New Releases: Kulu, The Diders, Seven Light Years, Cyclops

A twelve-hour bus ride later from bumblefuck China and I’m back and ready to unleash the latest releases upon the lot of yous. New bands, new sounds, and a heck ton of EP action – including the debut EP from those scrappy punk darlings The Diders, the latest full length album from indie folk pop sensation Liang Xiaoxue aka Kulu, and two brand spanking new EPs from Beijing post hardcore outfit Seven Light Years and emerging Henan pop punk kids Cyclops. Check it.

This past weekend local favorite proto punk kids The Diders triumphed epically in all their scrappy, debauchery-soaked galore for the release of their debut self-titled EP – seriously, Iggy Pops’ ‘Search and Destroy’ has never been some magnificently butchered and covered. The five-track disc is a fine introduction to the trio’s infectious manic energy, riding along at a sharp roller coaster pace without a moment to pause. And while the songs threaten to literally vaporize before your very ears due to their minuscular running times, boy is it fun while it lasts. The Diders are the junk food of the punk world, and I don’t think they’d like it any other way. Give it listen.

I’m meet Liang Xiaoxue, whose band goes by Kulu, a few times as my old Danish roommate Jelly has been playing keyboard in the pop folk outfit. And I must admit, dude doesn’t come across as charismatic as he does he – ah, the beauty of music. The groups’ third full-length album Now It’s A Brave Time is a subtle, delicate, and refreshingly simple collection of indie folk along the lines of Damien Rice of Andrew Bird, albeit without quite the vocals of those two esteemed artists. The elements are there – strung violin stings, soft acoustic driven songs, an often love-burdened, serene voice which carries the listener through each song. Lyrically, it’s doesn’t quite come together, put there’s an unadorned youthful quality to the entire album that’s makes it perfect music to a quiet evening in. Give it a listen and purchase it.

It’s amazing seeing music pop up in the most unlikeliest of places – pop punk outfit Cyclops, hail from a tiny little city by the name of Xinxiang in Henan – unashamed pop punk that reckons back to the days of MxPx, Blink 182, although with a modern day (i.e. way too much polish) touching that makes the five tracks go down nice and smooth. I’m a bit old for kinda thing, a bit to cynical I suppose, but there’s satisfaction in hearing this kind of music down south. Give it a listen.

Not sure when post and hardcore got together but here you go – Seven Light Years out of Beijing have just recently released their first EP entitled Zero, a four track giving. I hear a lot more screamo at work, akin to The Reason and Multi-Ego, which always garners a listen in my book, just to hear how a band can go from so emo to so hardcore on the turn of a dime. Not my bag of tea but there’re some nice flourishes to this EP, especially on the production end. Give it a listen and purchase it over at Indie Music.