The Vryll Society - BATTS

The Vryll Society - Andrei Rublev.

Background - Liverpool psychedelic rockers The Vryll Society announce the arrival of their latest psych-driven single Andrei Rublev, creating further anticipation ahead of the release of their debut album this summer. Inspired by scenes from Andre Tarkovsky’s 1996 arthouse classic film, Andrei Rublev is an emotive charge of hip-hop drums, crunching bass lines and hypnotic guitar solos, hinting further at the themes and ideas likely to form the basis of their upcoming record.

Having produced a series of critically acclaimed singles over the last few years, including live stalwarts ‘A Perfect Rhythm’ and ‘Shadow Of A Wave’, the fast-rising Merseyside outfit are primed for their first full-length release, with impressive appearances at the likes of Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds and TRNSMT helping them develop a staunch grassroots following.

Extensive support from BBC Introducing has arrived in the form of slots at their SXSW and Glastonbury showcases alongside a Maida Vale live session over the past 18 months, whilst widespread acclaim from Huw Stephens (BBC Radio 1), Phil Taggart (BBC Radio 1) and Steve Lamacq (BBC 6 Music) has seen the spotlight on the psych-pop quintet intensify, leading to supports with Blossoms, The Coral and The Kooks.

Produced and engineered by Joe Fearon and Tom Longworth (Parr Street Studios, Liverpool). The Vryll Society is Michael Ellis, Ryan Ellis, Lewis McGuinness, Benjamin Robinson, Lloyd Shearer. TWITTER.

Live Dates:
18-19 May – The Great Escape Festival, Brighton
21 July – Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF).

'Andrei Rublev' is a melodic psych rocker that within just a couple of days is already getting considerable attention. That's not surprising, the bands musicianship is gorgeous and incredibly easy to become immersed within, add the fabulous vocals that are just so right for this genre, and we arrive with a song that really is very special.

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BATTS - Shame.

Background - Melbourne’s BATTS  releases her new single ‘Shame’ the first music to arrive from the Radio 1 and Radio X-supported artist this year, following 2017’s well-received ’62 Moons’ EP. BATTS (aka Tanya Batt) has also announced a string of London dates including a headline show at Notting Hill Arts Club on May 6 as part of Communion Presents - full list of dates below, including shows in support of Cub Sport. ‘Shame’ is streaming here.

Though the Britpop-tinged insouciance of ‘Shame’ marks a musical departure from the more ambient sounds of ’62 Moons’, it further mines BATTS’ deep interest in all things related to space. ’62 Moons’ itself was informed by NASA’s release of previously unheard sounds recorded in outer space, whilst ‘Shame’ now dryly imagines a failed human attempt to colonise another planet, “Maybe Saturn, Jupiter or Mars / Where Bowie watches us from the stars”.

Lyrically, the song is about BATTS' view of the world and the idea that humans continue to think if they were to colonise a different planet – Mars – it would turn out any different. Also, the song is about wanting to see more acceptance and positive change.

Alongside the release of ’62 Moons’ - which secured airplay across Radio 1, KCRW, Radio X and Triple J  - 2017 also saw BATTS sign to THAA Records and tour alongside the likes of Timberwolf, nyck and The Teskey Brothers. Alongside ‘Shame’, BATTS will release further new music throughout 2018, ahead of a debut album due in 2019. WEBSITE.

UK Tour Dates:
May 6 | Notting Hill Arts Club, London
May 8 | The Waiting Room, London w/ Cub Sport
May 9 | The Waiting Room, London w/ Cub Sport
May 20 | The Aussie BBQ, Hoxton Sq. Bar & Kitchen, London.

If you like your rock to be powerful and yet refined then 'Shame' is all of that and more. Tanya Batt's vocals are distinct and pleasing, the music simmers with the potential to explode, however it's restraint adds a level of potency, this is one of those songs that is hard to ignore, and even harder not to play again...

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Luna Neptune - Paper Hawk - The Bae Beach Club - Second Still

Luna Neptune - Elspeth and Elijah.

Background - Psych folk producer Luna Neptune releases new single 'Elspeth & Elijah’  and accompanying music video for the 2nd single from the artists upcoming EP ‘Next Automated Wave’.  Fully written, recorded and produced by Luna Neptune, mixing and mastering was completed by Alex Fernandes. Jim Gellatly had the exclusive first radio play on his show on Amazing Radio on Sunday 15th April 2018.

Melodic and memorable, Elspeth and Elijah features haunting guitar lines, and glitch beats to make an old folk trope - love lost at sea - contemporary and relevant.

The video, filmed and edited by Luna, was shot around Hastings after a nasty flu sent her looking for fresh air, and so she decamped to stay with family on the English south coast. The video is a dream-like postcard of seaside Britain – kitsch, nostalgic, but also hinting at economic depression. The track is a response to the way in which “Britannia rules the waves” has been mythologised, and the damage that imperalism continues to contribute to our global society.

Luna Neptune is a Scottish psych folk solo artist, based in Clapton, East London. Comparisons have been made to Jesca Hoop, Grace Slick and Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention.

Luna released her debut EP ‘5th Moon’ in December 2016 and gigs frequently around London at venues such as The Dublin Castle in Camden and The Good Ship in Kilburn. The debut EP was well received gaining blog coverage and artist of the week slots on Skowt, District De Capo and Dear Damsels as well as winning plays on international radio stations including New York’s Radio Soho, Roundhouse Radio, Riviera FM, Valley FM (Aus), SHMU FM, Blues and Roots Radio (Canada), 2 Lochs FM, Crystal FM 107.4, Dunoon FM 97.4. FACEBOOK.

The mixture of modern music techniques is beautifully juxtaposed with classic folk vocals on  'Elspeth and Elijah' a fabulous psych folk exploration, where the atmosphere gradually builds and the story unfolds. This is a very impressive song.


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Paper Hawk - Trails.

Background -  Paper Hawk have just released the new single ‘Trails’ from upcoming EP. Crafting an intimate, ethereal sound, inviting you into their private world, Paper Hawk’s debut EP The Tide is set for release on the 2nd May 2018 through Brighton’s boutique record label Folklore Sessions. The 4-track record signals the beginning of a new adventure for this emerging band. Alongside digital distribution on iTunes and Spotify, a limited run of 50 physical copies will be available on the release date. Each record comes with a handwritten thank you letter, additional artwork, and a signed art print. Although new to the scene, Paper Hawk have swiftly left their mark playing across the country with sets at Glastonbury, 2000 Trees, YNOT and the Alternative Escape Festival.

Recorded in the living room of their Brighton flat the record marks a cathartic release from a tumultuous few years. From the defeated notes of ‘Trails’ - a hypnotising whisper chronicling the throes of a volatile relationship - to the comforting promise of support in ‘Northern Sky’ - The Tide is a collection of songs written with a hand-on-heart approach and striking honesty.

