Ducktails “Letter of Intent” + Beach Fossils “Careless”

Two bands who seem tied together for me, even though they are not, both released new songs today. Ducktails, the side project for Matt Mondanile of Real Estate, previously swan in the waves of warm pysch guitar rock, but have taken a sharp left turn with the first single from their forthcoming The Flower Lane LP. The track “Letter of Intent” features Ford and Lopatin on the synth and bass and a sultry, pristine vocal take by Jessa Farkas. It no longer sounds like even more stoned Real Estate, but now sounds like Chromatics vying for a spot on the Software label. Speaking of Real Estate, I always thought Beach Fossils sounded like a more energetic version of the band, and the first single “Careless” off their forthcoming sophomore LP Clash the Truth does nothing to dispel that feeling. They keep the sprightly melodies, the reverbed vocals and the slick, jangly guitar work. One group went back to the well for more, one decided to wander off into the electro-forest on the outskirts of town. Both seem to work just fine. Listen below.