Weekend Wonders: Trudy and the Romance - Will Johnson - Bad Reed - Blood and Glass - whenyoung - Joana Serrat - Gemology

Trudy and the Romance - My Baby's Gone Away.

Background promo - With a Big Moon support slot this autumn and SXSW in the bag, Trudy and the Romance’s scurvy ascent has been as pestilent as the plague, infecting hearts and minds everywhere. Labelled ‘50s mutant pop’ by assorted members of the press, their previous single ‘He Sings’ sallied lecherously up to number 7 on the UK Spotify viral charts. Their freakbeat flavoured skiffle clearly strikes a chord with legions of mutant fans everywhere and is a broken bottle to the face of blind conformity.

6Music’s Steve Lamacq is a bona fide fan. After seeing them live at their packed-out debut London headline show at The Victoria this July he promptly made them artist of the week. Further feverish support on the wireless has come from Radio 1’s Huw Stephens who included ‘He Sings’ in his Best of BBC Introducing, John Kennedy at Radio X and further afield in LA's KCRW.

With more material in the works and more gigging before the year is out, whatever Trudy and the Romance are cooking up will be a drunken witch’s brew of lovesick sea shanties and rabble rousing ditties. To all those who thought the age of romance in music is long dead, Trudy and the Romance stand defiant as mutated specimens of a bygone era. Website here.

Live dates:
29 October Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow *The Big Moon
30 October Picture House Social, Sheffield *The Big Moon
01 November The Bodega Social Club, Nottingham *The Big Moon
02 November Waterfront, Norwich *The Big Moon
03 November Scala, London *The Big Moon
04 November Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, Brighton
05 November Yellow Arch, Sheffield *Slow Club
18 November 02 Academy 2, Liverpool *Supporting Honeyblood
25 November The Finsbury, London *Rockfeedback Club Night
13 - 19 March, SXSW, Austin, US.

' My Baby's Gone Away' has a thumping beat from the first chord, and eclectic vocals and harmonies that dance above some delightful bar room bluesy rock. It's natural and engaging and I would guess, just perfect for performing live.

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Will Johnson - Nervousness Fangs.

Background - “Nervousness Fangs” is Johnson’s first output since his 2016 Record Store Day 7” single “Inclined”, which is currently in contention for a 2017 Grammy nomination for Best American Roots Performance. If you’re a Grammy voter, please do keep him in mind! ;)

Perhaps best known as the drummer in the indie rock super group Monsters of Folk alongside Jim James, Conor Oberst, M. Ward and Mike Mogis, Will Johnson has had an incredible career as a singer-songwriter and musician. 

He’s fronted various influential indie bands like Funland, Centro-matic and South San Gabriel, along with collaborating with legendary artists like Jason Molina on their joint Molina and Johnson album in 2009 (Secretly Canadian). He also teamed up with Jay Farrar, Jim James and more on the Woody Guthrie archive project New Multitudes, a project that created a tribute album of new music from Guthrie’s unrecorded lyrics to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Guthrie’s birth. Facebook here.

Live Dates:
11/05 - Dallas, TX - Tree’s #
11/30 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre (Sold out) %
12/01 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre (Sold out) %
12/02 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre (Sold out) %
12/15 - Montgomery, AL - Montgomery Performing Arts Centre %
12/16 - Lafayette, LA - Acadiana Center For The Arts %
12/17 - Thackerville, OK - WinStar World Casino %
# - w/ Bob Mould
% - w/ Jason Isbell

'Nervousness Fangs' is a fine acoustically driven song. Will Johnson's definitive vocals are backed by gentle vocal harmonies, in what is a beautiful roots based song.

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Bad Reed - Stained Glass.

Background - Paris, Ontario pseudo-rockers Bad Reed channel a multitude of popular influences into unique snapshots of passion. Small-town art-pop going big places...

