Blog: Bowlegs Music Review

Teardrop Factory are the latest addition to the Faux Discx family - and like pretty much everything else in that family they are fucking great. Their debut EP, Topshop , is out on the 27th May - and just in case you need any more convincing on this band's quality there's a free track from the EP these live dates: Saturday 18th May in Brighton at the Westhill Hall w/ Vision Fortune, Lab Coast, Stuart Warwick + Cold Pumas Monday 27th May in Brighton at Prince Albert w/ His Clancyness & The Soft Walls

There's a real wistful and nostalgic vibe to this track from Wildeflower - and this home-made video diary is the prefect companion. The group is in fact singer/songwriter Max Kinghorn-Mills - and his style is refreshing and strangely infectious. There's a new EP, Harbour & Good Company, ready to drop next month via Stella Mortos.

Texan artist Emily Wells released her debut, Mama, last year in the US and now the record has been picked up by Partisan and getting a deserved re-release. This track is a warped slice of Alt-Folk that balances the organic with the hypnotic and surreal - nice.

• Partisan Records - Darlin'

As The Pastels return for the first time proper since 1997, it's difficult to divorce my feelings of the past where they are now. Twenty years ago or more they soundtracked your lost late teens. Pretty much picking up from where the joint album with the Anglophile Tenniscoats left off a couple of era back, Slow Summits doesn't switch tack and still feels like rifling through your family photographs with one too many gins inside you. That’s how I feel when Stephen gently honks his bari-tones on Summer Rain . The lovely production [...]

Our favourite LA avant-garde pop creators Fol Chen have teamed up with cassette label Kissability to release a cassette only remix of their track Boys in the Woods . The track is lifted from the group's latest record - the amazing The False Alarms (out now via Asthmatic Kitty). The release coincides with the band's forthcoming European tour which includes a special date at The Shacklewell Arms in London on June 5th. All other dates are below the stream. The cassette is out June 3rd on limited edition [...]

• Fol Chen - Boys in the Woods ("Fire to the Fools" Extended Mix)

Like a period drama on some serious acid - the new Hospital Ships video is packed with costumes, gorging on food and high drama. The track - which also happens to be great - is lifted from the bands forthcoming album, Destruction In Yr Soul , which is out June 18th on Graveface.

Cayucas's debut, Bigfoot , has arrived in perfect time for the Summer season. This is a record brimming with Pop energy and heartfelt nostalgia, all delivered with an infectious energy that is hard to shake. We caught up with the main man, Zach Yudin, to talk about the music. Bowlegs: Most the tracks on Bigfoot clock in around 4 minutes long, is there a reason for this? Does it mean that you can elaborate more on certain subjects than your standard pop affair? [...]

Having enjoyed Mount Kimbie’s previous Crooks and Lovers album and EPs, and had our ears turned inside out by their bass-twisting live show, we were excited to see they’d been picked up by Warp. The awkwardly titled Cold Spring Fault Less Youth finds the duo incorporating more live instruments and vocals into their mid-tempo dubs than before, with mixed results. Getting the minus mark out the way first, we’ve not yet warmed to hyped singer-songwriter King Krule, and hearing him slur unconvincing lyrics like “I killed a man” on the musically unremarkable You [...]

Ann Pragg is the alter ego of Holopaw man Matt Radick and his new record, Bitter Moon , is a sombre and moody-as-fuck set that took near on eight years to complete. With his aching vocal and sweeping acoustic Radick's debut is as haunting as it is affecting - and the truth is we've been wandering within its realms for sometime now. The record is out now via Wonderland Archives - here's an exclusive listen to the title track.

• Ann Pragg - Bitter Fruit

Look through the letterbox into the hazy VHS world of Valentina. The English/Italian artist just released her Wolves EP on Greco-Roman.

Raw yet synthetic, the debut LP from Jesse Ruins is an Ambient Electronic record propelled forward by infectious beats and decorative notes. A Film plays like the soundtrack to an invigorating yet thoughtful late night; under the influence and prone to unabashed liveliness and delicate emotionality. Nobuyuki’s vocals work as a component rather than a focal point; unintelligible lyrics and droning melodies float along with the rolling ‘macbook’ percussions and enrapturing bass lines, complemented by the bell-like top notes and at times glitchy synth components. Laura is Fading and Talk to Alicia [...]

Dirty Beaches, aka Alex Zhang Hungtai, returns next week with his darkest and most affecting release yet - the double release of Drifters and Love is the Devil . You can hear the whole thing over at Pitchfork all this week. And if you wanted to enhance the whole experience why not read our interview with Hungtai whilst listening - just head here .

You can almost feel the sun on your back as Jackson Scott croons and rambles along the path of lo-fi pop. This is an absolute delight - and his album, Melbourne , drops in July via Fat Possum - and yeah we can't wait.

• FatPossum - Jackson Scott "Sandy" (Album Version)

Brazos are set to release their debut, Saltwater , at the end of the month via Dead Oceans - a record that runs on rhythmic motion and surges of vibrant pop. New York based Martin Crane started the Brazos moniker back in Austin with his debut Phosphorescent Blues (released 2009) and has been releasing and recording ever since. We caught up with Martin to talk about how it all started, the release of Saltwater and getting into the groove. Bowlegs: You self-released your debut, Phosphorescent Blues , back in 2009 [...]

Cronin is quickly rising through the indie ranks with his brand of candied, aggressive pop. As a recent grad of the Cal Arts music program, we find him lost, stuck, fearful yet hopeful. The faithless 27 year-old aggressively attacks his acoustic guitar with conviction and fervor - hammering out lyrics of whirlwind emotions and jangly, jagged riffs that would appease the alt-rock gods of the early 902s. Playing the lion's share of the melodies on the album, Cronin manages to control the sonic schizophrenia that often comes with an artist in his position. He beats himself up during [...]

Royal Forest will suck you backwards through a psychedelic filter with a looping hook running on repeat - and guess what - you'll love every minute of it. The Austin band drop their new record, Spillway , on the 9th July via King Electric Record Company.

• Riot Act - Royal Forest "Everyone Who Knows You"

An ambient and slow-setting video from Balmorhea - the track is lifted from their recently released full-length album Stranger (out via Western Vinyl).

With any release from The National, it's imperative you give yourself the time and space the album demands, allowing it to gradually reveal its secrets. Trouble Will Find Me begins with I Should Live In Salt , a classic expression of regret, sadness and love torn apart that we've come to count on Berninger & co. for. That's not to say it's The National by numbers. It's a welcome, soothing lead-in from the band that like to wear their heart on their sleeves. First single Demons broods with exercised restraint, controlled [...]

No Joy's sophomore, Wait to Pleasure , is a blanket storm of guitars, hooks and moments of unadulterated Pop. We tracked down Laura and Jasmine to talk about the band's progression, recording hummus and not leaving Garland out of girl time. Bowlegs: Wait to Pleasure is one hell of a sophomore – does it feel like a major leap forward from the debut – from your point of view what are its main differences? L&J: We recorded in a real studio this [...]

Love this shit - people making films that are actually interesting and took a bit of time and effort. All those second-rate session makers should take note (does that include us?)