Beauty in Chaos - Papercuts - The Peppermint Club - Peluché - Many Voices Speak

Beauty in Chaos - Storm.

Background - LA-based Beauty in Chaos has announced the debut album ‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’. Born of frustration and creativity, this is an audio assemblage curated by LA-based guitarist Michael Ciravolo and produced by Michael Rozon. This colossal work is previewed by the lead single ‘Storm’ featuring Ashton Nyte (The Awakening, MGT).

The debut album ‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’ features numerous luminaries in the music world, both as co-writers and performers. Apart from Ashton Nyte, these include Wayne Hussey (The Mission), Simon Gallup (The Cure), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Al Jourgensen (Ministry), Pete Parada (The Offspring), dUg Pinnick (Kings X), ICE-T (Body Count), Michael Aston (Gene Loves Jezebel), Michael Anthony (Van Halen), Dirk Doucette (Gene Loves Jezebel), Pando (A Flock of Seagulls), Evi Vine (Evi Vine), Betsy Martin (Caterwaul / Purr Machine), Marc Danzeisen (The Riverdogs), Kevin Kipnis (Purr Machine / Kommunity FK), Rudy Matchinga (Red Scare), Johnny Indovina (Human Drama), and Tish Ciravolo (Stun Gun).

“I look at this as an evolving entity that I am the ‘curator’. For this album, ‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’, I am the only guitarist and no keyboards are used, but you will hear loads of textures created from guitars and effect pedals. This is a convergence of textures and styles that I envisioned blossoming,” says Michael Ciravolo.

"Assembling, or in some cases, disassembling beautiful soundscapes, melodies and chords, while injecting harsh bursts of sonics … or visa versa.  Light in the dark, dark in the light is the contrast that helps in realizing the goal of creating something musical that is also very visual and cinematic."

Originally from New Orleans and now based in Los Angeles, Michael Ciravolo has played guitar in Human Drama for the past 30 years, most recently on ‘Broken Songs for Broken People’ (2017). Perhaps best known as President of Schecter Guitar Research, he has also played live and recorded with Michael Ashton’s Gene Loves Jezebel since 1998, along with Tish Ciravolo (wife and founder of Daisy Rock Guitars).

The lead track 'Storm' was co-written with and features vocals by Ashton Nyte, who also collaborates on another two tracks on this album. This, like many of the tracks on this album, features layers of alternative rock bliss, crowned by powerful and penetrating vocals. WEBSITE.

'Storm' is a vibrant alt rocker where Ashton Nyte's vocals and the lyrics add a timeless goth dimension. Musically tight and polished the guitar adds some melody, and as a first taste for the debut album, this really is impressive. Considering the cast of characters mentioned above that are also involved, anticipation is set very high.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Papercuts - Laughing Man.

Background - Papercuts announces its sixth LP overall and first for Slumberland, Parallel Universe Blues, due Oct. The video for the album's first single, "Laughing Man" is up now and the band launches an east coast tour opening for longtime pals and collaborators Beach House.

Since emerging in San Francisco's fertile early-00s indie/folk scene, Papercuts' Jason Quever has released 5 stellar albums that have become touchstones of quality modern pop. Equally at home with lush, baroque textures and more stripped-down arrangements, Quever's song-writing is always top notch, the production tailored to the songs with great sensitivity. His skill in the studio has helped him build-up an enviable resumé recording, producing and playing with artists including Luna, Beach House, Cass McCombs, Dean Wareham/Dean & Britta and Slumberland's own The Mantles. His sonic influence is clearly in evidence on those recordings, but it's on the Papercuts albums that we hear Quever up close and his most personal.

Papercuts' new album Parallel Universe Blues reflects Quever's recent move from long-time musical home San Francisco to Los Angeles and all of the searching and self-exploration that accompanies leaving your home, your friends and your scene. The sound is intimate and close, nicely balancing the sonic concerns of the last few Papercuts records. Album opener "Mattress On The Floor" is an Eno-tinged amuse bouche, droning and a bit mysterious. Next song and first single "Laughing Man" is a lovely slice of classic pop -- widescreen but not at all melodramatic, an impressionistic "love song, but maybe more about fragmented memory and fleeting attachments." Taken together, that opening pair sets the table for the rest of the album: perfect Spectorian pop songs echoed down through Lou Adler, Harry Nilsson, The Velvet Underground, LA's Paisley Underground, Spiritualized and The Jesus and Mary Chain. TWITTER.

Atmospheric dream pop song 'Laughing Man' is glowing with emotions, textures and imagination. It drifts forward with musical hooks everywhere, adding charm and warmth along the way.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Peppermint Club - Passing Through Your World.

Background - The Peppermint Club set to launch debut self-titled album; share new single 'Passing Through Your World'. The Peppermint Club's debut album is a masterwork of pastel-hued pop. Heartfelt and dreamy, each song is an intricately constructed soundscape – threading lush, airy vocals through a textured fabric of ethereal, neo-psychedelic rock. From its uplifting opener All Together On The Sun, through to its stunning Harrison-esque finale and current single Passing Through Your World, the album is as much a journey as it is a collection of songs.

Formed in Perth by Chris Chen (ex-Rainy Day Women) The Peppermint Club has evolved from an aspiring studio project into a formidable band. Their first single Everything Is Changing was awash in breezy vocal harmonies and a genuine, almost-nostalgic emotion. In an instant, The Peppermint Club established themselves as something far beyond a typical new band, picking up national airplay while creating one of the most ambitious debut albums of recent years.

Produced by Chris Chen and accomplished multi-instrumentalist Daniel Henry, the album is meticulously put together. Each song is not just a passing moment but a foundational brick in the greatness of the album; powerful on its own, yet inherently linked to the record as a whole. There are gentle ups and downs, but an overall steadiness and confidence that bears the unmistakable mark of sincerity. These songs have clearly come from someone's soul. WEBSITE.

Whilst it is easy just to reference the psychedelic characteristics of  'Passing Through Your World' which are gorgeous within themselves, the song has more to it than that. Gentle and refined, it merges pop and rock together along with a fine helping of nostalgic vibes from the music of yesteryear.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peluché - Figure Me Out.

Background - Pioneers of a genre called ‘Trip Jam’, which fuses elements of Latin, funk, psychedelia, soul and hip hop music, Peluché are a troupe of intrepid troubadours whose freewheeling artistry already has them pegged them as a standout force in London’s rapidly diversifying sound. The trio have shared brand new single ‘Figure Me Out’ and announced their debut album ‘Unforgettable’, to be released on One Little Indian on September 28th. The album is already shaping to be one of the most distinct and vital British sounds of 2018.

Speaking about the track, Peluché said: “Figure Me Out was recorded straight to tape in the second take, and it was one of the first recordings we did for the album. Putting it straight to tape also brought out a kind of 70s warmth of the instruments, with the Rhodes, bass guitar and drums driving the song forward with a momentum. We felt like we had discovered a new groove in this song, something that day brought it out of us as we played.”

