Airiel–Molten Young Lovers
Genre: Indie Rock, Shoegazing
FFO: Death Cab for Cutie, Chapterhouse, Pale Saints
Despite a full decade passing since their debut LP, Chicago Shoegaze act Airiel deliver a beautiful sophomore LP illustrating how they haven’t missed a step.
Molten Young Lovers explores the wonders of adolescent romance through a fun collection of layered, upbeat tracks. Frontman/Bassist Cory Osbourne brings a unique set of pipes to the genre I personally find strongly reminiscent of Ben Gibbard.
I recommend this record to any Death Cab fans that appreciate Shoegaze and want a new album to dance to.
Flower Crown–Glow
Genre: Indie Rock, Dream Pop, Psychedelic Pop
FFO: Slowdive, Turnover, Real Estate
Pittsburg Dream Pop duo Flower Crown generate a lush, melancholic debut LP on Flower Pot Records.
Glow has a very coastal, somewhat aquatic vibe sonically painting the image of a sunset at the beach on a warm, summer evening.
Makthaverskan–III
Genre: Post Punk, Dream Pop
FFO: Joy Division, Jesus and the Mary Chain, Alvvays
Swedish Post Punk/Dream Pop hybrid act Makthaverskan grace our ear drums once more with a third LP leaning more towards the dreamy side of things.
The Gothenberg group fixates their sound around the vocal abilities of frontwoman Maja Milner birthing a darker, more mature follow up.
Nai Palm–Needle Paw
Genre: R&B, Soul, Folk
FFO: Amy Winehouse, Erykah Badu, Hiatus Kaiyote
Australian artist Naomi Saalfield (aka Nai Palm) provides listener with her more intimate, vocally powerful side on her debut solo album.
Needle Paw shifts away from the layered future soul sounds of her flagship endeavor Hiatus Kaiyote for a more quiet, folk sound.
This LP consists of originals, covers, and reworked Hiatus tracks retaining all of the power, soul, and raw emotion by honing in primarily on Saafield’s vocal talents.
Quiet–Infinite Regress
Genre: Post Hardcore, Post Rock
FFO: Brand New, Godspeed! You Black Emperor, This Will Destroy You
I felt like Brand New’s Science Fiction was a boring, sloppy disappointment of a record far before the accusations of Jesse Lacey began to surface.
The only two things I ever felt the group accomplished was worth noting included The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Of Me and remaining relevant despite an eight year album gap.
The good news is LA-based up and coming Post Hardcore act Quiet released a debut LP this year that sounds identical to how I had hoped Science Fiction would sound.
The vocals are eerily similar to Lacey without the creepy child predator undertones and the instrumentation retains an emo-esque foundation while experimenting with droney Post Rock and pummeling gazey walls of sound.
It’s like a better Brand New without the guilt.
Sound of Ceres–The Twin
Genre: Dream Pop, Synth Pop
FFO: Cocteau Twins, Beach House, Purity Ring
Colorado-based Dream Pop duo follow up last year’s debut, Nostalgia for Infinity, with a strengthened sophomore LP further exploring their orbiting, dreamy, spacey soundscapes.
Recommended for fans of Cocteau Twins and Beach House, this album is a beautiful journey that will make you feel like you’re in a Lynch film.
Spotlights–Seismic
Genre: Indie Rock, Dream Pop, Shoegazing, Post Rock, Doom Metal, Drone, Ambient
FFO: Jesu, True Widow, Cloakroom
New York-based Alternative outfit Spotlights provide a record balancing the dreamy, thought-provoking aspects of ambient, Shoegaze-esque Post Rock and crushing, abrasive sludgey, Doom Metal.
Seismic is a well-structured, layered example of the modern “Doom Pop” movement additionally pulling influences of 90s acts such as Failure and Hum.