Knoxville-based artist multi-instrumentalist and producer Rory C. McMillan achieves an eclectic, captivating sound on new single “Northshore Drive,” also featuring the fantastic drumming of Minneapolis-based Nick Miller. Fusing jazz, rock, and experimental electronic influences, the instrumental track makes a strong impression in just under three minutes. Dexterous, jazzy percussion and steady bass kickstart the production with climactic fervor, quickly ascending into melodic piano and spacey synths. Twangy guitars enter the fold around midpoint, adding a soaring rock element to the interplaying jazz/electronic atmospherics. Full of both impressive musicianship and melodically memorable savvy, “Northshore Drive” is a stellar track from Rory C. McMillan.

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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.

The post Rory C. McMillan – “Northshore Drive” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

Expanding from trickling subduedness into a hypnotic slowcore-forward array of layered guitars, “Brotherhood of Sleep” is a resonating new single from William Covert, a Chicago-based artist long immersed in the city’s experimental underground. Known for his work across math rock, post-rock, and post-hardcore projects, Covert’s solo material distills those influences into something more meditative, weaving minimalist structures with a neo-psychedelic haze that feels at once intimate and cinematic.

Gentle rhythmic pit-pattering aligns with the trickling guitar reflections for a momentum-filled beginning. The rhythm section — both the steady percussion and warming bass line — gradually attain more clarity as twangy, moody guitars enter the fold. The droning guitar tones continue to linger throughout, invoking a nocturnal atmospheric spirit in its rumbling jangles. “Brotherhood of Sleep” is a gripping success from William Covert.

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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.

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Melding a spirited rock appeal with an evident Drum ‘n’ Bass influence, “The Grand Ah-Whoom” is a recent track from Creatures of the Edge, the project of musician Justin Sanfilippo. The track’s rhythmic undercurrent initially involved a DnB loop, and Sanfilippo later recorded the final drum track using an actual kit — resulting in a rhythmic appeal that’s enjoyably organic, while still drawing from its original DnB inspiration.

An enthusiastic array of guitars, synths, and keys complement this instrumental standout, which doesn’t utilize any loops or samples. The track, which was initially composed 15+ years ago, also draws from a literary influence. “When it all came together finally this past winter, I was reading Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, and the name of the track comes from the end of that book,” Sanfilippo says.

An amiable interplay of spacey synths and bursting guitar expressions kickstart the track. A brass-y tonal maneuvering takes hold shortly thereafter, into a climactic percussive pit-pattering before the rousing guitars and synths conjoin again. Dreamy keys then emerge with atmospheric charm past the one-minute turn. The track compels in navigating enjoyably between charismatic synth and guitar colorfulness and more understated instrumentation, driven by the hazy keys/organs — while the brass tones interweave with enthusiastic ardency throughout. “The Grand Ah-Whoom” is an excitable instrumental rock tour-de-force from Creatures of the Edge.

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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.

We discovered this release via MusoSoup.

The post Creatures of the Edge – “The Grand Ah-Whoom” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

Glasgow-based duo nanashi excel with a dynamic, atmospheric rock momentum on debut single “False Horizons,” spanning from climactic post-rock guitar work — persisting enjoyably throughout — to starry-eyed electronic layers that persist in dreamy form underneath it all. Comprising a producer-musician and a club networker, nanashi continues to rise within Glasgow’s underground scene and beyond. Its name translates to “nameless” in Japanese, and is befitting for a project that favors music and emotion over individual persona.

Trickling guitar jangles and steady percussion craft a memorably atmospheric rock sound right away, simultaneously hypnotic and ardent in its repeating guitar lines — and then especially impactful as heavier-rocking distortion takes hold past the one-minute turn. The drums push forward with more expressive fills as the whirring guitar lines produce a layered entrancement. A brief, serene bridge then enamors at the two-minute mark, as twinkling elements — fondly reminiscent of The Wrens — are added to the textural rock sound. “False Horizons” consistently compels in its tonal rock dynamics and riveting guitar-forward soundscape.

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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.

We discovered this release via MusoSoup.

The post nanashi – “False Horizons” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

Both meditative and climactic in its artful instrumental rock sound, “Poinciana” is a stirring new track from Animal, Surrender!. The Brooklyn-based act, led by Peter Kerlin and drummer Rob Smith, excel with a strong atmospheric pull throughout — venturing through mellow pulses of guitar and gorgeous organs, as pit-pattering percussive elements enamor alongside and into a more vibrant second half. There, the uptick in rhythmic color and guitar-based expressions pair with the organ-based undercurrent for a gripping, satiating finale — dreamy and psychedelic in its stylish structural unveiling.

The track comes via the project’s upcoming album, Boot for Every Bane.

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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.

The post Animal, Surrender! – “Poinciana” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

A dreamy ambient rock spell takes hold on “Waves,” the latest single from Norwegian trio Inuuro. Comprising three childhood friends, who founded the project in 2012, Inuuro succeed in consistently capturing soundscapes reflective of their locale — specifically, “some of the beautiful scenery we have here in the west of Norway.” They continue: “This song represents how we feel when we think of fjords, mountains, and the deep sea. We envision how the sun and sky collides, releasing an orange hue over the Norwegian landscapes.”

