Portland - Home Front - Ava Franks - School Disco - Alpha Pet - Begging Dog

Photo - Titus Simoens

Portland - Champain (Album) 

We have featured Portland a few times and it's a pleasure to share the full album along with it's background and comments regarding some of the tracks, this really is an exceptional collection of songs. 2023 was supposed to be Portland’s year. The Belgian indie band led by Jente Pironet was set to release its second album ‘Departures’, took part in a popular prime time TV show and was set to conquer Rock Werchter that summer. And they did—but just days after Pironet delivered the performance of a lifetime there, the dream briefly came crashing down: the doctor marked a big black C on his forehead. Brain cancer. Suddenly, summer turned ice cold.

But the singer and his band pushed through, and the result speaks for itself: Portland has never sounded more energetic, mature, and richly layered than on the new record ‘Champain’. It’s an unflinchingly honest travelogue of a wandering soul, moving from the stage to the hospital bed to the writing desk and back again.

“I heard you calling me / and you still know my name,” Pironet sings on ‘Time Is Now’, the album’s opener. The lyrics exude a newly regained self-confidence from a man ready to seize life with both hands: “Something’s in the air / I’d like to face it all alone.” It’s Portland’s key message today: there’s no time to waste—and he should know.

On ‘Lay Me Down’, Pironet shows the other side of the coin. Catch me when I fall, he asks his loved ones and lay me to rest when I once again push myself too far. Musically, ‘Time Is Now’ and ‘Lay Me Down’ form a diptych that reveals where Portland stands today: energetic indie rock built for festivals and big stages, with a frontman who feels increasingly at home there. Yet the melancholic, introverted pop of predecessor ‘Departures’ hasn’t disappeared entirely. The acoustic title track ‘Champain’ nods to the best of Bright Eyes, while ‘Aurora’ is a hushed piano piece in true Portland tradition. It reflects how the promise of safety still unsettles Pironet, even after years of turmoil. He wants to explore, to experiment, to meet extraordinary people—nesting instincts are foreign to him. Or as he sings himself: “Her home ain’t where I’ll be.”

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Photo - Kate Suter

Home Front - Between The Waves.

Home Front share their final single "Between The Waves" from their new album Watch It Die, due this Friday via La Vida Es Un Mus. The band tell, “'Between The Waves' is about that lonely journey we all take at some point in our lives. Where we wander away from the numbers to seek meaning. A solitary space between connecting with people. Call it growing up or growing apart, but this is the place we all visit from time to time to remember who we are. In all this confusion the space between the waves is where we discover things will never be the same again, yet we move forward in this new skin." 

For decades Home Front’s Graeme MacKinnon and Clint Frazier have embedded themselves in grass roots music making, community building, and the overpowering ebbs and flows of diy punk. Formed in 2020, they’ve given their lifetime of experience a chance to distill and then power into this musically omnipotent project which equally conjures textured Tangerine Dream sounds in a film montage, or the pummelling soundtrack to the first steps taken towards winning the fight of your life.

Home Front holds on to a particular kind of passion. The sort of thing that guides you - like a climbing vine steadily blanketing your bests and worsts, cutting through changes and impasses; victory and loss. MacKinnon and Frazier’s nod to influences and the themes of their lyrics are direct and detailed while maintaining enough creative distance to feel universal and unique. The production has again been bolstered by a team of long time confidants making a huge and unique record under the humble and hard working circumstances of remote pre-production and choosing to do their recording in home studios in their home town in Edmonton, Alberta.

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Ava Franks  - Every Day.

Ava Franks is an indie pop singer-songwriter based in New York City. She’s obsessed with all things writing, and developed a love for songwriting from an early age. Singing in school musicals and local talent shows, she slowly and surely honed her vocal craft, a staple of her unique sound. The storytelling she’s inspired by stems anywhere from Taylor Swift’s pop hits to Hamilton’s soundtrack, and from James Baldwin novels to animated movies like Soul. In short, she’s motivated to create tangible worlds through her music for the sake of sweet escape.

Her discography began in 2021, when she released “3 Pines,” a ballad about falling in love in the desert. Subsequently, she released “Silhouette,” “Wait For You To Apologize,” “Golden Child,” “Do Or Die,” and, most recently, “I’ve Been Waiting.” She leans towards both classic and contemporary pop production references, like timeless synths and novel vocal layering. 

Her latest single, “Every Day” is a lush acoustic guitar-driven embrace featuring Ava Franks' warm vocals singing luminous melodies. The relatable song narrates that first taste of love. She shares, "It explores the beginning stages of a relationship when you’re feeling all of the uncertainty, hope and mystery that goes along with falling in love. It’s about wanting to see that person all the time and hoping they can read your mind." 

Born and raised in suburban New York, Ava was a competitive swimmer throughout high school and college. She attended Yale, where she was a four-year member of the varsity swim team and majored in English. She’s close to her two younger brothers, Finn and Kelly, and often visits her mom and dad in Irvington, NY, where they live with their two dogs. When she’s not writing songs or performing, she’s usually finding some way to discover her next favorite food. Currently on the hunt for the best burrito in New York, she’s accepting any and all recommendations.

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School Disco - Simulation III.

Brighton quartet School Disco announce their fourth studio album School Disco SDIV and share the hypnotic new single ‘Simulation III.’ A distinctive fusion of prog and jazz flavours ‘Simulation III’ showcases the distinct musicality of the upcoming album. Infused with the band’s signature psychedelic sensibilities, the track unfolds through a shuffling 6/8 groove, distant vocals, and intricate guitar work to create a haunting yet buoyant offering. Midway, it transitions into a downtempo swell of fuzzy synths before building toward a sporadic yet climactic guitar solo. Balancing a vivid 1970s character with a sharp modern edge, at 3:33 the single stands as one of the band’s most concise and direct offerings.

