Monday Magic: Kate Nash - Gypsy & The Cat - The Rebel Light - James Edge And The Mindstep

Kate Nash - Good Summer.

Background - Kate Nash has returned to Zone 5 and with her she brings the Summer's finest pop offering 'Good Summer', produced by Dave Bassett and out today via Kate's own imprint Girl Gang Records.

‘Good Summer’ is literally the light at the end of the tunnel, an expression of relief, the type we all feel when the sun comes out and the warmth radiates your skin after 10 months of grey sky, central heating and soggy feet. “I’ve been a referee of my emotions,” sings Nash, over upbeat synths, skittering drums and dance-y guitar lines. 

It’s about her own return to contentedness in London. “In Britain, in the summer you let go of the stuff on your shoulders and go, F it, I’m gonna get on this banana boat. Go crazyyyyy!’” 

A lot has happened to Nash, a BRIT school graduate, since the release of her #1 record and Brit-Award gleaning debut ‘Made Of Bricks’ back in 2007 - failed relationships, record label fall-outs, punk record releases, a relocation to the other side of the world... And so it’s wonderful that the singer-songwriter, activist and heroic spirit is here today, possessed of an impervious rebellion and a lightness of being that makes her ‘give-a-f?’ honesty even more contagious. Everything seems to be coming full circle..

Fresh off the back of closing Wilderness festival as part of a huge David Bowie tribute, Kate has announced a small run of UK headline dates this October including London's Oslo. There’ll be more music, there’ll be more shows. “I’m not disappearing again,” Kate says, patient, poised, happy to let fate make the next move.

Ive been an avid listener to Kate's music since the first album Made Of Bricks (wow was it really nine years ago!). 'Good Summer' is a fine reminder of just how good Kate is at writing and delivering great pop songs. Tapping in to our sometimes "short of sunshine" summers, here in the UK, the song is fun, upbeat and oh so sunny.

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Gypsy & The Cat - Odyssey Of The Streets.

Background promo -  The time has finally come for the highly anticipated Gypsy & The Cat full length album, “Virtual Islands”. Boasting ARIA and Hype Machine charting singles, three songs in the triple j Hottest 100 and having been covered by a host of large tastemaker outlets including Rolling Stone, Noisey and Fader; Gypsy & the Cat and success are no longer just flirting with each other. They're shacking up and settling down.

So far the duo have successfully released three singles from the album which got us all very excited for this moment. “Inside Your Mind” marked the start of the spectacular return for Gypsy & The Cat. The single throws a retrograding acoustic guitar into the mix, orbiting in just the right places. Following this single, the Melbourne duo released “I Just Wanna Be Somebody Else” and continued to win over listeners by showering them in glorious Australian indie pop. In only a few months, these singles have hit over 1.3 million streams online and their latest single 'Life' took the coveted #1 spot on Hype Machine charts earlier this week.

With the help of producer Dave Fridmann (Tame Impala, MGMT, Neon Indian, The Flaming Lips) and their inspiring time spent in Japan over the last year, this album marks a new era for Gypsy & The Cat. They put their heart and soul into delivering an amazing album but unfortunately it will be their last project as Gypsy & The Cat. "We have come to a place with the band where we feel like we have achieved the things it set out to, and are incredibly proud of the catalogue of music that we've built along the way," they said. "We are like brothers, Lionel and I, and this is in no way a sad or bitter thing, we speak every day in fact, instead it's more of a decision to keep growing as individuals and explore our artistic limits in different incarnations." They are extremely proud of Virtual Islands and although we will be sad to see them part ways, their success should be celebrated and it will with their final album tour.

Oh what a beautiful album 'Virtual Islands' is and 'Odyssey Of The Streets' is the seventh of ten songs within this stunning collection, and a personal favourite. That the duo are calling it time after this release, might seem strange and even disappointing, however if you ever want an example of going out on a high, this album is a fine place to start.

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The Rebel Light - Where Did All The Love Go.

Background words from The Rebel Light - We are very excited to finally get to share our debut EP with you.... written and recorded here in Los Angeles, we tried to capture what it feels like to live, work and play in California and the good vibes your soul starts to absorb just being here.

In the immortal words of California's greatest ambassadors, The Beach Boys
"I'm pickin' up good vibrations"

We wanted to create a soundtrack to your summer - music to listen to as you drive down the Pacific Coast Highway in your vintage car with a big  f..ahem smile on your face!
Hopefully we came close to accomplishing that.....

“A Hundred Summer Days” has just been released through Dualtone Records. Spotify here.

'Where Did All The Love Go' typifies the positive, upbeat and "bright summer day" vibes that permeate through this five song EP. Taking note of the bands words above, I think it's fair to comment that, it's a case of mission totally accomplished, this is a fabulous EP!

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James Edge And The Mindstep - Four Two Four.

Background - Order becomes disorder and harmony springs from chaos in James Edge and the Mindstep’s latest song ‘Four Two Four’. It sees Edge perverting the country shuffle into something darker and more abstract than anything you’ll find in the soporific musings of most MOR folk pop artists today. Snippets of melody are distributed like splashes of colour in a Pollock painting. The nightmarish lyrics demand the listener’s subjective interpretation, yet concern themselves with the macabre imagery of things like drowning and exploding. The fiendish song spawned itself one day - initially growing out of a fingerpicked improvisation, the guitar part arrived fully formed.

‘Four Two Four’ was recorded at Tom Aitkenhead’s Milk Studios in Limehouse for their upcoming album Machines He Made, released on CD, vinyl and download later in the year.

James Edge is already a studious musical maestro and a top drawer composer. The Kent-raised musician studied composition to master’s degree level under Joe Duddell - arranger for the likes of Elbow and New Order. After moving to London and starting to gig in 2006, he formed James Edge and the Mindstep to record 2010 debut album ‘In The Hills, The Cities’. The working relationships he built around this time would provide him with some dependable collaborators, including regular engineer and occasional co-producer Tom Aitkenhead, best known for his work with Laura Marling and Bloc Party. A core jazz-folk trio of Edge, double bassist Andy Waterworth and drummer Avvon Chambers materialised. Together the trio started recording second album ‘Machines He Made’ over a five day period tracking everything live and only overdubbing the backing vocals. The songs were largely unrehearsed, with band members and additional session players mostly having not heard the pieces before. This spontaneous hodgepodge has resulted in some of the most whimsical and deeply experimental music to come out of the capital in a while.

We featured James Edge and the Mindstep back in March and are delighted to do so again with the new song 'Four Two Four'. The musicianship is incredible and makes a perfect accompaniment for the gifted vocals of James Edge. With an album release due this year, this is an exceptional taster of whats to come.

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Synths & Sunday: Highasakite - Lovecat - Vibrissae

Highasakite - Samurai Swords.

Background promo - Their “synthy sadbangers” are behind a swarm of press, inciting rave reviews from the likes of Vogue, The Guardian, The Fader, Mojo, Pop Justice, Q Magazine and The Line of Best Fit. Fresh from Glastonbury and Latitude Festivals, and just ahead of a headline spot on Norway’s renowned Øya Festival, Highasakite announce new single ‘Samurai Swords’ – taken from acclaimed sophomore album ‘Camp Echo’, out now via Propeller Recordings.

It proves a synthillating addition to Highasakite’s booming arsenal, tackling heartbreak with aplomb and the soaring signature vocal of frontwoman Ingrid Helene Håvik.

Fresh from a guest performance on Made In Chelsea, the band is announced to play the 23rd Annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert on December 11. The event is televised to more than 100 countries, 300 million households and also streamed live on YouTube, with Highasakite joining the ranks of countless Nobel alumni including Paul McCartney, Elton John, Alicia Keys, Florence and the Machine and Rihanna. The band embarks their biggest US Tour to date in September, before returning to London for a headline show at Heaven on Tuesday, November 1 – joining recent Sold Out performances at Hoxton Hall and Village Underground.

Following acclaimed debut LP ‘Silent Treatment’, which recently marked a two-year milestone in the Norwegian Top 40 Chart, Highasakite’s sophomore offering ‘Camp Echo’ claims a second consecutive #1 chart debut in Norway and #24 entry in the Australian Top 40. The album features singles ‘Someone Who’ll Get It’ and ‘Golden Ticket’, amassing streams of more than 8 million in just a couple of months.

We featured the band back in late January mentioning at the time "Plenty of positive words have been written and said regarding Highasakite". 'Samurai Swords' continues the theme of powerful synth drive music and vocals that demand your attention. It's passionate, immediate and very catchy!

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Lovecat - Lovesong.

Background - This is Lovecat, the DIY synth-pop project from a Vienna-based producer named David Haering. Lovecat will be releasing his debut album The Great Catsby on September 9th via Fabrique Records (iTunes pre-order), and has now shared its first single “Lovesong”.

The Great Catsby is an album full of driving rhythms, playful basslines, and above all, the voice of a hopeful romantic. It will be coming out exactly five years after the release of his debut EP, and follows various radio hits in Europe and a remix for Morrissey's legendary guitarist and co-writer Boz Boorer. The album also explores his past experiences in various rock and punk rock bands, and the gray days between one night of partying and the next.

The Great Catsby is a charming collection of songs that reflects upon on-again/off-again relationships, self-doubt, existential themes and more… The Pet Shop Boys, Erasure and Yazoo form the musical frame of reference. Lovecat has worked with a variety of producers over the years in different studios, only to realize that even a lovesick cat needs to have the last word himself. So The Great Catsby is a very personal manifesto that could only be developed in-house, allowing its compelling charm to emerge in full. 

'Lovesong' is the first of twelve new songs on The Great Catsby. It's indicative of the overall upbeat synth driven songs in this collection, however there is a good level of creativity and space for a range of ideas and directions that are shared. Melodic, danceable and full of good vibes, this is one cool song and album.

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Vibrissae - Need.

Background - Shoegaze electronic crossover trio Vibrissae have signed to Italian label Vipchoyo Sound Factory to release their debut LP 'Somewhere Away'. In advance of the album's release, they are releasing their first reverb-filled driven single 'Need'.

Formed and are based in Portland, Oregon, the same city that produced The Dandy Warhols, The Decemberists, Modest Mouse, The Prids, Quarterflash and Elliott Smith, the three members of Vibrissae hail from different continents.

Vocalist Imber Lingard comes from Australia,  Emma Bell was born in Malaysia, and Aaron Bell is native to the USA. The trio found common ground in their shared love of shoegaze, electronic music, and modern rock, and especially any crossover fusions thereof. Vibrissae's debut output is the result of over three years of rehearsal and recording.

Their music crosses over multiple genres, combining and alternating elements from electronic rock, synth pop, dark wave and shoegaze.

The first single “Need” is an electrifying post-punk number with a darker atmosphere, underlined by a frenzied feeling of urgency. Guitar distortion erupts at the start of the track, transitioning into a warped guitar chime with remarkable percussion penetrating in the calm before the storm. Lingard delivers a stunning sing-talk, building up to what is a hypnotic chorus.

This album was mainly recorded at their home studio with some vocals tracked at Jackpot! Recording Studio in Portland, a testament to Vibrissae's DIY aesthetic. The band also mixed their own tracks and created their own artwork, with mastering performed by Alan Douches.  

From their debut LP 'Somewhere Away' the latest single 'Need' is a fine indicator of the bands genre spanning sound. Earnest, powerful and creative, both music and vocals work so well together, bringing about some fabulous songs. As I say 'Need' is an indicator, there is so much more across the album, it is definitely one to check out.

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Genre Wander: Beauty Sleep - Qlaye Face - Jacob Moore - Oblio

Beauty Sleep - Living Right.

Background promo - Like the changing of the days in Belfast, Beauty Sleep’s new single is very much in a different season to the bands debut back in winter, suitably named ‘The Dark’. As the days are significantly longer right now, new single and sophomore effort ‘Living Right’ drives away from the melancholy tones and melodies of the bands debut effort whilst keeping the dreamy, chorus infused guitars and hazy vocals that are becoming a trademark for this Northern Irish export.

Ryan McGroarty, Cheylene Murphy and Aimee Williamson’s obsession with fuzzy synths and dream inspired pop music continues to show the bands ability to compete in the one of music’s newest trendsetting genres. ‘The Dark’ was described as “a mix of Phoenix and Beach House and occupies the dreamy end of the guitar-pop spectrum.”(The Irish Times) and won the support of a host of tastemaker press and BBC 1 Radio support. The tone was seemingly set for Beauty Sleep.

But if ‘The Dark’ was anything to go by, new single ‘Living Right’ is its nostalgic half-cousin and sets the tempo by jumping straight into a melodic upbeat chorus reminiscent of Washed Out, Teen Daze, and Summer Heart (see what I did there, Summer?). ‘Living Right’ is due for release in all the usual places on Friday 12h August 2016.

The over used term "lush" can be rightly "over used" for 'Living Right' the latest song from Beauty Sleep. It's also a reminder that indie and dream pop are two genres where bands are still creating original and exquisite music, this being a case in point.

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Qlaye Face - Nascence (Radio edit).

Background - Melbourne based prog-rock outfit Qlaye Face are pleased to announce the arrival of their EP ‘Nascence’. Comprised of four intricate and atmospheric tracks that feature complex time signatures and rhythmic ideas, the moody quartet's mission statement is to execute their craft with ambition, precision and integrity.

Conceived out of the friendship of four high school friends and evolving through countless hours of writing and practise, the band chose their surrounds of Melbourne to record at Sing Sing and Rangemaster Studios with acclaimed producer Dave Carr. Vocalist and guitarist Cameron Bobbitt says of the EP, "We wanted to push our creative boundaries and challenge whatever forms or conventions we held about music, while ultimately allowing the songs to grow organically from an emotional place. We came up with sounds, patterns and journeys we had never realised before."

"Lyrics were a direct reaction to the environments the songs were placing us in, perspectives and styles that I had not written within prior. I think through the lucidity and approach to the lyrics, they ended up exposing the honesty and personal relevance needed in the music in the right way. As a listener you should be challenging yourself and the status quo, straightforwardness wouldn't have done the record justice." No strangers to the progressive alt-rock scene in Australia, Qlaye Face have quickly chalked up support slots for Dream On Dreamer, Caligula’s Horse, Closure In Moscow, Voyager and Alithia. The band are set to get busy and hit stages across the country this Spring and Summer, starting with a string of EP launch shows. ‘Nascence’ was out Friday August 5 on CD and via all good digital retailers

Upcoming shows
August 9 – The Zoo – Brisbane, QLD (Tix)
August 21 – Hideaway Bar – Melbourne, VIC
August 27 – The Workers Club – Melbourne, VIC (Tix)
September 1 – Ancient World – Adelaide, SA

We don't get to feature much new prog rock on Beehive Candy these days, however Qlaye Face and the excellent song 'Nascence', has helped to rectify that. In fairness this is pretty alternative and even folk who are turned off by the prog expression, might be pleasantly surprised.  

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Jacob Moore - From Above.

Background - Hailing from Sydney Australia, songwriter/producer Jacob Moore, who has been involved with a myriad of acts for a number of years, is finally ready to shine lighton his first solo musical presentation in 2016. Like a pleasant gust of wind on a hot day, Jacob Moore is drifting into the limelight with ‘From Above’, a pretty taste of his forthcoming EP All In Time. 

Taking time to finely hone his craft; Jacob has merely tested the waters when it comes to his musical endeavours. Fusing 50s barbershop nostalgia and modern soul is not an easy feat, but this is the sonic identity that best describes Jacobs’ previous soft releases ‘Infinity’ and ‘Something in the Water’. Recently Jacob has been hard at work, recruiting a slew of musicians to form his live band, which will be revealed in the coming months, as well as putting the finishing touches on his debut EP at Studios 301 with Jack Prest (Flume, The Preatures, Action Bronson).

All in Time is slated for release on September 9th, but for now audiences will have to suffice with immersing themselves in the tranquillity of ‘From Above’.

With a marching drum beat opening proceedings, 'From Above' quickly morphs into a dreamy, hazy and highly atmospheric song. Jacob Moore's vocals seemingly dance above the music, adding more melody to this creative song.

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Oblio - Days.

Background - On their intriguingly dark new single “Days,” Long Beach alternative rockers Oblio introduce listeners to a nameless character who suffers from autophobia, the morbid fear of being left alone with one’s self. “Days” is the first single from Autophobia, the dramatic and captivating soon-to-be-released concept record from DIY rock reformists Oblio. More information on Oblio and Autophobia is available on the band’s official website.

According to band member Blake Russell, “Days” represents Oblio’s unshakable work ethic in the DIY approach to being in a band: “We wrote, performed, produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered “Days” ourselves. We also filmed the song’s music video on our own, and will be releasing the single (and album) independently on all major digital music platforms, including iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and Bandcamp.”

Comprised of multi-instrumentalists Russell, Alex Strahle, and Free Hallas, Oblio have toured nationally, appeared on numerous notable indie ­rock radio programs, and performed at many venues in and around Los Angeles. Russell and Hallas toured with the popular UK rock outfit The Big Pink, for which Free is the current drummer. Strahle, meanwhile, is a current member of and lead guitarist for SoCal rock band SVB. He previously worked with Russell in the band Dead Ball Era.

Oblio have their roots in the local Los Angeles music scene, as the band frequently records and produces music for other local artists and assists bands with booking and hosting local DIY shows. The band also hosts a one ­day only local music festival called Pointless Fest.

'Days' is a rootsy, alt rock song, where the music does the rocking, and the vocals and harmonies add something a little softer, and support the melody. It's DIY credentials are a plus, as ther band clearly know there stuff, and the sounds they wan't to create.

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The Beehive Candy Interview: In Letter Form

In Letter Form - Wait Now.

Back in May we featured the song 'Face In The Crowd' taken from In Letter Form's eleven song album 'Fracture. Repair. Repeat'. We commented at the time "this is one very cool album, full of post punk sounds, that at times veer towards a darker Gothic feel, and sometimes a crisper early indie rock feel".

From the album we are pleased to share 'Wait Now' and we were pleased to take the opportunity, to ask the band a few questions earlier this week. Here is the interview in full:

Just what is it that makes the likes of Joy Division, Bauhaus, and Echo and the Bunnymen inspire your music? 
These bands are among the core music we grew up listening to, so it's hard wired, in a way. None of us ever set out to write songs that showcase these influences, it just has a way of emerging. It's a beautiful thing and sometimes a hindrance as reviewers sometime cling to these influences and ironically become just as dependent upon the influences as they suggest we may be. A Very interesting dance, indeed. We try not to overthink it.

As a follow up question, given the choice would you prefer to have been a band during their era, or today? 
With the exception of the direction the industry has taken and the "value" I feel people place or rather 'don't' upon live music and recorded music, I'd have to say TODAY, hands down. We live in our time. It's a tautology. If we were then, we wouldn't be us, now.

What are the obstacles facing bands and artists today, that make being a full time professional in your genre(s) difficult? 
Well here in San Francisco, we've witnessed a massive growth in 'wealth' and perverse income inequality along with a population boom. This has meant the closure and threat of closure of many local live music venues that support/ed beginning bands and artist communities. The Idolatry of money that has become systemically pervasive in American culture and felt no where more than here in SF (the great gold rush city) bring an oppressive amount of homogeneity, dull and bland, no teachers, no scholars, less art, more money, always more money.  Makes getting recognised and creating a true community harder but within that struggle there is fertility in the strife.

How well do you get on which each other in the creative and recording process? 
We love each other, and I say that with absolute resolve and without caveat. We really are a family and that extends beyond us 'four' to our team of members in family, management, creative and our label Metropolis who believe in what we're doing. The core four disagree from time to time but it makes for better art. It's about compromise and collaboration and trust. We're still learning and that keeps it exciting.

How on earth do you get airplay on major radio these days? 
Some of it is word of mouth, some of it is PR and campaigning, who you know or rather who you pay for access to the people THEY know. You know?

Best/worst gigs? 
Oooh, they're all 'good' gigs and you gotta believe that. The only thing the artist needs to do is be true to the muse, to the piece whether it be for five people in a pub or five thousand on a green. When I feel I had a bad gig, it's usually because I failed to connect with my audience or my band and that's usually symptomatic of me not connecting with myself, or with the muse.

Can music still influence people on mass, like the "protest songs" of the sixties, and if so, in a positive manner? 
Absolutely! I'll share a story, during our BFD performance I made the decision to get the audience to join in on a chant during "Terror (is a state of mind)" it was simple "Fuck Trump." The audience obliged and we connected, united around a common message. He really is a formidable threat to our nation, and humanity which is under constant threat as it is. After we got off stage I was confronted by two "REAL" Trump supporters. They came at me pretty hard at the merch table. "How dare you push your politics on us! You should play the songs we paid to hear without forcing that on us. We thought you were pretty good! You lost two fans today" I could only respond by saying that our music and politics/philosophy are not mutually exclusive and that I respected their right to voice this opinion but in turn they needed to afford us the same respect. Anyway, that was evidence enough that we can still influence, is it positive? I believe it to be when compared to the message of racism and intolerance that Trump and his clan either knowingly or ignorantly espouse.

It's 2016, what year is the mainstream music industry in?
2016, of course. ;)

Our thanks to Eric and In Letter Form for your thoughtful answers!

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Friday Five: Jay Pray - Soft Corporate- The Plastic Attraction - Oh Well, Goodbye - The Regrettes

Jay Pray - I'd Go Anywhere (Do Anything).

Background promo - Brooklyn synth-pop artist Jay Pray is set to release his debut self-titled album on October 21 via Think Thought Records. Justin P. Romanos has had a love for music since was he was just old enough to pick up a guitar. Justin was drawn to performance and songwriting at an early age, and growing up became a regular in the DIY music scene around his rural Connecticut hometown. He and his friends had ever evolving musical tastes and learned more about the process of making music by consistently forming new bands and recording in Justin’s makeshift home studio. This landed him a spot at Drexel University’s Music Industry Program. Here he found a home of like­minded peers and gained a lasting nickname, “J Pré”, short for an early band called the Justin P. Romanos Experiment. He honed his craft by continuously writing and spent much of his time in the close­knit Philadelphia basement community where he fronted the indie rock band SHMNS. After graduating college in 2014, it was time to regroup, refocus, and reinvent himself as a musician.

Justin relocated to Brooklyn, NY and began to combine the best of his musical beginnings into his biggest, boldest, and most colourful pop album yet; as the newly reincarnated Jay Pray. Under the polished production of Brandon Bost, Justin’s new album flourishes into a lush landscape of bright tones in which every detail is carefully slotted in place. A strong but subtle beat propels the collection forward as it dips into sultry shadows and bursts into powerful blasts of sunshine. Intricate synth riffs and Justin’s gentle lilt twinkle amongst the swelling wall of sound, transforming love musings into a tropical sonic escape. Jay Pray is a refreshing arrival in a saturated pop scene with a debut worth diving into head first.

'I'd Go Anywhere (Do Anything)' has been gaining attention these last few days. It's a genuine indie pop song with beautiful synths and smooth vocals pairing perfectly and delivering a melodic hooky song.

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Soft Corporate - Slipped (From the EP Good Things Will Happen).

Background - Based in Melbourne,the indie four-piece  Soft Corporate explore the boundaries of pop with their simultaneously anthemic and intricate compositions. Performing for several years under another name the first three members Troy Sheehan, Madeline Booth and Jack Cross invited Reuben Dyer to join their group. As a collective decision they chose their new name Soft Corporate.

Leading the charge with their first offering ‘Boats’, the song is a blend of haunting vocals, evocative melodies and intelligent musicianship. With such depth to their sound, it's hard to believe that their EP Good Things Will Happen is their debut release. The first single 'Boats' is captivating and a highly expressive piece of music.

Discovered early on with the release by the Triple J Unearthed team as part of Triple J Unearthed High, Soft Corporate made it to the finals of the well-known competition under a previous guise. Reminiscent of their melodic indie rock predecessors, Soft Corporate draw inspiration from contemporaries Death Cab for Cutie and Unknown Mortal Orchestra and comparisons could be drawn to Band of Horses, The Shin and Doves with their slow-burning builds and shifting dynamics. Lead vocalist Troy Sheehan’s lyrics centre on deep reflections, moments of clarity, time and trying to survive the metaphorical or literal end of the world. ‘Boats’ is a lush heady mix, Sheehan’s performance is understated with a disarming charm. 

Written in a their rehearsal space in Melbourne, their debut EP Good Things Will Happen came to life over recording sessions with producer Colin Leadbetter (Sarah Blasko, Whitley) in late 2015. Recorded at Sing Sing South, Leadbetter worked closely with the band unpacking their songs and developing their sound as a unit. Throughout the mixing process, the six songs that they took to the studio underwent several experimental shifts as hazy textures were introduced. The reverberant guitars and floating harmonies support and illuminate what is now their debut EP.

Upcoming Show – Good Things Will Happen EP Launch
6 August – The Toff In Town, Melbourne with Manor & Sweet Whirl
Doors from 8pm, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne

'Good Things Will Happen' is a solid six song EP of which 'Slipped' is the fifth track and quite representative of the bands enticing indie rock/pop sound. The band create likable atmospheric music, with plenty of hooks and a lush musical background for the fine vocals and harmonies.

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The Plastic Attraction - Holding You.

Background - The Plastic Attraction was hatched in Perth when schoolyard friends – Liam (vocals), Matt (guitar/vocals), Horna (bass/vocals) and Chris (drums/vocals) decided that after many years of talking about it, they would batten down the hatches and write some music, channelling 90s rock with a fresh flavour and less denim. The Plastic Attraction started with a communal sharing of riffs, jamming, experimenting with different sounds and building up a base of demos. Once the band amassed a collection of riffs, ideas and songs, they sifted through them to see what sound worked for the band and which ideas jumped out at them as keepers. Throughout the sorting and sifting process, the band played band nights at pubs and clubs to test their material and hone their live show.

‘Holding You’ is the band's debut single. The track was recorded at Sumo Sound Studios in Perth by Tristan Sturmer (Sparrow, Verge Collection, Make Way For Man) and was mixed by highly acclaimed audio engineer Andy Lawson (Tired Lion, Eskimo Joe). The icing on the sonic cake was the mastering by the inimitable Leon Zervos (Boy & Bear, Art vs Science, Last Dinosaurs).

Lead singer, Liam says, “'Holding You’ was born when Matt and Horna were jamming on some ideas and came up with that opening riff. The whole song stemmed from that intro section and once the drums came in, the song seemed to come together very naturally.” Once you dig beneath the lush harmonies, interwoven bass and guitar and airy-high fidelity sound, you realise that ‘Holding You’ is the classic tale of boy meets girl, girl promises boy everlasting love, boy and girl breakup, boy has extreme difficulty letting go.

Obsession, ego and delusions of grandeur rear their ugly head throughout the song as the lyrics describe the heartbreakee's deeply misguided belief that the ex should have to stick to all those things she said while they were together. “Holding You” will be released 26th of August 2016. 

With a smooth and fast flowing beat, guitars and vocals that glide above, the song 'Holding You' is a breezy blast of melodic charm.

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Oh Well, Goodbye - This City To Yours.

Background - Hailing from Liverpool England, Oh Well Goodbye quietly crept into the UK scene with debut cassette release ‘BG092’ through U.S label Bleeding Gold Records. Beginning as a solo project during down time of his 'dayjob' band People//Talk, Philip Rourke (founder of EDILS records/booking) quickly assembled like minded musicians and played a scattering of shows in London and northern England, as well as a 5 date tour of France in late 2015. Oh Well Goodbye, completed by Sam Banks (bass), Peter Seddon (Guitar) and Andy Fernihough (Drums) have continued to push creatively as a unit while fully maintaining their Lo-Fi DIY approach. Three new EPs will be released before the end of 2017 and each one presents a progressive step showcasing Oh well goodbyes bittersweet musical movements that border the edge of collapse. Post punk is murky ground but oh well goodbye given their northern English heritage slot in and out easily. A lush mix of early 90s styled guitars, dance punk beats and hushed almost spoken vocal ride along effortlessly. As beautiful as it is ugly, the nonchalant display masks the chaos and vulnerability underneath.

The first release of the trilogy is a four track EP entitled ‘Swoon’. A step up from the home recording of Rourkes debut effort, ‘Swoon’ was recorded in a Liverpool studio live by the bands drummer Andy Fernihough. ‘Swoon’ is available on pink and grey 7” as well as digitally from September 16th through Bleeding Gold records.The bands next release quickly follows and coincides with a European tour in October. A five track cassette entitled 'Acquiescence' is a co-release between UK labels Hail Hail and EDILS Records (digitally through Bleeding Gold records) will be available from October 16th. A more experimental and ambient collection compared to its predecessor, 'Acquiescence' see's oh well goodbye use drums loops and keyboards for the first time on half of the tracks while still in touching upon the bands pop sensibilities and downbeat 'post punk' sound. This leads nicely into the final release of the trilogy; 'I Know, I Know, I Know' which is a remix EP comprised of tracks from both 'Swoon' and 'Acquiescence'. Hitting the world wide web on November 11th, again through Bleeding Gold Records the digital only release features remixes by a host of acts including Dignan Porch (Faux Discx/Captured Tracks), Gorgeous Bully (Art Is Hard), Moonlit Sailor (Deep Elm) and new comers such as Dayflower and Grave Diggers Union.

The wonderfully understated vocals on 'This City To Yours' typifies the lo-fi and distinctive sound found on the 'Swoon' EP, with the exception of the third track 'Axe The Bay' which takes on a more ambient direction. With more to come, Oh Well, Goodbye appear to be on a  musical and creative roll.

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The Regrettes - Hey Now.

Background - Perfectly imperfect - that’s one way to describe LA based punk act, The Regrettes. Writing songs that proudly bear a brazen and unabashed attitude in the vein of acts Courtney Barnett or Karen O - with a pop aesthetic reminiscent of 50’s and 60’s acts a la the Temptations or Buddy Holly - the LA based four piece create infectious, punk driven tracks.

Lead by outspoken front woman, Lydia Night, and comprised of Genessa Gariano on guitar, Sage Nicole on bass and drummer Maxx Morando, the group have left the LA rock scene floored, managing to capture the hearts of jaded rock critics while opening for acts like Kate Nash, Jack Off Jill, Bleached, Pins, Deep Vally and more. With nothing but demos available online, the group are already beginning to generate hype, from outlets like NPR, and with Nylon already heralding them them as a “punk act you should be listening to”.

From the opening moments on a track by The Regrettes, we’re greeted with a wall of guitars, infectious melodies and a wistful nostalgia that continues right until the final notes. Taking cues from acts like Hinds and Hole, there’s a wistful sense of youth and vulnerability that lies at the heart of each song. A song by The Regrettes is, essentially, a diary entry into Lydia’s life. “My music is a spectrum of every emotion that I have felt in the last year, and you can hear that when you hear the songs. Everything that is happening in my life influences me. It’s everything from boys, to friends, to being pissed off at people, to being really sad. Just everything.”

The most intoxicating draw of The Regrettes is their bashful, heart-on-your-sleeve temperament - writing urgent and fast-paced pop songs with a punk rock mentality. “The way that we write, it’s all based on honesty,” muses Lydia on the group’s punk aesthetic. “If I finish a song, I’ll just leave it - I won’t really go back to it. I like things to feel in the moment and I don’t want it to be perfect. If I work on something too much I lose it and get bored and I want to do the next one..”

Live Dates:
8/5 Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory - w/ Badlands and King Shelter
8/6 – Los Angeles, CA - Save The Smell Fest at The Smell
8/13 – Los Angeles, CA - Smash Club at Junior High
8/18 – Los Angeles, CA - Echo Park Rising at The Echo
Fri/Nov-11 San Diego, CA North Park Observatory *
Tue/Nov-15 San Francisco, CA The Independent *
Wed/Nov-16 San Francisco, CA The Independent *
Fri/Nov-18 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom *
Sat/Nov-19 Seattle, WA Neumos *
* with Sleigh Bells

'Hey Now' is an explosive and feisty, "get over it" punk song. That said, the song is very catchy and the vocals and soundtrack are edgy whilst leaving enough room for an underlying melody.

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