Melodic Tonic '16: vol. 1

Welcome to a new year of new music singles! For this first serving of 2016, we’re serving up tunes from all over the globe to get your week kicked off with a bang.

The Sweet Serenades – “Fireworks” (Stockholm, Sweden)

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It is our pleasure to introduce you to Swedish indie rock duo The Sweet Serenades. Martin Nordvall and Mathias Näslund are old friends who formed the group 14 years ago, so how they’re not better known by now is a mystery. They released their fourth album, Animals, last October, but we only discovered them over the holiday break. It was a “love at first sound” moment, so we couldn’t wait to share them with you this week. Their incredibly catchy, upbeat music (imagine Bon Iver after two triple-espressos mixed with American indie band Augustines) shimmers with infectious grooves that cause instant head-bobbing and toe-tapping. There is an organic purity to their sound that captures the joys of friendship and the energy of nature. With lyrics like “Let’s run away, drive on by / hand in hand, side by side / never look back,” their music provides the perfect soundtrack for your next adventure with your best friend. You can find their albums (released on Leon Records) on their online store.

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Swaying Wires – “Nowhere” (Turku, Finland)

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“Nordic Americana dream-pop” might not be a recognized genre worldwide, but the sophomore album from Finland’s Swaying Wires just might change that. The Finnish quartet create gorgeous atmospheric music with breezy layers that caress the ears. Lead singer Tina Karkinen’s sweetly haunting voice weaves through the melodies with grace, backed by understated guitars and percussion that rise in a gentle crescendo. This is truly a gem of a tune.

It’s from their upcoming LP, I Left the House Burning, out this Friday on Battle Worldwide. The album is available for pre-order from the label’s online store, Amazon, and iTunes.

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The Dandy Warhols – “You Are Killing Me” (Portland, USA)

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Portland indie rockers The Dandy Warhols have been working on a new album due out sometime this year on their new label, Dine Alone Records. That much we know. Details beyond that (like a title or a release date) are anyone’s guess. At least this first single they unveiled a few days ago is a positive indication of great things to come. It’s been more almost four years since the band’s last album (2012’s This Machine), so our fingers are crossed for concrete news soon.

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Cullen Omori – “Cinnamon” (Chicago, USA)

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Fans of the indie rock band Smith Westerns will recognize the voice of former frontman Cullen Omori on his first solo single. Following the band’s 2014 demise, he channeled his emotions into this new project that’s full of synth-heavy pop hooks. The songs are more personal since the entire songwriting process was a solo effort instead of a collaborative venture, and his voice really shines on this single. We’re looking forward to hearing more when his New Misery debut album drops March 18 on SubPop Records. It’s available for pre-order from the label’s online store.

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Wild Nothing – “Reichpop” (Virginia, USA)

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Another artist on our Most Anticipated Albums of 2016 list is the American indie artist Wild Nothing. Two singles have already been released from the upcoming third studio album, Life of Pause, each more gratifying than the last. “Reichpop” finds musician Jack Tatum at his professional best. The intricate layers of dream pop unfold slowly for the first 90 seconds to reveal brilliant, multi-faceted charms. By the time the percussion kicks in at the 1:38 mark, the song has already cast a spell that doesn’t let up. The album, which is due out February 19 on Captured Tracks, is available for pre-order from iTunes and online.

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HÆLOS – “Pray” (London, UK)

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When The Revue featured HÆLOS‘s debut EP, Earth Not Above, last June, we didn’t expect to hear new music from the British electronic trio so soon. But to our great surprise, they recently released two new singles from their upcoming full-length LP. While we don’t have a release date for the new album, we can enjoy this darkly brooding track as we bide the time. Hælos are slated to play this spring at SXSW and Coachella festivals, so we expect the album’s arrival is imminent.

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