Curious Grace & Black Rabbit - Gang Of Four - Cicada Rhythm - Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders - Kip Nelson

Curious Grace & Black Rabbit - Fat Cats.

Background - Chicago-based hard-edged art rock group Curious Grace & Black Rabbit has released the anti-consumerist single “Fat Cats.” Curious Grace & Black Rabbit is an indie art rock band featuring the work of husband-wife songwriting duo Tom and Mary Erangey. The group unites the talents of six performers who draw on everything from 70s/80s Brit rock, jazz, and classical, to Irish traditional music and metal.

Tom plays bass and sings. His curious nature comes from growing up as a “ginger” in London, and Galway, Ireland. Mary plays cello, sings, writes lyrics and dreams of glamor. Self-taught guitarist Mike Conley grew up with Rush, the Scorpions, Ozzy and Van Halen. Then he discovered Swedish virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen and neoclassical metal. He’s been experimenting ever since.

Bojan Kolevski is a Macedonian master of keyboards magic. Hippy chick, yogi, teacher-by-day, and USO performer Heidi O’Toole brings serious vocal pipes (and plays a mean cowbell). And Scott Way, native of the Keys with a background in Broadway, jazz and classical – plays drums. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Fat Cats' opens with some chunky riffs and when the vocals kick in, a bluesy alt rock feel quickly emerges. It doesn't stop there as the bands creative music takes us even further, curious indeed!

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Gang Of Four - Lucky.

Background - New single 'Lucky' is the first to emerge from forthcoming EP 'Complicit' (due out April 13). It's the first new music from Gang of Four since 2015’s acclaimed 'What Happens Next' album. In the interim the band have been championed by artists as diverse as Frank Ocean (who sampled them on 'Blonde'), James Murphy, Pharrell (who cites GoF as a prime influence on the new N.E.R.D. album), and St Vincent (rating Andy Gill as one of her favourite guitarists.

Guitarist & founding member Andy Gill wrote 'Lucky' with frontman John 'Gaoler' Sterry, with production by Ben Hillier (Blur, Depeche Mode). Speaking about the track, Gill says; "I’d been watching a serious debate on one of those financial news channels - six white men in suits arguing about the stock markets - and it set me thinking about how limited luck can be. A lot of trading is anyway now done by algorithms to try to eliminate the element of chance, but luck isn’t capable of fundamentally changing the system. Even if you believe market crashes are the result of bad luck rather than layer upon layer of human and machine error, the system shudders, restarts and goes on as before.”

Gang of Four came into being in 1977 and its first phase, incorporating several changes of lineup, lasted until 1984. Their debut album Entertainment! – voted in Pitchfork’s top ten albums of the 70s & a ‘Record That Changed The World’ by MOJO, equally beloved by the likes of R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana & Rage Against The Machine - felt like a blast of ice-cold water, both in form and content. Gill and King made two more albums in the 90s and another in 2011, Content. When King left the project, a reinvigorated Gill seized the opportunity to reimagine Gang of Four from the ground up. As guitarist, composer, producer and lyric writer, he was and remains the band’s driving force. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

The one and only Gang Of Four are back with 'Lucky' a vibrant, energised rocker that is as fresh as anything the band have previously produced. Clearly there is plenty of creativity and ideas around, as the band enter their fifth decade of musical exploration.

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Cicada Rhythm - Do I Deserve It Yet?

Background - Three years since their self-titled debut, Athens, GA-based indie folk band Cicada Rhythm has announced a new album, Everywhere I Go, due out April 27, 2018 via New West Records. With a tracklist that blends orchestral folk-pop and ramshackle roots-rock in equal numbers, Everywhere I Go is a “patchwork album” tracked in recording studios, living rooms, and gospel churches throughout Tennessee and Georgia. Bandmates Andrea DeMarcus and Dave Kirslis have upsized their sound considerably for the record, with new members expanding their once duo to a full touring band and a louder set of influences propelling them forward sonically.

Assisting in that forward propulsion was production by Kenneth Pattengale, spellbinding guitarist and harmony vocalist of the Milk Carton Kids, and Oliver Wood, best known as the lead singer and guitarist for The Wood Brothers. “Armed with equally robust amounts of individuality and talent, Cicada Rhythm spin yarns of sound we haven’t heard before,” says Pattengale. “And aren’t we the better to glimpse their personal reverie?” Like interstate poets, DeMarcus and Kirslis sing about the country unfolding outside their car window at highway speed, spinning stories not only about the places they visit, but personal and social struggles as well.

Cicada Rhythm will be bringing their new songs and full-band arrangement to clubs and festivals throughout the Southern United States, beginning with an appearance of Savannah Stopover on March 9. They will support Lilly Hiatt in Dallas, TX on March 13 before heading to Austin, TX for multiple performances at SXSW. Cicada Rhythm’s April/May headlining tour will include a stop at North Carolina’s Merlefest and a hometown show in Athens, GA, as well as bring them to Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Asheville, Atlanta, and more. Please see below for full tour details with more to be announced soon. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Cicada Rhythm On Tour (More Dates TBA):
March 9 – Savannah, GA @ Savannah Stopover
March 13 – Dallas, TX @ Shipping & Receiving*
March 14-17 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
March 30 – Charlotte, NC @ Visulite Theatre+
April 20 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement
April 21 – Chattanooga, TN @ Barking Legs Theater
April 27-28 – Wilkesboro, NC @ Merlefest
May 3 – Knoxville, TN @ Barley’s
May 4 – Asheville, NC @ Isis
May 10 – Athens, GA @ Foundry
May 11 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
May 12 – Huntersville, NC @ Brewers and Music Festival
May 18 – Huntsville, AL @ Flying Monkey Arts
May 19 – Waverly, AL @ Standard Deluxe
May 20 – Macon, GA @ The Rookery
June 17 – Hunter, NY @ Mountain Jam
July 13 – Mt. Solon, VA @ Redwing Roots Music Festival
July 14 – Bethlehem, PA @ Levitt SteelStacks
*appearing with Lilly Hiatt
+appearing with Sinners and Saints.

'Do I Deserve It Yet?' is a mixture of folk, roots, blues and rock all wrapped up into one sparkling and hook laden song. The vocals are splendid, the music dynamic and natural, this is one big tease for the forthcoming album.


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Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders - White Flag.

Background - Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders return with a first taste from their forthcoming album ‘Blue Poles’, the first new music since the May 2017 single “Susan”.  “White Flag” is an unlikely love song about surrendering to a prison that binds two people together. In the music video we find him in Indonesia, struggling with a special kind of captivity. “It’s written from two perspectives”, says Ladder. “I didn’t want to duet so I sang both parts. It allows for more mystery.” The video and the forthcoming album maintain the recurring bone dry sense of humour that has been a thread through all of his work.

“I’ve got no fingers left to cross, each time I leave you cut one off.”

Blue Poles will be the fifth album from one of the most singular characters in Australian music. Sentimental and mournful, sardonic and surreal. Jack Ladder brings that towering and tender baritone to bear on tales of beauty, love, hope and redemption. A master of musical narrative, he conjures lyrics that celebrate the absurdity and sincerity of the human condition in songs that groove in subtle ways.

