Quality Not Quantity: Kristin Hersh - The Girl Folder - Finlay Leslie

Kristin Hersh - Bubble Net.

Background - Ahead of the North American release of her new ‘Wyatt at the Coyote Palace’ CD/book combo, Kristin Hersh presents her track ‘Bubble Net’.

“Just about everything is a wide open sea if you look closely enough or hover far enough over your landscape/soundscape, bruised and scraped… and when you feel trapped, you could try turning around and pushing at the edges, which turn out not to be solid after all,” explains Kristin Hersh. "I know nothing and songs know everything. Sad happens and sad isn't easy, but it's no less lovely for that. The refrain "there's no tomorrow" became a relief then: no need for fear. Maybe today is all we've got, but it's amazing."

‘Bubble Net’ follows up her first single ‘Soma Gone Slapstick’ and accompanying video, created by Orrin Anderson with photography by Orrin Anderson and Ryder James.

‘Wyatt at the Coyote Palace’ is the third release in the ground-breaking book-CD format that Hersh began with her previous solo album “Crooked” and Throwing Muses’ 2013 release “Purgatory/Paradise”.  As part of her surprisingly successful career as an author, she has published the critically acclaimed “Paradoxical Undressing” in the UK (released as “Rat Girl” in the USA), a children’s book “Toby Snax,” and “Don’t Suck, Don’t Die,” a highly acclaimed personal account of her long friendship with the late Vic Chesnutt. Website here.

UK / Ireland Tour dates:
Nov. 10 - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
Nov. 11 - Aldershot, West End Centre
Nov. 12 - Louder Than Words Festival, Manchester
Nov. 13 - Manchester, Gorilla
Nov. 14 - Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Nov. 15 - Birmingham, Glee Club
Nov. 16 - York, Crescent
Nov. 17 - Edinburgh, Summerhall
Nov. 18 - Glasgow, The Mackintosh Church
Nov. 19 - Liverpool, Philharmonic Music Hall
Nov. 20 - Hebden Bridge, Trades Club
Nov. 21 - Norwich, Arts Centre
Nov. 22 - Brighton, Komedia
Nov. 23 - London, St John in Bethnal Green
Nov. 24 - London, St John in Bethnal Green
Nov. 25 - Folkestone, Literary Festival
USA Tour Dates:
Nov 29 - The Triple Door - Seattle, WA
Nov 30 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR
Dec 3 - Swedish American Hall - San Francisco, CA
Dec 4 - Echoplex - Los Angeles, CA
Dec 5 - Brick 15 - Del Mar, CA
Dec 8 - Swallow Hill Music - Denver, CO
Dec 9 - Cedar Cultural Center - Minneapolis, MN
Dec 10 - Space - Evanston, IL
Dec 11 - Music Box Supper Club - Cleveland, OH
Dec 13 - Club Café - Pittsburgh, PA
Dec 14 - Jammin Java - Vienna, VA
Dec 15 - Tin Angel - Philadelphia, PA
Dec 17 - Rough Trade - Brooklyn, NY
Dec 18 - The Sinclair - Cambridge, MA  

Following on from the impressive ‘Soma Gone Slapstick’, a song we featured at the end of September we can now share 'Bubble Net' another fine track from ‘Wyatt at the Coyote Palace’.  Bubble Net is the second of twenty four songs in this double album collection, where Kristin Hersh consistently delivers her refined, often understated and on occasionally raw sounding indie rock. There is no ego trip here, everything is about the music, the lyrics and the production, and there is plenty of warmth, intrigue and quality. For me this is a superb collection of natural, assessable and pleasing songs.

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The Girl Folder - I'm Not Talking About Love Again.

Background - Nothing says summer like a harmony driven, catchy pop song and The Girl Folder’s latest release, ‘I’m Not Talking About Love Again’ is destined to become a favourite at BBQs, parties and the beach this summer. An epic, guitar driven pop song with synth lines from an 80s Korg Microkorg, and layers of vocal harmonies, ‘I’m Not Talking About Love Again’ is a live favourite at The Girl Folder’s gigs with a sing-a-long chorus of “I’m not talking about love again, because love blows my mind”.

“We love playing this live. It connects us to the audience more than any other track we have. There is always people singing along. Even if it’s the first time you have heard the song, it has that special quality of climbing into your mind and staying there. The term ear worm was made for this track!” says the band about the track.

The Girl Folder started with singer songwriter Matthew West relocating to Newcastle, NSW. Originally from London, Matthew gained extensive airplay on alternative London radio stations XFM (now Radio X) and Total Rock radio with his band Mobster, who also got the coveted ‘Single of the Week’ from Record Collector magazine. After relocating, he then proceeded to start an open mic night for two reasons: one, to showcase his songs, and two, to meet musicians.

