So full disclosure I run a record label and I’ve come to an agreement with Blood Makes Noise to let me promote releases every week. The idea is every week I will present a playlist with some new Mint 400 Records music and what I think inspired our songwriters. Today we have the mellow indie pop /indie folk sounds of NJ/PA songwriter Christina Ward and from Minneapolis the psychedelic indie pop vibes of LC Flowers.
Christina Ward has an interesting mix of influences, sometimes it’s very 90’s centric and reminds me of something Mazzy Star would write if they were a little more gothy. Then other times, and I don’t know if this is completely psychological, but because I know Christina is also a bass player in a Pixies tribute band I hear Kim Deal in her vocal tone and inflection. The thing that I like best though is that Christina meshes some modern indie pop elements like synths and beats that enhance songs and add to the haunting dark quality that they all seem to have. The entire track is also wrapped in reverb and I think that helps to add an atmospheric ominous feeling. On this short EP she seems to make it feel like broad influence while remaining true to a certain aesthetic seen on every track. Definitely an artist that I’m looking forward to hearing more from.
LC Flowers from Minneapolis is another artist on the label that I think has a broad set of influences and he is able to take them all and hone them down into an aesthetic that fits his music well without ever feeling like he is imitating them. Some of these tracks have appeared on previous playlists but I feel these are some of the stronger tracks on the album. I think what’s interesting about the vocals is it really does sound similar to a few other current artists like the singer of The Drums or M83 or maybe a mixture of that but I believe most of that is rooted in a direct influence of John Lennon’s solo work. The timbre and tonal quality of Lennon’s later work has this thinness and slightly nasal quality that if you soaked it in reverb would sound similar to the artists mentioned above. None of that is meant as insult, Lennon’s work in his later years might be some of his best, but it’s not like we love John for his operatic voice. What I like about Flowers songs as well is the broad set of influences it combines are not necessarily standard influences that most artists use, it’s more like the fringes of the last 50 years. Some of that comes from it sounding like tones and rhythms are rarely repeated. Each song sounds like its completely new inspiration and idea which makes for great albums.