Magnetic Vines, Killer Cashew, & Sarpa Salpa
When we saw that Magnetic Vines described themselves as a “soundtrack to rooftop gardens by moonlight,” we knew we had found something special with their new track, “Long Sleep.” The tune begins not unlike many indie-folk delights, with a finger-picked acoustic guitar and the gentle waves from the slide of a lap steel, but Lisa Servilio’s smooth vocals soon make their appearance and carry the listener far away from all of life’s worries. Magnetic Vines describe the track as a “Melancholy autumnal ballad” and it is the perfect track to play as you make your commute through the treelined roads of wherever you might be, and going wherever you may be headed, even if that’s just a quick drive to get out of your head and into a vibe. Be on the lookout for their upcoming record, Sentinel Pine– because that’s exactly what we’ll be doing.
Leaving the stripped back sounds of the beloved genre of folk music, we arrive in the realm of psychedelic indie rock, though the new cut from Killer Cashew certainly leans more toward the Americana end of that spectrum, if such an end exists. “Reality” was released at the top of the month and this cracking tune will hook the listener straight away, with its gentle nod at the time-tested vibes of The Beatles– the organ certainly makes sure of that and we are completely here for it. It has the doubled vocals that we have long been preaching about from the mountaintops, plus a dose of the lap steel that we, for some reason, simply cannot get enough of hearing. And though this track will suck you in, nothing will prepare you for what happens around two and a half minutes into the song– I guess this is why they claim allegiance to the psychedelic because what occurs is fantastical and leads up through the end, which seems to build into something more grandiose than your fancy earbuds should allow. This one will move straight to your favorite playlist, so be sure to mark your calendars for Killer Cashew’s LP, available in February!
For this next tune, we’re gonna need you to brace yourselves. Northampton’s Sarpa Salpa are not messing around and this track will set you ablaze if you get to close. “Dreaming” was introduced to the public at the end of August and it is like a call for that one last burst of energy before the world starts to slow down and hunker into their homes for the colder weather. This track gives off the same kind of heat that we felt when we first heard I Don’t Know How But They Found Me. Sorry for drawing the comparison, but you will know what we mean as soon as you press play. The musicianship is top notch, which is immediately obvious, with all of its glorious nods and tips of the hat to the very best of ‘80s dance music. But the vocals are what set it apart from most of the others that we’ve heard. They are truly amazing without being over produced. And you don’t have to take our word for it: Sarpa Salpa already have a consistent and loyal following and their music has earned them “slots at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, The Great Escape Festival, 110 Above Festival, SXSW Festival (USA), MaNo Fest (Germany) and Festival Les Expressifs (France) as well as support slots with McFly, The Amazons & The Lottery Winners.” These are just the tip of their iceberg of accolades. If you’re only hearing them for the first time on this blog, we are confident that it will not be the last.
-TM