Friday Feature: White Arrows

It feels surreal to realize when you've seen a band play to a small audience somewhere unexpectedly and the next thing they're supporting some huge indie acts. This happened with LA-based quintet White Arrows. I saw them perform right after our company's band in London. Pretty soon after that they were opening for The Naked and Famous and this December for Santigold.

Usually, the music they play is way more popular in Europe than on the other side, but with them it seems to be the opposite. They can easily be called the American Miike Snow. Their music is full of great electronic pop hooks, and front man Mickey has a voice you can distinguish anywhere. I remember him being a nice guy too, after all he did say my Doors shirt was cool and had Lykke Li on his playlist.

It's interesting to watch the whole band play, they're literally colorful in a psychedelic way. One thing, which stands out though, is the fact that Mickey was born blind, but gained sight when he was 11. His world came alive in a burst of Technicolor light. Perhaps, that works as the base for the band's music.

Friday Feature: Calm Hands

Somehow when I listen to the opening track Ghosts, I start to think of John Secada's hit song Just Another Day, which is such a good thing, because I've been hoping to hear something similar in God knows how many years! You'll probably disagree with me in this one, and you're absolutely right. Or not absolutely, because I swear there's a hint of Just Another Day in it. There's also something Simple Red-ish in the voice too.

Despite all this, one-man- project of Keith Bradford's from Aurora is something completely of its own. For a few years now indie pop/electro has ruled the music scene, but I could say that Calm Hands is the best act representing that genre that I've heard in a long time! His EP Somewhere June is just simply filled with delightful hooks and melodies, whether slightly melancholic or energetic, you'll easily catch yourself from moving your head and feet to the beats. And I bet you get nostalgic of something when you listen to it.

I'm getting notalgic already about hearing this kick-ass EP for the first time. What about you?



thanks to wasfuersohr for recommending

Friday Feature: Reptar

Mix one table spoon of dance with one table spoon of pop. Then add a spoonful of electro. What do you get?

Danceable electro-pop.

No shit, Sherlock.

If you want to take it a bit further, the synonym for the end result would be Reptar.

Not the Rugrats character. Add a lot of rainbow food dyes to get the wanted result.

There you go. Here we have the amazingly delicious musical pie ready to be thrown in your face.

Formed in 2008, this Georgia four-piece has been steadily working their way into the hearts of music lovers. Last year they released EP Oblangle Fizz Y'all, which The Sunday Times claimed as thrillingly good, off-kilter art pop.

Now their debut full-length album Body Faucet, produced by Ben Allen (Animal Collective, Gnarls Barkley, Bombay Bicycle Club) is available on iTunes for you to purchase and enjoy. If your bank account is empty at the moment, have a listen to a few tracks below and make sure to get the album when the next paycheck arrives. Before you pay the bills.




ps. have a look at their crazy website here

Friday Feature: Grimes

Sometimes what seems like a 'meeh' at first, can become a 'I can't believe I almost let this slip out of my hands' craze.

This is what happened with my green overalls. And Grimes.

24-year-old Claire Boucher's music wasn't memorable, when I first heard of it. Yet a couple of months later I ended up checking it from my 'to be listened again' list. I'm very happy I chose to do so, as I've gotten more proof that there's something to rejoice about in today's music scene.

Despite of her age, Grimes has already managed to produce and release three albums (also design the album covers), of which the latest 'Visions' is the most easily accessible. This time focusing on the lyrics, even though making them as vague as possible for people not to realize what they are about, she's succeeded in providing an emotional roller coaster with hard-hitting poppy beats. It makes you press repeat over and over again and try to figure out the mystery behind the angelic baby voice, while jamming to the melodies at the same time.

According to one research, Montreal is the indie city of North America. I believe it now.