The Faves Playlist - Week of 8/14
Hear music from bands like Pop Music Fever Dream, Trophy Wife, Sakkaris and more.
VERTTIGO - Lightbearer
Post-punk/dream pop band VERTTIGO is back with their latest track “Lightbearer.” According to the band, the song is about “love, death, and rebirth. It explores the polarity of love–from obsession to isolation.” The band is performing at Edmonton’s Purple City Fest on 9/6-8th. Get tickets now.
Ex Pilots - Spirits Up
Next week, Pittsburgh indie rock/noise pop band Ex Pilots drops their new album Motel Cable. Their final single “Spirits Up” opens with energetic instrumentation and blooms into a melodic chorus, Motel Cable is out 8/23 via Oakland indie Smoking Room. The band will be playing a show on release day at Cattivo Bar.
The Fictionals - Roulette
On their third single "Roulette,” New York’s The Fictionals puts all their chips on the board. Sonically, they dive into the early 2000s New York post-punk style, with the opening bass riff and guitar textures. The song is out now via Stunning Models On Display along with the band’s other singles. You can catch The Fictionals at Brooklyn’s Gold Sounds on 9/6. Get tickets.
Phantom Handshakes - Apart
New York shoegaze band Phantom Handshakes dropped “Apart” off the upcoming album Sirens at Golden Hour. The band says, “The song is a poignant cry for awareness and a somber reflection on the urgent need to combat climate change. The tense, constricted rhythm mirrors a sense of claustrophobic dread. The lyrics, laden with a heavy heart, convey deep anxiety, fear, and feelings of helplessness." Pre-order Sirens at Golden Hour now.
Wolfschmidt - Crisis
“Crisis,” the new single by Swedish shoegazers Wolfschmidt, examines the predicament we sometimes find ourselves in. “[‘Crisis’] is about the struggle to stay true to oneself in a society where truth and authenticity are overshadowed by worry and greed—a human crisis, if you will,” Wolfschmidt explains. “It explores how, due to our desperate need for belonging, we gradually fall in line with disavowed values, only to one day realize how much of ourselves we have sacrificed.”
Dino Expedition - Lose Your Mind
Dino Expedition, consisting of members Tahlia Amanson (vocals/guitar), Aiden Velazquez (bass) and Frankie Adams (drums), explores our ability to process tragic events on “Lose Your Mind.” The Brooklyn band comments, “A few days after July 4th 2019, a gigantic fire broke out in the lot next to Tahlia’s family’s house. On ‘Lose Your Mind,’ Tahlia revisits the whole scenario, with specific details outlining the fear of her father’s childhood house fire, to the present.” Amazon expands on that saying, “I’m rather numb when it comes to fires, maybe it’s generational trauma.” The band’s debut album Thanks A Million, produced by Calvin Lauber, is out 11/15. Pre-order now.
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On their debut album Ambivert, Houston-based duo Blemishes—comprised of Julienne Ceron and Jessie Huntington—defies easy categorization by blending diverse musical influences and styles. This 50-minute album showcases a spectrum of sounds, from frantic rhythms to gentle instrumentation, reflecting their view of albums as cohesive narratives rather than mere collections of songs. To highlight its various influences, Ceron curated a playlist for us. Read our Q&A with the writer/producer and listen to the playlist.