deary - "Alfie"

London dream pop trio deary will release their debut album Birding next month. The epic eight-minute single "Alfie" will sate those looking for a Cocteau Twins/Slowdive fix.  

Maria Somerville - "Garden"

Maria Somerville's excellent new record Luster is an exquisite collection of goth-ambient dreampop. "Garden" leans into a Cocteau Twins-like dream world of soft drum machines, aquatic bass, and washes of ethereal synths. 

Jabu - "Oceanside Spider House"

Bristol trio Jabu draws inspiration from early 4AD acts like Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, and Dif Juz on the hauntingly exquisite track "Oceanside Spider House." It can be found on their fascinating new album A Soft And Gatherable Star.

Suave Punk - "Dust Bunny"

Suave Punk, the moniker of Korean-American post-punker Justin Kim, revels in 90s shoegaze and dream pop while keeping it fresh and updated. His latest single "Dust Bunny" is a thick and lumbering monster of effects-heavy guitars and mountainous drums. If I'm not mistaken, it seems like there is a melodic nod to Cocteau Twins' classic track "Carolyn's Fingers."

Sun's Signature - "Golden Air"

Cocteau Twin's singer Elizabeth Fraser returns with her first new music in 13 years with "Golden Air." It is a project called Sun's Signature she formed with partner Damon Reese. It pairs her signature vocals with folk guitars that build to a dream-pop climax.  

Deserta - "Far From Over'

Deserta (aka Matthew Doty) just released its sophomore album, the lush and dreamy Every Moment, Everything You Need. "Far From Over" is the 6-minute centerpiece opus that is the perfect merger of bands like Mogwai, Slowdive, Explosions In The Sky, and Cocteau Twins.

White Flowers - "Daylight"

White Flowers, the duo of Joey Cobb and Katie Drew, conjure up memories of Cocteau Twins on the ethereal dream-pop of "Daylight."

Jam of the Day: Chasms - "Deep Love Deep Pain"

LA duo Chasms returns with their new record The Mirage. They sound like a mix of Cocteau Twins and The xx, with a dash of Public Image Ltd.'s dub soundscapes thrown in for atmosphere. "Deep Love Deep Pain" is an evocative track that is a perfect embodiment of their sound.

Jam of the Day: Hatchie - "Stay With Me"

If Robyn, Cocteau Twins, and The Sundays got together and wrote a "crying alone in the club" song, they would probably sound like this excellent track from Aussie singer-songwriter Hatchie. It is from her upcoming debut album called Keepsake.

Jam of the Day: Pinkshinyultrablast - "Eray"

Throw in Chvrches' synthpop drive, add some Cocteau Twins-like layering of guitars, and a touch of Eno-esque ambientness for texture, and you will come up with Russia's Pinkshinyultrablast. The only collusion here is some great influences that merge together flawlessly. From their record Miserable Miracles, "Eray" is a tightly constructed synthpop gem.

Jam of the Day: Hatchie - "Sugar and Spice"

Brisbane, Australia singer Harriet Pillbeam, who records under the name Hatchie, creates lovely dream-pop songs that echo the best of artists like Cocteau Twins and The Sundays. "Sugar and Spice" is easy to get lost in.

Jam of the Day: Wy - "Bathrooms"

I can't get enough of this moody track from Swedish duo Wy. I guess the best way I can describe this track is that is as if Cocteau Twins and Jesus and Mary Chain got into an accident with Siouxsie Sioux. It's pretty darn awesome.

Jam of the Day: Tamaryn - "Sugar Fix"

Moving away from her more somber shoegaze sound and into brighter dream pop areas, New Zealand born Tamaryn gives this ethereal track off her new record Cranekiss. It sounds like a lovely mashup of Cocteau Twins, a little bit of Kate Bush, and some low end bass rumbling from The Cure.