Burke Reid produced Hurtsville (2011), Kim Moyes shaped Playmates (2014), but this time Jack Ladder takes total control of his creative process.  “Blue Poles is the most melodic thing I’ve ever done”, he reflects. “I really pushed myself into some uncomfortable places.”

Blue Poles was recorded at Oceanic Studios in Sydney, engineered by Tim Whitten (The Necks, The Church, The Go-Betweens) and mixed in Los Angeles by Noah Georgeson (Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom). Once again he’s joined by The Dreamlanders, Australia’s very own misfit supergroup made up of Donny Benet on bass, Laurence Pike on drums and this time two guitarists - Kirin J Callinan and Ben Hauptmann. WEBSITE.

The musical arrangement is understated as 'White Flag' opens allowing Jack Ladder's definitive vocals to enchant the listener in moments. If that isn't enough the musical landscape broadens, the melodic vibes entice even more, this is one fabulous song.


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Kip Nelson - Mexico.

Background - Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kip Nelson makes his debut with his carefree single, "Mexico."  Hailing from the beach town of Santa Barbara, Kip embellishes his slacker-rock style with twinges of psychedelia and lo-fi pop that will transport you to a desert festival dream-state.

Kip comes from a background of playing shows and touring around the reggae scene with Santa Barbara-based band The Olés. The Olés have toured across the U.S. and played festivals with artists like Damian Marley, Don Carlos, and Rebelution. The Olés played regularly in Isla Vista California, the UC Santa Barbara college town, and have been active in the California reggae circuit over the last few years.

Debut album, Waves After Work could be considered a ‘side project’ or a solo recording experiment for Kip. His debut solo album puts the limits of basic home recording to the test. Tracks came together one piece at a time over months of tracking all drums, guitars, synths, and vocals through a Tascam studio cassette player picked up at the local Goodwill. As a local beach sheik once said, “Hearing ‘Waves After Work’ on the loudspeakers sounds like the sonic equivalent of an Indian Summer Santa Barbara Santa Ana breeze gently slapping you in the face”.

Lyrically, Kip toys with themes of escapism throughout the record. Waves After Work is about taking a step away from the monotony of day to day routine. The album name eludes to how, in society, work comes before play. For Kip the after work reward is anything and all things waves, recording sound waves or riding ocean waves. The music is thematically based on dreaming, escaping, surrealism, and freedom of the open spaces. Waves After Work will be available worldwide April 27th, 2018. FACEBOOK.

A swirling bass line opens 'Mexico' and builds in style from there. The contrasting vocal styles are superb and the music imaginative and massively catchy. Debut's of this standard set the bar high, I have a feeling that's not going to be an issue for Kip Nelson.


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Benjamin Jaffe - Ellie Schmidly - Clever Girls

Benjamin Jaffe - Susan the Cat.

Background - Benjamin Jaffe announced today the release his solo debut album Oh, Wild Ocean of Love on May 11th via Diamond Family Records. Best known as one-half of the acclaimed Americana duo Honeyhoney, Jaffe steps into the spotlight with his debut and reveals his ingenuity as a guitar virtuoso, multi-instrumentalist, writer, composer, and arranger. Along with the announcement, Jaffe released his new song titled "Susan The Cat," a sweeping folk ballad inspired by an odd roommate.

Trading the rootsy stomp of Honeyhoney's three albums for an indie-alternative sound, Jaffe widens his approach with Oh, Wild Ocean of Love. These songs make room for a broad range of influences, from the polyphonic rhythms and improvisational freedom of jazz music to the soul and swagger of Motown. There are R&B ballads like "Everlasting Peace," where Jaffe layers his voice into gorgeous stacks of multi-part harmony, and dissonant rockers like "Blooming," where he shines a light on his skills as an inventive electric guitarist. Throughout the tracklist, Jaffe plays nearly every instrument himself, bouncing between drums, keyboard, bass, and guitar.

Inspired by a wide range of sounds and texts - including Paul Simon, Beck, Randy Newman, and The Essential Chuang Tzu - Oh, Wild Ocean of Love explores the wreckage left by a relationship that's poorly-defined and headed south. It's an album about the full spectrum of love: love for yourself, for others, and even your maker. An album about lessons learned. An album about the realization that even in these chaotic times, it's okay to relax. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Tour Dates:
03/06 - Atlanta, GA @ Eddie's Attic
03/07 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement
03/09 - Shreveport, LA @ Strange Brew
03/10 - Lake Charles, LA @ Luna Live
03/13 - Brooklyn, NY @ Baby's All Right
03/15 - Philadelphia, PA @ Ardmore Music Hall

'Susan The Cat' is a beautiful folk ballad that is awash with atmospheric feeling, both musically and with the vocals of Benjamin Jaffe. The production is sublime, allowing all elements to stand out and shine, the album just begs to be heard.


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Ellie Schmidly - Where To Begin.

Background - New artist Ellie Schmidly has released "Where To Begin," the first single from her debut EP, Blossom & Bone. "Where To Begin" is available today at all digital outlets, with Blossom & Bone following on May 11.

"When I first started working at music, it was hard for me to sit down and write or sing because it required me to ask questions of myself and to be vulnerable," recalls Ellie Schmidly. "It forced me to knock down some scaffolding in my own personal construction of how things are to be, and I wasn’t good at that practice yet. It was work and uncomfortable, and it was easier to not do the work, but then I would still feel this deep nagging need to express some big feelings I had ignored within myself – I was conflicted. There is a sort of parade that happens in the song, a big instrumental break with cheering, and it reminds me that doing the hard work of looking inwardly at ourselves is a small victory.”

Ellie’s journey to this point is a serendipitous story. Starting to write and record this EP was daunting process because she felt so far behind everyone else. She hadn't set out to become a songwriter. She wasn't attending a music program in Nashville, and wasn't considering music as her career path. Instead, her music was discovered by famed producer Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars, The Lone Bellow) after one of her performances was posted to Twitter.

Peacock was so taken with her Springfield, MO house show performance that he reached out to her the very next day to introduce himself. Peacock invited Ellie to Nashville to partake in songwriting sessions and introduced her to those in the community that could help cultivate her music. She says Charlie’s encouragement was life-changing. It turned out to be literally life-changing because she left her home, friends, family, and school in Missouri where she was studying public policy, to make the move to Nashville.

On Blossom & Bone she collaborated with accomplished producers, arrangers, and engineers within Nashville. Todd Gummerman (guitarist for MuteMath) produced the EP and arranged many of the string parts heard on Blossom & Bone. Jeremy Larson (member of Violents), Composer Jordan Critz, and Darren King (drummer for MuteMath) all played, co-wrote, or arranged strings on this EP. With the encouragement of her supportive Nashville community, Ellie Schmidly is ready to begin. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Ellie Schmidly's vocals are personable and charming on  'Where To Begin' a song that mixes some gentle melodic moments with more powerful and dramatic interludes. The music builds into something quite special and unexpected, but for me, it's the vocals that ensure a second listen.

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Clever Girls - Loom.

Background - Clever Girls have just premiered their new video for "Loom" via New Noise Magazine. Taken from their upcoming release, Luck, the album will be out on April 2, 2018, with a release show on April 5 at ArtsRiot in Burlington, Vermont.

