The nine songs on The Matinee August 11th edition will leave you buzzing. Well, they left us buzzing. There are some shimmering and grooving indie pop tunes, euphoric electro-pop numbers, and moving indie-rock tunes. Oh, there is also some great psychedelia because no weekend is complete without music that leaves you in a delirium. To the songs we go!!! (Oh, there are a lot of exclamation points in today’s mini-playlist.)
BOYS – “Why Were You Alone” (London, England)
RIYL: Daywave, Wild Nothing, DIIV
“Why Were You Alone” is the newest track from London based BOYS. It’s the third single from the quartet’s forthcoming EP and it has a real earworm quality.
As soon as the Cure-esque guitars start and Mr Pearce’s dreamy vocals begin, we are taken into some what of a dreamland. It’s a lovely track that tackles the questions regarding isolation and being alone. The song is a perfect one to get lost in whether it be whilst driving, enjoying time on the beach or just relaxing.
The song is taken from the band’s forthcoming new EP, Dreamland.
BOYS are Ross Pearce (vocals), Mike Stothard (guitar), Kane Butler (guitar) and Daniel Heffernon (bass).
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Cut Copy – “Standing In The Middle Of The Field” (Melbourne, Australia)
RIYL: Caribou, Bonobo, Boards of Canada
After teasing us with “Airborne” in early July, Cut Copy‘s first proper single since their 2013 album Free Your Mind, excitement grew that something bigger and better was on the way. And yesterday, they made it official by revealing their new album, Haiku from Zero, will see the light of day on September 22nd via AstralWerks. To accompany the announcement, the Melbourne super electronic group shared “Standing In The Middle Of The Field”, which you better be standing somewhere that is padded.
This song is extravagant and an absolute showstopper. It is simultaneously lush and engrossing but grooves like a ’70s disco party. As such, this song will have you spinning around within its gorgeous delirium yet you might find yourself collapsing to its breathtaking beauty, particularly following the outstanding bridge. That moment is truly a “Wow!” occasion. This entire song deserves an “OMG!!!!!” with the five exclamation marks. Cut Copy are back, and September 22nd cannot come soon enough.
The band is comprised of Dan Whitford, Tim Hoey, Mitchell Scott, and Benjamin Browning. They’ll be heading out on an extensive North American tour beginning September 29th. Details are available here.
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Dutch Party – “Blade Runner” (Los Angeles, USA)
RIYL: Washed Out, Teen Daze, Summer Heart
We must have been living in a hole in the ground because we’re just taking notice of Dutch Party the project of Ken Franklin. So before we continue, we would like to express our sincere apologies for not jumping on Mr. Franklin’s bandwagon, and we hope there is plenty of room for us. Even if there isn’t, he will be continuously playing his new single, “Blade Runner”.
Like the sun emerging after a fierce storm, “Blade Runner” is a bottle of summery happiness uncorked for all to consume. The synth and production work are absolutely cool and radiant with the beats worthy of incessant hip shaking, head bobbing, and shoulder gyrating. Franklin’s vocal, meanwhile, is the definition of dreamy, and it provides the perfect foil for his storyline of a person (or replicant?) hiding from reality and avoiding life. But as Franklin asks on this song, is it worth wasting the days away even if things may be a bleak? With a song like “Blade Runner”, though, we have no other choice but to pull away the curtain, open the windows, and let the sunshine in.
More musical delights from Dutch Party are coming soon, as Franklin’s second EP, Combat Pop, is expected this autumn.
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Freedom Fry – “Strange Attraction” (Los Angeles, USA & Paris, France)
RIYL: Portugal. The Man, MGMT, Phoenix
We feel like we are really good friends with electro-pop / indie-pop duo Freedom Fry because we’ve been covering them for a very long time. Even though we have never met, we feel like we know everything there is to know about Marie Seyrat and Bruce Driscoll. It helps that they aren’t afraid to show their emotions in their music even when taking on the role as a storyteller, like what they’ve done on “Strange Attraction”.
Like so many of their past songs, “Strange Attraction” is awfully addictive. It shimmers with a disco vibe that will have you busting out moves like John Travolta. The summery electro-pop beats, meanwhile, will linger in your mind for hours, putting a smile on your face while doing a few shoulder shimmers in the process. Sounds like the ideal weekend party tune, eh?
The storyline, though, sounds very personal to Seyrat and Driscoll, as if they’re describing their first encounter and how it led to Seyrat relocating to Los Angeles. However, the song is more than that – it’s the celebration of love and more importantly the celebration of who we are. It’s the perfect song for these times of “fire and fury”.
More sugary goodness from Freedom Fry is coming next month when their new EP, Strange Attraction, drops September 7th. Woohoo!
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Gabrielle Aplin – “Waking Up Slow” (Bristol, England)
RIYL: Ellie Goulding, Feist, Ladyhawke
Gabrielle Aplin is on the verge of breaking out in the US. Ms. Aplin is already well established in the UK and she is continuing to create upbeat and danceable synth pop tracks which perfectly frame her sweet yet powerful vocals.
