Background - Swedish indie band Join The Riot are celebrating the new year with releasing their brand new five-track EP, “Echo”. The first single, ’Pretenders’, has already been rotating on Swedish radio P3 and picked up by Spotify playlists such as Indie Radar.
"Echo" EP will take you on a voyage deeper into the core soul of the band, immersing in various landscapes, from dreamy arena pop in “Fantasies” and “Bonsoir” to dark epic singer-songwriter ballads like ’Echo’ and ’X My Heart’.
The five Stockholmians Henrik Ljungqvist (vocals), Jonas Engdahl (bass), Simon Santunione (drums), Andre Sund (guitar) and Patrik Berg-Almkvith (keys) met in school and started playing together in 2013 with a vision to make great pop and rock music, inspired by childhood heroes Phoenix, early Coldplay and Empire of the Sun to mention a few. In four years Join The Riot has released their debut album, one EP and several singles, including a feature in the Scandinavian Volkswagen commercial. The energetic indie band has often spiced up their releases working with quite unorthodox methods to find their listeners, sending carrot threats to the media, recording albums in a glass-cage and embarking on crazy China tours.
When Simon has been touring with Zara Larsson the band has played with the backup drummer Leo Sund, who's also Andre’s twin brother. With the original line up, Leo has taken on the percussions instead, making the riot grow even further.Their infectious sound of sunny melodies has started to build a solid fan base around the world and we think it's just a matter of time before Join The Riot gets the global recognition their music truly deserves. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
The first of five tracks on the new EP is 'Fantasies' a rich and expansive sounding track. Synths and refined vocals alongside a tight rhythm come together to create a high calibre dream pop song. The band can and do explore other directions across the EP, their overall sound however, remains consistent and pleasing.
Background - Following the release of their retro-inspired debut album Worlds Apart last year, Australian rock band Velvet Flare have released the first single from their forthcoming second album. The single is called Ms Fox. The Ms Fox of the title is a personification of the melting Fox Glacierof New Zealand; the song a lament against global warming. Velvet Flare consists of Paul English (lead vocals, guitar), Patrick Kennedy (piano, keyboards, backing vocals), Paul ‘Shep’ Shepherd (lead guitar, backing vocals), Graeme Smith (bass) and Plato (drums).
They have worked with producer Slade Gibson who has also played various instruments on recorded tracks. FACEBOOK.
We featured Velvet Flare back in May of last year and the new song 'Ms Fox' is another very impressive song. Mixing pop and indie rock vibes, the production is distinct and the gentle melody is full of hooks, in what is a top quality piece.
Background - Nashville indie-rock trio The Lonely Biscuits release "Blue Glass", the first single off their debut full-length record The Universe In You, out March 30 via Soundly Music. The Lonely Biscuits have released two EPs to date, the most recent being The San Francisco EP which included their hit single "Talk About" and a fantastic cover of Liz Phair's "Never Said".
After establishing that alt-rock sound in The San Francisco EP, The Lonely Biscuits teamed with Cage The Elephant guitarist Nick Bockrath to produce “Blue Glass”, a driving anthem with creative production that mixes fuzzed out rock with hints of motown esque percussion. "Blue Glass" coincides with the launch of the independent zine, Ordinary Thoughts, curated by lead singer Grady Wenrich.
Grady was inspired by all of the art happening around him from his friends like Cyle and Cain Barnes of The Weeks, Ian Bush of Diarrhea Planet, Grant Gustafson of Blank Range, Mackenzie Howe of The Wild Reeds, Aaron Martin and Kole Sharp of Okey Dokey, Liza Anne, Becca Mancari, Wrenne Evans and more. He wanted to put something together to document this and share with his friends and community.
The Lonely Biscuits formed in August 2011 at Belmont University, where Wenrich and Sam Gidley were roommates and bassist Nick Byrd lived on the same floor. They first started gaining attention on college campuses around the country while they were still students themselves. Since, they've played on numerous festival stages such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Hangout Fest, Austin City Limits, LouFest and SXSW. In 2013, MTVu named The Lonely Biscuits “College Artist of the Year”. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
'Blue Glass' is a very catchy indie rocker with a melodic feel throughout and choruses that are almost anthem like. There is a simmering level of power beneath the surface of this song that suggests the band could explode into a full on rock crescendo at any given moment.
Background - "'Right Is What's Left' is about the little lies we tell each other to paint a false picture of ourselves. Especially early in a relationship or a friendship, before the veneer wears off, we sometimes try to convey a character that we think the other person wants to see, instead of just conveying ourselves. This is about realizing that the only way to genuinely connect and move forward in a relationship is to convey your actual self and let the other person form their own picture of you based on that. " - No Alarms on "Right Is What's Left"
After nearly an entire decade of searching for the ideal sound to share with the world, multi-instrumentalist Andrew Boles made the most important move of his life by relocating to Detroit to bring his music-career to the next level in 2016. Boles decided to shift away from solo-life to a five-piece band, taking on the incredible talents of 4 up and coming Detroit local musicians into the official lineup to play the songs live. Immediately discovering the depths of the bond between them – the songs Boles had written never sounded better; the high-energy melodies and dynamically transformative, wild, synth-drenched indie-pop music of No Alarms became the realized version of its intentions & ambitions.
"What's Right Is Left" is the first single from No Alarms's forthcoming EP, which was self-recorded in both Texas and Detroit, and mixed and mastered by a legend in the industry, Sefi Carmel (Phil Collins, Massive Attack). The EP conveys the struggles of getting through to friends with serious addictions, codependency, and finally, the overwhelming hope of getting through to the other side. FACEBOOK.
Potent synths and feisty guitars come together to provide a robust backdrop for 'Right is What's Left'. The vocals have a measure of angst and emotion to them, giving the song some real edge.
Background - “Neighborhood Boys,” a song about falling in love with a guy on a bus — but he just gets off at his stop and leaves you with the neighborhood boys....
Erin Pellnat is a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter whose lovely voice can be tender as well as forceful, but always completely expressive and intimate. BANDCAMP.
It was back in December 2016 that we were introduced to Erin Pellnat at that time she had just released her 'Dream in Color' EP a collection of songs that impressed me big time!
It's a pleasure to be able to share her brand new tune 'Neighborhood Boys' where once again the vocals are distinct and engaging. Gentle and melodic and with charming lyrics, lets hope it's not to long a wait for some more tunes from Erin.
Background - Corniglia is a wonderful, psychedelic infused shoegaze band from Perth, Australia. Their second single from their self-titled debut album, "Strange Desires," both released this week. The songs are ethereal, tinged with a melancholia that somehow coexists with a feeling of transcendence. The gauze-y hooks in the guitar textures blend with Matt and Chloe's voice and bring a feeling of compassion to the bleak themes of the songs.
