Further listening: Emmy The GreatEmmy The Great, Gus Ring, The Boombox Hearts, Tyne, Keiandra, Teen Daze, Goldblooms, The Rebel Light, Her Harbour, Juliana LaChance, Diagrams, Molly Burch, Goodman, Slumbers, Lilah Larson, Helene Greenwood, Okey Dokey, Blond Ambition, Mind Rays, Fascinations Grand Chorus, Family Scraps, Cass McCombs, Bruising, W.H.Lung, Half Loon and the brilliant new version of Return To Life by Meilyr Jones.

5. Roses At Dusk

Next month will see the release of Dusk, the third album from San Franciscan dream-folk trio, Magic Magic Roses. The band formed back in 2008 when Kate Sweeney and Sarah Simon got together to play some Jimmie Rodgers covers, but quickly moved onto original material, which would form the basis of their first two records.

Ahead of the release, the band have this week shared their new album’s title track, Dusk. Building around a gentle acoustic-strum and rattling marching drum; Dusk is a wash of hazy, Autumnal sunshine, rich with gentle melancholy. Like fellow modern Americana-acts Hurray For The Riff Raff or Cicada Rhythm, Magic Magic Rose manage to create something that’s at once nostalgic and fresh, and show once again that this is a genre with plenty left to say.

Dusk is out December 2nd via Plume Records. Click HERE for all future Magic Magic Roses live dates.

4. Poppies Get Told

It was only back in September that New York-quartet Poppies released their debut single, but the hype surrounding them is already ramping up towards deafening. Whilst there’s no details of exactly what 2017 will hold for this talented bunch, this week they’ve continued to impress with the release of new single, Told.

Accompanied by an intriguingly dark video, Told is Poppies best track to date. Like the Moldy Peaches of Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra, much of Poppies charm lies in back and forth between their duel vocalists. Here they sit atop a gentle drift of atmospheric basslines and gently ticking drum beats, bringing to mind the likes of Sparklehorse or Elvis Depressedly. It’s a song heavy with unsaid emotional turmoil, the two narrator’s relationship seeming to unravel in front of your eyes, as they sing in unison, “I don’t believe what I am told.” Told is a remarkable beginning from this talented bunch, the musical world would appear to be their oyster.

Told is out now and available via Bandcamp. Click HERE for all upcoming Poppies shows.

3. Courtneys Love

How exactly Vancouver’s The Courtneys ended up on the legendary New Zealand label Flying Nun is a matter we could only speculate on; but with a shared love of the janglier recesses of indie-pop and the more tuneful edges of post-punk, there can be few better musical matches.

This week The Courtney’s have shared details of their imaginatively titled second album, The Courtney’s II, as well as sharing the first track from it, Silver Velvet. From a scrawly burst of feedback, the driving rhythm section propel the song along, as the vocals chime in with a presumably accidental touch of Shampoo. The Courtney’s are the sound of a thousand teenage rebellions, broken hearts and candy floss fuelled roller-coaster rides; as they conclude at the tracks finale, “it doesn’t matter if it’s right, you’re just the one I like.”  And if you’re not humming that to yourself long after Silver Velvet has stopped playing, you should probably check your hearts still beating.

The Courtneys II is out February 17th via Flying Nun Records.

2. Peaness Head To The Islands

Regular fixtures on the indie-pop scene, Chester’s Peaness are already making waves courtesy of support from nearly every Welsh DJ you can think of. This week the trio have announced their latest double A-side single, Same Place/Seafoam Islands, which will come out early next year on Odd Box Records.

Ahead of it’s release Peaness have shared the video for the singles flip side, Seafoam Islands. Seafoam Islands has a touch of Girl Ray or Sacred Paws; injecting catchy indie-pop melodies with jerking rhythms, and danceable basslines – it is a track that worms its way into your head and simply refuses to leave. Having supported the likes of Sauna Youth, PAWS and pretty much anyone who’s on Fortuna Pop, Peaness are a band destined for huge things – and listening to this it’s going to be a really fun ride.

Same Place/Seafoam Islands are out January 27th via Odd Box Records (very limited edition and selling fast!) Click HERE for all upcoming Peaness shows.

1. Adwaith Are Sure To Get A Reaction

Out of fear of making a royal arse of ourselves we don’t often dip into music in anything other than English, so when we do you can be pretty sure it’s going to be great.  Adwaith are a Carmarthen based quartet formed around the songwriting duo of Hollie Singer and Gwenllian Anthony who met when they were just three-years-old. Having recently released their debut single Pwysau via Decidedly Records the band have taken the first step on, “forging a new path for Welsh music”

Pwysau, meaning as far as we know, Weight, is a fine introduction to the band. Pwysau is intoxicating, a beautifully melancholic slice of wistful dream-pop, based around a simple repeated guitar line, minimal drums and the beautifully, mesmeric vocal harmonies. Although not entirely evident in this track, Adwaith cite a lineage of influences through Johnny Cash, The Slits, Happy Mondays and Datblygu, and admit an admiration for bands who refuse to walk the easy path. Whatever route they decide to take, Adwaith seem to be a band definitely worth following wherever their journey takes them.

Pwysau is out now via Decidedly Records.