Major Leagues - Swimming Tapes - Tulipomania - Oly Sherman - The Crowleys - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Major Leagues - It Was Always You.

Background - Brisbane garage pop four-piece Major Leagues hae just dropped their debut album 'Good Love'. Already receiving rave reviews 'downunder' the album is now available across all digital platforms worldwide. 

The band have toured relentlessly over the last three years since their debut EP and have played alongside an exceptional lineup of intenrational and local Australian talent including the likes of Alvvays, Beach Fossils, Wild Nothing, Wye Oak, DMA's, The Preatures and San Cisco. Good Love was produced by acclaimed Australian artist Jonathan Boulet.

Lead-singer Anna Davidson explains, “We went into the studio planning on recording 5 or 6 songs and came out with 12, which was weird... but cool. This is definitely the most collaborative thing we've ever done, which I think comes through in the sound of the record. It sounds more natural and cohesive than our previous stuff. Usually Jaimee and I have very separate writing processes (especially after I moved to Melbourne), but with a lot of these songs, we built them from the ground up together.” Bandcamp here.

Garage pop seems to summarise the melodic and varied sound of Major Leagues. 'It Was Always You' provides a good idea of the quality and catchy nature found throughout the new album.


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Swimming Tapes - What's On Your Mind.

Background - London-based indie band Swimming Tapes share their new single "What's On Your Mind". The track is from their forthcoming EP 'Soft Sea Blue' out September 15th. Earlier this Summer, the band released the first single from the EP, "Queen's Parade," which has gained support with spins from KCRW, BBC Radio 1 and Beats 1 from the likes of Matt Wilkinson and Elton John, as well as being added as a "New Name" on the Annie Mac show. 'Soft Sea Blue' is now available for pre-orders here, as well as a limited edition 12" black vinyl here. 

The now London-based five piece arrived in 2016 with a self released demo track, ‘Souvenirs’, which quickly won them acclaim from the blogging world. Follow up tracks ‘Set The Fire’ and ‘Cameos’ saw them reach the top spot on the Hype Machine chart, earned the band their first play from BBC Radio 1, and tipped them well over 2 million track streams on Spotify. Swimming Tapes rounded off the year with the release of their debut EP, named after their first single ‘Souvenirs’, on burgeoning London indie label Hand In Hive, and have firmly cemented themselves as ones to watch for 2017.

"What's On Your Mind" is available digitally now via B3SCI Records (US) and Hand In Hive Records (EU). Facebook here.

We first featured Swimming Tapes back in May describing their music as "Bright indie music with some appealing vocals and harmonies." With the latest single 'What's On Your Mind' it soon becomes apparent that the band have a very special knack for creating this type of song, the September EP release promises to be a good one.

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Tulipomania - Don't Be So Sure (Seahawks Remix).

Background - Philadelphia-based Tulipomania has announced they will release a new single, which includes three tracks. The first single from this collection is the Seahawks Remix of ‘Don't Be So Sure’.

Seahawks is a duo made up of Jon Tye, founder of the legendary Lo Recordings (whose roster includes Grimes, Aphex Twin, Four Tet, Thurston Moore and Astronauts) and Pete Fowler, creator of Monsterism vinyl toys and perhaps most famed as illustrator of oh so many Super Furry Animals album sleeves. The duo are self-described purveyors of “psychedelic yacht rock, deck shoegaze, hazy beach pop vibrations, and marina drone”. 

Tulipomania, whose name was inspired by the 1637 Dutch tulip market collapse, has been categorized as ‘cult synth punks’, ‘glam-leaning’, ‘postpunk’, ‘art rock’, and ‘muscular chamber pop’. Band members Tom Murray (lead vocals, bass, drums, guitar-organ) and Cheryl Gelover (synthesizer, background vocals) were joined by Mitch Smith (guitar, glockenspiel), who also contributed to the band's eponymous first album, Richard Hartline (piano, percussion, engineering and mastering), and Howard Thompson (executive producer).  

The new three-track single will be available via Sursumcorda Recordings on September 15, 2017. It is already available for pre-order from Tulipomania's Bandcamp page here.Website here, Facebook here.

The Seahawks remix for 'Don't Be So Sure' is very impressive, considering just how classy the original version is. The remix adds further depth and atmosphere to the song, whilst maintaining the emotion and passion.

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Oly Sherman - Monument.

Background - After releasing his first single, ’Push Me Down’ in September 2016, Oly Sherman’s flair has become a regular listen on both triple j and triple j Unearthed radio. Sydney has always been a ‘musical smorgasbord’ for new talent in a variety of genres and Oly’s music is no exception to that tradition. Following in the footsteps of Matt Corby, The Paper Kites, and James Blake, Oly’s music reflects the expressive and gentle nature it takes to be a captivating artist.

