Allison Russell recently announced her third studio album In The Hour of Chaos. The album, produced by Russell and Dim Star, is a fervent plea for connection in this time of alienation, isolation, and dread. It’s an album that is meant to make you feel good and, in these times, feeling good is a radical act. Now, she shares the album’s latest song “Black Lavender” featuring the earthy soul of Brittney Spencer.
Of “Black Lavender,” Russell notes: We are swimming in rivers - flash floods! - of adrenaline right now. Black Lavender is a song about extending grace and soothing comfort to a chosen sister… the kind I have trouble extending to myself… But the beautiful thing is, she’s the same way - and she gives it all back and some. Brittney Spencer is a voice for all the ages who we NEED right now. We saved this song for Juneteenth for a reason. Black women have been showing up for each other in this way as long as we’ve been here, and we can’t stop won’t stop now! Incomparable - That’s what we all are, you know - Precious, Magical.
The songs on Allison Russell’s In the Hour of Chaos are meant to reverse the tides that pull us farther and farther apart, even from ones we love the most. It’s only fitting that Russell leaned into her vibrant and ever expanding community of artists and friends to create a collaborative song suite that goes far beyond a succession of features.
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Oglio Entertainment have now released 'I'm So Glad' a newly remastered four-song collection from legendary LA mod trio The Question, available digitally for the first time ever. Often regarded as the first—and arguably most influential—mod band to emerge from Los Angeles, The Question built a devoted following in the early '80s through packed live shows, college radio support, and their appearance on the landmark WarfRat Tales compilation. Their blend of mod, power pop, and '60s R&B earned them a cult reputation that continues to resonate decades later.
Though they never achieved mainstream success, their influence can still be felt today. Members of No Doubt were longtime fans of the band, frequently attending shows and sharing bills with The Question during their formative years on the Southern California club circuit. More recently, No Doubt has paid tribute to those roots by prominently featuring multiple vintage Question flyers throughout promotional materials and fan experiences surrounding their Sphere performances.
I'm So Glad continues Oglio's ongoing archival series spotlighting The Question's catalog and celebrating a band whose influence continues to far outweigh the size of its recorded output. Now, I'm So Glad emerges from the archives with renewed clarity, offering listeners another glimpse into a band that consistently balanced immediacy and musical depth. Featuring four tracks—"Head On Straight," "I Can Feel It," "I'm So Glad," and "Have To Say Goodbye (Slow Version)"—the release showcases many of the qualities that made The Question unique: infectious melodies, driving rhythms, sharp musicianship, and an unmistakable sense of style that still feels fresh decades later.
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Beth Peabody has been a key member of the Jim Basnight Band since 2019, and after seven years of incredible harmonies, it’s time for her to shine on her own. Her musical roots run deep—she grew up in Cooperstown, NY, and lived in various cities including Billings, MT, Huntsville, AL, and Tacoma, WA. She spent her youth immersed in musical theater and choir, developing her impressive three-octave range and near-perfect ear.
With six years of piano lessons under her belt, Beth discovered her passion for singing and playing music. After meeting Sean in 2017, Beth joined him in their duo, Untamed Spirit, before becoming a harmony vocalist in the Jim Basnight Band in 2019. Her influences range from Classics like The Turtles and The Beatles to powerhouse female vocalists like Reba McEntire, Christina Aguilera, P!nk, Patsy Cline, Sara Evans, and Stevie Nicks.
About the Singles “Get it Out” is a driving, basic, no-frills rocker, which showcases her style which drips playful pop sensibilities, while staying down to earth and soulfully irreverent. It harkens back to classic hits by new wave rockers like Blondie, the Pretenders, and the Bangles. “Out and About” is a bit more complex musically, but seamless in its direct approach. It reminds me compositionally of the Replacements, and other cool ‘80s and ‘90s indie pop acts like Hoodoo Gurus, Gin Blossoms, and perhaps even a little like my old band, the Moberlys.
Beth’s new singles embody the creative energy and talent that has made her a standout performer, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share them with you. These songs, along with the rest from these sessions, are a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in their creation.
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Nicht Nur is the first single from DegHerl's album, due out in early October 2026. The song is a live favorite, and also one of the most impactful tracks in their repertoire, in which the German-language vocals of Italian-Austrian keyboardist Daniela Gullotta are chiseled between empty and full spaces, made of straight kick drums and minimalist riffs. It features a martial intro and a melodic central riff with angular and frenetic accents. Dark, seductive, and obsessive at the same time, as certain desires can be, caressing and sharp as a knife.
