BeeVids: Kelly Lee Owens - Morganway - Midnight Vesta - Marina Maximillian

Kelly Lee Owens – Anxi.

Background - Kelly Lee Owens, the 28-year old London-based producer, is set to release her self-titled debut album, next Friday, March 24th via Smalltown Supersound. Additionally, Kelly is excited to present the music video (her first!) for “Anxi” ft. Jenny Hval. Directed by visual artist Kim Hiorthøy.

Before starting work on her self-produced, debut album, Kelly Lee Owens turned her keen ear towards dance music after working in a record store with techno producer Daniel Avery. Her voice and contributions can be heard on Avery’s Drone Logic. Since then, she self-released two white label 12”s, with last fall’s “Oleic” EP to follow.
 
Her self-titled solo album is first and foremost Owens’ vision — it bridges the gaps between cavernous techno, spectral pop, and Krautrock’s mechanical pulse, and it brims with exploratory wonder. It delves into a variety of moods - sadness, anxiety, and darkly shaded ecstasy - with a trippy-eyed clarity and confidence. Live dates on Beehive Candy's tour page, Facebook here.

Imaginative and addictive 'Anxi' mixes flowing beats alongside some creative musical ideas. Working around these are calm and smooth vocals, complemented by a song that is happy to alter speed and direction keeping the listener intrigued.

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Morganway - My Love Ain't Gonna Save You.

Background - Morganway, the Norfolk five-piece pride themselves on the high standard of their engaging live performances, and they have caught the eye of a range of festivals. Subsequently, they recently headlined The Open's prestigious OH1 festival, in their hometown of Norwich, on the Banking Hall stage. Other early 2017 shows include London gigs at The Troubadour, The Islington and The Bedford, as well as a special headline performance at Cambridge’s muchloved Portland Arms.

Morganway are working towards the release of their second EP ‘The Hurricane EP’ on April 7th, following the glowing reception of their debut EP ‘No Tomorrows’ last year. The lead single ‘My Love Ain’t Gonna Save You’ exposes the band’s diversity with a deeper, grittier sound, whilst still maintaining the familiar roots influence that fans of the band have come to know and love. With its captivating, catchy hook and electric guitar-driven chorus, the band’s sound bends into the pop terrain breaking genre boundaries to craft an irresistible fusion sound.

“Some songs are written exactly as they end up, others go on journeys. ‘My Love Ain’t Gonna Save You’ is definitely a traveler. The guitar riff and main melody came first, other parts were gradually discovered. I really like the vocals at the end, so much is happening all at once it feels like it’s going to explode. I think the song is all about that tension. The lyrics leave room for interpretation, but the idea is simple; you’re on your own. It asks questions but gets no answers… a bit like love really!” Facebook here, website here.

'My Love Ain't Gonna Save You' has something of a modern folk feel to it, with plenty of energy. Notable vocals and harmonies are supported by the bands tight and confident music.

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Midnight Vesta - Moving Day.

Background from Midnight Vesta - Life is about managing the twists and turns that you encounter day-to-day.

The date of birth, the date of death, and the “dash” in between: the loss of loved ones, failed relationships, and the prospect of new ones. It's all about transition. With that in mind, Moving Day felt like the appropriate lead single from our new album.

‘Seconds’ was recorded in an auto garage tucked deep inside Toronto's east end, and mastered by Juno award winning engineer Siegfried Meier.

The resulting album is a sonic buffet of homegrown tunes that are fresh yet familiar. Facebook here, live dates on Beehive Candy's tour page.

Melodic and crisp sounding, 'Moving Day' is a refreshing indie pop or maybe rock song, with  reflective and thoughtful lyrics. The band come across as relaxed and capable, delivering a track that hopefully will tease a good few listeners towards their forthcoming album.

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Marina Maximillian - My Boy.

Background - APE is a new kind of record label, with a new way of getting things done. Founded by Tamir Muskat (Balkan Beat Box) and Eyal Gruenberg, APE Records is a hybrid between a production house, a music label, and a branding company. The label is set to release their debut EP, APE Vol 1, a compilation of the first three singles with studio and live versions, on March 24.

The primal creative force behind all APE projects is producer Tamir Muskat, founding member and drummer of Balkan Beat Box, as well one of Israel’s leading music producers. Muskat’s production credits outside of BBB include Asaf Avidan’s last two albums, Different Pulses and Gold Shadow, J.U.F. (Gogol Bordello), Firewater, and much more. Eyal Gruenberg, co-founder of APE Records, is as business-minded as Muskat is creative. “The difference between APE and traditional labels is that we don’t release albums – only singles,” Gruenberg says. “And most songs are in English, so they have international appeal, but don’t get pigeon-holed as ‘world music’.”

