Lonely The Brave - Childcare - Blitzen Trapper - Gitta De Ridder - Anna St. Louis

Lonely The Brave - What If You Fall In (Redux).

Background - Lonely The Brave have been deliberately quiet these last few months, working on new material and reassessing what has come before. This has been all the more noticeable because before then, they had never stopped: last year alone saw them secure a no.1 on the rock chart with their second LP “Things Will Matter”, sell-out a headline tour and play main support on a hugely successful European tour with Biffy Clyro, followed with a thematically linked series of EP’s which have shown the sheer depth of strong material that was available to them around that second record.

But despite their successes, Lonely The Brave have never been like their peers, never calculated the game in quite the same way they have, never shot from the same angle. From their stage dynamics, to their influences, to covering the likes of Bjork, Pink Floyd and Antony & The Johnsons, they have always been proud of their differences and in what has staunchly set them apart from the others who have now fallen by the wayside. 

They followed the release of their critically acclaimed debut “The Day’s War” with an extended version including several Redux tracks that reinvented material rather than simply stripping it back and they follow this theme of insular reinvention again now on a full Redux album version of “Things Will Matter”. Melody and heart will always be at the centre of what they do, but Lonely The Brave are here to prove once again that they will always continue to do things that other bands can’t.

At their most anthemic, or at their most vulnerable, Lonely The Brave remain an inarguably important act. Where they head for the next album remains to be seen, but you know that if they can keep their heads we will be rewarded with another record on their own terms that will always stand proudly apart from the rest. Lonely The Brave - Things Will Matter (Redux) - Out November 10th on Hassle Records - Produced by Matty Moon and Lonely The Brave, website here, Facebook here.

We have featured Lonely The Brave once before back in March this year. The new Redux track 'What If You Fall In' is an atmospheric piece where the vocals are emotionally subdued giving a sense of simmering passion, that in fact eventually breaks through. The music is layered with gorgeous sounds, that gradually build, on what is a beautiful song.


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Childcare - Getting Over You (By Dressing Up Like You).

Background - Inspired by 'I should Coco' era Supergrass and Phil Spector produced Motown shakes, 'Getting Over You (By Dressing Up Like You)' is Childcare's most likely-to-be-featured-on-a-Spo tify-playlist song to date, depicting an unorthodox approach to moving on from a relationship break up.

Singer Ed Cares eloquently explains: “After being the victim of a polite yet painful breakup, I found myself later that same day wearing one of the skirts of my former inamorata for a video shoot the band was filming. Realising this was an A* creative writing idea for a song, I quickly noted down the title 'Getting Over You (By Dressing Up Like You)' in my gmail drafts folder and the song flowered from there.”

Childcare finished 2016 playing huge shows in front of thousands as part of Bastille’s nationwide arena tour. ‘Made Simple’, their debut EP released in April this year represented an emphatic statement which cemented the adoration of all those newly turned on to the London quartet courtesy of that tour. With a sling of festivals and a recent Radio 1 Maida Vale session tucked safely under their belts this four piece are soon to embark on their first UK headline 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 (I cold) on bass, Rich Legate (son of 'Menthos' font designer) on guitar and Glyn Daniels (Chelmsford born, Bristol bred) on drums — Ed soon had an able band to perform with under the only logical moniker in the circumstances: Childcare. Website here, Facebook here, includes tour dates.

It's the fourth time on Beehive Candy for Childcare, so I am guessing we pretty much like them! 'Getting Over You (By Dressing Up Like You)' has some intriguing lyrics and is so full of hooks it's hard to ignore. The whole arrangement is produced to a very high standard & I have a sneaking feeling they might hit half a dozen features at some point.

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Blitzen Trapper - Wild and Reckless.

Background - US Americana legends Blitzen Trapper have just unveiled the title track from their forthcoming new album ‘Wild & Reckless’ due out Nov 3rd. Earlier this year, the Portland, OR-based Blitzen Trapper accomplished a unique feat for a rock band who has been releasing albums and touring for the better part of two decades: a staged musical titled Wild & Reckless that ran for 28 performances at Portland Center Stage. Today, the band is announcing a new album of the same title that was born from the stage production and as a companion to their 2008 breakthrough album Furr.

