MAWD - Atlantic Machine - Krantz - Ganser

MAWD - Dark Room.

Background - MAWD is the moniker of California musician and songwriter Madeline Matthews. Her stunning compositions fuse rock’n’roll, folk/blues and pop. The soulful, textured timbre of MAWD is diverse and ranges anywhere from a breathy and sultry folk/blues vibe, to a powerful Janis Joplin-esque/Karen O. belt. 

Her vocals perfectly imprint upon the sonic foundation laid by quivering electric guitar, haunting harmonies, classic acoustic folk rhythms, south western inspired Americana bass lines, and full percussion. MAWD is a true musician playing the piano, guitar, ukulele, bass, accordion and some banjo as well.

MAWD’s upcoming single ‘Dark Room’, profiles the feeling of isolation that so many of today’s use experience today. “I felt like I was going crazy, sitting in my dark dingy dorm room, struggling with the longing for a comforting feeling, trying to fit in, feeling like a stranger in my skin, and discovering a new dark part of my mind”, reveals MAWD. ‘Dark Room’ is an explosion of soulful husky vocals, over gritty guitars and powerful driving rhythms. MAWD has been compared to the likes of Elle King, Janis Joplin and Alabama Shakes.

Her debut self titled EP is produced by Roger Gisborne of Los Angeles based record label Sound x3 and Josiah Mezzaschi (Rilo Kiley, Kate Nash, The Jesus and The Mary Chain) and mastered by Brian Lucey (The Black Keys, Beck, The Kills). MAWD has headlined sold out shows across the globe and will be performing at SXSW this spring. ‘Dark Room’ is currently available worldwide. FACEBOOK, TWITTER.

The vocals have some fine and natural blues vibes to them on 'Dark Room' a soulful rocker that has both passion and plenty of "play me again" hooks, it's natural and desirable.

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Atlantic Machine - Automatic.

Background - London duo Atlantic Machine have released thier debut single Automatic (16th March) followed by the album Mosquito on 18th May. Atlantic Machine are Producer and Grammy award winning Engineer Jim Lowe (Stereophonics, The Dandy Warhols, The Charlatans) and Vocalist and Guitarist Tiffany Page, who first met in the studio before forming their own musical partnership.

The pairing sees the baritone voice of Jim mixed with Tiffany’s raspy tones to create a unique new wave sound. Debut single Automatic is a dark electro-pop track that builds with synths and strings to a powerful and emotive chorus. The band say;

“It’s about how we all do things automatically through our life. It can be how we automatically love someone or love someone despite being treated badly. It can be how we automatically carry on doing the daily grind. It is abstract enough to make it your own interpretation…"

Recorded in London at Jim’s home studio and Rak Studios, forthcoming album Mosquito includes collaborations with String Arranger and Cellist Laura Anstee, who has performed with Bjork, Kanye West, Adele, Jay Z and Florence & The Machine and Drummer Jamie Morrison (Stereophonics, The Noisettes). WEBSITE, TWITTER.

Atlantic Machine gradually increase the power on 'Automatic' where a seductive vocal duet is backed by an increasingly layered sound-scape, where mystery abounds.

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Krantz - Until We Meet Again / Run Away.

Background - Nashville-based, alt/psych-rock band, Krantz,  drop new lyric video, "Run Away From Me” and single "Until We Meet Again" from their upcoming EP, The Pennock Tapes, due out April 27.  The single is an anthem dedicated to feeling stuck in a rut and disheartened by living in the shadows  and realizing how  nothing is going to change unless one takes a chance.

With a retro style and influence from the golden age of rock and roll, but with a modern touch, Jeffrey Krantz and his band bring a psychedelic/pop/rock edge equipped with an in-your face attitude.

Influenced by his drummer father and the Beatles, he embraced music as an expressive medium at the early age of 12, and developed himself as a musician, songwriter and artist. Leaving his home state of Iowa, traveling the world, touring over 200 days per year with the “Effects” and opening for bands such as the Kings of Leon, Shinedown, Foreigner and the Toadies, Jeffrey made the decision to “live the dream” and eventually landed in Nashville.

Recognizing the world was in dire need of some melodic rock he continued to write, record and eventually self-produced his own self-titled album. Krantz hit the studio between tapings of MTV’s music competition, “American Supergroup” where he eventually became a finalist in the competition.