The quartet released their first professional studio EP mid-2015 online for free and are now touring south east Canada supporting this new music release. The group's second release is slated to hit the market in early 2017.
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"Their self-titled EP is just three songs long but provides vivid glimpses into their sound, which has    a strong melodic drive and an equally forceful punch of power guitar lines." -Chris Kompanek, The Huffington Post, January 27, 2016

Bad Reed is Costa Chatzis on percussion, Austin Sharpe on bass, Sydney Sollazzo on vocals and keyboards, and Graham Walker on guitars. Hailing from small towns and diverse backgrounds, this group consists of members with varying music tastes. Their sounds are likened to acts from Hozier andJack White to Snarky Puppy, The Mars Volta and Amy Winehouse.

Bad Reed is engaging and danceable. Overcoming the odds and getting even. Bad Reed is coming for you... Expect to hear them on more radio stations, to see them touring farther, and hitting harder for years to come. Website here.

Latest single 'Stained Glass' kicks off with a deep bass line and builds as band and vocals kick in. It's a funky rocker, production is meaty and clear, and there is enough melody to support the very real energy that runs throughout the track.

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Blood and Glass - Whiskey.

Background - Blood and Glass will have a new video for Whiskey, the first track off the album Punk Shadows which is set for release in winter 2017 on Simone Records. The video, directed by visual artist Brigitte Henry, draws us into a world of lost disco, as kitsch and strange as a David Lynch film, in which Morgan and Lisa play ghostlike characters. Just like the song, the clip is both sombre and playful.

Blood and Glass is moody punk fronted by a woman, but this is in no way girly music. Their song Whiskey was written for the guy in the Pink Floyd tee shirt sitting alone at the bar. The over-thinker. The one who enjoy s being an oddball. The one who goes home alone every night and falls asleep with his hand down his pants. So, in fact, this song is for all of us; we've all been that guy once or twice.

Punk is not a hair style. It is not a fashion statement. Punk is the expression of inner freedom, says Lisa Moore, front woman of Blood and Glass. Their upcoming album, Punk Shadows is catchy and moody at once. It is playful and full of colour yet cinematic and full of emotion. Website here.

With a dark thunderous beat and breathy vocals 'Whiskey' is somewhat hypnotic, until the chorus line takes the listener into another place. The video perfectly captures the songs feel, intriguing and seductive, and with very deep hooks.

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whenyoung - Actor.

Background - Irish trio whenyoung have announced their second single Actor, which will impact on 25th November. Actor is the follow-up to debut single See How They Run and is an immediate burst of melodic rock ‘n’ roll with a swarm of unruly jangly guitars, commanding drums and sweet yet punchy vocals. Despite an untainted youthful sound, lyrically the song has a profound meaning. The band say;

“Actor is about contorting your character to fit into a disfigured view of the perfect self in order to belong. It's about acting every day and projecting artificial images of yourself through social media and in real life interactions with others. This helps to reassure you that you are important, relevant, interesting and necessary but behind it all there’s a sinking feeling. It’s not you. It’s an act. It’s tiring.” “These days we’re all doing it. It seems to be essential but there has to be another way, an honest existence.”

whenyoung are Aoife Power (Vocals/Bass), Niall Burns (Guitar) and Andrew Flood (Drums) who originate from Limerick in Ireland but are currently based in London.

First meeting as teenagers, sneaking into the only indie bar of their city in Ireland, they bonded over cheap vodka and The Velvet Underground. Soon after, Niall moved to London, with Andrew and Aoife quickly following, and here they began writing songs together. After a handful of packed out London shows, Whenyoung have just announced a further date at Shacklewell Arms on 24th November. Facebook here.

I like 'Actor'. It's melodic, powerful (but not overpowering) and the balance between Aoife's melodic vocals and the bands potent performance is just right.

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Joana Serrat - Cloudy Heart feat. Neil Halstead.

