Megafauna - Childcare - Reverse Family

Megafauna - Welcome Home.

Background - Cosmic vintage metal and melodic neo-psychedelia meld seamlessly in Megafauna’s fourth LP 'Welcome Home. Consequence of Sound described the album, released in May as "Megafauna's most ambitious and imaginative record to date, like St. Vincent for people who love the Melvins."  

The Austin-based band led by guitar goddess and singer Dani Neff dives deep into the sounds of soul exploration leveraged on the powerful rhythm section of drummer Zack Humphrey and alternating bassists Will Krause and Bryan Wright.  With 'Welcome Home', Megafauna eschew the progressive rock stylings of their earlier work and reach back toward the proto-metal haze of Black Sabbath and Sir Lord Baltimore while ushering it skyward with sharp melodies and the space-rock production work of Curtis Roush and The Bright Light Social Hour.

The album was crafted throughout 2015 in the cloistered bungalow studio of The Bright Light Social Hour and given a muscular mix by veteran engineer Erik Wofford (Black Angels, Bill Callahan). Through a deep look inside and above for new awareness, Megafauna has forged their most vital work to date. 

The self proclaimed thinking woman's hard rock band draw their influences from maximalism, nature, Psychedelia, circus arts, shredding, splatter paint, reading aloud, modern dance, touring compulsively... and sleeping. Website here, Facebook here.

As I understand it Megafauna's album 'Welcome Home' is going to be released on the 27 May 2017 in the UK, it's actually been around for a while on Bandcamp. This is a really good collection of songs that take you through so many rock genres, with a consistent style and ardent, impassioned delivery.

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Childcare - Dust.

Background - Childcare finished 2016 playing their biggest shows to date – in front of thousands as part of Bastille’s nationwide arena tour. This came hot on the heels of the band releasing killer single ‘Film Club’ to comprehensive acclaim. ‘Film Club’ was the first taster of a new EP that also features the stellar ‘Kiss?’ and represents an emphatic statement sure to cement the adoration of all those newly turned on to the London quartet courtesy of that tour. 

It all started when Ed Cares, one of west London's most in-demand male nannies, was overheard humming a song he had written, by Katie, aged six, who persuaded him to form a band. Josh, eight, boldly proclaimed: "You're probably my second favourite artist after Katy Perry."  And so, after sourcing some neighbourhood musicians capable of living up to Josh’s heady billing — specifically Emma Topolski (bass), Rich Legate (guitar) and Glyn Daniels (drums) — Ed soon had an able band to perform with under the only logical moniker in the circumstances: Childcare. Having honed their vivid and visceral live show on stages including Reading and Leeds festivals and now some of the land’s major concert venues.

About ‘Dust’. A riff on the End of Days itself, ‘Dust’ finds Childcare tackling mankind’s inevitable extinction with haunting vocal melodies, scalding guitar work and gutsy rhythms, plus a choral finale courtesy of a choir of heaven-sent angels. The third track to be shared from the ‘Made Simple’ EP, the song’s subject matter is certainly a departure from the band’s acclaimed previous tracks ‘Film Club’ and ‘Kiss?’, as frontman Ed Cares explains:

“Having released some music about kissing mums and fancying a girl, I thought it only appropriate that we now tackled the impending end of the world in a global warming/nuclear strike scenario. ‘Dust’ describes a roasting high-temperature cooking experience and the final thoughts of a man approaching his maker.” Facebook here.

Fervent and succinct vocals and a tight rhythmic soundtrack with plenty of energy, makes 'Dust' a very memorable and impressive song. Lyrics are affecting, the piece as a whole quite compulsive.

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Reverse Family - Legend of Pierre.

Background - Ever had that dream where an insect invades the ear and sets up home to mercilessly tease and torment thereon in? If so, a form of similar reality is about to be unleashed as the Reverse Family step forward to announce themselves with a sound which trespasses and festers in the psyche. The difference is that this is set to be the most welcome invasion of ears as it crawls with relish into the imagination.

With a tongue in cheek lining to the lyrical reflection shaping songs which spreads into the music itself, Reverse Family is a beguiling adventure with a nod to the past and a grip on an imagination as fresh as it is, well quite simply a touch loco. Website here, Facebook here.