 The album Wild & Reckless was born from the stage production that the band spent the better part of a year producing. The half musical, half rock-opera dealt with heroin abuse, desperation, true love and western power structures. The story evoked a bygone era of Portland with this sci-fi love story, featuring a rock-and-roll score that paired unreleased songs with favorites from the band’s catalog. 

Following the success of the production, the band took 7 original songs from the production and developed the theme further into the 12 songs that comprise the new album Wild & Reckless.

Frontman Eric Earley also sees the record as a companion and extention of their 2008 album Furr. "Wild and Reckless” is something like a cross-eyed stepchild to Furr, in that it chronicles the darker dystopian stories of rural and suburban west coast death-drive via a riffing psychedelic landscape. Ten years after Furr with all its talk of murder and the end of the western world, it seems there's more to tell."

Blitzen Trapper is Eric Earley (songwriter/singer), Erik Menteer (guitar, keyboard), Brian Adrian Koch (drums, vocals), Michael Van Pelt (bass) and Marty Marquis (keyboard, vocals). Wild & Reckless was produced by Eric Earley and Michael Van Pelt and was recorded by Gregg Williams at The Trench, in Portland, Oregon.  It was mixed by James Brown (Foo Fighters, Kings Of Leon, Blitzen Trapper's All Across This Land) at The Union. Website here, Facebook here.

We shared the track 'Rebel' less than a month ago & have no hesitation in featuring the title track from the forthcoming album 'Wild and Reckless'. We suggested that the previous song was "a fine alt rocker with more than a hint of Americana about it". This time the rock element is powered up, the melody is catchy & the vocals have something of a country vibe to them.


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Gitta De Ridder - My Dear, Oh Boy, Oh Man.

Background - Anglo-Dutch Gitta De Ridder is excited to release new single My Dear, Oh Boy, Oh Man; the first to be taken from new album For Everything A Season due out in Spring 2018; and will be hosting a single launch show at London's Green Note on Sunday 22nd October.

The songs on For Everything a Season are a journey of experiences through life and relationships, beginning with album opener My Dear, Oh Boy, Oh Man, a song about love and loss, about finding the strength to move on and let bygones be bygones.

Recorded in the beautiful suffolk countryside with friend and fellow songwriter Stephen Hodd, For Everything a Season is the next step following the success of previous release Feathers in 2016. Although themes across the album are quite universal, the lyrics also reflect a part of Gitta's personal and relational explorations across the past year.

Originally growing up in the Netherlands, Gitta taught herself to write and play songs on the guitar from a young age, and cites modern folk artists such as Iron & Wine, Ane Brun and Sufjan Stevens as her inspiration. Gitta's beautifully poetic folk-pop songs go straight to the heart. Website here, Facebook here.

Gitta De Ridder is another artist we have had the pleasure of including a few times previously and the new song 'My Dear, Oh Boy, Oh Man' is way to gorgeous to ignore. Her melodic vocals and gentle harmonies are accompanied by a simple musical arrangement that gradually builds adding additional richness to a beautiful modern folk song.


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Anna St. Louis - Fire.

Background - Despite her last name, Anna St. Louis was born and raised in Kansas City. She grew up a painter and singing in punk bands, eventually leaving her hometown to attend art school in Philadelphia. After graduating she made the move to Los Angeles where she began teaching herself guitar, writing songs and recording them on her own in her bedroom. 

First Songs is the sound of someone discovering their talent in real time - a peak into the collage of a wonderful mind that is absorbing their new surroundings and using new tools to put them into the room. 

Listening to this collection you can feel the sun coming in through the window - Anna on the foot of the bed with a guitar on her knee, finding her voice. St. Louis wears her influences well - think Patsy Cline singing over John Fahey - but has a style all her own. 

And while you can take the artist out of the midwest, you can't take the midwest out of the artist - so let this be known; this is Midwestern music ran through a California filter. I believe Anna will have many more releases in her lifetime, but let it all begin here - First Songs. Bandcamp here.

