Tracklisting:

Restorations – Nonbeliever
Goshen Electric Co. – The Grey Tower
Horse Culture – Follow
Yowler – Where Is My Light?
Desert Liminal – Gauze Cave
Anamon – In 3
Adeline Hotel – Lightning
Lea Thomas – Upstream
Scott Orr – No Phone
Advance Base – Christmas in Nightmare City
Blue Wilson – Golden Eyes
The Sofas – Nothing Major
Lazy Legs – Nosebleed
All Boy/All Girl – Bomb
Strange Ranger – New Hair
Elly Swope – Idea
Dweller – Running
Will Henriksen – Halo
Knuckle Pups – Bottom Baby
Ian Wayne – Guessing
Massage – Crying Out Loud
Recluse Raccoon – Mother America
Interbellum – Ink
Marc Ferrino – Like a Spark
Katie Kuffel – As the Crow Flies
Emily Brown – Sometimes
KASHKA – Holding Steady
Philippe Bronchtein – Me and the Moon
Spencer Segelov – Sacred Songs
Annie Dressner – Fades Away
Belaver – Grave Robber
Of The Valley – Ride Alone
Hour – Give thanks in a special way

The post October 2018 Roundup appeared first on Various Small Flames.

Goshen Electric Co. – The Gray Tower

We’re huge fans of Jason Molina here at VSF, so imagine our excitement when it was announced Strand of Oaks‘ Timothy Showalter was standing in for him for a special tour, as Magnolia Electric Co. (Mike Benner, Jason Evans Groth, Mikey Kapinus, Mark Rice, Peter Schreiner) welcome Showalter into their ranks to form Goshen Electric Co. In addition to a tour, the new outfit are releasing a single, and the first track is available to hear now, complete with a video from Colin Kerrigan and Rocco Avallone.

‘The Gray Tower’, which was first released as a single in 2002, is a perfect fit for Showalter’s delivery, capturing the atmosphere of the original where the foreboding and dread is matched only by the naked humanity beneath. “Jason’s lyrics were darkly heroic,” Showalter says. “Trying to fight against it. Just the word ‘try’—whenever he says ‘try,’ it’s just magic to me.”

The Gray Tower B/W Ring the Bell is to be released by Secretly Canadian on the 2nd November and you can pre-order it now.

Lea Thomas – Upstream

Lea Thomas is a songwriter, textile artist and “lifelong student of ecology” from Maui, Hawaii, and her music draws upon these features in its distinctive style. The opening song of new EP Part of This Place, single ‘Upstream’ is the perfect example—a track through which nature is interwoven, the patient and delicate sensibility hiding a sense of permanence and grace, the parts coalescing into a organic whole. Indeed, much of the album came to life during a stay in the Vermont wilderness, with Thomas embracing any imperfections within the recording as part of the naturalistic aesthetic the music exhibits.

“When I feel the soil breaking free
Sliding down the banks between the colors of spring
I feel the warmth of a woman pouring out of me”

Part Of This Place is out now via Spirit House Records and you can get it from Bandcamp.

Elly Swope – Idea

Having become a well-known face in the Portland music scene, playing with the likes of Kelli Schaefer, Roseblood, Genders, Sunbathe and Deathlist, this autumn sees Elly Swope’s first proper solo release. Despite playing much of the parts herself, Swope’s sound subverts all conceptions of what solo music can entail, possessing a rich texture and runaway energy that any full band would envy.

Lead single ‘Idea’ is a case in point, sparking into life with a momentum that lets up only to climb toward a bigger release, Swope’s self-assured vocals more than a match for the angular guitars and furious drums. Thematically, the track charts the deconstruction and subsequent reconstruction of identity that follows the end of a relationship. “This song is about the ways in which we dissociate after a breakup,” Swope explains, life separated into what is personal and what was shared, and what must now be let go.

It Feels the Same Everytime is out via Rue Defense on the 9th November. Per-order it now via Bandcamp.

Massage – Crying Out Loud

Massage is a new project from Alex Naidus, who you might know as a founding member of Pains of Being Pure At Heart. Taken from their debut album, Oh Boy, single ‘Crying Out Loud’ is a bittersweet song which delves into “the frustration of deeply caring about someone but not being able to spend time with them without something going wrong.” The sentiment is set against an upbeat tempo to produce a sunny kind of sadness, a wistful sense of loss that’s almost as affirming as it is painful.

