Los Dos Hermanos: Bourbon, Blood & Seafoods

 

May 9th marks the release date for the debut album, Bourbon, Blood & Seafoods from garage duo Los Dos Hermanos, on the French label Howlin Banana Records. Reverby and lo-fi, the duo take a page from bands like Thee Oh Sees and combine it with their own take on surf, to serve up an album that is ready for a summer day on the beach at Biarritz. Moving from pop to punk influences, Los Dos Hermanos are a band to watch. Check out videos for the tracks The Buster and Louis VI, and stream Bourbon, Blood & Seafoods at the links below.

 



It's Mama Coco's Funky Kitchen Day on FZB

 

Small DIY labels are at the heart of emerging music. To support these labels and their artists, Floorshime Zipper Boots will be having a label day on Friday from time to time. We previously featured Mouca Records Day on FZB. Today is the second installment of this feature as it is Mama Coco's Funky Kitchen Day on FZB.

While operating as a label and PR firm in many ways, Mama Coco's Funky Kitchen is actually a DIY recording studio, music collective and general cross-pollinating brain hive. According to principal, Oliver Ignatius, they don't own or control the music that is recorded at the studio (although with everyones' great relationships, no one minds us using or borrowing their music for, say, a compilation). They began as an affordable, high quality recording solution, with the primary objective of facilitating the freedom and individual creative expression of all the bands, working with them like a great A&R would to find what made them special and bring it out of them into the records. Quickly the operation grew and expanded, the bands started bonding together, we started rolling out our regular PR campaigns and doing the frequent live showcases (there have been 20 in the last year). At this point there are over 40 bands in the MCFK stable. Everyone has the freedom to come and go as they please, but the vast majority keep coming back because we have a good thing going.

 

Oliver Ignatius, founded the studio in 2010, first in his bedroom and then in his parent's basement. They moved into their current space, a large commercial space in Windsor Terrace, a little over a year ago. Oliver at 23 years old, has been a musician since he was 3. His first real exposure to the music industry was as a teenager: "When I was 15, my band Hysterics surfed a wave of early blog-hype and was featured on MTV's TRL, in the New York Times and some other places. We were signed to V2 before it folded, and played SXSW." Although they had some great experiences, it was generally a pretty bumpy and unhappy ride, which found Oliver unsatisfied with how their album came out. After that band split up, he took some time off to sort of regenerate, and came back with Mama Coco's Funky Kitchen and his new band Ghost Pal. With MCFK, he was really just initially seeking to solve his chronic unhappiness in any recording studio he'd ever been in. "I never felt really listened to or cared for during recording, and it sucks to lose control of your vision. I wanted to open up Mama Coco's as a place where you could count on that never happening." Oliver has done all the production on the records that have come out. "At this point the operation is expanding, some members of the collective have been brought on board as junior engineers in training, and a couple others have stepped up to take over our PR operations (previously I was running those myself too, but I've just about reached capacity as far as what I can do alone)."

 

Several MCFK acts have been reviewed on FZB and Oliver's band Ghost Pal has a new EP, God Save MCFK. You can stream and download it at the link below. Also below is a link to Mama Coco's Funky Kitchen: Section 3 compilation. You can download the compilation for free.

The Almighty Rhombus: The Almighty Rhombus

 

Canadian indie band, The Almighty Rhombus, have released their self-titled debut EP. Featuring an energetic new wave vibe, the five tracks are radio ready pieces of indie rock. Melodic and poppy, the EP has a disctinct singles oriented feel to the tracks. This is a band that could reach a much wider audience. Best part, the EP is available for free download till the end of the month. Grab The Almighty Rhombus at the link below.

 



Riel: EP de Zombies

 

There is a copious amount of good new post-punk music being made around the world and one of the best we've found in our search for it here at FZB is Riel from Buenos Aires. EP de Zombies is the latest release from the duo of  Mora (guitar & vox) and Germán (drums). The four tracks are raw, edgy, minimalist affairs with siren like vocals. There is a compelling vibe to the music and this is definately a must for everyone's collection. Stream and buy EP de Zombies at the link below.

 

100%chevalier: EP-IC

 

French math rock band 100%chevalier just released the sophomore EP titled EP-IC. The tracks blend heavy yet melodic instrumental math rock, with elements of noise and alt rock, to deliver a driving EP. Crisply produced and expertly performed, this is an EP of high musicality. The trio of Florian Borojevic, Samuel Siebert and Thomas Triebel give us an EP with a transcendent sound. Stream and buy EP-IC at the link below.

 



Plankton Waves: Songs of Endings

 

We had the trailer back in January and now we have the new EP from FZB favorites Plankton Waves. The Luxembourg based duo of Natalie Pickar and  Michel Flammant make dark, tintilating synthpop. The five tracks on Songs of Endings blend new wave vibes, with heavy electronic synths and post-punk driven vocals into a compelling sound that is a unique Plankton Waves signature. This EP was worth the wait. Stream and download Songs of Endings at the link below.

 



FZB's 2nd Birthday Top 5 So Far for 2013

 

March 27th marked the 2nd birthday for this blog. In that time we've published reviews of 441 albums, 346 EP's, 41 singles, streamed 90 videos and done about a dozen focus pieces on different emerging music topics. We look forward to discovering many more great emerging artists in the future. That makes as good an excuse as any to take a look at the top five artists of the year 2013 so far based on readers' pageviews. Watch for the full and official FZB top 20 of 2013 so far on June 27 & 28.

#5: Balladur: Balladur



#4: Sol Cat: Sol Cat



#3: Giant Drug: Waking Up Is Hard To Do



#2: Dress Rehearsal:   Some Where Under The Weather



#1: Petty Victories: Wait It Out

Mirror Kisses: Runaways b/w Kameron

 

Synthpop purveyors and FZB favorites Mirror Kisses are back with a new single and two new videos; Runaways b/w Kameron. The band bring their larger than live Depeche Mode'esque sound to good use on the two tracks, scoring big for production, sound and overall radio sensibility. One of these is going to break this band out. Just a matter of time Watch ythe videos for Runaways and Kameron, and stream and download the single for free at the links below.

 



Exit Strategy: Dreamcatcher

 

Dreamcatcher is the new album from Montreal based artist/producer Exit Strategy, aka Anthony Baird. The twelve tracks are a chill glide through ambient textures, nice melodic piano lines, lush synth pads and understated beats. This is music for listening, dreaming and close together moments with someone you love. Take some time and do something nice for yourself. Stream and download Dreamcatcher at the link below.

 



Love And Radiation: You Will Know Me

 

Today marks the release of You Will Know Me, the much anticipated debut album from Chicago synthpop artists and FZB favorites Love And Radiation. The duo of Adele Nicholas and Lakshmi Ramgopal have released what is, to our ears,  the album of the year so far for 2013. Crisp production, melodic synth lines and tasteful beats are paired with stunning huge vocals and lush towering harmonies. This album is as good as it gets. If you're in Chicago, you can catch the Love And Radiation album release show this Thursday night, April 11th, at the Hideout Inn. Stream and buy You Will Know Me at the link below.