Son Little - Aiming For Enrike - Jeremy Tuplin - Fool Heavy

Son Little - O Me O My.

Background - Son Little has just announced an exciting UK and Euro 'New Magic Tour'. After the release of the brilliant 'New Magic' album via Anti- he will be hitting the road this December to perform across the UK and Europe. The tour begins in Manchester and includes a date at London's Omeara from which he will then be travelling on to dates in Berlin, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and more.

The New York Times described Son Little’s singing as "a voice so careworn it’s almost otherworldly” while Culturefly called the Grammy Winning singer-songwriter and producer, “an Otis Redding for the 21st Century.” Son Little’s anticipated full length album New Magic has finally arrived in stores.

Each of the tracks on New Magic’s draw from the diaspora of American blues and soul that includes not only modern R&B, but also rock & roll and hip-hop and transforms them into a singular sound that is propelled by his mesmerizing and soulful vocals and production that artfully balances between rustic immediacy and hip hop cut-and-paste. 

Son Little first came to the public’s attention through his collaborations with The Roots and RJD2, and has since toured worldwide with artists as diverse as Mumford & Sons, and Kelis, Shakey Graves and Leon Bridges. In addition he won a Grammy for his work producing Mavis Staples. Website here, Facebook here, tour details on Beehive Candy's tour news page.

Every component of 'O Me O My' exudes quality, commitment, and passion. Son Little's vocals are simply fabulous, the musical arrangement competes for attention and the timeless feel of the song just adds more.

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

Aiming For Enrike - Front Runner.

Background - The forthcoming album, “Las Napalmas”, is a “to be or not to be” project, both for the listeners and the band. If you throw yourself into its musical whirlwind, which Tobias and Simen from Aiming For Enrike do every time, we’re pretty sure that you soon will catch on as well. Inside it’s atmospheric, it’s staccato, it’s fierce and it’s fascinating. But most of all it’s a lot of fun.

The common denominator for their music has always been energy and explosiveness, and there’s no doubt that you will be served that on “Las Napalmas”. Songs like “Nibloninan Car”, “Moustache” and “Lactic Acid Trip” hit you like heavy blows in your midriff. In addition, you get slow and more sonic songs like “Social Window”, “Front Runner” and “Hi Ball”.

It may not sound like it, since the songs throw you around with infernal power and firm intensity, but Aiming For Enrike is actually only two musicans: One guitar and one drumkit. Even though it may be difficult to believe it – the album was 100% recorded live in the studio, with only those two musicians in one room.

Together, Aiming For Enrike have created their own universe where everything is centered around what happens between the two of them in a rehearsal space, in a studio and on a stage. What you see is what you hear, and what you hear is pure joy. For the listeners and for the band. Facebook here.

'Front Runner' demonstrates the skill & attention to detail the duo have put into the forthcoming album. Hypnotically rhythmic and addictive the track has tremendous clarity within the mix & a level of freshness that just pulled in my attention.

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

Jeremy Tuplin - Astronaut.

Background - London-via-Somerset newcomer Jeremy Tuplin will release his debut LP ‘I Dreamt I Was An Astronaut’ in on 29th September 2017 via Folkwit Records. Following on from his 2 independently released EPs (2016’s Open Letters and 2014’s Carry The Fire EP), his music was described in The Telegraph Culture section as ‘Stunningly candid… A distinctive deep vocal that has hints of Leonard Cohen and Bill Callahan.’

The album was recorded with long-time collaborator Mark Estall, mostly in his new Marketstall Studio in South Bermondsey (with extra recording taking place in both Tuplin’s and Estall’s living rooms). Musically the new songs take a different direction to the earlier released EPs, combining electronic and synthesised sounds with more acoustic and organic instruments for a ‘retro-futuristic feel’ to branch into a genre which could, possibly, be described as ‘space-folk’.

