It’s time for our monthly round-up of some of the slower, quieter releases that have been floating our boats this month.
First up is a brand new double A-side single from Bro. Stephen. The follow up to 2012’s excellent Baptist Girls, these two tracks address the strain of long-distance friendship, transient life and uncertainty of the future. This may sound a little sad, and it is in parts, but the songs also manage to find a sense of hope, a glimmer in the storm clouds. You can buy the single right now via Crossroads of America Records.
Nate Hendricks – Neon For No One
Out on the excellent Crash Symbols, Nate Hendricks’ Neon For No One defies any clear genre. Opening track Dead Fox Waltz is a clear example of this, the sprawling ten minute epic having a little bit of everything, from experimental glitches, to folky, psychedelic guitars and even sleigh bells. The artwork is relevant for this EP, a crazy, colourful collage the holds fine details. Buy it on cassette here.
Sad Souls – ‘Rain, Window’
Ann Arbor’s ambient outfit Sad Souls released a new song back in March. ‘Rain, Window’ is a wistful instrumental track that would be perfect for, well… watching from a window as rain falls. Check out the rest of their music on Bandcamp, it is all just as lovely.
Thom Byles – Y.O.Y.O (You’re Only Young Once)
Back in April we featured English/Mexican singer-songwriter Thom Byles. Well here he is again, back with a brand new single, ‘Y.O.Y.O (You’re Only Young Once)’. The track is excellent, a gentle, airy, nostalgic little indie pop song. Perfect for these bright early-Summer mornings. You can get the track for however much you like over at Byles’s Bandcamp page.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/152576871″]
Johan Hedberg – Kickar grus
Johan Hedberg, who you may know from Suburban Kids with Biblical Names, is releasing a solo album Paradiset this September on Labrador Records. The first single, ‘Kickar grus’ is coming out 25th June, and you can hear it below.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/146223096″]
Finally we have Born Standing Up from Oxford, Mississippi. Their S/T album, out March this year, is a great alt-folk/country record that sounds like The Wooden Sky covering country songs. It’s as good as it sounds. You can get the album on a pay-what-you-can basis here.