'Fire' is my introduction to Anna St. Louis and it is a very positive one. A personal feeling runs throughout the track, with the guitar and vocal arrangement giving a live performance vibe.

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Pageants - John Lafayette Ramey - The Mojo Slide - Hawkmoon

Pageants - Cacti for Clothes.

Background - The new Pageants single "Cacti For Clothes" has just been released. The single teases the band's upcoming release 'Forever' and follows the lead single "Chai ( חַי)".

Pageants were formed by Rebecca Coleman in the aftermath of leaving Avi Buffalo (Sub Pop) in 2010, a band in which she was a founding member at the age of sixteen. Frustrated with clashing personalities and differences in musical sensibility, she, along with two other Avi Buffalo defectors, set out to revive the simplicity and spirit of earlier days. Diaristic yet dreamy and abstract in nature, her songs merge pop levity with melancholic lyrical undercurrents. 

Collaborating with boyfriend Devin O’Brien to flush out demos, their debut LP, ‘Forever’ was close to completion in 2015. When label interest around the album hit a wall, the band decided to hold off on finishing the record while pursuing other opportunities. Coleman continued to write, O’Brien focused on engineering and producing, while also being picked up by Cherry Glazerr (Secretly Canadian) to tour as their bassist and drummer Dylan Wood went on to play with Best Coast (Harvest). Inspired by fresh material and perspectives, Pageants decided to finish ‘Forever’ earlier this year and will be releasing their debut album on November 3rd. Website here.

We featured 'Chai (חַי‎)' at the beginning of September and the new single 'Cacti for Clothes' is a very fine follow up. The energy levels are up a little more, however the refreshing vocals and sharp musical arrangement ensures the catchy appeal is retained, as is my struggle to pin this duo into any specific genre.

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John Lafayette Ramey - Let Me Down Easy.

Background - John Lafayette Ramey is a familiar face on the Los Angeles roots music scene.  Although his own music isn’t in the country genre, he’s played sideman with some of the best country musicians around; Grant Langston, Dave Insley, Ted Russell Kamp and Austin Hanks to name a few.  Ramey even played Gibson Amphitheatre with Austin Hanks opening for Lynrd Skynrd. 

Exposition Lines is Ramey’s third solo release and carries elements of both roots Rock and straight-up pop music.  “I’ve always been more on the pop side than say, Grant Langston or Austin Hanks,” the artist clarified.  “I became involved in the LA roots music scene not because I harbored ambitions to play roots or country music, but because as it turned out, the folks in the roots music scene were the people that could actually play.  I love folk, country, blues, and R&B, and all the great Americana music, and it’s all a huge influence, but it’s not how I define myself as an artist.”

John Lafayette Ramey's Exposition Lines Releases on October 20th. Starting with the punk-like energy of "Cheap Rent” to the acoustic folk ballad "Guadalupe," before the build up of the sixties-type pop gem "Jenny." He wraps up his new release with the country blues of "Sad Song Sad Town" and the Willie Nelson inspired ballad "Still With Me" as he pulls off his best classic country vocals. Website here.

'Let Me Down Easy' is just one of the song styles you will hear on 'Exposition Lines'. John Lafayette Ramey tests the boundaries of what might be called Roots, Americana or Country music. All is done with natural heartfelt passion, high quality musicianship, and material that just begs for a second listen.

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The Mojo Slide - Folsom Prison Blues.

Background - From the home of innovative, genre defying music - Nub Country Records - comes the new covers EP from The Mojo Slide. Classic tracks given the unmistakeable Mojo Slide treatment. 

If you like Country, Americana, or just great music played by amazingly talented musicians then this EP is for you.

The Mojo Slide is a group of musicians, hailing from Cambridgeshire, united in their passion for blues-inspired alternative music. Formed in 2011, they released their debut album 'Twist Your Bones' in November 2015 on DO IT Records.  

The album features a contemporary mixture of classic rock 'n' roll, and blues rooted alternative rock.  They have had radio play on BBC, Absolute and Planet Rock, amongst others.

