Friday's Alternative Take: Ezrato - Max Cooper - Totally Dubwise

Ezrato - Noir (ft. Stella Rhymes).

Background - ‘Noir’ is an upbeat jazz/house hybrid track from the young Australian producer Ezrato. Incorporating musical elements inspired from the neo-noir film genre, the song revolves around the dangers of having an addiction to a person one admires and the grave consequences that can occur when things don’t work out. Ezrato (born Eric Christopher) begun his musical journey through taking up piano at age 4.

After developing an interest in electronic music during his teenage years, Christopher grew a passion for producing covers of popular EDM tracks, recreating the sound design elements from scratch and collaborating with local vocalists. The young producer also gained an online following through regularly posting self-arranged piano tutorials for popular new music on YouTube.

Growing up in a family of musicians, Christopher later decided to utilize his musical experience as a pianist and producer to write his own original compositions. ‘Noir’ is an original track by Ezrato featuring vocals from Australian singer, StellaRhymes. Production first started towards the beginning of 2016 in Tasmania, Australia and after being developed intermittently for almost a year, the track was released in December 2016.

“‘Noir’ is a combination of two of my favourite music genres - jazz and house. The idea came to me when watching one of my favourite TV series - Gotham. Centering around a detective assigned to dispel crime from an anarchic city, I was transfixed by the edgy, Chandler-esque and slightly anachronistic atmosphere of the show’s setting. This inspired me to try and embody this neo-noir film approach in a song. Lyrically, I drew from my own experience of addiction with both love and lust. To create cryptic layers and fit with the neo-noir theme, I utilised metaphors using terminology often found in the murder-mystery genre of film and other media. The result is an ambitious and somewhat sultry jazz/house hybrid that sets a very specific atmosphere,” says Christopher on the inspiration of the track. Facebook here.

The introduction of the above promo piece possibly says it all by stating "Noir - is an upbeat jazz/house hybrid track". Well maybe everything, I would add that, the song really does mix these genres and very cleverly, as if both styles have been put in blender and perfectly mixed together, vocally and musically.

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Max Cooper - Order From Chaos.

Background - Emergence is an epic, operatic, ambitious amalgamation between audio-visual show, scientific research project, art installation and IDM record, the debut release on Max Cooper’s Mesh label and his second full-length release.

The record was conceived as a soundtrack to a new series of 11 pieces of video art, each exploring a different facet of the concept of ‘emergence’. The full A/V live show will premiere on the road with the Autumn dates below, including Mutek in Japan. Together the work is a marriage between the cosmic awe of a Carl Sagan film and the musical wonderment of Sigur Ros, made for meditating on the mystery of our emotional connection to fundamental natural form.

Cooper collaborated with film composer Tom Hodge and vocalist Kathrin deBoer to put together a rich piece of music that incorporates post-rock, Warp-y brain-dance, hi-def digital techno and shimmering neo-classical.  Few musicians are as qualified as Max to tackle as profound an idea as ‘emergence’ through electronic music. Emergence is the story of the development of the universe, the way in which, very complex things like human beings where created from the immaterial by the action of simple laws.

Max received a Ph.D in computational biology in 2008 with research on the evolution of gene regulatory networks and was a geneticist at UCL before he switched to music. To this end he collaborated with artists Andy Lomas, Nick Cobby and Henning M Lederer plus mathematician Dugan Hammock from the University of Massachusetts. In each chapter of the AV, the focus is on the beauty of the natural laws and processes in operation, with a mixture of real data visualisation and films. It interprets the deep structures and principles that give rise to the familiar physical universe, such as symmetries, the distribution of the primes, waves, spatial dimensionality, and the action of the physical forces on matter. Later films tackle the emergence of biological forms, thought and eventually a darker turn into the structures and systems of human civilisation.

Max has synthesised his skill as a producer and his deep interests in science to create a Hadron Collider-grade ambient techno world, in the lineage of The Future Sounds of London’s ‘Lifeforms’ for 2016. It’s also one of the most beautiful records you’ll hear all year. Website here.

With 'Order From Chaos' we get a fabulous video that matches the intricate and beautiful music. One of the best examples of music and art (and more) coming together, that I have seen and heard this year. Emergence has become a must have for me.

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Totally Dubwise - "Riddim Up-Rewind & Come Again" (Label: Totally Dubwise).

Skarra Mucci, Sugar Minott, Mr Williamz, Clinton Sly, FleCK, Marcus Visionary, Tippa Irie and more.

Background - With the amazing response we had to "Riddim Up" last year we decided it would only be fitting to sign the year off with another heavy weight LP!

The release features music both old and new as well as a few new remixes of our back catalogue.

Featuring a wicked selection of Producers & Artists from up & comers to straight veterans, making for a refreshing mix of sounds and perspectives on the Roots sound we all love. Facebook here, Bandcamp here.

'Riddim Up-Rewind & Come Again' is a melting pot of  reggae and dub styles and ideas, that lovers of these genres really should check out. To help, you can get a taster of each song and the new remixes below, enjoy!


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BeeVids: David Luning - Bloom Twins

David Luning - Gonna Forget About You.

Background - David Luning was studying film scoring at the Berklee College of Music when he first heard the music of John Prine. As Luning recalls, "A couple of friends invited me over to share some songs at their apartment, and that was the first time I'd ever really listened to Americana music or folk or country or whatever you want to call it. They showed me John Prine, and it just resonated with me so much. I was like, 'Oh my god, this is what I have to do with my life.' I just figured it out in that moment." He subsequently dropped out of school and took to the road as a troubadour, performing at open mics and eventually opening for Dave and Phil Alvin, Jackie Greene and other artists.

Says Luning, "Originally, this song was actually going to be a happy party song... 'Gonna shine my shoes and go out on the town'... But I never finished it in that vein. A little while later, when I was in a low place, I revisited this song and rewrote it from the perspective of a man who is trying to convince himself that he is moving on, though it is clear that he hasn't."

John Prine forced David Luning to drop out of college. Not at gunpoint or anything-the two had never even met-but the effect of hearing the songwriting legend's music for the first time had an equally compelling effect on Luning, who was studying film scoring at the Berklee College of Music in Boston at the time. Now an accomplished artist in his own right, Luning is preparing to release his most dynamic and gripping collection to date, 'Restless,' and he can trace it all back to one fateful night that changed everything.

"A couple of friends invited me over to share some songs at their apartment, and that was the first time I'd ever really listened to Americana music or folk or country or whatever you want to call it," remembers Luning. "They showed me John Prine, and it just resonated with me so much. I was like, 'Oh my god, this is what I have to do with my life.' I just figured it out in that moment."

His self-released debut album, 'Just Drop On By,' garnered acclaim from both critics and fellow musicians alike, with country megastar Keith Urban hailing Luning's "staunch originality." Songs from the album landed numerous film and TV placements, most recently on NBC's 'Grimm,' and Luning's reputation for exhilarating live performances earned him dates with luminaries like Jackie Greene, Dave and Phil Alvin, and Elvin Bishop, along with a slew of festival performances up and down the West Coast. Website here.