Taken from the album 'My Songs About Life Mid Crisis' released a few weeks ago we can share 'Legend of Pierre' which can only be an indicator of the extraordinary twelve tracks in this collection. Sometimes quite "out there" other times a little quirky, always energised with plenty of rock instinct, I found this one of those albums, that's a little like exploring a new and exciting place for the first time!


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Exhausted Pipes - The Dead Sailor Girls - Febueder - TUELO

Exhausted Pipes - Whisky, Weed, Women and Cocaine.

Background - For most people, the idea of “Whisky, Weed, Women and Cocaine,” sounds like a little bit of a lethal combination, but when it comes in the form of an incredibly catchy song by indie-rock trio Exhausted Pipes, we’re welcoming the combo with open arms. Featuring an addicting guitar melody, it’s no surprise the track is named the way it is.

Besides just its catchy nature, the song features stunning vocal work and the resulting piece showcases just how special the trio are in their ability to capture a story so eloquently within the framework of a three-minute song. They’ve been capturing the hearts of San Francisco’s local indie scene for a while now, and it’s no surprise- the catchy rhythm and utter brilliant storytelling make them a serious tour de force in the underground music scene.

Formed in 2011, they are known for their dynamic songwriting and lively performances, pushing the expectations of a three-piece. The trio doesn’t take itself too seriously, and has a solid understanding of their place in the world. The magic of their upcoming release, New Dust, is that it’s an authentic reflection of a specific time and place in history and manages to avoid any pseudo-intellectual or unnecessarily emotional imitations.

The band came together in Stockton, California where Hunter Steers, David Mayman, and Andy Landgraf met at their University in an unengaged community in which active disinterest shaped the culture. Through this, the band learned some quick lessons, and grew enough to make a move to San Francisco where the reception for live music was far greater. Their high energy performances characterised by three part harmonies, soaring solos and wide ranging dynamics began to draw a regular following. The group self-released their eponymous debut album, Exhausted Pipes, in late 2011.

Funded by a self-made Kickstarter campaign, Exhausted Pipes upcoming album New Dust is a reflection of the DIY / start-up spirit of the 21st century. Their music reflects the struggles and growing pains of a new generation in America tasked with identity creation in an inexact time. The band’s lyrics are close to those coming of age in a rapidly evolving culture where relevance is often hard to pin down. The music itself is tightly curated and intelligent, featuring complexed instrumentation's – and even highlights a few featured musicians – yet holds true to the band’s vocally-driven roots. New Dust feels both relevant and emotionally exhilarating  – solid, coherent and wonderfully accessible. Website here, Facebook here.

I think it fair to say that 'Whisky, Weed, Women and Cocaine' is about as rock'n'roll a song title as any band might come up with, this band are however, more Americana-folk with danceable Indie Rock, a fabulous combination when considered. The song is feisty, gritty and just wonderful, I don't think we should take the lyrical sentiments to seriously, just join in have some fun.

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The Dead Sailor Girls - The Last Tasmanian Wolf.

Background - Blue Rose Music recording artists The Dead Sailor Girls share tales of shipwrecks, crystal balls and ill fated romances on their forthcoming album Rolling Sea, set to arrive on shores April 28, 2017.

Produced by Karl Derfler (Tom Waits, No Doubt, Dave Matthews Band,) Rolling Sea is a chest of influences and experiences. The bubbly debut single “Magic Potion” will captivate fans of 80’s pop,  “Dance Of The Broken Heart” is a bounty of undeniable hooks and “Sensitive Bad Boys” is a refreshing acknowledgement that some of us are not meant to marry men in suits.  The gorgeous “Sail Away” puts Evie‘s striking vocal talent front and center with “Hobo’s Dreams” and “Miles On The Car” seeing the young hopefuls portrayed in the song reflecting on what to do when dreams do not turn out as planned.

The Dead Sailor Girls’ (comprised of Julietta Hay and Evie Rucker) began when the mother-daughter team were singing with Evie’s sister Haley in their family garage in 2012. There, they sang songs about sailors and the sea, joking that they should start a band called The Dead Sailor Girls. The name stuck and Julietta and Evie were soon joined by bassist Ned Doherty and drummer John Stuart. They performed their very first show on Halloween of 2012 and developed a sound that combines the band’s love of music and lyrics with the soul of their craft.

