Nightmare Air - Ismay - Darling West - Bamako Overground

Nightmare Air - Who's Your Lover.

Background - Nightmare Air has a new album coming out in March to support a full EU tour run with the one and only Gary Numan. Named after a skateboard move from an 80’s skate film, Los Angeles band Nightmare Air emphasizes sonic momentum, during both live performances and in the studio.

Nightmare Air’s Dave Dupuis, a veteran of L.A. shoegazers Film School (Beggars Banquet Records), and Swaan Miller, whose stark acoustic album on Important Records melted hearts and faces everywhere, meticulously layer boy-girl harmonies, pulsing pop synths, psych noise loops and glam soaked walls of guitars. Add to that Detroit heavy hitter Jimmy Lucido on the drums (The Strays/ TVT records) in their combined years of touring, these road veterans have supported heavyweights from Smashing Pumpkins to the The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Previewing the album - “Who’s Your Lover” offers shoegaze as it opens with a post-punk guitar riff which marries the soft, high-pitched string-like synthesizer which floats around as an all important extra-terrestrial layer, as Swaan asks “Who’s Your Lover?” The chorus moves on a thick bed of bass line that the distorted guitar riff and vocals bounce on. “Who’s Your Lover” is an instant modern shoegaze anthem, comparable to Slowdive or The Cure.

Having had a successful year in 2017 headlining clubs, playing festivals around the world such as SXSW and Starry Night Festival, and shared stages with The Kills, The Dandy Warhols and Cat Power to name a few. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Full on and energised 'Who's Your Lover' gets straight into the action with some fine guitar work, a strident rhythm, whilst adding some melody through the gorgeous vocals. Looks like the band will be keeping Gary Numan on his toes during the forthcoming tour!

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Ismay - Oh Precious Light.

Background - Ismay's second single is entitled "Oh Precious Light", following on from her first single "River Of Light". Both songs will be featured on her debut EP 'Songs From A River' out 2/9/2018.

Coming from the coastal hills of Northern California, Ismay is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter drawing inspiration from the natural landscape of the American West. With an ear for an old-time aesthetic and artistry of indie folk, Ismay blends inventive songwriting, ethereal vocals, and dynamic fingerpicking on the guitar. When she is not traveling the western states on horseback, Ismay can be found working on her ranch, collecting the sounds and stories of rural California. From this cultural history comes Ismay’s deep-rooted sound of the New American West.

The creation of Ismay’s debut EP began with a river. After dropping out of college, Ismay (Avery Hellman) wandered from California to New Mexico and up through the Pacific Northwest. During this time she sought out a place of natural significance through which to explore her passion for the arts and the environment. Eventually she found herself on the banks of the Klamath River in far Northern California. It was in this country that Ismay became entranced by the intricate cultural landscape of the Klamath. In the following two years, she embarked on a horseback trip to document the river through film, photography and audio recordings.

In addition, she wrote and recorded five original songs, both along the Klamath with an old cassette tape machine and in a studio above the Pacific Ocean. Ismay worked with producer Tim Bluhm (Sarah Lee Guthrie, Johnny Irion, Nicki Bluhm) and engineer Robert Cheek (Band of Horses, Chelsea Wolfe) at Panoramic Studios in Stinson Beach, CA. The field recordings were produced by Eric Drew Feldman (Polyphonic Spree, PJ Harvey), and string arrangements in Nashville with Brad Jones at Alex the Great Recording (Justin Townes Earle, Nancy Griffith, Yo La Tengo).

Weaving natural symbolism into this coming-of-age story, Ismay’s EP, Songs from a River, explores the way in which a connection to place shapes and parallels songwriting and recording. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We featured the first single back in early December and the second release 'Oh Precious Light' is another really fine Indie folk song. Ismay's vocals shine above a gentle and intricate musical arrangement, the EP can't arrive soon enough.

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Darling West - Loneliness.

Background - Darling West have shared a new video for new single "Loneliness", with their new album "While I Was Asleep" is out Feb 16 on Jansen Records.

The last twelve months of Darling West’s musical career can't be described as anything other than fantastic. Since the release of their second album, "Vinyl And A Heartache", they have played concerts all over the world, been playlisted on the biggest radio stations in Norway, appeared on the Top 100 Country charts in the US, amassed more than 2.5 million plays on Spotify, been booked for the biggest festivals in Norway, Americanafest in Nashville, and won a Norwegian Grammy.

