Hundred Visions, Adrian & the Sickness, the Angel Babies, Sands Hollow, and Follow That Bird

Hundred Visions

Last Cab From Tunis

Filling the void of LCD Soundsystem's early retirement, Hundred Visions jumps into the fire with "Last Cab From Tunis," a seductive strut of neo-disco and swaggering, bottom-heavy funk. Former Corto Maltese frontman Ben Maddox cuts more of a Harry Nilsson character than James Murphy, evinced on the flip side by the anthemic rock of "Red Tide" and "The Light That Starts the Day."

Adrian & the Sickness

Criminal Dog Days

Adrian & the Sickness always shoot to thrill. Here, the local power trio shreds on par with Adrian Conner's side tribute project, Hell's Belles, reiterated by the metallic riffage of B-side "Dog Days," which boasts a Guitar Hero breakout worthy of the Sword. "Criminal" takes an entirely different route, a two-minute jaunt of spunky pop-punk with a SoCal streak.

The Angel Babies

Blew My Speakers (Espanola Recording Company)

The Angel Babies is two bad seeds – Calida and Frankie Baby of the Dirty Hearts – with clear intentions: "Drugs Guns Hookers," as promised by the better half of this 7-inch debut. That tune marries a dark, electro groove with sinister cocktail-napkin poetry while the title track wastes a promising low-rider beat (accordion, West Coast synths, and echo-heavy guitar) with a driveling chorus that just won't quit.

Sands Hollow

"Watch Yourself" b/w "The River's Edge" (Monofonus Press)

Debut collaboration between Winston Chapman and Zachary Biggs, Sands Hollow is a peculiar project: a studio band working on cassettes. With arrangements and four-track experimentation reminiscent of Kontiki-era Cotton Mather, "Watch Yourself" offers excitable indie pop for hazy afternoons. Acoustic "The River's Ridge" is more contemplative with backwards guitar, piano, a wash of strings, and fading harmonies. More please.

Follow That Bird

"Wooden Bones" b/w "Antlers" (Mt. Fuji)

Casual Victim Pile gave Follow That Bird a proper national introduction. Following a solid one-sider for Monofonus Press, the local trio's debut for Seattle's Mt. Fuji keeps the momentum building on "Wooden Bones," an aching gem of 1990s indie guitar rock that swells from a Krautrock intro with seasoned restraint and finesse. Guitarist Lauren Green's elastic quiver remains the linchpin, especially in the angular noise-pop of B-side "Antlers."