Thursday, 13 December 2018

Locks - Perhapsy - Katey Brooks

Locks - The Hangover Song.

Locks are a London based alternative skeletal strings bluesy band, made up of L.Geary-Griffin (lead vocal / guitar), Mike Byrne (double bass), Marian McClenaghan (fiddle) and Andrew Marvell (drums).

This song is us having a bit of fun, we’re not all doom and gloom. We wrote it in the same vein as The Gin Song, in a sense it’s The Gin Song’s big brother. We released The Gin Song a couple of years ago and was also one of Steve Lamacq’s ‘Best of the year so far (2017).

The Hangover Song is what it says on the tin. It’s an old school, knees-up, foot stomping track, we want to explore a different style which we’d hinted at before. The lyrics are still quite dark and morbid but the music drives the track towards something more playful.  We have a lot of different roots in our band and it’s nice to explore them and experiment with different styles. We wanted to explore a bit of the Trad element and a bit of the classic shanty style, we wanted to have another track which was a bit more light-hearted and fun to play live: we love seeing people dancing and laughing. The drums are classic Locks and tribal which keeps the momentum up, Marians fiddle takes a bit of centre stage here which is a mixture of bowing harmonies and melodies, it carries the song perfectly. Mikes double bass flits from sliding, sleepy notes at the start to dancing all over the neck.

The Hangover Song digital release 21st December 2019, Skeletal Blues & Rattle Them Bones! EP available now.

Live Dates:
14th December, 2018, The Harrison, London
8th January, 2019, The Bedford Tavern, London
28th January – 3rd February 2019, Independent Venue Week (TBC)
4th May, 2019, Electrowerkz.


It was 'The Gin Song' that introduced Beehive Candy to Locks and since then I'm always keen to hear them whenever something new comes along. 'The Hangover Song' is a feisty number considering hangover's are best served in low light and silence. So consider this more a "hair of the dog" song, or even better enjoy it in good health and jig along, it's not one to sit back to....

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Perhapsy - Neverending Story.

In case you missed it, Perhapsy's new record, Kingdom Starlight Bliss, is available everywhere! The record's been praised by national and local outlets, and the band is currently nominated for The Deli's Artist of the Month alongside other Bay Area breakouts like Rose Droll and Small Crush. We're so thrilled to see all the love coming in for this generous collaborator, and would appreciate any help in spreading the word!

For years now, musician slash graphic artist Derek Barber has bounced around Michigan and Bay Area music circles, making a name for himself with his jazz inflicted, inimitable guitar work. Currently a touring member of both Bells Atlas and the new Christopher Owen band, Curls, as well as a contributor to Madeline Kenney and Astronauts, etc., Barber has somehow found time to craft dense, emotion filled shoegaze pop under his moniker Perhapsy.

Vinyl is available through Porch Party Records, the boutique Southern California label that's championed influential West Coast artists like Religious Girls & Golden Drugs.


'Neverending Story' gives us a little taste of 'Kingdom Starlight Bliss' a collection of songs that stand in equal measure to this track. The guitar playing is impressive, the material is innovative and the hype is based on the quality that Perhapsy provides, rather than folk jumping on a bandwagon.


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Katey Brooks - In Your Arms.

The new single from Katey Brooks entitled ‘In Your Arms’ highlights her authentic musicianship, with soulful choral vocals, warm instrumentation and ethereal soundscapes, the track evokes a sense of intimacy between both the artist and the listener.

Katey Brooks is a clear-eyed rebel in an industry that demands consistency. A devastating songwriting talent that has drawn comparisons with Jeff Buckley (Supajam), Brooks has no shortage of famous admirers and yet she has resisted formula. Over a career spanning four continents, she’s journeyed from intimate living rooms to opulent concert halls, from dive bars to decorated studios with some of music’s biggest names. The wandering troubadour defies easy classification, with a back-catalogue incorporating soul, folk, blues and country. With her new album under construction, the mercurial songstress is more determined than ever to do things her own way. Applauded by the press, this ‘rising singer-songwriter has the crowd eating out of her hands’ (The Independent) and is simply ‘not to be missed’ (Time Out). To watch her sing live is to witness emotional exorcism, but when you know her backstory, it’s hardly a mystery why.

Growing up inside a cult, as a child Brooks found refuge in song. "It was a very chaotic upbringing, full of some pretty colourful and sometimes unsavoury, characters. But when I sang, I felt free and connected. For as long as I can remember, it’s been my way of getting what I need to say out”, she reveals. When she was sixteen, she turned down a spot at the Brit School, the performing arts college where a lot of the UK’s biggest musical exports – Adele, Amy Winehouse, Katie Melua – hail from. "When I was 22 my mum got ill and she died. And then not long after that, my lifelong best friend went missing and she also died. That’s definitely had an effect on the course of my life and my writing. I guess I’m lucky that I have songs that I can write, as a means to deal with things”.

