Leem Of Earth - Vilma Flood - Hush Pup - Grace Inspace

Leem Of Earth return with another really fine song to share, we featured a track from their Chapter One release last October and with Chapter Two they continue to develop some intriguing and creative music. Vilma Flood's vocals are something special in their own right, add in some superb song writing and refined musicianship, and we arrive with something unique and beautiful. Hush Pup tell their story for the new song 'The Hours' a gorgeously melodic and dreamy track crammed with hooks. It's back to July last year for our first Grace Inspace feature, and the new song was worth the wait after the debut E.P, as we are treated to some fabulous protest pop that is both clever and very catchy.

Leem Of Earth - Only So Many Ways.

On Chapter Two, Florida band Leem of Earth continue the musical expedition they began on Chapter One (which was released in Oct.). This three song release expands on the sound and the story. The sound is a nod to the vibe of the best nineties bands part romance and part grunge. The band cites The Innocence Mission, Radiohead and Sunny Day Real Estate as some of their favorite bands from the period.

With Chapter Two, the band adds in otherworldly aspects. "Water" is a Peter Gabriel-style conversation with a skeleton. In "Faithful Lights", the sun and moon watch over the dreaming narrator, and the music swells and surges with synth, voice and rhythm section all keeping pace with each other. "Only So Many Ways" features guitarist B's towering electric, while N on bass and E on drums are vivid and relentless, and LM's velvety voice wraps it all up.

Producer Jeremy SH Griffith (Johnnyswim, SUNBEAMS!) lends his synth expertise and creates a couple of codas from tiny pieces of the songs. Leem of Earth's sound and vision is ethereal and not all that easy to describe, but we think that's definitely a good thing.

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Vilma Flood - Fan of You.

Vilma and famed producer Tobias Fröberg explores musical landscape way beyond the blues- and country influenced sounds of her 2016 debut album. Up coming ”Moodswinger” was recorded at Fröberg’s studio on the Swedish island Gotland in the darkest hours of December, with a constant fire going to keep the cold out.

Inspiration was drawn from the following artists, all tied together by their strong voices, dark lyrics and fragile, detailed soundscapes: Melanie Safka, Ane Brun, Leonard Cohen, Karen Dalton and Alela Diane.

The tracks were built around the pedal steel, slide guitar, big sounding drums, harmony vocals and Vilma’s vibrating, immediately recognizable voice.

”Moodswinger” will be released on April 26th, with first single ”Fan of You” out now!

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Hush Pup - The Hours.

We’re Hush Pup & we make music that sounds a lot like driving at night through the board game Candyland – soft cotton candy trees brush up against the windows of your glass car as you ride toward a friend's cabin nearby the molasses swamp.

“The Hours” is a song about kindness. It's about being sweet and slow as a practice. It’s inspired by a scene from an Allen Ginsberg documentary where he conducts a workshop that integrates spirituality into artistic practice.

Watching this, I felt as if he had created a kindness crew. “The Hours” is written from the perspective of this crew. They're taking time to be gentle & they're high on that concept. The video for “The Hours” was made by members of our kindness crew. Emma Thais Holland & Jameel Mulani combined their super-8 footage with colourful karaoke text.

Our Flower Power EP & Panacea, a romantic film-inspired album, will be released on a double cassette with Lone Hand (lonehand.xyz) in March.


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Grace Inspace - Paradise Syndrome.

English-American musician Grace Inspace introduced herself with her ‘Protest Pop” sound last year and has announced a brand new single Paradise Syndrome released on 14th February.

The single follows her debut EP release Lazy Grace’s Apocalyptic Kitchen Vol.1 which featured the singles Tame Teens, Watersource, Uncertain, CA and Go Slow. The 4-track EP was produced in part by John King of the Dust Brothers and featured Steve Perkins of Jane’s Addiction and Nick McCabe of The Verve.

22-year-old Grace has a mature head on her young shoulders, with politically-charged character-driven lyrics amidst collaged soundscapes, which address current issues in the world in a humorous and refreshing way.

