Echo Beach Radio 11

Eighteen Songs For a Sunday Morning

The last month has been a lot! Between the generalized “all this” of things, and launching the paid version of this Substack (Please support my work, whether you like the finance stuff that’s actually paywalled or just want to encourage more of this kind of silliness).

But what I’ve found — over and over again — is no matter how nuts the world gets, the indie music scene makes it all better — at least for a few minutes at a time. This month’s playlist is a whopper at 18 songs, leaning strongly into mellow, electronica, triphop, and bedroom pop, but with a few bangers to close it out. As usual, you can just play the Spotify playlist, or click along the videos with me below.

And the songs:

"khatil - خاتل" by nabeel - نبيل

I have no idea who this guy/band Nabeel (نبيل) is other than what I can find on the internet: He’s Iraqi-American, lives in Virginia, and this song freakin’ rocks. It’s exactly my favorite kind of indie-DIY garage music. I don’t understand a word of it, and that’s honestly part of why I love it. I’m just going to assume someone making music this good isn’t saying horrific things?

"It's Amazing To Be Young" by Fontaines D.C.

"It's Amazing To Be Young" is the latest drop from Irish lunatics and top-of-my-must-see-list Fontaines D.C. Last years "Romance" was a hit-filled masterpiece, and this is a pretty darn good start to whatever their dropping next. It’s also surprisingly hopeful, and I’m all about that right now. Also the few bars of 2-2 Punk drumming in the chorus is hooky as heck.

"Dancing in the Club - MJ Lenderman Version" by This Is Lorelei & MJ Lenderman

I like this version of This Is Lorelei's hit form their wildly successful 2024 album more than the original. It’s got MJ on it, which is already a pretty big sign, but it’s also a really great mashup of styles. Compare MJ’s super organic version to the overly-autotuned but well-produced original.

As far as I’m concerned, Nate and MJ should just get married and have little musical babies like this one going forward.

"catch these fists" by Wet Leg

New Wet Leg! is all you really need to know. Their eponymous debut album a few years ago was overplayed and Grammy-winning to the point of pastiche, but they’re back, and they’re crushing. This track shows a better mix, and tighter writing. Big fan.

"CCF (I'm Gonna Stay With You)" by Car Seat Headrest

Strap in for 8 minutes!

Like a lot of great bands, Car Seat Headrest has a VERY specific sound. Sometimes I dig it, sometimes I don’t. This first track from an upcoming concept album called “The Scholars” which, based on this, (and the B-Side, the weirder and in-rotation “Gethsemane”) - has me intrigued.

The internet tells me that this “epic 8-minute track is part of a rock opera set at the fictional Parnassus University and follows the character Beolco, a student who believes himself spiritually connected to the college's founder.”

Sure. Or, it’s a great tune.

"Hideaway" by Mallrat

Welcome to the Tone shift in this playlist towards a bunch of mellower/electronic stuff that’s been getting be by. Mallrat is the overslick, overproduced work of Grace Shaw, which I featured last month, and I find myself still listening to it more than I expect to. Clearly this is aa continuation of the SOPHIE era.

"Potion" by Djo

"Potion" comes from Djo, which is the music name of that dude from Stranger Things who plays the Mall Guy, Steve. I have no opinions about his acting career, but I’ve really dug his music. The only word I can use to describe his nostatalgic synthband/psychedelia is “Groovy.”

"Disorder" by Freak Slug

I’ve had Freak Slug on repeat since they dropped their Album “I Blow Out Big Candles” (featured last time), and the Algo surfaced this cover they did of Disorder by Joy Division. I mean COME ON. The Universe isn’t even being subtle about delivering me just what I need.

"Lichen" by After

Call it “atmospheric post-rock” if you have to, this new-to-me dreampop-electro layered-air creation slid into a random bandcamp exploration and now I’m hooked. Great cruisn’ around on a spring evening music.

"Sweet Danger" by Obongjayar

Nigerian-born, London-based artist Obongjayar brings the heat on "Sweet Danger." The combo of his weird and amazing voice with an absolutely irresistible hook makes this hard not to dance to. It might be my favorite song on this playlist.

"80 Days" by Σtella

Σtella (Stella Chronopoulou) is a new-to-me Greek artist that honestly had me reminiscing about being a small child in the 1970’s hearing Joan Baez (made more poignant but just having watched the amazingly good and deeply child-nostalgic “A Complete Unknown.")

"Garden" by Maria Somerville

And *another* amazing new find, Irish experimental artist Maria Somerville. Haunting. Very San Francisco 1995. That girl you knew in high school who was wicked into the Cocteau Twins, wore black, sang in choir and never looked at you? That’s how I picture Maria Somerville. In a good way.

"Goodbye (Don't Tell Me)" by Black Country, New Road

NOT new to me, British experimental weirdos Black Country, New Road had a very strange album a few years ago, “Ants From Up There,” which had wild brass and jazz bits, and included the phenomenally strange “Chaos Space Marine.” This time with "Goodbye (Don't Tell Me)" — the closing track from their mixed new Album, Forever Howlong, they’re more down the middle really highlighting their musicianship and Georgia Ellery’s sweet vocals.

"I'm Not Real" by TV Girl, George Clanton, PYNKIE

Hardly an “Indie Find”, TV Girl has 21 million monthly Spotify listeners. Still, mashing up her pop inclinations with George Clanton’s TripHop and PYNKIE’s awesome dreampop is just magical. A mellow and acquired taste, I’m feeling mellow and acquired.

"Aerial Troubles" by Stereolab

Let’s round out this list with a handful of great new tracks from old bands. And “Old Bands” definitely covers Stereolab. They’re the O.G. experimental rock band, and I’ve been nodding along to their vibe since the 1990s. And they’re as good as ever honestly.

"NEVER ENOUGH" by Turnstile

Wait, I thought Turnstile was a Baltimore hardcore band. And this is a weird mashup of a slow-mellow-dreamy intro/outro and a solid arena-rock gooey center. If ever a song seemed to capture the schizophrenia of the moment, where Nostalgia and insane novelty are side by side, its this one. The guitar solo (2:11) is straight out of a 1989 MTV video.

"Rodeo" by Momma

Nobody should make as consistently great guitar-rock as Brooklyn-based Momma. It’s like the 90’s never ended. Still sounds fresh though.

"Enough Is Enough" by The Hives

I haven’t thought about these rockin’ Swedes in a while — honestly not much since 2000 when they dropped Veni Vidi Vicious with killer single “Here To Say I Told You So.” I found their 2023 album The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons, largely forgettable. This feels like a return to form with just some straight ahead punky rage-rock.

“Everyone’s a little fuckin’ bitch
And I’m getting tired of it.
Went to the doctor ‘cause I was sick
Sick of everybody’s bullshit.”

Indeed.