The Matinee '20 February 24

The Matinee ’20 February 24 edition eases you into the week with lush new tunes. For the most part, these songs are pure bliss, or they will make you tremble as if you are in ecstasy (we might be sharing too much information here). Enjoy these seven cool tunes.

addy – “Eclipse” (Richmond, VA USA)

RIYL: Beach House, Hibou, Wild Nothing

Ease into your week with this lush offering from Richmond, Virginia-based addy. Let the mellow textures of their new “Eclipse” single warm you from within like coffee for your soul. This is the smoothest possible way to prepare for your day: these melodic vocals and rich, ambient folk-pop tones provide an impenetrable shield of calmness. Waves of dreamy verses and choruses swirl around you and caress your senses.

Frontman Adam Watkins is equal parts magician and meterologist as he guides your mental focus to visions of softly falling snow one moment and sunlight piercing through forest mist the next. If you have unsatisfied cravings for music you can escape into, look no further. Addy is the calm you need amidst the chaos of life.

Look for their Eclipse album on March 6 when it arrives via Topshelf Records. You can pre-order it here or from Bandcamp.

addy are: Adam Watkins, Taylor Noll, Kurt Bailey, and Tim Peele.

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The fin. – “Over The Hill” (Kobe, Japan & London, England)

RIYL: DIIV, Wild Nothing, Ride

We have long stated that The fin. are one of Japan’s best indie bands. They easily move from trippy, Tame Impala-esque neo-psychedelia to shimmering shoegaze. If you ever get to see them in concert (like one of us did in 2018 in Tokyo), they put on a great, interactive show, as they constantly engage with the audience. So while they are stars in their home country, they remain modest people. This characteristic explains why Yuto Uchino (vocals/guitar/synths) and Kaoru Nakazawa’s (drums/bass) music appeals to people from across the globe. If you’re just finding out about this band, then “Over The Hill” is an excellent place to begin.

The track was originally recorded as a demo in 2016, which makes it the ideal tune to celebrate the band’s return after two years. Although “Over The Hill” is a bopping tune, an understated urgency lingers in the track. Yuto’s vocal delivery is introspective, as a concern drips in each word. Yuto’s guitar and Nakazawa’s bass, meanwhile, feel simultaneously very close yet distant – like an object in the side mirror of your car. This dichotomy figures prominently in Yuto’s lyrics, where he describes a man that is spinning out of control. He may seem ordinary, but his mind is elsewhere. The track is a clever one, and it highlights the artistic talent of the now duo.

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FINKEL – “Need a Minute” (green) (Los Angeles, CA)

RIYL: Tennis x Tones & I

FINKEL are a Los Angeles based husband and wife duo (Jane and Brian Spencer). The pair conducted a six month long color theory workshop, where they wore colored lenses during every possible waking hour to see its affect on their compositions. “Need a Minute” (green) was created from that workshop and this single represents the color green.

The single has an eclectic feel and reminds a bit of another husband and wife duo (Tennis) and the unique vocals we’ve recently heard from Tones & I. Lyrically we have a track who tackles the reality of losing tempers and tackling those feelings out on another. We hear from both perspectives of how to tackle those feelings and take a step back before doing anything they might regret. The production is slick and the chorus is catchy as we are dominated by Jane Spencer’s enigmatic vocals set against 80s inspired synth. There is also a trippy, hazy lyric video which can be viewed here.

“Need a Minute”(green) is from FINKEL’s forthcoming EP, Backpack of Snacks to be released April 3rd and will include 5 color affected songs.

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Loveblind – “Daydream” (Fort Worth, TX, USA and Hamburg, Germany)

RIYL: Siouxsie and the Banshees, Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine

Those of us who grew up listening to goth and shoegaze legends like Siouxsie and the Banshees, My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive realize those bands have no equals. They were the pioneers of the genre. Many emulate them though few capture their electrifying sound that first sent chills up our spines in the ’80s and ’90s. Until now, that is. A new German-American project has caught our attention and piqued our interest.

Loveblind stand poised to take their place alongside their musical forebears. Hearing the opening strains of their “Daydream” single made us instant fans. Fans of goth-shoegaze, prepare to be dazzled. Ten seconds into this song, you are captivated by the ethereal vocals of German-based singer Dorian Electrique (of Seasurfer). You remain spellbound by the vibrant synths and sway along to its grooves. For nearly four minutes, you linger in a dream state where shadows dance beneath moon and stars. This is shimmery electronic dream-gaze at its finest. This song is also highly addictive. If you accomplish nothing today besides keeping “Daydream” on repeat, don’t say you weren’t warned.