The Mojo Slide are: Mark Wilks (vocals), Mike Fenna (lead guitar), Matt Legg (rhythm guitar), Danny Savage (bass guitar), Michael Graham (drums), website here.

Now I learnt something about the song 'Folsom Prison Blues' today (and forgive me if I am the odd one out on this). I always associated the song with the live 1968 recording at Folsom Prison & made an assumption it was written for that. Now I can plead not guilty in as much as I was not born when it was first recorded and released by Johnny Cash, as that was back in July 1955. So what of the cover version by The Mojo Slide? They power the whole thing up, put their own style on it, and along with the other cover songs, make the exercise, more than worthwhile.


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Hawkmoon - Speed Of Dark.

Background - Hawkmoon are the collective musical identity of Pat Hehir, Liam Hehir and Reuben Aptroot. Their soon to be released debut album The Saturn Return is an album produced to fill a void in the current musical landscape, where distorted guitars, eclectic songwriters and ‘rock’ have gone underground.

After numerous live gigs, festival appearances and EP releases with earlier incarnations of Hawkmoon and Reuben's Ultrafeedy, the three would be brought together in 2013 under the Hawkmoon banner to create music that was thoughtful, challenging, bold and fresh.

After releasing Silverline, Hologramatic and Storms Gather, three diverse singles displaying the musical breadth of their album, Hawkmoon have released Speed of Dark, the fourth single from the record. Speed of Dark is one of the older songs from the album and was recorded in Reuben’s home studio whilst being produced by the band.

“Speed of Dark has been one of our key songs since we started playing it” says Hawkmoon drummer Liam Hehir. “I remember Pat showing me a chord progression and melody and much of that has survived to this day. It’s a great example of band members enhancing each other’s work. I added the military-like drum part and Reuben’s lead and e-bow parts really completed the mood.”

Speed of Dark is Hawkmoon at its darkest. With an ominous lyric complemented by an eerie, apocalyptic arrangement of marching rhythms, brooding guitars, haunting harmonies and a tense cello part, Speed of Dark is one of the cornerstones of The Saturn Return. Facebook here.

Having featured Hawkmoon a couple of times earlier this year, the new share 'Speed Of Dark' is most welcome. It might be one of the bands darker pieces however it's also my favourite so far, with all it's majestic alt rock glory.

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Candace - Tempesst - Ned Roberts

Candace - Greys.

Background - Candace (formerly known as Is/Is) can be traced back to the summer of 2009 when Sarah Rose (guitar/bass/vocals), Sarah Nienaber (guitar/bass/vocals), and Mara Appel DesLauriers (drums/vocals) came up with the great idea to make music together. 

The band released the This Happening EP (2010), the “Vowel Movements/Blackest Beat” 7” (2011), their full-length debut, III, in 2012, Is/Is (2014), and a number of single before announcing their name change to Candace in 2016. New Future, the band’s first official release under the new name, was produced, recorded, and mixed by Neil Weir and Candace at Jackpot! Recording Studio in Portland, Oregon, where the band all lives.

Writing momentum stayed steady following the release of New Future so the band took a trip to Iowa just a few days after Trump was elected to work on some new material. Working with long-time collaborator Neil Weir, at Flat Black Studios, built in an old barn in the middle of nowhere outside of Iowa City, surrounded by corn fields and nothing else, they ate frozen pizza, track for 12-hours a day, and then pass out in a loft sleeping area above the studio. Once the songs were done, the band handed the finished material off to Larry Crane at Jackpot! for mixing.

On November 24, 2017 Candace will release a new 7″ called “Horizons b/w Greys” followed by their highly awaited full-length, New Ruins, in early 2018. Both collections of new material will highlight a sound that is introspective, dreamy, and expansive. Reminiscent of My Bloody Valentine, Warpaint, and Beach House, Candace adds an element all their own that can only be described as “hopefully crisp.” Listening to these new songs is akin to waking up on a sweltering day and plunging your face into a bowl of ice water. Wakes you up, gets the blood moving, and adds a little thrill to your day. Facebook here.