All of these hardships seem to have driven, rather than dragged Brooks under. "Pain just reminds me why I sing," she says. "And not just for me; for everybody. They say in a funny sort of way musicians are like therapists," she muses. "Because music is a universal language. Everybody has experienced some kind of heartache, especially in relationships, and music allows us to purge these feelings." Brooks has certainly had her share of romantic turbulence, not to mention the struggle to come to terms with her sexuality. “In my most recent work I’ve finally been able to sing directly about women instead of using the mysterious ‘you’. I’m a private person in a lot of ways and I never wanted to be a poster girl for anything. But a few years ago I just thought screw it; I want to sing completely honestly. It felt like a weight lifted.”


Less than two weeks since Katey Brooks first appeared on Beehive Candy she returns with 'In Your Arms'. We commented that her vocals were "blissfully inspiring" first time around, an expression I feel is endorsed by the new song, and you can add gorgeous production and fabulous background vocals to the description for this one.


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Tuesday, 11 December 2018

The Persian Leaps - Young Robin

The Persian Leaps - Time Slips.

Power pop/indie rock band, The Persian Leaps have just shared a new video, created by Rouse Productions for “Time Slips” the lead single from the recently released album Pop That Goes Crunch. “The Persian Leaps” began as a phrase singer/guitarist Drew Forsberg doodled in a notebook margin during a college Greek Archaeology course. He wrote music independently under that name for years, until finally assembling a full band in 2012 to perform and record driving, chiming music influenced by My Bloody Valentine, The Smiths, Guided by Voices and Teenage Fanclub.

The Persian Leaps have adhered to a disciplined schedule of concise releases: each fall bringing an EP of five songs totaling fifteen minutes or less. In 2013, the Persian Leaps released their debut EP Praise Elephants, which NME Magazine described as a “celestial guitar jangle”. The band completed a follow-up EP Drive Drive Delay in 2014, praised by XS Noize for its “instantly catchy melodic harmonies layered on top of droning guitar.” In 2015, the band released High & Vibrate, an EP championed by The Big Takeover for its “big-time hooks, upbeat attitude, classic power-trio punch.” 2016 saw the release of Your City, Underwater, which earned a spot on The Big Takeover’s Top 30 EPs of 2016. In September of 2017, the band’s fifth EP Bicycle Face was delivered yet again to fan and critic praise. Named for a 19th-century medical condition concocted to scare women away from biking, Bicycle Face was described as a “perfect power pop cocktail” by 50thirdand3rd.

This year brings the band’s first full-length release titled, Pop That Goes Crunch, an 18-song “best of” anthology. With 17 remixed/remastered tracks, and one new single, it marks the end of an era, while celebrating and revisiting some of The Persian Leaps best work. It is available now via Land Ski Records.

'Time Slips' is the third song we have featured by The Persian Leaps in as many years, this time around we have a new video (the lead single) from their current album. The trio serve up another glorious helping of power pop with plenty of natural rock and roll edge, something they consistently do with apparent ease.


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Young Robin - Spaces.

Young Robin drop blissful new single 'Spaces' accompanied by a video. Young Robin are progressing so fast that it's exciting to watch – anticipating what they're going to do next, only to have those expectations surpassed. A band with an innate knack for hooks, Young Robin craft a beautiful sound that is somewhere between blissful indie and dance floor anthems. Fittingly, their latest single, the mesmerising Spaces, is both. Equal parts groove and melody, Spaces is the follow up to single U from the band's stellar EP, Transitions.

Built upon a rhythm you can't sit still to, Spaces is a delight for the ears with its perfectly-placed layers of delay-soaked guitar, bass, and effortlessly smooth vocals by both Jed Begho and Ben Teune. Playful and euphoric, Spaces feels like summer in Perth – as if the band have distilled the excitement of their beautiful hometown down into a singular burst of energy.

This is due in no small part to award-winning producer Andy Lawson, who has sculpted the Transitions EP masterfully – capturing the band's energy like lightning in a bottle. Bringing each vivid layer of the band to life, giving every instrument its perfect place in the mix, the combination of Young Robin and Andy Lawson has allowed each song to reach its full potential. Transitions is the band at its best and the remixed single Spaces elevates their sound to a new level.


