Tuesday Two: Quiet Lights - Merival

Quiet Lights - In The Future.

Background - A long time ago, Beehive Candy featured Quiet Lights. Their new record, In the Future, was out last  Friday, Jan 15th, and it reminded me of just how much I enjoyed their somewhat distant last release.

Recorded over two to three years, In The Future features nine songs and shows Quiet Lights heads down in sound-scapes and uplifting restraint. The band describe the making of this album as "two years of entropy, agony, and ecstasy (but never apathy) of weaving layers to get it completed". You can hear and buy more on Bandcamp (here).

The featured 'title' song from the album, is indicative of the superb atmospheric dream pop Quiet Lights produce with such mastery. It is to all intents artful music, however never pretentious, and just so good for your ears and mind and soul.

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Merival - Kicking You Out.

Introductory words from Merival - Lovers is a collection, my warm debut. The 5-song EP is shaped by relationships and reflection, finding beauty and transformation in heartache.

Since landing in Toronto in 2012, I have been active in the music community, contributing to projects and collaborating with musicians including Ryan Hemsworth (Secret Songs), Torquil Campbell (Stars), Darren Seltmann (The Avalanches), Swim Good (Bedroomer) and fronting my old band First Rate People.

All of the songs on Lovers were written before I was 20. I wrote 'Kicking You Out', the second single, when I was 17 - it's the oldest song on the EP - about someone I'd been in love with for 2 years already. I'd never lived with him so I took some artistic liberties there; the idea of kicking him out was more of a premonition I had, that I would carry him with me for years and years after the fact and would need to be continually kicking him out of my mind. So far it's held true.

Lovers was recorded with my friend Asher Gould-Murtagh and mastered by Glen Watkinson at Sheepdog Studios.

'Kicking You Out' is beautiful, honest and quite charming. Vocally it is quite stunning and the gentle guitar just adds the right amount of support. You can also check out the delightful first single 'A Better Deal' (here).

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Sunday Duo: Slingshot Dakota - Golden Daze

Slingshot Dakota - Paycheck.

Background promo words - Slingshot Dakota is an indie rock band from Bethlehem, PA. Comprised of two people, this band has no shortage of volume, energy and catchy tunes. Carly Comando shreds an 88-key digital piano through multiple effects pedals and provides vocals for the band. Drummer Tom Patterson keeps the beat while energetically crushing his drums, a sight that is both entertaining and inspiring. While Comando and Patterson are influenced by their respective punk and hardcore basement scenes, their music can be described as poppy indie rock. Their live sound is loud, full and raw, but at the root of it all is an addictive rock song.

Over the course of the last three years since Slingshot Dakota's last album, 2012's Dark Hearts (Topshelf), the pair allowed themselves the freedom to write new material at their leisure as well as succumb to the temptation of outside opportunties - Comando, a commercial licensor, earned herself an Emmy Award for her song "Everyday" used in an episode of The Simpsons, Patterson wrote and recorded two albums with his doom metal band, Fog Cult, and what could be their biggest project to date, getting married.

Slingshot Dakota worked with photographer David Brandon Geeting on the album design. "He has an amazingly eclectic style, and his photos represent his interpretation of our record’s theme," explains Comando. The album cover album is a bouquet of flowers with a broken vase taped together in a sad yet hopeful way, and the back cover is the same concept but with a tree branch and leaves. "There’s something melancholy yet beautiful in his art," Comando says. "The images are bright and colorful, even though they evoke something sad." - Release Date: March 11, 2016. Label: Topshelf Records.

'Paycheck' has a punk feel, with vocals initially buried amongst a potent rock beat and fuzz laden digital piano. It's catchy straight music with a bite.

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Golden Daze - Low.

Background promo - Formed by Ben Schwab and Jacob Loeb, Golden Daze is a collaborative song writing duo. Inspired by 60's melodic rock and contemporaries like Cass Mccombs and Brian Jonestown Massacre, Golden Daze drenches their straightforward earthly pop tunes in ethereal drones and tape flutter.

The duo, originally from the Midwest (Schwab from Ohio and Loeb from Chicago), are based in Los Angeles and will be releasing their self-titled debut LP on Autumn Tone Records on February 19th.

This week the band shares album cut "Low," a track they say is "like our version of 'I Believe I Can Fly'."

'Low' opens as something of an anthem, with the vocals bringing an additional lift. The sixties melodic rock inspiration, is pleasingly evident on this song, giving it a rich overall texture.

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Synth Saturday: Meter Bridge - Pikachunes

Meter Bridge - It Was Nothing.

Background promo - Canadian synthwave duo Meter Bridge are releasing their latest single ‘It Was Nothing’ through WEATNU Records. Comprised of two tracks, this is being offered as a free download via Bandcamp. In this thoughtfully arranged and sparkly composition, moogs whistle and rhythms click into the night, as these two voices blend into a sound that is part Human League, part Blade Runner, and 100% Meter Bridge. 

Meter Bridge, who are Richard Kleef and Jill Beaulieu, have a distinctive and unmistakable sonic identity, unique from anybody else on the current electronica scene. This is led by their trademark multi-layered boy / girl melodic vocals, melded with minimalistic groove-infused alternative dance melodies teetering between retro and futuristic.

"It Was Nothing is about a public figure spreading lies that play on peoples' heartstrings... for the purpose of getting millions of people supporting a false agenda," explained frontwoman Jill Beaulieu. "This kind of hypocrisy is very difficult to expose... because ignorance is bliss."

Based in Nelson, Canada, they have been playing together since 2011, gathering an enthusiastic following amongst music aficionados and lovers of classic and contemporary synthpop. In 2014, they released their eponymous debut EP, following by the 'Slow Motion' LP in 2015, both of them drawing significant attention on the electronica scene internationally and landing them in numerous 'Best of' lists in each of these years. The Record Stache (#8 synthpop album of 2015) says their music is "evocative of Man Machine period Kraftwerk, had the German four piece chosen to invent glitchcore on their way to perfecting technopop".

This B-side for this single features a remix by Rodney Cromwell, whose debut 'Age of Anxiety' LP (2015, Happy Robots Records) introduced electronic pop lovers to some epic retro future synth music.

Distinctive synths and dual vocals, and with hints of Krautrock 'It Was Nothing' is an imaginative hook laden song. The sort that gets me digging deeper on a band.

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Pikachunes - You Are.

Background promo - Melbourne artist, Pikachunes has unveiled the first single from his forthcoming record, Allely. Premiered on Purple Sneakers, ‘You Are’, works Pikachunes’ strong, thematic vocals atop his metallic, dark undertones that he's become renowned for.

‘You Are’ conceptually follows the story of a young boy with a heavy heart, encountering the nerves that we find nestled in the pit of our stomach, to the controlled quiver of talking through our teeth once met with intimidation.

"Featuring some intimate and rather vulnerable lyrics that are quite revealing, but juxtaposed with a huge wall of sound that is his off-kilter brand of electronica, there is just something about this that has got us well and truly hooked!" -  Purple Sneakers

‘You Are’ is the first single taken from Pikachunes’ debut Monday Records album, Allely, to be available in 2016.

Live Gig - Thursday, 21st January @ The Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne.

'You Are' opens in pulsating style. Then the story unfolds, there is something as stated above quite 'vulnerable' within the lyrics, whilst musically everything is in control, it's fascinating.


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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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