Karen Harding - Dutch Uncles - Brian Dunne - Maraschino

Karen Harding - It's Okay / Greener On The Other Side (feat. Cologne Chamber Orchestra)

Following on from previous single, ‘Strong For You’, Australian Singer-Songwriter, Karen Harding reveals the second half of her musical project with Argentinian P&M Records, with the dual release of ‘It’s Okay’ and ‘Greener On The Other Side’, featuring the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, on Friday 16th December 2022.

Written by Karen Harding and produced by P&M Records, ‘It’s Okay’ tells a story of self-frustration.. of believing that you should be somewhere, someone or somehow different than where you are.. and then allowing yourself to drop it and let go in compassion for yourself, letting yourself know that it is truly ok for things to be exactly as they are.

Co-written with P&M Records and featuring the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, ‘Greener On The Other Side’ was written when considering some big changes. It highlights the fears that come up with the change and questions whether what you imagine on the other side of change is truly the reality of how it is. Is the grass really greener on the other side?

“It was such an incredible honour to be able to have the Cologne Chamber Orchestra play on ‘Greener On The Other Side’. It has always been a dream to work with an orchestra, and to work with such a talented and world class orchestra is beyond my dreams” Karen Harding

Since her debut single release in May 2021, ‘I Didn’t Realise’, Melbourne, Australia singer-songwriter, Karen Harding has been on a journey of musical and personal exploration, determined to see what is truly possible in music and creativity.

Karen Harding has recently collaborated with Argentinian P&M Records, the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, Canadian producer, Landao, Melbourne Hip Hop artist, Serif, and a stunning inspirational project with Misia Julia, as well as winning the 2021 Bendigo Bank sponsored Radio Eastern songwriter talent show and being nominated as top 10 winner for the World Songwriting Awards, and a nominee for Best International Artist on Crags Radio Independent Artist Awards in February 2022.

KarenHarding · It's Okay

 

KarenHarding · Greener On The Other Side (feat. Cologne Chamber Orchestra)

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Dutch Uncles - Poppin.

Dutch Uncles have released their new single “Poppin’" - the second track to be lifted from the band's long-awaited sixth album, True Entertainment, out 10th March 2023 on Memphis Industries. Named after the original demo of the track (as is tradition for one song on each of Dutch Uncles' previous albums), "Poppin'" was primarily composed by the band's guitarist and synth player Peter Broadhead and was partly inspired by Talking Heads' Brian Eno-produced albums.

Speaking on the lyrical inspiration behind the new single, vocalist/lyricist Duncan Wallis said: "Poppin' is a minimal take on the age-old anxieties, dread and fear we all experience at certain times - bumping into old faces hungover (or worse, not hungover), taking too long to answer the question ‘you alright?’, forgetting everyone’s name and constantly assessing if old faces were present at any moments of particular cringe in your past.”

Taking inspiration from Yellow Magic Orchestra, Prince, Steely Dan, Ennio Morricone, The Blue Nile, Kate Bush and Roxy Music, new album True Entertainment is the long-awaited follow up to Big Balloon (2017) and features guest vocal contributions from Metronomy's Anna Prior and Everything Everything's Jonathan Higgs.

Sharing new insight into the new album, Wallis commented: "True Entertainment is a soundtrack for the pursuit of anonymity within ever-changing societal norms, and the trappings that come with it. Those trappings are presented in a series of life-changing scenarios and epiphanies that include: abandoning one’s identity and accepting one's generation as a useless vessel; to suffering for betterment and dealing with challenges from other generations."

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Brian Dunne - Sometime After This.

Brian Dunne makes his debut on legendary indie rock label Kill Rock Stars with his new single “Sometime After This.” A transcendent embodiment of the phrase “this too shall pass,” the new single is accompanied by a music video that finds Dunne in the role of a barstool philosopher wandering the empty streets of New York City searching for what it all means. Dunne has also announced an east coast tour kicking off next spring, with stops in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Nashville and more.

“At its core, this song is my way of saying ‘this too shall pass’ but in a way that feels honest, and not like a HomeGoods wall stencil,” says Dunne. “It starts with a big idea and gets smaller with each verse. The first one addresses the social and political state of things, and how sad it is that we can't even agree on what it is that we disagree about (and also has the first, and likely last use of the word ‘email’ in one of my songs). Verse two is about everything that led me here, to this particular song, and finds me asking a classic NYC vampire - a sacred character to me - what exactly to do with it. And verse three is just about a single cup of coffee and how it all just comes down to that; being grateful for a hot beverage.”

Slim Moon, founder and head of Kill Rock Stars, explains why Brian Dunne is right at home on the label: “KRS means different things to different people, but we’ve always had a wing in the building for great singer-songwriters. In the 90’s we had Mary Lou Lord and Elliott Smith. In the 00’s we had Thao Nguyen and Colin Meloy (Decemberists). In the 10’s we had Corin Tucker and Justin Ringle (Horse Feathers). Now, we have Mya Byrne and Brian Dunne.”