When APE launched, the producer wanted to challenge himself and his collaborators to exceed what they’d created in the past. “Making beats and combining sounds from all over was already part of my DNA,” Muskat says. “But I was looking for a path to the next level.” The search took time.

“My Boy” from Mariana Maximilian was the first release by the new label. Maximilian and Muskat wanted a vintage-sounding sample for the song, so the producer recorded and re-recorded into a tape machine until he found the perfectly damaged sound. Tamir's crazy beat painted a scene in my head, some mysterious environment with lots of action and movement," Marina says. The singer was several months pregnant while working on the single. "My unborn baby was always on my mind," she says. Through the writing process, Marina discovered the theme: carrying love from the inside to the outside. "I felt the melody should be a bit childish and repetitive. I guess the song is about the adventure that is life, but also the hidden dangers."  Label site here.

The EP comprises of: Marina Maximilian – My Boy
Loco Hot Feat. A-WA – I’m A Tribe
Renno Feat. Hen & Gili – Perfect Is Dead
Marina Maximilian – My Boy (Live in The Jungle Version)
Loco Hot Feat. A-WA – I’m A Tribe (Live in The Jungle Version)
Renno Feat. Hen & Gili – Perfect Is Dead (Live in The Jungle Version)

Taken from the labels compilation EP 'My Boy' is a very good indication of the vibrant and creative sounds that APE Records have gone in search of. Mixing eclectic creativity with plenty of hooks and stylish vibes, the six songs suggest they are on to something very good here.


 Plus a little 'extra something' for our discerning and appreciative friends here. 
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Charlie Straw - People Flavor - Onesie - D'Yer Mak'er

Charlie Straw - All I Know.

Background - Originally from the Wirral and now based between Leeds and London, Charlie's music sits somewhere between Blues and Folk. Taking inspiration from artists including Justin Vernon and Jeff Buckley right through to Howlin' Wolf and Etta James, his sets consist of calming songs mixed with a dark, soulful edge.

His main objective is to connect with his audience in a way that is both intimate and epic. This is an objective he has taken to places as far as Thailand, to inmates in a prison and a school for the blind. Discovering how his music sits with these different groups of people has helped to shape him as an artist.

Alongside sessions for BBC Leeds and BBC Introducing, he has supported artists such as James Morrison, James Bay, Nathaniel Rateliffe and Marika Hackman, as well as numerous UK festivals. Charlie has an extremely exciting time ahead, with his debut UK tour in April and then a summer full of festivals such as Citadel, The Great Escape and Hit The North. Facebook here.

'All I Know' is a very fine introduction to Charlie Straw. The songs opening is gentle enough giving focus to some refined and earnest vocals. As the song builds both in layers of sound and intensity, I had one of those stop everything and listen moments. One song puts Charlie Straw firmly on my musical radar.

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People Flavor - No Vox.

Background - People Flavor share their new track "No Vox", out now on Dangerbird Records. "No Vox" follows the first single "Shake Well" from People Flavor in Dangerbird's Microdose series.

People Flavor is a four-piece rock band from Montebello, California. While new on the scene, the band can trace its genesis back to a teenaged solo project dreamt up by frontman Fernando Andrade,  along with best bro Byron Turner joining the process soon after. The pair then recruited high school cronies Giovanni Padilla and Andrew Valdez, to become the collaborative effort they are today.   Since rounding out the lineup in 2015,  People Flavor have been busy playing shows at house parties, DIY venues and some of Los Angeles’ most notable musical mainstays such as The Bootleg Theater, CIA, and Los Globos.

Continually crafted through the writing and recording process, their distinct sound incorporates jazz chords with post and dance-punk elements, delivering it all with 80’s new wave sensibility. The boys are heavily influenced by slinky Spanish rock and the refined cool of British tunes, evoking a likeness to both an Hispanic Duran Duran and early Radiohead. Contrasting with their dance-inducing grooves, the lyrics tend to focus on the more melancholic aspects of life and love, magically manipulating you into feeling good about being sad. Ultimately, People Flavor is a sonic experiment in self-expression geared towards finding yourself in others and finding the others in yourself. Dangerbird here.

We featured the last single from People Flavor and the latest offering 'No Vox' is at the very least, of equal calibre. Vocals and harmonies are delivered in a lazy, hazy style, above a beautifully loose and melodic soundtrack, although attention to detail suggests the band have developed the style to add a further element of cool. Fabulous song!

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Onesie - Ballad of the Boomerang.

Background - Onesie is the musical moniker for Brooklyn-based songwriter Ben Haberland (ex The Isles). Stitching together vivid, hooky guitar pop anthems from scraps of British pop, American punk, and Classic rock, the band deals in the currency of anthems written on the voyage toward modern adulthood. The live band, formed in 2013 with fellow scene survivor Zack Fanelli (ex Man Without Plan), wields a visceral dynamic reminiscent of the pair’s early days in the DIY punk scene. Their debut album Leos Consume is due on May 12.

