Cultus Vibes: Together compilation

I have a Biology final tomorrow that I'm supposed to be studying for. Finals will render this blog mostly desolate this week, but for now I'm procrastinating to tell you about Cultus Vibes! The digital label run by Canada's chillwave kingpin Teen Daze released its first compilation last week, and I still have it on constant rotation. Besides Teen Daze, the (totally free!) comp features ATHID favorites like Ghibli and Des A Boda. I can see almost any of the acts on the consistently great compilation becoming favorites in the future, particularly Slow Magic. Keep an eye on Cultus Vibes, I have a feeling they may be one of few shining lights left in the stagnating chillwave scene. Don't let me fool you into thinking "Together" is a one trick pony however, the last third features ambient post-rock, folk and even a decidedly soft-rock number from Teen Daze side project Little Chords. If this comp can't keep me sane until Christmas break, I'm not sure anything can.

DES A BODA - Neon Retainer

More delicious glitch-pop from Liam Hamilton aka Des A Boda. Neon Retainer doesn't spazz quite as hard as the phenomenal Ponytail, but it still gets the "time to dance" sensors in your brain firing, especially with that rad house piano. If you haven't heard Ponytail yet, check it out along with the rest of the incredible Ukranian Pearl EP on bandcamp. Neon Retainer is part of split EP with Mr. Miyagi's Ghost (who apparently has "nothing on the WWW you can follow), released on 4/20.

Neon Retainer - DES A BODA

Des A Boda - Ponytail

Teen Daze homies Des A Boda's debut EP will be coming out on Cultus Vibe early next month. With only one live show behind them and two songs on their bandcamp, Des A Boda already have me excited. Imagine Crystal Castles trying to rip-off Gobble Gobble armed with only 8 bit synths and a microphone from a cereal box. The vocals didn't sit well with me when they first came in, but once I got past them Ponytail had me smiling wider than any song has in a while.