STREAM: “Naive Castle” –
SoundCloud / NPR
Today Wildhoney shared an exclusive premiere of “Naive Castle” via NPR. The track is the A-side from their forthcoming installment in the new Slumberland Singles Series, which is celebrating the label’s 30th anniversary in 2019. You can still sign up for a subscription here. Wildhoney is opening up for Hatchie on her upcoming west coast run of shows.
More about Wildhoney:
Formerly based in Baltimore, Wildhoney have moved to the west coast and are now releasing their first new music in over two years. “Naive Castle” shows a new side to the band, dialing down some of the shoegaze haze in favor of gorgeous, chiming pop that recalls the finest from bands like The Sundays and The Cranberries. Pay extra attention to the lengthy ambient outro, a lovely touch that points to more new directions for this terrific band.
On the b-side you’ll find a dreamy, late-night cover of Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me” that brings a wasted weariness to this tale of teenage yearning. It’s a beautiful, earnest take on a tune that turns out to be a perfect match for Wildhoney’s swooning style.
“Naive Castle” is a featured entry in Slumberland Records’ SLR30 Singles Series — a subscription series that will feature a dozen singles from some of our favorite current bands who *aren’t* on Slumberland already. Look for a limited edition vinyl 7″ to be released in early 2019.
TOUR DATES:
09/18 Seattle, WA – Barboza *
09/19 Portland, OR – Doug Fir *
09/21 San Francisco, CA – Cafe Du Nord *
09/22 Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg *
* = w/ Hatchie
More about the Slumberland Singles Series:
Founded in the Washington, DC area in 1989, Slumberland Records began as a 7” label and
was always inspired by the ephemeral and often electric pleasures to be had from the perfect single. Over the last 29 years Slumberland has released 126 7”s, and even though downloads, streaming and playlists have stolen some of the “you heard it here first” thunder from the vinyl single, there’s still something pretty magical about the not-so-humble 7”.
To help kick off the celebration of their 30th birthday and help people reconnect with their favorite vinyl format, Slumberland are launching their SLR30 Singles Subscription Series (sign up for it here). Featuring 12 singles to be released over the next eighteen months, the series is slated to conclude with a final entry right around Slumberland’s 30th birthday in December 2019.
The plan is to release a pair of singles every three months by bands and artists not generally associated with Slumberland; all of the singles will be produced in one pressing only, in quantities that might be best described as “very limited.” While the singles will also be available in all fine record shops, subscribers will get exclusive color vinyl pressings, fun goodies throughout the series, and finally a bonus single at the conclusion of the subscription that won’t be distributed to stores.
While the final list of bands is still being completed, the first two singles are in production and slated to ship in late July. Featured in this first pair are Australian pop geniuses Rat Columns and Sheffield’s 90s indie legends The Suncharms. Rat Columns feature members of Total Control and Lace Wings in their ranks, and the three songs on their SLR single are pop gems very much in the lineage of Australian pop from The Go-Betweens to more recently Terry and Dick Diver. The Suncharms single is an especially appropriate entry in the series, as the band was slated to release a single on Slumberland back in the mid 90s only to be derailed by the untimely demise of the group. Now they are back, and the two psychedelic, shoegazey tunes on this 7” are a welcome return for the band.
Future entries will include records from Dolly Dream (featuring Meg Remy from U.S. Girls and members of other crucial Toronto bands), Baltimore’s Wildhoney (their first new music in over two years), Pale Lights and Lake Ruth from NYC, Failed Flowers (featuring pals Anna Burch and Fred Thomas), David Callahan (from SLR fave bands The Wolfhounds and Moonshake) and SF’s brilliant Odd Hope. Expect more surprises, loads of classic tunes and some very happy music fans.
And definitely stay tuned for more 30th birthday news coming soon!
WILDHONEY LINKS:
FACEBOOK
BANDCAMP
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
SLUMBERLAND SINGLES SERIES