Home Counties - The Pairs - Keaton Henson - Dubmatix

Photo - Luca Bailey

Home Counties - Roundabout.

Home Counties have released the new single 'Roundabout', the final taste of the band's eagerly awaited second album 'Humdrum', out this Friday, 24th October via Submarine Cat Records - produced by Al Doyle (of Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem). Built on clipped guitars, elastic basslines and a nervy sense of momentum, ‘Roundabout’ finds Home Counties at their most playful and immediate, musing on social fatigue amidst a small-talk spiral.

On the release of 'Roundabout', singer Will Harrison said: “This song is about desperately trying to escape a conversation with someone at a party who won’t stop talking about themselves. ‘Roundabout’ is definitely one of the most light-hearted moments of the new album. To capture the atmosphere of the subject matter, we ended up recording our friends talking shit in the pub garden of our local in Homerton, which you can hear during the bridge. I think you can hear Bill talking about HS2 at one point. It might not be the deepest moment of the album, but it might be the most fun!"

Across the 10 tracks on new album 'Humdrum', Home Counties capture the unease of saying too much or not enough, the quiet resentment of being out-charmed, and the spiral of overthinking. Told through the dual voices and perspectives of lead vocalists Will Harrison and Lois Kelly, 'Humdrum' trades in wiry grooves, synths that lurch between menace and euphoria, and razor-sharp pop instincts - wrapping knotty ideas into songs that feel both meticulously constructed and joyfully unhinged. 

============================================================================

Photo - Ruth Kavilhati

The Pairs - Together on a Rock (Album).

London, Ontario-based folk trio The Pairs release their new, fourth album, Together on a Rock, on all major platforms, today Oct. 22, 2025. Known for their three-part harmonies and heartfelt songwriting, The Pairs chose to record Together on a Rock live-off -the-floor, returning to their folk roots with a mostly acoustic, intimate sound that puts their gorgeous vocals front and centre. 

Together on a Rock aims to create connection – through honest lyrics and a warm, stripped-back atmosphere. In a time where it’s easy to feel disconnected, the songs invite listeners to slow down, reflect, and find common ground. The album explores themes of personal responsibility, humility, and re-connection — not just with each other, but with the wisdom of the natural world. The album was recorded live-off-the-floor with minimal overdubs of instrumentation, in Northfield, Connecticut, with producer Tracy Walton at On Deck Sound Studio in September of 2024.

Two telling facts about Together on a Rock: the title embodies the common humanity of our situation on this planet; and the three members of the group -- Renée Coughlin, her twin sister Noelle Frances Coughlin, and Hillary Watson – all agreed to lock away their cellphones for the two weeks during which they made the album.

The Pairs Music · Together On A Rock

============================================================================

Photo - Danielle Fricke

Keaton Henson - Loose Ends / Past It.

Following the announcement of new album Parader (out November 21 via Play It Again Sam), Keaton Henson is back with 2 new singles "Loose Ends" & "Past It". This new material hints at Henson beginning to shed the “quiet boy” persona that has defined much of his career, now embracing the grunge-infused sounds of his youth.

Keaton Henson is an English musician, composer, visual artist, and poet. He has released six studio albums, a wordless graphic novel titled Gloaming, published by Pocko and a book of poetry called Idiot Verse. Henson suffers from anxiety, and as a result, he rarely plays concerts. On his official website in the 'About' section it simply say's "Keaton Henson is a musician, artist and composer from England he doesn’t like to talk about himself." 


============================================================================

Dubmatix - Echoes Of The People (20 Years Of Fan Favourites).

From the deep echo chambers of 2004’s Champion Sound Clash to the uplifting spirit of 2024’s Lion of Judah, “Echoes of the People” is a celebration of two decades of dub, reggae, and bass culture through the ears of the massive.

This 20-track collection brings together the songs that have resonated most with fans across the world as I’ve toured, listened to feedback, and seen on radio playlists. Each tune represents a moment in the Dubmatix story, a connection between artist and audience built on heavy groove and a passion for the genre.

Over these two decades, I’ve been extremely fortunate to work with an incredible lineup of singers — from reggae legends like Anthony B, Eek-A-Mouse, Linval Thompson, Ranking Joe, and Tippa Irie, to modern torch-bearers Exile Di Brave, The Hempolics, Longfingah, Brother Culture, and Lone Ranger — Echoes of the People stands as both a retrospective and a renewal.
Mykal Rose,Brother Culture, Tippa Irie, Tenor Fly, Dennis Alcapone
============================================================================

Hélène Barbier - John Witherspoon - Home Counties

Photo - Dominic Berthiaume & Delphine Snyers

Hélène Barbier - Lapin.

We are told that - Hélène Barbier seeds melodies that ferment in her head, pairing hummable lines with alien tunes conjured in someone else’s psyche across time and space. Siamese fragments. She creates an imbalance through juxtaposition. Four simple notes become evocative alongside four disorienting, different notes, and this simplistic rule has become a basis for complex play. In Beehive Candy terms, this is something worth checking out and based on 'Lapin' we can't wait to hear more.

