“Pinning Paradise” is a pensive meditation on the movement of time from Yellow Shoots, the Philadelphia-based project of multi-instrumentalist and producer Gregory Matthews.

Enchanting acoustic trickles blend with tender vocals, creating a sonic enclave from the exponentially ever changing world. With an expansive breath of sweeping synths and flutes, the first chorus hits right at the one-minute mark with an endearing embrace of the human condition.

Woozy backing vocals enter during the second verse adding a hint of haunting lushness, highlighting the tension between brooding lyricism and delicate atmospheric styling. “Pinning Paradise” undulates between comfort and discomfort, challenging you to find the beauty and stillness in both.

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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of January 2023’ Spotify playlist.

The track is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Emerging Indie Rock.

The post Yellow Shoots – “Pinning Paradise” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

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“Laced Up” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of November 2021’ Spotify playlist.

The post Lucha Like Libre – “Laced Up” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

Ghostly key swirls and deep-rooted vocals create a cove of reflection in Conor Houston’s “Evenings With The News.” Haunting psych guitar twinges swell to an engulfing chorus, burgeoning with eldritch synth-y textures. Mournful verses give way to the raging climax past the two-minute turn, extinguishing into a deafening silence. “Evenings With The News” brims with regret, all while offering catharsis in its tonal and atmospheric dynamism.

The London-based artist elaborates more on the track and its inspirations below:

“This is perhaps the most melodramatic and theatrical track I’ve recorded thus far. Lyrically, I was picturing an older man, one formerly in a position of power, looking back and assessing the decisions he’s made over the course of a lifetime As the lyrics formed, they were quite mournful, and tinged with regret, so I then built the music to compliment this mood.”

“Musically, I mainly referenced Nick Cave, Scott Walker and Nine Inch Nails, focussing on powerful dynamics and sinister chord-voicings. Some heavier influences crept in with the guitars, and I liken these to Volume 3-era Slipknot.”

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“Evenings With The News” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of May 2021’ Spotify playlist.

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Trudging guitar jangles and a valiant vocal lead ignite Love Crumbs‘ new track “Cavalcades”. While the verses chug along with a meditative calmness, the chorus cathartically erupts like a soaring spring of hope. Conceived while Black Lives Matter protests lined the streets this past summer following George Floyd’s death, the track’s exalting organ adds texturally richness to a righteous soundscape that serves as a sonic processional.

“Cavalcades” is familiar enough in its melodic structure to invite a sing-along feel, but stick around for the heady bridge at 2:55 which transforms the melody’s somber acceptance into a resilient empowerment. Lyrics like “we’re moving forward, and you’re moving backward, step aside”, call to recharge on the optimism that morality will bend toward justice. Rejuvenating.

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“Cavalcades” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of January 2021’ Spotify playlist.

The post Love Crumbs – “Cavalcades” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

Roaring from Chesterfield, UK, Alpaca Factory remind fondly of early Arctic Monkeys, particularly the album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. Get seduced by the juicy guitar riffs and punchy yet balanced percussion on new track “They Say the Devil Wears Prada.” The band’s observational lyrical style recalls a set of real events at a Halloween house party. Led by Tom Gannon’s confident vocal presence, Alpaca Factory’s tightly produced sound and knack for melodies makes the band’s young age (all members are sixth formers) all the more impressive and promising.

The band elaborates on the track more below:

The lyrics of the song are quite self-explanatory, it’s about a boy who ends up getting an ex to cheat on her boyfriend with him on a one night stand during a Halloween party. The song is inspired by a real Halloween house party, after Tom (vocalist) saw a girl dressed up in a devil outfit. He based the story around the premise of what often occurs at teenage house parties (as we’re all 17).

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“They Say the Devil Wears Prada” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of July 2019’ Spotify playlist.

The post Alpaca Factory – “They Say the Devil Wears Prada” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

Forlorn guitar riffs float weightlessly and quickly collide with punchy organ keys on Cat Clyde’s new track “So Cold.” Clyde’s vocals pierce the atmosphere until they fully build at the 0:45 mark, where they’re joined by a now-soaring organ presence, balanced beautifully against the blues rock soundscape — fondly reminding of The Doors. A ghostly synth presence takes over at 1:09, eerily entrancing until the next gut-wrenching verse arrives. The meandering melodic trip gushes with a mysterious moodiness and its slow burn allows you to savor its complexity.

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“So Cold” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of June 2019’ Spotify playlist.

The post Cat Clyde – “So Cold” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

Psych-rocker Philaes Fogg returns with another deliciously murky atmosphere on new track “Memories of Sun.” A coy guitar presence accompanied by hauntingly harmonic vocals pulls you into an eldritch expanse. The track slowly burns through its intro and makes way for the cathartic melody at the one minute mark. Fogg’s uneasy but seamless key changes, like the one at 2:53, twist the elongated progression and offer unwavering depth, a charm that’s been perfected by the artist. As you hurdle to the outro at 4:30 the guitars wail with a gloomy allure that overshadows any vestiges of light, leaving you with only memories of sun.

The post Phileas Fogg – “Memories of Sun” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

Anthony Lazaro’s latest track “Written in the Stars” bursts open with a bustling rhythmic style reminiscent of The Strokes. Lazaro’s vocals drip with raspy allure as they parade across a linear melody that’s content in its subtle variation. The general melodic build-up, arising around the 45-second mark, is continually gripping. The track’s resulting lo-fi rock sound is simultaneously punchy and soothing — like having a shot of espresso. The Italian singer/songwriter, who’s presently living in Hamburg (Germany), certainly impresses with this effort.

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“Written in the Stars” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of March 2019’ Spotify playlist.

The post Anthony Lazaro – “Written in the Stars” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

Laura Jean Anderson’s ethereal pop vocals remind fondly of Minnie Riperton on new track “Thinking Bout You”. Entrancing refrains like “I’ve been thinking bout you / please don’t mind / it’s been getting me through,” combine with a soft, but omnipresent rhythm section and lush backing vocals to produce a daydream-infused atmosphere. Buttressed by a dramatic string presence, a vintage Hollywood glam transition at the 1:45 mark provides enough variation to keep the listener grounded in reality.

Anderson grew up in Washington state among a Mormon family. She chose music as her outlet for rebellion. Similar to her eclectic background, her musical style borrows from the past, with Anderson adding her unwavering voice to forge a new future.

“Thinkin Bout You” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of September 2018’ Spotify playlist.

The post Laura Jean Anderson – “Thinkin Bout You” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

Tempesst is the creation of a blended Australian-British quartet currently grooving in London. Suave vocals flow through an intoxicating vocal melody in their newest single “A Little Bit of Trouble,” — an ode to a drunken night at a local pub. The mesmerizing psychedelic folk-pop atmosphere is enriched with strings and a twangy, delicious guitar. Similar to Tame Impala while also touting a vein of majestic pop akin to Electric Light Orchestra, Tempesst expertly utilize memorable components from ’60s and ’70s rock arsenals and places it within a modern package. Look out for their upcoming Doomsday EP, out later this year.

“A Little Bit of Trouble” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of June 2018’ Spotify playlist.

The post TEMPESST – “A Little Bit of Trouble” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.