And Four More For Saturday

Oakland - As a matter of interest - Following on from last month's sold out single launch for brand new track 'Into The Sea', Perth alt-indie-popsters Oakland are wasting no time with their EP launch of the same name, with proceedings to take place at  Mojo's Bar in Fremantle July 31.

Channeling a love for such universal acts as The National and Arcade Fire, Oakland gigged feverishly last year before settling down with esteemed engineer Andy Lawson (Eskimo Joe, Tired Lion, Our Man in Berlin) to carefully piece together the five track offering. Guided by a refined pop sensibility, the EP features a compelling mix of cavernous reverbs, driving beats and earnestly delivered vocals.

Gathering momentum, crumbling into minimalism, then picking itself back up again, “Into the Sea” as the leading single is both emotionally rich and dynamically engaging, confirming the band’s investment in focused and impactful song writing.

Indie rock like so many music genres, is a crowded place these days. So a stand out song is pretty important, coming up with an outstanding EP is even better, and that's exactly what Oakland have done. Facebook (here).

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

The Foreign Films - contacted Beehive Candy and had this to say - I've been working like a mad scientist in the studio, and today I'm very excited to release Side 3 of my double LP! The album "The Record Collector" will be released early 2016.

Each side of the double album represents a time period of approx three months. The album, literally, was a year-long experiment in song writing starting on my birthday.

Side 3 is a juxtaposition of diverse influences I hold dear! The music I've loved growing up has subconsciously made its way into these songs; 60s British, French and West Coast Pop, Vintage soul, 70s singer songwriter and a touch of Art/Prog and even New Wave.

You don't have to be a mad scientist to be featured on Beehive Candy, but it helps... I do not know what I expected when I first started to listen to 'Side 3' but it was not something as polished and just so exciting as this. Somehow Bill aka The Foreign Films, has managed to make a superb 'hotpot' of musical styles that blend and shift seamlessly into each other. Check out more on Bandcamp (here), just one of the songs below.

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

Stephen Bradley - and the story goes - Stephen Bradley, who has spent the last 19 years recording and touring the universe with No Doubt, finally has set aside time to release his first solo project called Runaways. Let’s all be grateful he found time, because his new EP is a wildly enjoyable listen. 

Stephen plays horns, keyboards and contributes backing vocals for No Doubt, and on his solo debut all of those talents are broadcast in full colour. Elements of classic R&B/soul, new electronica and big pop are effortlessly combined, resulting in music that people of any age and background can appreciate.

I suppose when you have an introduction such as the one above, expectations are raised. How many band members have stepped out into the spotlight and struggled to own the whole show. In this case however I think it's more a case of why have you taken so long! Just check out the featured song, the class, the whole feel is incredible, the EP offers even greater diversity. Website (here).

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

Pete Gardiner - Background - Pete Gardiner is a singer songwriter from Newtownards in Northern Ireland. He’s had a passion for music since the age of 6 when he first heard Slash play the opening three chords of "Knockin’ on Heavens Door". He got his first guitar when he was thirteen and developed a serious passion for rock music as only young teen boys can!

Pete is a true and clever lyricist, it’s in his blood. He writes about his circumstances at any given moment, his relationships with people, doomed romances, news stories that hit him hard and pretty much any thought that comes into his head. His music is strongly influenced by his idols; Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Bruce Springsteen. As his talents have matured he says of Dylan and Cohen “They are both as endearing as each other, they can take you as far as you are willing to go and then drag you that little bit further and I learn more and more from them everyday”.

For many of his early years Pete worked as a cashier in a bank, playing gigs around local bars at the weekends while also recording a few EP's, which gained a lot of local airplay on regional BBC stations.  Then, discovered by a radio network in the UK, he was signed by, entrepreneur Neil Utley’s label NUA Entertainment, which is chaired by Grammy winner Paul Hardcastle. Pete has just finished recording his debut album with award winning Irish producer Tommy McLaughlin (Villagers/ Soak) mastered at Abbey Road and has moved to London, performing nightly on the London club scene where he has been gigging every night for the past few months crafting his art of performance and excellent song-smithery.

This is real quality singer songwriter music. The lyrics are sharp, observational, even witty and yet having listened to the EP I come away thinking more about the music and songs than the singer, which I think is a good thing. Pete just makes you want to listen, perhaps he wants to make you think which is no bad thing either, even with a love song.

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

Five For Friday

Roses and Revolutions - Based in Rochester, New York, Roses and Revolutions are guitarist Matt Merritt and singer Alyssa Coco. Their new EP ‘Torch’ was released this week. Roses and Revolutions' songs have appeared in soundtracks everywhere from MTV and VH1 to Showtime and E!, and they've shared stages with The Head and The Heart, The Lone Bellow and many others.

This is a fine EP. There may only be two of them however they have an expansive sound on some songs. It's also hard to try an pin them into one genre, a mixture of indie pop and folk with a hint of singer songwriter thrown in for good measure. There is a mature feel to the lyrics and the production is spot on. Facebook (here).

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

Binary Circus - Background - Binary Circus have brewed up something special with the upcoming release of their latest single ‘Storm’ on the 7th of August 2015. The three piece from Brisbane have been writing up a storm with a new found enthusiasm and direction after settling on a more ‘mature’ sound. Infusing a subtle blues layer to their existing grunge/rock has given the band some breathing space with their song writing, evolving into a more relaxed version of the band.

Recorded at Luna Audio Studios on the Gold Coast, ‘Storm’ in its earliest incarnation was written on a black, toy grand piano in the bedroom of singer/guitarist John’s daughter. Rock’ n Roll! The song then evolved as a collective process between John, brother Darryl Fink (bass) and Greg Birrell (drums) into its final form.

“After writing the main riff, the chorus, melody and lyrics all came together with in the space of a few days which never happens to me. When we rehearsed it as a band it all came together very organically which I guess is where it gets its laid back vibe”. John Fink, singer/guitarist. From start to finish ‘Storm’ builds in energy and purpose, ending in a climactic wall of sound. An alluring song coupled with at times dark lyrics like “natural progression’s not paying attention to what it is letting through”, ‘Storm’ is a testament to the new direction to which Binary Circus have chosen to explore.

This is the only track I have heard from Binary Circus and it's an impressive song. There is a lot stated about the song in the promo words above, I would add that describing this as a mature sound is really appropriate, it's a good one with a bluesy rock feel and some! Facebook (here).

