Scorching on the heels of latest releases from Heavenly (their first in 19 years) and Swansea Sound, these people at Skepwax have dropped new singles from their two American signings, Jeanines and Lightheaded, forward of albums from each, at the side of the US label Slumberland Information due on twenty seventh June.
Jeanines are Alicia Jeanine and Jed Smith and, over the course of almost a decade making music have charted a particular course by means of the historical past of pop, evoking influences as assorted because the 60s people of early Fairport Conference and Vashti Bunyan, the sunshine pop of Margo Guryan and Laura Nyro, and indiepop touchstones like Expensive Nora, Marine Women and Dolly Combination.
The album, How Lengthy Can It Final, finds Jeanines grappling with themes of non-public upheaval and self-excavation, including weight to arguably their most interesting set of songs but. With Alicia’s lyrics incisively interrogating connections, ruptures, and time and its reverberations, songs like Coaxed A Storm, What’s Achieved Is Achieved, and On and On mix wealthy melody with co-composer Jed’s crisp preparations (together with contributions from longtime reside present bassist Maggie Gaster) to stellar impact.
Whereas the themes are typically heavy, the melodies and harmonies are merely heavenly, elevating these economical songs to offer every the sensation of a misplaced basic. From the primary notes of opener To Fail to jaunty nearer Fallacious Path, this album How Lengthy Can It Final itself because the work of a band in full command of their artwork (and craft).
Jeanines will be discovered right here
Lightheaded distil a long time of lovelorn tunes into sounds for contemporary softies. They’ve the sunshine sparkle of The Left Banke and the C86 attraction of Would-Be-Items, and the cinematic swell of Belle & Sebastian and Digital camera Obscura.
Fashioned on the shore of New Jersey in 2017 by Cynthia Rittenbach and Stephen Stec, Lightheaded took time to hone their sound with a rotating crew of drummers, guitarists and backup vocalists. They discovered a neighborhood of like-minded bands in an enormous however tight-knit worldwide indie pop scene, which ultimately led them to the long-lasting California label Slumberland Information. Their debut cassette EP Good Good Nice!, a group of 5 good pop songs, landed in 2023, adopted by the full-length Flamable Gems in 2024.
Pondering, Dreaming, Scheming is their most collaborative and earnest launch up to now. A aspect of 5 model new songs is mixed with the 5 tracks from Good Good Nice!, now accessible on vinyl for the primary time. Recorded bi-coastally with Gary Olson (The Ladybug Transistor) and Alicia Vanden Heuvel (The Aislers Set, Poundsign) and drenched in lush reverb on tape by Fred Thomas (Saturday Appears Good to Me), the brand new songs are rendered in a dreamy delicate focus that completely fits their starry-eyed themes. Including to all of the enjoyable are the cameos and contributions from the brand new technology of New York indie pop goodness, that includes members of Starcleaner Reunion and Trinket, pushing the songs on this report to a excessive level within the younger band’s discography.
Lightheaded will be discovered right here
Each Jeanines and Lightheaded come to play within the UK in July, kicking off in London as a part of the Skepwax weekend forward of a joint tour.
17 July 2025 London, Skep Wax Weekender (Jeanines)
19 July 2025 London, Skep Wax Weekender (Lightheaded)
20 July 2025 Brighton, The Albert
21 July 2025 Exeter, The Cavern
22 July 2025 Bristol, The Trade
23 July 2025 Oxford, Widespread Floor
24 July 2025 Coventry, Simply Dropped In
25 July 2025 Manchester, Gullivers
27 July 2025 Glasgow, Mono
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All phrases by Iain Key. See his writer profile right here or discover him on Bluesky
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