Niek

New single: Martha || Beat Perpetual

As if I needed any more reason to love Durham (UK) indiepoppunks Martha, they recently started covering some of my favorite bands. On their last single, they included a fun cover of an Allo Darlin’s classic (covered in our Monthly Dusted feature). This time, they do Tenement’s Dreaming Out Loud, and it’s another good one that’s stays true to the original.

But what really stands out on their latest 7″ is the Martha original and instant pop punk hit Beat Perpetual. It may very well be the catchiest song I’ve heard lately. Its chorus is massive and glorious and perhaps the poppiest they’ve recorded in their already super melodic discography. Have I told you yet how much I love this band?

Beat Perpetual is out through Dirtnap Records, and available through Green Noise (USA) and Specialist Subject (UK/EU). It’s a must own.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Green Noise || Specialist Subject

New album: Ben Woods || Dispeller

Some releases you have to experience in a live setting to fully “get.” I’ve been at countless shows where I left with a better appreciation or understanding for a new record. This also applies to Ben Woods sophomore album Dispeller which is out today, although I haven’t seen him perform in real life yet.

When I received the advanced stream of the record, I did not know what to think. It simply was too far from what I normally listen to. But then Woods released a short film with three live performances that changed how I feel about the record – watch the 15-minute video below, I particularly like the middle song (Hovering At Home) starting around 6:52. It starts slowly and timid, but explodes at the 8:08 mark in the coolest way.

The short film is beautifully directed and showcases the complexities, the layers and labour of love that went into the songs on Dispeller. Having watched the video, I’m listening to the record with fresh ears. I still don’t know how to describe it though. The press release talks about the New Zealand artist leaning “comfortably into intuition and abstraction,” and “experimenting with the disparate and the disharmonious.” But I’m not sure if that helps. I think Ben Woods’ music is just meant to be experienced – in the morning with some coffee, or during late night walks.


Dispeller is out today via Shrimper Records (U.S.), Meritorio Records (Spain/EU), and Melted Ice Cream (N-Z).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Meritorio Records

New album: Marc Valentine || Future Obscure

Marc Valentine of Last Great Dreamers fame makes his solo debut with Future Obscure. The record has a modern power pop sound (not unlike Ash or Ryan Allen/Extra Arms), but also features cameos of power pop royalty in Wreckless Eric and Matt Dangerfield (The Boys). Valentine lets his pop sensibilities shine on Future Obscure. It’s a super catchy record, likely fueled by the high intake of girl group and doo wop when he was writing the record. “I kind of imagined making an album that might sound something akin to the Ronettes, Springsteen and The Only Ones travelling together in a spaceship,” Valentine explains.

Clearly, Valentine used the pandemic years to cut and mold these ten songs, and Last Train Tonight, Break My Heart Anyway, Swiss Launderette, and Mornington Avenue are massive hits. I’ll never get bored watching powerpop songsmiths at the top of their game.




Future Obscure
is out now via Arcane Wires Records.
Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

Gimme 5! R.E. Seraphin Shares Five Songs That Inspired His Recent Songwriting

With ‘Gimme 5!’ we take a peek into the collections of artists we admire. The premise is simple: artists WE like share five records THEY love.

Right now, Bay Area songwriter R.E. Seraphin has 333 monthly listeners on Spotify. And although I think monodigit numbers are fun and all, I am convinced this number should grow with at least three digits to truly reflect the quality and appeal of Seraphin’s music.

For me, two things stand out in the music of Seraphin. One, he clearly is a talented songwriter. Week In Pop recently dubbed Seraphin as The Bay Area’s Modern Saint Of Power Pop. His discography includes releases by Talkies, Razz, Mean Jolene, Lenz, Glitz, Apache and Impediments. His 2020 debut (Tiny Shapes) under his own name featured many standouts (e.g., listen to the powerpop hit Exploding Head), and his recent Swingshift EP (covered here) provides top notch songwriting, layered instrumentation and cool covers (Television Personalities and Wipers).  If you are new to Seraphin’s music, I recommend checking out Playing House, Big Break or watching the recently released video for Stuck In Reno below.

