Scott Graham - Canshaker Pi - The Foreign Films - Stonefield

Scott Graham - Little Minds

Background - Formulating his musical identity by playing in and haunting the numerous great bars and music clubs in his hometown Melbourne while drawing inspiration from local acts such as The Teskey Brothers and Raised by Eagles, Scott Graham has been on a mission to create thought provoking songs that lead you down a non-conventional path that extends the boundaries of the pop roots experience.

The first single, Little Minds from his debut solo EP Into the Sun, is a driving roots pop tune and modern take on the protest song; raging against the system and exploring how a powerful few can impact others. “The song was born out of my frustration of the continuous news cycle of innocent people suffering in war torn parts of the world and the apparent inaction of the people in power to recognise the root cause of these problems,” says Scott. “The song is both a protest and a call to action”.

With Into the Sun, Scott Graham is building a repertoire of thought provoking and catchy pop roots tunes. Recorded and produced by multi ARIA award winner Shane Nicholson at Shane’s ‘Soundhole Studio’, this partnership has provided a sonic soundscape serving to highlight Scott’s songwriting skills and vocal talent.

Every song Scott delivers tells a different story of this journey through an intricate melding of lyric and music. With songs that are filled with melodic soulful vocals combined with strong riff based instrumentation, Scott takes the listener on a fresh and engaging musical adventure.

Scott’s other musical passion is blues music and with his band 40 Thieves recently released an album which has featured in the top 10 of the Australian Blues and Roots Airplay Charts for five months since its debut. Recently, 40 Thieves and their album Time Forgot, was awarded the ‘Emerging Act for 2017 ‘ by the ‘Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society’ in their annual Vic / Tas Blues music awards. ‘Little Minds’ will be in Digital Stores on the 15th of December. FACEBOOK.

'Little Minds' is a skillfully developed song where musical craftsmanship is given additional edge with Scott Graham's naturally pleasing vocals. Roots pop it says above, that for me pretty much nails it.

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Canshaker Pi - Pressure From Above.

Background - On releasing their new single, ‘Pressure From Above’, Amsterdam quartet Canshaker Pi propel themselves into the sounds of legends before them. Along with the release of the new single on November 3rd via RIP Records, they are set to begin a UK tour, including dates supporting The Cribs in London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Leeds.

Canshaker Pi quickly became Holland’s buzziest band after releasing their self titled debut-album last year. The record, produced by Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus, led them to play every major festival in The Netherlands and led to their first European tour. Alongside Pavement’s Scott Kannberg (Spiral Stairs) the band toured 15 countries and played 27 shows this fall.

The single is part of the ‘RIP Introduces’ Series and will be released on 12" in December. The series started in January and has already discovered some great new talent including Hotel Lux, Dama Scout & Water From Your Eyes.

"We made this video with our dear friend Hache on a rainy Saturday night in Amsterdam. The green screen gives the video a surreal element - that fits the song perfectly.” - says Willem Smit, singer and guitarist in Canshaker Pi, on the new video. FACEBOOK.

December tour dates:
16/12 - ULU, London (w/ The Cribs)
17/12 - The Shacklewell Arms, London
18/12 - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds (w/ The Cribs).

This is one of those catchy rockers that refuses to sit in any one genre or style. 'Pressure From Above' is slacker rock one moment, a little electro occasionally and full on feisty rock the next, whatever, it's consistently good.


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The Foreign Films - The Record Collector - Side 1.

Background from The Foreign Films - As an artist I set forth to create my own musical universe. After years of writing, playing and recording I've finally completed a lifelong dream; a triple vinyl concept LP.

It's a musical time machine, interwoven with psychedelic mythology; it's the technicolor soundtrack to my life; simultaneously an imaginary fable. From the sparkling rivers of youth to the deep sea of a lifetime, I wanted to present a multidimensional musical adventure and I think I’ve done that. It’s up to you, you can skim the surface or dive for pearls if you choose.