A entwinement of provocative lyrics and no-holds rock and roll, Krantz sees his music as a balanced combination of frantic ecstasy and introspective depths. Alternating between crazy antics, a dash of face paint, and a meaningful look within, Krantz feels that his music is the perfect blend of his extroverted personality. Drawing from his influences of The Beatles, Weezer, and T-Rex, Krantz looks for meaning and purpose within his rock N Roll sound. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Until We Meet Again' opens with some classic riffs and a gorgeous guitar sound whilst the vocals are refined and easy on the ear. With 'Run Away' we have more gorgeous rock vibes and once again the melodic hooks are there in abundance. The band clearly have a knack for catchy unpretentious rock songs, that's plenty enough for me!



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Ganser - Avoidance.

Background - “Avoidance” is the second new single and music video that the Chicago post-punk band Ganser has shared from their forthcoming debut album Odd Talk (out 4/20 via No Trend Records). “Avoidance” is a sharp pain of miscommunication, the exhaustion of trying to be understood by someone you love but your language is all wrong. Ultimately, the effort is pointless. Nadia Garofalo's voice rises and falls with synth washes over driving bass and drums, while Charlie Landsman's guitar punctuates with sharp flourishes. In the video, cars race in a sparse desert landscape towards an unknown end.

Throughout Odd Talk, Ganser’s amorphous sound takes on the form of their comedically grim, absurdist subject matter. Exercising both introverted melody and extroverted noise, the band finds meaning through echolalic shouts and murmurs. Garofalo shouts and barks with an acerbic edge, while Alicia Gaines' vocals soothe and swell. Mumbled, spit out, Ganser explores communication breakdown from beginning to end... seeking meaning in mess, they sort through syllables and signals to find the right words. “Avoidance” follows the album’s first critically-acclaimed first single “PSY OPS” (buy/stream), which came out last month.

After the bands’ headlining record release show @ Glitter Creeps’ party at the Empty Bottle on 4/16, the band will also be heading out on tour in support of Odd Talk (all dates below). They’ll be performing a string of shows with Bloody Knives before heading venturing out on their own in the Southeast. WEBSITE, TWITTER.

Ganser Tour Dates:
3/28 - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen (w/ Shopping, Tyvek)
4/16 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle (Record Release Show)
4/25 - Detroit, MI - Outer Limits Lounge %
4/26 - Pittsburgh, PA - Howlers %
4/27 - Brooklyn, NY - Alphaville %
4/28 - Philadelphia, PA - Mothership %
4/29 - Providence, RI - Alchemy %
5/01 - Brooklyn, NY - St. Vitus
5/02 - Baltimore, MD - Sidebar
5/03 - Richmond, VA - Flora
5/04 - Raleigh, NC - Slim's
5/05 - Atlanta, GA - 529
5/06 - Memphis, TN - Bar DKDC
% - with Bloody Knives

It is just four weeks since we shared the first single (Psy Ops) from Ganser, 'Avoidance' makes for a very welcome follow up. The music video is retro (just love those classic cars), the song a potent rocker packed with determination and emotion, expect plenty more on the forthcoming album, it's going to be worth the wait.


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Man Mountain - JC Brooks Band - Elliott Heath

Man Mountain - Memory Trace.

Background -  There is power in the repetition. When stretched across an infinite plane, even the smallest elements become transformatively integrated into the greater picture. Tones to spectrums. Feathers to flight. Molecules to mountains. Spartan Records proudly welcomes Man Mountain to the family — a melodic, instrumental post-rock outfit from Southeast Michigan. In the honorable lineage of bands like The Appleseed Cast, Sigur Ros, and American Football, Man Mountain's debut record Infinity Mirror is a journey of emotive dynamics set against a swirling dreamlike ferocity.

“With Infinity Mirror, we wanted to capture the sonic intensity of our live set,” says guitarist Mike Reaume, “that feeling when everything kicks in and your are entirely immersed in the sound.” Song by song, the album progresses with an intentionality that allows delicate melodies, motifs, and nuances to build into quaking full-band aggression. “We didn’t want any two songs to sound like different versions of the same idea,” says Reaume, describing the albums play between fragmentation and cohesion. “We wanted each song to explore a different facet of musical influence for us both individually and collectively.”

Intentionally avoiding a traditional studio recording path, Infinity Mirror was tracked in a variety of unconventional locations. With ultimate attention paid to sonic integrity, gear selection, and reckless experimentation, the record took shape over the course of many months. “The overall tonality of Infinity Mirror is much different from anything we’ve done before,” says Reaume. “The clean tones are much more pristine and shimmering, and the heavy bass parts just get amazingly filthy.” Once tracking and mixing were complete, final mastering details were handled by Mike Kalajian (Circa Survive, Prawn, Moving Mountains).