The theme that underpins his debut album is escapism: “It’s the late 2000 and teens and everyone needs escape in some form or other, from jobs, London, reality, girlfriends, the internet, anything.  You can find it in alcohol, prescription drugs, or in dreams, which are all legitimate methods, but I also found it by getting really into space and the cosmos, which is another, connecting theme in the album (Albert Einstein Song, Where The Light Ends, Robot Love, Astronaut etc). It’s always good to be dragged back though, even if it’s by the things you thought you were trying to escape from, relationships, love, or friends’ weddings, (Kathleen, Did We Lose The Fight?, Feel Good Hit etc)”

Tuplin migrated to London from Somerset in 2011. He has gigged all over the UK but has found a home from home with London’s Lantern Society collective. A busy summer saw him play at Boomtown Fair, and the album launch show on 26th October at Paper Dress Vintage Hackney Central will be followed by tours of the UK and Spain. Facebook here.

With a fabulous vocal range that can and does hit some deep notes, Jeremy Tuplin only needed an average song  & I would have been hooked. 'Astronaut' just happens to be wonderful & should sell the new album in it's own right.

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

Fool Heavy - Gusto (album).

Background - The ‘90s are back in a big way- just ask Long Island garage-rock duo Fool Heavy. Seamlessly melding elements of the era’s grunge and alternative wave they’ve forged a sound that’s somehow both nostalgic - in its carefree self-deprecation and Cobain-esque guitars - and modern, with a steadfast aggression akin to today's apathetic millennia. Fool Heavy’s got the guts, the glory, and just the right amount of angst to bring forth the best parts of the musical culture that defined a generation. Generation X, that is.

The band’s inaugural LP, Gusto which is out this week and available as a pay-what-you-want release on Bandcamp, pays homage to a world that’s grown sarcastic, impatient, and sick of being unheard. The eight-song debut calls upon a youthful apathy, with outrageous highs and flickering lows in way that’s cathartic, familiar, and unapologetically honest. Singer-songwriter Taylor Berke (ex-Soda Bomb) and co-vocalist Sam Coughlin are unafraid to hold a mirror to themselves in a raw display of conviction in both the delivery, and the message itself – life is shi; live it up while you can. Through the span of the record, they’ll convince you to do just that.

Michael Abiuso of The Gay Blades and The Venetia Fair recorded, mixed, and mastered Gusto at Behind the Curtains Media‘s studio in a way that raises a glass to its ‘90s predecessors. Dialing in thrashing drums, melodic mid-range bass and a hell of a lot of reverb, Abiuso serves as both producer and puppet-master to hone in a sound that’s unique to the duo. Each note, each squeal of feedback, and each and every distorted holler feels relevant and important. And while Gusto may be Fool Heavy’s freshman effort, its clear that this isn’t the pair’s first rodeo.

The writing is strong, it’s authentic, and it engages over and over. With witty lyrical quips and ethereal hooks, the band’s double vocal dynamic proves to be the driving force behind songs that refuse to be predictable. It’s a powerful record and a promising first-offering from two minds venturing off the deepest ends of mania. If it’s any indication of what Fool Heavy has to offer this world, you’re in for a frenzied and fearless ride. Bandcamp here, Facebook here.

Garage rock & a huge layer of passionate attitude & energy resonates throughout the new album 'Gusto'. They do soften the pace on occasion allowing the listener to pause for breath, thankfully we are allowed to embed the whole album, so feel free to check it all out below.

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

Year of October - The Prids

Year of October - Lost.

Background - Nashville, Tennessee - Gritty Music City blues rock band, Year of October, is excited to release new single "Lost", from their impending October LP, “Trouble Comes”. “Lost” is a heavy blues rock groove with chunky guitar tones and a classic rock beat. Self-described as "fuzz soul", husband-wife fronted band, Year Of October blends Josh's metal and blues background with Phlecia's jazz and soul-drenched vocals. 