Less than a month ago we shared 'Faker Faker' from Young Robin and they quickly return with 'Spaces' another bright refreshing indie song where every element shines through with aural delight and a fine new video that adds even more sparkle (we're starting to sound like a washing powder advert so I will leave it at that)....


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Monday, 10 December 2018

Psychic Love - The Differents

Psychic Love - One & Two.

"One & Two is a restless song about how communications bend and warp, especially in this new frontier, where nothing is as it seems." The term “dream grunge” is not one that’s used often...unless you’re describing Los Angeles band Psychic Love. Fronted by “queen of the underground,” Laura Peters, Psychic Love embodies the true meaning of indie rock wholeheartedly.

Self-described as Nirvana Del Rey, Psychic Love’s first EP, “The Hive Mind,”  has garnered exciting critical acclaim. Noisey dubbed the release “one of the more promising and refreshing debuts in a sea of staple LA psych and surf rock.”

Laura isn’t just a front woman. In 2015, Peters started the underground venue Vega’s Meat Market out of a converted Echo Park storefront (it was once a butcher shop), and co-founded Play Like A Girl, a music collective that presents a monthly, all ages showcase at The Echo, featuring female and female identifying acts.

Whether it’s bringing the underground music world to the forefront of Los Angeles culture, or creating addictive pieces of music, Laura and Psychic Love are a lifeline to the alternative music scene in Los Angeles.


The description Dream Grunge makes more sense having listened to Psychic Love and is ably demonstrated with the new song 'One & Two'. Melodic pop sensibilities are immersed in a deeper musical surrounding where they cleverly combine, add in a coach load of hooks and you have a very creative piece.

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The Differents - It's All Too Beautiful (album).

Guitarist and vocalist Lou Hallwas (Penthouse Sweets, Decoy Prayer Meeting) started The Differents with some high school buddies in Chicago’s Norwood Park neighborhood in the early ‘90s and current drummer Dan Garrity joined the band in 1994. 


Hallwas and Garrity were then joined by Gary Stier, who took on bass duties and began writing new material with the group, in 2015.

Over the years, the band has played hundreds of gigs, have opened for the likes of Wayne Kramer and Soul Asylum and released three albums before their long-awaited fourth LP, It’s All Too Beautiful, which was recorded by Adam Yoffe.

Their music has strong roots in 60s and 70s R&B and rock ‘n’ roll and has drawn comparisons to The Who, Small Faces and The Replacements.


As albums go 'It's All Too Beautiful' packs plenty of variety. From fully fledged natural rock and roll through to more refined slower pieces The Differents have come up with a selection of songs that keep you guessing what's next in store. The musicianship is highly crafted, the vocals lend themselves to pretty much all the styles the band create. Yes there are comparisons as mentioned above, yet this feels original and the music is fresh and consistently catchy.

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Sunday, 9 December 2018

Calva Louise - Team Picture - Tullycraft

Calva Louise - Tug Of War.

London punksters Calva Louise share gripping new single Tug Of War, the third track taken from their debut album Rhinoceros out 1st February.

Laying down a firm marker within London’s raucous punk scene over the last 18 months, the rising trio have since earned support slots alongside the likes of Albert Hammond Jr, Spring King and Anteros and recently finished an extensive UK tour with label-mates The Blinders.

Bursting with ferocity in their trademark anthemic style, Tug Of War encapsulates everything that’s come to be expected of the band. Silky guitar work, biting vocals and infectious, chaotic riffage takes centre stage and only adds to their growing reputation heading into next year’s debut LP release.

Discussing the video, the band stated: “We feel like in any kind of relationship there are unwritten rules everybody should follow, and that becomes a constant tug of war, dealing with unnecessary pressure. If everybody could have a complimentary point of view, then that tug of war could be a fun game where there are no set rules”.


We have featured Calva Louise twice this year and the new song 'Tug Of War' makes it three. The trio once again provide us with an energised punk come garage rocker, where the vocals add some melodic refinement whilst the music just crunches on with exuberance. The video adds a little humour as this London band continues to impress.


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Team Picture -  Clone You.

Leeds-based six-piece, Team Picture have just shared their new track, ’Clone You’. Co-produced with Chris Mulligan (Treeboy & Arc, WH Lung), the track, which was initially penned during the band’s infancy, arrives as part of a AA-side alongside ‘Bedroom Genius’ which is due for physical release as a limited edition cassette via Big Dumb Music (DSP launch for AA-side set for January 18, 2019).

