Genre Mix: David Trull - Daniel Trakell - Dear Thieves - Broadway Sounds - Hunter As a Horse

David Trull - Beautiful World.

Background bio - Back in his high school days, with one faithful roadie and one faithful Fender amp in tow, David Trull was a regular feature at the Roadhouse in Webster Groves, MO. Every Tuesday, the Roadhouse Bar and Grill would have local blues hero Alvin Jett onstage to lead a jam session. David headed to the Roadhouse, rain or shine, for three years’ worth of Tuesdays. On that stage, David struck his musical roots in the soil of the blues. His great loves at that time were The Allman Brothers and The Derek Trucks Band; he was known to laugh in rapture at the grinding, throaty “breathing” of Derek Trucks’ guitar.

Years later, at college, David found a different kind of treasure: he discovered The Milk Carton Kids. Their blend of eclectic, punchy song‐writing and limpid melodies inspired him to write music more restrained, music more focused on lyrical power. He began by covering several of his favourites at an open mic night in the spring of 2013, where his rendition of “Michigan” was received with a standing‐o. Along with two friends, David formed a musical trio called Bourbon & Bitters. (By all accounts, he was the ‘bitters’ in the relationship.) This act was the vehicle for him to try his hand at song‐writing, and he wrote and performed over a dozen songs over the remainder of the semester, touring through Southern California in support of these new compositions. Upon graduation, he scraped up enough cash between graduation gifts and tips from local gigs and recorded his debut EP Sowing Season, which later became a popular add at CMJ stations. Those songs are about beginnings, David says, which seemed like a proper theme for his first effort.

David, now home in his native St. Louis, is no longer at the beginning of things. He has completed his first full length album, Coin Toss inspired by and composed during his hiking of the Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimage route across France and Spain. He’s tasted some of life, and it’s a broad world, with many beautiful things in it; but at the same time, much is fragile and out of reach. The sweet certainties of childhood, which are so celebrated in Sowing Season, are harder to hold onto the further you go into the world we’ve inherited. The pain of losing those footholds will be on full display in his new album‐ but that shouldn’t surprise any of David’s devoted listeners. For a man with his feet in the blues, writing about loss, heartache, and the humour of it all is nothing less than second nature.

The full length album 'Coin Toss' (out June 3) is a pleasing collection of songs, of which the featured track 'Beautiful World' is pretty representative. With a predominately acoustic feel, if you like something a little more gentle and laid back, the quality of song writing and performance, makes this an attractive option.

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Daniel Trakell - Wasted Light.

Background promo - Daniel Trakell has spent the better part of the last decade writing and recording several albums and touring Australia and the world with Melbourne groups Fire Underground and Dancing Heals. As both bands came to an end, finding himself with an ever-growing collection of home demos and no outlet, Trakell went in to Abbotsford studio The Aviary to record his debut solo record with friend and talented producer/Gotye percussionist Joshua Barber.

First track off the forthcoming six-track EP is Wasted Light, which has already received glowing reviews and featured in mixtapes on such desirable blogs as I Heard A Whisper, Me And All My Friends, Being Blogged and The Revue, to name a few.  The Beatles-esque tune also received instant spins on Triple J, with the network’s Music Director and presenter Richard Kingsmill giving it four stars on Unearthed, while Home & Hosed host, Dom Alessio said, “It’s like Elliott Smith on a magical mystery tour.”

Daniel was recently announced as one of six winners of Triple J Unearthed's 2016 NIDA competition, selected to have a music video for another track from the EP produced by NIDA's finest filmmaking students.

Wasted Light features Joshua Barber on bass and drums, Nicholas Lam on guitar, strings by Jonathan Dreyfus and Nick Pietsch on trombone.  
Says Daniel, “Wasted Light was the last track I wrote for the EP, the demo was very much a straightforward piano and vocals song. When I brought it to Josh we felt it should have an extended outro, he laid down 2 sets of drum takes which gave us the Beatles-y direction and we built the rest over that.”

