New Ghosts

Being listed as a shoegaze(r)-related blog by various sources invariably results in an inbox bulging with artists who have been influenced by music within a three year radius loosely surrounding 1989. This time around, we most definitely have a treat to share for those regular visitors who appreciate our continued penchant for this particular footwear-fixation genre. Chicago, Illinois-based outfit New Ghosts have an EP from 2008, a single on Cloudberry Records and now a debut full-length album, titled Scarecrows Against Reason, that was released earlier this summer through Chicago's Fake Label Records. After listening, what impresses us most is that New Ghosts have the presence of mind not to allow a wall of sound to dictate or cover up basic song structures. Instead, the vocals and percussion are front and center for an unobstructed balance in sound we can easily recommend. For additional information, pay a visit to the New Ghosts website as well as what we consider an under-appreciated New Ghosts MySpace page for more lovely music. Two tracks from the new album Scarecrows Against Reason for you...

MP3: Broken Pieces
MP3: Gravity Causes Confusion

Chariots of Tuna

Today's featured artists have embraced a band name that might not roll off the tongue without thoughts of movie satire or maybe even a distant constellation waiting to be named. However, the music found us with a new favourite we must recommend for listening. Chariots Of Tuna was originally the solo music project of Ben Morss during the late 1990s in Sacramento, California. Fast forward to 2008 and Ben (keyboards, guitar, vocals) had relocated to New York City, performing with a collective known as The Infinite Orchestra along with musicians Dan Davine (drums, guitar), Shawn Setaro (lead guitar) and Rus Wimbish (bass). Together, these seasoned musicians have given new life to the music of Mr. Morss with a new EP titled Fondness Makes The Heart Grow Distant. Think of a sound that exists somewhere between a polished Beach Boys single and an old dusty album from classic label Homestead Records and you will most likely understand why we are so taken with this music. The lead track for a lovely listen?

MP3: War Hero

It's no small wonder that Slumberland Records is front and center on the Chariots Of Tuna MySpace page.We can't imagine it being too distant of a relationship... for long, anyway.

Bliss City East: 5 Questions For Perry Pelonero + New Track

Editor's Note: Perry Pelonero is a Chicago, Illinois-based musician who formed the band Skylight (1990) at a time when an emerging scene, known now as shoegaze, was just starting to gain momentum worldwide. His most recent music project is Bliss City East and Perry was kind enough to answer five questions for the inquiring minds/ears here at MML. Please be sure to have a listen to the brand new track we've made available for preview below and also pay a visit to the related links listed below (way below) for more music and information. Here we go!




[Casey] For the most part, I'd like to ask you a few questions about your latest music project Bliss City East, but have always been interested and wanted to take a moment to find out how it all got started. Could you maybe give a little history for those who might not be so familiar with your music?

[Perry] Ha! Need to try and make this short. Honestly this project started out as a way for me to be able to play live shows. I am in another band, Skylight, that has been around on and off for many years now. Skylight's guitar players live in Boston, so all of us trying to get together to do shows seemed almost impossible. I felt like I needed a lot more then that. So I sat at home with my guitar and started making this music. I was amazed as to how quickly it all came to me. I think at the time I was going through some serious life change. (The Sun is Cold) came out of that. The music to me was bliss. And after sharing it with Skylight's singer Kim we thought, yeah let's do something with this. We tossed names back and forth so many times. Until we settled on bliss.city.east. Bliss for the music. City because I love the city. And East because of my infatuation with Asian culture and the fact that I am from the east coast (NYC).

[C] From what I understand, Bliss City East started out as a solo project for you last year, but has since turned into a full band. Who are the new musicians in the lineup and where did you find them?

