Genre Wandering: Woods - Fritz Helder - The Bulls - Ify Jerry Krusade

Woods - Sun City Creeps.

Promo bio - On April 8, Woods will release its 9th LP, City Sun Eater in the River of Light on its own Woodsist label. This week the band shares the album's first single "Sun City Creeps", plus full album details (see below) and its first batch of tour dates in support of the album, most of which will include openers Ultimate Painting (see full list of dates below).

"Woods have always been experts at distilling life epiphanies into compact chunks of psychedelic folk that exists just outside of any sort of tangible time or place. Maybe those epiphanies were buried under cassette manipulation or drum-and-drone freak outs, or maybe they were cloaked in Jeremy Earl's lilting falsetto, but over the course of an impressive eight albums, Woods refined and drilled down their sound into City Sun Eater in the River of Light, their ninth LP and second recorded in a proper studio. It's a dense record of rippling guitar, lush horns, and seductive, bustling anxiety about the state of the world. It's still the Woods you recognise, only now they're dabbling in zonked out Ethiopian jazz, pulling influence from the low key simmer of Brown Rice, and tapping into the weird dichotomy of making a home in a claustrophobic city that feels full of possibility even as it closes in on you. City Sun Eater in the River of Light is concise, powerful, anxious-barrelling headlong into an uncertain, constantly shifting new world." - Sam Hockley-Smith.

Apr-21 - Ithaca, NY - The Haunt
Apr-22 - Toronto, ON - The Garrison
Apr-23 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall *
Apr-25 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon *
Apr-26 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club *
Apr-27 - Iowa City, IA - Gabe's *
Apr-28 - Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room *
Apr-30 - Austin, TX - Levitation Austin
May-02 - Nashville, TN - Third Man Records
May-03 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade - Purgatory Room *
May-04 - Asheville, NC - Mothlight *
May-05 - Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel *
May-06 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot and Saddle *
May-07 - New York, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg *
* = w/ Ultimate Painting

'Sun City Creeps' starts with almost a reggae vibe, before developing into a lush and compelling song, with a beautiful horns and intricate musicianship.

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Fritz Helder - Force Of Nature.

Background promo - Azari & III's Fritz Helder just unveiled the title track “Force Of Nature” as well as the B-Side “Force Of Nature” (The Bad Seed Manipulation) and a brand new music video off his forthcoming debut solo EP, Force Of Nature. 

Comprised of six original tracks, Fritz Helder's Force Of Nature EP will be debuting on September 2, 2016 on London-based label AVSR.Following his recent collaborations with Sydney Blu & Blue Gates, Sinden, Andrea Oliva and fellow band member Dinamo Azari, the performer, vocalist and cultural influencer isn’t wasting any time releasing his debut solo project.

The title track “Force Of Nature” represents both an announcement and a confident distillation, packaged up into a vogue banger that embraces colourful, worldly vibes and mesmerising, throbbing grooves. “Force Of Nature” (The Bad Seed Manipulation) is a hyper kinetic re imagining of the title track, with playful, syncopated drums and a bazaar of beats that kick start the party to eleven. This track and other unexpected turns concludes Fritz Helder’s Force Of Nature release as a multidimensional piece that merges the polish of avant garde art-pop with the high-energy, slinky sounds of the dance floor.

"This being my first solo endeavour... I feel like my naïveté and vulnerability are on full display with this first collection of songs," Fritz says of his solo project. "I'm giving up the ghosts of my past and carving out a place of my own. I purposefully ventured away from what I thought people would expect from me..." Fritz Helder’s debut EP is marked by both its ambition and a sense of the new - fierce and unapologetic, this is Fritz Helder’s Force Of Nature.

This is a really powerful song, with vocals that just demand your attention. The equally forceful rhythm and beat, just adds to the whole mesmerising piece.

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The Bulls - Prudence.

Background promo - Less than three weeks away from her all-female Girlschool festival, Anna Bulbrook's The Bulls are premiering a new song, "Prudence" with the single going on sale today, Friday, January 15. Although not unlike their previous output, Bulbrook successfully attempted to reach a bit further with her songwriting, and specifically her vocals for the latest single.

"This song is about a real person named Prudence whom I love dearly and who always seems to be running both towards and away from the finer things in life at the same time. When I wrote it, I was just starting to figure out my voice by aping different male vocalists whom I loved. And for this song, I was singing along to David Bowie every day, listening to his voice and trying to channel the smallest scrap of his spirit. Turns out he is, was, and always will be a thousand percent inimitable. At least by me."