Talking about the track, Laurence Underwood shares: “Simulation III came out real quick. I was meant to put a different song forward, then this one sort of just presented itself. It sounded menacing to me, so I thought I’d have to match that with the lyrics. At the time, I was seeing a lot of people online talking about ‘the simulation’ and thought that the idea of actually believing that is pretty funny. Pair that with rewatching the Matrix movies and there you go, a song about living in a simulation.”

Building their reputation for their live high-octane live shows which have seen the band open for Wolf Alice, Lime Garden and Froth, the band's textural, experimental and musically rich sound shines bright on ‘Happen’. Recorded at Farm Road Studios with engineering from Jake Smallwood alongside Rory Lethbridge himself, and mastered by Harry Hayes (School Disco, Roebucks), the upcoming EP showcases some of School Disco’s most inventive and complete work to date. 

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Alpha Pet - Time.

Alpha Pet are back with their new single "Time", the first of two releases arriving in November and the start of an intense run that will culminate in the band’s debut EP in early 2026. Musically, "Time" pushes forward the band’s irresistible blend of 80s-infused post-punk and new wave. Lyrically, the track explores our strange, ever-present relationship with time itself, constantly there yet always slipping away. The counting woven into the lyrics stems from singer Rocky Åberg’s lifelong habit of mentally counting to ten to get things done, almost like an internal timer that may or may not be entirely reliable.

When Swedish new wave outfit Cat Princess dissolved in 2020, founder, songwriter and guitarist Rocky Åberg suddenly found himself a free agent on Stockholm’s music market. To stay sharp during the transfer window, he began playing with friends Joakim Almén, Patrik Eklund and Markus Ljungholm, who back in 2019 mostly jammed IDLES and Broncho covers for fun.

With Rocky joining, the covers soon shifted toward the band’s shared all-time favorite: The Clash. But as fun as it is to unleash your inner Joe Strummer, it’s always more exciting to write your own material. And when Alpha Pet’s first track "Concept of Power" practically wrote itself during a rehearsal, the covers were quickly dropped in favor of a sound that initially leaned toward Manchester’s 1977-era post-punk.

By the time the band entered the studio in late 2021, Patrik Eklund had taken over drums from Markus Ljungholm and Tom Cehlin Magnusson had joined as rhythm guitarist. The result was the singles "Concept of Power", "Too Fast" and "TV Personality", three dystopian, adrenaline-tipped tracks touching on everything from deserters to the emperor’s new clothes. In 2024 the band signed to Rama Lama Records and put out the two singles "Numbers Wrong" and "Snake Eyes"

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Photo - Kat Nijmeddin

Begging Dog - Common Place.

Begging Dog’s Jeff Kleinman's latest single “‘Common Place’ was written about my 5 years living in Salt Lake City,” he tells. “One of the most thrilling times of my life full of community and art and an overwhelming feeling of love from everyone around me. It was also an incredibly difficult time in my life, and a kind of turning point in my descent into alcohol addiction. I knew true love, I witnessed a suicide, I joined my favorite band, and I drank far too much. ‘Common Place’ is a song looking back at all of the beauty and heartbreak from that time, a reflection on everything I have learned and come to cherish from Salt Lake, and a thank you to everyone that I know there. Missing something more than you expected can be a very humbling experience.”

Begging Dog, Kleinman’s new indie punk project has become an outlet for his work outside of the band Choir Boy. The now LA based multi-instrumentalist and artist embraces the mundane with a raw, homespun sound that nods to classic punk and plain language lyricism. Word of his debut DEMO 1 spread quickly across the underground, catching the ear of Dais Records who signed Kleinman and will be giving the original album a wider vinyl release.

DEMO 1 is 26 minutes packed with rolling bass and synth lines, charismatic riffs, and motorik drum beats. Lyrically, the songs feature a range of lived-in observations, scenes, and characters: a pushy union rep; a mailman with a steady federal job; a compulsive gambler; a beloved neighborhood homeless man. Ex-loves become collaged together, haunting several tracks, out of context, with blunt, sharp-witted free verse. Kleinman cites Bruce Springsteen as an inspiration in how his songs are penned with plain ink, opting for direct simplicity over flowery prose. 

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Portland - Helen Counts - Bau Cat - Polartropica and Gilbert Louie Ray

Portland - Exactly What I Need.

Portland, the Belgian dreampop outfit fronted by singer-songwriter Jente Pironet, have released their new single ‘Exactly What I Need’. The 3rd song to drop in the run up to the forthcoming album ‘Champain’ sounds like Portland’s most upbeat and joyous affair yet. “I’m gonna scream it all over the streets. This is exactly what I need”, proclaims Pironet backed by energetic drumbeat and shimmering synths. However, its subject matter is darker than its melody suggests.

In 2023, just days after triumphing on the stage of Belgium’s biggest festival Rock Werchter, frontman Jente Pironet was diagnosed with brain cancer. What should have been a year of triumph became a time of struggle, recovery, and self-discovery.

“In hindsight, it’s about exactly what I don’t need”, laughs Pironet, “In that dark period after my cancer diagnosis it felt like life was slipping through my fingers. I clung to escapism: going out to bars and trying to forget. When I feel bad these days, I go out into nature or have a glass of rosé with my grandmother. They’re small things, but it’s comforting to realize that can be enough.”

Portland are one of Belgium’s most compelling indie exports. Blending cinematic pop, melancholic folk, and festival-ready rock, the band first broke through with their 2019 debut ‘Your Colours Will Stain’ and follow-up ‘Departures’ (2023). Known for their delicate harmonies and emotionally charged live shows, Portland has earned praise from European tastemakers and graced stages from Rock Werchter to Eurosonic.

