So I have a lofty new years resolution for 2018 in music, and it’s one that my track record of consuming mainstream pop and thriving on the hyperbole of big-name indie-rock releases suggests that I’ll be unable to deliver upon.  Regardless, I remain focused and intent on exposing only new/underground artists this year, particularly of the indie/folk/electronic variety. I’ve spent the better part of 9 years on this site covering artists who, for the most part, don’t need reviews from someone like me on a site like this.  Sure, there have been your Astronauts, Tigers on Trains, et al sprinkled in – but now I’d like to make that my primary focus.  I guess klap will have to review Taylor Swift every time from now on.

In light of this newfound direction in life (on Sputnik), I’d like to make this a somewhat regular blog. I realize that it borrows a lot of ideas (the name hype machine for starters, but Sowing’s Hype Corner just makes me want to punch myself), but it’s the best I can do for now. For each installment I’ll highlight three upcoming records that are not necessarily on most people’s radars, and then offer a quick synopsis, a sample track, and a “hype rating” that I shamelessly borrowed from Has It Leaked.  Not that I’ve ever downloaded leaked music.

So enjoy, and hopefully this is the first of many beautiful unveilings that will help to bring hard working, “starving” artists into the sput-light. Look for me to review these records around the time of their respective releases as well.

1) All The Luck In The World – A Blind Arcade

Genre: Folk/Experimental

Release Date: 2/23/2018

Hype Rating: 9 

I’m not sure exactly what it is – maybe it’s that incredibly dreamy artwork or something – but I’m beyond excited for this record to drop. All The Luck In The World are still very much under the radar, so there’s time to jump on the bandwagon yet. I have just begun to delve into their material (they have one other LP that I’m aware of) and should be well-versed when it comes time to review A Blind Arcade.  I’ve heard three tracks from this so far (including a b-side made available via the group’s social media), and they’re all great. “Golden October” has me the most excited though, offering up a poetic melody that experiments with time signatures and wintry effects to instill an absolutely breathtaking atmosphere.

Listen to “Golden October”:

2) When We Land – Introvert’s Plight

Genre:  Indie-Rock

Release Date: 1/1/2018

Hype Rating: 7 

There’s a short wait for this one – 6 more days to be exact – and while I’m not as convinced that this will be a timeless gem, I’m fairly certain that it will be an enjoyable alt/indie album that very few people will catch wind of. The band has ~300 Facebook followers, just saying. What I’ve heard of their debut, Introvert’s Plight, has been promising – very catchy and diverse, with unfounded songwriting maturity. “Take Me Back Again” is the track that caught my attention, and while it is relatively straightforward indie-rock, it’s still more enjoyable than anything put out by a lot of the genre’s titans as of late (ahem, Arcade Fire).  Listen below!

Listen to “Take Me Back Again”:

3) EDEN – Vertigo

Genre:  Indie-Pop/Electronic

Release Date: 1/19/2018

Hype Rating: 5 

This one I’m less certain of.  It seems to be high risk/high reward — there’s something distinctly mainstream about the way it pops, but the electronic infusion is both different and welcome, as is the female vocal accompaniment. The only project it reminds me of a little bit is The xx. Anyway, it sounds like EDEN’s big bid for the spotlight, so we’ll just have to wait and see how it pans out for the one-man project of singer-songwriter Jonathan Ng. If he plays his cards right, this might be his big breakthrough.  “crash” (below) is certainly worth hearing if anything I just said sounds appealing.

Listen to “crash”:

Audio Player