Crows - Whisper
London's Crows spent much of last year touring alongside names like Wolf Alice, Metz and Slaves. They've just put out their debut EP, 'Unwelcome Light', and there's every indication that they'll be the headline act before long. Single 'Whisper' is a pounding hybrid of alt-rock and post-punk with dark psychedelic flourishes.
Crows' website
Buy: 'Whisper'
The Raveonettes - EXCUSES
The Raveonettes' monthly singles series is showing many new sides to the band. Released on the last Friday of each month, they've so far dabbled in '80s electro-pop, spoken word, doo-wop and the urban flavour found on latest edition 'EXCUSES'. A few different approaches maybe, but the end results couldn't be mistaken for anyone else.
The Raveonettes' website
Buy: 'EXCUSES'
Laakso - So Happy, So Sad
On April 22nd, Swedish group Laakso will be releasing their new album 'Grateful Dead'. Their fifth full-length will be the first since regrouping after taking a break in 2007. The record's second single, 'So Happy, So Sad', is classic indiepop with a synth undercurrent and, mirroring its title, is an upbeat and jolly song, but with lyrics that speak of heartache.
Laakso's website
Buy: 'So Happy, So Sad'
Sundara Karma - A Young Understanding
Having recently completed an extensive UK tour, Reading's Sundara Karma are certainly a band on the rise, and new single, 'A Young Understanding', really shows why. Keeping an alternative indie/rock edge, the track also dips its toes in more commercial waters, making for a sound that is both energetic and powerful, but easily capable of catching the attention of the wider world.
Sundara Karma's website
Buy: 'A Young Understanding'
Prints Jackson - Calliope Fuxwar
In the world of Welsh wizard Prints Jackson, the ideas just keep on flowing. His quest to release a new song every month until the day he dies has yet to throw up a dud, and 'Calliope Fuxwar' is no exception. Perhaps more experimental than some past tracks, here we see him fusing together electro-rock and alternative pop with aplomb.
Prints Jackson's website
Free download: 'Calliope Fuxwar'
Eddi Front - Prayer
The alias of Ivana Carresica, Eddi Front released her self-titled debut EP back in 2012, and last month followed it up with new album 'Marina'. Single 'Prayer' belongs in a fantasy land where all is sparkly yet shrouded in mist. This is an enticing piece of dreampop that borders on being a lullaby at some points. Lovely escapism.
Eddi Front's website
Buy: 'Prayer'
Dead Stars - Unpopular
Taking '90s alt-rock titans such as Dinosaur Jr., Teenage Fanclub and Weezer as a starting point, Brooklyn's Dead Stars grab scuzzy guitar music bring it up to date on 'Unpopular'. The track is taken from the band's second album, 'Bright Colors', which was released at the start of last month on their own Weird Tree imprint.
Dead Stars' website
Buy: 'Unpopular'
Sans Parents - Can't Stop Moving
On paper, '70s soft rock anthems and indie music seem to be at odds with each other, but Brisbane's Sans Parents combine the two as if they go hand-in-hand on new single 'Can't Stop Moving'. The fusion of big, singalong choruses and chugging powerpop that these guys create could be classed as a guilty pleasure, but it's still a heck of an earworm.
Sans Parents' website
Buy: 'Can't Stop Moving'
Stupid Cosmonaut - Salvia
Manchester's Stupid Cosmonaut consist of Steven McNamara, Sam Read and Mark Hawnt, and their mission is to create ambient, psychedelic, electronic soundscapes. Debut single, 'Salvia', fades gently into view, before gradually building with fuzzed guitar and vocal samples, until it becomes a thing of slow-burning majesty.
Stupid Cosmonaut's website
Free download: 'Salvia'
Exsonvaldes - Horizon
Exsonvaldes are one of those bands that we've been following for a few years now, and they're always inventive and interesting in the way they mix conventional indie sounds with alt-pop and electronica. New album 'Aranda' is another great listen, and with catchy numbers like 'Horizon', it also reaps instant rewards.
Exsonvadles' website
Buy: 'Horizon'
Soft Wounds - See the Sun
Toronto shoegazers Soft Wounds were recently named Obligatory Record Of The Week on our radio show for excellent single 'Baby Blue', and they have plenty more where that came from. The soaring, yearning 'See the Sun' is another cut from their self-titled debut album, a record that lovers of scuzz and melody should definitely invest some ear time in.
Soft Wounds' website
Free download: 'See the Sun'
Wildhart - We Made Up A Dream
This delightful single by Swedish band Wildhart takes the sounds of electronic pioneers and uses those gently bubbling synths along with a dreampop vibe to form a sweet and interesting wide-eyed psych-pop song. 'We Made Up A Dream' is taken from Wildhart's debut release, 'EP1', which is available now for your sonic enjoyment.
Wildhart's website
Buy: 'We Made Up A Dream'
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