Monday, 19 April 2010

2010FM - April Edition Two.

As was the case with the first April 2010FM edition all the featured songs are at the bottom of this edition in one playlist. 

I have already given some attention to Alcoholic Faith Mission this year, however with the forthcoming release of the new album 'Let This Be The Last Night We Care' (available on April 27th in the USA on Paper Garden Records) and those nice folk at said record label sending us another song by the band, I just had to give them another big Beehive Candy recommendation.

The band will be touring Japan and Europe along with the U.S. this year so keep a look out for tour details.

Featured Track: My Eyes To See.
Website: MySpace.
Purchase: Paper Garden Records. Amazon.
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Indianapolis three-piece Burnt Ones released their debut 7" All Night Long via Roaring Colonel Records last Thursday (April 15th), which also happens to be the label's debut release.

Roaring Colonel is the newest project of blogger-extraordinaire Dodge, best known for My Old Kentucky Blog which unfortunately became a victim of the recent Blogger-cide however a new site should now be up and running. Anyhow this is one fine song and the band hopefully wont keep us waiting to long for some more excellent material.

Featured Track: Gonna Listen To T Rex.
Website: MySpace.
Purchase: Roaring Colonel Records.
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Another artist getting another mention on the Beehive is the lovely Dana Falconberry who finishes the eastern half of her current US tour later this week. On the road she is joined by the two ladies pictured above (Gina Dvorak and Lauren McMurray) on drum/banjo and keys respectively.

For those unfamiliar with Dana, she was a long-time collaborator with Peter and the Wolf and now is providing the world with some of the most beautiful folk music around with layered vocals and an angelic voice. This tour is in support of her most recent record Halletts which was released January 14th of this year. I received the charming demo featured below and could not resist adding her to our current feature.

Featured Track: Crooked River
Website: MySpace.
Purchase: Amazon.
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Hot on the tails (I am told) of a couple of outstanding shows with Surfer Blood and Best Coast, San Diego's Lanterns drop their new single 'Pharaoh Beach'. The new track is a slight departure from their more punk-based roots, but this highly accessible jam is sure to get stuck in your head for days to come.

The band has been staking their claim in the San Diego scene, emerging along with fellow San Diegans Tape Deck Mountain, and becoming a go-to support act for some of the best touring bands out there.

Featured Track: Pharoah Beach.
Website: MySpace.
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Austin's live electronic four-piece Survive will be releasing their debut 10" EP on Light Lodge Records April 20th. A fitting home for the group, Light Lodge also features releases from Pitchfork Rising's Pure Ecstasy, Sleep Over, and Silver Pines.

Survive presents a unique sound, which they mathematically describe as "murder rap - rap + 2012 + 1983 + rpg8 = 4 minds, one heart.". Nothing like keeping things simple eh? still this is really a very melodic instrumental piece and worthy of as attention.

Featured Track: Lunar Eclipse.
Website: MySpace.
Purchase: Light Lodge Records.
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For some reason I thought I had already mentioned Minneapolis lo-fi psych sextet Velvet Davenport in a previous post however either I'm tired and missing the feature or I have dreamed the whole thing up.  Anyhow they released 'Get Out' back on March 30th via Shdwply Records and it is a jolly fine song.

Featuring Ariel Pink and Gary War, the trip down psychedelia road was accurately documented and premiered on Stereogum recently.

The songs "Get Out" and "Run" and another song called "Surfer Girl" were recorded in LA with Ariel Pink and Gary War on an 8-track in War's apartment. All songs were written by Velvet Davenport, while Pink and War play various instruments and sing on all tracks.

Featured Track. Get Out.
Website: MySpace.
Purchase: Shdwply Records.
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Finally for this edition we have Drew Danberry and a very gentle yet moving song interestingly called 'Nirvana By Kurt Cobain'. Following up where last year's Goodnight Gary left off, Drew Danburry recently announced the release of its companion album Goodnight Dannii, his seventh studio album.

Regarding the song he explains -  "I wrote this song after our car engine exploded in Ocala, Florida. We were stuck in the cheapest motel we could find living off a dollar menu at the Wendy’s across the street while witnessing our credit card debt mount as we paid for a new engine, and waited for the mechanics to fix the car. We had no income, I read at least five books in about two days and eventually even resorted to turning on the TV.

