2010FM - February Magazine SXSW Previews

With SXSW just a month away there is no shortage of bands and artists looking to get noticed at the moment !

The Butterfly Explosion are a band from Ireland that blend powerful spiraling music with delicate vocals to form rich soundscapes of beautiful melodies, gliding between moments of ethereal dreampop and explosive sonic bliss. Well so says their promo and I have to agree they really are a breath of fresh air, and I hope get to be heard far and wide, they deserve it.

When UK webzine Drowned In Sound had a week of articles in April 2009 dedicated to the revival and diverse influence of the early 90s shoegaze scene, Butterfly Explosion were amongst the international artists highlighted as ones to watch.

Recording on the debut album Lost Trails began late 2008 with producer Torsten Kinsella (God Is An Astronaut) and is released March 1st 2010 through Revive Records. 'Closer', the first single, has been receiving extensive airplay from Ireland's leading alternative music shows such as Paul McLoone (TodayFM), featuring in his Best Of 2009 show, and Dan Hegarty (RTE 2FM) who described the track as "My Bloody Valentine meets M83 meets Sigur Ros in Heaven".

Listen:
'Closer' and 'Chemistry'



Website: MySpace.

Following the debut album release, Butterfly Explosion will be touring between the UK (February) and Europe (April-May) with God Is An Astronaut, as well as the USA (March)
where they will be performing at the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas.

A Shoreline Dream, originally from Denver, Colorado, has been doing-it-themselves from day one. Releasing their debut album, “Avoiding The Consequences” on their own label and on their own dime, the band built their sound and their fan-base by traveling around the West Coast and Texas, playing live and interacting directly with their fans. The result was a strong, gritty first album that was as sincere and humble as it was powerful and raw.

I know little about this band beyond what has been sent to me, however having given the featured track a listen, they get the thumbs up from Beehive Candy, who will be checking them out some more real soon.

I am reliably informed that a few years later, and now on their second full-length release, “Recollections Of Memory,” A Shoreline Dream has taken it a step further, recording the album in singer Ryan Policky’s “live-in” studio where they recorded all of their albums, but infusing it with a new found energy and fervor, partially provided to them by the newest addition to the band, drummer Sean Merrell. The songs carry with them the earnestness of a band that is still fighting to be heard and to make an impact, but that has done a significant amount of evolving and maturing since their early days.

Listen:
'Hypermode'



Website: MySpace.

With their second full-length under their belt, A Shoreline Dream has been pounding the pavement all year, bringing their music to as many willing ears as possible. With a new track, “Hypermode” receiving a lot of attention, an upcoming performance at SXSW, and a new video for their standout track “Manhattan Beach” just hitting the airwaves, there is a lot to check out right now in the world of A Shoreline Dream. Constantly in and out of the studio, working on an EP tentatively set for May and an LP expected to follow later this year, A Shoreline Dream shows no signs of slowing down. The band will continue to release tracks from their upcoming EP, as well as videos, as they make their way down to Austin.

Since the age of 14, Norwegian singer-songwriter Julian Berntzen has dedicated much time and creativity in making music. Starting his first band with his father and friends, the musician initially focused on string swing music, later using those influences to progress to his current style. Writing and composing to express his individual stylistics, Julian Berntzen eventually teamed up with producer Hans Petter Gundersen. The combination of the two musical prodigies, children’s drawings, and unusual characters resulted in the mystical album Waffy Town, telling the story of a small town and its’ inhabitants. The unconventional album received instant recognition, including winning a Norwegian Grammy Award in 2003.

In more recent years, Julian Berntzen has continued down his musical path, including a follow-up album to Waffy Town, entitled Pictures In The House Where She Lives, and his third album Rocket Ship Love. Working with Universal Music, producer Kato Ådland, and a full orchestra, Rocket Ship Love was performed throughout some of the largest cities in Norway, receiving rave reviews and a Norwegian Grammy Award nomination in 2008.

Listen:
'Rocket Ship Love'



Website: Official.

Julian will of course be playing at this years SXSW so if you are fortunate enough to be there here is another artist to check out!

2010FM - February Magazine Three

Here in the UK synth-laden electro rockers Viva City have been gaining some well earned attention and will be bringing their razor-sharp mix of catchy and gritty electro rock across the pond to the States with a number of US dates, culminating with an appearance at SXSW.

Viva City, whose signature sound is most reminiscent of a swirling mix of Depeche Mode and Prodigy, have shared the stage with the likes of Friendly Fires, Ladyhawk, Maximo Park and have collaborated with dance-house phenom Don Diablo on the banger “Audio Endlessly”. Their music has been applauded by UK critics and has garnered them extensive airplay on BBC and XFM Radio in the UK. The BBC's Radio 6 Music proclaims the songs are “a slice of classic electropop and sheer genius;” and Time Out Magazine declares their sound as “souped-up synth stabbing electro rock.”