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Maraschino - Walking On Thin Ice (Yoko Ono Cover).

Here's a non-album cover song from Maraschino that will fit right in on your Winter playlist (but maybe not your Xmas playlist!). A cover of Yoko Ono's classic "Walking On Thin Ice" from 1981. When John Lennon was shot, he was famously holding in his hand a tape with the final mix of this song on it. So sing along friends.

Walking on thin ice
I'm paying the price
For throwing the dice in the air
Why must we learn it the hard way
And play the game of life with your heart?

I gave you my knife
You gave me my life
Like a gush of wind in my hair
Why do we forget what's been said
And play the game of life with our hearts?
I may cry someday
But the tears will dry whichever way
And when our hearts return to ashes
It'll be just a story
It'll be just a story

Ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai

"I knew a girl who tried to walk across the lake
'Course it was winter when all this was ice
That's a hell of a thing to do, you know
They say the lake is as big as the ocean
I wonder if she knew about it?"

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The Last Waves - Shira - Ben Reel

The Last Waves - under a black sun (E.P).

A couple of months after the release of 'dark is the path', French cold-wave/post-punk/dark-pop/indie-rock five-piece The Last Waves just released another EP called 'under a black sun'.

These five new songs lead us immediately to worry, anguish, loneliness. New uninhabitable space, he shares with us his distress and his despair. The music of The last Waves offers us the sound image of an inaccessible world, it convinces us of its reality. 'under a black sun' was recorded, mixed by the band and mastered by Benjamin Joubert at the Biduloscope studio in Paris.

The Last Waves is a new band created in the middle of the pandemic around three boys and two girls. The name of the band is a wink to the new wave of the eighties, the famous new-wave whose name was borrowed from the new wave of the French cinema of the 50's and 60's and carried notably by the British Joy Division, New Order, Depeche Mode or Simple Minds.

Concerts suspended, venues padlocked, this period of forced silence was the spark that made the band's first two EPs spring up in late April and late June 2021. 'Revenge of the blue' and 'In cold colors avenue' were composed by founding guitarist Romain Champiot in an urgent, visceral and uncompromising way, like the last waves of an uncertain period.

The tracks are a mix between New Wave, Cold Wave, Pop and Indie-Rock. The harmonies are put forward, precise and often dancing. The Last Waves is inspired by the independent music of the 80's and the pop rock of the 2000's, adding a touch of electro rock when the intensity requires it.

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Shira - New York City in December.

Shira shares of the stunning track: "The holidays can be a tough time.  Three years ago was extra hard for me when I was alone, sheltering in place, during the pandemic, while my partner was stuck on the other side of the ocean and I was dreaming of having him here with me in NYC.  There's a certain magic in NYC around the holiday that really doesn't exist anywhere else. I hope this song brings comfort to whoever is listening and reminds them that they're not alone. "

Born in upstate NY to Israeli parents, Shira split her time growing up between Israel and the States. After finishing her service as a singer in the Israeli Army Band, Shira moved to NYC where she studied music and theatre at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and The New School.

After graduating, Shira met music producer Paul Carbonara (Blondie) as a performer in New York’s vibrant theatre community. She starred in his Off Broadway musicals Solitary Light and Evening 1910 to much critical acclaim. Shira went on to record two albums produced by Carbonara along with an ace six-piece band, including Israeli-American Grammy-nominated drummer Dan Pugach.



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Ben Reel - U People/Scoring Goals.

In memory of my good friend Rainbow George Weiss "The wondering jew" who sadly passed away around this time last year 2021 on the 1st December aged 81. Myself & George co wrote these 2 songs together. George was a mystic visionary that was 100 years ahead of his time. He was definitely the most eccentric person I ever met who became a kind of guru for me even though some of his ideas where totally outlandlish. Rainbow George lived in Hampstead, London where he had some very interesting friends like Ian Jury & his once next door neighbour Peter Cook. When I once visited him in Hampstead to my amusement he was then living in a flat over a shop named "Over the Rainbow" which Rainbow George found very mystical.  George had a great way with words as an example of one of his last quotes was "Everything is relative & we are all related".

I was first introduced to George in 2001 by Belfast legend Terri Hooley in Good vibrations record shop. When I walked into the shop Terri said -  "here is the very man you are looking for George"  As George was looking for an Irish musician to put music to these revolutionary lyrics he had written which was U People and he wanted it in a Reggae style. I may have tweaked some lyrics here and there to make it work better as a song - U people was first recorded in 2005 in Eastcote recording studio in London, produced & mixed by Philip Bagnell who worked with bands like Aswad. The song was recorded on the same recording console as Bob Marleys Exodus album so U People has got the spirit of Bob. The song and video was used as a BBC party political broadcast when George created The Rainbow party with the campaign slogan "Make politicians history" to run in the N.Ireland elections of 2005. I stood as a candidate in Derry and got 33 votes. A very mystical number for George which he thought significant.

