Bands To Watch

By: Sean Kayden

Hibou – “Dunes EP” - Seattle dream pop band, Hibou, have just released their new EP album (currently name your own price via Bandcamp.com), “Dunes.” Peter Michel, former drummer of similar act Craft Spells, is now in the driver seat as main composer. This solo endeavor roams the realm of lo-fi, jangly pop guitars and dreamy snyths. If you’re a fan of Beach Fossils, DIIV, Craft Spells, and Minks (all on Captured Tracks record label), Hibou is for you. I’m a total sucker for anything dream-pop and while Hibou sounds awfully similar to other bands I love, I’m still hooked on the band’s chill and elated vibe.

Pure Bathing Culture – “Moon Tides” - Pure Bathing Culture is gearing up for their debut LP record, “Moon Tides” dropping this August. Indie-pop duo, Daniel Hindman and Sarah Versprille make very pleasant, lucid, surreal music. Their first single off the album, “Pendulum,” true to its name, swings gently back and forth as the music figuratively lifts you off the ground. Deeply reflective and supplying impeccably smooth vocals from Versprille, “Pendulum” may just be one of many stunning songs coming later this summer from the Portland natives.

Midnight Faces – “Fornication” - Festival headlining worthy band Midnight Faces, have created soaring, commanding, and tightly structured songs for their debut LP, “Fornication.” The record benefits from its 80s inspired electronic dance-pop subtleties. However, I feel this album is one of the most original, modern sounding indie rock albums of the year.  Midnight Faces is made up of alternative duo, Matthew Warn and Phil Stancil. The band’s sound is a complete departure from Warn’s other group, post-rock instrumentalists, Saxon Shore. He’s described Midnight Faces as “Tom Petty fronting The Cure.” With Warn’s experience in Saxon Shore and bandmate Phil Stancil impressive vocals, the pair’s eclectic style allows them to bring a refreshing, innovative sound to “Fornication.” The duo wields both high-energy tracks as well as soft, multi-layered compositions. “Fornication” is out now via Broken Factory.

Superhumanoids – “Exhibitionists” - Snyth-pop trio Superhumanoids hail from Los Angeles, California. On August 13^th the 80s new wave inspired enthusiasts will be releasing their debut LP, “Exhibitionists.” One of the first songs previewed off the album is “Bad Weather.” Similar in vein to Pure Bathing Culture, the vocals are utterly intoxicating as they are performed over a crisp, shimmering, electronic soundscape. While most bands in the genre can be the soundtrack any hot summer day, Superhumanoids occupies more a nighttime feel. They’re a little darker, evocative than other groups in this realm. Plus, they specialize in love and longing type of lyrics as opposed to simply disposable summer time anthems. If you’re looking for something different but not completely off the beaten path, Superhumanoids may be the band you need to get by these hot summer nights.  



Published by Mountain Views News on July 6th, 2013
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v07/htm/n27/p18.htm