Soft Science - Bandini - Said The Whale - Bodywash

Soft Science - Undone / I Don't Know Why I Love You.

Background -  Dream-gaze syndicate Soft Science have announced a new double A-side single 'Undone / I Don't Know Why I Love You', to be released via Test Pattern Records. This includes 'Undone', the first single off their forthcoming third album 'Maps', and a blissful sanguine cover of the classic House of Love track 'I Don't Know Why I Love You'. This single finds the band flirting in grand waters between My Bloody Valentine on 'Undone' and The Primitives on 'I Don't Know Why I Love You', offering the listener a distinctive mix of sweetness and fury.

‘Undone’ is essentially about loving someone through good times and bad. It is about accepting that although there will always be hard times in life, it makes things easier to go through tough days with people you love. For me, those times make me love them more. That  unwavering love can be like a light,” explains Soft Science vocalist Katie Haley.

The B-side was originally recorded for the House of Love tribute compilation 'Soft as Fire in The House of Love', in limited released via The Blog Celebrates Itself Records, the track has been remastered and, for the first time, is available in wider digital distribution.

Hailing from America’s farm-to-fork Capital in Northern California’s lush Sacramento Valley, Soft Science fuse melody, sound, and texture of 60s pop and 90s shoegaze like molecular gastronomists blend physics and chemistry to transform food. Together this 5-piece band have managed to create their own sweet blend of modern pop music with a sonic edge.

The band’s members share a love of such bands ranging from the Zombies and Beach Boys to Lush, Teenage Fanclub, Ride, Pale Saints, New Order, and Jesus and Mary Chain, along with newer artists such as Beach House and Frankie Rose. Such eclectic artists have influenced their music. BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.

The new double A side single comprises of 'Undone' an expansive, flowing, multi layered rocker with the melodic vocals immersed amongst the energised music. Accompanying this is 'I Don't Know Why I Love You' a refined and very pleasing cover version of the House Of Card's song.

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Bandini - Late Night Show.

Background - Inspired by the story of a night out in the effervescent streets of London, Late Night Show is the first single from the upcoming album Barflies. 

Produced by renowned UK soul artist Camelle Hinds; Late Night Show is a get up and dance track which combines Blues with Jazz and Gypsy Rock vibes.

Bandini is an exciting new contemporary artist, who through his re-imagining of fusion music has successfully incorporated aspects of jazz, blues, rock and gypsy  into a unique sound. 

Coupled with his enigmatic and theatrical stage performances, Bandini is quickly becoming one of the most relevant emerging acts today. Bandini’s performances have been described as an event, rather than simply a gig. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Late Night Show' mixes up some contrasting genres and does so with plenty of style. Melodic, upbeat, and vibrant, the question is do you dance to it, or just sing along with the chorus line, the answer might be both, and a beaming smile would be fitting.

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Said The Whale - Congratulations.

Background - Juno Award winning chart-toppers Said The Whale have announced a deluxe edition release of their 2017 LP As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide via Hidden Pony Records. Released one year after the original on March 30, the album will include 10 additional tracks, 5 B-sides, 4 acoustic versions, and 1 new cover song. To celebrate the release, the band has shared one of the previously unreleased tracks “Congratulations”.

Previously operating as a five-piece, the current trio - made up of frontmen Tyler Bancroft and Ben Worcester and keyboardist Jaycelyn Brown - have created their most collaborative, focused record to date. Previous releases highlighted the contrast between the two founders’ eclectic rock influences and salt-of-the-earth folksiness. Here, their styles become one. Despite the album’s many adventurous sonic forays, it remains true to the spirit of their classic work. At its core, As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide is a singer-songwriter record, guided by introspective lyrics and alchemical group harmonies from Ben, Tyler and Jaycelyn.

