The Ocean Blue - Between Something and Nothing (video)

Look Back In Anger: Do you ever get that feeling when you're sitting by the bay and a beautiful, dark-haired babe catches your eye that 'Gee, this about does it for me"? Yes, of course you have. We ALL have. The Ocean Blue, were dreamy late 80's post-punkers, who rattled off a string undeniably wonderful tunes that sit somewhere between Echo and the Bunnymen and The Field Mice. Between Something and Nothing is one of those vastly underheard singles that is drenched nostalgia. Its the sort of song you hear and know that you have heard before, but can never place when, or where. The clip combines all of my favorite things: Deep deep shades of blue, white canvas drapes, telecasters, bowl cuts, and worshiping at the alter of babe-dom. If you've ever put on a mock turtle-neck, looked up to the stars and wondered, will she ever be mine? This one's for you: >>>Todays post is brought to you by World Oceans Day, rockon Oceans!!

Neon Indian - Annie

Neon Indian is an artist who you'd expect to follow in a similarly sloppy path as say, Twin Shadow. Both one-man-bands evolved around the same time, with a similar propensity for dabbling in warped 80s-leaning Pop. Shadow quickly shed his lower fidelities and reached for a more stratospheric sound, leaving some to wonder where exactly there was a golden light(at the end of tunnel?)... I really enjoy Twin Shadow's Yeezy-esque self indulging, you have to appreciate someone who truly appreciates themselves. Its just that his tunes have perpetually landed in the crapper, following his excellent debut. Neon Indian has a different story. He too has a yearning deep inside his soul, to soar above his early dressage, and thankfully he has done so in a most refreshing and bodacious way. From Should Have Taken Acid with You, to Future Sick, to Annie, his latest and sunniest single to date. Annie is a chirpy, upstroke-laden dance track, that sheds the Helsinki-heaviness of Era Extrana and introduces a new (un-deadbeat) summery sound. This single is almost a return to form, with a touch of Orange Juice, or Flock of Seagulls to it. If you're totally bummed that Summer is getting washed away in a whole week of rain, you need to totallly press play on this guy. Gang, this is soooo June 2015. Get into it:

McCarthy - Frans Hals (video)

Look Back in Anger: Later 80s, Indie pop, deconstructionists, McCarthy, jangled with a guitar heavy familiarism common to Pop of the time, yet they were never able to gain much recognition (possibly because of their overtly Marxist leanings and lyrics). With a wink and a nod, the group took a page from Punk acts and named itself after the pre-Ted Cruz, fear-mongering American senator. Like a delicate cherry blossom, McCarthy displayed both great intricacy and fragility in all of their compositions. Coupling staggering layers of interwoven guitars, with singer, Malcom Eden's wordy chantings, McCarthy produced a woozy, sunshiney sort of vibe. Guitarist, Tim Gane, would later go on to form Stereolab with gf (and McCarthy contributor) Lætitia Sadier, yet the early years of this lesser known band are certainly worth an excavation.

Missing Persons - Words (video)

Look Back In Anger: "I might as well go up and talk to a wall/ cause all the words are having no effect at all/ It's a funny thing am I all alone." Forlorn intimations, squawked forth from Dale Bozzio, the lead sorceress in bizzaro Neaveau Glamazons, Missing Persons. MP, were weird, which is what makes them so wonderful. Behind the glaze of fairly straight forward glitzy Rock Pop, Bozzio bounded through the early 80s with pastel face paint, industrial swimwear and a mystical prowess for knowing lyricism. Behold:

Electric Youth - Innocence (video)

Here's the epic scifi-romantic clip for Electric Youth's new single, Innocence. Continually, the 80s pop aficionados prove they are ahead of the ahead of pack. When it comes to writing the best tension building, arpegiator filled, tributes to the night and the past, no one else comes close! Innocence is a typical EY affair, with its expansive soundtrack ready synths, whispered vocals, and interwoven melodies basked in nostalgia. Brings to mind Sally Shapiro and The Voyagers.