“Each song on the Rolling Sea album is like a window into a life,”  Evie says. “The lyrics are so vivid and the imagery becomes similar.”  Adds Julietta, “Our songs are inspired by ghost ballads, love songs, punk rock, blues, bluegrass, pop and R&B and most obviously we find kindred sounds in the psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll that was born in San Francisco.” Website here, Facebook here.

The new album 'Rolling Sea' due for release next week comprises of eleven songs and the featured track 'The Last Tasmanian Wolf' gives some feel for this fine album. Indie and alt rock, sometime upbeat and even a little gritty, other times softer and quite refined, the album mixes the genres and every song carries it's weight, well worth a full listen at the least.


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Febueder - Morning Yawn.

Background - Morning Yawn' is the first single from English alt-pop outfit Febueder's forthcoming EP From an Album. The song is about galvanising against the trickery, the doubt, the hoax – whatever form that may take in an individual's life. The driving bassline, haunting chanted harmonies, and impassioned vocals are the sound of the tether breaking. This is waking up. Directed by Timothy Jacob Elledge, the video brings the gripping track to life with a raw clarity. 

Febueder (pronounced Fe-byou-der) is lead vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Kieran Godfrey, percussionist Samuel Keysell, and Toby Ingram on bass. 

On May 12 they will release their From an Album EP, a rousing five track project which harnesses the ambition and creative intent typically reserved for a full length release. It captures Febueder in their element, assured in their ability and vision, and emotionally deft in their approach. Facebook here.

It's the vocals that stand out first of all, followed by a refined and funky soundtrack. 'Morning Yawn' is a very addictive song, that builds into a feast of sounds and is accompanied by a video that interprets the piece with dance.


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TUELO - Saint Margaret.

Background - TUELO is led by South African born Tuelo Minah, who blends soul and punk-rock to make what's been dubbed "revival music." She sounds a bit like the rebellious daughter of Nina Simone and David Bowie who grew up listening to the Sex Pistols and Blondie, and took music lessons from Miriam Makeba. 

"Saint Margaret" is a homage to Tuelo's mother, Seabi, whose "English" name is Margaret. After leaving her family farm in South Africa and coming to America, Tuelo found her voice and music as a guide to conquer herself. Her mother has yet to hear her sing or see her perform, yet she remains a favorite topic amongst fans because of how Tuelo weaves her into every conversation and every show. Tuelo credits her love for people, environment, tradition, culture, words and learning, spirituality, and her non-conformist and awkward nature to her mum, and often remarks that if somebody had told her as a child that her mother was God, she would have been a believer a long time ago. 

​TUELO's unreal vocals have filled some incredible venues - Brooklyn Bowl​, Carnegie Hall, Late Night with David Letterman, Central Park Summer Stage, and most recently The Apollo for the Africa Now Festival. Her next show is on a bit of a smaller scale, at Rockwood Music Hall on May 9th. Facebook here.

Tuelo Minah's powerful and passionate vocals make 'Saint Margaret' an outstanding song in their own right. The music adds more with a well balanced soundtrack, that supports the vocals providing a rock feel to a soulful song.

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The Rhythm Express ft Maiko Watson - Principe Valiente - Naomi Wachira - Max Subar

The Rhythm Express - Jolene ft Maiko Watson.

Background - A few months back I was turned on to a haunting YouTube clip of Dolly Parton singing her most recorded song, “Jolene”. The original 1973 track had been slowed from single format to long playing 33 1/3 speed. That listening experience was both eerie and a revelation. No doubt, Dolly Parton possesses a grand set of pipes. Slowed down it becomes more evident, in that every inflection, bend in a vowel, a word is extraordinary and rocked with emotion. 

With that in mind and captivated by the change of tempo, I began hearing other possibilities. What if this was done with a reggae feel - early Bob Marley and Wailer's rhythm section style and backing vocals reminiscent Marley’s backup singers, the I-Threes. Acutely aware Parton and a cappella sing group Pentatonix just won a Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Award with an updated version of ‘Jolene’; the song’s alluring story, sumptuous melody and sweeping beauty was more than the Rhythm Express could resist. 

In fact, we decided to keep the song’s country charm with a guest appearance from guitarist Tim Boviconti of Ron Sexsmith/ Burton Cummings fame. Tim’s lap steel, acoustic and electric guitar keeps our ‘Jolene’ rooted in tradition. Great songs lend themselves to all sorts of interpretation. ‘Jolene’ rocks our world. - Enjoy, Bill King (Jolene 7 Arts/Side Door Records). The Rhythm Express Facebook here, Maiko Watson Facebook here.