Rich and expansive dream pop with a musical arrangement that hints towards shoegaze 'Greys' is a beautiful song where the distant melodic vocals draw the listener in. As a foretaste of the 2018 album that's scheduled, it suggests something pretty special is on it's way.


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Tempesst - Waiheke.

Background - London based 4-piece Tempesst are announcing the release of their much-anticipated debut EP Adult Wonderland, by sharing new single ‘Waiheke’. Speaking on the lyrical inspiration behind the track, Toma Banjanin of the band said: "My girlfriend Summer and I were travelling around New Zealand in a van last summer and ended up staying at her Auntie's 'Bach' (beach cabin) in Waiheke, an island off Auckland. Summer's Dad stayed with us too and gave me my first Tarot reading and I wrote this song about that conversation”.

A new chapter in the Tempesst story, the Adult Wonderland EP marks a confident stride forward for the band, with ‘Waiheke’ standing tall as an apt first taster. Guitars lilt delicately amidst the swaying rhythm section, as Toma sings of the… “first light in the morning” and “sugar coated later days". The push and pull of the expansive vocal harmonies and soothing instrumentals give the track an extremely pleasing dreamy, psychedelic quality; clearly a songwriting process carefully prepared and planned by the quartet.

It’s been a big 12 months or so for Tempesst – led by brothers Toma (vocals, guitars) and Andy Banjanin (drums), and joined  by Eric Weber (guitars) and Kane Reynolds (keys) – the band’s back-to-back showcases (The Great Escape, NME Awards, Live At Leeds), festivals (Bushstock, Southsea Fest, Hackney Wonderland) and live dates alongside Mystery Jets, The Veils, Albert Hammond Jr and GUM (Jay Watson, Tame Impala) have propelled them into the spotlight. Fresh from their biggest London headline to date at The Moth Club, Tempesst saw out 2016 with a UK Tour in support of The Temper Trap.

Now the band are preparing to release their much-anticipated debut EP ‘Adult Wonderland’, set for self-release on October 27th, along with a string of UK dates in December. Facebook here.

London alt rockers Tempesst have given us a splendid new single with 'Waiheke'. Atmospheric vocals & harmonies glide above a wonderfully constructed rock soundtrack where all elements intertwine with melodic combinations. The song sets expectations high for the EP!

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Ned Roberts - Angel Station.

Background - Following the release of album Outside My Mind earlier in the year on Aveline Records, hotly tipped, London-based musician Ned Roberts has announced new single Angel Station for release on October 20th with a single launch to be held at London’s Green Note on Tuesday 19th September.

Having drawn comparisons with the likes of James Taylor and Bob Dylan (Mojo); Ned has a timeless quality to his sound, a poetic turn of phrase, excellent musicianship and a perfectly judged vocal sensibility. His songs sit comfortably amongst the classics of the Laurel Canyon era.

First single Lights On The River video premiered with the Independent, whilst Gideon Coe championed the album on his BBC 6 Music show. New single Angel Station had its first spin on BBC Radio Scotland’s Roddy Hart show, who subsequently invited Ned in for a session. "A wry song about standing in the rain waiting for a girl. She arrives and tells the singer to pull himself together.” Ned Roberts on Angel Station. Bandcamp here, Facebook here.

With the above James Taylor and Bob Dylan comparisons noted 'Angel Station' rises to the occasion and Ned Roberts deserves full credit in his own right. Many years back London's Angel Station was a daily part of my travels so the video resonates personally, it's the song however that really stands out.


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New Sincerity Works - The Persian Leaps - Blue Sails - Fragile Animals

New Sincerity Works - Just Like Vapor / Love To Love The Love.

Background - New Sincerity Works was formed in the summer of 2014 by creative powerhouse Mike Tittel (ex-Loud Family, current drummer for Roger Klug Power Trio, photographer, artist, and music producer). The band was created in the image of what all bands should look like, themselves. The songs combine modest, heart on your sleeve themes with indie-pop, Americana, and 1980's guitar/synth driven new wave. A decidedly familiar, yet fresh presentation. The band has invited comparisons to a second distant cousin of Alex Chilton as well as Guided By Voices, Paul Westerberg, Phoenix, and The Postal Service. Perhaps best summarized by a fan from North Carolina "The music is like hearing your best friend sing. And who wouldn't want to hear that?"