A year later, The Girl Folder was born. Plundering time and space for musical meaning, The Girl Folder create original, lyrical and above all melodic songs: “Theres melody in everything we do. It’s the only rule, well unwritten rule that we have as a band. Anything goes as long as it works, but it has to be melodic.”

‘I’m Not Talking About Love Again’ was written, recorded produced and mixed by Matthew West and The Girl Folder at the bands studio, Sonic Mountain Studio in Newcastle, NSW. Written in 2015 and recorded June 2016, and will be released 11th of November 2016. Website here.

I love Australian promos this time of year, when they just have to mention summer, beaches, parties and BBQ's whilst half the world is slipping into winter and the cold, nothing like rubbing it in eh! So down under 'I'm Not Talking About Love Again' will be just right for all of that (it is indeed catchy and sing-a-long material). The rest of us can sit back and take in the darkness of the video, and wonder what kind of parties they actually have in Oz.

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Finlay Leslie - Waiting On Your Goodbye.

Background - Fresh from supporting TV & solo star Heather Peace on her UK tour, Finlay Leslie showcases her captivating and honest vocals with emotive guitar playing that lashes more passionately than the tides against the iconic white cliffs of her hometown of Dover, in the addictive “Waiting On Your Goodbye”, released Friday 4th November.

Leslie brings the heart breaking new single “Waiting On Our Goodbye” with her emotions laid bare. The young singer/songwriter flaunts her poetic storytelling, creating an anthem for those times when the heart aches. Finlay combines reflective lyrics and moving vocals with upbeat guitar playing displaying songwriting talent exceeding far beyond her years.

Finlay Leslie makes up for what she lacks in height with a big voice and a markedly vast range of song writing inspiration. Drawing experience from break-ups, trust, love and revealing what she would say to her twelve-year-old self, this gifted self-taught storyteller already has a wealth of experience at her song-writing disposal.

Nineteen-year-old Finlay Leslie’s talents were discovered when quickly racking up an impressive 80,000 YouTube plays, providing an early indication of her raw songwriting abilities with distinctive versions and arrangements of well-known covers before posting incredibly well received live versions of her original compositions.

Following shows with the likes Radio 2 backed Blair Dunlop, Mishka Shubaly, Blackbeard’s Tea Party and TV & Solo star Heather Peace, Finlay has been chosen to support The Sons of Pitches, winners of BBC2 TV’s “The Naked Choir” at a selection of sold out shows. Festival appearances in 2016 include Tramlines, Harvest Festival, The Great Escape and “Heather Peace Presents” at Manchester Pride. “Waiting On Your Goodbye” is now released and taken from the debut album out next year. Facebook here.

We had the pleasure of featuring Finlay Leslie back in April this year and I am now delighted to share 'Waiting On Your Goodbye'. Another melodic acoustic song, where the vocals seemingly fly and skip above the energised guitar work, whilst the lyrics let the story unfold. It's creative and natural sounding manner, demonstrates quality and a real knack for songwriting and performing.

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Midweek Muse: Field Trip - WHOOP-Szo - Sian Cross - Trudy and the Romance - A Tree Grows

Field Trip - Still.

Background - New York-based field trip have shared their latest track "Still". It's from their upcoming album, Horror Vauci. The band's Noah Champ explains that "The lyrics come from one of my favourite dreams that involved melting into someone underwater, in the shallow end of a swimming pool."

It’s not easy for people with strange, sometimes puzzling minds to control the sounds in their heads and effectuate them into meaning through sound. Noah Champ, Los Angeles native expatriated to New York, has one of those elusive minds: neither here nor there, but somewhere in between, constantly building and re-building upon the expanses of thought. His music, penned field trip, exposes a deeply-altered perspective, horrified and charged by new environs and feelings. Unlike many, Champ has successfully been able to materialise the emotional voids at the core of his person, and has etched them on tape for us to indulge in.

Champ moved to New York in what proved to be a deeply-altering time not only for him, but for his new home’s music scene. The beau monde-induced demise of dominant venues like Death by Audio and 285 Kent prophesied the inevitable extinction of the tight-knit, music-first rooms that incubated records the band regarded as scripture. 

Wishing to experience these space’s ephemeral legacy and mythos, Champ (singer/drums), joined by Nico Geyer (guitar), Phillip Braun (synthesisers), and Jason Park (guitar), sprung on an opportunity to play at Palisades in late 2014, having since been joined by Will Sacks (bass). Another year of playing and ambling in New York finds field trip tapping into further reaching sounds, connecting the dots between the likes of Factory Records alums, early trip hop, and space-age California. The band release their debut LP, Horror Vacui, this Friday (11/11). Facebook here.