All self-taught musicians, they formed in 2014 through a beautiful stranger in a customer service encounter and quickly formed a strong musical bond through their love of jamming. Peluché jam in their self-built studio space in a garden shed, and always record the foundations of tracks live. Their live shows are partially improvised, drawing the audience into their unusual world. Their live video series, The Shed Sessions, shows an insight into this musical realm and have allowed the band to share new music and visuals directly to their fans.  

Slippery Latin bass grooves, subtle instrumental flourishes, funk breakdowns, and a touch of magical lyricism a la Kate Bush or Cocteau Twins makes for an unforgettable sonic journey into the tinderbox chemistry of a group with a collective and deeply personal musical vision. Their obsessive and borderless consumption of wildly divergent styles has helped them to arrive at exactly where they need to be. Peluché have created a demand for music that only they can create, and that’s a surer sign of longevity than most bands with triple their experience could claim. TWITTER.

We featured 'To Be A Bird' back in June and 'Figure Me Out' makes for a welcome follow up. The driving musical pace and slightly slower and somewhat ethereal vocals, come together in harmony as once again the trios trip jam style works wonders. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Many Voices Speak - Chances.

Background - Swedish artist Many Voices Speak has announced the release of her debut album 'Tank Town' on 31 August via Strangers Candy. Following the release of first singles 'Necessaries' and 'I Saw You', Many Voices Speak has now shared new track 'Chances'. Of the track, Matilda says: "Chances is a reminder to myself that being a misfit’s just a sign that you’re too far from the place where you feel at home. It’s been important for me to remember that place always exists somewhere, so the will to change won’t win”.

Featuring the dreamy singing and songwriting of Matilda Mård, Many Voices Speak was born out of Mård's move from Stockholm to the smaller Swedish industrial town of Borlänge. Less distraction gave way to creative rejuvenation and a revitalized approach to music.

Mård found liberation in one of the Borlänge more unlikely places — the karaoke bar. It became a “free zone” for her, she says, “far away from my own self doubts and prestige about music.” After piling songs for years without ever releasing anything, she was relieved of the pressure she felt towards her own creations and began again as Many Voices Speak.

Her debut EP Away for All Time was released in 2016 and received early attention online with its nostalgic lead single "Video Child" and an airy cover of Rodgers and Hartz's classic "Blue Moon," garnering support from Spotify, Stereogum, Noisey, WNYC, Idolator and more, while landing Many Voices Speak highly on the Hype Machine charts and a poignant placement in Riverdale, and more recently on newly launched Netflix film "All The Boys I've Loved Before". TWITTER.

More modern musical techniques are merged with classic pop sensibilities as 'Chances' charms it's way under my skin with splendid layers of emotive hooks.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alpines - K Michelle DuBois - Teenage Wedding

Alpines - Out Of View.

Background - Alpines’ third album Full Bloom is the high watermark of their career so far. It’s the consolidation of years of hard graft, as Bob Matthews and Catherine Pockson’s creative journey finds affirmation in staying true to their musical process. Alpines’ story is one of unwavering determination; after their initial tenure on a major label ended, they persevered to self-release their debut album Oasis, which proved to be a testament to their musical strength and craft. If their enchanting indie follow-up Another River saw the pair finding a new path, new album Full Bloom is a creative blossoming.

While their core influences have always revolved around the music they grew up listening to, Full Bloom is confidently eclectic in its frame of reference and comes across as their most sure-footed work yet. Prince, Aaliyah, Frank Ocean, Lauryn Hill, Aretha Franklin, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Kelela, ‘90s rave culture and Massive Attack are just some of the muses channelled in this new work. Pockson’s primary lyrical concerns are growth, ecology, and change (as the title suggests), alongside the everyday challenges of love, acceptance and hardship, making for a record that’s braver than its predecessors. Full Bloom is a long and difficult look at the world around us as well as a deep examination of our complex inner lives, and the accompanying insecurities and vulnerabilities.

Each song is built around a minimal piano idea, expanded on in the serenity of their Kingston-Upon-Thames studio:  “There are tracks that lean more towards Catherine’s love of classic singer-songwriters and soul music, and others that are inspired by left-field producers and rap.” Add to the mix a wide variety of non-musical influences – Netflix drama The OA, architect Rachel Whiteread, contemporary fashion and art, – and it’s easy to see why Full Bloom overflows with innovation.

Alpines announce their return with their first single ‘Out Of View’. The track is a bassy saw wave before a breakbeat style rhythm that descends quickly, accompanied by Pockson’s deeply felt vocal.

"Out of View was written in a period of time when we were both feeling very free and wanted to experiment with new sounds and ideas with no pressure or expectation. The weight and grittiness of the beat contrasts to the soaring and anthemic vocal. We wanted this track to have that striking uplifting quality, we were inspired by classic 90s rave anthems and the power of those vocals and lyrics to lift people and transcend them to another place." WEBSITE.

Intricate beats and subtle synths lay a fabulous backdrop on ‘Out Of View' giving the delicious vocals so much room to soar, as they do with notable feeling.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

K Michelle DuBois - Wild Weed.

Background - American singer-songwriter K Michelle DuBois has announced her new 'Harness' LP, slated for release in October. Ahead of that, she presents the lead single 'Wild Weed'. This is DuBois’ third solo release, following up her album ‘Astral Heart’ (2016).

Based in Atlanta, GA, Dubois' counts Blondie’s 'Autoamerican' and Divinyls among her influences, along with Stevie Nicks, Roxy Music, Flaming Lips, Grandaddy, and Fever Ray. DuBois’s live band includes Chandler Rentz (drums), Jim Prible (bass), André Griffin (keys) and Dan Dixon (guitar), who also recorded, produced and mastered this album at RCDC studio in Atlanta.

On ‘Harness’, DuBois balances the experimental with her innate talent for distinctive hooks. This is an indie pop-rock gemthat is sonic, rustic, and strong on harmonies. Although she remains anchored in hook-laden structures, this album pushes the experimental side of her previous work to new heights.

While most of DuBois’ solo output intertwines classic power-pop with 90s college rock, ‘Harness’ boasts a heftier sonic tone than her previous album ‘Astral Heart’ with its bouncy rhythms, jangly guitars and sing-song charm. While 'Harness' will be released across the main online stores and streaming platforms on October 12, the first single ‘Wild Weed’ will be available for streaming already on August 24. WEBSITE.

K Michelle DuBois vocals are palpably distinct and enticing whether she is softly singing or upping the energy levels. With 'Wild Weed' you get to hear her versatility and this rocker is crammed full of hooks that even at five minutes duration it ends to soon.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Teenage Wedding - Wow! Signal.

Background - Teenage Wedding just released their second album The Sophia of Teenage Wedding, a fun and dreamy pop album with a heavy noise influence, pretty songwriting, memorable lyrics and catchy melodies. 

The album uses religious mythology, jungian psychology, and science fiction as a source material to express some universal human struggles like abandonment and identity.

The album is mainly inspired by Sonic Youth, Stereolab, Broadcast, Pavement and Victoria pop punk and post punk as well as bubblegum pop like S Club 7, Len, and Sugar Ray. The album is out now on Gary Cassette.

