The Sweetheart Revue - SPC ECO - Talullah Ruff

The Sweetheart Revue - Civilised.

Background - The Sweetheart Revue came into being when lead singer Gerard Sampaio tried to impress a woman at a party by saying he was in a band (which he wasn’t) and inviting her to see them play. Gerard had plenty of songs scribbled in notebooks at this point, but had never actually sung a single one in public. Friends were called, favours were begged, a practise was scheduled and a few days later The Sweetheart Revue took to the stage.

That was pretty much the last time The Sweetheart Revue did anything in a hurry. They’ve been working on this album, their debut, for years, too many to mention, recording songs here and there, getting distracted by day jobs, having kids, that sort of thing. Along the way, they’ve played at Celtic Connections, The Kelvingrove Bandstand and The Grand Ole Opry (the one in their hometown of Glasgow). They’ve ventured as far North as Elgin, as far south as Pollokshields, and had a song featured in a Hollywood movie.

The result of this unhurried approach, of making music purely for the love of it, is a beautiful and diverse collection of songs, rich in warmth, texture and finely-honed lyricism. The album blends indie, rock, folk and country; real delicacy, gorgeous harmonies, grit and noise. All good things to those who wait. Facebook here.

'Civilised' is a clutter free melodic song where each musical element has it place without hogging the limelight. Vocals are bright, smooth and add an extra layer of energy.

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SPC ECO - Calm (album).

Background - SPC ECO has released their new album 'Calm', which follows their 'Under My Skin' EP, released earlier this year.

If the demise of ground-breaking duo Curve was a storm-cloud in the musical skies of the 90’s, the silver lining was that Dean Garcia went on to form SPC ECO with Rose Berlin. This a coming together of an electronic musical maverick and a vulnerable yet tender vocal style and even more endearing is the fact that this is informed by the bond of a father and daughter exploring their relationship and the world around them through music.

This bond lies at the heart of the music, and is something that goes beyond two musicians creating heartfelt sounds and becomes the language of their very souls, a conversation that is often too difficult to be encapsulated by mere words. Like many worthy conversations, Dean and Rose choose their words and make their plans carefully.

“When we started this record in early January 2017, we knew we wanted to take our time with it, no need to rush it out and go with the first ten songs we recorded, I think we made almost 3 albums worth of songs with this one so there are some cool outtakes to add or use as the album gets underway,“ says Dean Garcia. Website here, Facebook here.

We featured SPC ECO back in January with their 'Under My Skin' EP describing that collection of material as "an aural feast of quality." Now we have the new album 'Calm', which carries on from where the EP left off. Powerful and with rich layers of stunning music, the vocals are deep within the mix but not lost, rather embedded and merging with the music that swirls around them.

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Talullah Ruff - What Is Honest / I Am Not.

Background - NYC-based, alt-rock singer-songwriter, Talullah Ruff, shares her debut, self-produced EP, What Is Honest. What Is Honest was self-recorded in various locations - Ruff's apartment, her friends' NYU dorm room, the studio at Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and Brooklyn DIY studio space, Mama Coco's Funky Kitchen. The EP was mastered by Grammy nominated Tom Waltz. Talullah Ruff shared her lastest single, "Anger Is An Acid," on PopCrush's #NewMusicFriday, who praised the track's "gloomy, jazzy production colors" and "emotive, full-bodied vocal."

Reflection lies at the core of Ruff's art, her lyrics acting as mirrors for what she internalizes about herself and her experiences of dejection. She seeks to create sonic worlds for her listeners, while also attempting to forge refuge and connection. With over 200 unreleased songs and 2 unpublished novels to her name, What Is Honest represents a curated collection of her works from freshman year of high school to her sophomore year in college. Blending 1970s-esque production with 1990s alt-rock songwriting and aesthetics, Ruff has built her own brand of art rock, in which she seeks to blend each eclectic side of herself. Using piano and vocals to drive forward her heart-rendering lyrics, her music suggests a nostalgic nod to her inspirations, such as Fiona Apple, Jeff Buckley and Tori Amos. 

The album artwork, drawn and painted by Ruff herself, evokes a sense of rawness and honesty. The image of a half naked women with a flower head - with no intention to instill any level of shock-value - was meant to embody the simplistic beauty of the human body and the natural forms taken for granted or warped by our own misconceptions. The red rose symbolizes the stigmas that come with womanhood and others' expectations and projections onto Ruff. EP tracks such as, "I Am Not," and title track, "What Is Honest" touch on these influences - both external and internal - that evoke negativity and anxiety, but push through the issues with intricate lyrics and brazen vocal melodies. Facebook here.

We have a couple of songs from the new EP 'What Is Honest' and 'I Am Not'. Talullah Ruff's vocals are distinct, sometimes sombre & perhaps a little mysterious, but always engaging. The music finely matches the feel of her voice, with each composition beautifully thought through and delivered in an outstanding manner.


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Kelsey Kerrigan - Radio Wolf - The Blue Hour - Gestures & Sounds

Kelsey Kerrigan - Good Times.

Background - "When I was 9, I used to sit in my closet in the pitch black with headphones on, listening to these meditational CDs. The music was really moody, with lots of production. I would get lost imagining all the different sounds, all the counter melodies, recalls the LA-based artist. I always loved production.

While in school, Kerrigan kept up a grueling schedule of nine to 10 hours a day of songwriting while earning her degree in in audio engineering and production at Los Angeles Recording School. She was enrolled in the two-year production program. Initially, her decision to pursue production was so that she could make better demo versions of her songs, but the art of production would become integral to her musicality. A producers job is to decorate time and space, she says.  

Immersed in the craft of production, and the art of songwriting, Kerrigan began to discover and refine her aesthetic. She became inspired by the lush textural instrumentation and clever arrangements of new wave and post punk artists such as The Smiths, The Cure, Wire, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Tears For Fears. These artists became signposts, and would also help her reference her distinct production treatment. 

Through a combination of good fortune, prodigious musical gifts, and hard work Kerrigan has made an uncompromising and masterful debut album. It entrances with clever emotiveness, blissful new wave atmospherics, smart hooks, and sweetly seductive vocals. This inaugural body of work was produced by Johnny T. Yerington (Ryan Adams, The Virgins) and Gus Oberg (The Strokes, Albert Hammond) at Electric Lady Studios. Website here, Facebook here.

We have some beautiful new material from Kelsey Kerrigan who we featured for the first time just over three weeks ago. 'Good Times' is another melodic and catchy track, where production & the musical arrangement are top quality and the vocals exquisitely matched in what is a superb indie pop song.

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Radio Wolf - Song On The Radio (feat. Marika Gauci).

