Julia P. - BlackieBlueBird - Certain Animals - Jed - The Brave Faces - Bethany Ferrie - The Dream Syndicate - Boxes

Julia P. new song 'Walking On By' has a gorgeous country and bluegrass feel coursing through it along with a beautiful musical arrangement. === Today BlackieBlueBird have released their new album 'Goodbye in July' comprising of eleven refined dream pop tracks each vying for attention. === Certain Animals make their fifth appearance on Beehive Candy in less that a year with 'Love, Space & Time' where their fabulous sixties vibes are once again enticing. === We have the full album from Jed streaming below, it's entitled 'Black Gold Texas Tea' and has nine creative instrumental tracks that cover a good number of styles and genres. === Brighton, England's The Brave Faces have released their debut single 'In The Dark' and it's a really impressive piece that more than suggests the band are one's to listen out for. === Bethany Ferrie has a new lyric video for the extremely catchy and melodic song 'Stayed'. === The Dream Syndicate return just weeks after sharing 'Black Light' with another superb song entitled 'The Longing' the band might have been around for thirty years but this is just so fresh. === Boxes new song is entitled 'Electric Lights' where the Manchester, England band demonstrate a clear talent and ability to create some absolutely stunning country rock.
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Julia P. - Walking On By.

It's never too late to start playing the banjo! Julia P. Hersheimer first got noticed in 1991 with her Twin Peaks Forever cassette. Thereafter many albums, EP's and projects followed. She shared the stage with Paul Weller, toured with dEUS and Daryll-Ann, was featured on the internationally acclaimed Eurosonic Noorderslag showcase festival, on famous Dutch festivals like Crossing Border and Lowlands, and on Dutch national TV.

In 2017 Julia P. released the ‘Summer EP’ to international acclaim - four sunny tunes about beaches and waves - and in that same year the ultimate Christmas tune ‘Christmas Is Calling’, which rode high in the alternative Christmas charts.

Julia P. always wanted to play the banjo. It took her 53 (!) years to finally buy one and take lessons.

New single Walking On By is the first banjo recording and it has a definite jingle jangle country/bluegrass vibe, somewhere in between Mumford & Sons and Gillian Welch. It is a song about the longing for long gone times when the sun always seemed to shine and life was peaceful and innocent.

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BlackieBlueBird - Goodbye in July (Album).

Copenhagen's dream pop duo BlackieBlueBird return with their second album "Goodbye in July". BlackieBlueBird are the vocalist Heidi Lindahl and the composer Nils Lassen; together they create delicate torch songs of reverb and echo that captivate the listener with resonating guitars, wailing harmonicas, maudlin mandolins and a choir of lonely mermaids that sporadically embraces Heidi's golden voice. The echoes of love and longing, hellos and deceiving goodbyes live within her unique and clear vibrato.

BlackieBlueBird are now back with their second album "Goodbye in July" which leverages the dreamy romanticism but preserves the melancholy of their first work. Lead by the delicate and enchanting voice of Heidi Lindahl "Goodbye in July" comprises 11 songs of desire, love, life, and losses written by the experienced composer Nils Lassen.

The duo received great reviews worldwide for their debut album "Ghost River", where their sound has been compared to Nick Cave's "Murder Ballads" and Enya.

All songs are written and produced by Nils Lassen. The album is a cooperation among T&E Records, Poisonic, and Aenaos Records. "Goodbye in July" will be released on Vinyl, CD, and as a download on 27th of March 2020.

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Certain Animals - Love, Space & Time.

New single Love, Space & Time is a loving, psychedelic trip along the earliest childhood memories to the currently found feeling of unity of Certain Animals. Hhinting to Creedence Clearwater Revival, A reverberated intro easily glides into a droning riff which could have been taken from an unused B-side of The Beatles' Rubber Soul or Revolver.

Three-part harmony vocals smoothly narrate the cosmic fortune and innocence of early youth. Tastefully accompanied by a cowbell, the chorus blasts away with an exclamation full of ambition and perseverance, a driving force of the band. Love, Space & Time is a characteristic example of the new Certain Animals: polyphonic and melodic, but always with an edge.

Dutch band Certain Animals serves you melodic rock filled with vocal harmonies. The members aren't afraid to show which records they've been listening to. Musical titans from the '60s and '70s are spinning on their turntable on a daily basis. The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Neil Young, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Electric Light Orchestra are regular companions in their musical life, but also the fuzzy and phasey sounds of contemporary bands like Tame Impala influence the music of Certain Animals.

Without being stuck in the past and with a critical view on the present, the band brings you their intriguing sound which makes for an energetic live show filled with intimate moments and explosive bursts of energy.