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Helen Counts - Unravel.

Helen Counts is an Indie singer/songwriter based in Madison, Wisconsin, US. She began her career singing in cafes in Virginia in the 1990s. She has released an album and numerous singles on streaming since 2021. 

Her songs range from acoustic singer/songwriter to Indie rock style. Her latest Indie rock single ‘Unravel’ was released on October 6, 2025. The single has solid vocals and vivid lyrics that are the cornerstones of her unique sound. 

She works closely with Trystan Matthews, a talented producer in NYC. She hopes her songs have an impact on the listener long after the music ends.


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Bau Cat - Silver Bangle.

North Wales trio 'Bau Cat' return with their most vibrant and emotionally charged release to date - “Silver Bangle”, out now on Libertino. A rush of jangling guitars, soaring harmonies and unstoppable energy, “Silver Bangle” is Bau Cat at their most magnetic. Blending Motown girl group sparkle, 70s power-pop punch, and the melodic edge of 90s alt-pop, the track pulses with life, legacy and fierce individuality. It’s a glittering anthem of joy, resilience, and unapologetic self-expression, a song that remembers, resists, and refuses to dim.

What began as a jam built around a hypnotic bassline evolved into a defining moment for the band. “It had this driving ‘Barracuda’ vibe,” says vocalist and bassist Abby Butler. “Then Jim brought in the guitar melody, which inspired the vocal hook: ‘Hand me down a bangle that jangles, wear it on my right side.’ From there, everything just clicked.”

Drawing inspiration from The Ronettes and The Shangri-Las, through the melodic spirit of Big Star, the raw immediacy of The Lemonheads, and a flash of Galaxie 500’s emotional candour, “Silver Bangle” feels both nostalgic and vital. There’s even a glimmer of Paul McCartney’s Ram-era playfulness in the layered vocals and effortless melodic confidence - a track that sparkles on the surface yet cuts deep beneath.


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Polartropica and Gilbert Louie Ray - Shiny Things.

We have the new single and music video from Los Angeles-based galactic dream rock artist Polartropica and Americana artist Gilbert Louie Ray.  Called "Shiny Things", the song "was inspired by my father's love for John Denver and his beautiful cinematic melodies I grew up listening to, as well as sweet classic harmonies of the Everly Brothers and surfy electric guitars of Beach Boys." shares Polartropica.  

With banjo and acoustic guitar by Gilbert Louie Ray and electric guitars by Brandon Graham who also engineered and mixed the track, "Shiny Things" is a genre-defying banger. The track details the heart-crushing pain that sometimes happens at the end of falling in love. Polartropica further confides, "This song is about eventually finding it in your heart to learn and grow from all the hard lessons and finally let go with a sense of understanding and acceptance, which is a journey in itself, and coming back home to yourself with love and forgiveness."     

The single is shared alongside a music video that is a swashbuckling adventure of a legendary, toasty pirate of the Salton Sea who gets a parking ticket on her ship. The cinematic video was filmed and directed by Tristan Pelletier on the hottest day of summer in the desert.

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Portland - Cane Rouge - Levi Robin

Photo - Titus Simoens

Portland - Champain.

Portland, the indie band led by Jente Pironet, announces their new album Champain this week and immediately releases the title track. While the latest single "Lay Me Down" was a grand-sounding pop gem with expansive guitars, "Champain" floats quietly in the opposite direction. Jente sings softly and thoughtfully, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, while producer Tobie Speleman (Blackwave., The Haunted Youth) adds extra color to the song with his vibraphone, and the rhythm section sounds delightfully crisp.

"Champain" is about raising a glass to a happy ending at the end of a dark period. But what if the journey was too intense? What if it was all just too overwhelming? Can you really celebrate with a big smile when the wound heals but leaves a deep scar?

The new album Champain will be released on November 7 through [PIAS] Recordings. It’s an album that wears the scars of recent years on its sleeves, but at the same time expresses an irrepressible zest for life. It reads as an utterly honest travel diary of a wandering soul, from stage to hospital to writing desk and back again. Of falling—hard and deep—and getting back up again. Of a singer and a band who persevere. And the result shows: Portland has never sounded more energetic, mature, and rich than on their new record. 

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Photo - Phil Roberts

Cane Rouge - Lights Out.

Newcastle’s rising alt-rock trio Cane Rouge deliver raw emotion, explosive energy, and bold evolution on their sophomore EP, Lights Out, dropping Friday 10th October. The EP’s title track, Lights Out, has just been released as a single and video.

Formed in 2023, Cane Rouge bring together the formidable talents of Ant Clarke (vocals/guitar), Dale McGee (drums), and Joe Harrison-Brown (bass). Fusing 90s grunge grit, punk urgency, and a touch of indie edge, the band have quickly carved a name for themselves through high-octane live shows and an unapologetically raw sound.

Since their live debut in April 2023, Cane Rouge have been turning heads across the North of England. Known for their intense stage presence and emotional delivery, they’ve earned praise in local tastemaker mags like NARC. and DIRGE, while receiving consistent airplay on SparkFM, Nova Radio, FutureHits, and BishopFM—a testament to their growing buzz in the UK alternative scene.

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Levi Robin - When The Sun Comes Out.

The new single "When The Sun Comes Out" from acclaimed singer-songwriter Levi Robin, has been released today. The new track "is a triumphant farewell to darkness and deceit, embracing truth, peace, and the healing power of kindness." He further confides, "It speaks of a brighter future—a time when the clouds of confusion and contradiction will part, revealing a world where honesty flows freely and our hearts sing openly."  "When The Sun Comes Out" is a beautiful and soul-stirring stripped down indie folk embrace. 

Levi Robin's journey of exploration and curiosity has taken him down many roads. The soul-baring folk artist’s distinctive musical style combines deeply personal and transformative lyrics with emotive stirring vocals, creating a sound that is filled with meaning and connection.

