Background - Melbourne four-piece, Mustered Courage, have positioned themselves in the forefront of Australia's bluegrass genre. The Golden Guitar Award winning and ARIA nominated band are set to release their fourth studio album, and first new album since 2015 titled "We Played With Fire" due for release on in September. The single "When We Played With Fire" leads the album's release and is available for download now.
Remember back in the day? The old gang? Some of those memories are a bit hazy to say the least. Washed out in a combination of time and tonic. These days, with social media, it's easier than ever to do your own Where Are They Now segment on your old high school friends. Yet for some, no profile pic is necessary and the memory today is as vivid as it ever was. This is a song to one of those people. Those that we've loved and lost and the memories that remain. Young love and crazy teenagers and reminiscing on everything in between.
Having signed many record deals for their previous releases, Mustered Courage decided to stay independent with this album and were keen to involve fans in their recording venture, running a crowd funding campaign that raised over $15,000. "We are very proud to be independent again and more excited about our new album than ever before," says Guitarist Julian Abrahams.
Known for their energetic live shows, Mustered Courage will hit the road for a series of national tour dates to support the album's release from October 2018. WEBSITE.
Thursday October 11 2018 - Lefty's Old Time Music Hall - BRISBANE, QLD Friday October 12 2018 - Bison Bar - NAMBOUR, QLD Saturday October 13 2018 - Dusty Day Out - DUSTY HILL VINEYARD, QLD Friday October 19 2018 - Wesley Anne - NORTHCOTE, VIC Thursday October 25 2018 - The Newsagency - SYDNEY, NSW Friday October 26 2018 - Smith's Alternative - CANBERRA, ACT Wednesday November 7 2018 - Creatures Next Door - FREMANTLE, WA Thursday November 8 2018 - Settler's Tavern - MARGARET RIVER, WA Wednesday January 23 2019 - Tamworth Hotel - TAMWORTH, NSW Thursday January 24 2019 - Tamworth Hotel - TAMWORTH, NSW Friday January 25 2019 - Tamworth Hotel - TAMWORTH, NSW
Back in May we featured the track 'Run To Paradise' commenting that "this feisty and vibrant piece mixes some superb musicianship with natural sing along vocals, in a word, class." With the bands new music and video share for 'When We Played With Fire' they continue to impress. Sophisticated musicianship is clearly a hallmark of their sound, the vocals matching naturally, and the video confirming the commitment of Mustered Courage to produce superb music.
Background - “Gravity” is the second single that the Bronx-based experimental pop band Brooks Thomas are sharing ahead of the release of their new album Poison (out September 21st). “Gravity” is an emotional track about being stuck in a place that seems impossible to transcend, mentally or physically. In conjunction with the new single, the band has also announced their hometown album release show, which is taking place at Mercury Lounge on September 22nd (w/ support from Oliver Kennan, Pueblo and Miserable Chillers).
Brooks Thomas concocts unconventional hazy electronic R&B that's inspired by classic soul and artists like Dirty Projectors and Miguel - disparate influences that share a common thread: intensity of feeling. Exploring new ways to reach those emotional heights, producer Danny McDonald began programming beats and pushing their bassist Rocky Russo towards experimenting with pedals to change the textures, along with having their dual singers Colleen Cadogan and Arianne Lombardi create three-part harmonies that deviate from the standard 1-3-5.
What they recorded at home became a script for their live performances, where fresh colors and depths would be discovered as they translated the digital maelstrom into an organic setting. Those recordings would then get re-digitized, spliced together and warped as Danny reworked the production. Poison's opener "Fade In" for example, features the live recording of an old song Colleen wrote about Danny played backwards over a reversed saxophone sample. It ends with harmonies pulled from the penultimate song, "Gravity", unintelligible in their manipulations. All of it lives as a creative feedback loop, the recordings affecting the live show affecting the recordings.
Life was affecting the music too, of course, but not in a way Danny nor Colleen were conscious of. Though they weren't aware of it yet, these songs were about the end of their romantic relationship. Drugs and alcohol mixed with denial to shield the musicians from the truth of their own work. However, getting to share that dissolution with their bandmates in such intimate fashion has only strengthened them as a band. Together, Brooks Thomas has taken everything from their uptown world -- their helter-skelter neighborhood, the flowing alcohol, their sundry influences, the prolonged heartbreak -- and distilled it into Poison. WEBSITE.