Matt says of the new single, "It's a song written in two parts. Most of the lyrics were written about 4 or 5 years ago. Looking back, it was mostly about a general sense of feeling lonely or not fitting in. It was revisited and finished off recently, where I view it differently now. Most people probably feel like they don't fit in at some point. Everyone is a lot more similar, working through the same problems and insecurities. I feel the song is more about growing up now."
There is a dark and somber beauty suffusing all of the art the group produces. It is the layers of sinewy texture overlaying the tracks. It’s in the lyrics that paint abstract portraits of these impressions. It’s in both Chloe and Matt’s voices. Chloe lends her artistic strength, as well as her voice to the band. She was raised to adolescence in Italy, before moving to Australia and continuing her creative studies.
Corniglia is a respite from and a reflection on the very peculiar world of Matt and Chloe. The two do not just write and record all of the music but also make all of the art and all of the videos for the project. It is an endeavour that is entirely DIY, with all of the artistic output, naturally with the help of family and friends who help them realise their vision, made by Matt and Chloe at the home they share. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
Fourth time around on Beehive Candy for Corniglia, this time with 'Strange Desires' the second single from their debut album. Once again we are treated to some dreamy genre spanning music, the rhythm is faster paced than the vocals and other musical components, providing additional energy and another dimension to the bands sound.
Background - Fans of XTC will be thrilled to know that bandmates Terry Chambers and drummer Colin Moulding, the rhythmic powerhouse behind the Swindon-based legends, have reunited to release new music under the tongue-in-cheek name of TC&I. Their new 'Great Aspirations' EP consists of four new original recordings that allow us to fully appreciate Colin’s English pop vision.
On this debut offering as TC&I, Moulding and Chambers put their XTC history behind them to create some truly original music. Not only is this a new start, but also a thing apart from their musical past. This is also the first new material from Moulding in many years.
"I thought I’ve got to do something, you can’t just sit around and eat chocolate cake and then you get the inkling that you should start writing again and you start meddling and the next thing you know Terry’s on the door step," says Colin Moulding.
Terry Chambers adds, “You’re only here once in your life and this felt a bit like unfinished business. When I left XTC it wasn’t the greatest set of circumstances and you can’t go through your life thinking ‘what if?’ so when Colin offered the opportunity I thought, yes lets do this again."
The EP delivers XTC's trademark qualities of melody, rhythm, variety, and idiosyncratic subject matter, mixed in with nostalgia fuelled by an understated political anger. In following with his songwriting history to date, Moulding shows an appreciation of the good things, such as friendship, landscape and longing. Here he again reminds us of what we stand to lose in the name of progress, looking at the rapidly changing world around him. FACEBOOK, PLEDGEMUSIC.
TC&I have a fine legacy to build on and rather than play it safe and set out from where their time with XTC ended, the new EP and featured song 'Scatter Me' are both original and refreshing. There is a certain "Englishness" to their sound, along with some fresh and creative music, TC&I have not let us down, this is a superb EP.
Background - Walter Martin (co-writer/multi-instrumentalist of The Walkmen) will release his new album Reminisce Bar & Grill on February 16th via Ile Flottante Music. His fourth solo record since The Walkmen's hiatus in 2013, it's one that might throw fans of his two award winning kids' records (2014's We're All Young Together and last year's My Kinda Music) for a loop. Listeners will still recognize the same affable narrator and quirky musical style, but here the subject matter is shifted dramatically. With frankness, poignancy and humor, Martin, now a 43-year-old married man with two young children, squarely tackles the subject of adulthood - specifically, his own.
While Martin approaches these subject matters with candor and sincerity, he clearly also enjoys mining them for humor. "I wanted this album to be an entertaining discussion of marriage, fatherhood, work, fear, and weakness," he explained. "I'm definitely influenced by Woody Allen movies. No matter how serious or romantic or dark his story may be, there's always a strong undercurrent of comedy."
Reminisce Bar & Grill was recorded at various studios in Brooklyn and at Richard Swift's National Freedom Studio in Cottage Grove Oregon. The songs were mixed by D. James Goodwin (Bob Weir, Craig Finn), Richard Swift (The Shins, Foxygen) and Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses). A nimble multi-instrumentalist, Martin handled guitar, piano, organ, bass and percussion duties, but he also relied on the services of a coterie of crafty players and singers: Brian Kantor (Fruit Bats) on drums, Josh Kaufman (Craig Finn, Josh Ritter) on guitar, and Jamie Krents (French Kicks) on bass. The soaring harmony vocals woven throughout the album are delivered by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah singer Alec Ounsworth. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
Less than a month ago we featured 'I Can Run Now From The Hellhounds But I Can't Hide' by Walter Martin and 'Ride Down The Avenue' is another fine song that pretty much ensures the forthcoming album receives our attention. The song is hard to pigeonhole into any one genre, its melodic, energised and catchy, that much is certain.
Background - Wild Child latest singles "Sinking Ship" and "Back & Forth," were produced by Max Frost and Delta Spirit's Matthew Logan Vasquez, respectively. The band's gearing up for the release of their new album, Expectations, out February 9th on Dualtone Records.
Wild Child won't settle. For seven years now the Austin-based ensemble has carried its infectious blend of indie-pop and infectious melodies across the international music scene, charting viral hits and wrapping their arms around a diverse and dedicated fan base. But earlier this year when the band set out to make their fourth studio album, they found they had their hands full: After half a decade of maturation, the group had grown beyond its traditional writing and recording process. “We had too many ideas for how we wanted to make this record” says Kelsey Wilson, the group’s lead vocalist and violinist. She shrugs. “So we said, ‘Why not just do all of them?’”
The group realized this offered an exciting opportunity to make a kind of record bands rarely get right: To take a new, multispectral approach to writing and recording that went beyond simply trying to engineer success. The band made a list of their favorite musicians who were also great producers in their own right — choosing ones they thought would shine a new and unique light on specific compositions — and then Wild Child set about chasing their album from studio to studio all over the world, never saying no to an idea. The result — the band’s fourth album, Expectations — is Wild Child’s most creative, colorful and intellectually engaging album to date.
Now a seven-piece pop mini-orchestra (Wilson on violin and vocals; Alexander Beggins on ukulele and vocals; Sadie Wolfe on cello; Matt Bradshaw on keyboards, trumpet, and harmonica; Tom Myers on drums; Cody Ackors on guitar and trombone; and Tyler Osmond on bass), Wild Child formed in 2010 when the group's core duo of Wilson and Beggins wrote and released their first album, Pillow Talk. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
Another band we featured last month and they are back and again sharing two more songs for our pleasure. 'Sinking Ship' and 'Back & Forth' are two very contrasting pieces, 'Sinking Ship' is a beautiful and gentle song with gorgeous vocals and harmonies. 'Back & Forth' is a feisty full bodied tune with a funky blues feel, this band do variety and they do it with style.
Background - Lauren Ruth Ward just released her new song "Sideways". "Sideways" is an anthem for those who get lost while acclimating to a new life."
