Tuesday, 20 June 2017

Gringa - Anna of the North - Serial Chiller - Bradley Wik & The Charlatans

Gringa - I'ma Build a Home.

Background - It’s easy to fall in love with Brazilian music, and that passion sparked Gringa, the Bay Area quintet of non-Brazilian women who can’t resist experimenting with rhythms and instruments from the overwhelmingly musical country. Cheekily riffing off the Brazilian Portuguese term for a non-Brazilian gal for their name, the band takes everything from samba to forró, and crafts original songs that chronicle their lives.

“I grew up in the US but I fell in love with Brazil. I write songs and hear Brazilian elements in them, but I don’t want to bastardize the source inspirations,” muses Maya Finlay, Gringa’s founder and frontwoman. “You can play with something, but you’ve got to start with the roots. What’s the rhythm? I try to study it and know the traditional ways to play, but after that, you have a lot of influences. You weave them in”

On Letters from A. Broad, they capture the bittersweet exuberance, the seemingly effortless musicianship that’s second nature to Brazilian artists, all while finding their own distinct pop and funk-inspired voices.

The driving force behind the band, sound engineer, singer, and guitar/cavaco player Finlay, never intended to start a Brazilian-esque girl band. The group springs from a lively Brazilian music scene, one where men far outnumber women, and most female instrumentalists tend not to be Brazilian. Website here, Facebook here.

'I'ma Build a Home' is the first of five delicious songs on 'Letters from A.Broad'. It's a mixture of feel good music and rhythmic & melodic pieces, where a mash of genres and styles develop with a Brazilian theme running throughout.

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Anna of the North - Lovers.

Background - Following the announcement of their debut album Anna Of The North reveal the video for new single ‘Lovers’, directed by Alexander Darby. Speaking of the video, Anna describes:

“On a literal level, the video is about being lost at a house party and surrounded by couples when your own relationship has fallen apart. Digging deeper, it’s set in the same place as the song, that point when you feel so alone and you're reaching out but they're not reaching back. It’s desperate"

‘Lovers’, the debut album from Anna Of The North, will see its worldwide release on Friday 8th September. An album deeply rooted in heartbreak, it’s a subject that courses through the veins of all ten tracks – through the turmoil, the guilt and the tentative joy of finally letting yourself move on.

In three years since the release of debut single ‘Sway’, the Norwegian-Kiwi duo of Anna Lotterud and Brady Daniell-Smith have paved the way for their full-length debut with a run of singles which have notched up over 60 million streams, multiple No.1 spot’s on the Hype Machine charts and rotation on Radio 1, Triple J and Beats 1.

Now they offer up an emphatically assured debut LP, its clean, springy beats and shimmering synths underpinned by the rich, emotive clarity of Anna’s voice. Recorded in Oslo and mixed in Copenhagen and London by Luke Smith (Foals, Petite Noir, Depeche Mode), the album is a coherent but endlessly varied beast. Facebook here, live dates on Beehive Candy's tour news page.

Third time on Beehive Candy for Anna of the North this time with the new single and music video for 'Lovers'. Beautiful pop sensibilities, are at the heart of this mixture of danceable beats and rich synths, that ensure the ever attractive vocals have such a fine backdrop.


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Serial Chiller - Bed Mood.

Background - Take a bunch of talented musicians from Hull currently making waves with their own releases at Radio 1, 6Music and Radio X, then hook them up with the young people in the area who’ve been incredibly brave in expressing their feelings in both moving and insightful lyrics, and what do you get? An album of amazing music called Three Minute Heroes #HearMeOut. If ever there was an example of the healing power of music Three Minute Heroes is it.

Featuring much loved bands from the area like La Bête Blooms, who’s collaboration with EMBRS on the track Stingray likens feelings of frustration to that of swimming in the deepest ocean - The Might And the Moon who sing about escaping the pressures around you as a child in Home – Serial Chiller and their cry for calm and solitude on Bed Mood - False Advertising and their “Pumpkins-esque” track It’s Been A While (excellent vocals from lead singer Jen Hingley btw) - The Froot of ’67 with their Hendrix influenced funk-rock on Egg - the folk flavours of the Hillbilly Troupe song Dead Langer - The Quicksliver Kings and their teacher/student conversation in I Want To Be Human and not to forget Crooked Weather’s dark and mysterious Skeletons.

