Marine - Hood Smoke - Gold Fir - Gyasi

Marine - Mount Olympus.

Background - London based quartet Marine have signed to The Vinyl Factory and shared new single “Mount Olympus”, which follows on from last summers “Red Fruit” single release.

Marine make music that bridges the gaps between spectral pop, dreamy grunge and ambient folk, whilst lyrically exploring ancient tales of mythology and the underworld. Since forming in 2014, the band - made up of Cara Sebastian (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Ruby Jack (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Beth Dariti (Bass) and Kaja Magsam (Drums) - have been running their own show in their own way, touring across Europe and the UK and quickly building a cult following in both Berlin and London, whilst racking up support from tastemakers at BBC 6 Music and across the blogosphere.

After wowing crowds at Secret Garden Party, Shambala and more this summer, the band continue to swim deeper into their own concepts, and next year will present their debut album, which was recorded at Grand Chapel Studios with esteemed producer Rob Ellis (Anna Calvi, PJ Harvey, Cold Specks).

Both wild and elegant, their music is framed by intuitive beats, bass hypnosis that playfully counters melody, and a deep love of contrast. The two vocalists braid together over hooky guitar lines in a complex plait of old and new, understated and operatic, light and dark. The songs of Marine crystallised from mythology and fables, mingling with personal words and emotions to form tales of the ordinary and extraordinary. Their songs reference the underworld, seal demons, mighty Kraken, werewolves, witches and Gods, and even question the very nature of storytelling itself. FACEBOOK.

Rhythmic and initially suppressing the energy levels 'Mount Olympus' is a kaleidoscope of charismatic vocals and a feisty alt rock soundtrack that occasionally powers up, adding even more to the experience.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hood Smoke - Depending on the Fool.

Background - Hood Smoke creates dynamic rock music deeply rooted in funk and soul under the direction of singer, bassist and composer Bryan Doherty. Lyrical folk melodies soar over intricately layered backbeat grooves as the band weighs in on life, love and loss.

Since the release of their debut album Laid Up In Ordinary (2012), Hood Smoke has continued to bridge the gap between the retro and the modern in a unique and sincere way. The band is a tour de force whose members have performed with Quincy Jones, Earth, Wind and Fire, Koko Taylor, Rhymefest, Nick Lowe and Chris Thile.

With their second album Regular Neurotic (2014), the band began collaboration with producer and engineer Anthony Gravino. The track “Never Suffering” gained the band recognition by American Songwriter and The Chicago Sun Times declared Hood Smoke a “must-see act.”

On the heels of their third release Rough Around The Hedges (2016), which Newcity described as “whip-smart jazz-funk-fusion” whose “lyrics are top-notch throughout,” Hood Smoke toured nationally and wooed audiences at large rock festivals and intimate jazz clubs alike. The band’s fourth album, the upcoming Cannonball Porch, showcases Doherty’s vulnerable and melancholic voice on what he promises to be “the most simplistic, lyrically creative, and to the point” Hood Smoke album to date. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

The vocals are distinctive and appealing on 'Depending on the Fool' a song that exudes emotional feeling. Musically it sits somewhere between alt rock & Americana, what is certain is the pure addiction this song summons.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gold Fir - Sirens.  

Background - Following the runaway success of, ‘Night Walk’, Gold Fir satisfies the demand for soulful sassy vibes with the unique visuals to ‘Sirens’ via +1 Records.

The emerging London duo saw a huge response to their debut offering, which was accompanied by a vibrant 2D animated video produced by Rejjie Snow collaborator Jack Brown. With repeat plays across BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, 6 Music, Triple J and Beats 1, as well as support online from i-D, DIY, Hunger, London In Stereo and a run in the Hype Machine popular chart, Spotify, Apple Music, Vevo and Bandcamp also came out in support of ‘Night Walk’ with heavy playlisting and homepage features alike.

New track ‘Sirens’ which premiered on Clash Magazine demonstrates the duo’s fierce ingenuity. A track “about welcoming different aspects of yourself to the dance floor” - elements of pop and 80’s devil-may-care are all present, and delivered in a neat package as memorable as it is infectious.

The music video, directed by Tegen Williams, paints very surrealistic images as a pink-haired dancer glides alongside non-human forms, poised next to trippy visuals and tribal symbolism. The effect produces a juxtaposed duality of both blissful dreams and murky nightmares. Gold Fir’s vision behind the clip boils down to the fact that “in life you’ve got to be whoever you want to be and the video was an ode to that sentiment; life is a dance like that.”

