading the way over a piano backdrop. The album released in early December and interestingly enough is available for sale on specially-designed USB cards.

Dugout – On Our Own

We’ve discovered a number of new bands thanks to the folks at Painted Ox Records. In December they brought us news about Dugout, a Pennsylvania-based punk band.  The group released their EP On Our Own back in June, but recently created a music video for one of the tracks, “Towamencin”. Check out the video then have a listen to the EP’s intro, “H.B.D.”.

Various Artists - Tinsel Machine

The holiday season is drawing to a close, but if you haven’t had your fill of the music, then Tinsel Machine might just be the album you’re looking for. The album contains 17 tracks from various artists under the Small Bear Records label including Postcode whom we’ve previously covered. The songs aren’t the typical Christmas fare you’d hear over the radio, so it does offer some nice variety if you’re tired of the same old, same old.

Velvet Ants - Solt Olio

Velvet Ants might be one of the longest-tenured bands we’ve featured in our music roundup series, but the band’s seen some big transformations recently. At one point lead man Ian Margolycz was the only one working on their latest project. Eventually producer Jordon Zadorozny signed up along with musicians Erik Sakmar, Dave Dunham, and Robert Vazquez. What they created together is Solt Olio, an alt. rock/nu wave album with a dozen entertaining tracks.

Steffan Rundquist - Steffan Rundquist

Steffan Rundquist is making his Indie Mine debut with the acoustic album bearing his name. The Swedish-born musician has put together a set of six tracks featuring elements of ska and reggae. Each song is a part of Rundquist’s personal story and showcase his new age lifestyle and spiritualism.

Femmepop – “Timescapes”

“Timescapes” is a collaboration between UK artist Margaret O’Sullivan (aka Femmepop) and Timecop1983. It also marks the third time this year she’s released a new single. While Femmepop handled the vocals and lyrics, Timecop1983 handled the music. What they’ve produced together is a single loaded with an 80s pop feel. We’ve got a full review in the works so check back soon.

Lojah - Pub Songs on Palafox

Pub Songs on Palafox is the low-fi EP from Jay Moody aka Lojah. While the four songs heavily embody Lojah’s Irish heritage, there are also Caribbean and world music influences to be heard. The EP is currently available as a free download for the holiday season, and we’ve included it in its entirety below.

Various Artists - Pluviôse

Pluviôse marks the 2nd album included in this month’s music roundup that consists of the works of a variety of musicians. In this case, the nine tracks all come from bands under the Seashell Records label. The musicians come from all around the world, and their sounds consist of a mix of dream pop, folk, and shoegaze. We’ve included the first track below, but I recommend listening to the whole album since it’s not just one artist.

Leptus - From My Kirkbride Cubicle

Mid-December saw the release of Leptus’ latest album, From My Kirkbride Cubicle. The Massachusetts-based act has combined elements of punk and alt rock to create 13 tracks with a low-key, ambient feel. The band is a bit of a mystery to me, but this appears to be its first album in in more than half a decade.

Malka – “Mirame”/”Mientras se Respira”

Malka is a bit of an interesting story. We’ve covered a lot of bands that fall under the shoegaze and/or dream pop genres, but Malka is the first that sings entirely in Spanish. The group is based in New York City, and they recently debuted two new singles: “Mirame” and “Mientras se Respira”.

The Almighty Rhombus – “House Burns Down”

The Almighty Rhombus returns to our music roundup for the fourth time in 2013. Last month saw the release of their album Lucid Living, and the band has since created a music video for “House Burns Down” featuring a pretty entertaining barroom brawl.

LOVETAX - LOVETAX

Back in September,  Jennifer reviewed Try Solitude, the solo album from musician Jeff Tomassen. Jeff is back again but under a side project by the name of LOVETAX. The album of the same name was released on December 1st and includes five tracks with a mix of chillwave, dream pop, and other styles. The opening track “Our Neurosis” has been included for your groovy, ambient listening pleasure.

Unconditional Arms – “No Nerves”

Last month we included Unconditional Arms for the release of the album Kinship. Musician Jeffrey Wright is back already with a new single, “No Nerves”. Whereas Kinship was written to celebrate the birth of his son, this new instrumental rock track was put out for two of his friends that were recently engaged.