 Feeling somewhat jailed to our fate, tour had already been plagued with bad luck and my wife was suffering (though bravely and silently) from the strain of finances and the constant struggle that makes up surviving on tour. All of this, and a little more, poured out in about two minutes with the kind of despair that plagues a mediocre artist realizing his inability to succeed at the kind of thing he’s been chasing for years. And as the hope fades away and he’s left to his absolute naked vulnerability, he realizes he ought to clothe his despair with the kind of clever outfit that would make others think a song isn’t really about him, that maybe he’s writing about someone he admires."

Featured Track: Nirvana By Kurt Cobain.
Website / Purchase: Official.
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Featured Songs:

Saturday, 17 April 2010

The Corrs - Sopot Festival Poland 1998

This is The Corrs live at The Sopot Festival in Poland back on the 21st August 1998. The band have been on hiatus since 2006, as raising families and personal aspirations understandably take priority.

Having seen them live a couple of times, this performance is a fine representation of their excellent musicianship and harmonies.

The Corrs are one of those bands that make what they do seem so easy, however years of practice lay behind their superb performances. With the encouragement of their parents, Jim took guitar lessons, Sharon played the violin and Andrea took up the tin whistle. Caroline did not learn to play the drums until she was 17 and was helped by a boyfriend at the time. They were all taught the piano by their father. Throughout their teenage years the children practised in Jim's bedroom at a rented house. Andrea sang lead vocals, Sharon played the violin, and Caroline and Jim played the keyboards.

Source: TV Broadcast (audio rip).

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps.

Genre: Folk Rock, Celtic Rock, Pop.

Set: Full Set.

Set List:

1. Forgiven Not Forgotten
2. Carraroe Jig
3. What Can I Do
4. The Right Time
5. Queen Of Hollywood
6. Dreams
7. Haste To The Wedding Part I
8. Haste To The Wedding Part II
9. Runaway
10. Only When I Sleep
11. Hopelessly Addicted
12. I Never Loved You Anyway
13. So Young
14. Toss The Feathers

Line Up:


Andrea Corr - Lead Vocal, Tin Whistle.
Caroline Corr - Drums, Piano, vocals.
Sharon Corr - Violin, vocals.
Jim Corr - Guitar, Piano, vocals.

Website: Official HERE.

Comments:

The Sopot International Song Festival was one of the most prestigious international song contests, often compared to the Eurovision Song Contest. It has been organized annually by the Polish state television TVN in the coastal resort of Sopot, Poland.

The first Sopot festival was organized in 1961. Between 1977 and 1980 it was replaced by the Intervision Song Contest which was still held in Sopot. Unlike the Eurovision Song Contest, the Sopot International Music Festival often changed its formulas to pick a winner and offered many different contests for its participants. The festival has always been open to non-European acts and countries like Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mongolia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Peru, South Africa and many others have been represented in this event.

The contest lost popularity in Poland and abroad in the 80s and even more in the 90s and the rather unconvincing organization by the TVP made the authorities of Sopot give the organization of the 2005 Sopot International Song Festival to a private TV channel - TVN. Since 1999 there was no Grand Prix contest within the festival. TVP chose to invite well known artists instead including the likes of Whitney Houston or The Corrs. In 2005, TVN was expected to bring the contest back. In 2006 TVN invited Elton John.

Download link in comments or click on the picture.

Tuesday, 6 April 2010

The Blue Nile - Manchester 1991.

This is The Blue Nile in concert back on the 13th September 1991 at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England.

The band was formed in 1981 when Paul Buchanan  and his friend, Robert Bell, met Paul Joseph Moore after graduating from the University of Glasgow in the late 1970s. Although their individual degrees didn't reflect their future career wishes (English Literature, Electronics and Mathematics, respectively), their mutual friendship grew out of their shared interest in music, and they began writing and recording together. The music of The Blue Nile is built heavily on synthesizers and electronic instrumentation and percussion, although later works have featured acoustic guitar more prominently. The band have only produced four albums and large gaps between recording and touring has always been the norm for this band.

