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Indie International IV

Welcome once again to Indie International! Our semi-once-in-a-whatever periodical featuring artists from around our glorious globe who, one way or another, caught our attention. Many of these bands sent their music directly, and after an intense process of elimination that involves smoking a bowl and giving an attentive listen, they wind up here!

So let’s dive in!

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cloud life

Hailing from LA, cloud life is a shape-shifter, and his flexibility as an artist is a testament to his ability. ‘deadly’, down-tempo, lo-fi and artsy. The beat just melts me. Seriously my favorite song right now. If you’re looking for something hazy to end the night tonight, look no further than cloud life’s soundcloud.

Hit play and float away.

(“rooftop feelings” reminds me a lot of early Washed Out and “Life of Leisure”)

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The Bilinda Butchers

Hit the highway and head up north to the Bay area, where The Bilinda Butchers are making some J-rock inspired jams. Their album “Heaven” is a pretty compelling story:

The Bilinda Butchers “HEAVEN” is a soundtrack set to the diary by Nakajima Ume, a young woman who lived in Japan from 1836 to 1864. The diary’s entries catalog her catastrophic marriage to a cruel nobleman, and her later introduction to a young, idealistic poet whose expressions of sympathy inspire her to escape from her unfortunate circumstances. When her friendship with the poet is discovered, Ume is sent away to a distant village, where she falls into a deep depression and eventually learns of the poet’s death. Though the news of the poet’s death initially disturbs Ume, she soon discovers within herself a new sense of clarity and motivation. Her diary ends with a final pronouncement: she will drown herself in order to reunite with her fallen lover.

Need I say anymore? “Golden House ft. Sarah Psalti” is on my highlights

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pasteboard

Let’s float on overseas to the aforementioned Japan; this one is a bit of a flashback. Released in 2005? I think? It’s hard to say, information on pasteboard is difficult to dig up. Regardless, their album “Glitter” is one of the most stalwart shoegaze soundscapes I’ve ever heard. It floats up on shuffle once in a while, and I’m left in a daze. You can stream the whole thing on Youtube, or peep their standout opener “breakbeats” to set the tone.

[audio:https://thenewlofi.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pasteboard-breakbeats.mp3|titles=pasteboard – breakbeats]
pasteboard – breakbeats

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Big Lonely

Now leads head up north to the homeland and peep this video by Burlington, Ontario’s Big Lonely. As a table-hockey prodigy and unbeatable world champion, ‘Dirty Clocks’ really got me going. The tune itself unfolds like a fantastic heartbreak, and fittingly so. Their style reminds me a bit of Long Island’s Brand New, a band that holds a special place in my teenage heart. Keep an eye out for these fellow hosers

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That’s it for Indie International! If you’d like to submit your work, hit me up at jarrett@thenewlofi.com or over on soundcloud or twitter or whatever the funk