Coastal

Coastal formed in 1999 as a hybrid of several musicians who had played for years in different bands in the Provo, Utah area. The band debuted on Words On Music in 2001 with a self-titled album which is an inspired blend of restraint and tonal splendor, punctuating the contemplative atmospheres developed by artists such as Low and Ida. The album was released to great acclaim, and songs from Coastal were played by John Peel, the renowned British DJ, on his BBC Radio 1 show. In 2015 they released a collection of singles and unreleased stuff named Beneath the snow and streetlights.

http://www.coastalrock.com/

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1. Velour 100 - Calendar

Huge open space between the piano notes. Beautiful melodies. Painfully honest lyrics. Slow tempo. Dreamy. A lot of people think I was influenced by Low but I was way more into Velour 100 when Coastal was formed.

2. Hammock - Blankets of Night

This song knocked me on the ground the first time I heard it. Still does. If I could sound like any band I think it would be these guys. Brilliant.

3. The Cocteau Twins - Primitive Heart 

One of the few songs we’ve covered as a band. I proposed to Luisa while this song was playing. Been a huge fan of this band for years.

4. Red House Painters - Mistress 

Hugely influential to me. Amazing how he can craft such pain with such beauty. Achingly sad, yet soothing music.

5. The Field Mice – If You Need Someone

I’m a huge Sarah Records fan. The album Coastal by the Field Mice was an inspiration for our band name. I actually got a coastal CD to Bob Wratten and he dug it and complimented the name.

6. Slowdive - Waves 

One of the first Slowdive songs I heard in the early 90s. They’ve been a massive influence on me since then. Amazing to see them live last year. We went together as a band. Spoke to Al from Low at the gig and reminisced about playing with them in London circa 2003.

7. Siouxie and the Banshees – The Ghost in You

I can’t claim to be a longtime Siouxie fan but this song stops me in my tracks every time I hear it. Love the imagery it conjures.

Honorable Mentions: 

Lush  – Sweetness and Light

Ride – Vapor Trail

Boo Radleys – Does this Hurt? 

Billy Bragg – Tank Park Salute

Should

Should is Marc Ostermeier, Tanya Maus and Eric Ostermeier. Their debut six song CD-EP, 1995's A Folding Sieve, was a true gem of the 1990's American shoegaze scene. Since then, they have released 3 more full length LPs, merging shoegaze, psych-rock, ethereal pop and slowcore in a uniquely manner. Their latest album, The Great Pretend, has been released in 2014 by Words on Music.

www.words-on-music.com/should

www.facebook.com/ShouldMusic

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1. Colin Newman – We Means We Starts (from CN1, 1982) 

Taught me the beauty in repetition and addition.

2. New Order – Leave Me Alone (from Power, Corruption and Lies, 1983)

A perfect ending to a perfect album.

3. Cocteau Twins – Spangle Maker (from Spangle Maker EP, 1984) 

Taught me the beauty of creating a new world to get lost in.

4. Yo La Tengo - Barnaby, Hardly Working (from President Yo La Tengo, 1989) 

Taught me the beauty of the single-groove song.

5. Disco Inferno – Waking Up (from Science EP, 1991) 

Haunting and minimal with wonderful subtleties.

6. Bedhead - Bedside Table (from What Fun Life Was, 1993) 

Simple and understated: just special.

7. My Bloody Valentine – To Here Knows When (from Loveless, 1991) 

Taught me the beauty in decay and deconstruction.

Lotte Kestner / Trespassers William

Anna-Lynne Williams has been the lead singer and guitarist of the cult-band Trespassers William. In 2008 she started her own songwriting project under the name of Lotte Kestner, focusing on minimal-folk and dreaming atmospheres. She also runs a lovely label called Saint Loup Records.

lottekestner.bandcamp.com

www.saintlouprecords.com

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1. The Cure - Open (from Wish, 1992)

I spent my childhood singing, but didn't start seriously writing music until after I heard 'wish'. This was the song that opened the album, and came out of the gates with these earnest lyrics about drinking too much at a party and making a fool of yourself. I was struck by how real it felt, and in that moment was convinced that you could make powerful music and be honest at the same time.

2. Radiohead - Fake plastic trees (from The Bends, 1995)

This was the first video I ever saw of the band that would ultimately have the biggest impact on my taste in music and the way i sing. thom yorke  weaving through aisles in a shopping cart, singing about inauthenticity, and trying to fight that somehow by loving.. I am so inspired by the beauty this band has made on album after album, and this was the first spark of that. 

3. Portishead - Mysterons (from Dummy, 1994)

At age 15 I found this song while slipping on the headphones at a Tower Records listening station near my high school. I ended up spending all of my lunches there instead of with my friends, intoxicated by the pairing of such pretty melodies with such dark music. Sexy music for smart people. 

4. Cocteau Twins - Carolyn's fingers (from Blue Bell Knoll, 1988)

I heard this one in a friend's car and it was the first time I couldn't classify what I was listening to. It sounded inhuman and floral, the melody so catchy without even being able to sing along with it. Such a big influence on me as a vocalist. This era of the band is as timeless as classical music. 

5. Elliott Smith - Between the bars (from Either/Or, 1997)

From one of my brother's priceless mix tapes and maybe the best song from this beautiful songwriter whose pain was so relatable and lovable. "People you've been before that you don't want around anymore.." songs like this make us all aspire to be better songwriters. Almost wore out this tape.

6. Devendra Banhart - A sight to behold (from Rejoicing in the hands, 2004)

More listening station magic, this time in my mid 20's in claremont, California. Devendra was my introduction to the new iteration of folk music. I love how creepy his voice sounds on this song, the hiss of the lo-fi recording and how he just sounds like he loves singing. Definitely influenced my first lotte kestner album. 

7. Sun kil moon - Carry me, Ohio (from Ghosts of the great highway, 2003)

Red house painters were my favorite of the gauzy indie rock bands of the 90s, and then this new project came along just at the right time, a decade later, all grown up and more angular. This is one of those perfect songs, that sounds like nostalgia, so long and pretty, like driving to your favorite place.