Additionally, the band will be releasing a 5 episode podcast titled Demoitis - available on iTunes later this month. Each episode explores a song from As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide as well as featuring discussions with peers in the Canadian music scene such as Max Kerman (Arkells), Graham Wright (Tokyo Police Club), Ryan Guldemond (Mother Mother) and more. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Feisty from the opening moments 'Congratulations' is a contagious indie pop/rock song that has the hooks on rapid fire, enjoy!

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Bodywash - Eye To Eye.

Background - Montreal-based four-piece, Bodywash, shared their new single, "Eye To Eye." The new song was produced by Nigel Ward (Seoul) as well as mixed by Austin Tufts & Taylor Smith (Braids). Their debut full length, Comforter (also produced and mixed by the same team as Eye to Eye) is scheduled for a 2018-2019 release.

Bodywash is a Montréal four-piece that layers airy vocals, intricate guitar textures and swirling synths over a heavy rhythmic foundation.

Formed by Chris Steward, Rosie Long Decter and Adam MacPherson in the Residence Basement of McGill University Residence in 2014, they released their four-track self-titled EP almost exactly one year later. This self-titled EP showcased Bodywash finding their feet as a band, experimenting with a range of styles from the thick, woozy electronics of “Nothing At All” to the more overtly poppy approach of “This Cruel”.

The band have since zeroed in on a more focused confident sound that marries all their favourite elements of 90s shoe-gaze & trip-hop, ethereal 80s pop, and contemporary left-field electronic music, in part due to the addition of bassist Tom Gould as well as drummer Ryan White. Notable past and upcoming performances include show support for Arkells, Happyness, Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, Hoan, Lido Pimienta, Moon King, & Doomsquad. FACEBOOK, TWITTER.

The synths gently bring 'Eye To Eye' into focus (pun intended) as the song builds into a mixture of dream pop and softer shoegaze. Atmospheric throughout this is a sumptuous and soothing track to close your eyes and drift along with.

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Almanac Mountain - Alice in the Cruel Sea - Clare Hennessy - The Milkmen

Almanac Mountain - Jane.

Background - Almanac Mountain is the ever-evolving experimental pop project of New England songwriter/composer Chris Cote. Whereas his 2016 full-length Cryptoseismology represented an assertive move towards more challenging conceptual work, his latest, an EP titled Black Collar Vices is a shift towards more straightforward songwriting and pop structure.

However, this shift is not a full-bore retreat from the inventiveness of previous releases, but a more economical distillation of Chris’s core compositional approach. Collaborator Brian James acted as co-producer for the EP and also penned the chamber pop ballad “Perfect For Company” which closes Black Collar Vices.

In crafting the sound for Black Collar Vices, Chris revisited the chorus and delay heavy acoustic guitar and vocal treatment that characterized the sound of Almanac Mountain’s first EP, 2010’s When In Nature. BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.

The musical production on 'Jane' is crisp and clear  providing each singular element with fabulous clarity. Gently melodic and with plenty of hooks Chris Cote's vocals give the song greater distinction, the new EP 'Black Collar Voices' is eagerly awaited.

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Alice in the Cruel Sea - Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea.

Background - Alice in the Cruel Sea is a 3-piece band based in London. Their sound is a mixture of alternative rock songwriting and electronic soundscapes, with synth and samples - driven tapestries of sounds. This  is enriched by lyrical yet minimal guitar melodies. It is formed by singer/songwriter Sara Rinaldi, guitarist/producer Filippo Faustini and bassist/producer Andy Kosakowski. The band is influenced by people like Radiohead, Sigur Ros, Florence and the machine, Bjork, Warpaint and also some cinematic music.

The band is currently promoting their first self-titled, self-produced EP through live performances in venues across London. Heading up to festivals in the summer, they continue pre-producing new songs and working on new material constantly. Their first single “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea”, was released at the beginning of March 2018 and it will be followed by several other single launches during the following months. The group is also collaborating with the Italian director Annamaria Pennazzi for their first video.

