Ben Reel - Alberta Cross - A.S. Fanning - Tedeschi Trucks Band - The Paper Kites

Ben Reel - Spirit’s Not Broken (Album).

Irish troubadour Ben Reel returns with his twelfth studio album, Spirit’s Not Broken. In a world marked by war, division, and uncertainty, the record carries a timeless message: hope, resilience, and above all, love. “It’s easy to feel powerless,” Ben says, “but this album is a reminder of a simple truth: “Love one another.”

Musically, the album opens with raw rock energy before flowing into soulful, R&B-infused grooves, echoing the spirit of Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Van Morrison and Sting. It’s a journey that blends grit with grace, reinforcing Ben’s reputation as one of Ireland’s most versatile and enduring songwriters.
Since launching his solo career in 1999 with This Is the Movie, Ben has carved a distinctive path through rock, folk, soul, and Americana. Critics have compared him to John Hiatt, Roy Orbison, even dubbing him “the Irish Springsteen,” yet his sound remains unmistakably his own.

Across a solo career spanning more than 25 years, Ben has released a string of acclaimed albums, including The Nashville Calling (2020), recorded with Will Kimbrough and featuring E Street Band’s Garry W. Tallent, which topped the Euro Americana Chart. His most recent records, Locked in & Live (2022) and Come a Long Way (2023), cemented his reputation as a fearless and ever-evolving artist.

Ben has performed on BBC, RTÉ, Dutch NPO Radio, toured internationally, and shared stages with artists like Jools Holland, The Cranberries, Nanci Griffith and Eric Andersen. From Nashville’s Bluebird Café to European festivals, his reputation as a committed live performer continues to grow. With Spirit’s Not Broken, Ben Reel delivers not just an album, but a soulful call to resilience in challenging times.

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Alberta Cross - Toy Soldiers.

Alberta Cross are an Anglo-Swedish band formed in London and led by songwriter Petter Ericson Stakee. After a long stretch living in Brooklyn, New York, the project has since settled back in the UK. They signed to Fiction Records in the UK and Geffen in the US after just four shows, a rapid ascent that set the tone for a career built on relentless touring and slow-burn cult appeal. Along the way, the band have shared stages with artists ranging from Oasis and Neil Young to Them Crooked Vultures, The Shins, Portugal. The Man, Mumford & Sons an Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, while clocking appearances at festivals including Coachella, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, Fuji Rock, Reading & Leeds and Splendour In The Grass.

Produced by Luke Potashnick (The Temperance Movement) at Wool Hall Studios, their upcoming single 'Toy Soldiers' is a seductive rhythmic assault that sees Alberta Cross at their most frenetic and loose. Rapid, jagged keys and hypnotic guitars ride over tight drums, a rowdy but controlled track that serves as an anthem of hope and possibility amidst a world of uncertainty.

Discussing the lyrical themes behind the single, vocalist and lyricist Petter Ericson Stakee says: "There's a heaviness running through the track, but it wasn't something we chased - it's just the world bleeding into the music. The song wrestles with uncertainty, but it doesn't fake solutions. Recorded as a raw power trio with members from The Vaccines an The Temperance Movement at the legendary Wool Hall Studios (The Smiths, Tears For Fears)."

Alberta Cross · Toy Soldiers

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A.S. Fanning - Stay Alive.

Irish songwriter A.S. Fanning releases 'Stay Alive' on January 23rd, the third and final single from his forthcoming fourth studio album Take Me Back To Nowhere (February 6th, K&F Records).

In the midst of an album preoccupied with fragmented realities and psychological dislocation, 'Stay Alive' arrives as an unexpected lifeline—a love song born from the depths of despair. The track unfolds with haunting beauty, its ethereal synths and strings wrapping around Fanning's echoing baritone as the song builds toward an anthemic crescendo. Moody, dark, and melancholic, it captures the precise moment when connection pierces through numbness.

"This is a love song written from a place of desperation and despondency," Fanning explains. "About going through the world in a depressive drudge, with flickering notions of stepping in front of trains, only to chance upon something or someone that reminds you why you're alive, that makes you feel connected to something bigger than yourself."

While previous singles 'Romance' and 'Today Is For Forgetting' explored emotional desolation and psychedelic consciousness, 'Stay Alive' confronts a more primal terror: the fear of one's own mind. During its creation, Fanning was reading Ursula K. Le Guin's 'The Lathe of Heaven' and found himself arrested by a line where the psychiatrist tells the protagonist, "you're afraid of your own mind." "That's something I can relate to," Fanning notes. The song exists in that space between self-destruction and salvation, where a single encounter—with a person, a moment, a feeling—can tip the balance.

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Tedeschi Trucks Band - I Got You.