'Wasted Light' really does have a Beatles musical feel to it. Vocals are delicate and refreshing whilst the background music gradually builds into something quite special. The production is very good, as is the song.

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Dear Thieves - My Street.

Background promo - Dear Thieves are a hard hitting alternative indie two piece, hailing from Melbourne, Victoria. The band consists of Joel Hansen and Jesse Jones, who down sized from a four piece indie rock band in Brisbane, to take their business south of the Queensland border in 2013. Since then they have been prolifically fine tuning the two piece sound, to bring a unique and melodic change to the two piece outfit.

Their last self-titled EP, released in 2014 was described as “glistening indie rock, with a charged romanticism” and set the tone for their upcoming single “My Street”. The new single was recorded at Melbourne’s very own Head Gap Studios, and at the helm was head engineer, Neil Thompson. The song itself is about big nights and there big repercussions, drawn from artist experience.

With their high energy live shows, which leave no muscle dormant and no stone unturned, the boys are ready to take Dear Thieves to bigger, and much louder pastures.

Dear Thieves crank the music up with 'My Street' a blistering rock'n'roll piece. With the powerful sound that rock duo's can create, the pair deliver a well crafted song that strikes a good balance between noise and detail. 'My Street will be released 20th of May 2016.

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Broadway Sounds - Exclusive Love / Digital Influence.

Background promo With an impressive following in their native Australia, afro-infused electro-funk pioneers Broadway Sounds will finally be bringing their effervescent retro fun to the rest of the world, with an EP release scheduled ahead of some UK festival appearances this summer. The "Exclusive Love/Digital Influence" EP release will drop on 20th May via 100 Billion Wires and features the brand new title track.

Today the band are thrilled to share the new video for the track, alongside the news that they will be playing Glastonbury Festival on Saturday 25th June. Meeting at the intersection of afro rock, boogie funk, township jive, afro funk, kwela jazz, soca, RnB, folk and soul, Broadway Sounds are a new breed of psych-pop that push the boundaries and make it work.

100 Billion Wires is a new London based independent label project set up as a labour of love by 3 friends to support exciting new left field music from the grass roots. Drawing on their collective experience of working in labels, live and music publishing, across acts ranging from Young Fathers, ho99o9, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Peanut Butter Wolf to The Fall, Shabazz Palaces, Metronomy & The Streets - eclectic tastes are reflected in the label's approach to releasing new music from emerging artists.

Broadway Sounds will play the following live dates this summer, with more to be announced shortly:

25th June - Glastonbury Festival, Somerset UK
15th July - Beatherder Festival, Lancashire UK
23rd July - Hootenanny, London UK
24th July - Secret Garden Party, Cambridgeshire UK

'Exclusive Love / Digital Influence' is a mixture of classic funky sounds with a more modern electro twist and even the odd Kraftwerk moment. It's fun and ticks a whole lot of boxes for me.


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Hunter As a Horse - Fallen Leaves.

Background promo - A haunting, psychedelic synth-infused journey filled with stories of wolves, spirits and a first kiss shared in the woods, "The Two Magics”, is a powerful debut EP from Hunter As a Horse. The sound is distinctly their own - a surprisingly comfortable blend of folk, disco and pop with dark cinematic leanings.

Co-produced by Ewan Pearson, the release is the result of a year-long self-imposed exile from London to rural Italy. The band, Paul Gala on synths and machines and Mia van Wyk on vocals and guitar, moved south to “channel the gods of dark cinematic Italo disco” where they built a studio in an old farmhouse in Tuscany, previously owned by the local sorcerer “il terzo occhio” (he who has the third eye), and began writing and honing their sound in earnest.

The band cite influences as diverse as Nina Simone, Jimi Hendrix, Lali Puna and Johnny Cash, “anything arpeggiated” and of course are heavily influenced by Italo and the sounds of the 80s.

I am so, so impressed by the debut EP 'The Two Magics'. Featured song 'Fallen Leaves' is one of five mini masterpieces, as Hunter As A Horse develop intensely beautiful music. 

