CINDERELLA SIZZLE by Rainbow Gun Show

You wouldn't know from listening to Rainbow Gun Show's debut 7" that the project started out as a bedroom synth project (even though that seems to be the norm these days), but in this case the dreamy synth vibes from your stereotypical bedroom project are nonexistent.  HoZac Records is responsible for releasing this debut 7" this month

HERE SHE COMES by Ghost Wave

Ghost Wave are a four-piece out of Auckland, New Zealand that hit me right smack in the indie pop bliss sweet spot back in 2011 with their track 'Hippy' off their self-titled debut EP release from Arch Hill Records. They just finished a successful jaunt over at SXSW, which I'm sure featured new material on their forthcoming debut LP release for Ages this year.  In the meantime, you can check out a version of one of

[on repeat] A SECOND SKIN by Girls Names

Ireland's Girls Names have taken the jangle from their early EPs and 2011 debut LP, Dead To Me, and placed it behind a dark, ethereal, 80's post punk haze for their sophomore LP release. The record is called The New Life and was released domestically by Slumberland Records on March 12. Their previous releases held a dark tone in the baritone vocal delivery of singer/songwriter/creative force Cathal Cully but

[on repeat] SWEET HELICOPTER by Thee Oh Sees

Another year, another release from San Francisco's Thee Oh Sees.  There really isn't much else to say about John Dwyer and crew with the countless releases (35?) and LPs (12?) over the past decade, and not to mention Dwyer's extensive stint in the music scene well before Thee Oh Sees saw the light of day.  Their new LP, Floating Coffin, is out on Dwyer's

TANGLED HAIR by Wild Smiles

Wild Smiles are a band out of Southhamption that released a double-A sided 7" on March 11 from Portishead's Geoff Barrow's UK label Invada Records. The 7" for 'Tangled Hair' and 'Sweet Sixteen' follows last year's debut EP and continues the stoner-fuzz garage pop vibe that contains elements of some sweet indie surf pop while also entering into

LIFE ON A GRID by Useless Eaters

Seth Hutton and the band he has put together for Useless Eaters have hit the road to promote the fantastic LP, Hypertension, released on February 19 from Jeffrey Drag Records (buy) and featured here as an 'on repeat' selection in the end of January. The band just finished up at SXSW and are making their way to Los Angeles on March 21 at

[on repeat] REFLECTING THE LIGHT by Black Bug

I spoke about Black Bug back in 2011 when the Swedish duo released its 7" for 'Police Helicopter' from HoZac Records (2nd pressing available here).  After a few other singles from a handful of other labels, we have their debut LP release for Reflecting The Light from HoZac.  All the words I used to describe their sound back in 2011 still ring true and on the LP

L'APPEL DU VIDE by Spectral Park

Spectral Park is the project of multi-instrumentalist Luke Donovan out of Southhampton, England.  His debut self-titled LP was released from Mexican Summer on January 29 after promising song releases last year.  His solo project started out innocently and leisurely enough while coming up on a box of old, worn records, but the resulting frazzled, widly frantic

[on repeat] WHITE CROSSES by Population

HoZac Records has unveiled yet another gem lurking in the Chicago music scene in Population, a 5-piece that harken back to the glory days of post-punk/goth and all of its dark and glorious furiousity.  The upcoming release of the White Crosses EP marks the band's first on HoZac after their demo and self-titled EP on BLVD Records that is now sold out.  Population make no qualms about wearing their influences on

GIMME AWAY by Thee Open Sex

Thee Open Sex are a 5-piece out of Bloomington, Indiana that just released their debut self-titled LP from Magnetic South Recordings. The band shares members with Apache Dropout, and the LP includes seven songs that travel from ramshackle punk, to psychedelic rock, and all the way over to western flavored punk...with each song carrying its on weight in wailing

[on repeat] BEDSIT INFAMIES by Adult Books

Adult Books are a three-piece LA/OC outfit that has successfully (and not surprisingly) completely sold out of their debut 6-track self-titled cassette release.  At this point, if you didn't get a copy of one you will have to settle for mp3s of this old school, new-wavish style of punk pop that will take every ounce of your energy to get out of your head long after you've

VISCOUNT DISCOUNT by Sauna Youth

Sauna Youth are a quartet out of London and Brighton that released their debut LP, Dreamlands, September 3 last year on Faux Discx and Gringo Records. The band have joined forces with the two labels after self-releasing a number of 7"s, splits, and cassettes. The boys are a punk band, make no qualms about it, but don't expect the angry, political brand of

MERCURIAL by Schonwald

Schonwald are an Italian duo signed to HoZac Records that will be unleashing their dark, hypnotic synth sounds to the world via their US debut 7" scheduled to be released on 3/26 (buy here soon). The release features two tracks, 'Mercurial' and 'Gemini' and both tunes are terrifying interstellar journeys into the electronic abyss with pulsing, sinister 80's synth/goth

PICTURES OF HER DEMISE by The Paperhead

Nashville psych wunderkinds The Paperhead recorded and released their psychedelic 2011 self-titled debut LP nugget on Trouble In Mind Records before all three 18 year old band members left for college. It's a layered and orchestrated psych LP full of sitar and farfisa and channels their Syd Barrett and post LSD Beatles influences on their sleeves. The

[on repeat] STUDIO OF MY MIND by Ooga Boogas

There's yet another awesome Australian band made up of a bunch of members from other bands. This time it's Melbourne's Ooga Boogas who are led by Mikey Young from Eddy Current Suppression Ring and claim members from The Sailors and The Onyas. Their self-titled LP has just been released last week from Aarght! Records and it's their long