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

Copywrite - And we are told - This video is leading into our upcoming album entitled "A Heart of Glass" out August 11th!

None of this record was recorded in a studio. All of this record was only recorded at our own houses in Australia, with our shared collection of audio gear and microphones. We started the record when we were 16, and it was completed a year after high school. The record is extremely personal to us, truly our "high school" record. Occasionally making us cringe in it's pure honesty.

"Philophobia" is a taboo but common fear of love. I found it interesting that it was always about the pain after the relationship, as I had always feared about losing myself to the point it would have to hurt. It seemed everyone who fell in love that I knew completely changed; almost accepting less of themselves and abandoning their ambitions, dying off to simply having a love of their life which I knew was so naive at such an age.

I have to say if you like the music video below the album will please you even more. There is a 'sense of freedom' in the songs that I think comes from not being in a formal recording studio environment. The production is very good, the variety encouraging and the raw energy a delight. Facebook (here).


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

Media Jeweler - Background - Media Jeweler arose as a veritable phoenix out of the ashes of a revolving-door big band following an unexpected but celebratory funeral pyre supporting A Hawk and A Hacksaw in LA. Calls were made and within two weeks a leaner and decidedly meaner entity emerged, outlook fresh.

Two years later, their debut albumaims to capture the relentless restlessness of being alive on this increasingly weird and overstimulating planet. It was recorded and mixed in a casual and really quite nice three-day session during the dawn of spring at Machines with Magnets by Seth Manchester and Keith Souza (Battles, Lightning Bolt, etc.). It was mastered a week later by XOQ (Liars, Factory Floor, Martin Gore, etc.) The mood varies drastically on each of the seven tracks that make up the narrative of the album. We celebrated its completion with a few dozen jello shots at the local watering hole where we witnessed a man with a voice like crushed charcoal yell and storm out while Kid Rock's deepest cuts droned.

Please note that Media Jeweler prefers to be referred to as a Rock Band full-stop, jubilantly taking into consideration all the trappings and tropes associated with Rock music. The nuance lost with the variety of modifying adjectives that can precede "Rock" is priceless.

There is a free form swagger to this song and the sense of marching forward as the song builds. Nonconformist however very appealing is the first thought that went through my mind. I think they can comfortably be referred to as a rock band, one with a uniqueness that pleases. Website (here).

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

The Woolen Men - Background - The Woolen Men are three - two Oregon natives and a Washingtonian.  They play punk influenced DIY music in the Pac-NW tradition of Dead Moon and the Wipers.  More than a sound or style, that means a kind of work ethic - do-it-yourself and do it a lot.  The band is happiest touring up and down the I-5 or bunkered in their practise space with the cassette 4-track rolling.  And it shows.  Live, the band is thunderous and energetic and the magnetic chemistry of the three of them playing together shines through in the recordings. This week the band announces their sophomore album Temporary Monument on Woodsist Records, due September 4th. 

The Woolen Men are Alex Geddes, Lawton Browning and Raf Spielman.  They live and work in Portland, OR.  Raf previously released an album of solo material under his Polyps moniker for Woodsist's sister label Hello Sunshine.

From the band: "Our hometown has been buried under an avalanche of condos and pointless businesses catering to the newly rich. Noise complaints shut down our shows and pull the plug on countless DIY venues. The places where we lived are being torn down; the rent keeps climbing up. Born too soon or too late, the recession's effect on our youth was as invisible as it it was profound.

Music today is rendered powerless - white noise made in the echo chamber, for the great Smooth Face that gazes once and moves on. So here it comes, some noise from the dustbin. The Internet is sham: Temporary Monument, we made it for ourselves. Look us in the eyes and tell us you're not getting old."

'After The Flood' is the first song I have heard by The Woolen Men and boy does it make me want to hear more. The pay off from touring and experimenting and recording is a fine, fine song from what is now for me, an eagerly awaited album. Facebook (here).

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

The Singularity - Album - '404 Not Found'

The Singularity - The Bio - Los Angeles based The Singularity ready themselves to release their self-titled debut album. Front man and multi-instrumentalist Julian Shah Tayler’s childlike fascination with science, space and the big questions that trouble the human condition has fuelled the creative output of The Singularity since the band’s inception in early 2012.

“Everything burst out of the centre of a super massive black hole,” remarks Julian, “and we are going back there one day, so let's just enjoy it.” This sentiment pretty much sums up The Singularity’s manifesto and echoes the ‘party like its 1999’ hedonistic attitude of the artist Julian has been most frequently compared to, Prince. Taking their name from the Ray Kurzweil book, The Singularity is Near, which heralds a new frontier of indistinguishable integration between man and machine, the sextet has spent the last 12 months shaping Julian’s unique songs into a captivating live experience, which has been thoroughly road-tested across the USA to a loyal and rapidly rising fan base.

Returning to the studio at the end of 2013, the band committed their tour-honed material to tape and the results are now available in an outstanding 10-track work, which features 'Talking in Your Sleep,' a rewire of the new wave power pop of The Cars and The Only Ones; 'Antigravity,' a nod to the recent Afrobeat leanings of Yeasayer and Vampire Weekend; and 'Wetter,' a modern day glam stomper described by former Creation Records head and Oasis and Primal Scream A&R guru Alan McGee as “massive” and easily capable of “[making] Julian a star”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been a fan of Julian's music since I was first introduced to his work a few years back. The Singularity and this album is supported by a question and statement by the band - What if Bowie, Prince and The Cure had a baby? - 30th Century Electronic Rock'n'Roll. And within those words The Singularity defines so much about their music, it's creation, style and sheer vibrancy. This album is distinct, powerful, modern and yet with real depth and soul. I can only hope the physical release gets the attention it deserves, rather than just being a hidden gem on Bandcamp. The bands website HERE.


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

Quality Not Quantity - Acoustic & Electric Delights

Great Father - Coming soon - Bicentennial Blue by Great Father out on September 25, 2015. After taking a break from song writing for more than a dozen years to work full-time as a hospice social worker and found the label Exit Stencil Recordings, Brandon Stevens delivers us a meditation on the commonplace complexities of ageing---the disappointments, losses, regrets, and inevitable changes that arise as youth fades further in the rear view and middle-age unexpectedly approaches.  

