New music guide The Neu Bulletin (Lo Moon, Crumb, Essx Station & more)

We first saw LA trio Lo Moon supporting MUNA at a couple of recent London shows, with their expertly polished pop already bursting out of the tiny confines of the Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen and onto much, much bigger things. Latest cut ‘This Is It’ solidifies these ambitions. Verses of quietly probing electronica give away to choruses that scream rather than sway, with intensity and calm contrasted perfectly across its five minutes. (Will Richards)

Taking back the word Crumb, and lessening the usual association with annoying little biscuit fragments that clog up the hoover, this Boston band have a sharp ability to pull off-kilter gems out of the back of the sofa. It’s no more evident than on ‘Plants’ - a hugely promising taste of Crumb’s forthcoming EP ‘Locket’. “Tell me, tell me something sweet,” suggests Lila Ramani atop chiming injections of vaguely lift-jazzy melody, “I won’t tell anyone. And then, whole thing tumbles into what you could reasonably call a Well Dreamy Guitar Solo. Very nicely done, tbh. (El Hunt)

Don’t let the name fool you: Essx Station don’t live anywhere near Essex. Lead vocalist Winter hails from Toronto, and bandmate Andrew from London, but both of them recently relocated to Los Angeles. There, they’ve been working on their debut EP, but in advance of that they’ve shared woozy new track ‘Awake or Dreaming’. Drenched reverberating riffs, Winter and Andrew’s swooning harmonies reflect on how reality can sometimes surpass your wildest imagination. With everything coming to a head in the soaring chorus, it’s an alt-pop dream come true. (Eugenie Johnson)

Shaefri’s last single, ‘Monster’, saw the London-based newcomer balance the other-worldly and something infinitely more human. This battle continues on new cut ‘Give It All’. “You’re no god but I’m on my knees / I confess, give me release” she sings, and there’s a constant sense of succumbing to external pressure which makes ‘Give It All’ an extremely cathartic listen. The track’s new video was filmed at the singer’s sold out show at West London’s notorious Notting Hill Arts Club, and every next step Shaefri takes makes her look like more of a talent. (Will Richards)

Spanish quartet Terry vs. Tori recently released their new EP ‘Leap Day’ on Spirit Goth records, and if you hadn’t already found the soundtrack to long, hot summer days then their five-track collection can easily fill that void. The title track is a sublime introduction to their jangly dream-pop vision, filled with misty-eyed vintage twangs and dusty percussion. Alongside the sun-drenched melodies though, there’s a tinge of melancholia present with the swooning, hazy vocals. It’s a beautifully balanced mix of warmth, light and poignancy. (Eugenie Johnson)

Tags: Lo Moon, Listen, Features, Neu, Neu Bulletin