The Sifting Pan

Helping you find those Indie Gems!

Tag Archives: Alternative


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SOAK – Sea Creatures

SOAK - Sea Creatures

The young indie solo act SOAK hails from Northen Ireland

SOAK – Sea Creatures:

Here’s a nautical music adventure that will surely bring a smile to your face, and fill your stomach with butterflies of youthful bliss. Sea Creatures is awash in glowy feel-good vibes that will transport you to a moment of oceanic serenity. Life’s problems just seem to melt away under the influence of this lovely gem. After all, it’s hard to be mad at anything when your insides have been reduced to a goopy mess of positivity and joy.

SOAK is the solo work of a young and talented female singer-songwriter from Northern Ireland. At only 18 years old Bridie Monds-Watson is making some serious waves internationally with her heartfelt tunes that celebrate, albeit toned down, life and love. I’m sure a well crafted debut album is on the horizon for us all, but only more anticipation shall grow in its absence. Until that day comes, I’m perfectly content drifting away on the serene voyage that is Sea Creatures.

Twitter Handle: @Soakofficial
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Soak0fficial
Spotify:  SOAK

Spoon - They Want My Soul


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Best Albums of 2014 #3.) Spoon – They Want My Soul

Spoon - They Want My Soul

released in August 2014 via Loma Vista Recordings

Veteran indie rockers Spoon have managed to stay relevant for over two decades, and it’s a trend that certainly shows no sign of stopping. Their eighth and latest album, They Want My Soul, is the equivalent of getting hit by a truck and having all that you hold dear flash before your eyes. You may think I’m being hyperbolic, but Spoon decided to show up with a colossal sound that will smack you right through memories of days previously forgotten.

Every single track taken from They Want My Soul could be commemorated as sheer brilliance. These gents have had years to hone their talents and craft so it should come as no surprise just how damn good this album truly is. What does come as a surprise is the gentle pat on the back from listeners. As if to say, “Aww, that’s nice Spoon. Here’s a gold star. We know your amazing, but we’ve all but moved on already.” It’s disappointing to see a lack of sincere acknowledgement, but it should not matter as long as Spoon just keeps on doing whatever the hell magical thing they consistently do.

I’d wait another ten years to hear an album by Spoon, if it means it as structured and wholesome as They Want My Soul.

Favorite Tracks:
I Just Don't Understand
Knock Knock Knock
New York Kiss
Outlier
Inside Out
Let Me Be Mine

Twitter Handle: @spoontheband
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/spoontheband
Spotify:  Spoon


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INTERVIEW: Mesita – [The Villain] + [Astoria/Fallen]

Mesita - The Villain + Astoria/Fallen

Mesita, a.k.a James Cooley, in the flesh (photo credit: Samantha Hylla)

Mesita – The Villain:

So waaaaay back in July I had the pleasure of being able to ask Colorado based experimental indie rocker James Cooley a few questions about his outstanding song The Villain, and his upcoming album Infinity Sky Deluxe. It should be known that James prefers to release his music under the moniker of Mesita, and has been doing so since making his debut in 2008.

Now we are more than half a decade later, approaching album number five, and there appear to be no signs of easing up on the output of high quality tunes for Mr. Cooley. It seems Mesita is preparing to unload a massive weight of creativity unto us, which is clearly evident by a heavy hitter like The Villian. It’s a burden I shall graciously accept while blasting this gritty, gutsy, brooding rock single over and over on repeat. You’d be wise to follow suit and indulge in the oh-so satisfying Meista madness.

Without further ado, here are the intelligent and wonderful responses that Mesita was happy to provide for The Sifting Pan:

  1. Can you share with us some of the many inspirations behind creating your single The Villain?

It’s about a few different things. Trying to get out and meet new people, break into the young professional crowd, finding myself slipping into some negative stuff, overcompensating for my flaws, losing parts of who I am in order to please strangers who shouldn’t give a damn about me. To make people jealous sharing some artificial view of what great life I have, all for that warm satisfaction of feeling more important than I really am. False humility. Trying to grow, sometimes your equilibrium gets messed and you lose a few steps in the process, find yourself acting in a way you always fought against. Turning bitter, you gotta get your center of gravity back, be there for people who have been there for you because we’re all struggling.