Simply known as James and Mabel, the pair’s eccentric, soulful sound is inspired by their favorite places, friends and films. Gold Fir has most recently adapted their unique sound for live shows at KOKO and Birthdays, and are now gearing up to present three sound installations for the Victoria & Albert Museum on the 28th November. With plans for a debut EP early in 2018, the duo prove now more than ever that genre is meaningless, but the right music will always be full of soul. BANDCAMP.

Something about this song resonates well with me. The word that stands out in the above promo background is eccentric 'Sirens' has just a little of that, along with a highly imaginative arrangement and video images to add further intrigue.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gyasi - Sugar Mama.

Background - "This song was composed and recorded in one take; there is something about capturing an immediacy that makes for a very exciting recording. Songs are very fragile things, and often lose the original inspiration if too much time is spent trying to make them perfect."​

In the wild woods of West Virginia, in an isolated hollow, a young boy thought he was a peacock. When he realized, much to his dismay, that he was not a peacock, he picked up a guitar. From then on the sounds of him loudly playing along to the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix could be heard echoing through the hollow. ​

Placed between roaming peacocks, a family of Russian intellectual revolutionaries, and two parents dedicated to living off the land, Gyasi was brought up in an environment that could only be described as unique. It was an isolated world, where life felt more like the 60s than the 90s​.

Between his father’s early blues 78 collection and the Velvet Underground and T. Rex records of the Russian family next door, his musical education was rich. The world is sorely lacking in rock stars. Gyasi is a rock star. FACEBOOK.

Maybe we do need a new rock star. 'Sugar Mama' is a stunning glam rocker, with a potent riff driven backdrop allowing Gyasi to work his natural rock & roll vocals above. Retro and yet fresh, this is a fine celebration of what rock music can still be.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moderate Rebels - The Echo Friendly - Faces on TV

Moderate Rebels - The Sound of Security (Album).

Background -  London post-psych collective Moderate Rebels now unveil their debut full-length album, ‘The Sound of Security’, which further pursues their sonic manifesto of “using as few words and chords as possible”.

“We tried to create conditions where the songs could write themselves with minimum resistance; an automatic writing situation,” say Moderate Rebels. “The point was to remove ourselves, our beliefs and our intentions as much as possible; to just let it happen. It’s never been about us, we want to make music that aims at being more important than that.”

 Having set out their hypnotically brutalist improv with prior releases ‘God Sent Us’ (Nov 2016) and the ‘Proxy’ EP (June 2017), which garnered huge acclaim, not least from the aforementioned broadcasting luminaries, the group decamped to a small Bermondsey studio to cut an album influenced by (but by no means limited to) Spacemen 3, La Dusseldorf, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Roxy Music, Black Box Recorder, Jenny Hval, Death In Vegas and MGMT. These artists were not the only thing that impacted on the final record, however.

“There were churches on either side, so we’d hear the congregations singing and playing all day, celebrating their spiritual beliefs with a jubilant and communal noise. Without getting too much into psychogeography, that couldn’t help but bleed into what we were putting together. It’s powerful and uplifting stuff, no matter what your own particular philosophy may be. At the very least, it explains all the handclaps on the album!”

The resulting 13 tracks, released as ‘The Sound of Security’ on Everyday Life Recordings last Friday, are as fascinating and exhilarating as such contrary stimuli would suggest, being energetic, intoxicating and ruthless in their stark approach, yet imbued with all the freedom of a group utterly at ease. “Our music seems to be all about turning weaknesses into strengths,” say Moderate Rebels, a little modestly. “We decided to not try to gloss over our musical limitations and imperfections, and just embrace them.” TWITTER, BANDCAMP.

See Moderate Rebels live:
12-14 January 2018: Rockaway Beach, Butlin’s Bognor Regis
10 February: Tooting Tram & Social, London SW17
24 February: The Finsbury, London N4.

Occasionally we get to share an entire album as is the case now with Moderate Rebels and the newly released 'The Sound of Security'. We featured the band back in June with the song Liberate which we described this way "The vocals and harmonies on 'Liberate' are seemingly detached from the tight and efficient rhythm that drives the song forward, yet collectively the song is quite heady and oozes an inviting level of cool liberation." Now we have twelve more songs to become engrossed in, and I have to say, that's the effect this gorgeous juxtaposition of power and minimalism is having on me.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Echo Friendly - Power Through.