Background - Canadian/British electro-rock outfit Radio Wolf have shared their highly anticipated debut single, "Song on the Radio." With an ethos somewhere between that of a John Hughes or David Lynch soundtrack, "Song on the Radio" feels as if it could be the end of the most recent episode of Twin Peaks.  Featuring Marika Gauci on vocals, the track is a pulsating anthem that harkens back to the simpler times when radio was the be-all end-all of music consumption.  

The roots of Radio Wolf started in Blair's original experimental electronic rock outfit, Kindle, where he transformed his music into a visual experience complete with cyberpunk burlesque dancers.  After building a name for himself, and performing at the legendary Notting Hill Arts Club, electro-pop band Client quickly signed him to their independent record label, Loser Friendly. His all- instrumental first album was then released, simply titled Kindle. Ever-restless to build upon his own sound and evolve as an artist, Oliver conceived his latest project: Radio Wolf.

As Radio Wolf, Oliver has written and produced original songs with guest vocalists, Marika Gauci (Hotel Motel), Sarah Blackwood (Client), Kelli Ali (Sneaker Pimps) and Holly Dodson (Parallels). The sound is a unique fusion of electronic music and rock ’n’ roll, with a distinct retro-futuristic edge. The songs are crafted with lyrical and melodic power, combining uncanny rock guitar hooks, lush electronics, and distinctive vocal delivery. 

Radio Wolf's debut EP, Rock 'n' Roll Forever will be available everywhere October 31st, 2017, Facebook here.

For some reason the opening chords reminded me of The Psychedelic Furs, after which all likeness simply vanished. 'Song On The Radio' is a fabulous electro rock song, the music is absolutely splendid and the vocals provide distinction and emotion.

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The Blue Hour - One More Mystery (plus The Cure cover for Kyoto Song).

Background - The Blue Hour presents their new single 'One More Mystery' ahead of the release of their new album 'Always'. This 11-track offering is replete with swoons whirling the listener into the ether, wisped along with sonic elements cherished by fans of Kate Bush, This Mortal Coil, Marissa Nadler, Dead Can Dance, and Chelsea Wolfe. This new release comes on the trail of their 'Kyoto Songs' single, featuring a beautiful rendition of The Cure classic 'Kyoto Song'.

Living near Seattle, Brian and Marselle Hodges have been inspired by their life amongst the moss and mud and the ferns and forests of the Pacific Northwest, their raw mix channeling the purely natural and the esoteric via The Blue Hour.

Blending traditional folk melodies with dream pop, ethereal wave and synthpop, the result is ethereal folk-noir that is unique to them, charged with haunting ambience and some classical structures. This potent cocktail creates an otherworldly and hypnotic effect, focusing on texture and rhythm and beautiful discord ... and most of all magic.

Co-written and performed by Brian and Marseille, the two also share vocal duties on the 'Always' album. Maria Grig also contributes strings on three tracks: 'One More Mystery', 'Block the Sound' and 'Lost Landmarks'. Written and recorded between December 2016 and June 2017 at the Piksie Nest and Rabbit Hole, this album was mastered by Wade Alin at Standard Mastering. 

While not making music Brian Hodges works as a lawyer, researcher, and non-fiction writer. His fiction has been published by New Lit Salon Press, the Bearded Scribe Press, and Liquid Imagination, with his work having received acclaim in niche literary circles. The Blue Hour will be released on October 27, but is already available for pre-order via the band's own Bandcamp here. Website here, Facebook here. 

As both 'One More Mystery' and 'Kyoto Song' are mentioned in the above promo piece I thought it would make sense to feature both. Doing so helps to demonstrate the musical expanse The Blue Hour can & do travel through, the beautifully tender One More Mystery contrasts so well with the potent cover version of Kyoto Song. As for the rest of the album, the watch word for each track is unique, and if you wan't a second one then, imaginative springs quickly to mind.


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Gestures & Sounds - To: Rivers, From: Chomp.

Background - LA-based folk-pop outfit and filmmakers, Gestures and Sounds are proud to release their next music video for single, "To: Rivers, From: Chomp".  Playing out like an indie-Tim Burton film, Gestures & Sounds create an innovative and mesmerizing world where our protagonist goes on a perilous journey to find his way back home.

Utilizing their filmmaking skills to complement their energetic, rollicking sound, Gestures & Sounds creates a unique blend of art for all the senses.  Silly and self-aware, the band's debut album Bill Nye Thinks We're a Band takes its inspiration from a speech they saw the famed scientist give on a college campus.  Almost highlighting their future goals, Gestures & Sounds hopes to one day be big enough to attract the attention of their childhood hero.

Debut Single "Ass Over Tea Kettle" and the accompanying video was extremely well-received. Gestures & Sounds release their debut full-length, Bill Nye Thinks We're a Band, worldwide on September 15th, 2017. Website here, Facebook here.

We featured 'Ass Over Tea Kettle' back at the beginning of July describing that song as "a feisty slice of modern folk pop" Now we have the new song 'To: Rivers, From: Chomp'a vibrant piece where folk pop might easily be replaced with folk rock as the base genre.


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Frøkedal - INHEAVEN - Knifey - Cody & Danz

Frøkedal - LTF / Cracks.

Background - Oslo, Norway based artist Frøkedal has released a new double single — ‘LTF’ / ‘Cracks’. Two captivating pieces of music, ‘LTF’ and ‘Cracks’ are similar in the sense that they both describe how feelings of love are often accompanied by an almost-physical fear. Yet, the two songs differ in their urgency, instrumentation, and overall artistic delivery.

‘LTF’ is full of twists and turns, as Anne Lise Frøkedal navigates her way around bustling drum work and complex guitar passages, hinting at a state of emotional bedlam: “Everything we aimed to be / The image stirs so easily / Too fast to follow / I don’t know what you’re doing to me”.

Speaking a little more on the tracks, Frøkedal explained: "‘LTF’ is set in an urban landscape, and inspired by the escalating chaos of daily life, whereas ‘Cracks’ gets back to basics – it’s more vulnerable, and mature in that way. ‘Cracks’ suggests that the problem lies in our nature – nothing is more scary than exposing our weaknesses and imperfections."

Instrumentally, the double release could be argued to be one of Frøkedal most diverse yet. "I wanted the arrangements in ‘LTF’ to channel the more chaotic nature of the lyric” Frøkedal says.

"The second instrumental in ‘LTF’ is like a mini-postcard from last year when I was a clueless Norwegian trying to navigate the busy and bustling streets of Beijing. I laughed a lot when I realised I had musically recreated that moment” - perhaps referencing the tumultuous instrumental finale to the track.