Speaking about the release, guitarist JL says: “‘Clone You’ and ‘Bedroom Genius’ are two songs dating from a period when we were still experimenting with different sounds and lineups which would culminate in ‘RECITAL'. It's the sound of us trying to reconcile our fondness for floaty waves and chunky guitar habits: of a band in the infancy of trying to educate themselves away from popular alt-rock tropes.” The AA-side release acts as the first piece of music from the band since the 6 Music-supported mini-album, ‘Recital’ which arrived earlier this year, produced by Matt Peel (Autobahn, Eagulls, Menace Beach). News arrives ahead of the band’s headline at Leeds’ Hyde Park Book Club on December 7, 2018 (tomorrow).

“The focus of the lyrics wasn't dwelt upon much at the time, but in hindsight, they both feel like they're about loneliness. Something I only really realised when Rufus Newell (designer) sent through his ideas for the artwork.”

Since forming in late 2016, Team Picture have earned praise at Radio 1, 6 Music, Radio X and BBC Introducing, as well as opening for the likes of Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Parquet Courts, The Orielles and Trudy & The Romance. Earlier in 2018, they released the mini-album, ‘Recital’, before embarking upon their debut headline tour, ticking off a stop at Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club and further festival dates at The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City and Hit The North. The band are set to return to the studio in the early stages of 2019 with view to releasing more new music throughout the year.


It's our third Team Picture feature this year with new song 'Clone You'. Once again the band explore different musical territory with a creative and notable style, the vocals are outstanding the mood a little dark, the overall experience is hypnotic and gorgeous.

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Tullycraft - Passing Observations.

Tullycraft debut their first single/video "Passing Observations" off their upcoming 7th album "The Railway Prince Hotel" due out on vinyl & CD on February 8th on HHBTM Records. Tullycraft is known for writing indie pop anthems. Over the years they've penned a handful of songs that practically define the twee movement in America.

While the mainstream has largely ignored Tullycraft, their status in the indie pop underground is undeniable. Formed in 1995, they are considered to be one of the genuine pioneers of the American twee pop movement. Touring relentlessly during the last gasp of the truly independent indie-underground, they influenced countless young bands. They were once called “the Johnny Appleseed of Indie Pop - making their way across the country, leaving new bands, promoters, zines and record labels to sprout up in their wake." In recent years the band has stopped performing live, instead shifting their focus to their personal lives, while still writing and recording music together.

The Railway Prince Hotel is Tullycraft’s seventh album, their first since 2013’s Lost in Light Rotation. This new batch of songs sees Sean Tollefson and Jenny Mears continue to share most of the vocal duties, while long time musical stalwarts Chris Munford and Corianton Hale create most of the music. It would be selling Tullycraft short to say that The Railway Prince Hotel picks up where their last album left off. These new songs have a modestly different sound, somewhat due to the fact that long-time drummer (and original Tullycraft member) Jeff Fell, doesn’t make an appearance, but also because of the fresh approach the band took to recording this record. Equipped with lyrics, vocal melodies and rough bass lines (provided by Tollefson) the band composed many of the new songs from the ground up in the studio. This was an untried approach for Tullycraft. The result is an extraordinary album of 12 ultra-catchy, whip-smart gems that take aim at everything from failed relationships to the danceability of Billy Joel songs.

Throughout the album the music has an exciting urgency which is likely attributed to both the band’s spontaneous recording process and the enthusiasm each member brought to the new material. Are the wonderfully snarky, self-referential indie pop lyrics still here? Of course they are, this is Tullycraft after all. A deep dive into the lyrics uncovers an embarrassment of obscure indie references to be discovered. It’s hard to imagine a band or artist genuinely hitting their stride on their seventh outing, but much like Achtung Baby (U2’s 7th album) or Blonde on Blonde (Bob Dylan’s 7th album) somehow Tullycraft has hit the sweet spot between deliberate and daring. The result is a truly great batch of songs. With standout tracks like “Passing Observations,” “Has Your Boyfriend Lost His Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?” and the much too short “Lost Our Friends to Heavy Metal” – the question needs to be asked: Could The Railway Prince Hotel be Tullycraft’s true masterpiece? Honestly, it very well could be.


The second of twelve tracks on Tullycraft's seventh album due next February is 'Passing Observations' accompanied by a clever cartoon video. It's a good representation of what to expect from 'The Railway Prince Hotel,' where the band seemingly tear their way through the album with some highly original indie pop songs, that consistently have the bands unique and adorable sound.


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Cactus Lee - Sons of Sevilla - Gwenno

Cactus Lee - Got A Heart Like Rainwater Blues. This spring Cactus Lee released a new self-titled album (with R. Crumb artwork) via the este...