Green Mountain Road Band - Lend A Hand

I debated whether to include Lend A Hand in this month’s music roundup. While the Green Mountain Road Band hasn’t officially released the six-track EP yet, they have posted half of the songs off of it with the others just days away from joining them. Despite hailing from the great, white north (aka Canada), the band puts a nice blend of southern rock and blues into their work. Have a listen.

 
Well, that’s the end of 2013. As you start 2014, make a resolution to open yourself up to experiencing more new music. Checking out our monthly music roundup is a good place to start. Make sure you come back for January’s edition. We’re planning some exciting changes to the format, and we’ll hopefully be able to pull that together by the end of the month. Thanks for visiting, and if you feel so inclined, leave a comment about what music YOU enjoyed.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Go Life is the dreamy new solo project of UK artist, Rhys Viney.

The second track, “Waves,” also features a prominent synth pop sound. What starts out as a slow, methodical rhythm evolves into a pulsating declaration with solid bass drum carrying the track. Viney’s thoughtful lyrics and soft vocals are tinted with pop undertones as dreamy surf guitar interjects his thoughts of loneliness and heartache.

Both “I’m Not Really Here” and “Waves” are strong tracks with a clean, polished sound. So far, Go Life carries a consistency in feel without sounding dull or redundant, and it is evident that there is a tremendous sense of creativity and genuine emotion that went into the lyrics and composition. Go Life is an aptly named project, emanating all that is and all that is possible for everyone.

“I’m Not Really Here” and “Waves” are both available for free to stream or download on SoundCloud. You can also check out Go Life’s first singles, “Keep Breathing” and “You And Me.”

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

The only thing more devilish than the Halloween that just passed was the overwhelming amount of music that hit our inbox this past month. Thankfully, most of it was good and contained a few genres we’d never covered before. I encourage you to spend at least a minute checking out each band in this month’s list. You never know what you might discover. On with the show!

Morgan Doctor – Major Over Minor

Major Over Minor marks the third album release from musician Morgan Doctor. This set of eight tracks, though, is the first fully-instrumental album and is largely a solo effort. For me, electronic music tends to be pretty hit or miss. With Major Over Minor, I really enjoyed the aesthetics of the string instrumentation (guitars, violins) found on a number of the tracks as well as the ambient nature of the album as a whole.

Delta Will – It All Glows

Delta Will is the stage name for Charles Tilden, a musician who successfully blends pop with both blues and folk sounds. It All Glows is the 2nd album from the artist, and the four-track EP released in the latter part of October. The album plays on the themes of Earth, aliens, and outer space, and each track offers a different style. Have a listen below.

Philip Sayce - Steamroller

I love me some classic rock, so when I heard about Philip Sayce earning comparisons to guitar legends like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, I had to have a listen. Right from the initial title track the album exudes the influences of everything from those older rock giants to slightly newer fare like Lenny Kravitz. If you’re looking for a blend of old and new in your rock, listen to this 10-song album. I recommend “Holding On”, but you can start by checking out the album’s official trailer.

Dave Rave and Mark McCarron – Memphis Midnight

After listening to Memphis Midnight, it’s astonishing that Dave Rave got his start in Canadian punk. This album – with its easy listening mix of pop and jazz influences- is so far removed from that genre, it’s a remarkable range. That versatility will shine through in the upcoming year as Dave plans to tackle projects in a variety of genres. Up first, though, is this collaboration with musician Mark McCarron.

Latka – “The Arrival”

We covered Latka back in July’s Music Roundup, but the band makes a return trip this month with the release of their first music video. “The Arrival” gets the full treatment here, and the video includes a bear making oatmeal. What more do I have to say to get you to check it out?

Millenials - Generation Why

Millenials is a new band hailing from Michigan. Late September saw the release of their first album, Generation Why. The nine-track debut blends elements of punk, shoegaze, alternative, and other genres, and it features Michael Negron on guitar, vocals, etc. and Chris Francoeur on bass and drums. Have a listen to their lo-fi stylings below.

