motel void

The best tracks that have come my way in the past week or so and that I highly recommend listening to…

Soot Sprite – Vicious Cycles

British band Soot Sprite return with their final single ahead of their much-anticipated new album. Vicious Cycles follows the tone of their recent releases, but leans even further into melancholy and atmosphere. It’s a slower, more introspective track – moody and immersive – yet it still showcases the band’s strengths: emotionally charged vocals and mesmerizing instrumental layers.

The second half of the song erupts into a burst of noise-driven energy before dissolving into a hypnotic, almost cinematic conclusion. I love these kinds of dynamic shifts and buildups – Soot Sprite truly excel at them.

Casper Skulls – Numbing Mind

For some reason, many of my favorite bands seem to come either from Australia or Canada – and Casper Skulls are a perfect example of the latter. They cite Sonic Youth as a major influence, and it shows, but there’s also a charming playfulness to their sound – somewhere between twee and bedroom pop.

Their new single Numbing Mind features a repetitive chorus that weaves through the entire track like a mantra – it’s the kind of hook that lodges itself in your brain. Had this come out in the ’90s, it might’ve been a massive hit. As it stands, it’s likely to remain a bit of a hidden gem. But that’s not a bad thing either. (I absolutely love that video, by the way)

Mount Mural – Froze

Another Canadian favorite of mine, Mount Mural, have been recommended on this blog several times – and for good reason. Their new single Froze is a beautifully subdued piece that floats somewhere between dream pop and slowcore.

It evokes the hazy melancholy of late-era Slowdive, built on an atmosphere that’s slow-burning, emotionally rich, and quietly hypnotic. It’s the kind of track that doesn’t clamor for your attention, but instead draws you in with its subtle, immersive mood.