Growing up in Orange County, California, as a teenager Levi became deeply dissatisfied with what he and many describe as “the conveyor belt trajectory of the school system.” With nothing but a shirt on his back and guitar in hand, he took a chance on a different path - a musical one. Levi confides, “From being a runaway to encountering eastern spirituality, from psychedelia to unearthing my own ancient Judaic roots, songwriting has been a uniquely integrating constant.”  Songwriting became a powerful way to translate his deepest feelings into melody and verse. Taking inspiration from an eclectic array of artists including Bach, Stravinski, Mingus, Hendrix, Dylan, Beck, Gaye, D'Angelo and Radiohead, and more, Levi Robin creates his own mindful and genre-defying musical releases. 

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H.C. McEntire - Portland - Scott Goldbaum - The Velvet Hands

H.C. McEntire - New View.

H.C. McEntire shares “New View,” the latest single from her forthcoming album Every Acre, which releases January 27 via Merge Records. Accompanied by a music video directed by Jethro Waters and performed by choreographer/dancer Maya Orchin, “New View” straddles the line between music and poetry, weaving back and forth between each realm. Citing poets “Day, Ada, and Laux, Berry, and Olds,” McEntire’s voice is at moments fierce and others tender, offering a sense of both giving and taking, releasing and claiming.

H.C. McEntire expounds on the new single: “Inspired by a late-night meditation under an October full moon, the lyrics for ‘New View’ were written from a place of possibility and promise – the feeling of falling in love, affirming its realness and rawness, committing to the openness and bravery required for it to fully emerge, being willing to let it lead. It is about leaning into the notion that what you seek is seeking you and making room for its manifestation.”

She continues, “Musically, ‘New View’ is the most collaborative composition on Every Acre, an album that rejoices in creative partnership – Luke, Casey, Daniel, Missy, and myself. In many ways, it is a song that wrote itself, while the tape was rolling – five bodies in a room together, each willing to offer an unfiltered view from where they were standing.”

 
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Portland - Stardust.

Belgian duo, Portland have released the new single, "Stardust" which marks another taste of their forthcoming album Departures – out via [PIAS] Recordings on March 17, 2022. "Stardust", written and composed by Sarah Pepels, is a true wonder of a song. Sarah’s magnificent voice tiptoeing gently through winds and melancholic organ sounds, slowly growing and gaining confidence while getting to the breathtaking chorus. It’s a song about lost love, lives turned upside down and putting the pieces of a broken heart back together.

“In January 2021, I was heartbroken, I had to leave a lot of memories and a part of my life, my love, behind,” Sarah explains, “I didn’t know where to go, but I knew, I had to write music to put those thoughts and heavy emotions into. I needed to be alone, so I went cat-sitting at my niece’s apartment. I locked myself up for four days with nothing but the warmth and company of the furry kittens. It turned out to be a very intense and cathartic journey. And so ‘Stardust, a song that means the world to me, was born.”

It’s also about healing, getting stronger and more confident. The song starts off shy and slowly, barely noticeable, but grows into a beautiful, epic and majestic celebration of once’s inner strength.

Portland is the magical & musical bond between Jente Pironet and Sarah Pepels. The two shared the same student house while studying at the PXL Music School in Hasselt and more so, they shared the same love of music with a specific soft spot for the work of Elliot Smith. Portland, a nod to the home of the late singer-songwriter, came to life. From the start it was clear the chemistry between Jente and Sarah was palpable. Their voices blend and complement each other as a perfectly mixed gin & tonic. Tangy yet soothing, addictive and intoxicating.

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Scott Goldbaum - Trigger Finger.

Los Angeles based multi-instrumentalist Scott Goldbaum, whose credits include Sting, LAUV, Keith Urban, Skylar Grey, Charlotte Lawrence and Maddie Poppe, is releasing his first solo EP “Protector” this fall.

Prior to his five year hiatus from releasing music, Scott Goldbaum's speciality was in providing “transient and breathtaking guitar work” (The Deli Magazine) as well as “beautifully textured vocals” (Indie Music Filter) both on stage and in the studio fronting his former bands Forebear, Wise Cub and The Harm. With songwriting cuts regarded by Consequence of Sound “as an exhilarating testament to abilities” his brand new EP is sure to satisfy fans of the artists whose music inspired the production including Chris Isaak, Radiohead, Bombay Bicycle Club and Damien Rice.

“Protector” is his self produced folk-infused indie rock EP with lush string arrangements by Molly Rogers (Hans Zimmer, Game of Thrones), upright bass from Kaveh Rastegar (Sting, John Legend, Bruce Springstein), drums/percussion by Kiel Feher (Selena Gomez, Zella Day) and mixing from the famed ScottGordon (Alannis Morissette, Alexi Murdoch).

Thematically, the record follows a vulnerable character who’s in need of protection as he becomes the protector of others.  "Drive Too Fast" is a face first collision course into the dark corners of a speed induced lifestyle.  Whereas "Trigger Finger" takes place in a school, a grocery store, a parade, a place of worship or just about any other public gathering place in America. "Blood Knot" acknowledges the roots you grew out of and the tree limbs you wish to keep attached while others tear off in the wind.  In contrast to the beginning of the EP, "Mourning Coffee" makes a distinction between codependency and partnerships that are chosen and decisively cared for while the world is falling apart around you.  "Incremental" is a mediation to stay on the course of progress and empowerment, despite the shadows that closely follow.

 

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The Velvet Hands - Over It Now.

Rising London-via-Cornwall four-piece The Velvet Hands have dropped their last track of the year, “Over It Now”. The track arrives as a tantalising sneak-peek of the new album ‘Sucker Punch’, which lands 3 February 2023, with a special vinyl edition planned for release on Blood Records.