The album has a decidedly overcast aesthetic, wrapped in the warm tones of nostalgia for the '70s a la Tobias Jesso Jr., and delivered from a perspective of someone who lives with loss close at hand.  At times reminiscent of Mojave 3's dream/country/folk amalgamation; at others, an Elliot Smith / Conor Oberst-like approach to lyrics and vocalisation; and at others, just approaching things straight up like Pink Floyd and letting it breathe.

Keep Great Father in mind, the featured track is just a taster and there is so much more going on within this album. Some of the words above are sombre, however this album has so much feeling and character that it is likely to be up high amongst my favourites this year. Facebook (here).

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

Rum Thief - Background - Rum Thief is solo artist Jot Green with support from his band,  based in Chorlton, Manchester. The project began when Green, after playing as a drummer in bands for over ten years, decided to record some songs of his own. Booking into Airtight studio in Chorlton, Manchester he performed the drums, guitars, vocals and backing vocals to produce his first EP 'Clouded Mind'. 

The titular lead track generated interest from media outlets across the north west and with the help of ex band mates and a new live drummer, Rum Thief secured some local gigs, festivals, support slots and airplay on local and national radio. 'Reach For The Weather Man' is Rum Thief's second EP and is characterised by Jot Green's keen ear for melody and his sharp observational lyrical content.

To me Rum Thief oozes 'Manchester attitude'. Energised, gritty, to the point, Jot Green sings what he is thinking and observing. His total involvement in the studio pays off. Rather than feature the title track I thought I would include 'Stitch In Time' as personally sound wise, I feel this meets somewhere in the middle of the EP, that said this is a mighty collection of songs. Facebook (here).

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

Tim Muddiman and The Strange - Background - Tim Muddiman and The Strange releases their second single “Rolling Stones” after a global response from the debut track “Wildwood Stone.”  Extensive worldwide radio play, international blogs and buzzing fans from the UK to Australia are sure to be hyped by this new track from where its predecessor left off.

The song has been crafted underpinning a huge bass line with a sleazy blues guitar riff, wild tremolos and an instantly catchy grunge vocal melody.   Lyrically the song explains solitude and the feelings of organic change until you’re “done and gone alone”, with only music, art, yourself and your life left. “Rolling Stones”… The B-side track is darker. It’s solemn. It has powerful melody, swampy guitar and a sparse but intense feel. The story behind this is real and deeply personal. Something the artist is not afraid to pen. Tim Muddiman is a long-time member of Gary Numan’s band as well as being an established music producer, remixer and session musician to bands like Pop Will Eat Itself and many more.

As I listen 'Rolling Stones' has this 'marching' feeling to it, something along the lines of Led Zep's 'Kashmir' although sonically quite different. I am pretty certain this song will get the attention of many and am more than pleased if Beehive Candy is a small part of the buzz.

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

The Sweet Lou - some words - Sweet Lou is a rock band from the northern part of Sweden, the city of Luleå. Sweet Lou came together a while back and due to band members various back grounds and influences it provides an interesting mix in the sound of Sweet Lou, having Mattias on guitar and vocals, Andreas on drums, Joakim on guitar and Simon on bass.Down the muddy road is about hope and despair. About making up your own answers, telling the oracles and know-it-alls to xxxx off and chasing whatever keeps your blood warm.

This is a belting rock track. As it's a while since we have featured something that might loosely be called classic rock, lets here your wild applause for The Sweet Lou and 'Down The Muddy Road'. This surfaced around a month ago, their Facebook (here).

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

Jefferson Starship - Santa Cruz, 1992 (Internet Archive).

From the Internet Archive this is Jefferson Starship live at The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, USA, back on October 9th, 1992.  Prior to inclusion on the Internet Archive the recording circulated as a bootleg and was originally titled, "Hal's Death by Jefferson Starship #1," it included a phone message and an interview with Papa John and Gretchen Creech, which were removed to ensure there would be no conflict with anyone's permission policies.

In 1992, Kantner reestablished the group as "Jefferson Starship – The Next Generation," a nod to the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. This version of the band would, at times, include various former Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship and Starship members, to tour and perform.

After the first couple of years, the band dropped the use of "The Next Generation", and began to perform as Jefferson Starship. The revived band grew out of Paul Kantner’s decision, following the "Unplugged" trend, to hit the road in 1991 with an acoustic ensemble called Paul Kantner’s Wooden Ships, a trio that included Slick Aguilar and Tim Gorman from the KBC Band, a previous group centred on former Jefferson Airplane/Starship members.

The success of this project prompted Kantner to reinvent his electric band, and Jefferson Starship took off once again. In addition to Aguilar and Gorman, Kantner recruited former collaborators Jack Casady and blues violinist Papa John Creach; former Tubes drummer Prairie Prince; and former World Entertainment War vocalist Darby Gould.

Recording Details: Dsbd master > first-gen cassette > 24-bit Wav (WaveLab) > FLAC.

Sound Quality: Soundboard - very good.

Set List:

First set:

01. Other Side of this Life
02. Crown of Creation
03. I'm on Fire
04. Lawman
05. Shadowlands
06. First Pull Up, Then Pull Down
07. There Ain't No More Country Girls
08. Women Who Fly
09. Ride the Tiger
10. We Should Be Together

Second set:

01. Blows Against the Empire
02. Wooden Ships
03. PJ's Down Home Blues
04. Somewhere Over the Rainbow
05. Genesis Hall
06. Have You Seen the Saucers
07. Dark Ages
08. America > "Get Ready" poem
09. Volunteers
10. crowd
11. encore: Girl With the Hungry Eyes

Line Up: Paul Kantner, Darby Gould, Jack Casady, Papa John Creach, Mark "Slick" Aguilar, Tim Gorman, Charles "Prairie" Prince.

Comments: This recording is also available for streaming or download on the Internet Archive in the following formats - FLAC, MP3 and OGG VORBIS - HERE.

Band Official Website: HERE.

Stream Full Concert Below:

Sundays Expansive Alternative Take

DVN - About them - Nileskog & Anton Stjärnqvist are DVN. At just 22 & 23 years-old, DVN have been have been hard at work in their studio for three years now, and with a big with a side-dish of DJing which in the past have had them open for a few big domestic names in the form of, Sebjak, Mikael Wermeets and Alex Moreno. They now have honed their skills to a point where they are ready to release their soulful deep-house influenced first single Oblivion feat. Duncan. DVN hail from Landskrona, in the southernmost part of Sweden. A place that has shaped them musically and where they work daily in their production-lab.

