MM’s (Slightly Lazy) Friday Round Up

Round Up Time Again - Part 2

We start with apologies aplenty for the lack of interesting and cogent words to accompany this post of many new, and excellent tunes. We are regularly afflicted by an internal conflict as to whether we use our time to write the original, erudite prose some of the songs we are sent deserve (as many of the much better, and smarter blogs than ours do), but not be able to write about as many as we would like, or use our time to simply gather and present as many of aforesaid excellent songs to you as we can with a proportional decline in the quality of our text.

On this occasion we have plumped for the latter. Lots of songs, less words. We hope you forgive us and take the time to discover the various delights on offer, for such exploration will be richly rewarded.

So blathering over, let us move on…

London based Artifacts have developed a diverse sound, with an ability to create both tender and introspective moments as well as raw, edgy melodies which erupt into a crescendo of noise. Latest single Echoes has a heartfelt opening that builds into high octane vocals, with a smattering of electro and epic guitars, before turning back on itself as the chorus kicks in and melds the track together.

We mentioned explosive duo Beard of Wolves in our final Round Up post of 2012, and this is the North Wales noiseniks new single, the appropriately ferocious Wet Mouth.

Boasting the excellent opening “Loose lips sink relationships“, indie-rockers LA Font’s track Onshore is a wry look at at a relationship in decay that is big on hooks, tipsy guitars and a windows-down groove. It is taken from forthcoming full length Diving Man due for release later this year.

Houston four piece The Tontons released their new 7″ Bones this month in advance of their appearance at SxSW in March. The band made waves last year on account of their breakout EP Golden, and frontman Asli Omar’s growling vocal is certainly out in full force over titanic guitars and drums on this.

Breezy pop gem is an overused phrase (as we’ve just proved), but is perfectly apt for the ACBs track Record Store. It precedes the long player Little Leaves, out on the 5th march.

Fantasmas are a Brooklyn based four-piece that hold the Washington DC punk scene (Fugazi, Q And Not U) and the no-wave era of Sonic Youth close to their hearts. Their Static / No Soul 7″ is out now on vinyl and digitally via Low Life Inc. Try No Soul below – play loud!

Raleigh, NC-based singer/songwriter Kenny Roby has announced the release of Memories & Birds due April 2 on Little Criminal Records. The eight song effort is the first new album in over six years and fourth overall from the founding member of the acclaimed ’90s alt-country/indie rock band, Six String Drag. It’s a recording filled with surprising twists and turns, shadowy corners and broken dreams, the narrative thread running throughout this complex eight-song cycle evokes stark imagery and themes. Listen to the title track…

Nashville songwriter Jonny Fritz (previously Jonny Cawndawg) has signed a deal with indie label ATO Records, and his third full-length album, Dad Country, is set for release on the 16th April. This is Ain’t It Your Birthday, which is the first single from the album.