Says Lauren, "Whether it's intentional or unintentional, you gotta roll with it but not let the people walking faster than you distract you." The song is about when Lauren moved from Baltimore to Los Angeles about 2 years ago.
Her new album "Well, Hell" is coming out February 9th, and you can see the campaign that American Apparel did with her here. She is a hairstylist during the day to be able to keep her music career afloat.
Lauren has organically grown fans in places like Italy, France, Spain, Germany, etc. There is such a love for her music that they created fan pages on Instagram. FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM.
'Sideways' is the second song from Lauren Ruth Ward that we have shared, and once again her rock vocals are centre stage and gripping. This is natural and exuberant rock & roll, dive in and enjoy!
Background - Joel James makes a statement in new single Adorn Above telling the industry, he is here to stay. Adorn Above is a battlecry in the form of a rock orchestral sound. Joel James lands his delicate poetry in between the whaling sounds of triumph. The track illustrates rejection being a societal norm but shows the urge to keep fighting, while having an endless desire to come out on top. “‘Been torn apart a thousand times, but now there’s more of me to see’ - When I wrote that line, the song made sense. It’s such a bad ass statement, so much attitude. I believe that anyone who is used to rejection, no matter the industry they are in, will live and breath those lyrics” - Joel James Adorn Above is exactly what it sounds like, a battlecry. It’s about a certain breaking point, having a whole industry crush you, losing everything to an unfair advantage. The song highlights the burning desire to bounce back head first and straight into the deep end without hesitation. Rejection becoming the norm, and success becoming our meaning to lif The song was written, recorded, produced and mastered in Joel’s childhood bedroom by himself. That’s how all his releases are created. In 2016 Joel James released debut EP I’m a Fool opening with hit Still Around, generating buzz on Australia’s Hit Network and creating waves in the Gold Coast reaching number 8 on the 102.9 Hot Tomato Playlist. While Joel is laying the foundations of what looks like a solid career, he continues to raise the bar with every release, always experimenting with new colours of music and building the world he dreams of. FACEBOOK.
Powerful and expansive 'Adorn Above' is fully charged right from the very start. Joel James vocals are passionate and implore the listener to take note. Dramatic? just a little...
Background - Will Stewart’s County Seat, coming out on Cornelius Chapel Records April 6th, explores the modern South through an interpersonal lens while reaching into it's complicated past, and present. As American Songwriter’s Brittney McKenna says “[County Seat] explores the complicated tangle of Stewart’s Southern roots, blending nostalgia and reverence with a stark awareness of the region’s dark, flawed past.”
On the nostalgic first single from County Seat, “Sipsey”, Stewart longs for the wonder and innocence of young adulthood. “The title references a place in northwest Alabama called Sipsey Wilderness Preserve,” Stewart says. “I wanted to use that as a sort of visual, tangible anchor to otherwise vague, impressionistic lyrics. I also just like the way it sounds. But overall, the song is about trying to recapture the sense of awe, wonder and abandon — and maybe innocence, to a lesser degree — of young adulthood, coming to realize that things that were once inconsequential in youth are now the only things that matter.”
County Seat is a guitar-fueled Americana record, caught somewhere between the worlds of country and electrified rock. The songs are roomy and lush, the result of an inspired band — led by Stewart, who handles singing and guitar-playing duties — whose members recorded all nine tracks in two short days. There are swirls of swooning pedal steel, layers of vocal harmony, and the pastoral punch of a songwriter looking to turn the landscape of his home state into music.
Co-produced with Les Nuby (who also engineered and mixed the album) and recorded in a series of live takes, County Seat nods to a number of songwriters who sing about the beauty of their homeland without glossing over its imperfections. There are electrified moments influenced by Neil Young, guitar arpeggios suited for R.E.M., turns-of-phrase worthy of Bob Dylan, and the modern-day folksy charm of Hiss Golden Messenger. On an album that evokes some heavy starpower, though, Will Stewart shines the brightest. This is his first full-length release as a solo artist: a rallying cry from a Son of the South who, having returned home after a long trip, looks at his birthplace with renewed eyes. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
'Sipsey' has some classic Americana feeling that resonates beautifully. Rich with fine instrumentation and delicious harmonies Will Stewart's naturally refined vocals complete the circle.
Berlev's Rock 'n' Roll Hotel - Let's Go To The Movies.
Background - Berlev’s Rock ’n’ Roll Hotel plays rock. Sometimes hard rock, other times more soft rock, certain times straight forward rock ’n’ roll but always filled with energy. Søren Berlev, the old drummer of the biggest rock n roll band ever in Denmark and Scandinavia has been working several years to write new music and has gathered a band. Berlev’s Rock ’n’ Roll Hotel succeeds in the delivery of a wild, participatory and musical performance of the songs.
The band consists of Søren Berlev on drums, Erik Winther on guitar, Esben Hegelund on vocal and Søren Fjalland on bass guitar. Together they play a live performance which leave the audience with no doubt about the bands love for rock n roll music. When the band plays their highly energetic songs they make sure to the audience is rocking to the loud guitar solo and singing along on the catchy melodies.
If you like a little rock & roll then 'Let's Go To The Movies' ticks a whole load of boxes. Unpretentious and full of magnetic hooks this is the business for rockers of all ages.
Background - Winter Wilson are preparing to hit the road with the legendary Fairport Convention - but they could very easily be on the dole. This is the story of a couple who turned the nightmare of redundancy into a dream of playing music for a living... "We gave ourselves a year to see how things would turn out," says singer Kip Winter. "Five years later we are still getting away with it! It’s not easy, but playing music professionally beats working for a living."
Kip and partner Dave Wilson were popular part timers on the folk scene and released Winter Wilson albums at their own leisure. But, following the banking crash and global crisis of 2012, things changed for the couple and music became the priority. Since then, critical acclaim has followed their every move and they even made one of the Daily Telegraph's 'Top Ten Folk Albums' of 2014 in the redundancy-inspired and intrepid 'Cutting Free’.
The music they make is as sharp in sound as it is observational in message and is delivered with a keen ear for melody and instinctive harmonies. Dave Wilson’s songs pull no punches and are as comfortable in a contemporary box, as they are at home on the floor of a folk club. Indeed, his songs have found their way into the repertoire of many a seasoned floor singer, as well as several other recording artists.
The duo has been hand-picked to support musical legends Fairport Convention in 2018 and are ready to delight audiences around the country. To coincide with this, they are releasing their brand-new album ‘Far Off on the Horizon’ on January 25th and it’s another outstanding collection of original songs on subjects as diverse as migration, old age, young love and Australian weather! This latest collection of songs fits very well with the emotional geography of the roads they're now travelling. WEBSITE.