Thematically, the album presents a constant duality. Aptly titled Infinity Mirror, it is hard to ignore the unending and cycling conflict associated with any type of prolonged reflection. Sonically translated, this pondering plays as understated notes and moments reverberating into upheaval and dissonance. While the catalyst for much of this direction can be traced to the internal, the band also acknowledges the influential power of their surrounding physical environment. “Michigan is a beautiful state that really inspires a sense of adventure and exploration,” says Reaume. “It also can be somber and brutal in the winter. I think that definitely can be heard in the contrasting vibe of a lot of the songs we write. Even the way the album flows is from more upbeat ‘summer’ songs to more melancholic ‘winter’ songs — like the cycle of the seasons." FACEBOOK, TWITTER.

I have mentioned before that we do not receive many instrumental based bands at Beehive Candy. Man Mountain are therefore very welcome, especially as their post rock musical material is both refreshing and atmospheric as is the case with 'Memory Trace' one of six tracks on this much recommended album.

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JC Brooks Band - Anywhere But America, Part 1.

Background - “Anywhere But America, Part One” was created to satisfy the need for the JC Brooks Band to return to their soul roots. What was not known was that the song would be a scrupulous break up letter to America that would stab any lover in the heart. The music lays out visuals of a ghostly platform for JC to write his ode to America. The choir and use of the church organ throughout the song, played by renowned recording artist Frank McComb, continues to paint a backdrop of a funeral held in a black church.

JC cleverly entangles lyrical ideas from M.L.K’s “I Have a Dream” speech with the Star Spangled Banner. “Anywhere But America, Part One” is a witty villanelle expressing Black America’s disdain for the country’s actions of the past and present.   

The band’s percussionist JoVia Armstrong composed “Anywhere But America, Part One” and lead vocalist JC Brooks wrote its lyrics. Armstrong focused on creating simple chords for a simple song that will guide attention to JC’s lyrics and vocal delivery. The studio production of the song took it to another level of intensity. The band recorded the song in just two takes. Adding male and female choir-like vocals to the background made it a bit more Gospel. A dark and haunting reverb was added to the kick drum in the verses.

Renowned recording artist Frank McComb was in Chicago during the production of the song and the band was able to grab him to play organ, which really took us to church. The lyrics are compelling and JoVia’s composition and production create a solid, powerful vessel to carry their message. Red Black & Blue, Vol 1 is an EP about the evergreen frustration of being gas-lit by someone who's only slick enough to trick himself but not you. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Soulful, bluesy and rich in emotion 'Anywhere But America, Part 1' is a timeless and fabulous song. The vocals and harmonies are pure roots and gorgeous, the musical arrangement pristine, love it!

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Elliott Heath - Foaming Floor.

Background - Stepping out from behind his Minotawr mask, Elliott Heath has just released the new album Metropolitan.

Previous musical excursions have been both challenging, intriguing, exciting and sometimes almost mainstream and commercial in nature. The rule of thumb is to expect the unexpected, it's the one consistent theme throughout his musical explorations. 

Elliott is not seeking great acclaim, rather just developing his own ideas and looking for new boundaries to cross. 

With the new album 'Metropolitan' the eight songs are concise, the creative ideas are there in abundance, however there is a sense of order, ensuring each song stands out as an individual work, increasing the sense of variety.

The reality that this is assessable, and even compulsive listening at times, is perhaps why the only quote from Elliott was "I'm not even that keen on it really".. BANDCAMP.

It's very difficult to pick just one song from the new 'Metropolitan' album that can be described as typical or representative such are the twists and turns Elliott Heath takes with his music. 'Foaming Floor' is one of my favourites and it's for that reason alone I share it. It is because Elliott tests musical boundaries without any sense of self indulgence, rather with a "well why not?" attitude that I find myself drawn back to his material time and again. Different? Yes, Challenging? Sometimes, Refreshingly Different? Consistently!

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The By Gods - Modern Whale

The By Gods - Wait Up.

Background - Nashville’s awesome garage rock trio The By Gods announced their US tour w/ fellow garage rockers Pat Chow (Australia), along with sharing a new music video for their single “Wait Up” that stars their two dogs, Dookie and Wheezy.