"‘Cracks’ is painfully honest. It was difficult writing a song like that, but I really wanted to try shortening the distance a little, lay it open. I got Familien [Frøkedal’s band] to sing a verse with me, because the theme feels universal. One of my favourite percussion instruments is the Cajun triangle, and you can hear a trace of it in the bridge of ‘Cracks’. To me, it sounds like a reminder of danger lurking around the corner.”

Despite track-by-track production, Frøkedal’s lyrical output has taken a much more thematic approach with recent single ’Stranger’, and the double single released today: “When I started writing this new material, I was picturing different ages or stages in our lives when our vision gets a little blurred. I wanted the songs (and the characters) to channel these critical moments when decisions are dominated by emotion and not necessarily by logic,” she says.

‘LTF’ and ‘Cracks' join Frøkedal’s already-impressive body of work, having previously collaborated with Robyn Hitchcock and fronted successful Norwegian outfit Harrys Gym. She remains a core member of I Was A King, who count Sufjan Stevens and Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake among past collaborators. Purchase here, Facebook here.

I mentioned back in June that I hoped I might be able to share some more material from Frøkedal this year & now we have two superb new songs 'LTF' and 'Cracks'. Both have the hallmark of quality that she consistently delivers, if you like either of these two tunes I thoroughly recommend her Norwegian Grammy-nominated debut LP of 2016, ‘Hold On Dreamer’.


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INHEAVEN - Stupid Things.

Background - Now counting down the days until their self-titled debut album is released on September 1st, INHEAVEN have already received an overwhelmingly positive reaction for the collection. Now the band present a final taster for the album by sharing the new track ‘Stupid Things’.

Produced by Tom Dalgety (Royal Blood, Pixies), ‘Stupid Things’ captures INHEAVEN at their most anthemic and romantic. As co-vocalists James Taylor and Chloe Little share sweet vocal harmonies over the track’s pounding rhythms, ‘Stupid Things’ takes you to a different place to the rest of the INHEAVEN songbook - a place where Brit attitude, boisterous grunge and Springsteen-esque Americana live in perfect harmony.

Lyrically it’s a song that reflects a near universal youth experience. As the band explain: “‘Stupid Things’ is a song for daydreamers. It’s about a love that exists outside of reality, it’s a romanticism you’ve created in your own head - but in the real world you have never even spoken to this person you think you know so well. It’s a school crush that feels like it will last forever. And it’s our very own coming of age soundtrack.”

INHEAVEN’s debut is the sound of a band who are set to change the lives of teenagers the length and breadth of the nation, and beyond. It’s a set that sprawls across the alt.rock spectrum from feral snapfire punk to the moody melodic distortion of shoegaze and the loud/quiet/loud dynamics of grunge. The life-affirming energy of their music combined with their individualistic ethos combine to make a band worth investing in beyond simply adding a few tracks to your Spotify playlist. Facebook here.

Following on from the live song 'Vultures' that we shared at the end of May, we now have 'Stupid Things' a thunderous rock anthem that combines melody and a rich rock arrangement with vocals and harmonies adding something quite special to this fabulous track.


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Knifey - Summer Girls.

Background - The new Knifey single is another perfect encapsulation of the surf-punk's Modus Operandi; it's as much a rallying cry for a rawkus beach party, as it is a wistful look back at what could've been. 

Dripping with summer soaked nostalgia, the track is a last stand to the waning days of perpetual sun and a holiday romances. Blasting out your speakers, the song comes from their debut LP 'Beached', out this September 29th. 

Quote about the song from lead singer Max Trinz: From frantic highs to ardent lows, Summer Girls is a song about romance and passion in the deep summer.  It's about the fast kind of love you can blink and miss while speeding down lazy summer roads.  

Reflective, patient hooks rise above relentless percussion and blistering guitars.  Like all Toronto summers, the song is short and precious, and, like the coming fall, quickly slows into a dreamy, reflective outro that yearns for things not appreciated in their time. Facebook here.

It's third time this year for Knifey on Beehive Candy and this time we have 'Summer Girls' a sub three minute sparkling surf punk song. Passionate, vibrant and charged with power, it's more evidence that this band can turn out fabulous music that should be noticed.

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Cody & Danz - So Small.

Background -  Cody & Danz have shared their new video from their debut EP. The song "So Small" comes from Only The Hits, which released on July 14th via Channel 9 Records in the USA and Tugboat Records in Japan. Cool Hunting calls the song "rambunctious" and says it "carries tremendous force without disrupting the pop sensibilities and musical intelligence of the two musicians." 

On the video, Cool Hunting adds, "Directed by Derik Smith, the visuals offer a candid-like take on an ordinary hang with Crump and Danz. It's simple, fun and works in tandem with the song." Look out for a John Stamos appearance, as well. 

The two artists both have burgeoning solo projects: Cody Crump and Computer Magic. Cody lives in LA and Danz lives in NYC. Consequence of Sound says, "Though about 3,000 miles separate these two musicians, their minds meet on one project, their collaborative debut EP, Only The Hits." Website here, Facebook here. 

Whilst we are in the habit of undertaking additional features for artists in 2017, lets not miss out on Cody & Danz this time with the new music video for 'So Small'. Potent, grungy, and punk fuelled, it's both primal and magnificent!


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Friendly Rich - NØMADS - Soft Fangs

Friendly Rich - The Melon Sun.

Background from Friendly Rich - My name is Rich but most people like to call me Friendly Rich. I wear various hats in the creative field ranging from composer, to publisher, and even soon to be Dr in Music Education. 

My journey in the music industry started back in the 90s composing music for 3 seasons of The Tom Green Show on MTV. Flash forward to 2017 and I now have released 10 records, a book, and now soon to be a one-of-a-kind video for my new single! 

When it came time to make the video for the single, I knew I had to reach out to the folks at Everything Is Terrible, as I’m a big fan. It’s been wonderful working with them, as they perfectly melt my song about a high profile Canadian divorce with North America’s forgotten past!

 ‘The Melon Sun’ is from my new full length studio recording The Great Blue Heron, out on Sept 14th, featuring Kevin Breit & Hawksley Workman, Facebook here.

'The Melon Sun' is a rowdy and riotous blast of crazy rock'n'roll where the vocals are wonderful, the music explosive, & the video suitably insane.

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NØMADS - Phasmophøbia.

Background - NØMADS’ new single “Phasmophøbia”, is the August installment of the post-punk duo’s forthcoming/ongoing Phøbiac project. Phasmophobia is the fear of ghosts. The phenomenon of paranormal experiences presupposes a duality of time between the past and the present; a figure existing in both the past and present planes. Phasmophobia is often confused with Spectrophobia, a fear of mirrors or reflection, which is interesting in that a ghost is in essence a reflection of a past reality.

