Jodie Goffe #3 - Terrence (Live)

Facebook

On one of my earlier posts about London singer-songwriter Jodie Goffe I labelled her as a candidate for one of my 'ones to watch' features in 2015 or 2016, yet since that post near the end of 2012 I'm not sure I've heard anything from her. It's okay though, Jodie is still only a teenager and time is most definitely on her side. Thankfully for those, like me, who lack patience, that silence appears to be over with a few live dates posted up on her website (all on bloody Wednesday's when I cannot go) and the release of a live video to a new track taking from a forthcoming EP, due later this year...

The track is called "Terrence" and it comes via a lovely video (it seems Jodie has a liking for cold videos) where the light comes from hundreds of candles placed around a garden house (I've no idea what the real name for a massive bird house is!). It sees Jodie standing solitary armed with sparse acoustic plucks and her stunning voice, the result reminds me a bit of Elena Tonra's output before Daughter added percussion and electronics, just a stripped-back haunting vocal that brings goosebumps throughout and re-introduces a sure-fire song-writing talent. I'm not taking back my original comments yet...


Jodie Goffe - Terrence - Live Session from Leo Buckley on Vimeo.

Black Honey #2 - Teenager

Twitter

Black Honey caused a little stir of excitement amongst new music bloggers with their debut track "Sleep Forever" towards the end of June, they return with their second track "Teenager" this week and immediately it is apparent that the stir has become all the more louder.

The identify of the Brighton based band is still hidden but the track is another beauty, as nostalgic and cinematic as the title would indicate with woozy vocals and jangle guitars playing out a vibrant psyche melody which rings around your hard thanks to it's infectious chorus.

Two tracks in and it is not a band start at all...

Tape Waves #7 - Let You Go

Facebook

I've been meaning to catch up with Tape Waves here for a good six weeks but I didn't want just to post something half arsed and I've been ridiculously busy and then recently away lots and even more recently ill, so time slipped even further away. The duo of Kim and Jarod Weldin released their debut album Let You Go late last month via the excellent Bleeding Gold Records and it serves as the finest collection of indie-pop gems that we've seen so far this year.

Opener “Slow Days” lets you know what to expect from the album from the outset, a soft, tranquil combination of lulling drum-machine rhythms, sun-kissed melodies and even prettier vocals. It serves more than that however, the circling guitar rhythm is one of the most hypnotising on the album and the breathy sighs that accompany the track to its conclusion can only fill you with a warming glow.

“All I Can See” is one of the highlights, armed with a faster melody than we’ve previously heard from Tape Waves. it sees chiming guitars race around Kim’s drifting vocal with the next track, the title track equally impressive. Here layers of jangle guitars riffs circle around a precise beat and some wonderfully nostalgic lyrics with the repeated final words of “how can I let you go” sure to embed themselves in your head.

Two tracks re-appear from last years wonderful debut EP, "Ready Now" is utterly beautiful, a breezy melody twinkles with soft percussion and calming vocals and "Wherever I Go", where a surf-pop guitar riff echoes around rat-a-tat percussion and the airy, whispered vocals which blissfully calm and soothe.

I’ll stop the track by track run down now, though I must say I also love the last track “I Can Tell”, more spacious instrumentally with some luscious, cooed backing vocals.

I don’t live near the beach, I doubt I ever will live near the beach, but if I did (or if I was just visiting) then Let You Go is the perfect soundtrack for a laid-back cruise around the seafront, wistfully passing your days with the most sweet, charming collection of pop tracks that never once out stay their welcome. Though, fear not fellow landlocked friends, the album is just as perfect to listen to as you gaze into space lost in pleasant/sad thoughts.

Let You Go is out now via Bleeding GoldRecords. 

Lily & Madeleine #5 - The Wolf Is Free

Facebook / lilandmad.com

More siblings today, Lily & Madeleine return with "The Wolf is Free", the first track taken from their second album Fumes, which was announced yesterday and is due October 27th via Asthmatic Kitty Records.

It sees the pair quickly following last years self-titled debut, a record of simple, restrained instrumentation and beautiful, enchanting voices with a track that immediately expands their palette.

"The Wolf is Free" still, of course, owes much of its charm to the sisters' gorgeous voices, their entwining harmonies haunt long after the track is finished but here there is an added richness and conviction on display, with a luscious, hypnotising guitar and enveloping piano melody hinting that the new record might be a slightly darker shade this time. I'm looking forward to finding out for myself later in the year.

Jagaara #2 - "Marble Arch"

Facebook

Jagaara instantly put themselves on the radar of countless new music bloggers with their debut track "Faultline", an exquisite combination of soft, brooding atmosphere, shimmering guitars and beautifully smooth vocals. Their second demo "Marble Arch" continues that, coming in somewhere between fellow sibling trio Haim's harmony-laden soft-rock and the dream-like sonic textures of Warpaint.

It's a slow-burner that opens with a restrained rhythm section and whispered vocals before swelling with the arrival of crisp Tango in the Night era instrumentation, the combination of the dreamy, repeated bass riff and fiery, emotive guitars sounds just perfect to these ears.

Young Summer - Leave Your Love

Facebook / youngsummermusic.com

I saw Young Summer perform at this years Great Escape festival and I'm honest enough to say the show left me feeling a little empty, the set was vocals and electro drums / laptop and it failed to sparkle as I perhaps hoped prior. There was no doubting the beautiful, silky smooth vocals or the flickering 80's torchlight melodies but without a 'real' band I failed to connect as I perhaps should.

Three months on and in the comfort of my own room I rediscover her with the gorgeous "Leave Your Love", a  bittersweet pop ballad which comes with all the qualities I remember from the show, it soon captures your heart and makes you wish you were swirling around arm in arm at a high school party.

I'm surprised to find I never posted about last years Fever Dream EP, you'll possibly want to get it for the spectacular "Waves That Rolled You Under". Young Summers' debut album Siren is due August 26th.