Here in the states we recently celebrated Thanksgiving. What was I thankful for this year? A couple of quiet days off to catch up on music! We actually had so many musicians contact us in the last couple of weeks that we’ve had to delay their inclusion in our monthly roundup until December’s issue. Grab a set of headphones, pour your warm beverage of choice, and get comfortable. Here we go…

Marcus Singletary – Live on Sunset

November 5th marked the release of LA-based musician Marcus Singletary’s latest album, Live on Sunset. The 7-track set was recorded at LA’s Whisky a Go-Go, a club that’s hosted some classic rock legends going back decades. Singletary’s classic rock and blues stylings are in full force in the live version of Mercury Blues below.

The Foreign Films - Fall of the Summer Heart

By far the longest single we’ve featured on The Indie Mine, Fall of the Summer Heart by The Foreign Films is an eight-part cycle. Filled with strong 60s pop influences, this epic track  took a full year to record and will be part of TFF’s next album, The Record Collector, due out in April of 2014.

Skytown Riot – Soul or System

Earning comparisons to Muse and Coldplay, Knoxville, TN-based Skytown Riot continued to make news this past month. The alt-rock band released their anthemic album Soul or System in mid-November. The album was the culmination of a long process which included rounding out the final lineup of band members back in 2012. The track  “Runaway Princess” has been gaining some notoriety amongst the gaming community for use in fan-made videos, and you can have a listen below.

The Almighty Rhombus – Lucid Living

The Almighty Rhombus makes a return appearance in our music roundup feature having previously caught our attention twice before. This time around the band has released a new album, Lucid Living. Whereas their previous album held a pretty consistent pop sound, this setlist is all over the place with tracks ranging from garage band to psychedelic. When it comes to the band’s sound, I honestly can’t decide if I prefer the high-energy style of songs like “Down South” or the more mellow surf band-ish “Blank”. Check out the album and decide for yourself.

Echotape – “Pushing Your Faith/The Weak”

Formed in the south of the UK in 2010, Echotape is working hard to build on the success of their debut EP, Sky Above Quarley Hill. That brings us to “Pushing Your Faith/The Weak”, the latest AA single from their Hexolagy series.  Check out the alt-rock single below, and keep an eye out for their next release,  “Last King of England”, due out in mid-December.

Forgotten Fix - Disconnect

Forgotten Fix is a very new band, having just formed in Summer 2013. What they may lack in experience, they certainly make up for in drive and efficiency. The synth rock band from Montréal managed to put together a five-track album, Disconnect, in just five days. I’ve included the single “The Problem With Unity” because it has some of the most fun synth work out of the setlist.

Kettū – “Oxytocin”

Otso “Ozoh”  Haavisto is another returning member to our music roundup feature, but this time he’s working under the project name Kettū. His first release under this new project is the glo-fi/chillwave single “Oxytocin”. I really dug his previous work back in April, and that hasn’t changed with this new track. It has that same laid-back, ambient style that I think would fit perfectly on a puzzle game soundtrack.

Ummagma – “Rotation/Live and Let Die”

It’s the month of return guests! Ummagma has been featured on the site a handful of times, and the Ukrainian-Canadian duo is back with a new single containing two tracks, “Rotation” and “Live and Let Die”. Their addictively hypnotic “dreamgaze” sound combines elements of a few different genres including electronic, synth pop, and rock. The single isn’t actually released yet (due out Dec. 9th), but you can have a listen to “Rotation” early.

Clockwork Noise – Whethermachines

While Clockwork Noise released their debut album Whethermachines back in May, it was still a work-in-progress. November saw that project reach its culmination with the release of the final track “The Tourists”. The band likes to experiment with the juxtaposition of opposites, and that’s never more apparent than with the infusion of string instrumentation into the modern, alt-rock “A Wake Up Serenade”.

