EIMIC

EIMIC is a little tough to figure out; the band is currently located in Moscow, and as such a majority of their information is in Russian.  I can't speak the language, and I sure can't read it, so finding out about them is a little more difficult than usual.  With this in mind, here's what I am able to tell you: the group contains three members, they've released two LPs in the past (4 and Automatic Movements), and they've recently released a new song called "Illusion". Judging from their photos, it also seems like they've been around the block a few times, having already garnered a pretty steady following.  Their pictures display large, elaborate light shows complete with backdrops dedicated to their name, and seem to show that they've played in festivals that have attracted nice volumes of people.  I could see "Illusion" fitting that mold very well, for the sound is massive and ambitious.  Using some electronics to help their point, EIMIC (which stands for Everything Is Made In China) is able to create an arena-filling, atmospheric rock ballad that is driven home with distorted, fuzzy guitar licks.  Put on some nice headphones and you're in for an experience!  I've posted "Illusion" below, including the psychedelic music video if you're interested.  Afterward, check out more of their stuff on SoundCloud, with more info coming at you from Twitter, Facebook, and their homepage.  Happy deciphering!

Stumbleine

Stumbleine has been around for a while, dishing out beautiful atmospheric dream beats at a high rate since 2010.  Whether it be a single, EP, or full-length LP, Stumbleine has dominated the front page of Bandcamp's chillwave tag, partly due to the incredibly expedient distribution of material.  There has been so much, in fact, that a large majority of prior output has been removed from the internet, and yet there still remains an adequate pool to experiment with and listen to.  While I have not followed Stumbleine voraciously throughout this time, I must say that this year's new album, Spiderwebbed, is the most-developed and cohesive that I've heard so far.  I had always liked Stumbleine, but over time I began to feel he had fallen into a repeating run-of-the-mill chillwave sound, a common problem within the genre.  Spiderwebbed proves me wrong, putting my money where my mouth is; from start to finish we're treated to an inescapable dream-filled landscape of swirling electronics, the main element being the swirling, spacious synths that soar to striking heights.  Each track delivers its own charm, switching tempos and alternating tones, to give a remarkable listening experience.  He has also added subtle accents of dub beats, which have really paid off, presenting Spiderwebbed with a unique flare.  Enough of me, to actually listen to or buy the album take a visit to Bandcamp, and then head over to Facebook to show some love.  For a sneak peak I've posted three of my favorites below; "If You", "The Corner Of Her Eye", and "Kaleidoscope".  Enjoy!

If YouThe Corner Of Her EyeKaleidoscope

Beach Fossils

Don't you love it when your day gets off on the right foot?  I woke up today, quite unenthusiastically, expecting a day full of bullshit classes when all of a sudden I found out that Beach Fossils had announced a new album and single.  In one full swoop my day became much, much better.  With bassist John Pena involved in his solo act Heavenly Beat and lead guitarist Zachary Cole Smith doing his DIIV shindig the past year, I wasn't sure when this was going to happen.  Alas, the answer is here now; Clash the Truth will be released on February 19th, 2013 via the always brilliant Captured Tracks.  Along with the announcement they have also released the first single from the forthcoming LP entitled "Careless".  It's instantly recognizable as a Beach Fossils brainchild, utilizing carefree guitar riffs that glisten with every pluck.  The track is also drenched with lush atmospheres, indicating that we might see a bit of a divergence from their past work. Have a listen below, and then pick up your gift of a free download here.  Snag it while you can!

 Beach Fossils // "Careless" by capturedtracks

Hazy Mountains

Around a month ago I posted on the then new single, "New Wings", that was released as a compilation of Villa Kang and Hazy Mountains.  I had known about Villa Kang for quite some time prior as I had covered him on previous instances, but Hazy Mountains was a relatively new name to me.  I went to do a little investigative work and ended up downloading his second EP, Lapis Lazuli.  The days following this have been wonderful, and exploring his music has become quite a treat.  What really put me over the edge in helping me realize this was the last track "Window Vision", which I first heard while blasting in my car on a late night drive.  To fully appreciate this song, and much of his others, you've got to listen start to finish.  "Window Vision" is a perfect example of the never-ending sprawl Hazy Mountains tries to achieve, using soaring synths to set aside an expanse of dreamy spaces.  The wait, the growth, the build...it's all worthwhile.  Have a listen to "Window Vision" below, then be sure to head over to Bandcamp to grab it.  There, he is also offering a new album called Breeze, something I'll most definitely be checking out in the future.