[P] Well. This is a long story. Brent from Skylight, who lives in Boston, has been helping me with this on and off. And of course Skylight's singer Kim Welsh has been in the mix from the start. I knew for a fact that I would not sing many songs. I am really enjoying the guitar playing these days. Skylight was looking for a keyboard player and Gail, our now bass player, had contacted me about it. I had a long talk with her about the music and she agreed to come in and do some singing and play keys. It was magic from the start, honestly. To have that combination of two female vocalists was something I really wanted. At that point, I thought it was time to get this together and start to think about live shows. We needed a bass player so she asked somebody who is in Gail's band A.V.P. here in Chicago. (Check A.V.P. out at the bliss MySpace page. ) So she brought in Reuben who now plays guitar! Somewhere down the line, Gail ended up switching from keyboard to bass and vox. Reuben went over to guitar and Kim took on the keys. We have been told it was the best move we could have made! Everybody does the job they are supposed to do. I write the songs. They come play them. It's amazing. Last but not least I recently added Dan Diaz into the mix. Dan is a veteran, no doubt. He has been in many bands and knows what he is doing. He adds so much to bliss.city.east. Just completes the sound. He recently began writing new songs with me so watch out! I feel like things are going to get much better. Now if we can find a drummer to complete this, we will all be happy.

[C] I've read articles about your music describing it as shoegaze-related and have used the general term experimental in my own reviews of BCE. How do you describe your music? Is there any specific formula you follow when developing a song?

[P] Never a formula. I write whatever the hell comes out of my head honestly. Or whatever I happen to be drinking at the time. We do experiment a lot though, so you are correct. We use a lot of disco beats or dance beats. We are huge fans of 70s disco and funk as well, but we always keep the wall of guitar sound. The loud, washed-out guitar will never go away for us. It is how I write all of the songs. We even experiment with keyboard sounds which is something I have never really done. It is seriously funny you asked me this. Because recently I was trying to describe what we are doing. What kind of music is it. It's true that I came from the shoegaze scene in the early 90s. I still love the music and all the new bands coming out of it. A lot of Skylight's music might fit the shoegaze bill a bit better? For me though, its really hard to say. I think I leave it up to the people who like the music and let them decide just what it is that BCE is doing. I have been told that the BCE sound is different and that we are headed in a new direction. It makes me happy to hear this, honestly. I am, of course, very happy to be told we have a shoegaze style or sound. I will always embrace that. Always.



[C] This is a question I've been looking forward to asking you. I've heard it mentioned that there are some connections between yourself and frontman Adam Franklin of legendary 90s band Swervedriver. If this is true, when and how did you meet him? Do you stay in contact with Adam at all these days?

[P] Adam Franklin. Just a really amazing guy. I met Adam during one of Swervedriver's first tours here in the States. I think it was in 1991. It was in Boston at TT the Bear's. This is when Skylight was just starting out actually. They were leaving for Japan not long after that. I was at the bar and somehow met Adam. We were drinking Red Stripe and looking at the translation book the record company gave him. How to say Japanese words. We had a laugh, had a talk and he went to do the show. That was honestly the most amazing show i ever saw them do. I hung off the monitors on the side of the stage while they blew my ears out. I swear that is when I went partially deaf. We kept in touch after that on and off. Mostly via shows and through other people. I spent some time with Swervedriver during the Mezcal Head era as well, in England and the states. The last time I saw Adam until recently was in the late 90s in NYC. After that we did not talk for years until about a year ago, I believe it was. Recently Adam was touring with The Church and his bass player broke his foot. I offered to fill in for him in Chicago. I only had two days to learn the songs after Adam sent me the set list! It was nuts! The night before the show we had a huge thunder storm here and we lost power. I woke up the morning of the show to start learning the songs when I got an email from Adam saying they were all covered. What a relief! The Church's keyboard player was taking it all on! I was never more relieved in my life, honestly. I had been shitting myself at the thought of actually learning all of the songs in time. The night of the show, I thanked the Church's keyboard player for doing it. I was really thankful. I had not seen Adam in years. We had a smoke and a chat and said goodbye. It was really nice to see an old friend.

[C] It seems that many bands have recently been following the trend of keeping their music strictly online using social networking sites and blog exposure instead of performing live or releasing physical copies of their music. Your thoughts on this? Are there any plans for BCE to tour in the near future and can we expect any newly-released music or BCE related projects for the remainder of 2009?

