Parent Teacher - Doombloomer

 

New York's Richard Spitzer is Parent Teacher and Doomblower is right up our street. Essentially great Intelligent Indie with a real melodic Pop feel. although the wonderful vocal is hidden under the incredible arrangements which are truly mind blowing. 

It is these arrangements that mark Spitzer away from the masses. He has incredible voice that would suit many of the Weezer and Power Pop or Pop Rock wannabes, but these arrangements are so original and interesting that you lose sight of the vocal excellence at times.

The album is splendidly Lo-Fi, but don't let that put you off in anyway. The variety is special. Demonise flirts with Psych Pop, yet Stepping Stone is fine 80s Pop that you can dance to. Hysterica mixes a 90s Rock backbeat with a corking killer harmonic chorus. 

There are two real standouts. The sheer Indie Rock moodiness of Homesick, which is almost Post Punk. Then there is the exquisite Guitar Pop of Fire Pop, with a cracking synth addition and A1 Vocal, which is one of the best things that you will hear this or any year. Doombloomer is extraordinarily great.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Blake Collins - There's Nowhere Like Here

 

There are plenty of artists who have tried to nail 60s Guitar Pop across one or seldom albums. Most have failed due to it all sounding a bit fake or contrived. Too much about trying to be cool than thinking about the sound of that decade. Los Angeles's Blake Collins brilliantly nails it.

It the sound of Early Beatles and Merseybeat up to the gentler side of UK Beat. The songs stand on their own, but the sound is perfect, particularly the drum Sound which is captured wonderfully well. The songs are well written, a little reverential maybe, but beautifully played.

The twang of You've Been On My Mind, the all together now shuffle of Alright Now. The Beatles like quality of their pre Rubber Soul songs on the title track. You can imagine Collins playing Good Good Good on Ready Steady Go.

Tears Come Down shows the songs can be slowed down and adds a Duane Eddy twang. I'm Not Going To Take It Anymore is more Beat, more second half of the 60s.  There's Nowhere Like Here is very nostalgic, but splendidly produced, written and performed.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Slow Motion Film - The Rule of Six aka Untitled#2 EP

 

It is great to have the Amoeba Teen splinter Trio back with their second EP. The first suggested that the Stourbridge three were not going to continue the catchy Guitar Pop of their previous group, it was Rockier and noisier and was a notification of great things to come. 

This takes the band further away from their roots, much further and it is dynamic. The opener is not a major departure, but more Indie Rock akin to the more interesting non synth 80s.  Escaping Berlin is followed by Hot Badger which is noisier almost Fuzz Pop, real shake your fist stuff over 96 seconds.

But then the EP takes a much different turn with two longer pieces. ONSY starts the first part of its 9 and a half minutes as part Prog, part Pop Rock, but then it explodes into a masterful mix of Psych and Alt Rock instrumentally. Heavier shoe gaze maybe, but absolutely hypnotic.

The soundscape is taken even further with the closer, Universe, again long at over 8 minutes. This feels more Prog at times, but again holding its Psych and Shoegaze with added Trumpet. It is an incredible listen. A change of direction maybe, but a very welcome one for these ears.

You can listen to and buy the EP here.

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