The project began as a collection of power pop demos recorded solo in Haberland’s bedroom. In 2013, fellow scene survivor Zack Fanelli (ex Man Without Plan) came onboard to form a live band that would wield a visceral dynamic reminiscent of the pair’s early days in the DIY punk scene. After playing shows at Grand Victory, The Gutter, Subculture, Trash Bar, Glasslands, Matchless, The West, and Cake Shop, the group descended into Mollusk Studio in Bed-Stuy to record the songs what would become their debut album, Leos Consume.

Basic tracks were recorded over a freezing February weekend. As Winter turned to Spring, Haberland and Fanelli continued overdubbing in spontaneous bursts; adding vocals, fine tuning guitars, and layering keyboards in their practice space. After returning to Mollusk to mix the following Summer, the record was mastered by Brooklyn whiz Josh Bonati, renowned for his work with Captured Tracks. Facebook here.

Whilst the song 'Ballad of the Boomerang' has been around for some time, it is now acting as a foretaste of May's debut album. There is a refreshing feeling to the song, that sits somewhere between pop and rock, and the video helps convey the mood of the song, and for me it's a good mood.

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D'Yer Mak'er - Illicit Renegades.

Background - D'yer Mak'er was established early 2016 in the small town of Paterson, NSW. It started as a trio, with Tim Howell, Ben Youngman and Tom Turner, writing electronic reggae fused with rock. It wasn’t long until Alex Dorn and Michael Chilcott joined in late 2016, this was when D’yer Mak’er was truly born. D’yer Mak’er became Tim Howell on lead vocals, Ben Youngman on bass, Alex Dorn & Tom Turner on guitar and Michael Chilcott on drums.

Taking their individual influences from The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Sticky Fingers, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Tool, Jimi Hendrix and many many more. D'yer Mak'er honed their skills and after several months, played their first gig at the Oxford Art Factory in late 2016.

D'yer Mak'er are due to release the first single, ‘Illicit Renegades’, off their upcoming ‘Moonshine Divine’ EP. One of the first songs they’ve written ‘Illicit Renegades’ is a reggae infused rock song, drawing it’s sound from all their major influences. The bands ‘Moonshine Devine’ EP explores the whole range of elements that the band has to offer. D'yer Mak'er are currently in full swing, working on their debut album, in which they’re aiming to release later this year. ‘Illicit Renegades’ will be in Digital Stores on the 31st of March, ‘Moonshine Divine’ EP by D'yer Mak'er will be released 14th of April 2017. Facebook here.

Bright and sweeping guitars, a funky almost reggae style beat, and then a more alt rock feel as the song fully opens up, hopefully conveys the rich array 'Illicit Renegades' is awash with. With a single like this leading the way, the EP should be a good one.

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Sunday Rock: Mick Clarke - Blood Command - KNIFEY - Varvara

Mick Clarke - Smokestack Lightning.

Background - Mick began his career with Killing Floor part of the British blues boom of the late 60s. The band backed Texas blues guitar star Freddie King and toured with legends such as Howlin' Wolf and Otis Spann. In the 70s Mick co-formed SALT, a powerful four piece band which was a big hit on the UK club and college scene, opened for Muddy Waters in London and played at the Reading Festival.

The Mick Clarke Band was formed in the early 80s and Mick has become an established name on the European scene, touring regularly in every country from Finland down to Italy, plus tours in the USA and Asia. Praised for his fiery "straight from the wood" guitar sound, he has appeared on numerous festivals with artists such as Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter and Joe Bonamassa. The Southern California Blues Society called him "one of the finest blues players to come out of England". Mick is the winner of the 2014 "best international act" from artistaloud.com, India.

The new album "Diggin' Down" is released March 2017 - new European festival dates TBA.  The album features 13 tracks - ten MC originals plus versions of the Wolf classic "Smokestack Lightning", Elvis Presley's "Any Place Is Paradise" and the country evergreen "Sweet Dreams". Recorded here at Rockfold Studio, 2016 / 17. Website here, Bandcamp here.

From the brand new album we have the classic track 'Smokestack Lightning' given the Mick Clarke treatment. From the opening track (Dry Road Blues) the albums kicks in with driving and passionate blues rock, with Mick's vocals totally immersed in the moment. The pace varies across the collection of thirteen songs, the blues rock in consistently delivered with passion and skill. Guitar breaks are relevant rather than indulgent, and a robust level of emotional involvement is there throughout, which for me meant I was quickly lost in the music and loving it. Blues rock fans, this is a must have!

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Blood Command - Quitters Don't Smoke.

