The Pains of Being Pure at Heart #4 - Simple and Sure

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The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have always been one of my go-to artists on my iPod, usually in the gym when looking for some fast-paced, high energy inspiration whilst running. Their 2009 debut and follow-up Belong being exactly that, toe-tapping carefree goodness (the only problems tend to be when you start singing along with people running either side of you).

Kip Berman and gang now return with "Simple and Sure", the first track to be taken from their forthcoming third album Days of Abandon and indie-poppers fear not, you'll be glad to know it's a return full of pure-pop wonder.

The title is perfect too, summing up the tracks intentions immediately, a slice of magical, up-lifting pop heaven with jangly guitars, sprightly drums and perhaps more obvious here, shining keys combining to melodious and delightful results, going straight for the jugular, if "Simple and Sure" doesn't have you dancing all around your room then nothing will.

Days of Abandon is due for release in the US April 22nd with a tour alongside the equally great Fear of Men. I'll update this with a UK release (and hopefully tour dates) when I find them.

Sharon Van Etten #6 - Taking Chances

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I'm not quite sure when Sharon Van Etten stepped up from quietly adored (I remember seeing her perform at a Sunday night show at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen) to universally acclaimed (her next show is at Koko on June 5th - details - some seven times the size). There probably wasn't a singular event that caused it, more likely a slow drip-feed of converts. It was somewhere after 2010's Epic and most likely with 2012's Tramp, both records of great depth which hit the listener heart almost unbearable levels of emotion and heartbreak.

Last week Sharon announced her fourth LP Are We There due May 26th via Jagjaguwar (there's a nice US only deluxe bundle here) and yesterday shared it's first single "Taking Chances"...

The track is both a change and a continuation, the lyrics remain as direct and straight from the heart as ever, Sharon's luxurious voice again connects with places inside you forgot you had but it also introduces a more smoldering, rhythmic melody with echoey, slow motion bass and languid beats forming much of the groove whilst organ and guitar shimmers textures add a veneer of gloss. "Taking "Chances" is a pounding, romantic pop song with a superb vocal, the world's love with Sharon is about to be rekindled.

Young Romance #4 - Break My Heart By Morning

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Young Romance build up to the release of their debut single "Pale" (out next week via Banquet Records) with the stream of the flip side "Break My Heart By Morning". It's a new/old song which deserves it's own moment in the spotlight based purely on the fact that it's an absolute belter...

The track begins with a melodic bass solo before Claire's astonishing, bittersweet vocals fill the air around racing guitar shimmers and driving beats, soon morphing into an urgent, dynamic indie-pop beauty "Break My Heart By Morning" is the sort of track the nation should be waking up to on every radio station. Even in this fucked up world of talentless 'superstars' and manufactured clones it still can be, go and listen below:

Marika Hackman #5 - Deep Green

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Get ready for some more overused coinage here! Marika Hackman returns (well, I'm not sure she was ever actually away) with "Deep Green", the first track taken from her third EP Deaf Heat which is planned for release April 14th via Dirty Hit, a track which may well be (here we go) her finest, most accomplished to date.

Marika is known for combining eerie, choral instrumentation with a soft, haunted vocal and of course that is the case again with "Deep Green", as natural and elegant as its title with a powerful tribal beat forming its heart-beat around electronic nuances and a scatchy, creeping melody. As ever, the result sees otherworldly atmosphere and alluring beauty collide as Marika pulls you into her rich, intense world. It's one that pains you to leave.

The EP is preceded by a small UK tour which kicks off next week (dates).

There's Talk - The Salt

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There's Talk, a trio from San Francisco led by songwriter / vocalist Olivia Lee, might have released this track towards the end of last Summer but it's so bloody lovely that I have to feature it now, upon my late discovery...

"The Salt" is the rare type of slow-burning, introspective beauty that immediately makes you want to grab those next to you and have a long, warming embrace. Amongst the repeated twinkling of piano chords and the most minimal amount of restrained electronic beats is Olivia's softly, haunting vocals, her intimate, emotionally powerful words instantly connect and open up healed wounds.

The track comes backed with a video that's equally impressive with otherworldly visuals only adding to atmosphere and is taken from There's Talk's debut EP Tiny Strands, available now via Bandcamp. I've only listened through once so far but am instantly struck by the closing song, the title track, which weaves similarly melancholic plains with a sparse acoustic melody carrying the fragile, winsome melody to a devastating conclusion. Tissues may be needed.

Fear of Men #9 - Luna

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I was already pretty excited about the forthcoming debut from Brighton's wonderful Fear of Men  (entitled Loom and due for release on April 21st via Kanine Records) but latest taster "Luna" is here to increase that even further....

Following swiftly from the streams of the releases opening tracks "Alta/Waterfall", "Luna" instantly introduces itself as a stronger, illuminating beauty that combines Jessica Weiss' effortlessly melodic voice with soaring, kaleidoscopic guitars, surging drums and throbbing bass patterns. The result, as ever with this band, bedazzles, although after more than a couple of tries deciphering the lyrics I'm still unsure whether I should be swooning "I want you more than this" or running away "I tried my best to destroy you" / "you are unbearable memories"...

"Luna" will also be available via a special edition flexi-zine, that's a flexi disc and 20 page 'zine, release by the ever tasty Art is Hard records on April 7th - pre-order.