The track comes complete with a video from director Thaddeus Ruzicka, and the film textures of the footage capturing the Massage aesthetic perfectly.

Oh Boy is out now via Tear Jerk Records and you can buy it from Bandcamp.

Belaver – Grave Robber

With new single ‘Grave Robber’, New York’s Belaver aims to give the listener a guided tour of “a world of exhumination,” a place of dark unease “where the past is a crypt of memories to rob and a skeleton yet to be discovered.” After time fronting doom-folk band listenlisten, such a style is fitting for B.E. Godfrey, his music exploring the dark and dingy corners of the human experience. Indeed, this latest single follows the killer-themed EP, Wild Desperation, which he put out in 2015.

Utilising a mix of acoustic guitar and synths to support Godfrey’s distinctive vocals, ‘Grave Robber’ feels like a cross between Mt. Eerie and Monarch Mtn—twilit and noir-ish, traipsing through ancient catacombs and holding a torch to whatever dusty relics are found.

You can find Belaver on Spotify and Soundcloud.

Spencer Segelov – Sacred Songs

Spencer Segelov is a musician and songwriter from Caerphilly in South Wales. Previously working under the moniker Spencer McGarry Season, Segelov has explored a diverse range of styles in his time, from rock and jazz to a whole range of pops—indie pop, synth pop, baroque pop—and his new record Loser Leaves Town continues the multifaceted approach. In contrast to the barroom jazz of the title track, ‘Sacred Songs’ is a piano ballad that blurs the line between earnest and playful, though the chorus settles firmly within the sincere end of the equation.

Loser Leaves Town is out now via Country Mile and all the major download services.

Lazy Legs – Nosebleed

We’ve featured Portland grungers Lazy Legs a few times here at VSF, writing about their self-titled EP back in 2016 and describing how previous single ‘Gloss’ “pull[ed] off the quiet/loud dynamic effortlessly […] managing to be both woozily captivating and cathartically empowering.”

The duo are back with a new single, ‘Nosebleed’, the first taste of a forthcoming record, Moth Mother. ‘Nosebleed’ delves into a raw and spiky dreamscape, dropping the psychedelic flourishes of the previous release in favour of a crunchy, heavier sound. The result is still very much of the Lazy Legs aesthetic, though suggests the new album will see the band orbiting closer to their grunge and slowcore influences.

Grab ‘Nosebleed’ now on a pay-what-you-can basis from Bandcamp.

Annie Dressner – Fades Away

We last featured Annie Dressner back in 2013, and now the UK-based American is back with a brand new album, Broken Into Pieces. For those unfamiliar with Dressner’s sound, opener ‘Fades Away’ provides a good example, blending a delicate guitar line with a conversational tone to create an intimate sound. The track is fleshed out with various other instrumental flourishes too, becoming a vivid, warm song of surprising weight, the simplicity of Dressner’s writing only adding to the poetic nature.

Broken Into Pieces is out now and you can get it now from the Annie Dressner Bandcamp page.

Marc Ferrino – Like a Spark

Working in bands such as Black Before Red and Low Line Caller, Marc Ferrino forged a reputation as one of Austin’s best vocalists, and 2019 will see the release of his debut solo EP on Wren & Shark. So far we only have one song to go on, though ‘Like a Spark’ is more than satisfactory in terms of building anticipation for the record. Pitched between indie rock cool and a celebratory style of pop, the track serves as one final hurrah for the summer—a grand, sweeping ode to ephemeral warmth.

Like a Spark is set for release in 2019 via Wren & Shark. Keep an eye on their website for pre-order info.

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The Pollyanna Band have released lovely renditions of ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Christmas All the Time’, which you can get here.

The Telegraph has them at 250/1 for the Christmas number one spot. Why not help them out?

(P.S. I made myself sit through some of the alternatives… I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through that.)

The post Advent Calendar [17th]: The Pollyanna Band – Silent Night appeared first on Various Small Flames.

In my previous review I described how the gentle instrumentation and Dressner’s lovely vocals hid cathartic narratives, conversational-style lyrics packed with everyday observations and emotions. ‘Dont Feel The Same’ is in the same vein of songwriting, although not entirely. Backed by a full band, the song is both more rocky and poppy than anything on East Twenties, with long sections that could easily be sung along with after just a couple of listens.