Oly’s latest offering is ‘Monument’. The new single takes off from where he left off, building on the smoothness of ‘Push Me Down’, into new heights with this driving indie- pop anthem. 

“This song pretty much represents an operation I had earlier in the year. Yet as undesirable as that sounds, it has actually created some super positive outcomes for me, both as a musician and a human being. The song is a basic reminder to anyone that when things aren’t too crash hot, it comes down to the way you think, and the people you’ve got around you. It’s a pretty powerful one for me.” 

Oly, 22, has been enjoying his music for a long time now, and had begun experimenting with his voice 2 or 3 years ago recording for producers and universities. Oly studies music in Sydney, and has been playing shows in and around for the past two or so years. It wasn’t until he released his debut EP titled Embrace did these shows start to become greater in prominence. 

“I’m not only a fan of the music an artist releases, but the way they create perspective with their art, and specifically their live music. I’ve been singing and playing all kinds of instruments for a long time now, but it wasn’t till I saw some really captivating live shows that I thought to myself, this is on another level, I’m definitely up for that.” Facebook here.

'Monument' is a vibrant & delightful indie pop song, with a high quality musical arrangement. Add in Oly Sherman's incredible vocals and this is one very fine song.

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The Crowleys - L.A Sunset.

Background from the band - We just released our first track “L.A. Sunset” from our upcoming EP. It’s a song we've played live that we finally got around to recording.

We are releasing this as our first single because we believe it encapsulated all of our influences and styles. The intro is a fresher sound for us - more relaxed and poppy - that our local listeners may be surprised to hear. 

The body of the song is our more typical psych-surf style to get new listeners familiar with our sound. While the ending is a drawn-out, heavy psychedelic climax to keep people wanting more. Facebook here.

Fresh vibrant guitars announce the arrival of 'L.A Sunset' ahead of a more psych rock development. Fabulous refrains and beautiful twists and turns, ensured I wanted to hear more, even with a sub six minute song.

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Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - The Punishment of Luxury.

Background - With their 13th studio album ‘The Punishment Of Luxury’ out September 1st via 100% Records, synth-pop pioneers Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark release new single and the title track impacting September 1st.

'The Punishment of Luxury’ is written, recorded, produced and mixed by OMD – Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys- pairing crushing electro rhythms with characteristically serene melodies sounding unapologetically electronic.  

The track and album are named after an 1891 painting by the Italian divisionist Giovanni Segantini that caught Andy’s eye. Andy explains, “Most people in the western world are materially better off than their predecessors ever were and yet we are unhappier. Now we have many possessions that we don’t need because we’ve been persuaded to buy. This is the punishment of luxury.”

Having played a triumphant sold out show at the Royal Albert Hall in May last year, OMD head back out on the road again this autumn for a string of must-see shows, including a show at The Roundhouse November 13th. Website (includes tour and ticket details) here, Facebook here.

Oh it's OMD, you don't need me to describe anything surely. Just put their inclusion down to the fact I have been a fan for their music ever since their first 7" single landed on my record deck. 'The Punishment of Luxury' just confirms the band still turn out some fine music.


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Discolor Blind - The Vacationists - Yoke Lore

Discolor Blind - Black and Grey.

Background - If a musician’s creative output is intrinsically linked to the journey that brought them to that point then it is hardly surprising that Discolor Blind’s debut EP 'Long Vivid Dream' is a mercurial blend of flavours and genres. The journey taken by frontman Askhan Malayeri has been one that has taken him from his native Tehran to Cambridge and London and then across the Atlantic to Canada, where he established his own studio and began pulling together all of the ideas that would weave together as his first significant release.

This is as much a show case for Ashkan’s musical skills, from composition to lyric writing to multi-instrumentalism to production, as it is a suite of songs in its own right. This EP not only connects the dots of his musical learning, but also connects the flavours of the cultures he has lived in and the styles that have influenced him.

‘Long Vivid Dream’ was recorded in Montreal between April 2013 and October 2015. It features vocalist Alexis Nadeau, who Malayeri met through a mutual friend in September 2013. The EP also involves Grammy and Oscar-winning music producer Jeff Bass, best known for his long-term work with Eminem.

The first single from the EP is ‘Black and Grey’, a song shot through with the melancholia and angst that crept in from the cold Canadian winters he now found himself acclimatising to. But it also sums up the myriad textures found on the record, a mix of chilled and measured washes, which are used as platforms for more intricate sounds from raw guitars and plaintive pianos to pop beats and even sultry jazz grooves. Facebook here.

A mixture of musical genres and sounds are blended into a refined soundtrack that obtains some rock grit through a short guitar break. Add in the dreamy gentle vocals & 'Black and Grey' really is a song that stands out.

