Woman's Hour #3 - To The End

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Woman's Hour announced their return last October in smouldering fashion with the understated "Our Love Has No Rhythm". Since the now London based quartet have been steadily playing live shows around the capital before earlier this week announcing their new single (backed by the aforementioned "Our Love..") To The End (released via Parlour Records on April 8th - pre-order now).

No, not a cover of the marvellous Blur song of the same name (nor the even better duet with Françoise Hardy that was the highlight of the "Country House" single), "To The End" is an unhurried track that's even more liable to be described as luxurious, slow-motion bliss, with vocalist Fiona Burgess' romantic coos and carefully orchestrated electronic nuances guiding restrained percussion it's as beautiful and fragile as anything 2013 has offered us so far.

Tiny Fireflies #2 // Baffin Island - Split Single

Baffin Island (pictured left) - Facebook
Tiny Fireflies (pictured below) - Facebook

Two for one today - how I spoil you. Though I almost missed the email with these gems in altogether - the word vs. in its title completely put me off - it brought instant thoughts of mash-ups and remixes, neither things I am very fond of... The truth though is somewhat simpler, it's simply two acts covering each other.

One of the acts have been covered here before, Chicago duo Tiny Fireflies who appeared as a delicious Valentine's Day offering last year, their dreamy, luscious vein of pop is the sort of thing to cause butterflies in your stomach and the other is a new act to me, Baffin Island. A trans-continental trio named by the mid point of their geographical locations (if you go the long way round) who fill a traditional upbeat, jangle indie-pop sound with multi-instrumented melodies, infinite charm and pure vocals.

Tiny Fireflies add harmonising vocals on their lovely version of "You Make Two Weeks Two Days" where sparse casio-led strokes and drum machine patterns wash you with bitter-sweet memories whereas "Baffin Island" bring instant joy and bright melodies to "So Sad To Say Goodbye" which is so utterly loveable from the outset of sweet vocals, shuffling percussion and swirling keys.

You can download the Across Oceans split single for free via the ever reliable EardrumsPop label. It should be more than enough to whet your appetite and luckily for you (and me) both acts also have a previous (and similarly free) EP's out by the same label (Tiny Fireflies // Baffin Island) - they're wonderful so go and fill your boots.

The Beautiful Word - New Music "Introducing"

Facebook / thebeautifulword.co.uk

I must be going soft in my old age, progressing from the dark, moody miserabilist of my youth to increasingly beautiful and bright music now I'm a veteran (over 30). This band even come with a pre-warning of their soft and happy being in their name, Brighton quintet The Beautiful Word sound as gorgeous as their name indicates with entwined vocals of songwriters Emily and Megan beautifully floating around delicate, restrained folk-pop instrumentation.

Latest single "May Not Be Love" perfectly sums that up, with gorgeous melodies and harmonies it's easy on the ears and should melt even the sternest of hearts with sweetly sung vocals that will stick in your head and make you smile all day long. Earlier "Emily" similarly glistens with light, infectious ease, a chiming music box of unapproachable beauty as pretty-as-a-flower lyrics guide fluttering drum beats and wondering bass grooves. Lovely indeed.

Download for free via the soundcloud links below with live dates in London and local Sussex venues on their website.

The Tuts #2 - Tut Tut Tut

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The good folk at bandcamp have created a lovely new feature called 'fan pages' (here's mine by the way) where you can follow bands you like and also people too. Then when new releases drop by your artists (or your 'friends' buy something) you get a daily digest email telling you, it's almost the perfect quality control filter.

It's by this method that I found the new single by The Tuts, the Uxbridge based trio I discovered here last Summer with a (now verified) kick-ass live show and a exhilarating spunky pop sound that is guaranteed to brighten up your day with breathless energy and infectious enthusiasm.

Just like "I Call You Up" the girls latest track "Tut Tut Tut" is short and sharp, fun and frenetic with its mixture of upbeat sing-a-long melodies, crashing percussion and fuzzed-up guitar riffs. There's no time to rest here, the two and a half minute duration of "Tut Tut Tut" should be spent dancing around your room...

Download the single from Bandcamp now.

Cave Ghosts - New Music "Introducing"

Facebook / caveghosts.tumblr.com

I came across Cave Ghosts when I posted about the Hunk! cassette back at the end of November as the bands vocalist Jen Connell added her gorgeous, dreamy vocals to the fellow Dublin bands release. I posted links in my draft folder to remind me to download the bands EP and make this post shortly after. I forgot. Today though I came across the post and the rest, as they say, is history...

I belatedly re-discover an EP of sweet, summery sounds that would have raised a few smiles over the cold, winter months, a three track demo EP (available to download free via Cave Ghost's Bandcamp) of overwhelming, swoonsome beauty. Opener "Hideway" the perfect example with its sumptuous cocktail of vintage sounds, uke-strumming and drum popping. I can't help but make similarities between the romantic vibe of Tennis' first LP, that's no bad thing to me.

Throughout Cave Ghosts show an effortless way with melody and knack of creating well-crafted pop tracks that are made to be enjoyed. Jen's vocals on the similarly irresistible "When You Go Away" float above bright, poppy instrumentation and on "La Concha" there's a warm, sun-drenched fuzz-pop sound with slaphazard drums and reverb-a-plenty. All in all, it's rather ace. Download the EP now before you forget about it...

Miniatures - New Music "Introducing"

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Miniatures released their debut EP almost a year ago now but the New Zealand duo have recently expanded to a quartet and according to this site are ready to tour and release some new material which should come as good news if like me you've just discovered the band...

That debut (available to download for free via Bandcamp) introduces a signature shoegaze sound that bristles with excitement and beauty throughout. "Midwinter (Air)" whilst undoubtedly rough-around the edges gets your adrenaline pumping with an urgent rush of deliciously fuzzed-up guitar brutally soaring over hazy, shimmering melody, relentless drum beats and echoed vocals while "Glass Box", softer and dreamy meanders with gorgeous layers, the perfect juxtaposition of fuzzy carnage and cooing, drifting bliss.

"Things Better" and "Time Is" are both raw and in perhaps in need of some studio time but are both exhilarating and irresistible with screeching guitar dissonance weaving around popping melodies. It's free, go and grab it now then join the queue of people waiting for more...