Paradise Syndrome kickstarts 2019 with a unique musical style; it's melodic and catchy chorus is Capital "P" Pop, but the track also puts the "on" in conscious with a satirical message about a culture that insists on high comfort levels.Grace says; “It’s about the condition that haunts the western world; feeling unsatisfied and anxious even though all your needs are met.”

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Edmond Jefferson & Sons - Talkboy - Orla Gartland - The Great Escape

Swiss band Edmond Jefferson & Sons create a beautifully atmospheric vibe with a level of energy simmering and slowly building both vocally and musically. Talkboy's lively indie rock/pop is infectious with 'Someone Else For You' going someway to explain the growing interest in this fine band. We have a thought provoking and personal song from Orla Gartland where her melodic vocals are outstanding. The Great Escape take us on a creative sonic journey with delicious vocals and a beautifully constructed musical arrangement with hints of psych and quirkiness, leaving me looking forward to the series of releases they have planned for the year.

Edmond Jefferson & Sons - The Winter.

Oscillating between explosive riffs, dark rock and soft ballads, their music is perfectly harmonised by organic sound textures and a mesmerising voice...

A few weeks after unveiling the single "Helsinki", Swiss 70's alternative / explosive-blues rockers Edmond Jefferson & Sons shared another excerpt from their upcoming effort with the music video of "The Winter".

The song will feature on the band's second full-length album also called 'The Winter' and planned for CD, LP & Digital on March 8th through Hummus Records (Emilie Zoé, Killbody Tuning, H E X....).

 “The Winter is a melody that resonates in the wind, a wanted notice addressed to sweetness. Hills just before nightfall, that moment when everything takes on a blue colour, a feverish guitar line that appears in the air, a mild cold soothes the forehead of the one who thinks he is inconsolable.” (Josette Seydoux, vocals).


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Talkboy - Someone Else For You.

Capitalising on their growing status as one of the city’s hottest prospects, Leeds indie risers Talkboy share addictive new offering Someone Else For You.

Partnering up with Leeds label Come Play With Me and LAB Records, the sextet’s first release of 2019 continues to showcase their remarkable versatility with delicious melodies and compelling guitar work firmly justifying the growing hype surrounding the Yorkshire outfit.

With the obvious influences of contemporaries Alvvays and The Big Moon nestled deep within their sound, the band’s glowing brand of indie pop has already drawn acclaim from the online community and support slots alongside the likes of Bully, Caro and Our Girl, owing much to their budding live reputation.

Discussing their forthcoming release, guitarist Tim Malkin revealed: “Someone Else For You is our first venture into the scary world of the love song. It’s a very honest account of a relationship I had that wasn’t even really a relationship. In retrospect, it was one of those that meant a whole lot more to me than it did to the other person, it’s weird to look back and think of all the things you did to try to impress someone. Ultimately, I think you just have to be you, which is sometimes a lot easier said than done”.

With a slew of releases in the pipeline and several festival appearances already lined up (including Live At Leeds), 2019 promises to be a thrilling year for the fledgling six-piece.

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Orla Gartland - Why Am I Like This?

Dublin-born, London-based singer-songwriter Orla Gartland returns with a new single ‘Why Am I Like This?’. With a songwriting skill, perception and maturity that belies her young years, Gartland has created an existential pop track for her generation. ‘Why Am I Like This?’ articulates what many suffer but simply can’t put into words – feelings of social anxiety, self-doubt and the strain of that constant negative voice in one’s own head.

“Maybe I’m an old soul in a young body,
Maybe you don’t really want me there at your birthday party.
I’ll be there in the corner,
thinking right over everything single word of the conversation we just had.”
- ‘Why Am I Like This?’

With comparisons already made to the confessional and cathartic pop of Stevie Nicks, Gartland has a reputation for being brutally honest and always personal in her writing, with ‘Why Am I Like This?’ being her most vulnerable and inward-facing song to date.  She expands:  “’Why Am I Like This?’ started with me reflecting on a couple situations, filled with regret and forever fixated what I could have done, what I could have said.  As the chorus hits we cycle around the same question again and again, as if stuck in a loop - Why Am I Like This?”.