Vast Robot Armies - Goodnight Myopia

Vast Robot Armies is the first solo project from musician Jason Thomas. Thomas spent the past 13 years in the band Something Why, but the band’s end didn’t mean the final curtain on his musical journey. Jump ahead to earlier this year, and Vast Robot Armies released Goodnight Myopia, a nine-track album that also includes Eric Abert (bass) and Allen Epley (vocals) of the The Life and Times. VRA has also released a music video for the single “Grey Area Living”.

SPC ECO – Sirens and Satellites

We’ve covered SPC ECO on this site a few times in the past including stints in this monthly music roundup feature as well as a review of their single “Delusional Waste”. That was the first track released from the band’s latest album, Sirens and Satellites. A staggering 16 tracks make up this alt/dream pop/electronic collection, and the set starts strong with “Fallen Stars” and its many, many layers of sound. The quality of the production on the album is also quite impressive, but with the pedigree of those involved that comes as no big surprise. Although the album varies greatly in its intensity and style, have a listen to “Fallen Stars” to get a sense of what it’s all about.

Avalon Landing - Reside

Avalon Landing has been around for awhile, though it took the Las Vegas-based group picking up a total of five members before they hit their stride. The band is nearing the release of their latest piano rock/pop album, Reside, though their single “About Face” is already making the rounds. The band has also produced a music video for one of their older tracks, “Old Phone Books”. November 12th marks the album’s release, so check out Avalon Landing’s Facebook page for the official announcement.

Invasions – “Rosy”

“Rosy” marks the latest single to be released by Toronto-based band Invasions. The single is part of their latest album, also released this past month. The band has a surf-rock style that would – as they describe and I agree – fit in well as part of a Tarantino soundtrack. Their previous track, “Ballad of the Faithful” would even more appropriately fit that bill with it’s blend of surf rock and western. Have a listen to “Rosy” and then hop over here to hear the rest of their music.

The Chrysalide Project - Myth of the Capullo

Avant garde is not a genre we typically get a lot of opportunities to cover here at The Indie Mine. The Chrysalide Project from Montréal has given us a rare chance to change that. Myth of the Capullo is their 2nd album released this year, following February’s Place For Silence. With this release, musician Gaia Guarda has included a dozen tracks with a blend of electronic and organic sounds. While Guarda’s vocals lead the way, she’s also accompanied by live musicians Jon Lebreux, Jessica Ricard, Valérie Roy, and Sis Void. To find out more about the project, check out the official Facebook page.

Aviators - Mirrors

Tyler Shaw – under the project name Aviators – is easily one of the more musically prolific artists we’ve highlighted here on The Indie Mine. Mirrors marks the latest in a long line of albums and EPs including more than half a dozen already this year (check out the Tardis – EP all you Whovians). The 16 tracks continue Aviators tradition of merging multiple genres and subgenres including electronic, pop, and brony. Shaw has made quite a name for himself in the brony community. He’s also venturing out into scoring indie games. You can find out more about Shaw’s work on the Aviators website.

The Woodwards - The Woodwards II

The Woodwards make their third appearance in our monthly roundup feature, and the previous entries have all been leading up to this one. The band has released their latest album, The Woodwards II. The 11 tracks feature lead man Peter Schuyff and his “urban, folk/country noir” style – which is as much humorous storytelling as it is a song – along with the vocal accompaniment of British singer Stevie Guy. The duo is currently on a UK tour to coincide with the release of the album. Although my favorite song was probably “By The Time I Came Back”, you can have a listen to the first track, “The Wood”, below.

The Medicine Hat - Old Bones

Alt-rock band The Medicine Hat has one of the more interesting origin stories that we’ve come across here. It started with the romantic duo Nabi Loney and Tyler Bersche writing songs about each other and eventually led to a full five-piece band coming together. Their debut album, Old Bones, actually released back in June to coincide with the wedding of the first two members. If you like what you hear in the digital single below, the band has made it free for downloading.

David & Clara - Emotion Machine

And we have another repeat visitor to our monthly roundup. David & Clara, the man-laptop duo, most recently caught our attention back in July with the release of single “Don’t You Want To Be Famous”. The Arizona native is back with a few more tracks off of the upcoming album Emotion Machine, a project two years in the making. The album isn’t due out until December, but four of the electronic/techno/dance music tracks are available to listen to right now.

