FRIDAY COVER UP - No Cure For Lights Out

This isn't normally my kinda thing, but some upbeat Robert Smith on a dreary Friday seemed like a good idea. The band is Lightouts, a Brooklyn indie duo who formed over a mutual love of The Cure front man and Emily Haines from Metric, not a bad launchpad really. This track has managed to fill me with some fuzzy bubblegum - I will admit that this sounds more like The Killers from their first album era covering 80s Springsteen than The Cure, but that is awesome too. Anyway, check it out - I reckon it does the trick.

Lightouts - Push (The Cures cover)

Have a good weekend!

Drowners Never Go Away

Take a moment to meet Drowner, fittingly from Space City USA - Houston, Texas. Their press ticks off influences that colour each corner of the shimmering guitar rock spectrum - Ringo Deathstarr, My Bloody Valentine, Mogwai, Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, The Cure... And whilst the shoegaze elements are inherent in their self-titled debut LP (out March 13 on Saint Marie Records, a niche label that specialises in this sound and have also added SM faves Bloody Knives to their roster), making such connections is a little too safe. Case in point is second track 'Never Go Away', at just under eight minutes a creeping track that is Siren-esque in its gossamer, eerie calls. The washes of guitar are actually delicate, meticulously balanced, even in the stronger rock numbers such as 'Point Dume' or 'Written'. After bringing Fonda's comeback to our attention last year, Crash Avenue are responsible for pushing this release, and with good reason. This reminds me of when I heard Whirr (the band formerly known as Whirl) for the first time. Seeing as their Distressor EP is one of my favourite releases of its kind in the past few years, that is saying something. Get on board.



Drowner - Never Go Away
Drowner - Point Dume

Eternal Mood Exorcism Rings

Double Phantom Records put out this 7" by Atlanta band Mood Rings. It offers two slices of spangly psych pop that swims in the waters that Robert Smith might have bathed in had he been a little more cheery. 'Promise Me Eternity' is languid to the point of standing still, awash with shimmering instrumentation that evokes Instagram photos that wash a picnic photo in pastel shades of sunlight. On the flip side "Exorcised Painting' is a short punchy number, the guitar and drums punching through into another realm. Its an ace couple of tracks (particularly enamoured with 'Exorcised Painting'), you get your mitts on it here. Have a listen below and see what you think...

Mood Rings - Promise Me Eternity
Mood Rings - Exorcised Painting