Dive - Geist

I've been told that Dive are as close to the text book definition of a buzz band in 2012 as humanly possible, and I'm not so sure I can disagree. The first word out of nearly everyone's mouth is "hypnotic", they started as the side project of a band that's already established buzz, and of course they signed to Brooklyn darlings Captured Tracks without an EP to their name. OK now that that's out of the way, I can cut the cynicism. Captured Tracks is a really fantastic label, and Dive totally deserves a spot on their roster (and the chance at the spotlight that comes with it).

If you haven't been convinced by their music so far, Geist might change that. Diverting the "Real Estate channeling Person Pitch" route of their first few singles, Geist uses the same general sound but focuses the psychedelia into a meatier groove. I still have no idea what singer Z Cole Smith is rambling about, but he seems more intent on getting his point across than before. Hypnotic still seems apt, but I'm started to think those first few singles weren't... maybe I was just sleepy.

Geist - Dive
Sometime - Dive

Geist will be released on 7" next month on Captured Tracks.

Beach House - Myth

There's a new Beach House song... which means its safe to say the internet just exploded. "Myth" is the first single from their new album Bloom, to be released later this summer. The percussion feels colder, and the synths are slightly less cloudy than most of Teen Dream, but in general, "Myth" isn't too much of a departure. If the rest of Bloom sounds this good though, no one will be complaining.

Young Man - Fate

Youtube cover star turned original musician (think Indie Justin Bieber?) Colin Caulfield will release his 3rd album as Young Man. Although he's been touring with a full band for over a year now, Young man was always Caulfield's solo venture in the studio. The new album, Vol 1 is Young Man's first full band project and the rhythm section is a welcome addition. On his first two releases moments of bliss floated in and out of focus, but the etheral wanderings tended to drag on past their welcome. Anchoring Caulfield's knack for breezy melodies into a more committed form, Vol 1 may finally realize Young Man's untapped potential. Check out the first single below and keep an eye out for Vol 1, out May 22 on FrenchKiss.

Yellow Ostrich - I am a Marathon Runner

Originally the solo project of Alex Schaaf, Yellow Ostrich might finally get the recognition they deserve. In the last few years, the band has been making big moves, expanding to a trio (that contains one of indie music's finest multi-instrumentalists) and signing to Barsuk Records. Last year the Barsuk re-released their latest album, and 2012 brings their official label debut. "I am a Marathon Runner" is the first single off of that album, "Strange Land" and a huge artistic leap for the band. Easing off the expressive vocal loops that characterized most of his early work, Marathon Runner is the first song I've heard that even comes close to grasping the full scope of Yellow Ostrich's live performances. The song's explosive drums, and surprisingly emotive guitar line betray an uncanny sense of urgency. The theme extends to the surprisingly deep lyrics, and includes the best chorus I've heard so far this year. Strange Lands is out March 4th on Barsuk, and it just shot to the top of my most anticipated albums list.

Marathon Runner by Yellow Ostrich

Porcelain Raft - Unless You Speak From Your Heart

Mauro Remiddi continues to build the hype surrounding his full length debut "Strange Weekend" with the release of his second single. "Unless You Speak from the Heart" follows in the high fidelity footsteps of the album's first single, and unwinds most of the nervous tension. Centering around a bouncing, whimsical synth line, the track is the first Porcelain Raft song that's unabashedly fun. The keys and percussion bring to mind a sugar coated Walk in the Park, but (not unlike that song) the guitar part is the real joy. The soldering iron line breaks through around the half way point and reminds us that we're in outer space, not cloud nine. This is still Porcelain Raft after all!
Porcelain Raft - Unless You Speak From Your Heart by DOJAGSC

Strange Weekend is out January 24th on Secretly Canadian. You can pre-order the album here.