The song U People features great London based Jazz musicians Gilad Atmon on Soprano saxaphone, Dylan Howe on Drums, Yaron Stavi on bass & Frank Harrison on keys. Scoring Goals was recorded around 2008 in Tuff Paddy studio Tralee Co Kerry with Alex O'Brien & Miguel Lonergan on beats & mixing. Spoken word by Judd Charlton & backing vocals from Cathrine Taylor Dawson & Sugar Rainbow. I play guitars and sing the vocal. George imagined that it would become an anthem at soccer grounds so I made a special video for the song with some great classic goals from the World Cup. George was a big soccer fan and would surely be enjoying the present World Cup. A lot of people don't know that he once played with QPR reserves as a left winger before a broken leg ended his career. It's funny  that he was a left winger as I think he was the most far left person I ever met. Hopefully now he is scoring goals in Rainbow land.

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The Barefoot Bandit - Cajsa Siik - Resignation

The Barefoot Bandit - Criminal Damage.

South-West, UK 6-piece The Barefoot Bandit return with the striking new single ‘Criminal Damage’, released at the same time as the band’s debut album Hello Welcome. Blending elements of reggae, dub, electronica and even punk rock and world music the band have built a strong and loyal fan base, as well as a growing hype and are set to take things to the next level with the release of the new album.

Talking about the album, the band explain: "’Hello Welcome’ is a collection of sounds written by The Barefoot Bandit. A pipe dream turned true when we had the opportunity to record the album at the awesome Karma Sound Studios in Thailand. A dub fueled exploration of reggae, punk and world music takes you on a journey from the South-West of England to South-East Asia.”

The album’s lead single ‘Criminal Damage’ is a prime example of the band's work. Tight ska rhythms, infectious brass, choppy piano, driving guitar lines and elegant splashes of atmospherics and electronics create an infectious, musically rich soundscape under the pointed, effortlessly catchy lead vocals. Showcasing a unique and supremely polished approach to creating dub, the single is a brilliant example of the kind of inventive ideas and intuitive songwriting to expect across the new album.

Talking about the new single, the band share: “It is about a true event where someone we know ruined an allotment patch when they were young. The song is basically expressing that mistakes are made and you (hopefully) learn from them.”

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Cajsa Siik - Sometimes.

Stockholm based Cajsa Siik’s fourth studio album ”Ninjō” will be out on January 26th via Birds Records. The album holds everything we’ve learned to love with Siik’s songwriting: strong melodies, sparse intelligent arrangements and lyrics aiming straight to the core of your feelings. It’s both playful and powerful. ”Ninjō”, the album, is the sound of an artist once again reinventing herself, working out the songs and sounds during lengthly sessions with producer Erik Moberg.

Cajsa Siik released her debut album ”Plastic House” back in 2012 and has since followed up with 3 full length albums and 2 EP:s. International praise has been constant with the likes of Q Magazine, BBC6, Line of Best Fit and Nylon all joining in. In her home country Siik’s done critically acclaimed appearances on national TV shows ”Babel” and ”GoKväll” as well as being praised by Sweden’s main music journalist Jan Gradvall for her 2018 lo-fi EP ”Low Light Key Sessions”. Tours with, for example, Mitski has taken her to shows in London, Berlin, Dublin and other key European cities.

”Sometimes”, a new single off of the forthcoming album, is out now. A beat driven track that grows bit by bit into a full blown pop anthem.

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Resignation - Eddie Kingston.

Toledo, Ohio's Resignation will release their You Are More Than Right Now EP via Friend Club Records, February 10. 2023.   Vocalist Wes Allen says, "I wrote this song to my family. It’s an admittance of an intense mental health battle and the fears of watching time slip away. I named it after Eddie Kingston because he’s a collective favorite amongst the four of us (my wife, kids, and I). Additionally, Eddie is a strong mental health advocate and has been very open about his own struggles with mental illness. These are the most personal lyrics I’ve ever put to a song. It’s the most vulnerable thing I’ve ever written, but I’m the most of proud it as well."

Resignation's members comprise two different generations in the Northwest Ohio punk/hardcore/emo scene. The result is an amalgamation of their collective influences creating a message of hope, honesty, and empathy for people living in the strangest of timelines. This approach has found them a home amongst their hardcore comrades having such closely aligned philosophies.

