The Matinee May 19th has awesome new tracks for your listening pleasure. We have a myriad of tunes. Most are upbeat, so we hope today’s playlist kicks off the beginning to your weekend. Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for our Saturday Sampler, and then Sunday for our mega, mega playlist.
Cigarettes After Sex – “Each Time You Fall In Love” (Brooklyn, USA)
RIYL: Mazzy Star, Rhye
We’ve run out of superlatives to describe Cigarettes After Sex‘s music. Regardless of what they release, we are always left a little breathless. Despite enchanting fans all over the world for five years and growing a huge following, the Brooklyn-based quartet have yet to release an LP. This is a testament to the power of their music. In less than a month from now, Cigarettes After Sex will finally unveil their debut album. The latest song is another spellbinding affair.
Like everything they create, “Each Time You Fall In Love” is a breathtaking and beautifully brooding number. The instrumentation is slight, delicate, and intoxicating. There’s an air of film-noir in this song, giving Cigarettes After Sex’s trademark cinematic indie approach a touch of darkness. Frontman Greg Gonzalez’s vocals, meanwhile, are lush and inviting, bringing us next to him as he tells the tale of a man who has fallen in love with a woman he cannot have. For all their wonderful soundscapes, what sets CAS apart from the rest is the captivating stories that Gonzalez’s writes. He’s not merely a songwriter, but a master storyteller.
The band’s forthcoming self-titled debut album will be released June 9th via Partisan Records. The band is in the midst of a massive world tour. Dates can be found here.
Cigarettes After Sex are Greg Gonzalez (vocals/electric guitar/acoustic guitar), Phillp Tubbs (keyboards), Randy Miller (bass), and Jacob Tomsky (drums).
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Cloves – “California Numb” (London, England via Melbourne, Australia)
RIYL: Amy Winehouse, Adele
We have been infatuated with Cloves since she released her debut single, “Frail Love”, nearly two years ago. That song still is spun in these parts because the Melbourne-born singer-songwriter has one of the most mesmerizing voices in the business. It has the soulful touches of Amy Winehouse and the range of Adele. Her songwriting, too, is extremely understated, as she often tells elaborate stories as oppose to just sharing a stream of conscious. Her new single is a perfect example of the 21-year old’s immense talent.
“California Love” is a dazzling, soulful number that sounds more like the 1960s than 2010s. Yet it feels modern with its sultry bursts and the tremolo guitar echoing in the background. But the star is Cloves and her spectacular voice, which your ears focus on and never turn away. While her voice may be sultry, her story is honest and poignant, as she shares her own experiences about losing herself into something or someone and turning into someone she didn’t want to be. Not only does Cloves sound like an old-school singers, but she also writes with the maturity of artists twice her age.
Cloves’ debut album is expected soon. It’s been in the works for several months.
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Hayden Calnin – “Waves” (Melbourne, Australia)
RIYL: Bon Iver, flora cash, haux
Hayden Calnin is back with the new track “Waves”. Calnin has a knack of creating sweeping soundscapes that perfectly frame his sturdy vocals. The orchestral elements always add that extra anthemic quality to his sound.
“Waves” is actually a song Calnin wrote for a friend that struggles with mental health issues. He shares a bit about the meaning behind the song:
“‘Waves’ was written for a good friend and became my interpretation of what was going on in that friend’s head whilst battling severe mental health issues. I wasn’t always able to be there to help them through it and the song evolved into somewhat of an ode to me being a bit of a shit friend when they really needed someone around. I wanted to let that friend know I’m always thinking of them.”
“Waves” is from Calnin’s forthcoming EP, which will be released sometime this summer.
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Little Rêd – “What Love Is” (Bath, England)
RIYL: Cloves, The Japanese House, Marika Hackman
Bath-based artist Little Rêd is back with a new track. With “What Love Is”, we hear Little Rêd’s soothing vocals set against just the right amount of ’80s-inspired synth. The track speaks to exploring the early days of a relationship, lingering on confusion and excitement as you are falling in love but not quite settled. It’s more of an upbeat track from her first offering and we like hearing a more positive spin this time around.
We continue to be enamored by Little Rêd as we now have heard two extremes about relationships so far in her songwriting – one chronicling the worst parts of a relationship and now the beginnings of a new one. We are intrigued the hear what else will be released in the future from this rising talent.