Prior to this release, the singer-guitarist-drummer trio played over 250 shows a year throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, and the South after releasing their critically-acclaimed last album Golden Days. They have built up a loyal fan-base, and have received raving media attention from a number of notable outlets. 

Phlecia says of the new project, “We like to take influences from all genres of music. We find inspiration in everything and I think if something is good then it doesn’t necessarily have to sound just like us to be a major influence. Website here, Facebook here.

The second feature this month for Year of October with the brand new track 'Lost'. It's another feast of blues rock goodness & again the vocals just ooze soulful passion whilst the music is potently determined.

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

The Prids - Summer Cult.

Background - Portland-OR based, noise pop band, The Prids, share their new single and video, "Summer Cult," from their forthcoming album.  Do I Look Like I'm In Love? is due out via This-a-Way Records. The album was recorded at Rock nRoll B&B on Sauvie Island, 15 miles north of Portland. It was recorded and co-produced by Sean Flora (The Shins, The Black Keys, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks). The band is currently on tour supporting The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. 

Lead single and title track, "Do I Look Like I'm In Love?", is a dark reflection on modern life and its meaninglessness. Being a part of the scene for over 20 years, the band has reflected upon the way modern culture has changed independent music and autonomy. Having spearheaded the Pacific Northwest DIY scene, bassist and vocalist Mistina La Fave, vocalist and guitarist David Frederickson, drummer Gordon Nickel and keyboardist and bassist Tim Yates, The Prids's career has spanned over 20 years. The band has toured alongside Built to Spill, among other notable acts, and Henry Rollins is a long time fan. Having faced a life altering brain hemorrhage in Spring 2015, La Fave and the rest of the band are set to pick up where they left off with this forthcoming release. The album comes out on the band's own DIY label, This-a-Way Records, which has been instrumental in the band's culture for the past 20 years. 

Do I Look Like I’m In Love? illustrates the Portland dark pop band’s mettle through keen lyrical observations, but also in its attention to sonic detail and song craft—this record couldn’t have been made by any other band at any other time. “Do I Look Like I’m In Love?” and “The Shape” both swirl and build like dreams filled with grey skies and the flickering faces of past friends and lovers. These songs nudge up against the air-brushed punk of “Lie Here” and the bass-driven “Colliding,” which recalls the dazed jangle of early R.E.M. More than two decades in, The Prids have made the best and most cohesive album of their career. Facebook here.

The music is stripped back to start & gradually adds some layers to build into a refined rock soundtrack. This is a very fine match for the vocals and harmonies on 'Summer Cult' where the understated melody and swathe of hooks make for a stand out song.


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

The U.S. Americans - Leisure Club - Tusk - Cold Reading - Ritual Talk

The U.S. Americans - Fade Out.

Background - NYC-based progressive psychedelic punk-rock band, The U.S. Americans, announce the release of their debut album, Greatest Hits, due out October 27th 2017. Produced by Scott Von Ensign and executive produced by Daniel Deychak, Emerson Williams, Roy Abraham and Jeff Weiss, Greatest Hits, is a collection of the best of progressive, psychedelic punk from the sons of liberty, The U.S. Americans.

The group developed as a live act. Highlark Magazine caught a live show and reported, "the Americans had me from the word go as vocalist Jeff Weiss proudly hoisted a United States Championship belt overhead and outward toward the audience." The belt has become a major part of the live show and House of Glory, New York’s largest independent wrestling company, has used their music in their lively wrestling video compilations. Isaac Rodilla from HOG says, "The team here at HOG has dubbed U.S. Americans as the best band in the USA. We gave them the championship belt and it's not just for this year... it's 4 life."

Highlark Magazine went on to say, "In terms of performance, Weiss’ voice and flamboyant gestures were enchanting and, not to be outdone, the instrumentals were so well done that I took for granted how good they were... concert-goers who didn’t need any more incentive to love America." 

