LISTEN: Nick Waterhouse "Sleeping Pills" (2014)

Hear more from Huntington Beach native Nick Waterhorse
at nickwaterhouse.bandcamp.com

Album:
Holly (2014)
Artist: 
Nick Waterhorse
Highlight Tracks: 
Dead Room, This is a Game, Sleeping Pills, Well It's Fine
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West Coast native Nick Waterhouse released his sophomore effort, Holly, on Innovative Leisure earlier this month. Listen to standout track "Sleeping Pills" below and prepare for some intnese surfy soul goodness.

LISTEN: Sugar Candy Mountain "Mystic Hits" (2013)

Album:
Mystic Hits (2013)
Artist:
Sugar Candy Mountain
Highlight Tracks:
Uva Uvam Vivendo Varia Fit, Echopraxia, Knock Me Down
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Sugar Candy Mountain are a psych pop/rock outfit from Oakland, California. Their sound reminds me of a kind of  Flaming Lips (ala Embryonic)/Os Mutantes/Beach Boys/Growlers hybrid. Mystic Hits was released in 2013 and was recorded in both Oakland and São Paulo, Brazil. The title of the record definetly reflects on the astro and supernatural elements of the albums thirteen tracks. There is certain level ethereality to songs like "Saudade Love" that makes Mystic Hits a real treat for fans of psychedelia. Adding to the otherworldly elements of the group, the band name is an obvious reference to George Orwell's Animal Farm, where the term Sugar Candy Mountain was used to reference a heavenly "land beyond the clouds". If a fuzzy, bossa-nova influenced, surf rock-y trip through space sounds intriguing to you, I highly recomend streaming Mystic Hits via the groups Bandcamp (also available below). This record may prove to be ideal for fans of Tame Impala, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and Temples.

WATCH: Andrew Wilding/George Augusto "ANIMA"

Upon doing research for an upcoming piece I plan on writing about LA-based musician Gregory Rogove, I stumbled upon this incredible short film by directors Andrew Wilding and George Augusto. Scored by Rogove and minimalist composer John Adams, ANIMA is an extremely haunting and nostalgic film that plays out in a dream-like sequence. It was released in 2013 and features a track from Rogove's record PIANA (released in 2011 on Knitting Factory Records). The film can be streamed below and more information on Wilding/Augusto can be found on their vimeo.

WATCH: Unlock Art (Series) "Great Double Acts" (feat. The Kills)

Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince ride a tandem bike through (what looks like) the Tate Britain and conduct a series of mini lectures on artists like Marina Abramović and Gilbert & George. Need I say more?:

'Unlock Art' is Tate's new short film series, offering a witty inside track on the world of art.

LISTEN: Allah-Las, "Allah-Las" (2012)

Allah-Las are signed to
Innovative Records (Los Angeles, CA)

Album: Allah-Las (2012)
Artist: Allah-Las
Highlight Tracks: Sacred Sands, Tell Me (What's On Your Mind), Sandy
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LA-based band Allah-Las remind me of the finer things in life: sun, surfing, sand, and a bunch of other things associated with summertime. The garage-rock quartet met one another while working at Amoeba Records in 2008 and have since signed to Innovative Leisure (label mates include Bass Drum of Death, Crystal Antlers, and Tropics). Their sound encompasses all of my personal favorite things: psychedelic guitar riffs, one off instrumental tracks, phasers, and a hell of alotta reverb. Their self titled debut came out in 2012 and can be streamed and purchased on their Bandcamp (stream below).  I'm super happy that I became hip to these guys before June, because I have a feeling it's going to be a long summer on the east coast this time around.

Allah-Las are currently on tour and will play select shows on March 27 in Brooklyn, NY (@ Rough Trade NYC),  April 5 in Phoenix, AZ (@ The Pressroom), and Mecca, CA (@ Desert Daze). Visit allah-las.com for a full list of tour dates! 
 

WATCH: Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks "Strange Color"

We all know Avey Tare as 1/4 of experimental/psychedelic band Animal Collective. Check out the second video from his new side project, Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks, below. 

Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks - Strange Colores (Official Video)

Directed and Edited by Olivia Wyatt 

Enter The Slasher House is out April 7/8th on Domino Records.

LISTEN: Dum Dum Girls, "In The Wake Of You"

Dum Dum Girls released their third LP on Sub Pop Records
in January

Album:
Too True (2014)
Artist: 
Dum Dum Girls
Highlight Tracks: Rimbaud Eyes, In The Wake of You,
Lost Boys and Girls Club, Trouble is My Name
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Sleeping on releases has become a horrible habit that I have developed in the wake of dismissing indie rock from my record rotation. Ooops. With that being said, I have always been a very casual Dum Dum Girls fan; I loved the He Gets Me High EP and thought Only In Dreams was a solid release (I didn't really understand the hype around their debut record, but we won't talk about that.) On January 28, the group released their third full length LP, Too True, on Sub Pop. I always knew that the band had this pseudo Cure-like inspired timbre, but Too True really showcases their ability to transform a classic sound into something incredible. Too True may be the one that takes me from "casual fan" to full on Dum Dum Girls endorser. Take a listen to one of my personal favorites, "In The Wake Of You", below:

Too True is available now via Sub Pop Records.