Making a cover version of a song as instantly recognisable as 'Jolene' does call for some reinterpretation to make it worthwhile. In this case the reggae meets Americana approach is both respectful and creative. Musically The Rhythm Express add their top quality credentials and provide a superb soundtrack, with Maiko Watson's vocals ensuring the genre crossover works. Fabulous version!

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Principe Valiente - Strangers In The Night.

Background - After an outstanding self-titled debut album in 2011 and the breathtaking „Choirs Of Blessed Youth“ in 2014, the Swedish post punk / shoegaze band lead by Fernando Honorato, true to their vision, continues to carve out its own unique musical path. Drawing inspiration from ambient experimentalists like Cocteau Twins, 80's sci-fi soundtracks as well as exuberant vocalists like Bowie and Kate Bush, Principe Valiente ventured deeper into the sonic landscapes of their minds.

The intensity of the athmospheric sound and the interplay of melodic guitar strings, the dark drifting drums, rhythmic bass lines and above all the warm, emotional voice of the singer, have remained. The listener is captured in a mixture of longing and loneliness, which is fluently and hypnotically directed. Calm pieces alternate with energetic compositions, such as the recently released single "Strangers In The Night", and give the album a strong note of ambivalence. The second single "Wildest Flowers" will follow on 28th of April.

With their third work „Oceans“, the band has created another alluring world with "human, all too human" lyrics and phantasmagorical soundscapes. Cool, yet impassioned and loaded with sweet anxiety, Principe Valiente have managed to make an irresistibly beautiful and intense continuation of what was started in the previous two albums.

„Oceans“ was partly recorded by the producer Martin Ehrencrona (Les Big Byrd), and partly in various basements and art school lobbies around their hometown Stockholm, Sweden. The combination of innovative and inspired material makes for an invigorating listen as it is difficult to pinpoint in regard to genre. „Oceans“ will be released on May 12th, 2017 on CD and as a download by afmusic, and as a limited Vinyl edition by Manic Depression Records. Website here, Facebook here.

'Strangers In The Night' has a dark almost Gothic feel to it. Layered rock music swirls around, whilst the vocals add even more atmosphere. There is enough melody, but only enough, the band ensure the feeling they create as the song builds makes this a hypnotic piece.

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Naomi Wachira - Beautifully Human.

Background - “I am an African girl, well I know where I’m coming from, and I know who I want to be...”  is the defiant soul-anthem that jumpstarted Afro-Folk Singer/Songwriter Naomi Wachira onto a whole new path and calling. The words from the title track, African Girl, on her first EP release (2012) paved the way for this Kenyan-born, Seattle-based artist, who is determined make a contribution in the world by offering music that is poignant, hopeful and life-giving.   Five years later, with a critically acclaimed self-titled album (2014), an acoustic EP “ I am Because You Are (2015), comes her sophomore album Song of Lament, which she says, ‘was born out the many tragic losses we’ve witnessed globally - ranging from cases of police brutality to the refugee crisis - that made me grieve about who we’ve become, but also burned a desire in me to create art that would serve society at large and hopefully lessen the chaos around us.’    

Song of Lament, which was recorded at historic London Bridge Studio (Seattle, WA) with producer Eric Lilavois (Saint Motel, Atlas Genius, My Chemical Romance), is a testament to Wachira fully embracing her creative power and its ability spread goodness to the world. As the world churns with chaos and self-inflicted woes born out of fear and mistrust of the ‘other’, she hopes the album will be a balm, a beacon of hope, a reminder of both our darkness and light, but also the belief that mindfulness and empathy can serve humanity in much better ways.  The album delves into issues of violence funneled through political ideologies by weaving real life events with thoughtfulness and compassion, while asking questions about how human beings arrive at this place of utter darkness (Heart of a Man). She highlights issues of human equality, especially when it undermines the divine sacredness of those who are different  (Beautifully Human) and longs for a society that truly takes care of each other (I am Because You Are).  

