Watch: GEMS – “Pegasus”

You know when you hear something that is just so deeply gorgeous that everything else stops and all you can hear is the song? Yeah, that’s how we felt on Friday night when we had our first exposure to the sound of GEMS and their latest track, “Pegasus”. Aside from wondering how on earth we had failed to hear anything from them before, we were blown away by their simple and atmospheric dream-pop.

Here’s a quick introduction to GEMS and then we’ll get back to espousing hyperbole and gushing about our new favourite band.

The official line: ”GEMS is Clifford John Usher and Lindsay Pitts with additional drums and percussion by Sean McVey. The band formed in 2012 in Washington D.C.”

Yep, that’s it. However, according to the SXSW showcase schedule page for the duo; ”GEMS was born in a hundred-year-old carriage house in Washington D.C. in August of 2012. They recorded their first singles in an empty beach house in October in the Outer Banks, NC before being evacuated due to hurricane Sandy”.

All of which we like to think is very very true.

Back to the music.

“Pegasus” is all shimmery soft, wistful music for a moonlit walk on a beach. Lindsay’s feather-lite vocals drift on the breeze of the delicate, fuzzy synths and faint beats. The occasional ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhhh’s float along like a whisper, sounding delightfully reminiscent of the “thou shall not fall” bits from the theme song from The Lost Boys. That’s probably the most random connection we’ve ever made in a song but it only makes us love it more.

You know what else we love? The video.

Lindsay tells us that they shot it themselves ”using an iphone, some matches, and the light from the setting sun”. Could we be any more in love with them? It’s like they looked up ‘what makes Alphabet Bands tick?’ on Google and ticked off all the boxes. The simple monochromatic video looks exquisite and is the perfect accompaniment to a track that feels like you are listening to it through lace curtains. Take a watch and get lost in their beautiful dark and dreamy pop.

You can catch GEMS live at SXSW with shows currently confirmed for:

Wed. March 13 – Crack in the Road + Disco Naivete
12 noon – 12:30 GEMS @ B D Rileys
204 East 6th Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Fri. March 15 – Gold Robot + Father / Daughter + Small Plates
12:15 – 12:35 GEMS @ The Grackle (outside stage)
1700 E 6th St Austin, TX 78702

Sat. March 16 – Official SXSW Showcase
8:00 – 8:40PM @ Hickory Street
800 Congress Ave

Stalk GEMS: Soundcloud / Bandcamp / Website / Facebook / Twitter

Watch: Never Mind The Stars – “Keep You For Myself”

Falling in love is often a gradual process, one that can happen over a period of weeks, months, years; and with music, it can be over repeated listens, time after time. With the video for “Keep You For Myself”, it took us less than its 1minute 48 seconds length.

Featuring a little puppet wolverine (or maybe a fox, we are not entirely sure) being chased by torchlight through a snowy forest, it is remarkably charming and sweet. Little touches like the wolverine (or fox) pausing momentarily to catch its breath as it scampers through the undergrowth and over fallen branches give it a real sense of personality and warmth.

Of course the audio accompaniment plays a big part and the simple, delicate glockenspiel sounding melody is the perfect complement to the tone of the video. As does the soft and endearing vocals and the low atmospheric rumble that sits beneath the whole thing. It is quite lovely and well worth taking 5 minutes out of your day for (so you can watch it twice of course).

Never Mind The Stars is the solo project of Amsterdam based ex-pat Adam Bar Pereg. “Keep You For Myself” is taken from the project’s third album, the Light, which is out now on stfckr rcrds and available to stream or buy.

Watch: Polaroid 85 – “Freefall” Live Studio Session

We’ve been banging on about hearing some new music from Polaroid 85 for what feels like an absolute age and finally (yes!) we have some to share with you.

A couple of weeks back we shared the first of a number of specially recorded live studio sessions by the band, and hypothesised that the final video in the series would be a big reveal of new music. We are certainly no Poirot and they’ve only gone and made us look a bit daft by releasing a brand new track for their second video. We’d shake our fist and act all indignant but frankly we are far too busy getting our blissful groove on.

“Freefall” is a little bit busier than we have been used to from Polaroid 85 but it still features the collective’s exquisite and intricate layered sounds, as well as some tight-as-you-like live drumming. That’s one thing we love about these guys, the way they blend a lot of live instrumentalism with a little bit of programming and digital chicanery. As opposed to lot a of artists who go the other way these days. Here the process is used to create a delicious musical sandwich; the filling of vibrant beats is surrounded by (below) deep strings and synths that slowly drive forward, and (above) Neeta’s doleful vocals which float and glide atop the frenetic energies below.