Colornoise - Polychronic

Colornoise describes their music as being a “release of energy”. The Costa Rican duo are all about experimental sounds with some garage band and punk mixed in. October saw the release of their second album, the eight-track Polychronic. The band is currently touring, and their path has taken them everywhere from South America to Canada with the early stops being up in the great white north.

Blitz//Berlin - One

Blitz//Berlin is another band with an interesting origin story having gotten their start by scoring indie films. The group also focused on creating hip hop and punk in their own studio. The release of One marks the start of the band’s foray into a series of mixtapes. The three-song collection is available as a free download from the band’s website.

Well, you made it through. Any surprises? Share your opinion with us and the rest of our community of readers.

© 2013 – 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

They say records are made to be broken. Well, September was bursting at the seams with new music and that’s evident by the fact that we included a whopping 17 bands in our latest music news roundup. Electronic music made a strong resurgence after disappearing a bit for the last few months. Alternative, rock, soul, pop, and more can also be found in this month’s inclusions. Grab a drink and a set of headphones then sit back and listen to the music of September 2013.

Ions in the Ether – (Un)titled

Adam Joseph White starts off our coverage this month with the release of his 4-track EP (Un)titled. Working under the pseudonym Ions in the Ether, White has had a very busy year in the electronic music scene. This EP is one of a handful produced just this summer alone. I’m not a huge aficionado of electronica, but I was fondly reminded of Jim Guthrie’s Sword & Sorcery soundtrack.  Have a listen to White’s synth stylings below.

Future History – Lungs

What’s creepier than little kids? Little kids in creepy animal masks playing around old haunted cabins. That’s just a glimpse into what can be found in the music video for Future History’s single “With Haste”. That track is part of the band’s album Lungs, slated to come out this October.

Dúo del Sol – hello Kaleidoscope

Javier Orman and Tom Farrell make up the duo of Dúo del Sol, though the classical musicians are accompanied  by a number of other talented artists on their latest release, hello Kaleidoscope. The 11-track album has latin and jazz elements though it’s really music of the world at large. I particularly enjoyed the high-energy “Cualquiera”, though the first track – “Never the Same River Twice” – is quite simply a beautiful song.

The Almighty Rhombus – “Blank”

The Almighty Rhombus makes their triumphant return to our music news roundup, last appearing in March’s edition. This time around the band has released a new single, “Blank”, which is one of the tracks off of their upcoming album Lucid Living. While the album’s not slated to come out until the end of October, readers/listeners can check out “Blank” and its Summery feel below or via the associated music video.

Crashing Colors – Crashing Colors

It’s been an adventurous Summer for Crashing Colors. The Houston-based band recently moved shop to London just a few months after releasing their self-titled album. The 6-track EP features the band’s delightfully eclectic mix of soul, blues, rock, electronic, and other musical genres. Have a listen and try to pick out your own favorite elements.

Max Bergé – Fox’s Wedding Weather

Electronic singer-songwriter Max Bergé makes it onto this month’s list with his latest EP, Fox’s Wedding Weather. The 5-track electronic EP is emphasized by driving synth and bass, but it’s Bergé’s vocals that take center stage on each of the tracks. Check out the video below that includes samples of each of the tracks along with some behind-the-scenes insight into the artist’s creative process.

Trevor and The Joneses – There Was Lightning

Pounding drums, driving bass, wailing guitar, and of course vocals make Trevor and The Joneses the very definition of a rock band. Their 10-track album There Was Lightning released back in May, but only recently came to our attention. I always say better late than never, so have a listen and enjoy.

Postcode – The ZebrATP

Last month we came across our first band based on Isle of Man, Post War Stories. September brings us Postcode and their 7-track album The ZebrATP. The alt-rock/’zebracore’ album was inspired by the band’s recent visits to the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival and also led to a music video for final track “Goodbye Minehead”.

For Esmé – “Cinque Terre”

We covered For Esmé back in our July Roundup for their self-titled debut album. The band is back with their first music video, this time for single “Cinque Terre”. Fall weather may be approaching, but the video extends the outdoor season with a Summery feel. Have a look and a listen.