The songs on "Side 1" musically echo and reimagine the vintage records, cassettes and radio of my childhood; like a well loved mixed tape through a modern prism. A song such as Junior Astronomer's Club is a homage to classic psych-pop and literature, about the search for pure magic and love in a tragic world. From blissful daydreams of sea-side carnivals to sunsets of bittersweet sorrow; the songs on "Side 1" are the first steps through the looking glass, the beginning of a great adventure. The Triple vinyl comes out in March 23rd 2018 - PRE-ORDER, FACEBOOK.

Come and dive into 'The Record Collector - Side 1' and enjoy all six tracks. This is a generous share ahead of the triple vinyl release scheduled for next March. It is also clearly a labour of love and a high calibre collection of songs. With a variety of styles, concept certainly doesn't mean repetitiveness, and although Side 1 may be looking back, it's fresh and modern production is notable!


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Stonefield - Delusion.

Background - Australian psych band Stonefield -- made up of sisters Amy, Hannah, Sarah, and Holly Findlay -- have announced their signing to Flightless Records (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, The Babe Rainbow.) Their first release for Flightless is new single "Delusion," which comes as a follow-up to their sophomore LP, As Above, So Below.

"Delusion" marks a shift from the hardened psych-pop of the band's earlier records towards a more prog and metal-leaning sound, with heavy waves of operatic synth and tubular bells ringing below guitars and sinister mellotron lines. Inspired by the "overwhelming feeling of knowing you are a speck in the universe, getting lost in your own mind," the song finds Stonefield venturing away from classic song structure in favor of creating more of a hypnotic journey. "Delusion" premiered on triple j's Drive.

Stonefield have been rendering their powerful mosaic of proto-psych since they were only as tall as the smallest of the strange stone formations that surround their hometown of Victoria, Australia. For over a decade, the Findlay sisters have seemingly existed within their own stellar nebula; unaffected by fleeting modern musical trends, their sound is an homage to the prog, metal and psych powerhouses of the '70s whilst remaining completely their own. As Above, So Below laid a Sabbath-strata from which they’ve launched a legion of dedicated followers and attracted bookings for festival dates and tours with everyone from Meat Puppets to Fleetwood Mac. 

Stonefield will kick off 2018 with select shows in Sydney and Melbourne before heading to the US for a residency at LA's Bootleg Theater and a performance at Austin's Levitation. FACEBOOK.

Stonefield on Tour:
February 2: Sydney @ The Lansdowne
February 3: Melbourne @ The Curtin
April 2: Los Angeles, CA @ The Bootleg Theater
April 9: Los Angeles, CA @ The Bootleg Theater
April 16: Los Angeles, CA @ The Bootleg Theater
April 23: Los Angeles, CA @ The Bootleg Theater
April 27: Austin, TX @ Levitation Festival
April 30: Los Angeles, CA @ The Bootleg Theater.

'Delusion' blasts into life as a full on rock & roll song oozing power and passion. The vocals are everything a rocker needs to maintain the momentum that this song packs, and the easing off just over half way through, seemingly upgrades the piece even further.


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Marine - Hood Smoke - Gold Fir - Gyasi

Marine - Mount Olympus.

Background - London based quartet Marine have signed to The Vinyl Factory and shared new single “Mount Olympus”, which follows on from last summers “Red Fruit” single release.

Marine make music that bridges the gaps between spectral pop, dreamy grunge and ambient folk, whilst lyrically exploring ancient tales of mythology and the underworld. Since forming in 2014, the band - made up of Cara Sebastian (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Ruby Jack (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Beth Dariti (Bass) and Kaja Magsam (Drums) - have been running their own show in their own way, touring across Europe and the UK and quickly building a cult following in both Berlin and London, whilst racking up support from tastemakers at BBC 6 Music and across the blogosphere.