[P] Well things like MySpace have really opened up a new world for musicians, no doubt. The exposure is fantastic for all of us. We can instantly share our music with the people who want to hear it, instead of making cassettes like we used to do and passing them out to everybody. It also really gives a chance for the fans to directly interact with bands. We recently sent a note off to this Foals band who in turn answered it. Its really nice to see that SOME bands actually take a moment to answer questions or messages. The blogs are a hit and miss. I love the music blogs. I appreciate everything they do for bands because its exposure that we would have never gotten years ago. What I always liked most about MML is the fact that you cover the spectrum and always asked if you can include a free download.

Then we have other blogs that are offering artists whole albums for download. Those are the ones that are really pissing me off. This a discussion that Adam and I had recently when we discovered his new album being offered up for free at a blog site. The justification from these guys has always been the same. 9 out of 10 people who download this stuff buy it? I think it's bullshit, honestly. I know some people do. But I have a very hard time believing that 9 out of 10 purchase after they hear it. Of course it's piracy. And I could go on for hours about it. But I won't. :)

As far as live shows and physical copies of music. We have already started playing live shows in Chicago. We are actually playing in St. Louis this weekend with Stella Mora and fellow Chicagoans Panda Riot. From there we will be going on 3 day and 1-2 week stints all over the States. Details are being worked on now for this. This will be followed by a week in the UK and possibly another one week in South Korea. They love BCE and Skylight over there! It's really cool. BCE have a limited edition EP coming out this week. It is a CDR that comes with a sticker and some other cool stuff. This will be followed up by a full release from our record label Cloudragon. They have been really great with us and very patient! They recently released a compilation. It has Skylight on it so check it out!

Related Links

Exclusive MP3: Psychic (BCE 2009)

Previous MML Reviews:

Skylight - March 2008
Skylight - September 2008
Bliss City East - December 2008
Bliss City East - May 2009
Adam Franklin/Swervedriver - May 2007

Band Information:

Bliss City East MySpace
Skylight MySpace
Cloudragon Records

Silence The Foe

As a clear departure from our recent fare of experimental pop and understated indie rock, today's featured artist will serve to bludgeon our regular visitors over the head with an impressive blend of punk, hardcore and all-around raucousness. Silence The Foe is a five piece from Oslo, Norway consisting of musicians Anders Voldrønning (vocals), Marcus Forsgren (guitar, backing vocals), Roland Livar Kjenstad (guitar), Arnbjørn Joar Styrkor Marklund (bass, backing vocals) and Peter Rudolfsen (drums) who formed in 2000 and eventually released a debut full-length album titled Shaking Hallelujah in 2006. After rattling the old windows of our office with this three year old offering for a week, we couldn't help but share at least a few listens. Try this one.

MP3: Privacy Please



The driving sound edges forward without a single clichéd moment in structure or break for unnecessary reflection, with hints of influence heard from The Jesus Lizard or even early Fugazi if we happened to be reaching for distant comparisons. Of course, this is aside from the fact that STF could have easily ended up in the lineup of classic label Amphetamine Reptile Records had they only existed around 20 years ago. Before our gushing reaches ridiculous new heights, another song from the 2006 album Shaking Hallelujah and some information on the current status of the band is well in order.

MP3: I Killed The Last Punk

From what we've gathered, Silence The Foe dissolved shortly after their debut LP but, the original members are still connected and currently kicking around the idea of recording new music. For the latest updates and more listening you can visit the compulsory Silence The Foe MySpace page. Also, for a complete listen and free download of Shaking Hallelujah, as well as earlier music, we suggest the Silence The Foe Bandcamp profile. One last bit of lovely recklessness for you.