The two bands also teamed up on a split tour-exclusive 7” called No Strings/Try So Hard, which includes a new song from The By Gods that isn’t available anywhere else. The By Gods' sound harkens back to everything you ever loved about your favorite grungey 90’s era indie rock bands… brimming with nostalgia but never feeling forced, the band is touring on the heels of their 2017 album Move On.

Produced, mixed and engineered by Alex Newport (Deathcab For Cutie, At The Drive-In, Bloc Party), the album is the sound of a band trying to come to terms with their own ever-changing and strange reality, pushing themselves out of their comfort zone to finally sculpt their own hard-won identity. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Upcoming Tour Dates
3/22 Nashville, TN @ Radio Cafe
3/23 Bowling Green, KY @ Tidball's
3/25 St Louis, MO @ The Sinkhole
3/26 Chicago, IL @ Emporium
3/27 Newport, KY @ Southgate House
3/29 Columbus, OH @ Ruby Tuesday
3/31 Philadelphia, PA @ Creep Records
4/01 Brooklyn, NY @ Alphaville
4/04 Asheville, NC @ Fleetwoods*
4/05 Atlanta, GA @ Starbar*
4/07 Nashville, TN @ The East Room*
*Pat Chow not appearing.

It was back in the summer of 2016 that The By Gods first appeared on our radar and so the new music video for 'Wait Up' makes for a welcome return for the band. A slower paced but nonetheless grungy sort of rock & roll piece, when the band up the power they do so with raw energy. So if a couple of cute dogs isn't enough for you, this sub three minute rocker should complete the circle.


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Modern Whale - The Dirt.

Background - Brooklyn trio Modern Whale (the brainchild of musician Rob Guariglia) have dropped a new single ("The Dirt") and music video. 

Naturally reminiscent of cult television program The Twilight Zone, the video was produced, directed and performed by Raviv Ullman (as seen on HBO, CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, MTV, and Disney’s ‘Phil of the Future’) and Martin Spanjers (Grey’s Anatomy, 8 Simple Rules). Maneuvering through New York’s finest visual trappings, the video also stars John Beach.

A “Modern Whale" is not a specimen of the sea but rather a musical crossing. If we are to think about band names as part of an overall expression then this name is enormous. So enormous, so amorphous, that your new favorite group might not fall into your standard “musical genre."

Too pop for indie, too indie for pop, Modern Whale has been Vevo’s ‘Featured Artist’ for each of their four releases on YouTube, with their single “Burn Like the Sun” being a favorite on Hype Machine.

Helmed by Rob Guariglia, the outfit formed in Brooklyn at the infamous rock refuge Meserole Sound Studio (also known as Rob’s home base). Living in Bushwick, ‘90s rock finds salvation and rebirth in Modern Whale. The name then reflects the animalistic tendency of music and is encapsulated through Rob’s dog Stella, his assistant and muse. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Described as "Too pop for indie, too indie for pop" Modern Whale have that little rock something that makes sense of that statement. The video for 'The Dirt' is fascinating and just a little paranoid, the songs energy and musical armoury of hooks ensures they make fine companions, this is classy material.


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Polychrome - Someone - Spritzer

Polychrome - Final Kiss.

Background - East-London-based Polychrome, who channel the spirit of Cocteau Twins with the electronic ecstasy of M83, are made up of Oliver of The Bronze Medallists and Victoria of Victoria and Jacob. Victoria and Jacob have been championed by the likes of NME, Time Out, The Line of Best Fit, Uncut and DIY to name a few, and have also supported The Mystery Jets, Com Truise, Daughter, and Katy B. Oliver, frontman of indie electronica band Bronze Medallists (also solo performer/activist Olly the Octopus AKA ‘Boris Johnson’s Nemesis’ – City AM), has worked with the likes of Lucy Rose, Mt Wolf, L.A. Salami, and been supported by Radio 1, Radio X, Radio 2, and 6music to name a few.
   
Polychrome now release lead-single 'Final Kiss' off the upcoming self-titled debut album ‘Polychrome’, which opens with crisp production that features floating vocal samples on flowing synthesiser, making for a deep estuary of thick chromatic chords. Victoria’s silky, reverberating lyricism pours through the verses, and rock-pool crevices are filled with intertwining bubbly synthesisers. Single artwork by Print Designer Lisa King whose work has appeared in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and W Magazine, and has collaborated with Kylie Minogue
   
Victoria studied Creative Music Tech in Cambridge and has contributed a large amount of the production on the album; she feels there is still a massive fight for women in the industry and wants them to get into production and songwriting in the typically male-dominated industry. Victoria considers production during the songwriting process, visualising which effects, samples, and techniques might be used.

