The Australian music label, Hidden Shoal Recordings, today announced the release of the brilliant debut album Outer Sunset by New York indie pop outfit Monocle.

From the opening strains of ‘Emmanuelle’, Monocle immediately set about wrapping you up 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’ and ‘Airphase’ present some of the best newgaze pop you will hear this year leaving behind the often overbearing austerity and replacing it with an innate melancholic warmth and energy. ‘Agent Earle’ kicks off in what initially feels like parody but in true Monocle style turns itself on its head with dark chiming guitars and warning vocals only to then perform a third chameleon act slipping the listener into a blurred star belt. - Press Release Excerpt

The album will see an initial digital release followed by US CD release early 2008. Monocle will launch Outer Sunset at Club Europa in New York on the 13th of December with special guest Ulrich Schnauss.

Head over to the HSR Store to preview the album in full and buy it. A full press release can be downloaded here.

Monocle - Emmanuelle Monocle - Emmanuelle

We are pleased to announce that the absolutely sublime new album “The Slow and Steady Winter” by Slow Dancing Society is now available from all iTunes stores globally as well as eMusic, Rhapsody, Amazon Mp3 and of course the HSR Store. If you haven’t witnessed the cinematic splendor of this album yet then you are missing out on something special.

For all store links and a full album preview, hop along to the HSR Store.

For all those eager to get their teeth into the indie pop magic that is Monocles debut album Outer Sunset, the wait has been shortened. You are cordially invited to an exclusive Outer Sunset listening party on Imeem the day before the albums official release. The album will streamed in full on the bands Imeem profile on Monday the 26th of November. Now you have no excuse not to lap up Monocles hypnotic blend of bossa fuelled dark night car rides and lush shoegaze tinged astral rock.

In the meanwhile hop along to the Monocle profile on Imeem to hear two exclusive tracks from the album.

Each day we inch closer to the release of the pop brilliance that is the debut Monocle album Outer Sunset. The album will be released on the 27th of November. If that wasn’t enough goodness for you the band have announced it will be launching the album on December, 13 2007 at Club Europa in New York with Ulrich Schnauss, Elika, Project Skyward, and Screen Vinyl Image. The show is being put on by the Loveless Group.

So if you’re in New York or close enough to drive then get your ass down to 98-104 Meserole Ave, Brooklyn and catch an unmissable show.

Just as a taster of what you’ll be missing out on here’s a sneak peak into the album.

Monocle - Music of Space Monocle - Music of Space