Stream: White Blush - White Blush

2013 seems to be off to a promising start as I've already received several interesting débuts from unsigned artists. This self-titled release comes from LA-based dream pop artist White Blush, AKA Carol Rhyu. She cites influences across a range of media, included Japanese horror, Manga and Julie Cruise. And you can certainly hear these aspects come through in the floating melodies and 80s-influenced production.

Both 'Mirror' and 'Jolene' are particularly strong - dreamlike, spooky and full of layered, melodic vocals. It's another pay-what-you-want EP via White Blush, so download it if you like it.

Stream / Download: The Vigil EP - Paris XY

Paris XY are vocalist Alice Smith and musician James Orvis and their music comes across a little like Trentemøller meets Chromatics. That's perhaps unsurprising as James lists his influences as including a number of live electronic acts, of which Trentemøller is one, alongside The Knife and Simian Mobile Disco.

The combination of electronic atmospherics together with live instruments lend their début EP, entitled The Vigil, a chilling sound. There's a darkness running through that feels like diving into warm black water at midnight. They also include a cover version of Little Dragon's 'Twice', which really rides a deep, moody bass line to create something sinister yet sensual. It says a lot that the two other track on the EP hold their weight against it.

The Vigil EP is out now via Bandcamp alongside more traditional channels - you can download it for free or pay what you think it is worth.

EP Review: A Crystal / A Diamond / An End / A Start - Phil McMinn

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A Crystal / A Diamond / An End / A Start - Phil McMinn

Phil McMinn's début EP, A Crystal / A Diamond / An End / A Start is exactly the sort of thing I want to hear right now. The reprieve to all the months of electronic music and well produced R&B and urban influenced dubstep. It's just a short collection of four beautiful and touching songs.

Opening up, in more ways than one, with 'Chase Horses Down', a naked and slowly contemplative song -  McMinn lays down his emotions bare and it sets the pace for the EP. McMinn takes folk music and blasts it into widescreen, creating a floating-in-space aesthetic without losing any of the honesty. 

The EP was born following a trip to Scotland that McMinn took with his father, where they drove to the Isle of Skye and across from there under the Cairngorms mountain range to the east coast of Scotland. The space and big skies are still almost just as audible here on these songs as they must have been then.

Phil's also been through a couple of band splits - Fell City Girl, who imploded after signing to SonyBMG in a move that saw their management become the A&R team responsible for signing the deal, leaving them untouchable as far as future management were considered. Following this he formed The Winchell Riots, who took a more independent route but ultimately ended up splitting up too.

Following the demise of his last band McMinn took a year off from music completely and it was only after the trip with his father that he was ready and able to make music again.

There are analogues to Bon Iver in McMinn's journey, and a similar sound of recovery at work in this music, whether on the backwards glances of 'That House You Built From The Wreckage' or the hopeful optimism of ’Lavender Hill'. The songs here are already strong, the vocals steady and production work capable of transcending the folk genre from which the music ultimately comes from.

A Crystal / A Diamond / An End / A Start is out now on Beard Museum. You can preview the EP via Bandcamp below and it's available on Amazon.co.uk as a download here [affiliate link].

EP Review: I Wanna Know - Casino Times

We may be deep into the darkest month of the year now in the UK but that doesn't mean we don't have time for one last slab of Balearic house from Needwant, who regularly do a good job of peddling just that kind of thing.

I Wanna Know is the new EP from Nick Church and Joe Spencer, who collaborate under the name Casino Times and this release opens up with the EP's warm title track. It's a well constructed piece with significant soulful subtlety in the gentle synths and rhythmic hi-hats, a sound that contrasts to the big piano melodies and yearning vocals snippets.

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I Wanna Know - Casino Times

Next up, 'Trust' is more electronic in feel, warm pads and a four-four beat creating foundations for some catchy synth work and an infectious vocal sample. Following this, the final original track 'Back To The Night' features a bluesy vocal and a deep, winding melody against a bass line that gradually transforms into a darker version of its original self.

Germany's David DK closes the set with a remix of 'I Wanna Know' more squarely aimed at dance floors. It's a considerably darker imagining, full of dramatic moments and large piano chords and interweaving melody.

We're thick in the frost at the moment but this EP, particularly the three original tracks, is the kind of lovingly constructed series of blissfully Mediterranean chords that will make you feel comfortably relaxed again.

I Wanna Know is released next Monday through Needwant, available from Amazon.co.uk on MP3 [affiliate link]. Preview on Soundcloud below:

EP Review: It Rough 2012 - Headman

It doesn't seem like that long since I was reviewing Headman's Turning EP and noting that the Chicken Lips mix of  'It Rough' reserves a special place in my heart. It is therefore a pleasant surprise to now be faced with a brand new re-release of the track.

That Chicken Lips mix takes the lead, to the extent that the original mix doesn't even get a look in. It's as fresh and spartan as ever, a raw slab of bass and percussion, and whilst it felt incredibly of its time when released it feels remarkably current now, almost ten years on. It's the interplay of hard 808s and treble-heavy drum rolls that mean this track has lasted so well.

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It Rough 2012 - Headman

Two new versions from Headman then feature, the '2012 version' and the '2012 reprise'. Both of these use the same post-punk sound as a jumping off point but the inspirational reference points feel a little more rounded. There are more obvious no-wave tones here, along with a cosmic edge brought through in the heavy use of spectral analogue synths. The reprise comes from a similar place but with a cunning Moog bass line and some heavier drums. Whilst none of the additional mixes here feel as vital as that Chicken Lips one these updates feel like they really sum up a lot of what has happened musically since the original release.

The first new guest mix comes from Scott Fraser, who gives the track an acid overhaul to make it into a building peak-time electro workout. Finally Remain's mix is more analogue sounding, a soup of robotic machinery and sharp drum beats. Overall it's a smart package that revisits a track thoroughly deserving of it.

It Rough 2012 is out now on 12" through Relish with the digital release following on 18 January. Available to pre-order on MP3 from Amazon.co.uk [affiliate link].