Late at night, perhaps after Clever Girls' frontwoman Diane Jean has finished digging through dead people’s stuff, you may find her writing. Between running a vintage store and a handful of other odd jobs, Diane founded Clever Girls- a quartet formed in the drunken droves of Burlington, Vermont that creates sorrowful “confused rock.” With a knack for getting into trouble, the grunge pop four-piece is known for their unfiltered emotional deliveries, if not just for their accidental profanity.

Diane Jean’s quirky outlook buoy the band’s writing, while Rob Slater deftly reinvents percussive palettes between songs. Low, steady basslines from Tobias Sullivan anchor the music, while Winfield Holt’s guitar playing is able highlight each song. Together, the group creates hard-hitting and masterful rock, never slipping into diaristic monotony.

Above all, Clever Girls as a group will elicit the same emotion and nostalgia that Diane Jean seeks to find in her day job; the music will live somewhere between straight forward rock and roll of bygone eras and dusty, moth-eaten grunge pop. Clever Girls Luck is out April 2 on all major platforms. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Tour Dates:
March 9 - Rosegold - Brooklyn, NY
March 10 - The News Cafe - Pawtucket, RI
March 17 - Black Heart Sound - Manchester, NH
April 5 - Arts Riot *Album Release Show* - Burlington, VT
May 10 - Kick Off Sidebar - Burlington, VT
May 11 -  Manchester, NH
May 12- O'Brien's - Boston, MA
May 13 - Rhode Island
May 15 - The Knitting Factory- Brooklyn, NY
May 16 - Asbury Park (brewery) - Asbury Park, NJ
May 17- Everybody Hits!- Philadelphia, PA
May 24 - Hole in the Wall - Austin, TX

'Loom' starts out with a bass line and enticing vocals and then builds layer by layer into a classy alt rocker. An underlying level of emotion alongside some melodic hooks gives the song some real edge, another album that's firmly on our radar.


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The Noise Figures - Leitvox - Josh Rouse - Steph Fischer-Ivancsy - Guts Club

The Noise Figures - Lethargy / Telepath/Hypnotized.

Background - Two and a half years after Aphelion, the Athens-based drums-guitar duo of George Nikas (vocals, drums) and Stamos Bamparis (guitar) return more frenetic than ever with their third full-length studio work entitled Telepath. It's set to arrive on March 2nd via Inner Ear Records. Check out the first two singles and the entire album below.

Inspired by the theory of spiritualism and influenced by personal experiences, Telepath is an intoxicated concept album, with intensively sobering attention to detail in every single track, revealing a different side of the band's personality and crossing all the paths the duet from Greece has traveled so far, from heavy blues to psych garage to a fuzz vertigo.

With its swinging moods of bright to dark undertones, the album sounds sharper than ever, with more energy, intensity and tuneful sensibility, capturing the band's hundreds of live performances and touring thrust. With Alex Bolpasis' stamp on production and mixing, The Noise Figures develop the artistic freedom they have cultivated over the years, while keeping their primitive spirit of raw guitar and drum sound intact. 

From the opening of Lethargy the track with the massive tribal drumbeat and the loyal-to-fuzz Anatolian guitar riffage, The Noise Figures welcome us to the dreamy delirium they intensively describe in their lyric sheet and sink us into a ritual vortex of hypnotism.

"Telepath" was the first song we composed and recorded during the demo sessions of our third album. Without even knowing where these demos would lead us, we actually had the whole concept of it before the birth of it, just trying out a groove ideal for the gigs and trippy, psychic lyrics. As we were jamming it we came across "Hypnotized", a slow-burning ritual of hypnotism, and it became one track split in two parts." FACEBOOK.

The Noise Figures present us with two tracks 'Lethargy' and 'Telepath/Hypnotized'. The bands psych, rock and blues styles are merged into some powerful music, where the atmosphere is intense and the rhythms are intoxicating as their material marches ever onwards, at times in a near trance like state.


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Leitvox - Black Feather ft. Emma Fox.

Background - Miami based producer Leitvox is back with his new single "Black Feather", an energetic and dreamy composition featuring a danceable beat and floating vocals. "Black Feather"  switches up in between genres of synthwave, house and vocal electronic, all while being one cohesive track running through a musical realm. The single is the second release of Leitvox's upcoming EP Coded Matter.

 On vocals is Emma Fox, an incredibly talented vocalist that has teamed up with him before on tracks such as "Two Tribes", off his previous full length Floating Promises. "I really can hear my strongest influences on this composition, from NIN to Jean-Michel Jarre. Emma does an amazing work with such elegant vocals, they take the track into a very surreal world." - Leitvox

Leitvox is a Mexican producer and composer based in Miami. He works out of his own studio in Wynwood, and has been working on his and other peoples music since arriving 2013. FACEBOOK.

It was back in November 2016 that we last featured Leitvox, coincidentally on a track that also featuring Emma Cox. 'Black Feather' is another notable song where the vocals drift above a swirl of synths and steady beats, indeed the music is cleverly arranged with layers building and ebbing away, this is addictive.


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Josh Rouse - Salton Sea

Background - "Salton Sea" is the third track off Rouse's new album Love in the Modern Age, out April 13, via Yep Roc Records. Similar to his work on his album 1972 where he captured the aesthetics of a specific moment in time, Josh’s new album Love in the Modern Age takes inspiration from the sound and production of early 1980's releases by The Blue Nile, The Style Council and Prefab Sprout.

Also serving as inspiration were Roxy Music’s Avalon, Leonard Cohen's Various Positions and I'm Your Man. Non-ironic touches like sax, handclaps, reverbed guitar, backing vocals and keyboards give the moody but infectious songs a New Romantic flair.

Josh Rouse has solidified his status as one of his generation's most acclaimed songwriters in both the US and Europe, where he's lived on and off since 2004. Spending the better part of a year touring behind his critically acclaimed eleventh album, The Embers of Time, Rouse was ready for a change.

"Coming off such a heavy record, I wanted to try something different," he explains. "I wanted to explore new sounds and write with a fresh backdrop." Trading in his trusty acoustic guitar for a synthesizer, Love in the Modern Age still bears Rouse's distinct fingerprints even as it pushes his limits and forges a bold new chapter more than twenty years into his celebrated career. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Back in January we shared 'Businessman' from Josh Rouse and now we have 'Salton Sea' also taken from his forthcoming 'Love in the Modern Age' album. It's another refined and catchy song, the vocals are classy and the music has hints of the eighties albeit with a flourish of more modern production techniques that just add so much more.

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Steph Fischer-Ivancsy - Warning Signs.

Background - Steph Fischer-Ivancsy’s unique brand of blues is a throbbing, stomping, wailing blast cut through with a voice that will bring you to your knees. After beginning her solo career in 2015 this young singer-songwriter has secured numerous residencies, toured alongside Melbourne blues legend Shaun Kirk, and brought her powerful energy to festivals and pubs throughout Victoria and New South Wales. Warning Signs is the latest single from Steph.

Warning Signs features heavy and gritty guitars, chillingly unique vocals with booming drums and a powerful blues-rock element topped off with harmonica. Warning Signs has a few messages behind it; being cautious of getting to know people but not to listen to all the lies about a person; not dwelling on the hard times and realising mistakes are okay.

“There’s a whole bunch of things in this song. It’s all about realising it’s okay to stuff up every once in a while, but we just need to keep going and to not always believe the lies people tell. Also to be cautious because we never really know someone.” - Steph Fischer-Ivancsy

Warning Signs was recorded at Kelsonic Studios Melbourne, Australia and produced, engineered and mastered by Mark Kelson.