Also, while there mood can hardly be described as dark, there is something present that maybe wasn’t before, a slight attitude shift, a sense of anger or defiance that sees Dressner take hold of the song which is ever so slightly reminiscent of Mount Moriah’s Heather McEntire. It seems like a recipe for success and hopefully the single can pave the way for another full release and continued success.

‘Don’t Feel the Same’ is out on 25th November and you can pre-order it via Bandcamp. While you are there, why not check out East Twenties and Strangers Who Knew Each Other’s Names?

If you are in the UK you may be able to to catch Annie on tour in the coming months (there’s a possibility more dates wil be added):

Nov 28, 2013 Hot Numbers – Cambridge, UK 7:30PM
Mar 22, 2014 Old Cinema Laundrette – Durham, UK w/ Paul Goodwin
Mar 24, 2014 Gaslight Club at Operto Bar – Leeds, UK w/ Paul Goodwin
Mar 28, 2014 Royston Folk Club – Royston, UK w/ Cathryn Craig & Brian Willoughby

The post Annie Dressner – Don’t Feel The Same appeared first on Various Small Flames.

The new songs are more stripped back compared to her debut album Strangers Who Knew Each Other’s Names. For the most part only a strummed guitar supports her strong vocals. The gentle instrumentation and backing vocals never distract your ears from her voice, but rather creating an atmosphere, a backdrop to the stories that unfold across the songs. It makes for an effective record that feels fully in control on it’s sound. Statements are made subtly and without over-emphasis – for example the second track, ‘I Can’t Forget’, begins with the regular guitar but as the lyrics turn a little sadder a string arrangements starts up to support them. It would have been easy to be ham-fisted and dress up the ‘sad song’ with weeping violins from the beginning but Dressner is cleverer than that.

Because the music sounds so lovely, it can be tempting to forget about the lyrics and just enjoy the nice sounds. However, should you wish to delve a little deeper into the words of songs (I always do), there are some interesting stories to be found. As the title hints, East Twenties was inspired by Dressner’s experiences living and growing in New York, and you get the feeling that Dressner has poured a not insignificant part of her life into these songs. Despite the aforementioned loveliness of her voice and the delicate instruments, there is a strong cathartic element here. The songs are richly detailed; the everyday observations that coexist with the love/loss messages give each song a personal and narrative feel. Of course, only Dressner knows how much of the content is based upon reality, but if she can create the effect then does it matter?

Annie has a Pledge set up to fund the new EP with a number of interesting options, from the standard EP right up to home shows, handmade lyric books and ‘golden tickets’ that will get you into any/all of her shows for the next ten years (!). The target has already been reached but that doesn’t mean you have missed your chance to get something, you can purchase whatever you fancy until the 8th April. Ten percent of the money raised is going to the charity V-Day (an organisation that raises awareness of violence against women) so you will be supporting a good cause too. Also, if you find yourself in London, get yourself along to the release show in the Slaughtered Lamb. See the poster below for more details.

You have a number of chances to see Annie perform this summer, from small local shows to the Green Man festival in Wales. See all the dates here.

P.S Annie’s voice reminds me of someone else’s but for all the world I can’t think who. It’s been on the tip of my tongue all morning but still evades me. Answers on a postcard to @WaketheDeaf.

The post Annie Dressner – East Twenties appeared first on Various Small Flames.

But please don’t judge her on cheap comparisons alone. Listen to my favourite track below and head over to her Bandcamp page to hear/buy the album, or get it from her own store.

The post WTD’s Advent Calendar – 1 – Annie Dressner appeared first on Various Small Flames.

1st – Annie Dressner
2nd – Knots
3rd – Ljóst
4th – Fantasy Rainbow
5th – Timid, The Brave
6th – BLACK ZEROS
7th – Reuben Hollebon
8th – Sam Moss
9th – Portage
10th – Angel Olsen
11th – Moon Ate The Dark
12th – Challenger
13th – ScotDrakula
14th – Dusted
15th – Loraine
16th – Husky
17th – SNOWBEAST
18th – Mike Tod
19th – Stalwart Sons
20th – Old Ugly’s Christmas With Friends
21st – Nils Frahm’s Screws Reworked
22nd – The Holidays Don’t Have To Be So Rotten
23rd – The Tree Ring
CHRISTMAS EVE – Fred Woods

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