Background - Spanish songstress Joana Serrat has revealed her new video for 'Cloudy Heart’, directed by Manson. The song, taken from Joana’s 2016 album Cross The Verge, is a shimmering pop-like duet with Neil Halstead (Slowdive, Mojave 3) and also features The Wooden Sky’s Gavin Gardiner on guitar. Describing the inspiration behind the video, Joana explains:

“We wanted to capture the contrast of the song’s lyrics by matching them with the dark and the light in the video. I like the fact that we also shot some of it on the beach (it’s actually a really cool detail that links me to Neil [Halstead]’s home) and it’s beautiful the idea of singing to someone that you can’t see but you can feel. I love all the superimposed images that represent the chaos and doubts of the multiple people we can become when nothing’s clear. I love that dusky Lynch road. The heart’s paths are not clear and easy.” 

Following on from her September shows opening for The Jayhawks, Joana Serrat has been confirmed to support The Handsome Family in Europe in February, which will be immediately followed by three headlining shows in The Netherlands, before heading to Austin, TX in March for her SXSW debut. UK dates TBA. Facebook here.

'Cloudy Heart' reminds me in part of a gentle Camera Obscura song. Nothing wrong with that, the comparison benchmark is set high, and it's a long way accent wise from Spain to Scotland. This is a beautiful melodic song, the video captures the mood very well, and I'm left hoping Joana and Neil might consider another collaboration.

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Gemology - Come Around.

Background - The brand-new dream-pop single from Gemology, a collaborative bi-coastal duo comprised of NYC’s prolific singer/songwriter Joanie Wolkoff, and LA-based producer/multi-instrumentalist Natasha Chitayat. "Come Around” stands still in time with joyful synth accents, radiant guitar, ethereal vocals and a gripping message that radiates a steady glow even under the duresses of our current reality.

Wolkoff and Chitayat are not your average pen pals. The two first shook hands in 2014 while they were trapped in a Brooklyn recording studio during a torrential rain storm. By the time the storm had passed Gemology was officially alive and kicking, followed soon after by their anthemic first single, "First & Last”

In their words, “We wrote "Come Around" together through the digital ether with an entire continent between us. When we do hang out on the same soil, we get to be our giddy, goofball old-soul selves and get fired up over bubble tea and urban wildlife... and of course, we dish the dirt about love. We wanted to capture that energy and gift it, distilled in a song, to people at any age, in any location or any walk of life. "Come Around" is a love song shimmering with uncertainty and euphoria.” Facebook here.

'Come Around' has a melodic synthy musical background that comes to life even more with the dreamy vocals. Oozing with atmosphere, this is a delightful and soothing song.

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Quality Not Quantity: Candi's Dog - Bryde - Ebbot Lundberg & The Indigo Children

Candi's Dog - A Light Has Gone Out.

Background promo - Tyneside trio Candi's Dog specialise in acoustic Folk-Pop, combining inventive structures with ludicrously catchy melodies in the essential “A Light Has Gone Out”, released Friday 25th November 2016.

“A Light Has Gone Out” demonstrates Candi’s Dog at the very top of their unique Folk-Pop game with crisp, upbeat melodies and warming harmonies generously supplying a comforting air of familiarity whilst simultaneously providing a fresh take on the Folk-Pop genre. With crystal-clear tones combined with bucket loads of untouchable sincerity, the resulting mash-up is akin to the likes of Bright Eyes and Fleetwood Mac along with the lyrical qualities of Ed Sheeran and Bob Dylan.

It’s just too damn hard not to like these fellows as audiences have been finding out. After supporting The Sons Of Pitches, winners of BBC TV’s ‘The Naked Choir’ on their sold out shows earlier this year, Candi’s Dog are back by popular demand, well and truly winning over the masses and utterly depleting their CD supplies in the process.

Favouring the DIY approach, Candi’s Dog have not only opted to make their own instruments but after being left with underwhelming results at the hands of recording studios, the band have taken to home recording. The decision has clearly paid off with the brilliantly catchy single “A Light Has Gone Out” fresh off the production line, showcasing the song craft of twin brothers, Matthew and Daniel Slee, and Stephen Justice. Facebook here.

