Has it really been 6 weeks since the last Weekly Roundup?! ACK! Let's get right into the music then, shall we?
-According to their Facebook page, San Cisco is from Freamantle, Australia, and "On the weekends, they love to go skateboarding, play Nintendo 64 and make a bit of indie pop on the side." They had me at "Nintendo 64." This four piece sounds mature beyond their years – they just finished high school – and I think you'll dig their laid-back, summery vibe when you listen to "Golden Revolver." The song feels completely borne of good friends hanging out and having fun, which can't be faked. Also, the lyrics about the moments when you decide to stop being nice to someone who treats you badly provide some subtle depth to the song, making it compelling and relatable.
–Rue Royale is a duo with an elegant song called "Guide to an Escape." It builds from guitar and keyboards and male-female harmonies (from a husband and wife) to a plaintive yearning that is very engrossing. It's just a gorgeous tune all around. The video is equally gorgeous. I dig the cinematography, and the location is really great, the forest fits perfectly. There's a narrative about a boy and a girl, juxtaposing their past and present. Did I mention there were some backwards effects? Great stuff. You can watch the video below or go here to listen. The band's website is here.
–Cat Martino has collaborated with some impressive company, singing on TWD favorite Epic by Sharon Van Etten and the also wonderful Age of Adz by Sufjan Stevens. Sufjan appears on Cat's latest track, "Yr Not Alone," but it would be a mistake to think Cat doesn't deserve her own turn in the spotlight. She has a powerful voice and has crafted a rich soundscape from various instruments, effects, and voices that is definitely worth a listen. I imagine it won't be long before Cat's reputation starts to match those of her recent collaborators. This is the title-track from an LP due out this fall.
And now for the latest from some previously featured artists:
-I am excited about the upcoming release from A.A. Bondy, an album called Believers. It'll be released on September 13th on Fat Possum. You can stream the track "The Heart Is Willing" at NPR. It's a spooky, swampy, driving number, a spiritual cousin to the latest work from Timber Timbre. Check it out.
–The Welcome has another EP out this month, which finds them…er, welcoming some new members to the group, Sarah and Jonah. I think the female vocals provided by Sarah add a nice new dimension to the band's sound. The duet of "Krazy" has some great interplay. This EP finds the Welcome on the more introspective, acoustic side of things. The clever lyrics and overall catchiness of all their work are present. Listen to the track "Supermoon" below and click the links to hear more:
–WATERS has another single out in advance of the September 20th release of Out in the Light and it's another great one. It's called "O Holy Break of Day," and it's a fuzzy, bluesy tune that hits the ear beautifully, just like "For the One" did a few months back. This one is a little grittier and has some guitar bursts of which Neil Young would surely approve. I dig. Get pumped for September, people.
-We'll close with something a little different. Sleepy Vikings have been remixed by electronic artist her space holiday. The song now has a bit more of a moody, melodramatic feel but it remains equally haunting as the original. It's an interesting listen, check it out below.
Sleepy Vikings + her space holiday – "Calm" (Peace & Quiet Mix by her space holiday) by fanaticpro