Our Worth A Listen This Week is Mini Mansions ‘Flashbacks’
Los Angeles’ finest Mini Mansions have released a collection of unreleased/unheard B-Side tracks entitled ‘Flashbacks’. This follows their critically acclaimed second album ‘The Great Pretenders’ which was released in 2015. The trio , vocals and drummer Michael Shuman, vocals and keyboardist Tyler Parkford, bassist and multi instrumentalist Zachary Dawes have compiled a collection of nine ravishing tracks that smash all boundaries. We couldn’t choose just one track for our worth a listen but then, why would you choose one when their are nine spine tingling beauties. ‘Flashbacks’ kicks things off with ‘Drive’ a snappy quick step luscious track with Dawes’ fuzzed bass giving an ecstatic bounce. Parkford’s sweet delicate vocals introduces the nectarous melody with Shuman’s backing vocals adding a lush heavenly texture. The fluidity of this track makes it so easy on the ears and soothing with sugar coated sparkle. Building into heavier fuzzed rock instrumentation Mini Mansions introduce us to their gritty glam rock sprinkled with a smooth mouthwatering sweet 60s texture. With the sudden change to deep bass vocals by Shuman a warm mellow tone is added to the rich mix. ‘Drive’ knocks it out of the park and hooks you into the trio’s unique dreamy world of psychedelia and rock.‘Bored To Death’ coos and lulls into a gentle slow dance. With raspy vocals and tender lyrics teamed with elegant keys and dexterous chord progression creating a catchy soothing track that stops time, stilling everything around except for the beautiful melody. Lush harmony and gently sorrowful tones add purity and elegance. The track builds in intensity as a heartbroken tone takes over with heavy rhythm. The sweetened sting on guitar with soft piano and a light beat plays the track out with echoing gingerly soft repetitive vocals. ‘Ticket For One’ illuminates with a bright melody and multi-textures. The infectious slap whack beat combined with nimble keys and Dawes’ sharp elastic bass giving the track a rubber ball rebound effect. The call and response vocals between soft Parkford and deep Shuman as they interact with syrupy smooth melodies that will give you “stuck song syndrome”. Leading effortlessly and perfectly into ‘Ticket For Two’ a witty bouncy track with the catchy and almost “dollish” twinkle piano effect. Adding a catchy “clap clap” effect and steady striking bass ‘Ticket for two’ is a “tour de force” as it pulls similarities from ‘Ticket For One’ while developing a distinctive sound. Of course there is no great genius without a mixture of madness especially where Mini Mansions are concerned as they lead us into a frenzy of heavy manical moshing to end this fantastic track. ‘Fiona’ which we previously featured on Indie Buddie has a darkened dreamy tone and swoon-like atmosphere coated in hazy psychedelia. Once again Parkford and Shuman share vocals as they weave and intertwine melodies with warm seductive textures. The drums exude an oomph and panache to start and then seduce and coax when teamed with the smooth velvety vocals. They build into a sweep and bluster for the intense massive crescendo before the tone slows to a soft gentle echo finish. ‘Shape Recorder‘ has a spooky Halloween party track feeling to start with the peppy organ. The track maintains a sneaky eerie tone with psychedelic fuzz and heavy daunting instrumentation. Its a swirling confusion of blurry haunting fun and dangerous shady obscurity. The intensity of the track fades to a sweet soft vocal with lush harmonies before a final burst of instrumentation. ‘Valet’ is our taste of sensual reggae with Hendrix- esque guitar to start. This body grooving track is effortlessly cool and sleek and shows Mini Mansions in a new light. Its a sit back and bop to the music feel good tasteful track. Shuman’s warm deep vocals contrasting with Parkford’s candied falsetto towards the end adds a charming multi dimension. Exuding fiery strutting swagger with a captivating stride and flaunt this track is magnetic and tantalising. ‘Little Al Capone’ begins with a strong “digging” labour intensive beat and bass vocals adding grounding and depth. The track builds into a theatrical quick passed track with rapid beat and sprightly piano. Tight harmony on vocals and a vibrant dynamism and oomph instrumentation add passion and slappy elasticity. The track sounds like it could have been taken from a scene from a musical where the actors are hard at work, slogging through the daily grindstone. ‘Shadow’ completes our musical journey with the mysterious Mini Mansions in a sombre nostalgic tone. Its labyrinth of interweaving textures meandering through a delicate tender melody and heavenly sweet lavish vocals give this track opulent textures and diversity. The dreamy Utopian wistfulness and visionary fantasy set to swirling rapid beat and whine on guitars in a sway – like motion gives this track an abstracted feeling, like it was all a dream.
Mini Mansions are like a fine wine maturing and coming into their own. ‘Flashbacks’ could have been an album as each track opens your mind to their unique classy musicianship as they guide you into a journey of fantasy and rich textures unwinding your mind and unravelling your senses.