With the John Prine references in the above promo, I hoped David Luning would live up to expectations and with 'Gonna Forget About You' I reckon he does. His vocals are just so right for Americana type music and the soundtrack is gentle and understated making this a very addictive song.

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Bloom Twins - Set Us Free.

Background - Born and raised in a small town outside of Kiev in the Ukraine, 20-year-old identical twins, Sonia and Anna Kuprienko, were both classically trained. After releasing their debut track ‘Fahrenheit’ in 2013 Bloom Twins had a double impact on both music and fashion, opening the doors to profile pieces in publications such as Vogue, i-D, Wonderland, Hunger, The Guardian, Daily Mail, and The Sunday Times.

Over the last two years, Bloom Twins have continued to build their global presence in both music and fashion, playing live shows around the world and releasing a number of tracks – the most recent of which, ‘Amnesia’ was championed by The Independent. Bloom Twins also completed arena tours of both the UK and Italy with Duran Duran in 2015 and 2016 respectively, and – newly signed with Models1 – they have just returned from Tokyo where they completed fashion shoots for Vogue, Elle, Harpers Bazaar and Numero Japan.

The exciting plot, which takes the viewer through a series of breathtaking extreme sports scenarios, features Go-Pro headcam footage from skiing, bungee jumping, scuba-diving and zip-wiring to name a few, and was shot in several countires around the world including the USA, UK, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, the Maldives and of course, Ukraine.

20-year-old identical twins, Sonia and Anna Kuprienko co-wrote this track with talented Fiona Bevan and Max McElligott, then handed it over to Greg Fitzgerald for some production magic. It was the first track they wrote after returning from Ukraine where they got stuck for half a year during the uprise. The track is not political at all, rather a call for freedom, but it was certainly influenced by everything that was happening in Ukraine and the fact that they couldn't return to their new home - London.

On the making and narrative behind the video, Bloom Twins say; "We tend to forget about the simple pleasures in life that make us happy. The world is our oyster. It’s only needed to be prized open to be enjoyed, with the pearl as the prize. Life should be about love, peace, happiness and freedom, and a home for it all is our beautiful planet.”

Their debut album, which has been recorded and produced by Duran Duran’s Nick Rhodes, will be out in 2017. Facebook here.

'Set Us Free' is a fine electro pop song that like the twins, is already getting a lot of attention. Vocals are good, however for me it's the soundtrack that makes the track a little more special and worth a share (honest!).

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Double Take: Pink Milk - The Vernons

Pink Milk - Drömmens Skepp.

Background - Hailing from Sweden, Pink Milk are a captivating rock concoction. Influenced by the dreamy shoegaze and gothic minimalism of 90s acts like The Jesus and Mary Chain, Cocteau Twins and Cranes - as well as cult movies and series like Twin Peaks and True Romance - the band’s gloomy, glittering sound casts a languid, moody spell that invites addiction and demands repeated listens...

This latest track ‘Drömmens skepp’ (Ship Of A Dream) is their tortuously dark take on a traditional Swedish folk song…(Staffan Percy’s 1979 version of a Bo Setterling poem). Originally commissioned by Swedish Television, Pink Milk's natural first interpretation was deemed too unhinged, too subversive for prime time consumption and thus was banished to the realm of the underground before resurfacing today to bewitch listeners once more…

Swirling and crashing like a twisted fairytale lullaby or a mermaid siren calling from the cavernous ocean, the band have managed to transform this sweet, traditional song into an apocalyptic assault of syrupy, existential noise. The song describes a heavenly, ghost ship glimmering on the horizon and Pink Milk themselves take a devilish turn across thunderous waters with this one, their first since finishing their Swedish tour and the first before playing a number of select UK shows in early 2017. Website here, and Facebook here.

'Drömmens Skepp' is just something else. Dark and brooding does not come into it, and to describe it as atmospheric would be a case of over simplification. I just love this uncompromising song, they have observed their influences in detail and taken the music further, more please.

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The Vernons - She's Not Mine.

Background - Fresh off the back of a return run of shows, Gold Coast blues rockers The Vernons have just unveiled their video for pensive new single 'She's Not Mine'.

While the clip paints an expressive picture of love gone wrong, this isn't your ordinary break-up song. Front man Jonny Nyst explains, "A break-up can spur a roller-coaster ride of emotions and that's really what the song is all about. One minute you can feel completely regretful and the next minute you can feel utterly betrayed. She's Not Mine really emphasises the darker times of all of that."

First hitting stages in 2012 and quickly notching up a well deserved 2014 Big Day Out slot, The Vernons have since supported the likes of Hoodoo Gurus, Wolfmother, Stonefield, The Rubens, Gang of Youths and more. With three EP's under their belt that include the Queensland Music Award winning track 'To The Sky' and sizzling single 'White Wine' (which is now set to crack 300,000 YouTube hits), The Vernons are crafting a genuine catalogue that offers up classic feeling modern blues.

Bunkered down in the studio for most of 2016, writing from a darker palate as first taster 'She's Not Mine' showcases, The Vernons are set to storm into 2017 and release their most focused material to date in the form of EP #4. 'She's Not Mine' is out now via all good digital retailers. Website here and Facebook here.

With a funky and feisty feel throughout 'She's Not Mine' packs a whole load of power and energy, in what is one very cool and unpretentious piece of rock music.

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Tuesday's Two: Quiet Boy - December's Children

Quiet Boy - Redeem.

Background - Redeem is the first single to be revealed from Quiet Boy’s debut EP Earwig, due for release in Spring 2017. The track showcases a bold song writing and vocal approach that comes directly from the heart. It's hooky, infectious, heartbreaking dream-electronica.

Quiet Boy is a solo project produced by Nick Trepka. Envision Scott Walker soundtracking Stranger Things: This is a visionary reimagining of childhood led by one of the UK’s finest musical creatives. Quiet Boy's multi-instrumentalist band are: Russell Ditchfield, Emily Sills, Alexandra Braithwaite and Stuart Roberts.

Quiet Boy describes his music as a ‘coming of age symphony’. Drawing on his vast musical memory from nursery rhymes through to contemporary electronic music, he chews up and spits out influences, creating something utterly new. Quiet Boy is a project born out of nostalgia, but far from throwback. Website here, Facebook here.

'Redeem' mixes intricate music with more rhythmic vocals and just unfolds from there. Changing tempo and style along the way kept me intrigued and leaves me looking forwards to more.

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December's Children - Waiting Room.

Background - “Waiting Room” is a re-imagining of Fugazi's hardcore classic in December’s Children’s unique Americana style. The Waiting Room EP has received strong early support from commercial and public stations in the U.S. that supported the last album, radio play in the UK and Canada, and regional print press coverage. The band has two television appearances scheduled for 2017, including a full episode feature on Prairie Musicians on PBS. A tour in support of the new album is scheduled for spring of 2017, building on their very successful 2015 tour in the upper Midwest.