Background - The Echo Friendly shares their new single "Power Through." The track is from their forthcoming album Surveying The Damage, out today. The band explains that "it's a song about loving your partner and your band mates enough to survive the constant anxiety of life under late capitalism."

The Echo Friendly are a rock band from Brooklyn made up of married couple Shannon Esper and Jake Rabinbach as well as their friends Jake Vest and Greg Faison. Placing frank diary-like lyrics over propulsive drums and distorted guitars, they make anxiety and romantic confusion something you can sing along to. 

Their songs have been featured on HBO’s Grls and Looking, as well as the films “Sleeping with Other People” and “Goodbye World.” Their debut album “Love Panic”was released in 2014 and their new album will be out before the apocalypse, godwilling. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Power Through' is a catchy indie rocker with a beautiful mixture of jangly guitars, feisty rhythm and totally hook laden vocals.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Faces on TV - The Image of Boy Wonder.

Background - Faces On TV have announced their upcoming album with the release of the brilliant first single to be taken from it, 'The Image of Boy Wonder'. To celebrate, Faces On TV have released a mind-bending video for it.

Belgian artist, Jasper Maekelberg, the front man of Faces On TV, is a multi-talent. He has produced top 10 records, toured as part of Warhaus, as well as leading Faces On TV. In the past, the band have supported the likes of dEUS, Yeasayer, and Balthazar.

They have gained many fans since and their previous single ‘Love/Dead’ has now had more than 1.3 million streams on Spotify. Having also performed at a variety of festivals such as Pukkelpop, Xpo North, and Here Comes the Summer they have now been chosen to perform at this year's Eurosonic festival in The Netherlands, too.

'The Image of Boy Wonder' is the first single taken from the debut album by Faces On TV, which is due out in April 2018 via Unday Records. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'The Image of Boy Wonder' is an attention grabbing song title, and thankfully my intrigue is quickly rewarded. With a mysterious opening the piece gradually leads us into a superb chorus line, from which the track builds into something imaginative and splendid.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mitchell Leonard - Norma - TALMA

Mitchell Leonard - Come Downstairs (Video By Haisi Hu).

Background -  Artists of all muses seek to elicit a feeling, a response, or reaction from their art.  “Come Downstairs”, a video by musician Mitchell Leonard and animator Haisi Hu, which will do just that – raising the hairs on your nape, with breathtaking beauty and a myriad of emotions brought forth in a multi-dimensional art collaboration. Led by a piano-jazz ballad and the moving vocals of Mitchell Leonard, the music is brought to life in a ethereal other-world full of mysterious creatures and mirages, designed by animator and claymation artist Haisi Hu.

With scenes inspired by Max Ernst’s Europe After the Rain and Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, “Come Downstairs” explores the moment before death – examining the character’s longing, fear, and numbness. “Although the piece resonates with themes of crossing through, it also imparts a feeling of connection to a life-giving source,” shared Leonard. “This is, without a doubt, the most emotionally intense work I have been a part of…there are worlds below the surface of every layer here. Haisi created alien landscapes to reflect the character’s feeling of displacement, and I used an undercurrent of sonic textures to give voice to his pain and awakening love for the world he sees in flashback.”

The video took over a year to produce, with a number of challenges for the team. “It’s been an intensive, elaborate process, with many technical and conceptual obstacles to overcome,” said Hu. From deadlines to budgetary restrictions and unexpected complications, the process was laborious – involving over 100 pounds of clay, and over 2000 cels of hand drawn animation.

The music of “Come Downstairs” was recorded in part by Mitchell Leonard’s good friend and songwriting partner John Creasey, who passed away in early 2016; the video is dedicated to him. Leonard shared, “It seemed only right to dedicate this piece to John. He was an extreme believer in the overwhelming power that music has in exploring spirituality. He loved the more mysterious and elusive elements of the art world, those that were the hardest to define with language.” Mitchell Leonard: WEBSITE, FACEBOOK. Haisi Hu: WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

A collaboration between two artists results in some gorgeous visual art with intricate animation and the intimate and beautiful song 'Come Downstairs'. Combined this is a powerful work that leaves us with two artistic avenues to further explore.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Norma - S.A.D.

Background - Norma have released the video for their new track ‘S.A.D.’ Musically taking their cues from NEU and Faust, as well as the space rock of Spacemen 3 and Spiritualized, the Swedish Kraut-rock three piece have written a timely ode to Seasonal Affective Disorder on their new single.

