Dan Croll - One Of Us

Dan Croll - One Of Us.

What we are told - Liverpool's experimental, genre-defying Dan Croll is excited to announce the release of a new single - 'One Of Us' - the follow up to 2014's critically acclaimed debut LP 'Sweet Disarray' ("full of infectious harmonies", so said NPR). The track is available digitally now and is the first taster of what you can expect from Dan's second full-length, details of which will be announced soon. 

While 'One Of Us' lies at the heavier, more energetic end of Dan's spectrum it is still undeniably pop-infused. Much like the majority of his other material, 'One Of Us' was written and performed solely by Dan, with a pace and energy of this track showing his multi-instrumental prowess. Lyrically, the song touches on the various forms of peer pressure that he has witnessed around him - “Heard you can’t beat the rush, give in and be one of us. Told you 10,000 times that you'd rather be on of us".

Bold statements aside, Dan stays true to his genre hopping ways, delving deeper in to the likes of late 80's hip-hop outfits (De La Soul, The Pharcyde), layered electronics (Caribou, Tame Impala) and sci-fi films (Moon) as inspiration for this second album. With previously sold out headline tours on both sides of the Atlantic, including The El Rey in LA, New York's Bowery Ballroom and Koko in London, Dan Croll will be playing a handful of intimate headline shows this November across Manchester, London and Liverpool (dates below). 

Tour Dates:

09/11 - Manchester, Deaf Institute
11/11 - London, Hoxton Hall
12/11 - Liverpool, Buyers Club

In recent times Dan has picked up fans far and wide in the fashion, sport and entertainment worlds, ranging from British labels Burberry (who took Dan to Taipei in 2014 to launch of their new Trench collection) and Paul Smith (who personally hosted Dan’s album release party in his Soho store), to US TV stalwart Jimmy Kimmel (Dan recently made his US TV debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live), to the British Embassy inviting Dan to be a cultural ambassador during the World Cup, performing his first show in Brazil ahead of the opening England match.

It's one of those songs that kids me it's going to go one way, then takes a twist and chooses a better route. Add in the bubbling energy, top it with superb vocals and you arrive with 'One Of Us'. The soundtrack is equally engaging, so I guess what I am saying is, I like it!


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

Two Distinctly Different: Calling All Astronauts - The Hummingbirds

Calling All Astronauts - Empire.

Them background words - It’s been two years since Calling All Astronauts (featuring members of pop punk pioneers Caffeine, goth stalwarts The Marionettes and seminal UK rap-metalers US:UK) unleashed their debut album “Post Modern Conspiracy”. Those two years have seen these London based alternative electro rockers release seven singles, gain massive radio and blog support worldwide (including BBC 6Music and XFM), build a 400,000 strong Twitter following and open for the likes of Roger Daltrey, Echo & The Bunnymen, PWEI and A Place To Bury Strangers.

Following a 20-month stint hard at work in their own recording studio, CAA are back, with a brand new single, “Empire” hitting all stores on November 27th. “Empire”, is the first single to be taken from their hotly anticipated second album “Anti-Social Network” (out in February 2016), and has been described as what you’d get if Johnny Cash had ever duetted with Jimmy Eat World! Intriguing right?

It's been getting a little soft around here of late. Calling All Astronauts deliver the energy in container loads. 'Empire' just works on so many levels, vocals are a little bit Bauhaus versus Sisters Of Mercy, with an artillery battle taking place behind. I'm supposed to be resting after an operation, fat chance with bands like this.

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

The Hummingbirds - Out Of The Rain.

Background Promo - Always synonymous with great music, there’s no doubt Liverpool has a fantastic musical heritage, birthing a unique sound traced through the songs of musical icons such as; The Beatles, Cast, The Coral, Echo & The Bunnymen, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Farm, The Zutons, The La’s, The Merseybeats, Teardrop Explodes and more recently Circa Waves… maybe it’s the accent, maybe it’s the culture, perhaps its just growing up surrounded by the unbeatable music of those who have gone before. For sure there’s something special and undeniably recognizable about a band coming out of Liverpool, The Hummingbirds are no exception. It’s impossible to discover this band without a frisson of excitement, without doubt there’s a strong possibility they are destined to join the line up of Mersey’s greats.

