Another super-fabulous independent artists line-up from our continuing series; free mp3s from each artist involved!

UPDATE:
Apteka (Issue #12, one of our coolest selections - ever!) - Rock / Psychedelic - Illinois, USA
Apteka had already figured in one of our best Independent Music Discoveries posts yet, and here they’re back again with their new single “Traitors”, which sounds like some sort of glorious Wipers-The Jesus & Mary Chain-Spacemen 3 collision, with their own dash of modernity and rough grungy elements. A must-listen!
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Anton Rothschild - Pop / Alternative / Indie - Southwest UK
Anton Rothschild, and the following band The Pleasure Cruisers, are both part of Dainty Records, one of those lovely labels that manages to have every album they put out be brilliant (and also, label founder Andy is an AFIN contributor as ‘Fulmar Austen’; check out his posts on UK label samplers and Pillows and Prayers). The Diffident (available for free download) is Anton’s new release, and best yet - a balance of airy, pop-tones and quiet melancholy, and an equally beautiful work for listening to at late night or early morning; “On Discovering” is my favorite here - tough to choose, as I adore all of these tracks!

The Pleasure Cruisers - Folk / Electronica / Post-Rock - Devon, England
This is the other new offering from Dainty, the Pleasure Cruisers’ (led by Thelma Thanet) The Fear of Dreams Suite (surreal film accompaniment *here*). Even without the visuals, this is an imagery-evoking listening experience, with much soundtrack, and even classical, touches and momentous instrumental build-ups. “Part 3 - Remembering” is a particular highlight.

Sweet Jane - Rock / Indie / Psychedelic - Dublin, Ireland
“Blackboots And Blackhearts” (from the EP of the same name fully streamable at Last.fm) appears on the compilation Indiecater Vol. 4, which is how I heard Sweet Jane. I was immediately reminded of 80s/early 90s shoegaze, as well as the more contemporary Raveonettes and Big Pink, but Sweet Jane are no bandwagoners - you can hear the earnest spirit in their music, which is as often both a joy to listen to (“Where’s Your Money Gone”) and a provider of bittersweet sadness (“Acoustic Heartbreaker”). This is a group to watch out for!

The Twin Atlas - Indie / Folk Rock / Psychedelic - New Jersey, USA
The description I got sent of the Twin Atlas was: “rural sunset drives, Yo La Tengo’s mystical side, canned beer, Teenage Fanclub, vocal harmonies, coffee, Byrds, light filtering through the atmosphere, longboarding, Murmur, good vibes, chiming guitars, nighttime bicycling, “Sentimental Lady” As odd as it may seem, this music does indeed seem to conjure much of this otherwise bizarre assortment of images and sensations, as there’s something summery about Good Light, which sometimes sounds almost like a positive version of post-punk. Grab “Versions” and “Never Disappear” for free download now!