  1. Is there a special mindset you have going into the writing of your upcoming fifth album ‘Infinity Sky Deluxe’?

I started working on new stuff right after the last album in late October, to go full force into making a minimal electro soul album, strip the whole thing down and just have sparse reverb snaps and warm synth and like a single falsetto vocal track in the center. But getting through Chicago’s coldest winter, I had to sit back and really think about the right direction to go, why I’m making music in the first place. So a lot of soul-searching and resting up mentally. Music’s been my outlet, and loud beats and guitars are what I’ve always loved, so do what you love.

  1. Finally, can you recommend a fresh indie gem that you were quite pleased to have come across recently?

I haven’t been listening too much lately, but that new Black Keys album floored me. I wasn’t expecting it to some reason, but it hit so hard. Dangermouse nailed it. And Hamilton Leithauser’s solo album is fantastic. Just saw A Sunny Day In Glasgow has a new one, so I gotta check that one out too. Ashes Grammar was the jam.

 — — — — — — — — —

Mesita released his latest track, Astoria/Fallen, early last month. Truly a hint of the many great things in store for our ears, and hearts, on the new album. I must say this tune is brimming with that fulfilling Mesita sound we all know and love. Varying levels of real emotion spread out over nearly six minutes that culminate into pure tranquility. Give it a good listen and you shall reach a state of peace with your inner demons. Who needs medication or meditation when you have Mesita?

Mesita – Astoria/Fallen: [REMOVED]

All of Mesita’s current music is available at http://mesita.bandcamp.com/

Twitter Handle: @mesitamusic
Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/mesitamusic
Spotify: Mesita

 And thanks again Mesita for taking the time to share with The Sifting Pan!


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The Sifting Pan’s Top 10 albums of 2013!

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My Top 10 Albums of 2013:
1. Kanye West – Yeezus
2. Superhumanoids – Exhibitionist
3. CHVRCHES – The Bones of What You Believe
4. Arcade Fire – Reflektor
5. Disclosure – Settle
6. The Neighbourhood – I Love You.
7. Bastille – Bad Blood
8. Kid Cudi – Indicud
9. AlunaGeorge – Body Music
10. Capital Cities – In A Tidal Wave Of Mystery

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Honorable Mentions:
Foals – Holy Fire
Rhye – Woman
Cold War Kids – Dear Miss Lonely Hearts
Childish Gambino – Because The Internet
Lorde – Pure Heroine
HAIM – Days Are Gone
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
Empire of the Sun – Ice On The Dune
GROUPLOVE – Spreading Rumors
Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires In The City

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What were some of your favorite albums of 2013?


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Big Data – [Dangerous] + [The Stroke of Return]

Big Data - Dangerous + The Stroke of Return

Big Data are the paranoid pair who bring us music for the coming era of big data analytics

Big Data – Dangerous:

Big Data is as much a public service announcement as it is an indie band. They’re here to inform us that we are being watched and monitored like never before.
Daniel Armbruster (of Joywave) and Alan Wilkis, who comprise the New York based electronic indie outfit, take a nonsensical approach to informing the masses of the breach in their privacy. Enlightening us to the glorious digital future already in our midst and all the new age voyeurism we subject ourselves willingly to when surfing the internet. What better way to prep us for the coming singularity then indie pop music? Ruggedly awesome and catchy indie pop music at that.

Dangerous has a bassline that’s about as dirty as the NSA’s secrets. So dirty that you can’t help but to delve deeper in again and again. Addicting and informative, this track is what happens when great potential meets proper execution. Everything about this song is so much larger than just a two man project. The level of production and thought put into Dangerous sometimes isn’t even seen on tracks by the bigger names in music. So kudos to you gents.

The music video for Dangerous is a great deal more then just your average music video. Rightly dubbed The Facehawk, the interactive music video is an experience in and of itself. Just let Big Data borrow the keys to your Facebook castle for 5 minutes and watch your timeline come to life in the form of a bird of prey. It’s alright to be nervous about sharing your personal information, in fact I think that is kind of the point of it anyways. If you do manage to muster up the courage to experience the video you might be left with an unsettlingly feeling afterwords from being faced with all the information about you that is in the public domain.

Big Data’s only two songs, Dangerous and The Stroke of Return, are going to see a proper release on the band’s up coming EP 1.0, which I’m sure will be released before 2014. I’m tremendously excited for more music from these guys and can’t wait to see what ingenious method they come up with this time for sharing it with the world.

Big Data – The Stroke of Return:

You’ve already let Big Data onto your Facebook so why not get onto theirs.

Or listen to Big Data on Spotify!