Producer Scott Von Ensign distilled the energy of their live show into an under-an-hour record. Sporting an array of songs as diverse as Queens and spanning timelines between 90 seconds and 9 minutes, Greatest Hits is a fun trip into the world of Cuban gangsters, cinema, promiscuous cutlery, board games, Kings County, and oral hygiene. Website here, Facebook here.

Described above as a "progressive psychedelic punk-rock band" the U.S. Americans have covered a lot of bases, however the new song 'Fade Out' suggests it's a reasonable description. The music video is a creative and intriguing montage of images, the song seemingly suppressing an overload of emotional power, & put together this is a superb piece.


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

Leisure Club - Hold On.

Background - Leisure Club is a home for the conjuring of pop songs focused on groove, catchy guitar melodies, and vocal hooks. Although the Vancouver five piece was forged in 2016 by their mutual interest in living the most relaxed life possible, their live performances inspire a rhythm in the crowd akin to spring break. 

“Leisure Club compact a whirlwind summer of love, lust and heartache into 3.5 minutes” (PR Press) and “you can’t help but want to mix a pina colada for your friends wearing a one-piece by a pool” (Betty & Kora). This has led to them sharing the stage with the likes of Blossoms, Lawrence, Cub Sport, Louise Burns, and a performance at Ponderosa Festival.

Saddling up with producer Shawn Cole (You Say Party, Yukon Blonde, Bend Sinister) the group headed to The Noise Floor on Gabriola to record their debut self titled LP with Jordan Koop manning the board. Slated for release in the fall of 2017, Leisure Club looks forward to sharing it’s nostalgic charm and summer breeze across North America

Their latest single "Hold On," is off of their upcoming self-titled LP due for release November 17th. Website here, Facebook here. 

Bright and fresh 'Hold On' is a catchy indie song, where both vocals and music add to the upbeat vibes.

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

Tusk - Matter Of Time.

Background - Nottingham's Tusk is a five-piece, twin guitar, alt-rock band hailing from the same university campus that gave us London Grammar, Childhood and Amber Run.

After uploading their song ‘Dull Ache’ onto Soundcloud mid-2016, they were invited to play the BBC Introducing stage at Reading & Leeds Festival 2016; Clash Magazine voted them a 'top 3 pick' in their Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition, and Dean Jackson from BBC Introducing (East Midlands) recorded and broadcast two live studio sessions on his weekend show.

Since this early interest, the band has built a solid local live fan-base and written and recorded a collection of new songs. One of these new songs, Matter Of Time, is their debut single.

Lyrically the song tackles isolation, paranoia and broken relationships. Specifically, it’s about the rise of animosity between friends as one begins a new relationship and the other quickly attempts to destroy it by spreading lies and half-truths. With friends like that, who needs enemies? The single was produced by Rob Milton and mixed by Monkey Gun, 'Matter Of Time' is available from 3 November 2017 on Strataville. Website here, Facebook here.

Alt rockers Tusk have come up with a fine song in the shape of 'Matter Of Time'. Musically it's a tight rock track with a subtle funk vibe that morphs into more sweeping sounds. The distinct vocals are the icing on the cake, giving the band some real edge.


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

Cold Reading - Sojourner EP.

Background - After releasing their huge single ‘Books & Comfort’ in late July, which gained a lot of attention in Germany, UK and Switzerland, Cold Reading have just released their new EP ‘Sojourner’ via Krod Records. The record consists of four heartwarming, inspirational tracks situated somewhere between contemporary Indie Rock and 90’s influenced Emo.

The House & The Arrival: During the writing process, the band withdrew to a small cabin in the back-country of their hometown. With wintery temperatures outside and comforting warmth by the fireplace inside, the four songs that are now released on Sojourner came to life. The intention was to capture that cosy, pleasant and peaceful atmosphere the group experienced up there in the music as well. The cover design goes along with this nicely. The cabin symbolizes the consoling sensation and the warmth of having arrived.

Sojourner means arriving and finding refuge: Looking for a place in this world was already the central motive behind the lyrics on Cold Reading’s first album, where the main concern was the search. The new EP Sojourner picks up where Fractures & Fragments left off.