After wowing crowds at Secret Garden Party, Shambala and more this summer, the band continue to swim deeper into their own concepts, and next year will present their debut album, which was recorded at Grand Chapel Studios with esteemed producer Rob Ellis (Anna Calvi, PJ Harvey, Cold Specks).

Both wild and elegant, their music is framed by intuitive beats, bass hypnosis that playfully counters melody, and a deep love of contrast. The two vocalists braid together over hooky guitar lines in a complex plait of old and new, understated and operatic, light and dark. The songs of Marine crystallised from mythology and fables, mingling with personal words and emotions to form tales of the ordinary and extraordinary. Their songs reference the underworld, seal demons, mighty Kraken, werewolves, witches and Gods, and even question the very nature of storytelling itself. FACEBOOK.

Rhythmic and initially suppressing the energy levels 'Mount Olympus' is a kaleidoscope of charismatic vocals and a feisty alt rock soundtrack that occasionally powers up, adding even more to the experience.

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Hood Smoke - Depending on the Fool.

Background - Hood Smoke creates dynamic rock music deeply rooted in funk and soul under the direction of singer, bassist and composer Bryan Doherty. Lyrical folk melodies soar over intricately layered backbeat grooves as the band weighs in on life, love and loss.

Since the release of their debut album Laid Up In Ordinary (2012), Hood Smoke has continued to bridge the gap between the retro and the modern in a unique and sincere way. The band is a tour de force whose members have performed with Quincy Jones, Earth, Wind and Fire, Koko Taylor, Rhymefest, Nick Lowe and Chris Thile.

With their second album Regular Neurotic (2014), the band began collaboration with producer and engineer Anthony Gravino. The track “Never Suffering” gained the band recognition by American Songwriter and The Chicago Sun Times declared Hood Smoke a “must-see act.”

On the heels of their third release Rough Around The Hedges (2016), which Newcity described as “whip-smart jazz-funk-fusion” whose “lyrics are top-notch throughout,” Hood Smoke toured nationally and wooed audiences at large rock festivals and intimate jazz clubs alike. The band’s fourth album, the upcoming Cannonball Porch, showcases Doherty’s vulnerable and melancholic voice on what he promises to be “the most simplistic, lyrically creative, and to the point” Hood Smoke album to date. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

The vocals are distinctive and appealing on 'Depending on the Fool' a song that exudes emotional feeling. Musically it sits somewhere between alt rock & Americana, what is certain is the pure addiction this song summons.

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Gold Fir - Sirens.  

Background - Following the runaway success of, ‘Night Walk’, Gold Fir satisfies the demand for soulful sassy vibes with the unique visuals to ‘Sirens’ via +1 Records.

The emerging London duo saw a huge response to their debut offering, which was accompanied by a vibrant 2D animated video produced by Rejjie Snow collaborator Jack Brown. With repeat plays across BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, 6 Music, Triple J and Beats 1, as well as support online from i-D, DIY, Hunger, London In Stereo and a run in the Hype Machine popular chart, Spotify, Apple Music, Vevo and Bandcamp also came out in support of ‘Night Walk’ with heavy playlisting and homepage features alike.

New track ‘Sirens’ which premiered on Clash Magazine demonstrates the duo’s fierce ingenuity. A track “about welcoming different aspects of yourself to the dance floor” - elements of pop and 80’s devil-may-care are all present, and delivered in a neat package as memorable as it is infectious.

The music video, directed by Tegen Williams, paints very surrealistic images as a pink-haired dancer glides alongside non-human forms, poised next to trippy visuals and tribal symbolism. The effect produces a juxtaposed duality of both blissful dreams and murky nightmares. Gold Fir’s vision behind the clip boils down to the fact that “in life you’ve got to be whoever you want to be and the video was an ode to that sentiment; life is a dance like that.”

