Indpendent Music Discoveies, Issue #15

A super-sized edition of our continuing series, with updates on some past inclusions and new independent artist features; recommend your fav indie artists in the comments!

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*UPDATES ON PAST ARTISTS FEATURED!*

Henry's Phonograph (Issue #4) - Psychedelic / Rock - London, UK: Fabulous new track!: "Nervous Wreck"

Bombadil (The Weekend Review) - Folk / Rock Lyrical - North Carolina, USA: A free mp3 from Tarpits and Canyonlands (out now): "Sad Birthday" You can also check out the lovely illustrations from IdiotsBooks for each track on the album!

The Golden Sores (Issue #12) - Drone / Experimental / Noise - Illinois, USA: Live at the Viaduct 7/10/2009 Video!

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Polynya - Indie / Electro / Concrete - North Carolina, USA
Upon reading that Polynya are "known to enjoy Can, Wire, Boards of Canada, Augustus Pablo and Pere Ubu", I knew that I was in for a curious listening experience. I received a lovely silk screen print of their new album's cover image along with Crop Rotation few days ago. Wavering between psychedelic dream-pop and straight-up indie rock, this four-piece group craft an ethereal sort of music that is as delightful to listen to as it is difficult to pigeon-hole into a specific style or meaning; Polynya's sound is fluid, yet focused, indeed often figuratively recalling the band name's original meaning, "an area of open water surrounded by sea ice". Early album highlight "People in Pictures" sways between soft vocals and striking guitar work, while later track "Tidepool", my fav from the album, channels some of that alternatingly sparse / energetic Wire-influenced energy. Crop Rotation is well worth picking up for these tracks and the additional goodies that lie in wait for your ears- available on Amazon and iTunes.

The World Blanket - Indie / Rock / Acoustic - New York / Pennsylvania, USA
Reading the track submission from The World Blanket, "The Old West", described as "an 8½ minute, Krautrock-inspired, honky-tonk-infused call to arms against the War on Drugs from the States" caught my attention. If you take a listen, while a Rolling Stones comparison is apparent, there's that familiar kraut chug injected as well, and the above-average length of the track slips on by without notice amid the gripping instrumentals and snarling sentiment. Their second album, Elevator, which features this track is available for completely free download on No Applause Records, and is one I highly recommend grabbing! If you need any more encouragement, some of their album influences include Syd Barrett's The Madcap Laughs, NEU!'s self-titled, and The Flaming Lips' The Soft Bulletin, and dig this quote from Critical Mass: "'This Old West' is a vulgar, ass-kicking, horn-augmented slab of deep-fried alt.country. It’s the summer — what more could you ask for?"

Casey Desmond - Indie / Pop / Electronica - Massachusetts, USA
Casey Desmond is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter with an alternative edge. She appeared alongside artists like Amy Winehouse and Duffy on the Bad Girls Don't Cry compilation Her EP Chilly Allston is available to stream in full via her MySpace Music page (where she also has The Mighty Boosh in her top friends- bonus points!), in which you can hear the dynamics of her style through 4 strong tracks: title track "Chilly Alliston" shows off her indie-poppier side, "Preacher Man"'s edginess coupled with a polished sound ), my personal favorite "Heavy Heavy Heart"'s sweet, anthemic, and the soft, haunting tones of "Any Wonder".

Sleeping, Dreaming - Japanese Classic Music / Ambient / Electro - Florida, USA
Sleeping, Dreaming is currently a two-man group (Ray Willson and Steven Anan) with a sound that blends in a number of sources, from post-rock, to video game soundtrack/library music elements, to unpredictable experimentation. They've crafted an ambitious and very chill self-titled EP for free download on Bandcamp and Last.fm. "Dreaming" is a key favorite here, with its rainy vibe and surreal, floating atmosphere.

Sabrosa Purr - Indie / J-Pop / Shoegaze - California, USA
That J-Pop label is a red herring...anyhow, Sabrosa Purr are a four-piece Los Angeles group with a new EP out now, Volaras, produced by Tracy Chrisholm (who has done production for the Stone Temple Pilots and Belly). "One Weak Moment" serves to showcase the soft strangeness the band is capable of, while still retaining the grungey bite of the rest of the EP.