Produced by Josh Trinnaman (the brain of jazz-IDM fusion band, Luo), the intimate guitar and vocal arrangements are brought to life with rich soundscapes and electronic ambience, creating a dream-like atmosphere that draws you in and keeps you captivated.

Paper Hawk is an alt-folk duo currently based in Brighton, who combine intricate guitar driven melodies with hushed tones and raw confessional lyrics. A collaboration of two songwriters, Rebecca Brandler and Scott Booth, the project began after the two met a few months after both moving to Brighton to study. Rebecca heard Scott playing a cover of ‘Ocean’ by John Butler and instant musical sparks were ignited and she knew she wanted to write music together. The bond was then nurtured in a cold basement flat with muted rehearsals to avoid complaints from the neighbours but has proven to pay off, being nourished into a harrowingly beautiful EP with layers that muster unique strength, blanketed with velvet vocals. TWITTER.

'Trails' is a richly textured song, where the musical layers ebb and flow beneath some beguiling vocals. The hash-tag states Alt folk, which is as good a description as any other that comes to mind, the track builds both in emotional feel and potency, the EP follows soon.

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The Bae Beach Club - All Day.

Background - St. Catharines, Ontario's The Bae Beach Club is an indie rock group playing songs about daydreaming, the sun, and love. Their ultra-smooth guitar licks and catchy bass lines are sure to provide a quick escape route to an intrinsic beachy dreamland.

The band traveled by train from Toronto, ON to Vancouver, BC to record their soon to be released 'Our Escape' EP at Monarch Studios with Tom Dobrzanski, performing as "Artists on Board" the VIA Rail Canada

Vocalist KiKi Kinaschuk says, "This tune sets the tone for the upcoming EP, Our Escape. ‘all day’ unveils an honest expression of creating your ideal situation introspectively. Ultimately, it invokes a feeling of restlessness when regrouping back to reality.” 'Our Escape' EP will be released on May 18. BANDCAMP.

Upcoming shows:
In the Soil Arts Festival - April 29th
Canadian Music Week (Toronto, ON) - TBD May 7-13th
Our Escape release show @ Warehouse (St. Catharines, ON) - May 19th
My Son the Hurricane @ Warehouse (St. Catharines, ON) - June 9th.

From the opening notes of 'All Day' expectations are set high and the song really does fulfill it's promise. Melodic indie rock and sumptuous vocals are delivered with an easy beat, and the hooks are everywhere on this sun drenched tune.


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Second Still - In Order.

Background - Second Still are back and set to release their second EP Equals on April 20th, 2018 on vinyl via Belgian label Weyrd Son Records, and on cassette through the new tape label Sentimental Records.

After their first full-length record was named “best post-punk debut LP of 2017” by Post-Punk.com, While the songs from this newest release retain the sheer power and intensity of the band’s previous two releases, Equals sees Second Still evolving their sound and progressing forward into sonically uncharted territory. The four main components of the band’s signature sound are still there –chorus and delay-heavy guitar, hypnotic bass grooves, heavyweight drum machine beats, and hauntingly beautiful vocal melodies– but they have added a couple analog synthesizers into the arsenal for Equals, mixing a whole new element into their already uniquely realized style of post-punk. Commanding synth bass, subtle ambient soundscapes, and forceful lead synth hooks now supplement and enhance the distinctive sound that Second Still had already crafted on their first two releases.

The band also explores a more pop-orientated and lighter sound on Equals, especially on the A-side, while the B-side stays true to the band’s more melancholic and gloomy roots. The EP kicks off with “In Order”, an upbeat and throbbing dance-floor anthem with a pulsating arpeggiated synth line driving the song forward. Following that is “Ashes”, a six-minute pop ballad who’s feeling is constantly shifting, at times being tastefully reserved and atmospheric, while at others totally unleashed and unhinged. The B-side offers a nice contrast to the pop sensibilities of side A, with three unrelenting back to back tracks of aggressive and forceful coldwave outpourings.

The EP also has a sixth bonus track titled “Walls”, that is included in the digital and cassette versions of the album, and as a limited edition flexi disc to be given away with the first 100 vinyl purchases. Equals was written over a period of six months, and recorded in various rehearsal spaces and makeshift studios around Los Angeles. Chris King is credited with recording, mixing, and co-producing the EP, and Mike Tierney with the mastering. Jean Lorenzo, a NYC-based graphic designer, created the album artwork, which features a front cover with a die cut design, allowing for select sections of record’s insert to be visible through the openings. FACEBOOK.

Less than a week since our last feature and Second Still are back with yet another single. 'In Order' is the first track on their second EP and continues the bands momentum of turning out powerfully engaging post punk music.

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The Underhill Family Orchestra - Family And Friends

The Underhill Family Orchestra - Chickasaw Fields.

Background - Chickasaw Fields," is the rollicking new single from The Underhill Family Orchestra, that details the strength of working together, compassion, compromise, and relational promise.

Inspired by Johnny Cash and June Carter- esque call-and-response style tracks, the song takes the sweetness that Johnny and June shared onstage and rubs a little reality and grit into it. "Chickasaw Fields" is from the band's debut LP, Tell Me That You Love Me, set for release on May 4th via Skate Mountain Records. The single is the second from the record and follows "When The Trumpet Sounds."

The Underhill Family Orchestra is currently on tour taking their energetic live performance to stages across the land, and will appear at SouthSounds Music Festival this weekend in their hometown of Mobile, Alabama. WEBSITE.

4/25 Fest. International Kick Off!, Lafayette, LA
5/11 Southern Napa Fine Wine House, Daphne, AL
5/22 Strange Brew, Shreveport, LA
5/23 Mercy Lounge, Nashville, TN (w/ Sons Of Old Town)
5/24 Kingfish, West Fork, AR
5/25 The Outland Ballroom (downstairs), Springfield, MO
5/26 Westport Roots Festival, Kansas City, MO
5/27 Pedalers Jamboree, Columbia, MO
5/27 Pedalers Jamboree Official After Party, Columbia, MO
5/31 Lions Lair, Denver, CO
6/1 Harney St. Tavern, Omaha, NE
6/28 The Commodore, Charleston, SC
6/30 The Commodore, Charleston, SC
8/25 Pedalers Jamboree, Mingo, IA.

Some gorgeous roots flavoured vibes are apparent from the opening moments of 'Chickasaw Fields' before it develops into a full on Alt rock meets Americana affair. The mixed vocals and harmonies are sublime, the band create a feisty backdrop, this really is "more please" music.

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Family And Friends - Peaches.

Background - Hailing from the musical mecca of Athens, Georgia and built on the idea that the sum is greater than the individual parts, Family And Friends has steadily gained a loyal following with their spirited live performances and “good music, good people” mantra since releasing their 2015 EP XOXO.