Winter Wilson touring with folk legends Fairport Convention in 2018: 25 Jan 2018, Tewkesbury, The Roses Theatre 26 Jan 2018, Southport, The Atkinson 27 Jan 2018, Lincoln, Drill Hall 28 Jan 2018, Buxton, Opera House 30 Jan 2018, Nottingham, Playhouse 31 Jan 2018, Peterborough, Key Theatre 01 Feb 2018, Coventry, The Albany Theatre 02 Feb 2018, Morecambe, The Platform 03 Feb 2018, Settle, Victoria Hall 04 Feb 2018, Salford, The Lowry 06 Feb 2018, Milton Keynes, The Stables 07 Feb 2018 Stoke, The New Vic Theatre 08 Feb 2018 Durham, Gala Theatre 09 Feb 2018 Whitby, Pavilion Theatre 10 Feb 2018, Leeds, City Varieties 11 Feb 2018, Banbury, Trades and Labour Club 13 Feb 2018, Canterbury, The Gulbenkian 14 Feb 2018, Canterbury, The Gulbenkian 15 Feb 2018, Worthing, Connaught Theatre 16 Feb 2018, Frome, Cheese and Grain 17 Feb 2018, London, Union Chapel 18 Feb 2018, Winchester, Theatre Royal 20 Feb 2018, Farnham, The Maltings 21 Feb 2018, Exeter, Corn Exchange 22 Feb 2018, Tunbridge Wells, Assembly Hall Theatre 23 Feb 2018, Bury St Edmunds, The Apex 24 Feb 2018, St Albans, The Alban Arena 25 Feb 2018, Bromsgrove, The Artrix
I imagine that Fairport Convention are rather discerning when it comes to choosing touring partners with the emphasis on quality. Either way that is what they have with Winter Wilson as demonstrated by the tender and touching song 'Far Off on the Horizon'
Background - Natalie Shay is a 19 year old multi award-winning, indie pop/rock artist from North London. Deemed as one of London’s hottest emerging talents and having already acquired an impressive array of awards, Shay is ready to launch herself into the forefront of the industry, with her highly anticipated upcoming release.
As a classically trained guitarist from the age of five, Shay's outstanding talents soon found herself accepted into the prestigious BRIT school, known for producing such prodigies as Adele, Jessie J and Katy B. Shay credits her time at the famed BRIT school for encouraging her independence, “It allows student’s to develop creatively and socially so that they are prepared for the world once they graduate”, explains Shay.
Shay's experience at the BRIT school propelled her into a successful solo career, performing to sold-out audiences at some of London’s most iconic and renowned venues, including The Roundhouse, Ronnie Scotts and Brooklyn Bowl, O2. Her successes to date include her long list of awards from ‘Best Undiscovered Talent’ London Music Award, Winner of The Guardian’s Music Award and two time winner of the Mayor of London Gigs. Shay’s debut single ‘Follow You Home’ reached number 15 in the iTunes singer/songwriter charts, championing Ed Sheeran.
Leading single ‘This Feeling’ is thematically about the excitement of young love and the passionate desire for someone. The emotions this song conveys, combined with Shay’s raw vocals, creates a heartfelt song which resonates with listeners from all different aspects of life. Sonically ‘This Feeling’ highlights Shay’s distinctly powerful and vibrant vocals. Featuring gritty melodic guitars, punchy drum beats and an infectious anthemic chorus, Shay has established a sound beyond her years. With Shay’s mesmerising lyricism, her impressive vocal prowess and a unique flair of delivering listeners with compelling live performances, it is to no wonder that she has had the privilege of sharing the stage with artists such as Soul II Soul, J P Cooper, Alex Francis and Sex Pistol, Glen Matlock.
After extensively gigging around the UK and perfecting her sound, Shay is now ready to focus on the release of her new music. Driven by the desire to inspire other young women in the arts and helping them to flourish with confidence, Natalie Shay is set for a promising 2018. ‘This Feeling’ is due for release January 19th. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
A refreshing dose of indie rock comes our way in the shape of 'This Feeling' a feisty and very catchy song. Has England found it's own Amy MacDonald, not to worry Scotland there is plenty of room for artists of this calibre.
Background - Montreal’s electro-pop duo Young Galaxy have announced the upcoming release of their first fully independent, “punk spirit” album. Down Time stories Young Galaxy’s shift into complete independence and positions the band as a countercultural beacon during the current climate of isolation, corruption and despair.
Showcasing the band’s new independence is lead single, “Under My Wing”. The track intentionally blurs what listeners have come to expect from the band. Musically it’s cloudy and swirling, the lyrics obscured, almost unintelligible by design. As the band puts it, “it’s a song that sleeps during the day and walks the empty streets at night. It’s about the failure of capitalism, the isolation of suburbia, and the drive to discover sensuality, connection, and a spark of life in the face of despair.”
Young Galaxy began writing Down Time with a sense of reinvention in mind. In order to stay ahead of the ever-shifting landscape of the music industry, the band felt the need to step away from the industry entirely and take stock of and control over their career. Tired of the industry’s exploitative, conservative nature, the band started their own label in an effort to create a sense of community, and to stay true to an ethos of experimentalism and independence.
Young Galaxy’s Catherine McCandless says: “Beginning to write and record is always a question of seeking the headspace that will manifest the life that we want to live – it feels essential that we get up against what feels most valuable to us: love, art, subversion, risk and vulnerability. Those are the tools of the work of writing for us. In immersing ourselves in a kind of daily labour that brings about questions of whether we’ve gone far enough, left out enough, left bare enough, said too much, sweated enough, bled enough, I think we are putting out into the world powers and vulnerabilities that could be the balm, or even antidote to it. The music industry needs it, politics need it, people need it. It’s love and sex and comfort and blood and unity amongst seekers on the outside of what seems to be an absurd and lonely state of normalcy currently.” FACEBOOK.
We receive a constant supply of new electro pop music and are perhaps more choosy with this genre. 'Under My Wing' stands out both by the musical arrangement, atmosphere and level of originality, that and the "punk spirit" which an independent band I suspect, has more chance on delivering.
Background - In reggae, all roads lead to the “Riddim Twins”, Sly & Robbie. They’ve been revered as style-defining icons for years, and together and individually have a massive influence on the genre. They are also renowned for their willingness to shatter boundaries and experiment with sounds. Over the past decades, they have never been shy of leaping over into other genres – for instance, their timeless, super-tight production work for Grace Jones...!
Now, Sly & Robbie meet Dubmatix. The Canadian producer and multi-instrumentalist got his hands on original Sly & Robbie tracks and spent months crafting this new album, Overdubbed. Dubmatix is celebrated for his out-of-the-box thinking and willingness to experiment, and the album shines with fresh ideas.
Sly & Robbie’s tunes, which are originally without vocals, haven’t simply been dubbed: extracting the individual essence of each track, Dubmatix has added a plethora of tweaks, ideas and individuality, making his musical signature clearly audible. On some tracks, he invited vocalists, including Jay Spaker (John Brown's Body), Screechy Dan and Prince Alla, to contribute their unique style. As well as Dubmatix himself, the album features many other musicians.
