Welcome to another five scorchers, courtesy of a summertime SR&R!
Nes Tarot’s Psycho Tropics – “Cherry” Nes Tarot’s Psycho Tropics, known for years for their loose, chill vibes, take a melancholy turn with their latest single. Taking some notes from mid-’90s alt rock, the instrumentation, arrangement, and recording quality showcase a massive expansion of the band’s scope. Guitars both crunchy and smooth coalesce for a cloudbursting chorus that is sure to stick in listeners’ heads long after the song ends.
Seagarden – “Liminal Space (I’ll Save You)” Seagarden’s debut EP, Nothing Gold Can Stay, is out now. Lead track “Liminal Space (I’ll Save You)” is a glistening cut of jangle-pop-meets-post-punk, with a Johnny Marr-esque arpeggio quickly morphing into an anthemic chorus complete with the chime of a 12-string Rickenbacker. The music video, which features impressive costume design by Katie Rejto, is also worth a watch.
Baby Muffler – “Birthday” On their second EP, Birthday, Baby Muffler take the “scrambled egg punk” of their debut and turn things up a notch. The title track is a prime example: While maintaining the grit and sleaze of the self-titled EP, the song adds a distorted organ and a jagged 12-string guitar to the mix. Over faster than it began, the song demands repeat listens.
Nathan Thao – “cat & mouse” Without a moment’s hesitation, this track, one of two new songs from Nathan Thao, kicks off with a wall of guitars in drop D, a lo-fi fuzziness coating everything. Distorted vocals cut through the waves of overdrive, sounding a bit like Good Flying Birds on steroids. If you’re a fan of chugging guitars and fuzzy production, this song and its B-side are absolutely for you.
Heaven’s Ex — “Circles” Heaven’s Ex’s debut self-titled album is explosive and cathartic. Opener “Circles” immediately sets the tone, with emotional vocals gliding alongside vicious guitars and a pummeling rhythm section. Channeling the raging melancholia of ’90s emo and alt-rock, the song is primal and in-your-face while being interesting enough to captivate listeners, wrapping them in an overdriven, ferocious sonic cocoon.