We all have our ghosts. "Phasmophøbia" tells the story of an ex-lover, haunting the streets of the paranoid narrator's daily world. After last month's release of “Megalophøbia”, the duo has chosen to release the next two singles in live video form, showcasing the band's progression towards the synth-driven shape of Phøbiac Part 2, to be released in a March of 2018.

Featuring swirling, long-form synth improvisation, and man vs machine drums from Brian Wolfe (of David Byrne & St. Vincent and the Dap Kings), the Live from Pittsburgh video series was filmed in the cavernous shadows of an abandoned Catholic school's furnace room, executed in one full take with no edits. The full Live from Pittsburgh video EP will be included with any download of Phøbiac Part 2 next year. Phøbiac Part 1 (comprised of previously released songs) will be released this October. Facebook here, Bandcamp here.

This is our third dip into the year long single by single release that makes up 'Phøbiac' a collection of material that is proving to be a feast of energised inspiration. The latest release is 'Phasmophøbia' a song which is a little less full on post punk & where the synths are more upfront. The passion & increase in melody only serves to add more diversity to what is a very fine the collection of music.


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Soft Fangs - Honey Colony.

Background - Soft Fangs is the musical project of Brooklyn-based songwriter, John Lutkevich. Since his first EP (soft fangs | 2014) and subsequent full length (The Light | 2016), Lutkevich has been enticing audiences all over with his purposefully crafted dark pop.

Influences like The Beach Boys, Leonard Cohen and Pavement melt together to form a scuzzy tangle - from which emerges a dreamier sound reminiscent of acts like Sparkle Horse - while literary inspiration comes from the magical realism of author Gabriel Garcia Marquez and avant-garde poet Robert Creeley.

On his latest release ‘Fractures,' Lutkevich says: “The LP is a collection of songs that I wrote over the past year in fragments and then recorded in three days during a snowstorm in Maine. I wanted to take these songs that I’d written leisurely over the span of a year and then record them very quickly.  It’s the first album where I've enlisted the help of others to engineer, so I let my good friends Bradford Krieger & Chaimes Parker (Big Nice Studio) handle all of the recording aspects, and I just got to run from instrument to instrument.”

Songs like ‘Honey Colony,’ drip around the ears of the listener, melding the story of a bee with that of a workaholic, while other songs like ‘Elephant Girl’ and ‘We Don’t Live Together Anymore’ take on abstract interpretations of loneliness and alienation.

“The album varying in concept is precisely the concept, hence it’s title. They are fractures from my life and other people’s.” Bandcamp here, Facebook here.

'Honey Colony' gently unfolds with a lazy drum rhythm and soft guitar background allowing the subtle vocals to shine & carry the melody.

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Monogold - QTY - Keep Shelly in Athens - Cormac O Caoimh

Monogold - Cinnamon.

Background - Monogold’s new album Babyfood (their sixth album since 2011, out September 29th via Chill Mega Chill Records), includes the heartwarming video for the album’s first single “Cinnamon”. 

The prolific NYC-based psych-pop trio recruited a group of young art students from The Good School, a mobile arts education school for young NYC students that specializes in stop-motion animation. Students at The Good School work out of schools all over Manhattan and Brooklyn, so Monogold went into a class to meet with a group of them and talked to them about food, candy and dreams, and the students created this absolutely adorable video that was as weird as the band hoped. All of the kids who worked on the video were between 6-7 years old and did all of the animation by hand, completely on their own. Pretty, pretty amazing!

Monogold has been incubating since the release of Yolk in late 2016, with their style and lyrical content developing and slowly evolving into something more than single-celled. Whereas “Cinnamon” approaches the concept of one discovering another’s body, “Feelers” shows what it would be like to see sunshine for the first time, if you were a newly born bug. Surf-pop gem “Pink Lemonade” strives to remind us of the simple pleasures of beautiful awkward first loves and strange nakedness in the summer. The egg has hatched and Monogold is ready to eat. Or, perhaps, they’re ready to feed the world with their new album Babyfood. Facebook here.

Refreshing, charming and melodic 'Cinnamon' is all of that and more, plus the video adds another layer of beauty, this one upgrades your day!


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QTY - Dress/Undress.

Background - New York duo QTY have revealed the video for Dress/Undress. The track is available as a limited edition 7” through Dirty Hit and is taken from their forthcoming debut album, produced by Suede guitarist Bernard Butler.

To take us further here are a few well chosen words from the band....

The bands North American tour dates are on Beehive Candy's tour news page, Website here.

Rich, distinct vocals are supported by a raunchy free flowing rock soundtrack. 'Dress/Undress' has a timeless feel to it, & is rammed full of hooks.


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Keep Shelly in Athens - Game Over (Daniel's Scene).

Background - Keep Shelly In Athens shares new single, "Game Over (Daniel's Scene)" -- new album Philokalia due Sept. 29. The ethereal and swirling sounds of the ambient-influenced pop of Greece's Keep Shelly in Athens captures the transient feelings of city life and the inevitable passing of time. With lush melodic beats and dreamy vocals Keep Shelly's production is an accessible and lighthearted entry into the world of down-tempo electronica.

With previous releases on labels including Forest Family Records, Transparent Records, Planet Mu, Cascine and Friends of Friends, the duo have already transported their whimsical arrangements and soothing productions across the globe, including performances at Coachella Festival, Parklife Festival, Brighton's The Great Escape Festival and Austin's Fun Fun Fun.

In addition to their own releases they have also done official remixes for Tycho (Ghostly International), Blood Diamonds (4AD), Steve Mason (Domino) and many more...

Their third LP, Philokalia, is coming out on September 29, 2017 via their own record label Athenian Aura Recordings with the Aussie award-winning novelist/poet Jessica Bell as their new singer. Website here, Facebook here.

Out third track in three months ahead of the new album, this time we have 'Game Over (Daniel's Scene)' a stirring & atmospheric piece, which for me cements the deal for 'Philokalia' an album that is clearly destined to join my collection.


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Cormac O Caoimh - Silence And Sound.

Backgroud - Cormac O Caoimh released his 4th solo album “Shiny Silvery Things” earlier this year to great acclaim in his native Ireland. It charted in the official IRMA charts and was launched with a sold out show in the Triskel Christchurch, Cork. All 12 songs have already received airplay and the first single (his most successful to date) reached over 3 million listeners in Ireland. The song was played in over 23 stations in Ireland and many more in the UK (including the BBC) and Europe (Italy in particular has attracted a big following with Italian cities topping the Spotify listener charts).

