Layla #2 - Smokestacks

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On January's introducing Layla post I was talking about 'a collection of gently melancholic tracks full of sweet, sweet charm and exquisite melody that leaves me all tingly inside' and now I feel a little bit silly because the London based singer returns with a "Smokestacks" and it's not really any of those things.

Instead, slowly rising from a sombre piano based intro "Smokestacks" grows with dramatic effects, Layla's powerful lead vocals and strong harmonies to become a full on pop-hit banger that you can expect to here on the radio all summer long. It's taken from her new EP Black Mud which is due on April 28th with a debut London headline show at The Social the very next day to celebrate - details.

Illyin Pipes #2 - Still

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A quick return for Illyin Pipes here after January's introducing post with perhaps the Toronto based project of Jill Harris' finest track yet, their latest single "Still" was released a few back and in short is absolutely bloody gorgeous.

It starts with luscious key tones and skittering beats before we are first introduced to Jill's knock-out vocal, here as smooth and easy on the ear as can be and perhaps hiding the tracks wistful lyrics its beauty before morphing into dazzling 80's style electro-pop with a strong melody and the repeated refrain of "but I still come to you". Heavenly stuff.

"Still" is available to download now on a pay-what-you-like basis from Bandcamp.

Amaya Laucirica - Prettier Than The Sound

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The press release attached that to the email that serves as my discovery to Amaya Laucirica states the tracks I'm talking about today are from the Melbourne based singer/songwriter / band's third album, judging by just how many of my boxes are instantly ticked I'm left wondering quite how I'd never heard of her before.

"Prettier Than The Sound" and "On The Air" are the first two tracks from the aforementioned Sway, the former exactly as described within its title, with jagged guitars and precise percussion leading to a gorgeously light and textured vocal, uplifting and bright amongst shimmering guitars. It's one of the (dare I say it) prettiest jangle-pop tracks I've heard all year. "On The Air" has a little more edge to it, bringing Metric or Blond Redhead to mind with Amaya's sweeping vocals and a strong melody made up of twinkling synths and driving beats. It's the sort of sound made for the UK, gloriously rich full of subtle hints of darkness.

The press release states the Australian release of Sway as April 18th, with the Internet bringing down International borders and such hopefully those outside the country will find the release the same.

Ottilia #3 - Siren

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I've got one hell of a back-log of blogs to post at the moment (which is only going to get worse as I'm away for four days from tomorrow) but my excitement at seeing a new track by Ottilia pop up in my soundcloud stream means the London based Swede jumps straight to the front of the queue.

Her new track "Siren" is the first published online for almost a year but confirms exactly what I said on my original posts, here's a voice and talent sure to 'breakthrough' whenever her moment is right.

"Siren" is as minimal as they come, much likes last years "and then he said" demo and causes goosebumps with little more than Ottilia's woozy, lovelorn voice, the repeated, haunted vocal of "Don't go home with me, I'm a siren" and the lullaby echoes of an acoustic guitar, it's all that is needed to be carried away by this intoxicating, emotive beauty.

Hopefully there's more to follow very, very soon (and live dates too).

September Girls #9 - Sister

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A little later than I planned after spending 24 hours unexpectedly in bed thanks to a lovely bout of sickness (in the same week that I'm running a marathon no less) I return to post about one of this blogs long standing love affairs, I think I've posted about every September Girls single to date so it would be rude to make an exception now...

"Sister" is the latest track to be taken from January's debut Cursing The Sea (out now via Fortuna Pop!) and takes the quintet's reverb-soaked noise-pop to darker streets. Paula's lead vocals are low in the mix perhaps hiding the tracks challenging subject matter amongst a sea of distorted, rumbling bass rhythms and echoey guitars which grow in strength throughout to a concluding climax of raw, gritty brutality far away from the bands garage-pop beginnings and sounds more like something you'd expect to hear from a newly found Joy Division out-take but with sweetly harmonies of course.

September Girls are back in London playing Hoxton Bar & Kitchen on April 18th and are also confirmed for May's Great Escape festival amongst a slew of other dates. You've no excuse not to get your dancing shoes on.

First Aid Kit #6 - My Silver Lining

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It's April 1st already (no fool's joke here) and the great news is First Aid Kit are back, "My Silver Lining" is the first track taken from their forthcoming third album Stay Gold (due June 10th, just in time for a Glasto slot eh?!).

For those of you who have seen the Söderberg sisters live, you'll know there is no escaping their uplifting charm and they've transferred that to their music here, "My Silver Lining" is as optimistic a moment as we've heard from the duo and shines amongst a flourishing orchestra and bright, bold arrangements. The cinematic, made for the road track is as big and romantic a moment as we've heard from the sisters but it's still Klara's delicious lead vocals and incandescent harmonies which I'm drooling over after half a dozen plays already. Welcome back girls, it's been too long (yeah, only about a eighteen months I know).

Early birds can pre-order Stay Gold now in sparkling gold vinyl with the option for a signed print too - direct from the First Aid Kit store.