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Showing posts from July 24, 2016

Six Of The Best: Dreamers - Blaenavon - CJ Hooper - Places Erupt - Future Generations - Rakunk

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Dreamers - Sweet Disaster. Background promo - Dreamers  first broke out in the scene when their track, "Wolves (You Got Me)" made it's way into the Top 18 - where it stayed there for months! their new single, "Sweet Disaster" has been added to Advance Placement! They have toured with acts like Atlas Genius, Zella Day, Stone Temple Pilots Dreamers spent nearly two years on the road, touring and near homeless - living out of their practice space. Now, after bouts of vagrancy, nomadism, and vigilant attempts at normalcy, Dreamers calls Los Angeles home, committed to its collective vision of artistry, inclusion, and idealism. Their debut was recorded at the iconic Fairfax Recordings (formerly Sound City) - the same studio artists like Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac have recorded. 'Sweet Disaster' is one of twelve songs from the "This Album Does Not Exist" album, due August 26th via Fairfax Recordings. It's pretty typical of this energised collec

A Potent Pair: Band Aparte - Locos Por Juana

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Band Aparte - Cherry Chapstick. Background promo - Band Aparte announces debut album. From down the end of Los Angeles, the bare bones gravepunk duo Band Aparte strips down and combines elements of gothic rock, synthpunk, and beachy lo-fi as macabre appreciation simmers in the gut of the city.  Vocalist Brian Mendoza effortlessly channels Joy Division and Nick Cave, crooning into a death bouquet with his shirt unbuttoned. But he's not doing it to imitate Morrissey's aesthetic --  Band Aparte's shows are fast and fierce, and the crowd works up a sweat at every venue they play. It's a dangerous mixture that has crushed nights alongside such bands as Cruelty Code, Roses, Ghost Noise, and Terminal A. Memory On Trial [Manifesto] LP, CD, Digital, CS Release Date: August 19, 2016. Live: September 23-24 - Pioneertown, CA - Desert Stars Festival . With a funky deep riff 'Cherry Chapstick' calmly and determinedly builds into a uncluttered straight piece of post-p

Genre Wander: Velvet Kills - Politburo - Mercury Girls

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Velvet Kills - Red Shoes. Background promo - Paris/Berlin based unsigned electro/punk/dark wave act Velvet Kills is an electropunk/rock duo with Susana Santos on vocals/bass & Harris Iveson on guitar/synths. Velvet Kills is a thoroughly modern and urban endeavour, speaking directly to today’s society - with all its anxieties, addictions, destructiveness as well as  exhilaration.  You'll find in their driving beats raw emotion, and a terrific darkness. The sound is complex, almost abstract - a combination of cinematic textures, gritty guitars, and potent vocals. The group's music and attitude, both have  been shaped by the influences of bands and artists like Joy Division, Alan Vega, Malaria!, Kas Product, Iggy Pop, The Clash, and Lou Reed. The group came to life in 2015, beginning with a chance encounter on a trance dance floor where Susana and Harris discovered their mutual love for rock, synths and beige Steinberger guitars. Velvet Kills has since gained a steady follo

The Low Countries - Corbu - Four Star Riot

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The Low Countries - The Invisible Ray. Background promo - The Low Countries, until 2013 an indie-folk duo, are now resurrected as a five piece band. They've just released the brilliant ‘An Extended Play EP’ following up the Libera Awards nominated 'Sun Street (2015)'. It’s a kind of comeback for Nigel and his songs, Six Of The Best from the Low Countries – songs re-imagined and given the full band experience recorded in a pro studio assisted by a band of great musicians, people and friends. The band came together to help Nigel and Els perform at the launch of their final album 'The Invisible Ray' (2013). This proved to be so enjoyable they found they couldn't stop. Nigel, feeling 'songed out' and a bit mental at the time, was then persuaded by the rest of the band to enter the studio and record six of the best. A last hurrah that sounds amazing... Nigel and Els formed the Low Countries in 2007 and they've released 8 or so albums and other sundr

Quality Not Quantity: Mark Allen-Piccolo - Novaa

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          Mark Allen-Piccolo - Moonglow. Background promo - Bay Area based artist Mark Allen-Piccolo has released his debut album Left From Here via Noble Steed Music.  Allen-Piccolo's debut single, "Do For You" exclusively premiered with The Deli Magazine San Francisco. Of the single, Mark said, "Life is full of routine, responsibilities, demands from other people. Usually, you're so busy that you don't even have time to think about what it all means or adds up to. The song is a kind of dream about being freed from these responsibilities, and imagining what your life could be like if you could spend all of your time exploring your inner life--even better, exploring it with a companion who truly accepts you for who you are." Mark Allen-Piccolo just released his second single, "Moonglow" with Elmore Magazine, who raved the track "takes you into the mind of an artist whose head is swirling with centuries of musical infuelnce." Allen-

Four Good Ones: Geowulf - Magic Trick - Eileen Carey - SD3

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Geowulf - Saltwater. Background promo - Bu rgeoning London independent label 37 Adventures (Jones, Deptford Goth, salute) have added another string to their bow, with the signing of Geowulf - a dream pop duo based between London, Gothenburg and Berlin. Originally from Noosa, on the Sunshine Coast of Australia, Star and Toma met in their teens. Despite both her parents being musicians, Star only found her voice 3 years ago - the pair naturally joined forces and have written together ever since. Channelling sweet sounds reminiscent of Beach House, Mazzy Star and Lana Del Rey, Geowulf's debut offering 'Saltwater' is a sinuous and melodic pop single; a bright and uplifting introduction to a band we're going to be hearing much more from. The single features on the forthcoming 37 Adventures label compilation 'Odd Numbers Volume 1', which is due for release on 5th August and showcases new and select cuts from the label's brilliant roster. Geowulf is Star Kendric