Principe Valiente - Darling West - Philippa Hanna - Pollens

Principe Valiente - Running Juveniles.

Background - Principe Valiente’s “Running Juveniles” music video is here: a pure celebration of youth and life. The homonymous song is the third single to be released from the band’s most anticipated latest album “Oceans”. Shot around Östermalm in Stockholm, the video was filmed & edited by the Swedish filmmaker Andreas Hillerborg.

After an outstanding self-titled debut album in 2011 and the breathtaking „Choirs Of Blessed Youth“ in 2014, the Swedish post punk / shoegaze band lead by Fernando Honorato, true to their vision, continues to carve out its own unique musical path. Drawing inspiration from ambient experimentalists like Cocteau Twins, 80's sci-fi soundtracks as well as exuberant vocalists like Bowie and Kate Bush, Principe Valiente ventured deeper into the sonic landscapes of their minds.

The intensity of the athmospheric sound and the interplay of melodic guitar strings, the dark drifting drums, rhythmic bass lines and above all the warm, emotional voice of the singer, have remained. The listener is captured in a mixture of longing and loneliness, which is fluently and hypnotically directed. Calm pieces alternate with energetic compositions, such as the recently released single "Strangers In The Night", and give the album a strong note of ambivalence.

With their third work „Oceans“, the band has created another alluring world with "human, all too human" lyrics and phantasmagorical soundscapes. Cool, yet impassioned and loaded with sweet anxiety, Principe Valiente have managed to make an irresistibly beautiful and intense continuation of what was started in the previous two albums.Website here, Facebook here.

We featured Principe Valiente back in April with a previous song share from their 'Oceans' album. Now we have the new video for 'Running Juveniles'. This is a powerful and atmospheric piece which combines a subtle melody delivered with layer upon layer of musical sounds, along with passionate and striking vocals.


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Darling West - Traveller.

Background - Darling West release a video for their new single "Traveller." The last twelve months of Darling West’s musical career can't be described as anything other than fantastic. Since the release of their second album, "Vinyl And A Heartache", they have played concerts all over the world. 

The band have been play-listed on the biggest radio stations in Norway, appeared on the Top 100 Country charts in the US, amassed more than 2.5 million plays on Spotify, been booked for the biggest festivals in Norway, Americanafest in Nashville, and won a Norwegian Grammy.

Despite all this, the band have no plans of resting on their laurels, and now they’re releasing another new track from a new album they plan to release in early 2018. 

This is the sound of a new and revitalised Darling West. The band are still playing their sweet americana / country / folk, but there’s a lot more drive in the music and the melodies are catchier than before. Facebook here.

It's our second feature for Darling West following on from the track 'After My Time' which we carried back in July. We now have the song 'Traveller'. Once again we have a beautifully melodic piece with those Americana musical flavours and gorgeous vocals & harmonies. 


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Philippa Hanna - Off the Wagon.

Background - Philippa Hanna is returning to the spotlight with her brand new album Come Back Fighting. Most of her sixth studio album was written in Nashville, and she has brought together a range of pop, country and gospel influences, assembling an impressive collection of musicians. With features from BBC Radio 2 presenter Paul Jones on harmonica, world-champion banjo player John Dowling and a leading UK gospel choir.

Working with long-term collaborators guitarist Roo Walker and manager Andy Baker, the production has a fresh and unique flavour that won't leave fans disappointed.

The album is set for release on 24th November, amidst Philippa opening a formidable 29 date UK tour for BGT winning vocal group Collabro which will be coming through your way.

From the acoustic-reggae infused Dorothy to the hard hitting bluesy title track Come Back Fighting, listeners can expect to be drawn into the storytelling narrative that has put Hanna on the singer/songwriter map. The album succeeds in catering for an incredibly broad fan-base that has seen the Sheffield singer open tours for the likes of Lionel Richie, Little Mix, Leona Lewis, Anastacia, and Marti Pellow. Website here, Facebook here, tour details on Beehive Candy's tour news page.

'Off The Wagon' mixes traditional country music, gospel style chorus lines, alongside an upbeat modern feel where the pop sensibilities ensure the hooks are sharp and dig in deep. Refreshing and energised if you cannot tap your feet or sing along to this, you might be in need of a holiday.


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Pollens - Words.

Background - Take experimental rock blended with minimalist avant-pop and art-punk elements, and you've got the beginnings of NYC's group Pollens. Quirky, weird, and in a league of their own, they released their first single "Words" today, off their upcoming EP Mister Manufacture. Pollens sound is like no other blending electronic dance beats, ambient noise, and shouting into infectiously catchy and cleverly woven melodies. "Words" is a untraditional yet uniquely hooky tune, building into a steady earworm.

The band breaks down the lyrics, "It's a little anthem for how a monster gets to be a monster.. because we're not listening... especially in the summer, and at any time that precedes kissing. All the tells and omens stack up as promises rather than warnings. And for all the reasons we shouldn't, we must... I could tell you all of this upfront, and instead of being afraid, you'll probably be endeared to my disclosure. It's not a trick, but it is a trap." Written in minimalistic songwriting style, it's an attention grabbing example of "less is more".

"Words" comes as the first single off the group's upcoming EP Mister Manufacture, out October 27. It will be available for free in digital format; with limited edition cassette tapes available from the band at their record release celebration show on November 16 at Secret Project Robot in NYC. They'll be joined by Operator Music Band, Salt People and a special guest (to be announced); full details on Facebook here.

If you are in need of something a little different then 'Words' has plenty of that. This is fabulously quirky, massively addictive and an absolute gem of a song. Lets add in sumptuous and resplendent to make the point!

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