Valerie

50 Foot Wave: With Love From the Men’s Room

When it comes to free music, it's hard to say no, especially if you find out that the band sounds great. 50 Foot Wave is one band you might have trouble saying no to. Fronted by raspy-voiced singer, Kristin Hersh; the group specializes in grungy alternative pop. Formerly of Throwing Muses, Hersh retains the volume they had and incorporates it in her new band. She's joined by former Muses bassist,Bernard Georges as well as former Chalk FarM drummer Rob Ahlers. Their sound doesn't just echo alternative post punk alternative but also borderlines on progressive rock.

Ephera: Wonky EP

Skillfully mixing 8-bit, dubstep, hip hop and experimental electronica in their sound, Ephera creates a surreal musical dreamland in their music. Wonky EP is the latest effort from the now duo of Billy Gsellmann and Will Baker. Containing a whole fusion of genres, the album seems tailor made for bodies throbbing on a rave or club dance floor. The EP contains 6 tracks and was released on October 2012.

Wood Spider: In The Thick of It

After making an appearance on the Frostclick blog for their 2011 release, Tending Fires; the raucous lo-fi indie band, Wood Spider is back with In The Thick of It. The 6-track compilation reeks of diy folk punk aesthetics with a touch of the gypsy sound that has characterized much of the band’s sound. It’s this utter weirdness that makes this compilation a great one to check out. Filled with odd singing/rambling, acoustic guitars and various bits and bobs, the record is for those who can appreciate the unusual or maybe those who have a penchant for dancing around a bonfire during camping nights.

CrayonBeats Presents Vol 4 : Girls Named Tiffany

What started out as a personal space evolved into a haven for music, fashion and the arts. CrayonBeats is an online site that compiles and promotes musicians from across the globe. Spearheaded by two girls named Tiffany, the site was set up in 2006 and has evolved throughout the years. CrayonBeats Presents Vol 4 is the site’s latest compilation album. It includes some of the best musicians with Tiffany in their names and features 10-tracks that range from acoustic pop to hip hop. The album is also offered absolutely free and licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Curious Absurdities: Ca V #4

Curious Absurdities or CA for short, is a new label that caters to different genres of electronic music. Collating great tracks from various artists, the label assures listeners of bringing only some of the best electro-ambient cuts around. The album is a massive one, offering 29 tracks that range from chillout, ambient as well as electronic dance pop. It’s coming from some of the best new artists these genres have to offer.

Herself: Shining Tree EP

Described as an apocalyptic folk lo-fi songwriter, Herself is a personal project for Italy-based musician, Gioele Valenti. With droning vocals, mellow acoustic strumming and a whole lot of melancholia, the Shining Tree EP is perfect for those who love their music dark and gritty. Much like listening to an indie folk version of Johnny Cash, the compilation features 4-tracks that revolve around a quiet tension. The tracks for the compilation were recorded in part from the singer's home as well as the studio.

Young Men: Songs of Praise

With their droned out indie rock, you can almost tell that these guys are from Chicago. It seems there's a strong urge for retro style lofi rock in the area and Young Men are definitely on the bandwagon. Songs of Praise is a 10-track debut compilation for duo T Smith and Drew B. Having formed just back in 2010, the crew are still in their early stages but their sound already rings with a nice sound. Recorded in their home studio, Young Men is a great group to watch out for.

Rushmore/Twin Cabins: Clementine

Clementine is a quiet, sometimes shoegaze-inspired compilation record done by solo singer/songwriter, Rushmore. Also known as Twin Cabins, the musical project is spearheaded by Mexico City-born, Nacho Cano. Cano was exposed to music at a young age and began to record through throughout his adolescence. He has accumulated a number of recordings, which were mostly done in his bedroom. Most of the tracks he does are dreamy and represent a portion of the songwriter’s loneliness and his youth.

Tan Yu Quan: The Caterpillar Sandwich

Sweet and charming. Those are the first two words you’ll probably think of when you hear this short but solid EP from Tan Yu Quan. Although not much is out there about the singer, he is from Singagpore and the charming EP is his first proper release. The entire four tracks were recorded from home and served simply as a personal project for the young musician. Despite being a home recording, the EP sounds quite polished and emanates with beautiful acoustic pop tracks throughout.