Talking about the video, vocalist and banjo player Tor Egil Kreken comments;  "Loneliness was made by Norwegian movie director Jorunn Syversen. She came out with a fantastic film last year called "Hoggeren", and one of our songs was in the movie. We really wanted to work with her, and she came up with the idea of shooting the video in a house designed by Norwegian architect Sverre Fehn. It was such a beautiful setting! The dog belongs to the people who live in the house, and he turned out to be a great actor." WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Our third feature for Darling West with the new single and video for 'Loneliness' a song that has some delightful Americana charm running right through it, and melodic hooks that just dig for attention.


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Bamako Overground - The Swallow's Tale.

Background - Born in the inspired mind of London’s own Malian rhythm buff, vocalist and band leader Hans Sutton, Bamako Overground have been busily forging a curious new sound. The trio are irresistibly seduced by the music of West Africa, blending its influences overtly and covertly with their own carefully-selected flavours to settle into mystical grooves and rocking desert blues.

Hans plays his distinctive hybrid drum kit, which brought Mandé styles to worldly pop folksters such as Nick Mulvey and Cocos Lovers. He’s flanked by the sparkling guitar of Yaaba Funk co-founder Tobias Sturmer and the hypnotic, heavy bass of folk maestro and Woodburner impresario Theo Bard.

Deep and soulful rhythms meet soaring melodies, while crunching three-part vocal harmonies speak of pilgrimage and placelessness, spinning allegories in Bamanankan and English to complete a brew that’s compelling and utterly unique.

Debut single ‘The Swallow’s Tale’ is quite possibly the most delightful rhythmic folk tale you’ll have heard for some time, with a beautifully hand-drawn animated video from May Kindred Boothby and a promise of more ‘tales’ to follow later in the year Bamako Overground honour the traditions of African music with such abundant joy that it is only right that they go on to become a huge success. Some live dates are below, which you’ll not want to miss as they are as compelling live as on record rewarding each listener with their spiritual Gris Gris grooves, psychedelic desert blues and mystical melodies. FACEBOOK.

Live Dates:
26.1 Prince Albert, Stroud, UK
27.1 The Canteen, Bristol, UK
28.1 The Bell, Bath, UK
2.2 The Harrison, London, UK

Oh this is good - 'The Swallow's Tale' is a must hear song! Mixing West African influences and natural charm, along with English lyrics Bamako Overground create something beautifully unique, and very addictive. 


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Somali Yacht Club - VOWWS - Madeleine & Salomon

Somali Yacht Club - Vero.

Background - Dreamtoned trio from Ukraine, Somali Yacht Club, are going to release their sophomore album “The Sea” on Robustfellow Prods. (CDs and limited editions) and Kozmik Artifactz (vinyls).

After their first LP “The Sun” - which was highly acclaimed both by critics and listeners worldwide and showed the band’s ability to mix styles, create dreamy vibe and submerge listeners into fantastic sound landscapes - the band is ready to continue their musical journey with their next album “The Sea”. Rich fuzz, blended with atmospheric psychedelia, warm grooves and airy leads show the band’s progression both musically and lyrically and once again prove Somali Yacht Club’s inventiveness in blending styles.

Somali Yacht Club is a stoner rock trio from Lviv, Ukraine. The band mixes elements of stoner rock, psychedelic rock, shoegazing and post-metal in their music. Formed in 2010, as a jam band, but evolved to a main band for it's members. BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.

'Vero' is the first of six tracks on the bands 'The Sea' album. It's a good indicator of the quality of this album, where the band drift through rock genres whilst retaining a consistent identity. The energy levels and emotional feeling, switch without notice adding a level of anticipation at any given moment. This should appeal to a wide range of rock fans.

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VOWWS - Esseff.

Background - LA-via-Australia based duo VOWWS share their latest single "Esseff". They explain that "'Esseff' is like James Bond spy music updated for the modern world. We wanted to create a sound that felt like you were being chased by something scary, but enticing". The single is from their forthcoming album Under the World, out 3/2 on Anti-Language Records. VOWWS will also be kicking off their US tour this March, you can find a full list of dates below.

With their new album, 'Under the World,’  VOWWS craft their dark pop masterpiece - a cinematic, stylish and menacing statement of intent. Drawing upon influences as diverse as classic western, electronica, surf rock, metal, and film music, the enigmatic duo weave disparate threads of cultural influence together into a tapestry of drama, imagination and surprising warmth - only to deconstruct them again in front of your ears.
 
Under the World was largely recorded with friend, mentor and engineer Kevin S. McMahon at his New Paltz, NY studio - building upon a symbiotic relationship formed while piecing together their debut, 2015’s The Great Sun - a dirty, grinding and swaying work featuring guest appearances by electronic music legend Gary Numan and Swans’ percussionist Thor Harris.

