Silkies #2 - It Hurts to be Sixteen

Facebook / silkies.bandcamp.com

Silkies featured here with their debut track "Like One" back in September, that track later became the lead track to the bands debut release, a three track cassette released via Brighton based indie Heart Throb Records, now the band have treated you - I own it already - to a free download of the bonus track from the tape, a cover of Andrea Carroll's 60's doo-wop song "It Hurts to be Sixteen".

Bursting out of the gates with fast-paced youthful exuberance the track combines the raucous garage-scuzz that defined the duos early recordings with the original's classic girl group vocal harmonies, the result is breathless and instant, get your groove with a click on the download button below.

Oh Odessa - New Music "Introducing"

Facebook / ohodessa.bandcamp.com

I've always been (and will probably be) notoriously slow to processing emails in my inbox, it doesn't really take that long to siphon through the ones which are completely irrelevant to the blog (unroll.me helps too) and then leave yourself with ones that are worth investigating further. This though is where the time consuming bit really starts.

If I listen to ten tracks/acts in full (about the number I'm normally left with) on a daily basis that would take up most of the time I have to write a blog, so naturally some personal filtering has to come into place. Often those acts which you've never heard of before but like the sound of take the longest to process, purely for timing reasons, you want to listen to a record a few times to form a proper opinion on it.

That's basically what happened here, Brooklyn based quartet Oh Odessa came to my attention over a month ago now but I wanted write a considered summation when the time was right and not a rush job. Their self titled debut album (which was actually released as far back as January 2012 and is available to stream and purchase via bandcamp now) is an intoxicating blend of emotionally charged folk-rock and acoustic grace led by Jeni Magana's breathy, gorgeous vocals and beautiful song-writing.

Opener "Tempting Fate" is full of haunting, homely charm with ukulele plucks and fluttering drums roaming free, the next track "Wrong Things" is similarly majestic, soft, delicate and exuding prettiness throughout. "Another Boy" and "Silent Sound" bring together an energetic, well-honed sound and match it with a powerful set of songs that attack you with feeling. The latter especially slow burns with unexpected twists and haunting depth, building around echoey instrumentation and swathes of beautiful, heartbreaking wonder.

I think my favourite track from the record is "What The World Doesn't Know" which reminds me of St Vincent, a rich and mystical tapestry which creep and crawls around your brain. I really like the cover of "Female of the Species" on the bands tumblr too. Thanks inbox.

The Aquadolls - New Music "Introducing"

Facebook / theaquadolls.bandcamp.com

It's Valentines's Day, love is in the air and we are all happy with our loved ones. Or so the card shops and florists would have us believe. Any, ignoring the cynical aspects of commercialism behind I'll concentrate on a band I've been aiming to post about for a while, California's The Aquadolls. They came to my attention on the same Bandcamp session that led to me discovering La Luz, I ordered their We Are Free EP CD that day and it arrived at my house shortly afterwards in the most personalised packaging I've ever received - major brownie points there.

There are so many tracks (with more added on a seemingly weekly basis) that It's hard to know where to start with their music on a little blog posting like this. I'll concentrate on a few of their most recent releases, today came a digital Valentine's Day 7" called First Kiss. The title-track is super sweet, languid drums and guitar shimmers create a dreamy, youthful sound around gorgeous doo-wop choruses, it sounds like falling in love for the first time all over again.

A quick scan through their discography so far finds a host of recordings continuing with the nostalgic day-dreams interlaced with a rough and ready psychedelic garage edge. Most of The Aquadolls' material so far (principally the bedroom made work of Melissa Brooks) are raw demos with fuzzy surf rock melodies and jangly pop hooks singing songs of love old and new. Perhaps best seen on the wonderful "Honey" which is laid-back, warm and just lovely. Then there's the thrashy but sweet "Sinus Infection" or the fleetingly short number "My My Baby" which defines the bands slightly sloppy approach, or you could equally point to the super charged fun-times of "I'm Your Burger Dream Girl", with a title alone that tells you this is a band that don't take themselves too seriously

There's a shed load of merch and digital tracks on the bands bandcamp - so spoil yourself (or your Valentine if you'd rather. If you are a cheapskate - damn you and you can download "First Kiss" (and quite a few other great tracks including another act I've planned for posting very soon) on the 17 track Sincerely California Valentine's Day mix-tape over here.

Haim #4 - Falling

Facebook // haimtheband.com

I often debate the necessity to post about bands that have 'made it' on my little blog, the chances of you discovering Haim here two months after they topped just about every 'tips for 2013' are minimal at best but here I am posting about the Los Angeles trio once more because they've (once again) come up with an absolute killer track...

Brimming with typical Haim confidence and adrenalin "Falling" combines all the attributes that have garnered so much attention so far, anthem like production, funk-laden hooks, gorgeous harmonies and tight rock guitars. Their topping of the BBC sound of 2013 list led me to read quite a few mumblings of dislike aimed at the act, something that was a bit of a surprise to me, I'd somewhat foolishly believed Haim had managed to win over almost all quarters. In my opinion the "back-lash" that followed was little more than playground squabbling - we can't all like the same thing, especially what's become popular after-all.

"Falling" is available now digitally with a 10" vinyl version released on April 1st - pre-order from Rough Trade - unfortunately there are only remixes on the flip-side. Expect UK dates soon.

WALL #2 - Shoestring

Facebook / thisiswall.com

Here's another track that I could probably surmise with one or two words, something like genuinely gorgeous or truly beautiful. I do like to waffle on though, so instead of that we'll add a couple of paragraphs saying pretty much the same thing. WALL return (after the irresistible "Magazine") with the lead track from a forthcoming and similarly titled EP "Shoestring"...

The backing in sparse and delicate throughout with minimal beats and swirling synths easing you into Lyla's intimate, hushed vocals, the result is sweet, blissful and guaranteed to leave you feeling all weak at the knees.

The five track EP Shoestring is released on April 1st via Big Picnic Records with Wall playing her biggest headlining show to date at London's Bush Hall on the 11th of the same month - tickets.

Psalms - New Music "Introducing"

Facebook / psalmsband.com

Fresh from the ashes of Fever Fever come Psalms with a debut track that's bound to garner attention from their former bands rabid fan base and win them new ones too...

Building with strong, commanding presence and confidence from the outset "Low Plane" doesn't really sound like a bands first track, no doubt aided by their past experiences, it builds with layers of artfully constructed noise, snarling and snapping with thumping drum and bass cutting through raw vocals that shrieks and purr in equal measure.

Psalms play what I think may be their debut London show as part of Jen Long's Simply Rad night at the Queen of Hoxton on Feb 27th - details.