I love this track! Younger Still‘s brand of shoegaze is an engaging blend of atmospheric droning dream pop, with all the essentials that make this ever-evolving genre so enticing. “Magic” is one of three tracks soon to be featured on their upcoming EP Bear Bones. Check out the rest of the demos here!

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Younger Still | Magic

Do the French produce anything that isn’t electro pop? Probably not.

Quiet Please, the latest self-proclaimed electro-act out of Paris, is as good a specimen as any, but they add in some rockin’ elements to distinguish themselves from a sea of M83 cash-ins. In fact it’s a tad difficult to really classify them as purely electro, pop, or any combination of the two. “Pray for Me” recalls a muted Grizzly Bear to mind, if a muted Grizzly Bear also had more drum machine. The harmonies and guitar on “Pray for Me” are certainly as subtle as the band name suggests, and the track is decidedly mellow with an added sleepy, lullaby quality that manages to be communicated without the sound delving into shoe gaze territory. The light and easy vocals are in English, making it hard to remember that the members are, indeed, French. The single is also the first off the EP to be converted into music video form, made by simply projecting light onto the band members and instruments.

Quiet Please just released their first EP, titled Eyes on the Wall and Fake Hair, which can be streamed on their BandCamp. This is a solid debut effort from a new band for aspiring Francophiles to latch on to.

words by Leah Norod

As the last years’ chillwave/lo-fi/sedative ambient galore finally reaches its overkill tipping point*, heavier genres slowly reemerge to buoyantly slap some outrageous riffs in the face of the lackadaisical listener. The kids never stopped slurring riotous lyrics and racking their guitars. Really… though they did upgrade their tools and experiment quite a bit while you were looking away: aspiring punks and fellow tough cookies, behold SMALL DEATH, the electronic post-punk signature of Brooklyn-based and BRIGHT FUTURE member Artemis Osborn. His first EP, ‘BITE!’, is set to release through Nite Thief Records later this year, and will include this devilish, mind-blowing gem that is “BLACK WIDOW BITE”. Can’t wait for more.

*Just kidding, we still do love ourselves a good chill number over here.

New EP out from DC indie-rockers The Silver Liners. This band has shown some real growth over the past year, elevating their sound to a level of infectious indie-pop that is much needed here in the District. And the guys are playing with Drop Electric and Paperhaus at Rock and Roll Hotel this Friday, March 15 (RSVP + TIX HERE). Enjoy the track “Shine On” (which could easily be played in the party scene of a teen movie, but like a REALLY good teen movie), and listen/buy the EP HERE. Enjoy…

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The Silver Liners | Shine On

Nothing like some fresh synth-tastic jams to ring in the weekend! Fresh out of Toronto comes Coronado‘s latest EP, Remain Calm, with a handful of solid, 80s-inspired pop tunes. As our love for electronic-tinged pop music grows, and the laptop/keyboard combo takes center stage, it has become more intriguing & refreshing to stumble upon a synthpop band with 40 fingers, 4 instruments, and 3 harmonized voice boxes. Check out their single “Heart in a Hand,” a dreamy, uplifting disco ballad.

Finder’s credit: Rachel K

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Coronado | Heart In A Hand

Granted, We Are Trees haven’t released any new material in quite a long while; not a single, a demo, an EP, nothing. It’s not just that they haven’t released any new music, but little has been heard of them whatsoever. Even with the omniscient power of Google to aid me, a rather extensive search yielded few results. Finally, however, after otherwise fruitless efforts, I stumbled upon their Facebook page to find words of encouragement from front man James Nee, “Yes, I am working on new music. I am working on a full length for a new project, for a new label.” Until then, we’ll have to be satisfied with their latest release, “Girlfriend,” which came out in March of 2011.

Tagged under “minimalist” and “bedroom pop” on their bandcamp page, We Are Trees’ sound is not quite what one would expect from such labels. With a production quality on par with professional studios and a full, wide range of sound undeserving of the tag “minimalist,” We Are Trees offers a musical depth far greater than that of your average indie rock/pop. Under the direction of Nee, We Are Trees have crafted their own unique breed of dreamy folk-pop and an identity of their own.

Each and every track on the “Girlfriend’ EP is built around beautiful melodies carried loftily along by Nee’s crooning vocals and wistful lyrics. Opening with “Teenage Heartbreak,” a song capturing just what its name suggests, the song creates an introduction for the theme existing throughout the EP. After an interlude of longing to head out West, with “Colorado,” Nee’s romantic struggles continue expression with “Girlfriend” and “You.” The mini-album concludes with the fitting, “I Don’t Believe in Love.” The strongest, most rock-oriented track on the EP, disbelief in love is shown to be the resolution Nee is eventually drawn to after the prior emotional conflicts brought about by his relationships. Give “Girlfriend” a listen and prepare for some future reincarnation of We Are Trees.