by Madi Toman | Mar 25, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Alt group Charming Liars have followed up their recent success with the release of new track, ‘Blame”. Charming Liars’ journey began in the west-end London music scene, with guitarist Karnig Manoukian and bassist Mike Kruger writing and playing together in a series of bands in their teen years (these boys go way back) before moving to LA where they connected with vocalist Kiliyan Maguire to solidify the band’s lineup.
The group kept busy in 2019, releasing their debut album Thought, Flesh, and Bone, a follow up acoustic EP, Bare Bones, and (as if that wasn’t enough) a live collection called Live 2019. To top things off, Charming Liars also did a headline run on the West Coast, toured Europe with The Faim, did a U.S. run in support of Angels and Airwaves, and were on a UK and European tour with Palaye Royale before it got cut short due to COVID-19.
Of the song, the band says “Blame’ is an explosive anthem asking for one more shot at love from your last late night call. What happens when the lights fade and the drinks dry up? When your memory starts to dive deep into the wreckage of lovers past? Blame.”
Explosive indeed, the new track combines electrically-charged beats with Maguire’s effortlessly cool and stylish vocals, skyrocketing the tune into the alt-pop atmosphere. It’s an anthemic love song that begs for forgiveness and another shot, but the instrumentation and delivery softens the hard corners of the serious subject matter, keeping the track feeling light as a feather and full of hope.
“Blame” is out on all streaming platforms now and the cancelled European dates in support of Palaye Royale have now been rescheduled for August and September this year.
RESCHEDULED EUROPEAN TOUR W/ PALAYE ROYALE
AUGUST
19th – Circolo Magnolia, Milan IT
24th –Technikum, Berlin DE
26th – Plaza, Zurich CH
27th – A38, Budapest HU
28th – Lucerna Music Bar, Prague CZ
31st – Razzmatazz, Barcelona ES
SEPTEMBER
1st – Sala Cool, Madrid ES
3rd – Akakao, St. Petersburg RU
4th – The 1930, Moscow RU
6th – Bel Etage Event Club, Kiev UA
Keep up with Charming Liars here.
by Meredith Schneider | Mar 25, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Swedish duo The Radio Dept. just released their latest track “You Fear the Wrong Thing Baby” on March 20th, perfectly showcasing their quintessential dream-pop style that we have all come to know and love. Edging on ethereal, the reverb in this track makes it feel like a glittering kaleidoscope soundscape before we even reach the words. The lyrics of this track, coincidentally enough, fit perfectly with the current global health crisis. “When we recorded the song we had no idea what was coming,” expresses the duo. “The text is against conservatism and a tribute to youth as a progressive force.”
Keep up with The Radio Dept. here.
by Kendal Chandler | Mar 24, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Charlotta Perrier, under the alias Big Fox, returns with new single “Let Love In” off her sophomore album See How the Light Falls. Both were released the same day, and are ready for our listening pleasure.
When talking about her newest release, Perrier said, “I thought a lot about the unsaid. All the words that I constantly avoided, held back, and how they slowly created a wall between me and others … And I finally realized that I was the one stopping myself. So, I think I subconsciously wrote this song to push myself off that cliff, to let love in.”
“Let Love In” signifies that feeling of wanting to be more open with others and taking the steps to get there. Combining classic pop and melodic indie sounds, Perrier creates a sophisticated and mature sound.
Keep up with Big Fox here.
by Kendal Chandler | Mar 23, 2020 | albums, review
When Ryan Lee of Santa Cruz, Cali was familiarizing himself with his new studio Paradise Garage came his own musical project, Magic Waters. After recording the songs that would make up his debut EP Pinky Swear, it became clear these songs needed to be heard. This 3-song EP showcases Lee’s writing abilities, skills as a producer, and him as a performer. Through his songwriting Lee is able to blend personal stories, and observations on real-world problems.
A big political inspiration of Pinky Swear is Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. The title of the EP and the single comes from Warren making pinky swears to young women to be a constant reminder that women can also be leaders.
The single “Pinky Swear” revolves heavily around politics. The chorus and outro shout out female political leaders like Senator Warren, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Katie Hill. Lee also makes reference to powerful women in his life, such as his wife, mother, and grandmother. While the verses tackle the NRA and Trump. This back and forth of female politicians that provide optimism, versus the current political climate showcases Lee’s view of the world today and where he hopes it can go.
Pinky Swear is out this Friday, and will be available on streaming platforms everywhere for your quarantine enjoyment. Keep up with Magic Waters here.
by Madi Toman | Mar 23, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Toronto-based artist Elrichman (also known as Paul Elrichman of Ducks Unlimited and Germaphobes) has just released his new single, “I Mostly Consume”, which is from his upcoming sophomore LP, Heaven’s Mayor. The record is the follow up to his 2014 effort, Young, Healthy and Wonderful, and is to be released this summer via Bobo Integral. It features a wealth of Toronto-based talent with Alex Gamble on production duties (Fucked Up, Alvvays) and contributions from Zach Bines (Weaves) and Jon Pappo (Hooded Fang) as well as the Boston-based Anh Phung (Twisted Pine).