We featured Candi's Dog back in February this year. 'A Light Has Gone Out' continues to demonstrate that their take on folk pop based music, is both enjoyable and imaginative. The track reminds me in part of one well known South East London band who have structured songs along these lines in times gone by, consider that a complement albeit I won't squeeze readers, as to whom I refer.

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Bryde - Wouldn't That Make You Feel Good?

Background - Following up from rabble stomper ‘Honey’, London artist Bryde reveals a second track from her upcoming EP. ‘Wouldn’t That Make You Feel Good?’ channels an intimate woosy blues dynamic with an injection of a towering guitar episode bearing the indelible stamp of Bill Ryder-Jones. Such dynamism shows Bryde pushing boundaries emphatically, exploring a grittiness now becoming synonymous with her songwriting.

Since setting out as Bryde, Sarah Howells has proven herself to be one of the most singular vocalists and songwriters in British indie rock. She’s a powerful projectionist with a tonal range that will likely see her drawing a few comparisons to her international axe-wielding peers Angel Olsen, Mitski and St Vincent. With additional overseas artists such as Whitney, Julia Jacklin and Big Thief enjoying a speedily growing audience, Bryde is without doubt a key UK based voice in this space as she continues to build momentum around an unmistakable offering.

Praise for the Welsh songwriter has been well-bestowed from outlets like Consequence of Sound, The Line Of Best Fit, Nylon, 6Music and Radio 1. EP2 is to be released on the 4th of November via Tipping Point Records and having recently played her biggest London headline show at The Courtyard (Shoreditch) Bryde now heads out on tour around the UK. Website here.

Tour dates:
13.10 – London, The Courtyard Theatre
01.11 – Brightom, The Hope And Ruin
02.11 – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
03.11 – Bristol, The Old Bookshop
04.11 – Southampton, The Notes Cafe
06.11 – Glasgow, Broadcast
07.11 – Newcastle, Head Of Steam
08.11 – Manchester, Fallow Cafe
09.11 – Leeds, Oporto
10.11 – Birmingham, Sunflower Lounge
17.11 – Norwich, The Shoe Factory Social Club.

'Wouldn't That Make You Feel Good?' demonstrates the versatile vocals of Bryde, who can switch from earthy and passionately edgy through to softer sweeter vocals within a couple of guitar licks. In fact the guitar and vocal juxtaposition makes this one very interesting and likable song.

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Ebbot Lundberg & The Indigo Children - Backdrop People.

Background - Ebbot Lundberg & The Indigo Children drop new album ‘For The Ages To Come’ in the UK, December 2nd. Most well-known as the charismatic former Soundtrack Of Our Lives (SOOL) and Union Carbide Productions frontman, Ebbot Lundberg is finally set to unleash his first full solo release in the UK. Having teamed up with Grammy-nominated band The Indigo Children ‘For The Ages To Come’ will impact December 2nd. Self-produced and recorded throughout last year in his native Gothenburg, the album is over-flowing with Lundberg’s trademark ear for melody; ‘For The Ages To Come’ is the musical odyssey we have come to expect, but has its roots firmly planted in the 1960s beat movement, with lyrical themes and hooks to match.

Witness the effervescence of ‘To Be Continued’, or the raucous pop stomp that is ‘Backdrop People;’ this is clearly an album overflowing with energy and vigour, a vibrancy that Lundberg was keen to capture on record. “The Indigo Children actually supported SOOL a few years ago,” explains Lundberg, “They astounded us with their sheer energy. When it came to deciding who I wanted to work with on this record, there was only one option in my mind…” ‘For The Ages To Come’ represents the first solo release for Lundberg since the epic 43 minute long song ‘There’s Only One Of Us Here’, and to mark the occasion, he is set to play songs from the album at a headline show in London Upstairs At The Garage on December 4th.

It is clear the album represents the beginning of a journey for Lundberg; “This represents where I am, and where I am going. It is the first album, but certainly not the last.” In fact, Lundberg’s creative output shows little sign of abating; whilst already writing songs for the follow-up album, he is also collaborating with members of Spiritualized and legendary Nirvana producer Butch Vig on a project to see the light of day next year. For Ebbot Lundberg, it is clear that age is a barrier to neither creative output nor excellence; for that we need only witness ‘For The Ages To Come’ as living proof.