Simply known as James and Mabel, the pair’s eccentric, soulful sound is inspired by their favorite places, friends and films. Gold Fir has most recently adapted their unique sound for live shows at KOKO and Birthdays, and are now gearing up to present three sound installations for the Victoria & Albert Museum on the 28th November. With plans for a debut EP early in 2018, the duo prove now more than ever that genre is meaningless, but the right music will always be full of soul. BANDCAMP.

Something about this song resonates well with me. The word that stands out in the above promo background is eccentric 'Sirens' has just a little of that, along with a highly imaginative arrangement and video images to add further intrigue.


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Gyasi - Sugar Mama.

Background - "This song was composed and recorded in one take; there is something about capturing an immediacy that makes for a very exciting recording. Songs are very fragile things, and often lose the original inspiration if too much time is spent trying to make them perfect."​

In the wild woods of West Virginia, in an isolated hollow, a young boy thought he was a peacock. When he realized, much to his dismay, that he was not a peacock, he picked up a guitar. From then on the sounds of him loudly playing along to the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix could be heard echoing through the hollow. ​

Placed between roaming peacocks, a family of Russian intellectual revolutionaries, and two parents dedicated to living off the land, Gyasi was brought up in an environment that could only be described as unique. It was an isolated world, where life felt more like the 60s than the 90s​.

Between his father’s early blues 78 collection and the Velvet Underground and T. Rex records of the Russian family next door, his musical education was rich. The world is sorely lacking in rock stars. Gyasi is a rock star. FACEBOOK.

Maybe we do need a new rock star. 'Sugar Mama' is a stunning glam rocker, with a potent riff driven backdrop allowing Gyasi to work his natural rock & roll vocals above. Retro and yet fresh, this is a fine celebration of what rock music can still be.

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Moderate Rebels - The Echo Friendly - Faces on TV

Moderate Rebels - The Sound of Security (Album).

Background -  London post-psych collective Moderate Rebels now unveil their debut full-length album, ‘The Sound of Security’, which further pursues their sonic manifesto of “using as few words and chords as possible”.

“We tried to create conditions where the songs could write themselves with minimum resistance; an automatic writing situation,” say Moderate Rebels. “The point was to remove ourselves, our beliefs and our intentions as much as possible; to just let it happen. It’s never been about us, we want to make music that aims at being more important than that.”

 Having set out their hypnotically brutalist improv with prior releases ‘God Sent Us’ (Nov 2016) and the ‘Proxy’ EP (June 2017), which garnered huge acclaim, not least from the aforementioned broadcasting luminaries, the group decamped to a small Bermondsey studio to cut an album influenced by (but by no means limited to) Spacemen 3, La Dusseldorf, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Roxy Music, Black Box Recorder, Jenny Hval, Death In Vegas and MGMT. These artists were not the only thing that impacted on the final record, however.

“There were churches on either side, so we’d hear the congregations singing and playing all day, celebrating their spiritual beliefs with a jubilant and communal noise. Without getting too much into psychogeography, that couldn’t help but bleed into what we were putting together. It’s powerful and uplifting stuff, no matter what your own particular philosophy may be. At the very least, it explains all the handclaps on the album!”

The resulting 13 tracks, released as ‘The Sound of Security’ on Everyday Life Recordings last Friday, are as fascinating and exhilarating as such contrary stimuli would suggest, being energetic, intoxicating and ruthless in their stark approach, yet imbued with all the freedom of a group utterly at ease. “Our music seems to be all about turning weaknesses into strengths,” say Moderate Rebels, a little modestly. “We decided to not try to gloss over our musical limitations and imperfections, and just embrace them.” TWITTER, BANDCAMP.

See Moderate Rebels live:
12-14 January 2018: Rockaway Beach, Butlin’s Bognor Regis
10 February: Tooting Tram & Social, London SW17
24 February: The Finsbury, London N4.