"I always wanted to be in this kind of band, playing guitar and singing, but nobody ever asked me because I'm a drummer. I've played drums since I was eight years old and I've been at the back of the stage all my life. So I made the band happen. Actually, I made a record first, then decided to play it live with a band. The music won't shock anyone to the core. But it might make people who never sing, sing. And it is just fun to be in bands. Everyone knows that." Mike explains.

Tittel's pensive songs stick with you like all good melodies should. "I wrote many songs in my life. None of which I thought were very good. I think in the end I hadn't experienced enough emotionally to have anything worth writing about. But as life progressed, I started to really depend on songwriting as an emotional outlet."

Everything or nothing, depending on who you ask. Mike adds, "New sincerity is a legit post-modern aversion to cynicism and skepticism. It's a movement of sorts. I thought this described my creative compass really well. I think the best songs are universal and descriptive of genuine emotion, so the name fit my idea of this project. It is also a reference to Austin bands I loved in the nineties, like The Reivers." Facebook here.

Taken from the recently released 'Wonder Lust' album we have two music videos 'Just Like Vapor' and 'Love To Love The Love'. The two songs are representative of the sheer quality and creativity that is channelled throughout the album. Melodic hooks are everywhere, the band slip between different rock genres with ease, the one constant is the catchy nature of the material and it's beautiful delivery.


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The Persian Leaps - Even Less.

Background - Power-pop trio The Persian Leaps dropped a new music video for their single "Even Less", off their recently released EP Bicycle Face. The video takes a deep dive into the single's lyrics; showcasing a world of bizarre and comical surrealism, all housed in the (very real) Center for Lost Objects (located in Saint Paul, MN). 

Vocalist and frontman Drew Forsberg shares, "The music video for "Even Less" is a departure for us. I've always wanted to shoot a video in an antique store or similar environment with shelves of interesting objects in the background. Coincidentally, my friend Amy Buchanan, who has a background in film, recently opened a vintage store in Saint Paul, MN called Center for Lost Objects. The store was the perfect location for shooting the video, and even the name fit the theme I had in mind for the video. We collaborated on the story and filming of the video."

The video takes the theme of the song to an absurd extreme. In the chorus of "Even Less" Forsberg delivers the heartbreaking line, "If I was nothing when I was with you, I'm even less than that right now" and the bridge provides a sombering reflection of emptiness and abandon, "Now, come see the empty man, laid out wide open."  Forsberg shares that this line served as the direct inspiration for the video. "I play a character who's lost everything and sunk so low that he's living in purgatory in a place called the Center for Lost Objects. Every night, he's awakened and fed a meal before baring himself to artists who have come to see and sketch the "empty man." This is as low as he can fall, and he's appearing nightly...  for eternity."

Surreal and dreamlike in many ways, the video's simple style provides an ironic balance; the chaos of the dark humored scenario and lyrics, countered by the bright, upbeat melodies of the song. As the band would agree, it's a perfect example of a Persian Leaps specialty, and will have you listening closer to all of their tracks. "Even Less" comes off the band's fifth EP Bicycle Face, which was released last month via Land Ski Records. Bandcamp here, website here, Facebook here.

We featured The Persian Lip back in August 2016 and the song 'Even Less' is a welcome feature from a very fine EP. We were impressed with the band last time around & the new material is in the same power pop/rock vein with slick musicianship and passion fuelled vocals.


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Blue Sails - Beloved.

Background This week neo-psychedelic outfit Blue Sails dropped the brand new single, "Beloved", from their upcoming self-titled debut record. 

Blue Sails is the product of brothers Mitchel and Max Bell. After leaving their hometown in Wisconsin to attend college in Chicago and Milwaukee respectively, the bustle of the city began to wear down on them. The brothers both found themselves growing increasingly anxious and desperate for a certain type of peace that they only found when back in rural Wisconsin.

