Song of the Day: Bleached - For The Feel

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on The Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “For The Feel” by Bleached from the 2014 For the Feel EP on Dead Oceans.

Bleached - For The Feel (MP3)

When sisters Jennifer and Jessica Clavin were picking monikers for the band now known as Bleached, they chose their name based partially on the state of their jean jackets, but referring to because of the permanent nature of something that's been bleached. Along with the sisterly bond that forms the band, the latter point also reflects the fun, melodically noisy nature of their grimey, surf-influenced guitar pop. Both veterans of the L.A. garage punk outfit Mika Miko, the Clavin sisters began recording and performing under the Bleached moniker in the wake of that group's dissolution. Although sometimes augmented with live member Micayla Grace, the Clavin sisters operate as a duo creatively, releasing their debut full length Ride Your Heart last year. Left off Ride Your Heart because of the sisters' dissatisfaction with the original recording, "For The Feel" doesn't thematically stray far from the songs on that album, which is okay, because there's really no such thing as having too many songs that blissfully capture those ephemerally joyful summer moments. Peppered with Jessica's backing "oohs" and a squealing guitar solo, Jennifer's nonchalantly playful lyrics float above the sisters' fuzzy guitars. In just under three minutes, they've once again run through a sunny drive down the Southern California coastline, soaking up every last moment until the summer returns again.

Bleached will be playing a string of dates in California this week and again in October, but keep an eye on their website and Facebook to hear about any new music or gigs. Below, watch the band play "Love Spells" live on KEXP last May.