Teenage Wedding do very in Victoria, they have played shows with Wolf Parade, The Courtneys, Bridal Party, Woolworm, Peach Pit and regularly sell out shows across the west coast. FACEBOOK.

'Wow! Signal' is a sprightly indie rocker with plenty of bounce and some very catchy vibes throughout. The video is fun with just a touch of eccentricity, that works so well with this terrific tune.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dolls - Scott Lavene - Pure Bathing Culture - Jeen O'Brien - Basement Revolver

Dolls - Sugar Free.

Background - Having spent the last year relentlessly gigging in and around the capital, packing out venues and being heavily championed by Radio X & BBC Introducing, Dolls have spent the summer working with Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds / Grinderman drummer Jim Sclavunos on their new “Pop The Bubble EP”.

The 2-piece, comprising Jade (guitar and vocals) and Bel (drums and vocals), can today reveal lead single “Sugar Free”.  A riotous example of their infectious grunge-punk, it’s a song on the bands views about “the use-and-throwaway society around us today, how superficial people's lives can be, and how rapidly people's values and what's on-trend can change” 

Drummer Bel goes on to further explain, “It was a spontaneous song that came out of Jade's improvised guitar riff. When we were writing lyrics I had a sugar free drink and started thinking how people can get so peed off when they ask for diet coke and get regular. So it represents those kind of first world problems & concerns about how our worst nightmare could be something so shallow that it's just ridiculous”.

The “Pop The Bubble EP”, set for release in September 2018, marked the first time the band have worked with producer Jim Sclavunos whose production credits include The Horrors, The Wytches and Du Blonde. The result is 4 garage-pop anthems with as much sass as they have bite. Duel vocals bounce off each other effortlessly, capturing some of the awesome chemistry these two bring to their raucous live performances. "Pop The Bubble EP" will be released by iconic soundtrack labels Mondo/Death Waltz on a beautiful limited edition multi-coloured and etched vinyl LP and digital. The band launch the EP at Rough Trade East with an instore show on Monday 24th September.

Dolls have all the feisty flair a rock duo should have, and with their garage and punk leaning the attitude and determination is also present. So 'Sugar Free' is a two minute blast of expectation, delivered to specification, and some!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scott Lavene - My Kinda Girl.

Background - Scott Lavene has released a new single, My Kinda Girl, along with a wonderfully psychedelic video featuring multiple Scott Lavene’s. The single will be out physically 27th September and supported with a 11 date UK tour including a date at The Slaughtered Lamb in London.

In Scott’s own words, “‘My Kinda Girl’ is a song about the early stages of romance when you’re noticing small quirks about each other’s personalities. You think “oh she loves pastries and jeans and so do I. We must be meant for each other.” Love is sick like that.  It’s the most honest love song I’ve ever written.”

Born in Essex, Scott Lavene was raised on power ballads, punk and swearing. In bands since his teens, Scott travelled about, scratching out a living with deadbeat jobs trying to find something to cling to. After couple of years in France and a brief stint in New York, including a playing at the infamous CBGB’s Scott returned to London and came close to a major label deal with his sordid songs.

Instead Scott disappeared on a rusty old boat, a floating shed, for five years. Hiding from the world. Broke and bemused. Solitude and lonely debauchery. After five years of this Scott went kaput, so spent some time in a house for the bewildered where he emerged full of life and songs. A self released album in a band called Big Top Heartbreak led to being signed to Funnel Music as a solo artist. WEBSITE.

For all that Scott Lavene might have been through, he comes across as gregarious and outgoing on 'My Kinda Girl' a lovable song, with just a touch of cheekiness, something the video builds on further.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pure Bathing Culture - Downtown Lights.

Background - Pure Bathing Culture have shared “Downtown Lights” (featuring Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard on backup vocals), ahead of a highly anticipated run of West Coast dates. The song comes from their full album cover of The Blue Nile’s Hats, recorded for Turntable Kitchen’s Sounds Delicious vinyl subscription series. OPB praised the new release, calling Pure Bathing Culture “virtually synonymous with glowing and bittersweet romantic songs.” This weeks release follows “Saturday Night,” the only other Hats track available outside the subscription series.

Pure Bathing Culture’s decision to cover The Blue Nile was beyond natural, nearly inevitable. Sarah Versprille and Daniel Hindman attribute their initial infatuation with the Scottish synth-pop heroes to Richard Swift, who produced the Portland duo’s debut EP. Sarah elaborates, “One morning before starting the session he asked us if we had ever heard The Blue Nile and played us a few tracks. We became immediately obsessed with their world of nostalgia and longing and the way the songs were simultaneously extremely sad at times but also intensely romantic and modern. It made us feel like the music we wanted to make was validated in some way by the fact that their music had already existed in the universe.”

Pure Bathing Culture boast a longtime reputation for spellbinding live shows. Sarah and Daniel played in the beloved Pacific Northwest band Vetiver before forming PBC. Since, they've released two full-lengths and toured alongside The Shins, Death Cab for Cutie, Father John Misty, Lucius, CHVRCHES and more. Next week, they’ll bring the infectious performance to the cities listed below, with a live band including Zach Tillman on bass and keys, Chris Icasiano on drums, and Justin Chase on keys. The West Coast shows will feature both Hats highlights and fan favorites from the full PBC catalogue, and hint at brand new, unreleased material. WEBSITE. 

Gently flowing and melodic 'Downtown Lights' is a dreamy song that exudes intimacy and plenty of "late night vibes". The production is superb, this is one of those tracks that just draws you into the emotional feeling and refuses to let you go.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jeen O'Brien - Medicate Me.

Background - The track, Medicate Me' is from Jeen's upcoming album titled Gift Shop which is set for release this September.

The LP was produced by Jeen herself and is titled "Gift Shop" because she's coming to terms with the necessity to put herself on display as an artist.

"Medicate Me" was "inspired by medical marijuana and also the fact that I'm pretty antisocial. This can be a challenge in the music industry when the whole point is to put yourself out there, so i guess it’s a bit of an ode to introverts too." - Jeen. TWITTER.

We featured 'Any Moment' by Jeen exactly a month ago to the day. Describing the previous track as a "feisty indie rocker," 'Medicate Me' if anything ups the power even more as it packs in a driving rhythm with the vocals melodically flying above.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Basement Revolver - Heavy Eyes.

Background - Canadian indie-rock trio Basement Revolver share the title track from their debut album, Heavy Eyes, which encapsulates the air of weariness pervading the band’s sound. The sleepy title “Heavy Eyes” sums up a general exhaustion right down to the bone, as well as hinting at a heavier direction as they deftly merge 90s infused indie rock with fuzzy dreamy pop and poignant, yearning lyrics. As songwriter and singer Chrisy Hurn explains; “Heavy eyes is about feeling really tired. And life is hard when you are really tired.” 