"Prudence" prefaces the Girlschool festival, "Field Day Weekend" which is the logical extension of Bulbrook's August residency at the Satellite in Silver Lake. The festival is an inclusive event, giving the opportunity for fans of all gender identities to be a part of a contemporary, female, musical movement. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Rock’n’Roll Camp for Girls LA, a non-profit empowering and nurturing young girls through music education.

The resonating bass line and darker vocals lead us into a delightful dreamy indie pop excursion, that is 'Prudence'. Fill Top 40 radio with songs like this, and I might start listening again.

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Ify Jerry Krusade - Everybody Likes Something Good - Wake Up You! Vol. 1.

Background promo - The Western world was in the throes of peace, love, and flower power as Nigeria descended into Civil War in 1967. The rock scene that developed during the following three years of bloodshed and destruction would come to heal the country, propagate the world-wide ideal of the Modern Nigerian, and propel Fela Kuti to stardom after conflict ended in 1970. Wake Up You! tells the story of this time, pays homage to these now-forgotten musicians and their struggle, and brings to light the funk and psychedelic fury they created as they wrested free of the ravages of the late 1960s and created thrilling, original Nigerian rock music throughout the 1970s.

Wake Up You! is presented in two 100+ page books full of never-seen photos and the story of the best Nigerian rock bands told in vivid detail by musicologist and researcher Uchenna Ikonne (who helmed the 2013 critical sensation Who Is William Onyeabor?). Each volume is presented as both a hardbound book with CD in a resealable plastic sleeve, and as a double LP with a soft-cover book included in a custom made 12" x 12" book holder. Vol. 1 is set for release on April 15 with Vol. 2 to follow in late May.

All I can say is that if the featured track by 'Ify Jerry Krusade' is anything to go by, then the thirty four songs that span the two CD's will be absolute 'must hears'. I have to say I had no idea Nigeria had a rock scene throughout the seventies, I live and learn.

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The Chemistry Set - The Splendour Of The Universe.

The Chemistry Set - The Splendour Of The Universe.

Extensive promo words - Cult London Psychedelic band The Chemistry Set have quite a history. Founded by Dave Mclean and Paul Lake in 1987, the band are veterans of the alternative Manchester label “Imaginary” and cassette only label “Acid Tapes”; they helped pioneer the late 1980’s neo-psychedelic boom.  

The Chemistry Set counted Factory Records boss Tony Wilson amongst their fans (they appeared on his TV show). They also received regular airplay on the legendary John Peel’s show (Peel even went so far as to sending the band a hand-written fan letter!).  The Chemistry Set have been championed by mainstream media such as The Times Sunday, Record Collector, XFM, 6 Music and Classic Rock as well as underground fanzines like Bucketful of Brains and Freakbeat in the UK, The Bob in the USA, Ruta 66 in Spain and Sound Effects in Sweden). 

Their numerous releases (The Chemistry Set’s discography currently stands at 42 releases!) both in the UK and abroad were accompanied by extensive tours throughout the UK, Europe and the United States.. As well as reaching the indie top 20 in the UK, the band’s single “Don’t Turn Away” made the national Top 20 in Spain. 

The band split in the early 90’s, took a bit of a hiatus, remaining silent… until The Chemistry Set “MACH II” remarkably reappeared in 2008! The return came about when their unreleased LP from 1989 “Sounds Like Painting” somehow was uploaded onto numerous blogs and was downloaded over 5,000 times. Since the return in 2008, the second stage of the group has seen the birth of 3 CDs: “Alchemy # 101”, “This Day Will Never Happen Again and “Chemistry is Just Numbers” plus 5 vinyl singles and 5 compilation appearances. Their first new release “Alchemy#101” in 2009 was heralded with radio play on BBC Radio 6 and XFM plus rave reviews.
  
It was a track on “Alchemy#101” that caught the interest of Cult Arranger/songwriter [and former Electric Prunes member] David Axelrod. The band made contact with his son and sent the CD to David. He loved how they added a symphonic section of his song “Sanctus” from The Electric Prunes’ masterwork “Mass in F Minor” into their reworking of Del Shannon’s “Silver Birch”. Originally found on Shannon’s “The Further Adventures of Charles Westover”, his cult 1968 LP. David said of their cover “Real Music! Finally music that makes you think and really listen to!”