It is, as we have come to expect, a fantastic track and one that bodes very well indeed for the new (as yet unannounced, untitled, unlikely to be released in time to sate our gargantuan appetite) EP.

Take a listen below, go download the “Fuzzy Mornings” EP for free (if you haven’t already), and hit them up on a multitude of social media platforms to tell them how great it is.

Read More: ’P’ is for Polaroid 85.

Stalk Polaroid 85: Facebook / Twitter / Soundcloud / You Tube

Watch: Kodaline – “High Hopes”

Regular readers will know that we love a little ambiguity in music videos and the latest from Kodaline delivers just that. This video from the BBC Sound of 2013 longlisted boys is a narrative gem, telling the story of love found under the most unlikely of circumstances, then lost again in the cruellest way. Or is it? There are numerous theories floating about t’internets as to what is actually going on and how the story ends. We won’t spoil anything but suffice to say, our take on it fits that of our old romantic heart.

Thankfully the track matches the aesthetic and quality of the video entirely, with its delicate opening complimenting the tentative beginnings of a new relationship, and building to a soaring, uplifting chorus as love takes hold of our protagonists.

“High Hopes” is the title track from their forthcoming EP, which is due out on 18 March and will be followed by their debut album, In a Perfect World, due 1 April. If that wasn’t enough, the guys are hitting the road in March and April to perform “High Hopes” and other songs just for you. Provided you live in or near one of the locations listed below and buy a ticket to the gig, otherwise they will be performing for other people and you’ll be at home feeling glum that you missed it.

Koadline Tour Dates
Saturday 23rd March – Bristol Thekla (tickets available from http://www.alt-tickets.co.uk)
Sunday 24th March – Norwich Arts Centre (tickets from http://www.norwichartscentre.co.uk)
Monday 25th March – Sheffield Leadmill (tickets available from http://www.leadmill.co.uk)
Tuesday 26th March – Manchester Academy 3 (tickets available from http://www.seetickets.com)
Thursday 28th March – Nottingham Rescue Rooms (tickets available from http://www.alt-tickets.co.uk)
Friday 29th March – Newcastle Cluny (tickets available from http://www.seetickets.co.uk)
Saturday 30th March – Leeds Brudenell Social Club (tickets available from http://www.lunatickets.co.uk)
Sunday 31st March – Glasgow King Tuts (tickets available from http://www.gigsinscotland.com)
Tuesday 2nd April – Birmingham Library (tickets available from http://www.livenation.co.uk)
Wednesday 3rd April – Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms (tickets available from http://www.seetickets.com)
Thursday 4th April – London Scala (tickets available from http://www.livenation.co.uk)

Tickets for the shows go on sale on Friday 8th February at 9am and are priced at £10, except London which is priced at £12.50 because everything is more expensive in London. Well, the streets are paved with gold so it kinda makes sense.

Stalk Kodaline: Twitter / Facebook / Website / SoundCloud

Watch: Sivu – “Better Man Than He”

After a relatively slow start, January awoke from its hibernation last week and started to kick some serious music arse. In just a matter of a couple of days we had amazing new songs from Gabriel Bruce, Vuvuvultures and MS MR. Thwack! Pow! and Kazam! Take that January.

Also released online last week, but with much less fanfare, was the debut single from Sivu, a 24 year old who currently works in a call centre in Waterloo. Not for much longer we imagine if the rest of his tracks are anywhere near as good as “Better Man Than Me”.

Brimming with elegance and sophistication, it is blessed with the kind of understated beauty that can take your breath away. It sounds so simple but the sounds have been deftly woven by a skilled craftsman to disguise their intricacy as well as their intimacy. It was written for a friend who was battling depression, offering them hope and a light ahead in the form of delicate and enchanting melodies.

It is a captivating track whose aural beauty has been matched by the hypnotic visuals that accompany it. The video, which you can see below, was inspired by research into improving operating techniques for children born with a cleft lip and palate, was shot live in Barts hospital, and features Sivu performing from within an MRI scanner. Like we said, it is hypnotic (especially the tongue) and it is simply stunning.

Remember the name as we think you’ll be hearing a lot more from Sivu in the future.

“Better Man Than He” will be released as a 7″ and digital single via ASL Records on 25 February in the UK and on a limited edition, hand-stamped 7” from No Recordings, exclusive to North America.

Stalk Sivu: Website / Facebook / Twitter / SoundCloud