The result is an album that shines with eclectic diversity. From roots oriented tunes to dubs for the clubs, there’s a bit of everything. Dubmatix’s refreshingly playful, bass-heavy approach creates new highlights while at the same time paying deserved homage to two world-class musicians.
The guest vocalist line up is jam packed including: Prince Alla, Screechy Dan, Megative, Jay Spaker, Treson, Pato Irie, Bill King, Pablo Paul, Shaky, Illorn, Aaron Kazmer and The Heavyweights Brass Band. Dubmatrix WEBSITE.
OK I am an unashamed reggae and classic dub fan, that is always a little suspicious of modern variants. 'Dictionary' which opens the album settled my doubts from the beginning, Dubmatrix has delivered something very special here, this one is for collectors and those just discovering the genres, fabulous!
Background - “Lake Family” is the final single that Helsinki’s innovative lo-fi pop trio Lake Jons are sharing ahead of the release of their self-titled debut album (out next Friday, January 19th via AntiFragile Music). “Lake Family” is a euphoric track, masterfully showcasing frontman Jooel Jons’ effortless vocals and the bands’ undeniably assured, anthemic sound.
Lake Jons has been flourishing in their hometown of Helsinki since 2014, utilizing atmospheric samples, simple driving rhythms, delicate guitar progressions and lush, hook-laden vocals as pillars of their forward-thinking songs. The result is an alchemic blend of ambient lo-fi pop, psych, soul and folk… it's the kind of album that could only come from a state of severe isolation and a mystical connection with the natural world.
It also explores themes of introspection, existentialism and human relationships, while the lyrics detail a quieter existence. A calm and persistent “life will go on” motif is prevalent throughout, which follows the bands’ previous two EP’s they released in 2016, Explore and Explode, along with their most recent singles from this album, “Call Me” and “Breathe Out The Fumes”. FACEBOOK.
Upbeat and refreshing 'Lake Family' also has plenty of heart and soul, the bands lo-fi music is the perfect soundtrack some really appealing vocals.
Background - Chicago’s File 13 Records has announced they will release 'Zebulon', the compelling yet irresistibly catchy new single from solo artist Jon Lindsay. Slated for worldwide release on December 22, this track features a ridiculously funky horn arrangement from Matt Douglas of The Mountain Goats and drums by John Howie Junior.
'Zebulon' also happens to artfully tackle systemic bigotry—from the bigot’s point of view, no less. A sonic departure from Lindsay’s 2016 modern pop/rock opus 'Cities and Schools' (via File 13 Records), Lindsay describes the “Zebulon” sound as “sort of this psychedelic gospel pop”. While the vibe is indeed reminiscent of late-era George Harrison and Warren Zevon, and the horns, keys, congas and infectious hooks are in step with pop masters of the 1980s like Steve Winwood, something entirely new is happening here.
Lindsay (self-described as “way, way left”) wrote the song based on a true story. One night last summer, he accidentally wound up in rural North Carolina, playing music on a farm at the going away party for a farmer’s daughter, who was heading off to a northern college in the fall. Lindsay knew very little about the situation heading into the evening, but there was a lot of narrow-minded language and odd ideas voiced that night, much of it by the farmer himself. Some of this is echoed in the song.
“I didn’t want to just skewer a guy like this with some preachy, easy tune," explains Jon Lindsay, "I wanted to put a more three-dimensional character sketch together that got at the undercurrents of why this person felt like his whole world was getting away from him. Maybe it would help me understand how these things happen? I just tried to imagine how somebody could turn out so hateful and seemingly not realize it even a little bit.” WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
Bright and engaging from the opening moments 'Zebulon' is a rhythmic and catchy pop song with a musical arrangement that skillfully adds some extra instrumentation just at the right moment.
Background - I remember sitting in a hotel room (working) in India shortly after we put our first single ‘Howl’ up, and feeling grateful that people seemed to get what we were doing; especially the contrast between the light and the dark of Mog and Danny’s vocals and the mixture of organic and electronic instrumentation, which I’d tried hard to give equal bearing in the mix. More importantly, I was proud of what we’d made, and was excited to see where it could take us.
Then a couple of us got shipped around the world with work again, passed exams, bought houses, dogs, vans…. for a while recording felt like thumbing putty into the gaps in our schedules, trying to stop the band from leaking away. But all the little seconds and minutes built up, as did the songs, and the idea of a ‘release’got swallowed up by tweaks and changes, mixing, re-mixing…. I realised we had to let go of it at some point or I might get swallowed as well.
So, at last, what feels like a decade later, I present to you the fruits of our labour as Safari Gold; a self-produced, self-indulgent, subjectively beautiful 15-track mess that our parents and labels couldn’t get their heads round, to be released across all digital platforms on January 19th, 2018. That Friday night we’ll also be holding our album release show at our beloved Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff.
I owe a special thanks to Todd Campbell @ Stompbox Studios for helping me to produce it all, and reining me in when I was halfway to the moon with a drum-mic. We’d also like to thank our friend Mal who designed and painted our album cover, which encapsulates so much of what this album is about. And of course a huge thanks to any of our friends who got dragged into the whirlpool, however briefly. Its taken a long time to finish a) because we needed to learn how to make it and b) because of life.
It’s fun, it’s sad; it might not be what you expected. I don’t really know how to describe it properly, but what I do know is we’re incredibly lucky to be here at all, and we wouldn't be without you. So thank you too. - Lew, Sion, Mog & Danny. FACEBOOK.
'Easy Company' is a combination of indie pop and rock where both the music, vocals and charming harmonies, suggest the album only needs to be this good to be magnificent.
Background - Honeymilk, who went from a four-piece to a two-piece a year ago, just completed their sophomore studio album, called “I Want You To Be Very Happy.
First track out from the album was “Time Will Kill You” which was released summer 2016, soon reaching 200 000 streams on Spotify.
This was followed by “The Nothing New” and “Trip” which both was instantly hailed as the best tracks the band’s released by media outlets such as Clash Magazine, BBC Fresh On The Net and Jajaja Music. Airplay followed on renowned stations such as P3 in Sweden, Amazing Radio, German Flux FM, Norwegian NRK P13 and Finnish YLE Soumi..
Honeymilk’s new studio album “I Want You To Be Very Happy” is out January 26th on Birds Records. FACEBOOK.
'Coming Home' is a relaxed indie song that feels comfortable throughout, dropping hooks constantly and the vocal arrangement seriously adds some real wow factor as the tune unfolds.
Background - NYC-based, orchestral pop artist, Sur Back, shares her lead single "Valentino" and announces her follow up EP, Kitsch II, due out February 23rd, 2018. The EP was written, recorded and produced by Sur Back, and mixed and mastered by Patrick Brown of Different Fur Studios (Toro y Moi, Grimes, Zola Jesus, K. Flay, The Morning Benders).