First taste of the forthcoming album and 'Backdrop People' is a genre mash of feisty folk rock vocals set against something of an alt or maybe indie rock background. Full of chord changing hooks and growing in power as the track unfolds, it's a total tease for what's to follow.

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Midweek Muse: Otis English - Redspencer - Hand Habits - Carroll - Pepperhead

Otis English - Trigger.

Background promo - This past August, Otis English made his debut with “Young Kids, Old Love,” a breakout hit that quickly climbed to #1 on Hype Machine, was added to Spotify’s New Music Friday among other coveted playlists moving the song into both the Global and Top 20 US viral charts, and was part of Apple Music’s “Best Of The Week,” giving the song a cumulative 1M streams to date.

With his upcoming single, “Trigger,” scheduled for release on October 24th, Otis continues to speak to the darkness within while simultaneously dragging you into the light. With a big voice, beautifully twisted lyrics and a natural storyteller approach to performing, Otis has arrived in time to replenish the current well of truly meaningful artists. If his voice doesn’t break your heart, his lyrics, a window into his strange and nomadic history, definitely will.

Otis’ upbringing was far from ordinary. His history reads more like a chain of mishaps and tragedies than it does the upbringing of a songwriter. From accidentally burning down his childhood home to watching his father’s health drastically deteriorate while living out of his car, Otis doesn't glaze over the negative and the challenging parts of life. Instead, he takes those experiences and makes them bloom into beautiful melodies. With a pen and a guitar, he turns discomfort into something beautiful and relatable.

This wanderer now sets out a bold, new adventure. Otis will be releasing his debut EP in collaboration with indie label Crooked Paintings. This upcoming collection of songs is cinematic, but unapologetically gritty in the best kind of way. It’s catchy, inspired, and exactly what you want to hear from an artist who demands your attention, not with antics, but with honest, insightful stories and an undeniable voice. Facebook here.

Our second song feature for Otis English and this time with 'Trigger'. Last time around (back in August) we spoke of  "unrestrained commitment and very distinctive vocals" the latest song confirms that was no one off. Trigger adds passion and power to the equation and it's no surprise the song is getting a good number of plays in just a couple of days.

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Redspencer - Rainbows.

Background - In late 2013, rural-born brothers Dave and Aiden McMillian traded the sun-drenched plains of northern New South Wales for the rich cultural tapestry — and comparatively dreary weather — of Melbourne. 2015 sees the two siblings (alongside Andre Franco on bass, and Alex Buchanan on guitar) continue to draw influence from their provenance in Redspencer.

The four-piece’s eponymous debut EP is a hark back to the band’s humble beginnings, evoking images of balmy, mid-summer drives along the coast with the windows down. The sunny, reverb-swathed guitar- pop of lead single ‘Happy Slow Riverbends’ captures that image to a tee, rousing comparisons to the likes of Spoon and Real Estate. Latest single ‘Fuss’ (taken from their forthcoming debut LP) however, channels the trademark non-chalance of ‘90s cult-classics Yo La Tengo — complete with jangling guitars and mellow harmonies, blanketed with layers of groggy analogue synth. Below the surface lies the poignant musings of songwriter Dave McMillan, whose lyrics have been described as “existentialism for the everyman”. It makes for an undeniably arresting, and at times, all too earnest combo.

Despite only having a four-track EP to their name, Redspencer have already garnered avid praise from the likes of NME, CMJ, Triple J, Indie Shuffle, and Time Out New York with ‘Ride It Out’ included at #14 in their Best Songs of 2015. With festival appearances at Brisbane’s Big Day Out, By The Meadow, Camp Casual, and Laneway Festival’s annual Live Music Safari – not to mention tour supports with Guantanamo Baywatch, The Preatures and Holy Holy – to their name, Redspencer are soon to be firing on all cylinders as they gear up for the release of their keenly anticipated debut album. Facebook here.