The Chemistry Set have always liked giving things a “twist” , and have inserted a cover  version inside a cover version on other occasions, such as their version of Pink Floyd’s  “See Emily Play”. It had the “Bicycle Rider” section of The Beach Boys from the unfinished “Smile” album inserted within the song. Their cover was included in the 2013 Pink Floyd tribute box-set "The Many Faces Of Pink Floyd" and was cited as one of the best covers in the package.

In 2011 the band signed to French label Dead Bees records, which were the first European label to release The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Black Angels. In 2012 Dead Bees released their second album “This Day Will Never Happen Again” it received substantial critical acclaim and radio play in the USA, France, Spain and the UK.  The English newspaper The Sunday Times saying "The Psychedelic scientists exquisite English Toytown Acid-Pop songs achieve rare combinations of muscle and melody”.

The band were still up to their old tricks of putting a cover within a cover on the recently released Fruits de Mer records Box-Set of seven 7” vinyl singles entitled “7&7 is”. They cover “A House Is Not a Motel” & “Live And Let Live” by Love from “Forever Changes” and on “Live And Let Live” they have inserted some more Electric Prunes (this time an excerpt from “Get Me To The World On Time”) into Arthurly’s autobiographical confession. 

The band released the “Elapsed Memories” EP in February 2015 to rave reviews and airplay. It included an unusual  cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Love or Confusion” given a twist with 12 string acoustics, sitars, tablas and a mellotron. The New York Music Daily said of their version “The Chemistry Set re-invent Hendrix’s classic as an Indian Jam” 

The band returned to the studio in the spring of 2015 to record their new album “The Endless More & More”. The album will feature 12 original songs plus a bonus 12”featuring their cover of Hendrix’s “Love or Confusion” and 2 remixes.

The opening song from the forthcoming new album 'The Endless More & More' due this month 'The Splendour Of The Universe' is er.. well splendid. Loads of words above and believe me, they have been edited down, however it makes for an interesting 'potted' history of the band and a good introduction for those not familiar. in the meantime have a listen and find out for yourself, what an exciting album (based on the calibre of this song), is heading our way.


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Jim Wellman - Dawn To Dusk (New Album)

Jim Wellman - Probably Good (Radio Edit).

Promo Bio - In Autumn 2014, ex Brand New Heavies Jim had no intention to work in music again. However with world events and in particular the western support of fascism in Ukraine, together with ensuing propaganda from the mainstream media, he felt he had to do something to express his dissent. Over a year in production, the result is a new Jazz/Funk/Disco concept album from Jim entitled Dawn To Dusk. He considers it to be his best ever work.

The album is social commentary, but viewed through perspectives of human psychological evolution, and analysis of mass communication and propaganda. The core of the work is the understanding that Man lives in a world of amazing technological development, but is still encumbered with medieval forms of government by representatives who serve mainly the interests of the elite. With the net, and a completely new concept of two way mass communication for all, the ability of the oligarchy to manufacture consent  for its interests has suffered and cracks are beginning to show. The signalled intention is clear that the response is to destroy net neutrality and subvert the Internet to allowable information only.

Jim uses the mechanisms of human evolution to show how this is wrong for humanity, and instead advocates new forms of direct democracy and openness through an uncensored Internet. Jim was a founder member of the Brand New Heavies in 1987, and subsequently worked on his own albums featuring Roy Ayers in 1994 (Time and Space) and Love Not Truth 2005.

The full album is due out on February 29th, 2016, Jim Wellman will be releasing an EP as a preview of the album entitled "For the First Time" on Feb 8th. 

'Probably Good' is but a small taste of an incredible piece of work. Beyond the featured radio edit we have a (four track) EP, to preview the soon to follow (eleven song) album. Musically the album is superb both in composition, arrangement and execution. Both Jim Wellman and guest vocals help convey a serious message whilst supporting the overall class of this musical journey. If you like Jazz Funk this is a must have, if you are not sure, it's still probably a must have.

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David Bowie: 1947 - 2016

David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie... Plenty has been written and said about David Bowie today, I cannot add much more. Musically his work has been exceptional. As Beehive Candy is just about music, a few personal words on David Bowie the singer, composer and musician.

Many years ago a friend managed to get me a ticket to see David Bowie at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon (UK). The following concert at Hammersmith, London, was sold out, the concert where David Bowie 'retired' his Ziggy Stardust persona. I can still remember that Croydon concert, the excitement, atmosphere and being right up the front for the encore and being totally absorbed in the moment.