Backlights

Sometimes it's just nice to get lost in the wash of breezy, jangly guitars and cavernous vocals that comprise the dream pop genre.  The instrumentation has a funny way of lifting the listener skyward, suspended along a journey, until the song gently places us back on solid ground. "Location", the current single from the Brooklyn band Backlights, follows a similar methodology. Starting with slow and delicate guitar picking, "Location" begins to take off near the middle of the song, introducing us to busier noises and more enthused vocals.  The build of energy pulls us in, bringing the listener through a wonderfully serene sonic voyage.  The track comes to us off of the newest EP by the band, High Ceiling Nice Fiction, which was released earlier this year on October 20th.  As of now, Bandcamp is offering "Location" as the singular stream on the EP with other songs available for purchase (as well as the EP, obviously).  I've posted "Location" below, so be sure to check it out, and afterward you can find out more by visiting their Facebook or Twitter.  Dig it!

Location

Fou

Earlier this summer I was introduced to the brothers that comprised the duo Madràs.  They had just come out with their debut album Things Can Change, and what impressed me most was what they did with so little.  Quiet and fragile, the buoyant guitar licks made you feel as though you were floating.  That's why when I heard those same brothers also played in a band called Fou, I was eager to hear what they were all about.  Not surprisingly, the product is fantastic and beautiful. The idea is similar, on Fou's 2-song release Boy the group plays with space, manufacturing ethereal dreamscapes that are both calming and engaging. The set up is also minimal, utilizing your basic guitar-bass-drum trio of instruments. Upon first listen, I likened them to the slowcorers Galaxie 500, another group who stripped down to the fundamental arrangement, succeeding wonderfully.  The main difference between Boy and Things Can Change is that Boy includes much more texture. Piercing guitar slides tend to break the silence much more so than in their previous work, giving the release a gazey feel.  It's great music, and definitely worth a couple of listens.  Plus it's a free download, they're basically handing awesome to you on a golden platter.  I've placed both songs from Boy, "Colour Me In" and "Don't You Know?", below for your listening pleasure.  Afterward, be sure to hit up Bandcamp to snag it.

Colour Me In
Don't You Know?

Angelica's Elegy

It's unfair how our ears can deceive us.  We think they're picking up on everything they can, when in reality they sometimes need a little help. Headphones, for example, are a wonderful boost. Without such assistance, I could have very well missed the subdued piano playing in the background of "When You're Asleep" by the Norwegian group Angelica's Elegy.  The track absolutely soars, lifting white-washed synths to wondrous heights. Mix this with buoyant vocals and a steady drum pattern and you have yourself a shoegazing beauty; surges of noise are complemented with quieter accents, delivering a wholesome contrast that flows effortlessly along its path.  The song comes off of the Cognitive Dissonance EP that was released on August 27th of this year, making it a fantastic late-summer jam as we transition into the cooler fall months.  Have a listen to "When You're Asleep" below, and then be sure to check out the EP available over at iTunes.  More information on the group can be found Facebook, so be sure to show them some love over that way, too.

 ANGELICA'S ELEGY - When You're Asleep by Riot Factory

Wild Eyes

One of the things I've come to love about the shoegaze genre is that it's very anthemic; talented shoegazers use waterfalls of sound and bursts of noise that are very colorful.  The whitewash of chords has a particular artistry that can be either hit or miss, either the surge of energies is successful or it sounds like a waste.  Luckily when it's on, it's fucking awesome.  The L.A. based band Wild Eyes has a keen sense of what's catchy, and their newly released Blue Haze EP exemplifies this.  The 4-song release is an impressive debut, especially for a style of music that can fall apart so quickly.  Blue Haze holds it together, though, in what sounds like a mix of classic alt-rock like My Bloody Valentine and the sprawling arena-sized instrumentation of early U2.  Hopefully we'll see more outta these guys soon, and it'll be interesting to see where they take their sound from here.  In the meantime, I've posted two songs from the EP, the opener "Blue Haze" as well as "When Its Over".  Hit up Bandcamp for a download!

The War On Drugs

One day into Twitter and I'm loving what it can do.  Signing on today, I saw it circulating around the web that The War On Drugs was going to be releasing their "Come to the City" single from last year's Slave Ambient, which is due out January 24th.  But alas, the news keeps getting better! The B-side contains a brand new song, "Don't Fear the Ghost", which excites me considering how much I loved Slave Ambient.  The track has a different feel to it, though.  Part of what made last year's LP so incredible was the vastness it was able to create, a spacious folk-rock set that looks forward to the horizon...but "Don't Fear the Ghost" is a mellower, slow churning haze of distortion.  This seems to make it sound tighter, and not quite as open, as their previous work.  While it may appear to be a slight change of pace, the result is still fantastic.  These guys have truly become one of my favorites.  Take a listen to "Don't Fear the Ghost" below!

 The War on Drugs - Don't Fear the Ghost by DOJAGSC