This time around VOWWS took on a more prominent role in producing and mixing the record, but the timeless influence of McMahon and his weatherworn New Paltz studio/barn is still present. Under the World deliberately eschews any obvious Post-Punk and Industrial tropes, instead allowing space for its stylish hooks, direct vocals and rich textures to shine. It will be released on the band's own label, Anti-Language Records on March 2nd, 2018. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

3.19 - 529 - Atlanta, GA
3.20 - Strange Matter - Richmond, VA
3.22 - Saint Vitus - Brooklyn, NY
3.23 - Meatlocker - Montclair, NJ
3.24 - Geno's - Portland, ME
3.25 - Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA
3.26 - Cafe Nine - New Haven, CT
3.27 - O'Brien's - Boston, MA
3.28 - Casa Del Popolo - Montreal
3.29 - Coalition - Toronto
3.30 - Now That's Class - Cleveland, OH *
3.31 - Deluxx Fluxx - Detroit, MI *
4.1 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL *
4.3 - Reverb Lounge - Omaha, NE *
4.4 - Hi Dive - Denver, CO *
4.5 - Metro Music Hall - Salt Lake City, UT *
4.6 - Neurolux - Boise, ID *
4.7 - Barboza - Seattle, WA *
4.8 - Tonic Lounge - Portland, OR *
4.10 - Old Nick's - Eugene, OR *
* w/ Soft Kill and Choir Boy

Almost a year to the day since we first featured VOWWS they return in style with 'Esseff'. The duo have created an expansive sounding, and very catchy rocker that just oozes atmosphere and plenty of originality.

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Madeleine & Salomon - Swallow Song.

Background - French duo Madeleine & Salomon have just released their album 'A Woman’s Journey' in the USA, along with a little tour on the east coast.

The epic and libertarian duo Madeleine & Salomon embraces with ardor the feminist American songbook. They cover it with loving-kindness tinged with a minimalistic music and with a deep and incandescent chant. Their first album A Woman’s Journey reveals a graceful and unexpected reinterpretation of a humanist and rebellious repertoire from Nina Simone to Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday and Josephine Baker.

Madeleine sings, Salomon sits at the piano. Madeleine & Salomon, a duo with a natural elegance, “less is more” is their essence. This homage to American female protest songstresses is enriched on stage by free improvisations inspired by screened dreamlike short films.

Madeleine & Salomon is the meeting of two artists with well-established musical visions: the pianist Alexandre Saada (Malia, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas…) and the vocalist and flutist Clotilde. Her previous album In Extremis has been ranked #5 NPR annual Jazz critics poll 2013 – Debut album category, US CMJ Week 1300 Top Adds #5 – 2013, #5 ‘Best Jazz’ music category 2011 by the SundayTime.

Long-term friends, they discovered, during a tour of Asia, in 2014, that they shared a common musical aesthetic and decided to form the duo Madeleine & Salomon stamped in impressionist poetry. They took advantage of the invitation of the Melbourne Recital Centre in June 2015 to rethink the American Songbook in their original fashion, and record their first album A Woman’s Journey. BANDCAMP.

'Swallow Song' is just a tiny glimpse of the duo's album 'A Woman's Journey', a little taste if you like, before you devour what is a fabulous album. If your in the mood for original, different and engaging wide appealing jazz centred music, you have arrived at your destination.

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MARCV5 - Gundelach - Son Little - Blue Rose Code

MARCV5 - Gingerman.

Background - MARCV5 on "Gingerman" J.P. Donleavy's "The Ginger Man" was written far before the beat generation movement and we really thought we had to make a song about it as it’s a real masterpiece. For all of us, this is our favourite single from the album. The song came almost naturally to us. For the video, we just set up a camera in front of our actors, put the music on and let them spontaneously do their thing. Following our director, the casting was just perfect, disciplined and well organised. The 8 actors represent very well the diversity of Brussels.

MARCV5 (pronounced MARCUS) are Stephane Matten, and brothers Davy and Geert Standaert. They formed over ten years ago and achieved great success in their home country, Belgium, as well as in various European countries. Their first album "God Save The King" was released in 2008, followed by several singles such as "15 Feb." (2011), "Weekendancer" (2012), and "Mystique" (2014). After recording their first album, MARCV5 went on the road playing throughout Europe. On more than one occasion, the band performed 3 gigs in less than 48 hours, traveling over 1500 kilometers by tour bus.

They have shared the stage with artists such as Selah Sue, Chromeo, Aeroplane, Vive la fête, and Boys Noize. The band also hosted a radio show for 4 years on Belgian's radio FM Brussels. With influences from the likes of Vitalic, James Holden, Leonard Cohen, Red Zebra, Camper Van Beethoven, and Cocteau Twins, MARCV5’s music is a fusion of post-punk, dance and electronic. You can expect fast BPM's, noisy guitars and distorted voices. The trio focuses strongly on live performances as they purposely build up the atmosphere using heavy synths and thumping beats.