Blending hedonistic hooks reminiscent of The Strokes with a slacker kind of storytelling plucked straight from Pavement’s playbook, the band’s latest outing is an anti-capitalist anthem spun with an easy-going, lackadaisical charm.

As The Velvet Hands explain: “One of the more laidback songs on the album, this came from the four of us just playing around in rehearsal. Lyrically the song focuses on ‘the grind’ culture, which personally we have always found to be exploitative and somewhat ridiculous. The main message is that not everything in life is about money, and you can do things at your own pace. In a nutshell: stick to your guns.”

The band’s final release of 2022, “Over It Now” comes ahead of their second studio album ‘Sucker Punch’, which will be streaming from 3 February 2023. Delivering coming-of-age tales with slacker-rock sensibilities, the new record combines the punchy guitar licks of The Strokes or Parquet Courts with rousing punk choruses that recall The Clash or The Vaccines.

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bdrmm - Madame Psychosis - Faultress - Very Good - The Electric Arch - Kacy & Clayton - Portland

bdrmm first appeared here in October last year and the new song 'Shame' makes for a refreshing return as the mixture of lighter shoegaze and to use their expression ugly pop, works so well together.

We have previously shared a couple of songs from Madame Psychosis and the opportunity to present the new album 'Survivor' is to good to pass up on. The band mix alt pop and indie rock together with clarity and passion, they are quite open about their musical influences, yet manage to present a distinct and very fine sound.

There are a couple of songs to hear from Faultress namely 'Marilyn' and 'Beating Heart'. Both are notably different, the vocals give some continuity, however the creativity and delivery is outstandingly good.

Sean Cronin the man behind Very Good has also shared a couple of tracks recently with 'Ghost Warning' and 'Adulthood' showcasing his off the wall creativity. Genre defying and veering towards experimental at times, there is something quite likable about these songs, I just haven't figured out what it is yet.

We have the debut single from The Electric Arch entitled 'Crisps & Crackers'. What starts out as something of an alt pop piece slowly drifts into a psychedelic fusion of sounds, the slacker rhythm keeps it on track as the song becomes rather addictive listening.

Kacy & Clayton are back for a third time this year with 'That Sweet Orchestra Sound' where the psych folk duo are more country and folk orientated on this beautiful and melodic song.

Portland share 'Killers Mind' where the Belgian singer-songwriters Jente Pironet and Sarah Pepels deliver a sublime pop song with gorgeous dual vocals, it's our second feature for them, hopefully there will be more.
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bdrmm - Shame.

bdrmm combine a flair for weaving together dreamy sonic textures and introverted small-town sketches, channelling hazy adolescent disconnection into a washy synthesis of Beach House, jangly slackers DIIV and otherworldly shoegazers Slowdive. They’ve found a kindred spirit in cult shoegaze label Sonic Cathedral (Spectres, Lorelle Meets The Obsolete, Echo Ladies), to whom the Hull based quintet have signed.

Their first release is the ‘If Not, When?’ EP on October 11th – a tying together of their acclaimed slacker-shoegaze gems thus far, led by brand new single ‘Shame’. Retaining most elements of their signature sound, ‘Shame’ also introduces some post-punk components – staccato vocals, and hypnotic rhythms giving the track a purposeful drive. It relays a relatable theme, as vocalist and songwriter Ryan Smith explains:

“’Shame’ is about the heartache of having to tell someone you care about the most that being together can’t work, for whatever reason - having to be the person who takes it upon themselves to do the right thing, even though it feels so wrong.”

Releases from the band so far have caught not just the attention of Sonic Cathedral, but of numerous tastemakers in The Line of Best Fit, MTV, So Young, and DORK. As well as this, Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and BBC 6Music’s Steve Lamacq & Jon Hillcock are big fans, and John Kennedy invited them on for a Radio X live session, with pedigree coming in too from Andy Bell of Ride on his Boogaloo Radio show and Simone Marie of Primal Scream on Soho Radio.

Live invitations have become bigger and bolder, supports with Trudy & The Romance, Her’s, Gengahr and Horsey, as well as capacity sets at Tramlines, Gold Sounds and especially a chaotic, raucous homecoming show at Hull’s Humber Street Sesh making bdrmm exciting stalwarts on the live indie scene.

The band worked with Alex Greaves (Working Men’s Club, The Orielles, Heavy Lungs) to bring their self-styled ‘gross dreamy noise’ to life.

Joining lead singer and guitarist Ryan Smith in the line-up is brother Jordan Smith (Bass), Joe Vickers (Guitar), Daniel Hull (Synth & Backing Vocals) and Luke Irvin (Drums).

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Madame Psychosis - Survivor (Album).

Madame Psychosis is a five-piece alt pop and indie rock band from Toronto. Members include singer Michelle Mondesir, guitar players Bret McCaffrey and Rene Ip, drummer Jaina Tharakan, and bass player Giovanni Paola.

The quintet came together in late 2014 after a conversation at a wedding, where a mutual friend of some of the eventual band members suggested a jam session. This very unlikely jam session resulted in what became Madame Psychosis. Five years later, the band continues to write and perform original music. Though their sound is often compared to Metric or a cross between the Black Keys and Alabama Shakes, the band cites a number of musical influences from an array of genres. These artists include Whitney Houston, Freddie Mercury, The Smiths, Arctic Monkeys, Spoon, Wilco, Pearl Jam, Guns N’ Roses, Smashing Pumpkins and War on Drugs.