In the video, Lynchian character ‘Neil’ embodies the personal demons of the protagonist. In the band’s words is “a figure that appears especially during the darkest season. We probably all have our personal devils, wherever we want them or not, it’s just about learning how to live with them.”

The video feels like a Lynchian nightmare, following Neil as he appears as a children’s entertainer, hurtling through the countryside in a custom-built car and finally floating off into a dream world amongst laser beams and planets. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'S.A.D.' in this case referring to Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a fascinating song that sees Krautrock undergo Swedish influence & psychedelic twists. The result is a fabulously hypnotic affair, where the vocals at times pleading and angst filled are driven along by a textured, swirling Krautrock maelstrom of sound.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TALMA - Lifeline.

Background - Seamlessly blending alt, classic and art rock, London-based five-piece TALMA command a magnetic presence that’s more than primed to scale from the ferocious intensity of the UK’s underground scene to the electric atmosphere of arenas worldwide. TALMA’s raw and unshackled live performances are where they truly run riot. They’ve supported the likes of Queen’s Spike Edney and received acclaim for their intense energy and all-out charisma from London all the way to LA, where they found a fan in industry commentator and author Ari Herstand.

Wielding only a microphone, singer Henry Adams captivates attention with a bravado and charm that’s rarely seen among many frontmen. The telepathic tightness and ferocity of guitarists Jack Rennie and James Creed, bassist Pete Warren and drummer Jonny Harrison make TALMA a force to be reckoned with. Where the band draw direct inspiration from the likes of The Smiths, The War On Drugs and The National, they incisively employ a musical diversity and agility comparable to the likes Radiohead and Wolf Alice. The result is a band who operate without creative constraints and who are more than ready to help shape the next wave of British guitar music.

With its cascading production and hook-heavy statements, ‘Lifeline’ is a pulsating alt-rock offering that takes an incisive look at life in the modern city and the sense of alienation that can come with it. Frontman Henry Adams explains: “Lifeline explores the juxtaposition of being surrounded by millions of people – for us, in London – but still feeling a sense of loneliness every day. There are moments where it seems no-one can see you, yet everyone is watching you. This paranoia can drive people away from the city, and so we look for lifelines to tether us to the places we try to call home.”

Adams’ lyrics and unique vocal styling runs reminiscent to that of early Morrissey as he grasps the sincerities of modern life with a swagger all his own. By turns romantic and reflective, and with a vocal line that packs wide ranging emotion, ‘Lifeline’ reveals TALMA to be a return to rock’s visceral songwriting origins. Produced and mastered by Jason Wilson (Reuben, Don Broco, Fightstar), ‘Lifeline’ is a cathartic performance from a band destined to reanimate the seemingly lifeless bones of rock and roll, and challenge any notions that guitar music is dead. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Fast paced alt rocker 'Lifeline' has just a little hint of The Smiths to it both in the vocal phrasing and feisty tight beat. That said it's extremely catchy and has a fresher modern production feel to it, in fact if TALMA keep on turning out material this, they can sound like any other band they might care to.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amy Guess - Common Holly - Mallrat - Duncan Lloyd - ILUKA

Amy Guess - Wicked Memory.

Background - The latest alt-pop single from Amy Guess is called "Wicked Memory" and it's the first single since the release of her 10 Times Out of 10 EP earlier this year. 

Amy Guess was born and spent her early childhood in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The family moved to Las Vegas when she was 12 where she played lounges in cover bands that eventually landed her a job as a singing gondolier at the Venetian Hotel while she was still in high school.

A meeting with Grammy nominated producer, Rusty Varenkamp led to “Moonlight,” the single that put Guess on the map that garnered over 500,000 streams. They began working on Ten Times Out of Ten soon thereafter which was released in early 2017. Of the single “Comatose”, Impose Magazine says, “Guess has crafted a robust pop song in “Comatose” with lyrics that are easy to sing along and a tune that you find yourself humming once the song has ended.”

Amy’s voice moves between tearful, dramatic pleas to quiet expressions of devotion. Her vocal range brings a touching honesty to life’s darker moments. “I like peeling back layers that you don’t even know are there, to unlock something real,” Guess says. “When I’m singing or writing, It goes deep. You’re letting out your deepest most private and sometimes darkest stories and emotions, even though it’s a healing experience, it can be heavy letting those things out.” FACEBOOK, WEBSITE.

'Wicked Memory' is fine alt pop that mixes electro sounds, intricate beats and powers up into a dramatic and rock solid chorus line.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Common Holly - Nothing.