December's Children saw tremendous success in 2015 with their debut album, Skeletons with over 100,000 streams and downloads, airplay in over 20 states and three foreign countries, and is still growing at a progressively faster rate. Waiting Room follows it up with a wide ranging EP that is led off with an Americana style cover of Fugazi's seminal classic. The album also includes four originals - "Suit of Gold", "Dogs of War", "Infinity + 1", and "Fallout". The group's third Brink Records release will be out next summer. Thank you for your support of this truly unique group!

Two versions of the video for "Waiting Room" were produced. One has been released and the other, a colorized variant of the original, came out on December 16, 2016. The video for "Suit of Gold" comes out in January. Website here and Facebook here.

If your going to re-imagine a song then an Americana makeover seems as good a place to go as any. December's Children have done just that with 'Waiting Room' whilst retaining the energy and passion of the original.

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Quality Not Quantity: Miss Chain & The Broken Heels - Colette Kavanagh

Miss Chain & The Broken Heels - Uh Uh / Standing The Night.

Background - It’s been quiet for some time for Miss Chain and The Broken Heels, the extensive touring after their second album (The Dawn, released by Burger, Bachelor and Tre Accordi), band members went their own way to persue solo careers, starting a booking agency, buidling a studio, and just taking a breath, italian style. After few months things started to get togetheragain, they did some shows in the spring of 2016 and baboom: Here is their new classic two song single, fresh and new, as if there hasnt been some kind of hiatus. 

You can easily hear it exactly 1 second after you let the needle drop on the Side A track, after few chords Miss Chain and the gang ooozes a warm feeling into your head and heart! Hell, they are back, with all the goodtime melodies enriched with their typical melancholy vibe. While the first track is a classic uptempo powerpop tune, the flipside presents a slower hipshaker, and although the velocity has been taken out this one is still a fine, mellow mood maker that leaves you hungry for more!
 
This single has been pressed in limited edition, so you should hurry to snatch a copy. Both albums has been sold out as did most of the other releases of their meanwhile huge discography. A couple of shows are planned for the last two months of 2016, a bigger tour through europe is in the works for 2017, as well as a third full length. Bandcamp here and Facebook here.

'Uh Uh' and 'Standing The Night' are a couple of upbeat Rock'N'Rollers that just groove along, with a classic and oh so pleasing feeling, from start to finish.

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Colette Kavanagh - Hold On.

Background - Colette Kavanagh is a singer-songwriter originally from Blessington, Co. Wicklow.  She now lives in Calverstown, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare in Ireland.

She attended the Holy Faith Convent in the Coombe, Dublin 8 where she was taught singing and dancing from the age of 7 by the Holy Faith nuns and grew up with her father playing piano and her mother singing along while encouraging all the children to join in Sunday afternoon singing around the piano.  
  
In 2007 Colette was asked to be a guest singer on a 10 day tour of Ireland with Johnny Cash’s guitarist, Bob Wootton from Nashville, Tennessee.  This tour gave Colette the confidence to begin writing and recording her own songs eventually leading to her debut album ‘Further Down The Line’ drawing on many country influences. Colette has been regularly performing in Dublin and the surrounding counties as well as having many requests to sing at numerous events including RTE television’s ‘Franc’s DIY Brides’. 
  
In 2014 Colette’s song “Rebekah’s Lullaby” was used in a short film “Skunky Dog” written and directed by James Fitzgerald of OIC Media and has won 13 awards to date to include Winner of Best Short Drama at the Royal Television Society Awards in RTE. In November of 2015, Colette started working and recording her new songs with Martin Quinn Producer and Owner of Jam Studios in Kells, Co. Meath which are getting extensive radio and internet airplay on BreezeFM, EastCoastFM, SpiritRadio, SouthEast Radio to name but a few and all across the USA.

Her music videos, including fan-favorites “Hold On”, “Someday” and her latest release “Last Kiss”, have received an especially warm reception in the US market. These videos have appeared on television screens spanning from New York City to Los Angeles and everywhere in between via music video outlets such as Bongo Boy TV, THECOOLTV, R n R TV, Video Diversity and H2O Television, to name a few. Website here.

Colette Kavanagh is another artist who slipped quietly under our radar earlier this year, and the song 'Hold On' is just to fine a piece to ignore. A gentler more middle of the road ballad, may not be the first type of song you might expect here on Beehive Candy, however Colette has such a dreamy melodic voice, so why not!

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Sunday Double: Anousheh - Tobin Sprout

Anousheh - Get to You.

Background - Electro-Pop artist Anousheh has just launched newest buzz-worthy single, "Get To You," for your listening pleasure. Anousheh's fresh style combines Pop sensibilities that offers a unique, and slightly nostalgic sound for your ears. The songstress has been garnering the praise of fans and critics alike who can't get enough of her hypnotic vocals and captivating instrumentation.

Anousheh is known for her epic melodies, and the Grammy-nominated songwriter has captivated audiences both overseas and in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia. Drawing early influences from some of her 90's music idols like Tori Amos, Bjork, and Radiohead, her songwriting style has always been rooted in introspection and metaphor. As an adult, Anousheh's love of pop music, hip hop and indie rock has focused her songwriting into hook-driven, thoughtful pop songs-- and in line with artists like Tove Lo, Ellie Goulding and Halsey. Facebook here and Website here.

With a deep bubbling synth soundtrack Anousheh's vocals melodically glide effortlessly above the soundtrack of 'Get to You'. It's a catchy Electro pop song where both vocals and music compete to hook you in.

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Tobin Sprout - Future Boy Today/Man Of Tomorrow.

Background - How do you bring a child’s curiosity to life? For Tobin Sprout, formerly of indie rock icons Guided by Voices, the answer is to revisit it with the wounded tenor of an aging piano man; someone searching, desperately, for his place in the cosmos. The Universe and Me is Sprout’s sixth solo album; hatched during a seven-year gestation period that included unearthing lost recordings (the single, “Future Boy Today/Man of Tomorrow” for one, was being saved for GBV), and digging through a treasure chest of memories in his home studio in Michigan, where Sprout composed behind his shambling grand piano and trembling, boyish voice. Each home recording was captured live with Sprout’s new band — which led to marvelous imperfections.

The Universe and Me takes  a deliberately primitive approach that focuses on feeling, as opposed to production. The result is a vague bridge  between the ballads of psych-era Beatles,  and the haunting vulnerability of Daniel Johnston’s Hi, How Are You?. It’s no surprise, then,  that Sprout penned and illustrated his own magical children’s books as The Universe and Me  plays like a deceptively dense reimagining of simple subjects like comic books, finding your purpose in life, and growing old.

Many of the 14 tracks acts like a diorama of a boy’s imagination, like “Future Boy/Man of Tomorrow,” which was inspired by Sprout's fascination with superheroes from his childhood. The wistful "When I Was A Boy" is a short, stunning ballad relating childhood grounding to adulthood. “Walk Across the Human Bridge” is a heavy-hitting rocker driven by shredding and lyrics describing the decline of humanity. “Tomorrow From Heaven” is about dealing with the sadness that follows death. Pasted together as a collage, as opposed to a rigid whole, and we have  the soundtrack to Tobin Sprout’s life.