Passionately sung vocals over a refreshing soundtrack take it in turns to dominate this piece, all to good effect.

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

Afternoons in Stereo - Tells us - It's been ten years since my first Afternoons in Stereo release and I'm celebrating by sharing my new album 'Retrospective'. 'Retrospective' compiles 10 years of the funkier, club-driven side of the my work, featuring two new tracks. This new collection is the perfect bookend to last year's 'A Jazz Odyssey', which assembled the more jazz-oriented side of my output.

This is an outstanding selection of music, the jazz influences are there along with so much more. A couple of videos (Here) and (here) and the impressive 'Galaxina' below, if you like any of these the album is definitely worth your time.


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

Royal Disco - Background - After taking almost a year long break, Tel Aviv trio Royal Disco is back and better than ever with their new EP titled Dark Energy. Beginning with their EP titled "Dark Energy", you're welcomed into a spatial, atmospheric void filled with melodic keys as you're  bombarded with sawing laser-esque synths and deep sub bass and thrown down the worm hole that is Dark Energy. As you begin to come up from said ride, you're greeted with soft horns and canorous keys as "Sensei" begins. 

Just as quick, you're smacked in the face with an aggressive hook as you nose dive into a bass laden drop filled with unsympathetic synths leaving you hyped and wanting more. Luckily, there's one last hill to climb as the final track "Welcome to the Universe" beings with an epic drum intro leading into electro keys, reminiscent of an old John Hughes flick. The harmonious vocals uplift the track, then gets torn back as you fall into merciless drop after drop.

As you can tell by their words above the enthusiasm is most definitely there and rightly so with this power house of sounds, prepare to be bombarded and treated to energy driven layers, you will not stay still!

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

Ooah & M!NT - Going back one week - Over last weekend, The Glitch Mob’s Ooah and Brooklyn-based producer M!nt released an unexpected collaboration called 'If The Smoke Clears'. This atmospheric single combines house and hip hop influences, and Ooah says of its creation “We didn't over think it or over cook it, randomly we started messing around in the studio and next thing we knew we had put together this song. This moody yet dancey break beat type of song we thought would be a good addition to your late night summer feels.”

With its hypnotic house atmosphere and grooving hip hop break beats, “If The Smoke Clears” is a great example of the higher creativity that results from artists working together spontaneously.

Trying hard to avoid the 'well if this is what you can do spontaneously' route is difficult, as it does beg the question of what else this pair might achieve. Anyway all power to spontaneity and long may it continue as this piece proves the case.

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

Moonlapse - The story so far - Moonlapse is the electronic, progressive rock project by 21-year-old composer/producer/multi-instrumentalist Ben Strick, who is releasing his intoxicating and transcendent nine-song debut release in May 2015.

Strick came by his love of progressive rock at age 14 via classic bands such as Genesis and King Crimson. Soon he moved on to more contemporary prog metal like Dream Theater, Opeth and Porcupine Tree. “I studied them and learned to play their music,” Strick says. “In doing so, I was introduced to a lot of strange and beautiful chord progressions, which I didn’t hear in other music. Gradually, I began to compose my own songs using a lot of those chords and scales.” Strick, who studies computer science at North western University, recorded all of his guitar tracks on a computer using MIDI and a plug in called Omnisphere.

“Omniphere is really useful because it has tons of electronic instruments that are designed to sound like the real thing, and you can manipulate the tones and frequencies in some really cool ways.” Strick says. “I could never get guitar tracks to sound the way I wanted using a real instrument, but by orchestrating them digitally, they sounded new and original.  For drums, I used Battery 4. Everything, including mixing, was done on my computer.”

This was a pleasing listen and one that I hope gets a larger audience. Ben Strick has a talent both in constructing music, but more importantly in composing highly listenable pieces, play and enjoy. Website Here.

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

Loksop - Background - Loskop’s new single entitled “These Sparks (Featuring Maiya Sykes)” showcases their acutely refined deep house, techno and pop sensibilities, sharpened by spending years DJ’ing in the unique and gritty underground club scene of post-Apartheid Johannesburg. The result is a deeply satisfying, genre-bending track that is made that much more striking with the addition of the massive vocals of Maiya Sykes, who was a 2014 finalist on “The Voice.” The song was released last month on their home turf, and it’s already in Top 40 rotation on 5FM, South Africa’s biggest national radio station.

You can watch the video (here), however it was Loksop's remixes on Soundcloud that gained my interest the most and the one below is just one example and if you like that, or the latest release go have a listen to the other remixes, you are in for a nice surprise.

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

BECOME X XYLO - Keeping it very short (and sweet) we are told - Please enjoy our sophomore release -- BECOME x XYLO 'Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea' -- currently making people dance everywhere!

So we will keep it short and sweet, listen up! it's a good one!

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

Danny Darko ft Lulu Falemara - The words - Silent Cries is a new chilly trap revamp of Danny Darko's song "Silent Cries". Silent Cries is a meaningful song against animal cruelty conceived by Danny and performed by british singer Lulu' Falemara.

I featured Danny Darko back on May 8th, his work continues to astound. This only came my way today and is to good to miss out. Website here.

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

Two Very Different Tunes For Saturday

Ember Isles - Background - Brooklyn's finest trio of delicate harmonies, Ember Isles, released their newest 'Love Song' from their seven track, debut EP, Embers earlier this week.

 'Love Song' was written during a muggy summer in a half furnished room at their first apartment in Brooklyn and speaks to a younger view of love and wanting. The kind of song you might need after a solid weekend of drinking and falling in and out of love with strangers and exes or after reading a Hemingway book, lying in your hammock in the heat of summer.

Ember Isles is a trinity of modern folk writers, lyricists, and instrumentalists. Their yearning vocals and raw lullabies scratch at the ribs and burn the throat like scotch whisky. With personal origins stretching from Scotland to California, and back over the grey Atlantic waters to England, The Isles evoke the foggy dawn seashore and the warm cup of tea you would crave after a forlorn walk down the coast.

Whether on a ukulele, fiddle, or electric guitar, this trio yields a soundscape of resilience and fragility that illustrates the smouldering hearts of these three women. Hannah Read, Tamsin Wilson, and Megan Lui are currently based in Brooklyn, New York.

