Summer marches on as the last releases of July step into the spotlight. Adventurous Alabamans (and XPN Artist to Watch) The Red Clay Strays show off baroque melodies and harmonies on their sophomore LP, Made by These Moments. On To the Ghosts, New York duo Cults conjure the restless spirits of their past while on a playful path to the future. Led by charismatic singer/guitarist BJ Barham, Raleigh’s American Aquarium notch two decades of sturdy songwriting on Fear of Standing Still, their 10th album of originals.
Born in Kenya and based in Australia, Elsy Wameyo foregrounds faith on her full-length debut, Saint Sinner. Further eschewing the punchy garage rock of their early days, Wand’s Vertigo veers from Crazy Horse-style sludge to twinkling art pop. Philly’s Slowey & the Boats fuse their laid-back steel guitar exotica with country swing on the charming Slowey Goes West.
Listen for spotlights on new records like these (and more) every week on the XPN Morning Show and Indie Rock Hit Parade.
PRESS PLAY on these new releases
The Red Clay Strays – Made by These Moments
CHECK OUT: “Wanna Be Loved” “Drowning”
Cults – To the Ghosts
CHECK OUT: “Crybaby” “Hung the Moon”
American Aquarium – The Fear of Standing Still
CHECK OUT: “Crier” “Cherokee Purples”
Elsy Wameyo – Saint Sinner
CHECK OUT: “Umva” “Piny Lara”
Wand – Vertigo
CHECK OUT: “Smile” “JJ”
Slowey & the Boats – Slowey Goes West
CHECK OUT: “Hawaiian Cowboy” “Right or Wrong”