‘Why Am I Like This?’ is a soul-searching pop ballad coloured with a pop, with Gartland taking inspiration from the multi-layered, characterful indie sounds of artists such as Regina Spektor and St. Vincent.


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The Great Escape - Possibilities.

About to return with its third full-length Pulsing Synchronicity, an album to be released as a series of stand-alone singles throughout 2019, Venice-based trio The Great Escape unleashes brand-new track “Possibilities” this week – an incredibly sweet and sexy, psychedelic trip that zooms in on life’s countless possibilities.

Back with a brand-new, seductively minimalist sound that’s nevertheless still raw around the edges, “Possibilities” perfectly encapsulates The Great Escape’s new approach: playful, sexy and flirtatious, the single manages to feel confident and mysterious at the same time. Whereas singer Hanna Leess’ voice sounds more like a modern-day northern fairy queen (think Icelandic mic slinger 2019), it’s a psychedelic underwater tune that, in its eclectic minimalism, mirrors the countless possibilities we face as human beings – and the resulting uniqueness of each moment that passes.

Boasting lush and warm production, “Possibilities” comes with all sorts of surprising, quirky elements: Slowly drifting through the aquatic maze, the Rhodes are somewhat reminiscent of Jim Morrison’s hey-days, while early hip-hop roots shine through in Leess’ experimental call-and-response lyricism (featuring cat meows!). A shape-shifting and bubbling sound collage that also incorporates classic movie samples, Mellotron harps, guitars, and a Theremin, it’s an irresistible 4-minute trip through a futuristic wonderland of sonic opportunities…

Releasing the new album as a series of stand-alone tracks over the course of 2019, The Great Escape continue to break new ground visually as well: The cover art to “Possibilities” is the first in a series of 9 original artworks created to accompany each track (8 tracks plus album cover) – a spectacular collaboration with up-and-coming artist Gino Belassen from Phoenix, AZ that is going to see its gallery premiere once all tracks are unleashed. For the new single, Belassen concentrated on a fittingly minimalist palette, relying on fingernail scratches that reveal dark layers underneath a pink surface.


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Yawners - Laurie Luke - Jackie Charles - I Was a King

There is an international dimension from today's artists. Madrid based Yawners are described as a power pop duo however they can also power rock as demonstrated by the potent & pleasing song 'Please, Please, Please'. Laurie Luke serves up some chunky riffs, emotive vocals and plenty of hooks on 'Seventeen' a feisty rocker. Jackie Charles share a refreshing indie piece with 'Time Travel' ahead of what is a fabulous album with eleven songs, all vying for our attention. Norway's I Was A King round things off with the melodic and catchy 'Hatchet' mixing energy and warm vibes with style.

Yawners - Please, Please, Please.

Yawners are the Madrid-based power pop duo of Elena Nieto and Martin Muñoz. Founded by Nieto in her home town of Salamanca and persisting through a move to Germany before finding its current form with Muñoz in Madrid, Yawners have established themselves at the forefront of the blossoming Spanish guitar pop scene.

Following a series of early singles that have earned critical praise and comparisons to acts like Swearin’, Husker Du, and Blink-182 in their home country, Yawners are preparing to release their debut LP, Just Calm Down. Composed of 10 effortlessly engaging pop songs, the album introduces a promising voice in Nieto, who weaves ‘90s college rock and skate punk influences into collection of nostalgia-inducing, lovelorn tracks that showcase a mix of stunning compositional dexterity and enchanting melodies.

Despite their stripped down line up, Nieto’s deft and inventive guitar parts are layered with her and Munoz’ harmonized vocals to produce a huge sound reminiscent of the early Ric Ocasek-produced Weezer albums, production that is perfectly suited for the immediacy of the material. Nieto, who is a translator and speaks Spanish, German, and English fluently, has a refreshingly direct songwriting approach imbued with playfulness and humor — as on the affectionate kiss off to a stoner ex-boyfriend on buoyant early album stand out “Seaweed” — but with the range to find moments of emotional resonance that would not be out of place beside the band’s emo heroes like The Get Up Kids, American Football, and Tigers Jaw.