“Waking Up Slow” has everything you need to get moving and forces you to fall more in love with Ms. Aplin’s obvious talent. She share a bit about the motivation behind the track: “It’s about that euphoric “aha!” moment after feeling perhaps misplaced, or stagnant. It’s about that moment where you decide to just let go, letting what will be, be and choosing to be present.”
“Waking Up Slow” is from Gabrielle Aplin’s forthcoming EP release. Aplin will head out for a string of North American tour dates in September/October 2017 taking in major cities across the US including L.A, San Francisco, Chicago and New York.
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Malena Zavala – “Should I Try” (London, England via Argentina)
RIYL: Sharon Van Etten, Tiny Dinosaurs, Bedouine
While the previous songs had you busting a move like Young MC, the debut single by Malena Zavala offers a different summertime vibe. Before spinning “Should I Try”, do one of two things – grab your loved one and get ready to slow dance under the stars or sit together in the hammock, on the veranda, in the backyard, or out on the lake. Now hit play play and just listen.
Listen carefully to every word coming from the young Argentinian singer-songwriter, whose honest, introspective style is reminiscent of Sharon Van Etten while the immediacy of her music is akin to the dream folk of another newcomer, Bedouine. Don’t mistaken this song for a breakup one because it isn’t. Instead, Zavala has crafted a stunning song about overcoming one’s anxieties and fears about the future. Instead, she offers a glimmer of hope and optimism that we shall overcome. The future, however, will be much brighter if we do it with the ones we love. Thanks Ms. Zavala for giving us a moment to reflect on what is and what is to come.
“Should I Try” is out on Yucatan Records.
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Mondo Cozmo – “Thunder” (Los Angeles, USA)
RIYL: Ryan Adams, Ray Lamontagne, Son Volt
Mondo Cozmo just released his debut album and “Thunder” is another stand out track. Plastic Soul is definitely a contender for one of the best of albums released this year. Mondo Cozmo is crafting a unique sound of rock/singer/songwriter much like Ryan Adams. He could also be considered a modern day Bob Dylan.
“Thunder” is a track that speaks to pushing through the hard times no matter what. It reminds us that continuing to focus on love will get us through the darkness. The lyrics mention:
“Come on love / Give me a sign / ‘Cause I’ve been waiting in the darkness / Waiting in the darkness / Waiting in the darkness / For your everlasting love.”
Mondo Cozmo’s debut album, Plastic Soul, is out now via Republic Records. As the song is a SoundCloud Go listing, spin the entire album on Spotify. Mondo Cozmo is Joshua Keith Ostrander.
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White Room – “The Blue” & “Tomorrow Always Knew” (Brighton, England)
RIYL: Temples, The Byrds, early Tame Impala
We’ve only been on the White Room bandwagon for less than a year-and-a-half, but the quintet from Brighton have firmly established themselves as one of our favorites. Not just another favorite, but near the very top because they are making some mind-blowing, jaw-dropping neo-psychedelia. Usually, they’ve released just one song at a time, but today they are giving us a double dose of their brilliant splendor. And we are immensely thankful for this. It’s like Christmas has arrived 4 1/2 months early!
The first single, “The Blue”, is one of those rare “Fuck yeah!!!” moments. It is a delirious, head-noodling anthem that will have you jumping out of your seats and moving. Elements of Temples and early Tame Impala stream across the track, but White Room have amped up the hooks and addictive levels, making this song a Code Red on the infectiousness chart. Meanwhile, “Tomorrow Always Knew” is right out of the late ’60s and early ’70s, reminiscent of the summery psychedelia of The Byrds. It is an enticing and stirring number that reminds us that psychedelia can not only make us lose our marbles for a brief moment but also have us dream big things.
And big things are on the way for Jake Smallwood (vocals), Jacob Newman (guitar), Tristan Sava (guitar/keys), Josie McNamara (bass), and Hen Sava (drums). They’re just way too good to fly under the radar. Taking notice of their talents is Deltasonic Records, who are releasing both songs today as a double-A side.
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Young Jesus – “Green” (Los Angeles, USA)
RIYL: Car Seat Headrest, Gold Connections, Kane Strang
We end The Matinee on a slightly more somber note, but we promise that the new single from LA-based quartet Young Jesus won’t leave you depressed. Instead, “Green” might leave you weak in the knees, and it definitely will have you thinking of the possibilities of the days ahead.
The song resonates of the intimate and soaring indie rock of Car Seat Headrest. The melodic approach is warm and engrossing, grabbing your attention immediately and never letting go. Frontman John Rossiter’s voice has a surprising bedroom intimacy, and he shares his own struggles with anxiety and depression. But like so many of us, the fog over our eyes is lifted and the clouds dissipate when that one person arrives. When s/he is in our presence, everything is right. Everything feels perfect, much like this great little number. The ending, hopefully, will leave you basking in Young Jesus’s radiance and leave a smile on your face.
“Green” is from the band’s forthcoming, self-titled, debut album. It arrives September 12th via Gigantic Noise. Pre-order it at the label’s store or Bandcamp.
Young Jesus are John Rossiter (guitar/vocals), Kern Haug (drums), Marcel Borbon (bass), and Eric Shevrin (keys/vocals).
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