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Friday &: The Phantom Sound - The Redhill Valleys - Vague - Bencoolen - Manon Meurt

The Phantom Sound - Crushing.

Background promo - The Phantom Sound recall the best of the 70’s & 80’s with contributions from the Punk & New Wave hall of fame in the powerhouse of a single: “Crushing” out May 16th 2016. The band’s powerful sound and brooding vocals of songwriter Marisa Schlussel has seen the likes of BBC and Amazing radio jump on board the good ship Phantom.

“Crushing” the standout track from the band’s special edition release of debut album “The Phantom Sound”, begins with a truly defiant swagger befitting of the punk ethos. With the unstoppable momentum of an out-of-control steam locomotive, the track leads to its iconic chorus that would be at home at both grimy rock clubs and major summer festivals.

Following her dream of working with the very artists that inspire her, Schlussel sought out the legends of the late 70’s and 80’s Punk & New Wave movement, aspiring to make sure that they loved her music. As it turn’s out, they didn’t need much convincing with Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, R.E.M.) on producer duties, legendary drummer Clem Burke (Blondie) picking up the sticks and Pierre DeReeder (Rily Kiley) all keen to contribute to what has fast become an album dripping in era-defining talent, featuring icons from the past and future.

Marisa falls into the future icon bracket, set to follow in the footsteps of Punk Rock royalty. The powerful self-titled album bulges at the seams with huge, power punk rock influenced tunes grabbing the attention of the likes of BBC Introducing London with multiple spins from supporter Gary Crowley and Amazing Radio after winning the top voted song on Charlie Ashcroft’s Audition Show for “Get to Me”. The colossal album has also seen plays on Sirius XM Radio and Genya Ravan's show on Little Steven's Underground Garage Channel.

The strength of their sound has seen the band from London receive plaudits as far as Canada and the U.S. with radio success and an invite to play Canadian Music Week 2016, representing the UK in Toronto citing influences ranging from David Bowie, Roxy Music, Blondie and The Romones.

UK Dates:
19/05         Brighton           The Great Escape
23/06         Maidstone        Earl’s    
25/06         London            The Garage

'Crushing' has all the attitude of a punk laden rock'n'roll song. Vocals have that menacing edge and the band just play guitar driven rock, with the swagger a song like this needs.

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The Redhill Valleys - Wrong Way Turns Out Right.

Background from the band - We formed as The Redhill Valleys in the fall of 2014. Today, we're sharing our single and stream of our debut album. The self titled record is out today!

The three of us had worked and collaborated together in various situations over the years, but when we got together for the first time, it clicked. We found common ground in our writing and playing styles due to our shared love of Rock and Roll, Folk, vintage R&B, and classic Country. Before long we had twelve songs written that were eclectic, but still sounded like they belonged together.  We crafted this record, our debut, for a year in the recording studio. We wanted to straddle the line of getting it just right, but without it sounding stale or mechanical.

Wrong Way Turns Out Right is a special song to us. It's one of the earliest songs that was written for our record, and set the tone for many that followed. More significantly, it's the song that was the initial vehicle for us to find our collective voice. We knew we wanted to write songs with an emphasis on harmonies and this was the first song our voices really melded together - when we felt that we had something special. - Redhill Valleys (Cheslea, Danielle & Tim).

This has been a good week for albums and The Redhill Valleys debut is definitely one of them. That they have spent time on the album is born out by the quality and craft of every song. The mixture of musical styles each member brings to the band, comes together and leaves us with a selection of great music, the featured track being no exception!

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Vague - Vacation.

Background promo - Vienna five-piece, Vague have dropped their first UK single and video Vacation, through Siluh Records.

The five young guys from Austria produce sounds with heavy distortion, reminding of alternative indie scenes of the 80sand 90s on both sides of the Atlantic. They describe their music as often: blurry, melancholic, clever, combining indie ethics with traditional songwriting.

Vacation is a brilliant slice of indie pop, showcasing the band's innate ability to pen a hook, which compliments the voice of the lead singer. Reminiscing of a by gone time, the guitar driven song is moving, nostalgic and effortlessly cool.