JproD – “A Million Feelings”

JproD is a rap/hip-hop artist from the New England area.  As with many indie artists, JproD bases his music off of his lifestyle and life experiences while also taking inspiration from different cultures and musical genres. His latest project is entitled “Regal” and he recently released two singles from that project: “Trill Shit, I Really Mean That” and “A Million Feelings”. We’ve included the latter of the two. WARNING: NSFW.

Fronz Arp - deepseabigcitysmallroom

Fronz made our music roundup early in 2013 with the release of his album Fronz Arp is a Tiny Crooked Orchestra. The Australian artist is back with a brand new album, deepseabigycitysmallroom. The 7-track EP captures the essence of his time living in New York aided by the fact that was it was written in, recorded in, and even performed using bits of furniture in an East Harlem apartment. While a little less poppy than his previous release, the new album is still Bowie-esque with a pleasant, folk singer-songwriter style.

Street Cleaner - Street Cleaner

Described as the soundtrack for an 1980s movie that never was, Street Cleaner’s self-titled album tells the story of detective/vigilante Jack Slade trying to clean up the seedy underbelly of San Diego. The 13 tracks exude the guitar riffs and synth sounds that the 80s were known for and fit in perfectly with the action movie and video game soundtracks of that era. While video game composer Jesse Bishop was responsible for writing each of the songs, a number of other musicians also contributed to the album.

Charles Bordeaux – Fables

Fables is the latest EP from NY-based singer/songwriter Charles Bordeaux. Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, this three-track narrative tells a story of gratitude through a farmer and the personification of Time. The album is a mix of electronic, dream pop, shoegaze and other similar genres, and it has a mild psychedelic edge to it. The first track, “Sandman”, has been included for your listening pleasure.

Womb – “Baby Don’t Love Me”

Garage jazz/blues is probably the most apt description for the musical stylings of Womb. While the band was busy touring this summer, they still found the time to put together a debut music video for the single “Baby Don’t Love Me”. The video is of the humorous variety and features the band getting the living hell beat out of them by a spiteful girlfriend.

James Keyes - The Middle

James Keyes is another musician from the New England area, specifically Connecticut. November 23rd marked the release of his third album, the first since mid-2011.  The Middle is a 12-track mélange of blues, rock, folk, and country, and the unifying element is the Waits-esque vocal talent of Keyes himself. At its core it’s a bit of Americana. My favorite track is “The Traveler” which I’ve included because it’s fun and I enjoyed the instrumentation, particularly the bass.

Illitry – “Kingdom Perverted”

As with a number of the other bands, Illitry has previously been featured in our monthly music roundups. The two-piece band from Hamilton, ON is back this month with a new single, “Kingdom Perverted”. The track – with its mix of electronica and organic sounds – is from their debut album which is set to come out early next year.

Invasions – “Rosy”

We actually brought you coverage of “Rosy” in last month’s music roundup. Invasions’ surf rock style is back in a brand new music video for the single. The video features a 60s pool party theme and 8mm recordings.

Unconditional Arms - Kinship

All music serves as a creative outlet, but not all of it tells a story. Kinship by Unconditional Arms was written by musician Jeffrey Wright as a celebration of the birth of his son. It’s a 6-track, fully instrumental album that explores the emotions Wright uncovered during this momentous period of his life. We’ve included the first track, “The Family Tree”, below.

Mindy Gledhill - Pocketful of Poetry

With a successful Pledge Music Campaign, trips from LA to Morocco to Japan, and appearing on a Grammy-nominated album, it’s safe to say that things are going well for musician Mindy Gledhill. September saw the release of her latest album, Pocketful of Poetry. While the songs vary in tone, for the most part the album is a plucky mix of pop and folk.

CalatrilloZ – “Lords of Misery”

While some musical acts are considered performances, the London-based quintet CalatrilloZ takes it up a few levels. They manage to blend metal and prog rock with a flair for opera including costumes, acting, and some serious stage design. The band recently made news by releasing their single “Lords of Misery” which you can listen to below.