With an uprise in chaos all over the world,  she acknowledges how easy it is to despair on the status of a world that is hell bent on destroying itself (Up in Flames).  She sings a mournful dirge for the countless lives lost at sea while escaping war torn homelands in search of peace and dignity (Farewell) and questions those who perpetuate violence in the name of faithful religious expression (Where is God?).  And with an existential yearning, she wonders why Africa, one of the most resourceful continents in the world, has struggled to find her footing (Song of Lament).  But not all the songs are heavy.  Her first and last tracks (Our Days Are Numbered, Think Twice) are a reminder that while the sun does not discriminate between the good and the bad, fulfillment is found when we spend our days practicing kindness and wisdom and taking account that our actions really do matter, when all's said and done. She joyously blesses her mother and father, with whom she credits for the woman she is today (Mûrathimwo) and encourages all of us who’ve hit rock bottom in life and feel disillusioned, to never give up or look back (Run, Run, Run).

There is no doubt Wachira is determined to create a niche in the world with her uplifting and sombering music and perhaps inch us closer to one another as we remember our shared humanity.  And like the two predecessors she has long admired, Tracy Chapman and Miriam Makeba, she hopes that she can truly make the world a better place.  Asked about what she really hopes to accomplish with this album she says, “if there’s one thing I learned from my parents, it is to try and leave a place better than I found it. My hope is that this album will do just that. I know we are certainly living in dark times, but I hope that we will all find the courage to be light in whatever way we’ve been gifted… that we will seek to understand those who are different from us and find ways to both acknowledge and celebrate our differences and similarities.” Website here, Facebook here.

The leading single 'Beautifully Human' from the sophomore album "Songs of Lament" is quite stunning. Naomi's vocals have melodic power and range, the music leans a little towards a reggae beat and is vibrant throughout. A song with a simple and yet poignant message, leaves me looking forward to the album with both intrigue and some unashamed excitement.

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Max Subar - Balcony.

Background - Chicago-based singer-songwriter Max Subar has shared his third single "Balcony". Prior to this single Max released two other tracks. The first was "Morning Song", which debuted on Impose and the second was "Blue And Green", which premiered on All Things Go. All three songs will be featured on his debut EP 'In A Dream' due out April 28, 2017. 

Singer/songwriter Max Subar aims to remain bound to his midwestern roots with songs that radiate closeness and warmth. Growing up, his mother’s old nylon guitar became a familiar friend in the wake of moving to Australia and back as well as his parents’ divorce. Max’s grounded relationship to songwriting has helped shed light on his own experiences and struggles; from euphoric intimacy to the isolation of depression and anxiety. His debut EP reflects upon themes of love, loss, and reflection. Website here, Facebook here.

'Balcony' is our second feature for Max Subar, we shared 'Morning Song' a few weeks back. The vocals are again quite intimate and grow in power as the song unfolds, whilst the music is a work of quality and craftsmanship.

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So Many Wizards - JFDR - Garrett Pierce - Hayride Casualties

So Many Wizards - Before She Runs.

Background - So Many Wizards is the dreamy, jangly dream-punk project led by Nima Kazerouni. The band have shared "Before She Runs", the third track off their upcoming album. 'Heavy Vision' is due April 14 on Lolipop Records. 

What began as a solo bedroom project indebted to Syd Barrett evolved into a fully-formed band that has garnered attention from Pitchfork, Stereogum, Aquarium Drunkard, and Impose Magazine; spins on BBC 1, KCRW, and SiriusXM (courtesy of Lou Reed); festival stops at SXSW and CMJ; and US and UK tours. A week after the release of their debut album, Warm Nothing, Kazerouni’s daughter was born causing his sudden move to Tucson, Arizona, taking him 500 miles away from his bandmates. Despite the distance, the band managed to release their “Night Chills”/”Daydream” 7”, a single with Converse Rubber Tracks, and shared the stage with Thee Oh Sees, No Age, Colleen Green, Audacity, Feels, Terry Malts, Lovely Bad Things, and more.

Now as a father, the delusion of adulthood began to set in. A new collection of fears and anxieties began to creep into his psyche. This was exacerbated by a series of deaths – a family member, a best friend, and the end of an 8-year long relationship. The experience left Kazerouni spiritually exhausted, culminating in a nervous breakdown, or “nervous breakthrough.” Kazerouni was finally able to lose a grip of himself and let all the problems and anxieties that he tried so hard to ignore wash over him. It was here where Kazerouni found refuge in the idea of mortality, instilling in him a newfound determination to make the most of the present, because everyone’s life ultimately ends the same way. This emotional journey, from its dark hues to its liberated epiphany, is chronicled in Heavy Vision. Facebook here.