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Mellow Gang – “Vendetta” (London, England)
RIYL: Beach House, Alvvays, FURS
There’s a huge buzz building in England for a relatively new quartet. Mellow Gang have already received the support of NME and BBC Introducing, and now the rest of the world is starting to catch up. Just one listen of “Vendetta” is all one needs to do in order to understand why this band could be the UK’s next big thing
This song is a slice of psychedelic-pop perfection. The vocals are luxurious like settling one’s head on to the perfect pillow for the night. The instrumentation is stunning, as the soaring synths and shoegaze guitars create the delirious soundscape while the cool delivery of the rhythm section throb like a heartbeat. Everything about this song is ravishing. It is the perfect tune to commence the weekend because it will leave you smiling well after the final note has been played.
Mellow Gang’s new EP, Play, is due June 23rd. It should catapult the band to indie stardom.
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Men I Trust – “You Deserve This” (Quebec City, Canada)
RIYL: Portishead, Massive Attack, Moby
“You Deserve This” is the newest from Men I Trust, and it’s quite sublime. With the laid-back synth vibes, groovy bass along with light and airy vocals, we can’t get enough. This most definitely will be added to our chill-out playlist for upcoming lazy summer nights.
The band shares a bit about the idea of the song:
It’s all about relaxing, wishing good to oneself and others and the nostalgic joy of feeling part of the universe.
Men I Trust are Dragos Chiriac (keys/mastering), Jessy Caron (guitar/bass/keys), Odile Marmet-Rochefort (vocals), and Emmanuelle Proulx (vocals).
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Public Service Broadcasting – “They Gave Me A Lamp” (London, England)
RIYL: Public Service Broadcasting
Public Service Broadcasting have released their latest single, “They Gave Me A Lamp”. We now know their upcoming album will be released in July and it’s titled Every Valley. We also know its central theme revolves around the mining industry in South Wales. The album also grew into a larger theme as PSB shared recently:
“It’s a story reflected in abandoned and neglected communities across the western world, and one which has led to the resurgence of a particularly malignant, cynical and calculating brand of politics.”
The latest single from the album, “They Gave Me A Lamp”, is a politically charged one, reflecting on the oppression millions of women experience around the world. The beautiful, orchestral tones that hover throughout the song, though, offer a ray of hope – that one day every women and girl will be educated and able to freely pursue their dreams.
Every Valley will be released July 7th via Play It Again Sam.
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Saintseneca – “Book Of The Dead On Sale” (Columbus, Ohio, USA)
RIYL: Moonface, Modest Mouse, Deerhunter
The indie-rock scene is littered with niche bands that those with the most discerning palettes may know. Deerhunter, Deerhoof, and Wolf Parade are three such bands. Saintseneca is another one because their music can hardly be considered straightforward, formulaic, or radio friendly. Instead, they have established a reputation for being among the creative and even whimsical bands around. Their new single, “Book Of The Dead On Sale”, is no different.
The low-key and borderline lo-fit song is a bit odd and weird, but that’s part of its charm. It’s not an anthemic song by any means, yet for some reason you’re drawn into the laid-back and trippy vibe. Zac Little’s deadpan vocals, though, set the tone, as they replicate the story’s focus about the idiocy of some people and the idiocracy that governs many countries across the world. In this world, everything, including the dead, are for sale. The world needs more bands like Saintseneca, whose underhanded criticisms of the world are often humorous and brutally on point.
The single is out now via Anti Records.
Saintseneca are Zac Little, Maryn Jones, Steve Ciolek, Jon Meador, and Matthew O’Conke.
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Shit Girlfriend – “I Don’t Wanna Die” (London, England)
RIYL: ShitKid, Dream Wife
While many young, aspiring female singers aim to be the next Katy Perry, Meghan Trainor, or Banks, some are looking to carve out their own niche in the male-dominated scuzz-rock and garage-rock genres. Some have done it with quite a bit of success, such as Dream Wife and ShitKid. Another band to watch are Shit Girlfriend, the brand new project by London-based friends Natalie Chahal and Laura-Mary Carter.
Earlier this week, the duo released their debut, “I Don’t Wanna Do”. The best way to describe this song – this song reveals that these two young women don’t give a shit if they insult anyone. Chahal and Carter play with a tremendous amount of ferocity, as if they have a chip on their shoulder and want to say to anyone who has betrayed them to go screw themselves. In addition, as they reveal on this track, they won’t be tagging along with people who are boring or who may lead them down uncertain paths. Instead, they’ll follow their own and create music that is undeniably honest and awesome.
Shit Girlfriend’s debut 7″, “Mummy’s Boy / I Don’t Wanna Die”, is out today via PNKSLM Recordings. You can pre-order it here.
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