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From By Starlight
London alternative rock three-piece By Starlight have announced the release of their debut single ‘So Desperate’. The pounding new single is lifted from their upcoming debut EP and combines grunge riffs with ethereal pop hooks to mark the arrival of a uniquely talented new rock band. Led by charismatic singer-bassist Sara Murray with Ivo Sotirov on Drums and Martino Al on Guitars. ‘So Desperate’ brings us their hybrid of muscular grunge-punk and dream pop. The track is drenched in a dark shadowy atmosphere swirling in murky melodies and distortion. This track is a whirlwind of psychedelic intoxication, luring and enticing with a fuzzed grunge blast and winding weaving textures that pull and coax you into its eerie dangerous core. The brawny yet elastic beat maintains a strong rock foundation while the rest of the track consumes you with its bewitching churning and interviewing structure. Murray’s vocals are seducing, hypnotising and ensnaring with sweet lulling quality’s. This track can mesmerise and fascinate you until you are subdued, obeying every command enthralled and enraptured in its spell.
Stream ‘So Desperate’ below
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Alexandra Savior
Portland, Oregon’s mysterious bewitching singer songwriter Alexandra Savior is captivating audiences with her laid back desert rock and sultry crooning vocals. We did a feature on her single ‘Shades’ earlier in the summer and she is back with another addictive dose. ‘M.T.M.E.’ floods us with dark intoxicating tones, smouldering sultry vocals that lull and coax the listener with the sharp sting of guitar adding a sizzling and scorching sun effect. The bubbling beat consumes the listener in a muggy yet comfortable hypnotic enclosure. The added scream gives a shock to the system and adds danger to the shadowy tone. The scorching guitar solo teamed with menacing keys to finish adds a frightening eerie end.
Put it on repeat and become engrossed by this enthralling mesmerising track.
Stream ‘M.T.M.E.’ below
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From The Good Water
The Birmingham duo Rob Clements (Guitar & Vocals) and Tom Fisher (Drums & Vocals) have developed their own unique psychedelic tinged style of indie, rhythm and blues. They have released their new single ‘See Your Light’. Its a groovy slick shimmy of smooth sensual rock and psychedelia. Its punchy pounding drums keep the chorus throbbing and driving forward while adding a flexible rhythm and a stirring brawn stomp to the track. Layered with swirling keys that add an intoxicated hypnotic effect, this track is rich in colourful quality and textures. The fuzz fuelled guitar riff is instantly catchy and adds an edge and an exhilarating charm. The vocals are simple, strut -like and smeared with lush harmony they exude a cool velvety swagger.The track builds to a shredding spine-tingling guitar solo and fantastic crescendo that leaves you wanting to hear more.
Born in Mexico City, 22 year old Heez grew up in Dallas, Texas and now resides in Downtown Los Angeles. The first story he wants to tell is about codependency and having such a strong connection with someone that both identities begin to blur into one. He achieves this through his debut single ‘Dancing’. Heez embarked on this musical journey from his Los Angeles dorm room while studying music industry at the University of Southern California, finding inspiration from his past heartbreaks. ‘Dancing’ was released earlier this year. Its a catchy flex wave track with a snappy beat interweaving electronics glazed in shadowy melancholy tones. The heavy hearted vocals add emotion to the track while the rap adds rhythm and gives an edge. The track is richly textured and portrays Heez’ lyrics poetically while holding a grit and darkened atmosphere. The quick synth stabs give the track an elastic bendable quality while providing a strong sharp whack beat that has a trance effect. ‘Dancing’ presents us with an airy hazy vibe you can loose yourself in while maintaining a bite and grit that gives this track substance and attitude.
Stream ‘Dancing’ below
Fauna Twin are Parisian singer-songwriter Claire Jacquemard Ginsberg (leader of Hippies Vs Ghosts) and North Wales’ Owain Ginsberg (We Are Animal). The duo have recently signed to Crammed Discs Records and they released their new single ‘Water on Mars’ taken from their debut ‘The HYDRA EP’, which will be released in October followed by a string of shows around Europe. ‘Water on Mars’ is a dark intoxicating swirling concoction of alternative synth pop. The track lures you into its bewitching atmosphere from the very start with meandering instrumentation that draws you into a psychedelic labyrinth of complexity and confusion while enticing and coaxing you into its rich interweaving textures. Jacquemard’s vocals are haunting and gently coo and soothe the listener while giving a mysterious eerie tone to the track. The guitar adds grit and gives that final pull, drawing the listener in and trapping them in an enthralling brooding atmosphere. The track is coated in mesmerising rhythm and shadowy hints of tribal beats that give this track a fantastic bounce and multi texture.
Put ‘Water on Mars’ on repeat and let yourself become consumed and enraptured by this fantastic dark enchanting track.
