Browsing Tag

Indie Surf Rock

Ride the indie surf rock waves in Louis Janus Thomas’ latest single, Auspicious Momentum

Posted on 14 June 2023

The North Wales-hailing one-man powerhouse of indie surf rock innovation, Louis Janus Thomas, has made a riptide-roaring return to the airwaves after his 2020 EP with his frenetically clever single, Auspicious Momentum.

With the vox and tinges of the melodic work throwing us back to the glory days of Razorlight and the heat of the Cali surf energy emanating the same zany appeal as Heavy Salad, Auspicious Momentum stands as a testament to how much Louis Janus Thomas has refined his sound since he last rode the crux of the airwaves. It’s only a matter of time before he’s on the A-lists of BBC Radio 6 DJs. The single can easily be read as one of the most innovative evolutions from the garagey indie sound pioneered by the Strokes.

Auspicious Momentum was officially released on June 2nd; check it out on Spotify and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chris Cosmo sings the ‘Oblivion Blues’ in his kaleidoscopically melodic alt-indie debut single

Posted on 13 January 2023

Asbury Park, NJ-hailing solo artist Chris Cosmo set the bar for 2023 debut singles transcendentally high with his single, Oblivion Blues. In contrast to the titular melancholy, the alt-indie pop earworm unravels with dreamy, colourful accord spilling from the jangle pop guitars and vocal harmonies reminiscent of his main influence, the Beatles. Don’t worry; you’ve never walked down the yellow brick road in quite the same way as Oblivion Blues pushes you through. Lyrically, the single takes the opportunity to ponder the mechanics of doubt and its tendency to lead us away from our true paths.

Staying true to his motivation to drive infectious melodies and thoughtful lyrics into his music, Cosmo leaves stardust in the soul when he’s had his melodic way with you. With just enough of a contemporary kick behind the 60s psych-pop tones, you’ll be on a sonic plateau before the kaleidoscopic chorus runs through.

After falling head over heels for music at a young age, which left him inseparable from his guitar, he formed bands through his teenage years before his passion became an obsession following the disillusionment that ensued after graduating college. We can wholly relate, which goes a fair way in explaining the sticky-sweet resonance in Oblivion Blues.

Oblivion Blues will be available to stream from January 13th. Catch it on Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Surfs Up in DM Street’s 60s Pop Rock Sonic Serotonin Supply, Taxi Ride

Posted on 5 January 2023

Providing a soundtrack you will want to twist and jive to, the first single, Taxi Ride, from the forthcoming LP Summer Songs for the Mustard Ear, from the 60s-inspired indie artist DM Street is a surf-rock-meets-psych-pop dream.

No fans of the Beach Boys, The Kinks, The Monkees and The Beatles will be immune to the disarming charm of Taxi Ride, which comes with an optimal pinch of roguish tongue-in-cheek swagger around the serious talent that contorted the colourful sun-soaked melodies.

If you’ve had your fill of ego and pretence-driven rock, Taki Ride will all too gladly transport you to a more altruistic aural destination; with this hit on your playlists, your uber trips will never be the same again.

Taxi Ride is available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Runner and Bobby has released his surfy and psych-tinged indie release, For Marcy

Posted on 21 April 2022

‘For Marcy’ is the latest sweet, surfy, and psych-tinged indie single from the Chicago hailing independent artist Runner and Bobby. The choral and blissfully sun-bleached single allows you to imagine what Pavement would have sounded like if they amped up the dreamy melodicism in their sound and met Velvet Revolver halfway.

After a mellow tape-saturated intro, the 100% DIY artist breezes in with his bright yet tinged with artistic and romantic existentialism vocal timbre. Butter wouldn’t melt on his harmonies against the uplifting chord progressions that carry you through the affectionally unforgettable release.

For Marcy is now available to stream via YouTube

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The trashy surf-punk powerhouse Astrokraut have launched their latest album, Trash Attack.

Posted on 25 January 2022

Any staunch Krautrock fans will definitely want to roll with the progressive punches in the latest album, Trash Attack, from the Germany-hailing garage/surf/punk powerhouse, Astrokraut.

With tauntingly ethereal female vocals that sit between Blondie and the B-52s and the frenetic furore in the complex time signatures in the guitars in the standout single, Invasion, you couldn’t ask for a better introduction to the outfit that formed in 2010 under the influence of Heavy Sabbath 70s sounds. If only more bands made that transition from assimilation to innovation.

A sense of chaos lends itself to plenty more than just the sonic textures in Invasion. It is practically a trashy surfy adaption of Fear and Loathing – and we couldn’t rate Astrokraut more for their fearless commitment to throwing themselves into their creativity completely. There’s no sense of pretence to be found here.