Singer Mike Portmann describes the lyrical content of the EP as follows: Inspired by changes that came along in my personal process, I wanted to emphasize a hopeful continuation of my progress. The lyrics capture moments on my journey and act as snapshots along the way. I learned to draw hope from different wells and to find solace within myself, as I’ve gotten better at putting up with setbacks and understanding failing as part of a development. To reconcile with myself is the vital element for me to accept myself.

Over the past couple of years the band toured all over Europe and the UK supporting bands like Such Gold, Little You Little Me, The Deadnotes and opening for the likes of Four Year Strong, The Hotelier, The Flatliners and The Get Up Kids. Facebook here.

The four song EP 'Sojourner' is made up of consistently good indie rock, each track carries it's own weight & Cold Reading mix up the moods and styles, with plenty of hooks along the way.

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

Ritual Talk - Dancing Still.

Background - Brooklyn-based, psychedelic indie rock band, Ritual Talk, announce their debut EP, Rippled Glass, due out in October 2017. 

The EP was recorded in several places - 4 out of 5 of the drum tracks were produced in Philly, vibraphone and cello were recorded at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music with Jack Hallenbeck (Scott James, OSHUN) and nearly everything else was produced and recorded in the band's apartment in NYC. The EP was mixed by Chris Shaw (Modest Mouse, Wilco) and mastered by Chris Gehringer (Yeasayer, Chairlift). 

Primary songwriter, Alex DeSimine (vox, guitar, keys), began writing music in his adolescence as a means of sorting out a jumbled mind. The band came to fruition when DeSimine moved in with bassist, Alex Tremitere and drummer, Tom Criblez, and elicited the help of Dylan Gleit (guitar, vox), who previously performed with Criblez and Tremitere, and TJ Alcala (keys, vox). The band's distinct vocal layers, with all five members signing live, added a new level of excitement to their live set. Live dates are over on Beehive Candy's Tour News Page, Facebook here.

Melodic and powerful 'Dancing Still' does indeed have some psychedelic overtones, alongside a vibrant chorus line, plus some sensitive & more dreamy moments.

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

Darto - Jennings Couch - Expanda Fuzz - Glances - The Dirty Youth - Jude Shuma

Darto - No Self.

Background - Aagoo Records has just released two packages of goodness simultaneously: The first is ‘Human Giving’, a full length album from Seattle-based four-piece Darto. The second is the 'Follow Up / Hush' 7” featuring Darto and Wand, who wrote and performed these tracks together. They have also released the new creepy video for 'No-Self'.

'Human Giving' was preceded by the single 'I Am', which The Big Takeover Magazine calls "a catchy sultry melancholic downtempo synth-infused psych-trip combining the best of Cate Le Bon, The Velvet Underground, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and The Black Ryder".

The album's mood is immediately clear from the first note of 'GDLS', enveloping the space around the listener. By the time 'I Am' enters, the sound and feeling transitions from lush and inviting, to focused and intentional with the keyboards and strings propelling the movement. The lyrics and accompanying melodies float along seamlessly like being lulled into a dream. 

“Despite all of its catchy qualities, ‘Human Giving’ is a difficult album to pin down. The lyrical phrasing, and melodies have been stuck in my head for months,” says Alec Dartley of Aagoo Records. “It takes me to a place filled with light, despite the psych realms the band takes us”.

As the record progresses, splashes of Americana seem to emerge, painting subtle pictures of the American West, or a vast expanse that we would associate it with. It’s a momentary visit to those places as Darto keeps moving, exploring new worlds. The album closes in a cinematic soft way, where the constant is an emotional hook that dives into the human condition. This is an open story, suggestive but with room for the listener to fill in the blanks. Website here, Facebook here.