“We Can Do More” is MARCV5’s second studio album. It was recorded largely during trips to Brighton, Düsseldorf and their hometown Brussels in the long drawn out days of winter. Capturing the lethargic mood at the time, every song on the album has its own story that intricately links together in some form or another. A hybrid of rock, electronica, and punk influences, “We Can Do More” is held together with an honest look at humanity and the new challenges each of us has to face in the future. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Opening with a swirling synth and soon followed by spoken vocals 'Gingerman' quickly builds into a solid electro piece with some biting edge. Rock without the guitars, or electronic with attitude, you decide.

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Gundelach - Duck Hunting.

Background - Having gained recognition with the release of his debut EP as well as his latest collaboration on ‘Games’ with a fellow Norwegian artist ARY, 2018 is looking very promising for Gundelach. Taken from the forth-coming ‘Baltus’ LP, ‘Duck Hunting’ is just one piece of Gundelach’s sonic buffet which showcases his intricate creativity. Built on a variety of analogue synths, the single reflects on love, relationship and hope as well as depression, fear and numerous insecurities haunting the individual behind the lyrics.

Recorded between Oslo and London with Knut Sævik (Mungolian Jetset), John Calvert (Ghostpoet, NAO), and Øyvind Mathisen (Cezinando, Nils Bech) as co-producers, this Nordic-noir analogue-electronic piece is beautifully topped with Gundelach’s effortless Bon Iver-esque falsetto.

Kai aka Gundelach says: “The song is about being in a relationship, about being depressed and having someone helping you through it. I was listening to “I’m on fire” by Bruce Springsteen on repeat all summer and wanted to channel the feeling of that song with a song of my own. I sat down with my Juno 60 and had it ready in no time. Ultimately it’s hopeful but still sad. I named the demo “Duck Hunting” because it symbolized nostalgia to me and it just stuck. I used to play that game on my Nintendo, with the plastic gun and everything.”

‘Duck Hunting’ will be available for sale and download from 19th January followed by the ‘Baltus’ LP out everywhere on 16th March. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Duck Hunting' is a gorgeous song, where the falsetto vocals exude a level of intensity that really does give the track an addictive and natural feeling. The refined synthy background just adds to the piece. I guess if you are going to be influenced by a Bruce Springsteen song, the least you can do is aim for gold!

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Son Little - Mad About You.

Background - “Can someone tell me if it’s wrong to be / so mad about you,” posits singer and songwriter Son Little on “Mad About You”, a yearning love song from his latest critically acclaimed full length New Magic. Watch Son Little aka Aaron Livingston navigate flirtatious moments and traverse deserted terrain in the song’s new video.

Son Little first came to the public’s attention through his collaborations with The Roots and RJD2, and has since toured with artists as diverse as Mumford & Sons, Kelis, Shakey Graves and Leon Bridges. In addition, he won a Grammy for his work producing a Mavis Staples EP.

GQ describes Son Little as “soul music for the hip hop generation”, and the tracks on New Magic certainly draw from the diaspora of American blues and soul that includes not only modern R&B, but also rock & roll and hip-hop. 

He then transforms them into a singular sound that is propelled by his mesmerizing and soulful vocals and production that artfully balances between rustic immediacy and hip hop cut-and-paste. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We spoke highly of Son Little's music back in September and 'Mad About You' just begs to get the same attention and applause. Soulful and just a little bluesy Son Little once again demonstrates sophistication and heart, with style.


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Blue Rose Code - Ebb & Flow.

Background - Blue Rose Code, aka acclaimed singer-songwriter Ross Wilson, released The Water Of Leith, his first album for Navigator Records, in autumn 2017. A host of stellar reviews culminated in the award for Scottish Album of the Year from The Skinny, whose 5* review stated: “each song fuses a multitude of elements to produce breathtaking beauty”.

Stand-out album track Ebb & Flow was released as a single on January 19, and described by Ross thus, “Above the entrance to the Scottish National Gallery Of Modern Art there is a neon sign that exclaims "Everything Is Going To Be Alright!". The problem that I have with that is I wasted so long waiting for everything to be alright, waiting for something to happen but now, the truth as I see it is that everything is alright. A subtle but powerful difference. There is nothing wrong with right now, that's what the song is about.”

