Minus the Bear – ‘Invisible‘
It’s been far too long since we heard from Minus the Bear and ‘Invisible’ marks their welcome return. The first track to be aired from their new album ‘VOIDS’ (out in March via Suicide Squeeze Records), it’s an addictive slice of pop hooks and mathy riffs as the band sing about how ‘you’re not invisible’. There are stop-start moments and a danceable, almost Foals-like climax.
Eyelids – ‘Slow It Goes‘
A band from Portland who have toured with The Charlatans and whose next album will be produced by none other than R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, Eyelids specialise in a very classic and melodic form of songwriting. The members of the band previously played with indie legends including Elliott Smith, Stephen Malkmus and Guided By Voices’ Robert Pollard and these guitar-led influences shine through on ‘Slow It Goes’ – a song that combines The Smiths’ janglier moments with a blast of Cribs-esque attitude.
Slowdive – ‘Star Roving‘
Shoegaze legends Slowdive have returned with their first new material in 22 (!) years and ‘Star Roving’ will make you feel like they’ve never been away. Full of atmosphere and layers, the song gradually builds up over the course of its five and a half minutes before progressing into a soothing finish that will leave you mesmerised. It hints at great things to come on their new album and at their Field Day headline performance.
Pete Silberman – ‘New York‘
The Antlers’ ‘Hospice’ is one of our most loved albums of all time (the follow-ups were equally compelling) and now in that much-missed band’s frontman Pete Silberman’s debut solo outing, he continues to display that deeply affecting and poignant sound that leaves you with goosebumps in places you never knew existed. The forthcoming EP ‘Impermanence’ is inspired by Pete’s experience with a hearing impairment that meant he had to leave Brooklyn for somewhere altogether more secluded upstate, and ‘New York’ is a very sparse (and perhaps Sparklehorse-like) song which is subtly emotional and has delicate guitar lines. The video, made from public domain footage being spliced together by Silberman himself, is equally profound.
Liam Paton – ‘Walk Towards the Fireworks‘
Anyone that lists the likes of Olfur Arnalds, Max Richter and Sebastien Tellier in an email to us is worth a listen and Liam Paton does not disappoint. Making use of his experience writing for the screen and stage, ‘Walk Towards the Fireworks’ is a piano-led instrumental piece that surprisingly clocks in at under three minutes. Around the halfway point, strings are added to that bring some lightness as it threatens to delve into intensity.
Filed under: New music, Preview Tagged: alternative music, bands, Eyelids, Liam Paton, Minus The Bear, new bands, new music, orchestral music, Oregon, Pete Silberman, rock music, Slowdive, soundcloud, The Antlers, YouTube
