Tideland – Lull

Tideland hails from Sterling, Virginia – a town with a history of notable local bands within the independent punk and hardcore scene such as pg.99, Sail, and Pizza. In the wake of their predecessors, Tideland has effectively carried the torch, continuing to create songs that will have you thinking it’s actually 1993 again.

With Lull, their latest full length album, they’ve effectively blended grunge rock with infectious, toe-tapping melodies. Each track is driven by grunge rock guitars and Jon Hand’s unique vocal style. The opening track, “Starbound”, begins with a heavenly drone that builds into a frenzy of rolling drums and guitar. Despite the obvious punk influences in their style, Tideland throws in a healthy dose of shoegaze elements, reminiscent of bands like Hopesfall.

While listening to Hand’s vocals, I couldn’t help but think of Doug Martsch, especially in “Carved in Mine” as the guitars complement each other with crunchy distortion and clean melodies. “Desolate” takes a slight departure from the other songs with a slower tempo and a bit of a Western feel. “Dinosaur” is another standout track with a mix of beauty and rawness fueled by the pleasantly dissonant combination of distortion and slide guitars. The closing track, “Way To Die”, ends the album on a contradictory note with a hint of both bittersweetness and optimism. As the guitars fade out, there is a sense of finality and hope that connect back to the buildup at the beginning of the opening track, and it feels like everything has come full circle.

Lull only features eight tracks, but each is robust and never disappoints. Every song stands perfectly on their own, but the album does have a consistent flow that is best appreciated with a full listen. Many bands are desperately nostalgic, looking to reclaim the glory days of music in the 90s, but Tideland pulls it off effortlessly and without pretense. Fans of influential artists like Sonic Youth, Treepeople, and Dinosaur Jr. will definitely appreciate the purity and authenticity of Tideland’s sound.

Lull is available for purchase on Bandcamp in assorted formats including mp3, CD, tape, and 12” vinyl.

© 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.

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.

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.

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.

You take one little two-week hiatus and suddenly the floodgates open. After a slow April, the rock gods woke up and directed our attention to a slew of bands and solo artists. In particular, the great white north (Canada) provided us with enough music to keep us entertained for days and weeks. If you don’t find something you like then keep looking. It was quite a diverse month.
 
 

WTCHS – “Mr. Hands”

Described as a “basement recording made for vinyl”, the new track “Mr. Hands” from Canadian band WTCHS is almost like two songs in one. Released back in late April, the track begins with a heavy punk influence and finishes with a turn towards alt-rock. The band compares the latter sound with Queens of the Stone Age and I couldn’t agree more. “Mr. Hands” was released on a 7″ split with “Harness” from Thoughts On Air. You can check out both tracks below.

 
 

Oh, Admiral – Breaking Free

The 5-track album Breaking Free is the first to be released by Oh, Admiral under the Painted Ox Records label. The acoustic collection is the creative output of Mike Berean, formerly of Verse The End. Of the five tracks, I particularly enjoyed the instrumentation of “Here and There” with its combination of acoustic guitar, flute, and percussion work.

 
 

Pete Van Dyk & The Second Hand Band – “Rise the Falling Sun”

Another Hamilton, Ontario band joins our news ranks and this time it’s Pete Van Dyk & The Second Hand Band. Not only has the 4-member group recently released a new track, “Rise the Falling Sun” also has a music video showcasing who the band really is. I really dig the blues influence the band manages to mix into their sound. Have a listen for yourself and you’ll see what I mean.

 
 

Ketch Harbour Wolves - Queen City: Volume 1

It’s always interesting to find out what musicians use for the inspiration in their work. In Queen City: Volume 1, Ketch Harbour Wolves used different locations of Toronto to create a tone in each of the seven tracks. At the same time, the album tries to make a more universal connection by touching on the emotions all of humanity share. The sound really changes from track to track including everything from the instrumentation to the vocals. If I had to pick a favorite, I think “Should Have Learned” would top that list. The entire album is included below for you to find your own favorite, and “The Good Blood” is currently a free download.

 
 

Harvey Dinero – C.T.G.E presents: Harvey Dinero’s A Day in the Life

We step away from the Canadian and alt-rock theme to present Columbus, Ohio native and hip hop artist Harvey Dinero. The 11-track album A Day in the Life (released under C.T.G.E. ltd.) is the first from the musician. It’s not just a solo act, as Harvey includes a handful of the tracks featuring other artists such as “Sunshine ft. Noel Gaines”. The full album can be listened to here (Warning: NSFW).

A*Star - Any Given Moon

A*Star is the first band to make a second appearance in our monthly roundup feature, having previously gained our attention back in February. The shoegaze/dreampop duo from Chicago is back with 2-track EP Any Given Moon. The two tracks complement each other well with the slightly grittier “Any Given Sunday” leading into the more ethereal “Catch the Moon”. Both tracks are available to listen to below.