New single: Parlor Hour || Demon Shuffle / Cute Song

Zoe, Noah, Nancy and Eli make up Parlor Hour, a slacker twee outfit from Portland, Oregon. This 4-minute single is my introduction to the band, and I sure hope we’ll meet again. The two songs are scrappy and infectious, just the way we like it at ATW.

“I sat down to write a cute song // But i have reality // on my shoulder // looking over.”



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Star 99 || Star 99

Last year, San Jose’s Star 99 dropped their excellent debut EP My Year In Lists. I almost forgot about that one, so I was happy to have Bandcamp notify me of new Star 99 material.

The new single has three songs: Born To Run (not a cover), Vegas, and Wyoming – The latter sounded so familiar, I was searching my brain for the original artist only to discover it’s a rerecorded version of a Star 99 original from last year’s EP. The new version strips away all instrumentation of the original except for the guitar and vocals. In doing so, it places a spotlight on the songwriting skills of Star 99.

The two additional tracks on the single (Born To Run and Vegas) further solidify my appreciation for the melodic indiepunk/altpop of Star 99. I have yet to hear a weak song from this band, and am curious to see where they go next.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: El Buen Hijo || Pasatiempo

Based on their amount of montly listeners on Spotify – just shy of 60k, it seems fuzzy and playful indiepoppers El Buen Hijo are making some serious waves in their country of origin (Spain). And deservedly so. I wouldn’t be surprised to see those waves reaching other coastal lines as well, because the four songs on the Pasatiempo EP are almost too easy to like.

Following up their debut LP ¡PAN PAN PAN! (2021), El Buen Hijo sound decidedly pop on their new EP but at a pace that suggests they are either punks in disguise or score high on a scale of hyperactivity. The summer time vibes are high on this one. 7″ out now through Sonido Muchacho.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Sonido Muchacho

New album: The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club || Please Stand By

Sometimes you need a gentle push to revisit a release you all too readily dismissed in the onslaught of new music. In this case, and far from the first time, Josh Rutledge provided the nudge with the subject being The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club (BDSC). On their new record Please Stand By, BDSC operate as engineers building a suspension bridge between classic ’70s rock and early ’80s powerpop, ending on an observation post that looks out over some ’90s altpop.

If those three genres are not your cup o’ tea, look elsewhere. But if you are in the mood for some authentic guitar rock (RIYL Cheap Trick, Sloan, The Cars etc.),  give this one a spin. I can’t help but believe a song like Pony Up would have lit a fire under ’70s arena crowds. And that Hold You Up and What They’re After would have been sure radio hits in the early ’80s, or that Joni, It’s Not Like That would not have looked out of place on any Fountains Of Wayne record.

Please Stand By was three years in the making and I dismissed it within minutes. I was wrong, but happy to have given it another try.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Flowertown || Half Yesterday

For me, music is all about feeling. The extent to which music is memorable and likeable depends on what emotions it evokes and the strength of these particular emotions. There is no way I’m going to describe better or more concisely how I feel about Flowertown’s new mini-album Half Yesterday than this piece from the press release: “it’s as if you’re floating around the city, people-watching through a soft focus lens.” It’s a perfect description of this dreamy record that seems literally and figuratively uninterested in screaming its importance to the world. Flowertown would rather sneak up to you with their understated dreamy lo-fi underground pop, slowly crawling their way under your skin. It’s kind of weird, and kind of beautiful.

Flowertown is Karina Gill (Cindy) and Mike Ramos (Tony Jay). Half Yesterday is out now through Mt. St. Mtn (LP) and Paisley Shirt Records (CS).



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Paisley Shirt || Mt. St. Mtn

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