Background - Blood Command have released the second single from their forthcoming album 'Quitters Don't Smoke'. Speaking about the single the band said, “If you quit smoking you’re a quitter, right? And no one wants to be a quitter,” says singer Yngve Andersen. “This song is about judging others. Minding the splinter in others eye, and deny the f-ing  forrest in your own. It’s also about lost impossible love and the road it leads to destruction

After two albums, numerous EPs and four radio hits, Blood Command are hungrier for success than ever. The sound still has the distinct fingerprint of producer and songwriter Yngve Andersen: Sharp and challenging, but still so universal and seductive that you will throw your hands in the air and run into the crowd before the first chorus ends. Since the last album, Andersen has received wide recognition in Norway as a successful producer and is responsible for several local hits. But Blood Command remains his favourite pet and Cult Drugs might be the point where all of his talents finally hit their zenith.

The band's previous album, ‘Funeral Beach’ (2012) received a 5/5 in Kerrang (who also placed them at no. 8 in their end of year list), 9/10 in Rock Sound, 5/6 in most Norwegian broadsheets. Metal Hammer UK awarded the album a 9/10, saying that Blood Command is one of the best they have heard in recent years. In 2010, Blood Command was nominated for a Norwegian Grammy for their debut album ‘Ghostclocks’.

Blood Command have played numerous festivals such as Roskilde, Nova Rock in Austria (where they shared the stage with, among others, Iron Maiden) and The Great Escape in Brighton, where they won the "Best Concert of the Year" in Artrocker Magazine. New album pre-order here.

Your straight into a wall of rocking sound and energy with 'Quitters Don't Smoke'. Feisty and intense vocals hold their own against a band who clearly love to make some rock'n'roll noise, doing so with wild abandonment and style.

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KNIFEY - Tanlines.

Background from the band - Cutting through the bleak twilight of winter in Toronto, we've put together ‘Tanlines’ which is a nostalgia-fuelled chronicle of better, warmer - and more naked - times. With desperate energy, the song reaches for the not-too-distant memory of a lover’s touch made soft by seawater and tropical air. The song’s essence is certainly fantasy material for blurry late night trips on decrepit streetcars. It'll be on our upcoming LP, out this September.

Our new LP is a wash of reverb, the nostalgic longing for the ideal California lifestyle and the often dour reality of urban life are blended into a mélange of surf riff-driven chord progressions.

We're calling out for a more simple life free from the tedious complications of the modern world and we hope that you'll join us. Facebook here, Bandcamp here.

Sub two and a half minute surf punk comes in the shape and sound of 'Tanlines'. It's a short, sharp, musical assault, with hooks digging in deep and a sing along chorus, to leap about and sing along to.

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Varvara - Weatherman.

Background - Varvara from Finland celebrates their 10th anniversary with a brand new single called ”Weatherman” to be released 17th March worldwide via their own label and musicians collective Haminian Sounds. The new single follows the turbo charged triple-guitar powerpop path found on their third album ”Death Defying Tricks” released last year. The new single is the first official release captured live in the bands career and it was recorded and mixed by Lauri Eloranta (Disco Ensemble, Pää Kii!, Melrose, Damn Seagulls etc.). Single will be available in digital formats and limited edition 7” vinyl.

”We got loads of material for album 4. Theres so much of it that we decided to record an extra single. So we went to studio with Mr. Lauri Eloranta and did it - Live! It’s 10 years of rocking and 4th album coming out this year. It will be great. It will be spectacular! There will definitely be a party! We are also gonna do some gigs during the spring. We'll let you know some specific dates later. Keep your eyes and ears open!” - Mikko Kiri

The bands third full length album ”Death Defying Tricks” was released in Finland in January 2016 via the bands own Haminian Sounds imprint. Produced by the band themselves the album was mixed in Stockholm by Pelle Gunnerfeldt, who’s best known from his work with many international success stories such as The Hives and Refused. The album got great response in media with rave reviews and for the first time in the bands history the music was also released and promoted outside the Finnish borders. ”Death Defying Tricks” was released in Germany and in the UK in the end of 2016 and have got great feedback from leading rock and alternative music media such Classic Rock, SLAM!, Clash and others. During January 2017 the band also made their first shows in Germany.

Varvara is currently preparing to record their 4th full-length album for late 2017 release. During the Spring the band will play couple of live shows in Finland and abroad. The first date for the Spring was at Pintandwefall record release party at Suisto in Hämeenlinna yesterday. More dates will be announced later together with a music video for Weatherman single. Website here, Facebook here.

'Weatherman' is energised alt rock, that packs emotion and feeling alongside some slick and potent musicianship, and vocals that were seemingly just built for the music.

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The Cranberries - Outside The Academy - No Vacation - INHALT - Caravane

The Cranberries - Linger (Acoustic Version).

