Tag: Shoegaze

Bandcamp Friday Picks 10/3/25

On By Amy Lordan-TrippIn industrial, Music, Shoegaze, Synth PopLeave a comment

Hooray! It’s Bandcamp Friday again! My favorite semi-monthly holiday. Here’s what I’ll be picking up:

  • Sunlight Echoes (Pre-Order) by Whitelands – This album is scheduled for release on Sonic Cathedral in January 2026, which seems like forever away, but it’s actually not! Backing vocals on their track “Sparklebaby” by Emma Anderson, formerly of Lush and Sing-Sing, make this album a must for me.
  • THE BPM (Pre-Order) by Sudan Archives – Due for release on October 17, I’m pre-ordering THE BPM and also getting Sudan Archives’ previous release Athena. The intriguing Sudan Archives is the brainchild of violinist Brittney Denise Parks.
  • Songs For Switches (Pre-Order) by ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴄʀᴏss ʜᴏᴛᴇʟ – This sumptuous industrial/darkwave album is being released on the perfect day: Halloween. The Chicago group features former members of Stabbing Westward and The Atlas Moth.
  • “Girl, so confusing” by Hinds – Once a quartet and now a duo, Hinds take their lo-fi brand of garage pop and put a unique spin on the Charli XCX hit.
  • Pratts & Pain by Royel Otis – I’m over a year behind on this one. “Sofa King” is so infectious, I have to get Pratts & Pain in addition to this year’s (Hickey), which, unfortunately, isn’t available on Bandcamp.
  • Caramel by Coach Party – Synthpop crossed with your favorite industrial-gloom-pop band. Maybe She Wants Revenge? With a dash of The Killers for good measure.
  • Is It Now? by Automatic – If you ever wondered what Ladytron would sound like if they were from Los Angeles, here is your answer and it is gorgeous!
  • “Little Black Dress” by Francis of Delirium – A new single from my favorite artist from Luxembourg.
  • “Doldrum Days” by Miki Berenyi Trio – If it’s new music from a former member of Lush, I’m going to buy it. Lush is pretty much my all-time favorite band. 🤷🏻‍♀️
  • Bury the Key by TOPS – My friend, Phillip, made me curious about this album when he described it as “breezy.” (If you knew Phillip, you’d realize how good an artist would have to be for him to be into a “breezy” sound.) Indeed, Bury the Key is lovely! It sounds like dream pop with a hint of yacht rock.
  • Dance Called Memory by Nation of Language – Upon first listen, I was like, “This sounds incredible.” And then I realized that I was bewitched by the nostalgia of my goth days in college. I’m fine with that. Recommended for fans of Future Bible Heroes.
  • All That Is Over by Sprints – If you haven’t heard the Sprints’ debut, Letter to Self, you need to fix that. After you’ve bought that barn burner, put your headphones on and listen to their sophomore effort. They manage that soft-loud-soft angst so well. And do try to catch them on tour. I’ve already got tickets for their February 3, 2026 show at The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA.
  • Adult Romantix by Winter – It’s shimmering-twee-shoegaze-indie pop and that’s for me!

October Bandcamp Friday Picks

On By Amy Lordan-TrippIn Music, Pop CultureLeave a comment

It’s already Bandcamp Friday again! On Friday, October 4, 2024, Bandcamp waives their revenue share and pass the funds directly onto artists and labels. Here are some tunes I implore you to check out!

Attic Ocean – the heavy blue and then after dark New shoegazers from Düsseldorf, Germany enrapture with this EP from 2023 as well as on their brand new single “Young Again.”

Glare – “Mourning Phase” The Texan outfit has released this new single that harkens back to ‘90s dream pop and shoegaze. Catch them next year at the Something In the Way fest at Roadrunner in Boston on February 2.

Wishy – Triple Seven Brazilian illustrator (and my pal!) Luciano introduced me to Wishy based on our common love of Ash. He was right; they sounded excellent! Full of power-pop vim and vigor. And then I realized that I’d be seeing them in February at Something In the Way. Lucky me!

Gillian Welch – Woodland Studios Another brilliant album of timeless bluegrass/folk from Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. See them on tour if you can. I was fortunate to work for their label’s distributor eons ago and every time I saw the duo was magical. I’m looking forward to seeing them in New Hampshire in December.

NewDad – Banshee EP Ireland’s NewDad released their debut album, MADRA, in January. This charming, indie pop EP is from 2022. Looking for something to celebrate casting your vote on Election Day? Go see them at the Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge, MA. Reminder: check to make sure you’re registered to vote at Vote.org.

Winter Gardens – “Moon Jockey” Britain’s Winter Gardens released this single last year. It sounds like Ladytron and Ladyhawke had a baby and I love it! They also have a smashing brand new single called “U/U.”

Ken Andrews – Secrets of the Lost Satellite The lush solo album from the man behind Failure is a must. It’s just been released as a high resolution download.

Year of the Rabbit – Year of the Rabbit Another Ken Andrews selection! This stellar album has also just been released as a high res download and it’s one of my all time favorite albums.