Orca Orca/ Qualms split 7"

Last week, Boston dream-poppers Orca Orca and Qualms released a collaborative split single on the web. Although all three musicians (Orca Orca is a one man affair and Qualms is a duo) played on both songs, the two songs have distinct enough feels to justify being separately credited. The Orca Orca track is another slice of the sort of mellowed out lo-fi pop that was unavoidable about two years ago. Vintage Casio tones, slightly more aggressive guitar work and vocals vaguely similar to Ben Gibbard keep the song distinct. The Qualms track is colder, sparser affair with hypnotic guitars and synth stabs swirling around two part vocals. Orca Orca's vocals fit the second track even better than his own, making me hope such a fruitful collaboration won't be relegated to just one single.

Check Out my original post on Orca Orca, and Qualm's first single below.

TV Girl - Girls Like Me / Sarah (Meet Me in the Sauna)

The sample pop prodigies TV Girl are branching out into the physical world with the first single! Small Plates will release the 7", which features the band's first sample free tracks. The transition didn't seem to affect the duo too much though, because the tracks still have sepia toned, "way too cool" feel to them that used to be called retro. Perfect for those of us still trying to convince ourselves that summer isn't over.

Click here to order Girls Like Me.

Ayshay - WARN U / WARN U Nguzunguzu Megamix

These days, just having a release on Tri-Angle is cause for buzz. Their newest release, a single from New York (via Kuwait) artist Ayshay somehow hasn't received the buzz of its peers. Maybe I just dropped the ball on this one, but even though these songs have been out since July I'm just now hearing them.

Warn U, comprised entirely of Asyshay's ("whatever" in Arabic) layered vocals, will rip any preconceived notion that songs should convey specific feelings to shreds. The end result is pulsing, foreboding, and somber yet somehow comforting. While I'd say I have a larger background knowledge on Islamic culture than the average america, not knowing whether or not what I'm listening to would offend many of my friends only adds to the song's inherent tension.

Also including on the single is the Nguzunguzu remix, which almost effortlessly turns the single into a post-dubstep banger. Any sense of calm is stripped away, leaving one of the scariest dance songs I've ever heard, and I can't stop listening to it.

Ayshay - WARN-U by TriAngleRecords

Ayshay - WARN-U (Nguzunguzu Remix) by TriAngleRecords

The single is currently available exclusively through Bookmat, and will officially be released by the end of the month.

Braids - Peach Wedding

Less than a week ago I posted a new Purity Ring track. Obviously, every new Purity Ring song is an event in itself, but now things are really getting fun. The track will be released on a split 7" with fellow Canadian pop auteurs Braids. I've already ordered my copy from Fat Possum, and if vinyl isn't your thing Kanine is covering the digital release. Peach Wedding was not on Braids' fantastic debut, but you may have heard it before on daytrotter. Head over to Soundcloud and stream the newly recorded 7" version.

Rivka - Skychild

I've said a million times before, but tape label Crash Symbols have impeccable taste. Right after the huge announcement of their first vinyl pressing, they casually dropped a digital single of pure chillwave transcendence.

All the post Tough Alliance influences are there, and no one's really disputing that. However, Rivka aren't of trying to distinguish themselves in influence. Instead, they fly ahead of the pack with their scope. Its easy to spend too much time analyzing a song for influences and its definitely tempting, but ultimately futile in Rivka's case. We've heard blown out vocals and steel drums behind fly-lo beats before, but they've never sounded so panoramic. Maybe its the melody, or maybe its the massive presence of the synth in the mix. Either way Sky Child ends up being the Avatar to counter your warped home videos.

Fruit Flesh - Cater Gator/ Cocaine

I want to call Jake Tobin's psychedelic pop tortured, but I can't help feeling hesitant about it. After all, up to this point Fruit Flesh has always been summer music and nothing attached to the name can really be described "heavy." The newest couple of tracks (a digital single on bad panda) epitomize this tightrope act with wafts of saxophone and twinkling synths on top of choruses like "I can't handle anymore." Listen to the mp3s and don't beat yourself up for feeling confused.

