Twin Jackal - Cruel.
Background - Twin Jackal are a band on the move! The South London based rock band are to release ‘Cruel’, their follow up single to ‘Humility’. Both songs are from their forthcoming debut EP ‘Optimo Animo’ which has all the hallmarks of a future classic.
We are pleased to unveil ‘Cruel’ a forceful contemporary rock punch that’s both adrenaline-powered and lyrically eloquent. Producer Chris Coulter (Arcane Roots, Jamie Lenman, Arctic Lake) recorded and produced the song in Decimal Studios, his riverside studio in late 2016.
Twin Jackal formed through a love of underground, experimental rock and post-hardcore bands such as Arcane Roots and Marmozets, along with the starrier likes of Biffy Clyro and Million Dead. With the anger of hardcore or metal, the fuzz of stoner rock and always searching for the true emotion of pop and indie rock, they have truly found their own unique sound: a mind-boggling mix of math rock rhythms, unpredictable guitars and soulful vocals sewn together into a fierce wall of sound. FACEBOOK, WEBSITE.
'Cruel' is an impressive and full bodied rocker that just gets on with being what it is. Unpretentious and energised, the band just cut to the chase and deliver up a persuasive rock & roll piece.
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The Prids - Elizabeth Ann.
Background - Portland, OR-based, noise pop band, The Prids, share their new single and video, "Elizabeth Ann." The Prids new LP, Do I Look Like I'm In Love?, is due out January 12th, 2018 via This-a-Way Records. The fact that there’s even a new Prids record is a miracle. In March of 2015 bassist-vocalist Mistina La Fave suffered a brain hemorrhage the night before the band was scheduled to enter the studio. The recovery was physically and mentally taxing, and La Fave is lucky to be alive, let alone playing and performing again. The Prids’ 22 years have been marked with death, sickness, divorce, and a near-fatal van crash that cut a tour short and left members bloody and broken—but they survive through the friendship and bond of founding members La Fave and guitarist-vocalist David Frederickson. While those events have invariably made their way into the band’s narrative, the two simply chalk it up to life.
They met in La Fave’s small hometown of Saint Joseph, Missouri, in 1995, not long after Frederickson had moved there from Southern California. They started a relationship (they divorced in 2001, not long after they married), formed The Prids, and moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, before settling in Portland, Oregon, in 1999. In that time they’ve released four full-lengths and a trail of EPs, toured all over the world, while gaining the respect of bands throughout Portland for their tenacity and longevity (The Prids are one of the longest-running active bands in the city). They continue to make music for the right reasons—with or without a label, for themselves. A few years ago they brought in drummer Gordon Nickel and multi-instrumentalist Tim Yates, their sturdiest lineup to date. These four individuals are what make Do I Look Like I’m In Love? such a special record.
Throughout it all The Prids have remained completely DIY (the band even launched its own label/artist collective This-a-Way Records in 1996). Their videos and album art are as brilliantly conceived as the music itself. And in 2017 the Prids are playing with the same ardor they did 20 years ago. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and this band is the embodiment of that. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
We first featured The Prids in late September and can now follow up with their new single 'Elizabeth Ann'. Fast paced and dynamic this is an impressive indie rock song, where the melody is light and yet fuels some fine hooks along the way.
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Taylor Mac - Never Wanted You.
Background - Russian Winter Records is excited to announce the release of Never Wanted You, the debut single from Kansas City based singer, Taylor Mac. The 23 year old has a smooth, powerful voice, with a strikingly pure vibrato.
The single was just named Number 157 of the NBT Music Radio Top 300 Singles of 2017 and here's what Emerging Indie Bands said about the single:
"The listener finds themselves drawn, like iron to magnet, as the stunning vocal wraps around the room. The unhurried song is layered with inflection, melody and harmonies which belie the sparse framework creating an immersive composition and finds the audience wanting to hear more." BANDCAMP.
There is something of a timeless feel to 'Never Wanted You' in the sense that if you told me it was from the late sixties I would not argue. It's not of course, however a classic pop feel permeates through this song, and that surely cannot be a bad thing!