The Universe and Me will be available on Burger Records on February 3rd, with a limited pressing of a baby blue vinyl for the first 300 copies. Following the release, Sprout and his new band will embark on a nationwide tour. This will be his first tour in over a decade, supported by Burger Records, who’ll be reissuing Sprout’s mid-'90s Matador albums — Carnival Boy and Moonflower Plastic — in the months ahead. Website here.

'Future Boy Today/Man Of Tomorrow' is an honest rock song with swirls of psychedelic overtones adding a real richness to the piece. This is one of the more energised "full on" songs from the forthcoming album, which mixes the styles and pace of material, whilst delivering fourteen individual and very solid tracks. 

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Genre Wander: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - The Darts - Vibronics meets Conscious Sounds

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Fireproof.

Background - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s 2005 self-released debut album set a precedent for how bands might begin to approach making music independently. The record — which vocalist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Alec Ounsworth wrote entirely by himself— received widespread critical acclaim and was named one of “The 50 Most Important Recordings Of The Decade” by NPR.

In the ensuing years, Ounsworth has continued pushing himself creatively, releasing three additional Clap Your Hands Say Yeah full-lengths (for which he again wrote all of the music and lyrics) and issuing two solo projects. The group has also grown a robust international fanbase: In 2015 alone, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah toured in Latin and South America, Japan and Europe. All of these experiences have helped Ounsworth refine his vision for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, as the group heads into its twelfth year and the release of its fifth album, The Tourist.

Like previous Clap Your Hands Say Yeah records, The Tourist nods to Ounsworth’s musical heroes—a group that includes artists such as John Cale, Robert Wyatt, Tom Waits and Nick Cave. However, this album also shows a natural progression from previous records. “Better Off” and “The Vanity Of Trying” are lush, keyboard-augmented songs, while “A Chance To Cure” and “Ambulance Chaser” are rhythmically askew, and the sighing “Loose Ends” is delicate, acoustic-based folk-rock.

No matter what the style, however, The Tourist‘s arrangements are laser-sharp and deliberate, without feeling labored-over. For example, “Down (Is Where I Want To Be)” combines piano flickers with anxious keyboards, gnarled electric guitars and teeth-baring drums—but yet feels cohesive, not chaotic.

The Tourist emerged from a period where Ounsworth was doing a lot of intense soul-searching, and processing personal events that irrevocably shaped his life and future. But although most of these songs came together during this time of reflection, he considers the record to be cathartic—an exhale of sorts, rather than a collection of songs where he was indulging in self-pity or letting things stagnate or fester.

“The album was a type of purge,” he says. “A purge of certain emotional confusion that manifested itself in the last several years. It was not an easy album to make, by virtue of the fact that it was an emotional time for me.”

Having that space and freedom to explore as part of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is crucial to Ounsworth and a vital part of the band’s identity. As anyone who’s seen him perform a living room show will attest, this mindset also often results in songs with dramatically different arrangements. But as a musician and leader of an independent project, Ounsworth prides himself on honesty across all aspects of the band, from live performances to the studio. Website here and Facebook here.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are one of those bands where the wait for new material always seems worth it and 'Fireproof' suggests that remains the case. As for the song well in part it's a juxtaposition of being understated and gentle, whilst the rhythm is funky, fresh and energised. What's more the arrangement is just right for the thoughtful lyrics and there delightful delivery.

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The Darts - Running Through Your Lies.

Background - The Darts (US) are an all-grrrrl garage-psych-rock supergroup featuring Nicole Laurenne (The Love Me Nots, Motobunny, Zero Zero), Rikki Styxx (The Two Tens, The Dollyrots, Thee Outta Sites), Christina Nunez (The Love Me Nots, Casual Encounters, The Madcaps), and Michelle Balderrama (Brainspoon).

The band formed in early 2016 when, after watching each other’s bands from the sidelines for years, Nicole and Michelle realized there was no good reason why they shouldn’t just start writing songs together already. With six songs ready, Rikki and Michelle recorded their tracks in Los Angeles and then Nicole and Christina tracked their parts in Phoenix. Arizona producer Bob Hoag then masterfully stirred the mess together over a piping hot console. The results are two smoking 10” vinyl EPs full of garage riffs, girl-group harmonies, fuzz bass, farfisa organ, badass drum fills, and all-around lo-fi-turned-hi-fi goodness.

Soon after their October 2016 release, the singles “Running Through Your Lies” and “Revolution” enjoyed instant radio airplay and  “Take What I Need” was selected by Sirius/XM’s Underground Garage channel as “The Coolest Song In The World 2016.” The band played its first live show in October, 2016, and signed with London’s Dirty Water Records shortly thereafter. The Darts will tour across the southern US in January 2017 with Oakland’s all-girl rock duo Steel Cranes, and then… The Darts will invade Europe on tour in May 2017. Bandcamp here, Facebook here.

The first of six tracks on the EP and 'Running Through Your Lies' immediately lets the listener know that The Darts have some real depth to their music. Mixed with more feisty garage rock, the collection of songs may be small in number, but they pack a punch and demand your attention throughout!

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Vibronics meets Conscious Sounds - Half Century Dub  - 50 years in the mix.

Background - As Dub Reggae music becomes a global force, Vibronics & Conscious Sounds present an album that celebrates 50 years of dub music. Dougie Wardrop & Steve Vibronics present an album that takes classic music from each decade of dub, starting with 1970s Jamaica music right up 2010s worldwide dub sounds. The two prominent UK Dub producers will take each decade in turn, as the listener is catapulted across half a century of roots rocking Reggae music. This unique dubwise concept album will feature reworking of classic tunes from 1970s, 1980s, new versions of crucial music from the Conscious Sounds & Vibronics back catalogue from 1990s & 2000s and some brand new future dubs for the 2010s. Dubwise music across 50 years.

Vibronics meets Conscious Sounds and Half Century Dub - 50 years in the mix 2 X Maxi 10" includes a Limited Edition Vinyl singles January 2017 and also Vinyl / CD / Digital Album Release January 2017. Website here.

If you go to their website (link just above) there are nine songs to listen to, unfortunately we cannot embed the music here, however to wet your appetite a little, we have Vibronics - Furious Dub & Conscious Sounds Mix (Taken From Personal 10), as an indicator of the quality and musical delights due in January.

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Weekend Wonders: Nevāda Nevada - Rayne - Gregory Clark - The Byzantines

Nevāda Nevada - 900 Days.

Background - Nobody ever really quits music. Not if they ever really loved it. One can try, but it always creeps back, until one day the air is once again being caused to vibrate in the most necessary to actualize being. It is how it should be.