Listen:
'Lasers'



Website: MySpace
Purchase: (MP3's) Viva City

There second single “Have You Ever Felt So Messed Up?” will be released in the US on March 22nd, 2010. This is seriously good electro rock, so if that's your bag, ensure you check them out.
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Formed in 2000 as a four track recording project, Alaskan shoegazy basement rockers The Wagner Logic, also known as James Glaves and Jeremy Wagner, are releasing their self-titled second album and follow-up to their 2007 debut release Easiest to Grab.

This is melodic with, psychedelic, and inventive lo-fi guitars blended with whispery, multi-layered vocals and pop-sensible melodies that make a sound uniquely their own, and truly hard to describe.

Self-produced in the dark basement of a small cabin in a town best known for salmon fishing and dog sledding, the songs offer dark and dysfunctional tales of heartache, regret, and loss.

Compared to Pavement and Pixies, the guys are currently working on booking a summer tour in the USA in support of the new record.

Listen:
'Waiting For Snow'



Website: MySpace.

There's more to hear from the band's new album on MySpace & follow the links there to purchase tracks.
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New York City’s Happy Ending are soon to release their debut album, “Turn It On,” (scheduled to release on March 5th 2010).

Carl Bishop and Michael Goodenow are the masterminds behind the indie-pop-rock group that (according to their recent press release) 'draw their inspiration from the pop savvy of Snow Patrol and Coldplay with the lyrical depth of Leonard Cohen and Steven Merritt'.

Forget the name dropping this is really good music that stands on it's own merit. I like Happy Endings (both the band and real actual happy endings) and have no problem recommending them. Indie pop & rock fans should most definitely give this band some time.

Listen:
'It Barely Makes A Sound'



Website: MySpace.
Buy: (MP3's) Happy Ending Songs

“catchy, melodic indie rock with words that show a world-wise experience with hope at the end of the tunnel…” - Amazon

“These guys have taken the best of their influences and created something that feels truly original…”- iTunes
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Finally we have an EP and partial taster of what may be to come from Cuckoo Chaos, and as there is a story behind this band I am gonna just copy and paste the bio for your pleasure.

'Planting was never an option for Scott Wheeler. He's been nomadic for the past decade, hopping from town to town, experiencing different scenes that piqued his interest.. But, sometimes a community just pulls you in, inspires you, and makes you want to call it home. Such was the case for Wheeler when he returned to San Diego in 2007 after stints in various places around the U.S. He immersed himself in a community of artists that embraced his artistic nature, his fluid lifestyle, and his desire to better himself as a musician. And, out of this community formed Cuckoo Chaos, a band that captures the sound of California coastlines, Liverpool alleyways, and Brooklyn bedroom echoes.

Wheeler's Cuckoo Chaos is rounded out by members of San Diego perennials The Powerchords and The Vision of a Dying World. It's clear that their fathers gave them The Byrds and The Beatles talk, but the sound of contemporaries Devendra Banhart and Luke Temple can be heard throughout each acoustic gem and jam. Acoustic guitar melodies float in the wind like the white sands of secret beaches. Wheeler's piano lines skip like smooth rocks across the surfaces of calm waters. Cuckoo Chaos' harmonies can cause the sun to rise and ignite dawn, while Wheeler's solo voice can gently put the sun to rest. The debut album from Cuckoo Chaos is the result of many late nights spinning old records and talks about journeys with no destination in mind. It is as much a collection of nostalgic beauty as it is a foray into the simple textures of eclectic songwriting'.

The debut EP 'We Are From Deerplants' is now available digitally everywhere and physically through the link below. They are currently prepping their debut full length to be released later this year. We are also told not to be thrown off by this acoustic fuzz release, the upbeat full length is most definitely a full band at work.

Listen:
'Slowly Counting Down To Nothing'



Website: MySpace
Buy: Lefse Records.

Fleetwood Mac - Tour Rehearsal 1979

This is part of a series of tour rehearsals undertaken by Fleetwood Mac over three days on a sound stage in Los Angeles.

The rehearsals took place from the 18th to 20th October 1979, and there was an audience in attendance for the 'warm up' performance made up of friends and family.

The rehearsals were filmed using a single camera video shot except on the 19th October where multi camera material exists. DVD boots of the rehearsals are in circulation, the sound quality on some is not to good and picture quality even worse. This is audio only from one of the sessions and is a whole lot better quality.

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps.

Genre: Rock, pop rock, blues rock.

Set: Part of Rehearsal Set.

Set List:

1-Oh Well.
2-Dreams.
3-Not That Funny.
4-Rhiannon.
5-Over & Over.
6-Never Gonna Make It.
7-You Making Loving Fun.
8-I'm Afraid.
9-World Turning.

Band Line Up:

Lindsey Buckingham - guitar, vocals
Stevie Nicks - vocals
Christine McVie - keyboard, vocals
John McVie - bass
Mick Fleetwood - drums

Links: Official Site.

Comments:

These rehearsals were in preparation for the bands tour in support of the album Tusk.