His intimate vocals, magical melodies and exquisite guitar playing has always attracted very favourable appeal to critics (with Mojo, The Irish Times, Hot Press, R2, Americana UK, OndaRock in Italy and many more) always quick to point to his unique style as well as comparisons to acts varying from the dreamy pop of The Go Betweens, Badly Drawn Boy, Elliott Smith and Prefab Sprout to the introspective and more folk-oriented Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen and Paul Simon. But he seems himself as a pop song-writer. When pop was good.

Specialized alternative radio stations were always on his side. Every album has received airplay from radio stations and DJs who love music and who love uncovering hidden gems. But with this album Cormac has seemingly hit a pulse on the mainstream and has also been playlisted on daytime stations and shows reaching a far bigger audience than previously possible. His loyal and enthusiastic fanbase (cd sales are still important for this man...the budget of every album is strictly based on the previous album sales) is growing. Finally too in his home country of Ireland where up to now the majority of sales were outside of Ireland (in the UK, Europe and US). The second single (Silence and Sound) is due for release Sept 15th 2017. Facebook here.

'Silence And Sound' is one of those less is more songs. Gradually building however never saturating, the melody, the vocals and a superbly understated yet very complete musical arrangement, makes for one fabulous song.

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Discolor Blind - The Rigs - Josh Taerk - WYO - Silk Village

Discolor Blind - Poor Receipts.

Background - Montreal's Discolor Blind has revealed 'Poor Receipts', the second single from their debut EP 'Long Vivid Dream', set for release at the beginning of September. This follows up their well-received single 'Black and Grey'.

‘Long Vivid Dream’ was recorded in Montreal between April 2013 and October 2015. It features vocalist Alexis Nadeau, who Malayeri met through a mutual friend in September 2013. The EP also involves Grammy and Oscar-winning music producer Jeff Bass, best known for his long-term work with Eminem and collaboration with George Clinton.

This EP is laced with the melancholia and angst that crept in from the cold Canadian winters Ashkan now found himself acclimatising to, summing up the myriad textures found on the record. A mix of chilled and measured washes are used as platforms for more intricate sounds from raw guitars and plaintive pianos to pop beats and even sultry jazz grooves.

Building up the songs involved a long and dedicated process, where Askhan plays the core sounds across a variety of instruments and digital methods, many of which are then replaced by other players for the final recording, and vocals added above the tracks. He likened the process to “rebuilding a large cathedral brick by brick”. Facebook here.

Our second feature for Discolor Blind in just over a month, this time with the second single 'Poor Receipts'. There is a distinctive and quite original sound emerging from this duo, where genres are merged with considerable attention to quality & detail. An underlying sense of passion, is matched by the growing energy as the song develops, fabulous stuff!

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The Rigs - Fall or Fly.

Background - With a plethora of film/tv placements under their belt, Los Angeles duo, The Rigs, debut their haunting new single “Fall or Fly.” Born out of the desire to create, TJ Stafford and Caitlin Parrott began collaborating in 2014. Both prolific songwriters on their own, their unique synth-pop meets gritty alternative rock sound immediately began gaining attention. 

Their tracks have been featured on major television shows like HBO’s True Blood, AMC’s The Walking Dead, NBC’s Parenthood, FreeForms Pretty Little Liars and many more. The mix of emotive vocals, harrowing melodies and unexpected instrumentation create music that has captivated audiences and critics alike.

Their new single, “Fall or Fly,” begins with a pulsing beat and whispering vocals. Though the track begins in a subdued manner, their voices mingling in a breathy duet full of nuance and frisson, it explodes into a radioactive electric chorus that serves as a warning. Serrated distortion and a pounding rhythm build unexpectedly beneath layers of vocals that convey a suffocating intensity akin to the subject matter at hand—a relationship that is falling apart. This haunting track combines two incredible songwriting and vocal talents, each coming at the music with a ferocity that lives wildly in the melody. Website here, Facebook here.

'Fall Or Fly' might be described as synth pop meets EDM, however there are also rock undertones that need to be mentioned. By the end of the song what's really clear is, the way it moves from a more haunting start to become a very catchy and addictive track.

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Josh Taerk - Learning To Let Go.

Background - Back with his new single,  "Learning to Let Go," the track  is about taking that leap of faith, letting go of the need to know all the answers and about living in the possibilities of right now.

"This was the first song I wrote with my producer and good friend Teddy Morgan who I was introduced to by John Oates (Hall and Oates).  Teddy and I wrote it in Teddy's studio in Berry Hill, Tennessee and recorded it at Buzz Cason’s studio, The Creative Workshop. Cason was a backing singer for Elvis Presley and Kenny Rogers. In 1970, he founded 'Creative Workshop', a recording studio, where Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed, Merle Haggard, The Judds, The Doobie Brothers, Emmylou Harris and Olivia Newton-John recorded material.

This past year, Josh toured the U.S. and has charted on Hot AC Commercial Radio. On tour, Josh and his band have opened for famed blues guitarist Robin Trower (Procol Harum), Kevin Costner & Modern West, Jon McLaughlin, Austin Jones amongst others; and have played shows from coast to coast. They even headlined a show in his hometown of Toronto this past March.

Josh has an amazing history - he was playing local venues in Toronto when Max Weinberg - drummer for Bruce Springsteen – saw him play. Max was so impressed, he  invited Josh to open for him at his sold out show in New Jersey, as well as play with him onstage to pay tribute to the late Clarence Clemons at Summerfest. He was then selected to play the 7908 John Oates Aspen Songwriters Festival, where he met another great mentor and now friend, John Oates who would later record back up vocals on his album and connect him to his producer Teddy Morgan. Facebook here.

Josh Taerk's fine vocals really do drive 'Learning To Let Go' forward with considerable power & passion. Musically this is also a great track, the band are just so smooth, the arrangement tight & understated at times, which works so well with the vocals.

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WYO - Down by the River.

Background - Indie rock outfit, WYO, debuted their cinematic, heartfelt music video for lead single, "Down by the River."  Shot in the band's hometown of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the video features the epic mountainsides and landscapes that inspired the forthcoming record, Untamed. 

The band WYO found its roots in a small town south of Yellowstone National Park.  Inspired by the surrounding natural beauty, singer-songwriter Andy Sorge utilizes an organic instrument palette to create the soundscape that is WYO. 

After attending film school in New York, Andy met multi-instrumentalist, Scott McKay Gibson, and the two began composing music for documentaries, commercials, and short films together in Wyoming. Perhaps this explains the reason that WYO's music has a way of evoking such striking visuals that stir the imagination. The pair began delving into Andy's original songs that would soon become this debut album. They teamed up with Los Angeles-based producer, Brad Wood, to provide a fresh ear to finalize their work. 

