Moonhearts - S/T LP

I haven't been so good at keeping up with new releases lately, so I don't know if this LP's been getting much buzz, but it's damn good, regardless. Though they've trimmed the band name (was Charlie & The Moonhearts), their raging rock n' roll surf sound has stayed put.

Tic Tac Totally, 2010
1. I Hate Myself
2. I Said
3. Shine
4. Can't Find My Way
5. Never Lose Control
6. Deathstar Pt. 1
7. Deathstar Pt. 2
8. Let Go
9. Eat My Shorts
10. Love Is Gone
11. I Can Go On

Sample the Album

Psychedelic Unknowns Volume 2

Here is a collection of quality tracks that somehow got lost in the crowd. I love discovering records like this, compilations of lesser-known original recordings that represent a certain portion of time or place. It's the closest thing to being there and experiencing the music as it was, and it's especially interesting to hear where modern music genres have stemmed from. This is a solid mix of psych based tracks that sums up the psychedelic era of the '60s really well. The entire series is brilliant, but volume 2 of Psychedelic Unknowns is probably my personal favourite.

Calico Records, 1979

01. The Starfires - I Never Loved Her
02. The Kings Ransom - Shame
03. The Caretakers Of Deception - X + Y = 13
04. The Jury - Who Dat?
05. First Crew To The Moon - Spend Your Life
06. We The People - In The Past
07. The Painted Ship - Frustration
08. The Squires - Going All The Way
09. The Front Line - Got Love
10. The Nobles - Something Else
11. Yesterday's Children - To Be Or Not To Be
12. Dave Diamond & The Higher Elevation - The Diamond Mine

Sample The Compilation

Nigeria Rock Special: Psychedelic Afro-Rock & Fuzz Funk In 1970's Nigeria

This is quite an impressive compilation. The mix showcases the underground rock scene of Nigeria in the 1970s, which was largely influenced by the psychedelic movement of the western world and traditional African music. 

Soundway, 2008

1.Ofege - Adieu

2.The Action 13 - More Bread to the People

3.The Hygrades - In the Jungle (Instrumental)

4.The Wings - Odenigbo

5.Ofo The Black Company - Eniaro

6.The Elcados - Ku Mi Da Hankan

7.Mono Mono - Kenimania

8.Tabukah ‘X’ - Finger Toe

9.The Funkees - Acid Rock

10.Colomach - Cotocun Gba Gounke

11.Joe King Kologbo & His Black Sound - Another Man’s Thing

12.Question Mark - Freaking Out

13.Original Wings - Igba Alusi

14.Tunji Oyelana - Omoba D’Eru Ri

15.BLO - Chant To Mother Earth 

Sample The Compilation

The Clean - Mister Pop

2009 saw the first original release from The Clean in almost a decade and, during that time, it seems The Clean have had time to evolve in sound. Mister Pop, overall, is more hazy dream pop than the band's earlier work. They've shed the heavy organs, have favoured softer vocals and have adopted a cleaner sound (this pun was unavoidable). It's certainly different from Compilation or Vehicle, but the band have in no way lost any of their appeal.

Arch Hill Records/Merge, 2009
1. Loog
2. Are You Really On Drugs?
3. In The Dreamlife U Need a Rubber Soul
4. Asleep In The Tunnel
5. Back In The Day
6. Moonjumper
7. Factory Man
8. Simple Fix
9. Tensile
10. All Those Notes

Sample the Album

Liam The Younger - After The Graveyard

For the most part, this is just one man and his guitar. His minimalistic approach to writing and performing result in a totally organic sound. I'm totally in love with this music, it's simplicity and it's basic folk sound stripped down to it's acoustic minimums.

2009
1. Current Joys
2. This Land Pt. 1
3. Ode To Then
4. This Land Pt. 2
5. After the Graveyard
6. Songs Of Living
7. I Will Be Good Pt. 1
8. It Is Good
9. An Easy Place Pt. 1
10. If I Ever Live Alone
11. I Will Be Good Pt. 2
12. Two Sides
13. An Easy Place Pt. 2
14. An Easy Place Pt. 3
15. Sleep Pt. 3

Sample the Album

Splendora - In The Grass

Splendora are probably best known for performing the theme song of the late '90s MTV cartoon, Daria. Watching the show actually led me to the first and only release from the band. The appealing blend of heavy distortion and sweet female vocals make me wish they hadn't stopped at just one album. Fans of female fronted grunge acts, such as Hole, should like this one.

Koch Records, 1995
1. Bee Stung Lips
2. Rat Fink
3. Breeze
4. Rocker
5. Beautiful
6. Pollyanna
7. Reanimator
8. Shirt On
9. Sever
10. Rattle
11. Cover the River
12. No Place
13. It's Great
14. Busted

Sample the Album

Big Troubles - [Various]

To pick up where I left off, I'm still totally into the whole (what appears to be) revived shoegaze sound. While this is a basic sound of Big Troubles, the duo also dabble in a bit of tropical daze (a la Ducktails) and all round dream pop bliss. I think a few of these tracks might be older demos, so i'm not sure in which direction the general sound has headed, but you can pick up their debut EP over at Blackburn Recordings.

Unknown
1. Freudian Ships
2. Opposites
3. Desire For A Certain Thing To Happen
4. Drastic & Difficult
5. GreyDayz
6. Sick Days

Sample the mix

Trailer Trash Tracys - Candy Girl 7"

It's been a while since there's been anything distinctively shoegaze posted, so this fills that void. Trailer Trash Tracys sounds like they have stepped directly out of the early '90s - distorted guitar riffs, pretty vocals and an all round hazy sound. Also included is their song "Stranging Good Guys" from the No Pain In Pop Compilation.
Buy the single here.

No Pain In Pop, 2009
1. Candy Girl
2. You Wish You Were Red
+
3. Strangling Good Guys

Sample the 7"

Reading Rainbow - Songs To Sing To

'Songs To Sing To' is a dreamy little collection of noisy, sun soaked melodies. Like Wavves with more charm. Or a friendlier No Age. Each of the 60 copies of this CD have sold out, but order their latest LP, 'Mystical Participation' here.

Self-released, 2009
1. The Sun is Out
2. A Life To Find
3. In The City
4. Totem Pole
5. I Will Follow You
6. We Are Too Young
7. Great Sky Bear [Keys]
8. Be My Sunrise
9. Animals Take Control OF Me
10. Oh Deer Lord
11. Great Sky Bear [Strings]
12. Where My Body's Found
13. Feral Kids
14. New Safety
15. I Will Wait

Sample the Album
Here
or
Here

Beach Fossils - [Various]

Sure, it may seem to follow this whole tropical-lofi-pop trend that's emerged this year, but this stuff is gold. These songs radiate pure joy. Like that of Real Estate, Ducktails, etc., Beach Fossils' music is heavily string based, favours delicate vocals, and is bathed in reverberation. This should tide you over until the release of his debut on Woodsist.
Unknown
1. Vacation
2. Lazy Day
3. Daydream

Sample the mix
here
or
here