Title: Water in The Flowing River
Artist: Secret Meadow
Label: Self-released, 2016

This is probably the most beautiful song beside Stephen Shore's Ocean Blue I've heard this year. Not trying to exaggerate it, but this Indonesian pop band is really cool. This single makes me wonder about the upcoming album they are working right now.

This song is mixed and mastered by Ganesha, the guy behind The Silent Love, another great pop band from my country. If you ever heard The Silent Love, it is not so hard to track down Ganesha's signature in this song. However, it doesn't mean that Secret Meadow has no their own style because they do. I really enjoy the melancholy and sweet melody along the energetic bass line and drum beat. So enjoyable. Check it out. It is free, if you want it in your own disk.

Title: Ocean Blue
Artist: Stephen's Sore
Label: Self-released, 2016

I think, this is one of the greatest Swedish pop act I have ever found. All four songs in this record are really my cup of tea. Sweet jangly pop songs never fail, you know. I have been listening on repeat each songs because they're all worth my ears.

Salute to the production team too. This album is well managed, from sound design to album artwork. Whoever you are Stephen, your shore is my current favorite place to enjoy life.

Title: Ray / Speaking from A Distance
Artist: The BV's
Label: Self-released, 2016

I don't know who they are, but for sure they are from Falmouth, UK. They don't put any information like other bands do. Just simply throw two C86-alike pop songs. Sweet. Simple. Short.

This EP is a gem. They deserve more attention. Also they have to make other songs after Ray and Speaking From a Distance. Because these two tracks drive The BV's to my band-to-watch list.

Title: Carinae
Artist: The Cheers Cheers
Label: Boring Productions, 2016

Do not trust the name. That's my advice. Because this project of City Flanker member, WangXiaoYu, won't cheer you up at all. He drag you down to your depressed point.

Coldwave, maybe suit it best. Since its opening track, Midnight Canyon, you couldn't hope for nothing but a slow ride on lethargic. It is a lot mellower than City Flanker. No noise. No feedback. Just gaze down.

Title: A Bunch of Weeds
Artist: Warm Morning
Label: Other Eyes Records, 2016

Back in 2014, when I started this blog, Warm Morning is one of my first targets. I had an interview with Simone two years ago when they just released their third album, 'Stolen Beauty'. Compared to that, their fourth album, 'A Bunch of Weeds', which was just released, sounds a bit different.

I have been listening to them since their second album, 'Too Far From The Stars', and I can say that their musical improvement from album to album is impressive. Impressive means they are open for exploration without losing any signature of their sound. You can still feel the 60s pop or Sunshine Pop atmosphere - The Turtles, The Beach Boys, you name it - in a mix of charming chamber folk.

While in 'Stolen Beauty', the composition tends to give more space for chamber folk, 'A Bunch of Weeds' lies in the middle. The result is, songs like 'An Ode to Hella', 'Charming Red Lips of Dark', 'Cumberland Street', 'The Boy and Marlene Ghost', 'Lucid Madness', for me, feels like summary of who Warm Morning is. Still using the same formula - melancholy string arrangement and sweetness of pop - I feel Warm Morning has reached their own checkpoint, where maturity and joyful meet. I am super happy for this album, hope you are too.

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Title: Smash / Still Apart
Artist: Varsity
Label: Self-released, 2016

This is a confession: I have been lazy to update this blog. Don't need to mention a reason, being lazy is being lazy. However, during my lazy times, I didn't put myself away from looking for new music. I found some of great musics, wanted to write it down, but, as I said, I was lazy, and those great musics were just ended up for my ears, not shared. One of them was Varsity.

I found their bandcamp in the beginning of this year. So many times I told myself I should write them down. And one month ago, it happened again. That time I ensured my self that it was a go. I would move my lazy ass and write about this Chicago band. So here it is. Ok it is one month late, but still, here it is.

This band is a mix of pop, rock, psychedelic, very rooty yet at the same time very poppy. I am not sure what that means, but let's say it's my version of "damn interesting", "damn good", and others alike. They stole my attention since 'Sad, Sad, Sad'. Another interesting thing about them is they always come up with double single EP. Well, not always (they had more songs in their earlier releases), but lately they do. It is quite a benefit for digital download - your download will be faster due to its smaller size material - especially the free one. Yes, they release their songs on "Name Your Price" mode.