The product is the full-length album, Untamed. This record is a search for a place that's alive and wild. It's a record that deals with love, loss, and constant exploration. It's a tale of reconciling city life with the Wild West of Wyoming. WYO releases their debut full-length, Untamed, worldwide on October 20th, 2017. Instagram here.

An atmospheric vibe is there from the word go on 'Down by the River' a rich, melodic and quite haunting indie rock song. This is a beautiful track where the music video adds something extra, and I am left hoping it's not long until we can hear more from the band.


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Silk Village - Company.

Background - Silk Village are an emerging 4-piece psych-rock group hailing from the tropical paradise of Darwin, Australia. Bringing together their signature vocals, pleasing leads, and an earthy sound to the stage and the studio. Even with the tropical heat, the band’s mellow attitude reflects the laid back lifestyle of Darwin.

Silk Village’s debut single ‘Company’ finds itself from feelings of disorientation and loneliness. ‘Company' combines unique vocals and luscious leads to create a sound that brings together the smooth style of the band.

‘Company’ was recorded at Masters Studio in Darwin, along with their upcoming EP. Even though the recording process was quick at Masters Studio, it also took place across multiple bedroom studios over the course of about 6 months.

"Being our first experience recording not just a single but our first studio release, there were inevitable set backs along the way, never the less, the band pushed through together to create a body of work that truly represents our collective intuition,” says the band on making the EP.

The band’s first release was mixed by Jez Giddings and mastered by David Briggs, who were both based in Melbourne. "They brought out what we wanted from the track, and were very professional throughout the whole process, Jez did a great job of bringing out a sound that reflected the feel and tone we were trying to communicate.” Facebook here.

A gentle start allows 'Company' both to gradually unfold and from there build into a splendid & melodic rock song. The band & vocalist work so well together & as debut songs go, this track really deserves to travel not just beyond way Darwin, but Australia as well!

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Matthew James and the Rust Belt Union (Video Premiere) - Gill Landry - Sarah Cripps

Matthew James and the Rust Belt Union - Goodbye.

Background - American music nostalgia as if finding an odd record in your uncles hidden collection of 1970’s country and blues bands. Galloping drums with a relentless and lonesome holler reigned in by steady upright bass and soothed by the lost watering hole of pedal steel. This sound is self described as Midwest Junk Soul.

Impromptu Musicals for the Skeptic is singer Matthew James’ story album about moving to Des Moines from his home of Detroit for a girl and leaving everything thing behind including music with his nationally touring string bands. The single “Goodbye” was written on that drive as heard in the lyrics.

Director Josh Berendes is known for his work with nature including his current film on the Galapagos Islands. Here he shot these animals in their natural environment partying and playing music!  Rust Belt Union is shown as a pack helping each other load in during the grind and chill before they release art and energy like a caged animal on stage. There's a feeding of the beasts as a hot dog gets cooked on an acoustic bass. At one point the upright bassist chugs beer out of the pedal steel players boot!

As the scenes pass by it begs the question what scene does this music belong? Matthew James and The Rust Belt Union call their music Midwest Junk Soul as their sound doesn't fit the typical Americana, freak folk, or cow punk. Here lies a bluegrass rhythm and vocal cadence laced with electric pedal steel and drums. Listening to the other songs on the record, nobody is playing this style, not even the hipsters in Portland or the cool kids in East Nashville. The video shows nearly extinct instruments hitting new territory and ready to take over like an invasive species.

Capturing raw live footage and intimate b roll, the vibe is set for whiskey and cigars. If this environment seems like a get away, grab their new vinyl at sumppumprecords.com, Facebook here.

The vocals are gritty, determined and flaunt the passion that underpins 'Goodbye'. Add to this some wonderful musicianship from a band whose love for what they do is all apparent, & you arrive with one beautiful explosion of Midwest Junk Soul, a genre that very much belongs to these folk.

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Gill Landry - Berlin.

Background - Gill Landry has unveiled his brand new single ‘Berlin’, the song is taken from Gill’s newly announced solo album ‘Love Rides A Dark Horse’, set for release on October 6, 2017 via Loose.

Gill Landry’s ‘Love Rides A Dark Horse’ follows his critically acclaimed self-titled 2015 album, which featured appearances by Laura Marling and Robert Ellis among other musical pals. Rolling Stone raved that the record landed at "the four-way intersection between Dylan-inspired folk-rock, atmospheric Americana, dusty cowboy songs and street busker ballads," while American Songwriter hailed it saying “these songs, and especially Landry’s honest performance, resonate long after the last note fades. They beckon you back to further absorb his heartfelt, occasionally comforting, musings on the trials and tribulations of romance-gone-sour. It’s a subject most of us have experienced, can easily relate to and one that Landry explores with taste and subtle, refined passion.” The album earned Landry dates with Ben Harper, Laura Marling, Brandi Carlile, Justin Townes Earle, Warren Haynes, Bruce Hornsby, and more, in addition to festival appearances in the US, UK, & Europe. 

'Love Rides A Dark Horse' breaks new ground for Landry with contributions from fiddler Ross Holmes (Mumford & Sons, Bruce Hornsby), keyboard player Skylar Wilson (Andrew Combs, Rayland Baxter), and drummer Logan Matheny (Roman Candle, Rosebuds), the songs explore a more seductive, stripped-down sound built upon a hushed sense of intimacy that calls to mind Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. The album's tattered narratives cast aside romanticism in favour of reality.

Landry sets the tone from the outset with the alternately joyous and ominous album opener "Denver Girls," singing, "If it's not paradise now / Tell me what you're waiting for / Don't you know there is no evermore?" The song features haunting background vocals from First Aid Kit's Klara Soderberg, who joins Landry again later for a proper duet on the driving "Berlin." Additional female vocals appear throughout the album, some from Karen Elson and others from Odessa, their presence a gentle reminder that, as Landry puts it, "it takes two to disagree."Website here, Facebook here.

The brand new single 'Berlin' is a beautiful flowing song, that exudes high class Americana. The vocals and harmonies are heartfelt, whilst the music is understated and pristine. A fabulous taste of the album to come & one that sets expectations very high.


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Sarah Cripps - Leave Behind.

Background - Leave Behind is the first single from Sarah Cripps new album. Sarah tells us "During the making of this album, I was going through a turbulent transition in my life. I was struggling with the perception of who I thought I was supposed to be, and who I truly am. 

It left me feeling pretty dark at times. It was making this record that helped me decide I would embrace the darkness and the weirdness. 