 
 

Rob Green – Soul Dancing

Some musicians get their start early, others spend a lifetime crafting their talents before accomplishing their dreams. Rob Green falls into the latter category, releasing his first album - Soul Dancing - at age 62. The 12-track album is a work developed over 37 years and a features an eclectic mix of styles including R&B, jazz, soul, rock, and folk. Green’s folkish vocals combine with acoustic guitar and sax and play against lyrics that generally hold a positive outlook on life (though there are exceptions). It’s an enjoyable mix and a sound we don’t hear a lot of around here.

 
 

DAV!D&CLARA – Untitled album

Electronic music made a big showing in last month’s roundup and we’ve seen a bit more of that influence again in May. DAV!D&CLARA isn’t your typical duo though. David is a musician from the American southwest, specializing in industrial dance, electronic, and electro/electro pop music. In an interesting twist, Clara is his laptop. Although the album in progress has yet to receive a title, 10 tracks of poetic lyrics are available to listen to right now.



 
 

DAVIDS – 0613EP

I can’t calculate the odds of this happening, but if you wanted more electronica and more David, well, it’s your lucky day. I present to you DAVIDS and their electronica/new wave/synthpop EP 0613EP. The full album hasn’t released quite yet, but the band has put together a music video for single “Dead Walkie”. The video was directed by Christopher Mills who has worked with such notable bands as Interpol and Rush. Have a listen to the track below, hit the link for the video, and sit tight until June 4th when the album comes out.

 
 

Calgary James - Indian Summer

Combining acoustic guitar, synthesizers, piano, and more, Indian Summer is another eclectic mix of sounds wrapped up into a neat 6-track EP. Calgary James is particularly fond of the second track, “Hammock”. I have to agree that I really like the vocal harmonies which produces a sound that hearkens back to the 50s and 60s. This album also comes with a music video, a psychedelic offering for “4AM”. The experimental album really does go all over the place, but that isn’t a bad thing as it’s consistently entertaining throughout.

 
 

Air Marshal Landing - You Used To Be Me

Last month I had the pleasure of discovering Air Marshal Landing and their single “Little Town”. Well, come June 4th the Canadian trio is releasing the rest of that album, You Used To Be Me. The 11 tracks will be offered in both digital and CD form, and the band is making the first track “Move With You” free to download all summer. I’m eager to hear the full album, but you can hear the first track below.

 
 

Weekend Riot Club - PSYCHOTROPIA

Another band we spotlighted last month is back with a full album release. Weekend Riot Club is set to release Psychotropia on June 4th. The alt-rock group from Hamilton, Ontario has put together a 12-track  album featuring Melissa Marchese on lead vocals, Mike Chetcuti on guitar, and Paul Fontes driving the band’s high energy on drums. The full album can be obtained in digital format or via CD. Have a listen below to track “Give It All” or hit the link to listen to the full album.

This may have been our most musically diverse month yet. Summer’s heating up, everyone’s headed outside, and it’s a great time to listen to some new music. Did you have any favorites from the list above, or do you have any recommendations of your own? Hit us up with a comment, and be sure to check back in a few weeks for next month’s edition.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Earlier this month they announced a remix of “Lama” off of their Antigravity album. The new version was done by Jane Woodman, a shoegaze/darkwave artist from the San Francisco area who even handled the graphics. While the original version of the track features the dreampop sound the band has become known for,  this new spin layers in extra guitar and vocals for a different feel. It’s not so much a day-to-night transformation, but the remix definitely has a darker tone to it.

For your listening pleasure, we’ve included both the original track…

and the remix.

If you like what you hear, both of Ummagma’s albums, Ummagma and Antigravity are available in their entirety (for free!) through their Bandcamp site. Stay tuned to The Indie Mine for news on Ummagma as the band is planning additional physical and digital releases in 2013.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

One of the best parts of peering into the indie entertainment industry is witnessing the collaboration that takes place between artists. Sometimes, though, that camaraderie occurs in the shadows of tough times.

I was recently contacted by Chris Rigg of ManScared, a PR company that represents members of the indie music community. Chris let me know about a man named Danny Lackey, co-founder of the When the Sun Hits blog. It’s a site much like ours in its dedication to providing media exposure for musicians of all kinds. Danny, also a musician with the band Deepfieldview, passed away on January 28th after a battle with cancer.

Danny was well-respected in the community and it’s evident by the support of the friends and colleagues he left behind. A number of them have banded together to help raise funds for Danny’s other half, Barbie. They’re doing so by providing a number of their tracks for streaming and purchase through Bandcamp. At the time Chris contacted us, that number of tracks stood at 98, but that figure has continued to climb.

There’s something in the track list for music lovers of all genres. We’ve included a couple of songs below, but you can find the full list at the Fund For Danny Lackey Bandcamp page.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.