The CD version of the album comes with a full colour booklet featuring lyrics to all the songs. It is a true insight into the thoughts, feelings, fears and excitement felt by young people throughout East Yorkshire, during Hull’s year as the UK City of Culture - a socially relevant and inspiring body of work that is on point in this time of heightened awareness around mental health. 'Bed Mood' is taken from the 'Three Minute Heroes' project - a campaign from The Warren Youth Project that supports young people to use creative writing and music to talk openly, confidently and safely about what’s on their mind. Facebook here.

The background and cause, that sits behind songs such as 'Bed Mood', is noble and responsible enough to twist my arm into featuring a track. No arm twisting is required however, this is one fine track & the video is a fabulous accompaniment.


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Bradley Wik & The Charlatans - Some Girls (Still Love Rock N' Roll).

Background - Bradley Wik & The Charlatans are proud to release their first single, "Some Girls (Still Love Rock N Roll)."  For those thirsting for a fresh rock n roll sound, Bradley Wik is the answer.  Raw and unpretentious, the sound harkens back to the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and the Replacements. No gimmicks, no frills.  Just pure passion.

Just like Odysseus, Bradley Wik has always been too far from home, a Midwest boy searching for the music that once was and that could be once again.  On this new record, Bradley takes a line from the Thin Lizzy song, "Got to Give it Up."  He has lived a lot more life than his age would let on.  Battling with drugs and alcohol, failed relationships, and personal struggle, this new record is a way for the singer-songwriter to come to terms with his rambling lifestyle.

Clinging closely to the belief that raw, organic music has the power to penetrate the airwaves again, Bradley has broken the mold of modern trends and gone back to its roots, recording as a band, together, in one room, to tape; and without social media.

Wise beyond his years, Bradley draws on themes of redemption. There’s an unmatched vitality that he brings to his music; it doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does have to be worth it. What makes music great? The stories. And the moment where someone listening says, “that’s me.”

Bradley Wik & The Charlatans "In My Youth, I'm Getting Old..." will be available September 15th, 2017. Website here.

'Some Girls (Still Love Rock N' Roll)' dispenses with all non essentials and focuses on being a rock'n'roll song that relies purely on it's hooks and edge to get noticed. Looking forward to noticing the album as well!

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Monday, 19 June 2017

Flawes - Chuck Berry - Fruit & Flowers

Flawes - Forever.

Background - London via Yorkshire band Flawes return with their first new recorded material since 2016’s ‘CTRL’ and ‘UNSPKN’ EPs created a feverish buzz around the trio. ‘Forever’, released last Friday (16th June) via Red Bull Records, is the first track from their upcoming EP, due for official release this Autumn.

‘Forever’ - produced by young, London producer Lostboy (Ella Eyre / Anne-Marie) - is a luxurious, electronic arrangement, brimming with the band’s uplifting synth lines, guitar motifs and underpinned by frontman Josh Carruther’s smooth, captivating vocals.

“The song is about when you rush into a relationship and everything is ‘perfect’, the other person seemingly has no flaws whatsoever and you find yourself love blind” comments frontman JC. “It goes through the different stages of a battle in your head when realising that they aren't as perfect as you perhaps once thought. In the end, you finally pluck up the courage to set things straight. As a producer Lostboy definitely got our vision for this track and it's been great to work with him”.

With only 2 EPs under their belt, the trio’s gift for dark, alt-electronica and huge soulful, pop choruses didn’t go unnoticed and Flawes were picked up by Red Bull Records who signed them to a worldwide deal at the back of last year’s achievements. The band have since spent the last six months writing and recording between LA and London, with ‘Forever’ being the first track from the studio sessions to showcase material from the next EP. Website here, Facebook here.

Alt rock with a soulful twist ensures 'Forever' soon stands out from the crowd. A top class musical arrangement and equally fine productions adds technical quality, however the passion and feeling makes the song!

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Chuck Berry - Darlin'

Background - Chuck Berry’s new and final record, CHUCK, has entered the Official Albums Chart at No. 9 – his first UK Top 10 album in 40 years. Released last week on Dualtone/Decca Records, it fought off competition from the likes of Dua Lipa, Hank Marvin and Harry Styles. It is his first UK Top 10 since 1977’s Motorvatin’. A moving new music video to Darlin’ – a duet with his daughter Ingrid – which features family stills and footage, was also unveiled.

Comprised of 10 new recordings, eight of which were written by Berry, CHUCK is his first new album since 1979’s Rock It’. It was recorded and produced by Berry in various studios around St. Louis and features his longtime hometown backing group - including his children Charles Berry Jr. (guitar) and Ingrid Berry (harmonica, vocals), plus Jimmy Marsala (Berry’s bassist for 40 years), Robert Lohr (piano), and Keith Robinson (drums) – which supported him for nearly two decades on over 200 residency shows at the famed Blueberry Hill club. The album also includes guest performances from Gary Clark Jr., Tom Morello, Nathaniel Rateliff and Chuck’s grandson Charles Berry III.  Acclaimed author and historian Douglas Brinkley contributes liner notes.