Background - The new video from Common Holly for the track 'Nothing' from her album Playing House, has just been released. 

“Playing House is an expression of how I want to begin my adult life. It is my first real effort to create something that is entirely deliberate—the beginning of my journey of thoughtful action, and of daring to express myself outside of my bedroom. The creative process expresses my learning to take up more space and to put my silence behind me, while also dealing with the ending of a formative four-year relationship that had become the center of my young adult life.”

Common Holly currently resides in Montreal and has just finished up playing shows with The Hotelier, Julien Baker, Tim Darcy, Half Waif, Land of Talk, Fazerdaze and Julia Jacklin and Chad Van Gaalen.

The project focuses on putting unpredictable compositional elements into a singer-songwriter/folk framework, packaging them into textured, eclectic electro-acoustic production. Her album, Playing House, is centered around the notion that it is conscious thought and deliberate action that defines and cements maturation from child to adult. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Having featured Common Holly back in August it's a pleasure to be able to do the same again this time with the new music video for 'Nothing.' A stripped back song, the vocals are centre stage and beautiful.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mallrat - Better.

Background - 19 year old Australian pop-rap sensation, Mallrat is debuting the video for her new track, "Better."

Featuring both its title track and the generational anthem "For Real," Mallrat's Uninvited EP introduced her to the world, instantly grabbing fans with her magnetic musings on everyday life in all its glorious mundanity, told through a next-gen pop kaleidoscope, touching the hearts and minds of many across the globe. With multiple tracks shooting straight to the top of the Hype Machine charts, Mallrat quickly got heat from tastemakers like Stereogum and Noisey, and the EP has racked in over 11 million Spotify streams to date.

"Better" is the enthralling next chapter for Mallrat. Once again, we’re offered a sugar-coated, blissfully melancholic commentary on the commonplace life of a 19 year old, fresh out of school. Expertly written by Mallrat herself and co-produced by Konstantin Kersting and Andrew Dawson (Kanye West), "Better" is another undeniable gem from the Brisbane-based artist, reminding us just what an exciting and rare talent she is. The track premiered via Stereogum and was included in the New York Times' weekly playlist, saying, "while Mallrat circles through her melodies, the ingenious track finds endless variety in three chords, morphing imperceptibly from simple guitar strumming to three-chord rock to quasi-orchestral splendor; Mallrat isn’t as nonchalant as her voice might seem."

Having just signed to Nettwerk, Mallrat has also toured with Maggie Rogers, played sold out headlining shows and made festival appearances to massive audiences in Australia. Gorillaz' Noodle also just included her EP title track "Uninvited" in a playlist of Kick Ass Women. 

"I really love horses and this video was the perfect excuse to spend a couple of days hanging out with them," Mallrat notes, about the inspiration behind the video. "I wrote 'Better' over a year ago, but it's taken most of this time to get it sounding exactly how it does in my head. My dad says it's his favorite song which makes me very excited to share it with everyone." FACEBOOK.
 
Mallrat's vocals are sensitive, melodic and addictive. Add in the delightful musical arrangement on 'Better' and just allow the hooks to dig in deep.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Duncan Lloyd - Painters.

Background - Duncan Lloyd (of Maximo Park) shares new video "Painters." Lloyd explains that the track "looks back at a time when we felt less mortal, reflecting that what you dream of doesn't always turn out as planned." The track is from his recently released solo album 'I O U O M E', which is out now.

Duncan Lloyd is probably best known as the guitarist and musical driving force behind Mercury Music Prize nominated Newcastle (UK) band, Maximo Park, but  Lloyd’s frenetic outpouring has also seen him busy with various projects including Decade In Exile, Nano Kino, experimentalists Res Band, and solo work  under his own name. It is his solo work which now calls for our attention, with the release of new album, ‘I O U O M E’.

On an album about surviving change, detailing the effort to escape self-destructiveness, division and the inevitable breakdown of certain relationships, it’s  starkly personal, each insightful tale woven with defiantly buoyant melodies.

There is a quality that seeps through the foundations of “I O U O M E”; Lloyd's voice has a tactile warmth, weaving around deftly self-produced music, as if through his own nocturnal metropolis. The melodies keep you afloat but between the layers  there’s an emotional intimacy borne of experienced song-writing, both nimble and volatile. Talking about the record, Lloyd comments;

“These songs come from a more personal perspective and it’s fair to say there is a lot of  longing in them. They were mostly written in motion, travelling on long journeys, often  late at night when ideas tend to mutate & evolve in a way which is less black & white, where finer subtleties appear.”

