The Sifting Pan

Helping you find those Indie Gems!

Tag Archives: Indie


by Leave a comment

Little Boots – [Better In The Morning]

Little Boots is an English 'Working Girl' and CEO

Little Boots is one power hungry CEO/Pop Star

Little Boots – Better In The Morning:

English electropoptress Little Boots is transforming the boardroom into a dance floor with her upcoming album Working Girl. Just listen to the latest single Better In The Morning, and you’ll be wanting to take stocks out in Little Boots. Better yet, you could actually invest your time in Little Boots self-made record label On Repeat Records.

If Better In The Morning  is any indication of the impressively addicting electropop in store for us, then I am sure I’ll be sold on everything that is being offered. I’ll go ahead and have my people reach out to your people to work out a pre-order transaction.

Working Girl is out July 10th on a internet capable device near you.

In the meantime, let’s go over this business proposal known as Better In The Morning several more times.

Twitter Handle: @littleboots
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/littleboots
Spotify: Little Boots

 


by Leave a comment

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

Big Data - Snowed In (Feat. Rivers Cuomo)


by Leave a comment

Big Data – [Snowed In (Feat. Rivers Cuomo)]

Big Data - Snowed In (Feat. Rivers Cuomo)

Big Data operates out of New York

Big Data – Snowed In (Feat. Rivers Cuomo):

Big Data, the brain child of producer extraordinaire Alan Wilkis, is finally ready to grace us with another killer track, and it’s pretty much as dirty and glitch ridden as it gets. Snowed In is an electro thrash romper that infiltrates the body prompting rhythmic spasms of dance throughout. Obviously the title is a reference to NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden and is consistent with Big Data’s themes of mass surveillance and social media saturation, but we all know it wasn’t poignant politics that shot Big Data to top of the alternative charts last year.

That deliciously noxious beat isn’t the only wonderful thing this future banger has going on for it. Rivers Cuomo, lead signer and front man of Weezer, has lent his notable vocal talents to Big Data’s heavy arsenal. This collaboration is an outrageously intelligent decision, and a well executed one to boot. Cuomo’s vocals are just the stability needed to tame the erratic electronic production now widely known to pervade Big Data’s music.

Along with the release of Snowed In, Big Data has finally announced the release date and track listing for his upcoming debut album, simply titled 2.0. The highly anticipated album should be released on March 24th, and according to the track list we are in for some out of this world collaborations. Take a gander for yourself:

01 The Business of Emotion (Feat. White Sea)
02 Dangerous (Feat. Joywave)
03 Clean (Feat. Jamie Lidell)
04 The Glow (Feat. Kimbra)
05 Snowed In (Feat. Rivers Cuomo)
06 Big Dater
07 Automatic (Feat. Jenn Wasner)
08 Get Some Freedom (ft. Dragonette)
09 Sick For Me (Feat. Bear Hands)
10 Perfect Holiday (Feat. Twin Shadow)

To say I am stoked for the coming release of 2.0 is an understatement beyond belief…

Twitter Handle: @BigDataBigData
Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/BigDataBigData
Spotify:  Big Data

Phantogram - Voices


by Leave a comment

Best Albums of 2014 #1.) Phantogram – Voices

Phantogram - Voices

released in February 2014 via Republic Records

With out any regrets I can say that New York trip-hop duo Phantogram takes the crown for making my number one album of 2014. Voices was one of the earliest releases of the year, so I was worried that it might drift slowly down the list. Not a chance in slightest. Especially after seeing them live at a huge festival, and then up close and personal at a venue in my own town.

Took this photo-set over the summer at The Beachem in Orlando, FL

All the emotion and intensity, that so far only seemed possible through the outstanding production Phantogram is known for, is raised tenfold when in a live setting. They are one of those bands that most likely would not be happy unless your glass ceiling of exceptions were shattered. So in a dazzle of synchronized lights, and a mess of metaphorical glass, my perception of how genuine a band that I had adored for years could truly be was obliterated. Phantogram have grown so much internally, and externally, in the past couple years that it was nice to have that sort of reassurance.

Voices itself is quite an accomplishment for Sarah and Josh. 40 minutes of non-stop indie inspired electro beats that can fluctuate anywhere between a downtempo ballad, to a high energy synth shoegaze experience. I wish that half of the album was not recycled from an EP they released last year, but beggars can’t be choosers. So even if I still love their 2010 debut more I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I did not recognize 2014 as Phantogram’s most successful year to date. I’m more than happy to see that they have been getting the recognition that they have always deserved. With so much support and expectation it’s hard to explain how excited I am for what’s coming next.

Farewell 2014, and hello to all the marvelous opportunities that 2015 will bring to all the talented artists in this world!

Favorite Tracks:
Howling At The Moon
Black Out Days
Fall In Love
Celebrating Nothing
Bad Dreams
The Day You Died

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

Glass Animals - Zaba


by Leave a comment

Best Albums of 2014 #6.) Glass Animals – ZABA

Glass Animals - Zaba

released in June 2014 via Wolf Tone (UK)/Harvest Records (US)

It’s quite surreal how damn crisp Glass Animals can make rich layers of worldly instruments sound. Even spine-tingling at times, as the diverse and powerful percussion hijacks your skeletal frame and forces rhythmical movement. I found it quite easy to give into the primordial spirit of things and indulge in the finer offerings of this British quartet. Gooey will win you over instantly with its rich and sweet textures that melt upon arrival to your cranium. Satisfying to quite a few of the senses and truly remarkable, it is beyond me how this song did not become a huge hit in the United States.

It’s hard to believe in a post Alt-J world that Glass Animals can not find a nice comfy audience. These guys are dripping in too much sincere talent and musical merit for us to turn the other check. I personally have found ZABA to make more sense and be more cohesive than any Alt-J record I’ve ever listen to. Maybe that’s just me, but I would really like to see the people who went bonkers for other the British oddities take a chance on these guys. They more than deserve the exposure and praise for such a smashing debut.

Favorite Tracks:
Gooey
Walla Walla
Wyrd
JDNT

Twitter Handle: @GlassAnimals
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/glassanimals
Spotify:   Glass Animals