Sur Back is the solo project of Caroline Sans, a formally trained dancer and musician, who channels the two forms of art into a baroque pop aesthetic. Kitsch II is Kitsch's darker, more somber cousin, as displayed by the similar, but darker, album art. Although most of the second EP's tracks were written around the same time as the first EP, as a collection, the record has taken on a new meaning with Sur Back's transition to living in the city and moving away from her childhood home.
While finishing production of this record, Sur Back moved from South Florida to NYC, which is reflected through the EP's wide-eyed optimism and dreamlike aesthetic. "Valentino" was written as if scoring a fashion show, with a straightforward beat with a bit of jaggedness, as if walking in heels. The gorgeous instrumental layers that Sur Back is able to produce and write alone in her bedroom pushes past the typical DIY sound of bedroom pop. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
Expect the unexpected with 'Valentino' and then enjoy the gorgeous musical journey. Fascinating and captivating, this is an instant replay, and some!
Background - The basis of the song is quite simple, it’s referring to inner demons, everyone’s are different and everyone deals with them in different ways. Some people are consumed by them to the point where their life revolves around them. Others fight them every step of the way. Sometimes they’re gone for good and other times they come back, either creeping slowly or rushing towards us like a juggernaut. The song is also linked to a previous track we did, but dropped unfortunately.
We shot the video on an iPhone again, we do all our videos on phones it seems.
The video started off with a very simple idea of inter cutting shots of each of us showing different expressions. Then had the idea of using coins found in a friends’ attic to coincide with the line ‘place two coins on those eyes before they start sinking’. Then this developed into the idea that we could use certain objects that could represent vices or triggers. We also tried to interweave the phrase ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ which represents both that and the constrictions we can place on ourselves, another nod to our inner demons.
We had a lot of fun videoing this, there’s quite a lot of outtakes too and we got a huge amount of black paint everywhere. FACEBOOK.
We featured this song last month, then along came the opportunity to premiere the video. Now whilst plenty of music sites appear to love plastering "premiere" and other "first past the post" statements across their home pages, Beehive Candy's shoestring arrangements, usually mean that the caveat of demands that often come with such "opportunities" are just to time consuming.
Then along comes Locks - polite, easy going, if it's not to much hassle and so on, and for such a fine song. So lets just repeat our review, leave it at that, put our feet up & go & watch the TV (OK so we are exaggerating for effect).
Last month we stated "Bluesy and with a stripped back musical opening when the vocals and harmonies kick in this becomes a rich and very catchy song. I'm left looking forward to their debut album, and some."
Background - After a successful fan funding campaign, John MOuse releases his fifth album ‘Replica Figures’ out through Keep Me In Your Heart Records on the 19th of February 2018. For ‘Replica Figures’ John returns to work with original band member Sweet Baboo. It's been 15 years since the two worked under John's previous moniker JT Mouse and the result is a touching album with glimpses of John's black humour, which has been a signature throughout his career.
"We had talked about working together but other commitments had taken president. This is the type album I have been wanting to release for some time.” Says John of his decision to work with Steve Baboo “Steve understood straight away what I was trying to achieve and we worked really quickly on just letting the songs breath and be themselves. Nothing was over thought or overworked."
‘Replica Figures’ features Steve Black (Sweet Baboo) on piano and bass, former guitarist of early 90's indie band Hopper (who were signed to Tony Wilson’s Factory Too records), Paul Sheppard, and John's daughter Maggie Lola on backing vocals. The album circulates around the concept of memories, different memories, how they are created, the lack of memory, enforced and false memories...
"We wanted the album to have restrictions in place, a limited palette of instruments and sounds, and most importantly a vocal performance to capture emotion and the moment.” Says John about recording the album “We are so used to listening to perfect vocals and I wanted to create a snapshot, much like a memory." FACEBOOK.
'Replica Figures' is one of those rare albums that starts out well and genuinely just gets better song by song. Somewhere near the mid-point we have 'Bunkbeds and Broken' a track that gives some good flavour of the whole, an anchor point if you like, however I really do urge you to check the other songs out, even if the shared song only registers a little.
Background - After a year in which they fulfilled several landmark ambitions, INHEAVEN today share their brand new track ‘Sweet Dreams Baby’ – their first new material since their critically acclaimed debut album was released last summer.
‘Sweet Dreams Baby’ is an anthem for those who are hoping for better things to come in 2018. “Ever wish you were someone else? Every wish you were somewhere else?” begins frontman James Taylor, expressing desires that many will identify with. Subsequently joined on vocal harmonies by Chloe Little, the duo’s lyrics remind people not to lose sight of their aspirations.
Sonically, ‘Sweet Dreams Baby’ echoes a succession of timeless American influences – from the insistent percussion of the great 60s girl groups to Springsteen’s yearning and the widescreen hooks of Kings of Leon. The track was produced by INHEAVEN’s regular collaborator Tom Dalgety (Royal Blood, Pixies, The Amazons).
After selling-out London’s Scala in the autumn, INHEAVEN return to the road at the end of the month for a UK headline tour. The band will also embarking on their first North American tour alongside fellow British indie darlings Pale Waves. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK. January 31st – Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth February 1st – Portland Arms, Cambridge 2nd – Esquires, Bedford 3rd – Moles, Bath 5th – The Boileroom, Guildford 6th – The Face Bar, Reading 7th – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells 9th – Arts Centre, Norwich 10th – Mining Institute, Newcastle 12th – Deaf Institute, Manchester 13th – Arts Centre, Wolverhampton March 19th - White Oak Music Hall - Houston, TX 20th - Dada - Dallas, TX 23rd - Rebel Lounge - Phoenix, AZ 24th - Soma Sidestage - San Diego, CA 25th - Constellation Room - Santa Ana, CA 26th - Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA 27th - The Chapel - San Francisco, CA 29th - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR 30th - Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver, BC 31st - The Crocodile - Seattle, WA April 3rd - Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO 5th - Recordbar - Kansas City, MO 6th - Ready Room - St. Louis, MO 7th - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL 9th - Velvet Underground - Toronto, ON 10th - Skully’s Music Diner - Columbus, OH 11th - U Street Music Hall - Washington, DC 12th - The Foundry - Philadelphia, PA 13th - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY 15th - Sonia - Boston, MA
We featured INHEAVEN twice last year and ahead of the bands tour we now have 'Sweet Dreams Baby'. Once again we have a mature sounding rocker, where the production and clarity of sound is retained however much the energy levels build. With plenty of hooks the song quickly develops and insists on a second listen way before the closing chords.
Background - Electronic music artist Phantoms vs Fire has announced a new expanded version of ‘Swim’, his debut album set for release via Hypersoma Records. This special edition, available exclusively on Bandcamp, is called ‘Deeper Swim’ and includes two additional tracks not available on the original version.
Phantoms vs Fire is the solo project of Italy-based Brazilian multi-disciplinary artist Thiago C. Desant. Both a composer and graphic artist, Desant focuses on melodies that incorporate traditional musical instruments, synthesizers and orchestral arrangements.