Claudio Cataldi – Homing Season

Every month it seems like we’re being introduced to a new subgenre of music, and in November we have Claudio Cataldi to thank for bringing us acid-folk. Cataldi’s musical stylings also incorporate shoegaze, and both can be found within his new album Homing Season. Although the album came out in September, even in November it still manages to capture a bit of the feel of the autumnal season.

Fitness Club Fiasco – “Goldmine” (Jon Lawless remix)

I don’t love all of the music that hits our inbox, but every month there are usually a couple of albums or singles that I put on repeat while working on this website long after putting together this roundup feature. Back in June I included Fitness Club Fiasco’s “Goldmine”, a catchy single that won me over and I still listen to frequently. Jon Lawless of First Rate People took his own stab at the song this month, and you can hear the remix results below.

Ben McKenzie - Stand Down Son

While still performing live with His Broken Bones,  Stand Down Son marks the first solo EP release by Toronto singer-songwriter Ben McKenzie. The six-track setlist is a bit of Springsteen and Petty as it takes a longing, bittersweet look at the past, present, and future.

Shintaro Haioka - Harumi

Electronica musician Shintaro Haioka has followed up his earlier 2013 EP Blowin’ in the Wind with another EP, Harumi. Once again, Haioka draws upon his Japanese background with this six-track set. The artist combines traditional Japanese instrumentation like the koto zither and hyshigi percussion with modern effects and sound processing.

20 Days In - Propagation

Late October saw the release of the third EP from Philly-based 20 Days In. The five-piece band unveiled Propagation, a deviation from the group’s usual hardcore sound. The three tracks included in this EP steer more towards the alternative and progressive sides of rock, but they still retain the aggressive tone the band has become known for.

Mark Martyre - London

We started doing these monthly roundups back in February, and musician Mark Martyre was one of the 11 musical acts that we included in that inaugural edition. London is the latest album to be released by Martyre, following up on the success of last year’s Down, Record. As with Martyre’s previous efforts, London‘s ten tracks showcase his talents as a songwriter and Waits-like vocal style.

 
I would be shocked, absolutely shocked if there’s a reader that didn’t find something they enjoyed in the list above. We really ran the gamut of genres and subgenres this month. There was so much music, in fact, that we’re planning on shaking up the format for these monthly roundups starting with January’s edition (December’s will likely remain the same). Show your support for these wonderful bands by listening to, downloading, and purchasing their music. And don’t forget to leave a comment for us about who you liked.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Another month has come and gone and that means it’s time once again to sit back and reflect on the music that’s touched our lives. Okay, that might be going a bit too far. We really did come across a number of bands that caught our eye (or at least our ears). I encourage all of our readers to listen to the full list of musicians. You might just find something that surprises you.

Ummagma – “Lama” remix

The Canadian-Ukrainian duo of Shauna McLarnon and Alexx Kretov has been busy since releasing two digital LPs in July 2012. Their latest project is a remix of their single “Lama” from their Antigravity album. The remix is done by Jane Woodman – a shoegaze/darkwave musician from San Francisco – and features a slightly darker spin on the dreampop-infused original version. Both of Ummagma’s albums - Ummagma and Antigravity - are available in their entirety (for free!) through their Bandcamp site, and we’ve included the “Lama” remix below.

Sam English - Dungeon Hearts OST

It’s a special treat when we can cover video game music composers on the site because it combines two of our areas of interest. Enter Sam English, the composer behind the soundtrack for Dungeon Hearts, a recently-released multi-platform game that combines match-3 mechanics with RPG staples. This is the kind of sound I’d love to hear in a new Zelda game, and you can judge for yourself by listening to the track below or by checking out the full album.

Fronz Arp – Fronz Arp is a Tiny Crooked Orchestra

It’s easy to figure out where the David Bowie comparisons come from after hearing just a few notes from Fronz Arp. The poppy sound and catchy beats certainly bring to mind one of Britain’s finest. The album Fronz Arp is a Tiny Crooked Orchestra has a unique name, but it also has an interesting backstory. The album was released one song at a time, with each track debuting two weeks after the previous one. All told, 27 tracks were released over two volumes, and you can listen to the first album below.