'Gravity' opens with some understated synths, a varying beat and upfront vocals that are soon accompanied by complimentary harmonies. The song might not pick up pace, but the atmospheric vibes slowly unfold, and a brief refrain signals the moment for energy levels to up the mood and feeling.
Background - Emerging Leeds outfit Far Caspian deliver atmospheric pop offering The Place, the next single taken from their upcoming debut EP, out via UK label Dance To The Radio this autumn.
Staking their claim as one of Yorkshire’s hottest new indie prospects, the band’s latest hazy anthem sees the influences of Real Estate, Grizzly Bear and Band Of Horses seep into their sound, combining to dreamy effect and likely to draw further acclaim throughout the online community.
Lead by frontman and guitarist Joel Johnston, the Irishman now residing in Leeds alongside fellow band members Jof Cabedo (drums and vocals) and Alessio Scozarro (bass and vocals), Far Caspian’s infectious songwriting approach explores his transition to life in the UK and the upheaval that ensues.
“We wanted to have a track on the EP that was based more on intricate rhythms but instead we went for a pretty stripped back arrangement so it made sense alongside our other tracks”, the trio stated. “The song itself is about overthinking things in social situations and feeling like you aren’t contributing enough to conversation because you’re feeling awkward”.
With recent singles Holding On and Let’s Go Outside blowing up online, the three-piece are firmly establishing themselves within the indie landscape - support slots alongside Her’s, Indoor Pets and when young in the autumn following their debut appearance at Leeds Festival later this month. FACEBOOK.
Despite the stripped back nature of 'The Place' there is a richness to the song. It's tuneful and the laid back indie vibes are abundant, with the clever rhythm arrangement adding a further dimension to this piece.
Background - Ricky Lewis shares the second track "TV on a Tiny Screen" from his upcoming album. Ricky Lewis has always been a sucker for romanticism and nostalgia. Maybe it has something to do with being raised by the television. A latch key kid of the 90s. John Hughes movies over microwave dinners. Mythical levels of youthful melodrama, its hope and its agony, blaring over car speakers on stoned summer nights in the middle of nowhere New England. The kind of town you either never leave or escape while you can. There was nothing to do but move to New York City.
Lewis dabbled in odd jobs all the while documenting this new life with an almost nightly ritual of songwriting, something he had stumbled upon as a teenager when his uncle gave him a cheap guitar and showed him a G chord. Burrowed in Astoria, what might as well have been a continent away from downtown, the solace songwriting provided felt like enough to get by, but eventually the swiftly gentrifying city caught up with him. Waiting tables wasn't cutting it and Ricky came close to having to pick it all up and move back home.
He was pretty much packing his bags when, like an apparition, a young woman he could have sworn he'd met before came into his life. Within weeks she suggested he move in to her Astor Place loft overlooking Broadway and 8th Street. Herself a burgeoning visual artist, the two kindred spirits had found in each other a muse. Somebody to bounce ideas off of, to challenge, to impress. There was a brand new city opening before Rickyʼs eyes.
Time passed, bands were started and ended, gallery shows opened and closed, small artistic victories came with setbacks- bigger bills to be paid, aging family members to take care of. The couple that had once shared a quickly worn and earmarked copy of Patti Smith's Just Kids grew apart as personal projects took on more weight. This was a breakup, and it hurt. WEBSITE.
Ricky Lewis has distinct and likable vocals that give 'TV On A Tiny Screen' something of a head start in their own right. It's something of a singer / songwriter track immersed in alt rock clothing, and it subtly works it's way into your life.
Background - LA-based Beauty in Chaos has announced the debut album ‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’. Born of frustration and creativity, this is an audio assemblage curated by LA-based guitarist Michael Ciravolo and produced by Michael Rozon. This colossal work is previewed by the lead single ‘Storm’ featuring Ashton Nyte (The Awakening, MGT).