This is a soothing gentle song that gradually unfolds with a mixture of exquisite vocals over a haunting soundtrack. Just right for a hot summer evening (or a cold winters morning if you prefer).

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

Yuck - Background - are back with a new track and a handful of US shows this August.  The band is currently wrapping up work on their third album, which will be out in early 2016 - "Hold Me Closer" is our first taste of it.      

Yuck's new album has been recorded and produced entirely by the band in their London studio. Their new songs are wild and compact, centred and expansive, forward-thinking and referential. They are the output of a band that loves being a band, loves playing music, and loves touring the world over and over and over again. They're songs that, in short, are exactly the songs that a great band like Yuck should be making.

8/05 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny's Brenda
8/06 - New York, NY - River Rocks / Pier 84
8/07 - Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery
8/08 - Raleigh, NC - Kings
8/09 - Atlanta, GA - The Wrecking Ball.

Now if you prefer your music with a little more kick, Yuck are well placed to deliver. Fuzzy wall of noise vocals, with a tight, no nonsense band, that plays with power and attitude and style.

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

2015 - Out Of Our Inbox - July - Two

Background - Teen Daze will release his first album for Paper Bag Records on August 7th 2015.  'Morning World' was recorded with John Vanderslice at Tiny Telephone, his all-analog studio in San Francisco with co-producer Simon Bridgefoot. Teen Daze has also announced a massive tour of North America.

In 2010, Jamison, the person behind Teen Daze, had no idea what Four More Years would bring. That debut EP, a collection of blissful home recordings, was the work of a carefree 24 year-old. By 2012, things had changed, as they tend to do: relationships dissolved, illness affected his family, windows for outward communication were closing. The gravity of it all made for constant output; he reached for futuristic utopia with All Of Us, Together, found a devotional sanctuary inside The Inner Mansions, and embraced hibernation on Glacier. In hindsight, this was an artist coping through various forms of introverted escapism.

While proud of the material, Jamison sought to break this cycle when approaching the next record. He knew it would take a few leaps of faith, most directly: out of his bedroom... out of his comfort zone. For the first time, he gave up some control, inviting the input of others. Bearing over 30 demos, Jamison joined one of his musical heroes John Vanderslice at Tiny Telephone, his all-analog studio in San Francisco. Beyond the immediate sonic advantages of recording to tape, the sessions with Vanderslice and co-producer Simon Bridgefoot encouraged a new positivity and confidence to his craft.

Teen Daze has a distinctive sound and Jamison clearly has a talent for writing and developing music and lyrics. The album both surprised and pleased me, the featured song is just one of many fine tracks on this release.

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

Background - Up and coming musician Sky Jones has released her debut self-titled EP, and her latest track ‘Linger’.

‘Linger’ is described by Sky as “an anthem of heartbreak”; it’s real, raw, passionate and heavy, and has a melody that is hard to let go of. Written and produced right in her own home with the help of a close friend, the creation of this track is a “really deep personal song” for Sky. It’s a track where the lyrics flew freely and Sky has been amazed how the track “just came together”. 

Said of the production of the song, “I had a definite plan of how I wanted it to sound, but I let my friend have a go with it and when I heard what she did with it I was like, oh my goodness, so we continued working on it, and here we are.” This single is due to be added to her next album which she is currently writing and recording.

The fresh Auckland, NZ based songstress crafts powerful and emotional tones, described as “that dark kind, like Florence and the Machine.”  Her brilliantly strong voice and heartfelt stories she tells in her songs leave your skin tingling; Sky’s music has been said to be “brooding and deep lyrically and emotionally but engulfing musically and big." Website Here.

Sky Jones has one powerful voice and yet somehow it does not dominate over the music but rather compliments the soundtrack. In my opinion this is a really mature and well produced song, it is emotionally charged and given enough exposure could be really successful.

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

Background - Color Collage announces debut album, 'Pieced Together', via Paper Garden Records on August 7th. Color Collage started as a side project for Shane Conerty while living in Asheville, North Carolina playing in a touring band called Now You See Them in late 2010. After NYST was put on hiatus, Conerty relocated back to Brooklyn where he currently resides. The project was initially based on sampling mp3's of brand new indie music that Conerty found on blogs and making unique, original remixes of them. 

After two well received mixtapes, the music of Color Collage (Formerly Leann Grimes) is once again shifting gears. The current focus of the project is taking the indie pop songwriting aspects of Now You See Them and applying them to the mid-fi, dusty electronic sound of Color Collage. The result is something that Conerty is currently describing as "Electronic Doo Wop", and is a fresh sound that is unlike anything floating around at the moment. Facebook page Here.

Having heard just three songs from this album, I am totally hooked on Color Collage's music and cannot wait to hear more. 'Electronic Doo Wop' is a fantastic description for some really creative and 'must here more' music. '2048' was on the EP and is on the album, this is one gem of a song, there will be more! Keep an eye on their Facebook page for tour details.

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

Background - Stolen Jars is the indie music project of Cody Fitzgerald and Molly Grund. Inspired by acts as diverse as Sufjan Stevens, Elvis Costello, and Dirty Projectors, the music is a vibrant mixture of looping intricate guitar lines and floating melodies all brought to life by a live band featuring Elena Juliano, Connor McGuigan, Matt Marsico and Tristan Rodman.
  
Fitzgerald and Grund are building off the success of Stolen Jars' self-titled album released in 2011. The single off that album, "Driving," was featured in an international Apple iPad commercial and was awarded Song of the Week by Alt Mag. Their sophomore album Kept is decidedly more ambitious. Fitzgerald composed and layered tracks in his bedroom, tinkering to ensure precision. He and Grund then worked together to build vocal melodies around the tracks.  
  
Over the course of the last year, Stolen Jars has been performing regularly in the Northeast, including shows with Sofar Sounds, at Baby's All Right in Brooklyn, and at Brandeis College's Springfest where they opened for St. Lucia, ILOVEMAKONNEN and Jessie J. In addition, Fitzgerald has been working as a film composer on features such as The Rewrite (2015) and Hard Sell (2015).