Background - The Cranberries are set to release Something Else, a new album featuring re-worked renditions of their major hits, as well as brand new material. The album is due out April 28 via BMG on digital and CD formats, and includes seminal Cranberries songs like "Linger," "Zombie," "Dreams," and "Ode To My Family"... re-recorded in orchestral and acoustic arrangements. Something Else celebrates the 25th anniversary of the band. Their first major U.S. hit "Linger" has been re-done acoustically.

On the album concept and choice of "Linger" as the first single, The Cranberries' singer-songwriter Dolores O’Riordan explains, "'Linger' was the first song The Cranberries ever wrote together. I was 17, and the youngest member of the band was 15 at the time. We never imagined it'd be such a big hit, but soon us teenagers found ourselves on our first flight to the United States to shoot the video in Downtown LA. That video would introduce us to American households, in the good old days of MTV! The bittersweet love song still holds all that sentimentality for us personally, which is why we had to include it on this project. Universally, I think its message remains timeless and relevant, never going out of fashion, yet never quite in fashion. It's amazing to have a song hold up 25 years later, and I hope this acoustic version allows our fans to hear a Cranberries classic in a new way."

Last year, over two weeks in the University of Limerick, at the home of the Irish Chamber Orchestra, the band revisited old times; Dolores laid down vocals as small booths were created to record the instruments as if live. She was no longer a child, singing her amazing, mature songs from an inexperienced vantage point but a woman now, with the capacity to throw her life at the music, the benefit of hindsight. "I prefer them like this," she says of the new recordings of old songs, "with a little bit more experience behind them, with a new lease of life. They sound fresh again."

It’s testament to Dolores and Noel’s song-writing prowess that the new additions to the Cranberries cannon sit seamlessly next to the old. When they began finalising details for the record, they decided on Something Else, a nod to the first record’s Everybody Else…, a title neither riven with the promise of future endeavours or locked into the past. 

Tour dates on Beehive Candy Tour Page, Facebook here, pre-order here. 

Those who have been visiting Beehive Candy for some time may well be aware that I am a bit of a fan to say the least, when it comes to The Cranberries music, both recorded and performed live. 'Linger (Acoustic Version)' is the only song I have heard from the forthcoming album and it leaves me rather excited of what's due in April. Production is superb, the new arrangement mixes an acoustic lead with a delicious string arrangement. Vocals are definitely a little more mature in delivery, and if anything carry even more intensity and emotion this time around. Twenty five years on and The Cranberries continue to excite and impress.

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Outside The Academy - Salient - Solutionism.

Background - Hot on the tail of intricate lead single 'Solutionism', Outside the Academy aka Pawel Cholewa (Pa-vell Ho-li-ver) will release his new EP Second-Guessing and next single 'Salient'. Brimming with ambience, glitch, moody dance beats and melodic guitar, Second-Guessing weaves a tangled yet ultimately cathartic web. 

The irony of using technology as a method of production whilst actively criticising it is not lost on Cholewa, who admits the EP is the result of "Second-guessing this relationship, myself, others, my music, yet continuously coming back to these songs as a safety net of (mis)understanding." Entirely self-produced, with mixing from Konstantin Kerstig (The Belligerents, WAAX, Morning Harvey), Second-Guessing offers itself as a touchstone for a culture of ambivalent creatives who are only certain about one thing: creating.

'Salient', the ambient, soaring new single taken from Second-Guessing, is part "traditional break-up song", part contemplation on generational divides and the vast ocean of differing lived experiences between oneself and, for example, one's grandparents. Though Cholewa is the first to admit that the song's title is used in a slightly incorrect context, the song's narrative of frustration and angst brought on by irreparable communication breakdown is cuttingly clear. Facebook here.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to stream both single releases from Outside The Academy so here is 'Salient' and the previous single 'Solutionism'. New single 'Salient' has bright jangly guitars and a solid rock soundtrack that accompany the smooth vocals alongside a marching beat.

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No Vacation - Mind Fields.

Background - No Vacation is an Indie/Dream-Pop collective that combines the novel sounds of college nostalgia and surf-tinged bedroom pop to create an addictive feeling of weightlessness. 

What began as a sunny San Francisco dorm-room duo in early 2015 by frontwoman Sabrina Mai, quickly evolved into a band as Marisa Saunders and Nat Lee entered the fold. Eventually, Harrison Spencer joined and No Vacation migrated from their familiar garage practice spaces to the studio, where they recorded their second release Summer Break Mixtape. This would lead up to their initial break-up later that year. After a year of anticipation, shows under various names, and a few line-up changes, James Shi was added to solidify the official reunion of the 5-piece.