The vocals are buried deep within the mix and to a degree almost resonate as an additional musical instrument on 'Before She Runs' a delicious dream punk song. With refined musicianship and excellent production this is an additive song.

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JFDR - Destiny Is Upon Us.

Background - The newest video from JFDR entitled "Destiny Is Upon Us". It is the fifth track to get a video off of JFDR's recently released debut album 'Brazil'.

JFDR, the latest project from Iceland's Jófríður Ákadóttir (Samaris, Pascal Pinon, Gangly), is a blend of cyclical guitar parts, soft minimal soundscapes, and poetic wanderings of a journey that ends where it began. Drawing from classical, folk, and electronic backgrounds, JFDR amalgamates the sounds of changing seasons, her voice a current that moves through rough seas to smooth waters. But perhaps JFDR shines the most in her capacity as a wordsmith, employing rich imagery to evoke the subtle emotions embedded in each song.

“I got obsessed with her band Samaris a few years ago,” says Björk, “and then it was amazing to see her do her own stuff. She’s surrounded herself with a really authentic community of friends. There are probably about 150 musicians in Reykjavik, and groups there sort of become the opposite of each other, like, ‘Oh, that singer’s dressed like that, I better dress the opposite.’ Such is the tight-knit scene in Iceland, she continues, that “you naturally develop individuality. Also, you’ll be in a classical band and an electronic band and a metal band, and that’s okay. Everything blurs into each other, which I’m sure you can hear in Icelandic music.” - Björk, (The Guardian) ‘Björk On Her Inspirations’. Facebook here.

Our second feature for JFDR and the new video for 'Destiny Is Upon Us'. Once again we are treated to some fine imagery that allows the music to take centre stage. Original, alternative, creative and gorgeous music and just one dimension of a fabulous album.


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Garrett Pierce - These Wounds/Enough.

Background -  SF artist Garrett Pierce shares two new tracks from his forthcoming album, Dusk. Both songs deal with different kinds of heartbreak, "These Wounds" the traditional kind felt after a romantic breakup and "Enough" tackles problems Pierce faced growing up that were beyond his control - he wrote this about "Enough": "This song explores the problems people face in the Tenderloin through a first-person account.  I grew up with a mother with mental health and drug problems, and I was nearly homeless myself during my senior year of high school, so I’ve channeled my experiences to paint a picture of life on the streets.  We recorded around forty tracks of instrumentation (with multiple tracks of keyboards and guitars) to make this song the most lush on the album.”

Garrett Pierce began writing for magazines and playing in rock bands as a teen in Los Angeles before permanently relocating to the Bay Area in the early 2000’s. His first full-length album Like A Moth was a stripped down acoustic affair with guest appearances by notable songwriters Jolie Holland and Matt Bauer. Garrett then traveled and toured Europe where he was honored to support Nick Cave in Greece. With a pocketful of songs, he returned to make All Masks (Crossbill Records) - a lush album recorded in the gold rush town of Columbia, CA featuring strings, wind instruments and a cast of over ten musicians.

Garrett's 2012 record City of Sand (Narnack Records) was largely biographical, commenting on his dizzying relationship with the city and growing desire to leave for more natural settings. During this period, Garrett began splitting his time between Sonoma County and San Francisco - playing clubs throughout the bay area at night and working in the wine industry during the day.

Garrett has completed his fourth record titled Dusk which was released on April 14, 2017 in partnership with Crossbill Records (here), Facebook here.

'These Wounds' and 'Enough' are two superb songs from Garrett Pierce, an artist we first featured in early February. I was pretty certain I wanted the album on the strength of just one song, these two have sealed the deal. Exceptional songs in my opinion.


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Hayride Casualties - The Catskills Aint For Sale.

Background - Everyone would agree that we live in strange, uncertain times, yet too much of the music we listen to fails to reflect this sense back to us. Hayride Casualties is one band defined and driven by the political and ecological crises of our age.

Started in 2013 by songwriter and activist Daniel DeWald and bluegrass musician Jack Marshall, Hayride Casualties released Live at 226 Madison, a gritty, live EP of an apartment concert attended mostly by young folks working on campus fossil fuel divestment campaigns in NYC. A few months later, the band released single A Hundred Thousand Dollars a Day, a satirical ode to then Exxon Mobil CEO, Rex Tillerson.