We look forward to the arrival of Loveblind’s forthcoming album, Sleeping Visions. It arrives via Saint Marie Records on March 27 with pre-orders from the label and Bandcamp.

Loveblind are: Neil Burkdoll, Dorian Electrique, Joshua Garman, Mikel Wegener, and Saint Marie Records founder Wyatt Parkins.

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Marlin’s Dreaming – “Sink or Swim” (Dunedin, New Zealand)

RIYL: No Vacation, Ocean Alley, Soaked Oats

Because a band hails from southern New Zealand, their residence does not necessarily mean they are reviving the Dunedin sound. For those familiar with the indie scene of the breezy coastal city on the South Island, a new “Dunedin sound” is being created. It’s one that is more guitar-pop oriented, where the music causes you take deep breaths and chests to swell beyond their capacity. This description perfectly applies to “Sink or Swim”, the fabulous new single from “Marlin’s Dreaming”.

Lush, crystalline guitars; vibrant synths; and cool, stammering rhythms fill the air, and they set the canvas for Semisi Maiai’s chilling vocals. He sings about a man who is on the verge of giving up – a man who has “lost my appetite” and “stopped putting up a fight”. His lyrics are brutally honest, yet they are words that we all need to hear. For some people, you just might find a bit of hope.

Marlin’s Dreaming are Oscar Johns (bass), Hamish Morgan (percussion), and Semisi Maiai (vocals/guitar). Catch the very Kiwi video here.

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Mopac – “Cross-Eyed Dreaming” (Austin, USA)

RIYL: Sjowgren, Fazerdaze, Day Wave

In the world’s indie music capital, the fierce competition to be heard can be equivalent to a fish swimming upstream. The journey is long and arduous, but the reward at the end of the trip can be immense. The challenge, though, is surviving and, in the case of a young-ish band, to be heard. Austin-based five-piece, Mopac, should have little difficulty in catching the attention of music fans, especially if they produce as ear-catching music as “Cross-Eyed Dreaming”.

The track is deliriously delicious, psychedelic dream-pop. The smooth, slightly dizzying melody will have you swaying your head from side-to-side. Front woman Christin Monts, who hails from Germany, meanwhile, casts a spell with her intoxicating vocal. Her voice is one you want to hear all day, telling you stories and whispering sweet nothings. But through the jangly guitars and stirring rhythms (highlighted by the terrific, low-throbbing, bass line), she tells a tale of dreams being crushed in today’s unforgiving world and those struggling to live day-by-day can only dream about a better life. We are all just pawns to those who can pay for their dreams to come true.

Mopac’s new EP, Burn & Soothe, is out now. Get it here. The band is comprised of Trey Monts, twins Colton and Sky Monts, Hunter Peterson, and the aforementioned Christin Monts.

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Whim – “Oh Society” (Portland, OR USA)

RIYL: Ani DiFranco, Ingrid Michaelson, The Harmaleighs,

Sarah Isabella DiMuzio – a.k.a. Whim – has a nomadic poet’s soul: this emerging indie folk-pop singer-songwriter has called Portland (Oregon), Nashville, and Ireland home in the last decade. Perhaps her infectious sound is the result of having lived in places where storytellers embrace their own? Or maybe it’s just her natural talent that makes Whim one of our favourite discoveries of this year. Regardless of the genre label you ascribe to it, Whim’s new “Oh Society” single is an excellent introduction to this future star. It’s only a matter of time before the world discovers the irresistible Whim.

What sets Whim apart from other upcoming folk-pop artists is her sun-kissed energy. “Oh Society” bubbles with effusive charm. These jaunty hooks evoke Ani DiFranco and Ingrid Michaelson with the breeziness of Nashville duo The Harmaleighs. If we could curate our own festival of dynamic female voices, Whim would join those artists on the lineup.

You may have heard Whim’s music in the background of TV shows: it’s been used in episodes of New Girl and Catfish. But now it’s time for Whim’s music to take the spotlight on radio and festival stages worldwide. Her upcoming album, Abuzz in the Abyss, should make that a reality.

The LP arrives April 24 from Fluff and Gravy Records. Pre-order it at Bandcamp.

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