The wilderness won them over. Mitchel and Max built a home studio to fit their needs, and they began recording songs that channeled the thematic juxtaposition of the tension they felt from living frantic, anxious urban lives, and the short relief they'd receive when working on songs in their newly found oasis.  

The result is an 8-track epic that weaves a sonic blend harkening back to the likes of Pink Floyd, Spiritualized, and MGMT. After hearing the record, a friend and poet convinced the duo to release the music to the world, and Blue Sails was born. The self-titled full-length from Blue Sails will be made available worldwide on October 20th, 2017. Website here, Facebook here.

A guitar intro that has echoes of another musician & band of high standing (Echoes - get it?) is soon overtaken by a feisty rhythm and 'Beloved' becomes Blue Sails own sound. Seriously, if you are going to throw in a few Dave Gilmour licks and you can do it this well, then why not.


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Fragile Animals - Light That Fades.

Background - There's something about the sweetly melancholic indie rock of Fragile Animals that just tingles the spine. From their blissfully catchy-but-sombre melodies, to the exquisite daydreamy voice of singer Victoria Jenkins, the Sunshine Coast three-piece create music that moves with an effortless glide. Capturing this essence, Fragile Animals introduce themselves impressively on their debut EP, Light That Fades.

Start to finish, Fragile Animals' debut is a joyous listen. Each new song affirms the band's signature sound yet reveals a slightly different side – from the simmering, beat-driven Smaller Circles, to the radio-friendly hooks of single Light That Fades, all the way through to the haunting finale of Home. For a band at the very beginning of their career, their first offering feels so detailed and finely crafted... a testament both to the skill of the individuals in the band and their chemistry together.

Evolving from one person's bedroom-written songs, Fragile Animals consists of Victoria Jenkins (vocals/bass), Daniel Parkinson (guitar) and Kyle Shipton (drums); an ensemble capable of creating an incredibly detailed sound using just a few core elements. Rather than being instantly transparent of their influences, Fragile Animals merely imply. The aim is more to just try and be themselves, which is exactly what the EP catches them doing. The end result is music that is rich but subtle, where each song is detailed and coloured but allowed enough room to soar.

With a handful of irresistible songs, and a sound that is comfortably familiar yet wonderfully original, Fragile Animals have appeared seemingly out of nowhere as one of Australia's must-see new bands. First and foremost at home on stage, Fragile Animals are now ready to head out on tour and find their fans. The release of Light That Fades gives them all the cause they need.Facebook here.

An indie rock song with the emphasis on rock 'Light That Fades' mixes melody, riffs and gentler vocals together and comes up sounding extremely good.

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The Desert - hunter & wolfe - A Shadow of Jaguar - Oh Geronimo

The Desert - Soulmates / Playing Dead.

Background - The Desert is a collaboration between singer-songwriter Gina Leonard and guitarist & producer Tom Fryer. Tom’s atmospheric production style which plays with big spaces and other worldly sounds, lives in the space between Gina’s honest and poetic lyrics, allowing her songs to shine that little bit brighter. 

The pair first met at the Cambridge Folk Festival in 2014 where Gina played a set for The People’s Front Room, a collective that Tom is a part of. Tom went on to record and produce a few of Gina’s tracks, however it wasn’t until late 2016 that The Desert officially came together to write and record their first collection of songs. 

‘I find it difficult working with other people, it has always just been me and my guitar behind closed doors.’ Gina explains. ‘It was so exciting to find someone I could trust to develop my songs with. We’re pretty different but we work well together’  Facebook here.

We first featured The Desert back in early July & since then they have shared a video for 'Playing Dead' & this week have delivered 'Soulmates'. Three consistently good songs, where the atmosphere and natural feelings are in abundance, The Desert have something very special going on here.


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hunter & wolfe - All The Vultures.

Background - Brooklyn-based rock duo hunter & wolfe released "All The Vultures" this week. This is the first offering from the duo since the release of hunter & wolfe's 2014 full length LP Days And Works.