Alice in the Cruel Sea is a project that dates back to 2015, when singer/songwriter Sara Rinaldi coupled with guitarist Filippo Faustini to work on some songs and showcase them at various venues in London. They kept working on the material and when bassist Andy Kosakowski joined the band in 2016, all the arrangements were shunned and the band began an intense period of experimentation on sound textures in order to find their own sound and direction. The guitar work was reduced to a minimum and the songs started to sound more synth-oriented. Samples from old keys, synths, mellotrons etc. started to appear as part of Alice’s sound world and the songs were shaped in their current form. FACEBOOK.

The layers slowly develop on 'Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea' a dreamy landscape of beautiful vocals and sensitive musical sounds that occasionally intensify but never dominate or clutter the flowing and ethereal feeling this piece exudes.


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Clare Hennessy - April.

Background - In a world that rejects vulnerability, the most radical thing that musician and writer Clare Hennessy could do was write an album of deeply personal songs. Music helped her to navigate and heal the frayed pockets of her heart; it was only fitting that she might hope to embolden others to do the same. A bright anthem to echo the triumph of new beginnings, April, the single, muses on transformation. With warm clarity, Clare Hennessy reminds us that when the month is right, taking flight is inevitable. Perfect for high-way driving

Considering Clare’s childhood listening to Joni Mitchell records, the heartbreaking honesty and nimble vocals of April are no surprise. She draws inspiration too from the warmth of Laura Marling, the grit of Marika Hackman and the guts of Julien Baker. Her voice soars above grit and sometimes considerable darkness with a lightness akin to Katie Noonan.

When asked to summarise the story of the EP, Clare insists that it is largely one to be felt and defined for each individual listener - though there is of course a clear path between each song to her. The take away: despite harshness, barrenness or hardship, there can be beauty. There will be growth. Hope can grow in desolation with love - and “by allowing truth to be heard”.

A trained playwright, stories have always been her lifeblood. It was no wonder then that she channeled this into her music, which has (since childhood) persistently knocked upon her door. April honours this marriage between stories and song, charting her personal coming of age (and, it marks a professional leap, too).

Growing up enchanted by the fantastical competing worlds of Sydney metropolis and rural QLD where her extended family lived, there is a mirroring duality in the music Clare Hennessy creates; heavily influenced by folk and rock authenticity, she has also been ensnared by the world of the less traditional. The tracks of April chart different landmarks along the journey of her becoming, and can be heard as both stand-alone destinations or pit-stops along a larger journey.

Tonally, the musical landscape feels like something between a Spaghetti Western and Twin Peaks - with a healthy helping of witchcraft in the mix. April was produced by Clare along with Nicholas Maitland, with guitar arrangements composed by Ben McCrum and Andy Mason as sound technician. Clare navigates rock, country and folk with a distinctly Australian flair. The destination: authenticity. Recorded entirely in her bedroom, this musical debut invites us into an interior space in which a heart is thawed out and false identities are abandoned. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

The word honest came to mind before I has even read the above background promo. 'April' has so much honesty to it, with intimate and personal lyrics coursing there way through the four songs. Acoustic, melodic and with vocals that can easily touch your heart, I am just so pleased to be able to feature the whole EP.

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The Milkmen - Pirate Boy.

Background - Opening with its spine-tingling first single Pirate Boy, The Milkmen's sophomore album, Behind Closed Eyelids, is an intense and rewarding listen. Driven by the gritty vocal style of Conor Mcloughlin, the band taps a vein of dirty acoustic rock, striking gold with masterfully layered songs that delve deep into the heavier realities of life.

Raw and honest, the lyrics at the heart of Behind Closed Eyelids match the intensity with which they are sung. Each instrument in the arrangement plays its part to perfection – adding the necessary shading that makes up the album's tone. Together, both band and singer bring the powerful narratives of Behind Closed Eyelids to life – delivering wave after wave of uplifting music, even during the album's bleakest moments. To properly capture this energy on tape, the band enlisted legendary Perth producer Rob Grant to sonically sculpt Behind Closed Eyelids.