MP3: Heaven Have Me

The Phase 4

Burton Upon Trent, UK is home to the duo of musician/illustrator Paul McCaffrey and multi-instrumentalist Martin Carnaby who formed their music project The Phase 4 in 2004. Earlier this year, the band was featured on Compilation 18 from Columbus, Nebraska-based label Series Two Records. Unfortunately, we did not take our cue/email at the time and neglected to post the showcased track from that particular release. Months later, we received a physical copy of a promo CD and finally had a proper listen to what was explained to us as a work in progress that will eventually become The Phase 4 debut album. After giving this promo disc quite a few spins, it became almost impossible to figure out what needed to be tweaked or changed in any way. Instead of bothering with vague comparisons involving mid-60s garage, late-80s twee or early 90s pop from Japan, we will simply give you a listen to the following pair of previews we were especially taken with. Expect a more detailed review once the debut album is released. For now, it might be a good time to start swaying those shoulders and snapping that finger. Nice.

MP3: Lost And Found
MP3: Out Of The Blue

MML: Sunday Feline Frenzy!

However silly it might sound, after a few cocktails on the banks of the Ohio River and some discussion regarding how lovely our own little mini-tigers happen to be, we decided to re-feature random songs about our favourite brand of domesticated flea-bag. Cats, Cats and more Cats. Have fun listening and be sure to follow the links to support these artists. Also, if you have spare change jingling around somewhere in your pockets, contact a local cat shelter and give it to them. Money well spent... Meow!!

Soda Fountain Rag - I Wanna Be Your Cat

Erik Voeks - Finger Painted Cat

Takako Minekawa - Fantastic Cat

The Sheds - Mtn Cat

The Lovekevins - Private Life Of A Cat

Polynya: Crop Rotation

Updates on previously featured artists seem to have become a staple of our existence these days and this time around we have quite the treat to share. Back in January 2008, we originally reviewed Chapel Hill, North Carolina based four piece Polynya and their lovely self-titled debut album. Since that time, musicians Andrea Parthemore (guitar, vocals), Luke Berchowitz (guitar vocals, programming), Pat Johnson (keyboard, drums) and Thom Canova (bass, programming) have written and recorded another brand new full-length release titled Crop Rotation through their very own label Childhood Pet Records. The finished product is an impressive collection of songs that, once again, has our attention captured completely. A first listen from the brand new release is well in order.

MP3: Fan Fiction



With the 11 tracks that make up Crop Rotation, Polynya manages to thread classic psychedelia and a sprinkling of experimental electronic accompaniment into their unique brand of spirited yet measured indie rock. The result is an overwhelmingly solid release in which the instrumentation could seemingly spiral off into a dream state at any given moment if not for the gleaming vocal combination/exchange of Andrea and Luke to guide each song back into vivid focus. From the trippy beginnings of Ribbon Dragons to the searing guitar outbursts throughout Calico and final goodbyes of The Way Out At Last, Polynya delivers a favorite new album for 2009 in Crop Rotation. Another song for you.

MP3: Maul

Additional links:
Polynya MySpace
Polynya Facebook
Polynya ReverbNation

Golau Glau

Golau Glau are UK-based musicians who have made it quite clear that they would like to remain mostly anonymous for the time being. As much as we would usually consider this some sort of PR carrot'n'stick mechanism, the music is outstanding enough to pique our interest and have us scrambling to share the love after a number of listens. A quote from the band, followed by the lovely new track they sent our way:

"We are shy and nervous and we don’t want people to write about who we are as people or what we wear or how far we deviate from the music that has influenced us, just the music and the artwork. We hope you don’t mind that we haven’t written about how we met or what famous bands we like or how old we are or anything."

MP3: Summer Games

Yes... it really is that good. However tempting it might be to sink our teeth into a number of comparisons in the direction of Tom Tom Club or Future Bible Heroes, another expanded blather-fest can be set aside as we bring you the limited information available to us. Three days ago, the band released their debut single Soft Silver Young / Heartland Half Seizure through London, UK-based net-label Odd Box Records (Odd Box MySpace) and it is completely free for download. There is also a Golau Glau blog where you might find additional tidbits of information as well as a handful of other international music sites who were fortunate enough to receive a heads-up on this newly-formed project. A preview from the new single for you. Simply put... we are smitten.