The trio of Chrisy Hurn (vocals, guitar), Nimal Agalawatte (bass, synth) and Brandon Munro (drums) embarked on their first tour of the UK earlier this year, with a tremendous set at The Great Escape Festival. Previous single "Baby" has been made Amazon UK’s Week One, added to Apple’s Nightcap playlist, and Spotify’s Indie Highlights. While "Knocking" was added to New Music Friday Canada, and “New Alternative” and “Melancholy Moods” on Deezer. 

Basement Revolver’s ascent to the spotlight has been a steady trajectory, capitalising on the success of their debut single “Johnny” in 2016. The track garnered endorsements from DIY Magazine and Exclaim! as well as respected tastemakers Gold Flake Paint, who hailed it a “‘favourite song of the year” contender.  They were signed by Memphis Industries’ UK sub-label Fear Of Missing Out, who released their debut self-titled EP in 2016 with “Johnny” and their second single “Words” reaching the higher echelon of the Hype Machine chart and the EP flagged up in several end of year lists. They followed this up with the Agatha EP in 2017 where the single “Bread & Wine” reached the B-list on Radio BBC 6 Music and also garnered support from John Kennedy at Radio X. The band have racked up over one million plays on Spotify across the two EPs.

To record their debut full-length, the band returned to local studio TAPE where they had recorded both their EPs. They had build up a solid relationship with producers Adam Bentley and Jordan Mitchell, as they continued to hone their signature sound. It’s really the songwriting that makes Basement Revolver stand out from the rest. Assured yet open, beguiling yet honest, heartfelt yet playful. Unable to disguise the emotion in her voice, songwriter Chrisy Hurn shares intimate stories and personal wounds from her past. TWITTER.

The title track from the forthcoming album 'Heavy Eyes' is a solid rocker, with an aural assault that is the most powerful I have heard from Basement Revolver. Even with all of that the vocals manage to convey emotion and feeling.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moderate Rebels - The Rad Trads

Moderate Rebels - I Love Today.

Background - London-based collective Moderate Rebels release ‘I Love Today’, streaming from 8th August, from their second album ‘Shared Values’, which will be out 30th November on Everyday Life Recordings.

Unlike previous single ‘Beyond Hidden Words’, which can be heard as a defiant, repetitive yet hopeful chant, ‘I Love Today’ is a shift in style. It has some verses, choruses and even a middle eight section… And Moderate Rebels say they "still don’t know if this song is optimistic or not”.

Moderate Rebels: “Both ‘I Love Today’ and ‘Beyond Hidden Words’ were made without us knowing what musically they exactly are… Or even letting that particular question really get involved in their making. We’re quite comfortable saying that we didn’t know what we were doing.”

“To our ears , ‘I Love Today’ is chaotic, falling apart, off at a tangent and nearly glam. Perhaps set in an old fashioned social club. A faint trace of The Equals, The Foundations, Edison Lighthouse etc… An attempt at a big singalong number, but heard through broken, smudged windows and with a sense of tension. But we’re mostly guessing to be honest – there was no conscious intention of any of that by us.”

“The lyrics could be about appreciating and living in the moment, about not being told what you personally should be worrying about by anybody else, and about how you can just about always find chaos and disaster in the world to look at – if that’s what you are looking for. Or not. We really don’t know whether it’s an optimistic song or not, and that’s interesting enough for us, and hopefully others”.

“Some London gigs and a UK tour in November are being planned. We may play ‘I Love Today’ and other new songs for the whole 45 minutes at some shows. We’ve done it before with [MR’s first single] ‘God Sent Us’ and enjoyed it very much… None of us knew what was going on or what would happen. Once you get a taste for that kind of chaotic night… It’s addictive.” TWITTER.

We featured ‘Beyond Hidden Words’ in early July and now we have our second taster for the bands November album release. With an imposing, marching beat 'I Love Today' arrives in a dramatic manner, the spoken vocals are irresistible (and this time around we get a lot more lyrics), this is hypnotic and contagious material. Ever the optimist I am looking forward (hopefully) to a further glimpse of what's on the album ahead of the release date.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Rad Trads - Wishing Well.

Background - New York City-based band, The Rad Trads, share the official music video for their new single "Wishing Well." The band just finished up the first leg of their extensive US run, which included select shows with Lake Street Dive, and they'll kick off the next run of national dates,  throughout September and early October, with their On Tap LP release show on Friday, September 14th at Mercury Lounge. In mid-October, the band heads to Spain, for a run of 10 dates throughout the country. See below for details on their tour. On Tap LP is due out September 14th (pre-order here).

On Tap serves as the world's introduction to the diverse possibilities The Rad Trads have to offer from the studio. Revered for their live shows, On Tap sees the five songwriters pull back the curtain on their passion for arrangement and orchestration, introducing a sea of horns, harmonies, gritty grooves, and psychedelic guitar textures.

Songs like "Thumbtack" and "The Little Pie Blues" share a nod towards their playful use of acoustic instruments while powerhouses "Good Luck Unto Ya" and "Wishing Well" make for unbridled bookends. "My Place" and "Key Club" highlight the diverse sonic pallet the band has grown to embrace. The band's contagious fun-loving nature shines throughout, a feeling that their fans will find familiar. WEBSITE.

Less than a fortnight since we shared 'Good Luck Unto Ya' from The Rad Trads, they are back with a new music video for 'Wishing Well'. Opening in a slow soulful manner accompanied with some classic blues feeling, the song veers towards southern rock at times, and the magnificent horns, do their stuff in style and even the drummer gets his moment in the spotlight. Two contrasting songs in, and I am very impressed by this band, make that very, very impressed.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paper Cameras - Louise Marshall

Paper Cameras - Speed of Wine.

Background - The Painted Light LP from Paper Cameras has been a long time coming and well worth the wait. The lo-fi polyphonic soundscape is full of ethereal harmonies reminiscent of the 90’s garage influenced rock scene that veteran Portland musician Michael Carothers helped form. The history of Paper Cameras began in 2005, when Carothers (Spectator Pump/All The Dead Horses/The Glib) conceived the project and began writing songs. Three years later, the E.P. Lost Weekend was born. The E.P. was recorded with longtime friend, Nashville’s Jerry Wayne Campbell (Spider Virus/Millionaire Magicians) and producer Sean Flora (Black Keys/Shins/Stephen Malkmus).

The following years Carothers took a brief hiatus from songwriting to open the successful Japanese restaurant, Miho Izakaya and spent the next half decade keeping sake flowing and quietly writing songs in his few spare hours. In 2014, with a renewed musical focus he sold his stake in Miho Izakaya and bought a Tascam 8 track cassette recorder and began new material with longtime friend, Portland musician Nathan Junior(Dandy Warhols, The Early Stuff, M. Ward, Duover, Sea Wolf) and artist and taxidermist Little Debbie Bartling sharing time behind the mic with Nathan Junior. The result was The Easy Wolves Sessions, a lo-fi mix of bubblegum psych pop. Later, in 2016 Nathan Junior and Carothers recorded the E.P. Mars Was Yesterday with producer Adam Selzer (Decemberists/Peter Buck/M. Ward/ Fleet Foxes) at Type Foundry Studios where Carothers’ vision began to take on an identity reflective of the kind of alchemy that comes from friendships and like minded musicians, highlighting the strength and creativity of each member.