I pulled myself out of the perfect box I thought I had to fit into. I found a way to create my own narrative and not subscribe to the one that is often forced on young women.  

Although ‘Leave Behind’ is a reflection of losing myself and some of my lowest moments, ultimately, it’s the turning point that gave me the guts to just embrace the weirdness". Website here.

'Leave Behind' mixes Sarah Cripps melodic and poignant vocals, with a carefully constructed soundtrack that allows her voice to shine whilst providing some additional richness to the song. Melodic and reflective, I cannot wait to hear more.

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Blue Rose Code - Sam Vance-Law - Elijah James And The Nightmares

Blue Rose Code - Love Is... (feat. Julie Fowlis).

Background - Blue Rose Code, aka acclaimed singer-songwriter Ross Wilson, unveils the first cut from his forthcoming new album, The Water Of Leith (out 27th October on Navigator Records). ‘Love Is…’ - a duet with the multi-award winning folk singer and multi-instrumentalist, Julie Fowlis, talks of ideals and anticipation.

Love will save us,
Love will save us,
They say love will save us all -
So, what you waiting for?

A nomad both geographically and musically, Ross writes from the heart eschewing any specific genre and the twelve new songs on The Water Of Leith, addressing themes of love, loss, travel, home, accepting the past and embracing the future, are painted with colours of folk, jazz, soul and pop; an eclecticism that has become a hallmark of Blue Rose Code and has seen him compared to John Martyn, Van Morrison and Tom Waits.

In the space of a few short years and the release of well-received albums North Ten, The Ballads Of Peckham Rye, and And Lo The Bird Is On The Wing, Blue Rose Code has built a growing reputation as a powerful writer and performer, gaining extensive radio play and the praise of key broadcasters.  Author Ian Rankin is also a fan and has written insightful sleeve notes for the new album. Website here, Facebook here, live dates on Beehive candy's tour news page.

Although the album is not due until October, Blue Rose Code have given us a head start with the fabulous 'Love Is...' featuring Julie Fowlis whose harmonies add character to the song. Musicianship is absolutely delightful, and as a whole this two and a half minute track is a massive teaser for the album.


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Sam Vance-Law - Prettyboy.

Background - ‘Prettyboy’ is the debut single from Sam Vance-Law, available today on Caroline International. Produced by Konstantin Gropper (aka Get Well Soon),  ‘Prettyboy’ is at its core a guitar-driven indie-up-tempo-stomper, though it changes its musical colouring multiple times, effortlessly moving from a string and piano primed introspection into a multi-voiced orchestral crescendo, before finally flowing into a smooth lightness which calls to mind The Smiths and their floating elegance.

‘Prettyboy’ is the first single to be taken from Vance-Law’s debut album ‘Homotopia’ – due In early 2018 - which tells the story of a gay man’s world in the 21st century. Smart, theoretically schooled, and armed with a wide range of feelings, Vance-Law describes the common homo-stereotypes in order to expose them.

Sam Vance-Law’s music could comfortably sit alongside the likes of John Grant, The Magnetic Fields and Father John Misty, it’s also unafraid of nodding to – among other forms – theatre, operetta and orchestral pop. Given Vance-Law’s upbringing, perhaps that’s unsurprising.

Born in Edmonton, Canada to an academic mother and journalist father, Vance-Law moved to Oxford at the age of five, where he soon joined the renowned New College Choir, juggling five services a week with violin lessons. After three unhappy years at one of the UK’s most distinguished boarding schools the family returned to Canada when he was 16. It was here that, especially once he’d begun studying English Literature at university, Vance-Law began to broaden his musical horizons, meeting the likes of Mac DeMarco, Sean Nicholas Savage and Tops’ David Carrier.

“I spent a lot of time with them and others, playing pool, biking around, working a bunch of different jobs, drinking coffees, drunkenly eating pizza at 3am and going to uni,” says Vance-Law. “That might sound laidback, but I was wholly dedicated and focussed on every one of those things.” Facebook here.

The music video for 'Prettyboy' is a joy, however the song on it's own, is exceptionally catchy and vibrant. With the debut album not due until early 2018, perhaps we can look forward to some more single material prior to the release, if not, I reckon the album will be worth the wait.


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Elijah James And The Nightmares - On A Stage (Live From Elevator Studios).

Background - Elijah James And The Nightmares are an eight piece band that burst onto the Liverpool music scene in May 2017, stepping onstage for the first time together in front of a 250 capacity crowd to headline the popular venue, District. In short few months then the band have already created a buzz in the city, played Sound City Festival and in June went in the studio to record a live EP.

Live From Elevator Studios is the band's debut EP and includes four songs from their live setlist. It was recorded with Tom Roach in Elevator Studios (The Coral, Echo And The Bunnymen and The Last Shadow Puppets). The EP showcases the band as they play together, capturing the raw energy, intensity and excitement of their live sound. With the accompaniment of Violin (Emily Claire), Tenor Horn (Rachel Notrahw), Clarinet and Saxophone (James Cudworth) the EP ranges from climactic builds to luscious sweeps, this atop of Elijah’s intricately crafted songs creates a dynamic four track EP.

"In terms of writing these songs, I’ve been taking on more of a storytelling role, creating characters and worlds in which the songs explore opposed to being totally autobiographical. I think the songs we chose to perform for this EP achieves a good balance between the two.’’- Elijah James

Elijah James And The Nightmares are hosting a launch for Live From Elevator Studios EP at Studio2 Parr Street in the bands hometown of Liverpool on Friday September 8th, with support from popular and highly anticipated ‘Horrible Pop’ four piece Shy Billy and alt/rock band The Mono LPs. Website here, Facebook here.

If you like this first taste of the EP, then I can confirm that another song/video is due out this coming Friday. 'On A Stage' is a fabulous song, where the band are full of passion and provide a high quality backdrop for some distinct and commanding vocals.


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Terra Lightfoot - Lomelda - The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer - Castle Black

Terra Lightfoot - Paradise.

Background - The artist’s strengths as a songwriter, vocalist and performer, memorably showcased on her last studio outing, Every Time My Mind Runs Wild, are even more evident here. With New Mistakes, Lightfoot offers up something rare: the kind of genuine document that can only come from a road-tested breed of songwriter and performer. The song premiered today at American Songwriter.

Terra creates soulful rock that has landed her on stages alongside Gordon Lightfoot, Built To Spill, Guided by Voices, + more. Her most recent LP Everytime My Mind Runs Wild was released last year to critical acclaim and has already accumulated hundreds of thousands of streams. This new album sees her focusing her rock, blues, and soul influences into a clear creative vision.