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Tuesday, 19 December 2017
Monday, 18 December 2017
Cole Phoenix - Have You Ever Seen the Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? - stop.drop.rewind
Cole Phoenix - Back Back To Me.Background - Cole Phoenix is a singer, songwriter, scriptwriter, novelist, writer, producer, actress and director born in Brisbane, Australia. She creates music that encompasses elements of pop, soul, electronic and rock music
Cole Phoenix has worked in feature films such as The Ruins alongside Shawn Ashmore and Jena Malone and Bright Flame, currently in development which Cole wrote, produced and stars in.
Nominated for Best New Top 40 Artist of the Year in 2015 at the New Music Awards alongside Sam Smith, Iggy Azalea, Meghan Trainor and Charli XCX. “Back Back To Me” is a contemporary party song with cheek, mixed with old school sass and brass. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
'Back Back To Me' is a rich combination of styles that includes soulful musical grooves and refined pop vocals. Powerful, upbeat and melodic, this is a catchy, engaging song.
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Have You Ever Seen the Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? - Bambi Act.
Background - Finnish 3-piece Have You Ever Seen The Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? reveal new single Bambi Act, out last Friday via VILD.
Ekku Lintunen likens his songwriting to crafting surreal movies. Starting with a picture in his mind, he throws out lyrical phrases to create this image for the listener. Enough is held back though that there are more questions than answers. Like all great films, the listener interprets as they do.
Never is this more apparent than on Bambi Act, a dark vaudevillian modern fairy-tale – Lintunen offers his interpretation: "A man falls for another man. Man goes for a sex change operation, and now as a woman, charms her beloved; soon, we can hear their wedding bells. Happiness proves to be false, and she's ultimately rejected. Shocked by this dreadful event, unhappy incidents occur, and through wrong choices she ends up on the street turning tricks with her decaying body. What's your interpretation?..."
The trio have carved out a unique sound for themselves, opting to use keyboards instead of guitars. This is after Lintunen and drummer Janne-Petteri Pitkälä, on seeing the film Drive, instantly decided to form an 80s synth-pop band as a side project to the garage-rock act they were in at the time. When Susse Stemma-Sihvola came in on vocals, bringing her scuzzed out bass tones with her, it ended up being garage-rock with a twist. FACEBOOK.
Less than a month since we first featured Have You Ever Seen The Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? we now have 'Bambi Act' a sub two minute blast of fabulous garage rock. Last month we said of the forthcoming album "This is a high octane collection of music, the band are energetic throughout, mixing up some fabulous pop to punk or glam to grunge styles, with catchy upbeat and potent material every time". I reckon this song pretty much confirms all of that!
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stop.drop.rewind - I Was A Portrait.
Background - stop.drop.rewind is a progressive/powerpop band from Valparaiso, IN. Formed in 2008, members Kris Lohn, DJ Crenson, Andy Sutton and Josh Andrews have since released four EPs: "Part of the Whole" (2012), "Smoke Signals (2014), “Polarity” (2016), and "SDR Saves Christmas" (2016).
They have performed in 12 states, and opened for The Misfits, Secondhand Serenade, Ronnie Winter, Hawthorne Heights, Amber Pacific, Real Friends, The Spill Canvas, among many others.
2016's EP “Polarity” was acclaimed by local media personalities and publications such as Tom Lounges (X-Rock, WLPR), John King (WVLP), the Broken Record Press, and landed them a spot on Pandora. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
Opening with some chunky riffs 'I Was A Portrait' is a feisty rocker. The vocals are notable, giving the bands sound some clear distinction. The music is fabulously tight power rock, collectively this is one very stylish rock & roll song.
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Sunday, 17 December 2017
Walter Martin - Newspoke - Jimmy Sweet
Walter Martin - I Can Run Now From The Hellhounds But I Can't Hide.Background - Walter Martin (co-writer/multi-instrumentalist of The Walkmen) will release his new album Reminisce Bar & Grill on February 16th via Ile Flottante Music. His fourth solo record since The Walkmen's hiatus in 2013, Reminisce Bar & Grill was announced earlier this month with a surprise appearance on NPR Music's Tiny Desk in which he performed two of his new songs with a full band and a barbershop quartet.