The band first made waves with their self-titled debut album, released in June of 2017. Alan Cross, the internationally syndicated host of The Ongoing History of New Music, selected the single "Space Motorcycle" for his weekly Top 11 Playlist in August of 2017. The album was also featured on 94.9 The Rock FM's emerging artist spotlight, Generation Next, in May of 2018. Four songs from the debut album were showcased, including "Space Motorcycle", "Run", "On Top of the Game", and "Mellow". The band supported the album by performing at venues across Toronto, including at the legendary Opera House and the iconic Horseshoe Tavern.

Coming off the heels of this positive reception, Madame Psychosis was invited to perform on the nationally televised segment of Global’s The Morning Show in January 2019. They were also selected to perform at Canadian Music Week in May 2019 and cracked Dropout Entertainment’s Top Picks for CMW 2019. The band also released two music videos in 2019 for “Just Wanna Be Myself” and “Crashing Down”. A third music video for “Kapow” is currently in progress.

Madame Psychosis is now turning their attention to the release of their forthcoming sophomore album, Survivor. They have released three singles from the record. A Journal of Musical Things calls the aforementioned lead single, “Just Wanna Be Myself”, “a fun, upbeat song with sweet yet edgy female vocals”. They followed with “Crashing Down”, which was called “mellifluous magic wrapped in a grungy garage rock exterior” by Odd Nugget. Most recently, “Kapow” drew the attention and acclaim of several writers and playlist curators from around the world. Buzz Music calls it a “heart-dropping anthem”. Lefuturewave refers to it as “a brilliant piece of music”.

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Faultress - Marilyn / Beating Heart.

About ‘Marilyn’/‘Beating Heart’ - The seductive crawl of 'Marilyn' sets a fantastic pace for Faultress's 5 Myths EP. Its dark and minimal tone and stacked vocals underpin an emotionally dynamic vocal performance. But the nature of its seduction is quickly revealed to be a snare. Faultress offers us a different kind of femme fatale, one whose vulnerabilities are centre stage, deconstructing the masculine idea of femininity by showing it as an air-brushed performance for the male gaze:

"Would you love me on a bad day? Would you love me every state I'm in / I am not performing today / No it's not that kind of day. / And I would rather hide me away / Where I can't be your Marilyn." 'Beating Heart' explores the role of the human bonding hormone oxytocin in making us feel closer to each other than we really are. It resists easy-reach hooks, favouring sharp and stylised grooves in its vocal loops and synth bass. An ode to post-coital bliss, 'Beating Heart' is instrumentally as carnal and as naked as its subject matter. 'Marilyn' was named one of the moderators' songs of the year by Fresh Faves.

Faultress is an extinct word for a female criminal, and this musical project is about wearing your unpolished faults and imperfections on your very female sleeve. As an artist, Faultress embodies the challenge to heterodoxy implied in her name, which she wields as a firebrand to write incisive and psychological songs that offer us a look into the complex fragmentation of feminine power, desire and mental health in a rapidly changing musical and cultural world. Faultress's prime influence is Kate Bush, a soul she shares a love of theatricality with - Faultress has a playwriting MA from RADA - alongside a diverse set of influences that includes the likes of James Blake, Aldous Harding, FKA Twigs and Joni Mitchell. Her full banshee show is a six-part girl choir replete with synths and drums. In her solo shows Faultress plays piano and loop stations. With the release of her 5 Myths EP, she reveals herself something of a polymath: lyricist, musician, singer and storyteller employing the full spectrum of her skillset to make unforgettably charged music.

See Faultress live:
26th October - Union Chapel supporting Eska and London Contemporary Voices
8th November -  Headline show at The Laylow, Ladbroke Grove, London.


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Very Good - Ghost Warning / Adulthood.

Adulthood is the third album from Sean Cronin and his project Very Good. A multi-instrumentalist and formally-trained double bassist who is both a composer in the traditional sense and a songwriter in the popular sense, Sean Cronin has worked primarily in the realm of jazz (bebop, swing, New Orleans, modern, etc.) over the last 20 years. But that only tells part of a story that spills forth from Adulthood in rich, naked — and often bitingly funny — detail. In many ways, it's a universal story: You freak out, you drift, you lose your way and you chafe against the pressures imposed upon you by the outside world.

Then, as Cronin discovered, the real challenge begins once you come to realize that the biggest obstacles are actually internal. The age itself may vary, but sooner or later the truth hits. "I got to, like, 28-29," Cronin says, "and it was like 'Oh. I actually know what I'm capable of, but now it's just a matter of what I do with those abilities.' By that point, you know what they are. So then it's about putting them forward in the world."

Therein lies the conflict at the heart of Adulthood.

Now several years (though not quite comfortably) removed from the conflict, Cronin has essentially lived several musical lifetimes in one. From classical piano training as a young child to his first real gig at age 12 playing country music in bars with his father, it was on to punk bands, then the orchestra pit for musicals followed by touring with bluegrass acts, theatrical scoring work, indie rock, collaborations in modern dance, etc.

Musically speaking, Adulthood comprises all of those things. We can readily identify the influences Cronin drew from to create the pastoral folk balladry of "Tree Dreams," the magnificent, opera-esque buildup of indie epic "Without You Around," the funked-up Band-style Americana of the title track, the choral transcendence of "Light's Refrain," etc, etc. with a little bit of influence from both absurdist and classical literature thrown-in for good measure.


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The Electric Arch - Crisps & Crackers.

The Electric Arch shares their debut single "Crisps & Crackers" and announces their debut record Out of Range.

“Crisps & Crackers” immediately sinks into a nodding groove that never lets up, as Marler adds reverbed guitar shimmers, streaky distorted riffs, and a mouthwatering bass solo over a steady, plunky piano lick.  His lethargic, stoned delivery grounds the psychedelic instrumentals to keep things from drifting too far of into the ether, and each respective part is leveled perfectly within the mix. It sounds positively gorgeous and Marler finds just the right balance between exercising his obvious virtuosity and doing justice to the song’s sturdy melodic structure. It’s psych-pop par excellence.

