Singles of the Week (03//21)

1) Tunic - Fade Out

 

New single from Winnipeg, Manitoba noise rock trio Winnipeg is cold. Ice cold. And judging by the the emotional brawn and hardcore might of the three-piece Tunic, it can get very very dark. Winnipeg’s Tunic explores that darkness on the band’s new album Exhaling. Across songs like the title track, “Invalid” and “Fade Out,” the trio of David Schellenberg (Guitar / Vocals), Rory Ellis (Bass) and Dan Unger (Drums) use their visceral art punk approach to explore themes related to coping with the illness of a loved one, the dark side of creativity and dealing with toxic friendships. “I’m not one to write about situations/emotions that I haven’t lived through,” remarks frontman/guitarist David Schellenberg. “I need that catharsis of screaming about these things over and over again. These are all things that have unfolded in my life and I use Tunic as a coping mechanism.” Tunic was born of spite in– formed after founder David Schellenberg was told he “wasn’t good enough” for another band leading to a subsequent decision to follow his own path. From there, Tunic sought out a sound inspired by the melodic approaches of Quicksand and Superchunk, venom and heartache in Converge and controlled chaos behind Botch. Since their 2016 debut 7”, Tunic have criss-crossed the globe relentlessly, zigging and zagging as part of more than a dozen jaunts in North America and Europe while logging shows with a varied lot like Ken Mode, Single Mothers and even Hank Wood and the Hammerheads. Tunic’s touring bloodlust eventually conjured a debut LP in 2019, Complexion and not surprisingly, the band followed its release with eleven weeks of touring. The first single, “Exhaling,” serves as a taste of demolition before Tunic’s next full length hits in 2021. This new song, and the legion of firepower on the band’s previous works, serve as fair warning of the brutality that awaits. 

(digital, video - Artoffact)

2) Teen Creeps - Fall Out 

 

 

 
'Fall Out' single by Teen Creeps New album 'Forever' out January 22nd 2021 on PIAS If you’ve heard anything about TEEN CREEPS, it’s that the Belgian three piece loves the 1990s. Their sound is reminiscent of bands that era, like DINOSAUR JR, SUPERCHUNK or SONIC YOUTH with fuzzy guitars, melancholic vocals and fast-paced drums. That combo hit home on their 2018 debut BIRTHMARKS (PIAS Recordings), that garnered interest from UK press outings like Upset Magazine, DIY Mag, Clash Music and GoldFlakePaint. Even getting some four stare reviews. But on ‘FOREVER’ they do not simply repeat the formula. The fuzzy guitars and angsty lyrics are still here on ‘FOREVER’. But TEEN CREEPS are okay with slowing down, letting in some more melody and overall maturing their sound. Closing track ‘CRASH/LAND’ is the closest they’ll ever get to a ballad and their longest track yet. ‘DEFENDER’, ‘TOUGHEN UP’ and ‘BROTHERS’ also let in the feels and turn down the pace. “I think we just got a little more mellow as we got older”, says guitarist Joram De Bock. “I’m just less angry”, says vocalist-bassist Bert Vliegen. “On ‘BIRTHMARKS’ I was fuelled by anger and frustrations, now I’ve learned to let go and accept certain failings I have. Because they will always be there. Yes, forever.” After recording their debut in London with producer Rory Attwell (Veronica Falls, Yuck, The Vaccines), TEEN CREEPS stayed closer to home this time around. They recorded ‘FOREVER’ in Audioworx, a studio in the Netherlands, with their long-time friend and collaborator Jesse Maes. Ramses Van den Eede (drums): “Jesse recorded all of our early stuff and mixed the last record, so he’s a natural fit. Plus, it made the recording sessions a lot of fun. That’s something we want to celebrate in the artwork and title of the record. ‘TEEN CREEPS FOREVER’ is like a battle cry, but also a celebration of our friendship. We even put a heart on the cover. We’re not afraid to get corny.” credits releases January 22, 2021 Recorded in May 2019 at Audioworkx in Hoogeloon. Produced and mixed by Jesse Maes. Engineered by Michiel De Maeseneer. Co-engineered by Cis Van Robaeys. Mastered by Jack Shirley at The Atomic Garden in San Francisco. All songs written by Teen Creeps. Joram De Bock: guitar & backing vocals, Bert Vliegen: bass, lead vocals, Ramses Van den Eede: drums. Additional vocals on ‘Brothers’ by Loes Gerits. All lyrics by Bert Vliegen. 