The new single 'Rainbows' is taken from the forthcoming album 'Perks'. Easy going vocals and harmonies are backed by an equally relaxed guitar lead music arrangement. Sometimes the most catchy songs are the ones that don't over do the layers, I think this song, is a case in point.

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Hand Habits - All The While.

Background - "Meg Duffy, aka Hand Habits, is a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Upstate New York. She has been putting her time in on the road and in the studio over the past two years with  pacific northwest band Mega Bog, and the Kevin Morby Band, making an impression on everyone she comes across with her natural charisma and uncharted talent as a multi-instrumentalist. But let Wildly Idle (Humble Before The Void) be her open invitation to the world to step inside and take a much deeper look into who Duffy actually is. Tracked in an Upstate New York living room, then finished in her current home in Los Angeles - it is appropriate that this album was recorded by Meg herself - for Meg, who has an acute ear for detail, has touched every corner, has seen every vision 'til its end. 

Because of this, Wildly Idle feels incredibly intimate, like a secret between her and the listener. It hits soft, like warm water, and before you know it it is all around you - a bath, and Meg's whisper has made its way inside you. Like many bedroom-debuts before it (The Microphones, Jessica Pratt, Little Wings, Grouper)  let this be the first of many to come, for Meg has music in her touch - and this is only the beginning. But let us not look to the future now, but instead stand alongside her, our trust in her will, both humble before the void, with her first chorus as the mission statement; 'hold you like a flower, hold you like an hour glass'."- Kevin Morby. Facebook here.

A gentle guitar lead introduction swiftly followed by Meg Duffy's dreamy vocals takes the listener into 'All The While'. The song is melodic and develops in power, without losing the sensitive calm feeling, which may sound like a contradiction, in which case please listen and see if you get my drift.

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Carroll - Talking To My Own Mirage.

Background - Carroll have recently upped sticks and moved from Minneapolis to Philadelphia to sleep on people’s floors and write their new album As Far As Gardens Go. Produced by the band and mixed by Jon Low (he’s worked on things for The National and The War On Drugs), their second full-length release is due for release on November 11th via Shattered Orb.

First taste of As Far As Gardens Go is found in the form of "Talking to My Own Mirage," (aka the first song to be lifted from the album). Here’s what Carroll has to say about the track:

"Talking to My Own Mirage’ is meditation on the distances that separate all of us. A song about accepting the pull of the unknown and embracing its consequences. People drift and we’re left staring down infinite copies of ourselves, floating above it all in effortless tandem". Website here.

Upcoming shows:
October 29 - Brooklyn, NY at Elvis Guesthouse w/FRAME
November 11 - Philadelphia, PA at The Barbary
November 12 - Philadelphia, PA at Sofar Anniversary Show
December 2 - Philadelphia, PA at All Nite Diner.

'Talking To My Own Mirage' mixes delightful vocals with a vibrant soundtrack that is comprised of sweeping guitars and synths and a vibrant rhythm. Totally catchy, if the album reflect these traits the band deserve to be noticed.

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Pepperhead - See Through You.

Background - Sydney based alternative rock band Pepperhead got together in 2015 quickly writing and recording their debut EP 'The Housefox Sessions' and making their live debut in 2016, rocking the legendary Annandale Hotel. The first single ‘See Through You’ is no-nonsense alternative modern rock at its finest. A pop, punk, grunge masterpiece, each listen highlights a new muse making it hard to pin to a specific genre or comparison ‘sounds like’.

Close your eyes and you could imagine a Debbie Harry-fronted Ramones at CBGB’s in the 70s, at the same time, the EP evokes a “Foo Fighters meets the Strokes” sound and style, making it modern, different yet familiar and instantly catchy. Louisa Thomas (vocals) says, “‘See Through You’ is one of the first songs we wrote and therefore a straightforward choice for our debut single. Its also a pretty good benchmark for our live sound which we really wanted to capture in recording, and a massive thanks goes to Ryan at Housefox Studios for getting it down.”