Lead single “Please, Please, Please” provides an example of the latter. Utilizing overlapping vocal melodies and a powerful performance from Nieto to elevate the song’s soaring chorus to great effect, it captures a feeling of mingled hope and longing in the face of tragedy. The track is a suitably impressive introduction to a band with a bright future, who appear poised to be the latest Spanish export to garner a global audience in 2019.


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Laurie Luke - Seventeen.

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune often come flying seemingly out of nowhere in your late 20's/early 30's. It’s a scenario that singer-songwriter Laurie Luke has endured and ultimately turned into a creative force on his debut EP, Way Back When.

To turn back the clock for a moment tho - like so many, Laurie was thrilled and inspired by Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles while also growing up on 90's icons like Soundgarden and Tool. He formed SOMA – a heavy, angry, politically-driven prog-rock outfit. He then made his first forays into serious home recording, before forming Heavy Love, a band that was a positive, polar opposite of SOMA and toured around WA before parting ways. Laurie by this point, was recording entire albums at home that were mixed, mastered and stored away.

During this time Laurie was raising a young family at home, and had come to the end of a long marriage. Through that personal turbulence he again turned his time and intensity into music, but on a release that would actually see the light of day.  Way Back When is both the EP and the experience.


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Jackie Charles - Time Travel.

Jackie Charles (the love-child, band and alter ego of Kaja Bremnes) are releasing their debut album Future Fantasies on April 19th 2019. Dividing their time between the rooftop bars of Berlin and a Norwegian fishing boat, the record was recorded in Hannover and mixed / mastered at Oslo’s Propeller Studios.

The band’s songwriting combines the 1980s goth angst of The Cure with the nihilism of Ariel Pink with the heartbreaking vulnerability of Alvvays. A washed out, hallucinogenic quality permeates the album, with brutally honest lyrics concealed beneath sugary sweet melodies. This is a Summer soundtrack for those with more nihilistic tendencies.

Themes of escapism are explored, for example on ‘Time Travel’, with the band telling us “reality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and sometimes living in the past is better than being in the present. Haven’t you ever wanted to travel back to a time when things were less complicated and you felt safe?” whilst title track ‘Future Fantasies’ is more grounded, demanding a reality check for the culture of “thinking positive, dreaming big… If you can dream it, then you can do it. Who cares if society is failing and the sea levels are rising? *whispers* -you’re special-”

Having toured Europe extensively, Jackie Charles have built up their reputation among discerning gig goers, with Steve Lamacq regularly championing her on his BBC 6 music show. They will be heading over to our shores for a Parallel Lines show on April 19th at The Islington.

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I Was a King - Hatchet.

Originating from the windswept, moody southwestern coast of Norway, I Was A King are living proof that the sweetest pop songs can be cultivated and thrive in the oddest places.

They have just released 'Hatchet - the second single from upcoming album 'Slow Century'. One of the first songs written for their much-anticipated new album - it was tested out live at an early stage and remained, along with previous single, 'Bubble', one of the key tracks throughout the recording process. Hatchet represents one of those infectious high-energy moments of the album, which is emphasised by Legend Jad Fair (Half Japanese) joining in with a 6 second long guest appearance on his trademark rubber band guitar.

New album Slow Century, out March 8th via Coastal Town Recordings was produced by Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub. Led by singers and guitarists Frode Strømstad and Anne Lise Frøkedal, whose united vocals melt into one extraterrestrial voice, their new album Slow Century is a collection of instantly classic power pop tunes, written, recorded, and pressed to vinyl – all in the picturesque town of Egersund, on the south-west coast of Noway.

 


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Emily Jean Flack - Julia Bardo - And The Kids - IV League

We have two very fine songs from Emily Jean Flack which feature her gorgeous vocals set against some Celtic musical influences, along with some superb electronic touches. Julia Bardo creatively merges elements of folk, rock and classic pop with her splendid vocals adding even more hooks to this charming song. And The Kids were featured around three weeks ago and return with another track just ahead of their album release, a melodic rocker that builds anticipation for 'When This Life Is Over' even more. IV League have some real edge on 'Lose Me' a notable alt rocker with depth and emotional power.