In the summer of 2014, Marshall left the band, taking much (but not all) of the bluegrass influence with him. DeWald spent the next three years meticulously reimagining the band’s sound. Hayride’s debut full length album, Fossil Fuel Kid, is the culmination of that vision: a blend of the band’s earlier folk and bluegrass-inspired licks with DeWald’s love of hard-hitting underground and indie rock.

With a lineup including drummer Tim McCoy (Darwin Deez, formerly Savoire Adore), bassist/composer Chris Bordeaux (formerly The Aisles and Raheem), guitarist Mike Abuiso (formerly The Gay Blades, The Venetia Fair) and singer/songwriters Alex Pastuhov and Lesley Barth, Hayride Casualties are masters at creating both barebones acoustic arrangements and rock numbers that seriously rock. Lyrically, DeWald has found a home on the razor’s edge: speaking simply and definitively to the environmental and other existential crises of our time, while managing to escape the cringeworthy directness, or, overly cryptic messaging too often observed in protest music. Hayride Casualties' upcoming album is titled Fossil Fuel Kid, Facebook here, Bandcamp here.

One of ten songs from the forthcoming album release is 'The Catskills Ain't For Sale'. It's an album that can be folk and acoustic one moment, and polished indie rock the next. Musicianship is tight and of a high standard, vocals are just right whatever direction each song might take.

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Ratboys - Kudu Blue - T.E. Yates - Mt. Wolf

Ratboys - Control.

Background - Chicago's Ratboys, led by singer/guitarist Julia Steiner and guitarist Dave Sagan, will release its sophomore album entitled GN on June 30th (Topshelf Records). Drawing influence from the down-to-earth sincerity of late-90s Sheryl Crow and the confessional confidence of Kim Deal and Jenny Lewis, the songs on GN (aka ‘goodnight’) “largely detail experiences of saying goodbye, finding your way home, and then figuring out what the hell to do once you’re back,” says Steiner. The Fader, who premiered the album's first single, "Control" says "the song is a perfect example of the special, personal nature of their music.​"

GN offers a bevy of tales, laments and triumphs, which recount near-tragedies by the train tracks, crippling episodes of loneliness, remembrances of a deceased family pet with freezer burn, and on and on. The songs shift and breathe as worlds all their own, tied together by the group’s self-proclaimed ‘post-country’ sound, which combines moments of distortion and a DIY aesthetic with a devotion to simple songwriting and ties to the Americana sounds of years past.

The songs chosen to close both sides of the record – the slow-burning "Crying About the Planets’" and quizzical "Peter the Wild Boy" - unpack the respective journeys of two real people who were quite literally lost and found. ""Crying" tells the survival story of Antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson from a first-person perspective, and "Peter" reflects on the life of a feral child in Germany who was eventually adopted by the King of England," according to Steiner.

Certain personal stories - the tour adventures recapped in "GM," the struggle to learn to show affection as divulged in "Molly" - find Ratboys just as eagerly exploring subject matter that comes from within, and then illustrating the highs and lows with soaring hooks and plaintive ones. Even in the moments that lie somewhere between bliss and misery, a tension persists between Steiner’s sweet vocal delivery and Sagan’s physical, almost-off-the-hinges guitar playing that lends each song a deeper sense of colour and movement.

Ratboys join Pet Symmetry and PWR BTTM for a handful of US shows this summer. All confirmed tour dates on Beehive Candy's tour page. Bandcamp here, Facebook here.

'Control' is an alt rock song that features melodic hooks throughout. The vocals and guitars interact with each other giving the track some additional feeling, it's likeable from the start, and by the finish it's a must listen to again, type of song.

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Kudu Blue - Drink Alone.

Background - Brighton based electronic pop four-piece Kudu Blue have unveiled new single ‘Drink Alone’ - the brilliant second track to be lifted from their much-anticipated debut EP, ‘Shaded’. Written, recorded, and produced entirely in one of their bedrooms in their hometown of Brighton, the upcoming EP incorporates a diverse set of influences to create something that sounds both timeless, yet refreshingly modern.

Pairing glistening RnB touched production ideas, with pop-leaning songwriting, ‘Drink Alone’ is a song which elegantly swells, exposing layers of inspiration and influence as it drifts forward. 

