Track Of The Day: Montauk Hotel – ‘White Billboards’

A luscious shimmering soundscape with a poignant context; Montauk Hotel have shared their new single ‘White Billboards’. Released via Reckless Records, the Dublin-based band say their new track is a “reflection on the power of advertising in our society and how models and [industry] standards influence our choices, happiness, and feelings of adequacy”.

Montauk Hotel’s music is influenced by the glimmer of early 80s indie-pop, full of glistening guitar sounds and shining melodies. The band released their self titled EP in March 2017, and have shared stages with the likes of Goat Girl, PINS and Beauty Sleep. Across Ireland, they’ve played venues such as Whelans, The Workman’s Club and Roisin Dubh, and they’ve performed at Electric Picnic too.

Their new single ‘White Billboards’ is sure to take them back to these stages. Speaking more about the track, the band explain: “The song pictures an imaginary future where as an result of over-saturation, people have become indifferent to commercial models. Advertisers and brands have run out of slogans and have lost their impact on people and society. There is a question left open, which whether a society with empty billboards would indeed set us free to be happy or whether it would leave us lost and unable to regain a personal identity”.

Listen to ‘White Billboards’ below and follow Montauk Hotel on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: Mellow Gang – ‘Big Builds’

Have you ever seen Florence Welch dancing? Arms in the air, her body being thrown around in circles. A frenzied spectacle but no less graceful, like a butterfly radiantly frolicking between iridescent sun beams… Now, if her movements made noises, what would they sound like?

That was a trick question because they’d most definitely sound something like this new track from Mellow Gang, ‘Big Builds’. The London four-piece have created something that can only be described as sonic radiance.

‘Big Builds’ opens with an earworm of a riff, sung by a visceral and mesmerising chiming guitar, bolstered with reverb. Kicking the song into the eldritch cousin of dream pop is the sultry vocals of frontwoman, Harriet Joseph. Her low, drawled voice bursts the enchanting bubble cast by the guitar;  not with sharpness, however, but by oozing into it.

Contrasting with this melancholic slumber, the chorus defines the twirling sensation of euphoria, echoing the 2003 No Doubt track ‘It’s my Life’. Strangely, an organ sings with glee underneath bursts of excited rhythms and glorious melodies.

Brilliantly atmospheric, this track will leave you feeling weightless, floating in the space between the Earth and sky.

Listen to ‘Big Builds’ here:

 

Adjourn, the upcoming debut album from Mellow Gang, is out 10th May.

 

Megan Berridge
@noisygal_

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FIVE FAVOURITES: Mint Field

A soothing tonic for minds that are scarred from the stresses of modern life; Tijuana-based psych trio Mint Field have shared their new EP Mientras Esperas via Innovative Leisure. Translated roughly as “While Waiting”, their new release focuses on themes of connection with the modern world, and how our own well-being is affected by it.

Following the success of their 2018 debut Pasar de la Luces, and now with bass player Sebastian Neyra on board; Amor Amezcua and Estrella del Sol Sánchez continue to make thought provoking music with a shoegazey, dream-pop feel. We asked the band to share their “Five Favourites” – five artists or albums that have influenced their songwriting techniques. Check out their choices below, and make sure you listen to Mientras Esperas at the end of this post.

1. Beak – <<
We have no memory of coming across this album or how we discovered it, it’s as if it magically appeared in our files. We heard this album together so much last year while we were touring and we got to see Beak for the first time in Desert Daze, such an epic show. They’re definitely one of our biggest influences.

2. Kikagaku Moyo – House in the Tall Grass
We first heard Kikagaku Moyo when we were recording our debut album, Pasar de las Luces, in Detroit. Chris Koltay, our producer, has a big wall and drawers foiled with vinyl collections and one of the LP’s he put one day was this one. Ever since then, we became big fans of them. We got to see them in Desert Daze last year too and it was such a great show – they’re such a good live band.

3. Ulrika Spacek – Modern English Decoration
Ulrika’s new EP is so nice, we loved their last album as well but this one is more significant because of the fact that we got to tour with them across America last year after they released their EP. We became good friends with them and it was a gift to see them play every night, they’re a really great live band.

4. Helvetia – Helvetia’s Junk Shop
We discovered this band and album when we were touring with Ulrika Spacek, it was in one of their road trip playlists and we’ve been listening to them ever since. It has such good drums and melodies.

5. Lorelle Meets the Obsolete – De Facto
We have been fans of Lorelle Meets The Obsolete for quite some time now and this is their new album. We really loved it, specially the two last songs – they’re so good, as is the whole album really. We definitely recommend this band that also happens to be from Mexico.

Thanks to Mint Field for sharing their favourites with us! Follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Adriana Tangassi

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Mint Field – ‘Jardin de la Paz’

A soothing tonic for minds that are scarred from the stresses of modern life; Tijuana-based psych trio Mint Field have shared their new single ‘Jardin de la Paz’. Translating roughly as ‘Peace Garden’, the track is taken from the band’s upcoming EP Mientras Esperas, set for release on 1st March 1st via Innovative Leisure.

Following the success of their 2018 debut Pasar de la Luces, and now with bass player Sebastian Neyra on board; Amor Amezcua and Estrella del Sol Sánchez continue to make thought provoking music with a shoegaze, dream-pop feel. Their new EP focuses on themes of connection with the modern world and how our own well-being is affected by it.

On new track ‘Jardín de la Paz’, the trio tackle these feelings with understated vocals and melodic guitar sounds, helping listeners to acquire the peace of mind the group are searching for. Listen to the new single below and follow Mint Field on Facebook for more updates.

Photo credit: Adriana Tangassi

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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