Twelve gloriously unique tracks make up the new 'Human Giving' album. 'No Self' provides some incite into this collection. The band have a structured sound that is let loose in different directions, moods and feelings. The constant is a hypnotically addictive and often very catchy vibe. If you are looking for some music that is adventurous, different and also unpretentious, this album is all of that and more.


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

Jennings Couch - Serotonin.

Background - If artists are considered to be the summation of their influences, then the upbringing experienced by 22 year old Jennings Couch has served him up with a veritable feast from which to define his musical palette. Born in the urban wilderness of New York City, raised in the quiet tranquilly of rural England and made on the streets of West London, this is a man who embodies the virtues of his environments whilst imbuing his artistic output with reflections of all of his life experiences and observations to date.

A chance meeting with record producer Kevin Malpass set Couch on a path to which music would take on central importance in his life. In Couch’s forthcoming debut album, the pair have produced a startlingly powerful body of work which manages to balance the notion of embracing universally appealing lyrical themes with a musical path less trodden; a conscious rejection of the preordained formulas commonly used to write music. The pitch perfect harmonisations and anthemic arrangements that Jennings creates provides fans with rich and varied soundscapes that compares to the likes of The 1975, Coldplay and Alt J. His lyrical content deals with a range of philosophical, social and scientific ideas from studies of time to quantum physics, demonstrating a level of intellectualism and maturity way beyond his years.

“I couldn’t quite suppress the science geek in me!” Jennings mock defends himself, before countering “There is plenty of relationship stuff in there too, just done in my own special way....the song,  'My Dear Andromeda' for instance, is an example of me writing about something I’m passionate about whilst making sure it also comes across as a relatable love song.”

It is an adoption of British eccentricity that goes beyond the novel or the skin deep, resulting in an enthusiasm for amassing retro collectibles, from pocket watches and clothing, to furniture and rudimentary tech. This is a character formed in part by his environment, yet utterly bereft of the notion of conforming. With Couch himself the embodiment of the archetypal classic front man, bringing a genuine drive and charisma on stage, theirs is a show like no other. By early 2017, and having perfected their craft week in and week out at numerous haunts across the UK, Couch’s band were on their way to Austin, Texas to perform at SXSW. Initially only invited for one show, they managed to gain the attention of numerous promoters and demand was such that they were added to the line-ups at both the The Apple Music House and the BBC British Music Embassy at Latitude 30. It was a vote of confidence embraced with open arms.

Jennings Couch’s new single ‘Serotonin’ is a powerful alternative rock song inspired by the neurotransmitters within the human brain and their effect on behaviour. He has once again managed to take an idea so abstract such as neuropsychology and morph it into the relatable subject of two lovers. Through enchanting lyrics and trance- inducing melodies, Jennings Couch urges the listener to delve into the world of Freudian psychotherapy, just for a moment. The accompanying music video, taking the form of a Victorian therapy session, reinforces the entrancing nature of the music. Website here, Facebook here.

The vocals are striking from the very start, the melody and hooks are quickly present as well. I have some personal knowledge regarding 'Serotonin' and how it effects our behaviour and mood. The song is sensitive to something that can have a huge impact on an individuals life, & the video is for me amusing and just right for such an impressive song.
 

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

Expanda Fuzz - The Last Of The Who Heads.

Background - Expanda Fuzz is a duo from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, conceived while attempting to rip apart a Pink Floyd song with a distorted bass and a fuzz-driven guitar through a ripped speaker cabinet...while playing to a Roland 404 sampler. 

The result of that experiment can be heard on the duo’s first record ‘Bleuets’, where they showcase their brand of catchy, drone-y, post-punk songs that hook heavily into a psych-garage sound. Think Kim Deal fronting the Velvet Underground, or Mary Timony jamming with Suicide. 

The band was formed in 2016, and during last year, they performed notable festivals like Ottawa Explosion and Edmonton's Up + Downtown Festival. They released their first EP 'Bleuets' in the late summer of 2016. 
That was followed, appropriately in September with the single 'Sonic Halo', an original track backed with Earth Wind and Fire's 'September'. Now in 2017 we have the latest release - The Last Of The Who Heads. Facebook here, Bandcamp here.

