Tracklisting:

Mike Pace and the Child Actors – Everyone Out of the Car
Miranda Winters – The Futuristic District
Exam Season – Strawberry Milk
Saccharine – Pumpkin Guts
Tuvaband – Wolfpack
Devon Welsh – Dreams Have Pushed You Around
Mending – Alan after the Fire
Reddening West – Even If
Valley Maker – Light on the Ground
The Washboard Abs – Return to You
Manatree – Brushfire
Miserable Chillers – Horse Opera
Saint Charles – She Don’t Wanna Know
new casino – going for a walk*
Frankie Valet – Why Blue
Goodbye Max – Old Photos
Adeline Hotel – Habits
Joe Kaplow – I Said I Was Going and I Went
Pecas – Tuesdays
Sun Kin – Neglect
Baby Cages – flowers
Crooked Spine – Skinned Knees
Lauren O’Connell – Out of Focus
Mount Goldie – Summer
Harvey Trisdale – Baby
american poetry club – the sum of your parts
Babehoven – Out of the Country
Adam Arcuragi – Low Parade Rain
Jason Bemis Lawrence – Southern Midwest
Campdogzz – Sorceress
Barfoot – A Thin Place Between Worlds

* not on Playmoss

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

The shape-shifting nature of the lineup might account for the Manatree sound too, with elements of indie and math rock fleshed out by polished pop tones in the mould of Sylvan Esso and even more experimental electronic artists such as Oneohtrix Point Never. As such, the band manage to be both fun and energetic without sacrificing complexity, forming a distinctive aesthetic that proves accessible yet surprisingly deep.

After the self-titled album that was released in 2015, this July saw Manatree put out their sophomore record, Engines. The album displays the full range of Manatree’s influences, ranging from the frenetic math-inspired ‘Fragments’ to the restrained emotion of the title track, which is based far more within the folk realm. Which is to say nothing of the loose confidence of rock songs ‘Too Close to the Fire’ and ‘Backwards’, the almost acapella ‘Staying Up’ or grand dream pop of opener ‘Brushfire’ and its closing reprise.

We’re happy to share a brand new video for ‘Brushfire’. Directed and produced by Henry Sho Kellam (Mikan Media) and starring Anna Chah, the video plays on the rising ambiance of the song, the bright hopeful notes of the opening matched with the dawning of a new day. The lyrical side of the track tends toward a contemplative mood that borders on mournful, though the instrumentation and video both utilize this toward a more mindful and affirming end, a shedding of complications and human folly, fleeing the ordered noise of civilization in favour of a return to a wilder peace.

Engines is out now and you can get it now from the Manatree Bandcamp page.

The post Video Premiere: Manatree – Brushfire appeared first on Various Small Flames.