Vague have released their first EP titled 'Tempdays' last year and 2016 sees them release their debut full length: 'In The Meantime'. Vacation is the the first release off the album, released via Siluh Records.

The press release references the retro feel of the 80/90's indie scene that comes across with the song 'Vacation'. A reasonable point of view, I would add that had it been released way back then, it would have been up with some of the best songs. It's a fine song, one that is as welcome in 2016 as any time past.

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Bencoolen - In Color.

Background promo - After months of rehearsals and shows, Bencoolen is gearing up to release their highly-anticipated new album, In Color, out Summer 2016. The 6-song record will feature the full spectrum of the band’s sound; from a gentle ballad, a reggae rock song, and heavier, “maximalist” rock. Recently the group has just launched the title track from the record, "In Color," which you can listen to and post, above.

Bencoolen was able to raise more than $6000 for the record, and has made a recent push to travel to new cities and universities to share their music. The band's sound, either recorded or live, will definitely touch Bencoolen listeners. Whether you are the lonely bartender on a Wednesday somewhere in New Jersey, or a rowdy fraternity house playing air guitars with us and singing songs you hadn’t yet heard; you have all of our energy. The hours of practice and of travel have garnered accolades from features in USA Today College, to opening for Cold War Kids, and more.

The first single, “In Color,” is simply a story about growing up. We are all born with creativity and color inside us, but as we learn, that beauty gets lost. When the bartender asks him, “What’s your name, what’re you in here for?,” The man simply says, “I’m the wind blowing through and I used to live in color” without identity or purpose for himself. As he drinks he wanders the bar, he looks at the beautiful pictures on the seemingly ordinary bartender’s walls. He then watches him work, content with where he is, and what he has done. That opportunity for self-reflection helps the man find inspiration to live beyond paying bills and doing the “right” thing to essentially find himself again.

Featured song 'In Color' has a distinct reggae feel to it, and some high quality musicianship accompanying the suitably adapted vocals. It's one of those songs that starts out well and just keeps on getting better!


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Manon Meurt - To Forget.

Background promo - Upstart Canadian imprint Label Obscura is proud to announce the vinyl reissue of the debut EP by Czech Republic shoegaze/ noise pop quartet Manon Meurt, making it available in North America for the first time.

These quickly rising shoegaze stars have played alongside The Raveonettes, The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, LSD and the Search for God, and My Bloody Valentine. During the sound check for the latter, while Kevin Shields was still in the locker room, MBV’s sound engineer actually complained that Manon Meurt were playing too loud.

Manon Meurt is Vojtech Pejša (guitar, vocals), Káta Elznicová (vocals, guitar), Jirí Bendl (drums) and Jana Karlíková (bass guitar, giggler). They hail from the small Czech town of Rakovnik, located just outside of the capital, Prague. Inspired by the British shoegaze movement of the early 90s, bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Lush, Ride and Slowdive have clearly helped shape the band’s sound.

Originally self-released on vinyl in their native country in autumn 2014, this self-titled 6-track 12-inch record sold out shortly after its initial release and now fetches upwards of $50 USD via Discogs. This debut album shows the band in a number of different musical moods, from the rollicking opener “To Forget” to the dreamy atmospherics of both “‘94” and “Until You Can” and the show-stopping B-side closer “Blue Bird”, nicely bringing the album to a close and foreshadowing what lies ahead for this exciting new band.

Label Obscura, as a website and record label, was created with the goal of shining a light on some of their favorite labels, bands, and albums from the past and present, with a focus on indie rock that never got a vinyl release or is currently out of print.  This reissue will be limited to 200 copies on white vinyl in North America, and will be available through the label’s website and via select independent record retailers. All copies come packaged with a high quality plastic inner sleeve and a digital download card. It is also available digitally via the label's Bandcamp.

The song may have been around for a year plus, however the vinyl release should prove popular and remind us of the quality of the bands music. Shoegaze that morphs into dream pop, whatever the genre 'To Forget' captures the more powerful side of the band and makes for a great introduction.