SPC ECO – “Fallen Stars”

Staff music writer Jennifer reviewed SPC ECO’s previous release – “Delusional Waste” - a couple of months ago, but the duo is back with another single, “Fallen Stars”. This epic track hits you with layers of music coming from all directions. As with the previous single, this track is a part of the band’s upcoming album Sirens and Satellites, due out in late October.

Running Red Lights – “Mulberry Love”

Running Red Lights has been together quite a long time. Seven years in fact. Despite that longevity, “Mulberry Love” marks the band’s first release. The catchy alt-rock/pop track will be part of RRL’s debut album, tentatively due out in January. In the meantime, have a listen below.

Action Cube – The Bits Detective

Action Cube is a project from Chicago-based musician Robert Carey. Carey has played in a handful of area bands including Jesus and the Devil as well as Battlestations. The Bits Detective is Carey’s first album since going solo. It’s also the byproduct of a laptop and bedroom recording studio which creates the album’s lo-fi electronic/rock sound. Carey humorously comments that “broken guitars, borrowed microphones, cheap effects and general ignorance informed the entire process.” My favorite track on the album is “Like The Young” which I’ve included here.

Kojo ‘Easy’ Damptey – Daylight Robbery

It’s been over a year since the last time Kojo Damptey made an appearance on The Indie Mine. At long last Damptey returns with the 10-track EP Daylight Robbery. As with the artist’s previous efforts, this new album has a strong focus on issues that affect the world at large. The Ghana-born musician keeps his finger on the pulse of hot-button issues like racial injustice, but also incorporates brighter subjects like love. The album as a whole has hip hop, soul, and reggae influences, while also including spoken word tracks like “Are We Minorities?”.

Sun Stone Revolvers – Spaceship X

Old is new again with Sun Stone Revolvers. Often drawing comparisons to classic rock mainstays, Sun Stone Revolvers released their latest album Spaceship X in mid-September. With a total of 10 tracks, SSR manages to put a bit of a psychedelic spin on the genre. The band also has a music video for the single “America”. Included below is the title track, though I actually enjoyed “Born Again” the most.

Erland – On Our Side

Erland is an alternative/folk/americana ensemble from Santa Barbara, California. Earlier this year, the band was able to get their debut album On Our Side crowdfunded and released. The album features a dozen tracks which the band performs in a style that’s drawn comparisons to well-known musical acts like Wilco.

Kloq – “High”

Classifying their musical genre as ‘punktronic’, Kloq has reinvented themselves with their recent work. The solo project evolved by adding lead vocalist Dean Goodwin, drummer Alex Baker, and bassist Tim Jackson to band founder Oz Morsley. The band has released a music video for single “High” and are set to launch a new album in mid-October.

Pete Van Dyk & the Second Hand Band – “Shake Me”/”Plan B”

Pete Van Dyk & the Second Hand Band are another set of veterans in our music roundup series having previously made the list in May. The band is back with their first 7″ record which contains songs “Shake Me”, “Plan B”, and bonus track “To the Night”. For those unfamiliar with the band, they have a magically southern rock sound despite hailing from Hamilton, ON. Don’t believe me? Have a listen.

That’s it for September. I warned you there was a lot of music, but hopefully you found some favorites. Feel free to share those with us. If there’s a band or genre you’d like to see covered in greater depth, let us know about that too. See you all next month.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Chris Christodoulou creates an auditory adventure for the upcoming space platformer, Risk of Rain.

Music and sound effects can often be a blessing or a curse for a video game. The audio can either enhance an already great game, or sabotage the developer’s efforts with annoying or repetitive audio that distracts from the gameplay. Luckily, the creators of the upcoming action platformer, Risk of Rain, have scored a talented composer behind the game’s original soundtrack.

Chris Christodoulou has been infatuated with music since a young age. He began by taking music lessons, and went on to study music theory in Athens. It was around this time that Christodoulou also joined bands of varying genres, lending his skills at the keyboards and drums. It’s these diverse influences that came through and helped shape Risk of Rain’s unique sound. The soundtrack is not just an ordinary chiptune album – Christodoulou’s musical background adds a level of refinement that accentuates the feel of the game.

