The Orange Strips live indie way. They have their own label, their music sounds like it comes from England, but they still have succeeded internationally. On their second album, “Deadlines”, they’ve managed to produce lots of great tunes which you can check out yourself with the “free download” option on their Bandcamp – I told you they are indie heroes!
♪♫ Listen: “Suffocate in Love”
The Orange Strips are also on Soundcloud, Twitter, Facebook.
One of the biggest hypes in 2014 was about the band from Rijeka, Jonathan. If you are into groups such as Editors, then Jonathan is a band for you. “Bliss” has energy which could be easily compared with popular English outfits, but because they also sing in English, Croatia has not recognised them yet as it should.
♪♫ Listen: “Mama I’m Ready”
Jonathan on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter.
It seems that in 2014 everybody started to talk about M.O.R.T., but there’s a very good reason for it. Album “Odjel za žešće” is a very good piece of rock. Sometimes very dark, sometimes very cheerful. The website I write for, Muzika.hr, has voted it the best domestic album of the year, and they have won almost all awards for newcomers in Croatia.
♪♫ Listen: “Meni se skače”
Most probably Hari listens to a lot of britpop music, from The Beatles to the most recent bands. On his first album with the group Hari & Fat Sons, he’s managed to interpret britpop in more acoustic and indie-pop way. I still find myself whistling or singing melodies from “Green Line – Red Line”, although the album was released in January 2014.
♪♫ Listen: “Wui Wui”
Hari & Fat Sons on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Facebook, YouTube, www.
Bad social and political situation is always a great motive for punk bands. Zagreb trio Fast Response sing about the economic crisis in Croatia. In their lyrics, they replace the word “Croatia” with “Corruptia”. Besides Sake, definitely the best punk act in 2014.
♪♫ Listen: “Corruptia”
Rens Argoa are influenced by bands like The Mars Volta or …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead. Their most recent album, “Emerald Way of the Fearless King”, is a great example of how good is the current Croatian alternative scene.
♪♫ Listen: “Pontiac Man With a Cadillac”
In Croatia singing in English means that you will never get popular – you’ll probably keep playing for your friends and a couple of fans. However, lots of young bands try to change it – including (The) Lesser Man, talented newcomers from Noisy Night label who presented great power/indie pop tunes on their first record “Vacation Freeze”.
♪♫ Listen: “Mamamamamamamamamamamamamamamama”
(The) Lesser Men on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Facebook.
In the recent years there have been a lot of young female artists in Croatia taking guitars in their hands and starting to sing folk music. Irena Žilić – presented earlier on beehype – is one of the most promising and her debut album, “Travelling”, is definitely something you need to hear. She could be Croatian Laura Marling, no doubt.
♪♫ Listen: “Scars”
Irena Žilić Bandcamp, Facebook, Soundcloud.
Sake exist from 2001. and last year they signed for Geenger Records which released their album “Getaway”. They are very powerful punk rock bend without any limit, they have great lyrics and energy. If they were Americans, I believe they would be a much more popular band.
♪♫ Listen: “Bandage”
Sake on Soundcloud, Bandcamp.
Five long years after their previous full-length release indie pop band Detour has made a comeback with a perfect third album featuring twelve immediate hits. You will hear folk, electro acoustic, bossa nova and many other genres in their music. But they are all mixed up as they should be: seamlessly.
“A što ak’ ja” is Detour’s best album to date, and the best Croatian record of 2014.
♪♫ Listen: “Daleko”
Detour on Facebook.