Joy and anxiety come together on Panorama, Hélène Barbier's new album due Nov 14, 2025. Characterized by haunting melodies, stripped-down choruses, and a subtle layer of nonchalance that reinforces the magnetism of the songs, this avant-pop album was crafted over a period of three years. Born in response to the stress caused by certain events that disrupted the daily life of the Montreal singer and bassist, these nine tracks sound as if they were postcards sent at different moments in life, even if their intriguing lyrics leave room for interpretation.

Though it is a very personal album, Panorama is also a collective effort. After taking the time to refine her songs and remove elements she felt were superfluous, Hélène Barbier called on Ben Lalonde and Joe Chamandy (Retail Simps), with whom she has been making music for many years, as well as Claire Paquet, Thomas Molander, Samuel Gougoux (Corridor, Trafic des Airs, Victime), Wes MacNeil (Night Lunch), Mélanie Venditti, Alexandra Levy (Ada Léa), Meg Duffy (Hand Habits), and producer Emmanuel Éthier.

============================================================================

John Witherspoon - My Baby.

Liverpool's John Witherspoon delivers his most emotionally complex single yet with 'My Baby', released a couple of days back, as the final preview of his third studio album One Of Them, due October 31st. 

Serving as the album's closing track, this deeply personal composition showcases a masterful balance between intimate vulnerability and musical ambition. Opening with delicate, lullaby-like qualities ‘My Baby’ immediately draws listeners into Witherspoon's tender sonic world. Recorded live with a band, the track's gentle opening belies its eventual transformation into an anthemic statement, building organically from whispered to triumphant. Witherspoon's vocals echo the sultry croon of Arctic Monkeys' recent work, lending the track a contemporary sophistication that bridges nostalgic romance with modern appeal.

What appears on the surface as a sweet romantic ballad reveals layers of complexity beneath. Born during a period of writer's block, Witherspoon turns his creative struggles into art, and the self-referential line,
 "Did the dreaded verse one where the writer is blocked." “I had the whole structure and melody down before I had a single lyric, which is very rare for me," he explains. This meta-textual breakthrough opened the floodgates for what would become his most nuanced exploration of human connection.

The song's emotional core draws inspiration from a moving story about a mother and son's reconciliation, which Witherspoon combined with his own experiences of familial relationships. The song's ambiguity allows for multiple interpretations. "It ends up being about 3 or 4 different people, but for the listener they've amalgamated into one," he explains. The track also features a callback to the album's opening song 'True Love', creating satisfying bookends for the overall piece.

============================================================================

Photo - Luca Bailey

Home Counties - Meet Me In The Flat Roof.

London sextet Home Counties today unveil new single 'Meet Me In The Flat Roof', a tongue-in-cheek homage to London's flat roof pubs - the latest preview of the band's eagerly awaited second album 'Humdrum', out 24th October via Submarine Cat Records - produced by Al Doyle (of Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem). The band have also announced a new in-store tour to celebrate the release of the album, with stops in Liverpool, Oxford, Kingston, Southsea and Southampton.

Both love letter and self-critique, new single 'Meet Me In The Flat Roof' calls out the smugness of bragging about “authentic” haunts while inevitably fuelling their gentrification. With lines that swing from knowing humour (“Can’t believe you’ve not been here before / Your friend’s been? I bet I’ve been way more”) to surprising tenderness (“Red wine on the crimson carpet / Accidental but unnoticed and it feels like love”), the track captures the cultural superiority complex hidden inside taste and habit.

Musically, it’s one of the album's most lush and memorable moments. Dreamy guitars and stacked harmonies bloom into a soaring middle eight - a section Doyle pushed the band to write after what had originally been an instrumental gap. The result is a song that turns the resolutely mundane into one of the album’s most unexpectedly moving highlights.

============================================================================

Home Counties - Ant Thomaz - Kramies - Cherry i

Photo - Luca Bailey

Home Counties - New Best Thing.

Home Counties today release their new single 'New Best Thing', a stomping, synth-laced thrill ride and the latest preview of their eagerly awaited second album 'Humdrum', out 24th October via Submarine Cat Records - produced by Al Doyle (of Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem).

Written in a rare moment of spontaneity, 'New Best Thing' unspools like a strobe-lit meltdown - half blog-era dance-punk, half indie sleaze fever dream. Synths squelch and guitars stab between swung, danceable rhythms, as vocalists Will Harrison and Lois Kelly skewer the kind of brash self-belief that thrives in a world of instant gratification and blurred moral lines. 

Will Harrison explains: “Inspired by the electroclash of Peaches with the Cowboy-guitar blues rock of Alabama 3, we tried to make something that was fun and immediate – something that wouldn’t feel out of place on a PlayStation 2 driving game. Pairing swung drums and obnoxious synths and guitars, it felt sleazy and swaggering.