MP3: Soft Silver Young

Starring Me: Parallels

Often times, it seems the artists who send updates on newly released music have perfect timing where sound and climate/season are concerned. Such would be the case for Jacksonville, Florida-based outfit Starring Me who we originally featured with a toasty little indie-rock gem to keep us nice and warm in October 2007. Since that time, members Tara Golden (vocals), Reed Clendenen (bass/vocals) and John Hashtak (guitar/vocals) happen to have located their long-lost drummer Jim Singleton to complete the full lineup once again. After a few brutal re-programming sessions for this reunited percussionist, the band now has a brand new, seven song CD titled Parallels to share that definitely has our summer-ears perked with the sparkling delivery we experienced. The track we've decided to showcase is probably the sweetest near-pop song of the new collection but, impressive as it might be, don't be fooled. There are a number of listening moments with decorative-yet-dark edges and enough meat on the guitar to keep any respectable shoegaze loyalist more than interested. For additional music, both past and present, pay a visit to the Starring Me MySpace page and also be sure to check out the band's side-project Purplespace who we recently made mention of just this past February. Have a first listen to an MML favourite from Parallels...

MP3: Skip The Beginning

**Bonus** From the release "Perfect In The Night" (2005)

MP3: Waves

MML: Sunday Night Cigarette Mix

Not much to report on this beautiful Sunday evening... just winding down the weekend with a handful of songs that all happen to address the particular habit of cigarette smoking while sounding quite well together. Please be sure to light up these lovely songs and also pay a visit the links for the featured artists where you will find plenty of music and information. Smoke 'em if ya got 'em...

The Spires - My Favorite Cigarette

Catholic Gaydar - Cigarettes And Sleeplessness

The Sheds - Do You Have A Marlboro

The Sheds - Between The Moon And Love

Fredrik Ståhl: Universally Personal

Gothenburg, Sweden-based musician Fredrik Ståhl is half of the duo Honeymoon Over! who were first featured here in August 2007. Since that time, we've mentioned Fredrik's full-length solo album Shortcomings & Longshots, a followup to his debut 2006 Start Making Sense EP, and now have another full-length offering to report. Universally Personal was released earlier this month and contains a number of gems that might just find their way into your summer vacation soundtrack. As sleepy-yet-sprightly as pop music can possibly be, Mr. Ståhl maintains a sound we consider perfectly suited for poolside or oceanside consumption on any continent. The entire new release is completely free for download through underground Gothenburg label Frukt Records and is well worth a spin. Have a listen...

MP3: Stoic Calm

The Argument: Everything Depends

Sorting through our email inbox has once again provided us with an update on a previously featured artist we've been hoping to hear more from [November 2008 review + download]. As a follow up to their self-released debut Summer/Winter Nights, the Malmö, Sweden based duo of Marcus and Niklas who make up The Argument have a new EP titled Everything Depends that was just released last week. Additional information plus music for listening can be found on The Argument MySpace page and there is also The Argument blog for some insight. The brand new EP is an effective yet understated collection of acoustic-threaded indie-pop songs that we've been enjoying over the past few days. The best part? You can download, at no cost, all seven songs that belong to Everything Depends by visiting The Argument Bandcamp page. A couple of tracks we were especially smitten with... enjoy.

MP3: Fallen Leaves
MP3: Black Eyed Bunny

Red Kitchen: The Second Person

Revisiting previously featured artists is always a welcomed occasion here at MML and this time we happen to have yet another musician that most certainly deserves an extended listen. Our original exposure to, and subsequent review of the Quebec City, Canada-based music project Red Kitchen took place in April 2008. Since that time, primary songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matt McClure has been busy recording and finalizing 13 tracks for a newly released album titled The Second Person. A first listen for you...

MP3: Still Life From Courtroom

Interestingly enough, all of the songs contained within the new album serve as chronicles of an elderly man and his life as advanced Alzheimer's disease takes hold of his mind. For the lyrics or additional and frequently updated episodes to read, there is a Red Kitchen blog to visit. As for the music, if you've skipped ahead to listen we can hardly blame you. The sound is an impressive balance of crisp acoustic instrumentation, moderately distorted vocals and a warm underlying current of lo-fi accompaniment that manages not to stray too far into either an airtight studio or dank basement. Mr. McClure also inhabits a Red Kitchen MySpace page where you can explore more of the music and find further information. Another preview?