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The Vacationists - Bush Turkey.

Background - Petersham's The Vacationists return with haunting and atmospheric new single Bush Turkey. The single bristles with post-punk energy and builds on a recurring minimalistic lead melody to a roaring crescendo. Its restless energy and Lynchian musings on obsession make it The Vacationists’ darkest release to date.

Recorded and mixed DIY style in living/bed/sun rooms across Sydney's inner west, the band retains their lo-fi wall-of-sound approach with layers of hazy guitars, brooding keyboards, and three voices.

The band started out in 2014 over a shared love of Phil Spector arrangements, dirty guitar tones, inexpensive beer and pop melodies, and have continued to pour their hearts into their offbeat songs ever since.

Known for their fun and loud live shows, which they have brought all the way from Newtown to Dunedoo and back again, The Vacationists will bring this fun-loud combo to the Botany View Hotel on August 25th to launch Bush Turkey (supported by Okin Osan). Bandcamp here.

A tightly delivered, understated musical arrangement, pairs well with the moody low key vocals on 'Bush Turkey'. The songs energy levels build & the track has a burst of emotion that reminds us The Vacationists are wide awake & ready to twist and turn on a whim.


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Yoke Lore - Only You.

Background - Yoke Lore Releases New Music Video For "Only You", Goodpain EP out now. Yoke Lore started 2017 with a bang, playing shows alongside Wild Child & Urban Cone and making his SXSW debut. In spring, Yoke Lore joined Overcoats, Shura & The Pains of Being Pure At Heart for a slew of dates; this summer, he's playing a handful of festivals as well as supporting Brick + Mortar - see below for routing! 

Yoke Lore, the new musical venture of Adrian ​Galvin, previously of Yellerkin​ and Walk the Moon​. Galvin grew up in an artistic family, his mother a director and his father an actor and sculptor. He was immersed in painting, photography, and ballet from an early age, eventually finding his first musical passion in the drums. 

While pursuing music, his artistry in other disciplines has not faltered, even lending his own artwork as the cover of his 2016 debut EP. Far Shore EP achieved over 4 million Spotify streams, 3 Hype Machine​ top ten singles, and songs from the EP were featured in MTV’s The Real World and Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet. Galvin’s newest EP, Goodpain, has racked up over 2 million Spotify streams in a short period of time and includes the #1 Hype Machine song “Goodpain”. Website here, Facebook here.

'Only You' is an extremely catchy track, both with the notable and engaging vocals and a clever musical arrangement that mixes power and refrains seamlessly. With a creative song like this I hope that Adrian ​Galvin's many artistic endeavours, will find music remaining a core feature.


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Andrew Johnston - Juanita Stein - Anna Tosh - Marc Baker

Andrew Johnston - Redheads (Video premiere).

Background - Today we have the new video for "Redheads" from Andrew Johnston's new album "The New Great Game." It was directed by Sinbad Richardson who has worked with various notables including Sam Roberts, Plants and Animals, and Young Galaxy.

On his latest album, the Murray Lightburn (The Dears) produced “The New Great Game” Andrew Johnston paints in broad, expansive brushstrokes, delivering 12 killer rock anthems for troubled times, with just enough redemption to keep hope alive.

Growing up in Ottawa and now calling Montreal home, Andrew has had the great fortune of a career that has included work with some of Montreal’s finest including Richard White (Besnard Lakes), Rishi Dhir (Elephant Stone), George Donoso (Sam Roberts, the Dears), JF Robitaille and many more.

 “The New Great Game” is the sound of an artist earnestly aiming for the bleachers and holding nothing back. If a certain aesthetic of coy restraint has become fashionable within indie rock circles, this album grabs the listener from minute one and seems to earnestly proclaim that there is no time to lose; we must love now, yearn now, strive now: our dreams will live or die in this moment.

Title track “the New Great Game” is indicative of the terrain we are in here. Starting with a Springsteen-esque piano figure that descends into a wall of carefully crafted 6 and 12 string guitars, “The New Great Game” careens into a chantalong breakdown section to make the Hold Steady jealous, before changing gears and sinuously weaving its way to a riveting conclusion of stacked vocals, wailing guitars and pounding drums.

With lyrics such as “ain’t there somewhere we can go where it still feels right - ain’t there something we could say that don’t feel like diffidence”, it is clear that Andrew is in big picture mode, trying to make a statement about the hardships and cruelty of the modern world that still makes room for magic, a little romance, and the dreamer that is inside us all. Website here, Facebook here.