"This feeling inspired the lyrical content, capturing the overconfidence that comes from consumption and how society either tolerates it or looks down upon it depending on class. Writing the lyrics and music quickly also added to the general immediacy of the song. It was a rare moment of not allowing ourselves to overthink things, which I guess in a way reflects the carelessness of the subject matter.”

============================================================================

Ant Thomaz - Feet on the Ground.

Ant Thomaz is a Glasgow-based singer-songwriter and musician with roots from the Bayou of southern Louisiana. Drawing from a vibrant mix of folk, soul, pop, zydeco, and rock, his music carries a raw, lived-in warmth shaped by years of self-taught songwriting since the age of twelve. Known for his heartfelt lyrics and a sound that blends grit with soul, Thomaz weaves personal experience into every note, echoing both his Southern heritage and his journey as an artist.

His latest single, “Feet on the Ground,” is a warm, sincere tribute to real love, written with his wife and creative partner, Frances. The track speaks to the importance of presence, and the power of staying grounded through life’s distractions, worries, and external noise. Opening with the lyric “walking through the rain without even a stain, not knowing anyone’s name…”, the song sets the tone for a reflective journey about choosing peace, clarity, and connection over chaos. It’s a reminder that even when the world feels uncertain, love can be an anchor.

Inspired by their late-night conversations as artists, parents, and partners, Thomaz uses the song to explore what it means to grow in love without losing your sense of joy and self. “Feet on the Ground” is also an expression of gratitude for the strong women who inspire him daily, especially Frances, whose impact on his life and artistry is woven through every lyric. At its core, the song urges us to hold on to our youthful spirit, to slow down, and to honour the everyday beauty of life and love, free from ego or comparison.

============================================================================

Kramies - Hollywood Signs.

As the summer scurry fades and autumn winds drift eastward, the days grow shorter, the lights dimmer - Kramies makes his timely return. And “Hollywood Signs”, the lead single from an upcoming new LP, is a clear departure in sound for the cult Ohio songwriter. 

Three years after his critically acclaimed self-titled LP—which earned multiple Album of the Year accolades and saw Billboard christen him “The Dreampop Troubadour” - in 2025 Kramies begins anew and turns the page to his next chapter with its follow-up.

Operating in a genre of his own devising that he dubbed Folklore Dreampop - a blend of dreamy textures, poetic myth, and spectral beauty - his self-titled debut offered a collection of songs steeped in wonder that found the singer-songwriter drifting deeply through a series of otherworldly realms. But for his next act, Kramies marks a creative shift from any former labellings with the decisively titled new album: ‘Goodbye Dreampop Troubadour’. 

Seeking to expand his creative world into new dimensions, his upcoming work finds him collaborating with Grammy-winning producer Mario McNulty (David Bowie / Prince) to conjure dusky soundscapes shaded with nighttime colors and a nostalgic melancholia. Unlike previous releases that have been scattered with the stardust of luminaries such Jason Lytle (Grandaddy), Patrick Carney (Black Keys), Alma Forrer, Jerry Becker (Train) and more, his new album is a stridently confident solo creation, with Kramies playing 90% of the instruments across the album. 

============================================================================

Photo - Zosia Kibalo

Cherry i -The Arsonist.

London outfit Cherry i emerge today with their unsettling and cinematic new single ‘The Arsonist’, produced by Ali Chant (PJ Harvey, Youth Lagoon, Soccer Mommy). A slow-creeping art-rock dirge that draws from myth and modern conflict, the single reframes harrowing events through a cryptic, surrealist lens: a divine arsonist trapped inside a dog, prowling the streets of Kyiv.

Built on detuned guitars and submerged percussion, ‘The Arsonist’ drifts through the liminal space between The Smile’s unsettling surrealism and King Krule’s shadowy melancholy, with glints of Portishead’s brooding atmosphere and Beth Gibbons’ fragile intensity. The result is vivid and enigmatic - anchored by singer Nikol’s spectral delivery, her voice carrying a distinctive, quivering lilt that shifts between whisper and lament.

On the release of 'The Arsonist' Nikol said: “The lyrics came out of a very tough time. I wanted to take a fairy tale or Greek myth-style approach to something too difficult to look at head-on. Some of our band members are Ukrainian refugees, so the song became a way to process those feelings, by creating distance without losing the truth. It revolves around themes of processing the trauma of war, displacement and loss. The lyrics themselves take on a more vague approach consisting of a fairytale-like reimagining of events wherein The Arsonist is this Greek god type destructive force, trapped inside a dog wreaking havoc on the streets of Kyiv."

============================================================================

Imogen Clark - Baba Pen & The Bim Bam Band - Home Counties

Imogen Clark - Choking on Fuel (Album).