Speaking of the track, Paul says: “‘I Mostly Consume’ is about feeling like you exist on this earth mostly to consume, which is the sense I have sometimes. The bridges set scenes of impending doom, but everything else is pretty cheery so I guess I’m a blissful consumer!”
The song is quite bright and poppy for a topic as serious as impending doom, and Elrichman juxtaposes serious topics (the album itself focuses on the notion that we only exist on this planet for the purpose of consuming) with upbeat 80s jangle-pop vibes. Elrichman explores a variety of tempos and strips back mid-tune for a thoughtful instrumental section comprised of piano and strings in the middle of the track before launching back into a high-energy second half for a strong finish.
“I Mostly Consume” is out now on all streaming platforms and Heaven’s Mayor is to be released in summer of 2020 via Bobo Integral followed by a string of North American tour dates.
by Madi Toman | Mar 20, 2020 | albums, review
Manchester pop band The Slow Readers Club has recently released new single “Jericho” ahead of their highly anticipated new album, The Joy of the Return, out today via Modern Sky UK, which will be followed by a UK/European tour.
“Jericho’s our ‘sunniest’ track to date, and hopefully a good indicator of the variety people can expect from the album,” says frontman Aaron Starkie. The track is written from the perspective of his teenage self and focuses on the moment when you’re on the brink of a new relationship and you start to surrender yourself to the other person. It’s one of the bands’ personal favorites, and it’s easy to see why. Infectiously upbeat and featuring a bright blend of guitars and propulsive drums, the song is both danceable and anthemic. Ah, young love!
The album’s first single, “All I Hear” was recorded at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool produced by long-standing collaborator Phil Bulleyment. The Joy Of The Return marks a significant change in the band’s process, with their extensive touring allowing them time to write and develop tracks and arrangements through sound checks and back-of-van jams.
Keep up with The Slow Readers Club here.
by Kira Cappello | Mar 19, 2020 | premieres, singles, wolf tracks
A welcome slice of warm levity, “Open The Windows”, the freshest release from Oregon-based project The Color Study, is what happens when The Microphones’ “The Glow Pt. 2” meets the demos from Hippo Campus’ latest album Bambi.
Beginning with sunny tambourine met by frontman Scott Oliphant’s chorused vocals, the indie-folk sweetness quickly launches into a dusty, lo-fi indie-punk banger marked by sleigh bells, muddy electric bass, and grounding bass drum as the only things rooting the sky-high dream back down to Earth. Oliphant welcomes the change of scenery, and perhaps the company, musing, “Invite all the ghosts that look inside at me / Open the windows and set them all free.”
Oliphant launched The Color Study in response to the sunset of a 16-year relationship – which makes “Open the Windows” all the more gratifying. Said the musician, “It was an incredibly tough time. I was living in my recording studio while trying to figure out which end was up. I threw myself into making something instead of passing the time doing what I was doing which was not very productive or healthy.”
With “Open The Windows”, Oliphant seems to be taking a deep breath of much-needed fresh air following a period of seclusion – A seclusion not unlike the process of self-recording his first releases as The Color Study, singles “Without” and “Dead Leaves”, both released in 2019. While The Color Study is a solo project, Oliphant is often joined by up to six other members for live performances, including Matt Jackson on bass and Andy Jacobs on drums.
Keep up with The Color Study here: Facebook | Instagram | Website
by Kendal Chandler | Mar 19, 2020 | videos, wolf tracks
Indie all-star group Shasta – comprised of Micayla Grace (Albert Hammon Jr., Bleached), Jennifer Duardo, Jon Sortland (The Sins) and Cecilia Della Perruti (Gothic Tropic, Beck) – recently introduced listeners to their track “Roaming Hearts”. With dreamlike harmonies, and intensely personal lyrics, Shasta takes listeners out of the gloom of winter into the vibrance of spring. Shasta gives off a feeling of timelessness, a sensation of dreaming, and the overall state of feeling alive.
The music video is entrancing, a sense of nostalgia to the way it was shot that makes it feel unique when paired with gorgeous geometric animation. We are big fans of the song, and it’s actually keeping some pep in our step this week!
by meredith schneider + kendal chandler
by Madi Toman | Mar 18, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Katrina Cain, former contestant of NBC’s The Voice, has recently released her latest single “Forgive Me in the Morning”. The track highlights the intensity of conflicting emotions after fighting with someone you love. The song consoles while simultaneously encouraging forgiveness and discovering the meaning behind how you feel. The point is really driven home by the fact that Cain worked on the song with her husband, Andrew McMillian, who produced the track. This one doesn’t hold back, giving a gritty and realistic view to the ever-turning rollercoaster that is love. She manages to knock down the walls that are built over time by past hurt and reminds us of the power of forgiveness.
“Forgive Me in the Morning” is beautifully haunting. A stunning compilation of vocoder and electronic layers settle and then swirl around Cain’s stunning voice, which manages to be both airy and grounding. The song is a twilight hour synth-soaked haven of reflection and forgiveness, and Cain guides listeners through that dimension masterfully.
“Forgive Me in the Morning” is out everywhere now.
