Singles of the Week (41//21)

1) Jo's Moving Day - Amber

New video from Guangzhou, China dreampop / shoegaze New album Itinerary release 13/10/2021 

恭喜您获得来自乔迁日Jo's Moving Day投递出的包裹一枚——《Itinerary（航行指南）》是乐队首趟旅程的沿途记录册，并非一份强势的行程总结。 请放松你的身体，更无需为大脑缚上安全带，跟随专辑中的每条Track（轨道）通往不同的站台：是sci-fi设定的时空苦旅，是纯白梦境的自然哲学，是光怪陆离的彩色世界，是剧烈汹涌的夏日风暴，也是拒绝永恒的琥珀少女…… Jo's Moving Day用氛围感将丰富的想象力打包，以感性的旋律线封装，以歌曲为单位化作精神世界的每个传送点，缓慢地投射至外界。这些入口静候着人们的光临，你准备好推开舱门了吗？ (by Bluepills) credits released October 13, 2021 人声&合成器 Vocal&Synth：瑞比秋 吉他 Guitar: 爵儿/老伍 贝斯 Bass：洋洋 鼓 Drum：厌厌 录音 Recording：爵儿/史悲 混音 Mixing：Eric@缺省 母带 Mastering：Chi@DoZzz 概念统筹 Concept&Supervisor：瑞比秋 专辑设计 Album Art：厌厌 封面摄影 Cover Photography：JL 手写字体 Handwriting：洋洋 设计制作 Design Production ：一杰 文案 Copywriter：Bluepills 发行 Distribution：生煎唱片 

 

(video - SJ)

2) Vollam - Mirror

 

 

 Debut material from Dallas, Texas shoegaze / post-rock

 "Autumn is in full motion where I live, and I couldn’t be happier: the soothing shades of advancing night-time hours and gently shifting hues of the landscape are a visual delight. What this requires, then, is a fitting soundscape for my ears – one to complement the season that’s becoming increasingly apparent in the natural beauty of my surroundings. It would seem that Vollam are more than up to that task. Originating from Dallas, Texas, Vollam are newcomers to the circuit, but their debut EP is absolutely not to be underestimated. With a trio of like-minded musicians at the project’s helm, Mirror is heavily inspired by imagery found within the 1975 Andrei Tarkovsky film of the same name. The five tracks here offer a chance to reflect and soak in, consuming a venture that, at times, aligns very closely with the content and stylised delivery of the record’s inspiration (the spoken recital on “Bend” is a great example, as well as the footage used in the video below for “Follow”). There’s an unmistakable dreaminess that hovers in the vast, deep, and sometimes unsettling wells that Vollam explore. It seems contradictory on paper, but the dynamic works; the simplistic melodies and scattered movements of clean-toned tranquility lift you, but songs never fully release you from their grip thanks to the gravity of other instrumentation and lengthy passages of wandering noise. On the one hand, the lilting dream pop melodies that populate the foreground are sparse in multiple senses, yet always noticeable enough to be a welcome, uplifting inclusion to the songs. “Follow” and “All I Ever Wanted” are just two examples of tracks that possess these succinct, instrumental phrasings – their presence complementing the equally spacious vocals, as opposed to vying with them for your attention. Conversely, the walls of rhythmic sound found on Mirror are there to prevent you from ever floating off too far, like a grounding mechanism amidst the soaring, ethereal wonder of the EP’s more melodious elements. With guitar parts provided (in some capacity or another) by every member, Vollam have ensured that the resulting washes of sound – such as those found on the ironically titled “Wool” or the resident mid-range and electronic flutterings of “Shatter” – are weighty and cavernous. When all these elements come together, it becomes apparent quite quickly that Mirror benefits from the same sort of appeal that many associate with Hammock, Sigur Rós, and other prominent creators of poignant, poetic musical tapestries. There’s no need for fancy flourishes here; the dense, towering waves of bass, reverb-laden guitar, and understated (but effective) kit work provide a more than sturdy enough foundation on which juxtaposed, subdued melodies play out to soften the distorted haze prevalent throughout. I must say, I also thoroughly appreciate the length of the tracks as well. With only one song clocking in shy of the seven-minute mark, there exists a lingering – almost a standstill, even – that I’m pleased to say doesn’t grow wearisome. Not once did I find myself willing the record to move on, which is a credit to how Vollam have composed and structured such a flexible use of sound on Mirror. It is perfect as densely textured background noise, while also supplying sufficient intricacy and detail to immerse yourself in should you wish to. In a modest five tracks, Vollam provide a musical debut of surprising heft. Those who skim the surface will be rewarded with a dark, ambient EP that captures the oddly whimsical melancholy of the year’s closing portion. However, those who take the time to fully entrench themselves deep in Mirror’s gaze, and absorb what is reflected back by this promising act, will find that the experience is paid off immeasurably." - By Shaun Milligan credits releases October 15, 2021 Guitars: Greg, Casey, Sam Bass: Sam, Greg Drums: Sam Vocals on All I ever wanted: Casey, Sinem, Gabby Vocals on Follow: Sinem Vocals on Wool: Greg Spoken word on Bend: Ty All songs written, recorded, and mixed by Vollam Mastered by Nolan DeBrincat Album cover by Gabby  Espana

 

 
(EP / minialbum - Somewherecold)

3) Glass Spells - Confessions

 

 

 New video from California post-punk synthwave duo...

 "Shattered" out 6/8/2021 

Credits: 

Videographer/Director: Mitch Wilson of Lunar Maps Productions Editor: Tania Costello Glass Spells Is:Tania Costello (Vocals) Anthony Ramirez (Instruments) Michael Buehl (Live Drums) Song mixed by Steve Krolikowski 

 

(video - Negative Gain Productions)

4) Egyptian Blue - Salt

 

 

 New single from post-punk Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom band 

 Leith Ambrose (guitar, vocals), Andy Buss (guitar, vocals), Luke Phelps (bass), Tom Bellotti (drums)

 

 
(digital - Yala! Music)

5) Shybaby - Pizza

 

 

 News from NY garage / punk band 

Directed by Molly Mary O'Brien & Grace Eire Filmed & Edited by Molly Mary O'Brien Produced by Joe Rogers 

 

 
(digital, video - Shybaby)
 

vinyl:
The Royal Landscaping Society - Profit and Loss(split 7")
Grandmas House - Grandmas House (7")
EPs:
Himera - You Make It Look So Easy (Playtime) /EP/
Lone - Inlove2 /EP/
digi single, video:
Odonis Odonis - A Body
Deaf Club - Don't Forget To Live
Irish Basement - 1​,​000 Hallelujahs
The Mirrors - Silence
Mayu - Altered
Molly Nilsson - Absolute Power
Makthaverskan - Closer
Thyla - 3
Trentemøller - All Too Soon
Grazer - Reunion
Le Blonde - Kyoto
Furrows - Burial
Barrie - Frankie
Vlimmer - I.P.A.
Lights & Motion - These Hands Could Hold The World
Mater Sunday - Deus Ex Machina
Jaws the Shark - Cold Feet
Twin Pigs - Dead Sick of America
Bambara - Mythic Love
Save Face - Sharpen Your Teeth
Sprints - Modern Job
Sleaford Mods - I Don't Rate You (Orbital Remix)
Vitalic - Haute Definition
Hyd - The Look On Your Face