'The Housefox Sessions' EP was recorded at Housefox Studios on Sydney's Northern Beaches by Ryan Miller, mixed by Shane Edwards at Karma Sound Studios in Thailand and mastered by Rick O’Neil at Turtlerock in Sydney. Pepperhead is Mark Trevena (drums), Dan Walker (bass), Kieron Haycock (guitar) and Louisa Thomas (vocals). "The Housefox Sessions" EP will be released 28th of October. Website here.

'See Through You' is typical of the straight down the line rock songs to be found on The Housefox Sessions EP. As you can see on the video for their first single, the band just get on and play, doing their thing, without any pretentiousness. This is one fine rocking EP.

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BeeVids: The Montreals - The Soonest - Arrow

The Montreals - Indigo Club.

Background promo - Founded in late-2015, The Montreals humbly went about forging an eclectic sound, splicing subtle jazz and Brit-rock influences over catchy guitar work and melodic vocals. They’re excited to share their new single ‘Indigo Club’ released through Marshmallow Pavement Records, and premiered last Friday through aaabackstage.com. It’s the first taste from the soon to be released eponymous Indigo Club EP.

Just this year the band has caught support slots for the likes of Alpine, Andy Bull, Hey Geronimo, John Steel Singers, and Last Dinosaurs. The collective was also recently named one of triple j Unearthed’s Spotlight Artists. The EP was mixed by Magoo (The Jungle Giants, Art vs. Science) and mastered by Steve Smart of Studio 301 (British India, Vance Joy).

“Lyrically, ‘Indigo Club’, was triggered by a professedly drunken night in a swanky bar; I was swiftly kicked out and hit the sidewalk for some quality me time. The Indigo Club EP looks upon our fumbling early twenties; wrestling with the glamorous and ill-sighted aspects of youth and regret,” says lead singer Stefan on the genesis of the track.

Look for the announcement of an upcoming East Coast tour in early-2017 from the band. “Indigo Club” will be released 28th of October 2016. Facebook here.

Bright jangly guitars mixed with melodic vocals give 'Indigo Club' an all important lift, that gets the song noticed. The story telling video, gives the song an additional dimension, leaving me looking forward to hearing more from this band.

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The Soonest - Start A War.

Background - Musical project, The Soonest, led by San Francisco based musician Young Lee, makes its debut with their full length album, Doors to the City. Having released a handful of EPs recorded at traditional recording studios, the band took historical note and moved their recording equipment into an empty church in San Francisco. 

The high wooden ceilings helped to create that organic timeless sound that modern plug ins and digital reverb seek to achieve. Mixed by Greg Francis and mastered by TW Walsh, the album showcases the layer heavy sound that the band became known for along with their use of multiple vocal tracks. Consisting of musicians from groups such as Waters, Hazel English, Doe Eye, There’s Talk and Elsa y Elmar, The Soonest has always been open to incorporating musicians from different backgrounds in creating a familiar sound through the combination of their different writing perspectives.

With the previous EPs and other bands, The Soonest has attracted the attention of many in seeking original music for use in sync. Most recently, Young Lee was asked to score a film documentary, Weaving Shibusa  that is due to release in the fall of 2016 and incorporates his post rock instrumental influenced sounds. With the release of this album, The Soonest is set to take the project into overdrive with an album that can finally match the dynamic of their live shows. Facebook here.

'Start A War' is a fine reminder of the quality of the recently released 'Doors To The City' album. And now with a lyric video if your up for a sing along then feel free, mind you the vocals on the song are gonna be hard to better.

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Arrow - The Maze.

Background - Danish two piece band Arrow originates from two different sides of the Copenhagen music scene, but come together in their affection for well-written, melodic, alternative pop.

With its minimalistic production, moving vocals and nordic noir, ‘The Maze’ marks their first single as a duo. Mixed by Swedish legendary engineer Lasse Mårthén (Lykke Li, Peter, Bjorn and John), ‘The Maze’ is a haunting, dark pop song that stays with you long after it’s over.