The Hummingbirds are a born and bred Liverpool five-piece, with Jay Davies on lead vocals / guitar, Mic Kountis on guitar / backing vocals, Matty Brougham on rhythm guitar, Ryan Lewis on bass and Richard Smith on drums / backing vocals.  Growing up on the streets of Merseyside the 23 year old lads have been heavily influenced by music from the 50's / 60's but deliver a 21st Century take on that heritage, creating their own contemporary melodies, hook - laden choruses and dropping harmonies into Americana tinged acoustic guitar riffs, like sugar sweetening a great British brew.

Friday 6th November sees the release of the band's first EP, ‘Out Of The Rain’ with accompanying tracks, ‘Awaiting Your Call’ and ‘Home’, on their own label, Gladstone Recording Co. They will be playing dates around the country during October / November / December with 2 London dates - 14th October at The Islington and 8th December at The Barfly, and The O2 Academy Liverpool on 28th November. Their debut album ‘Pieces of You’ is due for release March 2016.

'Out Of The Rain' has the audiophile quality to challenge any modern sound system, and yet transports you along a timeline anywhere from the sixties until today. This is no tribute act, they are the real deal, whatever the decade, superb music.

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

Ummagma - Frequency (EP).

Ummagma - Lama (From the EP 'Frequency').

Background - Canadian-Ukrainian duo Ummagma have confirmed details for the UK release of their EP ‘Frequency’. This mini-album will be available through Raphalite Records and is slated for release on November 13th. Alongside five original tracks, the EP features remixes from Cocteau Twins legend Robin Guthrie, Wales' celebrated Lights That Change, and Malcolm Holmes of Orchestral Maneouvres in the Dark (OMD).

Ummagma consists of Shauna McLarnon, who hails from Canada's Yukon, and Alexander Kretov, who is from Ukraine. Since bursting onto the music scene in 2012, they have made a significant impact on the underground music scene. Their potent combination of uplifting and melancholic textured dreampop, shoegaze, postpunk, ambient and electronica rapidly gained them a sizeable international following despite the numerous issues they faced living between Canada and Ukraine.

‘Frequency’ follows the band's two debut LPs 'Antigravity' and 'Ummagma', which were simultaneously released in 2012. This release represents a slight departure from the first two albums, which whisked the listener through the romanticism of first meetings, big love, adventures abroad and optimistic dreaming through to the realities of birth, loss, death and departure. In contrast, 'Frequency' explores such themes as space and distance, timelessness, escapism, and the search for tranquility.

Canadian-Ukrainian duo Ummagma have blazed quite a trail for themselves in their short history. They've landed press coverage and radio play in more than 50 countries, including Rolling Stone Russia, and have managed to strike an endearing chord with a good number of 'first wave' shoegaze and dreampop artists, particularly from Creation Records and early 4AD rosters. "Ummagma have something very special about them that you don't find in many bands, that is an honest, believable & beautiful lyric delivered by an honest, believable & beautiful voice," says Malcolm Holmes of OMD. "When you combine this with the swirling ambience of lush layered guitars, this duo end up with their own unique sonic landscape."

Dreamy, ambient, gentle and smooth, oh! and throw in lush for good measure. Just what the music doctor ordered. This EP is everything the above promo promised and more.

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

Something Special: Niamh Crowther - Shred Kelly - Little Red Lung

Niamh Crowther - Little By Little.

Background - Following 130,000 streams on Spotify and play-listing on national radio in Ireland, Niamh Crowther releases her single 'Little by Little' on October 23rd.

