New 2 track ep from Sweden's surf-tinged Westkust

Pain

Happy to see that Pain Emission is on YouTube. Certainly, they were the best of the genre (1990's) to emerge from San Diego. They were down-to-Earth people behind the scenes. I remember a lot of fire was used in the live shows. I think I was still using a cassette player in my car and Pain Emission was cranked up along with Skinny Puppy, Hate Dept. and the like. I just wonder if I was more pissed off then or now.
I think the comments feature here is useless. I get more emails than comments. If you have something to say, I am at djtalbotlikesugar@gmail.com. I enjoy the communication from like-minded music fans. It's been a great few years here on Like Sugar.

Recommended: Dead Leaf Echo

I have had some time to absorb Dead Leaf Echo's "Thought and Language" album. Rather than get wordy, I'll just say it comes highly recommended.
Gentle vocals, echoing guitars, minimal synth... it all comes together in a way that sounds natural. They make it sound so easy. Not trying to be something they aren't, this album works from start to finish. It was mixed by John Fryer, so that adds to the appeal.

Sunday Offering

This one is appropriately titled "Offering" and it's from NZ's Black City Lights. There's a video for it too. Their debut album is coming August 6th, with a US tour kicking off in September.



For an even more mellow Sunday, check out this dubby Club 8 collab with Misfit Mod. I have the new Club 8 "Above The City" album on the iPod and I have enjoyed their expanded sound. I must admit, I'll pick-up nearly any release from Labrador (Amanda Mair didn't do it for me).

Synthpop (and beyond) For Your Saturday

Remedies, an experimental dream/psych pop band from Birmingham, AL. just finished their second EP, "Inanimate" last week. Influences/comparisons include Wild Nothing, Youth Lagoon, DIIV, IRS-era R.E.M., Joy Division, Elliott Smith, Cocteau Twins, etc. The band recorded "Inanimate" in their basement and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality/sound of it. I love bedroom / lap-pop, and DIY recordings.
Remedies wrote: "We were trying to make the music our parents divorced to in the late 80's." I think they pulled this off with great style!


Some lovely synth work from San Francisco's Breakdown Valentine. This one has one foot in the dreampop world with swirling synths and emotional vocals. If you like this new one, be sure to check out more on Soundcloud.

SynthWave

More delicious synthpop that reminds me of that 90's era synthpop sound. The band calls it Synthwave and that sounds just about right. From their press info: "New Arcades are Dean Canty and Adam Sullivan, a duo inspired by nostalgic memories of 80s cinema and vintage synth sounds. Taking those feelings and bringing them into a contemporary production setting, New Arcades craft something that at once feels both excitingly fresh, and comfortable like an old friend. The soundtrack to hazy memories you never had and the intensity of right now, New Arcades bring passion and heart to the retro sounds of SynthWave."


Here's a nice-rework of Alpaca Sport's "I Was Running" by Tiny Fireflies.


Something more modern than my usual nostalgic sounding posts:

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Dreampop bliss from Estonia's Picnic.



I have only a few tracks from Tempers and they are all excellent. Felt I should pass it on...

Humble Braggers EP Safe Haven (dreampop)

Humble Braggers has released a four track EP titled "Safe Haven". This is some dreamy indie that's right up there with Wild Nothing, Twins Shadows and the like. Perfect Summer listening.

New Track from I Break Horses

Lovely new one from I Break Horses.

Independence Day

It's Independence Day here in the USA, but I keep thinking it's Saturday. Saturday means Synthpop for Your Saturday, where I post a few synthpop finds. Well, I am in the mood, so let's start with this one from The Ballet. I don't write political entries, mostly because it only invites negative feedback and I really don't care what you think about politics. With that "Turn You" may have a message, but let's just enjoy the song and the freedomness.



A little more poppy, but slick (and on Bella Union!), here's another act with "ballet" in their name.


More synthpop."I Can't Stop" by Melodies In Mono:


This Soundcloud user is worth a follow. Check out http://soundcloud.com/supersapi . He's collected some nice covers of indiepop bands and I think some tracks are his own work. I've noticed Indonesia has a large indiepop movement.