April's music round up

This month is shaping up to be a great one for new single releases so I thought I'd make a few notes on what has caught my ear. The Big Moon and Daughter both released debut albums that I liked a lot, second albums that I didn't enjoy as much and now have new albums out that are being promoted by singles that I quite like and which feel like a return to the music elements that I enjoyed in the first place.

The Big Moon's 2 Lines (a live version linked) has the dynamism that was downplayed for the second album Walking like we do. I particularly like the staccato vocal line in the pre-chorus and while the chorus lyrics are a bit trite they are delivered in a heartfelt way.

Daughter's To Rage is absolutely in the shoegaze/4AD arena which is absolutely my bag but the lyrics remain poetic and the guitar melodies are lovely. The anger of the lyrics is also an interesting counterpoint to the dream pop like delivery.

I know Art School Girlfriend as guitar-based indie singer-songwriter so I did not expect the dance driving sound of new release Close to Clouds although the vocals remain drifting and the lyrics regretful. I feel I can just listen to this one on repeat.

English Teacher's Song about Love starts with a motorik like post-punk coldness and ironic knowing lyrics but dissolves into a more psychedelic emotional crescendo in a mirror of its slippery topic. The song feels familiar but new in the way that popular music should.

A great start to Spring!