To hear Steph play is to listen to hard times and heartache engage with the raw energy of a young woman full of fire. She backs her incredible voice with an arsenal of guitars, played with finger-slide, and the driving beat of stomp-box and tambourine. By combining the timelessness of swampy slide-guitar with a burning youthful force Steph has carved out a sound all her own. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Upcoming Shows:
12th April – Hume Blues Club, Coburg
28th April – Jamieson Autumn Festival, Jamieson (Supporting Shaun Kirk)
12th May – Baby Black Café, Bacchus Marsh (Supporting Shaun Kirk).

Some gorgeous bluesy vocals make 'Warning Signs' attention grabbing from the beginning and the music has power and plenty of natural rock & roll vibes to it, this is potent and very catchy.

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Guts Club - Mustard Tears.

Background - RIP Records has released a brand new Guts Club track, "Mustard Tears" as part of their RIP Introduces Series. This new single is the first to be heard from Guts Club's upcoming third album, which is due out sometime this summer.

Musician and visual artist Lindsey Baker self-released her solo debut album, The Arm Wrestling Tournament, in February 2015 and it caught a lot of ears. In a review from Tiny Mix Tapes they said “Baker carries a guitar the way Robert Frost carried a hatchet: as a tool through which tension and rage can be released,” and Paste said “The Brooklyn singer and songwriter behind Guts Club sings with piercing emotional intensity.”

She’s since moved from Brooklyn to New Orleans, where she recorded her second album Shit Bug, released on Moderate Fidelity Records on July 1, 2016. Baker brought along a band for Sht Bug and has since preformed with a rotating cast of musicians and friends.

While The Arm Wrestling Tournament dealt mostly with dark, obsessive love, the themes of Sht Bug further define Baker’s ongoing narrative about coming to terms with otherness and alienation via with her own brand of cosmic gloom. A third and fully electric album is just being wrapped up with a release date sometime in the spring or summer of 2018. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Upcoming Shows:
March 7 New Orleans, LA at Hi-Ho Lounge
March 13 Austin, TX at Marriott South (Solo Acoustic Second Play Stage Set)
March 16 Austin, TX at Voodoo Doughnut
March 17 Austin, TX at Cheer Up Charlies (Indoor Stage) Official WolfieVibes Publicity Showcase.

There is some warm roots feeling to 'Mustard Tears', a passionate and majestic song where the musicianship gently turns out layers of melody, making a perfect backdrop for the emotional and definitive vocals.

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Spielbergs - Esbie Fonte - Parker - MaidaVale - Deanna Petcoff

Spielbergs - We Are All Going To Die.

Background - Oslo power-trio Spielbergs are sharing the hugely immediate first track from their forthcoming debut EP “Distant Star.” “We Are All Going To Die” comes as the band prepare for two live shows at Norway’s by:Larm festival this weekend.

On a track that lashes out against the world, but at the same time begs for its help, vocalist Mads Baklien issues a rallying cry in this urgent and insistent examination of mortality, his anthemic vocal set to a swathe of thick, warm guitars and punctuated by Christian Løvhaug’s unrelenting drumming.

The band have garnered considerable interest in a short career that has only recently seen them reach double figures in terms of live performances. “Daisy! It’s The New Me” featured at no.27 in Norwegian daily GAFFA’s Songs Of The Year (between James Blake and Chance The Rapper, no less) and they have made the viral 50 chart on Spotify.

They have now signed a worldwide deal with new British label By The Time It Gets Dark. FACEBOOK.

Some feisty rock riffs and passionate vocals make 'We Are All Going To Die' grab those ears moments in. There is no let up on this one, it's power all the way.

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Esbie Fonte - Ace's High.

Background - Born to a Peruvian and Italian family, Esbie became closely familiar with the struggle that most talented artists face by watching her multi-instrumentalist father navigate the niche of folk and bluegrass music over the course of many years and a cross-country move. Being his biggest fan meant hanging onto his coattails for frequent trips to the local record store, gigs around town and at-home sessions with a variety of string instruments. With a performing arts high school education and exposure to the SF music scenes under her belt, Esbie took her own art to new heights at Sarah Lawrence College, immersing herself in music and politics courses so that her passion for sounds and social activism could be fused on the academic track.

This passion carried her through a lonely year abroad in Cornwall, England, where she studied production and engineering at the school studio and learned how to record her own nascent project. Struck by her peers’ innocent nonchalance towards “making it” in the music industry, Esbie was inspired to embrace solitude as a creative tool to advance her unique vision, untampered by the transient trends of popular music back home. Thus began Esbie Fonte, the project that would come to embody her innermost framework of musical thought. As she began to think more globally, the music grew from its roots in folk, fed by a shining love for singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Joan Armitrading, and tempered to maturity by the blues of Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday.

Fresh out of college and having achieved solace in going solo, Esbie was unafraid to explore the concrete jungle that is Los Angeles, where she recently relocated to pursue music more seriously. A couple bouts of window-shopping at Guitar Center led her to test her own music on a series of studio monitors, which attracted the ear of her now-collaborator and other half of Esbie Fonte, Peter Tilley. Together they have taken her bedroom production efforts to new heights and forged a truly standalone sound. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Esbie's brooding and delectable vocals give 'Ace's High' some real distinction. Add in the musical arrangement where the clarity and attention to detail is top class and we have one very delicious song.

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Parker - High.

Background - UK via Australia moody pop chanteuse Parker returns with her first offering of 2018, an ethereal alt-pop earworm entitled "High" (Killing Moon). Pairing up once again with Rupert Lyddon (Gabriel Bruce, Grand National) the track is a gorgeous display of Parker at her finest; breathy and broody pop vocals, haunting melodies and deeply personal lyrics that mix together to create another dark pop gem.

When discussing the inspiration for the track, Parker says, "I wrote 'High' a few years ago, when I’d first moved to London and recorded it with Rupert (Lyddon) in his studio. The song came out of a general teen angst phase, I was going out a lot and having my ‘is this all there is’ moment. I’m fascinated by people’s need for escapism (including my own) and I guess the song is about the juxtaposition of being young and having all these big dreams but then being scared, so I’d just run away from them instead."

The new single follows 2017's "Runs And Rides" and "Thighs", her breakout track that has already racked up over 250K streams on Spotify and landed her a synch on MTV’s Catfish. Hailed by Breaking More Waves as "midnight menacing electronic pop music" with HillyDilly adding "expect a bright future for her", the 21-year-old musician songstress is one to keep your eyes on for 2018.

Born in Doncaster, brought up in Australia, and now living in Hackney, Parker has had anything but a conventional life. Saying her goodbyes to her family in Australia and buying a one way ticket to England to focus on her music career, she hasn’t looked back since. Spending much of last year writing and recording new material and now with four incredible songs under her belt, Parker remains one of the most exciting new artists to emerge in recent years, ready to show the world what this Aussie is made of. FACEBOOK.

'High' exudes atmosphere and emotion, Parker's solicitous vocals and the slow rhythmic music combine to fire musical hooks in all directions, on this contemplative song.

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MaidaVale - Oh Hysteria!