The debut album ‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’ features numerous luminaries in the music world, both as co-writers and performers. Apart from Ashton Nyte, these include Wayne Hussey (The Mission), Simon Gallup (The Cure), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Al Jourgensen (Ministry), Pete Parada (The Offspring), dUg Pinnick (Kings X), ICE-T (Body Count), Michael Aston (Gene Loves Jezebel), Michael Anthony (Van Halen), Dirk Doucette (Gene Loves Jezebel), Pando (A Flock of Seagulls), Evi Vine (Evi Vine), Betsy Martin (Caterwaul / Purr Machine), Marc Danzeisen (The Riverdogs), Kevin Kipnis (Purr Machine / Kommunity FK), Rudy Matchinga (Red Scare), Johnny Indovina (Human Drama), and Tish Ciravolo (Stun Gun).
“I look at this as an evolving entity that I am the ‘curator’. For this album, ‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’, I am the only guitarist and no keyboards are used, but you will hear loads of textures created from guitars and effect pedals. This is a convergence of textures and styles that I envisioned blossoming,” says Michael Ciravolo.
"Assembling, or in some cases, disassembling beautiful soundscapes, melodies and chords, while injecting harsh bursts of sonics … or visa versa. Light in the dark, dark in the light is the contrast that helps in realizing the goal of creating something musical that is also very visual and cinematic."
Originally from New Orleans and now based in Los Angeles, Michael Ciravolo has played guitar in Human Drama for the past 30 years, most recently on ‘Broken Songs for Broken People’ (2017). Perhaps best known as President of Schecter Guitar Research, he has also played live and recorded with Michael Ashton’s Gene Loves Jezebel since 1998, along with Tish Ciravolo (wife and founder of Daisy Rock Guitars).
The lead track 'Storm' was co-written with and features vocals by Ashton Nyte, who also collaborates on another two tracks on this album. This, like many of the tracks on this album, features layers of alternative rock bliss, crowned by powerful and penetrating vocals. WEBSITE.
'Storm' is a vibrant alt rocker where Ashton Nyte's vocals and the lyrics add a timeless goth dimension. Musically tight and polished the guitar adds some melody, and as a first taste for the debut album, this really is impressive. Considering the cast of characters mentioned above that are also involved, anticipation is set very high.
Background - Papercuts announces its sixth LP overall and first for Slumberland, Parallel Universe Blues, due Oct. The video for the album's first single, "Laughing Man" is up now and the band launches an east coast tour opening for longtime pals and collaborators Beach House.
Since emerging in San Francisco's fertile early-00s indie/folk scene, Papercuts' Jason Quever has released 5 stellar albums that have become touchstones of quality modern pop. Equally at home with lush, baroque textures and more stripped-down arrangements, Quever's song-writing is always top notch, the production tailored to the songs with great sensitivity. His skill in the studio has helped him build-up an enviable resumé recording, producing and playing with artists including Luna, Beach House, Cass McCombs, Dean Wareham/Dean & Britta and Slumberland's own The Mantles. His sonic influence is clearly in evidence on those recordings, but it's on the Papercuts albums that we hear Quever up close and his most personal.
Papercuts' new album Parallel Universe Blues reflects Quever's recent move from long-time musical home San Francisco to Los Angeles and all of the searching and self-exploration that accompanies leaving your home, your friends and your scene. The sound is intimate and close, nicely balancing the sonic concerns of the last few Papercuts records. Album opener "Mattress On The Floor" is an Eno-tinged amuse bouche, droning and a bit mysterious. Next song and first single "Laughing Man" is a lovely slice of classic pop -- widescreen but not at all melodramatic, an impressionistic "love song, but maybe more about fragmented memory and fleeting attachments." Taken together, that opening pair sets the table for the rest of the album: perfect Spectorian pop songs echoed down through Lou Adler, Harry Nilsson, The Velvet Underground, LA's Paisley Underground, Spiritualized and The Jesus and Mary Chain. TWITTER.
Atmospheric dream pop song 'Laughing Man' is glowing with emotions, textures and imagination. It drifts forward with musical hooks everywhere, adding charm and warmth along the way.
Background - The Peppermint Club set to launch debut self-titled album; share new single 'Passing Through Your World'. The Peppermint Club's debut album is a masterwork of pastel-hued pop. Heartfelt and dreamy, each song is an intricately constructed soundscape – threading lush, airy vocals through a textured fabric of ethereal, neo-psychedelic rock. From its uplifting opener All Together On The Sun, through to its stunning Harrison-esque finale and current single Passing Through Your World, the album is as much a journey as it is a collection of songs.