Their new highly anticipated album Felix Culpa, produced by Chicago-turned- L.A. auteur Brad Wood and due out June 8th, is nothing less than an epic coming-of-age tale with a massive sound that amplifies their former indie-folk roots onto a technicolor, Cinemascope screen.

The forthcoming album title, which loosely translates to “blessed mistake," illustrates the notion that while we may continue to search for some semblance of meaning, the fact that we are here at all deserves to be celebrated, and Family And Friends intends to do just that. 

Felix Culpa focuses on a precipice of life’s journey, as we begin the quest for existential meaning and come to terms with the fact that people, relationships, and seemingly universal truths are more complicated than we perhaps realize. Balancing scintillating textures with bright guitars and beautiful vocal harmonies, Family And Friends’ sharply observant lyrics are cloaked in the band’s contagiously upbeat instrumentation, leaving the listener with a sense of hope by album’s end. Peaches is from the forthcoming album Felix Culpa. WEBSITE.

With a fast flowing tempo 'Peaches' launches into a mixture of melodic vocals, subtle harmonies and a musical arrangement that is distinct and tight. Collectively the band fire catchy hooks in all directions.

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The Kat O Army - Frederick The Younger - Juanita Stein

The Kat O Army - I Don't Wanna Fight

Background - Kat O (ex- Kathematics, Kill TV) formed The Kat O Army in June 2017, releasing the single Victim of Truth (Minorities Unite) independently and launching the song with a successful Victorian tour, followed by NSW shows. Her passionate songs connect to the hearts of everyone who has been let down by friendships, relationships and even the government.

The new single I Don’t Wanna Fight was recorded at Toyland in Melbourne and produced and engineered by Adam Calaitzis. Kat played guitar and bass on the track. The song was written in 10 minutes as an ode to 2017, one of the most unbelievably argumentative years ever for Kat. Basically, she didn’t want to fight anymore. Raw and honest, the catchy pop/punk track is sung in Kat’s unmistakable Aussie accent.

Kat put up a video on Facebook of her performing the song unplugged in her music room which garnered an amazing response, including someone in her network wanting to cover the song.  The track was recorded, immediately resulting in airplay on community radio in Melbourne and Adelaide. The song was also put on Melomania radio’s playlist, alongside Pink, giving the track airplay in 40 countries around the world. TWITTER.

'I Don't Wanna Fight' opens as a stripped back rocker before powering up the energy. Kat O's vocals are feisty and ooze rock & roll vibes, in this no nonsense blast.

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Frederick The Younger - Jessica.

Background - “Jessica” is the new song that Louisville’s psych-pop band Frederick The Younger is sharing from their new album which will be coming out later this year. The band is sharing the infectious song due to their spring tour in support of Houndmouth that is now underway.

Comprised of their soulful powerhouse vocalist Jenni Cochran, virtuosic guitarist Aaron Craker (who’s pulling double-duty playing guitar w/ Houndmouth on this tour), and their new rhythm section Jake Hellman (bass) and Dave Given (drums), Frederick The Younger is back with a newfound energy that they’ve channeled into the songwriting on their upcoming album. Channeling vintage melodic rock and roll through the lens of psychedelic garage pop, the band has drawn comparisons to everyone from St. Vincent and Angel Olsen, to The Zombies and Arcade Fire.

“Jessica” is the first taste of new music since the release of their debut album Human Child, which was produced by the veteran sonic wizard Kevin Ratterman (My Morning Jacket, Andrew Bird, Twin Limb). There is an earnestness to their new songs that rings true, the kind of sincerity born from experience. These songs feel alive and well-lived, tragic, beautiful, and contemplative, all with a solid hook. FACEBOOK.

We featured Frederick The Younger just a month ago with the song 'Human Child II' and now we have 'Jessica' from the bands next album due later this year. Their psych rock infused style has plenty of melodic hooks on the new track, other influences may be their but the band have developed their own sound, and it's a good one.

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Juanita Stein - Forgiver.

Background - Juanita Stein, the Howling Bells front woman turned solo artist, will release a brand new single, Forgiver on 13th April (impacts 1 June). The single was co-written and produced by Brandon Flowers while Juanita was on tour with The Killers in Northern Europe this February.

Forgiver is the first taster of Stein’s upcoming second album, Until The Lights Fade, which will be released by Nude Records on 31st August. Says Stein of the song, “I remember wanting it to feel swaggering and wise, just like she is in the song. She a knowing seductress and he an endearing fool, completely at her mercy. It’s only once we get to the chorus that she shows any kind of vulnerability.”

“I’d written the bones of the song a while ago and began working on it again on the EU leg of the Killers tour. I’d managed to get Brandon to hear the song as was, with the intention of seeing if he could maybe help take it somewhere, and he ended up not only co-writing, but also producing the track, which we were able to record backstage during those last few days on the road.  I loved the spontaneity of the recording. As with the album itself, everything unfolded very instinctively.”

Juanita Stein’s second solo album arrives less than a year after her first, ‘America’, saw her exploring the iconography and cultural landscapes of a country that had always fascinated her from afar. Yet, while ’Until The Lights Fade’ is cut from the same musical cloth as its predecessor - the crepuscular twang of bar-room guitars, the keening romanticism of its melodies, the sparseness and simplicity of its arrangements - the album’s ten songs are concerned with thoughts, feelings, stories and characters rooted far closer to home.

“I feel like the two albums are different sides of the same coin,” Stein explains. “If ‘America’ was the starting point of a journey - the musical equivalent of me spreading my wings, but also treading carefully, trying to figure myself out having come from such an intense period of camaraderie in the band - then this record is me starting to gain a bit more traction, feeling more confident in where I’m coming from and what it is I’m doing.” WEBSITE.

This our our fourth feature for Juanita Stein an artist that consistently impresses us with her charismatic music. 'Forgiver' is a gliding rock song that is cleverly arranged adding a few extra layers of sound as it flows. That it is a catchy teaser for her second album goes without saying.

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Claudio Conti - Long Branch - Harry Permezel

Claudio Conti - Blazing Lair.

Background -  Claudio Conti presents 'Blazing Lair' is the second single off his new album 'Garnet Dusk' album, out now via Seahorse Recordings. This follows up the earlier revealed single ‘Old Clouds Fell‘-. both tracks reel in a delightful ebb and flow, while the new single beautifully embodies California dreaming.

The new accompanying video was entirely filmed last September in Los Angeles, mainly in the West Hollywood and Venice areas in September 2017, this video was filmed and directed by Claudio Conti and Frederick Byron, who also edited it. The two previously cooperated on the video for ‘Old Clouds Fell‘, shot entirely in San Francisco and California's Bodega Head Beach.