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Jed - Black Gold Texas Tea (Album).

27th March sees the release of the debut album from Jed called "Black Gold Texas Tea". Jed is Jed Stephens a multi instrumentalist with a passion for electronic music of all kinds, his music is a mix of electro, techno, D&B, house and ambient.

He has been a song writer, producer and performer for many years, previous bands include Bass Bandits and Exchange, he is currently in the North West UK based Synthpop covers band Elektrio.

Jed's musical influences range from Sibelius and Bartok through to the Chemical Brothers and Orbital, via The Beatles, Kraftwerk, New Order, 808 State, Frankie Knuckles, Arthur Baker and Vince Clarke. Those old enough to remember The Beverley Hillbillies will recognise the derivation of the album title!

The music on the debut  is modern electronic combining the best of elements of techno with the soundtrack feel of John Carpenter, Vangelis or Jarre. Using the best in modern electronic gear he creates stunning tracks which combine epic sounds with dance rhythms. His live show, complete with laser lighting rig, is stunning, a guaranteed dance fest for anyone who attends.


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The Brave Faces - In The Dark.

THE BRAVE FACES, Brighton post-punk/indie band, have released their debut single, ‘In the Dark’, with a video to follow.

Influenced by 80s post-punk, shoegaze and contemporary indie, THE BRAVE FACES push forward bristling melodies and sweeping soundscapes. Wiry, melodic guitars layer driving industrial drums. Their first single, 'In the Dark', features glimmering chords, dreamy synths and palm-muted melodies - providing a stark soundscape for the singer’s cold commentary. The backing singer’s reverberating falsetto adds to the overarching feeling of uneasy catchiness.

“In the Dark explores power within a relationship,” says the band. “They’re delivered from the perspective of someone offering up fumbled clichés as apologies, desperately trying to save face after the latest in a series of breaches of trust.”

‘In the Dark’ is the first of three tracks recorded by THE BRAVE FACES with Dave ‘Izumi’ Lynch (Toploader, Jake Bugg, The Magic Numbers) at Echo Zoo Studios in Eastbourne. THE BRAVE FACES will release their next two tracks, ‘Lots of Nights Out’ and ‘It Takes a While’, throughout 2020, alongside a string of live performances around Brighton and London. ‘In the Dark’ was mastered by sound engineer Pete Maher, who has previously worked with U2, Pixies and Nick Cave.

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Bethany Ferrie - Stayed.

Starting from sending voice notes to her friends in her bedroom as a teen, it’s only in the past year that Bethany has started releasing music and gigging wherever she can. With just her and an acoustic guitar, Bethany brings her pop music to life with hints of Fleetwood Mac, Lewis Capaldi and Ed Sheeran setting her apart from her contemporaries.

About the track: “I had broken pieces of a chorus in my head for weeks. I was at a time in my life where I felt really alone and distant from everyone, and the song actually ended up taking a lot longer to finish because I’m not used to being honest with myself. It’s made up of a lot of little different things; different people, different headspaces.

I think when I was younger, with any kind of relationship with someone, I thought I’d have it forever. Now I’m much more hesitant, I have a voice in the back of my head saying, “okay, this is good. So when does it end?” It’s kind of the moment when you’re getting on with your day and then you see something or hear a song and it takes you back to a time or a person. It just takes that split second to send you back.

I have this little thing on my keyring that someone once gave me and I never took it off. It’s sort of like I still carry them around, but I forget it’s even there until I notice it. Having the guitar through the bridge puts me into that headspace of letting music fill an awkward silence. I kept it instrumental because sometimes you can say too much. I feel ‘Stayed’ is the start of me coming into my own sound as an artist

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The Dream Syndicate - The Longing.

When The Dream Syndicate emerged in the early 80s, front man Steve Wynn declared, “We’re playing music we want to hear because nobody else is doing it.” He added, “I’ll compromise on what I eat or where I sleep, but I won’t compromise on what music I play.” Both were true, and although their template of Velvet Underground meets Crazy Horse may seem commonplace today (and let’s not forget, the Syndicate spawned many imitators), their raw twin guitar, bass and drums approach was not common during an era when slick, polished MTV bands ruled.

Thirty years later The Dream Syndicate have announced their third album for ANTI-, The Universe Inside, which will be released on 10th April. They have now shared the video for new single 'The Longing', a cryptic clip that explores yearning, memories and the passage of time.