Several years ago, Kathryn Musilek, frontman for Nevada Nevada, was a fixture in the vibrant and close-knit Iowa City, Iowa music scene, playing in numerous bands and just being generally omnipresent therein. In some way, this was the natural result of a life long love and study of music, having learned several instruments. A significant other used Kathryn as an entry point into this world, and once on the inside, spread their lovin' all over, with the knowledge of everyone in town--everyone, that is, but Kathryn.

This betrayal hurt so bad, it required that Iowa City be left behind in favor of Brooklyn and the creation of music be left behind in favor publicizing the same. It was a sort of "I need to be a new me" sort of deal. As we all know, though, a creator of things as gifted as Kathryn cannot suppress the urge to make things for long. And so there was born Nevada Nevada.

Nevada Nevada is a rock 'n' roll band from Brooklyn with more than a hint of its midwestern roots. It is part Wilco, part Guns 'n' Roses. There is americana and folk, but there is even more rock 'n' roll. Facebook here.

Distinct and melodic vocals drive '900 Days' forward, accompanied by a powerful musical soundtrack that develops into something quite expansive and somehow manages to grows even further as the song unfolds.

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Rayne - Chemicals.
Gregory Clark - The Home Song.
(From the Various Artist Compilation 'This Is Not A Game', released 9/12/16).

Background - Platform Records and Platform Songs (Publishing) will celebrate it's tenth anniversary in 2017.

To mark our first decade, rather than just 'looking back', Platform is releasing a 15-track various artists compilation, including bands, singers and songs very recently signed to our business. The album contains just under an hour of indie-pop and indie-rock music. Platform Records here.

Album Tracks are:
1. Late Hala - 'Good Thing'
2. Warm Winters - 'Prehistoric Skies'
3. Rayne - 'Chemicals'
4. Ross Trigwell - 'Safe Forever'
5. Bobo & The Demeraras - 'She'
6. Gregory Clark - 'The Home Song'
7. Jon Vautier - 'Leave The City Dead'
8. George Diaz - 'Can't Say'
9. Emporium - 'Magical Things'
10. The Ultra - 'Universe in Two'
11. Indiana Foxx - 'Spectre'
12. The Buddha Pests - 'Tanker'
13. James Blames - 'The Bad Old Days Are Back'
14. Voodoo Rays - 'Wider Sea'
15. Liquorice River - 'Back To The Beginning'

Rayne's 'Chemicals' and Gregory Clark's 'The Home Song' are just a small taste of the quality and variety to be found on the new compilation album from Platform Records. If you have a liking for indie pop and rock, then this really is a fine collection of artists and songs, that are well worth getting to know.

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The Byzantines - Jamaica.

Background - Hailing from the great South Australian state that brought you two giant balls, Farmer’s Union iced coffee and Cooper’s Pale Ale come brit pop band The Byzantines. The boys are excited to announce their new EP, set to release via Marshmallow Pavement Records on February 17th, 2017. The band are also announcing an east coast Australian tour during February and March in support of the new EP. The tour kicks off at The Karova Club in Ballarat on Friday Feb 24 with label-mates The Montreals, and Melbourne Garage-Rock darlings BATZ. They’ll make their way up the coast on a 9-date tour, hitting Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane and other cities along the way.

There’s nothing pale about these Adelaide lads and best mates; vocalist Michael Pietrafesa, guitarist David Zammit, Jose Moucho on bass and Johnny Zervas on drums. The Byzantines have incorporated a varied mesh of sounds and layers, all the while feeling organic and staying true to the British sound that bands like The Stone Roses and Primal Scream made famous. 

Using the opportunity to promote their debut EP and supported by the Brit music icons such as Fred Perry Subculture and Liam Gallagher’s clothing label Pretty Green, The Byzantines embarked on a European/ UK trip in 2014. Coming off the success of that international tour, the guys were invited by Rolling Stone Magazine to play a sold out Workers Club show in Melbourne for their Live Lodge event supporting The Delta Riggs.  After copping some abuse from their tour manager for drinking The Delta Riggs rider, The Delta Riggs guitarist and talented engineer and producer Alex Markwell was laughing his head off and a friendship was born. Markwell offered to help produce and engineer the EP so in 2015 the boys decided to hit the recording studio.

Recorded between competing national tours and other commitments, the boys also enlisted the help of friends Dan Crannitch (Love and Other Crimes) to assist with pre-production and Luke Godson (Luke Million/The Swiss) to help capture the more electronic aspects of the band’s sound. The initial session birthed ‘Jamaica', ‘a swaggering hot mess’ (Rolling Stone Magazine), which set the benchmark for the rest of the EP. The first listens from the new recordings are ‘Jamaica’ and ‘She Moves’, available on triple j unearthed, both singles lauded from critics and fans alike. Facebook here. 


The video for 'Jamaica' is part story and part music. Musically the band make the most of Jamaica's reggae vibes, and put their own rock'n'roll stamp on the song. Based on this track alone The Byzantines could well destined for greater attention next year.

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Thursdays Treasure: Red Sleeping Beauty - The Regrettes - Mr. Elevator

Red Sleeping Beauty - We Are Magic.

Background - Red Sleeping Beauty formed in Stockholm in 1989 by singer Kristina Borg, singer/guitarist Niklas Angergård (Acid House Kings), guitarist Mikael Matsson (The Shermans), and bassist Carl-Johan Näsström. They made a huge impact on the international indiepop scene with two fantastic albums and a series of singles and EPs. Their first release was in 1992 with EP Pop Sounds (Marsh Marigold), followed by four 7"s all on different pop labels (Somersault, Motorway, Grimsey, and Sunday) before returning to Marsh-Marigold for the first full length Bedroom. They then signed to the legendary Siesta Records to release their fifth single Sick & Tired, their second album Soundtrack, and a compilation of singles.

Album named after the band’s female singer. On the recent album ”Kristina” Red Sleeping Beauty is a duo consisting of vocalist Niklas Angergård and Mikael Matsson with help from Kristina Borg on vocals on four songs. The album title is a tribute to her. - She’s had a tough struggle with cancer but things are looking brighter now. We expect her back as a full time member on the next album, the band states.

First album in 19 years time - ”Kristina” is the band’s first album in 19 year’s time. But that doesn’t mean the members have been disconnected from making music all these years. Niklas has released numerous albums with Acid House Kings on Labrador while Mikael Matsson has released several albums with both The Charade and The Shermans on Skipping Stones Records and Shelflife. Record label here.

'We Are Magic' has rich synthy vibes and beautifully smooth melodic vocals. The song has something of a timeless feel to it, almost as if the band have picked up from where they left off nineteen years previous.

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The Regrettes - A Living Human Girl.

Background - The band is releasing their debut album, Feel Your Feelings, Fool! a month from now. The Regrettes are Lydia Night's latest project with friends Genessa Gariano (guitar), Sage Chavis (bass) and drummer Maxx Morando. The Regrettes have been tearing up the LA club scene playing with Kate Nash, Peaches, Bleached, Deap Vally, PINS, La Luz and Summer Twins leaving L.A.'s jaded rock critics to write such things as "Everybody was floored by The Regrettes—the new poster children for local teen garage rock." and "The Regrettes rocked with a ferocity and penchant for hooks that schools most indie rockers twice their age. They will surely run an empire in ten years tops."