Watch ‘Water on Mars’ below
Val Cale are a Garage Blues band from Leeds. The band consists of members Tom Lister (Lead Vocals / Lead Guitar), Henry Smith (Rhythm Guitar / Backing Vocals), Shafiq Dufrene (Bass Guitar / Keys / Backing Vocals) and Sam Hamer (Drums / Backing Vocals). The band has quickly made progress through the Leeds city gig scene, and is gaining a reputation for enthralling, atmospheric and groovy live performances. They claim their music is “capable of reducing the listeners mind to the creamy texture of a head of stout” and they are absolutely right. ‘Two People In The Dark’ gives us a taste of what we can expect from their upcoming debut EP ‘Blackstuff’ which is set for release this September. Its a deep dark swirling concoction of gritty blues and rock with a dash of psychedelia. ‘Two People In The Dark’ introduces itself with a massive attention grabbing dirty blues riff. The track becomes more sensual and luring with an elastic bass that adds an enticing lustful quality and burning desire feel to the track. While Lister’s vocals are raspy and emotion filled adding to the longing tone. The drums keep a flexible tempting beat that teases the listener as we wait for the massive crescendo. The shredding guitar solo adds that touch of psychedelia as it screeches with powerful distortion and is performed with slick proficient and nimble skill.
‘Two People In The Dark’ shows Val Cale’s skillful musicianship, looking forward to their EP.
These guys are ones to watch.
Stream ‘Two People In The Dark’ below
Hailing from Frankfort, Indiana, the man behind Mucklo, Michael J. Hall, started writing music at a young age. In High School, Michael played many punk rock shows as the guitarist and vocalist for a progressive, genre-clashing four piece psych rock band called, Split Lips and Lemons. After departing from Split Lips and Lemons, Michael began meeting a lot of phenomenal local musicians and commenced to playing bass for both an original blues rock band, The Down Low Kickers, and a Grateful Dead cover band, The Graciously Departed (formally known as Band And Dave). Hall has taken his experience and has been perfecting the lyrics and sound of the project he now calls Mucklo. The name Mucklo stems from a bolt-making artist who worked out of the same local factory Hall and his family worked at for a time. Hall fully composes, writes and produces his music. He has a passion for home recording and a knack for instruments, Hall can play the guitar, mandolin, drums, harmonica and autoharp, to name a few.
Mucklo released the track ‘Double Dealing’ earlier this year. It is an alluring and enticing song with entrancing shadowy tones that lure you into the darkest depths of the track. Mucklo traps you in this intoxicating atmosphere while seducing you with his bass- driven bobbing groove. The track develops into a sticky gooey head bopping trip with bouncy guitars and a soft pop punch beat. The shredding guitar solo freshes up the track and adds to the psychedelic trip while the vocals are dismal and draw the listener in giving a narcotic hypnotic effect that is eerie yet soothing.
Stream ‘Double Dealing’ below
Lompoc, California born four-piece, The Only Ocean, bring a fresh new edge to indie rock. Band members Wesley Hill (Vocals, Guitar), Dustin Whalen (Guitar), Alex Burdess (Bass) and Shae Kakos-(Drums) are childhood friends who have pulled together a wide range of sub-genres from Psych-Pop and Post-Punk to Acid Rock to create their unique sound. ‘CUL-DE-SAC’ is the first single off their soon to be released EP, ‘TOO’ which was produced by Graham Ginsburg and Rick Mabery of The Barn Music Studio, and Jonathan DeBaun (The Mars Volta, Le Butcherettes, Antemasque). The track begins with a dark aggressive tone blasting us with heavy flashing vigorous guitars and a psychedelic delirious vibe. The verse cools things down with light beats and cool sedated vocals. The track is drenched in reverb adding to the psychedelic vibe. With swirling melodies that hypnotise and pull you into the intensity of the track teamed with cynical snarky lyrics that adequately portray that this track is an “anthem for anyone who has ever tasted the sweet angst in desolation”. The churning surge of instrumentation is enticing and leads the listener into the acid trip explosive crescendo.
‘CUL-DE-SAC’ is a well written and crafted track full of dark tones and confusing mystery that is perfectly conveyed through a blend of Psych/Acid Rock.
Stream ‘CUL-DE-SAC’ below
Money For My Teeth is an alternative rock, indie pop British/American Songwriter. He released his debut track ‘Komodo’ this summer which introduces us to a blissful psychedelic indie trip glowing in sunny vibes and cool tones. ‘Komodo’ is a dreamy, summer-scented track with soft swooning melody and delicate harmony in backing vocals teamed with soft spongy beats and tightly marshalled bursts of guitar which adds a refreshing edge to the track. The vocals are dreamy and give a heat-filled haze to the song resulting in a delirious heat-stroke feel that is disrupted by the refreshing drench of zesty guitar. ‘Komodo’ is a dazzling track soaked in psychedelic vibes. We are looking forward to hearing more from Money For My Teeth.
Stream ‘Komodo’ below
https://soundcloud.com/moneyformyteeth/komodo
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