To jumpstart their return, No Vacation have released their new single “Mind Fields” via Topshelf Records. Heavily influenced by the break-up itself, “Mind Fields” highlights the wistful yet buoyant sounds from their upcoming collection, set for release in June 2017. Facebook here.

'Mind Fields' has a gentle surf pop soundtrack and beautiful, genuine vocals, that are delivered with feeling, in what is a melodic and dreamy song. 

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INHALT - Vehicle.

Background - On April 14, dark electronic / minimal synth outfit INHALT will be releasing their new album ‘Part Time Punks Sessions’ via Cleopatra Records, who are giving a taste of the album by presenting the lead single 'Walking on Glass'. Hard-driving, up-tempo, and propelled by German vocals, this and the other tracks offered on this release are sleek, chic and cold, formidably capturing the INHALT sound and ethos.

The 'Part Time Punks Sessions' LP features the best of the band's signature synth-driven dark analog pop. This is both a live and a studio album, having been recorded in real time in collaboration with the Part Time Punks radio show in Los Angeles. This is the band's fourth significant release and final album to be recorded at the band’s homebuilt studio, affectionately called “The Bunker”.

INHALT is German for “content”. This San Francisco-based trio is comprised of Philip Winiger, Matia Simovich, and Steven Campodonico. Winiger, born in Switzerland, visited San Francisco for a year long sabbatical but ended up forming the band with Simovich in 2009. They immediately recognized their mutual philosophy of sonic fidelity and creative integrity, rather than nostalgia.

On the concert circuit, INHALT have a reputation for bringing a tour de force wall of sound with an energetic stage presence. They have played concerts with peers old and new, including Front 242, Clock DVA, Martial Canterel, and High Functioning Flesh. They’ve condensed this raw concert experience into the John Peel-esque Part Time Punks Sessions, to be made available on April 14, both digitally and on CD, via Cleopatra Records with the vinyl release to follow. Website here, Facebook here.

The more I hear from INHALT the more I need to discover more. 'Vehicle' is but a small taste of the band, and the few songs I have heard from the forthcoming 'Part Time Punk Sessions' takes the music a whole lot further.

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Caravane - Boogie Baby.

Background - Caravane are back with a second single off their new album Fuego. Featuring Marie-Michelle Gariepy-Rusk, the music video for Boogie Baby, directed by Dragos Chiriac, shows us the daily routine of a young janitor who finds an escape in the band's music. She dances like no one's watching during an explosive performance by Caravane in an infamous bar of Quebec City, Le Dauphin.

Caravane est de retour avec un deuxième extrait sexy tiré de Fuego. Mettant en vedette Marie-Michelle Gariepy-Rusk, le vidéo pour Boogie Baby, réalisé par Dragos Chiriac, nous plonge dans le quotidien d'une jeune concierge pour qui la musique est un exutoire. Juxtaposé à ses tâches répétitives sont des images d'un spectacle explosif du groupe au mythique bar de la Vieille Capitale, Le Dauphin.

Live dates on the Beehive Candy tour page. Facebook here.

Nothing wrong with a little bit of the multi lingual detail, and 'Boogie Baby' came with a promo that ensures nothing gets lost in translation. Actually this is quite a catchy song, perhaps in English 'Boogie Baby' might sound a little disco and dated, but hey I can't do the same in French so what right do I have to complain!

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Weekend Wonders: Narrow Waves - Cajsa Siik - The Solars - Sunsquabi - Maggie McClure - Analog Monoxide - Katie Buchanan

Narrow Waves - Hear Me Out.

Background - Boston's Narrow Waves have just released their new single "Hear Me Out". All local city musicians, the sextet came together by two degrees of separation, but at times found each other’s beloved record store days separated by ten years. 

Between the metaphoric lyricism of Morrissey and the stadium-indie flush of Arcade Fire, Narrow Waves found their sound. Through listening to one another they have found their voice.

"Hear Me Out" is from the band's forthcoming debut five-track EP, Letters From Another State, due out in March. The group worked with producer Jeff Lipton on the single, whose past releases include Bon Iver, Ladytron, LCD Soundsystem, The Magnetic Fields, Sebadoh and Soul Asylum. Facebook here.

With such a fine vocal duet and harmonies on 'Hear Me Out' it's easy to forget about the music. The band are tight and drive the rhythm and disciplined enough to allow the natural and refreshing vocals to take the limelight on this song.

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Cajsa Siik - White Noise.

Background - Swedish alt-pop singer Cajsa Siik has a new single up for release next month, taken from her upcoming third album Domino set to drop early summer. Following on from her highly acclaimed 2014 sophomore album ‘Contra’, Swedish-native Cajsa Siik returns with her latest full-length ‘Domino’, due out on the 2nd June via Birds Records, and will include the new singles ‘Talk To Trees’, ‘White Noise’, and ‘Empire Mine’.