A song by The Regrettes is, essentially, a diary entry into Lydia’s life. “My music is a spectrum of every emotion that I have felt in the last year, and you can hear that when you hear the songs. Everything that is happening in my life influences me. It’s everything from boys, to friends, to being pissed off at people, to being really sad. Just everything.”

The most intoxicating draw of The Regrettes is their bashful, heart-on-your-sleeve temperament - writing urgent and fast-paced pop songs with a punk rock mentality. “The way that we write, it’s all based on honesty,” muses Lydia on the group’s punk aesthetic. “If I finish a song, I’ll just leave it - I won’t really go back to it. I like things to feel in the moment and I don’t want it to be perfect. If I work on something too much I lose it and get bored and I want to do the next one.” Website here and Facebook here.

We first featured The Regrettes in early August, and it's great to be able to share another song, this time from next months album release we have 'A Living Human Girl' the second of fifteen gorgeous, vibrant, punky songs in the collection. Energised and genuine, this is one band to watch out for, come the new year!

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Mr. Elevator - Sunshine Daydream.

Background - Mr. Elevator – formed in Southern California in 2012 by Thomas Dolas and Justin Martinez (and their mutual love of Donovan) – eschews guitars for vintage synthesizers, organs, and electric pianos, distinguishing themselves within the fuzzy, distorted contemporary Psych-Pop scene.

Today on Brooklyn Vegan, Mr. Elevator shares the first track and video "Sunshine Daydream" from their upcoming album.  'When the Morning Greets You,' is scheduled for release in February 10, 2017, on Rad Cat Records.

Under the original name Mr. Elevator and the Brain Hotel, the band began playing shows as a three-piece with bassist Wyatt Blair, and a short-while later, in 2013, relocated to Los Angeles where they released their first album, 'Nico & her Psychedelic Subconscious,' with Burger Records. After a few years of live shows, perfecting their sound alongside acts like Thee Oh Sees, The Fresh & Onlys, The Black Lips, Allah-Las, and more, Mr. Elevator recently completed their second album, 'When the Morning Greets You'.

On 'When the Morning Greets You,' the bands’ love for vintage keyboard sounds, concept albums, and 70s pop remains intact, furnishing an album that entrances listeners and evolves over the course of its run-time into an array of bright, complex patterns and shapes. The upbeat, colorful pop feel of Side A, for example, is slowly engulfed in the lush, synth-heavy soundscape of Side B (pointing in at least two distinct directions in regards to the sound of the next album).

With the addition of a fourth member to the performing band, Mr. Elevator will be supporting the release of 'When the Morning Greets You' with national and international live dates. Facebook here.

If it was not for the more modern production and audio quality 'Sunshine Daydream' could be taken as something from the sixties psychedelic music scene. A little bit quirky and a whole lot gorgeous melodic and catchy, my only complaint is it's over so quickly, still with more on the way who can complain!

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Midweek Muse: Ferlein - Donnie Biggins - The Desert Sea

Ferlein - Forgive Me For Falling.

Background - Forgive Me for Falling is Ferlein’s debut single from her upcoming debut album Poetic Mind.  Ferlein is a singer/songwriter with a gift for poetic storytelling.  Her unique contralto voice with lush velvet tones combined with a mix of delicate and powerful delivery enables her to tell her stories with genuine passion and emotion.

Marcel Yammouni is Ferlein’s music producer and guitarist.  Marcel describes Ferlein's music as fearless and inventive. "Ferlein has a unique sound which I struggle to put in any category all I know is I love it and am thrilled to be working with her".

Ferlein has a very experienced band including Marcel Yammouni, John Salerno, Paul Cecchinelli, Rod Bustos and Phil Turcio.  They have worked with many top Australian artists including Vanessa Amorosi, Kate Ceberano, Olivia Newton John, Guy Sebastian, John Farnham, Jimmy Barnes, Jessica Mauboy, Em Rusciano and Hugh Jackman.  They have also toured and performed with international artists including Suzi Quattro, K.D Lang, Belinda Carlisle, Sting and Richard Marx. Website here, Facebook here.

'Forgive Me For Falling' is something of a classic sounding pop song, with a genuinely timeless feel to it. Musically as you would expect with the calibre of the band, it's one professional piece, which it really needs to be, as Ferlain has such a powerful and melodic voice. With an album to come, if you like your pop in the classical style, this could be something rather special.

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Donnie Biggins - Lula.

Background - Donnie Biggins, founder of Chicago’s The Shams Band and owner/promoter/head of Tonic Room, Harmonica Dunn and the annual Dunn Dunn Fest, dropped his solo debut, Profiles, on Tuesday, Nov 29.

Profiles, which will be available on limited edition vinyl and for digital download, features contributions from Ryan Joseph Anderson, Dan Ingenthron and Jamie Gallagher. All song were written by Biggins, who also handled vocals, guitar and piano. The album was produced by Ryan Joseph Anderson, recorded and mixed by Matt DeWine at Pieholden Suite Sound and mastered by Carl Saff at Saff Masterting.

Donnie Biggins celebrated the release of Profiles with back to back shows at Tonic Room in Chicago, earlier this month. Website here and Facebook here.

The first of eleven tracks on the album is 'Lula'. Oozing laid back charm and original rock'n'roll vibes, it's a good taste of whats to follow on the album. Mixing tempo's, melodies, and rhythm, every piece carries it's weight on this very assessable collection. I'm guessing this must be well worth seeing performed live.

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The Desert Sea - All Mine.

Background - With a reputation for high-energy live performances, The Desert Sea’s unique blend of raw vocal melodies, earthy riffs and chest pounding rhythm’s, serve up a tasty cocktail that’s sure to leave you with a sore head and a vague recollection of what could’ve been the night of your life.

Having built some solid momentum with the release of the EP’s first single ‘Elevator’ earlier in the year, the boys are now ready to drop their follow up single ‘All Mine’; A blues rock thumper with hook laden vocal melodies and a signature guitar riff that’s sure to stick firmly in your brain.

Drawing influences from bands like The White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood and Led Zeppelin, The Desert Sea have tailored their sound on a fusion of heavy blues and rock. ‘All Mine’ tells a story of personal discovery through observation as the subject struggles to quantify his own worth by society’s measures.

A massive 2015 saw The Desert Sea release their debut Oceanic EP (receiving radio play Australia wide and in the US), score supports with great Aussie acts like Sticky Fingers, The Fumes, Ash Grunwald and Jebediah and leave a trail of sweaty stages and ringing ears in the wake of their biggest tour to date. Finishing off the year at ‘Szyslak Studios’ with Sydney producer Mo Mayhem (Hell City Glamours, The Lockhearts), The Desert Sea knuckled down to record their second EP Steal The Light From The Sun. Look for the whole EP to be released in early 2017. Website here, Facebook here.

