Obscure Sound: Best of April 2014

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April music

April’s compilation is a tidy one, with thirteen tracks clocking in at an accessible 50 minutes. I was probably a bit more selective than usual this month, but that’s OK — I really like every track on here. We kick things off with a one-two Swedish punch; the infectious string-laden pop of Stars in Coma resembles a cross between ABBA and Of Montreal, while Little Dragon have one of 2014’s greatest singles in the excellent “Paris”. From there, we submerge into darker rock; High Magic will delight fans of Tom Waits and Nick Cave, who use their idiosyncratic vocals over gritty narratives and crunchy guitars for a masterful impact. Meanwhile, Lazy Day – the solo project of Hella Better Dancer‘s Tilly Scantlebury – impresses mightily with “With My Mind”, which has lovable ’90s alt-rock vibe throughout.

Other highlights include Hunter & Wolfe, who concoct haunting Jeff Buckley comparisons in “Please”, and the slick R&B/electro-pop of RKCB’s “Baptize” (which will satisfy man How to Dress Well fans). Basic Tape and Onie also provide concisely effective electro-pop gems ripe for both the dance floor and night-time drives. On this compilation, I especially love the various deliveries of rock music – from the Tom Verlaine guitar influences of Miracle Fever to the irresistibly infectious garage-rock of Tangiers. Although April’s compilation may be short, it is plenty eclectic enough and filled with quality to compensate.

01. Stars in Coma – “By the Memorial Urn” (post)
02. Little Dragon – “Paris” (post)
03. High Magic – “The Ghost of Evermore” (post)
04. Lazy Day – “With My Mind” (post)
05. Miracle Fever – “Light of the Moon” (post)
06. Hunter & Wolfe – “Please” (post)
07. RKCB – “Baptize” (post)
08. Basic Tape – “Third Light” (post)
09. Tangiers – “End of the World” (post)
10. Hailer – “Digging Holes” (post)
11. Baywaves – “Dreaming” (post)
12. You Are Number Six – “The Gingerbread Man” (post)
13. Onie – “Love Me” (post)

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Mike Mineo

I'm the founder/editor of Obscure Sound, which was formed in 2006. Previously, I wrote for PopMatters and Stylus Magazine.

Send your music to [email protected].

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