London based psych collective Mandrake Handshake's fascination with being able to fly continues on their new single En Vol, a dreamy trip to the great beyond, with elements of 60s pop and 90s trip-hop working in unison for a successful lift-off. Is it escapistic? Yes? Naive maybe? Sure, but it can't hurt to dream of exploring the universe as Earth itself is not a particularly fun place to be right now.
English baroque-pop band Tugboat Captain sing about having trust issues after a breakup on the lusciously orchestrated single Reliance. A subtle repetitive keyboard part act as the backbone for a safe space for lead singer Sox to bear his soul, who can also count on the 22 singers of the Ctrl P Community Choir to help him out. The anger, doubts and fears aren't gone per se, but they sure as Hell are easier do deal with.
To tie with their 60th anniversary as a band The Cyrkle's comeback album Revival will be released on vinyl via Big Stir Records on July 10th: "Their voices have aged well, but don't try to go for the high notes anymore. Using a lower register enables to weave intricate harmonies that sound instantly recognizable. The Cyrkle still wants you to dance - in fact most of the new songs are about trying to get a lady to partake in this celebration of late 60s power pop. The 21st century versions of their hits from yesteryear are a nice touch, but it is songs like Dance With Me Tonight, We Were There and Center Of The World, an ode to San Diego that can serve as exhibits that they are not a just a bunch of men in matching suits once again chasing a dream that they woke up from a couple of decades ago".
Montreal based garage rockers Taxi Girls have kept a positive outlook despite going through heaps of shit in their lives. Their new album Static is filled with both poppy and raw songs, but all of them have two things in common: an infectious melody and a rhythm that can be listened to sitting still. With tracks about nasty hangovers (Kill Your Darlings), staring at the ceiling about what song to pick for a person they have a crush on (Midnight Mixtape) and reminiscing about a Summer holiday fling (Secret Handshake), there is plenty to relate too.
With all four band members pitching in for the vocal department they can drown the nagging inner voices that are trying to tell them they suck. Imagine Blondie having a rowdy sleepover with The Hives and The Shirts. Whatever bad things the universe may have in store for them, they are ready to face them head on, armed with the holy trinity of rock 'n' roll instruments. As Lou Reed once wrote: you can't beat guitar, bass and drums.
Bill McClintock made a mashup of Huey Lewis and the News and The Trammps : The Power of Love + Disco Inferno = The Power of Disco. Want more? His YouTube channel has lots of them.