We first featured Andrew Johnston back in November of last year, and it is a delight to be able to premiere the video for 'Redheads' taken from the 'The New Great Game' album. Previously we commented that his "musicianship is first class and Andrews vocals are equally pleasing" something that is now for me, confirmed as a natural hallmark of quality, as demonstrated both through the new album and the imaginative music video for 'Redheads'.


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Juanita Stein - Someone Else's Dime.

Background - Juanita Stein has unveiled a new song and music video from her upcoming solo album, 'America', out on 28th July (Nude Records). Director Rob Loud, tells us, "My goal is to create a feeling, and let the artist’s lyrics and music tell the story. For this video, the visuals are meant to evoke a sense of strength from moving on, and the trepidations of starting over again." 

The video follows Juanita freely flowing across Western America, in a cinematic exploration of striking landscapes and evocative vocals. The recognisably romantic setting fits well with an album pertaining primarily to the inevitable disparity between expectations and reality that so many encounter in pursuit of an "American dream."

Already well known as singer and songwriter for the Australian rock band, Howling Bells, Stein is ready to release her first solo full-length. She worked with renowned producer Gus Seyffert (Beck, Ryan Adams) to complete the album. Stein recently gave a dazzling performance with Tom Petty in Hyde Park and is gearing up for a full tour of the UK and Ireland. Website here, Facebook here, live dates are already on Beehive Candy's tour news page.

At the start of the month we featured I'll Cry' from Juanita Stein and now we can share the new video for 'Someone Else's Dime'. There are some beautiful new folk (or maybe country) rock vibes in this melodic and addictive song, ensuring the forthcoming album remains firmly on our radar.


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Anna Tosh - Weightless.

Background - London born and bred, Anna Tosh has been lending her considerable six-string skills to a varied roster of bands since she was a teenager, among them Wildhood, Love Nor Money, Hey Gravity and Shotgun Venus. But with her own collection of striking self-penned songs demanding attention, and the assistance of a red-hot rhythm section in waiting – Herman Stephens (bass) and Jeremy JayJay (drums) – Anna decided it was high time to make her mark as a solo artist.  

“My intention for my solo project was simply to write some songs for myself, with no boundaries or expectations,” she says. “I was deliberately trying not to think of what anyone else might expect me to do, and chucked the idea of seeming cool out of the window.” 

As a musician who has turned her hand to a whole host of styles when performing with others, it was inevitable that disparate influences would shape her songwriting. “My roots are in punk, rock and blues,” says Anna, “but I have been playing and listening to hip hop, drum and bass, funk, psychedelia, dream pop, experimental electronica…”

Anna’s decision to take more control over her musical output was part of a general reappraisal of her life direction following a relationship break-up. She emerged galvanised and positive, reflected in the songs that comprise her debut EP, ‘One Big Fire’, which deal with friends, lovers and an acceptance of the capriciousness of these relationships. “They come and go from one moment to the next,” says Anna. “It’s a never ending source of inspiration how weird life is.”

About ‘Weightless’: To a soul-infused alt-rock groove, as cool as midnight in Reykjavik and performed by a band as intuitive and tight-knit as sometimes only a three-piece can be, vocalist/guitarist Anna Tosh tells of her recurring dream. In it, she walks across a beach into the sea and is swept away, to a place of aquatic mystery and uncertain companionship.  “It’s about returning to the unconscious realm and drifting underwater to meet with lost figures from the past and future”, says Anna. “It’s about magical transformation.” Facebook here.

'Weightless' has a rhythmic and bluesy feel that is both catchy and a little hypnotic. Anna's vocals contrast well with this type of song, adding some refinement whilst remaining rock'n'roll enough, to make the whole piece work.

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Marc Baker - No Place I'd Rather Be.

Background - LA-based new wave and post-punk artist Marc Baker has shared his debut track "No Place I'd Rather Be". Marc Baker brings attitude to pop and romance to punk. He throws roses into the crowd. He swings the mic around his neck while donning a three-piece suit. This is what’s to expect when the Melbourne born and bred singer takes the stage.

The music, too, is reflective of all these things compounded with the frenetic energy and indelible melodies prevalent on the records he grew up listening to, which continue to serve as inspiration. Filtered through his and producer Benjamin Plant’s (Miami Horror) discerning ears—the songs recorded during their sessions yield a contemporary spin on that beloved, vintage sound.

The first single is entitled “No Place I’d Rather Be.” Its refrain illustrates the emotion Baker so brazenly wears on his sleeve: “There is no place I’d rather be than next to you, holding hands, watching the world fall to pieces,” he sings.

But it’s the yearning expressed—that desire and desperation to connect—which is most revelatory about Baker and the timeliness of his arrival. Sure, while that sentiment of longing is no stranger to song—it’s perhaps even more relevant today, where connectivity, though ostensibly at our fingertips, has never been so far away. Facebook here.