Upcoming Shows:
Wednesday, 21st December - The Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
Wednesday, 28th December - Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney
Friday, 6th January - The V Room, Noosa
Satuday, 7th January - The Milk Factory, Brisbane
Feb 2017 - Moonshine Manly Residency, every Friday of the month.

'All Mine' has a delightfully wacky storyline video (story might be pushing it a bit), however once the music starts your in for one feisty and potent rock song.

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Quality Not Quantity: Erin Pellnat - The Plastic Attraction - Tallisker

Erin Pellnat - Dream in Color.

Background - Erin Pellnat is currently an unsigned singer-songwriter based in Brooklyn, NY. Her new EP Dream In Color includes songs that range from colorful acoustic, to accordion waltz, to Bossa Nova.

Erin is also a member of Brooklyn band Caretaker, however her solo material takes her in a number of  very different directions.

If you want to play detective then Beehive Candy featured a relative of Erin Pellnat earlier this year, no prizes for guessing, it's a small world. The EP was recorded in the fall of 2016. Bandcamp here.

'Dream in Color' is the title track and the first of four really fine songs in this EP collection. Although the songs take differing directions, Erin's vocals consistently stand out. Musically melodic, there is considerable attention to detail within the soundtrack which adds that little extra and makes this EP pretty special.

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The Plastic Attraction - No Foresight.

Background - The Plastic Attraction is the lovechild of four childhood friends from the southern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia - Liam (vocals), Matt (guitar/vocals), Horna (bass/ vocals) and Chris (drums/vocals). They grew up together on a diet of gratuitous guitar solos, pop anthems and late nights singing harmonies at house parties.

The band released their debut single, ‘Holding You’, in August 2016. The single was met with critical acclaim by radio stations, blogs and the band members’ parents. Sounds of Oz reported that the band had “hit a home run with its debut single” and Eat Sleep Breathe Music similarly praised the band’s release, saying “with its first melodies you are instantly attracted to their 90s vibe”.

‘No Foresight’ is the band's follow-up single to its August debut. And, like the debut, the band was supported in its production by industry heavyweights: recorded by Tristan Sturmer at Sumo Sound Studios (Sparrow, Verge Collection, Make Way For Man); mixing by Andy Lawson at Debaser Studios (Tired Lion, Eskimo Joe); and mastering by the master himself, Leon Zervos at Studios 301 (Boy & Bear, Art vs Science, Last Dinosaurs).

‘No Foresight’ is a mix of frenetic beats and a fuzzy-buzzy meld of guitar and bass. Set against this backdrop, the lyrics spin a story of angsty pain – it’s a melodic push back to the persecutor, the bully, the tormentor – it’s catharsis on the dance floor! In anticipation of the release of No Foresight, The Plastic Attraction will be playing at Four5Nine (North Perth) on Sunday 18 December 2016 (doors at 8:30pm). Facebook here.

'No Foresight' mixes some feisty alt rock sounds with fine vocals and harmonies. Add in the energy and melody and you have one very catchy piece!

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Tallisker - Astraea (Instrumental Edit).

Background - Parisian producer and electronic artist, Tallisker is pleased to share the video for new instrumental track 'Astraea'. This new video follows the story of an androgynous heroine, Astraea, who is stuck in an endless Matrix-esque loop of life and death… Tallisker is the DIY solo project of French artist Eléonore Melisande, 28. A former cellist and guitarist with a classical and folk background, she is now a full-time DJ, producer and performer with electronic, post-folk & rave aesthetics. Winning the Inrocks Lab Award (2014), the Booster Award (2015) and performing every weekend helped her take off pretty quickly and now she's pleased to celebrate the release of her debut EP 'Heliotrop'.

Baroque aesthetics are a major driver to her work: movement, expansion, tumult, ostentation, super-emotion, drama and tension. Her introspective universe often draws comparisons to artists like Björk or Fever Ray while her epic, soaring string sections are reminiscent of post-rock and neo-folk bands like Sigur Ros or Woodkid. The arrangements also feature rough drumkits and nasty sub-bass unveiling a full allegiance to trap & rave culture.

On 'Heliotrop': "Most of the tracks were written in Glasgow, Summer 2015, while listening to a lot of classical Music, mainly Baroque & Romantic-era masterpieces, plus techno and trap music! It was my purpose to explore these extreme genres, from the most traditional to the most recent forms of music to accelerate the genesis of something hybrid and awkward. Heliotrop is also a manifest."

"The artwork reveals this hybridity too. I’m wearing a costume that stands for tradition -religious, aristocratic, sacred. But this costume has been distorted and alienated thanks to contemporary, forward-thinking devices and tricks - Photoshop or other software. So in the end it looks like a ghostly, electronic silhouette full of mystery. You couldn’t say whether the portrait comes from the Tsardom of Russia or from a spaceship. It pictures how you can turn heritage into innovation, and vice versa."

The video storyline for 'Astraea' may be intriguing enough, however for me, it's the sublimely original music that I am fascinated by. With and without the imagery a story unfolds, don't get me wrong the video really is something quite artistic and original, however so is the music. I guess it's a case of having your cake, and eating it (hopefully that old saying crosses borders).

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Monday Double: Expanda Fuzz - Hand Habits

Expanda Fuzz - Flavour : Zombie (Bleuets EP).

Background - Expanda Fuzz is a caustic homing device for wayward spirit animals. Have you ever had a ripped speaker that sounded so killer you didn't want to fix it? Or how about the excitement of that raw distortion sound that rips through a guitar part like a divining rod and makes your heart skip a beat?

Those are some of the sweet ingredients that inspire Expanda Fuzz to write catchy, trance-inducing, garage pop songs. The songs are a dark cuisine of droney hooks, garage spunk and muddy pop, all crushed with a Velvet Underground spirit, Helium flavour and Suicide daydream.

Find the first sampling of those tracks in the first official release from the band: Bleuets! Now available for download and for record collectors, it is also available on gorgeous black and white splatter vinyl. Limited to 100 copies only, website here, Facebook here.

The first of six tracks on the 'Bleuets' EP is 'Flavour : Zombie' a song that typifies the raw energy that drives this collection of songs. Sometimes some stripped back rock'n'roll is just enough, add in the darker garage edge, and that's enough boxes ticked for me!

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Hand Habits - Flower Glass.

Background - "Meg Duffy, aka Hand Habits, is a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Upstate New York. She has been putting her time in on the road and in the studio over the past two years with  pacific northwest band Mega Bog, and the Kevin Morby Band, making an impression on everyone she comes across with her natural charisma and uncharted talent as a multi-instrumentalist. But let Wildly Idle (Humble Before The Void) be her open invitation to the world to step inside and take a much deeper look into who Duffy actually is. Tracked in an Upstate New York living room, then finished in her current home in Los Angeles - it is appropriate that this album was recorded by Meg herself - for Meg, who has an acute ear for detail, has touched every corner, has seen every vision 'til its end.