Late Then Never incorporates their signature singer-songwriter feel with an indie rock flare and a heavy dose of wordplay; it's about struggling to find meaning amidst the noise of modernity. Late Then Never features Doug Schadt (producer/engineer), Harper James (engineer), and Joe Lambert (mastering). The record will be available and will be distributed digitally by Spotify, Bandcamp, iTunes, and Google Play.

hunter & wolfe is comprised of Michael Maffei (vocals, guitar, piano), and Sundeep Kapur (guitar). Kapur and Maffei formed hunter & wolfe when visiting Chicago in 2011. In a (misguided) attempt to impress people, they jokingly introduced themselves as attorneys working at a law firm called "hunter & wolfe." Somehow, the pair ended up performing at a house party that night and decided to keep the name. hunter & wolfe draw inspiration from Radiohead, Elliott Smith, and Arcade Fire.

Brooklyn-based duo hunter & wolfe often wrap their vulnerable lyrical content in sarcasm and loud indie-rock stylings. In this, vocalist Michael Maffei and guitarist Sundeep Kapur ensure that their messages about complacency, lost love, and the paradox of choice in the modern era reflect both a seriousness and self-awareness to not take themselves too seriously. Website here, Facebook here.

'All The Vultures' is fresh, melodic and full of hooks. The duo create a rich & full rock sound, without over doing it and they leave plenty of room for some very fine vocals.

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A Shadow of Jaguar - Don't Want To Die Here.

Background - New York City based gritty rock and rollers, A Shadow Of Jaguar, announce their debut LP RAW, due out October 2017. Speaking on "Don't Want To Die Here," the duo states, "Take your uppers and stomp on the gas because this loud, fast, near death experience will leave you needing a stiff drink and a happy ending." The video was filmed in one continuous shot with no cuts. This unique concept could not have been executed without the dance expertise of Cara Diaz Certosimo, who was recently featured in hip hop legends De La Soul’s latest music video, “Drawn” featuring Little Dragon. The filming of the video included the use of multiple cameras, three TV screens, a handheld projector, and a lot of rehearsing. The music video was recorded live with no edits. It is just as the album title suggests; RAW. 

A Shadow Of Jaguar is a duo made up of Brian Hubbert (lead vocals, slide guitar, bass) and Andrew Oakley (drums, vocals). The duo found it's origins in their hometown of Boulder, CO, in 2015, where they sought to make music they weren't yet hearing on the rock scene. Debut singles "Mama Needs The Bottle" and "Keep On Knocking" were released to raves from AXS and Live For Live Music. Achieving their goal to add more grit into the rock scene, Live For Live Music writes, "In the modern musical environment where so much of our music is programmed to perfection, 'Keep on Knocking' is a much needed reminder that rock and roll is here to stay."

The forthcoming album RAW was made "to stick a big middle finger up at all the fears and doubts that plague us. The goal was to force upon people the uncontrollable urge to scrunch their faces and nod their heads" says the duo. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered in Denver, CO, by Todd Divel and Justin Peacock at Silo Sound (Borahm Lee of Break Science and Pretty Lights Live Band). A Shadow Of Jaguar also credits John Demitro, Vincent Ellwood, Emma Fields, Maggie Miller, Robbie Steifel for their efforts in making this album come to fruition. It will be released late October, 2017 on all digital platforms. Website here, Facebook here.

'Don't Want To Die Here' explodes into life with some full on riffs and rock'n'roll vocals to match. Potent, bold and spirited, just buckle up & enjoy the ride!


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Oh Geronimo - No More Stones.

Background from Oh Geronimo - We just released our new single/video from our upcoming album The Sled. “No More Stones” is now available.

The song itself is about interpersonal strain. A relationship, whether it’s romantic or platonic, is an ongoing compromise that can get pretty messy when you toss both parties’ aspirations, promises and expectations into the mix.

We tried to bring this idea to life with the video. Relationships are like ropes - they become taut when people drift apart. Companionship is an emotional tug-of-war with unpredictable waves of tension and release. You constantly contemplate holding on or letting go. Facebook here.

'No More Stones' is an energised indie/alt rocker with powerful choruses and a real catchy vibe going on. The lyrics tell a story & the video is a clever interpretation of this.


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