The new film portrays the shadows and lights of Los Angeles, a city that has always been blessed, cursed, crowded and infested by artists, and who shape this luminous place with their greatness, their weaknesses, their achievments and their failures.

"L.A. is ambrosia, whispers and caresses of inspiration but also the kiss of death," says Claudio Conti. "To have artistic recognition there is the greatest challenge, the city of angels (or of lost angels)  seems like the most dangerous and highest mountain to climb unharmed for any artist."

Claudio Conti is an Italian songwriter whose style is rooted in the same romantic pensiveness that mark the music of Tim Buckley, Nick Drake, Gene Clark. and Tim Hardin. Largely drawn to psychedelic music, folk rock and 80's indie rock, he considers Gram Parsons, The Doors, The Smiths and early R.E.M. as his main influences. FACEBOOK.

'Blazing Lair' is a fine representation of the quality and beauty that is 'Garnet Dusk' a collection of fourteen magnificent songs. Claudio Conti's influences are wide ranging both in terms of artists and musical genres, and it is quite an achievement to take some of the best of those and carve out an album that is still very much his own work and styling. Expect quality, it's packed full of it.


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Long Branch - Ash.

Background - Toronto/Honey Harbour band Long Branch releases their debut full-length album, Found the Setting Sun, May 25, 2018 on boutique label DWR, home to Michelle McAdorey's Polaris Prize long-listed album, Into Her Future.

Long Branch recorded Found the Setting Sun at Noble Street Studios throughout 2016-17 in a series of sessions helmed by Executive Producer Gavin Brown. Co-produced by Long Branch and Shaddy Roman, the album gathers ten songs from the group's repertoire, and expands on the sound the band first introduced to audiences with their self-released 7" single, "Lucky Me/Just in Case" in 2015.

Dead leaves, bare trees, redemption, and resurrection are embodied in the fuzz-fueled guitars, violin, and vocal harmonies of Long Branch's sound. Formed in 2014, the band is stacked five-high with members from beloved Canadian combos, Adaptor 45, Chicken Milk, The Good Family, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, and Venus Cures All.

Long Branch's sound emerges from a solid guitar bedrock, with haunting violin voicings and the layered harmonies of the band's four formidable frontwomen supported by nuanced, driving rhythms. Introspective, moody, and evocative, Long Branch songs are narratives of overcoming hardship. Yet the songs are hopeful: A whisper of sadness appears one moment only to be blown away by grit and determination. BANDCAMP.

A chunky rhythm is soon joined by some melodic guitar licks on 'Ash' which make a splendid backdrop for the refined and splendid vocals and harmonies. Indie rock of sorts and catchy throughout.

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Harry Permezel - Bonehead.

Background - Melbourne-based artist Harry Permezel recently shared his new single "Bonehead". The track is the first to be released from his upcoming new album Wax Man, out 5/4 on Muscle Beach Records.

Wax Man, the sophomore album from Melbourne, Australia native Harry Permezel, is an intimate reflection of a twenty-something’s formative era of self discovery. The ten tracks flutter from introspective observance to guided narration on the forming and failing of relationships, uncertainties of the future, suburban isolation, and a hopeful foresight. The warm production of the record allows these themes to become illuminated with haunting harmonies, head-bobbing hooks, clockwork percussion, sporadic flecks of synthesizer, and crooning ruminations.

 Learning guitar at a young age and have being influenced by his older brother, Permezel began to develop his sound at his parents' house in suburban Melbourne. After unearthing a set of his dad's old speakers in the garage, Permezel began to slowly build a home studio, where he would repeatedly find himself after long, hazy nights in the city with his friends. This home studio is where he eventually recorded and produced his self-titled debut, which was released in 2016 on the Oxford, MS based label Muscle Beach Records. Over the next two years, Harry and Muscle Beach kept in close contact, building a tight friendship and creative bond - a unique and deeply personal relationship between label and artist.

Wax Man is the result of incredible determination, self assurance, a deep knowledge of solitude, and a true appreciation of company. This meditation on loneliness, lessons learned, and optimism lingers long with the listener. TWITTER.

There is something of a laid back surf vibe to 'Bonehead' as it gently carves out it's way. Collectively understated and yet solid enough to grab my attention, it's the vocals that round things off and drive in those catchy hooks.

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My Pleasure - King of the Travellers - The Rivers - Night Flight

My Pleasure - These Things Take Time.

Background - My Pleasure says of the upcoming album: "It's only been six months since my first album came out, but I wanted to deliver on my promise to myself to release as many albums as possible before I die. This one is called Mostly Happy because I am mostly happy with the album, and I'm mostly happy with life."

And with regards to the single: "These Things Take Time refers to all manner of trivial things, but generally it's about trying to be patient whenever you feel held back. And seeing as the song features a reference to family, the recording has my partner, daughter and stepdaughter joining me on vocals. It's usually just me in the studio going mad on my own, so it's nice to have a trio of vocalists backing me up for this one."

My Pleasure's previous releases, 'Domestic Bliss' (album), 'Party Popper' (an EP) and 'Your House is Made of Nothing and You Are No One' (a collection of ten singles) received support from BBC 6 Music, Radio 2, Radio X, Absolute Radio and BBC Introducing.

He has supported the likes of Jeffrey Lewis, The Wave Pictures, Public Service Broadcasting, H Hawkline, Art Brut and The Lovely Eggs. A UK tour is planned for the Summer. FACEBOOK.

The video works well with 'These Things Take Time' however it's the song that jumps out and cries for a listen. Different in a fine sort of way, the track pumps out rhythmic hooks by the dozen, listen and love! 


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King of the Travellers - Señor Oxido.

Background - Intertwining layers of Romani, Balkan and Celtic folk into a punk-fuelled tornado, King of the Travellers summon the musical ghosts of yore from every corner of the globe. On their fierce new single Señor Oxido, the Fremantle 7-piece ride into new territory with a heavy gallop – immersing the listener in a scorching Spaghetti Western.

While the song's lyric is a playful ode written upon the departure of former bandmate Rusty, Señor Oxido is a powerful orchestration of the band's impressive roll call: Nathan Hull (vocals), Sam Reed (French horn), Djan Irianto (guitar), Alex Green (bass), Tristan Hull (mandolin), Josh Cutler (drums) and Ben Power (clarinet, organ). Although sounding nothing like their previous work, Señor Oxido is perfectly at home amidst King of the Travellers' set-list – bursting at the seams with the band's innate ability to inspire a heaving dance floor.

Since day one, King of the Travellers have been this way... a band able to get the whole room moving. It has been their constant, no matter which direction their music has come from. 2013's The Puncha Hoedown was a rousing collection of howling folk-punk songs that felt almost like sea shanties. Building on this, 2014's Rambling Jackson involved more instrumentation and a broader range of ethnic variations of folk music, but was again delivered with maniacal energy. By 2016's Pros & Cons, King of the Travellers had fully developed their sound – fittingly bringing the music of all the world's great traveller cultures and distilling it into one potent brew.