They were originally conceived as far back as the 1980s, with Berry developing them in his home studio in St. Louis over many years. Some of the songs on down time between tours.  He worked on the album through 2014.  When health concerns forced him to stop touring and recording in 2015, Berry continued to oversee production and planning for CHUCK, enlisting his family and close friend Joe Edwards, the owner of Blueberry Hill, to fulfill his wishes that the album be completed and released. And from album highlight ‘Lady B. Goode,’ a spiritual sequel to the iconic ‘Johnny B. Goode’ featuring ripping solos from three generations of Berry guitarists, to the poignant country balladry of ‘Darlin’, CHUCK truly is a family affair.

“Working on my Dad's record has been one of the best experiences of my life,” said Charles Berry Jr. “I will forever treasure the musical conversations we had, and the time we spent together completing it.” Website here, Facebook here.

I could not let the opportunity to mention Chuck Berry's final album release pass us by, especially as one of the new songs 'Darlin' is available to feature. A sentimental country ballad seems a fitting song to share, and the reflective video is beautiful.


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Fruit & Flowers – Subway Surfer.

Background - Brooklyn-based "surf noir" garage psych band Fruit & Flowers share their second single, "Subway Surfer," from their forthcoming, debut EP, Drug Tax, due out June 30th via Little Dickman Records. The single comes along with a video, debuted today on She Shreds, who say, "The video gives us a peek into their stellar live shows, which are a lot more than a good-time punk rock party. FxF’s dead perfect vocal harmonies and guitar interplay clearly displays a band operating with a fully formed idea and a love for their respective instruments."

Fruit & Flowers are one of the most active bands in the NYC area, and have been deemed one of "NYC's Hardest Working Bands" by Oh My Rockness. The band embarks on its third tour of 2017 in July to Canada and the Midwest in support of Drug Tax. Fruit & Flowers' exuberant, electric performances draw a local following. Ana Becker's angular, expressive guitar style and Lyzi Wakefield's gritty rhythmic backbone merge a post-punk heaviness with psychedelic warmth. Committed and charismatic front woman Caroline Yoder summons a fervent energy, surrounded by distinct, warm and refreshing three part harmonies, the bedrock of Fruit and Flowers' sound.

Conceived in a Bushwick loft with broken AC during the summer of 2015 by Caroline on bass and Shaw Walters on drums, the band was soon joined by Lyzi Wakefield and Ana Becker on guitars and vocals. The band agreed to play its first show at Northside festival just weeks after formation and wrote the record in a furious fit of hot nights and inspired mornings. The band became fully realized when Shaw handed the role of drummer to Jose Berrio (drummer-cum-art director), whose inimitable style elevates the strong rhythmic character of the band.

Drug Tax was born out of necessity, capturing the grit and rush of New York City summer and the newfound chemistry between the bandmates. Weaving together the perspectives and expressions of the band's multiple songwriters, Drug Tax unfolds to present the unique and varied voice of Fruit & Flowers. Lead single "Out Of Touch" is about the ennui of a missed love opportunity, with soaring, sultry vocals, beachy surf rock riffs and fuzzy bass. Album tracks range from the sultry moody and beautiful "Dark Surf" to the post-gothic title track "Drug Tax." 

Drug Tax was recorded at Thump Studios in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The EP was engineered and co-produced by John Thayer, and mixed and mastered by George Harris. Jose Berrio designed the band's logo and album art. Website here, Facebook here. Live dates on Beehive Candy's tour news page.

When we featured 'Out Of Touch last month we described the song as having "sultry vocals, beach surf rock riffs and fuzzy bass". The new single release 'Subway Surfer' is a little more feisty, however the bands surf rock instincts are there, alongside a raft of hooks throughout.


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Sunday, 18 June 2017

Amelie No - Katey Morley - Cody & Danz - The National Parks

Amelie No - Stranger Body.

Background - Stranger Body (released Friday June 16th) is a song about resilience and adaptation. Recognising internal change is at once beautiful and terrifying; and although peace of mind may take time to obtain, acceptance of one’s own condition is the first step.

Amelie No has been a part of Quebec City’s music scene for many years now. It all started when she was teenager, playing bass and singing in several punk rock bands in the provincial capital. She eventually turned to a more soulful sound and her voice started making waves across Canada, the U.S. and Europe with folk-rock band I.No back in 2008. 