'No Place I'd Rather Be' has some feisty flowing synths and a tight rhythm that makes for an energised background, something that works very well with Marc Baker's equally flowing vocals.


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The Dot And The Line - Get A Life - Fastball - Diesel Park West - Bradley Wik & The Charlatans

The Dot And The Line - Draw Me In.

Background - English duo Dot and the Line’s have released their alluring debut single “Draw Me In.”  Based in Los Angeles and consisting of keyboardist, guitarist, and programmer Ned Douglas and vocalist Hetty Clark, The Dot and The Line were born from a shared love of classic downtempo electronica and dark cinematic soundscapes.

“Draw Me In” represents the pair’s enigmatic blend of analog synths, programmed beats, and Clark's hushed vocals. According to Clark, “Draw Me In” also reflects The Dot and The Line's interest in human intimacy:

“It's like watching a sketch unfold and then be redrawn in a changing social world. The song celebrates and flirts with this feeling of danger, and with the quiet allure that comes with change. It is not difficult to notice how saturated and absorbed people are in their online lives. There is a morbidity in this. In valuing a virtual life over a face-to-face life, we are generating a world of individuals who are connecting to disparate groups - but in an emotionally detached way. It’s as if the rules of relating are all being re-written before our eyes. This feels liberating and dangerous when you scratch the surface.”

Douglas explains that the duo’s songs are “often moody in atmosphere because we are both drawn to cinematic soundscapes. We appreciate music that is expansive and full of tension.” Inspired by Jean Rhys’ belief that “you need a dark background to show the bright colours,” The Dot and The Line insist that “if a song has a dark vibe, the darkness can act as a background out of which something euphoric can emerge.” Facebook here.

'Draw Me In' mixes dusky and richly layered synth sounds with some equally down tempo and darkly dramatic vocals. The shadowy video catches and amplifies this mood, on what is an outstanding debut single.


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Get A Life - What You Deserve.

Background - Get A Life is a band inspired. It comes from a drive to keep pretending life won’t start keeping score till you decide. Get A Life is reactionary. In a world where everything is a facade and nothing actually works (How is Spotify busted?!), Get A Life pulls the curtain back, sets it on fire, gets naked, reaches out for a hug and says, “Come as you are. PLUR. Who’s hungry?”. Get A Life is family. With Our Band Could Be Your Get A Life, the band’s debut album, they are forcing themselves into the guitar music narrative by interrupting the conversation to talk about themselves. Get A Life needs you. Get A Life is your narcissistic friend with incredible hair who is constantly asking, “How’s my hair?”, just so you can pad the stats with the retort, “PERF!!!”. Get A Life is V Get A Life.

The recordings are rare. When Chase DeMaster (Very Jazzed, children of pop, Deep Cuts) met Yuuki Mathews (The Shins, Sufjan Stevens, David Bazan) at a house party he only had a handful of demos. It wasn’t until Yuuki got excited about doing an album that the project turned into a real thing. How could you say no to making a record with one of your idols? More songs turned to demos, demos turned to stems, stems to final mixes, Cody Smith jumped onboard for mastering and now we have a Lo-Fi record of incredibly refined taste. Sometimes the band humorously pretends to be sophisticated by replacing the word “Get” with the word “Take” during practice. EX: They refer to their hit song, “Get A Job”, as, “Take A Job”, or change the band name from, "Get A Life”, to, “Take A Life”. See, Get A Life can be serious too. Seriously Rad... AF.

"This was a really fun song to make. From the jump, I wanted to make a banger. I wanted the drums to blast out of people's speakers and create an instant groove on a feel-good-to-be-around-friends tip. I had the chord progression from a leftover song, as well as bits and pieces of melodic content. Lyrically, the song is reflects on the balance of work and play. It feels good to indulge when justified by healthy productivity, but as the song unfolds, in a kind of Shakespearean twist, you hear what happens when you play too much. That's when the guitar takes the baton. It pushes things up and over the edge with a rippin' solo, a fit of noise and technique not unlike something from the FUGAZI x Sufjan Stevens school of sound." - Get A Life

On August 4th, Get A Life releases, "What You Deserve", their debut single via #veryjazzed / Frenchkiss Label Group. Website here, Facebook here.

With a chunky rhythm, fuzzy guitars and potent vocals all colliding together 'What You Deserve' should on paper equal chaos. It's the passion and energy that gives it some order, alongside a very deep hook, that almost urges the listener to hit replay.

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Fastball - Behind The Sun.

Background - Fastball released their 6th album, Step Into Light, earlier this summer and immediately set out on an extensive North American tour with Everclear. The new album is available through the band’s own 33 1/3 label and is the first Fastball collection to get a vinyl LP release. The band is now launching their own headlining tour beginning  July 20th in Atlanta with multiple stops across the country through October. 