Reminisce Bar & Grill is one that might throw fans of his two award winning kids' records (2014's We're All Young Together and 2017's My Kinda Music) for a loop. Listeners will still recognize the same affable narrator and quirky musical style as his previous solo work, but here the subject matter is shifted dramatically. With frankness and poignancy, Martin, now a 43-year-old married man with two young children, squarely tackles the subject of adulthood - specifically, his own.
"I think this is my mid-life crisis album," said Walter. "These days my friends and I all seem to be thinking the same dark thoughts - 'What the hell am I doing? What the hell's going on? I'm lost. I'm running out of time and I'm doing everything wrong. And I'm probably dying.' This is definitely an insane period," he continues, "but most of the time I kind of love it."
While Martin approaches these subject matters with candor and sincerity, he clearly also enjoys mining them for humor. "I wanted this album to be an entertaining discussion of marriage, fatherhood, work, fear, and weakness," he explained. "I'm definitely influenced by Woody Allen movies. No matter how serious or romantic or dark his story may be, there's always a strong undercurrent of comedy."
Reminisce Bar & Grill was recorded at various studios in Brooklyn and at Richard Swift's National Freedom Studio in Cottage Grove Oregon. The songs were mixed by D. James Goodwin (Bob Weir, Craig Finn), Richard Swift (The Shins, Foxygen) and Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses). A nimble multi-instrumentalist, Martin handled guitar, piano, organ, bass and percussion duties, but he also relied on the services of a coterie of crafty players and singers: Brian Kantor (Fruit Bats) on drums, Josh Kaufman (Craig Finn, Josh Ritter) on guitar, and Jamie Krents (French Kicks) on bass. The soaring harmony vocals woven throughout the album are delivered by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah singer Alec Ounsworth. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
Musically 'I Can Run Now From The Hellhounds But I Can't Hide' is a rhythmic vibrant affair. The vocals add a little gravitas to the song, overall however this is a hook laden and very pleasing tease for next years album release.
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Newspoke - Judas Tree.
Background - Anonymous New York City-based indie artist Newspoke has shared the video for "Judas Tree." It's a dark, tongue-in-cheek story of someone descending hell with visuals to match.
This is the lead single off Faces, Newspoke's forthcoming debut album due out February, 2017. Newspoke explores the contrast of lightness and darkness in Faces.
The record was born out of failed relationships, life-threatening illness, and new beginnings. It's both dark and comedic. Standout tracks on the record include, "I Apologize For Dying On Your Shoes," "Normal," and "Heather."
Faces was mixed and mastered by Larry Crane (Elliott Smith, Sleater-Kinney, The Decemberists) in Portland, OR. It will be available on all digital distribution platforms February, 2017. FACEBOOK.
'Judas Tree' may start gently, however don't be fooled. The passion and energy soon builds, with gritty determined vocals and an increasingly layered musical arrangement, heart and soul is there in abundance.
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Jimmy Sweet - You Say You Don't Love Me. Background - You Say You Don’t Love Me is the debut single from Los Angeles singer / songwriter Jimmy Sweet, released earlier this month. The track is a melancholy take of the song by 70's British punk sensation Buzzcocks.
Jimmy Sweet is a singer / songwriter, but not in the typical sense. Yes, he writes love songs, but Sweet uses sweeping strings and a gospel choir to get his message through. "I have a place in my heart for the over dramatic" - Jimmy Sweet
A staple on the LA music scene for years, Jimmy also plays in a hugely popular cover band The Goodtimes Boys with members of Fleet Foxes, Hot Hot Heat, The Heavy and The Growlers.
Jimmy Sweet got his start playing with Rolan Bolan (son of glam rock icon Marc Bolan of T.Rex) and legendary San Francisco garage rock band The Richmond Sluts. Jimmy Sweet and his band will be releasing a host of original material throughout 2018. FACEBOOK.
If you like your music to build into a sweeping, melodic mixture of vocals, harmonies, and orchestral flavours then 'You Say You Don't Love Me' ticks all those boxes, and does it with style.