The title track from the new EP is 'The Last Of The Who Heads'. This is our second feature for Expanda Fuzz (the first was last December), and they have come up with a three track EP that builds considerably on previous works. Powerful, warm and intense rock, that cuts to the chase, the duo really are carving out a defined sound of their own.

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

Glances - SEM.

Background - There’s more to a story. Glances is a recording project out of Chicago, Il. In 2012 Micah Waldron moved into an artist loft in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood where he met Ashley Thompson, cute. 

About a year later Ashhh spent some time on a farm in Hawaii where she met Christian Whiting (Chin). Through her persuasive nature she convinced Chin to move to Chicago where the three of them started playing music together. Eventually an album started to form. It was an accident.

‘I feel very close to you right now’ is a collection of songs that strive to portray the the hidden meaningfulness of impermanence by examining it through the context of a relationship. Before we weren’t close, now we are, soon we will not be. It’s meant to be listened to, preferably together. Website here, Facebook here.

'SEM' is the second of ten tracks on the new album. Glances seem to go with their imagination wherever it might take them. Creative and imaginative, the album has no particular genre that can label the music. The featured song gives some idea, expect a lot more, I would also agree with the bands view, that this is an album that is at it's best, when listened to as a whole.

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

The Dirty Youth - Hurricane.

Background - The Dirty Youth are back with their explosive new single ‘Hurricane’, released on Friday 22nd September through Marshall Records. The band kicked off 2017 with the announcement that they were the first band to sign to Marshall Records. This was followed by the news that they would be heading to the legendary Abbey Road Studios to lay down new material.

'Hurricane’ is the first taste of what you can expect from a rejuvenated band with the world in their sights. Epic in every sense of the word, the track fuses the huge sound and instantly memorable choruses - the hallmarks of the TDY sound. Sweeping and yet punchy, emotive whilst taking no prisoners, ‘Hurricane’ is the sound of a band flexing their considerable sonic muscles and demanding your attention.

‘Hurricane’ was released 22nd September through Marshall Records and is accompanied by the B sides ‘San Frandisco’, ‘Hurricane (Acoustic)’ and a remix of “San Frandisco” by New Black Light Machine. Website here, Facebook here.

The choruses on 'Hurricane' explode into powerful, full on rock & it's the verses that are more understated & melodic. Epic? You bet it is!


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

Jude Shuma - Reflection.

Background - Chicago-native singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jude Shuma has cultivated an indie-meets-chillwave sound that indisputably harnesses its charisma from a stimulating psychedelic style.  To date, Shuma has released three critically-applauded EPs, 'Afternoonified,' 'Biggest Hits,' and 'Insomnium,' that have awarded the artist syncs in some of TV's most recognizable programs including HBO's Ballers,  CW's Riverdale, and ABC's Quantico.

Shuma's provision for fans after the two single releases of "Lemonade" and "Reflection," is a new full-length album Reflection.  Jude's fourth project provides a further appreciation for those familiar with Shuma's dexterous aesthetics, as the album consists of nine tracks that traverse Shuma's trademark sedative style from "Coasting," to "Dreaming," and finally ending with a "Champagne Cigarette." Throughout the record, Shuma's ethereal vocal style shines atop a mixture of strummed guitar melodies and additional organic instrumentation.

Fully encompassing the psychedelic nature of the music, Shuma has also released an official music video for album cut "Reflection," which sees Shuma create a fanciful world of the bizarre. Exploring the oddities of suburbia, Shuma fully envelopes the viewer into his world where abnormalities and social faux-pas reign free. Facebook here.

There is just a hint of The Beach Boys 'Surfs Up' era feeling to 'Reflection'. View that as a complement, this is no copycat affair. Gently psychedelic and dreamy, this is a wonderful, melodic and enticing song.


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