May singles

May brings a wild mix of tracks to check out.

Lego Lepricons - Well, I Don't Think So



The glitchy electronic clipping at the start of Well, I Don't Think So doesn't do much for me, but the languid vocals and paced piano come in and set a nice progressive mood. An underlying chaos rises slowly, hinting at a desperate internal tension. The assertive post-rock instrumental section contrasts the tentative beginnings. This little taste of Lego Lepricons makes me want to learn more about the Israeli post rock scene.

My only criticism of Well, I Don't Think So is that it needs a third act to cap it off.

Download the track here.

Melody's Echo Chamber - Crystallized



Cotton fluff is jammed into Crystallized's industrial electronica. Or maybe the factory grew until it invaded the peaceful rural meadows. Either way, Melody's Echo Chamber sets a dreamy indie pop track against a dirty electro beat and waits to see which prevails. The machine wins on technical points, but the dream pop guitars and Melody Prochet's wispy voice never admit defeat.

The Spring Standards - Only Skin (from the dual EPs yellow//gold)



The soft feel of worn cotton, a faint scent of warm baked crust, and the sparkled dust motes of a late summer day pervade Only Skin by The Spring Standards. The simple arrangement stands back to leave room for Heather Robb's sweet voice, but a closer listen reveals the small touches of guitar chime and organ chords. The Simon and Garfunkel harmonies reveal some of the roots behind this beautiful indie folk track.

But the Spring Standards aren't locked into a single style. Contrast Only Skin with the Cars influenced rock of Here We Go. I like a band that can deliver wistful sincerity and then get goofy and punch out a beat.

SoftSpot - The Cleansing Hour

SoftSpot "The Cleansing Hour" from Ryan Dickie on Vimeo.

The opiate haze of The Cleansing Hour breathes to a steady, hypnotic beat. Sarah Kinlaw's dreamy voice floats through the sway of the song, but still retains a core of steel. This has all the hallmarks of thick, psychedelic dream pop that SoftSpot showed on last year's NOUS EP (review). Ryan Dickie's video is artistically effective. Early on, he pairs foreboding visuals with the ethereal groove of the song. The changing flow of imagery captures the dreamlike sense of the track very well.

Little Ruckus - Creep Town (from We Love Evil)



I get a lot of musical referrals, but it's rare that I get this perfect blend of campy fun and off-kilter music. The homemade video opening of Creep Town delivers both. When a song starts out:

(Yeah!) Yeah.
We're in a bite gang
You know, a sandwich eating crew...

Where the hell can it go from there? And did he say "bite gang" or "bike gang"? Does it matter?

About the time they hit the synchronized dance moves behind "Hold up one moment/I need shades on for my weed eye", I've got a handle on the geek rap flow. But then it slides into an Adam Ant style dance-pop chorus and I'm lost again.

Bottom line: I don't know whether this is good, bad, ironic or sincere. I just know that it's amusing and the exact opposite of boring.