The Electric Arch is based out of Chateau St. Philippe in Bayou St. John, New Orleans. The live version of the band includes James Marler, T-Rey Cloutier and Sir Alex Smudge Smith. Drummer and surf guru Ron Bocian plays with the band on the West Coast while Mr. Binkles the Spider Monkey covers Deep South gigs.

Out of Range features Marler’s compositions, translated, recorded, and produced by vaping enthusiast Matthew Cloutier. Recording sessions took place in the attic of a 1908 double shotgun mansion, with the humble sounds of the past captured through classic gear from the 1960’s and 70’s. These sessions, fueled by fish sticks, beans, beer, and tequila, typically began in the late afternoon and ended just before sunrise. Various friends would drop in to offer philosophical insights around the “cocktail plank”. All sessions were attended by a Hungarian scent hound and a cat of unknown origin.

The 11 songs on Out of Range are short films about disconnection and disentanglement (éloignement et liberté), shot up close or from a distance. Inspired by 60’s French pop, surf music, garage rock, and the wobbly sounds of troubling times, Out of Range goes high, low, and far away…

“Crisps & Crackers” speaks of depression and the universal consolation of comfort food. “Postcard to Celeste” stars a lush artist appealing to his estranged lover to join him in his seaside redoubt. The figure in “Las Ramblas” struts through an urban promenade of feminine beauty, drawn ever forward toward “the little death.” A romantic wanderer dives deep inside a vintage travel poster in “Granada.” “Porcelain Hole” enters the dark forest of a nativist cult, shield in one hand, sword in the other. “Saturday Night into Sunday Morning” celebrates the temporary escape of late night bars and after hours culture. In “Moving to the Islands,” the cynical and affluent flee the mainland in the face of impending disaster. The early morning haiku of “Lullaby (for Donostia)” savors the calm before the world wakes up. Modern war machines pulverize classical architecture in “Lost City.” An adolescent musician aches for his popular ex- girlfriend in “Can’t Stand It.” Finally, “Western Civ” launches a new backwards dance craze.

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Kacy & Clayton - That Sweet Orchestra Sound.

"That Sweet Orchestra Sound" is the new single by Canadian psych-folk second-cousins Kacy & Clayton. The track is taken from the new album Carrying On, which out via New West Records on 4 October 2019. The 10-song album was produced by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and recorded by Tom Schick at The Loft, Wilco’s recording studio and rehearsal space in Chicago. The band have announced a UK and EU tour for Jan/Feb 2020.

"That Sweet Orchestra Sound" was written as a tribute to the rural dance bands of the area where Kacy Anderson and Clayton Linthicum's grew up, Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan (population very few). These dance bands referred to themselves as ‘orchestras.’ One such band, the Romansky Orchestra from Fir Mountain, featured Kacy’s Grandpa Carl in their line-up when he was in his teens.

The track was premiered by Clash who said; "Kacy & Clayton are able to reach towards the timeless while delivering something highly individual."

Carrying On follows the international acclaim for their previous records Strange Country (which Q Magazine called “A beautiful album that nudges a classic past into a brave future”) and 2017’s The Siren’s Song (described by Uncut as “Ageless and beguiling. A classic record for this or any other time.”)

Kacy & Clayton's sound is equal parts homespun, coming from a family and community where playing music is an ever present part of social gatherings, and the rare country, blues, and English folk rock they obsess over and collect.  It’s an arresting amalgamation of psychedelic folk, English folk revival and the ancestral music of Southern Appalachia. For Carrying On, Clayton cites as influences: Bobbie Gentry’s Delta Sweete, Hoyt Axton’s My Griffin Is Gone, Cajun fiddle music, and the steel guitar of Ralph Mooney, who played on many of the records that defined the Bakersfield country music scene of the 1950s. Sixties psych has also woven its way into these new songs; Kacy enjoys telling people that they live 250km from the mental hospital that coined the term “psychedelic.”


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Portland - Killers Mind.

Belgian upcoming talent Portland had an amazing summer. The band helmed by singer-songwriters Jente Pironet and Sarah Pepels played Rock Werchter and Pukkelpop and in between they finished their debut album with producer David Poltrock (Triggerfinger, Hooverphonic).

“Your Colours Will Stain”, mixed by Grammy Award winning producer/mixer Eduardo De La Paz (Local Natives, Frightened Rabbit), is set for release on October 18 through [PIAS].

This week they release the brand new single ‘Killer’s Mind’. A story about getting hurt, dealing with it and eventually moving on to better experiences is set against pure pop brilliance.

An ominous synth follows a commanding beat, Jente and Sarah trading verses and finding angelic harmony in a sneaky chorus that’ll warm up your auricle for the remains of the day. It’s dark versus light with some killer hooks. Highly addictive stuff!


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JYLDA - Josh Del - Todd Warner Moore - Charlie Hole - Portland

'Reeled' from JYLDA is dreamy, melodic and her vocals are alluring, add in the vibrant beats and the song is indeed extremely catchy. Josh Del is another artist where the vocals are a key ingredient, their natural Americana instinct coming to the fore on 'Rolling Stone' a timeless country piece. Todd Warner Moore has just released 'Love & Change' an album comprising of thirteen songs, where his musical talents explore a variety of genres, and with excellent production this is a fabulous collection of music. Charlie Hole latest song 'All The Roads To Heaven' is just beautiful, the singer/song writer brims with feeling and the melodic hooks do the rest. Expansive, atmospheric and dreamily seductive 'Expectations' by Portland is a mixture of emotion, calmness and power, now there's a combination.

JYLDA - Reeled.

JYLDA is Italian-German Gianna Gehlhar's musical alter ego. Now based in London after a stint in Berlin, she releases her debut TWITCH EP, produced with Beni Giles (Otzeki, James, Marcus Foster).