Because of this, Wildly Idle feels incredibly intimate, like a secret between her and the listener. It hits soft, like warm water, and before you know it it is all around you - a bath, and Meg's whisper has made its way inside you. Like many bedroom-debuts before it (The Microphones, Jessica Pratt, Little Wings, Grouper)  let this be the first of many to come, for Meg has music in her touch - and this is only the beginning. But let us not look to the future now, but instead stand alongside her, our trust in her will, both humble before the void, with her first chorus as the mission statement; 'hold you like a flower, hold you like an hour glass'."- Kevin Morby. Facebook here.

Live dates:
01/18 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg *
02/10 Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s All Right #
02/11 Philadelphia, PA - Everybody Hits #
02/12 Cambridge, MA - Lily Pad #
02/13 Portland, ME - Apohadian Theatre #
02/14 Winooski, VT - The Monkey House #
02/15 Montreal, QC - La Vitrola #
02/16 Albany, NY - House Show #
02/18 Washington DC - Songbyrd DC #
02/19 Asheville, NC - The Mothlight #
02/20 Louisville, KY - Zanzabar #
02/21 Chicago, IL - Schuba’s #
02/22 Columbus, OH - Rumba Cafe #
* = ACLU / PP Benefit show w/ Kevin Morby, Sharon Van Etten, Beirut, Daniel Rossen
# = w/ John Andrews & The Yawns

We featured Hand Habits back in October and 'Flower Glass' is most definitely worth a second share on Beehive Candy! Once again we are treated to some gorgeous dreamy pop music, that just oozes beautiful vibes. Wonderful!

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Genre Wander: Jetty Rae - Lucy and the Rats - Lucidalabrador - Loose Buttons

Jetty Rae - Queen of the Universe.

Background - Jetty Rae is a singer-songwriter based out of Northern Michigan. Jetty has been singing, touring, and recording for the since 2005. Her influences include Jennifer Knapp, Brandi Carlile, Cat Power, Ray Lamontagne, Lauryn Hill, Patty Griffin, and many more. If you’ve been to a Jetty Rae show you can agree to the fact that songwriting is her true forte, but how she marries her words to her voice and melodies is a thing to see. 

She has power, and restraint in her voice—the ability to pull at your heart strings delicately. On the other hand she also possesses the power to awaken a passion, a fight in all of us when she really belts it. Her hopes are to eventually start a label for independent artists like herself—that will empower artists to start where they are. She is hoping to give them the tools, studio time, experience, and resources they need to succeed in making great art. Website here, and Facebook here.

Jetty Rae has both a powerful and melodic voice that's just right for some bluesy folk rock. 'Queen of the Universe' is a really fine song, yes the influences are there, however Jetty carves out her own style, and is a natural, for this kind of song.

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Lucy and the Rats - This Situation.

Background - Lucy and the Rats — Lucy from the Ramones influenced pop punk trio, The Spazzys, is the ‘Lucy.’ The Spazzys have made headlines not only in Australia, where they come from, but across the globe. But she didn’t stop there! She assembles together a bunch of deadbeats and outcasts from the punk rock underworld of London and starts rehearsing. Manu, Mike and Joe, who were together in (the punk band) Michael Jackson become the Rats.

Splitting time between recording their debut album and touring all around Europe, (including a tour last month supporting The Buzzcocks)  it has been a very busy time for Lucy and the Rats but they have still managed to record and release a pair of great singles. Lucy and the Rats sophomore single, "This Situation" b/w "Melody" are two more gorgeous slices of their Powerpop - Girl Group hybrid.

It doesn't take long to find record labels interested. Monster Zero release their first 7", "Girl"; Surfin' Ki the second one, "This Situation" with Dirty Water Records taking on the digital duties for both singles.

When you listen to Lucy and the Rats, the melodies become power pop tunes and after a few rehearsals (if you could call it that) they start recording them. There you go, what you get from that is Lucy and the Rats, a kick ass punk band playing Lucy's catchy melodies. Website here and Facebook here.

With a feisty beat, jangly guitars and Lucy adding some no nonsense vocals 'This Situation' is a sub three minute blast of raw sounding punk rock. With just enough melody to make it standout, the track remains a little rough around the edges, keeping it real and relevant.

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Lucidalabrador - Zelia.

Background - Lucidalabrador is the musical moniker of Pedro Caetano Leite, a new emerging act from the vibrant scene of South-East London, who crafted a sound that pays homage to early 2000’s synthpop-rock.

A recent Goldsmiths University graduate (Blur, James Blake); the Brazilian born composer united forces with a multi-cultured live band that originates from Germany, Italy and Czech Republic. The band now looks forward to releasing their new EP: 'Today Is A Good Day For Friendship' for which they drew influences from classic songwriters such as Grandaddy, Sparklehorse, Jeff Buckley, Tom Waits as well as modern acts such as Father John Misty and Kurt Vile.

Working as an audio engineer across different studios in London, Pedro chose to explore a hybrid between using high budget studio facilities and his bedroom’s 8-track tape cassette recorder. The result is an EP with an intimate bedroom flair, and an incisive precision.

Mastered by Mikko Gordon (Atoms for Peace, Squeeze, Travis), the EP counts collaborations of two other local musicians: Bunki in “Yesterday Was A Good Day For Friendship” and Leiik in “Hurt you”. 'Today Is A Good Day For Friendship' was released on December 5th on Spotify. Facebook here.

Smooth and flowing vocals are supported by a melodic soundtrack on 'Zelia'. As the song develops the genre becomes even less clear with some alternative and original musicianship, that just adds to the intrigue. Once you think it's settled down the song takes even further twists, wonderful!

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Loose Buttons - Milk & Roses.
    
Background - "Breakups may suck, but they can be songwriting gold. NYC-based band Loose Buttons prove just that with their single “Milk & Roses,” from their upcoming EP Sundays, due in February.

The promising quartet met while playing for different local bands as teens, eventually coming together and releasing their debut EP, Damage Gallery,in 2014. Since then, Loose Buttons have honed in on a blend of new wave and pop that is all their own.

Drawing from the pain of a recent breakup, lead vocalist Eric Nizgretsky channeled it all into Sunday. "Milk & Roses,” the EPs closer, acts as the last step of the foursome’s aim to get you through every stage of a breakup.

“After copious amounts of sushi and ramen with my bandmates, I had the realization that it was time to move on and stop dwelling on my breakup,” said Nizgretsky. “There is a restaurant in Greenpoint called “Milk & Roses” and it was the last spot my ex and I went to before we broke up. It felt like the best lyric to signify moving on.”

As Nizgretsky deftly delivers lyrics like, “So it goes/ As in that book you know/ Our worlds, they will resume,” the beguiling melody carries you along; resolving the chaos of a breakup for you so you can move forward. And with Loose Buttons on the rise, it only makes sense to follow their lead. Facebook here.

Striaght down the line indie rock is taken up a notch or two, with some melodic guitar work and vocals that just draw you in. 'Milk & Roses' is one catchy unpretentious rock'n'roll piece and suggests next February's EP should be a good one.

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