The video for ‘The Maze’ is filmed by Danish artist and photographer Josefine Seifert. Staged in New York, the video features the mysterious artist Liz on a moving journey through the city. Through Josefine’s grainy lense, the song comes to life. Facebook here.

If your into a little Film Noir of the Nordic variety the music video for 'The Maze' has plenty of that. The song is a beauty as well, with superb vocals and a lush soundtrack.

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Quality Not Quantity: The Culture In Memoriam - Jackson Dyer

The Culture In Memoriam - The Little One (Marches On).

Background promo - The Little One (Marches On) is a song about the dreams you left behind. The dreams that gave you comfort and tucked you in at night when life showed itself from its ugly adult side. The dream of a better world and the dream of a worthy future. The dreams carried you and stood by your side during all those years growing up. But somewhere, in the middle of it all, you ran away from yourself. And you ran too fast. Never gave the dream, or the child in you, the chance they deserve. Years later, that little child pounds at you from the inside of your chest and bites your guts all these mornings when you’re going to that same workplace and to that same asshole that calls himself your boss. Listen up. Come back. The little one is still here. The little one misses you. The little one will continue to harass you from inside until you’re back. The little one marches on and shouts: be realistic and demand the impossible.

As a five-year-old Victor Håkansson began his musical journey, travelling around with a theater-society, playing tambourine. Now, four albums later, he continues as the “Chairman of the bored [sic]” in The Culture In Memoriam (TCIM), an organic collective of musicians based in Malmoe, Sweden.

The Little One (Marches On) was  released yesterday through Så Länge Skutan Kan Gå Records and will be available in all digital stores.The single is taken from The Culture In Memoriams new album, ”History's Dust”. The album is a grand tribute to a free life, far from monotonous wage-labour and alienating assembly lines.

Although bursting with full-blown instrumentation and pompous arrangements TCIM never loses it's intimacy and naked nearness to its listener. The latest album ”Rest in Pieces”, was hailed in unison by critics and audiences. The feministic single ”Sisters” obtained heavy rotation on Swedish national radio as well as on German radio. The band also got media attention with the single ”Jimmie”. TCIM also does frequent tours in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Holland. More here.

'The Little One (Marches On)' gives the sense of marching, musically speaking, with a melodic and gently building song. Vocals sooth and the music is light and pleasing, this is my introduction to TCIM and I like it!

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Jackson Dyer - Pariahs.

Background - Australian singer, songwriter and producer Jackson Dyer releases his Compartments EP), along with final single 'Pariahs'. The single follows on from "Projection, Abstraction", "The Absolute", and "Steal Away". 'Pariahs' is a song that questions how we can be so distant from each other, even of our neighbours, in an age of densely populated cities and social media. The most stripped back and folk - oriented song on the EP, it references Dyer’s previous works and focuses on lyrical imagery - Jackson Dyer.

‘Compartments’ is an EP of self-­reflection that I wrote at a time when I faced a lot of uncertainty and questions about my place in the world. Far away from home, often spending long hours in my studio on the industrial outskirts of Berlin, it was a period of introspection when I experimented with production and songwriting. In this space, I wrestled with many of my misgivings about the music industry, the nature of humanity and my own personal motivations. The title ‘Compartments’ refers to the lyrics in ‘Pariahs’, which is about how close many people live to each other in cities and apartment blocks, but still lead very enclosed lives, unwilling to engage with even their neighbours. Ironically, I spent a long time in my own ‘Compartment’ writing these songs and it wasn’t until I collaborated with others that they really came alive. Facebook here.

'Pariahs' is the second track we have featured from the new 'Compartments' EP. Pariahs is the final single taken from the six track EP, and is a gentler acoustic song. As a whole the EP has the hallmark of quality where singer, songwriter Jackson Dyer mixes understated styles that complement his likable vocals, enabling each song to intrigue the listener, without overwhelming them.

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