I went on like so many growing up with David Bowie's music. Musically he became some sort of reference point for me, I didn't always find his work to my taste, but I could not go without giving all of it, a fair listen. There are very few others that fall into that category for me. I went on to see him in concert on a number of occasions, always a showman he entertained and certainly on the gigs I went to, made his recorded material even more special.

As I said, we are just about music on Beehive Candy, so thank you David for being so generous with yours. Below is a 2002 David Bowie concert, we updated in June 2015 on Beehive Candy, it's just a moment in his history, enjoy.



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David Bowie - Live In Berlin - 2002

This is a revision of the original feature we ran on David Bowie - Live in Berlin 2002, back in 2007, edited and with additional material.

Circulated both as an audio CD and DVD bootleg, the source material was from  a television broadcast by German satellite TV channel SAT1, on the 9th February 2003.

The CD bootleg is often called 'Come To Daddy' and along with the DVD, was recorded as part of David Bowie's 'Heathen Tour'. The concert was recorded at the Max Schmeling Halle, Berlin, Germany, on the 22nd September 2002.

On 11 February 2002, it was announced that Bowie had accepted the role of Artistic Director at the Meltdown Festival, an annual music and arts event held at the South Bank complex in London, England. David Bowie's Meltdown 2002 run from 14 to 30 June, with a schedule of concerts and events including performances by The Legendary Stardust Cowboy, Coldplay, The Waterboys and a London Sinfonietta performance of Philip Glass's Low and Heroes symphonies. The closing night was billed as The New Heathens Night with Bowie headlining the event with support by The Dandy Warhols followed by a DJ set from Jonathan Ross.

The Heathen Tour proper began at the Meltdown Festival with Bowie embarking on a series of European performances including a link-up with Moby for the 12-date North America Area:2 Festivals with a return to Europe for a further six performances. Before returning again to North America to perform a final seven shows with the first five in each of New York City's five boroughs, dubbed The New York Marathon Tour by Bowie, who quipped; I could get home from all the gigs on roller skates.

It may be the case that David Bowie has a bitter - sweet affinity with Berlin, having produced some of his most intriguing music there, along with facing up to his personal addictions of that period.

Set list (broadcast element):

01 - Cactus
02 - Slip Away
03 - I'm Afraid Of Americans
04 - 5-15 The Angels Have Gone
05 - I've Been Waiting For You
06 - Heroes
07 - Heathen (The Rays)
08 - Rebel Rebel
09 - Survive
10 - Alabama Song
11 - Afraid
12 - Everyone Says Hi
13 - Hallo Spaceboy

Line Up:

David Bowie - vocals, guitar, saxophone, harmonica, stylophone
Earl Slick - guitar
Gerry Leonard - guitar
Mark Plati - rhythm guitar, bass guitar, keyboards
Gail Ann Dorsey - bass guitar, backing vocals
Sterling Campbell - drums
Mike Garson - keyboards
Catherine Russell - keyboards, percussion, backing vocals

Sound quality: Very good - stereo broadcast.

TV Video Version:



We have two audio versions, the first is the CD bootleg version including artwork, that excludes track 10 (Alabama Song). The second is the TV audio rip which has all tracks and runs as one continuous mp3.

Download links (two) in comments below.

Adam Stafford - Taser Revelations

Adam Stafford - Atheist Money.

Background promo - Adam Stafford returns with his first album in nearly three years following the widely acclaimed Imaginary Walls Collapse in 2013. 

Taser Revelations was recorded at The Happiness Hotel, Song by Toad's newly aquired warehouse recording space. Utilising the warehouse's natural room reverb to great effect, the album features producer and multi-instrumentalist Robbie Lesiuk performing a variety of instruments including steel drums, organ and piano. Greggor Douglas plays the Roland Juno/omnichord and ex-Maple Leaves Anna Miles provides harmony vocals. 

Continuing Stafford's trajectory into electrified alternative pop, Taser Revelations begins with some of the most melodically catchy songs he has ever written, before taking a swerve down a dark alley midway through the album, venturing into industrial syncopation, samurai-guitar attacks and some unsettling, vivid imagery. Album available (here).

'Atheist Money' makes a good introduction to Adam Stafford's new album 'Taser Revelations'. If this is electrified alternative pop, then for me, the key word is alternative. Full of ideas and unafraid to take less pop orientated directions, the nine song album has plenty of imagination and enough hooks to keep the listener engaged throughout. Assessable, curious and yes catchy, this is a very pleasing album.

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