Discover a world of new music
Toronto-based Beta Frontiers offer up infectious retro-electro grooves. Their new EP for Daps Records features 5 tracks, each of which be accompanied by short films – directed by Dean Tzenos (Odonis Odonis) and Carmeron Tomsett. Lead single Hondo is the first of these music videos, and features vocals by Becky Ninkovic (You Say Party!).
Artist: Beta Frontiers
Title: Hondo
Label: Daps Records
Country: Canada
More Info: Official Site // Facebook // Twitter
Having toured the US with Panda Bear in 2010, Gala Drop returns to the US indiesphere with their latest EP Broda. In collaboration with Ben Chasny (Six Organs Of Admittance), the Lisbon-based 4-piece have crafted yet another experimental gem. Eponymous lead single Broda seamlessly infuses the hallmark Gala Drop sound with Chasny’s psychedelic guitar work.
Artist: Gala Drop
Title: Broda
Label: Gala Drop Records
Country: Portugal
Hailing from Togo, YaoBobby is one of West Africa’s most influential hip hop artists. Originally part of the Djanta Kan crew, YaoBobby now resides in Paris where he’s actively championing African music and culture. His most recent release Memoire d’un Continent also features Senegalese vocalist Noumoucounda Cissoko, a fellow Nomadic Wax artist.
Artist: YaoBobby
Title: Memoire d’un Continent
Label: Nomadic Wax
Country: Togo
More info: Official Site // SoundCloud // Twitter
Update: Music video for Memoire d’un Continent just released!
In one of those true ‘Only in New York’ moments, the Bowery Hotel played host Friday night to a live performance by Swedish superstars Andrew Wyatt (Miike Snow), Lykke Li, and Peter, Bjorn and John. The night was in honor of new label Ingrid, which boasts these stars as founders. The packed rooftop space was treated to a 3-song set, featuring new material from Lykke and Miike.
To get a better idea of the ‘Ingrid sound’, check out INGRID VOLYM 1 MIX released for Record Store Day 2012.
More info: Official Site // SoundCloud // Twitter
After featuring Cats On Fire, we were chuffed to receive email from Swiss band The Dentals professing their newfound love for the Finnish indie darlings. As it turns out, this 4-piece from Lucerne draw heavily on the Finns’ sound to create their own catchy indie pop/folk. Lead single Career For Beer from their debut LP Tennessee, perfectly surmises their self-described alco-pop genre: wistful, contemplative, and drunken.
Artist: The Dentals
Title: Career For Beer
Label: Whiterock Records
Country: Switzerland
More info: Official site // Facebook // Twitter
With three singles in the last 4 years, it’s high time Glaswegian 2-piece Strawberry Whiplash finally unleashed their debut LP Hits In The Car. Renowned for their jangly indie pop sound, Now I Know It’s You keeps strong their ’90s throwback vibe, beckoning influences like Mazzy Star and The Jesus And Mary Chain.
Artist: Strawberry Whiplash
Title: Now I Know It’s You
Label: Matinee Recordings
Country: Scotland
More info: SoundCloud // Facebook // Twitter
In 2009, Marcus Joons and Daniel Tjäder created the Swedish pop band Korallreven. Two years later they released their debut album – An Album By Korallreven. This is dreamy pop about longing for light, and carefree summer nights that we so often dream of in our dark country. In As Young As Yesterday, the duo has collaborated with the talented singer Victoria Bergman (Taken By Trees and The Concretes). If you like Daniel Tjäders other band, The Radio Dept., you will love the tunes of Korallreven.
Artist: Korallreven
Title: As Young As Yesterday
Label: Hybris
Country: Sweden
More info: Official Site // Spotify // Facebook // Twitter
Unlike most normal human beings, WE FUCKING LOVE GETTING EMAILS. Having launched Records Abroad less than a month ago, we’re chuffed to already be receiving submissions from bands. One such group is the self-described ‘rocky, sloppy, folky, noisy’ Drunken Boat from Ireland. The boys are about to drop their fourth LP Tied In Knots, with lead single Breathe one of our faves.
Artist: Drunken Boat
Title: Breathe
Label: Self-released
Country: Ireland
More info: Official Site // SoundCloud // Facebook // Twitter
One of the most exciting Record Store Day releases comes from the mind-bending collaboration between Ólafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm. The Icelandic and German producers respectively, are both classically-trained musicians who bring a unique, orchestral perspective to the stunning electronic music they produce.
Artist: Ólafur Arnalds & Nils Frahm
Track: a2
Label: Erased Tapes
Country: Iceland and Germany
More info: Album Stream
Bonus: Ólafur & Nils working together from 2011.
Ungoogleable and almost digitally non-existent, save for their Bandcamp page, TOPS are an enigma. Labelmates with Grimes (the current Queen Of Indie Pop), this dreamy Montreal four-piece likewise sports an unmistakable pop sensibility. Sounding like an ’80s film dream sequence heard through an AM car radio, this will be spinning on Brooklyn rooftops ASAP.
Artist: TOPS
Title: Double Vision
Label: Arbutus Records
Country: Canada
More info: Bandcamp