Ultimately “I O U O M E” is an absorbing album, rich with melody, melancholy and  wit. With the addition of Tom English (Maximo Park) on drums, and additional  vocals from Eternal Summers’ Nicole Yun, the album powers into sonorous focus, never lapsing, it is a full-blown journey that is saying something worth hearing and  for Lloyd, the end result this time, is his alone. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Painters' is one refined indie rocker, with a richly layered musical backdrop allowing Duncan Lloyd's natural, earthy vocals to glide along seamlessly with the music.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ILUKA - Sympathy.

Background - Reclaiming power and marching back onto the airwaves, ILUKA offers her new single ‘Sympathy’ off forthcoming EP Ritual. The single is an uplifting war cry using the rhythmic grooves of Motown to echo the voice of the people and highlight the need for radical change.

“Sympathy is a song that’s been sitting in my drawer for a couple of years now.  When it was written I had this real sense of impotence and apathy within my generation.That willing or not, so many of us were becoming slaves. Slaves to technology, to consumerism, to authority, to an ideology, to expectation, to our own bodies, and to our own minds. Rather fittingly I didn’t really know what to do with the song at the time. But I feel like with all that is happening in the world right now people are being shaken awake, whether we like it or not.  Silence is being broken, indifference is turning to dissidence, people are speaking up and being heard, and the time felt right to bring this song to life, to add my voice to the cause.  To celebrate defiance, to champion self-expression, to promote self-belief, and to reclaim our power.  As the song choruses... we want it back" says ILUKA.

The new EP Ritual is a collection of songs that bares homage to her great loves and burning visions of an old soul desperately present: conjuring the shoo-wops of Motown, the swirling synths of the space age, the rambling tales of the folk bard, and the urgency of revolution; both then & there, here & now.

Ritual marks the next evolution in the retro pop sound for which ILUKA has become known. Combining elements of musical nostalgia with a contemporary edge. Recorded with her long-term touring band who have become more intrinsic both onstage and in the studio, it’s a powerful, upbeat collection destined to empower and elevate, to transcend and liberate. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

The musical arrangement for 'Sympathy' is a heady retro affair which as mentioned above has some Motown feel to it. Thankfully ILUKA has the vocals to work alongside, as they do, with a vibrant and energised kick to them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ambiere - Praa - Vundabar - Michael Jablonka - Seazoo - Zaritza - Lydian Collective

Ambiere - I See Faces.

Background -  Electronic pop trio Ambiere have announced the release of their brand new single Tree Of Life, capping off an impressive first twelve months for the band with widespread online acclaim greeting their arrival on the indie landscape.

Having drawn encouraging early comparisons to acts including Portishead and The XX, alongside substantial support from BBC Introducing, the Manchester outfit’s ambient, soothing style has already won plenty of admirers following the release of their debut EP earlier this year.

With shows in support of Tree Of Life taking place this week, the three-piece, comprising of Amber Lane-Mcivor, Jake Blythe and Oliver Lamb, will be showcasing their creative live performances to new audiences and looking to further enhance their growing reputation going into 2018.

Discussing the release, the band stated: “The track was written about the feeling of waking up from a nightmare, and the intense panicky feeling you get as you try to separate reality from what’s been going on in your head”. Ambiere’s I See Faces is released on 8th December and will be available on all platforms. FACEBOOK.

Rich dark synth sounds open 'I See Faces' which soon develops an electro pop vibe. The song cleverly switches directions keeping the listener guessing and engrossed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Praa - Modeling Clay.

Background - Minimalist, inventive and smooth, Modeling Clay is the perfect introduction to Praa’s French RnB. A distinctive debut track coloured by a voice both ethereal and soulful, assembled diligently by three creative minds: producer Timsters (Manceau, Colorado) and mixed by Robin Florent (Portugal The Man, Dua Lipa) and mastered in Finland by Svante Forsbäck.

Praa espouses a modern soul for generation Y, full of ambition yet sweet and pure in nature. With hints of Jorja Smith, Kehlani and NAO but with a French swagger that brings out something altogether deluxe in the mix. Beyond her artist name, there is an erudite young woman who has a great ability to synthesize all of her influences. As she builds towards a debut LP expect to hear a potent array of tracks traversing RnB to evanescent Trip-Hop and even 90’s New Jack over the coming year. All based around a sparse and minimalist production sound which will inevitably entice each listener with more reward upon each listen as you enter Praa’s absorbing universe textured with rich vocal work and the warmest of melodies.