JYLDA's voice finds a playful connection with sensuality and rhythm comparable with Robyn, Jessy Lanza or Little Dragon. It all revolves around the pop song, but with a darkness reminiscent of St. Vincent, Grimes and Lykke Li. JYLDA's operatic roots give her voice a unique captivating siren-like intensity, drawing you into her enchanting world.

JYLDA states: "Twitch gives an insight into different parts of my personality. The songs are like short stories about melancholy, dance, playfulness and sensuality. In all of them I’m looking for the connection between body and mind and the hidden irony of every tale.“

Twitch is the first release from JYLDA since moving to London last year. During that time she's been writing and collaborating with a series of exciting artists including Blakey, Ah!Kosmos, Hugh, Salt Ashes, Pillars and Kirk Spencer, the results of which will be seen in future releases in 2019 following her debut EP coming out.


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Josh Del - Rolling Stone.

Josh Del is a singer/songwriter from the Coachella Valley. He grew up escaping the desert heat by playing guitar and writing songs in studios.

His gravely voice and bluesy playing have earned him comparisons to some of the greats in Americana history.

Rolling Stone is a stirring, soulful roots-rock ballad built around his dusty vocals, rich keyboards, and an earthy, muscular arrangement.

And in just three minutes, it does the near-impossible: Makes you put Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, Mick, Keef, Otis Blackwell, The Who and the rest out of your mind for three minutes. Which begs the question: How does it feel, Josh?

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Todd Warner Moore - Love and Change (Album).

We have a new album from pop/folk singer-songwriter Todd Warner Moore entitled 'Love & Change'. Even though Todd's mainstay is along the lines of acoustic driven songs, he has a knack for capturing different sounds and eras of Americana and Folk music reminiscent of greats such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young and especially the Irish overtones of Van Morrison.  Todd also releases a steady flow of instrumental fare, reaching into ambient and cinematic territory. "Love & Change" is the sound of a perceptive, lyrically gifted artist perfecting his craft.

Originally from Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.A., Todd Warner Moore has penned a diverse catalogue of music over time. His newest album contains dashes of Folk, Americana, 70s Singer/Songwriter, Classical, Jazz, and Gipsy music.

In the 90s, Todd co-wrote songs and toured with Acoustic Juice through the American Midwest, delivering ery songs to students in college towns. Later, in Budapest, Hungary, he performed solo melodies in tea houses, where his expat band Tea Thieves would come to life. Over several years, the energetic band would release three albums. Before leaving Hungary, he nished his album titled Long Days. Todd has lived on Lamma Island in Hong Kong for the last eight years, where he plays at small festivals and pubs.

Spark was his second full-length album in 2018. Now Todd is back with another full-length release "Love & Change", which finds him further honing his songwriting craft.

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Charlie Hole - All The Roads To Heaven.

Born and raised in the coastal town of Bournemouth, UK, Charlie Hole’s story began when he heard Damien Rice’s ‘O’ at the tender age of 14. From that first listen, his desire to reach the same emotional depths became clear; realising his ability to create emotive and fearless tracks, learning and evolving throughout.

After a chance meeting with the well-respected guitarist and producer, Jim Cregan (Rod Stewart, Katie Melua, Family), the pair began working closely together, with Jim mentoring Charlie and teaching him about the world of songwriting while always pushing him to develop his own style and sound.

Finding comfort in beautifully crafted words over effortless melodies, Charlie Hole is one of the most exciting young singer-songwriters around.

Coined by Rod Stewart as an emerging talent with a gift for writing ‘beautiful songs’, Charlie has always been destined for great things. With a brave and honest voice, tackling relatable subject matters for all audiences, Charlie Hole shares his personal stories of broken dreams and lost love in the pursuit of happiness through his powerful and commanding songwriting.

With inspirations ranging from legends such as Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits, Charlie has been writing music and touring his songs across the UK and Europe for over 10 years, playing well over 1000 gigs, and has supported notable artists such as Billy Ocean and Steve Harley. Charlie has also taken his live shows to an intimate level, doing a Living Room Tour of fans houses to only a handful of guests. The tour was close to his heart as he is heavily involved with Sofar Sounds, after bringing the monthly events to his hometown of Bournemouth.

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Portland - Expectations.

Finalists in Belgian’s magazine Humo’s Rock Rally 2016 and winners of broadcaster Studio Brussel’s ‘De Nieuwe Lichting’ 2018. Their packed festival summer and completely sold out club tour took them all over Belgium in 2018. Portland creates dreamy, everlasting storytelling songs.

The band’s debut single ‘Pouring Rain’ gained more than a million streams on Spotify, under their own management. Their subtle rework (upon request of Studio Brussel) of alt-J’s ‘Matilda’ gained popularity faster than expected and was released as a successful second single.

Their rise in popularity didn’t go unnoticed and last summer Portland proudly teamed up with [PIAS]. The first result of this partnership was ‘Lucky Clover’, an emotional, dreamy and subtle piece of harmonic prose, whose greatest strength is the harmonies and interaction between front duo Jente Pironet and Sarah Pepels. The single got picked up on radio in Flanders, club shows sold out quickly and an invitation to play this year’s Rock Werchter and Pukkelpop festivals followed.

Gearing up to release their debut full length album after the summer, Portland now proudly presents their new single ‘Expectations’. An epic and cathartic love song using lush strings, chimes, timpani, electronics and electric guitars to counter Jente and Sarah’s remarkable voices. “‘Expectations' is about high hopes, deep disappointments and very abstract interactions between attractions, rejections, doubts and certainties,” Jente explains. It’s a bold move and a step up from their previous output, still retaining the same otherworldly, dreamlike quality.


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