Naomi Pop Archives - Various Small Flames

January 2016 Roundup – A Mixtape

Jon Doyle — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:29:47 +0000

Here’s the January 2016 roundup, a mixtape featuring every artist we covered last month. Due to the holiday break and various end of year lists, it’s not as long as usual, but we are positive you’ll find something that tickles your fancy. Click the artist name in the tracklisting to be taken to the post in question.

Tracklisting:

1. Amerika – Wintersleep
2. Born Confused – Porridge Radio
3. Catchyalater – Frog
4. Water – Opals
5. Listerine – Foxall
6. Nightmare Song – Oscar Lush
7. October Mirage – Island Eyes
8. Past is Personal – West America
9. Roller – Quilt
10. Unattached – Two White Cranes
11. On the Nights You Stay Home – Donovan Woods
12. Call Out – Minor Moon
13. Consolation – The Chairman Dances (Lit Links)
14. First I’m Sorry – Haley Heynderickx
15. Waitress – Soft Lions
16. Vanitas – Hanging Hills
17. Waiting – Faint Peter
18. Farewell Navigator – Naomi Pop
19. Gifts – Real Swell
20. Future Wife – Jacob Faurholt
21. Wall – Slows Down
22. Olly Oxen Free – Creature Speak

P.S. On the subject of roundups, make sure you read about our favourite albums of 2015, our favourite songs and favourite free music.

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Video Premiere: Naomi Pop – Farewell Navigator

Liam Doyle — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 18:13:13 +0000

Back in September we reviewed the self-titled album by Boston indie pop act Naomi Pop, one of many great released by the Slovakian cassette label Z Tapes.

Today we are happy to bring you the music video for the track ‘Farewell Navigator, which we described as “lean and wiry indie pop, a song of changes and goodbyes”. It was probably my favourite track on the record, and just gets better when twinned with the charmingly psychedelic DIY video by Henry Demos/Nice Legs’ (and all round good guy) Mark Lentz. Check it out via the Z Tapes Youtube channel below:

Farewell Navigator is surrounded by other good songs on the band’s self-titled début. If you haven’t already then why not grab Naomi Pop via the Z Tapes Bandcamp page? There are still some tapes left! You’ll get a lovely package in the mail which may even include some delicious Slovakian sweets (which are worth the price tag alone, trust me).

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Favourite Free Music of 2015: N-R

Jon Doyle — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 15:57:45 +0000

Here’s the fourth instalment of our Favourite Free Music of 2015 list. Check out the other parts here. Remember, while it’s always tempting to put a big fat zero for ‘name your price’ releases, you can give a little something. Bands need to eat too, and would doubtless appreciate even the smallest donation for their efforts. It’s the least they deserve.

Naomi Pop – S/T (REVIEW)
(RIYL: lo-fi, indie rock, other Z Tapes artists)

naps – one hundred percent confident (REVIEW)
(RIYL: ambient, experimental, naps with an uncapitalised-n)

Naps – You Will Live in a Cool Box (REVIEW)
(RIYL: lo-fi, garage rock, indie pop, Naps with a capitalised-N)

Nadia – I’m your protector now
(RIYL: dream pop, healing, electronic)

Newfoundland – Good News is Too True (REVIEW)
(RIYL: atmospheric folk, dream pop, Youth Lagoon, Meursault)

Noël – ’10
(RIYL: punk, emo, indie)

Ocean Floor – Old Haunts (REVIEW)
(RIYL: bedroom pop, lo-fi, Mount Eerie)

Oddigtl – solarium
(RIYL: beats, lo-fi, electronic, laidback summer soul)

Old Gray – dex
(RIYL: sad, bedroom pop, slo-mo emo)

Pasture Dog – Southern Gothic (REVIEW)
(RIYL: lo-fi, hymnals, all things Southern Gothic)

Prairie Empire – Sad Winter Songs (Outtakes and Demos)
(RIYL: folk, acoustic, sad bastard music)

Pet Cemetery – dietary requirements (REVIEW)
(RIYL: bedroom pop, ambient, Coma Cinema)

Phargo. – Rende’s
(RIYL: emo, Braid, anime)

Plums – Jen
(RIYL: dream pop, summer crushes, nostalgia)

PONY – CRUSHED (REVIEW)
(RIYL: indie pop, Best Coast, Vivian Girls)