Tour Dates:
7/23 - Pianos - New York, NY
8/5 - AS220 - Providence, RI
8/7 - Elvis Guesthouse - New York, NY (Album Release show) 
8/15 - The Space - New Haven, CT
8/28 - Arlene's Grocery - New York, NY
8/29 - All Sounds - Bloomfield, NJ

There is a saying in Britain "you wait ages for a bus and then three come along together". Well I may not have been waiting ages for some really appealing music, but going through those chosen for this feature, I can't help but feel spoilt by the sheer quality and Stolen Jars really are part of that. They are a musical delight.

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

Background - Walking Through The Fire is the debut single from Indierock five piece Timber Bones. The Bone's Boys write music with a saying in mind "Feel what you play, play what you feel." Focusing on an emotion or memory they write with the intention to capture that moment. Working in studio with producer Caleb James imbued the track with a little something more. “Recording with Timber Bones was an absolute blast and it definitely came through on the single."

"The song came out sounding like a young Michael Jackson threw a block party on Sesame Street with Elton John and Elmo jamming out on the keys. It's such a blast to play live, I love seeing people from different walks of life jumping around together, this track really gets the crowd moving." Says Kendall, Lead Guitarist. Kurt's catchy piano lines paired with Kendall's cheerful skanks imbue the air with an infectiously playful vibe. Sam and Anson make the wheels on the big groove bus go round with a rock-solid funky rhythm while Luke conducts the whole occasion with a powerful golden tone and some mean, lean tambourine.

Timber Bones have spread the love from Brisbane to Byron Bay and now all the way down to Melbourne. Inspired by classic music icons such as Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and almost all of the others the Bones Boys are avid lovers of all music. More recently their talents have been cultivated by bands such as Half Moon Run, Band of Skulls, Delicate Steve and Tame Impala. An "electrifying" live show will have you on your feet moving and grooving, rubbing shoulders with future friends. Timber Bones are currently planning a tour from Melbourne all the way up to the Sunshine Coast this summer. Keep your ears up and the beers cold, it's not to be missed. “Walking Through The Fire” by Timber Bones will be released 24th July 2015.

Just in case I have been to gentle on your ears in this round up we can go up tempo with Timber Bones. There is an 'upbeat freshness' to this song and an undeniable party feel, all in all a great way to finish any new music feature.

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

Genre Hopping Wednesday

Steady Legend - Background - Steady Legend is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Michael Mancuso. Originally from North Carolina, Mancuso spent his high school years a trombone player touring around the Southeast with various acts. After high school, he attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, NC studying music, where he picked up bass, guitar, drums, and keys while attending frequent jam sessions in the musical hotbed tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains. After graduation, he moved to Austin to create a band that could handle a menagerie of different styles and blend it together into a fun, dance-friendly show. In Spring 2011, he met singer Debora Otero through a chance Craigslist ad and the band was formed.

Releasing their heavy hitting self-titled debut album in March 2015, the record takes listeners on a journey though melodic horn features, chant choruses, epic guitar solos, catchy vocal riffs, and everything in between. From the upbeat soul sound of “No Troubles” to the mysterious reggae vibes of “Mirrors” to the the catchy swing/ska finale of “The Best For Last”, one thing is certain - the future is bright for this young group.

Although their debut album came out in March, I didn't wan't to miss out on featuring this fine band. Sometimes upbeat Ska just hits the spot as does the song below, from a quality album, that I feel is worth another plug along the way. Website Here.

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

BLiNDNESS - Background - Formed in 2008, Blindness features Beth Rettig (vocals, programming, noise), Emma Quick (bass, noise), and Debbie Smith (guitar, feedback,noise), the latter being guitarist for 90’s bands Curve and Echobelly and, later, Snowpony.
Taking sonic tips from The Jesus and Mary Chain as well as My Bloody Valentine and with the hook sensibility of PJ Harvey. 

Blindness are a band with a machine gun etiquette, showing "exquisite warmth" in their "seductive dark wave electro pop." The songs on their forthcoming debut album ‘Wrapped In Plastic" on Saint Marie Records will take you on an adrenaline fuelled, rollercoaster ride of beautiful chaos.

The album is due out on July 24th and the above is a fair reflection from a band who drift around the shoegaze genre, dipping into other places and confronting the listener with a power house of sounds. Fans of the name dropped artists above, really should give this band a careful listen.

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

Malka (NYC-Peru) - Background - New York City-based psychedelic dreampop band Malka presented their debut EP, The Constant State, back in March 2015. Recorded at both APT Studio (NYC) and Elohino studio (NJ), mixed by Darko Saric, and mastered at 825 Studios by Grammy Award-winning engineer Butch Jones (Madonna, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop, The Gun Club, B-52s), The Constant State takes listeners on a genre-melding journey, ebbing and flowing through the realms of dreampop, post-rock, nugaze, and psychedelic rock.

The songs are evocative both musically and lyrically, touching on metaphysical, existential and interpersonal subject matter with an honesty that resonates to an emotional core. Their music is a reflection of the triumph and tragedy of the world, compelling us to look deeper into the realms of our consciousness. Malka is trying to stretch the concept of songs to make them sound more like emotional lapses of time. The vocal melodies assume an instrumental form and transcend language, adding transparency to bilingual Spanish-English lyrics shared between three lead vocalists.

OK if you have read the above and are still trying to work out just how this band might sound, take a listen to the featured track and then anticipate that they do a lot more besides and you will be pretty near to the genre spanning sounds Malka produce. Website Here.

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

Oh Geronimo - Background - Not too long ago, my basement bedroom flooded as a result of heavy rainfall and snow melt. This happened twice during the transitional turmoil between Ontario's sombre winter and damp spring. It had a much more tragic and lasting effect than I anticipated, since many sentimental items were slowly destroyed by mould. We wrote these songs about it. 

As a child, it can be easy to immerse yourself in a moment. As an adult, regret and anxiety and stress get in the way. My friends and I have a project that provides an escape from the daily rigours of modern life. Together we craft songs about the experiences that have defined our lives. In order to fully express ourselves, we ignore all of the distractions, and free fall into the moment. Oh Geronimo.
We all need an escape.

A song that tells a story about an event that caused distress and yet somehow bounces along in a cheerful way. It should not work, but does, and the second song demonstrates greater depth (oops) from a band to keep an ear or eye out for.

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

Quality Not Quantity - Tuesday Just Got Better

Dirty Hearts - Promo Says - Nothing gets a true-blue Aussie more ready for a cold beer on a hot day than a dose of instantly distinguishable, solid '90s pub rock. Inject a 70s Brit infusion, plus a trio of hard-working blokes and you can begin to imagine what a driving live force Dirty Hearts have become. 