'Still' is a fine song and good indicator of what's to be heard on the debut album Horror Vacui, released this coming Friday. Field Trip dare to be different with the album, it's genre defying and although they have something of a consistent sound, there is no safe format. Despite the exploration and perhaps experimentation, they also have an ear for melody and avoid being self indulgent, but are certainly imaginative.

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WHOOP-Szo - Another Show.

Background from the band - Our new record, Citizen’s Ban(ne)d Radio, is a grouping of demos and experiments carried out through a rigorous touring schedule. In a way it’s a band finding a collective voice and searching in vain to find a sound all it’s own, but in a very fragmented way.

Citizen’s Ban(ne)d Radio worked out in a way that feels like a natural progression from where our previous recordings left-off. We recorded from home (as sporadic as it was to be at home) which became a very reflective process. The rest of our world was spinning faster than any of us could have imagined and before we knew it, two years had passed and we felt as though we had become entirely different people. In the end this feels like a record of and by the road. A never ending search and reflection. A bit nostalgic and definitely varied.

Our album and song themes often focus on issues like colonisation, language, self-determination, and appropriation. We work to bridge the boundaries between social work, activism, and music making, not only in our hometown of London, Ontario, but also in communities across Turtle Island. Facebook here.

Live Dates:
November 11 - Jimmy Jazz - Guelph
November 17 - Baby G - Toronto
November 18 - London release - TBA
November 19 - Orange Room - Aylmer
November 23 - Ottawa w/Ottawa Explosion
November 24 - L’esco - Montreal
November 25 - le Scanner - Quebec City
November 26 - The Spill - Peterborough
December 2 - Brantford
December 3 - Hamilton

WHOOP-Szo are loosely an alt rock band with the emphasis firmly on alternative. 'Another Show' demonstrates a softer side of the band and lies somewhere between psychedelic and folk music. They can and do mix up the tempo and energy levels, whilst keeping their material accessible and so often melodic.

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Sian Cross - Stare At Me.

Background - Sian Cross stunned listeners with her recent single Tell Anybody. Praised by critics and fans alike, helped by a stunning stop-motion video from Wes Anderson collaborator Andy Biddle. Reviewers praised her honest songwriting and exquisite vocals.

Sian’s latest single, Stare At Me, will be released on the week of National Anti-bullying week whilst 50% of money that is raised by the sale of this track will go towards an anti-bullying charity – something Sian feels strongly about.

Stare At Me, is based on having conscious knowledge and acceptance of ones own individually - being separate from our environment and other individuals. Not only do the emotive Jesse Ware style vocals surpass expectations, but also the lyrics are what pull us in, leaving us instantly needing more. Website here.

Live Dates:
11th - Basingstoke Anvil - Basingstoke (supporting Sons Of Pitches)
12th - Falmouth Pavilion - Falmouth (supporting Son Of Pitches)
14th - St Albans Arena - St Albans (supporting Sons Of Pitches)
21st - Cadogan Hall - London (supporting Sons Of Pitches)
23rd - The Rowbarge - Guildford (supporting Mishka Shubaly)
25th - Gullivers - Manchester  (supporting Mishka Shubaly)
26th - Slaughtered Lamb - London (supporting Mishka Shubaly)
27th - Robin 2 - Wolverhampton (supporting China Crisis)

'Stare At Me' is our third song feature for Sian Cross (well I did say "I definitely want to hear more" last time around). I remain massively impressed and not just with her superb vocals. If anything each song seems to grow in quality from content, arrangement through to production. If you can see her live at the above dates, I say go for it!

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Trudy and the Romance - Sandman.

Background - Fresh from their tour with The Big Moon, Trudy and the Romance unleash new cut ‘Sandman’, a rampaging track which sees the Liverpool trio further carving out their own lane.

Delivered with a twisted twinkle in their eyes, ‘Sandman’ is their boldest pop statement yet. Shout-along segments and wavy chord progressions add a driving pop character to their ostensibly slapdash but perfectly crafted song writing. A dash of northern soul (or is it Northern Songs?) inflects their rowdy rock and roll with a sentimental charm.

Trudy’s ascent has been quick and effortless. Previous single ‘He Sings’ united all corners of the nation in praise, from the London press outwards, and promptly climbed to number 7 on the UK Spotify viral charts. 6Music’s Steve Lamacq is a bona fide fan, having seen them and made them artist of the week, and through their gigging Trudy and the Romance have further cemented their conquest. Feverish support on the airwaves has come from Radio X and Radio 1’s Huw Stephens who included ‘He Sings’ in his Best of BBC Introducing, and even from as far afield as LA’s KCRW.