The idea behind new single ‘Drink Alone’ was conceived by singer Clementine Douglas whilst working a bar shift in their home town of Brighton: "The lyrical inspiration came a few years ago now. I was working in a pub in Brighton and we'd often have a drink during our shift. This one day I was trying to be good and decided to stick to some nutritious H2O. The girl that I was working with said "please don't make me drink alone", I thought it could be a good song premise so wrote it down, then had a pint."

The final finished recording of the track itself has been a long in the making. "The track is one of the first that we wrote as a band and has been in the set over 2 years now” the band explains. "It seems to go down well live and people often sing it back to us after the show. It's probably quite relatable, we're in England — everyone likes a drink.” Facebook here.

Our second feature this year for Kudu Blue with the newly released song 'Drink Alone'. Once again the band provide us with another stylish and beautifully constructed song that mixes genres like a cocktail, one that can be drank alone but is better shared (oops, couldn't resist)...

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T.E. Yates - Media Machine.

Background - Most musicians boast of exploding onto their local scene in a glittering blaze of media hype and spontaneous applause. The unassuming, unusual and enigmatic T.E. Yates however, snuck in through an open window.

His name was not on the top line of event posters but rather a discreet artist signature in the bottom corner; his first gig flyers and album covers were ones he designed for other bands not himself. He’s performed in front of huge crowds but always as a hired hand or supporting player, a multi-instrumentalist in the shadows – mandolin, banjo, harmonica, even musical saw – you may have heard him on the tracks of other artists without even knowing it. But now T.E. Yates has stepped out of the shadows, taking centre-stage with a formidable backing band (both onstage and on record) comprising members of Victorian Dad, The Bedlam Six, Ottersgear, Gorilla Riot and Honeyfeet.

Even when performing solo the man doesn’t travel light, his weird and wonderful drawings regularly making an appearance between songs, baffling and delighting audiences in equal measures.
His debut album “Silver Coins And White Feathers” is by turns moving, catchy and ambitious, brimming with influences from all across the genre spectrum, the subject matter ranging from astronomy to the Suffrage movement – a real treat for music lovers of all persuasions.

T. E. Yates' debut album 'Silver Coins and White Feathers' is released through Debt Records on Friday 26th May, with a launch party at Gullivers in Manchester’s Northern Quarter on Thursday 25th May. The launch event also features support from The Happy Soul, Aidan Smith and James G. Wilson, with a DJ set from the album’s producer Biff Roxby. Website here, Facebook here.

The opening track on the forthcoming 'Silver Coins and White Feathers' album, is entitled 'Media Machine'. The featured song gives an idea of the style you can expect from the twelve tracks that make up the LP, however this is a collection that ensures each song has individual character. If 'Media Machine' makes an impact with you, the album will not disappoint, in fact I would suggest there are plenty of stronger pieces within this collection, all in all this is worth a full listen at the very least.

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Mt. Wolf - Heavenbound.

Background - London’s Mt. Wolf have experienced much since their early days as a band – line-up changes, enviable hype and interest and, most of all, a sense of expectation that has never left them. With upcoming debut album Aetherlight set to not only meet but exceed those tall expectations, today they release the emotive and thought-provoking video to the anthemic “Heavenbound”. The song owes a melodic debt to the literate, epic songcraft of Echo & The Bunnymen and The National while retaining the sky-scraping atmospherics that have become the band’s trademark, capturing the band at perhaps their most anthemic yet. Visually, the short films captures that same ethereal connection as it charts a man’s final minutes, projecting the sense that love will always be so much stronger than hate.

The director James Ayling, of Cape Films, says of the video: “I think everyone will have their own interpretation of the video. For me, it was about the idea of death acting as a force to unite people. For some death offers the chance to reflect and ask for forgiveness; for others, it provides an opportunity to find peace and the ability to forgive.”

And this from Mt. Wolf frontman and album co-producer Bassi: “'Heavenbound' deals with the different journeys entangled with death. The song is largely about letting go and moving on, while the video takes a slightly different approach: compassion, forgiveness and unconditional love for others can triumph in the face of hate and violence.”

Our first taste of Aetherlight was the 6 minute opus “The Electric” and now alongside the video for “Heavenbound” the album is now available to pre-order direct from their label CRC Music here, Facebook here.

'Heavenbound' is the third song we have featured from Mt. Wolf a band that continue to impress, with a distinct, mature and lofty sound. The video is emotive and pretty deep stuff, it does however add to a track that is heavy on meaning, and delivered with absolute beauty.


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