Carothers, a native Tennessean, had known Tripp Lamkins (The Grifters/Dragoon) since the early days of famed the Memphis band The Grifters. Upon hearing about the Paper Cameras project, Tripp made his way to Portland, OR to record at Jackpot Studio with Tape Op founder Larry Crane (Elliott Smith/Sleater Kinney/ Go-Betweens/Thermals). They began tracking with no band rehearsal and recorded the record in just only two days. With rhythmic complexity and blended harmonies, the outcome is reminiscent of a lower-fi New Pornographers, Wedding Present, with hints of later Royal Trux. Larry Crane’s honest straight-ahead production style anchors the songs and would easily be in step with fans of Summer Cannibals.

This collaboration of veteran musicians came together more smoothly than they ever could have imagined. After the songs were instrumentally framed, Carothers brought painter Michelle Anne Muldrow to sing with Nathan Junior. The result became the EP Painted Light, due out in the fall of 2018 on No Night Travel. Painted Light floats within sonic range between 90’s garage influenced rock and inventive, harmony-laden 80’s power pop. BANDCAMP.

After a brief choral opening the band decide to crack on and 'Speed of Wine' explodes into life. The gorgeous harmonies are ever present on this first rate alt rocker, the music has it's own melodic twists, based on just this track the E.P. sounds very promising.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Louise Marshall - Ocean.

Background - Louise Marshall is an alternative indie artist based in Adelaide, South Australia. Louise had begun her music journey at fifteen, song-writing obsessively. Not longer after she took up the guitar, further developing an appreciation for experimental rock, pop and alternative indie.

Juvenile is Louise's first studio EP, released in November 2017. Ocean is the featured single from the EP. Juvenile is an EP that explores experiences that had personal effects on Louise, while pondering the idea of ‘what if’. The EP was written during Louise's emotional dark age. Juvenile was was mixed, mastered and produced by Cezary Konarski of Datafire Audio.

Featured single Ocean was written during a time of experiencing a depression and self destruction, the song was about being in the trenches of helplessness. The use of body parts 'veins' and references to 'mad house and ' is it fine to be me' are nightmarish references linked to the reality Louise was experiencing at the time. The use of synth pads and strings combined, gives a calming and haunting mood. The chorus is anticlimactic and doesn't lift the songs tone. It relies on nothing, just the reminder of Louise’s experience.

The creation of the music vide for Ocean was made possible with the help of Made Adelaide film production. MadeAdelaide held the script of Ocean as a high priority, capturing it's meaning's and concept. The video for Ocean presents the dark, subconscious elements of Louise's mind. This is portrayed through the unsettling extras and powerful symbolism of vulnerability and power struggles. The video presents below the surface issues and how these issues can manifests themselves in life.

Each song has a unique sound but carries the same dark tone and signifies a transition to eventually accepting the current state. Blue is vocally dominate and contains a mourning feeling. The Beast holds a sense of anticipation from transitions to the chorus and verse. Dignity is a simple song, primarily a 'what if' song. Dignity is about feeling helpless and was inspired by an aged care facility. Ocean was is the most emotional track on the EP. Ocean is about seeing the dark and bare parts of the mind and releasing the fear of it. Chlorine is the last track of the EP and is the lightest. Chlorine is the completion song that gives birth to new ideas and removes the cold callous perspective of perceiving life. WEBSITE.

There is a sense of the dramatic with 'Ocean' along with some simmering tension and earnest passion. The video adds even more emotion and a layer of vulnerability, this is one of those songs to immerse yourself in, as it feeds your imagination and heart.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Willow - Klammer - Nicholas Krgovich

Dear Willow - I Was Young.

Background - Following on from the cautionary lament of Hold, Dear Willow is pleased to announce the arrival of new single I Was Young, taken from her forthcoming EP Hold Yourself Down (out September 14). Beckoning tales from the past, I Was Young explores feelings of being trapped within situations similar to that of a somewhat manic pixie dream girl character. It bares the raw truth of consequences when breaking down that bubble.

Dear Willow is the creative voice of Sunshine Coast based artist Em-J Dau. Since 2012 Dear Willow has transformed from poet to a solo acoustic act and embraced her sound through a full band. A testament to its creator's talent, Dear Willow is both Em-J's nom de plume and her persona artistica: a vessel that can change shape and direction, allowing her to truly explore her creativity.

Dear Willow's first single, Father's House (2015) introduced Em-J’s uniquely smoky voice to the big wide world, capturing a beautiful sense of yearning that is often present in her lyrics. As her song writing developed, flourishes of indie-rock and post-grunge began to infiltrate her earthy tones. Upbeat and optimistic, yet delicate and vulnerable, Dear Willow's next single When It Burns (2016) proved that Em-J's songs had translated well and realised new heights as a full-band sound. It was time to hit the studio...

Through the evolution of her band building to a four piece, the upcoming songs marry Em-J’s sophisticated lyrics and signature sound with punchy guitars and solid groove. Dear Willow introduces a further refined style, staying true to the frankness and honesty that is present throughout much of her music but emerges a confident and demanding front woman with tales to tell and is supported by her fellow creatives Callan Holstein (drums), Melinda Huurdman (lead guitar) and Dean Genge (bass). FACEBOOK.

'I Was Young' has a melodic and easy going indie rock vibe with just a hint of modern folk sensibilities along the way. It's sincere and catchy, with the refined production gives the song additional depth and feeling.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Klammer - Spiral Girl.

Background - Post-punk quartet Klammer are releasing their new album ‘You Have Been Processed’ on vinyl, CD and digitally through Under Dogz Records. Formed by UK Producer Steve Whitfield (The Cure, The Mission, Terrorvision, Jane Weaver) in 2014, Klammer's sound does thrive in the same ballpark as these particular bands.

Not long ago, the band unveiled their video for 'Spiral Girl', the second single from the album. Earlier, the band introduced us to ‘Modern God’ - both accompanying videos were directed by Steve Dutton.

Hailing from Leeds, Klammer draws from the members' shared love for all things angular, dark, loud and melodic. Previously described as the love child of XTC and Gang Of Four, Klammer offer an enticing twist on the post-punk attitude, blending in elements of goth rock, punk rock and dark wave, all with dark pop sensibilities. Here you'll find plenty of hooks and a dark and edgy broodiness coursing through their sound.

‘You Have Been Processed’ will be the band's third album, following up 'Auslane' and 'Klammer',  both released two albums via Under Dogz Records, and their debut 7” single 'Everything Depends Upon The King'.

Championed by Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music, Klammer’s music continues to excite with their dark themes allied to catchy riffs and anthemic choruses. Klammer have been consolidating their position as one of the country’s finest live post-punk acts, consistently playing up and down the country, both as a headliner and supporting other notable artists, including The Skids, The Undertones, Richie Ramone, Penetration and The Membranes. They've also played Rebellion Festival several times, including this year, as well as The Great British Alternative festival. WEBSITE.