With more material up their sleeve to ensure one hell of a 2018, King of the Travellers are ready to tear the roof off any place that'll have them. FACEBOOK.

The hashtag says #Alternative and 'Señor Oxido' is all of that and more. This is creative, imaginative and a joy to listen to. Genres galore are put in the mixer and come out as a musical smoothie of renown, come strut your stuff to this one...

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The Rivers - Tricks and Lovers.

Background - The Rivers are a brand spankin’ new indie/roots act from the South-West of WA. The Rivers’ name is symbolic of the many musical tributaries who have contributed to the band’s rich cinematic sound.

The band prefers to live underwater, away from the rage and chaos of modern life. The songs, scribed by the elusive Doug Boatman, are nostalgic, electronically layered and vocally harmonic, drawing richly from roots music - telling tales of hope and loss.

In recent travels, singer/songwriter, Doug Boatman drifted from port to port, writing a tea chest of songs later recorded in Los Angeles, New Zealand, Perth and the South-West of W.A. Tricks and Lovers is the first of the songs let loose from the chest, a message in a bottle seeking harbour in your headphones.

Tricks and Lovers is an early-morning alleyway glimpse of gratuitous love gone wrong - a broken heel struck through the heart of a willing victim. It depicts the complex nature of love surviving on the edge of morality, where sanity is tenderly balanced by the contents of a ‘pretty pill box.’

Ye who enjoy driving old V8 cars at night on country roads through the wind and rain, cruising with the heater set just right, will love The Rivers’ sound. You may, at times, drive recklessly fast; occasionally, you may just pull over and cry. WEBSITE.

The vocals and harmonies are the first part of 'Tricks and Lovers' to register in a good way, the musical arrangement provides a vibrant background on this folk pop/rock song, and the catchy nature of the piece ensures at the least a few more listens.

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Night Flight - Parade.

Background - London based band Night Flight return with the news of their second EP Carousel, along with the release of new single ‘Parade’ — the first track to be lifted from the EP.

Co-written with Billie Marten, 'Parade' beautifully drifts in on the back of a simple, yet effective guitar chord passage - as frontman and songwriter Sam Holmes sings: “Hey there, how’ve you been in this world, since I fell out of yours?”. Wonderfully paced, and lyrically riveting - Night Flight are a real breath of fresh air. Parade's carefully considered use of soft acoustic guitars, soothing keys, and steady, shuffling percussion is a joy to behold, building to its atmospheric - almost psychedelic close.

Its accompanying video also released today, directed by Dan Harris, feels like the perfect backdrop. A Peak District covered in snow, shot in beautiful 16mm, mirrors the turmoil of ex-lovers explored in the song.

Speaking on the new track, Sam explains ‘Parade’ is…"A conversation between ex-partners set some time after their break up. While the motive is for cathartic reconciliation, it quickly turns into a passive aggressive back and forth of one-upmanship." WEBSITE.

'Parade' has already received considerable attention in the last few days since it was released. Melodic and beautifully crafted the gentle vocals are totally engaging and the band deliver music with heart and quality, ensuring the emotion and feeling of this song resonates gorgeously.


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Juliet Quick - Lou - Second Still - Umbrella Bed

Juliet Quick - Changeling (EP).

Background - Brooklyn-based, alt-folk artist Juliet Quick shares her new release Changeling EP, out now on DSPs.

Changeling is a 3-part song series, using the folkloric trope of the changeling, in which a child is stolen by fairies and replaced with an imposter, to explore feelings of alienation from the self and the familiar that characterize early adulthood. They don’t follow a strict narrative, so much as trace different points in the evolution of that psychic experience.

The imagery is heavily grounded in the landscape of the Hudson Valley, where the artist was raised. It was recorded in Carmel, NY, where it was engineered and co-produced by Rees Shad in his own studio. The orchestral strings were arranged in a collaboration with Juliet Quick, Rees Shad, and Nathan Kamal. WEBSITE.

We featured 'Changeling Part 1' back in February and I am very pleased to be able to now share the whole EP. Regarding our last feature we commented "Part I' is a gorgeous and quite unique indie folk song, where Juliet Quick's vocals are quite beguiling and the musical arrangement adds a chamber folk dimension to this sumptuous and almost epic piece". Having now listened to the three tracks together, it's worth noting how each is a distinct piece, they share the same name but the differing attributes of each tune is notable, this is a fabulous EP.

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Lou - Beaten.

Background - Singer-songwriter Lou shares her poignantly arresting first single "Beaten." With this first release, Lou’s powerful voice and emotional delivery stand out and offer a glimpse into the first page of her story; that suffering and aloneness can be turned into a force. 

The song is a raw and unfiltered journey into her world. A definite talent to watch, Lou performs around LA and can often be heard at No Name on Fairfax.

Lou says of "Beaten" - "I originally wrote “Beaten” as a poem about being betrayed by love. The pain and the rage that band together to abandon you at the bottom of a dark hole. With nothing around, the only way out is to create light from within and hope that it saves you.”

Growing up in a musical household, Lou started singing at a very young age. As an only child, when her parents separated, Lou found a sanctuary by escaping into herself. She wrote a lot through her teens and, after a life changing moment, decided to share her voice with the world. Lou's debut EP is slated for release later this year. WEBSITE.

Lou's vocals are beautifully passionate and soulful on 'Beaten' a song that exudes feeling and emotion throughout. The slow paced rock orientated musical backing adds even more to this striking song.

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Second Still - Echelons.

Background - Second Still announce their second EP due this month and share the single "Echelons".  This EP is due April 20th on Sentimental Records.  The band is also set to release their sophomore EP Equals that same day.

After their first full-length record was named “best post-punk debut LP of 2017” by Post-Punk.com, While the songs from this newest release retain the sheer power and intensity of the band’s previous two releases, Equals sees Second Still evolving their sound and progressing forward into sonically uncharted territory.

The four main components of the band’s signature sound are still there –chorus and delay-heavy guitar, hypnotic bass grooves, heavyweight drum machine beats, and hauntingly beautiful vocal melodies– but they have added a couple analog synthesizers into the arsenal for Equals, mixing a whole new element into their already uniquely realized style of post-punk. Commanding synth bass, subtle ambient soundscapes, and forceful lead synth hooks now supplement and enhance the distinctive sound that Second Still had already crafted on their first two releases. BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.

Our third feature for Second Still this time with the new single 'Echelons'. Previously we have said "the band create unique material, that challenges referencing including some classic punk vibes, alongside a hint of shoegaze and a swathe of catchy hooks." The new song is a darker, brooding track, with a hypnotic rhythm and a musical arrangement that builds into a powerful crescendo.