Risk of Rain takes place in the future in which there is only one survivor after a space train crash. The story unfolds on a mysterious planet with bizarre creatures and events for the protagonist to contend with. Christodoulou’s eerie synth effects paired with heavy rhythms help convey the sinister vibe of the environment and the gravity of the situation.

Much like the music from Bastion, the game’s soundtrack has some modern rock mixed with some chiptune elements. “Double Fucking Rainbow” (by far the heaviest track) is a good example of this with fierce guitar solos and double bass thundering under electronic blips. There are also some more down-tempo songs like “Coalescence” that has a sort of hypnotizing effect with its looping melodies. Christodoulou even throws in some hints of jazz on “Aurora Borealis” and a little R&B on the closing track, “Chanson d’Automne..” for an urban, industrial feel.

Listening to the soundtrack from start to finish really gives you the feeling that you’ve embarked on an epic and perilous journey in space, and there is a definite sense of progression and continuity among all of the tracks. Overall, Risk of Rain OST does an excellent job of adding to the story and enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.

Risk of Rain can be pre-ordered at Bandcamp for €4 (or about $5.34) in which four tracks are immediately available to download. The full album will be available once it’s officially released on September 4th. For those interested in the game (also set for a fall 2013 release) you can try the demo now or pre-order it here.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Intensity and beauty collide with SPC ECO’s newest single, “Delusional Waste.”

SPC ECO (pronounced Space Echo) is comprised of Rose Berlin (vocals, lyrics) and Dean Garcia (formerly of Curve on bass, drums, keyboards, programming). Berlin and Garcia have been churning out a mix of electronic and shoegaze tracks together since 2008, and recently the duo released their latest single, “Delusional Waste.”

“Delusional Waste” is sublimely ethereal with delicate vocals that surprise you with the bold declaration, “You’re a f*cking waste of space.” Despite some intense lyrics from Berlin, the track has plenty of catchy synthpop melodies and club-worthy rhythms. Garcia’s experience and Berlin’s raw, beautiful approach to songwriting blend well to create an eclectic summertime track with both depth and pop sensibilities.

There are also five other remixes of the track, including a house mix from Lady Barcelona and a more dark, industrial version by PigGYfUck. You can now download “Delusional Waste” along with an extended album mix and the other remixes at their Bandcamp page.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Too. Much. Music. Never thought I’d say that, but we were absolutely swamped with bands releasing new albums, singles, and music videos this past month. At the rate these roundup articles are growing, we might have to rethink the format for July. I really shouldn’t complain, though, as June was an excellent month for music in many genres, some of which we’ve yet to cover on the site. Grab some headphones and have a listen to the music that kept us so busy these last few weeks.

Blinker The Star – “Future Fires”

Blinker The Star is far from being green in the music scene having released six albums to date. Jordon Zadorozny, the main man behind the band, decided to try something new with his latest single “Future Fires”.  The single attempts to envelop all of the energy of a full album within just one song. For the most part it works though it left me wanting to hear more (in a good way) of the mix of alternative and pop synth sound. Check out the single below or hit the link for the official music video.

Adelleda - Distress

The invasion of bands from Hamilton, Ontario continues! Adelleda, a skate punk band from that area makes an appearance on our list with the debut of their album Distress. The eight tracks full of driving drumbeats, impressive guitar work, and classic punk vocal stylings are emblematic of the genre and took me back to a time when I listened to a lot more punk on the radio. Good stuff all around. The album is available through iTunes and you can get a taste of it below or by checking out the music video for title track “Distress”.

Kings of Lowertown – “Shotgun Preacher”

I love coming across new music genres, or at least those that meld genres I’m already familiar with. Mike Mackey of Kings of Lowertown describes his band as “alt-country, alt-folk, and dirt blues” and that was enough to persuade me to have a listen. New single “Shotgun Preacher” – inspired by the style of Tom Waits – is part of the album 60 More Miles which is set to release in October of this year. This follows the pattern of new album releases each October over the last few years. Jordon Zadorozny makes a return appearance in this list as the producer and engineer on the track.

