August may be considered a “ghost month,” but not for local indie rock.

The first two weeks of the month saw new releases from both veteran and young artists, including the first full-length album from long-running indie pop band Cinéma Lumière, the debut single from Cebu’s Novocrane, and a surprisingly wild new track from Izzy Mariano. Here’s a guide to some of the more notable indie releases from the first half of the month. If you missed any of them, be sure to give them a listen.

Cinema Lumiere – I wish it was Sunday

Choosing to pursue a sound as unique as indie pop—which itself is niche and potentially formulaic—is a bold and risky proposition. But luckily, Mow’s mainstays, Cinéma Lumière, are so well versed in the genre’s best practices that they were able to create an entire album that makes the most of their capabilities within the genre’s confines. I wish it was Sunday follows a well-received EP from 2020 (Will you catch me?) — its ten tracks are brimming with fluid and melodic basslines, great guitar work, infectious boy-girl harmonies, and a general confidence that’s almost atypical of this most introverted of subgenres. If you liked the band’s last three singles, you’ll find them all here, plus seven more tracks that are just as good.

10am departure – Fantastic Fantastic

Fantastic Fantastic, 10 am Departure’s second EP includes the current single “Meet Me” with three more songs and a few filler tracks for a more comprehensive work from the young rock group. The charming and catchy “Barcode-Scanning Girl” – whose intro is reminiscent of Billy Joel’s “Sometimes A Fantasy” – is a good choice for another single, while the rest of the record is full of neo-psychedelic breakdowns and elaborate lead guitar work that just doesn’t go over the top. While not quite perfect (especially when it comes to the vocals), 10 am Departure’s first EP is a welcome listen for anyone missing honest guitar rock.

Izzy Mariano – “I WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE!”

Izzy Mariano’s latest release is a two-and-a-half minute burst of riot grrrl-esque rage that finds the young singer-songwriter baring her teeth over the thickest guitar fuzz I’ve heard all year. It’s quite a departure from the lo-fi pop of her previous two singles, but the song’s angrier sound still fits them like a glove.

Novocrane – “Imaginary Party”

On this debut single from Cebuano indie rock band Novocrane, singer Kai Sevillano intones like a young Phoebe Bridgers over a bed of thick, modulated synths, lo-fi guitars and distorted drums. Produced by The Sundown’s Luigi Balazo, “Imaginary Party” sounds like a female-fronted Flaming Lips (or an unearthed Sneaker Pimps demo) in the best possible way and makes a very strong first impression.

Oz Kabuhat – “Angel”

One of the new additions to LockedDown Entertainment’s diverse and growing roster of artists, young Oz Kabuhat shows an obvious love for Radiohead, Muse and Massive Attack on his third and latest single “Angel”. B-side “Her” – a collaboration with singer/producer POT – follows a similar sonic scheme, but with her ethereal vocals at the forefront. Fans of late ’90s British indie will surely enjoy these two tracks, and given Kabuhat’s output to date, an EP or full release from him would be very interesting.