Coaster: Automatic Pilot

Dutch folk-tinged slowcore duo Coaster are back with a new single, Automatic Pilot, the first taste from their new album A Happy Sad. Paul Dijkman and Bart Appel have come up with a dreamy pop song about trying to cope, with the vocals, muffled percussion and guitar tugged in nicely into a synth-driven soundscape. The video was made by Annick de Wit & Paul Dijkman.

Tiny Room Records: crowdfunding campaign for "Foundlings Vol. 1 & 2" 2xLP

Dutch underground label Tiny Room Records, specializing in lo-fi, indie, slowcore, and bedroom folk, was founded 10 years ago. Label manager Stefan Breuer has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Voordekunst.nl to cover the costs of releasing a double album, Foundlings Vol. 1 & 2, with 25 unreleased tracks.

Coaster: "Waves" video

Dutch folk-tinged slowcore duo Coaster have made a video for Waves, a track from their Painted Faces album: " It can get pretty dark, foreboding even, but having a working knowledge of the gentler side of bands like The Jesus and Mary Chain and the - in this case - unavoidable Guided By Voices goes a long way in order to appreciate them for they are aiming at: soft-spoken music that digs deep and goes against the grain". The clip was made by Richard de Hoop.

Live date:

• 04/11 Utrecht, Netherlands @ dB’s (album release show - w/ Immen)

» Coaster on Instagram

HCTF review of Painted Faces.

Coaster: Painted Faces

Dutch folk-tinged slowcore duo Coaster are quite comfortable in their lo-fi niche. Paul Dijkman and Bart Appel have broadened their musical horizon a bit on their new album Painted Faces, using a mandolin, EBows and surprisingly melodic slide guitar. That being said, their music is an acquired taste for most. It can get pretty dark, foreboding even, but having a working knowledge of the gentler side of bands like The Jesus and Mary Chain and the - in this case - unavoidable Guided By Voices goes a long way in order to appreciate them for they are aiming at: soft-spoken music that digs deep and goes against the grain.

Dijkman and Appel - with a little help by Vera Mennens (vocals on In This Room and Back And Forth and Jasper Boogaard pitching in as synth player, besides mixing and mastering the album - have all the trappings of becoming a big name in the Dutch underground. With this kind of next level soul-searching about dealing with their emotions and inner demons, they don't hide behind the make-up that gave the album its name. It is a take it or leave it statement that does not need to raise its voice to be heard loud and clear.