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Saturday, 16 December 2017
Will Loomis - Typhoon - Mind Monogram - Vern Matz - Spirit In The Room
Will Loomis - US Of RX.Background - Will Loomis spent his formative years in NYC, picking up guitar at age 7 after being inspired by the anthropomorphic rooster in the animated film “Rock-a-Doodle.” Loomis naturally gravitated to other dazzling musical personalities as he reached his teens. Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and Kurt Cobain charmed his imagination and Will eventually began trying to place himself in that lineage; a pioneer in the art of raw, handcrafted rock.
He formed the band Loomis and the Lust in 2008, releasing the catchy single “Bright Red Chords” which immediately got noticed by major labels and landed substantial syncs in commercials, TV and feature films. They won a $25,000 prize at the "Artist on the Verge" contest, gaining them a feature in Billboard Magazine and consecutive features on MTV Iggy. “Bright Red Chords” was eventually embroiled in an ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit between Loomis and Universal Music Group after Dr. Luke, a serial appropriator, cannibalized Loomis’ original into the number 1 UK pop single “Domino” by Jessie J. Loomis has since become an outspoken critic of Dr. Luke.
The fallout from the lawsuit left Will in an odd state, as Loomis and Lust had created such a buzz that his bandmates began getting poached – his guitar player was taken on tour with Katy Perry while his bassist got an offer to play a bass player on the TV show Glee. As Will tried to prioritize his next move, he retreated into the private world of his music, creating a wealth of unreleased material, a back catalog of B-Sides and other rarities like an exceptional Spaghetti Western soundtrack. He added to his massive collection of guitars and amps, which he modified in exquisite ways to curate the evolving ‘Loomis’ sound – falling somewhere between The Doors, The Stooges and The Magnetic Fields.
Eventually he connected with producer/engineer Norm Block who reflected Will’s purist mentality. They both fetishized and sound of old amps, tape and vintage gear and began work at Happy Ending Studios on Loomis’ new album Clean (due out January 15th). The album finds Loomis in a feisty mood, raging about the hypocrisy of celebrity, religion and big business, even name-checking the pharmaceutical industry in the take-no-prisoner’s rocker “US of RX”. But above all, Clean is largely an expose on popular music. “Everything on the radio sounds to clean and robotic” Loomis concedes, noting that even the most futuristic production techniques will eventually feel dated if they are not imbued with soul. “I really challenged myself to create an album you can listen to thirty years on.” FACEBOOK.
I am fairly certain that we featured Loomis and The Lust a good few years back and it's a pleasure to share 'US Of RX' from Will Loomis now. A powerful rocker, the songs lyrics cut to the chase, delivered with determination whilst the guitar grinds out some potent grooves.
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Typhoon - Darker.
Background - Typhoon have released another single from their new album Offerings which will be released January 12th via Roll Call Records. The track "Darker" is the second single to be taken from the new album, following "Rorschach."
In October, the band released Floodplains, the first movement from the album featuring the songs "Wake", "Rorschach", "Empiricist", and "Algernon".
The 70-minute album for Roll Call Records, which is the Portland, Oregon indie rock band's fourth studio album, centers on a fictional man who is losing his memory, and in turn, his sense of self. "I've always been preoccupied with memory, losing memory, and trying to recapture memory. I wanted to explore the questions: What does a person become if they don't know where they came from? What is the essential quality of the person if you strip away all memory?" explains singer/songwriter Kyle Morton.t. FACEBOOK, WEBSITE.
Typhoon has also announced their list of upcoming tour dates for 2018 in North America and Europe, with UK dates as follows:
Feb 27: London, UK @ Lexington (2nd date added)
Feb 28: Manchester, UK @ Deaf Institute
Mar 01: Glasgow, UK @ Broadcast
Mar 02: London, UK @ Lexington (Sold Out).
We featured the first movement from Typhoon's forthcoming album (Offerings) a couple of weeks back and the bands second single 'Darker' has now been shared. The bands imaginative material continues, this time their is a bleakness conveyed through the vocals whilst the musical arrangement is a little solemn however occasionally builds into a more powerful emphatic piece.
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Mind Monogram - Hedberg.Background - Los Angeles based band Mind Monogram started out in 2014 as the passion project of vocalist/guitarist Edgar A. Ruiz who wrote, recorded and self-released the band’s debut EP Moments in Time.