A nomad both geographically and musically, Ross writes from the heart eschewing any specific genre and the twelve new songs on The Water Of Leith, addressing themes of love, loss, travel, home, accepting the past and embracing the future, are painted with colours of folk, jazz, soul and pop; an eclecticism that has become a hallmark of Blue Rose Code and has seen him compared to John Martyn, Van Morrison and Tom Waits. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We featured Blue Rose Code back in August of last year and the new song 'Ebb & Flow' is a most welcome follow up for Beehive Candy. The musical arrangement is beautiful, the vocals upbeat and engaging, and a feelgood vibe just cannot be restrained.


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Great Lakes - Glen Hansard - Heligoland

Great Lakes - End Of An Error.

Backgroud - Great Lakes emerged from Athens, GA roughly two decades ago, but the band led by singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Ben Crum has been based in Brooklyn since 2002. Formed in 1996, Great Lakes was initially part of the Elephant 6 Collective. The band's 2000 debut, mixed by Apples in Stereo honcho Robert Schneider, owed much to the psychedelic pop of the '60s, as did the band's second album, The Distance Between. 2006’s Diamond Times for Empyrean Records, however, offered a significant stylistic progression. Drifting away from the psychedelic milieu, the band's sound took on country and folk leanings, with “Farther” reminiscent of both Wilco’s and Teenage Fanclub's more straight-ahead moments.

By 2008 Crum had become the sole original member of Great Lakes, and the band's fourth album, Ways of Escape, reflected a further shift into singer-songwriter-oriented country and folk. It also brought with it a change in personnel, as Crum was joined by drummer Kevin Shea, vocalist Suzanne Nienaber, keyboardist Joe McGinty, guitarist Kenny Wachtel, bassist David Lerner, multi-instrumentalist David Gould, and pedal steel player Phil Sterk. This same lineup returned for the band's 5th album, 2016's Wild Vision, which delivered what many reviewers called a creative peak for Crum and Great Lakes.

With the band's 6th album, Dreaming Too Close to the Edge, Crum, Shea, Nienaber, McGinty, Sterk, Gould and Wachtel return with a record that feels both like a natural progression from Ways of Escape and Wild Vision and hearkens back a bit to the band's earlier work. Of the album Crum says, "Somehow it feels like the third, and probably last, album in a three album run of thematically-related records, though I didn't consciously plan it like that." Of the album's sound, Crum notes, "I wanted Dreaming to sound like I'd imagine it would have sounded if Television, Big Star or the Velvet Underground had made a record that sorta leaned in a country-rock direction." Opener "End of an Error" starts the record with brash rock and roll, with its cold, reverb-y mood evoking The Jesus and Mary Chain and its wailing guitar calling to mind Nuggets-era '60s garage bands and the extended soloing of J Mascis and Neil Young. Next is "Mixed Blood," which finds Crum and company channeling The Faces and Brinsley Schwarz. "Minor Blues" will appeal to fans of Galaxie 500 and Luna and the '70s solo records of Ian Matthews and Dion.

The album's prettiest track,"Bury the Hatchet," is a finger-picked folk number; a darkly comic song in which Crum sings, "I'd like to bury the hatchet… in your back." It's followed by "To Live Is to Lose," featuring a guest vocal by Elf Power's Andrew Rieger and some Dire Straits-inspired guitar work from Kenny Wachtel. Side Two begins with the All Things Must Pass-influenced "Kingdom Came," with its steel guitar, and continues with the Heartbreakers-meets-country-rock sound of "Time Served." After the gentle, folk-y "Gold" and the angular pop/rock of "Awaking Up Together" comes the album's closer, "You Could Have Had Me For a Song." It's a fitting end to an album that, despite its varied styles, is a consistent expression of Crum's ever-evolving songwriting voice, and offers a hint as to the singer's worldview: "seek no one's blessing… there is no lesson." Great Lakes' Dreaming Too Close to the Edge is available April 6 2018, on Loose Trucks. FACEBOOK.

The first of ten tracks on Great Lakes 'Dreaming Too Close to the Edge' due in April is 'End Of An Error' a solid alt rocker from the opening moments. The vocals add character and lower the energy with the harmonies giving just a hint of Americana. The band can and do mix up the genres and with a fine core sound, make the whole thing something really good to listen and get into.

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Glen Hansard - Roll On Slow.

Background - Glen Hansard  celebrates his new release Between Two Shores via Anti-. Glen Hansard has also revealed the official music video for the album’s opening track, “Roll On Slow”

Glen Hansard described his inspiration to NPR revealing, “‘Roll On Slow’ was written while I was living in a former women’s refuge called the Florence Mission on Bleeker Street in NYC. My girlfriend was away in Europe and I was drinking too much. I was walking home from the Jonathan Swift bar at dawn, which was happening a few too many mornings in a row. The song is simply about missing your girl and being unable to take care of yourself.”