Formed in Perth by Chris Chen (ex-Rainy Day Women) The Peppermint Club has evolved from an aspiring studio project into a formidable band. Their first single Everything Is Changing was awash in breezy vocal harmonies and a genuine, almost-nostalgic emotion. In an instant, The Peppermint Club established themselves as something far beyond a typical new band, picking up national airplay while creating one of the most ambitious debut albums of recent years.
Produced by Chris Chen and accomplished multi-instrumentalist Daniel Henry, the album is meticulously put together. Each song is not just a passing moment but a foundational brick in the greatness of the album; powerful on its own, yet inherently linked to the record as a whole. There are gentle ups and downs, but an overall steadiness and confidence that bears the unmistakable mark of sincerity. These songs have clearly come from someone's soul. WEBSITE.
Whilst it is easy just to reference the psychedelic characteristics of 'Passing Through Your World' which are gorgeous within themselves, the song has more to it than that. Gentle and refined, it merges pop and rock together along with a fine helping of nostalgic vibes from the music of yesteryear.
Background - Pioneers of a genre called ‘Trip Jam’, which fuses elements of Latin, funk, psychedelia, soul and hip hop music, Peluché are a troupe of intrepid troubadours whose freewheeling artistry already has them pegged them as a standout force in London’s rapidly diversifying sound. The trio have shared brand new single ‘Figure Me Out’ and announced their debut album ‘Unforgettable’, to be released on One Little Indian on September 28th. The album is already shaping to be one of the most distinct and vital British sounds of 2018.
Speaking about the track, Peluché said: “Figure Me Out was recorded straight to tape in the second take, and it was one of the first recordings we did for the album. Putting it straight to tape also brought out a kind of 70s warmth of the instruments, with the Rhodes, bass guitar and drums driving the song forward with a momentum. We felt like we had discovered a new groove in this song, something that day brought it out of us as we played.”
All self-taught musicians, they formed in 2014 through a beautiful stranger in a customer service encounter and quickly formed a strong musical bond through their love of jamming. Peluché jam in their self-built studio space in a garden shed, and always record the foundations of tracks live. Their live shows are partially improvised, drawing the audience into their unusual world. Their live video series, The Shed Sessions, shows an insight into this musical realm and have allowed the band to share new music and visuals directly to their fans.
Slippery Latin bass grooves, subtle instrumental flourishes, funk breakdowns, and a touch of magical lyricism a la Kate Bush or Cocteau Twins makes for an unforgettable sonic journey into the tinderbox chemistry of a group with a collective and deeply personal musical vision. Their obsessive and borderless consumption of wildly divergent styles has helped them to arrive at exactly where they need to be. Peluché have created a demand for music that only they can create, and that’s a surer sign of longevity than most bands with triple their experience could claim. TWITTER.
We featured 'To Be A Bird' back in June and 'Figure Me Out' makes for a welcome follow up. The driving musical pace and slightly slower and somewhat ethereal vocals, come together in harmony as once again the trios trip jam style works wonders.
Background - Swedish artist Many Voices Speak has announced the release of her debut album 'Tank Town' on 31 August via Strangers Candy. Following the release of first singles 'Necessaries' and 'I Saw You', Many Voices Speak has now shared new track 'Chances'. Of the track, Matilda says: "Chances is a reminder to myself that being a misfit’s just a sign that you’re too far from the place where you feel at home. It’s been important for me to remember that place always exists somewhere, so the will to change won’t win”.
Featuring the dreamy singing and songwriting of Matilda Mård, Many Voices Speak was born out of Mård's move from Stockholm to the smaller Swedish industrial town of Borlänge. Less distraction gave way to creative rejuvenation and a revitalized approach to music.
Mård found liberation in one of the Borlänge more unlikely places — the karaoke bar. It became a “free zone” for her, she says, “far away from my own self doubts and prestige about music.” After piling songs for years without ever releasing anything, she was relieved of the pressure she felt towards her own creations and began again as Many Voices Speak.
Her debut EP Away for All Time was released in 2016 and received early attention online with its nostalgic lead single "Video Child" and an airy cover of Rodgers and Hartz's classic "Blue Moon," garnering support from Spotify, Stereogum, Noisey, WNYC, Idolator and more, while landing Many Voices Speak highly on the Hype Machine charts and a poignant placement in Riverdale, and more recently on newly launched Netflix film "All The Boys I've Loved Before". TWITTER.
