Disconnect The Videotape

The jangly fuzzy that permeates This Is Disconnect, the debut LP by Chicago five-piece Videotape, is juxtaposed by the angelic/acerbic vocal interplay of Sophie Leigh. Think The Breeders and Fonda becoming a Mazzy Star/Sonic Youth hybrid - a shoegaze band grunging it up just to the precipice of static abyss before reining it in for a bit of La's-centric alt-pop... The sweet/jagged confection is a little off putting at times, yet on tracks like the glistening 'Static' or the growler 'The Creeps', everything aligns perfectly. It's a bit schizophrenic at times, but the melancholy of 'Walking In Circles' or the almost post-rock of 'Form' haunts as well. It has everything, and everything is done well, even if it doesn't cohere perfectly as an album. Well worth a few listens though - some of these tracks are absolute killer.


This Is Disconnect is out next week - you can get it here.

Videotape - Static
Videotape - No One
Videotape - Form

Drowners Never Go Away

Take a moment to meet Drowner, fittingly from Space City USA - Houston, Texas. Their press ticks off influences that colour each corner of the shimmering guitar rock spectrum - Ringo Deathstarr, My Bloody Valentine, Mogwai, Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, The Cure... And whilst the shoegaze elements are inherent in their self-titled debut LP (out March 13 on Saint Marie Records, a niche label that specialises in this sound and have also added SM faves Bloody Knives to their roster), making such connections is a little too safe. Case in point is second track 'Never Go Away', at just under eight minutes a creeping track that is Siren-esque in its gossamer, eerie calls. The washes of guitar are actually delicate, meticulously balanced, even in the stronger rock numbers such as 'Point Dume' or 'Written'. After bringing Fonda's comeback to our attention last year, Crash Avenue are responsible for pushing this release, and with good reason. This reminds me of when I heard Whirr (the band formerly known as Whirl) for the first time. Seeing as their Distressor EP is one of my favourite releases of its kind in the past few years, that is saying something. Get on board.



Drowner - Never Go Away
Drowner - Point Dume

Better Days With Minty Fresh Fonda

LA dream pop outfit Fonda returned after a lengthy hiatus earlier this year with the Better Days EP. Well, in very good news, label Minty Fresh has decided to rerelease Better Days on vinyl, with an added single for the occasion! The release isn't until November 22, but you can book yourself some wax right here.

Unsure? Try the new track below, as well as another cut from the earlier release. These guys, around the core of couple Emily Cook and David Klotz, may have lain dormant for seven-odd years (and Klotz edits music on Glee - seriously dude?!?*), but Fonda are welcome back any time.

Fonda - Some Things Aren't Worth Knowing
Fonda - Better Days

* Cook writes screenplays such as Ratatouille, so I guess it almost cancels out the bad taste in my mouth about the "day jobs" - almost...

Mewling Fondas

Is it just me that hears Mew's 2003 album Frengers all over LA band Fonda's Better Days EP, their first release in over eight years? 'A Love That Won't Let You Go' especially. It also reminds me of another album that I can't quite put my finger on... Maybe this isnt so weird, as Fonda all but disappeared in...yep, 2003. Coincidence? I think not...

Anyway, duo David Klotz and Emily Cook are new to me, and incredibly quiet to those who know and love their 2003 LP Catching Up To The Future, but they obviously havent been idle. The five tracks on offer here are replete with lush boy/girl harmonies and twee pop structure against a menacing wall of guitars. Its the epitome of dream pop, heavily ensconced in shoegaze excess - in short, beautiful. Thanks to Crash Avenue for being part of the process that got this out too!

Fonda - A Love That Won't Let You Go
Fonda - Better Days