Flooding

Flooding | Silhouette Machine | 3hive.com
Flooding | Silhouette Machine | 3hive.com

Flooding is a three-piece band out of Kansas City, Missouri. They are releasing their new album, Silhouette Machine, today (09/29/2023).

Listening to Silhouette Machine is like watching a horror movie, even more so after the initial shock and surprise of album opener “Run”. We know the person running from evil on the big screen is headed for their ultimate demise, and we anticipate the shock of it happening even though we know it’s going to happen, and it’s still thrilling and works every time—it’s a tried and true formula. Silhouette Machine works just like that. Most of the songs have a soothing, almost ethereal beginning, and you know what’s coming. Then they strike and pummel your senses with a brutal onslaught of heavy guitars, drums, and Rose’s incredible shredded vocals. It works every time. I love it.

Check out “Run”, “Muzzle”, and “Transept Exit” below for a little example. As I was told regarding this album “don’t sleep”. Go get it. Silhouette Machine is out on vinyl via The Ghost Is Clear, on cassette via Manor, and digitally via Flooding. Enjoy.

Melenas

Melenas | Ahora | 3hive.com
Melenas | Ahora | 3hive.com

Melenas are back with a magnificent new album titled Ahora. This quartet out of Pamplona, Spain have it all dialed in – I’m talking jangly guitars, pulsing synths, fuzz, gaze, gauze, noise, you name it, it’s probably in there.

Ahora is (as I said in a previous post) 10 tracks of kraut-meets-Stereolab, electro-pop goodness. Check out “Bang” below; it’s so rad, I find myself humming or whistling it all day.

Ahora comes out on Friday (09/29/2023) via Trouble In Mind Records. You can get it on vinyl from us or from Trouble In Mind. Just get it! Enjoy.

Advertisement

Advertisement | Escorts | 3hive.com
Advertisement | Escorts | 3hive.com

Advertisement, a six-piece band from Seattle, just put out their newest album through Feel It Records – a favorite label of ours. On this release, Escorts, the band brings together a mix of garage rock, Americana, and groovy pop sensibilities. It’s an eclectic record that gives you a good range of style but also feels very cohesive.

My favorite tracks include “Eat Your Heart Out,” a country/western influenced track that makes you want to drive down a desert highway, “Eyes Of The Night,” which is a nice slow burning track that ends with a bang, and “Nobody’s Cop,” another groovy western-influenced track with some killer slide guitar.

There are some really badass moments on this record and the band gives the listener a lot to appreciate with all the layers and instrumentation going on throughout the track list. This record feels like it should be listened to at night, but I’ve been playing it all day every day, so you need to go do yourself a favor and check it out!

Escorts is available at our store or on Bandcamp or wherever else you stream your music.

Mango Star

Mango Star | Wasted Daydream | 3hive.com

I’m going to let you in on a little secret (for now, at least). Mango Star are a trio from Detroit. Their self-released debut checks all the boxes. Quirky synths & heavenly harmonies like The Rentals, gauzy atmospherics a la vintage Slowdive, and just a touch of optimism. Hard to believe they aren’t signed to Slumberland (for now, at least – are you reading this, Mike?). Their music is only available in digital form (for now, at least) which you can consume below.

Wasted Daydream is available on their Bandcamp page.


Body of Leaves

Body of Leaves | Hell Nightmare | 3hive.com
Body of Leaves | Hell Nightmare | 3hive.com

Body of Leaves are a 4-piece band out of Salt Lake City. They self-released their debut (I believe) album, Hell Nightmare, back in May. It’s 8 tracks of really well done post-punk-dark-wave goodness delivered through driving/pounding bass and drums, piercing synths and some amazing wall of sound guitar work. It’s really damn good.

I slept on this album WAY too long, but was shown the light last night seeing them open for Sweeping Promises. Don’t repeat my mistake, check out “Follow”, “Disclosure” and “Such a Gift” below. Do it! This is the good stuff.

Hell Nightmare is out now via their Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

Optic Sink

Optic Sink | Glass Blocks | 3hive.com
Optic Sink | Glass Blocks | 3hive.com

Memphis trio Optic Sink bring the heat on their latest release (and first) with Feel It Records, Glass Blocks. It’s a bass-driven album packed with all the synths your heart desires along with crazy-tight digital percussion. Their minimalist approach comes off warm and packs a punch. It’s a refreshing take on post-punk. Check out “Live Illusion” and “A Face In The Crowd” (below) for a taste.

Glass Blocks is out now via Feel It Records. Get it. Bop to it. Enjoy.

Melenas

Melenas | K2 | 3hive.com
Melenas | K2 | 3hive.com

We are so excited for the new Melenas album that we are sharing their latest single “K2” ahead of our review of their upcoming LP Ahora.

“K2” is a synth driven, bouncy, kraut-meets-Stereolab, electro-pop tune that sticks to your brain like pine tar. This is the best kind of earworm. Check out the stream and video below.

Ahora is out on September 29 via Trouble In Mind and judging from the three available singles, it will be on lots of year end lists. Enjoy.

Corker

Corker | Falser Truths | 3hive.com
Corker | Falser Truths | 3hive.com

Cincinnati’s Corker bring their fresh take (a little shimmer and fuzz) on post-punk (whatever that means anymore) on their debut long player Falser Truths and a rad next step from their 2021 debut EP A Bell That Seems To Mourn.

Falser Truths is 9 tracks of fuzz with gauzy bass and vocals behind razor-sharp guitars. It’s an ass kicker! Check out their singles below for a taste. Falser Truths is out on Friday via Feel It Records. Enjoy.

The Cowboys

The Cowboys | Sultan of Squat | 3hive.com
The Cowboys | Sultan of Squat | 3hive.com

Let’s just get my biases out of the way. I am a huge fan of Feel It Records. I listen to everything they put out and buy about 95% of their releases. When I got the promo email for the new LP from The Cowboys and saw the album cover for Sultan of Squat, I knew immediately that I was going to love this album. I wasn’t wrong.

From go, on first single and album opener, “The Sultan of Squat” (below), I was hooked. It’s a bouncy garage-pop track with a kind of “doo-wop-like” chorus that’s just candy to the ears. Their second single, “She’s Not Your Baby Anymore” (also below), sounds like it was recorded during The Byrds’ sessions for Sweetheart Of The Rodeo.

Sultan of Squat is just killer from start to finish. It sounds like they were listening to lots of and being influenced by the likes of Buddy Holly, Elvis Costello, The Kinks, and The Byrds going into the recording of it. I am completely twitter-pated by it. Please listen to the tracks below; they will put a smile on your face, and we all need more reasons for smiles to be on our faces.

Sultan of Squat is available on 08/25 from Feel It Records as well as our own 3hive Record Lounge. Enjoy.

LANDOWNER

LANDOWNER | Escape the Compound | 3hive.com

Massachusetts 5-piece LANDOWNER’s new album – Escape the Compound – sounds like what I imagine a Jello Biafra and Devo or Suburban Lawns collaboration would sound like. My daughter thinks that Mr. Shaw’s vocals sound like Napoleon Dynamite.

Dumb comparisons aside, Escape the Compound is a kick ass, hyperactive, post-punk album and it’s well worth your time.

You can listen to “Heat Stroke” and “Victim of a Narcissist’s Tactics” (below) for a taste. Escape the Compound is out now on born yesterday records. Enjoy.