From the darkest to the lightest moments on the album, the band sound glorious. The slow-burning State Of Mind comes bearing cheery melodies amidst the perfectly gloomy Sold My Soul and the soaring gospel harmonies of I Can Still Hear The Birds. History Repeating Itself and Davy Jones bring heartache, while For The Rest Of My Dayz, Lots Of Love and To Fight For You bring joy.

Formed and based in Perth, The Milkmen have divided their time between Australia and the UK. Now armed with the greatest work of their career, The Milkmen have every cause to get out and take their music to the world. Beginning on their own doorstep, the band will launch Behind Closed Eyelids at the Ravenswood Hotel on April 14 (fb event), kicking off a 12 month cycle of touring.

Having experienced both the intimacy of small clubs and the electrifying rush of performing festivals to thousands of people, The Milkmen are poised to take everything in their stride and embrace each new opportunity. With this tenacity – not to mention a setlist of blistering new tunes – the potential for this unique band is literally endless. FACEBOOK.

Described as acoustic rock 'Pirate Boy' is all of that however it's not soft or sweet, rather potent and mesmerising with the vocals adding some menace and drama, as the band energise the soundtrack.

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Saltwater Sun - Hedge Fund

Saltwater Sun - The Wire.

Background - Hand In Hive signees Saltwater Sun return with tenacious new offering The Wire, reaffirming their irresistible blend of guitar pop on a whole new level. Marshalled by frontwoman Jen Stearnes’ gritty yet infectious vocals, the Reading quintet’s first release of 2018 boasts stratospheric hooks, explosive guitars and delicious harmonies, elevating them right back alongside their indie peers.

Having spent the last 18 months working on new material after drawing widespread acclaim from the online community and BBC Introducing, the five-piece are now gearing up for a hectic year with a slew of festival dates and releases in the pipeline.

Discussing their forthcoming single, the band stated: “Recently I think we’ve found ourselves part of a society divided by misinformation and distrust. The Wire is taking a look at the turbulent times we live in; the world’s never been so connected, yet it’s very easy to feel detached”. Produced by Alex Loring, Saltwater Sun’s The Wire is released via Hand In Hive (Dama Scout, Swimming Tapes, Zuzu) and is available on all platforms. FACEBOOK, TWITTER.

'The Wire' is a sprightly indie rocker with plenty of melodic hooks and some refined clarity from the musical arrangement, there are no passengers on this song as each band members commitment comes shining through.

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Hedge Fund - True Romance.

Background - The movement from depression into hope unraveled layers of complex cognition and a heightened creative determination for Sydney's Hedge Fund. But here they stand with their most confident single yet - 'True Romance' - their first to emerge following a year of personal turmoil for the group's frontman, self-proclaimed provocateur Will Colvin.

An immaculate melting pot of muscular post-punk grooves and dreamy synth-pop, 'True Romance' is a return to form for the band, rolling with heart and sparking with emotional rawness, think the likes of New Order, Talking Heads and The Cure. For Colvin, it came with a sizable helping of heartbreak.

"True Romance was written as a reaction to the death of my father and the breakdown of my marriage, the loss of the two most important people in my life in a very short period of time. The lyrics are about grief, frustration, failure and the lies that we tell ourselves about who we are as human beings. It's a song about being wrenched into a situation which caused an immense loss of faith in reality."

Recorded alongside longtime producing partner Richard Belkner at studio Free Energy Device in Camperdown, the pair went deep on this one, working hard to merge the pounding combination of bass, drums and vocals at the core of the song. The result - something between Nirvana and Blade Runner. FACEBOOK, TWITTER.

A chunky bass, accompanied by some determined and emphatic vocals open 'True Romance' a feisty rocker with hints of punk angst, backed by a band whose suppressed energy occasionally cannot be held back as they explode into a full on rock assault.