Praa has signed to fledgling French label Elephant & Castle founded by producer Timsters, and with a compelling video for Modeling Clay on the way and live dates being booked things are set to shine. Big radar act for 2018, certainement. FACEBOOK.

'Modeling Clay' is a stylish rhythmic song with gorgeous vocals and a restrained and beautifully precise musical arrangement.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vundabar - Diver.

Background - Boston duo Vundabar have shared an infectious and haunting slacker-pop track, 'Diver', via The Fader today, and announced headline tour dates for Spring 2018.

Talking about the track, vocalist Brandon Hagen said: "Diver' is one of those songs that pours out. I wrote it in about 5 minutes after 2 years of impasse and refusal to giving certain feelings shape or acknowledgement. The levy broke and the song is what came out of it. It's a document of grief, sitting in the wake of loss and taking note of ones location with acceptance but without resolve."

The band is set to release their brand new album Smell Smoke  on February 23rd 2018. The sludge-indie record, which includes single Acetone premiered recently on Noisey, is an exercise in dealing with songwriter Brandon Hagen’s experience of taking care of a loved one who suffered a severe illness.

Vundabar have built a massive following through non-stop touring and their signature brand of jittery, rambunctious post-punk, yet much of their music hints at something darker beneath the surface. The band just wrapped up a two month Autumn/Winter US tour with The Frights and Hockey Dad. Today they announce their Spring North American headline tour with support from Ratboys, which includes a stop through SXSW. FACEBOOK.

A chunky riff and definitive slacker feel launches 'Diver' a song that occasionally ups the power but always allows room for some cool vocals and harmonies.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael Jablonka - I Found You.

Background - With a beauty of a guitar riff that takes up residence in your skull and delivers a spark to your soul, Michael Jablonka’s second single cuts straight to the chase with its fat rootsy-garage-rock swagger and doesn’t even consider letting up till it’s done.

‘I Found You’ was one of the first tunes the Londoner wrote as a solo artist, though it took a while to manifest. “I had writer’s block,” explains Jablonka, “and a chorus with nothing much else. I imagined the verses to be a constant build up and wanted the chorus to be that break-free moment.”

Sonic form to suit the lyrical content, then, as ‘I Found You’ details that feeling when you finally obtain what you’ve been avidly seeking. And on the subject of discovery, Michael Jablonka’s emergence as one of UK most thrilling new singer/guitarists is sure to be further cemented by this fretboard-searing earworm.

Michael Jablonka is a musician so prolific that you may think he devotes every waking hour to his art and, if the fantastical nature of many of his songs are anything to go by, several hours of his dreams as well. In addition to performing as Michael Kiwanuka’s chosen guitarist – a role that has found him touring arenas and festivals worldwide this summer – Jablonka has been fine-tuning his own powerful 21st-century take on bluesy alt-funk and soulful indie-rock. Proof that there’s still nothing to tingle the spine like soul-soused mastery of raw electric six-string, Jablonka’s gifted, intricate guitar skills bely the no-frills anthemic intent of his rootsy songcraft – sonic elevation designed to liberate the listener from the confines of their reality.

Born and bred in the capital, 27-year-old Jablonka has been gigging since the tender age of 14 as an in-demand guitarist for hire. Those to have enjoyed his dextrous services include Charlie Brown, Stooshe, Shakka and Delta Maid before fellow North Londoner and Brit-soul sensation Michael Kiwanuka came calling. Around the same time, Jablonka decided it was time to blaze his own trail as a bandleader and songwriter, collating a set of crack musicians and intense yet universal alt-rock’n’soul tunes that scream for wider appreciation. FACEBOOK.

Second time on Beehive Candy for Michael Jablonka having been massively impressed first time around. 'I Found You' continues the momentum with another feisty rocker with some fine vocals and superb guitar moments.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seazoo - Dig.

Background - Welsh indie pop maestros Seazoo have announced the upcoming release of Dig, the third track taken from their debut album out 26th January 2018.

This latest effervescent number, concerning a re-occurring dream that eventually slips into waking life, sees the quintet showcase their trademark quirky tendencies with driving guitars and infectious vocals unrivalled by many of their peers.