Background - MaidaVale have since the release of their debut album "Tales of the Wicked West" in August 2016, toured Europe intensely. With a captivating performance and psychedelic groove they have enchanted their audiences. The live sound of MaidaVale have always leant towards the experimental scene of the ’60s and ’70s, something that have reinvented their sound on the new album.

The band have worked with producer Jari Haapalainen which have led them further down the kraut and experimental path. The strong melodic and psychedelic elements from their debut is still present as the foundation on their upcoming second album. MaidaVales new album “Madness Is Too Pure” will be released on The Sign Records 23rd of March. This week we see the release of the bands second single 'Oh Hysteria!'.

The album was produced and mixed by Jari Haapalainen who has previously worked with artists such as Ed Harcourt, Camera Obscura, Johnossi, Sahara Hotnights, True Moon and The (International) Noise Conspiracy. The album was recorded during six days in November 2017 at The End Studio outside of Lund, Sweden, engineered by Tommy Tift (Vånna Inget, True Moon). FACEBOOK.

The music is manic and urgent on 'Oh Hysteria!'. The more refined and melodic vocals add atmosphere and drama to the piece, combined this is a fabulous mix of high energy rock which refuses to be calmed.


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Deanna Petcoff - Terribly True.

Background from Deanna Petcoff - I'm an independent artist based out of Toronto, ON. The past five years of my life have been spent playing alongside my first band, Pins & Needles. Following our disbanding last month, I embarked upon my solo career, and the creation of my first single.

Musically, I lean towards a classic feel, and I’m always thinking “what would a 1960s soul singer do?” This is filtered through 60 years of pop/rock influences, and results in a song like “Terribly True.” My producer and I discussed a lot of influences for this song, including Alabama Shakes, Angel Olsen, and David Bowie with his ringing acoustic guitars and melodic synths.

“Terribly True” was inspired when I realized that it wasn’t the person I was seeing who I was in love with –  it was the idea of being in love itself. I was trying so hard to make them happy that I forgot to check in with myself and my truth. What I found when I finally did was so painful to come to terms with... I think everyone feels that at some point, and it’s really hard to articulate when you feel like the antagonist of your own story. It’s also hard to admit that you’ve been lying to yourself, but I think there’s importance in the act of admitting that out loud and sitting in that feeling for a moment. It’s a very vulnerable place, and vulnerability is my favourite place to write from. FACEBOOK.

The theme and lyrics on 'Terribly True' might be contemplative and serious, however that doesn't negate the fact that this is one very engaging and catchy indie song. The melody is subtle, the vocals sincere and determined, the influences to the song, are just that, this is clearly Deanna Petcoff's work.

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The Tigerlilies - Tallies - TALMA

The Tigerlilies - Contact.

Background - The style set forth by the Buzzcocks, Cheap Trick and The Ramones is alive and well in the hands of The Tigerlilies - Cincinnati’s sole practitioners of post punk power pop.

They have played countless shows around Ohio, serving as support for Violent Femmes, Joan Jett, Paul Weller, Guided By Voices and Superchunk, and attaining a sizable and appreciative following along the way. The past decade has seen the release of many singles and albums on independent Midwestern labels such as Atavistic, Violently Hip and Mono-cat 7, chalking up a total of four full lengths which showcase The Tigerlilies economic blend of punk, 60’s soul and garage rock.

Along the way, someone unearthed their debut record, Space Age Love Songs, which was recorded exactly 20 years ago. The LP was a hit at the time, winning album, artist and record of the year at the Cincinnati Music Awards and landing them a showcase at the burgeoning SXSW Festival. But the band had all but forgot about its release after a traumatic accident, involving a drunk driver hitting their tour van, killed their manager and momentarily dashed their dreams.

Listening back, they were all impressed with the timeless nature of the material. Indeed, their knack for sharp and concise rock nuggets left little room for any dated production techniques. They had always correlated its release with the accident, but with the buffer of time, it felt appropriate to orchestrate a re-release, a 20th anniversary addition if you will, with 6 additional unreleased tracks from those sessions. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We have featured The Tigerlilies a couple of times before, and I really wanted to mention their 20th anniversary addition of Space Age Love Songs that was released just a few days ago. From the re-release we can share 'Contact' a song that typifies the quality of the albums material, and has passed the test of time very well. What is really pleasing is the calibre of the six previously unreleased bonus tracks, it must have been a challenge to choose what to include and what to leave out from those original album sessions, this re-issue uses the expression "bonus tracks" accurately, they are indeed a real bonus!

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Tallies - Mother.

Background - Tallies (formerly Thrifty Kids) is a 4-piece indie pop band from Toronto, Ontario, founded in 2014 by lead singer and guitarist Sarah Cogan and guitarist Dylan Frankland. While studying recording engineering in Ottawa, Cogan and Frankland worked together on a school project for which they formed what was supposed to be a one-time ensemble but turned into a full-time act. After numerous tours to Toronto, the band chose to relocate permanently in 2015 where they moved in together and have been recording and performing steadily ever since.

Frankland initially met drummer Cian O’Neill at “School of Rock Camp” in 2006, where they learned to rock together at the tender ages of thirteen and twelve respectively. Ten years later, O’Neill and Frankland are rocking together on stage again when O’Neill agreed to join the band. Not long after joining the group O’Neill recommended bassist Stephen John Pitman.

Along the Tallies' wave of success they’ve sparked the attention of Bluesfest, CTV, ET Canada, The Edge 102.1, Ottawa Life and many others. Borrowing heavily from previous generations music, specifically 50s doo-wop and 60s harmonies, they have crafted a sound that’s one part modern with a heavy dose of nostalgia.

Whatever they lack in thriftiness they make up for in stealthiness, the way their soothing beach sounds, shimmery guitars and dreamy heartthrob vocals sneak up on you. Frankland now works at Candle Studios with producer Josh Korody (Beliefs, Dilly Dally, Weaves) who is currently in the process of mixing Tallies most recent work. Their newest material features up-beat drum beats, melodic bass riffs, jingly guitar leads, and fluttery lighter-than-air vocals. FACEBOOK.

Tour Dates:
March 01 - The Casbah, Hamilton ON w/ Casper Skulls
March 02 - Baby G, Toronto ON w/Palehound
March 03 - House of TARG, Ottawa ON w/ Weaves
March 04 - Moustache Club, Oshawa ON
March 08 - Windsor Beer Exchange, Windsor ON
March 09 - The Foxx Lounge Rock Bar, Barrie ON
March 10 - House Show, Guelph ON.

With a fresh upbeat tempo and feel 'Mother' is a catchy sixties influenced song, that fires hooks from start to finish. The modern production adds more definition, the gorgeous vibes are timeless.


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TALMA - Out To Sea.

Background - The titular track of TALMA’s second EP release, ‘Out To Sea’ is the bands most ambitious cut to date. A song of two halves, it starts as a poignant and melancholic reflection on the concept of mortality before morphing into a dazzling progressive outro replete with urgent guitars that rush through the mix like the racing of a restless heart. As drummer Johnny Harrison explains: "Many of our artistic influences write about death in their music - The Smiths, Nick Cave, Pink Floyd. In my own writing I sought to approach the subject from a positive viewpoint, or at least a bittersweet one.