Pope – Fiction
(RIYL: noise, grunge, No Age)

Porridge radio – im not sure anymore
(RIYL: lo-fi, sadcore, bedroom pop)

The Pretty Greens – Lonely Hearts Club No Jerks Allowed
(RIYL: The Raincoats, Bratmobile, Brill Building pop)

Radiator Hospital & Martha – Split EP
(RIYL: indie rock, power pop, Radiator Hospital, Martha)

rchrd prkr – it’s getting worse
(RIYL: emo, punk, lo-fi)

Robbie Bankes – Through February Snow (REVIEW)
(RIYL: folk, Tyler Butler, winter)

Romantic States – s/t
(RIYL: minimalist pop, garage rock, blends of quiet & loud)

Ruth & Trudy – Still Pond (REVIEW)
(RIYL: indie pop, experimental, lo-fi)

We’ll be sharing a new section of the list every day this week, so be sure to check back for the complete collection. If you find something you like, or think we missed something life-changing, then why not let us know on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr or good old email.

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September Roundup – A Mixtape

Jon Doyle — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 18:46:01 +0000

The days are drawing in, the leaves are changing tentatively, grumpy people are moaning about Christmas in two months… September has been and gone. The mix below contains a song from each and every artist we covered during the month, so kick back and catch up. The links in the tracklisting will zap you off to the relevant posts, so get clicking to follow up on your favourites.

Tracklisting:

By My Side – Valley Maker
2. Shadow Play – Tierpark
3. West Texas – PWR BTTM
4. Console – Joplin Rice
5. Lightning Dream Shuffle – Will Stratton (for Genius Loci)
6. Dazed By You – PINS
7. Y U – Fanpage
8. The Rest – Alex Bleeker and the Freaks
9. I’m Not – Hoshifo
10. Nothing, Just Looking at the Moment – Lejsovka & Freund
11. Stole Ur Bike – Boosegumps
12. Our Headache Years – Nudes
13. Worry, Glory – The Silence Set
14. Sand – Frankie Cosmos
15. xplodineyez – Field Medic
16. Walking The Line – Sam Moss
17. Bedroom – Alanna McArdle
18. Tired – Captain Samurai
19. Birds – M Caridi & The Glow
20. Gardensong – Funeral Advantage
21. Snow Bird – Ama Moii
22. So Long, Suzie (The Damage is Done) – Morning River Band
23. Cracks in the Sidewalk – Naomi Pop
24. Burn This – Mauno
25. What Coast – Grubs
26. Pulled Over – Generifus
27. EZ River – Wilder Maker

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Naomi Pop – S/T

Liam Doyle — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 12:21:52 +0000

Slovakian label Z Tapes is becoming something of a regular fixture here at WTD. We really enjoyed the releases they put out from Ruth & Trudy, The Washboard Abs and Fox Academy, not to mention re-releases of Fog Lake and our buds’ Nice Legs great EP Lullaby Land. The label’s latest release is a self-titled album by Boston indie rockers Naomi Pop.

Opener ‘Farewell Navigator’ is lean and wiry indie pop, a song of changes and goodbyes, as is illustrated in the chorus:

“Farewell to our shining state, Halloweens and birthday cake.
Farewell to our bright red star riding our bikes all too far”

‘I’ll Let You Down’ has a brightly acoustic start which quickly gives way to cymbal-heavy, self-deprecating lo-fi rock, complete with misleadingly carefree group vocals. ‘Cracks in the Sidewalk’ is an ode to what sounds like a cruelly cool young lady, while ‘Daydream’ is slower, with a shuffling, faux-disinterested tone that veils a song about falling in love with a daydream.

I tried to hold on to you but I’ve got shaky hands
I made you a tape in the summer it was all you favourite bands
Forgive me I forgot you were just a daydream”.

‘Sleepyhead’ has a retro rock & roll swagger, as if it’s sitting for a black and white Chalkie Davies portrait wearing a leather jacket and a scowl. It hits a lull of near-silence in the midsection before the whole thing explodes into spiky punky pop to end. ‘Rock and Roll Radio’ has a similar vibe, with its references to the Stones and Led Zeppelin.

The vibe is something like Free Energy playing in their basement, with the glam rock bombast replaced with a simpler and more lo-fi aesthetic. You can get the album now on cassette or digital download via the Z Tapes Bandcamp page.

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