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Umbrella Bed - Rotate.

Background - Picking up on a 2-Tone ska sound might have seemed like a strange choice in the summer of 1995 when Umbrella Bed first assembled itself into existence; after all, the 2-Tone ska sound was a very short-lived period 15-years earlier and, without a doubt, in '95 the newly reborn ska genre "third wave" was creating a much harder-edged ska sound.

Third-wave ska was very much guided by the rise of the alternative music scene and infused ska with a more punk/grunge bent. It moved the "ska sound" pretty far away from 2-Tone's inherent pop roots. But, 2-Tone's shorter life had also left a lot of room to explore. Six full-length releases, hundreds of wildly energetic shows and two European tours later, doing anything but build on 2-Tone's legacy would have been a tragic loss.

As a live act, Umbrella Bed have also played a support role to a who's who in the ska/reggae world including The Skatalities, The Specials, English Beat, The Toasters, Mustard Plug, King Chango, MU330, Mad Sin, The Selector, and many others.

The band's primary line up has rotated some over the years but has remained largely intact. Lead vocalist Hellrocket, drummer Mitch Thompson, trombonist Al Teagarden and ska's (if not rock and roll's) premier French Horn player Eva Washburn have been around from day one. Trombonist Joy Judge and saxophonist Scott Wilcox have been with the band nearly a decade completing the "Horns of Mass Destruction". Although hardly new to the band anymore, Umbrella Bed's most recent addition Francisco Guerra on bass and Kabel Lefto on guitar bring a youthful element to a band just wrapping up its second decade -  proof that there a lot more fuel in the energy tanks. WEBSITE.

The new full-length album from American ska band Umbrella Bed is entitled 'Rotate' of which we feature the title track. The bands take on Ska & 2 Tone is vibrant and upbeat, with hints of rock and roll along the way. The band have a fine live performance pedigree, that said they certainly can and do record some fabulous tunes in the studio, as this latest collection of music ably demonstrates.

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Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders - Atlantic Machine - Honey Radar

Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders - Feel Brand New.

Background - “Feel Brand New” is the third song taken from the forthcoming Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders album ‘Blue Poles’, out May 4 on Self Portrait Records. Capturing the sweet disposition that love can make life’s problems seem insignificant, the track takes a different direction, both musically and thematically from previous single “White Flag”.

“The bones of the song appeared on New Years Day after going to bed sober before midnight.“ Ladder says. “That day my partner and I went for a short bush walk that turned into a 5 hour trek. I was feeling a new chapter turning over.“

Jack Ladder is currently supporting Alex Cameron across Europe and the UK soon after a US run together, and will then have his own headline London show at The Shacklewell Arms on April 17th. Upon returning to Australia he will again join Alex Cameron but this time hitting the arenas as the opening act for The Killers on their national tour in April and May, following on from the band declaring themselves fans. Soon after that he will launch ‘Blue Poles’ with The Dreamlanders in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney in May. 

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. WEBSITE.

We featured 'White Flag' just over a month ago and the new song 'Feel Brand New' is another stunning song. Slow paced, atmospheric and with Jack Ladder's definitive and enticing vocals, the production is sublime, the new album cannot arrive soon enough!


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Atlantic Machine - I Don't Wanna Be Your Friend.

Background - London duo Atlantic Machine have announced the release of new single I Don’t Wanna Be Your Friend released on 6th April along with a video for the track. Debut album Mosquito will be released on 18th May.

Atlantic Machine are Producer and Grammy award winning Engineer Jim Lowe (Stereophonics, The Dandy Warhols, The Charlatans) and Vocalist and Guitarist Tiffany Page, who first met in the studio before forming their own musical partnership.

The pairing sees the baritone voice of Jim mixed with Tiffany’s raspy tones to create a unique new wave sound. New single I Don’t Wanna Be Your Friend follows recent single Automatic and is a tongue-in-cheek upbeat track that builds with a compellingly dirty guitar riff to an alt-pop chorus. The video, featuring both Jim and Tiffany, is the perfect match to the track. The band say;

“"This song is about people that have pissed you off or hurt you and you now don't care about. Relationships consumed in arguments. This song was written with the humour of these situations, rather than the bitter taste people get left with.” WEBSITE.

Less than a month since we first featured Atlantic Machines they are back with 'I Don't Wanna Be Your Friend'  another impressive song that's is more than worthy of a share. This time we have a catchy rhythmic rocker, where once again the vocal duet adds distinction, as the duo up the power and pace.


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Honey Radar - Psychic Cruise.

Background - Are you ready to go on a Psychic Cruise, my friend?  Well strap in. Yet again, Honey Radar.  What can you possibly say by now that’s not totally redundant at this point?  Lo-fi master-class pop handyman rock sketches in the vein of Pavement or Syd Barrett.  Questions?  I didn’t think so. 

“Psychic Cruise” is the third proper single that Chunklet has been fortunate enough to release by the Philly band and is streaming now on Self-Titled.  More splayed noise.  More reverb.  More racket.  More hooks.  Repeat.  Five new jams.  Never heard before.  New Honey Radar will always be celebrated at Chunklet HQ. 

We’re told that next in the Honey Radar series will be a Fall tribute single featuring Chunklet’s Henry Owings.  What will they be called?  Henry Radar.  Coming Fall ’18. WEBSITE.

The psychedelic sixties meets modern times head on with 'Psychic Cruise' a fabulous albeit short blast of Honey Radar.

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Frøkedal - Susie Scurry - Dr Dog - The Goldberg Sisters - Alfred Hall

Frøkedal - I Don't Care.

Background - Oslo, Norway based Frøkedal today announces her long-awaited second album ‘How We Made It’, alongside the release of new single, and album opener ‘I Don’t Care’. The new album ‘How We Made It’, set for release August 31st via Propeller Recordings, follows her Norwegian Grammy-nominated debut LP of 2016, Hold On Dreamer.

An exploration of the process of moving forward in a positive manner, in spite of one's naysayers - ‘I Don’t Care’ is based around the idea of firmly closing the door to the past. "I never really questioned my life / 'til you condescendingly said I’d fail” Frøkedal exclaims in the tracks opening verse, amidst a backdrop of gently strummed guitar work and bustling drums. The song then opens up to its rousing chorus - bringing together crunching guitar lines and soaring strings to stunning effect.

An attempt to demonstrate being triumphant, rather than actually successfully being triumphant - 'I Don't Care', is more mad, than victorious in its execution. Speaking more on the release of the new single, Anne Lise Frøkedal said: "'I Don't Care' contains an energy that I specifically wanted to be present on the new LP. Unfiltered, impulsive thoughts and actions fuelled by everything from fear, love and deep passion - to red hot anger. The song seems to represent the whole spectrum. It's an ambivalent, slightly over the top effort to close the door to the past.”

