After a long summer break I thought I should kickstart my season with the new single from the powerpop trio Rooni, “Who You are”. They surprise me with a more spacious and more polished sound than before, where glittering acoustic guitars set the mood in the song. Sometimes Tom Petty feels close, but here are also strokes of the sixties and indiepop from the nineties. They say that half the budget was spent on the recording and the other half on pancakes with strawberry jam, so the music video had to be produced with the little resources that remained. The single is the first one in a series of three, to be released this Autumn.

Rooni’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Apple Music

The Echo Field

The Echo Field – “The Echo Field” EP

Behind The Echo Field we find the two friends Tomas Hellberg and Niklas Mellberg, who on their debut EP in the Autumn also got help from Billy Cervin (Side Effects) on guitar and Oskar Nylén on bass. The four songs radiate a happy, melodic powerpop with a strong breath of the sixties. I hear a lot of analogue warmth, characteristic chords and vocal harmonies that remind me of that era. I wouldn’t say it’s completely a retro album, though, as they have a fresh touch of their own in the sound and there are a plenty of other references with music from the seventies up to today which shines through. A debut album which promises a lot for future releases.

The Echo Field on Facebook – on Spotify – on Apple Music

Roadside Member and the Crouch – “Somehow Psychadelic” EP

Here’s another excellent EP that was released in the Autumn. It’s Roadside and the Crouch’s third EP, where they present a wonderful mix of folkrock, Americana and pop. The melodies are contagious and Billy Lantz supply some great vocals.

Roadside Member and the Crouch’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Apple Music

Micael Matias – “Stockholm Syndrome”

Micael Matias is a singer/songwriter from Jönköping who so far has released a string of singles, where this one, “Stockholm Syndrome” came out a couple of months ago. He has a great baryton voice I like, which he gives some space in a folk inspired rock with good melodies. I also take the opportunite to add one of his earlie singles, “When the Winter Turns Into Summer”.

Micael Matias on Facebook – on Spotify – on Apple Music

AstroMike Gordon

Fantastic – “Darkness” – video

I can’t help thinking about Ozzy Osbourne from the early seventies when I look at the duo Fantastic’s video “Darkness”, with it’s psychadelic ambience, lit candles and dark eyes, singing about inner demons. The music is not that much Black Sabbath, though, but rather psychadelic kraut, like they write themselves. Great song.

http://youtu.be/effKpGAxUR8

AstroMike Gordon – “Youthful Spite/I´m An Astronaut”

AstroMike Gordon is an insteresting constellation from Malmö, that yesterday released the two track single “Youthful Spite/I´m An Astronaut”. They have created quite a special film nostalgic ambience and a sound with crooner vibes from the front man Cristoffer Csanady.

Wayflower – “Over You”

Punky, glammy rock’n’roll or Big Star-inspired power pop. Somewhere in those areas is where I find the band Wayflower, hailing from Stockholm, who are now releasing the single “Over You”. Last month they also released the song “Holding On”, and both songs are taken from the band’s upcoming debut album”Heroes”, which, after this, feels quite necessary to dig into when it comes out.

Little Children – “By Your Side”

Linus Lutti and his project “Little Children” is releasing a new single from the upcoming album “Walk Within”. This Beck-scenting song is called “By Your Side”, a song where he’s been working with the multiinstrumentalist Andreas Söderström.

The Plastic Pals

Mathias Melo – “My Friend the Freedom Fighter”

Mathias Melo is a new musical acqaintance for me, one who has just released his first single, “My Friend the Freedom Fighter”. It’s an inspirational, sunny singer/songwriter pop with a lovely rhythmic acoustic guitar playing, and an interesting voice from Mathias.

Fou De Toi – “Dreams”

Today Fou De Toi release the second single from their collaboration with the producer Ronald Blood. It’s called “Dreams” and is yet another example of their exquisite sense of catchy pop melodies.

The Plastic Pals – “The Final Remedy”

Tomorrow The Plastic Pals release the single “The Final Remedy”. The song is taken from their excellent second album “Turn the Tide”, launched last year. Great groove on this catchy tune which send me vibes of powerpop, new wave and garage rock and a breath of the era around the end of the seventies/the beginning of the eighties.

Simian Ghost – “Echoes Of Songs (For Trish Keenan)”

And here’s another piece of wonderful dreamy indie pop from Simian Ghost in the song “Echoes Of Songs (For Trish Keenan)”. The song is a tribute to Trish Keenan, former singer in  Broadcast, who tragically passed away three years ago.

Here’s Rooni with their third single, the catchy “Ambulance”, a song in the same spirit as the earlier ones, with their own mix of indie pop and retro-vibing power pop. The best song so far I think.

Rooni’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp – on Soundcloud