Amber Edgar – Honey & Sorrow

Last month we highlighted a number of talented solo musicians from the great white north (Canada), and we have another here in the form of Amber Edgar. Edgar released the album Honey & Sorrow in early March. Though only two tracks, listeners get a chance to hear this artist speed things up and slow things down as she delivers a little slice of life about the troubles that follow us all. Although the first track shares the album’s name, I really enjoyed the second track more and included it below. Have a listen to Edgar pour her heart out in “Troubles”.

Blurred City Lights – Neon Glow

The creative process ebbs and flows with artists. Sometimes developing a concept can take a lifetime. In the case of Blurred City Lights it took 10 days for Dean Garcia and Jarek Leskiewicz to release their debut EP Neon Glow. Even more interesting is that the 5-track album was created via email and file sharing. Amazing! The highlight of the album for me is “Circles” which rightly earns comparisons to a little band called Pink Floyd. BCL is also offering “Symbiotic Anxiety Attacks (Feels So High Mix Feat Rose Berlin)” as a free download.

Navy Skies – Cut My Teeth

Like Blurred City Lights, Navy Skies has gone with a different approach in creating their latest album, Cut My Teeth. Rather than creating their sound through the typical highly-filtered studio production process, this 2-track album captures the band’s energy in a more raw, realistic approach. In fact, everything but the vocals was recorded live off the floor. Of the two tracks, I preferred “Ontario Winds”. Perhaps that’s because of its comparable sound to that of the Foo Fighters, one of my favorite mainstream alt-rock bands. You can check out both tracks in the player below.

The Almighty Rhombus – The Almighty Rhombus

I love bands with personality. After being introduced to The Almighty Rhombus as a ‘supergroup’ from Greater Sudbury (Ontario, Canada), I of course had to see what they were all about. Their recently-released self-titled album contains five tracks with a poppy, upbeat sound. I can see why they play to packed bars as their music is conducive to dancing and having a few pints. After years of listening to Boston, I’m still tickled by any band that includes a distinctive organ sound which The Almighty Rhombus does here to great effect. Although I enjoyed the entire album, I couldn’t pick a favorite track. Have a listen to the full album and see if you can decide.

Dallas David - Benson

Coming to us from the hotbed of indie culture that’s Portland, Oregon is Dallas David. In mid-March, David released his 13-track album Benson. I don’t think there’s an artist in this list that shows more diversity than David. In fact, I can’t even properly categorize the artist’s genre. It’s a mix of acoustic rock, funk, pop, and R&B, and when combined with David’s vocals the closest sound it brings to my mind is Prince. I love the mix of electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and synthesizers, and it’s hard not to smile at tracks like “The Biscuit Works”, “Salmon Fillet”, and “Kittens”. It’s not just the titles as many of the songs are full of humorous lyrics and subject matter. It’s not quite as outlandish as The Lonely Island, but some of these songs are downright funny. Have a listen to David’s songwriting talent.

Doug MacDonald – ReORGANized Quartet

Our last entry in this month’s roundup is Doug MacDonald and his recent album ReORGANized Quartet. The L.A.-area jazz guitarist reestablishes the vibe he created back in 1997′s Organ-izing, and includes musicians Clarence Webb, Bobby Pierce, Rodger Neumann, and Harold Acey. The organ might not be the first instrument that comes to mind when one thinks of jazz, but I really dig the sound when combined with Webb’s tenor saxophone. If you’re a fan of the genre, this is a great album to check out. Unfortunately we weren’t able to include any of the tracks in this article, but you can preview the full album here.

Do you have any favorites in the list above? Were there any artists you were exposed to in March that you’d care to share with us? We love discussing all things indie music, so leave a comment below.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.