Ruiz’s project has now come into fruition as a full band with the addition of members Christian Caro (guitar), Bryan Mejia (drums), and Billy Azurdia (bass) and have since been playing regularly in Southern California. The band has been a featured performing act at The NAMM Show convention in Anaheim, CA and was top 3 in The Deli Magazine's list for Best Emerging LA Bands 2017.
The track features James Kennedy (keys/synth), Kael Caesare Sharp (trumpet), and is an ode to the late, great comedian Mitch Hedberg. The band says of the track, "We're fans of Mitch Hedberg & we relate to him in many different ways. His comedy has always been hit or miss for audiences, but when he locked in a crowd he would absolutely crush it and take you on a little trip inside the mind of Hedberg. This song is a nod to one of our favorite jokes of his: "you know, I'm sick of following my dreams, man. I'm just going to ask where they're going and hook up with 'em later." Here's to you Mitch, R.I.P. Man."
Their second single is "Hedberg" off their upcoming sophomore LP Ivory Hall out early Spring 2018. Catch Mind Monogram at Highwater Brewing L.A. on 12/20 & Indie Brewing Co. L.A. on 1/26. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
'Hedberg' is a melodic indie rock song where the vocals are notable as they soar beautifully above a richly layered soundtrack. The trumpet adds even more colour, this is very catchy music.
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Vern Matz - Shelby Park.
Background - Indie rock trio Vern Matz shares the second track off their forthcoming self titled debut EP, due out January 2018.
Vern Matz is comprised of guitarist and singer Danny Belgrad, pianist Michael Lituchy, and drummer Noah Silvestry. Not only are they bandmates, they are also all students together at Yale University. Speaking on "Shelby Park," the band states, "With Shelby, we got to put on a lot of differents hats and play something vaguely aggressive, which was fun. There’s some focus on aging, and losing identities, but it’s not an overly serious song - there’s blue hearts, and martians moons, and dropped phone calls, and leaving Shelby. It’s a very childish piece in a lot of ways; we were sort of pretending to be 16 year-olds in a rock band from 1993.
The EP was born out of several road trips between New Haven and Philadelphia. In a lot of ways, the EP is about Vern Matz coming of age - as individuals and as a band. Faced with finding a place in the world, the EP is about fleeing from those decisions and trying to ground themselves. Vern Matz says of the record, "Much of the EP is an expression of a feeling of displacement and an attempt to restore a sense of wholeness. There's a lot of confusion and nervousness in the fact that you don't know what needs to be restored. We looked backwards a lot to resolve that uneasiness and got very swept up in nostalgia." The Vern Matz EP was recorded at Miner Street Recordings, produced and mixed by Matt Poirier, and mastered by Greg Calbi and Ryan Schwabe. FACEBOOK.
Vern Matz are back a month after we first featured the band and this time with 'Shelby Park'. I was very impressed last time and the new song doesn't disappoint. Melodic guitars, engaging vocals, and intriguing lyrics, the band remain full of promise.
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Spirit In The Room - Affectionate Projectile.
Background - LA based band Spirit In The Room released on December 11th a stand alone single called Affectionate Projectile. The track has a softer sound than a lot of their previous releases, but has a hypnotic melody, reminiscent to the last works by David Bowie.
Dennis Sanders is the frontman and creative force behind Spirit In The Room. Together with bassist Darren Howard and guitarist Kyle Nadeau, the band puts out a very particular blend of high energy, eclectic rock.
Noticeable influences include Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode and Black Sabbath, with a good dose of punk ethos thrown in for good measure.
Spirit In The Room will release their debut album Sunset Nightmare in 2018. FACEBOOK.
Yes there are echoes of latter day Bowie influences on 'Affectionate Projectile' that said it remains a unique and engaging song. With a slow beat, superb vocals and a little dark and distant feeling, this is a real grower.
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Friday, 15 December 2017
Ghosts on TV - Locks - Ric Gordon - Dana And The Wolf - Mutant League Records
Ghosts on TV - A Fool Such As I.