"I’m ready for a wondrous expansion of life / all over your empty space” she sings as the songs begins to draw to a close, with a clear sense of determination. Frøkedal appears to be resolute in her songwriting and artistic goals, with ‘I Don’t Care’ standing as the perfect song to exemplify those intentions. Far from the acoustic sensibilities of previous singles, Frøkedal's more recent output signals an arguably more “mature” sound – combining full band with folk-leaning string sections. Though the instrumental approach feels more expansive and fully fledged, 'I Don't Care' - along with a lot of the album's lyrical themes represent Frøkedal's more "immature" personal traits, by her own admission.

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

Regular visitors to Beehive Candy will probably have noticed our fondness for the music of Anne Lise Frøkedal. 'I Don't Care' is a fresh sounding indie pop song that as we have come to expect is full of hooks and the beautifully definitive vocals. On the strength of the two tracks I have heard from her second album, it's looking like we are in for another very special collection of music.

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Susie Scurry - The Elvis Hour

Background - Melbourne singer-songwriter Susie Scurry, formerly known as 'The Grand Magoozi', returns with a new single and title track to forthcoming EP 'The Elvis Hour'. More than a love letter to The King, this is an autumnal lament about the Sunday night blues, and the anxiety of working a job you don't love. Telling the story of an hourly program on the dusty end of the AM dial (the now defunct Magic 1278) which paid tribute to Elvis every Sunday night, showcasing his prolific career and breadth of styles from Vegas to Hawaii, cowboy to crooner. The Elvis Hour is a homage to the iconic legend and the lonely existence of ‘The King of Rock n' Roll’.

Susie's voice croons over an old-school, toe-tapping soft score of lap steel sighs, bass, percussion and strings, with lyrics reminding us of all that Elvis achieved in his short life - "there wasn't much he didn't do for a man that died at 42".

‘The Elvis Hour’ is the first single from Susie Scurry’s lush new six-track EP of the same name recorded in Sheffield, UK at Yellow Arch Studios with Mercury-nominated producer Colin Elliot (Richard Hawley, Jarvis Cocker, etc). The EP will be released on Friday 8 June.

In the spirit of golden-old classic standards, Susie Scurry's songwriting is clear and precise, original and familiar, honest and romantic. Her voice delivers lament and subtle wit in equal measure, singing about life and death, love lost, and a world gone awry. In 2016 Susie released her debut album, The Grand Magoozi on indie label Little Lake Records / Flippin Yeah Industries. Since that time she has performed and toured Australia extensively. Highlights include Melbourne Music Week, Darwin Festival, Perth Arts Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival and a 26 day tour of the Outback supporting Darren Hanlon. WEBSITE.

'The Elvis Hour' is thankfully not another Elvis impersonator having their moment, rather as mentioned above "this is an autumnal lament about the Sunday night blues, and the anxiety of working a job you don't love." Using The Elvis hour as the vehicle for those feelings is very clever, and the song itself is fabulous with Susie Scurry's vocals deservedly centre stage. One thing's for sure you don't have to be an Elvis fan to enjoy this track, and if you are, I reckon you will still be impressed.

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Dr Dog - Heart Killer.

Background - Philadelphia’s Dr Dog are sharing a new single, ‘Heart Killer’, the latest to be taken from their forthcoming album Critical Equation, due for release via We Buy Gold Records/Thirty Tigers on April 27, 2018. This new single emerging as the latest offering from the new album which find Gus Seyffert (previously The Black Keys, Beck) in the producer’s chair. Dr. Dog will support the new release with autumn 2018 UK tour dates, these to be announced shortly.

The slick psych-rock of ‘Heart Killer’ finds the band lyrically grappling with heart break whilst weaving their penchant for catchy melodies and delicate harmonies throughout the music. Critical Equation broke tradition for the band, opting to record in Los Angeles with Seyffert as opposed to their own ‘Meth Beach’ studios, the path to the record followed an extended break giving time for the band to re-evaluate; "We'd been touring and making records for our entire adult lives, and I think we just needed to take a step back," reflects Leaman. "It was important for all of us to figure out if we were actually doing what we wanted to be doing, or if we were just letting momentum carry us down this path we'd always been on.”

Dr. Dog have achieved multiple Top 50-charting albums in the US, performed on the likes of Letterman, Fallon and Conan and received widespread critical acclaim as well as touring with The Black Keys, Wilco, My Morning Jacket and The Lumineers. WEBSITE.

It's been sometime since I have listened to Dr Dog and 'Heart Killer' is a great reminder of what a fine band they are. The band deliver a polished psych rocker of a song, it's catchy, vibrant and confirms that the band have plenty of innovation and ideas still to offer.

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The Goldberg Sisters - Dear Mr. Nilsson

Background - On May 4th psych-pop artist The Goldberg Sisters will release their new album HOME: A Nice Place To Visit. Known as the musical alter-ego of actor, musician, filmmaker and photographer Adam Goldberg, (and his mythical sister-twin "Celeste") The Goldberg Sisters today have released the new single "Dear Mr. Nilsson," written in the form of a letter to the iconic singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson. Goldberg explains that the track is "about the futility of trying to compose a song that measures up to Nilsson’s work. Somewhat ironically I wrote and recorded the demo for this in about 2 hours."

Goldberg and Lynch teamed up once again in the garage for the new Goldberg Sisters’ album, HOME: A Nice Place To Visit. Goldberg again did all the instrumentation save for violins and trumpet. Goldberg’s elasticity as a multi-instrumentalist and producer is nothing short of astonishing considering he lacks anything in the way of formal training and didn’t even think of seriously making music until his early 20s. “I started playing drums as a kid,” he recalls. “I played along with songs on the radio but mainly Bowie records.”

The music on HOME: A Nice Place To Visit offers listeners a profoundly immersive experience. “I’m really proud of the album,” Goldberg says. “I think I needed to step away from it for a bit to regain some perspective on it, which is always weird because now it’s truly like listening to somebody else... It’s not so much that I want to make music – I feel I have to, as if I have no choice.”

And so, he surrenders to his heart’s most urgent commands on the Goldberg Sisters’ HOME: A Nice Place To Visit, and for that, music fans can be thankful. TWITTER.

Just a month after sharing 'When Or Where Or Why' The Goldberg Sisters are back with the new track 'Dear Mr. Nilsson'. Once again the psych vibes are abundant, as are the hooks, the sixties influences are played out beautifully, this really is a song from the past, with the benefits of today's studio gear, wonderful!

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Alfred Hall - Quite Some Time.

Background - Prefacing their highly anticipated album due in May, Norweigian Indie Pop Duo, Alfred Hall are back with another lighthearted and catchy single, "Quite Some Time." With a style entirely inspired by the staple 60's sound, "Quite Some Time" throws you back in time and satisfies the need for a simple love ballad.