Shura - Touch (video)

Outlandishly smooth, R + B newb, Shura, unveils an unsurprising make-out clip for Touch. Sexy, silky, slowglo, sounding-like-the-80s-via-2014 are all descriptive terms one might use when alluding to Shura. Rather than subject you to such a soliloquy, I'll simply show you to this song:

Saâda Bonaire - You Could Be More As You Are

Rare and mysterious, early 80s neveau romantics, Saâda Bonaire, have been reanimated for a new Captured Tracks release. This track sounds like it could have been put out today by someone like Empress Of, or Geneva Jacuzzi, but in reality it was written many years ago! Bouncing brass synthesisers, over some jangling sitar + a Tom Tom Club-esque bassline = the right fucking disco song for Monday the 14th. Like a spider dancing on the strings of broken mandolin, left forgotten in the back green room of a steamy discotheque. Voila:

Holy Ghost! - Okay

So much about Holy Ghost! does not work at all. They're vintage synth purists, choosing to revel in antiquated electronics over a more contemporary drum and bass sound; and while yes, many artists are living in the past these days, Holy Ghost! are fairly unique in their hifi aping of a Depeche Mode/New Order/Ministry tonality. On top of this, Alex Frankel is a criminally middle of the road vocalist, often veering out of pitch and out his element. Lyrically Frankel is equally simplistic and straight forward. Yet, despite all their disparities, I find myself fully encamped in the Holy Ghost! camp-grounds. Why? why? WHY???? Its easy to hate on a band like Holy Ghost, they sorta look like blow-holes (lets be real), but their music is dope. Okay is another outstanding single that utilises sounds from the heyday of synthetic pop to a masterful degree. The hooks here are plentiful! And the juicy, metallic, orchestra stabs are sooooooo Depeche Mode circa Some Great Reward. Earworm commin atcha:

Drake - Hold On, We're Going Home

Drake unveils a sure to be super smash hit with this, his latest single. If this isn't a track from the OVO Grand Mister's upcoming LP, than he is truly laying on a giant pile of hidden gold than no one has yet even fathomed (think Smog!). Hold On is filled with familiar sounding silky R&B synths, and backed by a 80s leaning pure pop beat. This is Drake's catchiest release since Best I Ever Had, Find Your Love, and Headlines. Clearly Aubs knows how to get behind the dopest of production (unless he's just relying on 40) because this sounds like The Dream meets Paula Abdul and Jan Hammer ft. Majid. Most anticipated release of 013?????? MAYBBEEE!!!! DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Summer Camp - Fresh

Long have I been in the Summer Camp camp, knowing the Londoners were capable of producing another strong single, after those first few mysterious tracks they released a few years back. Welcome to Condale, their first proper LP was a significant step above the production level of their early material, yet unfortunately it was a complete misstep. The songs were still licked with a familiar 80s-pop sheen, but they lacked the warmth and ear pricking quality one experiences when hearing something new and interesting for the first time, that you could find on something like Ghost Train. Fittingly titled, Fresh, has a reinvigorated sound, that sheds the group's drab dabbling into plasticized pop production, and returns them to more a original tonality. Laying on a heavily orchestrated string sample, Summer Camp have created their first true dance single, with an excellent combo of their usual echo-y vocal cooing and a joltingly funky bass-line (reminiscent of Tango In the Night-era Fleetwood Mac). This is easily one of the best songs of this summer, and one of those wonderful Indie-pop gems that you won't soon forget.

OMD - So In Love

The vastly underrated and mostly only known for their Breakfast Club song, Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark are about to release a new album this month. So it seems only fair that we all take a look back at one of their classic clips! Sadly, OMD never gained the sort of fame reached by similar acts like Depeche Mode, or New Order, yet their sound was often just as accessible if not more. "So In Love," comes from their album Crush. Released in 85' it was not as strong a record as earlier releases like Architecture & Morality or Dazzle Ships, yet this song is undeniably a banger. Let your ears set sail on a beautiful ocean of love and synthesizers!

Melted Toys

It snowed over the weekend. Sooo many people were into it. People were status updating things like, "Oh man, its snowing!" or "Finally, snow!" It was sort of pleasant and romantic at the same time, but seriously the next day always sucks for snow. Its mostly a city thang, but when its super slushy and you get those gross black puddles by the curb of every corner its a serious bummer. So if you're on the same page as me you're totally craving some sweet summery jimmy-jams to waft you away from the snow, here ya go.

Melted Toys, seems to be a widely ignored band. I didn't hear about them til like a week ago, but apparently they dropped an EP last year. "Come On," their first and only single is a jingle-jangling guitar popper, dripping with that fabulous 80s vibe that everybodys groovin on these days. In the same vein as Beach Fossils or Wild Nothing these dudes drown their shit in serious chorus and delay, making for a nice hazy pre-pre-Spring tune.