Rounding Them Up Again

Round Up

Time to round up a few more of the releases that have tickled our ears from the inbox and round the web.

Ali Koehler has hitherto been best known as the drummer of the pop group Best Coast and the noisy girl punk trio Vivian Girls. After her departure from Best Coast, Koehler decided to step up from behind the kit to front a band of her own, embracing her melodic punk-spirited songwriting impulses with Upset. The new three-piece will release its hooky debut record of pop-punk, She’s Gone, this autumn. Take a listen to Oxfords and Wingtips from it.

We posted Wake Up Lucid’s track I Want at the end of September and this is the ominous, jagged b-side, Let It Roll.

Rural Ghosts recently released their debut long player City Of Elms. It is a fine record of folk tinged indie rock distinguished by driving rhythms and haunting lyrical content. Take a listen to a couple of tracks, Limbo and Eyes.

Ten Ton Man’s Drinking Song comes from their self -titled debut album of minimal, gritty, Americana with a lyrically dark slant. The sinister undertones of this track perfectly encompass the feelings of someone who is down on their luck. With his signature baritone voice, frontman Paul Livornese sings the gloomy lyrics, “Sing along to the drinking song//When the booze is gone //You’ll be all alone.” Something many of us can relate to at one time or another…

Black Hearted Brother is the new band formed by Neil Halstead (Slowdive, Mojave 3), Nick Holton (Coley Park, Holton’s Opulent Oog) and Mark Van Hoen (Locust, Seefeel). Listen to the excellent (I Don’t Mean To) Wonder from the trio’s debut album Stars Are Our Home which is officially released tomorrow (order here).

Foul Play is the excellent first track from all girl garage-pop trio Sharkmuffin’s second EP 1097 which is released next Wednesday.

Buzzard Lope recently released their debut single East By East on their own label Lost Toys Records. The single blends frontman Roger Illingworth’s husky vocal – reminiscent of Mark Lanegan – with Adam Jarvis’ brooding double bass.

Lem and The White Fire are a distinctive soul/pop/folk 11-piece collective who have released their catchy debut single Telephone – it features a memorable sing-a-long chorus and a rousing riff from the brass section of the collective.

Haunting vocals stand at the forefront of La Guerre’s new EP, Violent, which is the solo project of Katlyn Conroy, a member of the band Cowboy Indian Bear. Listen to the lovely, sultry Sorrow Song.

Huckleberry Binge are a whirl of fuzzed-out folk rock and murky pop anthems. They released their Tornado EP back at the end of the summer, but Fur Trapper from it is too good not to post – better late than never.

We have another track from Lola Colt, Jackson is their second single (out 2nd December) and is another top notch track of fuzzy, blistered guitars and twangy psychedelia.

Singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow built up a huge following after the release of his debut album Early In The Morning, and Cavalier is the evocative first single from January’s follow up album Post Tropical.

The Witch Hunt return with the release of their debut EP Little Book of Hate on Dead Young Records, a collection of five songs showcasing a promising range and depth, with dark, twisted melodies and haunting vocals. The follow up to their second single Crawl, immerse yourself in the visceral and threatening Army Man from the EP.

Lastly (for now) we have the new single from Melbourne indie-folk quartet Sleepy Dreamers. Titled Bike Song it features a catchy hook, four part vocal harmonies and a good dose of handclaps – pretty sure to evoke some foot-stomping action.