Tag: shoegaze

February 25, 2024

The Rocky Valentines to Release Debut Album "Erase"

The Rocky Valentines which is the project led by Charles Martin who happens to be an accomplished musician and songwriter by his own right, is releasing his much anticipated debut record titled “Erase” on March 29th through Tooth & Nail Records and Velvet Blue Music. Oh and his father just happens to be Jason Martin of Starflyer 59. Pre-order this album in a few different options right here.… Continued →

January 14, 2024

Luxury Return With New Single "The Wilderness"

Long running indie band Luxury, have just released a brand new song titled “The Wilderness” and you can watch the lyric video for the track, below. The band’s hot new album “Like Unto Lambs” will be out this year and the second single is coming soon. Let us know what you think of this banger in the comments below.… Continued →

January 3, 2024

September 22, 2023

Song of the Day: Dance House Children - Once Upon Your Lips

Our feature today comes from two brothers who started making music in their teens, first as a new wave/post-punk band called Morella’s Forest (no, not that one), and then an immensely quirky synth-pop group called Dance House Children, before parting ways and forming two of the most legendary, creative, and prolific Chrindie groups ever–Joy Electric and Starflyer 59. Yes, we are talking about none other and Ronnie and Jason Martin. In the early 1990s an independent label emerged (technically started much earlier but with very limited distribution) called Blonde Vinyl.… Continued →

August 26, 2023

Slow Salvation Drop Debut Full Length

A new band we just started discussing, have released their surprise debut full length via Velvet Blue Music. The band is Slow Salvation and the album is called “Here We Lie”. It is available worldwide via all digital networks. It is a dreamy pop with a lush indie rock arrangement and plenty of mood enhancing instrumentation. This is truly something to get excited about and a band with that certain “newness” that doesn’t strike you as mediocre or off-putting. Give them a listen and pick up the album now from Velvet Blue in physical format here.… Continued →

July 26, 2023

November 23, 2022

Song of the Day: Morella's Forest - Voices Carry

Who besides me think covers can be awesome? Well MF did a great cover of ‘Til Tuesday’s classic song. Sydney has a unique voice & it does carry throughout this song. I listened to their Hang out EP for hours as a kid. I loved the shoegazing aspects of fuzz from MF & Starflyer. Tooth & Nail were putting out very different music sounds from the rest of the “Christian” market back then & I was fully on board. Before joining the military I had dreams of going to work for the label.… Continued →

September 20, 2022

Fluffy - My Love (Official Video + Vinyl Pre-Order)

Lost In Ohio are re-releasing the long lost 3rd album from Fluffy, “Sugar Pistol”, and you can pre-order on Vinyl right here. Check out a fun song video created for the track “My Love” right here at Indie Vision Music (click below this message). The video stars Steve Hindalong who you might recognize from dozens of indie acts of the past several decades (The Choir, Lost Dogs, Lifesavers Underground, The Normals, Dead Artist Syndrome) as well as being a well known producer in his own right.… Continued →

September 16, 2022

Song of the Day: Honey - The Way You Move Me

I can only think of 1 or 2 songs where the structure of the song is built primarily around one chord. It’s a pretty risky thing to try. Luxury did it with “South” from their debut album. While there are probably others, the only other one I’m aware of is Honey’s “The Way You Move Me” from their sophomore album, Lost on You. A one-chord song seems like it would be incredibly boring, but with the various embellishments, runs that weave in and out, and ways they alter the chord (okay, technically it’s not only one chord–but it’s built around only one) keep things very interesting and almost psychedelic.… Continued →

August 25, 2022

March 20, 2022

February 11, 2022

Song of the Day: Driver Eight - Cheers

This band was the epitome of one of those all-too-common scenarios in 90s Christian music: the frustratingly great one-album wonder. Driver Eight released Watermelon via Tooth and Nail Records in 1996, to high acclaim from fans and critics alike, and then disappeared into the . . . well, that’s just it–we don’t know what happened! The album featured a highly-effective mix of alternative rock styles including Britpop (even though the band was American), quasi-shoegaze, and jangle pop. It seemed that they were channeling equally such disparate influences as Smashing Pumpkins, Catherine Wheel, R.E.M.,… Continued →

January 7, 2022

Song of the Day: LN - Better to Be Cool

If you’ve followed my writings for any amount of time, it’s not hard to discern my love for all things shoegaze, dream pop and the like. One of the best in the game was the mysterious LN. I was never quite sure if it was a band, or a solo project masquerading as a band. Sure, it was fairly well known that Gary Murray (who later recorded as Gary Murray and LN, and then just as Gary Murray) was the principal of the band, but not as clear who else was involved or at what level.… Continued →