Playing as a continuation of their newest album Pacific Northwest, released earlier this year, “Waves” dazzles with its immediate atmospheric strengths. A post-rock introspection unveils initially, as glistening guitars and sturdy rhythmic additions build with enjoyable momentum into dreamy electronic textures; a luminous intrigue moves into more expressive guitar work as the one-minute turn approaches, making for an enveloping sound from the get-go.

Another memorable sequence shows at the two-minute mark, as pulsing guitars intensify into a rousing percussive burst into soaring guitars — feeling like an audible reflection of high-flying mountains, from a bird’s eye view. One can’t help but envision nature’s gorgeous, sprawling sights as this atmospheric rock gem from Inuuro unfolds with artful precision.

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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.

We discovered this release via MusoSoup.

The post Inuuro – “Waves” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

A debonair instrumental rocker from Australian artist Frequency77, “Surf n Spy” invokes a cinematic appeal that resembles both a classic spy film and surf-set feature. The production captivates in its range of guitar tones — from tender, twangy mystique to steady distortion-laden undercurrents. The release is a riveting atmospheric success from the project, which comprises guitarist Cryo Freese, drummer Block, and bassist Max Mink.

Another recent single from the project, “If I Fall” succeeded with a stylish vocal-accompanied vintage rock psychedelia. Meanwhile, “Surf n Spy” struts a more approachably direct rock soundscape. Both showcase Frequency77’s penchant for quality songwriting, whether in the more familiar vocal-laden rock realm or intriguing instrumentals like “Surf n Spy.”

The initial pit-pattering percussion and washes of guitar distortion initially exude a Lynchian quality, while the ensuing bass-y emergence and added guitar lines bring about that spy film comparison. The free-flowing guitar twangs flow with a summer-y flair, melding enjoyably with the more nocturnal spy-like entrancement. “Surf n Spy” is an enveloping standout from Frequency77.

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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.

We discovered this release via MusoSoup.

The post Frequency77 – “Surf n Spy” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

The new single from Irish guitarist Joe Hodgson, “The Grass Is Greener” exudes a brightly instrumental rock charm — especially enveloping in its ardent guitar work. Rock, blues, jazz, and Indian musical influences converge on the track, which dazzles in its overall production — from the memorable guitar lead and lush backing to the comforting doses of organs and rhythmic precision. “The Grass Is Greener” releases as a double-single alongside the track “Shapeshifting.”

“The Grass Is Greener” wastes no time in unveiling an emotive immediacy. Expressive, wailing guitar tones radiate a charmingly melodic appeal amidst bright backing keys. An especially soaring sequence takes hold around the track’s mid-point, moving into dexterous steadiness and then an effervescent organ-backed push past the two-minute turn. A glistening, dreamy guitar-led glistening stirs in the background as the more impassioned upfront lead compels. The pit-pattering percussion provides a warming supplementation as well, in addition to the organs, though this is a guitar-fronted success through and through. “The Grass Is Greener” is a stellar output from Joe Hodgson.

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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.

We discovered this release via MusoSoup.

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The first of a series of instrumental works from John Goldrust 2000, “Rainbows & Rivers Meditations One” captivates with its passionate guitar work and atmospheric production. The output stands out as an memorable exploration of music theory, drawing inspiration from Bach’s mathematical approach to composition while also responding to the diminishing complexity of modern music. The artist seeks to break the theoretical constraints of music, believing that freeing composition from its rigid, inherited rules could also expand human consciousness.

The track’s creative process underwent several evolutions. Goldrust originally composed this piece as a classical-style piano composition based on music theory, but felt the lead part would be better suited to electric guitar rather than piano accompaniment. Since no available pianists could perform the lead at short notice, the decision was made to structure the melody for guitar, recording it in sections as individual riffs. The track was tuned to 432 Hz—considered a more organic frequency—rather than the modern standard of 440 Hz.

Tender guitar twangs and solemn piano accompaniments craft a debonair, immersive rock atmosphere right away. Solemn strings weave in seamlessly, continuing a palpable late-night introspection. Shades of David Gilmour show in the expressive guitar playing, expressive and moving with hints of bluesy psychedelia. The strings creep in with consuming, cinematic qualities — furthering this stirring presentation of soundscape and melodic soul from John Goldrust 2000.

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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.

We discovered this release via MusoSoup.

The post John Goldrust 2000 – “Rainbows & Rivers Meditations One” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.

A beautifully serene guitar-led soundscape lingers throughout “remembered,” a new track from Cecil Alexander. Originally from Muskegon, MI, Alexander has drawn praise and won awards for his work as a jazz guitarist. He also has a clear knack for textural infusions that go beyond the guitar playing, evidenced by the layered lushness within “remembered.”

A steady backing strum aligns enjoyably with plucky dreaminess, with the intertwining melodies reflective of nature’s peaceful yet awe-inspiring power. Alexander drew inspiration from long walks through vast fields and nature in general, resulting in the memorable songwriting and guitar playing throughout his newly released EP, miles and miles, streaming below:

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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.

The post Cecil Alexander – “remembered” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.