Source: BBC FM radio broadcast.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps.

Genre: Adult Popular - Rock

Set: Broadcast element of set.

Set List:

1.A Walk Across the Rooftops.
2.Tinseltown in the Rain.
3.Heatwave.
4.Over the Hillside.
5.Stay.
6.Easter Parade.
7.The Downtown Lights.
8.Saturday Night.
9.Headlights on the Parade.

Line Up:

Paul Buchanan (vocals, guitar)
Robert Bell (bass)
Paul Joseph Moore (keyboards)

Website: Official HERE.

Comments:

For over thirty years and through four, magical records, the tale of The Blue Nile has wound inexorably through the highest acclaim and the gravest misfortune, past record company ineptitude and personal disasters, taking in Top 20 albums and winning a fanatical word-of-mouth fanbase along the way a fanbase which includes Annie Lennox, Peter Gabriel and Rod Stewart. Their songs have been covered by a diverse array of talent Tom Jones, Isaac Hayes, Melanie C, Michael McDonald, Julian Lennon, Zucchero, Joe Cocker, Chris Botti as well as the aforementioned Lennox and Stewart.

Few people own just one Blue Nile album generally you will either own them all and still play them on a regular basis or have never heard of The Blue Nile. Their music has been described as ambient folk, electronic pop and 4am songs, none of which truly gets near what The Blue Nile are about. Essentially, The Blue Nile create songs about the day to day life of pretty much everyone who has ever been in love or who has ever looked out at the rain on a cold winter day or who has ever struggled to work on a bus which gets stuck in traffic, and they sprinkle each song with something special that lifts it out of the ordinary. As singer Paul Buchanan says, its always been a documentary of the imagination

New file link in comments below - Re-uploaded 2012 (Stealth project).

2010FM - April Edition One.

A slight change for this edition with all the music streamed at the bottom in one player. Details of each featured track are mentioned with each artist.

Hidden Shoal Recordings recently announced the release of the single ‘The Green’ by American ambient experimental pop duo Boxharp. For those new to the band, Boxharp are Scott Solter (producer/engineer for the likes of Spoon, The Mountain Goats  and St. Vincent) and Wendy Allen (Tarentel and The Ballustrade Ensemble).

The title track from their forthcoming album, ‘The Green’ sees Boxharp perhaps clarify what spacious astral pop sounds like. The song is a splendid and gentle presentation of quality pop with the multi-tracked vocals of Wendy Allen, ‘The Green’is a great introduction for the forthcoming album and has got Beehive Candy very interested in hearing more.

The band was recently featured on David Bowie's official website after previously being chosen by Bowie in an article in British newspaper The Guardian as one of his current favourite artists, which makes for a pretty big reference indeed!


Featured:
'The Green'
Buy: (or download the single free until May 4th) Hidden Shoal Recordings.

 We have featured Julian Shah-Tayler before here on Beehive Candy and having listened to his latest EP 'Blah Blah Blahnik' are delighted to do so for a second time.

Julian is one busy individual, having recently been interviewed by E!, featured in the Huffington Post and performing as part of his ongoing residency with Macy Gray and Rolan Bolan at Prince's favourite Hollywood haunt, Bardot. He has also seen his songs featured in three independent films: "Whip It" (Whitey), "Youthful Journeys", "Prudence" and he also soundtracked an Australian Television show: "West Coast Diaries". He also signed a publishing deal for the debut album of his band "Adamandevil" His new live band debuted for Angie Bowie and Roy Rogers at their enormously successful Haiti benefit show.

He has also been invited to perform this summer in Manila for Imelda Marcos as part of an art extravaganza based on her infamous shoe collection. This was the inspiration behind the lead off track on his new solo EP "Blah Blah Blahnik" - "Show Me Your Soul" (spot the play on words).

OK you may ask but what about the music? Well I have to say having been very impressed with the last release, this latest offering is perhaps even stronger. Great songs, and excellent musicianship and production make Julian a likely contender for much bigger status in the music industry. The song's Electricity & Blood Destiny have to be my favorite's on the EP, lets hope they reach a much wider audience.