Directed by Piotr Kabat, “The video attempts to bridge the gap between animation and film. While it’s entirely hand-drawn, the organic and grainy look is inspired by classical movies shot on film.” Kabat added, “In terms of story we wanted to convey the vibe of a solo night out in New York. Getting kicked out of bars and hanging out in front of liquor stores ‘til sunrise just to escape from your own demons.”

Next month, Hansard embarks on a European tour in support of Between Two Shores, beginning at the Royal Festival Hall in London on February 9th. See below for the full list of shows; tickets available via WEBSITE. - FACEBOOK.

February 9th – London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall
February 10th – Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg (Ronda) SOLD OUT
February 11th – Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg (Ronda) SOLD OUT
February 13th – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique
February 14th – Paris, FR @ Le Trianon
February 16th – Zurich, CH @ Volkshaus
February 18th – Vienna, AT @ Gasometer
February 20th – Berlin, DE @ Admiralpalast SOLD OUT
February 21st – Berlin, DE @ Admiralpalast
February 23rd – Prague, CZ @ Divaldi Theatre SOLD OUT
February 25th – Brno, CZ @ Sono Centrum SOLD OUT

Flowing and with a groove that just draws the listener in 'Roll On Slow' mixes an excellent musical arrangement, that builds into something quite splendid, along with Glen Hansard's compelling vocals, that give the song so much more feeling and character.


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Heligoland - Coriallo (EP).

Background - Over the course of three albums, a series of EPs and singles, and nearly two decades of existence split between Melbourne, Australia and Paris, France, Heligoland have established and refined a distinctive sound and style awash with texture and emotion. Working at the margins of dreampop, slowcore, shoegaze, folk, and ambient pop, Heligoland’s music is characterised by expansive, layered arrangements and the soaring vocals of Karen Vogt.

In one sense, Coriallo marks the end of a journey for Heligoland. This new release is the final instalment in a series of EPs, each of which was written and recorded at different locations in the French countryside. The series began, almost by accident, when a week-long trip to a tiny village at the foothills of the Pyrénées turned into a writing and recording session. Heligoland’s most introspective, minimal, and atmospheric release, Bethmale (2012), was the result. The band subsequently traveled to another small town, this time amidst the rolling hills and farmland of central France. Recorded during the early days of spring, Sainte Anne (2013) is vibrant, vivid, and multi-layered.

Coriallo brings the journey to a close. Written and recorded at a former semaphore station on the windswept north-western coast of Normandy, this new EP is the most expansive release in the series. The immersive opening track “Ełk” and “Three” embody the fusion of “post-rock soundscapes with ambient textures and drone laced melodies”, as Drowned in Sound's Dom Gourlay has put it, that characterise the band’s best work. The shimmering “Orion” is dream pop at its most alluring.

Vocalist Karen Vogt scales new heights on Coriallo, contributing her most assured and captivating performances to date. EP highlight “Trust” and the delicate, hushed late-night atmospherics of “Anavo” provide the perfect platform for Vogt’s soulful ruminations and affirmations. The recordings from Pointe de Jardeheu in Normandy were produced and mixed by Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins/Violet Indiana), with whom the band are currently recording a new album scheduled for release in the second half of 2018. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Comprising of five majestic tracks 'Coriallo' is a gorgeous EP. Musically the bands lush and textured sounds are somewhere between dream pop and gentler shoegaze, vocally they are perfect for these genres adding emotion and beauty.


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Dhanya - The Spook School - Refrigerator - The Lost Brothers - System Corporation - A Certain Smile

Dhanya - Lesson.

Background - Born and raised in Venezuela, steeped in the ancient traditions of the East, living in the US, and traveling the world, sharing her powerful message, modern-day troubadour Dhanya is the female voice of the global, conscious music scene we’ve been waiting for.

Dhanya’s father, two-time Latin Grammy-winner Ilan Chester, had her playing piano and singing harmonies to Beatles songs while she was still in diapers. A self-professed music-nerd, her gift for poetry and singing blossomed in early childhood, and gave her a voracious appetite for music of all kinds. Her parents infused her with the teachings of the Bhakti tradition of the East, opening her ears and heart to the devotional sounds of kirtan, qawwali and other devotional musical styles. As a teen, Dhanya gravitated towards the burgeoning Venezuelan underground electronic music scene, expanding her influences into the electronic and experimental genre. Seeking to deepen her spiritual practice, she spent time living in West Bengal, India where she studied literature and the traditional devotional music of Bhakti; kirtan.