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Suzerain - Identity (New Album - May 27th)

Suzerain - Always (Radio Mix).

Background promo - We live in a world that is rapidly changing around and within us. Each day is a time capsule: a snapshot of who and where we are at that precise moment. Perspective is key, but by nature human consciousness isn’t built to process experiences in such a manner. People can struggle to get a helicopter view when they’re stuck in the eye of the storm that is life. It’s a concept which London noise merchants Suzerain have been exploring with second album 'Identity' – their very own dystopian nightmare born from the winds of change.

“We made this album across two years,” reveals singer Thomas Pether. “So it took a while to break into something we wanted it to be. Identity is something that is difficult to grasp on a day-to-day basis, it can change but isn’t always obvious. For us, this album feels like our identity at the moment.”

“We wanted to strip away as much as possible,” continues guitarist Rich Summer. “It sounds like a cliché but the more we removed, the more it sounded like us. We have a tendency to try everything we can and see what sticks, but this time once we found the heart of the music, we stripped everything down to that one little nugget that was the identity of the track, in a way.”

Enlisting the talents of respected producer Steve Lyon (Depeche Mode, The Cure, Siouxsie Sioux), the electro rock outfit strived to create something truly exciting, something brand new, something so very now that its process pushed their artistic vision to its very limits. As the pieces slowly fitted into place, so did the understanding that identity is the invisible carpet beneath our feet: a journey of self-discovery, and how the results of such naked introspection place us in equilibrium with the other forces of life.

“It’s not a concept album by any stretch,” says Thomas. “But it certainly does have elements of that. Our track 'I Know You So Well' came from how we can be seen through our digital footprint in the world, and 'Hide Yourself' is about opening up to other people by not hiding yourself, by just being you. Which to be honest is something we all want to do! So there were many things that crossed over in actually defining ourselves on this record.”

“We recorded so many songs that didn’t make the album,” continues Rich. “We decided that if anything sounded like another band could have done it, we didn’t want to include it. The music had to be something that could only be done by us. And embracing that side of us was both a blessing and a curse! But the result is that anyone listening to this record would have to grab a whole group of genres to figure out where we belong.”

Suzerain release their new album 'Identity' on May 27th. The featured song 'Always' gives a good indication of the brooding sound the band create. They are adventurous and the album does not sit comfortably in any particular genre. As a result we are treated to a mixture of indie rock songs, instrumental tracks, and softer imaginative pieces. It's hard to think of any specific band to reference them against, as they test out so many different ideas. This for me is one really fine album, the band are extremely capable, vocals are seemingly customised to each song, and we have a group of people who are not trying to follow a specific format that stifles their imagination.

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Wednesday Rock Blast: The Lost Poets - This Party

The Lost Poets - Insubordia Pt. II.

Background bio - The Lost Poets - a mysterious dark impact from Sweden. Their faces are unknown and covered by a tar like substance. Wearing top hats and suits. Even though strange and dark, the music is full of beautiful melodies, positive elements and unique vocals.

The Lost Poets originates from Stockholm, Sweden. Their only release is an EP from 2014 "Insubordia", and the single "Mouth". Both received raving reviews internationally and in a very short time they have become hugely sought after.They are to be included in Dolph Lundgrens forthcoming feature film "Without YouI'm Nothing" and they opened for "Volto" (Tool drummer Danny Carey's band) at the infamous Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard merely weeks after arriving to Los Angeles. The Lost Poets are also currently working on the short film "Tales from Insubordia" and the children's book (!) "The Lost Poets".

The Lost Poets are a two-man extravaganza who brings the listener to another world. Through their mysterious appearances they express all emotions between everything and nothing. Truly beautiful, gritty raw and immensely powerful.

The ten track album has been out for a couple of months, but only came my way this week and is to good to pass by on. With a distinct & powerful earthy rock sound and a flare for creative songs, The Lost Poets are one potent band. Shades of early Pearl Jam through to even David Bowie, however that said they are more than capable of original pieces. Like the featured track, then you will love the album.


