Seemingly out of nowhere Mondegreen has emerged to reinstate the analog synth in modern indie pop. Living, breathing textures illuminate his experimental musings. His new single Time Has a Face initially presents as a Radiohead Kid A B-Side before quickly evolving into new acquired worlds. Cinematic and brilliant with a semblence of R&B flair, the follow up section shows Mondegreen stepping into their sound discovery. This is how we imaging a mid 70s experimental Stevie Wonder might have evolved in the indie era.
Mondegreen is a British Columbia based artist who blends elements of jazz and art rock with ethereal electronic soundscapes. Primarily a violinist, he fuses these organic timbres with ambient synth tones and glitchy drums. Drawing inspiration from artists like Bjork, Radiohead, and Animal Collective, he presents a unique realization of this sonic realm.
Hear Time Has a Face now on our Best New Indie Playlist.
We were drawn to the instant infectious nature of Means to an End, the new single from Sour Magic. Right out the gate the band pushes into the composition, injecting youthful energy into its vibe. The five pieced Denver based outfit marries solid songwriting with a thoughtful arrangement. Recorded effectively, the jam retains some semblance off candid fever, and excitability like their nailing this vibe for the first time. It retains its raw nature within the framework of our new tempo perfect maladaption, giving it modern radio potential.
And for us it is very much an indie rock hit, with a seductive 80s alternative inspired sonic palette that graces the histories of icons like REM and The Replacements. It marries that aesthetic with new evolutions by breakouts like The War On Drugs, Band of Horses, and The Districts. Sour Magic injects their own signature touch to solidify their grounding. An additional element of self prescribed psych pop influences adds to the stylistic soup. The outcome is sweet and savory, Sour Magic.
Hear Means to an End now on our Best New Indie Playlist.
Fruit Junior caught out attention with their new single Poor Devil. Instantly catchy, the artist never relents. As the song evolves each section offers subtle variation to keep you hooked. The artist adds instruments sparingly, with every offering contributing substantially to the melodies intention. It enhances the collective presentation, magnifying the clever blend of interesting parts and showcasing the artists ability as an arranger. It’s heard in the unexpected soft synth lead that walks you to the end in the songs second half.
There’s also clever lyrical moments to take with you. He laments, “this is a cautionary tale now, I should have seen the writing on the wall.” His emotion and the appeal of the stacked vocal enhance the sentiment. It’s both his delivery and an effective lyrical construct that make Poor Devil pop.
Stylistically its an attractive blend of indie pop and Brit Pop with some post punk influence seeping through. It’s a reflection of the artists influences, as he offers that his music is inspired by artists like Rooney, Eels, and Wallows.
Hear Poor Devil now on our Best New Indie Playlist
yllwblly is equally catchy and innovative on their recent Take More. An expansive composition the treads the borders of experimentation and accessibility, Take More picks up where classic early 70s progressive psych pop fell off. With an indie sensibility it connects with works by Grizzly Bear or more recent enhanced sonic embellishments by Fleet Foxes. The artists also embraces correlations to Jay Som and Andy Shauf, acknowledging their creative priorities.
Cinematic swings accentuate the songs dramatic shifts, as Take More evolves with polarizing nature. Ali times summery and shimmering, dark melodic moods pull away like invasive realities, accentuating the songs theatrical potential. The classic carnival organ only adds to the drama. In that last effective moment the whole band digs in with climactic spirit. Take More leaves you hanging in the balance, cleverly leaving you wanting more, offering the artist an opportunity to develop that moment in concert.
Dig into Take More now on our Best New Indie Playlist.
The Wild Is Calling 