Electric Sea Spider - The Thief

Yet another solid submission. Ambient/trip-hop inspired dreamlike electronic tunes sent to us directly from the furthest known galaxy. Or maybe Melbourne, Australia? Same thing. Think Lunar Testing Lab with a little more glitch.

- Dan

Download The Thief

BIGCOLOUR - Meshes of the Laughternoon

As you can probably tell, I'm doing my best to catch up on some of the submissions we've been receiving. Honestly, if we were all told this was some long lost pre-Merriweather Animal Collective or Panda Bear record, we'd probably believe it. Even down to the vocals, this sounds like them. A solid beachside EP that will keep you floating even when you aren't in the water.

- Dan

Download Meshes of the Laughternoon (or download it directly from the artist, here)

The Clap - Hepatitis B-sides

We get some pretty terrible submissions from bands and artists that clearly do not understand what we're into. Luckily, Josh of The Clap is a long-time reader of the blog that knows exactly what we're looking for, and we thank him for the submission. The tracks vary from nonchalant West Coast rhythms to reverb-drenched desert jams to much heartier garage-rocks. There's even some southern twang in there. They wouldn't sound out of place opening for Thee Oh Sees, The Strange Boys, or 75% of the bands we post here. They've only been together for about 6 months, but this demo shows quite a bit of promise, and some of this shit is moolah. They have some pretty cool videos on youtube to accompany a few of these tracks that are worth tracking down as well. I'm in love with the album cover btw.

- Dan

Download Hepatitis B-sides

Dth - I Hope I Can Feel Something Like That One Day

Dth is an experimental collage-music solo artist from New Orleans, and he was gracious enough to direct our attention to his free 20-minute digital release. The Books are the most obvious comparison here, but a little heavier on the samples. It's well-constructed and evokes the same sort of contentment. There's some genuinely compelling samples that make this an interesting piece and worth the listen.

- Dan

Download I Hope I Can Feel Something Like That One Day

Boas - s/t

Boas is the solo effort of Tyler Newbold of Richmond, VA. This is some wonderfully produced psych/pop/IDM tunes that will take multiple listens to be fully appreciated. The first track will bring some inevitable Animal Collective comparisons, but those thoughts will disappear the further you get into the record. The album maintains the dreamlike sound that's dominating today's scene without resorting to the lo-fi approach. Put Toro y Moi, Animal Collective, Washed Out, µ-Ziq, and the Greek classical elements in a blender, and you've got the Boas cocktail. Worthy of some end of the year lists.

- Dan

Download Boas (or download it directly from the artist here)

Karen Cooper Complex - Shinjuku Birdwalk

Extremely pleased to find this little treasure in our inbox. Experimental improv post-punk from 1981 out of Richmond, VA. Loose production, sporadic but playful female vocals, some hefty grooves, and plenty of "holy shit" moments. It's a spacious but highly rewarding listen, and I wouldn't be surprised if some label makes an effort to press this on vinyl in the near future. "We Saw Waves" is pretty incredible.

- Dan

Download Shinjuku Birdwalk

Puerto Rico Flowers - 4

Even though it's printed on the back of the record and all over the Internet, I'm still having a difficult time coming to terms with who the sole creator of this incredible little EP is. Puerto Rico Flowers is John Sharkey III, who you may remember as the driving force behind the now defunct Philly band Clockcleaner. Gone are the buzzsaw guitars and smarmy lyrics, replaced by bass and synth heavy post punk in the style of Bauhaus and The Comsat Angels. While stylistically Puerto Rico Flowers could not be any more removed from Sharkey's previous work (even his voice is completely unrecognizable) it has potential to grow into something bigger and better. A new 7" is dropping in a few weeks (It's called "2" ...guess how many songs are on it) so keep your eyes peeled kiddies.

- Steve

Download 4

Graffiti Island - Pet Snake/Demonic Cat 7"

I first heard this band in late 2008, and found myself listening to these two tracks over and over again. There's something about this London threesome's dark and hypnotizing melancholic non-chalant fuck-all garage pop that had me hooked. Their sound can certainly be tiresome, but I love the lyrics to "Demonic Cat", and this is a one-sided 7" with snakeskin pattern on the b-side. I need one. Still some available here.

- Dan

Download Pet Snake/Demonic Cat 7"

Pill Wonder - Jungle/Surf

BUZZ BAND ALERT. This 12" is making the rounds on all the hipster blogs, and you're certainly going to see this one on plenty of end-of-the-year lists (even though the cassette is from '09), but this is definitely a breath of fresh air in this West Coast 60s pop revival explosion extravaganza. It's refreshing to hear harmony, a variety of instruments, and pop sensibility at the forefront rather than buried beneath sixty quadrillion layers of fuzz (even though I'm obviously a sucker for that shit too).

- Dan

Download Jungle Surf

GULL - The Thin King 7" + The Bedouin Lover Demo

First off, if you don't know of this guy yet, I'm likely about to make your day. GULL is the solo effort of Snack Truck/Ultra Dolphins member Nathaniel Rappole. GULL has earned a strong little following here in RVA as a result of playing riverside, as well as outside of record shops/art galleries. Using his left hand for guitar, right hand for drumming, and vocal rambling through a telephone receiver in his skull mask, Rappole managed to create some pretty self-sufficient recordings outside of his live performances, BUT his live performance is largely what makes this so enjoyable and I advise watching the video below before listening. The Thin King 7" contains four tracks that display a number of influences, and has me looking forward to more material from the man. I also included his The Bedouin Lover demo in the download, which I came across at the radio station. Don't know much more about it, but it's got some pretty cool moments. Pick up the 7" at Molsook Records or Insound.

- Dan

Download The Thin King 7" + The Bedouin Lover Demo

Lil Daggers - King Corpse 7"

Jacob of Lil Daggers was kind enough to send over the 4 tracks that will be appearing on their upcoming 7" on Livid Records (that's not the cover above btw). It's the same type of lo-fi psych garage stuff you've grown accustomed to hearing from this blog, but their competent use of organ gives the band a more distinguished sound. This would sound great in your car stereo as your speeding down the highway on your way to the Mexican border with a trunk full of something illegal and the coppers hot on your tale, although I'm sure you'll find other occasions to put this one on. They'll be hitting up NYC this April with acts like Nerve City, Medication, and Wild Yaks. Do it..

- Dan

Download King Corpse 7"