We are a little late to the parade regarding Imogen Clark's new album 'Choking on Fuel' but it's more than worth a share on Beehive Candy and it is already kicking her 2025 into high gear. The last few weeks have seen Imogen return to the UK for a sold-out headline tour and performance at Maverick festival, and land on the lineup of this year's AMERICANAFEST in Nashville (alongside artists like Kashus Culpepper, Kip Moore, Jade Bird, Rodney Crowell and Ruston Kelly).

Nashville-via-Sydney singer-songwriter Imogen Clark is getting high octane and back to the nitty gritty with her new album ‘Choking on Fuel’. After a breakneck year of non-stop touring, returning to her roots armed with an acoustic guitar, Imogen is rolling out a record that captures the intensity, vulnerability, musical dexterity and vocal power that characterizes her compelling live performances.

“I spent last year on the road around the world, playing headline shows but also touring with Robyn Hitchcock, Steve Poltz, Bowen * Young and Andrew Farriss”, Imogen explains. “So many people have messaged me or commented on my social media to say that they would love to have an album that captured the spirit of what I do live, and that’s what this is”.

The album puts Imogen’s rich, devastating vocals front and center, foregrounding her deft, cutting lyrics and affecting melodies. The record runs the emotional gamut from the wry, incendiary All Hard Feelings (with 70s style backing vocals from co-writers Sinead Burgess and Blake O’Connor, who also tears up a blistering slide guitar solo), a high-octane harmonica solo on The Art of Getting Through from the legendary Mickey Raphael, the sexy bluegrass raveup of Sebastian (where Imogen is backed by Aussie grassers Midnight Chicken) to the raw, powerful anthem The Last of Me (with My Morning Jacket’s Bo Koster on propulsive piano), the road not taken nightmare of Squinters (a co-write with Steve Poltz powered by Bryan Sutton’s nuanced acoustic guitar), a fiery Nebraska-esque anthem If I Want In (featuring ARIA-winner Ella Hooper) to the delicate, timeless wisdom of If Your Heart Never Breaks (featuring gorgeous harmonies from co-writer Jim Lauderdale and a dexterous and beautiful guitar from the iconic Tommy Emmanuel).

============================================================================

Baba Pen & The Bim Bam Band - Hare In The Haze.

Baba Pen & The Bimbam Band return with their third single, Hare in the Haze – a swirling folky journey into the misty corners of old Europe. Picture this: roadside taverns, wandering bards, and tales passed down by firelight. This one tells of a cunning hare and an aging hunter locked in a never-ending chase. Just as the hunter takes aim, a thick haze rolls in… and the hare vanishes once again. But not all stories end well for those who seek control. With rippling guitars and a timeless groove, Hare in the Haze pulls you into a world of myth and mischief – the kind that makes you want to grab a pint and stay a while.

Bastian Pen, lead singer of the band Tricklebolt, steps into new creative territory with a fresh project under the moniker Baba Pen. Collaborating with a group of talented friends, they form Baba Pen & The Bim Bam Band, a collective destined to make waves. Their debut album, set for release on October 10, 2025, blends 60s-inspired psychedelic rock with hints of folk and cosmic country, all wrapped in the lush, intricate production style of Jonathan Wilson.

Featuring members from Grand East, Money and the Man, Tricklebolt, and Jimmy Diamond, "Hare In The Haze" is a captivating taste of what’s to come, offering a glimpse into the diverse sonic landscape of Baba Pen & The Bim Bam Band. It's a brilliant first step into an album that promises to explore the many shades of Baba Pen's musical world.

TCBYML · Baba Pen & The Bim Bam Band - Hare In The Haze

============================================================================

Photo - Luca Bailey

Home Counties - Humdrum.

Home Counties today announce their highly-anticipated second album 'Humdrum' - out 24th October on Submarine Cat Records. Produced by Al Doyle (of Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem), new album 'Humdrum' is the follow up to the London six-piece's 2024 debut album 'Exactly As It Seems'. 

To mark the announcement, Home Counties are today sharing the album's title track and new single 'Humdrum'. A sardonic unravelling of social misfires, ‘Humdrum’ captures the anxiety of saying the wrong thing and stewing over it later ("It’s also about feeling bitter towards people who are just better at chatting shit," singer Will Harrison notes).

Originally almost scrapped, the track shape-shifted through krautrock and bedroom pop before landing on its final form - a jittery, synth-heavy, hook-laced highlight that reckons with self-sabotage and success-envy in equal measure.

============================================================================

Home Counties - Leslie Jordan

Photo - Luca Bailey

Home Counties - Spain.

With the release of 'Spain', Home Counties return today not with a continuation, but a clear-eyed creative pivot. Produced by Al Doyle (of Hot Chip and LCD Soundsystem), the London six-piece's new single takes aim at the creeping fear of becoming everything you once stood against, a disillusioned version of yourself hiding under the Spanish sun. 'Spain' premiered on Steve Lamacq's BBC 6 Music show last night. The band also today announce a full UK headline tour for November and December, culminating in their biggest headline show to date at Scala, London.