Since 2009, Alfred Hall, the brainchild of Hans Thomas Kiær (guitar) and Bjørn Tveit (vocals), have been serving straight-up indie dream-pop to the masses - combining the lightness of summer sounds and salty sea breeze, with the sylvan dusk of Norwegian frosted forests. Even after their second gig ever, the rave reviews started coming in, and with their first single "So Bright" (Norway), the band quickly became the band to watch out for in 2012. "So Bright" was a hit on international tastemaker radio stations and on Norwegian radio, making way for the album Wilderness, which was released exclusively in Norway in 2013.

The album was nominated for "Best Pop Album" in the Norwegian “Grammy’s", called “Spellemannsprisen." In 2014 the band made their first release worldwide with "Alfred Hall EP," followed by the single "The King of Cape" the year after. At the beginning of last month, they made a comeback with their latest single “Pearl Diver” that gained traction in the US market. Now they’re back again with their next single and are gearing up to release an album in May of this year. FACEBOOK.

'Quite Some Time' is an upbeat song that references pop music form the past and bundles it with more modern indie pop sensibilities. If the charts were full of songs like this I would still be a Top 40 fan, after all that's where this tune belongs.

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Rue Snider - Therese Lithner - Ellevator

Rue Snider - Vamonos.

Background - Brooklyn-based singer songwriter Rue Snider releases the official music video for "Vamonos" - the debut single off of his upcoming album City Living. Combining 80s alt sounds with a lyrical style reminiscent of 60s rock revolutionaries, "Vamonos" sets the scene for his album release later this summer.

Of the "Vamonos" video, Rue explains: "The song lyric is incredibly earnest. I wanted to create something visual that represented the emotion of the song but went in an extreme direction to lighten it up and make the viewer laugh rather than cry. We went super DIY and tried to make everything in the video obviously move in that direction. My thought was what if we play up the ridiculousness and overwhelming nature of a breakup by making the story of the video a bit silly. Everybody has a friend who felt like they were dying while breaking up with someone who was never the right fit to begin with. What if we repositioned that terrible fit to be a fun-loving, pink stuffed bear? It's the inability to let go of something that is obviously not right for you."

Heavily influenced by the sounds of the 80s, from Cyndi Lauper to R.E.M, Rue's new album City Living presents an aural experience of the downtown Manhattan scene in the mid-2000s brought to living color in 2018. The record, produced by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Langhorne Slim, Hurry For The Riff Raff), was influenced by a formative time in Rue's life when he moved to New York in 2005, and found himself in an environment, surrounded by the sensory overload of Manhattan's Lower East Side. City Living captures this period -- a musical snapshot in time.

Rue's lyrics are informed more often that not by his personal life experiences. Broken Window, released in 2016, speaks of his journey to sobriety - a time defined by a hunger for consciousness and by dramatic emotional battles. City Living now serves as the musical prequel to Broken Window. A more upbeat record, City Living is colored by the sometimes blissful ignorance of living life unintentionally before waking up to an awareness of the reckoning and difficult choices that are ahead. WEBSITE.

We have featured Rue Snider just once before back in late September 2016, and I was very impressed by his music back then. Now we have 'Vamonos' a beautiful, gentle and catchy song that simply charms itself into your presence.


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Therese Lithner - Drown.

Background - With a past in bands like Vaken and My Sound Of Silence, Therese Lithner was an active part of Umeå's flourishing music scene in the early 2010's. To begin writing songs for a solo project wasn't an obvious choice or any direct plan but fell more like a coincidence.

It was during a session in the rehearsal room, when it suddenly was as the 90s shined through and old childhood idols got free play. With reverb on vocals and guitar, Therese began improvising material, wrote three songs on pure inspiration and recorded them on her mobile phone. Somehow they felt different and the idea of ​​a solo project began to take shape.

After Therese moved down to Stockholm, she started playing with Andreas Sandberg (Magic Potion) in a rehearsal space south of the city. Together with co-producer Linus Johansson (Folkvang, Earthquake, Nightcraft, Old Amica, etc.), the work started with the material that now has resulted in an EP, set for release this spring via Lazy Octopus Records. First single 'Drown' is out on February 2nd. The song is a journey through a relationship, it's about the feeling of first wanting to hug the breath out of everything thats beautiful and then let it fall apart. FACEBOOK.

'Drown' is an atmospheric rocker with a rhythmic and addictive feel to it. The vocals gently glide above the soundtrack adding a level of emotion and intrigue, collectively they harmonise beautifully, this is hard to resist playing again.


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Ellevator - Voices.

Background - Good music seems instantaneous: a decisive rush of expression and dopamine. Hamilton, Ontario's Ellevator captures that direct hit of immediacy, with a closer listen revealing the meticulous design of their muscular pop songs. Front woman Nabi Sue Bersche delivers raw lyricism with quiet power. Her nimble melodies anchor the electric hooks and cinematic timbres Ellevator has refined on countless stages. Their striking debut EP - recorded in Hamilton with Michael Keire (Arkells, The Dirty Nil, Wildlife).

Brick by brick, Ellevator has built a reputation as a band to watch and is poised to break new ground in 2018. "Voices" is the third track from the band's debut EP, out on Arts & Crafts April 20th.

Nabi Sue Bersche's thoughts on the song: "I always had a pretty firm idea of what the Love Of My Life would be like. I had them mapped out completely, down to the rusty old pickup truck and the 5 o’clock shadow. But then they weren't any of those things. They were late nights on the phone and making out in my parent’s hatchback, they were unexpected and ill-advised and all sorts of tears. But I knew from the start that they were my future. So I guess Voices is a love song." FACEBOOK.

Tour Dates:
04.12  Toronto, ON @ Phoenix
04.13  London, ON @ Rum Runners
04.14  Ottawa, ON @ The 27 Club
04.17  Albany, NY @ The Hollow
04.18  New York, NY @ Pianos (showroom)
04.19  Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java
04.20  Boston, MA @ Cafe 939
04.21  Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount
04.22  Quebec City, QC @ Palais Montcalm
04.24  Waterloo, ON @ Maxwell’s
04.26  Hamilton, ON @ Club Absinthe
05.11 Toronto, ON @ CMW - Lee’s Palace (Paradigm & Indie88 Presents)
06.03 Toronto, ON @ Field Trip Festival
06.22 Ottawa, ON @ Dragon Boat Festival
06.23 Hamilton, ON @ Tim Hortons Field (The Rally presented by Arkells)
08.19 Elora, ON @ River Fest Elora.

Alt rock song 'Voices' has plenty of power and energy alongside the gorgeous vocals that ensure a melodic vibe is present throughout. Add into it, the bus load of hooks, and the EP becomes a tantalising prospect. 

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