With more material in the works and yet more gigging before the year is out, Trudy and the Romance are cooking up something unique and fresh. 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
18 November 02 Academy 2, Liverpool *Supporting Honeyblood
25 November The Finsbury, London *Rockfeedback Club Night
13 – 19 March, SXSW, Austin, USA

Less than two weeks after our first feature for Trudy and The Romance the band provide us with another song in the form of 'Sandman', and it's to good to ignore. The band continue to produce lovable and beautifully loose music, that manages to come together and ooze feeling and charm.

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A Tree Grows - Wau Wau Water.

Background -  In advance of announcing their debut album through Rufftone Records, Brooklyn-based A Tree Grows present 'Wau Wau Water', the first single from their self-titled debut EP. Involving some of the most talented musicians on the New York scene, they create a unique stew with jazz at its core, blended with afrobeat, rock and experimental sounds.

Each composition on this coming LP surrounds a difference concept, describing a distinct state in the evolution of life on earth. The images are snapshots, extending from the beginning of life to the emergence of emotions, to aspects of modern human life. The cycle closes with possibilities for future development: self perpetuating intelligence. The composition Wau Wau Water is based on the following concept: "Enzymes are forming in a prehistoric ocean - evolving into bacteria. A stew of life is brewing, the cycle starts and intensifies in this patch of fertile Wau Wau Water."

"Defining and discussing these concepts during the rehearsal and recording process created a sense of purpose among the musicians and a deeper engagement with the compositions. This has transformed our creative process," explains Emanuel Ruffler.

The accompanying video was created by acclaimed videographer Hideki Shiota, who has received the Best Cinematography Award at the Asian American International Film Festival.

A Tree Grows creates instrumental jazz-core music that tastefully crosses stylistic barriers. This unique collaboration involves two brothers - Rashaan Carter and Russell Carter - and German-born electronic musician Emanuel Ruffler. Together, they create sonic textures, over which Tivon Penicott and Duane Eubanks stretch a layer of raw, emotional jazz lines. Not afraid to defy expectations of style, instrumentation and expression, the unique style of each member of A Tree Grows makes for a potent sonic concoction that is refreshing, insightful, and deliciously exciting. Facebook here.

I guess Beehive Candy is hardly any jazz fans first port of call for new music, however I just love 'Wau Wau Water' and it's easy and laid back feeling. In the UK there used to be a comedy sketch show (The Fast Show) where Jazz Club was a regular piece, almost always with a super cool host and artists that played awfully, or just making an indulgent noise. A Tree Grows are the anecdote for all of that, this is superb music, and just so good for my ears and heart.

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Globetrotting: Hideout - The Argues - Citizen of the World - Sylva Faye

Hideout - Doctor.

Background - Hideout is Manhattan-based songwriter Gabriel Rodriguez, who's also a longtime band member of Cults. His sophomore album So Many Hoops / So Little Time is set to release on 2/3/17 via Small Plates Records.

It’s been two years since the release of Hideout’s debut album Rookie, and in that time many things have changed for Rodriguez. Most tragically, the passing of his brother. So Many Hoops / So Little Time deals with grief in different spectrums –– the album ranges both sonically & lyrically from whimsical space-pop to crushing acoustic vulnerability. There isn’t a singular concept or message, but the deeper you delve into Hideout’s world the more you feel nostalgia and a sense of loss.

Hideout began as a recording project. The majority of Rookie was recorded while on the road with Cults. Rodriguez took advantage of the downtime by tracking songs in hotel rooms or at friends’ homes. Fast-forward to the forthcoming So Many Hoops, mixed by Loren Humphrey at Stockholm Syndrome Sound Studio in Bushwick, NY, the recording process was far more linear than Rookie. The album evolved predominantly at Rodriguez’s apartment while the surrounding turmoil of loss sunk in. Emotionally charged, he turned to the art of songwriting & storytelling to help navigate through the many answerless questions.

Now a fully realised band, Hideout has been performing live with a rotating cast of New York musicians over the past year. It’s just the beginning. Website here.

I think it's the vocals that initially gained my attention with 'Doctor'. They are distinct and just right for songs like this one. On reflection the music really is the foundation for the track and the subtle chorus harmonies are a treat, I look forward to hearing the album.

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The Argues - Run Till You Drop.

Background - An indie roots-rock family band, The Argues officially formed in Toronto in 2010 and are now based out of Springwater, Ontario –  the location of their studio and the place they park their touring van and trailer!

Fronting the band are sisters Sabrina Argue, 16, and Lauren Argue, 18, who have been wowing audience with their talent on vocals, multiple instruments and songwriting!  They are serious musicians and have led the band at countless live shows over the past five years.  With natural references to TV’s “The Partridge Family“, The Argues sound more like Tom Petty and The Lumineers.   The band performs rock, blues, country and folk covers but particularly enjoys performing their own catchy originals!