Favourites on the live scene for years now, Dirty Hearts have supported the likes of Violent Soho, DZ Deathrays, You Am I, Velociraptor, British India, Airbourne, Dallas Crane, Magic Dirt and Jebediah. Now, they officially release their debut single 'Louis XIV'. With a sound that demands to be listened to – loudly - 'Louis XIV' embraces distorted vocals, a decadent guitar solo and a driving belt-it-out chorus as singer Matt Doe and the rest of the band wail a catchy 'get high on my own' lyric. 

With more shows to be announced later this year and an official release of Dirty Hearts' self-titled debut EP on the way, there's not stopping these lads as they win over both the cleanest and dirtiest of hearts towards a growing '90s pub rock revival.

Beehive Candy says - Crack open the beers and enjoy. As the TV advert tells us 'it does exactly what it says on the tin'.

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

Slow Turismo - and we are told - Luring in listeners with infectious melodies and rolling grooves, Slow Turismo is a dynamic indie band from the Nations Capital (yep Aus) already making waves on home soil and abroad. The four-piece band creates the kind of indie pop that alternative listeners are looking to hear. Similar to the bold work of Alt-J, Cloud Control and LCD Soundsystem, they write music that nestles in between several genres.

Slow Turismo are proud to release ‘I Sit Down As Soon As I Get Up’ the lead single from their debut self-titled EP. This latest release was recorded between Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne, and a log cabin hidden away in the hills surrounding Robertson. 

Having spent time with Magoo for pre-production and tracking in 2014, the band have settled into their sound and, with the help of Aaron Dobos, self-produced ‘I Sit Down As Soon As I Get Up’ over the first few months of 2015. ‘We really got a lot out of our time with Magoo last year, committing to sounds during the recording process became a production focus for the project. Being able to get away to the cabin was also a really great excuse to delve into the tracking whole-heartedly and let the songs become their own.’ “I Sit Down As Soon As I Get Up” will be released 24th July 2015.

This is a catchy and well crafted song and yes there is an element of Alt-J in some of the structuring, however that cannot be a bad thing. One listen will not be enough!

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

Painted Palms - their words - Painted Palms' second full-length album, Horizons, exudes a sense of confidence and purpose that is only present when two creators share a singular focus and absolute trust in each other's talents. On Horizons, emotional states are suspended between light and dark, driven by the tension of efficient song structures. This week the band shares the synth-laden "Tracers," melding '60s psych pop with heavy-footed '80s drum machines. 

Though vocalist Chris Prudhomme and producer Reese Donohue chose to collaborate on their second full-length by sending song ideas back and forth over e-mail, just as they did when crafting their 2014 debut Forever, Horizons marks the first time the duo has expanded their sound beyond the bedroom by stepping into the studio. Mixed by former DFA house engineer Eric Broucek (LCD Soundsystem, Classixx), Horizons engages with a diverse sonic palette on each track: '60s psych-pop, '80s synths, hypnotic vibes of the kind induced by Bjork and early '90s Creation Records bands, and the trunk-rattling minimalism of Southern hip-hop.

Horizons is a meditation on achieving balance in a place where things are always changing, and there are no real ends. As a result, Painted Palms refines and executes their best work to date.

Somewhere along the line 80's synth pop has crept back in, which at one level should be quite alarming. However with Painted Palms that's just one element and thankfully not the old over produced sound that I find painful to listen to these days. This is actually a breath of fresh air and one well worth a feature.

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

Flagship - cut and paste time - North Carolina band Flagship debut their new single, “I Want You” off their highly anticipated new EP Faded (out July 10 via Bright Antenna Records). In support of their new EP, the band will play July support dates with Good Old War in The must-see tour in support of their new EP, kicks off July 12 in Cleveland, and culminates with two California dates at the end of the month.

Of the new EP, Drake Margolnick (one half of Flagship along with Michael Finster) says, “It is the most mature writing we have done. We didn’t feel like we were writing songs, just writing lines. It’s just real life; that’s all it is. That’s what we’d like to create; something that’ll be around for a long time and people will still listen to it. Leave a good legacy, write good music and have a lot of fun doing it.” Flagship is best known for its impressive blend of pop-minded melodies and passionate, aggressive performances.  The band sifts through the pastoral folk rock graces of bands like Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear, with occasional detours into wide-eyed pop catharsis. Since releasing their debut album, Flagship has shared stages with the likes of Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, The Shins, Iron & Wine, Little Daylight, Terraplane Sun, The Wombats, and others.

Good Old War support dates:

7/12 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues (Cambridge Room)
7/14 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
7/15 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s
7/17 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
7/19 – Alta, WY @ Targhee Festival
7/20 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
7/21 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux
7/23 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
7/24 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
7/27 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
7/28 – West Hollywood, CA @ The Roxy Theatre

This is a great song, it has that drive that makes watching a live performance of them very attractive (not a plea for tickets I'm to far away). Another one that demands a second (and third...) play.

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

Smashing Pumpkins - Columbiahalle, Berlin 2007 (Internet Archive).

From the Internet Archive this is the Smashing Pumpkins live at Columbiahalle, Berlin, Germany back on the 6th June 2007.

The Smashing Pumpkins are of course an American alternative rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1988. Formed by frontman Billy Corgan (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and James Iha (lead guitar), the band included Jimmy Chamberlin (drums) and D'arcy Wretzky (bass guitar) in its original incarnation. It has undergone many line-up changes over the course of its existence, with the current line up including Corgan, rhythm guitarist Jeff Schroeder and Chamberlin.

From Wikipedia we have the following details for the period prior to and around this concert tour - On June 21, 2005, the day of the release of his album TheFutureEmbrace, Corgan took out full-page advertisements in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times to announce that he planned to reunite the band. "For a year now", Corgan wrote, "I have walked around with a secret, a secret I chose to keep. But now I want you to be among the first to know that I have made plans to renew and revive the Smashing Pumpkins. I want my band back, and my songs, and my dreams". Corgan and Chamberlin were verified as participants in the reunion, but there was question as to whether other former members of the band would participate.

