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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.


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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.

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FACS

FACS | Still Life In Decay | 3hive.com
FACS | Still Life In Decay | 3hive.com

Chicago’s FACS have unleashed their behemoth 5th long player Still Life In Decay upon the world. It’s another bludgeoning of noisy, shredding guitar work, over one of the tightest and heaviest rhythm sections out there. There’s an understated elegance to this album as well (which is quite lovely) as they ease you into said bludgeoning on several tracks, BUT the weight and dominance of Still Life In Decay never falls off.

If you’ve been sleeping on these guys over the years —WAKE UP!

Still Life In Decay is out tomorrow, April 7, via Trouble In Mind Records. It really is an amazing album and has rocketed to the top of my favorites of 2023. Enjoy.

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Lauds

Lauds | Imitation Life | 3hive.com
Lauds | Imitation Life | 3hive.com

After a few EPs and singles, North Carolina’s Lauds have finally released their debut long player, Imitation Life, and let me tell you, it is some solid jangle/dream pop gold. It’s packed with lush, jangly guitars dancing around echoed vocals and a driving rhythm section. Lauds has set the bar high for all albums released in 2023 with Imitation Life.

Check out album opener “Paralell” and “24” (below) for a taste.

Imitation Life is out now via Fort Lowell Records. Get your ears on this one. Enjoy.

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Doom Flower

Doom Flower | Limestone Ritual | 3hive.com
Doom Flower | Limestone Ritual | 3hive.com

Chicago quartet Doom Flower’s new LP Limestone Ritual is 12 tracks of lo-fi, indie/bedroom-ish pop, mingled with a little gaze over the top of some seriously badass (hip hop-esque) drum and bass grooves and I can’t stop listening to it.

Check out “Telehealth” and “Blaze” (below) for a taste. I’ve had “Teleheath” on repeat.

Limestone Ritual is out now on cassette and digitally via Record Label. Listen to it. Buy it. See these guys live. Enjoy.

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Astragal

Astragal | Pure Cashmere | 3hive.com

Houston band Astragal’s debut LP Pure Cashmere came out back in April of ’22 and I am mad at myself for taking 10 months to finally listen to it. Pure Cashmere is solid from start to finish; if you enjoy Brit-pop, jangle-pop, shoegaze and post-punk, you are going to love this album as Astragal blends those genres masterfully together for its nearly 39 minute run time.

Pure Cashmere is out now via Astragal’s Bandcamp page. Go and buy it right now. Think of it as hopefully investing in a potential vinyl release of this album. Enjoy

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Bodywash

Montreal duo Bodywash just released their new single “Kind of Light” into the world. It’s a lush, throbbing, dream-pop track mingled with enough gaze to make any fans of bands like My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins take notice. “Kind of Light” is out now on all the streamers via Light Organ Records. Enjoy.

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UPHERE! Comp Vol. 2

UPHERE! Records | Compilation Vol. 2 | 3hive.com
UPHERE! Records | Compilation Vol. 2 | 3hive.com

Provo UT’s UPHERE! Records are releasing their new label comp filled with previously unreleased nuggets from bands like Backhand, Nicole Canaan, The Plastic Cherries and Homephone to name a few. All the profits go to help refugees in Ukraine, 50% to Save The Children and 50% to The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund. This is a KILLER compilation and it’s for a VERY good cause.

Preorders are going on now at UPHERE!’s Bandcamp page, the cassettes ship to you on April 20, 2022.

To wet your whistle and encourage you to buy, check out The Plastic Cherries’ “Aquafina (Tape Mix)” below. Now get out your wallets and buy this cassette and support this very important cause.

BUY THIS COMP!

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Howless

Howless | To Repel Ghosts | 3hive.com
Howless | To Repel Ghosts | 3hive.com

Mexico City’s Howless have unleashed their debut LP To Repel Ghosts today and its a dream/noise-pop gem filled with all the fuzz, dreamy vocals and shimmery guitars that one album can handle. Check out “Levels” and my favorite “Unlucky” below for a taste.

To Repel Ghosts is out now and available on Cassette, CD and digitally via Static Bloom Records. Enjoy.

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seablite

seablite | Breadcrumbs | 3hive.com
seablite | Breadcrumbs | 3hive.com

San Francisco 4-piece seablite are back with more of their shimmery, shoegazy magic with their new 7-inch single out now digitally via their Bandcamp page and on vinyl from Emotional Response. You can spin both the A-side and B-side below. Enjoy.