#janglepop

Nocturnal Projections (New Zealand 1981-83)

The Lucy Show (UK 1983-89)

Dai Nakamura (aka NUBACK) - 指切りのサンバ Yubikiri no Samba

It's been a while since we featured some Jeremy Morris music. I caught up with him at the Kalamashoegazer festival last fall. Every time I see him, I get a handful of CDs. Love is Alive features Jeremy Morris (vocals, guitar, piano) along with Ken Stringfellow (vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums) on this album. Jeremy penned all of these on this one; and the way he keeps putting out albums, he's starting to catch up to Bob Pollard. "Making The Most" blasts off in cosmic dream (see the album cover for reference) "We can't stay here forever. One day we all must leave. But we can make it better. It's blessed to believe." Jeremy (and Ken) sing about what matters most in their world (their faith) with an all out jangly rocker. Next, "Cast Away Our Fears," shares the sorrows of today as a power popper the Boss or The Byrds could've written. "Too many broken dreams washed up in the rain. Pretending we don't care, it won't heal the pain." But those scorching guitars might! "Chain Reaction" takes the listener on a psychedelic trip by way of Siouxsie and The Banshees' "Dear Prudence," which, of course is a good thing in my book. The title track, "Love Is Alive," is another power popper complete with gorgeous harmonies, soaring guitars, and a thumping rhythm section. "Promised Land" is the most rockin' track on the album. Blasting guitars over "C'mon, and take a walk with me, ...along the sand and sea, ...and take a trip with me, ...we're going to the promised land." Would love to hear one this live.. in my church! Next up, "Coming My Way," is a short acoustic guitar intro turned into an all out rocker; definitely one to crank! Track 7, "Over Now," is a beautiful soaring number with heartfelt lyrics. "They say it's all for the best. To put it all to rest. But why should there be such pain when only ghosts remain?" "Only With You" reminds me of Kiss's "Beth" with its piano ballad style. Lots of "ahhs" add to this song possibly plucked from the 70s vaults. "Looking To You" heads back to jangling guitars and could easily be the highlight of the album. Throbbing bass, spot on drumming, intricate piano touches, and beautiful harmonies make this one a keeper. "Pray For You" has an acoustic guitar intro (reminds me of Brian Jonestown Massacre) that is shoved aside by sonic guitar and echoing vocals. Jeremy (and Ken!) continues his mission, "I will pray, pray for you. Would you pray for me too?" Track 11, "You Rescued Me," truly highlights the beautiful harmonies of Jeremy and Ken. "And then you rescued me. You set my spirit free." More jangly guitar, which I love. The album's closer, "Love Waits," is another rockin' piano ballad (ala Todd Rundgren) that really jets off into space. The instrumentation at the end will really blow your mind. All in all, Love IS Alive! Thanks Jeremy, I hope to see you again this fall. ERIC EGGLESON

Casting Assistant presents: Daydream

An inward-looking jangle pop single shaped by loops, late nights, and soft-focus melodies.

Casting Assistant’s “Daydream” arrives as a small, carefully built world, one that favors restraint as opposed to flashy arrangement turns. The Birmingham-based project led by Oliver Hill works within jangle pop and dream pop tropes, leaning on compressed, chiming guitars that recall 60s masters like The Byrds, but also 2000s indie icons like Real Estate. The production stays simple by design. Clean, sparkly guitars shimmer through soft reverb, while the rhythm section remains steady and unshowy. Hints of Beach Fossils, Dead Rituals and DIIV surface in the hazy textures, though Casting Assistant keeps things lighter, closer to indie pop than to full-blown shoegaze density.

Lyrically, “Daydream” deals with the feeling of being stuck inside one’s own head, where imagined versions of the self can become both refuge and constraint. The song suggests that personal growth often comes through small, repeated losses rather than single defining moments, and that connection with others is what gives those losses meaning. Diana’s vocals sit gently within the mix, not pushed forward as a statement piece but folded into the guitars, reinforcing the idea that this is music about interior space rather than outward display.

The release's artwork, created by Jack Poole, extends the song’s soft-focus mood into visual form, adding yet another layer to the project. “Daydream,” released January 20, 2026, stands as a really notable introduction to Casting Assistant, not as a grand manifesto but as a quietly persuasive statement of intent, firmly rooted in the band's spontaneous creative vision.