One of the best/worst things about the whole blogging game is the abundance of great music. Unfortunately there are (still!) only twenty-four hours in a day, most of which are consumed with non-WTD things, so even if we get sent ten great albums then chances are we will only be able to cover three or four. While trying to avoid falling into the listicle trap, we thought the best way to remedy this problem would be a semi-regular round-up, ‘Best of the Rest’, where we include all the songs we think you should hear but don’t quite have the time to tell you why. Inclusion here is no comment on quality – this isn’t a runner-up prize!
Youceff Kabal – Strange Tones
Belgium-born Youceff Kabal is a musician working out of Phoenix, Arizona. After releasing two albums under the moniker YUS, he has released his most recent record under his own name. El Yunque is psychedelic dream pop, like a mix between Vampire Weekend and Eric & Magill, and mammoth single ‘Strange Tones’ is the perfect introduction to the lush, vibrant sound. So kick back and float away on the layers, following the words of wisdom in the opening verse: “all i seem to get out of it / is a need to slow down a bit / why can’t i just take it easy? / livin’ hard holds nothin’ for me”. Then get the release via Bandcamp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3TKwblo0C8
Cameron James Henderson – Refugee
Cameron James Henderson is a songwriter from Sydney who this summer released his latest album, Storm Rollin’ In. ‘Refugee’ is the standout track on what is a beautiful album, a gentle and awfully relevant folk song dealing with people forced to leave their homes and place their trust (and lives) in the hands of a strangers, hoping kindness and empathy might win out. Get the album from Bandcamp.
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MAH KEE OH – One Footed
MAH KEE OH are a two-piece band out of Denton who released a record last spring. ‘One Footed’ is one of the standout tracks, a song which toes the line between bummed and blissed out, drawing on elements of shoegaze, grunge and indie-rock to create something both disaffected and dreamy. The album, also entitled One Footed, is available now via Olympic Dreams Records.
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Sophie Longshaw – Let’s Go To The Beach
Sheffield songwriter Sophie Longshaw offers an optimistic view of the British summer in this lovably laidback take on acoustic pop music, one of two singles on a double A-side with Chris Mann on Twin Records.
The Furious Seasons – Longshot
The latest band headed by veteran songwriter David Steinhardt, LA-based The Furious Seasons release their new album, Look West just a few days ago. Opener ‘Longshot’ serves as a great entrance point to the acoustic album, the instrumentation dripping with nostalgia and Steinhardt’s vocals unfolding with a smooth, timeless cadence. Get Look West from their webstore.
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Sløtface – Bright Lights
Sløtface are an indie rock band from Starvanger in Norway. The band have just released a brand new song, ‘Bright Lights’, taken from their forthcoming EP, Empire Records, out in November on Propeller Recordings. A departure from their previous singles, the track finds Sløtface pushing dark 90s rock vibes, Haley Shea’s vocals worming their way through the fog of drums and reverb.
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Van-Anh Nguyen – She Floats
Classically trained Australian pianist Van-Anh Nguyen is set to release a neo-classical/ambient EP at the end of the year, and first single ‘She Floats’ offers a good insight into what to expect. Leaving out any fancy flourishes, the track utilises the poignant simplicity of piano with some light ambient atmospherics to create a wonderfully bittersweet feel. Find more info on her website.
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Native Other – Palms
Native Other are a band from Toronto who blur the lines between art pop, RnB and emo to sound something like Dirty Projectors and Minus the Bear sharing a vacation to Hawaii. ‘Palms’ is the first single from their new EP, If I Can Keep It Together, which is out now! Listen below, or stream the full EP via Chart Attack and buy via Bandcamp.
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Eugenia – vildt+sødt
Eugenia, consisting of writer Camilla Lily Pape and director Johan Ask Pape, are a brand new duo from Denmark. While details are scare, their latest song ‘vildt+sødt’ is an exciting hint at their blackly atmospheric indie pop sound. The video is also worth your time too, with Scandinavian actor Baard Owe (who you might know from Lars von Trier’s Riget) joining the band for a live session, doing little beyond possessing one of the most expressive faces ever committed to film.
Kidsmoke – ‘See the World’
We last featured Kidsmoke when we featured their debut release Higher back in 2013. Since then the Wrexham-based band have released a second EP and two further singles, and have grown in popularity enormously, with attention from BBC Radio and Spotify. Their latest single, ‘See the World’ is a laid-back indie pop anthem that glows with the remnants of summer. Lyrically it’s inspired by the all-encompassing tumult of the UK’s EU referendum earlier this year, and is the closest thing to a political song Kidsmoke are ever likely to write. Check it out on Bandcamp.
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Gabriella Cohen – Downtown
You might know Gabriella Cohen as the front of the Australian band The Furrs, though last year saw her self-release a well-received solo full length, Full Closure and No Details. After signing to Dot Dash, the album is set for a re-release in conjunction with Brooklyn based label Captured Tracks, and the laconic lovesick lullaby ‘Downtown’ serves as a great introduction to anyone who missed it first time around. Buy it now via the Dot Dash & Remote Control Records online shop.
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You can check out the previous Things We Have Missed here, or click through to our Reviews and Previews to find the things that we didn’t.