Six Records CMM Wants You To Know

Hot Glew "This Side of Wherever" E.P.

Hot Glew return with another E.P. made up of truly unique tracks. Opening piece "Bunker" is a soothing almost tropical number backed by a minimal electronic beat and Brett Keller's laid back vocal style. "Be My Lady" is a soul inspired lo-fi gem that reminds me of a less flamboyant Har Mar Superstar while "Haunted Love Song" would be the perfect track to play during a critical love scene in an 80's teen-angst fueled B-Movie. The jangling drive of "Subjugated" conjures up memories of acts like Dog Bowl and DJ Lebowitz. It's got a charming, quirky feel to it that reeks with universal appeal. Closing number "I Can't Sleep" serves as anthem of sorts and winds things down in fine form as an ominous piano rings out a showering of beautiful, glistening tones. Overall "This Side Of Wherever" creates it's own spirit and own world that is captivating in every sense of the word.

Spearmint Tongues "No One Left" Single (spearminttongues.bandcamp.com)

Loving this track from Spearmint Tongues debut release "Easy Peasy". It's got a cagey, mysterious guitar riff that eventually breaks into a more melodic yet distorted frenzy. The pumping bass line and straight forward percussion keep things rolling along and only add to the cinematic presence of the piece. There's also an orchestral feel to everything but it's very shuttle. The vocals are passionate and show off amazing range as everything flows together brilliantly. Looking forward to hearing a lot more from this promising new project.

The Esskays "Rain Drop Garden" LP (thesskays.bandcamp.com)

A very impressive album from Nashville's The Esskays. Lead off track "Psychedelic Love" really brings a power and energy that kick starts everything off well. There's a lot of bite to this track as the drums and guitars seem to take a heavy handed approach to the performance. "Girl, Tell Me What's Your Game?" also has a lot of drive and fire to it but is more of a straight forward British influenced psych pop piece. There's a bit of a Ween feel to "I'm An Alien" while "Oh Jolie" is more folk based and features some excellent harmonica work. The shuffling rhythm of "One Day At A Time (I'm Losing My Mind) has a fun upbeat flavor that follows in the spirit of early T Rex and sits well next to the Magical Mystery Tour style sounds of tracks like "Brahma Kamal! (The Night Flower" and "To Want To Be Loved". "ATM" has more of a modern indie rock feel to it that's perfect for Summer. It's one of those songs that you can dance to that certainly isn't a "dance" song. I'm really impressed by everything that "Rain Drop Garden" has to offer. It's got a throwback sound but with modern elements that balance it out well. A top notch release delivered with prime execution.

The Pixies "Um Chagga Lagga" Single (pixiesmusic.com)

The Pixies have one of the most definitive sounds of all time and this new single harnesses that trademark Black Francis snarl and lyrical flair like only he can. The absence of founding member Kim Deal is certainly missed and it will never really be The Pixies without her but "Um Chagga Lagga" is still very much a Pixies song that fans can get behind. I'm happy to see that the band continue to make new music instead of going the nostalgia route that so many other bands of their era have comfortably snuggled up to. Look for the band out on the road for most of 2016. You can pre-order their new album 'Head Carrier' at www.pixiesmusic.com

Tuval "By The Sea" Single (tuval.bandcamp.com)

19 year old song writer Tuval Schneerson delivers once again with his latest single "By The Sea". His lush vocals set the pace alongside a collection of vibrant guitars and a swinging beat that complements the track perfectly. Tuval has a certain charm to his songs that really invite the listener in and make it a very intimate listening experience and this is another essential piece in his constantly evolving catalogue of remarkable achievements.

Twilight Fields "Will I See You Again?" B/W "I Will Light Your Way, Part 2" (twilightfields.bandcamp.com)

Breathtakingly beautiful is what I'd use to describe this recent effort from Twilight Fields. "Will I See You Again?" is rich in honesty. Flourishing swells of ambience welcome you in with open arms. It sounds like it was recorded in a cathedral as it's massive reverb filled sounds are truly elegant. "I Will Light Your Way, part 2" is more guitar based and makes great use of the grey tinted riffs that move throughout the piece. It's all very intense, very emotional and very welcoming all at the same time. A stunning release well worth seeking out.