The band has performed many times on Rogers TV Toronto including a feature on the 2016 “The Best Of” Toronto Sessions finale and has been featured in the Toronto Star and on the cover of Toronto Today magazine. Their demo CD, recorded at Canada’s legendary Metalworks studio in 2010, has been played on college radio across Canada.  Band members Sabrina, Lauren, Chantale and Michael have charmed radio audiences with on-air antics, interviews and promotions including CKOC, CFRE, The Hawk,  Moose FM and Q107 Toronto’s Rock!

The Argues have shared the stage with amazing Canadian musicians including The David Love Band, Irene Torres and the Sugar Devils, JW Jones, and Jack DeKeyzer and have warmed the stage for Hotel California, April Wine and Finger Eleven.   Energizing theatres, bars, corporate events and festivals all over Ontario. Website here. 

Having read the above promo piece I was half expecting something that might not be an easy fit for Beehive Candy. 'Run Till You Drop' surprised me, as have all six songs in the collection. Musically they put out some bluesy and rocking material, vocals and harmonies are good (don't expect a Bourbon soaked Janis Joplin sound) and the songs are indeed melodic and pretty catchy. Thankfully they ain't The Partridge Family.

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Citizen of the World - In The Moment.

Background - With their new song, ‘In The Moment’, Citizen of the World explore their Indie-Pop side while maintaining the Folk feel that has come to define the sound of the band. The new release a reflection on intense moments when “living in the present” seemed like a good idea; it’s a celebration of past times with a melancholy undertone.

Citizen of the World has built on the success of the foot stomping Folk-Rock genre, popularised by the likes of Mumford & Sons, to carve a new genre described by one competition judge as “Epic Folk.”

Their last single ‘Embers’ was featured on MTV Upload and has reached over 100k plays across digital platforms since the release in May this year. Their previous single ‘Setting Out’ helped them reach both national and international audiences through triple j, and the internationally syndicated radio show Passport Approved. The song has just been chosen as a finalist in the 2016 Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition. In 2016, the band has been building their reputation as a must-see live act with recent performances such as supporting Woodlock at Plan B Small Club, and other artists such as Grizzlee Train, Rackett, Food Court and The Ruminaters at Coogee’s iconic venue Selina’s.

The song was recorded and mixed, as per tradition, in front man Gerrit’s living room (affectionately known as Bay Street Records). ’In The Moment' finds COTW exploring the depths of their Folk-Rock sound. Vulnerable vocals lead into layered and expansive choruses, proving the songwriting to be at its most uplifting and affecting yet. As with past releases acoustic guitars and beautiful harmonies and backing piano characterise the sound of the new single.

The soon-to-be-released music video for ‘In The Moment’, set in Sydney’s busy CBD, plays with the theme of time and provides appealing visuals to help transport the viewers and disconnect them from their daily routines. “In The Moment” will be released 11th of November 2016. Website here.

Our second feature for Citizen of the World this year, this time with the song 'In The Moment'. As mentioned above the band have veered towards indie pop a little with this song, however the vocals, and especially the harmonies keep their folk orientated feel. Gentler than some of the bands material, it's still a fine melodic and catchy piece.

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Sylva Faye - Blythe.

Background - Ambient-indietronica songwriter Sylva Faye has announced the release of new EP Blythe on November 21st, and title track Blythe has just been released. Sylva Faye is a multi-instrumental solo singer-songwriter creating Indietronica ambient folk music. Her fourth official “Blythe” EP release sees her individual talent combine electronic synths with organic instrumentation, including vocals, guitar, bass, flute (a session flautist for 9 years) and piano. The music has a dreamy ethereal quality to it, Sylva’s delicate vocal floating over the top with gentle inviting warmth.

The EP was recorded in and set over forty-eight hours of Sylva’s real life: visiting abandoned stately homes, silent night-driving, heading to the countryside from the city to reconnect with nature, waking up next to dying outdoor fires and dreamscapes. This narrative has an honesty and melancholic emotion to it that just poured from Sylva when she wrote the EP. This writing occurred during the heightened senses you have when you wake up on a hot summers day or late at night when the loneliness creeps whilst everyone else in the world is sleeping.

Although Sylva is a solo project she has been playing live in London for five years with a full band: Adam Martin (Bass), Will Rathbone-(Sax), Catherine Embleton (Keys), James Oldfield- (Guitar) and Danyal Ince (Drums). The band have played at credible venues including 02 Islington, Proud (Camden), Water Rats and 229 mesmerising audiences with their atmospheric, ambient, folk mélange. Previous support for Sylva’s EP’s releases to name but a few, comes from BBC introducing, BBC 6 music, BBC Beat Live, Faded Glamour, I Love Pie and When The Gramphone Rings. Facebook here.

