The excellent Maximum Music show on Breakthru Radio continues to feature the latest releases from Hidden Shoal, including Toby Richardson’s hip-quaking single ‘Booragoon Lagoon’ from his recently released album Evergreen. Visit the Breakthru Radio site to stream DJ Mojo’s shows, which have also featured recent releases from Jumpel and Tangled Star.

Monocle’s sublime dream pop masterpiece Outer Sunset has been selected as a featured cd release by US based distributor Tonevendor. If the best of 2007 lists and glowing reviews aren’t enough then here’s another reminder why this album is so important,

“From the opening strains of ‘Emmanuelle’, Monocle immediately set about wrapping the listener in a blanket of dizzying hypnotic pop. Moving from bossa-fuelled dark night car rides to lush shoegaze-tinged astral rock. Tracks such as ‘Music of Space’, ‘Agent Earle’ and ‘Airphase’ present some of the best newgaze pop you will hear this year, leaving behind the often overbearing austerity of the genre and replacing it with an innate melancholic warmth and energy.”

The album is available now in-stores and online through Tonevendor. If you local music store doesn’t stock it then slap them gently around the face and ask them to order it in through Tonevendor (maybe skip the slapping). The album is also available digitally through all good digi stores including iTunes, Amazon, eMusic and the HSR Store. Head here for all purchase info.

Monocle - Agent Earle Monocle - Agent Earle

Drew Sullivan, AKA Slow Dancing Society, is putting the finishing touches to his eagerly awaited new album. Priest Lake Circa ‘88 is the second part of a two-part release that began with the The Slow and Steady Winter, which was released in 2007 to critical acclaim and a position on several best of 2007 lists.

But let’s leave it to the man himself for the full story about the release:

“I’ve managed to take literally ever single artist I’ve ever loved and still love for that matter and placed them into this album. Most of the music that has moved me so much was the music from my childhood, and summer always seemed to be that season that gave me the most memories that still reside in me today and are as vivid as ever. So many different types of music were a part of my childhood that you can find sounds from synth pop to stadium rock all the way through glam metal to the new romantics and on through art rock graciously drenched in reverb!

After relocating back to my hometown from spending what felt like a lifetime in Los Angeles, I was moved to create an album that evoked what my childhood was like and the nostalgic aspect of it and how it’s affected who I am today. In some ways this third album feels like the album I’ve been wanting to make ever since I first started creating music and I don’t honestly see myself making another album like this again. This album is quite personal to me and is a deep glimpse into what music sounds like in my head and how I experience it.”

Priest Lake Circa ‘88 will be released on Hidden Shoal Recordings this July. To keep informed of all Slow Dancing Society and other HSR news make sure to subscribe to our mailing list.

Slow Dancing Society -February Sun Slow Dancing Society - February Sun