Featured:
'Show Me Your Soul'
Website: MySpace.
Buy: Impossible Things Records.

Fans of rock and dance music alike have New York City duo Streetlab to thank for creating catchy and danceable versions of some of their favorite tunes. Since 2001, friends Mark “Cosmo” Lamorg and Ryan Leary have been exploring the pastiche between classic rock tunes and their rump-shaking potential with an irresistible formula for electronic remixes. After years of re-inventing popular tracks such as The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” the pair began venturing into writing original material, including “NYSound,” a single that has generated a considerable buzz and coverage since its 2008 release.  Since gaining the support of various top-notch radio DJs and record labels, and receiving praise from media outlets from the likes of Billboard Magazine and URB.com, Streetlab is gearing up to release its full-length debut.

Influenced by the music scene of the early 90’s, Lamorg and Leary started out remixing classic rock songs, creating tracks that defied the boundaries of music genre and ended up appealing to both rockers and club-goers. Their early remixes caught the attention of BBC Radio1’s Annie Nightingale, and in 2002, inspired indie-rock label Kanine Records to solicit the duo to contribute remixes of tracks by Mixel Pixel and Professor Murder. Astralwerks and Invisible Records followed suit, adding Streetlab mixes to their repertoires. The talented duo spent the next few years teaming up with New York DJs and club promoters, remixing tracks for Parisian acts PlayGround and Thieves Like Us, and creating their own versions of songs made famous by everyone from Nine Inch Nails and Hot Chip to Led Zeppelin and Bob Marley.

With a endless list of remixes and a growing collection of original material to their name, Streetlab is gearing up to unleash a whirlwind of new songs with a slew of acclaimed vocalists. They’re latest single “Rat Racer” is available on iTunes and will be the first single off of the debut full-length album set for release on April 20, 2010.

Featured:
'Rat Race'
Website: MySpace.
Buy: Rat Race

Already the first French act to score a number one record in France with an album sung in English, The Dø are set to release A Mouthful in the US today (April 6th) via Six Degrees Records, complete with three bonus tracks.

Running the full musical gamut, A Mouthful deftly channels the melodic and vocal stylings of Nina Persson, the sharp and bouncy guitar jangle of contemporary indie rock, a touch of folk intimacy and even some wistful hints of summer Tropicalia. The Dø are French/Finnish vocalist and guitarist Olivia Merilahti and multi instrumentalist Dan Levy. As NME states, The Dø have created “something genuinely captivating. [A Mouthful] tastes real good.” It does indeed.

Featured:
 'On My Shoulders'
Website: MySpace.
Buy: Six Degrees Records.

Communist Daughter have a new release 'Soundtrack to the End' which is due out today (April 6th), via Grain Belt Records.

Three years ago John Solomon walked away from music. After struggling with addiction and brief stints in jail, with great sadness he dissolved his critically acclaimed band Friends Like These, and moved to a small town in Wisconsin, trying to get away from it all.  And that was that – or so he thought.

After Solomon decided that he had to leave music, he painfully learned that the music never left him. After his prolonged hiatus he called some old friends, inviting them to picturesque Prescott, Wisconsin, where they made a demo album that proved once-and-for-all that the music was his everything.

Steve Yasgar, the former drummer of The Swiss Army and Roma di Luna, Jonathan Blaseg of The Blinds, and former Friends Like These comrade Adam Switlick convened in Prescott on the Saint Croix, where John had serendipitously met Molly Moore. With her contributions, the muse took flight and resulted in their latest groundbreaking album, Soundtrack to the End.

With Soundtrack to the End, Solomon and company have reclaimed their spot in the music world with a soulful style that is writhing with the visceral, the real, and the romantic. Glowing reviews have come from critics all over: some that remember Solomon and company from Friends Like These, and others meeting them for the first time. A reinvigorated Solomon has assembled a record that demands attention.

Featured:
'Not The Kid'
Website: MySpace.
Buy: Soundtrack To The End.

The Disappeared contacted Beehive Candy a week or so ago and in a very polite and friendly email asked us to give them a listen.

They went on to say 'We are a four piece group from Manchester called The Disappeared. We believe that music, politics and intelligence do mix well together. Although we've only been formed for a year, we think we're getting our own sound together'.