Dhanya co-produced her self-titled debut (due out 2/2/18) with acclaimed artists Robin Livingston, Ben Leinbach and Mayapuris, and the album features MC Yogi and renowned lyricist Bali Rico. Her soulful alt-pop aesthetic is counterbalanced with gritty electronic influences and Eastern instrumentation, including the mridanga drum, bansuri flute and esraj. Her sound marries East and West, modern and classical, speaking to her expansive musical range. Complex harmonies and uncommon time signatures are common place and Sanskrit verses intermingle with visceral poetry. “My lungs will sift the soil, filter water through my bones. All my organs like an organ with a hundred sacred tones” she sings over the 7-beat pattern of “Lesson.”

It is deeply exploratory album, as if Bjork collaborated with Ibeye and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan yet amidst the collection of mystical soundscapes, there remains a constant focus on Dhanya’s soaring vocals, which exhibit a personalized and exotic emotional range. “As an instrument, the voice is alchemical,” Dhanya asserts. “It has the potential to transform all feelings and experience into sound.” WEBSITE.

Musically this is tapestry of sounds intricately woven together to provide a fascinating backdrop for Dhanya to sing beautifully above. 'Lesson' is seven minutes of artistic inspiration.

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The Spook School - Body.

Background - The Spook School shares the third single and video from its eagerly anticipated third album Could It Be Different?, due Jan. 26, 2018 on Slumberland Records and Alcopop! in the UK.

If a debut LP is an artist’s introduction to the world and their sophomore release is their now-or-never moment, their third is their most cathartic: they’ve made it out, they’re here. Glasgow, Scotland’s indiepop optimists The Spook School, despite personal and political obstacle, made it out, and their latest full-length Could It Be Different? is here. It’s been a journey of self- discovery and feel-good realism; modern, dance-friendly indiepop fueling the fun. They made a name for themselves for their exultant and empowering pop, and now, they’ve shown real growth in nuance.

The Spook School are Nye Todd (guitar/vocals), Anna Cory (bass/vocals), Adam Todd (guitar/vocals) and Niall McCamley (drums). Could It Be Different? is a human release—a record full of the insecurities and anxiety that
arrive after self-awareness, in learning something new and potentially frightening about yourself. But at it’s heart is joy—there’s no desolation on the LP, because The Spook School manage to find light in moments of darkness. All things glum must pass—even if hope comes only in the form of acceptance.

“We try to take sad songs and not shy away from them, but come out thinking ‘things will change.’ Otherwise everything would be dreadful and I feel bad enough as it is,” Niall laughs. “We need a bit of light in our lives.” Adam agrees, “We started this for fun. We want our shows to be fun. We want the people who come to our shows to feel welcomed, and to have fun. There’s a bit of party in our songs, no matter what the subject matter is.” Why cry when you can dance? BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.

The Spook School are upbeat, energised and very addictive with 'Body' a fast paced indie pop meets rock type of song that oozes charm.


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Refrigerator - Cardboard Death Elevator.

Background - Refrigerator will release its eleventh full-length album, High Desert Lows, on February 9th via Shrimper/Revolver. Produced by Omaha-based songwriter Simon Joyner, who also plays and sings on much of the record, it features all of the group's original members (which include Shrimper Records founder Dennis Callaci and vocalist/author Allen Callaci.)

Album track "Cardboard Death Elevator" is minimal and melancholic, with Callaci's vocals front and center above a delicate mix of guitar, drums, and a haunting layer of strings and piano flourishes.

Refrigerator will celebrate the release of their new album with a performance at Pomona's dA Center for the Arts on March 3rd, to coincide with an installation of 100 hand-drawn "imagined" cassette releases on Shrimper. PRE-ORDER.

'Cardboard Death Elevator' calmly arrives with a stripped back musical sound, that nonetheless has a level of emotional feel to support the personal and melodic vocals.

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The Lost Brothers - Halfway Towards A Healing.

Background - The incredible earthy and organic new album ‘Halfway Towards A Healing’ from The Lost Brothers is stirring up a storm as it fast approaches release date, the 26th Jan. To accompany this suspense, The Lost Brothers are about to embark on their UK & International tour, kicking things off in London at the end of the month.

There is something special about two musicians in unison. Solo artists bear the brunt of pretty much everything – be it success or failure, joy or misery, it is all on their shoulders. Groups, meanwhile, are mostly perceived as ideal examples of democracy, when the reality is that they are governed by a benign dictator (if lucky) or a cruel despot (if not). Duos, on the other hand, are clearly in tune (and harmony) with themselves and each other.

As if proof were needed, take Oisin Leech and Mark McCausland as the perfect example. Having had previous lives in major label rock acts (respectively, The 747s and The Basement), the two Irish songwriters and musicians first met in 2007 after their bands had slowly slipped off the radar. “We both found ourselves at house parties in Liverpool,” recalls Oisin, “and discovered that we had the same musical tastes. We started writing songs together for fun – no strategies, no game plan.”