The first music to be heard since the band's acclaimed 2024 debut album 'Exactly As It Seems', new single 'Spain' was written about confronting your own moral decay through the metaphor of a British expat. Built around glowering synths and a darker, more expansive palette, the song captures a volatile internal dialogue between two versions of the same person – one idealistic, the other world-weary. It's a portrait of internal erosion, delivered with a deadpan intensity and a tightly coiled rhythmic pulse that leaves little room for resolution.

Reflecting on the compromises and contradictions of adult life with dry wit and dancefloor-ready conviction, it marks a confident leap forward in sound, tone and ambition for Home Counties. While their debut 'Exactly As It Seems' traded in bright edges and eccentricity, 'Spain' dives into something leaner, colder and more thematically complex.

"‘Spain’ is essentially an argument with yourself,” explains frontman Will Harrison. “It's about growing older and fearing the person you might become, or are already becoming. Taking the form of a conversation between a starry-eyed idealist and life-weathered realist, it imagines watching an argument between a younger and older version of yourself. It’s about figuring out if you can grow up without losing sight of your values or if it’s just a worthless endeavour."

============================================================================

Leslie Jordan - The Agonist (Album).

Nearly a decade ago, when sent photocopies of her late, wayfaring grandfather’s poetry and short stories, singer-songwriter Leslie Jordan knew that the treasure trove would eventually make its way into her musical story. He wrote short stanzas of evocative poetry, short stories of provocative men and women, and long journal entries about his love affair with alcohol and his brother's wife, Sylvia. With pages of typewritten entries, Jordan pieced together the story and set it to song with her beautifully melancholy Americana and roots sensibilities. This month she released the stunning collection, dubbed The Agonist.

The story of how this record came to be, a granddaughter sifting through a found box of her estranged beat poet grandfather’s musings and turning it into this beautiful project,  is worth the price of admission alone, but Leslie Jordan, per usual, pours out her entire heart, soul, and tear-inducing voice with effortless emotional intensity and mystery...You’d do yourself well to listen to the whole experience top to bottom and enjoy what’s been one of my favorite voices in Americana music... If you’re not part of the club already, take this record for a spin and see what all the fuss is about. - Sean McConnell.



============================================================================

BCMR - Beehive Candy Music Radio - Update.

Two things - Firstly we have been thrilled with the number of unique listeners whilst we are just setting this up - thank you!

Secondly, we have had to roll back our initial launch date for a variety of reasons, however we hope to considerably expand the playlist in the coming weeks and fix a number of technical issues (sound levels etc). More information will come, but again thanks to everyone who has listened and shown an interest.
============================================================================

Home Counties - Kieran Mercer - Mango In Euphoria

Home Counties - White Shirt / Clean Shirt.

Home Counties return today with new single "White Shirt / Clean Shirt". The second of two new self-produced singles, it follows "Modern Yuppies" released in January, and the band's widely praised 2020 debut EP 'Redevelopment'.

The band take a sharp left-turn on "White Shirt / Clean Shirt", upping the tempo and storming forwards with a hip-wriggling, eccentric examination of office work. Building on the playful post-funk hooks present in “Modern Yuppies”, Home Counties continue to show they're a band who are not afraid to colour outside the lines, both sonically and lyrically.

Singer Will Harrison said: "'White Shirt / Clean Shirt' began life as a guitar-orientated number that was a staple of our live set last year at our first shows, but then we had sort of fell out of love with it. Through lockdown, as we started experimenting more heavily with synthesisers and drum machines; we reworked the song with these new influences and it found a new lease of life.

"The two singles are linked lyrically, both looking at working life under contemporary capitalism. ‘Yuppies’ was written about the destructive mentality of middle-class professionals - constantly wanting more success, more money and more consumer goods. ’White Shirt / Clean Shirt’ looks at the less aspirational, and more universal reality of office work. It voices that feeling of losing your sense of self and place as you go into work, dressed uniformly in a Next suit, in an indistinguishable space, staring at another spreadsheet. It’s also got a bit of a ‘how did I get here?’ sentiment, being at work thinking about what more aspirational (or more expensively educated) people might be doing. Ultimately, it voices a feeling of having ‘learnt to fall’, rather than taught to succeed - sinking into the safety net of unfulfilling white collar work."

Since forming in January 2020, Home Counties have cemented themselves as a key act to watch, with radio support from Jack Saunders, Huw Stephens (BBC Radio 1), Steve Lamacq, Amy Lame, Tom Robinson (BBC 6Music) and Matt Wilkinson (Beats 1), along with press support from DIY Magazine, Loud & Quiet, NME, Dork Magazine, Clash Magazine, The Line Of Best Fit, So Young Magazine, YUCK, The Rodeo, Gigwise and more.