‘Out To Sea’ is about being comfortable with the concept of mortality, an acceptance that can afford us a sense of opportunity in fleeting moments and a perception of fate that gives rise to purpose. The culmination of the track in the second half instrumental almost expresses the ecstasy that comes with these realisations - we can embrace the absurdity of it all.”

Seamlessly blending alt, classic and art rock, London-based five-piece TALMA command a magnetic sound and presence that comes straight out of the underground scenes of London. TALMA’s raw and unshackled live performances are where they truly run riot. They’ve supported the likes of Queen’s Spike Edney and received acclaim for their intense energy and all-out charisma from London all the way to LA, including praise from industry commentator and author Ari Herstand. Singer Henry Adams captivates attention with a bravado and charm that’s rarely seen among many frontmen, while the telepathic tightness of guitarists Jack Rennie and James Creed, bassist Pete Warren and drummer Jonny Harrison make TALMA an artistic unit to be reckoned with.

Where the band draw direct inspiration from the likes of The Smiths, The War On Drugs and The National, they also incisively employ a musical diversity and dynamic range comparable to the likes of Radiohead and Wolf Alice. The result is a band who operate without creative constraints and who are primed to challenge the seemingly predetermined binaries of modern British rock. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Out To Sea' is our third song from TALMA to be shared on Beehive Candy as the band continue to consistently impress. Another well crafted alt rocker, the distinct and addictive vocals are well up in the mix, the bands smooth and capable delivery is notable, the second EP is calling for attention in a powerful way.

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Sofia Härdig - Once & Future Band - Varvara

Sofia Härdig - Let Me Fall.

Background - Sofia Härdig’s new single “Let Me Fall”, from the upcoming album “Changing The Order” is crafted from new wave, electronica-influenced layered synths, amongst other live instruments, and powerful vocals. Championed by Belle and Sebastian’s Stevie Jackson, Sofia has worked with major Swedish artists including Grammy Award winners The Hellacopters and bob hund. Furthermore, she has collaborated with Yoshimi from Japanese noise-rockers Boredoms and the alternative indie band Free Kitten. Sofia’s experimental nature shines through with her new material that blends new wave and electronic influences.

“Let Me Fall” is a thickly textured, four-to-the-floor synth-focused electronica anthem. Sofia repeatedly sings ‘infatuation’ – each syllable on beat, but reverberating around the track, creating sonic space, drawing vocal influence from 90s house music. Deviating heavily from her previous single “Illuminate”, “Let Me Fall” features synth arpeggios throughout as the main focal point of the song. “Let Me Fall” can be described as fitting with synth-influenced new wave, comparable to Depeche Mode or New Order but the fact that the track draws more influence from 90s dance music makes it unique and a stand-out single.

‘I laid down the bass line for this song using a borrowed, broken, hopeless, but fine old synth during a tour in England. I continued building ‘Let Me Fall’ with other synths and programming, and then brought these recordings with me on tour and added recordings with other musicians I met. Amongst them were a classical pianist in Berlin, a synth player in Copenhagen and a cellist from the opera. John Essing (bob hund) and I recorded the guitar parts in a shed – these parts were added also. I smashed the new recordings into pieces and rebuilt them; deconstructed and reconstructed. At the end, I brought in Jari Haapalainen to produce the song. The bass line from the old, broken synth I used in London, is the main focal point of ‘Let Me Fall’ – a song from London, Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Malmö.’ – Sofia Härdig. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Just weeks after featuring Sofia Härdig’s 'Illuminate' earlier this month we now have another track 'Let Me Fall' to enjoy. We described the vocals as intoxicating last time around, this time they are potent and immersed in a fierce synth driven soundtrack that demands our attention.

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Once & Future Band - Destroy Me.

Background - Once and Future Band are hitting 2018 with a belly fresh with fire. After attacking the auditory senses of those in need of slick and expertly crafted psychedelic pop with their 2017 self-titled LP release on Castle Face Records; the group has reached into their vault of older material to bring back their Brain EP. The group has teamed up (again) with John Dwyer's label Castle Face Records to re-release this aural gem, which had a vastly limited run in the past.

2017’s “Once & Future Band” landed upon our brains like the birth of a starchild - fully formed, otherworldly, yet comfortingly familiar in its contours…Floyd, ELO, Queen, Steely Dan, and Beach Boys rearranged into an unapologetic poignant pop moment, underpinned by 4 guys that could play their way out of a Faustian bargain.

While we await whatever warlock’s potion they are brewing up next, they’ve pulled a maxi-EP Brain from the vaults for a moment in the sun. All of the mastery you’ve come to expect is at play here; enough chops to make a vegetarian’s mouth sweat, songs that tug at the heart while they play tricks on your mind, and with the steady hand of a of studio wizard sprinkling stardust around the edges just so. It’s out on Castle Face Records March 9th. FACEBOOK.

'Destroy Me' has some timeless pop/rock sensibilities to it, as it drifts amiably along. The comforting vibes, melodic hooks and relaxed atmosphere, make this a play again song within moments.

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Varvara - Gone.

Background - Varvara release their new new single 'Gone'. Varvara have unleashed their fourth full-length album ”Go” released under their own Haminian Sounds imprint. The new album ”Go” as a whole is about that moment when summer turns into autumn. This reality hits you right in the face reminding that the calm and relaxation of summer is over. From time to time there is a strong contrast between energetic rock tracks and gloomy lyrics.

Produced and mostly recorded by the band themselves ”Go” offers an intriguing mix of aggressive garage and melodic rock sounds. The album was mixed by the leading underground rock, indie, and punk scene producer in Finland Lauri Eloranta and mastered by Brad Boatright.

Varvara's beginnings were humble, but the band quickly became more than a friendly pastime as demo releases became picked up on by various sections of the Finnish music media. With the help of an old friend Tommi Muhli, Varvara helped establish Haminian Sounds, a collective of musicians which releases music from local acts including Varvara and organizes events to cheer up the small town’s nightlife.

Since then Varvara's output, three albums and an EP, has slowly been recognized as a distinctive collection that harnesses diverse influences into a unique sound. The 2016 album ”Death Defying Tricks” was the bands first release actively promoted outside Finland. The album represented a self-confident band with an exceptional sense of melody amongst a series of quirky details. Combining off kilter rock shapes to straight-up rock, Death Defying Tricks collected nothing but praise in domestic and international rock media. Following the release the band also made their first shows outside the Finnish borders. FACEBOOK.

Our second feature for Vavara's latest album 'Go' this time with the new single 'Gone'. The bands brand of powerful & kicking rock is given distinction by the addictive vocals and a band where every chord resonates with vitality, the album is a good one!

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Elisa Kate - 10 O'Clock Chemical

Elisa Kate - Promise Me.

Background - The dreamy pop piano invitations of Elisa Kate captivate you with that skin deep smoky vocal tone. The warmhearted farm girl strips away the clutter, summoning your soul to awaken. Bursting onto the pop scene with a USA tour and a feature on New York radio with her 2015 EP release To The Sky (iTunes), Elisa Kate's new single Promise Me is set to erupt on February 23.

Sitting beneath the warm indie pop vibes, the engaging piano melody propels the driving pulse forward, with the strong reassuring movement projecting the unforgettable chorus into your heart. Promise Me delivers an honest reflection on how easily life can accumulate.