 

 
(digital, video - PIAS)

3) Stephen's Shore - Brisbane Radio

 

 

 
New material from Stockholm, Sweden indie / jangle pop band Following on from 2016's "Ocean Blue" EP and 2018's "September Love" LP, Stockholm's Stephen's Shore are back with a brand new EP entitled "Brisbane Radio. Stephen’s Shore started out as a two man project by Viktor Sjödin and Erik J Undéhn in 2011. They had both been playing in other bands before but when they started to write songs as Stephen’s Shore they felt that their musical expressions was a perfect match. When Jimmy Ottosson, P.A Blomqvist and Mattias Berqvist joined the duo Stephen’s Shore became a full band. What joins these five together musically is the love for jangly guitar, moody pop songs, skateboarding and if there was a musical anthem for California it would be a perfect description for the inspiration that drives Stephen’s Shore in their songwriting and musical atmosphere. credits releases January 22, 2021 All songs by Stephen’s Shore. Recorded by Stephen’s Shore and Johan Gustavsson at Ingrid Studios. Mixed by Embee Mastered by Philip Granqvist Artwork and Design by Walse 

 

(7" vinyl - Meritorio)

4) Ulrich Schnauss & Jonas Munk

 

  

First new music from Ulrich Schnauss & Jonas Munk in four years.
"Asteroid 2467" is the first single off the forthcoming collaborative full length (their third), out in spring 2021. "Asteroid 2467 (single version)" is an edited version of an album track, whereas "Afterglow" is exclusive to this release.
Ambient and introspective in nature, but with a kinetic, polyrhythmic energy pushing it forward. There's a floating quality to Ulrich's synthesizer washes and Munk's guitar patterns, yet the two tracks are anchored by pulse and compositional direction.
The duo brings their individual strengths to the table, yet the music transcends any of their previous work conceptually.
There are echoes of blissed-out new age music and kosmische from the 1970s and 1980s, as well as traces of shoegaze-era abstraction and leftfield electronica. But ultimately there's no off-the-rack category that fits it. It exists in its own rarefied space.
credits released January 22, 2021

 

 
(digital - Azure Vista)

5) Fawning - Wait

 

 

New material from Oakland, California dream pop group from their debut album ILLUSIONS OF CONTROL out Feb 12th. For fans of Julee Cruise, Slowdive, The Cure and peak-era 4ad. Fawning is a goth'y dream pop trio from the Bay area featuring Cheyenne Avant (who is also in Night School). Their music is equal parts serene and beautiful and at times, borderline creepy. Perfect music for autumn. Cheyenne and Devin Nunes met many years ago while playing shows together with their previous projects. Debut EP Too Late release 2019. 

 

(digital, video - Graveface)
 

vinyl:
Yard Act - Dark Days / Peanuts (7")
EPs:
Planety - Rýnské zlato /EP/
Worriedaboutsatan & Charlie Coxedge - split /EP/
The Sere - Always the Cold Moon /EP/
Parannoul - 청춘반란 /EP/
Maria DeHart - Quarantunes /EP/
Flood Peak - Fixed Ritual /cassete / minialbum / EP/
753 & O.B.I - Warborn /EP/
digi single, video:
Kylie V - 510
Jessica Luise - Nice Try
Cigarettes for Breakfast - Wait
Cathedral Bells - Ether
KLASS II - Drömmar
Jónsi - Mold
Rinzen - Some Good Here (feat. Anaphase)
Lake of Licks - Sway
Kaschalot - Distant Light
Then Comes Silence - In Your Name
Still Dreams - Live With Excuse
AprilBlue - Clarity (クラリティ)
I Mean Us - 普通人類
Mint Julep - Black Maps
Firestations - The Circular
Small Black - Duplex
Sturle Dagsland - Dreaming
Ohne Nomen - Fell (Nightflower Remix)
Bella Kelly - Throat (Sydney Valette Remix)
Bleach Lab - Old Ways
The Entrepreneurs - Sweet
DZ Deathrays - All Or Nothing
Late Bloomer - Stand In
Samartafattu - Ngengat
Cassandra Jenkins - Hard Drive
A Projection - Darwin's Eden
Motorama - Pole Star
Kittchen - Rohlíky