Emily Jean Flack - Another Year Gone By / Tread Softly.

Canadian, Emily Jean Flack’s passion for traditional Irish music has led to her most accomplished work yet, showcasing her gorgeously pure vocals and the Celtic music she has grown up with, whilst injecting uber-cool electronic textures - a genre-spanning mix which defies expectation and delivers on every level.

Throwing Shapes is the forthcoming EP from Emily Jean Flack, five tracks which see her demonstrating her place as one of the artists to watch in 2019. Bridging the traditional sounds of her homeland in Ontario and those of her current home in Limerick, yet still sounding utterly fresh and contemporary.

Vocalist, musician, songwriter and dancer, Emily Jean Flack, has spent her life being surrounded by music and musicians but has always been keen to express her influences in a way which is entirely her own. Honing her craft whilst studying for a Masters in Traditional Irish Music at the University of Limerick, her musical lineage is impeccable, daughter of Denise Flack, member of the ground-breaking Celtic pop band, Leahy.

“Although I come from a traditional instrumental folk background, I’ve always listened to so many other styles of music. And my own music has always been more personal, more modern and more contemporary. Being in Ireland is wonderful in the sense that it’s so culturally rich, but there is a ferocity and sense of independence within the music. It’s not cute or quaint. It’s quite raw and organic. Ireland has offered me an environment to openly make the music that moves me,” - Emily Jean Flack.


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Julia Bardo - Desire.

Singer-songwriter Julia Bardo has released the video for her debut single Desire, which follows the release of the single via Someone Great Records/PIAS last month. Manchester based Julia Bardo is one of a kind. An old soul with a captivating mysterious air, her wistful nostalgia-soaked sound pays homage to the introspective pop and folk of the 1960’s but with contemporary lyrics which stem from her romantic daydreams and poetic visions.

Desire balances feelings of discontent with a cheerful melody and silky vocal, rousing conflicting emotions that keep you coming back for more. With its folk, pop and old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll influences, it’s a modern-day single with a difference.

The retro-tinged grainy video, which features Julia herself singing the track in various locations, is filmed in a Super 8 style by video maker & cinematographer Ed Stone and director Beck Clewlow. Julia says;

“I wanted to make a video that created images for my sound rather than the story behind it – a visual representation of my sound. Me and Beck have very similar taste so it was easy to accomplish my mission”.


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And The Kids - Butterfingers.

And The Kids have shared a new song from their upcoming album When This Life Is Over out February 22 on Signature Sounds (Lake Street Dive, Josh Ritter, Dustbowl Revival).

Known for their scintillating live performances, And The Kids have shared stages with Blondie, Shakey Graves, Lucy Dacus, Caroline Rose, Rubblebucket and more, often times by headliner's personal invitation. The band will embark on a tour with Slothrust this February, followed by a national headlining run in March including two hometown shows in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Today's release follows "Champagne Ladies," an indie rock ode to the impending end of life and "No Way Sit Back," an indie rock attack on the media's effect on minorites.


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IV League - Lose Me.

After smashing airwaves over summer with latest single ‘Lose Me’, Melbourne alt-rock darlings IV League have unleashed an equally badass clip, indulging their penchant for the dramatic and enforcing their reputation for producing “some of the most exciting indie-pop in the country” (Purple Sneakers).

Collaborating with friends to make the clip, the result is an eerie, hypnotic affair that perfectly captures the track's themes of mental warfare and self-identity struggles, while also putting the band's visual aesthetic at the fore.

Front woman Isabella Venutti explains that she fully embraced the chance to take the creative helm - “The inspiration for the music video came from a lot of films dealing with women and the occult such as 'Valerie and Her Week of Wonders' and 'Suspiria' as well as aesthetics that we are drawn to in general.

“We worked in collaboration with two close friends to make the video and I think having creative control was really important as we had a really clear vision for how we wanted the clip to play out. We didn’t focus too much on a narrative arc, we just wanted to play with our aesthetic inspiration and give a sense of emotional turmoil in a theatrical way.


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