Sylva EP launch - Monday 21st November @ The Finsbury, London.

Sylva Faye's vocals are adorable on 'Blythe', a gentle almost folk like song, where the delicate guitar and synth background is so very refined and inviting. I think one of the most over used terms PR companies use to describe a song is ethereal, which is a shame as this track cries out for that description, through and through, so the writer of the above material can have a well deserved pat on the back, for getting it spot on!

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Monday Mix: T. Ailey - The Blinding Lights - Darker Still

T. Ailey - It Goes.

Background - Introducing T. Ailey, a new vocal talent from Phoenix with a penchant for ethereal, other-worldly music. Her new single, "It Goes," out now on all streaming platforms, is proof positive of a uniquely talented songwriting and performing voice that draws on myriad influences for music that is equal parts familiar and original.

For best results, make sure to listen on a stereo system or quality headphones, the panning in this track makes this a 3D listening experience.

As she says's - I create with the intention to elicit deep emotion. There is much to be born from Inspiration as well as devastation. Feeling something is always better than feeling nothing at all. Website here.

Regardless of the 3D listening experience mentioned above, 'It Goes' is a creative and intriguing song. Vocally it's delightful and the rhythmic background that's kept low in the mix throughout, is just enough to take this from a pure acapella piece into something with more depth. Either way it's one hook laden piece.

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The Blinding Lights - Can't Get Enough.

Background - Channelling the sounds from some of the greatest eras of raw rock’n’roll and untamed pop, The Blinding Lights have poured their hearts into the exhilarating new single "Can’t Get Enough."

The four-piece may have been growing up a good half-century after the R’n’R explosion but they have embraced all that came before them, distilling the spirit, energy and excitement of the maximum R&B of the 60s, delicious pop hooks and the panoramic drama of Springsteen into their sound.

"Can't Get Enough" plots the tale of a young guy who gets a late night call from his amorous girlfriend summoning him to her place and, after a bus ride over, chronicles their encounter, describing how he is put through his paces to satisfy her throughout a night of raging passion. Wild, urgent and self-deprecating, it’s an electifying ride. And rather like the hot-blooded man in question, you probably can't get enough.

Written in early 2016 by bandleader Callum Lury, the track came about as he gorged on the songs of songwriter-producer Jim Steinman (the man behind Bat Out Of Hell and so much more), plus The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle-era Springsteen. Playing around with riffs which would not have been out of place in the golden era of Motown, and shaking it up with a top layer of Steinman-style piano lines, he took it to the rest of the band who worked it up into a frantic rumbling rhythm & blues number, given a further flourish with a horn arrangement to drive it along. Website here.

With a smooth bass riff and upfront vocals 'Can't Get Enough' immediately blasts into action. It's only the lack of vinyl crackles and the sonic clarity, that gives away the fact that this is a modern piece. Beyond that, this could be a sixties recording. Far from being a nostalgia trip, the band have simply tapped into the energy and vibrancy of pure rock'n'roll, giving it some modern edge and relevance. Love it!

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Darker Still - Never Too Late.

Background - Rock is back, and it arrives with Darker Still. This gritty, knuckle grinding, powerhouse rock band shows us all why drums, bass, and a guitar is still the best way to kick ass and do it while looking good. Tony, Patrick, and Quinn somehow manage to feature all sides of rock in just a few short songs. Instantly catchy and unique, their music is wound around basslines that would make John Entwistle tap his foot. 

Throw on a soaring, raspy vocalist and killerguitar riffs, each song carves its way into your mind and reminds you why rock remains supreme. Currently sitting at #8 on the Canadian Rock Charts on Reverbnation. "I Had It All" has been #1 on the Global Rock Charts on NumberOnemusic for 19 straight weeks and #1 All Genres for 16 straight weeks. "Could There Be" was the most requested song of the day and number 4 on the weekend countdown. "I Had It All" is in rotation coas to coast on American radio stations and in Australia, UK, Ireland, Spain, and Canada.

Listeners online have streamed over 170,000 song plays just this year. Word is spreading about this "modern rock band with a sound that mirrors some [of the] greats (Canada's Music, 2015)." After placing 6th in Canada in Hardrock Rising, Darker Still performed at the Hardrock Cafe in Toronto. Inthe International Songwriting Competition, the band's song "I Had It All " placed in the semifinals forbest rock song. They were in an issue of Relix Magazine and are on the cd in the magazine with artistssuch as Tame Impala. Darker Still has opened for Zeus and for Jeff Martin. They have been a featured artist on TMB or The Music Box, as requested by fans. Darker Still was then included on the compilation CD that was distributed to The Music Box subscribers in December 2015.