The musicians’ instinctive gravitational pull presented them with the ‘Lost Brothers’ tag, but the name quickly stuck. Indeed, as the songs began to develop, the name started to make even more sense: the music was knocking on doors looking for a home, while the delivery of the songs was hushed to the point where you had to listen very carefully for the beauty of (and melancholy in) them. WEBSITE. 

Halfway Towards A Healing Tour 2018:

January 30th – London – The Lexington
February 1st  - Sheffield – Picture House Social
February 2nd – Liverpool – The Leaf
February 8th -  Dublin – SOLD OUT
February 9th – Wexford – Wexford Arts Centre
February 10th – Waterford – St Patrick’s Gateway
February 14th – Belfast – The Black Box
February 15th – Carrick – Dock Theatre
February 16th – Virginia – The Ramor Theatre
February 17th – Ballybofey – Balor Arts Theatre
February 23rd – Limerick – Dolans
February 24th – Cork – Live At St Luke’s
March 11th – New York – Irish Arts Centre
March 12th – New York – Paul Muldoon’s Picnic
March 13th – 18th – Austin - SXSW

A rhythmic blues feel introduces ‘Halfway Towards A Healing’ as it slowly moves along. The vocals are centre point and inviting, the atmosphere is everywhere, this is one big invite to come and get the album!


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System Corporation - Apathy Is Easy.

Background - New Zealand rock outfit System Corporation have announced their new maxi-single ‘Apathy is Easy’, following up their widely acclaimed debut single 'Dismal Universal Hiss'. Here they give us a second taste of what is to come on their anticipated debut album ‘Fiction Dept.’, expected in late 2018. System Corporation are Scott Newth, Kent Newth, Ben Cole, Phil Somervell and Andrew Newth

System Corporation began in 2011, based on a conversation between Phil Somervell (The Datsuns) and their long standing engineer Scott Newth about swapping demos. The two were sharing a flat in Stockholm while The Datsuns were working on their fifth album ‘Death Rattle Boogie’. The two were eventually joined by Datsuns’ bandmate Ben Cole (also in The Joint Chiefs) on drums, and Andrew and Kent Newth (Rumpus Room).

The new single was inspired by poor voter turnouts at elections around the globe. "This touches on how political leaders try to sway you one way or another.  But the idea that Apathy Is Easy stems from the growing number of people who don't vote, as they don't feel they can make a difference, or none of the leaders speak to them or for them, or they just don't understand politics and so do not participate," says Scott Newth. 

"The chorus "Apathy is easy, Our numbers are growing, All we have to do is sit and wait" sums up the futility of the situation.  That the apathetic have the numbers to make a change, but just don't due to their own apathy. It's a catch 22." WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

The vocals almost plead for your attention on 'Apathy Is Easy' whilst the indie rock swirls around with intensity and builds into a landscape of potent rock & roll.

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A Certain Smile - Mexican Coke.

Background - Thomas Andrew is one of those humans who is pretty humble about his shenanigans but it’s fair to say that, in addition to bringing the indie-pop fans of Portland, Oregon, closer together by taking over the turntables every week at the Toffee Club Sunday brunch and doing a radio show on Freeform Radio, he has put together a band that is keeping the fuzzy, jangly indie-pop flame circa 1991 (think Slumberland and Sarah Records) alive in 2017.

It is not wrong to say that Andrew is the bandleader of A Certain Smile, which has existed in a way since 2002, when he and his best friend Tom Fleischer were in a shoegaze band called Ports of Call. Some of the songs on Fits & Starts, the brand-new debut album from A Certain Smile, date back to their college years (2002). Andrew and Fleischer spent some post-college time in Philly where many of these songs originated, and Andrew moved to Portland three years ago when his then-wife took a job there.

“It’s called Fits & Starts because that’s how it came together,” says Andrew. “I wrote most of the songs or the initial parts. A lot of songs on there have been bouncing around for a long while.” The record features songs that had plenty of time to percolate, and that’s a good and rare thing these days. Fleischer is no longer in the band, but he co-wrote such tracks as “Smile,” “Summer Blonde,” and “We Want the World.”

Andrew has been playing in bands since he was 16. He may be the primary songwriter, but on A Certain Smile’s Bandcamp page, he credits at least nine people with helping him write the nine tracks on the debut. Even though A Certain Smile had existed in some form since 2002, it didn’t become a real band until 2015, when he recruited Zach Selley, Dustin White and Andy Disney. WEBSITE.

Loud and straight to the point 'Mexican Coke' blast along with vibrant guitars and an urgent beat, whilst the vocals are a little more measured as they soar above.

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