More modern musical techniques are merged with classic pop sensibilities as 'Chances' charms it's way under my skin with splendid layers of emotive hooks.
Background - Alpines’ third album Full Bloom is the high watermark of their career so far. It’s the consolidation of years of hard graft, as Bob Matthews and Catherine Pockson’s creative journey finds affirmation in staying true to their musical process. Alpines’ story is one of unwavering determination; after their initial tenure on a major label ended, they persevered to self-release their debut album Oasis, which proved to be a testament to their musical strength and craft. If their enchanting indie follow-up Another River saw the pair finding a new path, new album Full Bloom is a creative blossoming.
While their core influences have always revolved around the music they grew up listening to, Full Bloom is confidently eclectic in its frame of reference and comes across as their most sure-footed work yet. Prince, Aaliyah, Frank Ocean, Lauryn Hill, Aretha Franklin, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Kelela, ‘90s rave culture and Massive Attack are just some of the muses channelled in this new work. Pockson’s primary lyrical concerns are growth, ecology, and change (as the title suggests), alongside the everyday challenges of love, acceptance and hardship, making for a record that’s braver than its predecessors. Full Bloom is a long and difficult look at the world around us as well as a deep examination of our complex inner lives, and the accompanying insecurities and vulnerabilities.
Each song is built around a minimal piano idea, expanded on in the serenity of their Kingston-Upon-Thames studio: “There are tracks that lean more towards Catherine’s love of classic singer-songwriters and soul music, and others that are inspired by left-field producers and rap.” Add to the mix a wide variety of non-musical influences – Netflix drama The OA, architect Rachel Whiteread, contemporary fashion and art, – and it’s easy to see why Full Bloom overflows with innovation.
Alpines announce their return with their first single ‘Out Of View’. The track is a bassy saw wave before a breakbeat style rhythm that descends quickly, accompanied by Pockson’s deeply felt vocal.
"Out of View was written in a period of time when we were both feeling very free and wanted to experiment with new sounds and ideas with no pressure or expectation. The weight and grittiness of the beat contrasts to the soaring and anthemic vocal. We wanted this track to have that striking uplifting quality, we were inspired by classic 90s rave anthems and the power of those vocals and lyrics to lift people and transcend them to another place." WEBSITE.
Intricate beats and subtle synths lay a fabulous backdrop on ‘Out Of View' giving the delicious vocals so much room to soar, as they do with notable feeling.
Background - American singer-songwriter K Michelle DuBois has announced her new 'Harness' LP, slated for release in October. Ahead of that, she presents the lead single 'Wild Weed'. This is DuBois’ third solo release, following up her album ‘Astral Heart’ (2016).
Based in Atlanta, GA, Dubois' counts Blondie’s 'Autoamerican' and Divinyls among her influences, along with Stevie Nicks, Roxy Music, Flaming Lips, Grandaddy, and Fever Ray. DuBois’s live band includes Chandler Rentz (drums), Jim Prible (bass), André Griffin (keys) and Dan Dixon (guitar), who also recorded, produced and mastered this album at RCDC studio in Atlanta.
On ‘Harness’, DuBois balances the experimental with her innate talent for distinctive hooks. This is an indie pop-rock gemthat is sonic, rustic, and strong on harmonies. Although she remains anchored in hook-laden structures, this album pushes the experimental side of her previous work to new heights.
While most of DuBois’ solo output intertwines classic power-pop with 90s college rock, ‘Harness’ boasts a heftier sonic tone than her previous album ‘Astral Heart’ with its bouncy rhythms, jangly guitars and sing-song charm. While 'Harness' will be released across the main online stores and streaming platforms on October 12, the first single ‘Wild Weed’ will be available for streaming already on August 24. WEBSITE.
K Michelle DuBois vocals are palpably distinct and enticing whether she is softly singing or upping the energy levels. With 'Wild Weed' you get to hear her versatility and this rocker is crammed full of hooks that even at five minutes duration it ends to soon.
Background - Teenage Wedding just released their second album The Sophia of Teenage Wedding, a fun and dreamy pop album with a heavy noise influence, pretty songwriting, memorable lyrics and catchy melodies.
The album uses religious mythology, jungian psychology, and science fiction as a source material to express some universal human struggles like abandonment and identity.