Well yesterday I was going through a load of new songs some of which are featured today and I was really surprised with these guys. Half expecting something that immediately reminded me of half a dozen other bands, The Disappeared reminded me of only one (and I am keeping that to myself). There is a strong enough individual identity within their music along with clear Manchester accents for these folk to deserve attenion in their own right.

Featured:
'Welcome Back'.
Website: Official.

 Finally for this edition, when I received a promo for Leo Blais telling me one of his songs was used as a soundtrack in a Dunkin Donuts commercial I really could not get excited. Maybe it's a personal thing but hearing great songs used in commercials has a bit of a negative effect on me (especially cars and jeans adverts).

Anyhow having skipped the link to watch it and just play the music I am really glad I have. Leo Blais’ brand of pop-songwriting is reminiscent of a diverse array of artists ranging from Elliott Smith and Teenage Fanclub to Ben Folds and Travis.

His current Free EP is merely one installment of an ambitious ten-volume release series entitled Everyone’s Feelin’ Alone, which will eventually encompass over 40 tracks all told. Blais has shared the stage with such acts as Snow Patrol, Dispatch, The Dresden Dolls, Rocky Votolato, Sam Roberts, and The Neighborhoods.

Yet, the music is only the beginning of the story. Leo Blais is an artist and environmentalist in his own right. On top of spending nearly five years in the recording studio, Blais labored close to three years hand-creating the artwork for the Everyone’s Feelin’ Alone series. Using only an X-acto knife and a sharpie, Blais transformed his Lowell apartment into a tangible manifestation his musical vision. Whether it is the meticulously carved lyrics that wrap his room, or the hand-drawn tracklist, it’s clear you will not find a more unique approach to cover art and packaging anywhere soon.

Featured:
'All In All'
Website & Download: Leo Blais.

Featured Songs:

Friday, 2 April 2010

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - Live in Austria 2009

This the The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain in concert at the Glatt & Verkehrt Festival, Winzer Krems, Krems, Austria on the 26th July 2009.

 The superb musicianship along with thier unique take on so many famous songs across different genres along with the humour, make this a definate must have for all fans, and a great reminder for anyone who has seen them at festivals or on tour. If The UOOGB are new to you then in my opinion this is one download worth the time checking out.

This recording has had any radio announcements edited out and on occaision this is noticeable between songs however does not distract at all, and the banter from the band remains intact.

Source: FM Stereo Broadcast.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@256kbps.

Genre: Unique take on rock to pop to country and on...

Set: Full Set.

Set List:

01  Intro
02  Running Wild
03  Born To Be Wild
04  Miserlou
05  Life On Mars - My Way - For Once In My Life - Born Free - Substitute
06  Anarchy In The UK
07  Hot Tamales
08  Theme From Shaft
09  Teenage Dirtbag
10  Yes Sir, I Can Boogie
11  Pinball Wizard
12  The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
13  Rock Around The Clock
14  America
15  Limehouse Blues
16  Orange Blossom Special - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
17  Hard To Handle
18  Smells Like Teen Spirit
19  Fly Me To The Moon - (Where Do I Begin) Love Story - Wild World - Killing Me Softly with His Song - Hotel California - I Will Survive
20  Le Freak

Website: Official site HERE.

Comments:

In 1938, a group of winegrowers founded the Winzer Krems, Austria’s biggest producer of high-quality wines, situated in Krems. The location offers a gorgeous view over the whole town, the river Danube up to the Göttweig monastery and the Lower Austrian wine growing area at the border to the Wachau. This is the setting for this concert and festival.

The orchestra has had varying line-ups over the past two decades, but is currently performing as an octet, with seven ukulele players and one bassist. The members wear traditional orchestra dress for performances, with the men in black tie and the women in smart evening wear.

Reloaded 29/May/2015 - download link in comments. 

Violent Vickie - The Paper Kites - Will Romeo / The 1984 Draft - Mick Clarke - Steel People

Violent Vickie - Open the Door . It's a massive welcome back to Beehive Candy for Violent Vickie who we have had the pleasure of featu...