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.
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.
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.