The song explores an uncanny freedom found in releasing unnecessary things from our lives, returning to whats most important. Elisa Kate contemplates, "We surround ourselves with so many "things", and sometimes it takes losing it all for us to find clarity within. In those sobering moments, I find myself listening more intently to the unshakable voice that was there all along, crowded out."

Engineered and produced by S&M Production's Matt McLaren, in conjunction with top Sydney Producer Andrew Kerridge, Promise Me draws you deeper with it's lyrical intimacy woven into the spacious layers of strings, vocal delay and breathy harmonies. A small town dreamer with a 100 year old piano, Elisa Kate was told she couldn't sing. Little did they know, this only ignited her passion for defying the odds and achieving her dreams.

Inspired by her two favourite Johns, Mayer and Foreman (Switchfoot), Elisa Kate combines her freelance piano style, with her frustration over meaningless pop music, creating an infusion of chilled, catchy melodies, filled with hope. FACEBOOK.

'Promise Me' is a charming melodic song, where Elisa Kate's vocals are engaging and the musical arrangement is sprightly, with hints of country and plenty of fine indie pop flavours.

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10 O'Clock Chemical - Babylon Is Fallen.

Background - ‘Babylon is Fallen’ is a slick foray into cutting-edge synth pop. The thematic conception of the song occurred to singer Rhys, who, at 23 years old has been writing songs in his bedroom for many years while also having a background in social activism. Describing their sound as ‘Gritpop’, the group have here created jagged and danceable electro-pop that directly expresses the edgy uncertainty of contemporary life. ‘Babylon is Fallen’ is about the cultural malaise that has led to a culture that it’s easy to be cynical of.

With production by electronica wizard Matt Johnson (best known for his work on Jamiroquai’s latest album Automaton) and mixed by Adrian Bushby (Muse, Foo Fighters, etc) it’s as slick a debut single as any band could hope for. Restless funk elements, slippery bass grooves and a lysergic dance outro make for a profound and danceable exploration of the current and troubling state of our international media neuroses.

10 O’Clock Chemical are comprised of songwriter, keyboardist and vocalist Rhys, drummer Danny, bassist Josh and guitarist Jack. The four of them met through Stoke On Trent’s local music scene, sharing a deep love for rock and electronica. In addition to the core lineup is a mysterious cyber entity called Zed, who carries administrative duties for the band and even makes the odd cameo appearance. With radio support from BBC Introducing Stoke, and the accolade ‘Best New Artist’ as voted by six hundred of their peers at the Staffordshire and Cheshire Music Awards in Spring 2017, they’re now set to release debut single ‘Babylon is Fallen‘ on February 23rd via the group’s own label GRITPOP.

A still from the locally filmed video, made on a snowy January day, forms the single’s sleeve. Their follow-up will arrive in April ahead of their debut EP in June. Having had a string of festival appearances n 2017, including Lymelight and LeoFest, 10 O’Clock Chemical will celebrate their debut single’s release with a headline show at The Exchange in Stoke On Trent on its release night before confirming more live shows, WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Rhythmic vocals and a feisty synth pop soundtrack, 'Babylon Is Fallen' is catchy, vibrant and with plenty of energy this one digs in.

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The Tracys - Alessi’s Ark - Super Hi-Fi

The Tracys - People Scare Me.

Background -  If you're feeling stuck in a repetitive blur of everyday life, NYC old-school punk-rockers The Tracys new single and music video "People Scare Me" will jolt you awake with a blast of sonic power. The single comes with a darkly alluding and paranoiac music video, that will leave you looking over your shoulder when you're next traveling alone.

The band utilizes the track to question the current state of the world, with the actions and behaviors of others developing a slow-building anxiety of questioning where society is headed.  The band shared, "'People Scare Me' is a humorous jaunt into the feeling of alienation, derived both by the day to day struggle of living in a city that has largely given away its creative, cultural heritage in favor of impossible real estate values and self important millionaires, and living in a world controlled by social media that celebrates and rewards Tide Pod eaters and elects narcissistic half-wits to the highest office in the land."

Directed and edited by Benoit Gabriel, the video for "People Scare Me" features drummer Matt Ernst's son, Jonah, an amateur boxer. Cutting between live shots of the band and following Jonah's day throughout the city, an increasingly unsettling feeling of worry and fear is formed through simple yet powerful scenes and split screens. Jonah's portrayed as, "an alienated and possibly deranged young man, stalking the band and perhaps being stalked (by Matt)... or is that all in his mind?"

The video was shot on-location at Ernst’s home in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, along with scenes from the NYC subway system, and Hank’s Saloon in Brooklyn. "[Hank's] is one of the last great punk rock venues in NYC, slated to be demolished at the end of the year," the band shared remorsefully, as regulars of Hank's musical rotation.

The Tracys upcoming third full-length album Humdinger is scheduled for release on March 23; the band will celebrate that night will celebrate their record release show at Hank's Saloon on March 23, with Live Ones, Cash Register, and The Measurements. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Lets liven things up a little with 'People Scare Me' a scrumptious classic punk rocker with all the trimmings including, energy, manic vocals and a band that are on fire. At just two minutes duration, that's all the boxes ticked for a refreshing blast of pure punk.

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Alessi’s Ark - DLD.

Background - London based singer-songwriter Alessi’s Ark AKA Alessi Laurent-Marke releases a warming video this winter for the single ‘DLD (Door Light Dream)’ from her new album Love is the Currency, produced by Mercury Prize nominated producer Jago Jago, and in collaboration with Felix and Will White of the Maccabees.

DLD (Door.Light.Dream), is the directorial debut for long-time friends Aude Chagnon-Caument and Paris based photographer, Julien Bourgeois. Having collaborated on the album cover of Love is the Currency, Julien and Aude were the natural pairing for Alessi's new video.

DLD captures the closing of British summertime on the beautiful Isle of Wight. Weaving through the hills and along the coast, the video follows two strangers while they independently traverse the same route through a Victorian seaside town. For a moment, their paths intersect. However, the strangers never actually meet.

The video closes as Alessi discovers a photograph of the two strangers together, looking out to sea, and we're left wondering whether the photo is a premonition of the two strangers eventually finding one another.

Hailing from Hammersmith, Alessi Laurent-Marke takes influence from bands such as Broken Social Scene to incorporate electronic elements into folk songwriting. Her work has seen her tour with the likes of Laura Marling, Jenny Lewis, M. Ward and John Grant. FACEBOOK.

Hammersmith is an old stomping ground of mine and the Isle Of Wight is my favourite UK Island therefore Alessi's Ark has my geographical interest before even playing the video! 'DLD' is in fact a graceful and melodic song, where the vocals hold my attention and the soundtrack adds some layers whilst allowing the singing to standout, wonderful...


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Super Hi-Fi - Gone.

Background - The process of creating Super Hi-Fi's new video for "Gone" started when bassist Ezra Gale snuck into the Pratt Institute and hung-up fliers advertising a need for filmmakers. It wasn't long after this stealthy mission that Gale connected with aspiring cinematographers William Bermudez, Sam Friedman, and Caden Ghen, who were eager to collaborate. From there, the conceptual vision for "Gone" quickly came into focus; a vision that would lead the group to Dead Horse Bay and what they would come to jokingly refer to as their "Revenant" experience.

