Best New Tracks Of The Week: April 30th , 2023
5. Run To The Moon - Beach Fossils
Beach Fossils are back and they've pumping out blissful indie and dream pop with lethal efficiency. Once again they've delivered a sweet cloudy haze whose lyric on the hook "it feels like I'm living in another world" is thoroughly appropriate. What it lacks in punchy soundplay it makes up for with enveloping bliss.
4. Chasing Spirits - Jess Williamson
Another Jess single and another hit. While I may not love the song as much as its predecessor it's good for all the exact same reasons. Jess continues to be a striking performer that is made perfectly for this country-flavored brand of folk music and her lyrical diatribes are continually interesting. The sound and style of this song are pretty much exactly what I was hoping for.
3. Rains - The Antlers
For a band that is already well known for being almost impossibly reserved and patient in almost every element of their music, this is an act of restraint that pays off big time. While the dreamy sounds of steady indie folk are no doubt present it has a colder demeanor than much of what came off the bands last record and a very surreal bridge that I wasn't expecting though it leads back into the end of the track perfectly.
This is the way it was always meant to be. Two of the biggest kings of "vibes" in all of music link up for an infectious summery bop that sports some of the hallmarks of both musicians. The combination of Tame Impala drums and keys with Thundercat bass does much of the work here and even without either of the catchiest refrains either have ever written their distinct vocal stylings nail the song's sunny bliss.
1. Summer Glass - Julie Byrne
In a week of (mostly) gentler singles it was the perfect time for the queen of the game to make a massively anticipated comeback to her throne. The song actually isn't even as sparse as those familiar with Julie's last record may be anticipating, it features a gorgeous tapestry of instrumentation alongside her mystical lead vocals which paints the song in bright but still very tender strokes. As usual Julie has the poise as a songwriter to not overdo things and the songs watery bridge serves as all the payoff you could ask for.