The album is mainly inspired by Sonic Youth, Stereolab, Broadcast, Pavement and Victoria pop punk and post punk as well as bubblegum pop like S Club 7, Len, and Sugar Ray. The album is out now on Gary Cassette.
Teenage Wedding do very in Victoria, they have played shows with Wolf Parade, The Courtneys, Bridal Party, Woolworm, Peach Pit and regularly sell out shows across the west coast. FACEBOOK.
'Wow! Signal' is a sprightly indie rocker with plenty of bounce and some very catchy vibes throughout. The video is fun with just a touch of eccentricity, that works so well with this terrific tune.
Background - Having spent the last year relentlessly gigging in and around the capital, packing out venues and being heavily championed by Radio X & BBC Introducing, Dolls have spent the summer working with Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds / Grinderman drummer Jim Sclavunos on their new “Pop The Bubble EP”.
The 2-piece, comprising Jade (guitar and vocals) and Bel (drums and vocals), can today reveal lead single “Sugar Free”. A riotous example of their infectious grunge-punk, it’s a song on the bands views about “the use-and-throwaway society around us today, how superficial people's lives can be, and how rapidly people's values and what's on-trend can change”
Drummer Bel goes on to further explain, “It was a spontaneous song that came out of Jade's improvised guitar riff. When we were writing lyrics I had a sugar free drink and started thinking how people can get so peed off when they ask for diet coke and get regular. So it represents those kind of first world problems & concerns about how our worst nightmare could be something so shallow that it's just ridiculous”.
The “Pop The Bubble EP”, set for release in September 2018, marked the first time the band have worked with producer Jim Sclavunos whose production credits include The Horrors, The Wytches and Du Blonde. The result is 4 garage-pop anthems with as much sass as they have bite. Duel vocals bounce off each other effortlessly, capturing some of the awesome chemistry these two bring to their raucous live performances. "Pop The Bubble EP" will be released by iconic soundtrack labels Mondo/Death Waltz on a beautiful limited edition multi-coloured and etched vinyl LP and digital. The band launch the EP at Rough Trade East with an instore show on Monday 24th September.
Dolls have all the feisty flair a rock duo should have, and with their garage and punk leaning the attitude and determination is also present. So 'Sugar Free' is a two minute blast of expectation, delivered to specification, and some!
Background - Scott Lavene has released a new single, My Kinda Girl, along with a wonderfully psychedelic video featuring multiple Scott Lavene’s. The single will be out physically 27th September and supported with a 11 date UK tour including a date at The Slaughtered Lamb in London.
In Scott’s own words, “‘My Kinda Girl’ is a song about the early stages of romance when you’re noticing small quirks about each other’s personalities. You think “oh she loves pastries and jeans and so do I. We must be meant for each other.” Love is sick like that. It’s the most honest love song I’ve ever written.”
Born in Essex, Scott Lavene was raised on power ballads, punk and swearing. In bands since his teens, Scott travelled about, scratching out a living with deadbeat jobs trying to find something to cling to. After couple of years in France and a brief stint in New York, including a playing at the infamous CBGB’s Scott returned to London and came close to a major label deal with his sordid songs.
Instead Scott disappeared on a rusty old boat, a floating shed, for five years. Hiding from the world. Broke and bemused. Solitude and lonely debauchery. After five years of this Scott went kaput, so spent some time in a house for the bewildered where he emerged full of life and songs. A self released album in a band called Big Top Heartbreak led to being signed to Funnel Music as a solo artist. WEBSITE.
For all that Scott Lavene might have been through, he comes across as gregarious and outgoing on 'My Kinda Girl' a lovable song, with just a touch of cheekiness, something the video builds on further.
Background - Pure Bathing Culture have shared “Downtown Lights” (featuring Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard on backup vocals), ahead of a highly anticipated run of West Coast dates. The song comes from their full album cover of The Blue Nile’s Hats, recorded for Turntable Kitchen’s Sounds Delicious vinyl subscription series. OPB praised the new release, calling Pure Bathing Culture “virtually synonymous with glowing and bittersweet romantic songs.” This weeks release follows “Saturday Night,” the only other Hats track available outside the subscription series.