Fresh from supporting psychedelic punk rockers The Lovely Eggs on their UK tour, alongside sharing bills with Peace and IDLES in recent months, the band’s latest release further builds anticipation for their debut record with the influences of acts including Grandaddy, Super Furry Animals and Yo La Tengo shining through once more.

Extensive support across the radio airwaves from Huw Stephens (BBC Radio 1), Steve Lamacq, Chris Hawkins, Lauren Laverne and Radcliffe & Maconie (BBC 6 Music), alongside widespread critical acclaim (DIY, The Line Of Best Fit, Q Magazine), leaves the five-piece well-placed going into what promises to be an exciting 2018. FACEBOOK.

'Dig' is a very catchy song, with some melodic guitar work alongside some very likable vocals, and an upbeat vibe throughout.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zaritza - Rocket Girl.

Background - "Tsaritza' is the wife of the Tsar and mother of princess Anastasia, and since 'tsaritza' is the Russian word for 'queen', the name pays tribute to my all-time favorite band, Queen. In addition, 'zarya' is the Russian word for sunrise, intense and bright, which always sounded beautiful and resonated with me. So I decided to combine these references to create a name that is appropriate to my personality, music, energy, inspiration and cultural heritage."

Zaritza emigrated to the U.S. in pursuit of greater creative freedom and a career in music. In the years since, Zaritza has performed her original electro-pop/rock music at clubs and other venues around the Northeast, including the Rainbow Room and the Metropolitan Room, as well as releasing her album at Drom in New York City; the Saint in Asbury Park, NJ; the Newport International Film Festival and opening for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on one of their U.S. tour dates.

"Music is my passion ... it's a universal language that connects people and cultures". Zaritza's songs reflect a life between two worlds, as an American who came from Russia, she explores themes that we all can relate to -- love, identity, alienation, dreams, disappointments -- amplified through her experiences, and struggles, as an immigrant.

Zaritza has been making music since she was a small child. She spent her youth in Russia studying, practicing and performing classical piano under an intense curriculum for gifted students. She won numerous regional piano competitions and received awards and a stipend from the government. As a teenager, Zaritza also began to write pop songs and, by the time she was at her university in Russia, she was performing and recording her original music.

Zaritza's musical compositions and production merge the energy and innovation of modern American and British rock/pop with the drama and romance of her traditional roots in Russian and other classical piano. As such, her influences range from Rachmaninoff to Radiohead, from Garbage to Grieg, from Mendelssohn to Massive Attack. FACEBOOK, BANDCAMP.

With eleven songs to choose from I settled for 'Rocket Girl' from the Self-Titled album as I feel it is pretty representative of the whole. Expect plenty of atmospheric and gorgeous vocals across the album along with some fabulously constructed music, and some addictive hooks.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lydian Collective - Legend Of Lumbar.

Background - London’s Lydian Collective release their second single Legend Of Lumbar a few days ago, it will be available globally on all streaming and download services.

 The band have already attracted a huge online following – with 1.4 million views for their YouTube channel and a host of solo credits between them (from Roots Manuva to popular iOS game Monument Valley). Their unique combination of accessible melodies, accomplished musicianship, hypnotic rhythms and uplifting music has won fans around the world – before they have even released their highly anticipated debut album.

Thirty-One has had a huge reception on Spotify, attracting playlist additions in its first week putting it in front of over 250,000 users. As we speak, the track has been streamed nearly 70,000 times.

Drawing inspiration from Jazz, Electronica, World Music and Film, the band have had early support from key UK tastemakers like Nick Luscombe at Flomotion/BBC Radio 3 – and have played at major Central London venues such as the Royal Festival Hall Clore Ballroom.

Legend Of Lumbar is the second single from the debut album ‘Adventure’ (set for release in early 2018), and it shows off the band’s manifesto. The band take more of a groove-based approach than they did on Thirty-One, with inspiration from Aaron Wheeler’s electronica alter-ego Laszlo. 

The killer rhythm team of Ida Hollis and Sophie Alloway lead the way, with another killer melody from Aaron Wheeler and Todd Baker (keys & guitar). Todd was the brains behind the soundtrack for the recent iOS game Monument Valley – and you can hear hints of this in the new single. Look out for another single which will drop early January, before the flawless debut LP ‘Adventure’ is set free. FACEBOOK.

'Legend Of Lumbar' helps explain the amount of attention Lydian Collective have been getting. Vibrant and dynamic music that reaches across Jazz and Blues genres (& a few others) this is superbly crafted musicianship.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------