Return of Hater

 

We are loving and cheery here at WYMA, even when the beer supply is low. But that doesn't stop us from becoming wildly happy to learn the Hater will be releasing a new album soon. This Malmo, Sweden four-piece truly is one of the finer guitar pop bands making music today. Their technical ability is top tier, but what really sets them apart is the quality of the songwriting. The themes are adventurous, the lyrics colorful and the insights sharp. And then there is the beauty of the vocals ...

You can sample two cuts from the upcoming LP below. The album is titled Mosquito and it will be released March 6 via Fire Records.

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"Abundance of Power" by Season 2

 

The "Abundance of Power" has what you want in an indie pop song: Melody, urgency, an abundance of bass, and is both listenable and danceable. The creators are Season 2, a band we have learned was formed a couple of years ago by members of a couple of Australian bands we followed (The Stroppies/Parsnip) and other projects. This song is the lead single from their upcoming LP Power of Now. If it is representative of the album, it will be on our 'must have' list.

Season 2 are Claudia Serfaly, Freya McLeod, Matt Powell, Charlotte Zarb, and Carolyn Hawkins. Power of Now will be released February 24 via Upset The Rhythm and Spoilsport Records.

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Upset The Rhythm's Bandcamp page for album

Spoilsport Records' Bandcamp page for album

Heavenly News!!!

 

Yes, indeed, it is heavenly news to learn that beloved '90s jangle/twee poppers Heavenly is releasing a new album and embarking on a six-country tour. The album is titled Highway to Heavenly and it will be released on February 27 via Skep Wax. We invite you to test drive a couple of the album tracks below. In our view, the band has lost none of their trademark knack for indie pop melodies, wit, social observation and just the right amount of scruffy vibes.

Heavenly are Amelia Fletcher, Cathy Rogers, Ian Button, Peter Momtchioff, and Rob Pursey.

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"The Autumn Leaves on 14th Street" by Knight's Ferry

 

"The Autumn Leaves on 14th Street" is a stirring gem of urgently-pace guitar pop, and also is one of the best opening tunes we have heard in some time. It is the creation of Knight's Ferry. While the band was unknown to us, member Mike Ramos is no stranger to these pages. As the leader of Tony Jay and member of Flowertown, Cindy and other musical ventures, he never fails to satisfy our musical appetites. This song is the lead track from the band's House Demos EP, which will be released in digital and cassette formats on February 6.

In addition to Mike (guitar/bass/vocals), Knight's Ferry are Clay Hunt (guitar/bass/vocals) and Richard Alex Olsen (drums).

Bandcamp for House Demos

"Stationary" by Fort Not

 

If we were to present a seminar on guitar pop, one of our featured bands would be Sweden's Fort Not. We loved their two previous albums and still play them regularly. This week brought the happy news that the 2026 will deliver another LP, You On Repeat. The announcement of the album was accompanied by lead single "Stationary". The song is about being stuck, but nothing about the execution says anything other than perfect, classic indie pop.

Fort Not was founded by Robert Carlsson and Fredrik Soderstrom. For this album the band is expanded to include Philip Gates, David Hansson, and Joakim Bjornberg. You On Repeat will be released on February 27 via Meritorio Records

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Meritorio Records page for album

Two more delicious singles from The Just Joans

 

The two most recent singles from the upcoming LP by Glasgow's The Just Joans demonstrate the band's versatility as well as their quality. With their typical humorous approach to the theme, "Oh Veronica, How Right You Are" lampoons a songwriter self-indulgently expounding on his lousy love-life. The preceding "Limpet" is a rousing slice of northern soul that moves our feet and cheers our soul.

And even more on the good news side (and lordy, we could all do with some good news these days), the band's new LP, Romantic Visions of Scotland, is due on January 23 via Fika.

"Oh Veronica, How Right You Are"

"Limpet"

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We're back!

 That was six weeks of vacation, stress, keeping promises, travel, and family (and a bit of work on real careers). But that is behind us now, and we are listening to and writing about new music -- all the better to help you spend your holiday cash haul wisely.