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Flower Face - Frederick The Younger

Flower Face - April To Death.

Background - Flower Face is Ruby Mckinnon, a 19-year-old songwriter from Ontario, Canada, whose voice stretches far beyond her years. Taking her musical cues from an eclectic range of influences, her sound sits somewhere between Conor Oberst, Big Thief and The National.

‘April To Death’, taken from new album Baby Teeth, sounds upbeat yet deals with the disillusion that comes with being a human being, and the various methods we use to cope with life, in Ruby’s words “whether that be drugs or dropping out of school or meaningless encounters. It's kind of a cynical take on all the things we do to make life a bit less painful, they feel so passionate and important at the time, but really they're pretty empty.”

Having played piano from the age of 5 and picked up the guitar to record her songs at 15, Flower Face has forged her way as an independent artist for years, amassing 125K+ streams on recent single ‘Honey and Milk’ with no label support or management whatsoever.

While Flower Face’s music has a quiet beauty, lyrically her songwriting deals with the darker side of life. She tells us that “it’s kind of an outlet but also a method of storytelling. A lot of my writing is based on empathy – on putting myself in places I haven’t been as a means of exploring the capacity of my own feelings. I was writing about heartbreak long before I’d ever felt it. I was writing about death before I’d ever lost someone close to me. I had a close brush with death when I was 17 – I went through surgery and chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. A lot of people thought that explained my lyrics, but I was writing about the dark long before I’d been there.” FACEBOOK, TWITTER.

The vocals are melodic and sensitive, the music adds some more energy to the song with its indie folk feel as 'April To Death' quickly establishes itself as one very catchy song.

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Frederick The Younger - Human Child II.

Background - Louisville’s acclaimed psych-pop band Frederick The Younger is hitting the road in support of Houndmouth in April. In advance of the tour, they're sharing their first new song in over a year, “Human Child II”, which is a full band interpretation of the title track to their debut album Human Child that came out last February. The original version of the song was performed solo on the album by their powerhouse vocalist Jenni Cochran, so the band decided to cut a full version after it went over well during live performances in the past year.

Frederick The Younger’s sound is a perfect balance of psych-pop and vintage rock & roll, with Cochran's captivating vocals always at the forefront, drawing comparisons to everyone from Janis Joplin to Karen O. Their album Human Child was produced by veteran sonic wizard Kevin Ratterman (My Morning Jacket, Andrew Bird, Twin Limb), and is a bigger and more exploratory progression of their debut Warm Front EP.

Comprised of Cochran, Aaron Craker (guitar, who’s also playing guitar w/ Houndmouth on these dates), Jake Hellman (bass) and Dave Givan (drums), there is an earnestness to Frederick The Younger’s music that rings true, the kind of sincerity only born from experience. These songs feel alive and well-lived, tragic, beautiful, and contemplative, all with solid hooks. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Upcoming Frederick The Younger Tour Dates:
4/06 - Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall
4/12 - Detroit, MI - El Club #
4/13 - Bloomington, IN - Bluebird #
4/14 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall #
4/15 - Madison, WS - Majestic Theatre #
4/16 - Appleton, WI - Tandem Bar
4/17 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue #
4/18 - Iowa City, IA - Englert Theater #
4/19 - Columbia, MO - The Blue Note #
4/20 - Kansas City, MO - Truman Hall #
4/21 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre #
4/24 - San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger #
4/25 - Austin, TX - Scoot Inn #
4/26 - Baton Rouge, LA - Varsity Theatre #
4/27- Birmingham, AL - The Saturn #
# - with Houndmouth

It's over a year since were first introduced to Frederick The Younger and it is indeed a pleasure to be able to share 'Human Child II'. The psych elements are there again, along with some superb and dramatic vocals that add a level of mystery to the song, along with the creative and intriguing musical arrangement.

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