Hollow Sunshine - Bring Gold [12", LP]

By coincidence i came across HOLLOW SUNSHINE somewhere on the internet last month and i liked what i heard so much that i decided to order this BRING GOLD album, which was released in summer. It sounds a bit like a mix between Jesu, Nadja and Nothing: generally slow-paced, fuzzy distorted shoegaze with post/sludgemetal influences. Good stuff, but not groundbreaking or anything. My favourite track would be opener Coral, which is also the one that caught my attention online. I've got the "milky clear" edition, of which there were 400 made. There's also an edition of 200 on "black haze & cloudy clear" out there.

Label: Iron Pier
Cat.nr.: IRP15
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Coral
02. Bring Gold
03. Careful Travel
04. Last Chamber

SIDE B:
01. Firmament
02. Morning Green
03. On A Balance
04. Companion

Pauw - Macrocosm Microcosm [12", LP]

MACROCOSM MICROSCOSM is the debut full length by Dutch psychedelic rockers PAUW. An amazingly good album, packed with melodic psychedelic gems. It would very much surprise me if these guys don't break through internationally in 2016.
They had a limited 12" and a 7" out previously, and some of those songs (Visions, Abyss and the simply brilliant Shambhala) are featured on this album as well. The new songs on Macrocosm Microcosm are equally good. They really stick in your head and it's like you already know them for years. Maybe it's because the sound of the music at itself is familiar: Glare has a fuzzy Tame Impala feel to it, Glare Pt.2 although based on the same theme sounds more like Pink Floyd, and (unexpectedly) even Madonna's Beautiful Stranger is not too far away in High Tide. You can say it's all been done before - but then again what hasn't, if you're talking about sixties-inspired retro rock? Fact is that it's rarely done this good. Pauw is definitely right up there with the likes of Tame Impala, Temples and Pond.
Debut album of the year as far as i'm concerned. Also the artwork is amazing, as you can see.

Label: Caroline Benelux
Cat.nr.: 475 180-8
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Memories
02. Today Never Ends
03. Visions
04. Glare
05. Intents

SIDE B:
01. Shambhala
02. Abyss
03. High Tide
04. Glare Pt.2

Girls Names - Arms Around A Vision [12", LP]

My favourite Irish band is back with an absolutely great album. ARMS AROUND A VISION is another huge step forward for GIRLS NAMES, just like The New Life already was compared to their first album. One of the first things you notice, is that Cathal's vocals are much more in the front of the mix. No more soft mumbling, no echoes. Call it less new wave, more post-punk. Actually it reminds me the most of Felt's singer Lawrence. Musically it's more experimental than what they did before. You'll hear a saxophone, eerie screeches and weird noises, short instrumental interludes... yet still it's typically Girls Names. Their sound is like an eclectic mix of all bands that influenced them; without ever sounding as a copycat. No need to sum them all up here, but you'll surely hear familiar sounds. And if those bands happen to be your own favourite bands as well, like they are (amongst) mine, you're in for a treat for 46 minutes. This album is definitely one of the best releases of this year as far as i'm concerned. Also they'll be going on a month-long European tour in two weeks from now, so check them out if you get the chance.

Totaly unrelated: I just noticed this is my 500th post on this blog. Anniversary post, yay! ;)

Label: Tough Love Records
Cat.nr.: TLV083
Year: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Reticence
02. An Artifcial Spring
03. Desire Oscillations
04. (Obsession)
05. Chrome Rose
06. A Hunger Artist

SIDE B:
01. Málaga
02. Dysmorphia
03. (Convalescence)
04. Exploit Me
05. Take Out The Hand
06. I Was You

Swervedriver - Space Travel, Rock 'N' Roll [12"]

This SPACE TRAVEL, ROCK 'N' ROLL EP was released in 1998 and lifted from SWERVEDRIVER's 4th album 99th Dream. The title of the EP came from some of the lyrics of the title song of that album (and opening song of this EP). I must admit i don't even own the album; i never saw it anywhere in the shops back in the days and kind of lost track of the band after their 3rd album Ejector Seat Reservation. That's not really surprising though, because the album was supposed to be released on Geffen first, but then the band got dropped before it even got a release. Which resulted in the album being in limbo for nearly a year, until indie label Zero Hour picked them up and released it after all. It just never got the same exposure the other albums had. The songs on this EP are also not really the strongest i've heard by them, but still it's a solid EP and i'm happy i bumped into it last week.

Label: Sonic Wave Discs
Cat.nr.: SWD098EP
Year of release: 1998

SIDE A:
01. 99th Dream
02. Good Ships

SIDE B:
01. Hate Yr Kind
02. Stimulini

Snow In Mexico - Juno Beach [12"]

The moment i heard a song online of this one-sided JUNO BEACH 12" by Italian duo SNOW IN MEXICO, i knew i had to buy it. It's a great electronic EP that finds a good balance between dreampop and 80's synth pop. It's kinda like a mix between M83, Pet Shop Boys, Vangelis and Giorgio Moroder. The phone conversation in The Call even reminded me a bit of Clouds Across The Moon by Rah Band ;) My favourite track is definitely Sunshine. Nice 'n hazy, and very danceable.

Label: Saint Marie Records
Cat.nr.: SMR077
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. The Call
02. Juno Beach

SIDE B:
01. Sunshine
02. Gentle Rain

Slowdive - Holding Our Breath [12"]

It took me quite some time, but last week i finally came across a copy of the regular edition of the HOLDING OUR BREATH EP by SLOWDIVE. I had the promo version for some time already, but not the regular one. So now i'm closing in on completion ;)
This EP contains some excellent tracks: Catch The Breeze, which was my introduction to the band back in the days, the amazing Syd Barrett cover Golden Hair (a live favourite with which they close their shows), the dreamy Shine which is one of my absolute favourite Slowdive songs, and the beautiful yet somewhat unsettling Albatross. Extremely happy that i finally found this!

Label: Creation Records
Cat.nr.: CRE 112T
Year of release: 1991

SIDE A:
01. Catch The Breeze
02. Golden Hair

SIDE B:
01. Shine
02. Albatross

Tamaryn - Cranekiss [12", LP]

Out of the blue, or at least for me, came this new album by TAMARYN, called CRANEKISS. I love her previous albums The Waves and Tender New Signs so much that i bought this one without any hesitation. However to my surprise Cranekiss sounds much different: less guitar (actually almost no guitar), more electronics, samples and her voice is clearly present everywhere. So that's not quite what i expected - but i simply love it! The whole sound is clearly influenced by Cocteau Twins: ethereal and very well-produced. Even the artwork looks like it's a 4AD release with a 23 Envelope/Vaughan Oliver-style sleeve (Pixies - Velouria era, especially the back). However it's done by Shaun Durkan (of the band Weekend) with whom she worked on this album. Also Jorge Elbrecht (of Violens) participated, and did the production as well. Standout tracks as far as i'm concerned are the title track, Softcore, I Won't Be Found and the delicious Sugarfix. One of the most surprising releases of 2015 so far for sure, and only in a good way.

Label: Mexican Summer
Cat.nr.: MEX202
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Cranekiss
02. Hands All Over Me
03. Last
04. Collection
05. Keep Calling

SIDE B:
01. Softcore
02. Fade Away Slow
03. I Won't Be Found
04. Sugarfix
05. Intruder (Waking You Up)