While Desant says that the artists who most strongly influenced his composition are Sigur Ros, Radiohead, Max Richter, Trent Reznor, and Gustavo Santaolalla, Phantoms vs Fire's output is very distinct from any one of them. Tastefully blending electronica and ambient with dreamy classical influences, this album is bound to appeal to fans of Tycho, Com Truise, Youandewan, Bonobo, Philip Glass, Japan, and Mike Oldfield.
Clearly blazing his own remarkably beautiful path, Phantoms vs Fire engulfs the listener, who journeys with each composition from introspection and relaxation to reverie and intensity in the best tradition of Philip Glass, Japan and Ryuichi Sakamoto. This is the perfect soundtrack to late night stargazing, capable of lifting you to greater sonic heights. WEBSITE, BANDCAMP.
To often we receive electronic based music that in all honesty, is not really even at the demo stage if your serious about taking it further. 'Starfish' typifies the quality to be found in Phantom VS Fire's music, and whilst we are not here to lecture anyone about their music, this album may well inspire some original ideas for others to develop.
Super Hi Fi - Dub to the Bone (Live in The Greene Space).
Background - Brooklyn, NY's funkiest, ambassadors of dub Super Hi-Fi are back with a genre melding new LP called Blue and White. By mixing elements of reggae, rock, world music, and jazz, Super Hi-Fi have created an album that feels as vibrant, dynamic, and undefinable as the boroughs of New York City. Holding true to their reggae roots Blue and White promises plenty of low-end heaviness and the dual trombone power that has come to define Super Hi-Fi's signature sound.
Super Hi-Fi- an underground supergroup of sorts whose members have backed a diverse collection of artists ranging from Beyonce to Donovan to Bill Frisell to the Skatalites- mixes jazz-inflected trombones, the heavy rhythmic thump of Jamaican dub and touches of afrobeat, funk and rock for a mix memorably described as an ‘imaginary soundtrack from Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, The Specials and Led Zeppelin.’ Led by bassist and composer Ezra Gale, whose last outfit, the San Francisco-based Aphrodesia, took their take on afrobeat all the way to Femi Kuti’s Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, Super Hi-Fi has been making waves in the fertile New York music scene since 2010, releasing records nearly non-stop since their debut full-length album, “Dub To The Bone,” in 2012.
Deservedly acclaimed both for their prolific recorded output and their live show, Super Hi-Fi’s unique double trombone-led sound is equally at home at a raucous dance party or an intense listening session. Applying the improvisatory dub mixing approach to live performances of the band’s original compositions and inspired covers, the group has shared stages with John Brown’s Body, Rubblebucket, Beats Antique, Debo Band, Meta and the Cornerstones, Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad and many others at venues like the Brooklyn Bowl, Maxwell’s, the Mercury Lounge, the Rocks Off Concert series and elsewhere.
Super Hi-Fi’s new release, “Blue and White”, will feature original songs and will have a stunning cover design from printmaker Robert Swainston, who designed a cover that will be printed on each album individually. “Each one will be a little different but will come from the same source” explains Gale, “which echoes the aesthetics of dub music where you have different pieces made from the same song.” It’s a different perspective and more ambitious than most, but it’s clear by now that there aren’t many challenges Super Hi-Fi isn’t interested in taking on. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
We have a live version of 'Dub To The Bone' to share with you, it's the third of twelve tracks on the studio album and the featured version is a fine representation both of the original and also of the high calibre album as a whole. This is a band that can traverse genres whilst retaining a vibrant, uplifting and often highly energised sound. If you are going to name yourselves Super Hi-Fi then the production really ought to reflect that, and the band do, with plenty of sonic delight all round.
Background - Stav G is announcing her new single “My Sheltered Room” due out in early January. The recent NYC transplant offers a scathing attack on the machinations of war and an open desire for dialogue and coexistence amongst people. All this is delivered with her signature mix of venom and melody.
Growing up in a musical environment, Stav G knew from a young age she wanted to bea voice teacher. She focussed on music during her High School years and continued her education at the Rimon College of Contemporary Music.
After studying voice pedagogy and performing in multiple ensembles, Stav went on to study at the Complete Vocal Institute in Denmark, where she graduated as a certified CVT teacher. In the meantime she also became the songwriter and leader of the indie-rock band Malinka, as well as the indie-pop duo Stav & Roni both of whom toured widely.
The upcoming debut album was produced by Stav alongside with Avi Elbaz, who also recorded, mixed, and mastered the tracks, as well as recorded some drum, guitar, and keyboard sections. This is STAV’s first solo album, and features all of her own original lyrics. “My Sheltered Room” is due out in January 2018. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
There are some refined rock hooks running through 'My Sheltered Room' which mixes refrains and flowing music as a backdrop for Stav G's determined vocals that are reminiscent of Grace Slick circa her Jefferson Airplane days, and if anything even more potent and determined. A highly impressive song!
Background - Fruition have just released "Northern Town", the second single off their forthcoming album Watching It All Fall Apart, out February 2nd via LoHi Records. On Watching It All Fall Apart, Fruition transform pain and heartache into something truly glorious. With their songwriting sharper and more nuanced than ever before—and their sonic palette more daringly expansive—the band’s full-hearted intensity ultimately gives the album a transcendent power.
Fruition teamed up with producer Tucker Martine, (My Morning Jacket, The Decemberists, Modest Mouse) to adorn their folk-rooted sound with delicately crafted elements of psychedelia and soul. “Tucker helped us push ourselves to create something that glistens in subtle little ways that you might not even pick up on at first,” says Kellen Asebroek. “We got to play around with all this analog gear and these weird old keyboards we wouldn’t ordinarily use, like a bunch of kids in a toy store where everything is free.”
Watching It All Fall Apart finds the three singer-songwriters Jay Cobb Anderson, Kellen Asebroek and Mimi Naja fully embracing their rock-and-roll sensibilities bringing a gritty vitality to each track while still showcasing their sublime harmonies they first discovered during an impromptu busking session in 2008.