"Gone," was filmed on a freezing December afternoon in Dead Horse Bay. It is this one-time Brooklyn landfill that provides the bleak setting for Super Hi-Fi's mysterious music video for "Gone." Littered with old bottles and debris, the polluted beach in Dead Horse Bay is the perfect backdrop for a song that uses the concept of pining for lost love as a metaphor for mankind's fragile relationship with mother earth. Actor Gus Cuddy stars in the video, playing the role of a man who is desperately trying to repair an old shipwrecked boat to search for his lost love. He wanders the shoreline futilely picking-up bottles and trying to clean-up a mess that far exceeds his capabilities. After stopping to rest, he awakens to discover that the boat has vanished, and all that is left is the trash-strewn beach and a small blue vial containing a mysterious note.

The song itself is built upon a slow-moving reggae groove that features Super Hi-Fi's signature, interweaving trombone melodies. At times the music builds to almost cacophonous heights, with wild flourishes of experimental electric guitar, only to ease back down to its original relaxed pace.  Much like the lyrical content, the music for "Gone" conveys a sense of losing control, or feeling powerless in the face of unnameable forces.

"To me, the song "Gone" is supposed to work on two different levels; on the surface it's a song about a relationship and pining away for someone who doesn't care about you, but on a deeper
level it's about our relationship with the earth, assigning all these protective feelings to 'Mother Earth' when in fact the planet is indifferent to us." - Ezra Gale. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

This is our second feature for Super Hi-Fi in a matter of weeks this time with 'Gone' which is another refined and catchy reggae affair. Vocals and harmonies are a fine fit for the genre, the musicianship is fabulous, Super Hi-Fi are naturals through and through.


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Blue Nation - Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir - Fontaines DC

Blue Nation - Rich Girl.

Background - Blue Nation come confidently striding out on to the streets to deliver you their brand new grooving slice of gritty sing-a-long, fist in the air, authentic rock. ‘Rich Girl’ the new single from midlands very own Blue Nation is released 23rd March. The single is taken from the brand new forthcoming album due for release later this year.

The riff-rocking Birmingham trio, pair the unrestrained emotions of music with the capricious nature of life. Front man Neil Murdoch explains; ‘Travelling on a train back from London a girl sat next to me (Neil) and began to sob her heart out. She had just left her fella as she had caught him cheating. During the journey, said cheater rang the heart broken girl and begged her to come back to him, promising to never do it again. It became obvious that the relationship was based on lies and convenience.

Said girl then started to negotiate with the cheater about what he would give her to come back to him…a car, a holiday you name it. The song is not about love but more the contractual terms that this relationship was based on.‘

Blue Nation hit the road with fellow UK up and coming rockers ‘Dirty Thrills’ this month for four shows including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Norwich.  Murdoch and the boys are raring to go as he adds;  ‘The tours are going to be off the scale! We can’t wait to hit the road with the Dirty Thrills lads.  The audiences are going to see one hell of a show.’ WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Blue Nation on tour this month with Dirty Thrills:
26/02 | Factory, Manchester
27/02 | Waterfront Studio, Norwich
28/02 | Underworld, London
02/03 | O2 Institute 3, Birmingham

Whilst the video is steeped with sixties imagery 'Rich Girl' is anything but dated, the rich rock production, the superbly definitive vocals and an energised presence from start to finish, ensures this rocker stands out. Blue Nation are clearly not following the crowd, they are doing their own thing, and splendidly at that.


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Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir - Between The Lines.

Background - Denver-based group Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir shares the second track off their debut LP Long Way Home, with the song "Between The Lines."

"Between The Lines" is about growing up, plain and simple. Frontman Blake Brown says of the track, "I’ve always been taught to follow my dreams, so there’s that dichotomy that I really struggle with. Do I follow them, or move on from them? No choice is necessarily right or wrong, it’s just a deep down feeling that I’m constantly questioning. Reminding myself to hold my dreams with both hands, as to not drop such delicate things. All in all, I’m still not sure what the result is, but I think baring your truth and admitting that  “I don’t know” is important in figuring it out. Only to understand that there may be a time when a choice has to be made. So what will it be? Dreamin’ is believing so start. You gotta hold them with both hands.”

Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir is made up of frontman Blake Brown (vocals/guitar), Tiffany Brown (keys/vocals), Adam Blake (drums), Jason Legler (bass), and Trent Nelson (guitar).

Long Way Home is a collection of songs that represent different periods and experiences in Brown's life. Heartbreak, healing, deception, reflection, growing up, and everything in between. Produced and engineered by Joe Richmond and mastered at Lurssen Mastering by Reuben Cohen, Long Way Home is due out March 9, 2018 on We Believers Music. It will be available on CD and vinyl direct through the website, and available for pre-order on all digital outlets on March 2, 2018. The first time they will be performing the record live will be at SXSW 2018, in an official showcase to be announced. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We featured 'Stop Shakin' at the end of January and just weeks later we have 'Between The Lines' another top quality alt rocker from Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir. There is a hint of Southern rock vibes on this hook laden song and an atmospheric groove that is hard to shake off, the album is looking plenty good.

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Fontaines DC - Boys In The Better Land.

Background - Fontaines D.C. met as a quintet in Dublin, influenced and driven in equal measure by the rich history of their hometown’s counter-culture, their response has been to make concise and immediately authentic indie-punk that has done anything but fall on deaf ears.

The last six months have seen Fontaines D.C. release two hotly received double A-side singles, both of which were named as singles of the week by Rough Trade, and garnered early support from the likes of Steve Lamacq and others on BBC 6 Music, as well as earning feature space from every major Irish publication. Similarly, the band have played a number of shows across Europe, Ireland and the UK earning a reputation for their brooding and trenchant live performances, supporting the likes of The Horrors, Girl Band and The Lemon Twigs, as well as playing festival slots at Electric Picnic, Hard Working Class Heroes and Other Voices.

Previous singles such as ‘Liberty Belle’ and ‘Hurricane Laughter’ call to mind the likes of the Modern Lovers, The Fall, Iggy Pop and The Strokes, seamlessly blending immediate lyrical hooks with melodic golden-era indie instrumentation, and ‘70s Stooges punk thrust, all of which is strewn with defiant rock and roll overtones. On their new single ‘Chequeless Reckless’, the band have decided to delve even deeper into their influences (which they personally cite as spanning from The La’s, to The Pogues to Buddy Holly) employing hypnotic, kraut-rock infused cyclical riffs, whilst channelling Dublin into their concise and often-unassumingly poetic lyrics with a distinctive gritty Irish drawl.

Fontaines D.C. have gone from strength-to-strength with each release, and with a vast range of critical acclaim, renowned live shows and a series of sold out releases behind them over the course of just six months, ‘Chequeless Reckless’ stands as a huge statement of intent, which is not to be ignored. FACEBOOK.

Live Dates:
 Fri 2nd March - Derry - Dutch Kills, Mason's Loft.
Sat 3rd March - Dublin - Button Factory
Wed 7th March - London - The Victoria, Dalston
Fri 30th March - Mayo - Garbo's - Castlebar.

Now in my modest opinion (well I think it is) Fontaines DC may very well be a band to keep an ear out for and an eye upon this year. 'Boys In The Better Land' might have just a twist of The Fall vocals wise, however they are clearly natural & not contrived. The sheer energy and desire the band display is noteworthy. The most striking feature is the ease in which the band appear to deliver their material, slick, uncompromising and very addictive.


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