“Never Too Late" is a single off their new self titled EP “Darker Still” that is scheduled for worldwide release on November 15th. It is currently in the top 10 on the DRT Rock National Airplay Chart and the EP is currently enjoying radio play on college stations nationwide. More here.

Darker Still produce and perform, down the line rock songs, that could have been recorded anytime during the past few decades. 'Never Too Late' is one of them. What I like is the fact they are not pretending to be anything other than a rock band, that loves writing, recording and playing rock songs. It's because their heart is in it, and for them it matters, that gives the band and their songs some real edge.

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Genre Wander: Jenny Gabrielsson Mare - Romy - Locks - Justin Michael Williams - Natalie Bouloudis

Jenny Gabrielsson Mare - Brooklyn Bridge.

Background - The new album "Comb the Wicked" (La Petite Tempete) was released Friday.

In the fall of 2014 Jenny Gabrielsson Mare spent a month alone in Brooklyn writing songs for a new album. The result is Comb the Wicked – an album inspired by the atmosphere in Brooklyn; from industrial noise to soul and gospel. The songs are based on voice, piano, organ and percussion and she has collaborated with legendary percussionist Michael Blair who has played with some of the greatest like Tom Waits and Lou Reed.

And it is in the land of Tom Waits, Nick Cave and PJ Harvey we find Mare’s music. September 10 a first single was released: Wolves. Based on piano, cello and Jenny’s voice the song creates a dark forest where you are the hunter or the hunted.

The album carries religious and folkloric motifs and themes of guilt and insanity. Parallel with the album Jenny has been writing on her bachelor degree about the Devil in popular music.

Almost four years have passed since her last album The Ritual and during this time she has mostly been seen as one half of the indie-electronica-duo White Birches who’s debut album Dark Waters was nominated in the category “Synth” at the Swedish “indie-Grammy” Manifestgalan 2015. itunes here.

'Brooklyn Bridge' is the second track we have featured from the just released album, having covered 'Wolves' back in September. Jenny has a natural voice for darker more haunting songs, and with this one, you can add in a sense of concern and drama. The album has plenty more, where atmosphere and imagination is in large measure, along with gentle melodies and often understated soundtracks.

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Romy - Frail.

Background - "Frail" tells the story of what it feels like to love someone who struggles with an addiction. The video is directed by Marisa Pena. Amsterdam's by-way-of NYC artist Romy wrote and sings "Frail" in the video.

"We tried to keep the video as open and honest, vulnerable, as possible. It's a heartbreaking song in which I explain why loving someone who doesn't love themselves by having an addiction, will never produce a stable relationship. I would say that my songwriting helped me become a stronger woman/individual and helps my process.  It helps me to understand things that happen around me, and the people around me whom I care for," Romy shares. "My songwriting process helped me to work through loss of a few break-ups too." Romy wrote, produced, and self-released a full-length debut Unbound  in 2014 .

"Frail" is produced by Michael Di Lalla.  Di Lalla and Romy are at work on her next track "Make it Work," releasing to digital stores later this year. Romy will continue writing, recording, and sharing her songs on streaming outlets like Soundcloud and Spotify. Website here.

The music video for 'Frail' adds some drama to the song, which with just the audio, certainly conveys emotion and feeling throughout. This is a serious piece, and the stripped back nature of the song, adds to the mood of struggling with addiction and life.

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Locks - Wishbone.

Background - Locks are a London based alternative skeletal strings bluesy band, a trio made up of Locks Geary-Griffin (lead vocal / guitar), Mike Byrne (double bass) and Marian McClenagan (fiddle). They are releasing their official debut four-track “Rattle Them Bones” EP on 21st November, which has a subtle fixation on the darker unnerving aspects of life and death all whilst keeping a jaunty, up-beat roots based rhythm flowing underneath. Lock’s vocal has a unique tone, which has been championed by BBC 6 music’s Steve Lamacq and previously featured on his credible roundtable show.

After playing with a variety of different bands including rockabilly, traditional Irish, indie and nu-folk, the three misfits found themselves in a rehearsal room together writing parts for murder ballads involving burying bodies, mythological creatures and dark family secrets. Slowly tracking the footsteps of whatever creature has wandered before them, whilst singing songs about whatever's hiding just under the surface or lingering from the corner of their eye, they are together creeping through London's weird and wonderful musical underbelly. Lead track “Wishbone” is about “something” that should never have been let loose and the simplicity of the video shot entirely on a iPhone lets you conjure up your own macabre images from the words alone. Locks hypnotically types out the lyrics on a vintage typewriter and this focuses you back to the sinister meaning of the story of the song. Facebook here.