Whilst we are a little late in featuring the music video for 'Spiral Girl' it's still appropriate as the bands new album 'You Have Been Processed' was released just a couple of days ago. One of twelve tracks on the new album, this is a consistently solid collection of songs, the bands post punk centred music occasionally drifts into bordering areas, the energy levels are sustained throughout, without ever overpowering the listener. Klammer carve out their own distinct sound, the vocals and instruments finely tuned together, and the constant flow of musical hooks gives them plenty of edge.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nicholas Krgovich - Rosemary.

Background - Vancouver artist Nicholas Krgovich possesses an unswerving back catalogue of sleek ‘future-pop’ releases. His solo work has seen him collaborate with the likes of Mount Eerie, Nite Jewel, Amber Coffman (Dirty Projectors) and Dear Nora, and his wildly diverse discography shows an unmistakable and deep commitment to exploring the endless possibilities of pop. On Krgovich’s new record however, after experiencing heart-break for the first time at 35, all goes out the window. What is left is a vivid and candid account of love gone sideways and the songs that poured out, all written and recorded out of necessity before anything else. Announced last Friday, “OUCH” is released on 26th October via revered indie label Tin Angel Records.

The first single from the stunning new album, melancholy ballad Rosemary. The lyrics describe the scent of Rosemary in the air and the winter sun “beating down peversely” whilst Nicholas walks past his recent ex’s house, having a realisation of powerlessness in that moment. “Trying to handle new love with white gloves / Is as reckless and foolhardy as anything / Anything, anything new / It’s just gonna do what it’s gonna do / And decisions might be made that don’t include you.”

Talking about the new album, Krgovich explains; “I didn't mean to write songs, I just started hearing them, and I couldn't stop. I wasn't even thinking while I was doing it. The tap turned on. I'm sure that happens to a bunch of people, but that's never happened to me in this particular way before.”

He continues; “I got dumped in the spring of 2017, in a way that made the whole, brief but potent relationship all of a sudden seem like a bit of a joke.  But then some deep churning and real feelings started to happen, and life became hilariously heavy and impossible feeling.  The next morning, I remember waking myself up before my alarm sobbing and wailing.  I was in hell but was also somewhere rolling my eyes at the absurdity of how “on the nose” all this was.  I couldn’t help it.  It was also interesting having to grapple with these primal, teenager-y feelings as a person in their mid 30s!  A person that in many ways knows who they are!  A person that’s already had their Saturn Return!  All of it! 

“Thinking about it now the whole thing was a pretty damn heartening experience.  Having this recording project haphazardly happen out of necessity, constantly doing, not really thinking, spacing out, having friends pop over to sing and play and drink gin and bring their gentle wisdom while I whined about my feelings.  I felt very loved and supported during a time where I could not have been harder on myself or felt more grotesque or impossibly unlovable.  Making this album in a way was a vessel for everything, it gave shape to a life event that just felt like this big sad unanswerable blob." TWITTER.

With a simple and pleasing melody 'Rosemary' is one of those songs that quickly works it's way into your life. Whilst the subject matter might not put you in a party mood, this is no bout of "poor me" or self pity, rather a reflective and moving track that relaxes and moves the listener rather than descend into an abyss.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Walter Lure & The Waldos - Habberdash - Haley Blais

Walter Lure & The Waldos - Damn Your Soul / Crazy Kids.

Background - Walter Lure & The Waldos present 'Damn Your Soul' aheads of releasing their new album 'Wacka Lacka Boom Bop A Loom Bam Boo'. This is the first new album in 2 1/2 decades from legendary guitarist-vocalist Walter Lure, an original member of The Heartbreakers, who spearheaded the first wave of punk rock, and also long-time collaborator with The Ramones. The Heartbreakers were also the band that supported the Sex Pistols on their 1976 Anarchy Tour just as the UK punk scene was building momentum.

"This is my first release of new songs in 25 years or so since the last Waldo’s album. That might seem like a long time but it really only feels like a few years-life seems to contract over long periods for some reason," says Walter Lure. Earlier, Walter Lure & The Waldos previewed the lead track 'Crazy Kids', which will be featured in the forthcoming full-length film 'Thunders: Room 37', dramatizing the final days of Lure’s former bandmate Johnny Thunders. Their new full-length also features other new tunes, as well as killer new versions of Heartbreakers classics 'London Boys' and 'Take A Chance On Me'.

Today Walter Lure & The Waldos is Walter Lure (guitar and vocals), along with Takanori Ichiuji (bass and vocals), Tak Nakai a.k.a. Takto (guitar and vocals), and Joe Rizzo (drums and vocals). In 1975, Walter Lure became an original member of The Heartbreakers as guitarist and vocalist, joining Johnny Thunders, Jerry Nolan (of the New York Dolls), and Richard Hell (of Television), who was later replaced by Billy Rath. Lure was playing with glam-punk band The Demons when he joined The Heartbreakers and earlier played with anarchic Bronx hard rock group Bloodbath in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

In 1977, The Heartbreakers released their only studio album ‘L.A.M.F.’ The band’s 1977 song ‘London Boys’ is a swipe at the Sex Pistols, in response to the Pistols' song ‘New York’, which put down the New York Dolls. After The Heartbreakers' "official" breakup in 1977, the band would often reform, continuing to play the occasional gig right up until Johnny Thunders' death in 1991. The Heartbreakers final show was for the Johnny Thunders Memorial Concert. In 1994, three Heartbreakers - Walter Lure, Tony Coiro and Joey Pinter – were joined by Jeff West in releasing ‘Rent Party’, The Waldos’ debut album.

Lure worked with The Ramones on their albums 'Subterranean Jungle' (1983), 'Too Tough To Die' (1984) and 'Animal Boy' (1986), released a single with The Blessed, and also started a number of bands, including The Hurricanes and The Heroes, before ultimately founding The Waldos.  In 1997, Walter Lure also played a set of shows for the 40th anniversary of The Heartbreakers 'L.A.M.F.' album, joined by Blondie's Clem Burke, Sex Pistols’ bassist Glen Matlock and Social Distortion’s Mike Ness.

'Wacka Lacka Boom Bop A Loom Bam Boo' will be released on August 17, but it is already available for pre-order via Bandcamp on both CD and red vinyl with reverse-board jackets. On September 6, Walter Lure & The Waldos will hold their record release party at Bowery Electric in New York. FACEBOOK.

'Damn Your Soul' and 'Crazy Kids' are the first two tracks on 'Wacka Lacka Boom Bop A Loom Bam Boo' the imminent new album from Walter Lure & The Waldos which includes a further ten songs. With all the urgency of classic punk rock and the maturity of a rock and roll stalwart this pair of full on rockers are both fresh and potent. This is clearly a class act, whose natural sense of what makes a great rock song is evident from the opening riffs and an attitude that appears to make age simply  immaterial.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Habberdash - What Do We Know.

Background - Pushing forward with the 2nd release from their 'Morning After The Madness' EP, the South Yorkshire (UK) outfit unveil their 'What Do We Know' official video single.

