How about some new tunes? TFN offers up a new soft voice on the indie scene with Pasadena’s Charley Hickey, shoegazy 80’s synth rock from Manchester’s Saccades and some fantastic lo-fi out of The Fragiles Philadelphia basement!
Charley Hickey
Pasadena, California
Twenty-one year old Pasadena-based artist Charlie Hickey has his debut EP, Count The Stairs, set to be self-released on February 26th. Produced, mixed, and engineered by Marshall Vore the EP also features friend and collaborator Phoebe Bridgers. Probably not a bad person to have in your corner but Hickey has a very engaging voice and Count The Stairs stands tall on its own. His voice is the selling point here as it has the soft touch and delivery similar to Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver and Alex G. I think after just listening to the six song EP once there is a good chance we will be hearing plenty more from Hickey because it is a solid sonic journey!
Artists With Similar Fire: Bon Iver / Jay Som / Alex G
Charlie Hickey Website
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Saccades
Manchester, England
Flowing Fades is the sophomore Saccades album from The KVB’s Nicholas Wood and it is due for release April 9th on Fuzz Club Records. The KVB is known for minimalist post-punk/coldwave but Wood’s Saccades material changes things up and is more psychedelic pop. On this record you will hear shoegaze synths, carefree guitars, dreamy vocals and influences that range Serge Gainsbourg to yacht-rock. Wood was going for a soothing and immersive experience and from the available tracks so far, Flowing Fades has a modern flare that fits in with the Captured Tracks label roster but also throwback 80’s Pet Shop Boys. With the bulk of the album written while Wood was cooped up in his apartment over lockdown, the album inevitably reflects the social unrest that was unfolding outside – touching on everything from lockdown paranoia and fractured relationships to missing life on the road. Saccades newest should be an interesting trip!
Artists With Similar Fire: Washed Out / Pet Shop Boys / Memory Tapes
Saccades Bandcamp
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The Fragiles
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
When you hear that a record was recorded on an 8-track TASCAM it should get you excited if that rawer lo-fi pop is your thing. Not only did The Fragiles record their new record, On and On, that way but it was also captured in a couple of basements. I know I completely have all the indie followers attention now! What is also exciting about this Fragiles record is that main contributor David Settle snagged Justin Pizzoferrato (Pixies, Dinosaur Jr, Wild Pink) to mix and master the album which for sure gives it an extra dimension knowing his experience. The full length is being released on February 12th via Living Lost Records and should be The Fragiles’ best record to date!
Artists With Similar Fire: The Mice / Guided By Voices / Sebadoh
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