There’s a special joy in pulling together this monthly feature and going over all of the emails and music submissions. One of the best parts is seeing up-and-coming musicians continue to produce music month after month and year after year. June’s Music Roundup includes a number of musicians that have been featured here before. For some, it’s their third or fourth trip back. That being said, there’s also a number of great new artists making their debut appearance on The Indie Mine.

In all, this was our biggest month ever for music. We hope you’ll take the time to check out our Staff Picks and all of the other deserving bands included a little further down. Let us know what your Song of Summer is by leaving a comment. Happy listening!

Staff Picks

Single(s) of the Month:

“Help Yourself” – Go Life

Jennifer

Go Life has returned with a brand new single just in time for the summer. \“Help Yourself\” is a relaxing, down-tempo track that features mellow electronic drum beats and dreamy vocals. In just a few months, Rhys Viney’s presence as a solo artist has grown exponentially, delivering a rich listening experiencing for fans of chillwave and dream pop..

“What the French Call ‘Les Incompétents’” - Waterbodies

Lux

Ontario garage rock trio Waterbodies put out a fresh track this month, \“What the French Call 'Les Incompétents'", whose name is a homage to the 90's classic Home Alone. Despite the somewhat trite lyricism, the single has a great balance of pumping bass and distortion, reminiscent of Favourite Worst Nightmare-era Arctic Monkeys, and The Wombats-style \“woo woos\”. Give it a listen on Soundcloud or Bandcamp.

“Hades” – Fitness Club Fiasco

Brandon

Picking a favorite single this month was an arduous task. A number of musicians made return trips to the Music Roundup with worthy releases. Honorable mentions go out to Jonny Debt and Kings of Lowertown, but my pick this month is "Hades" by Toronto-based Fitness Club Fiasco. Last June, the band produced one of my favorite tracks of 2013 in "Goldmine", and "Hades" marks the 2nd release from their upcoming album. While the new song employs the underlying synthpop sound and generous use of harmonies that have become the band's signature style, "Hades" marks a departure in tone, moving from a high energy arrangement to a low-key feel. I'm eager to hear what FCF has up their sleeve next.

Album(s) of the Month:

Rocky - Wonder Villains

Lux

Derry City party-pop quartet Wonder Villains released their first full-length record, Rocky, on the 23rd, whose track list features my pick for single of the month back in February, \“Marshall\”, along with an almost definitive catalog of their previously released hits, including \“TV\”, \“33\”, and \“Zola\”. The central part of the album encompasses the extent of their new material, which is unfortunately weak, but passable, in comparison. The new songs, including \“Fiction\”, a sad, sparkling, Imogen Heap-like slow jam, diverge from their typically energetic, upbeat fare and take a turn towards melancholy. Despite the piecemeal nature of the album, Rocky is standout for June and certainly deserves a listen or two (or twelve), particularly if you're unfamiliar with Wonder Villains' previous releases. Rocky is available for purchase on iTunes or Amazon.

EP 1 – Gdansk

Jennifer

Gdansk’s EP 1 is a polished mix of the ethereal and deep. The Toronto quartet blends dark and brooding elements with beautiful melodies that create a haunting atmosphere. The opening track, \“Mariner’s Cross\” sets the tone with a slow and deliberate drum beat, balanced by the gentle melodies and soothing vocals. As the EP progresses, there is a noticeable increase in intensity, particularly with \“Babel\”. EP 1 closes with \“Live Away\” which is both heartfelt and uplifting, bringing the entire EP full circle..

Mary – Ivory Hours

Brandon

Ivory Hours' 6-track EP Mary is a bit of a strange animal. By and large, the alt pop group maintains a catchy, upbeat sound throughout the setlist.  However, many of the songs include themes of loss and sadness. It's an interesting juxtaposition and just one reason I selected the EP as my staff pick for the month. Lovely harmonies featuring vocalists Luke and Annie Roes pervade each of the tracks. The instrumental work shines as well. I particularly enjoyed the bass line on "Young Blood" and the opening guitar licks of "The Attic". It all spells a successful release for the talented musicians from London, Ontario.