With their previous track 'Like A Lover' parading their ability to conjure up accessible pop-soaked alt-rock ; 'What Do We Know' ramps up the intensity with the hard-hitting modern rock leanings akin to Don Broco, Twin Atlantic and Deaf Havana. 

Confirmed for release on 25th Oct 2018, the 'Morning After The Madness' EP is a record that builds upon the bands early promise and takes their melodic impulses into much more ambitious terrains. Bringing in Treehouse Studios producer Daniel Jeffery to facilitate the bands creative process, Habberdash are soon to unearth what they hope to be an enticing introduction to a band who still have a lot more to offer.

Habberdash members Kriss Stainton (Vocals), Hayden Marshall (Bass), Ashley Houlden (Guitar) and Andrew Holland (Drums) will be launching their EP with a headline show at Diamond in Doncaster (UK) on 25th October. TWITTER.

Buzzing with energy and emotion 'What Do We Know' is a fabulous alt rocker that takes no prisoners, as the aural assault cracks on from the very first moments. The band are infused with commitment and yet allow room for some vital hooks that give the song some notable edge.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Haley Blais - Seventeen.

Background from Haley Blais - My sometimes self-deprecating, yet always self-loving relatability earned me a pretty massive online following where I racked in millions of views on my YouTube channel. Kicking off my musical career as a solo folk artist in 2016, I was pulled offline and into the real world with the release of my Late Bloomer EP, and a successful tour.

“Seventeen,” the new single off my Let Yourself Go EP, is an homage to my painfully average adolescence. Everyone goes through different phases growing up, trying to figure themselves out, and mine could easily be categorised as boring. 

I was lazy and dull with awful taste in music. Now, I’m in a band with my friends touring the country, playing the music that I love – as a job! That’s the opposite of boring to me. The video for “Seventeen” encapsulates how I’m exactly where I’ve always wanted to be. WEBSITE.

The video has that road trip imagery that never ceases to gain my attention and makes a perfect companion for 'Seventeen' a gently melodic indie rock meets pop type of song. There is a level of feel good vibes that are amplified by the film and yet an element of reflection makes it's way to the surface.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Healyum - Shapes On Tape - John Mohead

Healyum - Cheap Alcohol.

Background - Newcomers Healyum have delivered on early promise with new single ‘Cheap Alcohol’.  Previous singles ‘Lies’, ‘Three Months’ and ‘Fools Eyes’ have been supported by Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing, and Radio X (where all three have appeared on the evening playlist). 

‘Cheap Alcohol’ will join those earlier singles on the bands debut ‘Join The Party EP’ (released on July 27th).  Combining London Grammar-like minimalism with a shimmering, pop-tronica edge inspired by Lorde, they’ve received glowing reviews.  The music has also found it’s way onto various BBC Drama & Channel 4 TV shows, and they won the ‘Breakout Artist Award’ at the NMG Awards last year. The band’s BBC Introducing support led to them being filmed live in-session and they recently played alongside fellow Bedford-boy Tom Grennan as well as Fickle Friends and Circa Waves.

Singer-songwriter Jeaná Healy explains that if she threw a party, ‘Cheap Alcohol’ would be the soundtrack. Video director Sam Kinsella said he “wanted to capture the essence of a small London house party and some of the city's unique residential areas. 

Obviously we weren't reliant on any kind of big production or location budget but it was important for that realness to translate as well... which essentially led to the guys getting really drunk on a Tuesday night and we managed to capture the night as it unfolded!” ‘Cheap Alcohol’ and the ‘Join The Party EP’ was produced and mixed by band collaborator Kristofer Harris (Belle & Sebastian, Ghostpoet, Indoor Pets). FACEBOOK. 

The comparisons with Lorde and London Grammar make sense but don't let that take anything away from Healyum, 'Cheap Alcohol' is a first class song, that stands on it's own merit. Atmospheric and soulful modern indie pop, the lyrics cut to the chase, and the bands desire to capture a small London house party (it's been a good while since I have been to one of those) comes through very well with the video imagery.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shapes On Tape - So Much.

Background - Shapes on Tape returns with the rugged bubble gum of "So Much." With this vintage track, S on T brought it all back in house. For the first time since their classic, "Personal Enemy #1," Shapes has released a jam that was entirely written and produced by the band.

When it's Shapes on Tape, you know it's all about the hooks. Written in a evening at their rehearsal studio, the song opens with dueling hooks that combine to be more than the sum of their parts. Adam lays down an earworm of a synth line that intertwines Jason's instantly catchy guitar riff. Then Jason's unique vocals deliver an impassioned ode to his pup, Lucinda, until Adam brings all back home on the bridge.

Shapes on Tape is a Brooklyn-based Brew-Wave/Ultrapop group whose infectious hook-laden three-minute bangers represent a new era where loud guitars and synthesizers can coexist and even party together. A band that once made L Magazine implore U2 to "move over and let Shapes on Tape seize the thrown(sic)," Shapes on Tape asks the question, "What if Walter Mondale had won?"

Genre-hopping producer/multi-instrumentalist/90s groovebox enthusiast Adam Kruckenberg, formerly of Midwest glam legend Vibralux, and guitarist/poet Jason Matuskiewicz, a veteran of beloved Lexington, KY band Candidate, began collaborating in 2014, but they didn't complete their sound, best described as a sonic assault of feels, until they expanded S on T to include drum savant and overall swell guy Justin Heaverin of Noisebody and The Silver Tongues.

Matuskiewicz’s lyrics and straightforward style walk the line between high and low concept with an abrupt 3-chord frankness that never takes itself seriously, while Kruckenberg’s powerful vocals and synthetic re-imaginings take the songs to epic proportions. Combined with Heaverin's unstoppable groove, you could be forgiven for wondering when The Boss had time to do a secret collaboration with Erasure. With the help of Grammy-nominated producer and Hedwig alum Justin Craig, SoT's forthcoming album Legends in The Process is sure to be a supersonic, beer-fueled dreamscape littered with the carcasses of waves and cores. WEBSITE.

We featured Shapes On Tape a couple of times back in 2016 and then they disappeared off our radar until now. 'So Much' mixes gloriously unique vocals against a rich synth laden backdrop. Full of hooks (something this band seem to deliver consistently) this is a fabulous song with character, energy and style.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John Mohead - Son Of The South.

Background - The name alone evokes soul. And the person behind the name does as well. John Mohead is a veteran of the music scene. A story teller that can jam. He has toured with Bob Dylan, the Allman Brothers and Little Feat.  On the folk side, he has worked with Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Shakey Graves just to name a few.

Starting his carreer  as a Nashville staff writer, landing a record deal distributed by Rounder Records, touring the world but never losing his Mississippi roots. His duck and punch vocal style is very reminiscent of Van Morrison or Lowel George. Country soul is what they call it in Muscle Shoals. He takes the William Faulkner approach and writes what he knows.  This sound comes from the Mississippi. Not the mud, but the water. The blues had another baby and called it Americana from Mohead.