Jam of the Day: Nadastrom ft. Nina K - "House Shoes"

This track from the upcoming debut full length from Nadastrom feels like a collision between the Cocteau Twins and many acts on the DFA label. It is enchanting.

Jam of the Day: GEMS - "Scars"

DC duo GEMS (Lindsay Pitts and Clifford John Usher) release a new single today that draws from a very Cocteau Twins-esque well, with atmospheric, shimmering guitars building over a buzzing bass line and skittering programming. Pitts vocals fluctuate between the gossamer and the guttural.

Non-Sequiturs

Ginger chest.

Fur and eyes.

Love that chest.

Colorful.

Wow.

Furlicious.

I would love to play in all that fur.

Damn that smile.

Grrrr.

Amazing chest.

Hey daddy.

Nice view.

Touch of silver.

Woof.

So cute.

Love his look.

Woof and Grrr and stuff.

So hot.

Hey daddy, again.

Such a cutie.

Damn that's a hot beard.

Yummy.

So. Damn. Hot.

Ginger hotness.

Sexy.

Leather hotness.

Love his build.

Sigh.

Hey daddy.

Damn, that's some fur.

Cutie.

Love that smile.

UNF.

Damn.

There is nothing sexier than thick black fur.

Well, maybe a hot set of abs.

Nah, definitely the black fur.

I am mesmerized by his nipples.

That's a hot man.

Sexy daddy.

Grrrrr.

Yes, please, and thank you.

Esben and the Witch are recording their third album with producer Steve Albini. Hmmmm, that is an interesting choice.

House of Cards just keeps getting better and better.

Arya on Game of Thrones is a badass.

Love this.

There is never a good reason to wear denim shorts.

We saw 300: Rise of an Empire the other night with some friends. It's not my usual type of movie to see. I can't say it was a good movie, however, I will say, I would have loved to be the casting director. Damn.

The US Postal Service's package tracking system pretty much sucks balls.

I think Pet Shop Boys' set at Coachella was likely the first time a Sondheim song was played there.

Tasteless, yes.  Funny as hell, yes.

Bubba Watson, who won the Masters tournament last weekend, can go kiss my furry gay ass. I sure hope that Masters jacket isn't woven from two different materials.

For people I don't know, I treat them like they are psychotic serial killers until proven otherwise.

The song that made me a huge music fan and started my road towards more alternative music was seeing the video for Depeche Mode's song "Get The Balance Right." I've never had a broken bone. While Treasure is my favorite Cocteau Twins record (aside from the compilation The Pink Opaque), I have a soft spot for Four Calendar Cafe. The song "Summerhead" is probably one of my favorite songs of theirs.

Good boy.

I am not a fan of long hair on men, however, Jared Leto sure has some sweet locks.

I don't understand people who get plastic surgery to look like a celebrity or someone famous or infamous. Honestly, I really don't understand plastic surgery in general.

I'll worry about the status of my relationship, thank you. Your opinion about it doesn't matter to me.

If you are a self-proclaimed "helpless romantic," why are you on Scruff? And better yet, why are you complaining about people only wanting to hook up on Scruff?

Once I find you creepy, you will always be creepy to me.

With new pressures at work and other things taking away time from me writing the blog, I am sort of revamping what this blog is. Nothing drastic, mind you, but just something that gives it a little more meaning when I am not able to put out music reviews as often as I am able.

Who knew it would take Hercules and Love Affair to make me like John Grant.

The season premiere of Mad Men had to be one of the most depressing hours of television I have seen in awhile. Almost every character was at their lowest point. I am hoping for some redemption for these characters by the end of the series.

I can't stand weak coffee. I want my coffee so dark and intense it comes with its own horror movie soundtrack.

Your cute for the day.

Appealing Things

Venti Iced Caramel Latte
Hercules And Love Affair's new record
Warm weather
Quiet weekends

 Annoying Things

QC-ing work from stupid people
The wind tunnel effect at Colony Square
Going to the dentist