A few days in advance of the release of their debut album, Leeds-based Tulpa have a brand-new single: PSYOPs is mesmeric and infectious, with a dark nursery rhyme of a melody threaded through a gauzy mesh of guitars. What is a Tulpa? It’s a mythical being manifested into existence through the act of concentrated thought, like an imaginary friend brought to life, but (sometimes) scarier…
Tulpa are very new: nothing has been released up until now, not even a digital single. Despite this, they attracted the attention of Marc Riley & Gideon Coe, who invited the band to record a live BBC6 Music session this summer. Around the same time, Skep Wax Records were sent the finished album and knew they had to release it. Meanwhile, in the creative hotbeds of the UK’s DIY festivals and indie venues Tulpa are quickly gathering a loyal following. They have recently supported Throwing Muses, Pale Blue Eyes and Bug Club.
This album has some of the same qualities. A whole set of loud, catchy, perfectly-crafted pop songs have been conjured into existence - and want to be part of your life. Josie’s hyper-melodic lead vocals are cool and crystalline - but the lyrics are warm and human. The twin guitars create a sonic mesh, a web of textures that traps you, whether you like it or not. And yes, something scarier does lie below the surface. Occasionally the guitars force their way to the front, furious and intense. And sometimes those lyrics aren’t as innocent as they first appear. The danger, just below the surface of the songs, is maybe that’s what makes this album so arresting.
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| Photo - Martin Reis |
Montreal, QC-born, Hamilton, ON-based multidisciplinary artist Lisa SQ unveils her debut full-length album Reel Me In, a kaleidoscopic reflection of her late 20s and early 30s, filled with snapshots of introspection, growth, and playful sonic experimentation. Released alongside the brooding, atmospheric lead single "Teeth," the album captures Lisa SQ's penchant for turning life's sticky moments into artful, indie-pop catharsis.
"Reel Me In is kind of a sonic photo album," she shares. "It's a collection of songs that have grown from me trying to get to know myself better during a perplexing time of life. Naturally, some of the songs are moodier and more introspective, but overall I think there's a playfulness fuelling the whole thing."
Half recorded overseas on the Isle of Wight in a converted stone abbey, and half captured during impromptu "birthday sessions" in Toronto with a crew of close friends, Reel Me In embraces spontaneity, collaboration, and imperfection. The project, produced by Tyler Kyte (Dwayne Gretzky), Ian Docherty (July Talk), and David Granshaw, bridges continents and creative circles from late-night jams at Toronto's Dwaynespace to sun-soaked sessions in the English countryside.
At the heart of it all is "Teeth," a hypnotic swirl of dream-pop textures and lyrical bite. "Have you ever been crushed by the thing you love?" Lisa SQ asks. "'Teeth' is young love and falling hard. It's lapping up the poison of pop culture romance – the glamourized torment of Ross and Rachel. Bonnie and Clyde, doomed from the start."
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| Photo - Curtis Knapp |
The Vega Vault Project and Sacred Bones Records continue to uncover Alan Vega’s robust collection of work left behind by the influential visual artist, musician and poet. They have just announced the reissues of Vega’s highly influential 1980 debut S/T solo album, in addition to its follow up, Collision Drive. Now remastered from the original tapes, and available on streaming services for the first time ever, the two albums will be faithfully re-released by Sacred Bones Records, preserving the raw intensity of Vega’s original recordings while making them newly accessible to listeners worldwide.
The Vega Vault Project and Sacred Bones have meticulously assembled these packages and will also offer a companion piece Alan Vega Deluxe Edition which will be available as a limited deluxe double LP and include unheard demos, unseen photos and new artwork. All three albums contain unseen photos and new album artwork (including Vega's original track sheets from his 1978 Suicide / The Clash Tour Notebook).
More About Alan Vega and Collision Drive: Alan Vega was released in 1980 at the same period Suicide released their second album, Suicide: Alan Vega and Martin Rev. Vega wanted to dig deeper into the roots of his own sonic identity, fueled by rockabilly, early rock n roll, and his enduring love for Elvis Presley. Filling the gaps between recording with Suicide, and fleshing out the songs he was writing on his own, Vega committed to producing his own songs and started performing solo shows live to develop his sound.
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| Sigríður Ella Frímannsdóttir |
Following the acclaimed release of her debut album, Í Ævir (“Forever”), Faroese artist Elinborg released her new single, “Blood,” (November 21) via Embassy of Music. “Blood” is the highly anticipated English version of the album’s standout track, “Blóð.” This rare shift into English allows Elinborg’s growing international audience to fully connect with the deeply personal meaning of her writing, which has previously been sung entirely in her native Faroese.
On the single she shares, “I chose to release an English version of my song “Blood” not only because it holds a very special place in my heart, but also because I wanted to explore how my sound might change when I switch languages. I’ve always been intrigued by different languages, and even though Faroese has a special place in my heart—and I’ll absolutely continue writing in it—I think it’s important to grow and evolve as an artist. That’s why I wanted to try releasing English versions as well: to reach a more international audience, but also to add new colors to my artistic world.”
Building on the sound she introduced with her recent dark wave releases, Elinborg continues to assert herself as one of the most distinctive new voices in the Nordic scene. Her unique position lies in her poetic lyricism, which bridges the ancient and the modern, carrying a rare language through a futuristic sonic world. With management by FlyingFox AB and the backing of Embassy of Music, the release of “Blood” is an invitation for listeners worldwide to dive deeper into the tides of sound and emotion that define Elinborg’s darkly poetic universe.
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