Niamh came to prominence in Ireland aged sixteen when she beat over 15,000 other young people to claim the prestigious Irish Youth Music Awards. The judging panel included Willie Kavanagh (then head of EMI), Jackie Hayden (founder of Hotpress magazine and the exec who signed U2 to their first record deal) and Will Ryan (Hozier). The accompanying rave reviews and talk about town earned her “one to watch” accolades from Hotpress, and on her eighteenth birthday Niamh found herself on stage with Richie Sambora.

Following the completion of her Leaving Certificate (A Levels), Niamh set about recording in Windmill Lane with some help from Tim Martin (The Corrs, The Commitments, Declan O’Rourke), resulting in the well-received 'Origins' and forthcoming single 'Little by Little' which has already been play listed on both RTE Radio 1 and RTE 2XM, selected as single of the week by multiple media outlets and featured across 32 radio stations across Ireland.

This is a wonderful song, that demonstrates the vocal qualities of Niamh, and just how good she can sound, especially when matched by a superb musical accompaniment. Website (here).

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

Shred Kelly - Sing To The Night.

Background - Canadian folk rock heroes Shred Kelly have released (in America) their new single, “Sing to the Night.” Thanks in large part to their dynamic, high-energy, and engaging live show, Shred Kelly have crafted their own sound, called “stoke folk.” Their most recent full-length, Sing to the Night, was named one of the Top 15 Most Anticipated Albums of 2015 by CBC Music. They recently won Album of the Year and Best Live Act at the 2015 Kootenay Music Awards and are currently nominated for a 2015 West Coast Music Award for Best Music Video for “Sing to the Night.” Sing to the Night will be released in the U.S. on November 13.

According to Exclaim Magazine, “Sing to the Night is a huge step forward for this young group.” Through their individual backgrounds, Tim Newton, Sage McBride, Jordan Vlasschaert, Ian Page-Shiner, and Ty West have amplified the traditional sound of folk music with a more contemporary approach. Their reputation as a captivating live band has earned Shred Kelly sold-out shows across Canada, performances at some of the Canada’s premier festivals, and placement upon a growing list of awards and recognition.

Shred Kelly’s third album, Sing To The Night, features their signature claw-hammer banjo riffs, layered ambient synth, powerhouse rock, and lush vocal harmonies. Their acclaimed producer John Critchley (Elliott Brood, Amelia Curran, The Once) from Green Door Studios was a master at creating an album that pushed their creativity and gave Shred Kelly a new take on their signature sound. It is this “stoke folk” sound that has translated just as well on albums as it does on packed dance floors.

High energy folk? More like barnstorming folk, or as the band say 'stoke folk'. Now this is refreshingly good music, brimming with positives. Website (here).

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

Little Red Lung - Porcupine Sheet (from the album 'Beware').

Background - Los Angeles' Little Red Lung originated as a solo project of singer/keyboardist Zoe-Ruth Erwin, whose pure, bellowing vocals have been compared to the likes of Florence Welch, Stevie Nicks and Grace Slick. She quickly brought on board three creative veterans of the local indie music scene: guitarist Ali Nikou, bassist Rob Hume, and drummer John Broeckel, whose unique influences spanning the psychedelic troughs of Hendrix, the urgency of the 80's post-punk movement, and the fierceness of the early Seattle rock scene, cultivated Little Red Lung’s distinctive voice. 

Little Red Lung's debut LP "Beware" promises to be a bold and uninhibited follow up to their 
acclaimed EP, stretching the boundaries of their unique multi-dimensional sound. Starting back in May 2015, Little Red Lung began releasing one song per month via iTunes, Bandcamp, Amazon and their official website. The full album will also be available on limited edition 40G Vinyl.

'Porcupine Street' is the first album track. It immediately suggests there is some real mileage in the promo description. This is a band happy to try out, and share musical ideas, both vocally and musically. If you like the featured track, the album will fascinate you. Website (here).

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