Los Angeles based duo Lean enraptured us a few months ago with funk tinged rock on Heatwave after having made their acclaimed debut in 2017, and now they’ve already revealed details regarding their debut full length! Years, which will be out on May 25th, features this fantastic first single, Inaction, a twangy chugging The War On Drugs meets retro-hued, infectiously rocking TEN FÉ sort of timeless jam. Stephen Johnson of Lean explains: “‘Inaction’ is different from other Lean songs because it’s not about any specific personal experience or people. It’s just a general impression of how all people are and particularly some of our worst qualities.” Inaction can be found on Apple Music, here, or Spotify, here.
Though we had our share of later summer/early fall heatwaves in 2017, it’s been all cold and chilly weather since. Los Angeles duo LEAN, who made their huge debut in 2017 with acclaimed first single Come Back, brings us a welcome gust of funk tinged rock warmth on their new indie single Heatwave, a taste off forthcoming debut album Years. I feel like I’m always “running from the cold” being a life long California girl who hates low temperatures and wet weather, so I’m grateful for this west coast inspired, bass propulsive respite, an easy strutting jam with hints of Fitz and the Tantrums and Portugal. the Man coursing through its rubicund veins. Snag Heatwave from iTunes, here.
As soon as the words “synthpop with post punk tendencies” met my eyes, I knew I was going to enjoy this next sumptuous tune. Blonder arrives on our doorstep from New York City with sun kissed rippling Lean. Despite its washed out dreaminess, it has plenty of the angular brooding that I love so much about post-punk music. Lean bursts with sweet desperate longing. Its glistening waves engulf me with the gauzy synths of Porches, the hazy rock of Oakland’s Day Wave, and the gazey shimmers of Wild Nothing.
Los Angeles based singer songwriter Sam Fischer makes his debut on alt R&B swooner Lean, a song anything but lean on which he coos emotively in a velveteen world of rich melting luxuriance. If his incredible voice sounds any bit familiar to you at all, it may be due to the fact that Sam has been providing backing vocals for HOLYCHILD, or perhaps you recall his guest stints on a handful of songs over a year ago. He’s even written for Rihanna, Clean Bandit, and many others. With Lean, he makes a solid stand as a solo sensation, tenderizing hearts and raising temperatures with sultry crooning and laid back soul. Fischer is currently working on material for an EP to be released later this summer. Lucky fans in LA can catch him live at Hotel Cafe on May 10th or supporting Charles Bradley at The Theatre at Ace Hotel May 13th. Just prepare to lose your hearts.
VHS Collection is a trio of friends from NYC who’ve been compared to both MGMT and Passion Pit. As they prepare to release an EP, the trio have unleashed a brand new earworm named Lean that had me dancing in my seat to its vibrant beats and rich synths. The electro rock meets synthpop song marries the lively dance pop tendencies of RAC with some of The Killers’ more new wavey offerings. I could listen to this one on repeat, all day long. For more VHS Collection, head over to their Soundcloud. They’ll be releasing their self titled debut EP on December 14th.
I’m very fond of The National’s moody, brooding music. Their album Trouble Will Find Me is one of my favorites of the year. It’s so bleak. I love it. It’s with great delight that I share another grim, heart torn beauty lead by Matt Berninger. Lean is The National’s contribution to The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack, and it sounds like it would fit right in with the the songs off Trouble Will Find Me.
Just took some time to listen to some of Danish talent Oh Land’s tracks off her self titled 2nd album earlier this year, and I’m realizing I’m becoming more and more and more fond of her work. She’s amazing. I’ve only recently really dived deeper into her work. Not too long ago, all I knew about her was the Sun of a Gun song and the many great remixes of it. The song in no way defines her artistry and style. Here’s Lean, together with a live quartet. Wow. I’m totally looking forward to seeing her next month at Popscene in a small venue!!!
moosiq 