Both "Modern Yuppies" and "White Shirt / Clean Shirt" are exciting first glimpses of a band evolving beyond their indie roots. Combining their aptness for angular guitar work with a more flamboyant sonic vision, the band's next steps will see them begin work on their second EP, due for release in the autumn.

Home Counties · White Shirt / Clean Shirt

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kieran Mercer - Looking Through the Glass.

“Kieran Mercer is no stranger to the Canadian music scene, having opened for the likes of Marianas Trench, Walk off the Earth, Carly Rae Jepsen and Lights.

Looking through the Glass is Kieran’s first independent release. The song was written and performed entirely by the artist, and produced by long-time friend and former band mate, Martin Leather. The song is nostalgic for the glory days of youth and is more acoustic and stripped down than previous releases. Looking through the Glass observes a younger generation through the window of social media at an age where the observer is no longer in on the joke.

Kieran’s songwriting pulls from many musical styles. “My influences are all over the map,” says the 32 year old. “I grew up listening to country music like Hank Williams and British bands like the Kinks. In high school, I got into Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. This mix of influences is my foundation and I let it all flow into my own unique style.”

His 6 song EP Help Me Help You was released in 2016 under 604 Records, charting on the Top 20 Canadian Album chart on iTunes. Anarchy was the first single released from his EP Fools Gold in 2018, to critical acclaim.”

KieranMercer · Looking Through the Glass

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mango In Euphoria - Golden Shrine.

Starting her project in London after being employed in Florida and travelling through the United States, French-born Alternative artist and songwriter Mango In Euphoria quickly found her audience when she dropped her first experimental work at the end of 2020.

The singer is an emerging talent noticeable by her quirky style and her mysterious signature voice, matching her very own unique musical tracks mixing Electronic Rock, Dream Pop and Dark-wave genres.

Creating melodies coming from her mind with virtual instruments and recording with a very basic microphone during the global Coronavirus pandemic, Mango In Euphoria also began to work remotely with Belgian producer Philippe Francq who helped her developing a lot of demos with physical instruments inspired from vintage influences such as the Twin Peaks series soundtracks, The Cure, and Garbage. As Mango was mainly musically influenced by Grimes, Marilyn Manson and Lana Del Rey, there's no doubt that the result would be quiet outstanding.

MangoInEuphoria · Mango In Euphoria - Golden Shrine

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Home Counties - Mush - Minor Moon - The Mandevilles

Home Counties - Modern Yuppies.

Home Counties release their new single "Modern Yuppies", the first of two self-produced singles to be released via Alcopop! Records – following hot on the heels of the band’s debut EP ‘Redevelopment’ which arrived in September 2020.

“Modern Yuppies”, premiered earlier today on Matt Wilkinson's Apple Music 1 show, sees the band move away from the indie guitar-laden sound of their debut EP, and instead embrace their playful aptitude for synth-driven, post-funk hooks.

Speaking on the shift in direction, singer Will Harrison commented: "Synths and drum machines were already something we were very keen to explore and 2020 provided us with an unexpected amount of free time to experiment. We dialled the disco influences up to the max and totally embraced that 70’s-cop-drama vibe for this pair of stand-alone singles. It feels like a bold declaration of who we are and it definitely gives a clearer taste of where we’re heading for our next EP”.

Since forming in January 2020, the band have distinguished themselves as a key act to watch, with radio support from Huw Stephens and Jack Saunders (BBC Radio 1), Amy Lame and Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music) and Matt Wilkinson (Beats 1), along with press support from DIY Magazine, Loud & Quiet, NME, Clash Magazine, So Young Magazine, YUCK, Gigwise and more.

With regards to the single’s lyrical content, Will commented: “The song is a comparison between the young urban professionals of the 1980s to those of today. It discusses the differences, the way that arrogance and conservatism have made way for self-doubt and socially ‘liberal’ political positions. Ultimately however, they are both plagued by the same condition - of constantly needing more.”

“Modern Yuppies” provides an exciting first glimpse of a band evolving beyond their indie roots by combining their aptness for angular guitar work with a more flamboyant sonic vision that somehow sounds eccentrically retro whilst being bizarrely surrealistic.

Home Counties are: Will Harrison (vocals/guitar), Conor Kearney (guitar/vocals), Barn Peiser Pepin (synth/percussion/vocals), Sam Woodroffe (bass/synth) and Dan Hearn (drums).

Home Counties · Modern Yuppies

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mush - Seven Trumpets.

Leeds-based art-rock trio, Mush who are releasing their new single "Seven Trumpets" – it's the latest to be lifted from their new album, Lines Redacted which drops on Feb 12 via Memphis Industries.