Occasionally we get to share an entire album as is the case now with Moderate Rebels and the newly released 'The Sound of Security'. We featured the band back in June with the song Liberate which we described this way "The vocals and harmonies on 'Liberate' are seemingly detached from the tight and efficient rhythm that drives the song forward, yet collectively the song is quite heady and oozes an inviting level of cool liberation." Now we have twelve more songs to become engrossed in, and I have to say, that's the effect this gorgeous juxtaposition of power and minimalism is having on me.


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The Echo Friendly - Power Through.

Background - The Echo Friendly shares their new single "Power Through." The track is from their forthcoming album Surveying The Damage, out today. The band explains that "it's a song about loving your partner and your band mates enough to survive the constant anxiety of life under late capitalism."

The Echo Friendly are a rock band from Brooklyn made up of married couple Shannon Esper and Jake Rabinbach as well as their friends Jake Vest and Greg Faison. Placing frank diary-like lyrics over propulsive drums and distorted guitars, they make anxiety and romantic confusion something you can sing along to. 

Their songs have been featured on HBO’s Grls and Looking, as well as the films “Sleeping with Other People” and “Goodbye World.” Their debut album “Love Panic”was released in 2014 and their new album will be out before the apocalypse, godwilling. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Power Through' is a catchy indie rocker with a beautiful mixture of jangly guitars, feisty rhythm and totally hook laden vocals.

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Faces on TV - The Image of Boy Wonder.

Background - Faces On TV have announced their upcoming album with the release of the brilliant first single to be taken from it, 'The Image of Boy Wonder'. To celebrate, Faces On TV have released a mind-bending video for it.

Belgian artist, Jasper Maekelberg, the front man of Faces On TV, is a multi-talent. He has produced top 10 records, toured as part of Warhaus, as well as leading Faces On TV. In the past, the band have supported the likes of dEUS, Yeasayer, and Balthazar.

They have gained many fans since and their previous single ‘Love/Dead’ has now had more than 1.3 million streams on Spotify. Having also performed at a variety of festivals such as Pukkelpop, Xpo North, and Here Comes the Summer they have now been chosen to perform at this year's Eurosonic festival in The Netherlands, too.

'The Image of Boy Wonder' is the first single taken from the debut album by Faces On TV, which is due out in April 2018 via Unday Records. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'The Image of Boy Wonder' is an attention grabbing song title, and thankfully my intrigue is quickly rewarded. With a mysterious opening the piece gradually leads us into a superb chorus line, from which the track builds into something imaginative and splendid.


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Mitchell Leonard - Norma - TALMA

Mitchell Leonard - Come Downstairs (Video By Haisi Hu).

Background -  Artists of all muses seek to elicit a feeling, a response, or reaction from their art.  “Come Downstairs”, a video by musician Mitchell Leonard and animator Haisi Hu, which will do just that – raising the hairs on your nape, with breathtaking beauty and a myriad of emotions brought forth in a multi-dimensional art collaboration. Led by a piano-jazz ballad and the moving vocals of Mitchell Leonard, the music is brought to life in a ethereal other-world full of mysterious creatures and mirages, designed by animator and claymation artist Haisi Hu.

With scenes inspired by Max Ernst’s Europe After the Rain and Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, “Come Downstairs” explores the moment before death – examining the character’s longing, fear, and numbness. “Although the piece resonates with themes of crossing through, it also imparts a feeling of connection to a life-giving source,” shared Leonard. “This is, without a doubt, the most emotionally intense work I have been a part of…there are worlds below the surface of every layer here. Haisi created alien landscapes to reflect the character’s feeling of displacement, and I used an undercurrent of sonic textures to give voice to his pain and awakening love for the world he sees in flashback.”

The video took over a year to produce, with a number of challenges for the team. “It’s been an intensive, elaborate process, with many technical and conceptual obstacles to overcome,” said Hu. From deadlines to budgetary restrictions and unexpected complications, the process was laborious – involving over 100 pounds of clay, and over 2000 cels of hand drawn animation.