Background - Ghosts on TV are from Helsinki, Finland. They released their latest EP on the 8th of December. Ghosts on TV is a indie rock band formed in 2014 in Helsinki, which combines a broad range of sounds and influences, from post-rock and Radiohead to more conventional post-punk revival such as The National and Interpol, all spiced with a touch of traditional Finnish melancholy.
They have stood out of the usual Finnish indie-scene with this sound, and the first release "Lay yourself down" gathered a good response from Nick Triani at Radio Helsinki and the Finnish music magazine Rumba.
Quoting the band "We started playing shows extensively around Helsinki, from small bars and clubs to established venues such as the legendary Tavastia. In 2016 we released our debut EP, including a sold out vinyl pressing by Royal Mint Records, released a split 7" through said label's 'Mint Singles Club' series, released another handmade 7" for our single 'Brandy' and kept playing shows, even playing our first show abroad in St. Petersburg".
They recently released their second EP, entitled Flowers, which in their opinion is a more mature effort and shows our natural growth as a unit. FACEBOOK.
From the recently released 'Flowers' EP we have the opening song 'A Fool Such As I'. With a gentle acoustic opening, followed by vocals that are full of sentiment and feeling, the piece slowly expands with additional beautiful layers of melodic sound. It's a good indicator for the overall quality of music this band can and does produce.
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Locks - Skin.
Background - LOCKS are a London based alternative skeletal strings bluesy band, made up of L.Geary-Griffin (lead vocal / guitar), Mike Byrne (double bass), Marian McClenagan (fiddle) and Andy Marvell (drums).
Their debut EP Rattle Them Bones (featuring Wishbone & The Gin Song) was championed by Steve Lamacq and also received positive responses from Tom Robinson & Gary Crowley and lead to them being chosen to open the BBC Introducing stage at The Great Escape 2017. The Gin Song was also one of Steve Lamacq’s ‘Best of the year so far (2017).
The group have spent many months recording their debut album from which Skin is the first single to be released later this year. Skin delves deeper into the darker aspects of human nature and the inner demons each person can be faced with throughout their life.
After playing with a variety of different bands including rockabilly, traditional Irish, indie and nu-folk, these misfits found themselves in a rehearsal room together writing parts for murder ballads involving burying bodies, serial killers, lynch mobs and voodoo witches. FACEBOOK.
Third time around on Beehive Candy for Locks and although we have waited since January for the new single 'Skin', I think it fair to say, the wait was worth it. Bluesy and with a stripped back musical opening when the vocals and harmonies kick in this becomes a rich and very catchy song. I'm left looking forward to their debut album, and some!
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Ric Gordon - When We Kiss.
Background - In a career that spans 5 decades, Ric Gordon has released 14 albums and EP's under various monikers, and produced another 26 for other artists. July 14th, on the eve of his 64th birthday, Ric releases his first studio album in 4 years, but with a twist.
Instead of one album, Russian Winter Records is excited to announce the release of two EPs, one electric and the other acoustic. The first EP, "Despair's Lover," wasl released back in July 14th and is a collection of five songs that are post-punk/punk, raw and edgy.
The second EP, "Standing Here," was released in September and is five songs that are indie/folk-rock, melodic and intimate. Russian Winter Records is an indie label based in the historic Brookside section of Kansas City, MO and founded in 2008. Our releases range across indie genres from punk to electronic to folk. We strive to release artists who make compelling music that needs to be heard. BANDCAMP.
'When We Kiss' is a gorgeous nostalgic sounding song (which is amplifies by the accompanying video). Melodic, dreamy and awash with hooks it typifies the second EP 'Standing Here' from the talented and creative Ric Gordon.
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Dana And The Wolf - Him.
Background - The duo's latest single, “Him,” lands at the pinpoint between drama and edge, featuring a gritty beat, moaning electric guitar, and a loop of Hobson’s powerful, yet controlled chanting. The lyrics go after flaws in our relationships, in heaven and on earth: “You could relate it to a man, a toxic relationship with a man, but it could also be a toxic relationship with organized religion,” says Dana.
The track draws inspiration from Wolf’s separation from Judaism at 18 and delves into the ways in which religion, like a domestic abuser, can keep a person trapped in fear.
Dana and The Wolf is comprised of Dana Hobson on vocals and Daniel Wolf as producer, they have been together as a couple for over a decade. In fall of 2017, the group signed to Little Assembly, a division of West One Music Group.