In April 2007, Iha and Auf der Maur separately confirmed that they were not taking part in the reunion. Chamberlin would later state that Iha and Wretzky "didn't want to be a part of" the reunion. The Smashing Pumpkins performed live for the first time since 2000 on May 22, 2007, in Paris, France. There, the band unveiled new touring members: guitarist Jeff Schroeder, bassist Ginger Reyes, and keyboardist Lisa Harriton. That same month, "Tarantula" was released as the first single from the band's forthcoming album. On July 7, the band performed at the Live Earth concert in New Jersey.

The band's new album, Zeitgeist, was released that same month on Reprise Records, entering the Billboard charts at number two and selling 145,000 copies in its first week. Zeitgeist received mixed reviews, with much of the criticism targeted at the absence of half of the original lineup. The album divided the Pumpkins' fanbase. Corgan would later admit, "I know a lot of our fans are puzzled by Zeitgeist. I think they wanted this massive, grandiose work, but you don't just roll out of bed after seven years without a functioning band and go back to doing that".

The band are touring in the USA this July and August (2015) tour details can be found on their website (link below).

Recording Details: 16bit: MBHO MBP 603 A / KA 200 N > Sound Devices MP-2 > Edirol R-09. Lineage Master WAVs > dEdit > FLAC.

Sound Quality: Extremely Good.

Set List:

Part 1:
01 (Intro)
02 United States
03 Bleeding the Orchid
04 Neverlost
05 Stand Inside Your Love
06 Today
07 > Bullet with Butterfly Wings
08 Home
09 Silverf##k > The End [The Doors] (tease)
10 Glass and the Ghost Children (with Uli Jon Roth)
11 [Fade Out]

Part 2:
01 [Fade In]
02 Rock You Like a Hurricane [Scorpions] (tease)
03 For God and Country
04 Thirty-three
05 Rocket
06 Winterlong
07 To Sheila
08 Tonight, Tonight
09 Tarantula
10 Starz
11 Zero
12 Annie-Dog
13 Drown
14 Hummer
15 Lucky 13
16 That's the Way (My Love Is)
17 1979
18 [Fade Out]

Part 3:
01 [Fade In]
02 Disarm
03 Untitled
04 (Encore Break #1)
05 Cherub Rock
06 Muzzle
07 (Encore Break #2)
08 Gossamer (with Uli Jon Roth) > Who Do You Love [Bo Diddley] (tease).

Comments: This recording is also available for streaming or download on the Internet Archive in the following formats - FLAC, MP3 and OGG VORBIS - HERE.

Band Official Website: HERE.

Stream Full Concert Below:

Sundays Alternative Take - For Your Ears Only

Nightriders - Background - Boston-based house/nu-disco duo Nightriders kicks off the summer with five sizzling remixes of their track “Demand You,” taken from their February released EP ‘Until We Are Together.’ For the remix EP, the duo enlists heavyweights like Grammy-winning house music pioneer Ralphi Rosario, in-demand NYC producer/remixer, DJ, and Tiki Disco founder Eli Escobar, DJ/producer and Get Up! Recordings co-founder W. Jeremy, nu-disco maverick Alcala, and newcomer Jamie de Von to cleverly reinvent their slo-mo sleeper hit into a scorching summertime anthem covering the spectrum from deep tech house and nu-disco/indie dance and jackin’ Chicago house with hints of Detroit techno.

It was a tough choice on what remix to feature, the 'Alcala Remix' wins by a whisker for my ears, the variety of interpretation across all five versions is impressive. On iTunes Here.

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

Thomas Deil - Background - A young  DJ/Producer from Italy,with a Tropical House remix of KSHMR - Jammu, and looking for yours and my vote over on Spinnin' Records Talent Pool (Here) & that's all I know!

Worthy of a feature by us at the very least, this is a very cool remix. I will leave you of course to decide if you want to vote over at Spinnin' Records.

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

BluBird - Background - “Good music is its own genre. It doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that.” So says Dejko, one half of Slovenian live-electronic outfit Blubird. Hailing from a part of the world perhaps best known for language barriers and border disputes, Blubird’s ethos is as unifying  as possible: they’re looking to blur the final gaps between DJ set and live act.

It’s a format that appears to be working. The likes of Klingande and Bakermat rate their tunes, as, it seems, does YouTube. The duo’s debut Emotions track featuring a live Sax earned over 100,000 plays in a couple of weeks. “We’re the kind of guys that’ll be playing tech house at a house party somewhere at Slovenia, then suddenly from the kitchen one of our dudes walks in with a trumpet and just starts going for it” explains other half of the pair Damjan.

The pair’s live sets in Slovenia, Croatia and Barcelona have already won them a cult following, all based on this unstructured, is-it-a-band, are-they-DJs approach which fluctuates between DJ set, live instruments, MCs, laid back tropical house or injections of tech house. ‘It’s not about being in a superclub, it’s about being at the best house party you’ve been at in your life..’

Not only YouTube videos, you are also spoilt for choice on Soundcloud where there are some outstanding tracks by Blubird. Came up with this tune to feature, it is just one dimension of their art.

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

Kat Vinter - Background - Islands Remix EP. Vimes' remix of Kat Vinter's 'Downtime' has offered a lighter, more summery perspective of the original. Like dappled light dancing among the shadows, the sounds used create an atmosphere of buoyancy without losing the lush textures and intimacy of the former. New hooks are created by playfully pitched and stretched vocals, as they become less a plea for intimacy, than a celebration of it. 'Islands (Remix EP)' is out July 10th on Culvert Music.

Between the urban creative hub of Berlin and a small cabin located deep in the woodlands of the Swedish border to Norway the team has since been crafting layers of hip hop inspired beats, tribal drums, waves of synths and aching ethereal vocals. Themes such as isolation, intimacy, fate, deception and obsession surface and re-occur. The result is a lush and mysterious soundscape of brooding, beat driven pop music with moments of darkness and light, beauty and tension.

This is an incredible EP including the original version of 'Islands' along with remixes and 'Sooner Or Later' and 'Downtime' both of which have also been remixed with stunning results.

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

Babayaga DJ and Josh Blackwell - Background - Babayaga DJ and Josh Blackwell combines a melodic house vibes with deep sounding drums and synths to create a very cool dance floor oriented track. A super sexy deep vocal line and sporadic synth elements rise and fall over and over while the percussion keeps the entire ship afloat and rocking.

Short and sweet background info. Actually this has a timeless dance floor feel, along with it's own fresh and breezy style, I reckon you will be unable to stay still to this one.

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