 Tedeschi Trucks Band (TTB), the GRAMMY Award-winning band led by the dynamic wife and husband duo of Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, has announced the details for their sixth studio album, Future Soul, and released the first single “I Got You.” The 11-track collection, the band’s most powerful album to date, will be released on Friday, March 20th via Fantasy Records in the middle of TTB’s 10-show headlining run at NYC’s Beacon Theatre. The infectious “I Got You,” written by guitarist/vocalist Mike Mattison, takes cues from the spirit of Derek and the Dominos and Delaney & Bonnie to create a driving, mid-tempo classic. 

“‘I Got You’ is a breath of fresh air and pretty different for us,” shares Trucks. “It feels like the band, but it doesn’t feel like anything we’ve done before.”

Produced by Mike Elizondo (Twenty One Pilots, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Carrie Underwood) and co-produced by Trucks, Future Soul – recorded at their own Swamp Raga Recording (Jacksonville, FL) as well as Phantom Studios (Gallatin, TN) – marks the follow-up to TTB’s 2022 conceptual quadruple studio album, I Am The Moon, and their latest live release, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Leon Russell Present: Mad Dogs & Englishmen Revisited (LIVE AT LOCKN’) (2025). The heart, honesty, and full-band collaboration on Future Soul makes the forthcoming album the most unique collection to date from the revered 12-piece powerhouse ensemble. The majority of the songwriting was done by Trucks, Tedeschi, Mattison, Gabe Dixon, and Tyler Greenwell with the music sonically pulling from a variety of influences including funk, rock ‘n roll, blues, soul, punk, and much more. 

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The Paper Kites - If You Go There, I Hope You Find It (Album) Morning Gum (New Video).

Beloved indie folk band The Paper Kites have unveiled their seventh studio album ‘If You Go There, I Hope You Find It’ via Nettwerk, available now on all streaming platforms. To celebrate the release, they’ve also shared an official music video for the previously unreleased track “Morning Gum”.

About the new album, lead vocalist Sam Bentley reflects, “This record feels like a band remembering what made them fall in love with playing music in the first place. Five friends, five musicians, rediscovering what made them want to do this together. We had a beautiful time making this album. A lot of these songs were written out at the farm we rehearse at, which has become a place of great direction and growth for us over the years. As such, the record has taken on much of the character of that place, and you’ll see it reflected in the colours and visuals surrounding the album. There’s a lot of the five of us in this record. We hope you enjoy.”

‘If You Go There, I Hope You Find It’ is highlighted by recent singles “Change Of The Wind,” “Shake Off The Rain,” “Every Town,” and “When The Lavender Blooms.” Each track was accompanied by an official music video, featuring a different band member and shot at their friend’s farm in Melbourne’s Yarra Valley, where much of the album was written. Intimate and achingly reflective, the album is guided by a longing for connection, simplicity, and emotional clarity. 

Rooted in themes of nature, healing, and hope, each track unfolds like a whispered conversation, offering comfort in its vulnerability and calm in its sincerity. Exploring moments of change, introspection, and the beauty of imperfection, the record remains anchored in the band’s signature atmospheric sound, carrying a quiet familiarity that feels like returning home, both within and beyond yourself.


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Ben Reel - Selve - Dubinator Curate Various Artists - Tiberius

Ben Reel - I Will.

The first single, “I Will,” is lifted from Ben Reel’s keenly awaited 12th studio album, “Spirit’s not Broken.” It's just been released. We are really pleased to be sharing this fabulous song from a highly talented multi genre artist! We are told (and agree with) “I Will” carries a ’70s soul vibe reminiscent of Marvin Gaye, with four-on-the-floor disco drums and a Motown-inspired moving bass line. The song tells its story as if guided by higher powers, as though everything were preordained, destiny awaiting.

The Irish troubadour's twelfth studio album, Spirit’s Not Broken has a core message. In a world marked by war, division, and uncertainty, the record carries a timeless message: hope, resilience, and above all, love. “It’s easy to feel powerless,” Ben says, “but this album is a reminder of a simple truth: ‘Love one another.”

Musically, the album opens with raw rock energy before flowing into soulful, R&B-infused grooves, echoing the spirit of Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Van Morrison, and Sting. It’s a journey that blends grit with grace, reinforcing Ben’s reputation as one of Ireland’s most versatile and enduring songwriters.

Since launching his solo career in 1999 with This Is the Movie, Ben has carved a distinctive path through rock, folk, soul, and Americana. Critics have compared him to John Hiatt, Roy Orbison, and even dubbed him “the Irish Springsteen,” yet his sound remains unmistakably his own.

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Photo -  Joshua Tate

Selve - Breaking Into Heaven (Album).