MP3: The Wake Or 110 Days

The Mystery Slides?

As an aside, we occasionally mention some of the unique, amusing and often confusing items we receive when bands send us a physical copy of their music. Everything from expensive glossy press-kits to poems, pins and even a colouring book (don't ask) seem to be fair game. Upon opening the package containing today's CD, a pair of Kodachrome photo slides fell out of the bubble-pack and we were almost certain they had made their way to us by mistake. After contacting Matt, it turns out that the slides are two out of a set of 20 that he would look at every morning while writing the music for The Second Person. We will undoubtedly keep them with our collection of curious treasures from the MML music blog. One final song from the new album...

MP3: The Museum Of Angry Dogs

Foxes!

However belated, we have an update to share on a band that was first mentioned here well over two years ago in December 2006. Since this very long time ago, Kayla Bell (vocals, drums, keyboard) and Adam Bell (guitar, vocals, keyboard) seem to have relocated from Oxford to Brighton, UK and have enlisted the musical accompaniment of Al Grice (bass, keyboard, percussion) as well as Matt Twaites (omnichord, keyboard, guitar, bass) to complete the latest lineup for Foxes! The brand new single, titled Who Killed Rob?, was recently released through CatCutter Records and is an impressive new listen that flirts playfully with nouveau-twee while managing to offer the band's longstanding take on traditional indie rock. The next live performance is set for this Saturday, June 13, at Brighton's West Hill Community Hall. Have a listen to this B-side (if you can call it that) from the new single Who Killed Rob? Lovely.

MP3: Albania

Video: Who Killed Rob? (2009)



*Bonus* From the EP 46a Appleside Drive (2006)
MP3: 6 O'Clock

Opsvik & Jennings: A Dream I Used To Remember

We originally featured the international duo of Norwegian-born Eivind Opsvik and Oklahoma native Aaron Jennings, with their previous album Commuter Anthems, back in March 2007. Since that time, these two New York City transplants have been working on what is now a brand new, full-length release in A Dream I Used To Remember which was just made available through NYC based Loyal Label. In celebration, a record release show will take place Monday, June 15 (9:30pm) at local East Village venue Nublu. For additional listening, information and freely-downloadable music, there is an Opsvik & Jennings website as well as the Opsvik & Jennings MySpace page to visit. It's not often we find ourselves delving into completely instrumental, ambient music but when an acoustic forefront is blended so warmly into an experimental electronic backdrop, the distraction can be beautiful... and A Dream I Used To Remember is just the preoccupation we needed. A preview for you...

MP3: Windswept

*Bonus* From the album Commuter Anthems (Rune Grammofon - 2007)
MP3: The Pendler

*Double Bonus* From the compilation RUFS (Fenêtre Records - 2007)
MP3: Self

Socialist Leisure Party

In an attempt to do some additional catching up, we've returned to our email inbox and found another recent collection of songs from a label of which we are quite fond. The kind folks at Portland, Oregon label Shelflife Records (Shelflife MySpace) have released a brand new EP, titled Tactical Pop! For Coffee Cadets, from the mostly UK-based outfit Socialist Leisure Party. Musicians Andy Hitchcock (vocals, guitar) and Kevin House (bass) have a history with Sarah Records (yes, that Sarah Records) band Action Painting! and are joined by Axel Amicabile (guitar) as well as Julien Kokot (drums) to complete the new music project. Although the band has often been pigeonholed as "post-punk", a vague identifier that always leaves us scratching our heads, the decision was made to ignore sub-sub-genre classification and explain the sound as energetic guitar-pop with enough classic influence to keep even the most jaded of critics from rolling an eye. For additional listening to the impressive new material, we highly recommend a visit to the SLP MySpace. The lovely track we have featured today is actually a bonus 7" single that accompanies the new EP upon purchase. Have a listen.