The music of “Come Downstairs” was recorded in part by Mitchell Leonard’s good friend and songwriting partner John Creasey, who passed away in early 2016; the video is dedicated to him. Leonard shared, “It seemed only right to dedicate this piece to John. He was an extreme believer in the overwhelming power that music has in exploring spirituality. He loved the more mysterious and elusive elements of the art world, those that were the hardest to define with language.” Mitchell Leonard: WEBSITE, FACEBOOK. Haisi Hu: WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

A collaboration between two artists results in some gorgeous visual art with intricate animation and the intimate and beautiful song 'Come Downstairs'. Combined this is a powerful work that leaves us with two artistic avenues to further explore.


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Norma - S.A.D.

Background - Norma have released the video for their new track ‘S.A.D.’ Musically taking their cues from NEU and Faust, as well as the space rock of Spacemen 3 and Spiritualized, the Swedish Kraut-rock three piece have written a timely ode to Seasonal Affective Disorder on their new single.

In the video, Lynchian character ‘Neil’ embodies the personal demons of the protagonist. In the band’s words is “a figure that appears especially during the darkest season. We probably all have our personal devils, wherever we want them or not, it’s just about learning how to live with them.”

The video feels like a Lynchian nightmare, following Neil as he appears as a children’s entertainer, hurtling through the countryside in a custom-built car and finally floating off into a dream world amongst laser beams and planets. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'S.A.D.' in this case referring to Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a fascinating song that sees Krautrock undergo Swedish influence & psychedelic twists. The result is a fabulously hypnotic affair, where the vocals at times pleading and angst filled are driven along by a textured, swirling Krautrock maelstrom of sound.


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TALMA - Lifeline.

Background - Seamlessly blending alt, classic and art rock, London-based five-piece TALMA command a magnetic presence that’s more than primed to scale from the ferocious intensity of the UK’s underground scene to the electric atmosphere of arenas worldwide. TALMA’s raw and unshackled live performances are where they truly run riot. They’ve supported the likes of Queen’s Spike Edney and received acclaim for their intense energy and all-out charisma from London all the way to LA, where they found a fan in industry commentator and author Ari Herstand.

Wielding only a microphone, singer Henry Adams captivates attention with a bravado and charm that’s rarely seen among many frontmen. The telepathic tightness and ferocity of guitarists Jack Rennie and James Creed, bassist Pete Warren and drummer Jonny Harrison make TALMA a force to be reckoned with. Where the band draw direct inspiration from the likes of The Smiths, The War On Drugs and The National, they incisively employ a musical diversity and agility comparable to the likes Radiohead and Wolf Alice. The result is a band who operate without creative constraints and who are more than ready to help shape the next wave of British guitar music.

With its cascading production and hook-heavy statements, ‘Lifeline’ is a pulsating alt-rock offering that takes an incisive look at life in the modern city and the sense of alienation that can come with it. Frontman Henry Adams explains: “Lifeline explores the juxtaposition of being surrounded by millions of people – for us, in London – but still feeling a sense of loneliness every day. There are moments where it seems no-one can see you, yet everyone is watching you. This paranoia can drive people away from the city, and so we look for lifelines to tether us to the places we try to call home.”

Adams’ lyrics and unique vocal styling runs reminiscent to that of early Morrissey as he grasps the sincerities of modern life with a swagger all his own. By turns romantic and reflective, and with a vocal line that packs wide ranging emotion, ‘Lifeline’ reveals TALMA to be a return to rock’s visceral songwriting origins. Produced and mastered by Jason Wilson (Reuben, Don Broco, Fightstar), ‘Lifeline’ is a cathartic performance from a band destined to reanimate the seemingly lifeless bones of rock and roll, and challenge any notions that guitar music is dead. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Fast paced alt rocker 'Lifeline' has just a little hint of The Smiths to it both in the vocal phrasing and feisty tight beat. That said it's extremely catchy and has a fresher modern production feel to it, in fact if TALMA keep on turning out material this, they can sound like any other band they might care to.

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