Astragal

Astragal | Pure Cashmere | 3hive.com

Houston band Astragal’s debut LP Pure Cashmere came out back in April of ’22 and I am mad at myself for taking 10 months to finally listen to it. Pure Cashmere is solid from start to finish; if you enjoy Brit-pop, jangle-pop, shoegaze and post-punk, you are going to love this album as Astragal blends those genres masterfully together for its nearly 39 minute run time.

Pure Cashmere is out now via Astragal’s Bandcamp page. Go and buy it right now. Think of it as hopefully investing in a potential vinyl release of this album. Enjoy

Bodywash

Montreal duo Bodywash just released their new single “Kind of Light” into the world. It’s a lush, throbbing, dream-pop track mingled with enough gaze to make any fans of bands like My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins take notice. “Kind of Light” is out now on all the streamers via Light Organ Records. Enjoy.

Nicole Canaan

Nicole Canaan | My Own Two Hands | 3hive.com

Nicole Canaan | My Own Two Hands | 3hive.com

SLC’s Nicole Canaan has just released her new single (and strongest to date) “Party Person” from her forthcoming album, My Own Two Hands.

Nicole’s voice is powerful on “Party Person” and shines alongside her shimmery guitar work. I know that I have already written this, but this is her best work yet and I am excited to hear the new album!

My Own Two Hands was produced and mastered by the über-talented Isaac Elmont and Bly Wallentine, respectively. It comes out on December 3 via UPHERE! Records. You do not want to miss it.

UPHERE! Comp Vol. 2

UPHERE! Records | Compilation Vol. 2 | 3hive.com
UPHERE! Records | Compilation Vol. 2 | 3hive.com

Provo UT’s UPHERE! Records are releasing their new label comp filled with previously unreleased nuggets from bands like Backhand, Nicole Canaan, The Plastic Cherries and Homephone to name a few. All the profits go to help refugees in Ukraine, 50% to Save The Children and 50% to The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund. This is a KILLER compilation and it’s for a VERY good cause.

Preorders are going on now at UPHERE!’s Bandcamp page, the cassettes ship to you on April 20, 2022.

To wet your whistle and encourage you to buy, check out The Plastic Cherries’ “Aquafina (Tape Mix)” below. Now get out your wallets and buy this cassette and support this very important cause.

BUY THIS COMP!

Nathan Womack

Nathan Womack | Past But The Dream | 3hive.com
Nathan Womack | Past But The Dream | 3hive.com

Nathan Womack is one half of the fabulous Paces Lift & Ben Bounce project, as well as the guy behind the Wax Thématique label. He also just released his debut single Past But The Dream. Taken from samples found while crate digging in Bangkok, Thailand and Guangzhou, China, Nathan has constructed two killer tracks full of funk, soul and groove. You can check out both tracks below, I highly suggest that you do.

Past But The Dream is available now on vinyl via Wax Thématique’s website and digitally via their Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

The Rebel Set

The Rebel Set | Modern Living | 3hive.com
The Rebel Set | Modern Living | 3hive.com

Phoenix quartet The Rebel Set have returned with 12 fried crispy, psych/garage rock tunes on their brand new album Modern Living. Modern Living was recorded by the garage rock master Matt Rendon at Midtown Island in Tucson and a top secret “pandemic hideaway”. This album is a blast from start to finish, pogoing all the way through its 34 minute run time. The band claims “The soundtrack to your summer has arrived” and I agree.

Check out “Going Out In Style” for a taste below. Modern Living is out on Friday (May 28) via Outro Records and is available on vinyl (if your fast) and digitally via The Rebel Set’s Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

Dummy

Dummy | EP2 | 3hive.com
Dummy | EP2 | 3hive.com

The other night Trouble In Mind Records announced the signing of L.A. band, Dummy. I hadn’t heard of them, but the news made me immediately jump to their Bandcamp page to check them out. Thirty seconds into “Pool Dizzy” was all it took – I was ordering their latest release, EP2.

EP2 is 6 tracks of engaging, ambient-leaning, kraut-pop. Check out “Pool Dizzy”, “Nuages” and “Prime Mover Unmoved” (below) they are all very hypnotic and worth your time.

You can cop EP2 from Dummy’s Bandcamp page and I highly recommend that you do. I can’t wait for what they do next with TiM. Enjoy.

Lia Ices

Lia Ices | Family Album | 3hive.com
Lia Ices | Family Album | 3hive.com

Lia Ices has one of those voices that leaves a mark on your soul. A voice you can’t forget. A voice that makes you want to put her albums on repeat and let them take you away.

Her fourth album (and first on her own label Natural Music), Family Album, is no exception as motherhood and relocating to California has served Ices well because Family Album is her strongest album yet.

Give the equally excellent “Young on the Mountain” and “Beauty Blue” a listen (below) for a sample, but I highly recommend listening to the entire album from start to finish over an over again like I’ve been doing.

Family Album is available now via Natural Music and Bandcamp. Enjoy.

Landscaping

Landscaping | Picturesque | 3hive.com
Landscaping | Picturesque | 3hive.com

I am a sucker for a solid groove and Landscaping’s (new solo project of Andrew Petersen) new album, Picturesque, is packed full it. From the Schroeder-like piano and programmed beats and clicks on “Woke Up On The Shore”, to the almost hidden (but way groovy) bass line on “Vacation”, to the full on 80’s vibe of album standout “Full Moon Lovers”, Picturesque is 26 minutes of wall to wall groove.

Give “Full Moon Lovers” (below) a spin, you’ll be glad that you did.

Picturesque is out now and available on CD or digitally via new label UPHERE! Records’ Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

Bananagun

Bananagun | The True Story of Bananagun | 3hive.com
Bananagun | The True Story of Bananagun | 3hive.com

Melbourne five-piece Bananagun bring their brand of funky exotica meets psychedelic rock goodness on their debut LP The True Story of Bananagun. This is a head-nodding, rump-shaking 11 tracks (including one with birds singing over the top of a killer bongo beat) of nothing but groove, it is safe to say this album has groove for days. Check out “Mushroom Bomb” and “Taking The Present For Granted” below, they will hook you for sure.

The True Story of Bananagun is out now via Full Time Hobby. It’s a good one. Enjoy.