Nicht Nur could easily fit in the middle of a playlist with The Cure, Nina Hagen, Siouxsie. Xmal Deutschland, Malaria!, but somehow it also fits with the more contemporary Molchat Doma, Lebanon Hanover, and Drab Majesty. DegHerl were born in 2013, having as their main source of inspiration post-punk and new wave between the end of the '70s and the mid-'80s. The previous genre (and non-genre) experiences of the singer/guitarist Raffaele K. Salinari (in Bologna in the 70s and 80s) and of the bassist/singer Antonio "Toni" Tronchin (in the post-Great Complotto period/area, which also led him to the founding of bands such as Joycut in the early 2000s), converge and mix with other musical influences, thanks to the arrival in 2015 of the guitarist Alessio Franzoni (garage, psychedelia, kraut, indie-rock).
Daniela's voice is the perfect counterbalance to Salinari's vocal timbres, which alternates Lou Reed's style with lines closer to punk and British wave. In 2025 the band found balance with the arrival of Andrea Giorgi on drums, whose attitude is essential, clean and energetic, and with a background of studies in the Conservatory of classical percussion, with insights into contemporary minimalism such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass.
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We have the second single from the upcoming debut album Permanent Vacancy (Out Dec 11th via TCBYML). Following the nocturnal drive of "No Plans," Chicago’s Amber Hotel shifts gears into a high-speed collision of 1979 Gothic Pop and New Wave urgency. Their latest single, "Broken Glass," is a masterclass in the "up-beat but melancholic" aesthetic, a track that dances through the wreckage of a self-inflicted mess.
Built on a foundation of dry, driving drums and a bouncy, melodic bassline, "Broken Glass" captures the frantic energy of early The Cure combined with the precision of Interpol. The track's engine is a clean, jangly electric guitar that stabs through the air with staccato riffs, creating a sound that is as catchy as it is claustrophobic. It’s the sonic representation of a nervous breakdown you can actually dance to.
Lyrically, the song is a raw, deadpan confession of pride and regret. Baritone vocals deliver a "hiccupy," emotional performance that maps out the aftermath of a slammed door and a shattered house. From the "silver on the floor" to the tight-throated silence in the hallway, "Broken Glass" explores the "stupid way to win" by letting the cold air in. With its charm and production, "Broken Glass" feels like a lost 1980s classic found in a dusty Chicago basement. As the second glimpse into their debut album Permanent Vacancy, Amber Hotel proves they are the masters of the "fever dream" post-punk sound, capturing the exact moment when you realize you didn't mean it... or maybe you did.
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The five track EP showcases some of the groups most complete and accessible work to date, bringing a driving sense of energy, some sparkling musicianship and songcraft which captures a cathartic sense of inner turmoil. Through their country, Americana, and psychedelic-bluegrass tendencies the band bring the essence and urgency of their live shows to the studio recordings whilst also displaying an uncanny ear for earworm melodies.
Even before its official release, the EP is already making an impact, reaching Number 1 in Rock and Number 2 in Country on Amazon Music’s pre-orders alone - an early signal of strong anticipation following their return after nearly three years away. Formed in 2019, James White & The Wild Fire continue to carve out a distinctive space at the intersection of psychedelic folk rock and traditional American roots music. A sound blends atmospheric, expansive textures with the structural clarity of bluegrass and Americana, anchored by the direct and emotionally unfiltered songwriting of James White. (band leader and songwriter).
Speaking about the EP, James explains: “I feel this EP is a metamorphosis. What was blueprinted as lyrics, chords and scratch tracks written and recorded between 2022 and 2026 during a time of immense heartbreak, turmoil, confusion and loss became one of the most beautiful and sincere things I have ever made. I couldn't be more proud of this EP, the musicianship of the members of this band, and how they brought the concept of it to life. It immortalises the lowest period of my adult life and created something that I am so excited to show the world.
I hope those that resonate with the themes tune in to the message that such levels of loss, heartbreak and pain are all part of a journey, that there is another side beyond what feels like an inescapable void, and that even when we carry our loss with us, there can be immense joy, freedom validity and peace on the other side. I hope you enjoy the incredible musicianship put on full display by Brooke, Lee, Joe, Mike and myself. We left everything out there for you."
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