With nearly 20 years of musical explorations and milestones under its belt, Fastball remains one of the most consistent and continuously celebrated rock bands on the road today.  The  group recorded the new album Step Into Light in their hometown of Austin, Texas, with the three bandmates co-producing with longtime friend Chris "Frenchie" Smith.

The resulting collection extends Fastball’s widely-loved body of work, which encompasses such acclaimed albums as their 1996 debut Make Your Mama Proud, their 1998 platinum breakthrough All the Pain Money Can Buy (which spawned the Grammy-nominated Top Five hit "The Way"), 2000's The Harsh Light of Day, 2004's Keep Your Wig On and 2009's Little White Lies. Website here, live dates on Beehive Candy's Tour News page.

Is it just me or does 'Behind The Sun' remind you of The Beatles at least in part? See that as a compliment, this is a fabulous song, from a well established band. That they can turn out a very catchy song, make it seem simple, and at just over two minutes ensure I want more, is for me at least, pretty cool and some..


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Diesel Park West - Summer of Love EP.

Background - The Summer of Love was an extraordinary moment in history - a hedonistic blast of glamour, ecstasy, and Utopianism that drew 75,000 people to the streets of San Francisco in 1967. 

The Vietnam War was raging, anti-war protests were surging, civil rights had morphed into Black Power, and the Beatles & Bob Dylan were voicing a cultural revolution on the airwaves. Psychedelic drugs were a sacrament, and everything was spiritual. The youth led the way. They opened the door, and everybody went through it. Everything changed after that.

“The songs! Wow! Will these pearls of hippie pop ever date? We don’t think so! Their original inbuilt dynamics fall and rise with such a truly instinctive yet musical confidence they’ll always arouse two things in a listener: an intellectual curiosity and a musical connection that locks indelibly into their groove.” — Jon C Butler

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Summer Of Love, Diesel Park West have recorded four of their favourite songs from 1967. Played live in the studio, this is their collective touchstone of songs – those played in rehearsal or jams right from the beginning.

Lead track ‘For What It’s Worth’ (Revisited) is surely as prescient today as it was 50 years ago in the hands of Buffalo Springfield. We’re still sitting here wondering how it's going to pan out or if it ever can. Next up is the Youngbloods classic ‘Let's Get Together’ followed by The Jefferson Airplane's ‘Somebody To Love’ - one of the first big hits to come out of the US West Coast counterculture scene. The EP closes in style with ‘Alone Again Or’ from Love album Forever Changes. Released on Strataville, the Summer of Love EP is available digitally to stream/buy now. Website here, Facebook here.

The 'Summer of Love EP' takes me back to my childhood (I emphasise childhood), the thing is that with three older siblings, it was songs like this that I grew up to. From a musical perspective I was a spoilt child, and wow was I spoilt (musically that is, keep up!). Anyhow Diesel Park West have done these songs proud, showing respect for the originals and allowing their own talent to shine through.


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Bradley Wik & The Charlatans - Lookin' At Luckey.

Background - Bradley Wik & The Charlatans released their second single, "Lookin' at Luckey" last Friday. Just like Odysseus, Bradley Wik has always been too far from home, a Midwest boy searching for the music that once was and that could be once again.  For the record title, Bradley takes a line from the Thin Lizzy song, "Got to Give it Up."  He has lived a lot more life than his age would let on.  Battling with drugs and alcohol, failed relationships, and personal struggle, this new record is a way for the singer-songwriter to come to terms with his rambling lifestyle.

Clinging closely to the belief that raw, organic music has the power to penetrate the airwaves again, Bradley has broken the mold of modern trends and gone back to its roots, recording as a band, together, in one room, to tape; and without social media. 

Wise beyond his years, Bradley draws on themes of redemption. There’s an unmatched vitality that he brings to his music; it doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does have to be worth it. What makes music great? The stories. And the moment where someone listening says, “that’s me.” Bradley Wik & The Charlatans "In My Youth, I'm Getting Old..." will be available September 15th, 2017. Website here.

We featured the first single just four weeks back and the new song 'Lookin' At Luckey' is just as good, deserving to be added to our output. So the background words above might be familiar to some of you, but hey, it's hot, I've had a very busy couple of days (OK having fun), just enjoy the song, it's bodes well for the album.

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The Warp/The Weft - Ummagma - Amadou & Mariam - Belle Game - Ritual Talk

The Warp/The Weft - Briars.