Tulpa - Monster of the Week

 

Guitar pop just the way we like it -- loose, warm, well tailored but with some loose threads, and with enough off-kilter themes to be thoroughly engaging. That is Tulpa in a nutshell for us. The term "tulpa" generally refers to an imaginary being. However, with a two guitars and a steady rhythm section, this band is as real as can be, and the evidence is clear on their debut album Monster of the Week. The songs are energetic, varied, and clever without being precious. It is the sort of music that you hope that your favorite house band in your favorite watering hole would play. Unless you are in Leeds, UK, that won't happen for you. But wouldn't the album be the next best thing?

Monster of the Week is out now view Skepwax Records. Tulpa are Josie Kirk (vocals/bass), Daniel Hyndman (guitar), Myles Kirk (guitar) and Mike Ainsley (drums).

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"Off The Wall"/"Butterfly" by The New Tigers

 

According to our records department, we first covered Turku, Finland's The New Tigers in 2011, so the band and WYMA have been in a non-exclusive relationship with each other for 14 years (how very modern, of us). While the band's musical endeavors don't fall into a rigid compartment, they generally play a densely melodic brand of guitar pop -- perhaps a more shimmering, shoegazey Yo La Tengo. While they haven't been as active as we would like in recent years, they have dropped a thrilling surprise in the form of new single, "Off The Wall"/"Butterfly". The lead track is robust and best played loud, while the second song shimmers with no percussion and the guitars taking the front of the stage. We think these songs are among the band's best work. And that gives us happy hints about the planned 2026 album which will include both of them.

The New Tigers are Appu Jasu, Valtteri Virtanen, Janne Kauppinen, and Nico Kivikangas. The recording is out now as a digital release via Helsinki's Soliti Music.

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Bandcamp for "Off The Wall"/"Butterfly"

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Great Lakes - Don't Swim Too Close

 

What musical obsessions have occupied us the last few days, you (should) ask? Thanks for asking. The answer is frequent replans of Don't Swim Too Close by Great Lakes. Featuring songwriter Ben Crum's weathered vocals and introspective lyrics, the album's 12 tracks are an indie rock, Americana, alt folk tapestry that has become one of our favorite albums of the year, so far. The arrangements are richly constructed with piano and guitars shining brightly and evince muscle and bruised beauty..

Crum's Great Lakes has been going for nearly three decades -- from Athens to Brooklyn to upstate New York. But it still sounds vital and inspiring. If you don't get this album you are missing an important piece of 2025's musical tapestry. 

Don't Swim Too Close is out now via Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records.

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HHBTM Records page for album 

Telephone Numbers - Scarecrow II

 

One of the many wonderful things about the current Bay Area indie pop scene is the scope of the output. Whether one is looking for delicate, whispered folk pop, lo-fi jangle, punk, shoegaze, hardcore, psychedelic or, really, whatever, you can find it well done. One project that captures a special place in our musical hearts is Telephone Numbers. The band -- Thomas Rubenstein with Morgan Stanley, Phil Lantz, and Charlie Ertola -- plays a jangling college rock that evokes cherished memories while still managing to be fresh and exciting. On their recently released second album, Scarecrow II, the guitars chime, jangle and chug, the rhythm section rumbles in your chest and the vocals speak the truth. The tempos vary, inviting bouncing in some tracks and softly saying in others. Without hesitation, we can recommend that these Telephone Numbers should be in your music contacts list.

The band features members of Neutrals, Chime School, The Reds, Pinks and Purples, and The Umbrellas. For this recording they also received contributions from Alicia Vanden Heuvel, Andy Pastalaniec, Tony Molina, Anna Hillburg, Lewis Gallardo, and K. Dylan Edrich. Scarecrow II is out now via Slumberland Records.

Bandcamp for Scarecrow II

Slumberland Records page for Scarecrow II

Slumberland Records page for European orders