New York is currently experiencing that rare blink of a buffer between summer and fall when the air is crisp, but sandals can still be worn, and even juggalos are practicing some level of modesty. This “in between” weather flummoxes people to the nth degree. There are absurd exhibitions, like the last-ditch donning of a tropical print shirt that will be laid to rest in a few short weeks. But paired with corduroys, of course, because after all it’s September.
But I guess much like I love genre-melding, I’m a fan of this creative layering. If it works, it works. And this week’s playlist runs the full spectrum of stylistic expression - from pure homegrown folk to alternative nods to the early aughts.
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WATERS frontman Van Pierszalowski adopts a new moniker Van William and storms on the scene with “Revolution” featuring my favorite Swedish sister act, First Aid Kit. Although the topic stems from personal heartbreak, the pop-folk tambourines and toe-tapping beat makes you want to grab the hand of the nearest searsuckered stranger and skip through the breezy streets.
If you’re in a different part of the country and your forecast is not “blue skies w/ a 100% chance of sunshine” we have something for those colder doldrums, too. Mysterious musician nothing,nowhere.’s “letdown” is anything but. It gripped my emo heart with its melancholy guitar intro, youthful lyrics, and Brand New parlando vocals - and even though I’m stuck in 2001, the track blossoms into a deeper, contemporary trip-hop offering. The only thing child-like about it would be the actual children’s voices toward the end.
Iowa City native Attom gives us “Afterglow ft. Ciele,” an electro-chill track I have been replaying on a loop; French artists Aroze and Antoine Chambe put a celtic-house twist on Ruca’s “Play Bad” and it’s everything I never knew I wanted in genre-layering.
Canadian crooner Corey Isenor weaves words with “Losing My Mind” - a folk-influenced, country-reinforced pretty ditty. And Luke Temple has an equally folk-tastic story to tell with “The Birds of Late December.” It’s a lot bluegrass and a little Andrew Bird, and makes me amped for Bristol’s Rhythm & Roots Reunion fest this weekend.
All the tracks this week are really different, but an escape from the norm - just like a reprieve from stagnant city heat - is always appreciated. So rock that pastel floral dress/coat combo like I am today, and enjoy this week’s mixed and matched edition of #IndieSkim - and don’t forget to send your suggestions our way.
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