New Music Inbox - Justin Kline, Brass Bed, Dragons Power Up!, Bloody Knives

Waved Rumor gets a lot of emails sent to the address above, from music promo people (thank you! I appreciate it!), fellow musicians with goods to share (usually worthy) and government officials from Namibia informing me of my newfound cash windfall (never fulfilled).

And it's time for me to start to reciprocate more of the goods back to you, my fine readership. So let's slay you with recent forms of pop, shoegaze, post math rock and fuzzy web-connected rock.

Tennesee-based DIY indie popster music maker Justin Kline makes a sweet pop sound, ranging from the lovely harmonies of 2008's "All I Need" to the Cars/XTC-esque sugary pop of "Baby You're a Mess" on his new 2010 EP 'Triangle'. Some of his songs get a little too clever, but overall, it's all well-polished, smartly arranged and well-recorded. You can hear the EP at his Bandcamp site.

=================================================================

LA's Brass Bed kick it out good. It's hardcore pop, recorded in a pale shelter, sung with fits and starts, while the fuzz lingers on every last lost chord. I dig the first song they're offered up 'Pop Mission"
Click to stream "Pop Mission" (right click to save)


"Drawing influences from Television, Big Star, Dukes of the Stratosphere and 60’s pop revivalist acts like the Louisiana rooted Elephant Six Collective, Brass Bed’s Melt White takes on the shape of an album by a very accomplished act. It's difficult to accept that this is the band's first official release, but that's what it is. Drifting effortlessly between abstract noise, swirling guitars and skillfully crafted pop tones, the sound is equal parts classic and modern, ballsy & still sweet? Isn't that the code these days? Recorded in Austin, TX with Danny Reisch at Cacophony Recorders and Good Danny's studios, this album presents the potent live Brass Bed sound on tracks like "Pop Mission" and "Begs Me Not To Beg" and studio playfulness of their early home recordings on "Aria" and "God Save The Thieves"."

Grab a free MP3 by Brass Bed here.

========================================================================

"Brace for the Bloom" is the new album from St. Paul (Minnesota) band Dragons Power Up!, out on Guilt Ridden Pop. It's original, post-math infused rock 'n roll laced with strichnyne, shot with fusion juice and layered with captive start-stops.

"With roots in early 90s indie rock, their sound marries loose, noisy guitars with a controlled, precise rhythm section, soaring vocals and raw, thoughtful lyricism."
Regular guys making irregular rock, and it's worth hearing. Check out 'Filter Valve' at their Facebook page.

========================================================================
Music from Austin, TX's Bloody Knives - new LP "Burn it All Down:

Exploding in Sound wrote: "Bloody Knives is a new visceral shoegaze band with a propensity for all encompassing noise blasts and bleeding textures. Preston Maddox’s woozy vocals cut through the rusty storm of guitars, drums, keys, and programming to add contrasting melodic references that will draw you in over and over again. The duo creates a riotous amount of sound, with every nuance carefully placed in the sonic landscape."

Audio Current wrote:
"Bloody Knives are pushing the boundaries of shoegaze with the gusto and fervor of A Place To Bury Strangers circa 2020. Their heavier tracks are overwhelmed by grinding, DFA 1979 bass and dense atmospherics. Preston Maddox’s voice adds an otherworldly element to the duo’s controlled chaos, imagine having a peaceful daydream while caught in the midst of a futuristic battle."

It's massive stuff, certainly not the flavor of the month sounds. But what's with that slightly wobbly (out of tune?) bass line on "Close"? It's cool in a Joy Division disconcerting manner.