Tusk remains one of Fleetwood Mac's most ambitious albums to date, although selling only four million copies worldwide. This, in comparison to the huge sales of Rumours, inclined the label to deem the project a failure, laying the blame squarely with Linsey Buckingham himself. Mick Fleetwood, however, blames the album's relative failure on a major U.S. radio station's playing all 20 tracks in their entirety prior to release, thus allowing mass home taping. In addition, Tusk was a double album, which increased its retail price in stores compared with that of a single album.

The band embarked on a huge 18-month tour to support and promote Tusk. They travelled extensively across the world, including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. In Germany they shared the bill with reggae superstar Bob Marley. It was on this world tour that the band recorded music for the Fleetwood Mac Live album, which was released at the end of 1980.

Download link in comments or click on the picture.

2010FM - February Magazine Two

We start our second new music round up with SAADI whose promotional biography tell us & I quote 'As precious stone is extracted from its natural environment to be cut and polished, revealing its infinite multi-colored reflections, SAADI derives elements of musical influence and transforms them into pop gems rich in melody and reflecting an almost schizophrenic obsession with music.

SAADI, the musical pseudonym of the radiant Boshra al Saadi, is an eclectic and transcendental artist with a unique ability to create harmonious tunes tiled from fragmentation's of both empathetic influence and detached curiosity. Drawing early influence from sources as diverse as Bob Dylan, classic 80's synth pop, traditional Arabic music, punk rock, Nigerian music and Brian Eno, SAADI assembles her musical creation to form what is fundamentally her own. This collision of pop-smarts, exotic influences and fearless eclecticism spawns music which sounds both sophisticated and delightfully accessible'.

Now I have to say the above is no small work of art in its own right as writing goes, the good news is she sounds really good, and is going to one more artist to keep on the radar this year.

Listen:
'Bad City'



Website: MySpace
Buy: Serious Business Records.

Songwriter Boshra AlSaadi was born in a tiny village in Damascus, Syria before relocating and growing up in a rainy suburb of Pittsburgh. At the tender age of 17 she moved to NYC's East Village where she has resided and created music ever since. Having developed her New York roots with Serious Business band, Looker, SAADI has come into her own with the upcoming 12"/EP titled "Bad City". Due for release on 9th March 2010. Prepare to dance.

Austin's Dana Falconberry, praised by the Austin Chronicle as one of the city's "most arresting female vocalists" and "most promising singer-songwriters" is back with her newest record Halletts, released a few weeks ago on January 14th of this year.

The album revisits some of her previous works as well as including a few new ones, this time with the help of a full band. Influenced by and compared to the likes of Gillian Welch and Lucinda Williams (if your gonna do comparisons that grab my attention these two artists do the trick !), the foursome plans to hit the road this spring in support of the new record with stops in the South, Midwest, and East Coast of the USA.

A few words from Dana on the recording of Halletts: "I woke first after dreaming of parachuting from the clouds and wandered out the screen door. Tall tall grass, a small red barn. I gathered dried leaves and returned to the house, the others had woken. We set up our instruments and stood in a circle in the living room, surrounded by old couches and microphones. On the east wall a painting of a horse. Golden hair, soft green grass. We sang to her and to the cicadas, and to each other."

This is a really good song, that will no doubt appeal to a good number of Beehive Candy visitors.

Listen:
'Singing Lullabies'



Website: Official. MySpace.

Ok if we are being a little gentle with this round up then lets crank things up with 'noise rock' band Gangcharger.

Formed in January, 2009, the Denver outfit Gangcharger has ascended rapidly through the ranks of their local scene, quickly earning themselves slots on large summer festivals like The Westword Music Showcase and The Denver Post UMS, as well as sharing the stage with such like-minded bands as Autolux, The Sian Alice Group and Mika Miko.

There promo says - 'Seamlessly blending classic rock song structures with updated guitar sounds and broken radio static assaults, their brand of noise has prompted comparisons to early Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine and A Place to Bury Strangers, and drawn praise from local critics such as Tom Murphy, who stated "if you're a fan of noise rock of any stripe, or you like your music almost aggressively raw, this act is the embodiment of both."

Beehive Candy say play it loud, but be in a play it loud mood !

Listen:
'Apparition'



Website: MySpace.

Gangcharger’s debut EP, Metal Sun, was released on December 19th, 2009, at a massive warehouse bash described by Westword as a “party you think belongs in places like New York.” The record is quickly garnering critical approval from writers like Billy Thieme: “Gangcharger fills a sorely under-represented hole in the Denver scene. Raw, forced chords and heavy bass drill into the inner ear and drag you and your surroundings inside with them, leaving you in an aural vertigo, leaning heavily on sheer volume to remain upright - live and on record, the sound is huge.” Aiming to harness the momentum, founding member Ethan Ward and newest addition Paige Peterson are now at work recording the first full length release for a group that local press has already labeled “one of Denver’s best bands.”