Uzi Rash 'I Saw You'

Roughly 4 years ago or so New York regained its reputation for being a hotbed of activity for music. New bands continue to travel to and emerge from every nook and cranny of favoured Borough, Brooklyn. This area is now so rich with artists playing and recording that there's always an opportunity to discover your new favourite band there. However, having the luxury of choice with seeing bands in abundance can at times arguably make the scene feel bloated. This poisoned chalice is what fresh bands from the area seem to have to contend with today.

But, this doesn't seem to be an issue for DIY clusterfuckers Uzi Rash as they are proving a force to be reckoned with from their non-stop touring. Following debut full length 'High and Phree' released on Freedom School Records a forthcoming single on 1234 Go! Records is due in March. Uzi Rash bring noisy Australian bands like Kitchen's Floor and Naked on the Vague to mind in their nihilism. What separates Uzi Rash vastly from these two bands is the recordings sound bare and confined in comparison. Their loner stripped down bedroom pop is littered with deranged vocals, metronomic beats and angular, frenetic guitars. You can find the single when it's out here and songs to check out on their myspace here.

Veronica Falls 'Veronica Falls'

The first full album from Veronica Falls arrives on Slumberland (Bella Union in the UK) after a run of well-received singles and an EP of their spellbinding boy/girl harmonies and dark, echo-laden indie-pop won over Captured Tracks, No Pain In Pop and Wichita Recordings. This London quartet rose from the embers of the Royal We and Sexy Kids in 2009, and recorded their debut LP with Guy Fixsen (My Bloody Valentine, the Breeders) and Ash Workman (Metronomy, Summer Camp). Veronica Falls' stormy pop songs balance uplifting melodies with dark undercurrents; "Beachy Head" is named after the white cliffs in Eastbourne, well known for being a suicide hot spot in Britain, and the single's swoon-some sing-along melody, with unhinged vocals mirrored by jarring guitars, finds the track dealing out happy and sad in equal measure. This kind of tragicomic songwriting has much precedent in British indie, and sure enough, the band's lineage in twee and C86 is easy to follow; Veronica Falls aren't challenging the past, but breathing new life into the genre. Another album highlight is "Right Side of My Brain" which finds Roxanne Clifford defiantly singing, "Take your hands off me" alongside rattled guitars and forthright rhythms, and indeed, these twelve vexing pop songs are delivered at a consistent feverish pace that are as heartfelt as they are heartbroken. Veronica Falls is a joy to behold from start to finish, easily one of my favorite records of the year.

Beachy Head by Veronica Falls

Veronica Falls website
Veronica Falls Facebook

Grouper/Roy Montgomery Split

It's tough to resist the temptation to gush about Portland's Liz Harris. She's one of the most captivating female performers around right now. For those who've read/heard accolade after accolade on blogs, printed matter and in the human speaking world I'll leave the gushing there.

It will probably come as no surprise that this LP is long out of print. But! The CD has been reissued by IOG. To make it worth your while they've included bonus track 'Pressed Bloom' by Roy Montgomery which isn't included in the original LP.

Montgomery's side is an instrumental live interpretation of 'Fantasia On a Theme' by Sandy Bull clocking in at 18 minutes. Grouper's side is all new material of her signature ambient hexing and ethereal left field pop.


Read full review of Split - Grouper / Roy Montgomery on Boomkat.com ©

Kurt Vile 'Jesus Fever'

The past 2 years seem to have been a whirlwind for Philly's Kurt Vile. His releases on Woodsist, Gulcher, Richie and Mexican Summer sent everyone from record collecting fiends, music lovers and just the down right curious into a frenzy. Through relentless touring and having one New York label as his number on fan Kurt Vile has been propelled from underground treasure to becoming a universally loved musician.

During my three year stay in New York I first saw Mr Vile play a modest show in the most famous kitchen in Brooklyn, Silent Barn. Shortly before I left the big apple this indie-psych-folk wizard was opening for Big Star. I can't say I ever expected him to be opening for such a huge act in such a short space of time, but wasn't all that surprised either.

Kurt Vile recently gave a cracking interview for WFMU giving details on his new album 'Smoking Ring For My Halo'. It's out on March 8th and there's a new song, 'Jesus Fever', available to check out courtesy of Matador.

Gentleman Jesse & His Men 'You've Got the Wrong Man'

I've been thinking recently about Gentleman Jesse & His Men and how only a year prior to their debut release people's love of Power Pop was being rekindled with reissues from Hubble Bubble, The Nerves and Milk 'n' cookies. Their self titled album struck like a bolt from the blue, with its irresistibly glamorous hooks and sing-a-long choruses this record proves somethings you can never tire of.

The Atlanta Power Poppers are due to have a new album out and until then, HoZac has released a single to tie us all over. 'You've Got the Wrong Man' and B Side 'Stubborn Ghost' are consistent with their previous stuff. You could say, Power Pop in general is dependable for striking pleasure centres with a familiar guitar, bass and drums mold. With this simple formula Gentleman Jesse & His Men do something so right with what can easily be done wrong. Unrivaled in their ability make music you can put on whatever mood you're in, and it always manages to hit the right spot (how do they do that?!) it's probably stating the obvious at this point, this blogger is excited for Gentleman Jesse & His Men's new album.

You can here both of the new songs on Strofoam Drone!

Reading Rainbow 'Prism Eyes'

Philadelphia's boy girl duo brought in the New Year with a show in New York celebrating the release of new album 'Prism Eyes'. Following a slew of singles over the last year or so on Chimney Sweep, Zoo Music and Ciseaux it was their debut 'Mystical Participation' and a show at SXSW that made HoZac Reading Rainbow's number one fan, and home.

Reading Rainbow sound like they could have been Slumberland fiends in their formative years and sure, words like 'jangly' 'pop' and 'indie' seem unavoidable at the moment. That said, it would be a real shame to let this band pass you by simply because these adjectives are currently circulating so heavily. What Reading Rainbow bring to the table that makes them stand out is a curious balance of sugary and scuzzy music. The two part vocal harmonies range from unaffected tones not unlike English post punk to infectious angelic pop. These singing parts soar over fuzzed out keyboards, consistent tapping and crashing rhythms with glittery, grinding guitar hooks. The surprising thing is, I would never have guessed this was only a two piece given how rich the songs sound. This record is harmoniously sweet and sour. 'Prism Eyes' proves there are still some bands out there with some tricks up their sleeves for you.

Metal Mountains 'Structures In the Sun'

The imminent release of Metal Mountains debut record 'Golden Trees' couldn't be a better way to start the new year. Boasting three fine folk musicians Helen Rush (Tower Recordings), Samara Lubelski (Tower Recordings, Thurston Moore, Hall of Fame, Metabolisms, Social Registry) and Pat Gubler (Tower Recordings, P.G Six) the trio have aptly found a home at Amish Records. After playing shows in New York for the past year or so, sharing stages with the likes of Yo La Tengo and Kurt Vile the Brooklyn based band have committed their ethereal psychedelic folk songs to wax ready to melt faces and hearts everywhere.

Track 'Structures in the Sun' is available to listen to here.