Much of the Polychrome album was written in isolation at Grianian Eco Lodge in Scotland – close to Oliver’s hometown. The band took some time out to focus here. Inspired by the incredible landscape and isolation, the duo feel their sonic soundscapes are massively influenced by the Highland views, rivers and incredible mountains.
   
‘Final Kiss was one of my favourites to work on as I directed the production. I really wanted a vintage sound, and managed to pick up a harmonica mic that I found in a bargain bin. I’ve got a Juni 106 keyboard and a 107 drum-machine keyboard at home that I also recorded to gain the backbone for this track. I’m big on female production and songwriting and seeing how male-led the industry is drives me harder. Olly is always happy to let me take the driving seat as he trusts my style and skill.’ - Victoria. FACEBOOK.

'Final Kiss' opens with some beautifully layered synths that develop into a flowing arrangement with some catchy musical elements that complement the smooth, gentle and notable vocals. It's a little retro in feel, the production however is gorgeously distinct, whatever influences Polychrome might be channelling, they are doing so with significant style.

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Someone - Chain Reaction.

Background - Amsterdam psych-pop artist Someone releases her debut EP Chain Reaction, and unveils 1920s silent-movie inspired video for the single of the same name. The former cutesy singer-songwriter shakes off her previous self to explore the rockier depths of pop composition and discover the power of absolute freedom on her debut EP, Chain Reaction.

First single The Deep had a warm, brooding groove, Say Something brought the fuzz, and third cut Forget Forgive ushered in a more delicate, contemplative and personal side to Someone’s sophisticated songwriting. Final single Chain Reaction is a an infectious indie-rock shuffle, accompanied on release by a short film aping the silent movies of the 1920s. It’s been 4 years since the release of (Songs from) The Sandbox, Jackson’s debut album which bagged an impressive number of plays on the Dutch airwaves, and multiple television features, plus syncs for American commercials and series (such as the acclaimed New Girl).

However, set with the task of writing album number two, the TRJ river was running dry. She discovered that the teenager responsible for the poppy happy-go-lucky tunes of her debut album had been replaced by someone older, someone wiser, and (dare she say?) someone a whole lot more interesting. After three years’ working as a composer for TV and feature film, Jackson’s skillset as a writer and producer was broadening, along with her musical tastes (and dusty synthesizer collection).

Hence the regeneration. “I wanted a name that meant: Don’t worry about who I am. Just check out what I make. I make a lot. Some you may like, some you may not. But I’ll like it. And you know what, I’m someone too.” Though the ear-wormy pop sentiment of TRJ still trickles through the veins of the new tracks, the rest of the music is a far cry from the Sandbox. Enhanced by Jackson’s own abstract artworks and live visuals, Someone is like a trip inside her chaotic, over-productive (but colourful) mind. FACEBOOK, TWITTER.

The video is a piece of art in it's own right, thankfully 'Chain Reaction' is one very fine song and the two go together wonderfully. After the classic introduction we have a feisty psych pop track that is just so addictive, with it's slightly understated arrangement and dreamy vocals the detail for each element is thoughtful and as I say, addictive.


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Spritzer - Little Mystery.

Background - Spritzer is the project of Matthew Meade, founder of Brooklyn chamber-pop band Friend Roulette. 

Though the band features a rotating cast of players, its core members include Ryan Weiner (Tiny Hazard), James Preston (Maybird, Sam Kogan), and Kyle Olson (also of Friend Roulette.) They will release their debut LP, Love. Lies. Decay., on April 27th via Paper Garden Records.

The upcoming release draws influence from a wide array of genres, from indie rock and guitar pop to Americana and bossa nova. Its eight tracks showcase Spritzer's diverse and experimental sound, but the album opens with their most upbeat and pop-leaning song to date: "Little Mystery." Described by Meade as a "fun and shamelessly cheesy love song.”

Spritzer will celebrate the release of Love. Lies. Decay. with a show at Brooklyn's Elsewhere on April 25th. FACEBOOK.

Paper Garden Records have a track record for delivering superb artists material and 'Little Mystery' from Spritzer only endorses that opinion further. Brisk, energised and melodic, the chamber pop band have a very catchy (as in hooks galore) track, that suggests the debut album is going to be, more than worthy of inspection in April.

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