Background - “Briars” is powered by amazing spine-tingling, expressive high-register vocals by Shane Murphy. This song is a dark, haunted ballad that begins solidly in the folk rock tradition but gradually builds into a crescendo assault of rock grit and psychedelia. “Briars” is by The Warp/The Weft and is released on Admirable Traits Records, based in Buffalo, NY, USA. “Briars” is a single from the forthcoming album, “Mapping an Absence,” which will be released at the end of July.

The Warp/The Weft, active since 2012 in and beyond New York's Hudson River Valley, has earned praise for its uniqueness and song-crafting from casual and devoted listeners alike. Blending traditional and avant-garde styles, the warmth of a good wool sweater and the sometimes-bleak cold of an upstate winter, the progressive folk and psychedelia that the band brings to bear (compared to Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull) is propelled by poetic lyrics and a "spirit-conjuring," lilting tenor that "puts Murphy alongside Shearwater's Jonathan Meiburg as one of the most captivating high-register voices in rock today" (Ron Hart, Chronogram). 2017's Mapping an Absence (July 29, 2017, Admirable Traits Records) introduces bassist Trevor Larcheveque, whose vocal harmonies help to anchor the band firmly in the chamber category. Website here.

I try not to overly use the "timeless" expression, however 'Briars' positively begs for it. This could be a folk rock song from the beginning of said genre. Even better, the audio quality benefits from modern recording techniques, however at the core of this, is a fabulous song where music and vocals are delivered with passion and quality.

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Ummagma - Lama (Robin Guthrie Mix).

Background - Robin Guthrie Remix Announces New Ummagma 'LCD' EP as the Cocteau Twins lynchpin Robin Guthrie re-envisions Ummagma 'Lama'. Who says that you shouldn’t meet your heroes? Ummagma did and the result is a stunning remix that also acts as the lead single for their forthcoming ‘LCD’ EP.  After Robin Guthrie heard their track ‘Lama’, which originally appeared on the band’s debut album ‘Antigravity’, mutual friends put the band and the Cocteau Twins multi-instrumentalist in touch. The result is this wonderful new version of the song, which sees him not only re-arrange and re-mix the song but also add his own guitar parts into the mix.

Ummagma are a band whose unlikely back story matches and perfectly explains their mercurial music. Shauna McLarnon, a vocalist from the Yukon wilderness and Alexander Kretov, a multi-instrumentalist from small town Ukraine, met in the suburban sprawl of Moscow after pursuing many solo adventures and exploring unusual pathways. Bonding over their shared musical interests and fascinated by each other's divergent musical backgrounds, Ummagma began as an affair with love and sound, their relationship soon developing into both a musical and factual marriage. In 2013, Ummagma won the Alternative Eurovision on Amazing Radio, representing Ukraine among 23 countries.

‘Lama’ exists in an alternate dimension of ambient drifts and sonic textures that wash over you in gentle waves and then recede back into a sonorous, twilight world of fading vapour trails of sound and vocals, seemingly found between reality and possibility. This is a sound that Guthrie and his fellow Cocteau Twins helped to pioneer and evolve throughout the 80’s – a sound that still informs much of his work, though here, his trademark feedback drenched guitar sound is used more to shimmer rather than shatter, to chime rather than slash.

As a calling card for the four-track EP to follow, ‘Lama’ is a perfect sonic snapshot, capturing the bands core sound, their ambient heart, and the often smoke-like musical sculptures they create. Dream pop, it would seem, is deliciously back on the menu. Ummagma ‘LCD’ will be released on September 22 via Label Obscura (cassette) and Somewherecold Records (CD), and is already available for pre-order on the duo’s own Bandcamp here. Bands website here, Facebook here.

Of the 'LCD' EP, the featured 'Lama (Robin Guthrie Mix)' is my favourite track. Don't let that suggest the other three songs are lesser, they are not, it's just that The Cocteau Twins (as regulars to Beehive Candy might have noticed) have been such an influential part of my musical journey. That this song contains some of that flavour, makes it only natural for me to be carried that way.

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Amadou & Mariam - Filaou Bessame.

Background - 'La Confusion', the highly anticipated ninth full-length album from Malian musical duo and Grammy-award nominees Amadou & Mariam, is due on 22 September on Because Music. In celebration of the release the band has shared the lyric video for the track “Filaou Bessame”.

Alongside 'Filaou Bessame', the album also includes the single 'Bofou Safou'. Amadou & Mariam recently released the Bofou Safou EP via Because Music. The EP includes the first two La Confusion singles, “Bofou Safou” and “Filaou Bessame,” alongside remixes of the EP’s title track by Fatima Yamaha, Africaine 808, Henrik Schwarz and more. The term “bofou safou” is a Bambara (the Malian national language) nickname given to nonchalant young men who would rather dance than work. Of the new EP, the group notes, “We really like the remixes that were made for the EP. You get to hear our music in a different form, which is great. All five remixes manage to catch the essence of our song while really pushing those enticing afro pop and electronic vibes further.”