Their style blends elements of drama, pop and hip hop, covering topics from religion to economics; partying to polyamory; and love to hate. Dana and The Wolf's most popular song on 2016 "Attitude" garnered quite a buzz, charting on Spotify's Viral 50 and receiving praise from tastemaker music blogs. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
Dana Hobson's vocals are full of blues richness on 'Him' and deserve a fine musical backdrop. Daniel Wolf has that covered and with style and imagination as the music develops adding in some spectacular twists and then in an instant it's over.
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Mutant League Records - Signs Of Life - Compilation Vol. 2.
Background - Mutant League Records is celebrating their 5-year anniversary by giving away a free compilation album with music from Belmont, Crywank, Lucky boys Confusion, and more!
Mutant League owner Nate Steinheimer comments on the label's anniversary: Really proud/shocked to still be able to release music under Mutant League 5 years into it. From pawning my stuff early on just to be able to afford postage for our records- to watching MLR bands perform sold-out shows and transform their music into a career; it's been an bizarre but remarkable experience that I wouldn't trade for a big house or bag of money.
About Mutant League Records: Mutant League Records is an American independent record label based in Chicago. Established in 2012, Mutant League has released albums for seminal pop-punk groups such as The Movielife, Seaway, and Allister, among others. Label WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
Track List:
1. Belmont - Step Aside
2. Ambleside - Wash Away
3. Lucky Boys Confusion - Stormchaser
4. Vacant Home - Shiver
5. Anna Sage. - The Life and Lies of Jimmy Fries
6. Hideout - Canvases
7. Crywank - Notches
8. Housing - Hands
9. The Librarians - I Just Wanna Love You.
The secret is in the record labels name. 'Signs Of Life' is a combination of frantic, full on garage and punk, interspersed with the occasional slower paced and perhaps more refined song. This is a no hassle download and generously free compilation album, from a label that are sitting on top of a powder keg of raw talent and more.
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Background - Ghosts on TV are from Helsinki, Finland. They released their latest EP on the 8th of December. Ghosts on TV is a indie rock band formed in 2014 in Helsinki, which combines a broad range of sounds and influences, from post-rock and Radiohead to more conventional post-punk revival such as The National and Interpol, all spiced with a touch of traditional Finnish melancholy.
They have stood out of the usual Finnish indie-scene with this sound, and the first release "Lay yourself down" gathered a good response from Nick Triani at Radio Helsinki and the Finnish music magazine Rumba.
Quoting the band "We started playing shows extensively around Helsinki, from small bars and clubs to established venues such as the legendary Tavastia. In 2016 we released our debut EP, including a sold out vinyl pressing by Royal Mint Records, released a split 7" through said label's 'Mint Singles Club' series, released another handmade 7" for our single 'Brandy' and kept playing shows, even playing our first show abroad in St. Petersburg".
They recently released their second EP, entitled Flowers, which in their opinion is a more mature effort and shows our natural growth as a unit. FACEBOOK.
From the recently released 'Flowers' EP we have the opening song 'A Fool Such As I'. With a gentle acoustic opening, followed by vocals that are full of sentiment and feeling, the piece slowly expands with additional beautiful layers of melodic sound. It's a good indicator for the overall quality of music this band can and does produce.
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Locks - Skin.
Background - LOCKS are a London based alternative skeletal strings bluesy band, made up of L.Geary-Griffin (lead vocal / guitar), Mike Byrne (double bass), Marian McClenagan (fiddle) and Andy Marvell (drums).
Their debut EP Rattle Them Bones (featuring Wishbone & The Gin Song) was championed by Steve Lamacq and also received positive responses from Tom Robinson & Gary Crowley and lead to them being chosen to open the BBC Introducing stage at The Great Escape 2017. The Gin Song was also one of Steve Lamacq’s ‘Best of the year so far (2017).
The group have spent many months recording their debut album from which Skin is the first single to be released later this year. Skin delves deeper into the darker aspects of human nature and the inner demons each person can be faced with throughout their life.