In a few words, we have to say we love this bands music, the whole album is a must hear, this is a band to thoroughly check out. The background goes like this.. Gold Coast (Yugambeh/Kombumerri)-based six-piece Selve led by proud Jabirr Jabirr man Loki Liddle yesterday shared their historic second album Breaking Into Heaven, the first full-length album by an Aboriginal artist ever recorded at London's Abbey Road, anchored and inspired by Nina Simone's words that "‘The people who built their heaven on your land, are telling you that yours is in the sky". 

A powerful testament of First Nations stories, music and culture breaking into the spaces that have been stolen or denied to them and traditionally reserved for the select few, Breaking Into Heaven punctuates and refracts the listener's consciousness like a glass brick through a window: a showcase of the uniquely prismatic range of Selve's sonic and cinematic universe, all tied together with a central dualism of subversion and love. 

With it comes swaggering focus track & video 'Leading Man Lost', its clip starring Indigenous Australian actress/model Charlee Fraser (Mad Max: Furiosa, Anyone But You). Also featuring previous singles lush post-nihilist lovesong 'Friday Night', moody rave-rock track 'Strange Romance', the hyper-camp 'Loki Horror Picture Show', and its roaring title track, Breaking Into Heaven is out independently now.

Of the album, Liddle shares: "It’s super surreal that Breaking Into Heaven is out in the world, less than a year since we wrapped up our recording at Abbey Road. It’s been a big, profound, emotional journey that has taken myself and the band to places and into spaces we never imagined we’d get to tread. I am really really proud of the album we’ve created, the music, the stories, the messages, the whole wild dream of it."


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Dubinator Curate Various Artists - Sonically Echo Beach – Dubbing & Clubbing.

For lovers of Reggae and Dub this is a wonderful collection of tracks (& we have to say Beehive Candy are pretty much full on fans of these genres). We quote: 'A fundamental selection of dubbing and clubbing tunes outta Echo Beach'. Enjoy with us!

Dr. Israel – Slaver (DJ Olive Remix)
Dream Cycle Inc. – Good Boy
Dubinator – Hmm Nice
Dubmatix – Crazy Days (The Hempolic Remix)
Horace Andy – Skylarking (TVS Version)
Noiseshaper – Good Enough (Paolo Baldini DubFiles Remix)
Ruts DC – Weekheart (Rob Smith Dub Remix)
Sergeant Steppa – Rockers 2000 (Dreadzone Remix)
Ari Up – Island Girl (Lee Grooves Remix)
Molara – Conscious Living (Dub)
Martha And The Muffins – Echo Beach (Dubinator Remix)
Seanie T & Aldubb – Armagideon Time (Rob Smith aka RSD – Discomix) -
Dubinator – Love (Too Late Version)
B.R.Stylers – Dubbing From The Earth
Tackhead – Exodus (Dubblestandart Remix Two)
Dubblestandart – Dub Realistic (Ambient Dub) 

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Tiberius - Moab.

Boston-based "Farm Emo" band Tiberius issues "Moab," the third single from November 14th's ‘Troubadour,’ their label debut album. Following the more frantic Emo Rock sounds of the "Sag" and "Felt" singles, the rustic warmth of "Moab" sees Tiberius embrace their Country and Folk influences, while still flirting with Pop melodies and an Indie Rock crunch. 

Tiberius was originally a solo outing for songwriter Brendan Wright, with the project growing to a four-piece band upon Wright's relocation to Boston. As demonstrated on "Moab," this expanded lineup produces a catchy and cacophonous sound that blends Indie Punk, Alt Country and Psychedelia with confessional, conversational lyrics.

Named after the city in the sprawling Colorado Plateau desert, "Moab" has long been a live favorite, and now offers our third preview of 'Troubadour,' a unique, genre-bending LP that's bursting with ideas and ambition. Alt Country-esque songs like "Moab" meet the Midwest Emo of "Sag," the meathead Shoegaze Rock of "Redwood," the Psych-ballad sound of "Barn," and the downtempo ache of October 10th's "Painting of a Tree" single.

Speaking on "Moab," Brendan Wright shares: “Moab was a song I wrote about trying to let go. At the time I was defining myself by expectations of a strained relationship. I was feeling pretty insane - like the kind of insane you feel back in 8th grade where you come home crying all of the time because you have absolutely no sense of self. Writing ‘Moab’ offered catharsis. Looking back, I feel a lot of embarrassment around those feelings, - but it was how I felt at the time and that was the place I was in. I wish I had acted differently, and I strive to now.” 

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The Last Waves - Shira - Ben Reel

The Last Waves - under a black sun (E.P).

