Lace Curtains - "High Fantasy"

Austin based garage bank Harlem put out an overlooked but superbly written album called Hippies back in 2010. Since then, it seems like most people, including myself, have forgotten how great their work has been to this point. Michael Coomer, who splits frontman duties within the band, has a new project entitled Lace Curtains with a release on the horizon. The first taste of this release is "High Fantasy," a driving and youthful piece that sounds a lot like Harlem and a little bit like indie darling Girls. Hear the song at Gorilla vs. Bear and listen to Harlem if you're late to that party.

Horseback - Half Blood

Horseback is a nice change of pace in the world of metal, especially in the increasingly controversial world of modern black metal. More words have been written about the stupid things people say than the more interesting music to come out of the scene, which is pretty sad. Horseback doesn't aim to be controversial, but its unique blend of black metal and Americana influences is definitely head-turning. This album, Horseback's third, sounds like some unholy mix of Earth's Hex; Or Printing in the Infernal Method, o'death's excellent 2011 release Outside, and Wolves in the Throne Room.  It's really country music in it's purest form, more concerned with the darkest corners of the wild west than beer and romance. You can hear and download the whole thing at the group's Bandcamp.

Animal Collective - Honeycomb / Gotham

Contrary to popular belief, Animal Collective has not been in hiding since the release of their most popular release yet in 2009's Merriweather Post Pavilion. There's been the incredible and underrated Fall Be Kind EP, their cassette collaboration with Keep, and the weird visual freakout ODDSAC, with some other odds and ends occupying the three (!) years since Merriweather was released. On top of all of that, their live shows have contained new material for years. Still, it feels like an event every time Animal Collective puts anything onto tape. "Honeycomb" and "Gotham" comprise a new 7 inch coming out in June on Domino Records, and it's as weird and awesome as you expect. Listen for yourself at AnCo's official website.

Siamese Twins - In a Box/Stutter

I've talked about Siamese Twins once before, covering their excellent cassette demo from last year, and word on the street is that they have a new inch on the way, titled In a Box/Stutter. As you should know, the band is trio based in and around Massachusetts, and they make cool and dreamy post-punk not unlike some of the most revered material by The Cure. If you haven't yet, download their demo, it's a great snapshot of their influences and styles. You can hear their other stuff, including Side A of this over at their website. If you like what you hear, consider getting the whole thing when it comes out in a month or so via Labor of Love Records.

Kishi Bashi - 151a

K Ishibashi, who records as Kishi Bashi, is a founder of Jupiter One, a touring violinist with St. Vincent, Sondre Lerche, and Deerhoof, as well as a new member of Of Montreal. Most importantly though, he is an excellent and original multi-instrumentalist and songwriter with a new album out. 151a is a worldly chamber pop type of album, with a lot of crazy instrumentation and hand-clap percussion to back up it's homemade aesthetic. The hums, whistles, harmonies, and layered vocals call to mind songwriters like Owen Pallett if he lived in the crazy Japanese wonderland of Katamari Damacy. If that sounds at all interesting to you, stream and buy his album at his Bandcamp.

Ty Segall and White Fence - Hair

In case you don't already know, Ty Segall and White Fence are two great and active psychedelic leaning garage rock acts with some great releases between the both of them. Their collaborative album, Hair was released just days ago on Drag City and it's probably the best thing ever recorded by either project. It leans a little on the strange and drugged-out side compared to past material, and it works extremely well. There are even some great guitar solos on it, which isn't often seen in the world of indie music. Get to know the project by watching Ty Segall and White Fence perform an incredible extended version of album cut "I Am Not A Game" at Room 205 on Youtube and buy the album through their excellent label if you like it.

My Bloody Valentine - "Good For You"

My Bloody Valentine somehow got away with dropping a slew of great material in the late 80s and early 90s, the most notable release being 1991's Loveless, which just so happens to be one of my favorite albums of all time. Tons of label issues, poor financial choices, and a Kevin Shields breakdown ensured that MBV wouldn't make new music for two decades, but they seem to have seriously returned to the recording studio for the first time in a long time. While everyone waits for the long-teased third album by the band, Sony is dropping remastered versions of their back catalog on CD on May 7th. Included in this release is a compilation of the band's early material titled EP's 1988-1991. It compiles most of the non-album tracks ever released by the band, as well as three previously unreleased songs. The first one of these three songs to surface is "Good For You," and it's a great pop tune with all the hallmarks of My Bloody Valentine's awesome early material. Hear the song while reading a pretty great Kevin Shields interview over at Pitchfork.