MP3: Head In The Hay

PS: If you decide to visit the Shelflife Records link we provided above, be sure to also check out Burning Hearts who we featured in December 2008. Amazing band from Finland we tell ya.

Three from Labrador.se!

So we made our way back to the States in one piece and have been unpacking our belongings while sorting through a mountain of emails for the past week. Finally, we are all settled in with an impressive assortment of new music and decided on the perfect way to kick-start our beloved MML blog once again. Plenty of our regular visitors are already familiar with Swedish label Labrador Records, but if you haven't been keeping up with some of the more recent and/or upcoming releases, there are definite treats in store for your ears. All of the artists are based in and around Stockholm, Sweden with each of them having a unique take on pop music that finds us addicted. Enjoy and be sure to offer support for the ones you might just fall in love with.

The Radio Dept.

After two years of delay, The Radio Dept. are set to release their 3rd album Clinging To A Scheme a bit later in 2009 and the single David will be available in just under a month. All you have to do is listen in order to understand how TRD have managed to maintain their popularity over the years. Just plain lovely.

Release: Clinging To A Scheme (LP)
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/officialradiodept
MP3: David

Little Big Adventure

Named after a mid-90s video game, Little Big Adventure offers a playful collection of songs with their brand new debut EP The Hateful Eye. Although the balance of music found within this new release escapes traditional comparisons, the title track might have you thinking heavily in the direction of New Order with just the slightest hint of Black Celebration-era Depeche Mode incorporated for good measure. Have a listen...

Release: The Hateful Eye (EP)
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/littlebigadventure
MP3: The Hateful Eye

The Legends

We originally featured Johan Angergård and his music project The Legends back in November 2008 and the album Over And Over has since been released. The second single from this impressive full-length offering is now available for preview and is probably one of our favourite releases from the past year or so. Try to find a more beautiful example of noise-pop... we challenge you.

Release: Over And Over (LP)
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/heknowsthesun
MP3: Always The Same

MML Vacation Mix: Bliss City East, Embarrassing Fruits, The Wagner Logic, Cabinet Of Natural Curiosities

Your friendly MML curators have taken it upon themselves to scratch enough pocket change/frequent flyer miles together in order to depart from the formerly-evil empire we now call home for a visit with family and friends in and around London, UK. Although our itinerary remains mostly unclear (pubs), we can at least give a heads-up on an evening we have excitedly set aside. Front and center will be our location on May 22 as Miles Hunt takes the stage with his long-time band The Wonder Stuff [Stuffies MySpace] (including the fiddle-tastic accompaniment of Erica Nockalls) at London venue Shepherd's Bush Empire. If you can find us milling around the stage and the exchange rate maintains its current level, expect us to buy you a beer for spotting the out'o'town music bloggers *Disclaimer: Beers may or may not be purchased from this O2-sponsored venue and are limited to one or fewer per stalker*.

For now, we bring you a sampling of impressive bands we have been paying a considerable amount of attention to in recent days away from the computer. Enjoy and know that we will miss you for the next two weeks. B'bye.

Bliss City East

Our friend and long-time shoegaze guru Perry, from Chicago, Illinois, has taken a sound he fashioned back in the early 90s with his band Skylight (who we featured in March and September of 2008) and created a simple yet beautiful new music project in Bliss City East. We originally presented this as a solo undertaking in December 2008, but now Perry (guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, programming, drums, vocals) has enlisted a full band with musicians Reuben Chew (guitars), Gail (bass guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Kim (vocals, keyboards) to complete the lineup. A brand new soon-to-be-titled EP is set for release this summer and there will be a limited tour to coincide starting July 10 at Chicago/Ukrainian Village venue Darkroom. Two new previews for you:

MP3: City Song
MP3: Happy Ending

Embarrassing Fruits

For those somewhat familiar with the history of the Chapel Hill, North Carolina music scene, this particular portion of today's feature will be an easy sound to recognize. In keeping with local tradition and presenting what could easily overshadow any big/new Merge sensation, the trio of Joe Norkus (guitar, vocals), John Neville (drums) and Lee Shaw (bass, vocals) of Embarrassing Fruits have managed to steal our collective ear. The band's debut, full-length album, titled Community/Exploitation, was released through Chapel Hill label Trekky Records just over a month ago and is well worth a few moments or even hours of your time. The next live performance will take place May 15 at local private-membership club Nightlight. If we end up doing a "best of" feature for 2009, you can place a safe bet this album will make the list.