December 3, 2021

Song of the Day: Batzz in the Belfry - Touch the Stars

San Francisco-based goth band BATZZ in the Belfry are relatively unknown in the mainstream, but that is a real shame. They combine “unashamed traditional old school goth” with ethereal dream pop, and even hints at shoegaze at times. I suppose this puts them in the realm of darkwave. Take “Touch the Stars” for instance. The song would easily be at home on a Metropolis or Projekt Records compilation alongside Sisters of Mercy, Love and Rockets, or Love Spirals Downwards. The song could almost fit on the Twin Peaks soundtrack as well.… Continued →

October 21, 2021

September 11, 2021

Diving Deep into Shoegaze

So a new friend or acquaintance finds out you’re into music. The inevitable question follows: “what kind of music do you like?” How honest are you? Do you simply say, “I like a little bit of everything?” You know that’s not true. You can’t stand Matchbox 20. Do you try something a little more honest, but still generic, like, “mostly rock stuff.” No, that won’t work either–they might think you mean Lynyrd Skynyrd. Or are you blatantly honest with them, knowing they are unlikely to have a clue what you mean: “my favorite genre is probably shoegaze.”… Continued →

September 8, 2021

Starflyer 59 Pre-Orders Up Now on Velvet Blue Music for New Album

Starflyer 59 are returning next month with a brand new album tiled “Vanity” that will be released through Velvet Blue Music. Jason Martin & Co. have been very active the past few years with loads of new music and if the 3 singles off this album are any indication of the quality present in this record then we are all in for a real treat. Pre-order the album in several different options via the Velvet Blue site right here. I was able to order my super bundle this morning so if you act fast, some of these options might still be available.… Continued →

August 26, 2021

Starflyer 59 release new single "Sunrise"

Jason Martin is back at it, never ceasing to create and release new music. The new single is called “Sunrise” and is decidedly more upbeat than the recent “Life in Bed.” Perhaps the two work as companion pieces? The 80s post-punk and new wave influences are here again, but filtered through Jason’s shoegaze and indie rock background. Check out the song on your streaming platform of choice. Be sure to download and support the artist where possible. https://starflyer59.bandcamp.com/album/sunrise https://soundcloud.com/velvetblue/starflyer-59-sunrise https://open.spotify.com/track/4o5hLF6WnULrPXFCMzmLH5?si=5ee0b792c04143d1Continued →

July 30, 2021

Song of the Day: Velour 100 - Toledo

I’m a sucker for all things shoegaze, including music that often falls under the wider umbrella of dream pop, madchester/baggy, indie pop and some forms of Britpop and space rock. While shoegaze had a limited representation amongst Christian artists, there were a few who really excelled in the genre. Ypsilanti, Michigan’s Velour 100 was one such artist. Led by Trey Many (who had honed his skills in the mainstream His Name is Alive and Liquorice; also a member of indie rock supergroup Lo-Tom), and rounded out by vocalist Amon Krist (daughter of renowned folk artist Jan Krist) on the debut, the band employed a trio of lead vocalists for their more accessible and also edgier sophomore effort Of Color Bright.… Continued →

July 17, 2021

July 2, 2021

Song of the Day: Starflyer 59 - Life in Bed

First things first: I must apologize for missing a couple of weeks on my Song of the Day features. We’ve been in the middle of an international move. Yes, after 13 years of life in the UK, my family and I have returned to the United States! And we’ve been living out of suitcases while we finalize our housing. So do please forgive me for missing a few posts. However, I hope a new song from Starflyer 59 this week can make up for it. The first thing I noticed from the track was the eerie new wave keyboard sounds and quasi-goth guitar leads.… Continued →

June 18, 2021

Starflyer 59 to Drop "Like To Lose" Single on July 9th

Yeah you heard that right. Starflyer 59 are back with not 1, but 2 NEW songs this year (so far). These 2 new singles are part of an upcoming full length dropping later in the year on Velvet Blue Music. Purchase “Like to Lose” on a Flexi 7″ from Velvet Blue Music right here. I’m always game for new Starflyer 59, any day, any time, no matter what part of year. Any day can be a “Starflyer 59 Day” am I right?… Continued →

June 1, 2021

May 16, 2021

May 7, 2021

Revival Hymns Releases Brand New EP

Revival Hymns just dropped a brand new 3 Song EP titled “Birth Pains”. This is their first new music in over 7 years. The indie/shoegaze band has garnered much interest here in the states by way of Finland/Germany where the members reside. You can listen to the new song “Praise for the Bereft” below. “Incredible”, “Breathtaking”, “Inspiring” are not words to merely toss casually at artists in regards to igniting false hype around something a journalist may find especially appealing (or a record label deems “Important” for us as writers to check out).… Continued →

November 7, 2020

REVIEW : Starflyer 59 - Miami (EP)

There used to be a fairly well-known release formula for SF59. Step one: release full-length album. Step two: release EP of similar material within the following year (or even later that same year). While the formula has been tweaked over the years, it still more or less holds. Whereas She’s the Queen was the counterpart to Silver, Miami functions that way for Young in My Head. Although there are some stylistic—and more noticeably, lyrical—differences, any of these songs probably could have been on Young in My Head.… Continued →

August 25, 2020

May 23, 2020