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This Party - Taste.

Background promo - A chance encounter at a Smiths tribute gig in early 2015 led to the formation of Brighton's This Party, a band that fuse sharp bass lines with infectious melodic hooks. Charismatic front man Matt is as well known for his energetic on-stage performances as he is for his strong vocals.

New single 'Taste' is two and half minutes of guitar driven indie rock. A clear statement of intent from a band that have very quickly established themselves as one of the UK's most exciting prospects. The single is the first release to come from the band's own record label Moscow Lets Go.

Produced by Junk Scientist (The Rakes, Larrikin Love), This Party's debut single 'Movie Nights' was picked up by BBC Introducing South and featured by BBC 6 Music's Steve Lamacq throughout Autumn 2015. 'Movie Nights' was selected by Gigslutz as their 'Track of the day' and featured by BBC Introducing South's Melita Dennett as a tip for 2016.

'Taste' is a two and a half minute blast, of classic British indie rock. Musically it's as tight as anything and the highly charged vocals add to this mini feast, of guitar driven rock.

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Tuesday Mix: Lauren April - The fin. - Wendy James

Lauren April - Picture On The Wall.

Background promo - At the forefront of the bustling Country Music scene in the UK, Lauren April launches herself to the top of the most promising new artist’s lists with the remarkable debut single “Picture On The Wall”, released Monday 16th May 2016.

“Picture On The Wall” comes from a very personal place, showcasing April’s unique ability to connect with audiences through her vivid storytelling and prolific song writing. The debut single resonates with emotive, relatable stories of the lessons learned in love and with tension building musicianship that oozes with modern flair.

Lauren was discovered after astounding audiences with her souring vocals and her ability to connect at open-mic nights in her home town of Nottingham. Word soon spread leading to spins from BBC Introducing, nationwide airplay across all regional BBC Radio stations on Mark Forrest’s evening show and Nottingham Trent University Radio becoming keen supporters of the 20-year-old singer and self-taught guitarist.

Tipped to be the next big name in UK Country Music and her debut EP out later this year, Lauren April takes to the road in May and June supporting The Sons Of Pitches, winners of BBC2 TV’s ‘The Naked Choir’:

11/05 Rhyl, Pavilion Theatre    Supporting The Sons Of Pitches
19/05 Newbury, Arlington Arts Centre    Supporting The Sons Of Pitches
20/05 Brighton, The Great Escape
28/05 Morecambe, The Platform    Supporting The Sons Of Pitches
02/06 Southport , Atkinson Theatre Supporting The Sons Of Pitches
17/06 Deal Astor, Community Theatre Supporting The Sons Of Pitches

Although 'Picture On The Wall' is described as country music, I would suggest it's broader than that, and will appeal to a wider audience beyond pure country fans. However you categorise it, this is a really good song and Lauren's vocals are just right for the part.

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The fin. - Through The Deep.

Background promo - About ‘Through The Deep’ There’s a theme running through the beauteous new EP by The fin. that permeates more than just the song titles. Oceanic imagery features heavily in Yuto Uchino’s lyrics, as references to ship, shore and submersion loom large. The singer articulates these tales of impermanence and transition to a shimmering, sophisticated indie art-pop backing that will be familiar to fin. fans, even though there’s a greater electronic influence to this EP, as synths carry more of the weight, melodically and rhythmically. 

About The fin. “At the end of the day, we just want to be seen as borderless.” Yuto Uchino. Hailing from the vibrant Japanese port city of Kobe, The fin. are a reputed and singular attraction in their homeland due to their stylish Europhile blend of synth-pop, chillwave and dream-pop, complete with English lyrics addressing universal themes of everyday uncertainties. Often referenced alongside the likes of Beach House, Phoenix, Metronomy and M83, the quartet have, since forming in 2012, performed before thousands of rapturous fans at major Japanese festivals including Fuji Rock, Rising Sun and Viva La Rock. Not content with such acclaim in one country alone, Yuto Uchino (vocals and synths), Ryosuke Odagaki (guitar), Takayasu Taguchi (bass) and Kaoru Nakazawa (drums) set their sights worldwide and in 2015 embarked on a major tour of the US, which included a performance at SXSW, before making their first forays into Britain with a handful of dazzling shows in support of their debut UK EP, ‘Night Time’. Their much-anticipated return to these shores this spring comes in the wake of a second British release and a growing recognition that there’s an act of rare, sophisticated beauty creating a big noise in the East. It’s time to turn your gaze to The fin.  