Locks are a must see live combining their intimate shows with an air of unsettling oddness.
18th November - New Cross Inn, supporting Bess Atwell, London.

'Wishbone' is a strikingly good song. The trio mix natural heartfelt vocals with a distinct and catchy guitar lead soundtrack. The blues feel at the core of the song, again comes across as instinctive to the band, and it's rolling out a cliche time, so, I really am left wanting to hear more (actually a lot more).

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Justin Michael Williams - Here With Me.

Background - Bringing his dream to life, LA-based conceptual artist Justin Michael Williams  releases his debut album Metamorphosis after transitioning from an 8-year career as an international yoga and meditation teacher into recording artist. His meditation practice is what gave Justin the laster focus to get to the top 20 on the pop charts on Itunes without a  manager or a label. “Metapmorphosis” channels classic elements of love, loss, and self-acceptance and is a brilliant examination of the human experience through Justin’s eyes. 

Metamorphosis, features 11 tracks that range from the heart-wrenching ballad "Here with Me" to the pop anthem S##t Gets Better” Justin's R&B vocals mix perfectly together with the sleek instrumentation, similar to artists such as Usher and Jose James.

The album debuted at number 18 on the iTunes Pop charts, and Justin has been featured on Spotify's Discover Weekly playlist, NewNowNext, and the Wall Street Journal. If Maxwell, Prince, and James Blake had a music baby, it would be Justin Michael Williams. Williams is taking pop-infused R&B to a new level that is as inspiring as it is entertaining. Facebook here.

'Here With Me' is one of ten very individual songs on the album 'Metamorphosis'. Actually there is an eleventh bonus track called 'The Story' which is just that, Justin explaining his background and how he came to record the album. Rather than self indulgent it actually pulls the whole thing together. The featured song is a ballad that builds, the album explores so much more, making a genre I normally struggle with actually very engaging.

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Natalie Bouloudis - Burning Pier.

Background - It was while shirking her duties as an arts and culture guide copywriter that Natalie Bouloudis found the seed that would sprout into her debut single. Initially derived from a story she wrote on the job (she wrote various poetry and prose compositions to pass the time), ‘Burning Pier’ is set in a fictionalised amalgamation of the burnt-out husks of Brighton, Hastings and Eastbourne piers. Essentially a meditation on how disasters can both evoke nostalgia and make us question our future in a new light, Natalie conjures all the energy and drama of narrative songwriting forebears like Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, and Kate Bush, while stylistically existing in a sphere of her own. The song was recorded in a live take with the only overdub being drummer Hannah Stacey’s sparkling Rhodes piano. As such, it has all the thrilling tension of a group capturing the thunderclap spontaneity of perfect live communication.

A native of East Sussex, Natalie Bouloudis first got her musical education in childhood, having played clarinet in jazz bands and had a few guitar lessons at school. From the age of seven she started writing her own music and has been (till recently) a secret songwriter ever since. Having lived in London for the better part of the last decade, she decided three years ago to launch her music into the public sphere under the name Aurora Harbinger. She soon played venues like Servant Jazz Quarters and The Victoria in Dalston, quickly building a loyal fan base that enabled her to successfully crowd fund her debut record. 

 For Natalie, playing live is an important consideration in the songwriting process, a process which focuses centrally on generating atmosphere and intimacy. Her debut EP is her first proper recording and it was all recorded live at Wax Studios in London and produced by Robert Strauss. For Natalie, getting the EP right was dependent on how precisely she could evoke the feelings she had in mind. Though armed with encyclopaedic knowledge of narrative songwriters across the spectrum of folk, rock and jazz, Natalie brings to the table her own brand of atmospheric storytelling. 

It’s folky in its arrangements, but in terms of sheer vocal delivery she’s a soulful rock and roller, at times calling to mind the visceral and lurching tones of Patti Smith or Etta James. ‘Burning Pier’ may only be her first single, but already it reveals an artist in the classic sense: thoughtful, precise, and led by instinct and imagination. “My songs tiptoe on the edge of fiction and reality. I like rich melodies, moody skies, dark romanticism, charged atmospheres that tell hard-boiled tales.” Facebook here.

Live Date: Thursday 2nd December: The Finsbury, London N4 (Burning Pier Single Launch).

A distinct and attractive song 'Burning Pier' boasts Natalie's superb soulful vocals against a backdrop of intricate musicianship, that morphs between folk, blues, and rock. As first single releases go, this one sets the standard incredibly high, let's hope this song gets noticed far and wide, that I would say, is a reasonable enough request..

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