After playing with a variety of different bands including rockabilly, traditional Irish, indie and nu-folk, these misfits found themselves in a rehearsal room together writing parts for murder ballads involving burying bodies, serial killers, lynch mobs and voodoo witches. FACEBOOK.
Third time around on Beehive Candy for Locks and although we have waited since January for the new single 'Skin', I think it fair to say, the wait was worth it. Bluesy and with a stripped back musical opening when the vocals and harmonies kick in this becomes a rich and very catchy song. I'm left looking forward to their debut album, and some!
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Ric Gordon - When We Kiss.
Background - In a career that spans 5 decades, Ric Gordon has released 14 albums and EP's under various monikers, and produced another 26 for other artists. July 14th, on the eve of his 64th birthday, Ric releases his first studio album in 4 years, but with a twist.
Instead of one album, Russian Winter Records is excited to announce the release of two EPs, one electric and the other acoustic. The first EP, "Despair's Lover," wasl released back in July 14th and is a collection of five songs that are post-punk/punk, raw and edgy.
The second EP, "Standing Here," was released in September and is five songs that are indie/folk-rock, melodic and intimate. Russian Winter Records is an indie label based in the historic Brookside section of Kansas City, MO and founded in 2008. Our releases range across indie genres from punk to electronic to folk. We strive to release artists who make compelling music that needs to be heard. BANDCAMP.
'When We Kiss' is a gorgeous nostalgic sounding song (which is amplifies by the accompanying video). Melodic, dreamy and awash with hooks it typifies the second EP 'Standing Here' from the talented and creative Ric Gordon.
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Dana And The Wolf - Him.
Background - The duo's latest single, “Him,” lands at the pinpoint between drama and edge, featuring a gritty beat, moaning electric guitar, and a loop of Hobson’s powerful, yet controlled chanting. The lyrics go after flaws in our relationships, in heaven and on earth: “You could relate it to a man, a toxic relationship with a man, but it could also be a toxic relationship with organized religion,” says Dana.
The track draws inspiration from Wolf’s separation from Judaism at 18 and delves into the ways in which religion, like a domestic abuser, can keep a person trapped in fear.
Dana and The Wolf is comprised of Dana Hobson on vocals and Daniel Wolf as producer, they have been together as a couple for over a decade. In fall of 2017, the group signed to Little Assembly, a division of West One Music Group.
Their style blends elements of drama, pop and hip hop, covering topics from religion to economics; partying to polyamory; and love to hate. Dana and The Wolf's most popular song on 2016 "Attitude" garnered quite a buzz, charting on Spotify's Viral 50 and receiving praise from tastemaker music blogs. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
Dana Hobson's vocals are full of blues richness on 'Him' and deserve a fine musical backdrop. Daniel Wolf has that covered and with style and imagination as the music develops adding in some spectacular twists and then in an instant it's over.
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Mutant League Records - Signs Of Life - Compilation Vol. 2.Background - Mutant League Records is celebrating their 5-year anniversary by giving away a free compilation album with music from Belmont, Crywank, Lucky boys Confusion, and more!
Mutant League owner Nate Steinheimer comments on the label's anniversary: Really proud/shocked to still be able to release music under Mutant League 5 years into it. From pawning my stuff early on just to be able to afford postage for our records- to watching MLR bands perform sold-out shows and transform their music into a career; it's been an bizarre but remarkable experience that I wouldn't trade for a big house or bag of money.
About Mutant League Records: Mutant League Records is an American independent record label based in Chicago. Established in 2012, Mutant League has released albums for seminal pop-punk groups such as The Movielife, Seaway, and Allister, among others. Label WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
Track List:
1. Belmont - Step Aside
2. Ambleside - Wash Away
3. Lucky Boys Confusion - Stormchaser
4. Vacant Home - Shiver
5. Anna Sage. - The Life and Lies of Jimmy Fries
6. Hideout - Canvases
7. Crywank - Notches
8. Housing - Hands
9. The Librarians - I Just Wanna Love You.
The secret is in the record labels name. 'Signs Of Life' is a combination of frantic, full on garage and punk, interspersed with the occasional slower paced and perhaps more refined song. This is a no hassle download and generously free compilation album, from a label that are sitting on top of a powder keg of raw talent and more.
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