Cater Gator - Fruit Flesh (via bad panda)

Cocaine - Fruit Flesh (via bad panda)

Premier: MPSO - Those Were Different Times (digital single)

Subpop duo Memoryhouse surround themselves with a talented group of muscians. You might recognize their former bass player as Foxes in Fiction, so its about time to round the group out. Below you can hear the debut single from touring drummer Daniel Gray's solo project MPSO (Mount Pleasant Sympathy Orchestra). Falling in similar territory to the most recent Foxes in Fiction release, its tempting to call these two tracks ambient. And while that wouldn't particularly offend Daniel, the label doesn't quite fit. On the A side the drums are too fierce, and the bass is too prominent. "Blue Night" falls into more traditionally ambient territory but I've never been a huge fan of the word at all. Those Were Different Time's false ending, and Blue Night's slow and steady build demand too much attention to fade into the background.

Those Were Different Times - MPSO

Blue Night - MPSO

Daniel is currently working on his debut EP, tentatively titled "Wisdom Teeth" which should be out by the end of the year. The single doesn't have any official art at the moment, but I used my graphic design experience to whip that picture up in approximately 3 hours. If you're digging the single, check out a few demos and keep up with MPSO on tumblr.

Future Islands - Before the Bridge

Yesterday Stereogum premiered the A side to Baltimore new wavers Future Island's new 7". Before the Bridge is even glossier than usual, but Sam Herring's vocals are as harrowing and shaggy as they've ever been. If you're interested, buy the single from Thrill Jockey Records quickly - there's only 750 copies available.

Before the Bridge - Future Islands

Blood Diamonds - Grins

Sheer uplifting beauty from one of the most exciting producers around. If Tron was about high school sports "Grins" would soundtrack the pre-game motivational speech. The backing beat and vocal sample are sufficiently dark, but the synth is that neon blue outline.

Grins - Blood Diamonds

Out soon on 7" from my favorite record label, Transparent

Jaime xx - Far Nearer/ Beat For

The single version of Jaime xx's "Far Nearer" is finally making the blogosphere rounds. The world first heard Far Nearer almost a year ago and at the time I wasn't a huge fan. What I remember being a rambling steel drum exploration does start out that way, but a minute or so in explodes into easily one of the most anthemic dance tracks of the year. The song revolves around the vocal line "I feel better when I have you near me" that serves as a reminder that Jaime xx is just better than everyone else at pitch shifting. If you like what you hear purchase vinyl, mp3s or .wavs from numbers.

Jamie xx - Far Nearer (limited vinyl & download out now - http://farnearer.com) by Numbers

Guards - Hear You Call

Cults associates and fellow 60s rockers, Guards have a new 7" out today on Kitsune records. The record features two previously released songs (Swimming After Dark and Resolution of One) along with this new one, that premiered on pitchfork about a week ago.

Hear You Call - Guards

While you're at it, check out an acoustic cut of Swimming After Dark over at NME and don't forget to buy that vinyl!

Unouomedude - Frequency single

Jacksonville's very own Unouomedude dropped a new digital 7" onto the world today. The single features two distinctly different versions of the song. The A side presents a less hyperactive take on the pop-punk displayed so well on Marsh. Distortion and Wavves like cooing aside, its hazy, carefree and perfect for the Summer (in case you don't live in Florida, its common knowledge that we just skip Spring and get right into it around here). Frequency II is a different beast. The production is hip-hop indebted and those Coos sound less defiant and more disorienting. Frequency II, with its pitch shifted harmonies and nothing short of charming percussion is in the same vein as the wobbly, uneven pop of Purity Ring's Ungirthed, a style I'm hoping to hear more frequently as the year progresses.

Dead Gaze - Somewhere Else 7"

Earlier this week Dead Gaze co-released a new single on the increasingly reputable (and french!) labels La Station Radar and Atelier Ciseaux. On the A Side and second B Side, singer Cole Furlow still sounds sort of like he's drowning, but the normal wall of distortion is significantly dialed back. Synths continue to play a bigger roles in Dead Gaze's music, but I think this is the first time I've heard an acoustic guitar. Furlow's garbled vocals have always been (somewhat inexplicably) emotionally affecting, but these two tracks offer an extra dose of melancholy to replace the peeled back aggression. The first B Side, "ENZ" is a left field ambient track off of Dead Gaze's first release that explores similar emotional territory.

Buy the 7" including digital downloads right here!!

DEAD GAZE - 45rpm by ACLSR