Much like her previous releases, Cajsa Siik aims to inject a pop sensibility into an avant-garde and experimental disposition. Giving her a sound that is both accessible and atmospheric in the process. Recorded in Stockholm with producer Rolf Klinth, ‘Domino’ sees the songstress embark on a much bolder direction than in her previous material that still manages to maintain her core sound.

The record’s lead single ‘Talk To Trees’ displays her new intentions perfectly as she uses her collaborations with Thomas Hedlund (Phoenix, Deportees), Rasmus Kellerman (Tiger Lou) and Carl Ekerstam to add texture and depth to the single, making it the perfect introduction to the album ahead. Describing the track as a, “colourful dreamy zone where I felt connected with reasons and beliefs. Like a subconscious talk with nature. Like a blessing or a blind spot.”

Speaking about the record, Cajsa Siik explained that, “Domino can be described in two different ways. First I wanted it to represent the fact that we’re all connected to each other and that we have a responsibility towards each other and this world. To shoulder that responsibility is easier said than done, but we must try. Be aware. Not only mind our own business. I’ve given that a lot of thought lately. Secondly, every song on this album depends and relies on the other. Together they create a unit and the unit is supposed to be diverse. I aimed for creating a dynamic album.” Website here, Facebook here.

A synthy start that develops with layers of musical warmth, provides the backdrop on 'White Noise' for the dreamy and melodic vocals of Cajsa Siik. It's a good enticement for the awaited album, and a test of our patience as it's not out until June!

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The Solars - Potter’s Field / Dockery.

Background - The Solars are thrilled to release their new single, "Potter's Field / Dockery," and announce their East Coast record release tour. "Potter's Field / Dockery" is the second single from The Solars' debut EP Retitled Remastered, available April 21st via independent release. The track is a brooding psych folk track that recognizes the humor in an existential relationship crisis. With traditional folk undertones and modern pop sensibility, "Potter's Field / Dockery" is one part Neil Young, one part The Arcs.

The Solars are Boston's latest up and coming band led by Miles Hewitt and Quetzel Herzig. In December 2016, the indie folk outfit released their debut single "Old K.B." to much local acclaim and quickly found themselves playing to packed rooms along the East Coast. The Solars will be hitting Boston, New York City, and Montreal this April in support of their Retitled Remastered release. Check below for all tour dates!

Still early on the rise, The Solars create a startlingly modern folk sound, melding elements of Brian Wilson post LSD and CSNY's luxurious harmonies with synthesizers and various digital effects. Their forthcoming EP Retitled Remastered is filled with expansive instrumentation, blossoming harmonies, and bottomless layers of old school production trickery. It's clear that The Solars obsessively sweat over every detail of a recording, highlighting their unconventional instrumentation, form, and songwriting. Retitled Remastered EP will be available on Friday, April 21, 2017. Website here, Facebook here.

'Potter’s Field / Dockery' is a fascinating song and a highly likable and listenable one as well. At just under six minutes it's a musical journey of sorts, mixing pysch folk with more traditional moments. Vocals are notable and wonderfully melodic, the music fabulous, the EP a definite must have.

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Sunsquabi - Dexter (feat. Nick Gerlach).

Background - Standing at the forefront of the epicenter of the electro-funk scene, Colorado trio Sunsquabi have championed the thriving genre as one of the culture's integral live acts. In 2016, Sunsquabi took their live show across North America, to festivals from Electric Forest to Camp Bisco, or their local world renowned amphitheater- Red Rocks. Gearing up for a massive 2017, Sunsquabi are kicking off the year with their highly anticipated sophomore EP 'Deluxe' still to come via GRiZ's All Good Records.

Before the full EP drops, the band are giving us another glimpse of the record with EP cut "Dexter" feat. jam scene staple Nick Gerlach out this week Yet another laid-back funk production, "Dexter" sees Sunsquabi fuse both organic and electronic instrumentation through the use of synth, drum kits, keyboard, guitar strums, Gerlach on saxophone, and more. An ample follow up to the EP's thriving first singles "Pygmy Up" Feat. Russ Liquid, and "Cinnamon" Feat. Late Night Radio, "Dexter" will be an insta-favorite among fans of a more classic jam based Sunsquabi sound.

Looking ahead to the remainder of 2017, anticipate additional tracks from the full 'Deluxe' EP prior to the project's full release. In addition, fans will be able to catch the Sunsquabi experience live at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas, a return to Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado, Summer Camp Music Festival, and a series of North America tour dates outlined on Beehive Candy's tour page, website here, Facebook here.

The track 'Dexter' is getting noticed in a big way after just a couple of days and rightly so. It's a feast of funk and rumbling bass vibes. The musical arrangement and musicianship is fabulous and massively addictive, leaving me wanting more, can we do encores with words?

