speed of dark

It's a little bit early in the season for most North American readers to think about a beach vacation, but the pleasure of a seaside escape from the heat will come soon. Sample these five new artists' take on today's sea and beach theme.

The Flies: Walking On the Sand
British outfit the Flies created such a summer song here, and it has this great old 60's finger-snappin' sound. Think: David Lynch movie soundtrack. Lead singer Sean Cook was formerly with Spiritualized for eight years, then with Lupine Howl for three years. Here he joins up with the Bristol-based production team, The Insects, who have worked with Goldfrapp, the Jesus and Mary Chain, and members of Cocteau Twins and Portishead. This song is from the debut Flies album entitled All Too Human which will be released in the U.K. in October 2007.

The Flies: Walking On the Sand

Website | MySpace | Label: No Carbon
Shows:
May 23 2007 - Jericho Tavern, Oxford U.K.
May 31 2007 - Moles, Bath U.K.



The Battle of Land and Sea: Saltwater Queen

The Silverlake, CA duo of Sarah O'Shura (guitar/vocals) and Joshua Canny (guitar) have crafted a gorgeous self-titled EP with a nautical theme. This self-titled release featuring hand-sewn sleeves and hand-drawn artwork is available as a pre-sale for only a couple more weeks at the link below, pending release in the fall on their new label.

The Battle of Land and Sea: Saltwater Queen

MySpace | Label: Notenuf Records | Lyrics | Buy by June 1



I Am the Lost Sea: Warmer Weather

Prolific singer-songwriter Sean Atkins has recently added band members Zach White and Luke Bartolomeo and a drummer to his previously solo Pittsburgh, PA outfit I Am the Lost Sea, so expect a fuller sound to emerge from his gentle, spare, acoustic ballads. I smell potential on this sea breeze.

I Am the Lost Sea: Warmer Weather

MySpace | MySpace #2 | Label: Unsigned, and this makes Sean sad | Downloads at Pure Volume | Album download
Shows:
May 23 2007 - Sphinx Cafe, Pittsburgh, PA


Birds Fled From Me: Staring At the Sea

Speaking of potential, I firmly believe that one day Rachel Williams, a gifted songwriter from Santa Cruz, CA, with a fantastic set of pipes, is going to be a familiar name. Remember that I was the one who told you so.

Birds Fled From Me is her solo project, but she is also working with Max Golding (of Max Fielding?) on an album for their project Too Dark For a Picture and frequently performs with fellow Twin Peaks junkie Raya (of the Druids) in Bedroom Eyes.

Birds Fled From Me: Staring At the Sea

More downloads available:
Birds Fled From Me: MySpace | Too Dark For a Picture: MySpace | Maxwell Lewis?: MySpace
Label: Unsigned! Get on it!

The Burnin' Sands: Beach Avenue

I don't know where the burning sands are in Alberta, Canada, but the Burnin' Sands found them--is this another sign of global warming? They have modeled their sound after the southern California surfin' safari instrumentals of the early 60's: the Ventures, Dick Dale, the Pyramids, etc. Come on, Gidget and Moondoogie, grab your boards and race those polar bears to the waves! Lots of shows coming up in June for you north North Americans.

The Burnin' Sands: Beach Avenue

MySpace | Website | Label: Unsigned
Shows:
Jun 1 2007 - Rancho Relaxo, Toronto, Ontario
Jun 2 2007 - The Cadillac Lounge, Toronto, Ontario
Jun 7 2007 - Le Telephone Rouge, Sherbrooke, Quebec
Jun 8 2007 - Le Cafe du Clocher, Alma, Quebec
Jun 9 2007 - Cafe Campus, Montreal, Quebec
Jun 10 2007 - L' Escogriffe, Montreal, Quebec
Jun 12 2007 - The Velvet Elvis, Oshawa, Ontario
Jun 14 2007 - The Zoo Bar, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Jun 16 2007 - The Gaslight, Regina, Saskatchewan
Jun 22 2007 - Broken City, Calgary, Alberta
Jun 30 2007 - Rendezvous Pub, Edmonton, Alberta