“A friend of mine once said, ‘You ought to write a song about longing,’” lead singer and songwriter Steve Wynn explained of the song’s titling. “This was a few years back but it stuck with me and when I was listening to minutes 20 through 28 of the improvisation that became The Universe Inside I knew that the suggestion had finally found its proper home. This section of music - that followed in real time the part that became “The Regulator” - felt so mournful and lost and adrift and confused, much like longing itself. You think you know where it’s at? The longing is stronger than that.  Our resident visual interpreter David Dalglish picked up on that feeling for a video that connected hauntingly to that feeling of distance and memory. And now?  Suddenly it all feels very much of the moment. A chasm, sleepless for day and days, rootless, unsettled and alone.  All that’s left is the longing.”

This album could have been called The Art of The Improvisers – The Dream Syndicate were in a Richmond studio after midnight working out ideas when Stephen McCarthy dropped by and became a catalyst for uncharted exploration. In one session, they recorded 80 continuous minutes of soundscapes. Wynn took that raw tape back to his NYC home and played the shit out of it and thought, “My god, there’s an album here, damn it!”

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Boxes - Electric Lights.

From the band - We're a country rock band based in Manchester, UK. We're a band all about those lyrics, harmonies and riffs.

We can't not make music, i'd be lost without it, inspiration include Luke Combs, Old Domino, Eric Church, Chris Stapleton etc (the list goes on) - we're country but with an English feel, there's a growing scene here in England and we want to be at the forefront of it!

The track Electric Lights is about going on a journey and the fear of being stuck in the same place or situation for too long.



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Giant Flying Turtles - The Mining Co. - Julia P. - Anna Coogan

Giant Flying Turtles - Waltz To The World (4 song selection).

Background - With a sound about as unique as their name, Giant Flying Turtles are carving a place for themselves in, and beyond, the thriving Brooklyn, New York indie music scene. Their genre bending music has no bounds, inspired by rock, folk, jazz, bluegrass, and blues this high energy jam trio will blow you away. They have the uncanny ability to capture audiences small and large, young and old.

Johnny and Calvin met while playing in Kreisor on Teepee Records. They soon found they had a lot in common and started playing as a duo in bars around Brooklyn. It was then that this Maryland Jazz cat and Kansas born Dead Head came to be the musical force they are today. Soon they met drummer Jim Toscano and the chemistry between the three was obvious. In 2016, virtuoso guitarist TJ Jordan joined the group making the sound complete.

Their song Raven Hair is featured in the festival favourite One Wall – Kings of Coney Island. Their song Keep My Dream Alive is the theme of the film Shining In The Dark which was nominated in The Moscow International Film Festival, and they were invited to perform it there. Giant Flying Turtles are staunch advocates of music played well, from the heart, and their passionate performances are garnering them a consistently growing fan base in and around the east coast and beyond. Website here, Facebook here.

Here we have the first four of the eleven tracks that make up the very fine 'Waltz To The World' album. The band have something pretty special going on here, there is a consistent level of energy and imagination centred around an overall band sound, however their skill in switching genres or just mixing them up in one song, makes for some fabulous variety. As a tease I would also add that the seven other songs are equal to, or even better than those shared here!

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The Mining Co. - Mountain Fires.

Background - The Mining Co.’s debut album ‘Burning Sun and The Atomic Powers Within’ released in 2016 was an intriguing collection of downbeat Americana and alt-folk tracks which signalled the arrival of a new artist to challenge the current status quo of artists in those genres. Gaining attention from the likes of The Guardian, Gigslutz and Amazing Radio and key taste makers germinating what now is a band that are set to prove themselves.

The Mining Co.’s sophomore album ‘Mountain Fires’ should do just this with principal member Michael Gallagher returning to the studio in Spain in which their debut was recorded to fully hone his craft with songs that were creatively spurred on by the processes involved in the release of the first album. It’s an album that looks back to a different time, a time of total freedom, a wild childhood, long days and nights spent listening to radio stations like Radio Luxembourg, before the internet and before mobile phone communication and the start of a love for music: Elvis, Springsteen, New Wave: the soundtrack to love - come, gone and missed - a celebration to the past that still shines brightly.

From the minimal opening of ‘Julie’s Song’, Gallagher’s voice sounds deeper and more refined echoing in a distinct reverb and comforting with its angst and melancholy and the production seems polished and spacious. ‘Closer’ rattles with piano and retro organ with a darkness, Gallagher’s voice cracking from its deadpan style occasionally and reaching high notes offering an accomplished sound that yearns in histories coffee stained pages and sepia photographs and London’s grey streets and empty rooms and bars, recalling Nick Cave and Tom Waits perhaps with its darkness.