Other Music

Singles:

By Definition releases rock/metal single “Warrior” off album The Concerns of Moral Man

Single “Salo” marks the debut of Paul Nicholson’s new pop, piano-led act Oxford Style

2-piece grunge/punk band MAD ONES release “Leather Rug“, lead single off upcoming LP Sanciety

Soulful indie pop act Wayne William releases new single “Don’t Fade Away” from upcoming album The Parade

Canadian rocker Jonny Debt releases “Purple Heart“, s single seven years in the making

Kings of Lowertown record gritty new single “Blues Haul” in an Ottawa Valley farmhouse

Metal bands Wolvhammer and Krieg release 7″ split

Kye Alfred Hillig creates “Licorice the Dog” demo during sprint tour

Seattle-based troubadour Daniel G. Harmann records live version of single “Foreverever”

With a music video banned in Turkey, The Shanks release single “German Heavy Metal Girl”

Terracotta Blue continues his series of Purple Summer singles with “Last Night”

Albums/EPs:

Indie pop duo Six Years readies release of new album Rivers

Four-piece, all girl, blues rock band Rouge releases four-track EP Edge of the Bed

Edinburgh’s Wozniak releases shoegaze/post-punk EP Pikes Peak

Manufactured Consent marks third release from London-based septet State of Play

Disco visionary Rayko releases 10-track album Rebirth

High energy pop rock band Tokyo Taboo release new EP Porno Star

Canadian musician riot nrrd releases 14-track song-cycle settle

Shoegaze/rock/pop artists Ceremony release new EP Birds

New England brother duo The Cautious Arc release self-titled debut album

Dance music veteran Bobmo releases club/acid techno album New Dawn

After multiple single releases in 2014, 5j Barrow releases From the Dim, Sweet Light

Psychedelic rock band The Eye Jabs release new modern garage rock album Songs From the Fourth Dimension

House music specialist Tunnelvision follows up first EP of 2014 with first full album, Sky Swallower

Brooklyn-based, multi-instrumentalist Jon Autry releases full length album Beautifully Broken

KLANGLIEBE veteran Klangschwester releases new EP Keep Loving Me as part of duo Go Astray

West Palm Beach alt rock band The Drip Effect releases album Dinosaur

Music veterans combine to form Royal Tusk and release new six-song EP Mountain

Canadian grunge/punk band CHAMPION LOVER release self-titled LP

Electric dance artist Airsouth releases EP Deep Space Bird featuring vocalist Elegy Parks

Blurred City Lights follows up 2013′s EP Neon Glow with full length album Anamorphic

Indie pop artists The Mothers are set to release their debut, self-titled album

Singer-songwriter solo artist Jacob Caporali releases indie alt rock album Running From My Shadow

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

May proved to be an interesting few weeks in the world of indie music. A number of bands that had previously released singles this year are finally starting to release the remainder of their scheduled albums. What this means is that there was a lot more music to sort through and enjoy. Competition was fierce, but below you’ll find what we consider the cream of the crop in our Staff Picks. Be sure to have a listen, but don’t forget to check out the lists further down of all bands making news this month. You don’t want to miss out on some great new tunes.

Staff Picks

Single(s) of the Month:

“Come to Light” – The Arkells

Kendrick

The Arkells, of Ontario, have been around a little bit too long to be wearing their indie musician badges still, but all is forgiven because they teeter on the edge of worldwide fame without any pretense. With some stereotypical Canadian restraint and humility, the thoroughly modern single "Come to Light" hit irregular electronic music distribution in the middle of May as a preview of their third full album. Original alt-rock composition and Max Kerman's powerfully emotional vocals tower high over a firm and evident foundation of soul and Motown roots, but this is no singular auteur effort. This group is a unit, a team, a real band in an indie music scene cluttered with mavericks and lone wolves. Like their R&B heroes, the Arkells show lesser performers what happens when you take excellent talents and point them all in the same direction in pursuit of the same artistic goal. The new album High Noon will sneak up on us in August.

“Relied on Luck” – Magic Carpet Factory

Lux

"Relied on Luck" is one of two new songs released in the May by four piece indie group Magic Carpet Factory. With a distinct bass-driven, bluesy aesthetic, the track is very much reminiscent of Arctic Monkeys' "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" in both style and theme. Have a listen to "Relied on Luck" and accompanying track "Midnight Kiss" on Soundcloud. Their debut EP, Feel the Magic, can also be streamed on Soundcloud or purchased through iTunes, Amazon, or the band's website.

