Today: Brave Shores get game, Mike Edel works it, Frigs crop up, Hookworms hook up, Preacherman gets praise, Mk.Gee plays the fool and much more.
1 | Canadian synth-popsters Brave Shores came to play with their new single Middle Game — along with a video (above), they’ve also released an interactive online game. SEZ THE PRESS RELEASE: “Inspired by the style of Monkey Island and Space Quest, The Middle is a one-of-a-kind adventure game built similar to a ’90s PC. Director Luca Tarantini said: “The way the game and the music play off each other, it’s hard to tell which was made for which.” Level up here.
2 | Singer-songwriter Mike Edel works the room — and gets it in one — in the impressively energetic single-shot video for his new number 31. SEZ THE PRESS RELEASE: “31 is about “your friends getting real jobs, buying houses, renovating their basements to their newly purchased homes, then renting it out and talking about real estate all the time.” Peep his workout video:
3 | Toronto post-punks Frigs — whose debut album Basic Behaviour made this year’s Polaris Prize long list — head into the darkness on slow-burning new cut Crop Circles. SEZ THE PRESS RELEASE: “Crop Circles is a song about feeling good about yourself,” says vocalist Bria Salmena. “I wrote the lyrics when I was moving away from someone who only put me down and didn’t support my creative pursuits. The song lives solely in this recording. It was never intended to be performed.” Reap their bitter harvest:
4 | English alt-pop merchants Hookworms are capitalizing on the success of their acclaimed album Microshift by releasing a limited-edition EP of remixes on Nov. 23. Here’s a preview: Luke Abbott‘s upgrade of their gently spiky, off-kilter ditty Ullswater. SEZ THE PRESS RELEASE: “Released in February, Microshift remains one of the highest-praised releases of the year.” Second time’s the charm:
5 | Criminally overlooked singer-keyboardist and, um, puppeteer Preacherman (a.k.a. Tim Jones) gets his due this week when David Byrne‘s label Luaka Bop releases the compilation Universal Philosophy: Preacherman plays T.J. Hustler’s Greatest Hits — one of which is the fittingly titled gem Out Of This World. SEZ THE PRESS RELEASE: “Universal Philosophy grants listeners access, virtually for the very first time, to Jones’ outlook, his purpose, and the way he lives and experiences life on this planet. The music presented here is otherworldly, homespun, folk art funk; concise and stream-of-consciousness simultaneously.” Can he get an amen? Yes he can:
6 | L.A. indie eccentric Mk.gee — born Michael Gordon in New Jersey — takes it outside in the video for his new single Come On (You Know That I’m A Fool), from his upcoming Fool EP. SEZ THE PRESS RELEASE: “I wanted the video to be a bit of an ironic juxtaposition to the song. The music is pretty somber and deals with change and loneliness, but ironically the video is pretty light hearted and it’s just me and my friends doing dumb shit.” Don’t pity the fool:
https://youtu.be/awFrlrfWZYw
7 | Finnish multi-instrumentalist Jaakko Eino Kalevi previews the Friday release of his album Out Of Touch with the video for the shimmery indie-pop anthem This World. SEZ THE PRESS RELEASE: “We were at my friend’s studio and playing around with his new camera. This video footage was just a test but in the end it turned out to be the best take of all. I’m a big fan of karaoke and now with this video my fans can sing along.” Face the music:
8 | Chicago rapper Rich Jones gets into your head with Dreaming, the second single from his Nov. 2 release The Shoulder You Lean On. SEZ THE PRESS RELEASE: “I remember hearing the beat and falling in love with it instantly,” says Jones. “It enamored me due to its melancholic but determined vibe, the perfect soundtrack for catharsis.” Wakey wakey:
9 | Quirky Kingston pop-punk duo The Meringues take to the streets on Tell Me Twice, the first single/video from their self-titled full-length debut album, which comes out Friday. SEZ THE PRESS RELEASE: “Tell Me Twice is a blisteringly ragged, but melodically memorable song that exemplifies the band’s dynamic energy and the dark sweetness of their emotionally complex lyrics.” Once is not enough:
10 | Norwegian indie-pop duo Sail by Summer bring on the rain with the mellow stunner Low Tide Exit, from their upcoming album Facing Dullness. SEZ THE PRESS RELEASE: “This is classic songwriting with strong lyrics and catchy production. SXS members and Norwegian Grammy Award winners William (vocals, guitar) and Jens Kristian Rimau (keyboards) both bring their own musical voice to the band, while both are influenced by bands like The Cure, Kurt Vile and Here We Go Magic.” Go on, the water’s fine:
