Globetrotting: Bitter's Kiss - Miss Max - Blue House - TVRQUOISE - PLGRMS - Chain Wallet

Bitter's Kiss - My God.

Background bio - Bitter's Kiss is primarily a vehicle for singer/songwriter Chloe Baker to showcase her talents.  Chloe grew up in a home filled with music, with a father who maintained a studio, a guitar collection and a band, and has been active in musical theatre for years.  Chloe currently attends High Tech, an arts academy in North Bergen, NJ.  Chloe has been serious about writing music for around a year, and has worked with her father to record and produce her music over the past several months.  

The reception has been incredibly positive, with a lot of encouragement to take her efforts to the next level.  Chloe uses songwriting as a diary and a means of exploring her world.  The track The Rope, for example, examines her feelings about the suicide of a distant cousin from a very religious background and the importance of staying true to one's identity and finding something personally significant to make life meaningful.  Another song, Too Far Too Fast, is a reaction to watching her older sister go off to college and noting how quickly time passes. The magic of Bakers work though is that despite this sad and often strange world she still manages to find hope. Website here.

The song 'My God' has been around for a few months however the video is new. The film brings the lyrics to life, and asks a reasonable question regarding what religion is about. Well we are about music and this is one fine song, as regards religion, all I will add is, the truth is out there...

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Miss Max - Gypsy Heart.

Background promo - Hailing from the remote one street tourist town of Coral Bay in Western Australia, barefooted folk songstress Miss Max recently crowned “Best of the North West” has captured the beauty of the nomadic travellers lifestyle with her new track ‘Gypsy Heart’.

Miss Max recently opened the 2016 North West Festival Weekender for the likes of Xavier Rudd, Sarah Blasko and The Rubens. Her debut EP has been capturing hearts since its release at the beginning of the year, her story telling shines in the single 'Gypsy Heart' capturing the beauty of the nomadic travellers’ lifestyle. “‘Gypsy Heart’ is a song to inspire those who haven't quiet found themselves, to travel and to live there lives for themselves and not others, its based on the spirit of the travellers I've met working in tourism and the nomadic lifestyle in which they and myself follow,” says Miss Max about the track.

In July, Miss Max started an Australia wide tour in her big blue van to promote her EP "Gypsea Heart". The tour began back down in Margaret River, and she is currently heading north following the WA coastline towards Darwin, down the middle through Alice Springs to the Eyre Peninsula and Adelaide, then across to Melbourne and up the coast through Sydney and Brisbane.

At the beginning of the tour, Miss Max was announced the winner of the local artist competition 'Best of the North West', seeing her open the 2016 North West Festival weekend in Port Hedland late August and with the re-release of her inspiring track 'Gypsy Heart' she is set to catapult onto festival line ups around the country. The track ‘Gypsy Heart’ was recorded and produced by the talented Dave Mann, in his custom built shipping container studio on his self sufficient farm in the heart of Margaret River. Dave is a seasoned gypsy and songwriter himself and features in the track with his soulful harmonies. Website here. Upcoming Show: 14th Oct - Port Lincoln Hotel.

Miss Max has a really pleasing and melodic voice, that is just right for modern folk music. 'Gypsy Heart' is a wispy and engaging song, that feels quite personal, whilst also having something of a mood lift within it.

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Blue House - Albert Played The Euphonium.

Background - “John the Unready” is one of two tracks that the duo, James Howard and Ursula Russell, released on September 9th via Canvasclub, Canvasback’s imprint for singles by up and coming musicians. The side B, "Albert Plays The Euphonium."

The band, comprised of James Howard and Ursula Russell, makes music that is subtle, elliptical, and ambiguous - rarely an obvious beast. They present us with a world of haunted pop — songs about people just departed, places just left, and events just witnessed.

Leaving no stone unturned, Blue House willfully explore the intricacies of pop, with an emphasis on poetics and quality songwriting. The fragile balance of atmospherics and presence in their music lends an understated and entrancing numerousness throughout it.

This Canvasclub release comes ahead of Suppose, the duo's debut full-length, out worldwide on September 30th via Whipped Cream Records (UK). Facebook here.

'Albert Played The Euphonium' is one of those song titles that gets you halfway to being featured on Beehive Candy even before a listen. In actual fact this is a delightful song, that gently delivers a fine melody alongside calming vocals. This one is a quite addictive, you have been warned!

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TVRQUOISE - Liar and the Fighter.

Background - Faye Wellman, a Michigan native, is a vocalist and writer living in Los Angeles, CA. Faye merges musical and emotional intuition with her education in music, performance, and writing to compose lyrics and inspired melodies. 

Matt Hogan (NY) is a multi-instrumentalist and producer living in Los Angeles, CA. With a background in classical upright bass, Matt combines his love of free flowing expressive musicianship with a mix of ethereal textures, electronic beats, and dream pop.

The two met during their studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Two years later, on the California Coast, TVRQUOISE officially emerged with a sound best defined by color.

TVRQUOISE’s debut EP reveals tender moments from half a decade. Faye’s lyrics derive from residencies, travels, and encounters in places such as Boston, Michigan, New York City, San Francisco, Mexico, and Belize. From Paralyzed Legs, a piece revealing the subconscious thoughts surrounding a captive relationship, to Calling Out, a track echoing the constant struggle between being a wanderlust and seeking lasting human connection, the trying pivot from youth to adulthood is present. 

The project’s name was derived from a train of fateful events and the power of the turquoise stone. Turquoise paves way for strength, wholeness, and truth. Turquoise aids in self-forgiveness, self-acceptance, and the release of useless regrets. Turquoise provides protection and the recognition of beauty, enabling new beginnings. TVRQUOISE is the electro-dreampop project of Faye Wellman and Matt Hogan. Website here.

'Liar and the Fighter' slowly builds into a dreamy and quite calming song. The vocals are smooth and beautifully immersed in the musical flow. It's electro dream pop, with a subtle hint of shoegaze somewhere within the mix.

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PLGRMS - Gemini.

Background - “Accepting defeat from that little voice of persuasion in your head and becoming attached to the alter ego; it can feel like someone else is in control of you. You become a vessel of thoughts and feelings that aren't necessarily your own, and you get to escape for a while.” Gemini. The man with two personalities, the twin, the alter ego.

We all have that desire to give in to the little voice on our shoulder, not caring about what may happen. This is the sentiment behind new single ‘Gemini’ from Australian duo PLGRMS, released 23rd November via London-based singles club 0E0E.

‘Gemini’ stands up to its name in sound and lyrics, showing another side to the duo through a darker, more brooding sound compared to previous singles. 'Gemini' is a bit darker and slinkier’ explains Jonathan Bowden, one half of the Australian duo alongside singer-songwriter Jacob Pearson. “While 'Gemini' still harbours elements of the previous singles, we were keen to give it its own distinct flavour…'Gemini' was a real team effort between both Jake and I and our producer, Ross James.”

PLGRMS’ newest offering follows previous singles ‘Fools And Their Gold’, and debut ‘Pieces’, which have collectively garnered 3million streams so far on Spotify/Apple, 150k SoundCloud and 20k Shazam. PLGRMS is the Sydney-based duo of singer-songwriter Jacob Pearson and multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Jonathan Bowden. Facebook here.

The superb vocals on 'Gemini' immediately grabbed my attention. Musically it's a sophisticated electro soundtrack, and combined together it's one very good song.

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Chain Wallet - Faded Fight.

Background - It can’t be denied that there is something sorrowful behind the Bergen-based, lo-fi dream/psych pop trio Chain Wallet, and they can’t hide that their music suits the environment wherein it was created. It may be a cliché that it always rains in the band’s hometown, but when you play Chain Wallet’s self-titled debut album, it’s not too difficult imagine the mist hanging heavily over their dystopian vision of Bergen.

The band's Frode Boris talks about the new video: "It is a video about liminality and the paradox of hedonism. It was directed by our talented chum Kristian Engelsen. We have worked with him in the past, on the video for “Stuck In The Fall”. The girl is Maria, a young photographer and energy drink enthusiast. The video was in fact conceived when the director wanted to get a free tattoo from her. There are so many people in this video, and they all belong to an emerging scene celebrating creativity."

Even though feelings of nostalgia and melancholy lurk in the Scandinavian shadows, it’s not difficult to find indie-pop gold in its purest form, glittering below the heavy layers of synth and reverb. Tracks like ‘Shade’ and ‘Abroad’ have an up-tempo urgency to them which calls to mind bands like Motorama, whereas other dreamy psych ballads like ‘Muted Colours’ and ‘Stuck In The Fall’ occupy a rich and hazy middle ground between Diiv and Wild Nothing. Though Chain Wallet may not have many genre colleagues in Norway, they easily join the ranks behind international indie counterparts like Twin Shadow or Beach Fossils.

On their debut album, Chain Wallet explore themes of betrayal, idleness and crushed dreams against the backdrop of an existential breakdown. Wrapped in the shimmer and haze of the lo-fi soundscape that they conjure, the album is loosely based in the same universe, and portrays different aspects of the quarter-life crisis. Self-titled debut album out Oct 7th via Jansen Plateproduksjon. Facebook here.

'Faded Fight' has a paced psych pop vibe running right through it. The vocals and the music flow along well together, with the mix and production bringing out the best of both. At the very least it's a good appetiser for Octobers album release.

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Quality Not Quantity: The Dustaphonics - Oh Pep!

The Dustaphonics - You Don't Love Me Anymore.

Background promo - The Dustaphonics: London 'party beat' rockers reanimate with "Johnny & Bo" - new album release. Kingaling and Dirty Water Records present the fourth album from London Town’s R&B surf-rock’n’roll combo, The Dustaphonics. Like it's predecessors (Burlesque Queen, Party Girl & Big Smoke), this record is a fine mix of soul slamming, popped out powered, garage rock rave-ups, all fine tweaked by producer DJ Healer Selecta.

The title song is a tribute to two inspirational legends, Bo Diddley and Johnny Ramone, whose unique guitar styles influenced zillions of rockers the world over. Also included is an ode to the band's dear friend and fan Tura Satana, actress best known from her high-kicking jinks in Russ Meyer’s cult Faster Pussycat Kill! Kill! - who sadly passed shortly after the first single of The Dustaphonics, which she also co-wrote.

The album boasts the uber-catchy “You Don’t Love Me Anymore," an uptempo garage punk version with one foot in 1966 Texas, the other in 1977 London, and a high octane R’n’B version complete with a honking horn section. If pounding surf is your thing, “Listen To Showman Twang” will have you hanging 10 with your toes on the nose. If groove is your move, you will need to shake your “thang” to the New Orleans funk of “Q Sounds Groove”.

“Dreams on Screen (Dolce Vita Dream)” is a laid back slice of perfect cinematic pop; ideal for kicking back with a ”Cachaça” cocktail on a beach somewhere.The band reinvent a slinky version of Billy Gales/Ike Turner’s “I’m Hurting which will tug at the ol' heart strings.

And as if that wasn’t enough of a marvellous melange of musical mayhem, everything draws to crashing crescendo with a breathtaking run-through of The Specials’ classic “Gangsters”, rearranged with a breaking, bad ass surf edge. The closing track “Love Jinx” is a top notch instrumental “Hammond” garage mod-rocker, perfect for a ride on Sunset Boulevard. With fantastic artwork by Tony Diavolo, Johnny & Bo” is a de-luxe lexicon of top quality R’n’B-based music styles that will shake up your party house all night long! Tour dates and more here.

'You Don't Love Me Anymore' is a mixture of chunky riff's and hot urgent vocals. Raw and spicy garage meets surf rock, and is dispensed with style and passion. As a taste of the album, this hits the spot.

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Oh Pep! - Bushwick.

Background - Olivia Hally and Pepita Emmerichs met in music secondary school in Melbourne, Australia, drawn together by a shared love of songs with no boundaries or expectations. The duo, now both 24, have since unveiled three EPs, but it’s their debut album, Stadium Cake, that truly showcases Hally and Emmerichs’ uniquely compelling collaboration.

Hally and Emmerichs decamped to Halifax, Nova Scotia to record with producer Daniel Ledwell. After initially meeting Ledwell in early 2015 and recording two tracks with him for their Living EP, Oh Pep! felt that he had the right sensibility to carry these new album songs through the recording process. The band spent their August in Ledwell’s studio, and celebrated the culmination of the recording by swimming across Lake Echo, which neighbors the studio.

Stadium Cake marks the first time Oh Pep! recorded with a multi-track approach rather than recording live. They wanted to be completely open to new ideas and approaches, and to not confine themselves to preset conceptions of how the music should be made. “Doctor Doctor,” the album’s first single, is a pop song with elements of the unexpected, revealing the band’s interest in experimental and occasionally dissonant melodies as Hally sings “Where is the light, for me it's the darkest night.” A sense of light and dark stitches together the tapestry of Stadium Cake, continually bringing a sense of tension to each song. It's heard in the texture of “Tea, Milk and Honey,” as Hally sings with sparse accompaniment before the delayed entry of the band. That tension can also be heard in the jarring time changes of Emmerich's line in “The Situation” and “7 Babies.”

Oh Pep! has been bringing their recordings to the stage for years, first trekking around Australia and then touring internationally since early 2015. They’ve performed at CMJ, SXSW and Nashville’s Americana Music Festival, and for Seattle’s KEXP and NPR’s Tiny Desk. KCRW named Oh Pep! an artist who 'won' CMJ and NPR's Bob Boilen proclaimed that “the Melbourne band’s music is infectious. Their harmonies are sweet, with lyrics that are thoughtful, deep, funny and poetic.” In 2016, Oh Pep! will tour Europe for the first time supporting Lake Street Dive, and in North America with Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Lord Huron before making a triumphant return to Australia later in the year. Tour dates here, including a London show at The Lexington on Friday 28th October.

This is a fine song. 'Bushwick' resonates with pop and rock sensibilities, and with tasteful vocals and a super fine musical accompaniment, my first reaction was to go and search for more of their music.

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Weekend Wonders: Cory Goodrich - David Nyro - Brufield - SLØTFACE

Cory Goodrich - Far Side of Lovin' You.

Background promo - Grappel/Cohen Recording Endowment winner Cory Goodrich pays tribute to the roots of country music and the Carter Family with her album, Wildwood Flower. Songs of yesterday and today are woven together with the Appalachian autoharp as the central uniting factor. Featuring five different harps, guitar, banjo, and mandolin, this acoustic set, produced by Malcolm Ruhl, explores the past and the future of traditional folk.

Cory has been seen on stages across the country in shows like Ragtime, Bridges of Madison County and Ring of Fire, where her portrayal of June Carter Cash earned her a coveted Jeff award and sparked her interest in the autoharp.

Born in WIlmington, Delaware and raised in Michigan, Cory Goodrich is a Jeff Award winning actress for her roles as Mother in Drury Lane Oakbrook’s acclaimed production of Ragtime, and as June Carter Cash in the Jeff nominated Johnny Cash revue, Ring of Fire at Mercury Theater Chicago, where she was also seen as Alice in The Addams Family, and Alma in The Christmas Schooner. Coming this fall, Cory will play Carol Brady in the hilarious war between the Partridges and the Bradys in The Bardy Bunch.

Cory recently returned from the first regional production of he Bridges of Madison County,  at Arkansas Rep. She has played Pepa in the midwest premiere of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown at Theatre at the Center, Seussical the Musical at Chicago Shakespeare on Navy Pier and before that as Sr. Margaretta in The Sound of Music at Lyric Opera, Chicago. A five time Jeff nominee, Cory has performed in productions at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Chicago Shakespeare, Theatre at the Center, Ravinia, Candlelight and Drury Lane. A Graduate of Michigan State University, she is also a singer/songwriter, producer, writer, and mother of two,children's composer with her two award winning CDs, Hush and Wiggly Toes. Website here.

'Far Side of Lovin' You' is the first of twelve songs on 'Wildwood Flower'. It's an album that explores classic country and folk songs along with some new material, doing so with superb musicianship and Cory's outstanding vocals. Indeed her vocals give the collection it's identity, so that old standards take on a different feel, albeit whilst remaining true to their original roots.

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David Nyro - Stand.

Background - With his powerful music video for “Stand,”soulful singer/songwriter David Nyro sings from the heart about the tragic Syrian refugee crisis. A prolific writer whose retro pop has earned him comparisons to Jackson Browne and Don Henley, Nyro calls “Stand” a determined plea for action and an attempt to answer the difficult questions surrounding the conflict in Syria: “How many children must wash up on a beach? How many millions of lives must be torn asunder? How many hundreds of thousands must die before we do something?”

According to Nyro, he saw a tweet by well-known humanitarian Dr. Alison Thompsonshortly after recording “Stand.” Thompson, who has courageously volunteered her humanitarian services to help refugees for more than 22 years, tweeted about not standing for all the violence and heartbreak in Syria. She insisted that “we need to stand up for the refugees.” Thompson is also an acclaimed filmmaker, with Sean Penn presenting her award-winning film, The Third Wave: A Volunteer Story.

Compelled to let Thompson know about “Stand,” Nyro asked if she wanted to hear it. She did, and decided to put “Stand” in a new documentary she is making on the refugee crisis. Thompson also granted Nyro permission to use some of their unused footage and stills of the refugees that videographers Ian Stevens and Zack Bivins (Amphora Media) incorporated in the video for "Stand."

Always the optimist, Nyro calls the Syrian civil war and resulting refugee crisis a “chance for compassion, redemption, transformation, and amazing grace.” He admits that while “Stand” was “born out of pain,” he hopes it can provide an opportunity for “awareness, change, and peace.” Website here.

Our second David Nyro feature this year, this time with 'Stand' a poignant song to say the least. It's also one of those music videos that adds a vital dimension to the song. As for the song itself, it's passion and concern for one particular problem mankind faces, is genuine and heartfelt!

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Brufield - Goodbye.

Background - Australian based pop rockers Brufield have had a busy 3 years cementing their reputation as one of Perth’s must see bands. Fusing captivating melodies with powerfully emotive vocal delivery, Brufield take audiences on a rollercoaster ride of emotion from the lows of their brooding ballads to the highs of their sparkling pop anthems getting even the most skeptical of pundits tapping their feet!

The band are excited to release their much anticipated new single, ‘Goodbye’. The track is being launched through The A&R Department and is being backed by a national tour and a short tour run in the UK and Ireland. In June 2015 the band released their debut EP, Cracked, which was very well received by music press, scoring 4/5 stars with themusic.com.au.

In November 2015 the band released the title single from the EP, 'Cracked', along with a poignant music clip. This clip attracted a lot of attention due to its controversial content. January 2016 saw Brufield launch their ambitious double A-side single. This double single explored the light and the darkside of Brufield. The release was met with widespread acclaim, with AMNplify dubbing the band as 'One of the bands to watch in 2016'. “Goodbye” by Brufield will be released 30th of September 2016. Website here.

'Goodbye' has all the content to expect from an indie rock song, where the band really do want to stand out in the crowd. Melody and power combine to give us a three minute plus blast of quality pop'n'rock.

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SLØTFACE - Bright Lights.

Background - SLØTFACE lift the lid on new single ‘Bright Lights’ – a melancholy mood-brood signaling the release of forthcoming EP ‘Empire Records’ on November 18 via Propeller Recordings.  It showcases a more mature sound for the Norwegian four-piece – with a bass line that harks back to ultimate 90's alternative bands, a la The Pixies – while retaining their signature pop-punk sheen.

“Bright Lights is about escaping from things that are going on in your own head and in society in general by distracting yourself, especially from the minor and major personal issues we all have,” explains vocalist Haley Shea. “It’s about a desire for escape, and a break from dealing with things that might seem too hard.

“We recorded it at Ocean Sounds in Norway – the most beautiful studio in the world – with our awesome producer, Dan Austin, late last year. The environment and stormy weather when we were recording really helped set the mood for what is a quite melancholy, emo track,” she says. 

Also hosting jive cut ‘Take Me Dancing’ – which was recently afforded a fittingly physical Video – new EP ‘Empire Records’ follows the band’s acclaimed four-track debut, with its title track ‘Sponge State’ clocking more than 1000 plays across international radio, including weekly spins from Annie Mac, Huw Stephens and Phil Taggart on BBC Radio 1 and a playlist add at triple j in Australia.

'Bright Lights' suggests the November EP will be a good one. The band have an intensity with this song, where emotions seemingly could boil over quite easily. The music drives the song along adding to the sense of potential melodrama, punk theatre I might suggest...

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A Couple Of Live Ones: Sweeney - We are Bandicoot

Pure Phase Ensemble 4 (ft. Mark Gardener) - Happy Dancing Woman (Radio Edit).

Background promo - This coming weekend, Liverpool hosts the fifth installment of the city's International Festival Of Psychedelia (a.k.a. Liverpool Psych Fest or PZYK), hosting over 100 live acts and DJs across its four stages for two straight days - Friday, September 23rd and Saturday, September 24th.

Pure Phase Ensemble is a Polish international music collective with revolving membership and several core players. Previously featuring members of Spiritualized, Stereolab and Ride, this space-rock collective renews its lineup every year, showcasing a wide range of collaborators from the world of PZYK.

Created specially for the SpaceFest! festival of shoegaze, space-rock and psychedelia in Gdansk (Poland), the 4th edition of the project – Pure Phase Ensemble 4 feat. Mark Gardener – was particularly successful, with the 'Live at Spacefest!' album receiving over 100 rave reviews and loads of airplay worldwide. Apart from featuring the frontman of legendary shoegazers RIDE, this collective also includes Ray Dickaty (ex-Spiritualized), Karol Schwarz (KSAS, 7faz), Jacek Rezner and Kamil Hordyniec (Wilga), Michal Pydo (Hatifnats), Michal ‘Kostek’ Stolc (Cisza nocna). Website here.

Having listened to the seven song collection 'Live At SpaceFest' (Bandcamp), the radio edit of 'Happy Dancing Woman' gives just a taste of the bands space rock and psychedelic excursions. Oh to be in Liverpool this weekend!


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We are Bandicoot - Temper (Live).

Background - Kent five-piece We Are Bandicoot have been topping the lists of Indie tastemakers throughout 2016 and their debut album “Temper” out Friday 18th November shows just why these inventive trendsetters are causing such a song and dance, literally.

Living together in a secluded farmhouse in Kent, the band have been busy sweating away all summer finishing their debut album “Temper” in their purpose built home studio. Cut off from civilization and phone signal, who knows what went on within the walls of the We Are Bandicoot live room, but whatever the conditions were, the band could make a fortune by bottling it.

Recalling the likes of Pink Floyd, Jeff Buckley and recorded entirely live no less, “Temper” brings erotic guitar grooves and sweeping drums to deliciously compliment the inventive vocal hooks and harmonies from frontman Simon Briley, the likes of which have already secured the attention of more than just the Internet’s most revered bloggers. Not content with invading our screens, We Are Bandicoot have been attacking the airwaves in 2016 with multiple spins on BBC Introducing from Tom Robinson and plays coming from far and wide with Radio Kaos Caribou in France and The Justin Wayne Show in Montana, both championing the band.

Following shows with Broken Records, Moulettes and Heg & The Wolf Chorus and festival appearances at Boardmasters, El Dorado and The Great Escape, the trailblazers from the South East will be on the road from September to December supporting 90’s Brit Pop legends My Life Story, 60’s Rock legend Arthur Brown, Folk Rock favourites Blackbeard’s Tea Party and hosting an exclusive Album Launch Show in November. “Temper” is released by Blizzard Records on 18th November 2016.

Catch We Are Bandicoot at a show near you:
24/09 - Fools Paradise Festival, Leeds
08/10 - Folkstone, Leas Cliff Hall
15/10 - London, The Borderline - Supporting My Life Story
20/10 - Wolverhampton, The Robin 2 - Supporting Arthur Brown
11/11 - Sussex Arms, Tunbridge Wells - Album Launch Party.

Second time on Beehive Candy this year, and the live version of  'Temper' suggests Novembers album release will be a good one. It's also a very good indication that if you are local enough in the UK, one of the above live dates is worth the ticket.

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Genre Wander: Avakhan - Firebug - MV & EE - Terence Jack

Avakhan - Just Let Go.

Background promo - Swedish female fronted indie-pop Avakhan share latest single 'Just Let Go' + Album coming 2017. Written and produced by the band, their latest single Just Let Go is an upbeat, feel-good pop tune. An outrageously addictive chorus paired with Tegan And Sara - esque vibrant vocals is the perfect combination for what feels like a summery hit. The piece is taken from their upcoming album to be released in 2017.

It all began when Ava, Kristoffer and Joakim met in Stockholm and started a band touring clubs and festivals. After many celebrated concerts it was not long until they were the labeled as “Sweden’s best unsigned live band” by a Swedish Idol Judge on Channel Four. After they released their debut album it’s not what you believe in which one of Sweden’s greatest jazz musicians Magnus Lindgren collaborated on it. Website here.

'Just Let Go' has all the right ingredients for a fine, melodic indie pop song. It's good to here a Swedish band, where the vocalist does not adopt a mid Atlantic accent, for me, it feels more from the heart.

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Firebug - For The Love.

Background - At a time when society seems hellbent on working itself to death just to get a paycheck, New Orleans psychedelic indie rockers Firebug are committed to pursuing their passions, no matter the cost. Frontwoman Juliette Tworsey calls Firebug’s soulful new single, “For the Love,” an ode to “doing what you love, no matter how difficult, simply because you love it.”

“For the Love” is the first single from Firebug’s upcoming full-length album, Homeostasis. Co-produced by Chris Goss (Queens of The Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys), Homeostasis is set for a 2016 release. More information on Homeostasis and Firebug is available on the band’s official website.

Fueled by Tworsey and multi-instrumentalist Jules Shapiro, Firebug embrace a variety of musical genres, including soul, ’60s/’70s rock, ’90s alternative, and modern rock. Tworsey’s charismatic presence helps the outspoken singer stand out, earning her comparisons to rock icons Chrissie Hynde and Grace Slick.

Based in New Orleans, Tworsey and Shapiro are inspired by the city itself and its rich musical history. Upon their arrival in New Orleans from Los Angeles, the duo performed as street musicians in the French Quarter. “We met so many talented musicians on the street,” Shapiro remembers. “It was a real awakening for us. New Orleans has inspired new ideas that we’ve incorporated into our sound and our songwriting.” Bandcamp here.

Juliette Tworsey really can deliver rootsy soulful vocals as 'For The Love' demonstrates. This is a passionate and powerful song, with both vocals and an equally superb musical performance pumping things up, something akin to The Black Crowes with a female vocalist! (now there's a thought - followed by a swift apology to Chris Robinson).

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MV & EE - Feel Alright.

Background - "MV & EE take their homespun hypnotics and cosmic country sounds to new levels on Root/Void. I love this album - it trips hard and hauntingly - a gift for languid golden afternoons or late night moonlight powwows. 

Anthem-worthy tape edits on some cuts crack open surreal and cinematic vistas. While joined by fellow travelers here and there, this LP remains in essence a fecund duet from two entwined souls, updating and re-defining their unique pool of sound. Intrepid audio bathers: get thee immersed!" - Lee Ranaldo Italy, July 2016

MV & EE - LP / digital - pre-order here. Release Date: Oct. 7, 2016.

I like the description "cosmic country" and for 'Feel Alright' it's just so right. The video paints a picture of just what that means, so more cosmic country please.

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Terence Jack - Errors.

Background - Choral swells and cascading guitar riffs envelope the triumphant new single 'Errors. 

As with the previous single, Eastern Rise, Jack partnered with producer and fellow Vancouverite, Daniel Klenner (We Are the City, Tourist Company, Hey Ocean), to write and co-produce the song.

Errors was conceived during a wine jam-session and evolved from a punchy riff to the full-bodied song in The Space studio with Daniel. Errors details the bitter-sweetness of leaving someone, or being left, in favour of chasing dreams. The departure, the return, and the ride reflect that concept.

"We just succumbed to the poppiness of the song and served the song. The bridge was added last and turned out to be my favourite part of the whole record."

Summer engulfed Terence in a 45-day tour and a ton of festivals. He'll be heading back to the studio to work on his next full-length album soon, due for release in 2017. Facebook here.

Second time this year on Beehive Candy for Terence Jack and the brand new song 'Errors'. Once again we are treated to his distinct and pleasing vocals, against a solid alt rock background. Next years full length is likely to create considerable interest, if this years material is anything to go by.  

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