She became a household name last year after she sang her way into the semi-finals on the Quebec version of the hit TV show, The Voice. Her jazzy vocals are now set on new indie-pop music with R&B and soul accents. Facebook here, website here.

'Stranger Body' has a luscious musical arrangement that provides Amelie No, with a perfect backdrop for some soulful and bluesy vocals. Combined they produce a smooth and increasingly powerful genre crossing song.

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Katey Morley - Good Little Girls.

Background - Katey Morley’s music follows few rules, weaving together singable yet unexpected melodies, and effortlessly fusing her lifelong loves of country, jazz, folk and pop music.

Self-taught composer and eclectic multi-instrumentalist, Katey plays dulcimer, autoharp, piano and percussion, but it is her voice that captivates listeners and has earned her a loyal following. 

Soft and vulnerable for a moment, and then suddenly unleashed, it is a powerfully dynamic instrument, drawing comparisons to the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Sia, and K.D. Lang. 

“Good Little Girls” is the second single from Katey Morley’s forthcoming EP Then. Website here, Facebook here.

It's the engaging, melodic vocals that stand out first on 'Good Little Girls'. As the song unfolds, the musical arrangement develops, both in instrumentation and presence, creating an eloquent and very catchy song.

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Cody & Danz - If I Only Had $ome Money.

Background - Cody & Danz are teaming up to release their debut EP, Only The Hits, on July 14th via Channel 9 Records in the USA and Tugboat Records in Japan. The two artists both have burgeoning solo projects: Cody Crump and Computer Magic. Cody lives in LA and Danz lives in NYC.

After playing many of LA’s staple venues - from Soho House to The Roxy to The Standard, Cody Crump has plans to tour in the very near future. His music will be featured in the upcoming film “The List.” He has had music featured on HBO's "Leftovers," Showtime's "Penny Dreadful, and most recently his song "Burn" was in ABC's "How To Get Away With Murder."

Danz has toured North America multiple times with acts such as Neon Indian, Ladyhawke and Chad Valley. She’s played the Primavera Festival in Spain, Martini Art Love Festival in Moscow,  and has toured Japan multiple times. She has many shows locally in LA and New York City, so stay tuned for upcoming dates for Computer Magic, Cody Crump and Cody & Danz.

Danz lives in New York. Cody lives in LA. They met one day to write a song. They both liked writing that song so much - that they decided to write more. They became great friends and wrote many more songs. These songs are what you hear on Only The Hits. Facebook here.

'If I Only Had $ome Money' is chock-full of hooks. The synths and rhythm are vigorous, and are accompanied by in sync vocals that add atmosphere and double up on the catchy nature of this song.

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The National Parks - Places.

Background - Utah-based alt-folk band, The National Parks, have just released "Places,” the title track off of their much anticipated new studio album. “This a song I’ve been trying to write for a long time,” shares Brady Parks, the band’s multi-talented front man. “In the last four years we’ve toured a lot and, early on, that mostly meant crashing in people’s homes. And a lot of times these were people we didn’t even know - they were friends of friends or people we’d connected with online somehow - but we’d be sleeping on their couches and floors and using their bathrooms and all that. It’s a strangely intimate way to experience the country and it sort of got the wheels turning on this notion of certain relationships that are tied to distinct places.”

“Places” will be released via Rock Love Magic Records, a Los Angeles-based boutique record label that was founded by music veteran, Tyler Barth in 2017. The label’s focus is to release single tracks primarily through digital distribution from an array of artists across the indie, alternative, rock, pop and folk genres. The label is excited to celebrate its first release with The National Parks latest track.

Barth has become intimate with the band’s spectacular growth over the past couple years, and has featured them in several successful Los Angeles-based showcases. “The National Parks is the winning combination of frontman Brady Park’s songwriting and a band that consistently delivers unforgettable live performances,” shares Barth. “I’m overjoyed to be releasing ‘Places’ as the label’s first single. It may just signify that both The National Parks and Rock Love Magic Records are going ‘Places.’” Website here, Facebook here.

Upbeat and with that sing along anthem feel to it, 'Places' is a fabulous and mightily catchy song. Alt folk meets alt rock with this spectacular song, ensuring the forthcoming album really is keenly anticipated!



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Saturday, 17 June 2017

Low Dive - Slowcoaching - Honeymilk - Mise en Scene

Low Dive - Common People.

Background - Brisbane dream pop duo, Low Dive release their music video for debut single, 'Common People'.