6 Records CMM Wants You To Know

Animal Holograms "Phantasmagoric Menagerie" E.P. (animalholograms.bandcamp.com)

Jason Williams, the mastermind behind Chicago based project Animal Holograms makes big waves with his debut E.P. "Phantasmagoric Menagerie". Leading off with the high energy number "Black Cats" Williams pushes the envelope between art rock and indie pop with a healthy dose of noise driven guitar chaos. The captivating feel of "Psychoasis" carry things on an atmospheric whirlwind that channels the spirits of Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips while the synth drenched sounds of "Ferdinand Hodler" give way to an upbeat yet overall darker tone. It's a brilliant balance of both moody and uplifting territory. This mood continues with the dirge like grind of "Hello Mr. Dark" which at some point moves into a delightful realm of shoegaze bliss. Things wind down as the lulling presence of "The World Is Math" cap everything off with a collection of highly experimental textures that reverberate inside your mind . A beautiful collection of psychedelic dream pop wizardry.

Comasummer "Out of the Sun" E.P. (comasummer.bandcamp.com)

Channeling the spirits of The Doors, The Moby Grape and The Animals, Bulgaria's Comasummer deliver an impressive E.P. of psych filled songs that sound undeniably cool. From the crushing groove of "Out Of The Sun" to the hypnotic demeanor of "My Vantage Point" the band sweep you into an intoxicating sea of mystical sounds.The garage rock shuffle of "Rental Kisses" is an upbeat blast of hypnotic energy capped off by a driving beat and rolling organ. The slow swagger of "Hurricane Love" features a laid back bass line alongside layers of shimmering guitars that sound like they came straight out of a Peter Fonda film, while "Man In The Sand" is a hard hitting selection that harnesses the presence of early hard rock and metal. The E.P. is rounded out by the soul fueled elegance of "The Trickster" which is highlighted by Vladimir Lalov's stellar vocals and a heavy dose of fuzzed out guitar bliss. A top notch debut that leaves me wanting more.

Dakota Inlet "Back To The Start" Single (dakotainlet.bandcamp.com)

What a beautiful track from the Melbourne based Dakota Inlet. It's rich textures of ambient soundscapes and ethereal vocals are simply delightful. It's the type of song that is subliminally meditative and can instantly take you to another place in your mind you may have not have visited in a while. Sure the mood is reflective of artists like Pink Floyd, The Beatles and Brian Eno but it's the original bit of swing and sway that Dakota Inlet's lone member Declan McNamara puts on things that makes "Back To The Start" so great. From it's subtle drumming and pumping bass line to the almost jazz guitar style this track is nothing short of stellar. Looking forward to the new E.P. due for release by years end.

Hearts & Minutes "77" Single (heartsandminutes.bandcamp.com)

The L.A. based Hearts & Minutes take you on a psychedelic journey with their latest single "77". Backed by haunting drones, hypnotic guitars and vocals filled with mystery and intrigue the band create a mood that's inviting, cinematic and warm. This song makes me think of dark clouds and heavy rain fall during a hot Summer storm that finally eases up to reveal a beautiful skyline. Looking forward to hearing more from this impressive, dream like trio.

The Red Shift "Blind" E.P. (theredshiftm.bandcamp.com)

I'm loving the lo-fi garage rock sounds of Ohio's The Red Shifts. This 3 song E.P. is packed full of short to the point powerful songs that take me back to the days of Jawbreaker and The Smoking Popes. "Perfume" is a hook filled song based around heartache and love while "Stubborn" brings to mind the songwriting excellence of the late great Lance Hahn of J Church. The more delicate sounding "My Eyes" falls somewhere between Buddy Holly and GBV but with it's own brand of character and charm. A fun release for fans of heartfelt no frills rock n roll.

Tuval "Obscure Salvation" E.P. (tuval.bandcamp.com)

I've heard quite a bit of excellent music coming out of Brighton recently and Tuval is no exception. The title track makes for a dreamy opener that combines jazzy elements from bands like Minus The Bear with a psychedelic flair. There's also a lot of experimentation as the track is filled with layers of colorful atmospherics throughout. "Washingmachine" opens at breakneck speed before giving way to a collage of cinematic sounds that are breathtaking and cold while "In My Head" has a much more sinister twist to it. "The Loam" rounds out this unique collection of vibrant sounds with it's obscure lyrical brilliance and wandering spirit. "Obscure Salvation" is like that house at the end of a long dark road that your always finding yourself drawn to. Challenging, dark and mysterious.