Lines Redacted sets a different tone from their 2020 debut, 3D Routine (tipped in Rough Trade's Best Albums of 2020 and at Stereogum, BBC 6, Loud & Quiet, Uncut, Q, Paste, DIY, etc) – the first record was very much a product of its environment – in part sculpted by the band's often fraught live shows with Girl Band, The Lovely Eggs and Stereolab – looking to weigh in on the very real socialist option that was on the table in the UK at the time, this new one is something of the present-day dystopia, documenting the redacted and confusing environment that we now live in. We announced the record in November 2020 with the first single "Blunt Instruments" which had some nice tips at NPR, The Line of Best Fit, Brooklyn Vegan, Alt Citizen, Loud & Quiet, etc – it also bagged the 6 Music playlist and was tipped by Jack Saunders at Radio 1 (tipped the band as his "Next Wave").

Dan Hyndman, the main songwriter of the band, has written the album – dubbed a "Manifesto for Misinformation" – as something of a loose concept record with several protagonists telling different dystopian tales across its 12 tracks. It poses as a sarcastic reflection on the world around us using cynicism as a form of coping mechanism with a razor-sharp. Despite zero opportunity to tour this year, Mush have remained prolific releasing a duo of EPs and now two albums in just under a year with this latest record finding Lee Smith (The Cribs, Pulled Apart By Horses) tackling mixing duties.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Minor Moon - No Lightning Fix.

Minor Moon--the Chicago-based folk rock / alt-country / cosmic Americana group led by multi-instrumentalist Sam Cantor--will release Tethers, their third full length album, on March 26 via Ruination Record Co. & Whatever's Clever.

Tethers came out of a period of upheaval for Cantor, a time where he had to confront uncomfortable personal realities. Following the disorienting dissolution of a long-term relationship, he sought help from regular therapy sessions and the wisdom of close friends and family, and slowly gained some clarity and steady footing. This process led to Cantor constructing a psychedelic and knotty sci-fi world in his lyrics in order to write about what he was going through with more freedom and imagination. "Minor Moon songs have always had this arc of discovery and I've always used them as a way to dive into really personal, philosophical, or emotional problems," says Cantor. "It's about finding some truth looking inward."

"No Lightning Fix," out today, serves as a thesis statement for Tethers, as the song's narrator finds himself lost in a spiritual purgatory with no obvious way out. Accompanied by intricate fingerstyle guitar and warm-hued swells of organ, steel guitar, and backing vocals, the narrator accepts that there is no easy solution to their quandary--"no lightning fix," that is--before the track zig-zags into a Ry Cooder esque choogle and fades away to watery strings. Featuring V.V. Lightbody on backing vocals and Macie Stewart (of Ohmme) on violin, "No Lightning Fix" is an instance of progressive songwriting and layered story-telling with an earthy, alt-country influenced palette of sounds.

Tethers will be released on March 26 on soft red vinyl, limited edition tapes and CDs, and on digital formats.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Mandevilles - Lightning.

It’s been more than five years since the release of our last record, Windows and Stones. We took our time because we wanted to. Sure, that sounds selfish and a bit self-indulgent, but it’s true. The songs on this record have been in the making for the better part of two years.

We cultivated such an amazing working and personal friendship with our co-producer Neil Morrissey, and his former bandmate Ryan Defoe over the last two years. The writing, recording, and production process has never felt so natural. Neil and Ryan’s style of writing and arrangement was very similar to ours, so it was an instant connection.

This record features a lot of experimentation. We got to stretch our repertoire out and really get to use everyone’s abilities in a way that we haven’t before. The songs really came to life because nobody knew what was about to happen. You’ll hear a difference, but know that everything you hear was thought of, and is there because we wanted it to be.

We’ll be releasing tracks from the album with a still-to-be-determined release date for the rest of the record.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Serena, Dan, Nick, Brett, and Taylor

The Mandevilles · Lightning

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Selci - Home Counties - Fassine - Beauty Pill

Selci has just shared 'Hide Forever' following on from 'Strangers' which we shared last month, her creative alt pop taking a slower, moody electro pop direction on this occasion. === Bristol, England band Home Counties have released 'Redevelopment' which is a vibrant and addictive indie rocker. === Last month we shared 'Magpie' from Fassine who return for a sixth time on Beehive Candy with 'Max' an atmospheric and more electronic piece, from this imaginative trio. === Released today Beauty Pill share 'Please Advise' a creative and highly individual piece, that exudes intrigue.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Selci - Hide Forever.

Calgary soundscaper Selci is returning with the languid electro-R&B number, “Hide Forever,” which will appear on her second EP in less than a year, A SOFT PLACE. As the world is gripped by the Coronavirus pandemic, the track’s message of finding comfort in isolation seems especially fitting in these uncertain times.

“Hide Forever” is a slumbering reflection of the artist trapped in a sleep state during a periodic low. Produced with the help of prolific Vancouver beatmaker Neighbour and tempered by Selci’s narcotic vocals, the track flows like a curl of smoke.

