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Aaron Dooley – “Westbound Alameda”
More front range rock is on the horizon with the release of Aaron Dooley’s The International Disassociation Of:, out October 6th on the always amazing Centripetal Force label, with cassettes available through the also incredible Island House records. Bassist and composer Aaron Dooley rounded up an epic ensemble of musicians to make something blurring the lines of spiritual jazz, high lonesome ambient country, and improvisational drone. Upon first listen, Westbound…
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Julien Ledru – Mellotone Valley
Oh, how refreshing it was to find an album full of beautiful acoustic fingerstyle guitar. It’s been a while since I heard anything in the style, as our collective unconscious has moved into experimental spaces replete with effects pedals and nebulous discord. Not to dismiss either thing – both are absolutely my shit and necessary. But Julian Ledru’s Mellotone Valley was so welcome in its straightforward, gorgeous simplicity – not…
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Adeline Hotel – “Little Chili”
Adeline Hotel’s releases evolve continuously, expanding genres, and Dan Knishkowsky’s latest, Hot Fruit, is his most out there- and one of his most gorgeous releases yet. Following last year’s The Cherries are Speaking, Dan continues his (formerly) unconscious fixation on fruit with a spiritual jazzy motif, Hot Fruit‘s theme ponders the notion of self as relationships change, mirroring the questioning of fandom – if one concept is cemented in one’s…
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Skyway Man – “The Holding On”
James Wallace’s pseudonym could easily be JAMS Wallace, but he opts for Skyway Man, whom he describes as ” a superimposed image, always flickering in and out of existence, different each time. One Skyway Man chased love across dimensions, another followed death through the underworld, this Skyway Man is reckoning with the reliance of his past memory.” Memory and telepathy are major themes on his upcoming album, Flight of the Long…
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Mapache on songwriting, collaboration and their new album Swinging Stars
Petal Motel contributor and author, photographer, wanderer, and all-around brilliant creative Roberto Johnson was kind enough to interview Clay Finch and Sam Blasucci about their new record, Swinging Stars. Mapache has been dear to my heart ever since I saw Sam and Clay singing under the stars at Landers Brew Co. (RIP) here in the desert, long before it became my home. Mapache is integral to the overall web of…
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Golden Brown – “Withywindle”
The exquisite front range rockstar Golden Brown is back with Wide Ranging Rider, out September 8th via Inner Islands. The beautiful video by Sia Urroz is as lovely as the song, featuring Stefan’s amazing children Lola, Oscar, and Scout, who are the cutest, most lovable creatures I’ve ever seen (you can follow them on Instagram, I love them so much!). Be sure to pre-order Wide Ranging Rider on Bandcamp, and…
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Rose Haze – “Slow Decay”
Today, Bay Area-based band Rose Haze shares the premiere of the video for their new song, “Slow Decay.” What was Kate Ramsey’s alter-ego is now a full band, with misty, swirling guitars and synth, and timeless, soaring vocals, reminiscent of Swervedriver, sweetly discordant rather than saccharine. Shoegaze is alive with Rose Haze! Explore Rose Haze’s discography on Bandcamp. “Slow Decay” is very much a shoegaze wall of sound cloaked in…
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Late Summer Bandcamp Shopping List
It’s late summer and thinking of seasons changing brings my stress levels up, but thank goodness, music is on the way to save me. Here’s a list of a few beautiful new releases that are coming out around this time. Bandcamp Friday is September 1st, so add these to your cart and check out then! Seasons Shifting by IKSRE & anthéneA gorgeous collab between two prolific ambient composers- soothing and…
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Jerry David DeCicca – “Manzanita Bay”
One of our very favorite Texas-based troubadours has announced the release of his fifth solo album, New Shadows, out on September 21st. True porch music (Jerry literally wrote the album on his front porch,) he describes the album as “literary-goth and avant-Americana meditation, absurd and ruminative,” which sounds like true Jerry music and is exemplified extraordinarily in Manzanita Bay – a little broody, a little dance-y, and absolutely nails the…