When John Mohead released his debut album Lula City Limits on the Rounder Records subsidiary label Okra Tone, All Music wrote: John Mohead's debut record establishes the singer/songwriter as a contemporary heir to the Delta blues. Updating traditional Mississippi blues with Southern rock and country influences, Mohead makes some intriguing music and he's a promising songwriter, as demonstrated by the overall consistency of the record.

2018 sees the release of a new full grown album with a title that really says it all, Mohead is a true “Son Of The South”.  His rootsy, Delta blues-rock tunes go down like good bourbon on a summer night. His slide work dances like moths around a porch light and his original songs take the listener to a beloved, homey place.

Mohead’s music is deeply rooted in Mississippi where he makes his home. It is imbued with the inevitable influences of the blues masters who seem to sprout from the Delta as if planted by some unseen hand. A hand that loves the blues. Mohead is a homeboy, rich in Southern charm with a natural storytelling gift. He plays with passion and respect for the masters who came before him, carrying the torch with pride and purpose. WEBSITE.

Featuring the title track from the new album 'Son Of The South' this collection of music really should appeal to a wide range of music lovers. The vocal comparisons with Van Morrison are down to nature rather than any attempt to copy the man, and the musical arrangements take us on a grand tour of Americana at it's finest and all it's connotations. Let the player below continue and you will hear three more tracks from the forthcoming album, in my opinion this is a very special one.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tomberlin - Caezar

Tomberlin - Any Other Way.

Background - Tomberlin, the rising Louisville, KY-based artist, has released a video for "Any Other Way," the opener from her anticipated Saddle Creek debut album, At Weddings. On her deeply moving debut album At Weddings, Sarah Beth Tomberlin writes with the clarity and wisdom of an artist well beyond her years. Immeasurable space circulates within the album's ten songs, which set Tomberlin's searching voice against lush backdrops of piano and guitar. Like Julien Baker and Sufjan Stevens, she has a knack for transforming the personal into parable. Like Grouper, she has a feel for the transcendent within the ordinary.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, and now based in Louisville, Kentucky, Tomberlin wrote most of At Weddings while living with her family in southern Illinois during her late teens and early twenties. At 16, she finished her homeschooling curriculum and went to college at a private Christian school she describes, only half-jokingly, as a "cult." By 17, she had dropped out of school, returned home, and begun to face a period of difficult transition in her life. The daughter of a Baptist pastor, Tomberlin found herself questioning not only her faith, but her identity, her purpose, and her place in the world.

"I was working, going to school, and experiencing heavy isolation," Tomberlin says of the time when she first began writing the songs on At Weddings. "It felt monotonous, like endless nothingness. It was a means to get through to the next step of life." In songwriting, Tomberlin found relief and lucidity she had trouble articulating otherwise. When she was 19, she wrote "Tornado" on her parents' piano, and began to develop confidence in her music. A year later, she had written enough songs to fill an album.

Throughout At Weddings, Tomberlin's lyrics yearn for stability and belonging, a near-universal desire among young people learning to define themselves on their own terms for the first time. "I am a tornado with big green eyes and a heartbeat," she sings on "Tornado," her voice stretching to the top of her range. Rich, idiosyncratic imagery - a fly killed with a self-help book, brown paper bags slashed violently open, clouds that weep over a lost love - sidle up to profound realizations about learning to be alive in this world. "To be a woman is to be in pain," Tomberlin notes on "I'm Not Scared." On "A Video Game," she muses, "I wish I was a hero with something beautiful to say."

At Weddings is laden with reverence for music itself, for the power it has to heal others and help people navigate their lives. It is a record about learning to love oneself and others without reservation, from a place of deep sincerity - a lifelong challenge whose tribulations Tomberlin articulates beautifully. "My number one goal with my music is for honesty and transparency that helps other people find ways to exist," she says. With At Weddings, this remarkable young songwriter offers up comfort and wonder in equal measure. WEBSITE.

Back in June we featured 'Seventeen' describing the song as "a seriously good singer, songwriter track, with gorgeous vocals and a beautifully crafted musical arrangement that adds even more emotion." Now we have a new video for 'Any Other Way' the opening song on 'At Weddings', a beautiful album, as is further evidenced by this adorable piece. If either of these songs have grabbed your attention, I would suggest that making a little time to explore the remaining material, will be both rewarding and delight you even more.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caezar - Hold On.

Background - UK natives Caezar have announced their much-anticipated debut EP ‘Hail!’ and have just shared their exciting new single with the world, titled ‘Hold On’. The group will be making their release through RG Records and have had the pleasure of having Justin Broad on board as the producer for this latest project, who has produced for names such as Jessie J, Emeli Sandé, Izzy Bizu and Corinne Bailey Rae. ‘Hail!’ also boasts mastering by formidable mastering engineer Stuart Hawkes, who’s work on artists such as Amy Winehouse, Clean Bandit, Rudimental and has been indispensable to pop music the world over. Playing alongside giant names such as Hozier, James Bay and Jack Garrett, Caezar can really hold their own in the scene and have had the pleasure of playing at the award-winning independent Barn on the Farm Festival as well as being featured on the acclaimed radio platform BBC Music Introducing, who have discovered many exceptional UK artists in the pop-rock genre such as Declan McKenna and Catfish and the Bottlemen.

Hailing from the unassuming town of Cheltenham, the two founding members of Caezar, Chris Quiqley and Rich Gills decided to take their passion for music to the next level when the pair found themselves both suffering from sports injuries that meant they would no longer be able to play rugby for their local club. It was under the lights of the rugby pitch where the two ex-players decided that they would take their previously hidden musical talents to the stage. When Zoe joined the band in 2017, the trio really found their niche. Her soft synths and sweet-as-honey backing vocals helped build on the unique crossover of pop, indie and rock elements that make up the band’s special sound.

Caezar’s single ‘Hold On’ starts off with an infectious guitar lick that sets the mood of the song - pensive but upbeat. When Chris Quigley’s vocals enter the mix, it’s easy to hear that the group can be likened to modern pop-rock heroes Imagine Dragons and Bastille. The band’s mix of skillfully-played live instruments and expertly produced electronic beats coupled with strong, melodic lead vocals creates an impressively versatile sound. While there is a clear thoughtfulness in the lyricism and delivery of ‘Hold On’, the track still manages to create an uplifting, anthemic mood, with a dash of funk thrown in, much like the work of Will Heard. The track is one that’ll touch the listener on an emotional level while still making sure that the dance floor is packed with bodies moving to the crisp, fun beats.

The band explained that, “Just because you love someone, doesn't mean it's right. ‘Hold On’ was written out of the conflicted feelings of breaking up with someone who you still love. The track was one of the first songs the band wrote, and has since come to life after years of performing the track at festivals and finally in the studio with Justin Broad.” WEBSITE.

A sophisticated yet understated guitar opening on 'Hold On' is quickly joined by some addictive and captivating vocals and background harmonies. The song is undoubtedly cool and slick, what makes it stand out is the soulful delivery and the seemingly suppressed emotion within the vocals.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------