“I wrote 'Hide Forever' when I was in a major depression and I wasn’t able to face the world,” Selci says. “Sleep was my only place of solace. The world would shut off and I could drift away. For A SOFT PLACE, I needed to dig into the places that made me feel safe, where the fear and stress of the world was silenced: laying on a couch with family, dancing by myself, or sleeping. Sometimes finding a soft place is a site of peace.

Sometimes it’s a place of refuge or a part of you that you need to protect. Now with people all over the world going into self-isolation, this song seems to resonate more. I hope that people who are struggling with their mental health because of the pandemic are able to find their own places of softness and comfort. While you may feel like hiding forever, just know that you're not alone—we’re all in this together."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Home Counties - Redevelopment.

Home Counties reside in Bristol and combine angular guitar work with furious percussion. Supporting Whenyoung and Pip Blom on tour in previous incarnations of the band, the 5-piece make melodically rigid, socially-charged anthems that are lyrically tongue-in-cheek and scathingly satirical.

Yesterday (March 24th) the band shared their debut single as Home Counties, 'Redevelopment'. A raucously danceable earworm examining gentrification in the UK; the interplay between its intricate guitar passages and singer Will Harrison's impassioned yelps is infectious.

“‘‘Redevelopment’ is about town redevelopment,” the band explain. “Lyrically, the first half of the song takes the view of 1960s redevelopers, with the second half addressing the tearing down of modernist buildings and replacing them with gentrified luxury flats. The song points out that these ideas of nostalgia, urban decay and progress come around in cycles. Fundamentally, it suggests that we should be as wary of arguments against redevelopment, as of redevelopment itself.”

Having already caught the attention of Huw Stephens – receiving airplay on BBC Radio 1 and 6Music, 'Redevelopment' also stands as the title track from the bands upcoming debut EP, produced by Theo Verney (Egyptian Blue, Fur) – due for release later this year.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fassine - Max.

Asserting a fierce electronic element to their acclaimed pop formula, UK industrial-pop trio Fassine will release new album FORGE this Friday, March 27 via Trapped Animal Records/Cargo Records. A gripping tribute to the unassuming heroes on the fringes of society, the new collection is bolder than ever, elevating the London trio’s distinctive take on electronic music with heavier, more aggressive instrumentation.

The band continues their tradition of covering obscure tracks, this time choosing Italian jazz singer Paolo Conte’s “Max” which debuted with New Noise Magazine today. Conte, an Italian legend who the UK’s Guardian once described as a “Maestro of a lost elegance” has been a part of the country’s DNA for over forty- five years. Aggressive and commanding, the band has reimagined the largely instrumental original with their uniquely cinematic and bombastic approach. Fabrizio of ARQTIC offers his authentic Italian vocals to the track, and performs the piano solo at the end.

Says Sarah Palmer “We were in the studio late one night and were debating about how to record the small section of Italian in the song. Not being Italian we were concerned that our English accents would destroy the song. We wandered down to grab a coffee and Stefano Fiori and Fabrizio Pagni just happened to be there. We couldn’t believe our luck and asked them if they would do the vocal. Initially, they were a bit skeptical owing to the fact that the song was so strange and niche but they ended up not only doing the vocal part but also contributing musically to the song. One of those serendipitous moments that worked big time”.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beauty Pill - Please Advise.

Beauty Pill announces Please Advise, the first new music the band has released since 2015’s Describes Things As They Are, an album that earned widespread acclaim including NPR Music's album of the year list and TIME Magazine's 10 best albums of the decade list.

The lead single “Pardon Our Dust” is now available worldwide on streaming platforms as of today. This past Friday, the track was released early (exclusively on Bandcamp) to help raise funds for Beauty Pill and bandleader Chad Clark, whose rare heart condition puts him at critical risk should he contract COVID-19. "If I become infected, I’m gonna die pretty swiftly. My doctor has assured me of this," Clark shared recently via Twitter.

The accompanying music video for lead single "Pardon Our Dust" features newest Beauty Pill member Erin Nelson and debuted this past weekend via Spin. "Most Beauty Pill songs work by insinuation,” Clark explains, “but “Pardon Our Dust” is more abstract. It’s about oblivion. The dictionary says oblivion is “the state of being unaware of what is happening.” To me, oblivion seemed an idea worth interrogating in the Trump age when a lot of people feel like disappearing... To me, cumulatively the song feels like science fiction and the voice is some kind of malfunctioning artificial intelligence. What do "so few reasons left" and "willing to burn” mean? Something is happening in this song, but I can’t tell what. I’m not sure.”Please Advise will be available May 8th, 2020 via Northern Spy Records on Digital/CD/Cassette/Vinyl, each with distinct artwork (designed by Grammy-winning artist Brian Grunert) and unique bonus track exclusive to that format.

In conjunction with the release of Please Advise, Beauty Pill will host a weekend art exhibit of Yes I Am A Hologram at the highly respected D.C. art gallery, Lost Origins, where the band will also perform in an intimate, special one-off configuration.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------