The culmination of sounds that make up Resignation’s music is most often labeled post-hardcore, bringing together the primary building blocks that informed that genre. Their foundational influences are apparent: Grade, Hot Water Music, Fairweather, Samiam, Elliott. However, upon further inspection, one can hear the impact of early '00s emo that would have found them comfortably fitting amongst the ranks of bands featured on the Emo Diaries.

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Lucero - Doom Flower - Dead Leaf Echo

Lucero - Raining For Weeks.

Memphis rock/alt-country band Lucero releases their new single “Raining for Weeks” from the upcoming album Should’ve Learned by Now, out February 24 via Liberty & Lament/Thirty Tigers. With a soulful piano and a plucky acoustic guitar, the song offers a meditative rumination on mistakes made and love lost. It is accompanied by a music video featured this morning at Garden & Gun, who said the “ballad-like melancholy falls into equilibrium over jaunty piano, Nichols’s tenacious vocals, and old-school guitar drones.”

“This was a new guitar part that I wrote while playing guitar and chasing my daughter around the basement,” explains bandleader Ben Nichols. “It reminded me of something I might hear in a Wes Anderson film. Maybe one was on TV while we were playing. For such a simple little song, it has some of my favorite lyrics on the album, suggesting the narrator has been completely unaware of the consequences of his actions.” 

Should’ve Learned by Now is a reflection of a band that knows itself. Since forming in Memphis in the late 90’s, Lucero has evolved and embraced everything from southern rock to Stax-inspired Memphis soul, while maintaining their distinctive sonic foundations. After exploring darker, more atmospheric landscapes on their two previous releases, the band’s 12th studio album finds them returning to their punchy driving rhythms and punk-rooted guitar licks. The record is already garnering early acclaim with Lucero’s two previous singles – “One Last F.U.,” which Rolling Stone declared “has the defiant, sneering energy of Lucero’s loudest recordings,” and “Buy a Little Time,” which BrooklynVegan said “finds them embracing fuzzed-out, anthemic heartland rock, sounding like Tom Petty jamming with Crazy Horse but in the way that only Lucero can.”

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Doom Flower - Candle Habit.

Writing about Doom Flower for a feature in the Chicago Tribune last month, Britt Julious says: "There’s a ferocity in their decision making, from their controlled notes on the guitar to their minimalist percussion to Price’s soft, yet emotionally piercing vocals. Moody and evocative, Doom Flower has landed on a formula that should surely make them one of the city’s newest breakout successes."

The next single from Doom Flower's forthcoming full-length "is about choosing to keep going. The candles represent rotations. The chime-like guitar sound replaces the word 'time.'"

I've been really moved by this music and have found it easy to forget that I've already listened through the full-length once, twice, three times. Hypnotically beautiful and effortlessly cool, Doom Flower's Limestone Ritual recalls early Cat Power and Mirah and Bowery Electric but there's more than nostalgia at play here. Jess Price, Bobby Burg, and Matt Lemke expertly and effortlessly use this familiar mode to get their hypnotically beautiful songs into our minds. But it's then impossible not to get to know them for what they are: effortlessly cool, totally dialed in and completely satisfying.

Everyone involved here has significant history in the indie world. Bobby's a longtime member of Joan of Arc and Make Believe and of course his own project Love of Everything; Jess has been fronting Campdogzz since 2013; Matt's got Wedding Dress with Chris from Chin Up Chin Up; and Areif Sless-Kitain has drummed for The Eternals with Damon Locks and Brokeback with Doug McCombs.

The full-length drops next month on January 6th and will be available as a limited cassette and download via 'record label' and on all streaming platforms.

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Dead Leaf Echo - Boo.

Part-inspired by the seminal Madchester movement of the late 80s and 90s, the track is now accompanied by suitably vintage-styled visuals. Directed by New Visions’ Dylan Brannigan, the “Boo” music video arrives like a lost cut from the Granada music show, So It Goes… but with a supernatural twist.

Speaking about the concepts behind the video, L.G. Galleon of Dead Leaf Echo explains: “The Boo video intensifies the viewer’s visions of paranoia and fear about losing a loved one as they are trapped within a television screen forever set to watch themselves on repeat."

An indie-dance anthem with a deliberately retro feel, the track is intended as a tribute to the late Denise Johnson (Primal Scream / New Order), the Mancunion powerhouse vocalist who blessed some of the greatest Madchester-era records with her inimitable character. Scratch beneath its Hacienda-primed sound though and you’ll find an altogether darker and paranoid lyrical substrata. As L.G. Galleon reflects:

“Boo was written five years ago when I was pressed by my girlfriend at the time to write a joke “Manchester” song with a hook. It quickly morphed into a partial ode to Denise Johnson who passed away during the pandemic and also into a creepy Halloween song about surveillance, discovery and scaring your “Boo” with the truth about all your hidden secrets.”

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