Amadou & Mariam met in 1975 while attending the Institute for Young Blind in Bamako (where they continue to play an annual benefit concert). Influenced by the records of Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd as well as traditional African music, the couple began working as a duo in 1983. Their transition from world music stages to rock festival headliners came with 2005’s Manu Chao-produced ‘Dimanche à Bamako,’ one of the best-selling African albums of all time.

In recent years, Amadou and Mariam have toured with Coldplay and U2 and jammed with musical heroes David Gilmour and Johnny Marr. They’ve performed at a Nobel Peace Prize concert in honour of Barack Obama and played at the opening ceremonies of the last two FIFA world cups. Manu Chao and Damon Albarn have lent their production skills to their records and they have worked with some of the most innovative names in contemporary rock music via Albarn’s ‘Africa Express’ and other cross-cultural projects, such as ‘L’Afrik C’est Chic’. Website here, Facebook here.

I have stated this a few times & with no desire to bore you, I will write it again, 'Filaou Bessame' lyrics could be a rendition of the local train timetable, however this is another great example of where music can transcend languages, not only that it can lift the spirit and give some feel good vibes as well.


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Belle Game - Spirit.

Background - Known for their unique ability to weave ethereal soundscapes into blown-out, crush-pop confections, Vancouver’s Belle Game announce their sophomore album 'Fear/Nothing' slated for release on 28th September on Arts & Crafts. Produced by Dave Hamelin (The Stills) and executive producer Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene), the 10-track collection is filled with lush compositions, led by the powerful and hypnotic vocals of Andrea Lo. Today, the band shares the dynamic first single 'Spirit' – available today with all digital retailers.

About the track, Lo comments, “'Spirit' was created through the relinquishing of logic, allowing the music to take form through feeling with no end goal as opposed to structural forms. It’s the result of letting ourselves be playful, youthful and in joy, having no consequence or imposed judgment for what we created in that moment.”

'Fear/Nothing' combines the sweeping synth-driven dream pop of the Cocteau Twins with confident vocal-driven melodies of genre-defying artists like Empress Of and Jessy Lanza. From hushed anthems to distorted instrumentals, Belle Game teeters between two worlds. Whatever the mood, it’s always a celebration of the hard times and a refusal of fear.

Upon the release of their debut album 'Ritual Tradition Habit', the band earned critical praise from the likes of Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, while their emotional live performances prompted Paste Magazine to name them one of the “10 Great New Bands of CMJ”. After performing at number of US festivals this summer, Belle Game will hit the road for a full North American tour as lead support for Broken Social Scene in September, with UK and European dates to be announced soon. Website here, Facebook here.

'Spirit' soars with emotional charm and when the deep rhythm kicks in, upgrades to a majestic piece. It's another mention for the Cocteau Twins today, as this song has some of their musical herbs and spices flowing through it, alongside the bands notable creativity.


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Ritual Talk - Help, I've Been Dreaming.

Background - Brooklyn-based, psychedelic indie rock band, Ritual Talk, announce their debut EP, Rippled Glass, due out in September 2017. The EP was recorded in several places - 4 out of 5 of the drum tracks were produced in Philly, vibraphone and cello were recorded at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music with Jack Hallenbeck (Scott James, OSHUN) and nearly everything else was produced and recorded in the band's apartment in NYC. The EP was mixed by Chris Shaw (Modest Mouse, Wilco) and mastered by Chris Gehringer (Yeasayer, Chairlift). 

The band's lead single and video, "Help, I've Been Dreaming, is a woozy encapsulation of the hesitant feeling of being alone after ending a long-term relationship. Major chords and polyrhythmic structure display the emotional aloofness show through the lyrical narrative. Opening track, "Sense," is a slow burner that tells the personal story of needing to cultivate one's own path from a singular perspective. The track features pulsating synths, heavy vocal harmonies and fuzzy guitar. (It's the stoner-rock track of the EP, of sorts). 

Primary songwriter, Alex DeSimine (vox, guitar, keys), began writing music in his adolescence as a means of sorting out a jumbled mind. The band came to fruition when DeSimine moved in with bassist, Alex Tremitere and drummer, Tom Criblez, and elicited the help of Dylan Gleit (guitar, vox), who previously performed with Criblez and Tremitere, and TJ Alcala (keys, vox). The band's distinct vocal layers, with all five members signing live, added a new level of excitement to their live set. Facebook here.

There's some good psychedelic orientated or influenced music around currently and 'Help, I've Been Dreaming' leans in that direction. This song adds in some beautiful harmonies and a more sensitive musical arrangement, making it standout, and easily likable.


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