A couple of months after the release of 'dark is the path', French cold-wave/post-punk/dark-pop/indie-rock five-piece The Last Waves just released another EP called 'under a black sun'.

These five new songs lead us immediately to worry, anguish, loneliness. New uninhabitable space, he shares with us his distress and his despair. The music of The last Waves offers us the sound image of an inaccessible world, it convinces us of its reality. 'under a black sun' was recorded, mixed by the band and mastered by Benjamin Joubert at the Biduloscope studio in Paris.

The Last Waves is a new band created in the middle of the pandemic around three boys and two girls. The name of the band is a wink to the new wave of the eighties, the famous new-wave whose name was borrowed from the new wave of the French cinema of the 50's and 60's and carried notably by the British Joy Division, New Order, Depeche Mode or Simple Minds.

Concerts suspended, venues padlocked, this period of forced silence was the spark that made the band's first two EPs spring up in late April and late June 2021. 'Revenge of the blue' and 'In cold colors avenue' were composed by founding guitarist Romain Champiot in an urgent, visceral and uncompromising way, like the last waves of an uncertain period.

The tracks are a mix between New Wave, Cold Wave, Pop and Indie-Rock. The harmonies are put forward, precise and often dancing. The Last Waves is inspired by the independent music of the 80's and the pop rock of the 2000's, adding a touch of electro rock when the intensity requires it.

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Shira - New York City in December.

Shira shares of the stunning track: "The holidays can be a tough time.  Three years ago was extra hard for me when I was alone, sheltering in place, during the pandemic, while my partner was stuck on the other side of the ocean and I was dreaming of having him here with me in NYC.  There's a certain magic in NYC around the holiday that really doesn't exist anywhere else. I hope this song brings comfort to whoever is listening and reminds them that they're not alone. "

Born in upstate NY to Israeli parents, Shira split her time growing up between Israel and the States. After finishing her service as a singer in the Israeli Army Band, Shira moved to NYC where she studied music and theatre at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and The New School.

After graduating, Shira met music producer Paul Carbonara (Blondie) as a performer in New York’s vibrant theatre community. She starred in his Off Broadway musicals Solitary Light and Evening 1910 to much critical acclaim. Shira went on to record two albums produced by Carbonara along with an ace six-piece band, including Israeli-American Grammy-nominated drummer Dan Pugach.



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Ben Reel - U People/Scoring Goals.

In memory of my good friend Rainbow George Weiss "The wondering jew" who sadly passed away around this time last year 2021 on the 1st December aged 81. Myself & George co wrote these 2 songs together. George was a mystic visionary that was 100 years ahead of his time. He was definitely the most eccentric person I ever met who became a kind of guru for me even though some of his ideas where totally outlandlish. Rainbow George lived in Hampstead, London where he had some very interesting friends like Ian Jury & his once next door neighbour Peter Cook. When I once visited him in Hampstead to my amusement he was then living in a flat over a shop named "Over the Rainbow" which Rainbow George found very mystical.  George had a great way with words as an example of one of his last quotes was "Everything is relative & we are all related".

I was first introduced to George in 2001 by Belfast legend Terri Hooley in Good vibrations record shop. When I walked into the shop Terri said -  "here is the very man you are looking for George"  As George was looking for an Irish musician to put music to these revolutionary lyrics he had written which was U People and he wanted it in a Reggae style. I may have tweaked some lyrics here and there to make it work better as a song - U people was first recorded in 2005 in Eastcote recording studio in London, produced & mixed by Philip Bagnell who worked with bands like Aswad. The song was recorded on the same recording console as Bob Marleys Exodus album so U People has got the spirit of Bob. The song and video was used as a BBC party political broadcast when George created The Rainbow party with the campaign slogan "Make politicians history" to run in the N.Ireland elections of 2005. I stood as a candidate in Derry and got 33 votes. A very mystical number for George which he thought significant.

The song U People features great London based Jazz musicians Gilad Atmon on Soprano saxaphone, Dylan Howe on Drums, Yaron Stavi on bass & Frank Harrison on keys. Scoring Goals was recorded around 2008 in Tuff Paddy studio Tralee Co Kerry with Alex O'Brien & Miguel Lonergan on beats & mixing. Spoken word by Judd Charlton & backing vocals from Cathrine Taylor Dawson & Sugar Rainbow. I play guitars and sing the vocal. George imagined that it would become an anthem at soccer grounds so I made a special video for the song with some great classic goals from the World Cup. George was a big soccer fan and would surely be enjoying the present World Cup. A lot of people don't know that he once played with QPR reserves as a left winger before a broken leg ended his career. It's funny  that he was a left winger as I think he was the most far left person I ever met. Hopefully now he is scoring goals in Rainbow land.

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