Pure Bathing Culture’s decision to cover The Blue Nile was beyond natural, nearly inevitable. Sarah Versprille and Daniel Hindman attribute their initial infatuation with the Scottish synth-pop heroes to Richard Swift, who produced the Portland duo’s debut EP. Sarah elaborates, “One morning before starting the session he asked us if we had ever heard The Blue Nile and played us a few tracks. We became immediately obsessed with their world of nostalgia and longing and the way the songs were simultaneously extremely sad at times but also intensely romantic and modern. It made us feel like the music we wanted to make was validated in some way by the fact that their music had already existed in the universe.”
Pure Bathing Culture boast a longtime reputation for spellbinding live shows. Sarah and Daniel played in the beloved Pacific Northwest band Vetiver before forming PBC. Since, they've released two full-lengths and toured alongside The Shins, Death Cab for Cutie, Father John Misty, Lucius, CHVRCHES and more. Next week, they’ll bring the infectious performance to the cities listed below, with a live band including Zach Tillman on bass and keys, Chris Icasiano on drums, and Justin Chase on keys. The West Coast shows will feature both Hats highlights and fan favorites from the full PBC catalogue, and hint at brand new, unreleased material. WEBSITE.
Gently flowing and melodic 'Downtown Lights' is a dreamy song that exudes intimacy and plenty of "late night vibes". The production is superb, this is one of those tracks that just draws you into the emotional feeling and refuses to let you go.
Background - The track, Medicate Me' is from Jeen's upcoming album titled Gift Shop which is set for release this September.
The LP was produced by Jeen herself and is titled "Gift Shop" because she's coming to terms with the necessity to put herself on display as an artist.
"Medicate Me" was "inspired by medical marijuana and also the fact that I'm pretty antisocial. This can be a challenge in the music industry when the whole point is to put yourself out there, so i guess it’s a bit of an ode to introverts too." - Jeen. TWITTER.
We featured 'Any Moment' by Jeen exactly a month ago to the day. Describing the previous track as a "feisty indie rocker," 'Medicate Me' if anything ups the power even more as it packs in a driving rhythm with the vocals melodically flying above.
Background - Canadian indie-rock trio Basement Revolver share the title track from their debut album, Heavy Eyes, which encapsulates the air of weariness pervading the band’s sound. The sleepy title “Heavy Eyes” sums up a general exhaustion right down to the bone, as well as hinting at a heavier direction as they deftly merge 90s infused indie rock with fuzzy dreamy pop and poignant, yearning lyrics. As songwriter and singer Chrisy Hurn explains; “Heavy eyes is about feeling really tired. And life is hard when you are really tired.” The trio of Chrisy Hurn (vocals, guitar), Nimal Agalawatte (bass, synth) and Brandon Munro (drums) embarked on their first tour of the UK earlier this year, with a tremendous set at The Great Escape Festival. Previous single "Baby" has been made Amazon UK’s Week One, added to Apple’s Nightcap playlist, and Spotify’s Indie Highlights. While "Knocking" was added to New Music Friday Canada, and “New Alternative” and “Melancholy Moods” on Deezer. Basement Revolver’s ascent to the spotlight has been a steady trajectory, capitalising on the success of their debut single “Johnny” in 2016. The track garnered endorsements from DIY Magazine and Exclaim! as well as respected tastemakers Gold Flake Paint, who hailed it a “‘favourite song of the year” contender. They were signed by Memphis Industries’ UK sub-label Fear Of Missing Out, who released their debut self-titled EP in 2016 with “Johnny” and their second single “Words” reaching the higher echelon of the Hype Machine chart and the EP flagged up in several end of year lists. They followed this up with the Agatha EP in 2017 where the single “Bread & Wine” reached the B-list on Radio BBC 6 Music and also garnered support from John Kennedy at Radio X. The band have racked up over one million plays on Spotify across the two EPs.
To record their debut full-length, the band returned to local studio TAPE where they had recorded both their EPs. They had build up a solid relationship with producers Adam Bentley and Jordan Mitchell, as they continued to hone their signature sound. It’s really the songwriting that makes Basement Revolver stand out from the rest. Assured yet open, beguiling yet honest, heartfelt yet playful. Unable to disguise the emotion in her voice, songwriter Chrisy Hurn shares intimate stories and personal wounds from her past. TWITTER.
The title track from the forthcoming album 'Heavy Eyes' is a solid rocker, with an aural assault that is the most powerful I have heard from Basement Revolver. Even with all of that the vocals manage to convey emotion and feeling.