Fruition has now evolved from a rootsy, string-centric outfit to a full-fledged rock act, having taken the stage at such major festivals as Bonnaroo and Telluride Bluegrass (a set that inspired Rolling Stone to praise their “raucous originals filled with heartfelt lyrics and stadium-worthy energy”). Following the release of 2016’s Labor of Love, Fruition again made the rounds at festivals across the U.S., prompting Rolling Stone to feature the band on its “8 Best Things We Saw” at DelFest 2016. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK. Tour Dates: 01/24 - Sandpoint, ID @ Heartwood Center 01/25 - Missoula, MT @ Top Hat 01/26 - Billings, MT @ Pub Station 01/27 - Bozeman, MT @ Eagles Ballroom 01/30 - Salt Lake City, UT @ State Room 02/02 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre 02/03 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre 02/07 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada 02/08 - St. Louis, MO @ Atomic Cowboy Pavillion 02/09 - Chicago, IL @ Martyrs 02/10 - Columbus, OH @ Woodlands Tavern 02/14 - Lexington, KY @ The Burl 02/15 - Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar 02/18 - Nashville, TN @ 3rd and Lindsley 02/21 - Fayetteville, AR @ George's Majestic Lounge 02/22 - Wichita, KS @ Barleycorn's 02/24 - Steamboat Springs, CO @ WinterWonderGrass Festival 02/25 - Steamboat Springs, CO @ WinterWonderGrass Festival 03/17 - West Dover, VT @ Shamrock Weekend Mt Snow 04/06 - Olympic Valley, CA @ WinterWondergrass Tahoe 04/07 - Olympic Valley, CA @ WinterWondergrass Tahoe 04/12 - Las Vegas, NV @ Bender Jamboree 04/13 - Las Vegas, NV @ Bender Jamboree 06/01 - Taos, NM @ Music On the Mothership 06/28 - Rothbury, MI @Electric Forest
'Northern Town' is one very impressive song. The vocals and harmonies are gorgeous, the musicianship equally fine and the arrangement is just right. Alt rock with some Americana vibes and a huge dose of timeless beauty.
Background - Widely acclaimed California-based band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has released their new single “Echo” which is the latest offering from the veteran rockers that features a striking, heavy-hitting guitar riff with a tantalizing hook and a booming chorus. “Echo” is now available as an instant download when pre-ordering Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s forthcoming 7th studio album Wrong Creatures, out next Friday, January 12.
Recorded in Los Angeles, Wrong Creatures takes a journey throughout rock's history, taking unlikely twists and turns, both peppered with historic influences but also having one foot firmly in the present. Remarkably, drummer Leah Shapiro was recovering from a brain tumor she suffered a few years ago while the album was created. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has been crafting perfectly honed, bluesy, psychedelic garage-rock since 1998. Ultimately, the band are survivors during an era where rock'n'roll can often be overshadowed by garish pop and domineering hip-hop - they have learned how to cut out all the noise and concentrate on what matters.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has also announced a North American tour which will kick off on January 15th and bring the band to major cities across the country including Los Angeles, Washington DC, Boston, Brooklyn, and more – full tour routing is below and tickets are on sale now here. The band has partnered with Plus 1 for the tour in which $1 from each ticket will be donated to War Child, a worldwide organization that supports programs aiding women & children dislocated and impacted by war, political unrest, terrorism and poverty.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are Peter Hayes (vocal, guitar, harmonica), Robert Levon Been (vocal, bass, guitar), and Leah Shapiro (vocal, drums). WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
North American Tour Dates: January 15 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues January 16 Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Bure January 18 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater January 19 Austin, TX @ Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater January 20 Houston, TX @ House of Blues January 21 New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues January 23 Tampa, FL @ The Ritz Ybor January 24 Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution Live January 26 Orlando, FL @ The Beacham January 27 Charlotte, NC @ The Underground January 29 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club January 30 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer January 31 Boston, MA @ Royale February 2 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel February 5 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda February 6 Toronto, ON @ Rebel February 7 Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre February 9 Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall February 10 Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre February 11 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue February 12 St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall February 13 Kansas City, MO @ The Truman February 15 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre February 16 Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall February 18 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater February 19 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom February 20 Seattle, WA @ The Show Box February 22 Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater February 23 Pomona, CA @ The Glass House February 24 Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
With an expansive guitar sound and vocals that are immersed in a wall of hook laden music, 'Echo' suggests twenty years on, BRMC still have plenty of creativity and style.
Background - Brooklyn punk band QWAM will release its debut EP, Feed Me, on January 19th.
It's a collection of five high-energy, angst-fueled tracks that feature driving guitars, frenetic drums, and snarling vocals from lead singer Felicia Lobo.
The band previously shared a taste of the EP with lead single "Doggie Door," and late last week they released "Dirty Feet," a song about finding yourself and holding on to who you are in a sea of faces.
Written during 3am subway rides and perfected in sweaty Brooklyn basements, Feed Me is full of clever lyrics, anthemic choruses, and catchy group vocals. It was produced, engineered, and mixed by Jack Counce at Studio G and is currently available for pre-order on Bandcamp.
QWAM will celebrate their debut release at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory on January 24th. BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.
Latest song 'Dirty Feet' from the soon to be released debut EP is accompanied by the first single 'Doggie Door' providing a double helping of QWAM and their uncompromising punk fuelled music. The band are smart and allow just enough melody to ensure the hooks keep on rolling through both songs, without compromising their delicious, exuberant energy.
Background - With new track ‘All Time What’ from new album ‘I Like Fun’ out on streaming services now, the return of their Dial-A-Song service, a world tour including UK dates kicking off on January 17 and a contest to create a video for their track ‘I Left My Body’ underway, it is an exciting time for legendary alt-rock veterans, They Might Be Giants.
‘All Time What’ is an upbeat fuzzy guitar number about a decidedly un-upbeat subject: the falling apart of a romantic relationship. The album is a remarkable 15-track album, available physically and digitally on January 19, 2018. ‘I Like Fun’ jumps with surprises, vitality, and the startling point of view of these Brooklyn originals.
Songwriters and band founders John Linnell and John Flansburgh have drawn on themes of dread, death, and disappointment and set them to their driving, hyper-melodic music. Fresh and sonically adventurous, the band’s command of the studio and the song is in rare form from beginning to end. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
We featured the song 'I Left My Body' back in October and with a band of this calibre, sharing the newly available 'All Time What' was to use the old expression "A No Brainer." It's catchy, vibrant and typically They Might Be Giants, through and through!
Background - Rosie Carney’s heart-wrenchingly beautiful new cover of Cigarettes After Sex’s stand-out single “K.” which has just had an official release through Akira Records. Rosie's coming off a massive 2017, which saw the release of a trio of acclaimed singles, all of which are streaming via Spotify and SoundCloud. Anyone that’s not already acquainted with Rosie’s mature-beyond-her-years songwriting would be forgiven for thinking she was some long lost contemporary of Joni Mitchell with decades worth of experiences to relate about life, love and adversity, and not a brilliant newcomer who’s barely left her teenage years behind. She writes the kind of music that'll stop you dead in your tracks, and has proven a deft hand at creating sublime tonal flourishes to complement her vivid lyrics and enchanting voice. Of her decision to cover "K" she says “I wanted to record a song that was released by one of my favorite artists this year. I chose ‘K’ by Cigarettes After Sex because, firstly I’m a huge fan of this band and their music and aesthetic, and secondly because this song definitely resonated with me the most from their new record. It’s such an honest song and I just love the message it carries. I love how relaxing and transcending the melody is. It’s one of those songs that I wish were mine.” FACEBOOK.
If you include a recent duet then 'K' is the sixth feature we have carried for Rosie Carney, the artist that just keeps on giving beautiful musical renditions, be it her own compositions or gorgeous covers such as this.
Join The Riot - Fantasies.
The Lonely Biscuits - Blue Glass.