Musically, I figured them out as 90s pop woman-vocal band meet 60s garage rock music. But the other time, I think that I'm just narrowing their music. Because in fact, Varsity is more that it. Indie pop, indie rock, you name it. Or, to be more accurate, just check them out.

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Title: Frequency
Artist: Ummagma
Label: Moon Sound Records, 2015

The beginning of new year is the best time to track back what you missed in previous year. I think that suits the story how I found this album. I missed this album on the day it was released and found it today when I decided to say hi to all friends I don't hear for long - and Shauna is one of them.

Well, that leads to the story, but what I want to tell you here, this time, is this is great album! Honestly, I was a bit sick and exhausted hearing the term "shoegaze" from the band who just tried to be MBV, Cocteau Twins, Slowdive, you name it. It's boring. You can easily plug your gear in, make it as noisy as possible, and then you are shoegaze. In that case, Ummagma is different.

I always figured out what to call them since the first time I knew the band. Yes, they mention Cocteau Twins as their influence, but they innovate. Like "Orion", for god sake, you couldn't believe your feeling how sad this song is. "Cosmic lover/Made up my mind/I’m not going home/This is where I’ll stay". It tears me apart when "Winter Tale" and "Galacticon" played and followed by dreamy-jangly "Ocean Girl". "Lama (Robin Guthrie Remix)" genuinely insane.

A touching album; honest, raw, innocent, subtle. This is one of a kind. I love it! Get it here. And one more, isn't the artwork fabulous?

Title: Gesture
Artist: Baston
Label: Howlin Banana, 2015

I thought Baston is a unique pop band – if we can label it “pop”. The twangy guitars blend in reverb and psychedelic atmosphere but in the same time have a strong root in pop melody. I love Maybe I’m Dead since the first second – that quirky spooky intro. Thought it would be a “dark” song, but suddenly turns out to be so oldish and poppish.

And Jacques Vache (It’s Complicated With) is my favorite. It is dreamy, it is raw, and it is nice. It’s hard for me not to be impressed by what they do in this song, moreover, when I realize that this song is connected to the next song, Holotape. That noisy guitar is really a bite. The same feeling goes to Honda. This song has 60s pop touch, but like I said, again, they twisted it into something different. Baston is definitely a surprising cool-ass pop band. They are standing on the old pop ground, but growing a new tasty fruits from it. Give it a try.

Title: My Cruel Goro
Artist: My Cruel Goro
Label: 2015

This self-titled EP is a debut from My Cruel Goro, an alternative rock band from Iceland and Italy, which consists of Andrea Maraschi (vocals, guitar, programming), Andrea Marcellini (bass), and Tommaso Adanti (drums). By these three songs, the band brought aggressive loudness influenced by the giants like Nirvana, Sonic Youth, QOTSA, and you name the rest.

Clash, the first track, is a fuzzy guitar riff and bass line and energetic drum beat-based rock song. A taste of QOTSA or Weezer in Pinkerton era. Crapford is 90s rock anthem. Kickin’ your ass since the beginning. And Glue Buzz – this one is my favorite – has everything that needed to bang a stadium; melodious killer riff, pit-friendly beat, and screaming sing-along-able vocal.  This EP is set to be released on 24th August and you better keep your ears on them. Oh, by the way, you can watch their video here and here.

Album: Room EP
Artist: SIDES
Label: Som Non-Label, 2015

SIDES is the music project by Savino, guitarist with MOVEONOUT and HABITAT, started in 2014, a powerful and obscure meeting between post-rock, dub and acoustic sounds. It results serious killer mix. Track 1, Moving Walls, comes with haunting ambience from guitar and fx covered with rhythmic monotone drum-beat.

Leave, the second track, is another one. It combines heavy fuzzy riff as a stoner band on energetic drum and vague twinkle sound. Listen to the end because it will take you higher in the middle, before leaving you in emptiness without a trace. Natural Escape is my favorite one. It is unique that the guitar only plays the same riff along the song and so does the drum. The progress made by the ambience, the tone of the fx. Another Sad Day, the last track, is appealing. It is the only slow-tempo song in the Ep. It feels so gloomy, especially when you hear the trumpet that played by Danilo Di Nicola guiding the finger-picking acoustic guitar. It is not only an album, it is a journey from room to room. Give it a listen.