Suave x Prospek - Day 2 Day Soul

Soul music makes its first appearance in one of our music roundup features, and I wish it hadn’t taken so long. Soul singer Suave has teamed up with labelmate Prospek on the six-track album Day 2 Day Soul. I was thoroughly impressed with the vocal talents on the album, but it was the combination of Suave with the live instrumentation that won me over. My favorite track was “This Can’t Work” and its mix of great vocals with some excellent guitar and trumpet accompaniment. Have a listen below or check out the music video available here.

Venn - Versus

While much of this month’s list features artists with a few albums to their name, singer-songwriter VENN is debuting her first EP, Versus. The self-produced, four-track EP  features an alternative/pop rock sound. It’s the experimental, eclectic twists that she puts on each song that make every track in the album sound very different from the others. My favorite of the bunch might be “Synth Boys and Supercharged Girls” which you can listen to below.

Paul Colilli - Hieroglyphs of the Soul

Simply Saucers co-founder Paul Colilli makes the list this month, but with his 2nd solo album Hieroglyphs of the Soul. It’s difficult to nail down a specific genre that the album would be filed under, but the lyrics reminded me of Talking Heads or They Might Be Giants. The album as a whole is an envisioning of what will pass on Earth between now and its end. Largely featuring the vocal work of Colilli, the piano accompaniment is a nice addition, particularly on slower tracks like “The Soft Ethic”. It’s really a fascinating vision from a musician who spends his days as a university professor teaching literature and philosophy.

Two Peace Extra Spicy - Sophia

Our newest staff writer, Jennifer, actually took a stab at reviewing the debut album from Canadian brothers Two Peace Extra Spicy. In her words, “…the brothers are clearly influenced by artists like The White Stripes and The Black Keys. Their entire album revolves around that same stripped down rock and roll sound…” The duo are fairly young at ages 18 and 15. While there are some growing pains with their talent, they also show a lot of promise in their six-track offering. The debut album can be heard below, and more information can be found at the band’s official website.

Prevrat - Symbols

Electronic, new wave, post-punk, indie rock and synthpop are all applicable descriptions of the music stylings created by Prevrat. That only begins to touch the surface of what’s contained within the eight tracks of Prevrat’s album Symbols. Featuring a wide array of synthesized sounds, I thought the album really hits its stride halfway through in tracks “Safe Distance” and “Abandoned” when the new wave vocals mix with the indie rock guitar. A number of the tracks also have accompanying music videos.

The Dead Projectionists - The Fantasy Farm

Alternative/folk rock group The Dead Projectionists recently released their four-track EP The Fantasy Farm. The six-member band from Toronto has a wonderful acoustic sound to back up the vocal harmonies. The highlight of the album for me is title track “Fantasy Farm” which does the best job of showing off the band’s talents and is a bit more upbeat in instrumentation than some of the other tracks.

The Woodwards – “Nothing”

Folk noir is a term I was unfamiliar with when first introduced to the musical stylings of Peter Schuyff and his band The Woodwards. Upon hearing new single “Nothing”, I immediately understood both the classification and the comparisons to Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. The Woodwards have seen numerous changes over the years to the band’s lineup and sound, but the current group consists of Schuyff and British singer Stevie Guy. “Nothing” is the first track from the full album that the duo plans to release in September.

Fitness Club Fiasco – “Goldmine”

Few bands in this list have undergone as many transitions as Fitness Club Fiasco. Originally founded in Bristol, England and eventually moving to Canada, the band has seen a number of new additions to their lineup. Change can be good, though, and the band has developed a great sound that combines pop melodies with synths. The group has released “Goldmine”, a track that really shows off both their vocal and instrumental talents. The band describes their music as having “dancey rhythms”. I definitely get that from this single, and the experience reminded me of my introduction to The Killers many years ago. Have a listen below.

Soviet Sleeper Agent - Over and Out

Before I even listened to Soviet Sleeper Agent’s latest EP Over and Out, I got a real kick out of the names of the eight tracks included. Who could deny the opportunity to hear “Fonzie Jumps The Shark”, “Broseph Stalin”, or “I May Have Alzheimer’s, But At Least I Don’t Have Alzheimer’s”? The five-member punk band from North Wales, PA obviously has a great sense of humor, and for the most part they have the musical chops to back it up.