“2AM Drunk” – Ben Everyman (NSFW)

Brandon

It was a tough call for the best single this month. Magic Carpet Factory's "Relied on Luck" was an early favorite along with Go Life's "19". In the end, though, I chose a song with a completely different style and tone. Ben Everyman's "2AM Drunk" is a rockabilly romp in the form of a drunken tale. The repeated retelling of a night full of misfortune was just too entertaining to pass on. The track is slated to be part of the artist's album Subourbon due out this September. WARNING: The track above is NSFW.

Album(s) of the Month:

Young Lungs - Instead of Sleeping

Lux

Multi-instrumental indie rockers Instead of Sleeping recently released Young Lungs, their fourth studio effort and follow up to The Reds, The Blacks, The Grays. Funded in part by a successful Kickstarter campaign, the Pittsburgh-based quartet teamed up with Marc McClusky (Weezer, Bad Religion, Ludo, William Beckett) to create this short but sweet eight song LP, which deviates slightly from the typical mellow, melodic indie rock fare, but just enough that it's still plenty accessible. With clear, unaggressive vocals and a touch of modern electronic distortion, the album resembles releases from the likes of The Postal Service or Ra Ra Riot. Young Lungs is available for purchase on iTunes and Bandcamp, and you can give it a listen for free on Bandcamp, Allmusic, or the band's Facebook page.

Dies Irae - Josephine and the Artizans

Kendrick

Kid Rock showed the world that he could freestyle over classic rock, and Us3 brought us sophisticated rap on top of the jazz of Blue Note. Now Josephine and the Artizans puts an emcee in front of a chamber music ensemble to see if you can rap over classical music. The result is supremely weird, and bizarrely satisfying, like winter truffles in Carolina barbecue sauce. This London combo's debut EP Dies Irae rhymes over compositions borrowed from Mozart's Requiem and Clementi's Four Seasons, but the three or four minute running length of each song is a strictly modern presentation. They call the result 'Hip-Hopera' but it's nothing like the concept albums of The Roots or R. Kelly. The talent on display here raises the music above the status of a novelty gimmick, especially if you have any music education with which to discern. Is cellist Laura Seddon doing some sort of cadenza-style improvisation around those familiar melodies? The EP gets an official release date of June 2. Hear some sample tracks and a whole pile of singles here.

Mapmaker - Repeat After Me 

Brandon

Although The Golden Sounds and 9yrs both had worthy entries this month, my pick is Mapmaker from San Francisco band Repeat After Me. The album is a nine-track, eclectic mix of sounds from different eras of pop and rock. The Chicago-like brass accompaniment in "The Volcano" is equally as entertaining as the laid back sound of "Carve Out a Name". Harmonies and interesting instrumental mixes are the strengths of the album, and the four-member band also receive a number of assists from a handful of outside performers. Mapmaker is the sophomore album from the group, and I'm already curious to hear what amount of variety their next offering will include.

Other Music

Singles:

Go Life releases new chillwave single “19”

Pretty Girls release their debut single “Waiting On You, We’re Baats”

Daniel Harmann creates latest single “Anna” as part of Fastback Sessions #4

Dark rock goddess Characula releases new single “Headstone”

Electronic rock band High Horses release “Hours” with b-side track “A Thousand Eyes”

Terracotta Blue releases second single in the Purple Summer series, “My Time” featuring Emmy of White Life

Electronic pop group Insignificant Others release single “Sentimental” along with various remixes

Albums/EPs:

Toronto noise/doom quartet Godstopper release 4-track EP Children Are Our Future

German trio KLANGLIEBE release EP containing “Lost In You” and various remixes

Brooklyn-based band  Dead Leaf Echo release EP true.deep.sleeper

Swiss post-punk musician Borderline Symphony releases debut album EP1

Mr. Beard releases funk/disco/hip hop album The Reasons

Mountaineer! returns with indie folk rock album Caribou Lou

Manx singer-songwriter Clara Barker releases sophomore album Fine Arts & The Breslins

Nashville-based folk/alt rock band The Golden Sounds release new album Waiting On The Birds along with illustrated short story

Pop duo Roses & Revolutions release self-titled sophomore album

Germany’s Ruins and Portland’s Usnea release split album Halo of Flies

9yrs releases first official album This is 9 Years, a mix of pop and other styles

French multi-instrumentalist MR KITO releases new indie rock EP Where Are the Lizards?

WHOOP-Szo releases seven-track experimental folk album Niizhwaaswo

Shintaro Haioka samples various everyday objects to create new EP Rei Row

The Coppertone releases rock/blues EP The Bakery, her first new album since leaving her old label

© 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.