Astrokraut’s latest album, Trash Attack, is now available to stream in full via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

La Palma drop a ‘delightful mix of dreamy old-school’ with Nostomania

Posted on 4 April 2021

While many of us over the last twelve months have either been burrowed down and tucked quietly away or fighting the desperate urge to flee our houses and go somewhere – anywhere – else for a while, nostomania’ is an intense homesickness, an irresistible, almost pathological compulsion to return home. There’s a beautiful, folky melancholy yearning to the references to California, underpinned by some rolling, resonator guitar-style picking and soft, delicate vocals. The track has an old-school, 1970’s California hippie vibe, something that would be utterly at home in the ‘commune’ section of the Easy Rider soundtrack or sitting on a playlist between Big Brother and the Holding Company and the Fraternity of Man. It’s evocative of a time and a feel, but also of dust and sunshine and a nostalgia and pining which seems perfectly suited to the current Covid-19 rootlessness and ennui.

La Palma released their self-titled debut album in 2019; ‘Nostomania’ is taken from their forthcoming follow-up, ‘Moonflower’, a delightful mix of dreamy old-school indie-folk, psych-pop, and dashes of 1960’s stoner and surf-rock. It’s submersive, expressive, and uplifting; a perfect sunlit antidote to lockdown, locked-up blues.

‘Moonflower’ is released on the 1st April. You can check out La Palma on Facebook and via their website.

Review by Alex Holmes

Finding the one: Grant Nesmith only has ‘Dreams Of The Coast’ on soul-filling new indie-rock single

Posted on 13 February 2021

Grant Nesmith has just finished waxing his latest 11-track album called ‘Dreams Of The Coast‘, and enters the ocean of our minds with the lead single of the same name, that makes you feel happy and mellow inside your deepest soul.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina-based indie surf-rock solo singer-songwriter Grant Nesmith, brings his wildest dreams to our welcoming reality, with a sun-kissed track that rides the barrel inside that hollow wave and comes out smiling from ear to ear. He makes that easygoing type of acoustic music that your whole family loves, as he sings with such smooth energy that transmits only peace and love into our lives.

This is the story about catching that wave that you have been imagining all week long. Its about the time spent in the ocean as you drift into natures beauty, respecting it all and chasing that perfect ten that is ever-elusive. Looking for the once is a life-long pursuit, that you only understand when its you and the ocean, face to face.

‘Dreams Of The Coast‘ from the mellow Myrtle Beach, USA singer-songwriter Grant Nesmith, is the perfect tonic to those missing the ocean or needing inspiration again after a dark and gloomy year. He sings with that genuine joy in his voice and you can tell that he performs with only true intentions in place.

Daydreaming about your purest passions and joys within, is the only way to truly be happy. Actually putting them into action and doing what you love, is the next step to ultimately fulfilling those passions to levels that you can’t even fathom yet, until you actually do them.

Stream this wave-crashing track on Spotify and see more surf vibes on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Bones & Bukenya – SHE: Restoratively Oceanic Alt Indie Folk

Posted on 25 September 2020
Bones & Bukenya

Bones & Bukenya are set to drop their stunningly masterful Alt-Indie Folk Pop single “SHE” on September 25th.

Transfixingly hypnotic Hawaiian surf rhythms introduce the track and bring the catharsis, when you find yourself in the midst of the harmonically timeless production, you’ll also find that you’re consumed by the restoratively oceanic single which stands as a testament to Bones & Bukenya’s authenticity.

Even sweeter than the stylistically soulful vibes that they were able to orchestrate through pairing their dual vocals with the mellifluous instrumentals are the lyrics which pay ode to women who know their value and shine with the confidence they exude.

Despite the quiescent tranquil air to SHE, it’s an incredibly powerful record that you’ll definitely want to give repeat attention.

You can check out SHE via the artist’s official Facebook page from the date of release

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Surf Rock Meets Indie in the Trailblazing Latest Single from BOOTlace

Posted on 23 March 2020
https://soundcloud.com/user-180014624/wonderland-demo

I’m no stranger to filthy basslines, but the growling licks in the latest single “Wonderland” from Alt Indie trailblazers BOOTlace were even enough to make someone as aurally-smut-jaded as me feel unclean.

Paired with the tonal evolutions of the guitars which seamlessly switch from soaring Surf Rock-inspired solos to accessibly rhythmic indie Post-Punk progressions, there’s plenty to grab you by the scruff of the neck as Wonderland unfolds. With the vocals being more accordant than your average Indie Rock vocals, distinction drips from Wonderland.

For you to understand how excited I am about this track, you’ll first have to understand how many times I’ve rolled my eyes at each up and coming artist who surfaces with the tried and tested Jangle Pop indie monotonous sound. Get them on your radar, they’re firmly fixed on ours. It’s only a matter of time before their ingenuity is as embraced as it deserves to be.

You can check out the latest single from BOOTlace for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast