indie underrated

Seattle, Washington’s Brian Noyes is at it again with “Epistle to Faye,” the closing track off his second solo LP Seelie Court. The song is grounded by a melodious and steady lead guitar part that takes the track in unpredictable directions before always arriving at the beautifully simple refrain of “it’ll be okay.” 

Simplicity is, in fact, a defining characteristic of “Epistle to Faye.” They say less is more, and Noyes appears to have understood this when composing an instrumental arrangement that really allows his song’s lyrical heart to shine. Perhaps restraint would be a better word to describe the craft. Careful, artful restraint. 

“Epistle to Faye,” is one of ten songs from Noyes’s new project featuring contributions from members of Alvvays, Sugar Candy Mountain, and Radiation City. If you’re into groups like those, Noyes’s previous work, or his band Tomten, be sure to check out Seelie Court!

Zilpah Louise impresses with their new single “Wait Forever.” The song’s spare introduction establishes a gripping tension that encounters a crashing release at the punchy chorus and the arrangement only builds from there, giving the song a strong and satisfying arc. 

The highlight of the track, in our opinion, is the acrobatic vocal performance. By mixing a variety of singing styles, Zilpah Louise is able to put their full range on display and it creates a spectacle. Some of the vocal moves remind us of Sharon Van Etten while the indie rock instrumental arrangement brings bands like Inhaler to mind. 

NOAH’S ROOM caught our attention with the release of their new single “Bleeds Down Under.” The dirty guitar tone that kicks the track off is so precise, and it blends in perfectly with the song’s cleaner, dreamier elements (of which there are plenty). The vocals are in-your-face but not overbearing and we love to see this type of balance in an arrangement. 

The slow groove that drives this song makes it seem loose on the surface, but this song is tight. NOAH’S ROOM knows exactly what they’re doing and we can’t get enough of it. 

This is a sure thing for fans of groups like Cage the Elephant and alt-J. 

Hear these and more now on our playlist, All New Indie Pop!