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Maggie McClure - Coming Home.

Background - The Norman, Okla-bred, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter/pianist Maggie McClure has spent a good amount of her career placing her songs on TV shows such as Dr. Phil, Cougar Town, The Real World, The Vineyard, and The Hills, as well as in feature films like Cowgirls N’ Angels. Her smooth, confessional songwriting has made her a natural for these formats. Maggie has performed more than 1000 shows throughout her career in over 40+ states in the U.S. at iconic venues such as The Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles to Rockwood Music Hall in NYC, and everywhere in between. Her original piano-driven songs empower and inspire listeners with a positive message of hope, love, and faith.

Maggie’s third and newest album, Time Moves On, produced by Justin Glasco, whose work includes Dan Wilson (songwriter of Adele’s hit “Someone Like You”), Gary Jules, Tyler Hilton, and Cary Brothers – chronicles her move from Oklahoma to L.A. and centers on the mental and physical bravery it takes to push yourself in an unknown city and make people pay attention and convince them to be part of your dream.

'Be Right Here For You' is the leading piano driven single off of Time Moves On and features Maggie McClure's infectious pop vocals and an unforgettable upbeat chorus. While ‘Coming Home’, is a beautiful, nostalgic and uplifting story of returning to a place which is close to your heart. Maggie explains how the song was written in less than half an hour, whilst visiting Oklahoma after being away for a while. “It was most definitely a scenario of a stream of consciousness writing" Maggie confesses. ‘Coming Home’ fuses driving drum beats, catchy vocals and melodic guitar rhythms, creating a happy and endearing song that we can all relate to. ‘Coming Home’ will be featured on the soundtrack to the film ‘A Cowgirl’s Story’, which will be released on April 18th. 'Do It Again'. Website here, Facebook here.

Maggie McClure has warm, melodic vocals that are just so well suited to a song like 'Coming Home'. Full of unpretentious modern folk vibes and a beautiful musical arrangement this is catchy by just about any measurement.

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Analog Monoxide - Playing Tag.

Background - Nestled along the winding west coast of Norway is the small town Ørsta, where multi-instrumentalist Stian Høyberg creates genre-bending electronica under the banner of Analog Monoxide.

​Stian has been in a constant state of creation since he was young, developing his musicality by playing whatever instrument he could get his hands on and taking music classes where ever he could find them. Upon expanding into the realm of electronica, the use of computers opened up a new sonic territory, and evolved into an essential piece of his unique writing process.

His upcoming release, Songs For the Road, is a true hybrid of Jazz improvisation, funk, experimental electronica, and tried and true blues. Falling somewhere between Portishead and Tom Waits, Analog Monoxide could never genuinely be pegged to a specific genre. Stian alone provided keyboards, guitars, drums, drum machines, synths and vocals, and if he wanted to include an instrument he wasn't familiar with, he would practice night and day until he could play it perfectly.

Songs For the Road (due out April 15th) is Analog Monoxide’s second album, but his first to include such heavy diversity. His work is based largely on personal, emotional, and human events. His upcoming single, "I Would Do It All Again" is one of his most personal, and he hopes to help heal his audience the way music has helped heal him. “It’s dark, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel” Stian remarks. “Perhaps I’m communicating from the midpoint…we’re all here sometimes” Website here, Facebook here.

Electronic musical sounds move around each other and the beat and vocals are in unison as 'Playing Tag' unfolds at it's own cool pace. The layers slowly and constantly build, adding atmosphere and a sense of mystery. Hypnotic music that oozes cool.

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Katie Buchanan - Floating.

Background - NYC-based, guitar-driven singer and songwriter, Katie Buchanan, shares "Floating" the first single from her new LP. She is gearing up to release her sophomore album, Who We Are When We're Standing, on June 9, 2017. The record is written and produced by Buchanan, mixed by Doug Schadt (Maggie Rogers, Wet, Emmy the Great) and mastered by Heba Kadry (Neon Indian, The Sea and Cake, The Mars Volta, Trust).

The Kansas-native grew up surrounded by music, having been born into a long line of musicians. With childhood memories of learning the blues around a campfire, you could say that songwriting is in Buchanan’s blood and comes almost as a second nature.

Fans of Katie Buchanan’s ability to seamlessly combine her signature blues-rock style with modern production techniques will not be disappointed by her forthcoming effort, Who We Are When We’re Standing. Her unique style of music also shines through in her live performances.

While listeners are being swept up in the album’s guitar driven pop anthems with that signature electro spin, they can find a message at the core: to stand still and stand tall, Facebook here.

'Floating' mixes upfront vocals and a rhythmic backdrop, that keeps you waiting a short while until the song explodes into a more powerful and driven piece, with some clever tail end electro flavours slipped in.

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