April 27 Tokyo,JP - Studio Coast (The Last Shadow Puppets support)
May 13 London, UK - The Finsbury
14 Southampton, UK - The Alex
15 London, UK - Old Queens Head
19 Reading, UK - The Purple Turtle
21 Brighton, UK - The Great Escape
26 London, UK - Tooting Tram & Social
27 Portsmouth, UK - The Edge of The Wedge

We featured The fin back in November of last year. The new five song EP is so good the least I can do, is mention it. The beautiful title track 'Through The Deep' is incredibly catchy and the understated indie feel and vocal harmonies are pretty special.

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Wendy James - Indigent Blues.

Background promo - Originally from London, now a resident of NYC, Wendy James wrote her latest album ’The Price Of The Ticket’ in its entirety, with the exception of two inspired cover choices, 'It's Alright Ma' by Bob Dylan and 'You're So Great' by Fred 'Sonic' Smith. Recorded in her adopted city, 'The Price of the Ticket' is available on vinyl, CD and via digital download. The record reached No.13 in the Official UK Indie album chart and No.15 in the Official UK Vinyl album chart. It is presented with arresting and beautiful artwork by Kym Ellery and Roze Hooij.

From the album comes a double A side single that showcases Wendy's Garage Rock and Roll credentials perfectly. 'Indigent Blues' is an infectiously upbeat song that Wendy wrote to evoke English 60s Pop. She says "I wanted to create a carefree, suburban London sound, a distinctly English feel, inspired by the movie Georgy Girl and it’s theme tune by The Seekers. There was a period in the late fifties to sixties, where theatre, music, playwriting, and politics, all came together. There was a great sense of optimism but also naivety in young English people. I’m not talking about the hipsters on Carnaby Street but slightly more removed, where they were just wearing their mini skirts for the first time. A tremendous sense of optimism."

'Bad Intentions and a Bit of Cruelty' is bursting with New Wave energy, attitude and raw Rock and Roll. The video, filmed in Paris sees Wendy walking through the city as dawn breaks, champagne bottle in hand, the very embodiment of Art Rock.

Wendy James has spent her entire adult life in the public eye, her musical evolution recorded in a huge body of work, both through her first band Transvision Vamp and as a solo artist. An icon born of the late eighties and early nineties pop punk scene, Wendy's talent, style and attitude led Miley Cyrus to proclaim that Wendy was her original pin-up; whilst Wendy's principles as an uncompromising artist, songwriter and musician have led to an alignment with her own musical inspiration Patti Smith. Indeed this album sees her working with Lenny Kaye of The Patti Smith Group together with Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols and James Sclavunos of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The album's cover versions feature Iggy & The Stooges' James Williamson on guitar/bass and Steve Mackay on Baritone Sax. Wendy James has achieved what few can or have: longevity and a forward motion trajectory in New Wave Garage Rock.

Live Dates:
Thursday 19th May - Brooklyn Bowl, London
Thursday 26th May - The Fleece, Bristol
Friday 27th May - Mello Festival, Throckmorton Airfield,Worcester
Saturday 28th May - Kasbah, Coventry
Sunday 29th May - Darwen Live, Town Hall, Darwen
Wednesday 1st June - The Venue, Derby
Saturday 4th June - Esquires, Bedford

The double A side single is a reminder of just how talented Wendy James remains. The featured song 'Indigent Blues' really does capture a carefree sixties feel, with real pop sensibilities. The other song 'Bad Intentions and a Bit of Cruelty' has Wendy's trademark post punk or new wave credentials. All in all these are two fine songs from a very good album.

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