MP3: Corner

The Wagner Logic

The Wagner Logic is a duo consisting of Jeremy Wagner (vocals, guitar) and James Glaves (vocals, guitar, drums) from Kasilof, Alaska. Although we find ourselves exploring various locations around the planet for new music, I am fairly certain this northernmost tip of the states and/or continent is a first for our little MML music blog. The understated guitars swirl responsibly while providing a dream-inducing, yet wonderfully dreary backdrop for whispering vocals that seem to emanate from a dank basement... exactly what we needed today. The track below will most likely be a part of the upcoming, yet-to-be-titled release through Wilderhood Records in the next month or so. To keep up to date with the band and listen to more music, we suggest a visit to The Wagner Logic MySpace page. Great stuff.

MP3: All In Good Time

Cabinet Of Natural Curiosities

As a parting listen, we have one of the sweetest songs in recent memory from Missoula, Montana (and/or Brooklyn New York) musician Jasmine Dreame Wagner. Her music project is Cabinet Of Natural Curiosities and the song featured today belongs to the latest full-length album, titled Searchlight Needles, which was recently released through Missoula label For Arbors For Satellites. The next live performance will take place May 12 at local venue The Laboratory as Jasmine kicks off a string of summer dates that will bring her through the Great Lakes (midwest to us) region and beyond. For a list of tour stops along the way and to get an earful of what has us completely smitten, stop in for a visit to the Cabinet Of Natural Curiosities MySpace page. Yeah, it really is that good.

MP3: Owllullaby

What a way to close up shop for a couple of weeks ah? We will return on or shortly after Memorial Day depending on the whole jetlag/boozelag situation. Much Love from Casey & Michelle xoxo.

Meeting Of Important People

Once again, we have the chance to keep our promise in following up on a previously featured artist with an impressive full-length release that was recently made available. Our original review of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania trio Meeting Of Important People took place in November 2008. Since that time, band members Aaron Bubenheim (bass, vocals), Matt Miller (drums, piano, vocals) and Josh Verbanets (lead vocals, guitar) have been quite the busy bees, completing their self-titled debut offering. In case you are not familiar with today's featured band or have yet to hear this new album, the song structures exist within a respectable tree-lined indie neighborhood, but in that guitar-haunted old corner home which sounds quite a bit different from its surrounding neighbors. Gloomy? Not at all... in fact, you just might find this new MOIP collection of music a perfect soundtrack for the warm change of seasons at hand. The next live performance will take place Thursday, May 7 in Pittsburgh as MOIP is showcased as part of the City Paper Remixed event at local WYEP Community Broadcast Center. Have a listen to the lead track from the debut album and contact them directly for a copy. Great stuff.

MP3: Brittney Lane Don't Care

MML Update: Twiggy Frostbite

Twiggy Frostbite is primarily the trio of Elin Lindfors (vocals), AnnaKarin Berglund (keys) and Emma Sjöberg (bass) from Gävle, Sweden who we first featured in December 2008 with a single from their upcoming debut titled Through Fire. Thanks to the kind folks at Stockholm-based label Despotz Records (Despotz MySpace) we are fortunate enough to have a second single from the recently-released album to share. Although this lovely track just barely times in at over two minutes in duration, contained within is yet again some of the most warm and well-measured pop music we have experienced in quite a while... beautiful, in fact. After a series of live performance dates at the Stockholm theater Dramalabbet earlier this month, Twiggy Frostbite is now preparing for their next engagement which happens to be the well-established event in Småland known as Hultsfred Festival. If you have the chance to attend this music extravaganza, a lucky sausage you are indeed. The second single for your ears...

MP3: Thrown In Two