Jenn Fiorentino - From Darkness To Light

Although inspired by punk rock, Jenn Fiorentino’s music is also deeply-rooted in an acoustic, alternative style. From Darkness to Light is the second album from the artist, following up on the 2011 release of Upon Our Wonders. The album is not just all about Fiorentino’s vocals, though. I really loved the guitar work, particularly on the “Artificial Boundaries” and “Happy Are Those Who Forget”. Besides the album releases, Jenn has also spent a few years now covering a wide variety of punk songs, and these can be heard on her YouTube page.

Havilah Tower – “Out To Sea”

Self-described as producing ‘ClassAcoustic’ music, three-member band Havilah Tower are making their debut with their single “Out To Sea”. The band combines country/folk vocals (Havilah Tower) with a number of interesting instrumentation choices including cello (Chris Wright) and djembe drums (Stephen Perkins). “Out To Sea” is one of the tracks from their upcoming LP Behind The Curtain, scheduled to be released this October. I’m looking forward to hearing more of that unique sound later this year.

Chimera – “Lion”

Chimera’s work embodies the truest spirit of indie entertainment due to the fact that the artist wrote all of the music and has paid for everything out of pocket. The first example of that work to hit the internet is the single “Lion”, released in early June. That project has turned into a full multimedia venture that also includes a music video and short film.

Black Dirty - Dirty Water

Although from South Jersey, indie postrock/alternative/math rock band Black Dirty can be found these days playing in Philadelphia, PA. The four-member group released their first EP, Dirty Water, in early June. Despite the album name, the four tracks included on the album feature some great, clean-sounding guitar work. Not to be outdone, the vocals and drums are at the same level of quality and clarity. Have a listen below and then go pick up the album. It’s free!

Well, that’s it for this month. We certainly covered a lot of variety in June’s edition, but I know there’s always more music to be discovered. Was there some band or genre we overlooked? Did you have any favorites in the above list? I encourage you to share your views by leaving a comment. See you all again next month.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

0613EP highlights the lush, mysterious side of synthpop.

Earlier this month, Toronto-based artist DAVIDS released his debut, 0613EP on Nile River Records. With just five songs, DAVIDS manages to take listeners on a unique and slightly bizarre musical ride that stretches the limits of electronic music. On first listen the EP is deceptively accessible, but 0613EP boasts multiple layers and at times a serious vibe that leaves you feeling a bit on edge.

The two strongest examples come from the vocals and the synth. Most vocal parts consist of eerie, reverb laden harmonies. Dark, low end synth combine with pop melodies, creating a pleasantly unsettling mood. Despite the album’s pop leanings, there are definitely dark undertones and a feeling of mystery. The opening track, “Iranians” sets the mood with an exotic tone, but things quickly shift toward a gritty direction. “Buried in Cocaine” is less introspective than the opener and more of a straightforward dance track. Laced with early hip-hop sounds, the second song has some jolting transitions that easily emulate the feeling of taking an illicit drug.

The EP’s single, “Dead Walkie,” sounds like it would have been right at home in the original soundtrack to the 2011 film, Drive. The soaring melodies and 80s synthpop hooks lend itself to being the catchiest song of the bunch, but again, is followed by darker new wave tones. “Right On” is definitely the most aggressive of the five songs, providing a heavy and distorted sound reminiscent of the industrial bands of the 90s.

Despite the varied influences, the last half of the EP has a sense of resolution, successfully combining both the uplifting and somber themes and ending on a satisfying note. Overall, DAVIDS have created a brief and mysterious journey into a world of electronic music that’s hard to pin down. 0613EP is a conglomerate of various genres that stray from the beaten path and is well suited for listeners who want diversity and a fresh take on synthpop or new wave.

0613EP is available from Bandcamp as a high quality digital download, or you can purchase the limited edition CD or digital download. You can also purchase the EP from the iTunes music store here. Be sure to check out the captivating video for “Dead Walkie” which was shot on location in Lyon, France and directed by Christopher Mills (Interpol, Broken Social Scene, Rush).

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.