Featuring pals, pups and sun-drenched streets, the video is an ode to Brisbane's West End and it's beloved local haunts.

Low Dive launch 'Common People' at The Foundry in Brisbane on Thursday 29th June with support from Pool Shop and McKisko. Facebook here.

'Common People' is a lush and dreamy song, with a laid back vibe and gentle melodic vocals, which together make for an enchanting musical piece.


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Slowcoaching - Pillars Of Salt.

Background - From his computer chair to the live stage, Slowcoaching, the solo moniker for Dean Valentino, has expanded his dream-pop vision to something far more audacious and vivid. Taking euphoria head on, Slowcoaching creates a focussed aura of hazy nostalgia through his musical stylings.

'Pillars of Salt' is the first product of true collaboration from Slowcoaching–hitting the studio with his live band for the first time. Through the virtue of his live group, Valentino's music has never appeared so present.

The power of 'Pillars of Salt' comes from the way Slowcoaching communications urgency through such patient music. Cataloguing his own self-assessment and the mundane, the track explores Valentino's own world having been engulfed by nature documentaries.

With support performances with Harts, Philadelphia Grand Jury and Fountaineer under his belt, Slowcoaching, now with 'Pillars of Salt', his most resolute single to date, is making increasingly bigger and more intelligent steps toward his debut album coming later this year. 'Pillars of Salt' is a wide net to capture a memory–Slowcoaching's approximation of the bigger world, helped by Valentino's soaring vocals, reneges a feeling of escapism and dream-pop serenity. Facebook here.

The musical arrangement is refined and beautifully performed. It's the perfect backdrop for some fabulous vocals, and on 'Pillars Of Salt' that's precisely what you hear. This is a stunning indie/dream pop song!

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Honeymilk - Trip.

Background - “Trip”, by Stockholm, Sweden based indie rockers Honeymilk, was created when singer Marcus Admun brought some chords to guitarist Nikki Nyberg. Some Thin Lizzy meets Mac DeMarco meets TOPS-guitars later the track was finished. The song is typical Honeymilk stuff – lyrics discussing the fact that life seldom reaches higher that a 2 out of 5 grade in general, but with melodies and arrangements that believes you into thinking the opposite.

Honeymilk, who went from a four-piece to a two-piece a year ago, are in the studio working on a sophomore studio album to be released fall 2017. First track out from the album was “Time Will Kill You” which was released last summer, soon reaching 200 000 streams on Spotify, followed by “The Nothing New” which was instantly hailed as the best track the band’s released by media outlets such as Clash Magazine, BBC Fresh On The Net and Jajaja Music. Airplay followed on renowned stations such as Amazing Radio, German Flux FM, Norwegian NRK P13 and Finnish YLE Soumi. Facebook here.

The vibrant music and melodic vocal delivery, might be at odds with the lyrics on 'Trip' however it remains a catchy and hook filled song. With words firmly set in reality, the added bonus is the ability to relate to the artists thoughts and feelings.

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Mise en Scene - Waster.

Background - Stefanie Blondal Johnson and Jodi Dunlop of Winnipeg, Canada based indie rock outfit Mise en Scene have overseen slow, steady changes in their group since forming in 2012, but the gradual metamorphosis has been well worth the wait. Their second album, ‘Still Life On Fire’, is a set of excellent guitar based songs that takes rock, new wave, post-punk and 90’s indie/alt.rock influences and stamps the band’s personality all over them via Johnson’s powerful vocals and some inventive arrangements.    

Album highlights include the first UK single ‘Closer’, a burning holler that channels the Riot grlll aesthetic, the post-punk pop of ‘Waster’, the strident ‘Guts/Glory’, the epic ‘I'm Ok’, the reflective title track and the hard  hitting ‘Young Leo’. Recorded in Winnipeg and produced by Montréal-based Mike Nash (The Dears, Blue Rodeo, Ladies of the Canyon), the record captures a full portrayal of the band’s musical journey to date.

Waster is from new album ‘Still Life On Fire’ out 30.06.17 [UK release via Membran]. It was while playing at the annual Canadian Music Week festival in Toronto that the band were signed by  the Vancouver based Light Organ Records, a label that represents artists with an independent mindset 
such as The Zolas and Mounties (a group featuring Hawksley Workman and members of Hot Hot Heat). ‘Still Life On Fire’ is licensed to indie powerhouse Membran for its UK release. Website here.

'Waster' is a lively and determined track, that mixes raw, new wave styled rock'n'roll, with some genuine and natural vocals. Mise En Scene can certainly claim to have made their mark on genres of days gone by, with a modern and vibrant style.

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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...