Stand out track ‘Against The Grain’, is just what Gallagher is. A maverick music obsessive who is heading backwards and forwards at the same time, perfectly crafting his tracks in 2017 with a caution and care like the best 50’s and 60’s singers. He laments that he is ‘always against the grain’ as the track escalates with gorgeous strings and glockenspiel and shuffling drums. ‘Valentine To Write’ is another highlight with its instant upbeat moods and sweeping organ as Gallagher ponders on another ‘valentine to write to’ and that he can’t believe another year has passed him by. It’s a daydream of a song that deals with lost time and dreams and indecisiveness in love.

It’s a superb collection of tracks that are rooted enough in traditions to be engaging but with enough quirk and eccentricities to find a place above the rest of Americana and folk’s recent bands and to cherish for years to come and to warrant continued listening. Gallagher is laid plain in some lyrics alongside other lyrics left veiled in metaphor and profundities. The Mining Co. are back with an album that should stand shoulder to shoulder with the best new alt-folk music around, so let yourself be taken on their gentle and psychedelic ride into glorious sounds. Facebook here.

If the vocals don't just grab you & refuse to let go, then surely the musical arrangement will dig it's hooks in on 'Mountain Fires'. The timeless vibe that pours from this track is sublime, so it's time personally to back track on last years material whilst anticipating whats soon to follow.

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Julia P. - Oleander Dreams.

Background - Julia P's jingle jangle sixties pop songs and her clear and unique voice have brought her international fame. New single Oleander Dreams is a sticky sweet and poppy song with the trademark casual West Coast sound and it's bursting with joy.

Oleander Dreams is the third single taken from her Summer EP. The previous singles did very well,  Big Beach was even featured in the Apple US Hot Tracks and landed on various Spotify Playlists. Both singles got picked up by radio stations from the US to New Zealand. 

Julia P. Hersheimer first got noticed in 1991 with her Twin Peaks Forever cassette. Thereafter many albums, EP's and projects followed. She shared the stage with Paul Weller, toured with dEUS and Daryll-Ann amongst other bands, was featured on the internationally acclaimed Eurosonic Noorderslag showcase festival, famous Dutch festivals Crossing Border and Lowlands, and on Dutch national TV.

Accompanied by backing band The Hengles, her international sound reminisces artists like Sharon van Etten and Courtney Barnett. Oleander Dreams is released on 1 September 2017. Website here.

It was only a few weeks back that we first featured Julia P. and the new song 'Oleander Dreams' really deserves a share as well. Unpretentious pop where the melody, vibrant music and delicious vocals and harmonies are all present & deliciously blended together.

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Anna Coogan - The Lonely Cry Of Space And Time.

Background - US singer-songwriter and former fisheries biologist, Anna Coogan, is excited to announce her return to the UK this October, following the release of her well received new record ‘The Lonely Cry of Space & Time’ in April. The live dates include a show at London’s Sound Lounge on Thursday October 19th.The album, a virtual two-person effort which features Willie B (Brian Wilson) on drums and Moog bass, combines Coogan’s three-octave soprano vocals, electric guitar soundscapes and pointed social commentary into a fierce cohesive piece which combines the personal and the political, in a musical hybrid of rock, country, pop and classical opera into a unique whole. Her new direction was born from her series of performances in her adopted hometown of Ithaca, NY, in which Anna and Willie B created live musical accompaniments
for vintage silent films.

Influenced by her classical opera training and her father’s protest albums by Phil Ochs andBob Dylan, The Lonely Cry Of Space &Time is a stylistic breakthrough for Anna. Call it operatic rock, a genre previously explored by the likes of Kate Bush, Jane Siberry, LeneLovich, Yoko Ono and Freddie Mercury, among others; there have been many attempts at rock opera in the past, but The Lonely Cry of Space & Time is something different.

A distinct stylistic change from her previous solo work (The Nocturnal Among Us, 2010; The Wasted Ocean, 2012; and Birth of the Stars, 2014); Coogan explains her shift from the acoustic Americana of her past to the jangly, electronic buzz of the new album could be described as her “Judas moment.”  As a guitarist, think of her rubbery, pneumatic, wah-wah sound like a combination of PJ Harvey, Courtney Barnett and her personal favourites, Bill Frisell and Marc Ribot.

A true independent, Anna releases her own albums and books her own tours, which have taken her all over the world, including international festivals like the Blue Ball in Lucerne, Switzerland, Maverick in Suffolk, UK, as well as the Glasgow Americana Festival and Celtic Connections in Scotland. She has also played extensively in Germany and the Netherlands, and toured as a member of the Johnny Dowd Band. Live dates are listed on Beehive Candy's tour news page, website here.

'The Lonely Cry Of Space And Time' is the third song we have featured by Anna Coogan this year. It's another powerful rock track where her vocals once again provide emotional commitment & drive the melody, whilst the music is straight down the line rock'n'roll.

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