Terra Lightfoot on “Paradise”: For me, “Paradise” is about letting go of perfection in love. It’s not wrestling with the problems and missteps in our relationships but embracing them. I think it's a more realistic way to look at love and it gives me some comfort to know I'm not standing there with rose-coloured glasses on.  “Paradise” actually started out as a different song called “Thunder” that was a huge hit at our shows. On the last day of tracking the record, I had this crazy idea that I wanted to change the words because I wasn’t happy with all of them, so I set up a pillow fort and a guitar in the tracking room, went to work… and ended up with a new verse melody and completely different lyrics. Gus and Werner liked the new verse so much they said, “Okay, now go write a chorus to match that verse” — and “Paradise” was born!

"Paradise" is the lead single from Terra's upcoming LP New Mistakes, out October 13th on Sonic Unyon. Photo credit - Dustin Rabin, Website here, Facebook here.

Our third feature for Terra Lightfoot in less than a year, this time with the new track 'Paradise'. It's a foot stomping rocker where Terra's powerfully melodic vocals, carry enough rock'n'roll edge, to blend seamlessly with the soundtrack.


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Lomelda - From Here.

Background - Lomelda has shared "From Here," the latest from her upcoming album, Thx. She has also been announced for Mirrors Festival taking place on 28th October in London. Venue and stage time TBC.

Hannah Read, who performs under the moniker Lomelda, makes music that is textural and spacious. Her words are suggestive snapshots of loosely knitted observations, depicting quiet moments between friends and lovers and half-remembered celestial occurrences. In her songs, the memory of the past and glimpses of future stretch out on either side of you, and the present is unsteady and always shifting. 

If you were to ask Hannah Read what Lomelda means, you'd probably end up with some kind of non-answer and a new topic. It is a guarded secret reserved for those who really pry. It is a high school attempt at describing something vast and powerful yet uniquely quiet and complex. And it is ever-changing. Lomelda is about memory, intimacy, and the tragedies of distance. As a band, it has appeared in several forms over the years, but always, to Hannah, Lomelda has been about discovering friendship and connection. Close collaborators have become closer friends. And when you see Lomelda, when you hear it, it is apparent that Hannah cares deeply about the connection made with the people on stage, the connection with you. Bandcamp here, Facebook here.

We featured Lomelda back in July stating then that "her vocals are gentle, a little vulnerable perhaps and beautifully melodic, supported by some fresh, intricate and understated music."  'From Here' carries a little more weight or body to the soundtrack, and Hannah Read's vocal delivery trades up accordingly to the increase in energy, doing so without losing any of her fabulously intense charm.


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The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer - Get Ready.

Background - Armed with a sack of harmonicas, a mess of foot percussion and a road-worn Telecaster, Shawn Hall (The Harpoonist) and Matthew Rogers (The Axe Murderer) kick out raw and primal blues while electrifying the genre with a lightning bolt of new life. Hall and Rogers limit their sound to whatever they can play between them, using only their mouths, hands and feet. Hall provides soul-tinged vocals and blues harmonica, while Rogers simultaneously lets rip on guitar and foot percussion.

These days it feels like our world is on the verge of collapse. But it’s with near-end times in the breeze  that we plunge deeper into the pleasures of sex, revelry and entertainment. ‘Apocalipstick’ begins with  the doom-laden warning call of ‘Get Ready’ (to be released as a UK single). Set to a contrastingly  bouncy drumbeat, Shawn Hall alerts us to “Get ready for the hard times / Get ready for the heavy load  / Get ready for the who knows what”. “Ben Rogers [guest vocalist] first sang ‘Get Ready’ to us by the  piano in the basement of my home,” says Hall. “It was instantly familiar to us and embodied this loose  campfire-like group vocal thing, which carried right into the recording sessions. The beauty of this song is the impression of hopefulness it leaves you while layered in a bed of chaos.” With the fate of  the world certainly in question, ‘Apocalipstick’ delves into lustful begging with ‘Pretty Please’,  summons complete heartbreak in ‘Treat Me Kind’, while ‘Nancy’ and ‘Forever Fool’ touch on themes of bullying and revenge. 

Framed by psychedelic landscapes and world-ending jam-outs, The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer ignite the gritty, blues-rock grooves they have been acclaimed for by adding drummer John Raham  (The Be Good Tanyas) and keyboardist Geoff Hilhorst (The Deep Dark Woods) into the melting pot as  well as the golden voices of Dawn Pemberton, Andrina Turenne, Alexa Dirks (Begonia), Ben Rogers,  Khari Wendell McClelland, Erik Nielsen and Ricardo Khayatte. Add equal parts soulful, sweaty vocals  and biting guitar and you have an album perfect for any doomsday date-night. Website here.

Some chunky rhythmic rock vibes, provide just the right musical arrangement for the vocals and soulful harmonies on 'Get Ready'. It's a catchy rocker where energy and passion are there in equal amounts!


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Castle Black - Trapped Under All You Know (EP).

Background - NYC’s female fronted punk-rock/grunge outfit Castle Black  have just released their new EP Trapped Under All You Know. With gritty female vocals backed by powerful but masterfully layered instrumentation, their music demands to be heard. Reminiscent of famous acts such as Sleater-Kinney, The Dead Weather, Hole, Savages, and Bikini Kill, Castle Black brings an infusion of genres and influences to their music, hurtling through social anthems and pure emotion.

The album kicks straight into gear, with the first track “Seeing In Blue” providing a driving anthem, full of lively drums, hooky melodies and demanding lyrics. The track premiered earlier this month via The Big Takeover. The album’s intriguing title, Trapped Under All You Know, comes as a line from the song “Blind Curtain”. “That line/title was decided upon because it best represented the themes of this album and the trajectory of the songs as ordered on the album,” shared vocalist/guitarist Leigh Celent.

Celent described the EP as a cohesive project, which provides a story experience when consumed in its entirety. Despite this purposeful intention, she also invites listeners to take away their own interpretations. “…while I may have written a song from a certain perspective, that doesn’t mean the words can’t be emblematic of other situations. There have been times that I’ve started writing a song about one thing, but by the time it was done, it was about something else, or a different perspective on the initial topic.”

In addition to their talented instrumentals, Castle Black utilizes vocal harmonies heavily throughout. “It’s been a running joke in the band, that if we want to add something outside of the three instruments, just ask Lisa to vocalize it! So, some of her vocal parts end up being these wordless vocals for this very reason and we like how it contributes to the overall vibe.” Website here, Facebook here.

From the first song 'Seeing In Blue' the band set out to ensure the new EP 'Trapped Under All You Know' doesn't disappoint. The mixture of frenetic punk orientated pieces alongside some hook laden grunge keeps the four song collection powerful and pleasing throughout.

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