We Are Trees - I Don't Believe In Love [lo-fi, folk]

We Are Trees is a group from Virginia. This is "I Don't Believe In Love" from their 2011 EP Girlfriend. The song is simple and very enjoyable. The video is also a treat to watch. I came across this song over at /r/shoegaze and, though I wouldn't ever really associate the genre with this, I'm very glad this was posted up by whomever.

We Are Trees - I Don't Believe In Love from Illusive Media on Vimeo.

Scarling. - Hello London [noise pop, shoegaze]

Scarling. is an American noise pop band from Los Angeles. Since forming in 2002, they have released two albums Sweet Heart Dealer (2004) and So Long, Scarecrow (2005). Frontwoman Jessicka had hinted to a new album in 2012 but nothing has since been confirmed. The song below is "Hello London" from the latter 2005 album.

The style of this song and the rest of the album remind me of the Canadian band Joydrop, active in the late 90's, which combined grungy instrumentals with more clear, melodic female vocals, though Joydrop was admittedly post-grunge/alternative as opposed something within the realm of shoegaze or noise pop. Nevertheless, this sort of contrast between the distorted guitars and melodic (female) vocals seems to be a frequent motif particularly in shoegaze (just look at MBV and Slowdive for starters). It certainly adds to the musical layering and I definitely appreciate it.

Maybeshewill - Red Paper Lanterns [post-rock]

Maybeshewill is a post-rock band from the United Kingdom. While the label post-rock would definitely apply to their initial releases, the band itself has made an effort to break out of that box by incorporating both elements of electronica as well as heavier rock, the latter of which would probably explain the "post-hardcore" tag on some of their works.

This is "Red Paper Lanterns", a new single released back in March. Sick song, ha. Can't wait for the next album.

Cranes - Vanishing Point [dream pop]

Another back-logged post from back when it was still cold.

Cranes are a dream pop band from England; first forming in 1986, they went on hiatus in 1997 for three years before resuming in 2000. Other than the "dream pop" label, they have also been described as "gothic minimalism" (I won't even try to pretend to know what that is). The band is best known for the childlike vocals of lead singer Alison Shaw.

This is "Vanishing Point" from their 2004 album Particles & Waves.

Delta Spirit - Empty House [rock]

This is a bit of a backlogged entry. I got San Francisco rock group Delta Spirit's latest album, eponymously named Delta Spirit, when it was released back in March. I figure I might as well an entry on it.

Compared to their previous albums, Delta Spirit features much less of an acoustic presence. Instead they've focused on more rock pieces with occasional dreamy elements (but not that much, it still gives off a mostly rock vibe). Perhaps due to the shift towards more a heavier rock sound, the album, as a whole, exudes a bit more energy compared to their previous releases. Despite that shift in style, the comfortable Mid-Western feel that characterized their past albums for me can still be readily discerned (and appreciated).

This is the first track off their aforementioned 2012 album Delta Spirit: "Empty House". And, since we're on the topic, you might as well check out the single released off the album that has an actual music video: "California".

My Bloody Valentine - Swallow [shoegaze]

My Bloody Valentine, the pioneers of the distorted, vocally-subdued, and overall noisy shoegaze genre. The band started in Ireland in 1983. Following a 10-year hiatus starting, MBV ran a few reunion shows in 2007 and has very recently released remastered versions of their previous works.

Through all this time, MBV has only released a total of two studio albums, Isn't Anything in 1988 and Loveless in 1991 (though I guess there are a good number of EP's and mini-albums). Despite this scarcity of releases, MBV's music still seems relevant today and serves a dual role of being both a source of inspiration and a point of comparison for shoegaze acts today. Certainly that notoriety is a testament to their impact on the genre.

Anyway, being a huge shoegaze nerd, I just had to buy their remastered works. Originally I was only intending to buy the remastered Loveless, as I was pretty lukewarm to Isn't Anything. Well, that didn't really happen because I accidentally bought the remastered versions of their EP's from 1988-1991 (yeah, I don't know how that happened, maybe it was late). After listening to the double-album, I think that that was probably a great mistake to make. I still bought the remastered Loveless so look forward to another MBV entry when that comes in.

Anyway, here's something from their recently released EP's 1988-1991 album.

Mr. Children - Not Found [Japanese pop rock]

Mr. Children is a Japanese pop rock band which formed all the way back in 1988. Well anyway this is "Not Found" from their 2000 album Q. This is a re-recorded version of the song from a 2010 documentary/concert movie that maintains a sense of rawness not found on the album version. I don't know why the drummer keeps yawning though..

Also, if you liked this, you might as well check out this video of the song being performed by a MeowSynth, which was the video that initially led me to the original song.

Pacific UV - Static Waves [dream pop, shoegaze] & Pacific UV - God Is So Tired [shoegaze, post-rock]

Pacific UV is a band from Athens, Georgia. Their style has been said to incorporate features from dream pop, shoegaze, post-rock, and space rock, all with a homely Southern tinge. Their breadth of musical styles is definitely apparent if you give a listen to their eponymous first album from 2003.

Anyway, since I can't make up my mind as to which song to share, I'll link two. I mean since these two songs are slightly different stylistically, I guess it's justifiable... The first song is "Static Waves", which features more dream pop and shoegaze elements (and vocals). The second song is "God Is So Tired", which features more of a shoegaze (at least for the beginning anyway) and post-rock vibe. For the second song, I'd recommend you stay up until 3:00. Oh man, I'm glad I did.

Artist website @ http://www.pacificuv.com/

Pacific UV - Static Waves

Pacific UV - God Is So Tired (will add link later)

The Black Atlantic - Fragile Meadow [acoustic folk]

The Black Atlantic is a Norwegian folk band. They released their first album in 2009, Reverence For Fallen Trees, as a free digital download and have recently followed up that release with the EP Darkling, I Listen (2012). The song below, though, is from their first album and features ...someone dancing. Somehow, I think I could stand to appreciate that art form a little more...

Wanting (曲婉婷) - Admit (承認) [Chinese pop]

Oh hi, my my, it has been quite a while since I've posted. But I've definitely been listening to a lot of new sweet tunes. So, let's get a move on, shall we?

I went to HMV around a month ago just to kill some time and while I was browsing the Pop/Rock section, I bumped into this album with a Chinese girl on it. This was probably the first time I had seen something like this at HMV (other than maybe in the "World" section). Anyway, it was no other than the person in the title, Wanting (or 曲婉婷). Up until this post, I literally thought Wanting was her moniker but it's literally her name Qu Wan Ting. I guess it can still be a play on words...

Anyway, originally coming from China, she went to Canada in her teenage years to study and (from what I can tell, being unable to read any Chinese websites about this) has recently released a few singles and an album Everything In The World (the album cover says Wanting Everything In The World, so I guess that confirms the play on words part).

This is "Admit" (or "承認") from that 2012 album.