Artificial Pleasure return to Beehive Candy with 'Lose Myself Again' (we featured 'Side By Side Together' last September). The new track mixes synth pop with deeper rhythmic vibes along with some notable, indeed splendid vocals. === Chris Pellnat has a new album entitled 'Rain'. Chris has appeared here as a solo artist, band member and also with Erin Pellnat, the one consistent in all guises is the quality of the music. New album 'Rain' takes us on a creative and variety packed journey, we have a video for the title track along with the full album below, enjoy! this is another really good collection. === We have enjoyed many artists down the years who have a day job along with their musical activities, however introducing a couple of CERN scientists takes us into new territory. Despite that Haneke Twins get our attention because of the music and 'River' is a fabulous post punk piece with that extra something that seals the deal.
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Artificial Pleasure - Lose Myself Again.
With their recent tracks ‘Side By Side Together’ and ‘Into The Unknown (Pt. II)’, Artificial Pleasure are gearing up to make the breakthrough they deserve. With both tracks previewing their upcoming second album, they’ve earned fresh plays from Gary Crowley at BBC London and Jess Iszatt at BBC Music Introducing, plus Seattle’s renowned KEXP.
They’ve also taken their attention-demanding live show to fresh faces, headlining nights curated by Andy Backhouse and Hidden Herd as well as a gig as guest to MF Tomlinson. The band were also recently nominated for INES, a project that seeks the best new talent for a range of key European festivals and music conferences.
Building upon their growing profile, the London trio now share their brand new single ‘Lose Myself Again’. It’s a tense, anxiety-fuelled march of cinematic synth-pop and leftfield industrial rhythms - a fusion of modernist and retro electro that would feel equally at home on the soundtracks to ‘Blade Runner’ or ‘Stranger Things’. The song also features backing vocals courtesy of Jylda, who previously collaborated with the band on ‘Boys Grow Up’.
“‘Lose Myself again is a song about the depths of depression, how it can control you and how lost you can feel,” says the band’s frontman Phil McDonnell. That concept is highlighted by his anguished vocal delivery in lyrics such as, “I just know it’s coming back.”
Artificial Pleasure’s Phil McDonnell (vocals/guitar) and Dom Brennan (synths/production) are life-long friends. By the time they were adults, their individual projects didn’t share much common ground: Brennan was producing ear-bleeding electronica while McDonnell was playing the hugely demanding repertoire of Frank Zappa in a touring cover band. But friendship and a shared passion for music overcame such expectations, and they recruited jazz/funk specialist Lee Jordan to provide the grooves to complete their vision for Artificial Pleasure.
Longtime friends, work colleagues and old bandmates, the two CERN scientists — originally from Greece, based in Switzerland — decided to form Haneke Twins and record their first EP in 2018.
Haunting baritone vocals blended with eerie but catchy guitar licks resulting in a “Bauhaus/Joy Division meet Interpol” debut album. 2020 finds Haneke Twins with a brand-new 2-track single, precursor of their upcoming album expected to be out later this year.
Haneke Twins are Paschalis Vichoudis (vocals and bass guitar) and Stefanos Leontsinis (guitars).
Pike & Sutton have really impressed me these last couple of months and return for a third time this year with 'Let The Music Get You High' and once again their soulful vocals and bluesy rock feel are just incredible. === Californiosos have released 'Captain's Got A Brand New Heart' with a suitably matched video. Their described as psych-jazz-folk duo, the song explains that wonderful combination, better than I can. === We have the latest single fromHannah Georgas entitled 'That Emotion' where her melodic vocals and a refined rhythmic backdrop work beautifully together. === We featured Grace Gillespie twice last year and now we have her latest song 'Goodbye' and it's an intimate, exquisite folk singer-songwriter piece. === Jett Kwong just released 'Tokyo Bath' and it's a sultry, emotional and personal song with a fabulously arranged musical backdrop.
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Pike & Sutton - Let The Music Get You High
Austin-based duo Pike & Sutton will release their debut full-length album Heart Is A Compass on April 3rd. Led by "hometown favorites" (Austin American-Statesman) Patrice Pike and Wayne Sutton, the band has evolved out of the longtime alternative rock band Sister 7. Today they shared the video for their new single "Let The Music Get You High," which Austin Chronicle called "a testament and ode to friendship, collaboration, and an abiding mission."
"Let The Music Get You High" is both an ode to music helping us all transcend our challenges in this life and lift each other up no matter how hard things get. The young dancer Azula who is featured in the video, along with her sister May May, represent one of the recipients of the Step Onward Foundation (co-founded by Pike) who is now getting her masters degree and raising a family.
The video depicts a couch which represents the furniture at-risk families take with them from place to place as they try to establish a home in a world that is constantly becoming less and less affordable. Azula expresses through her dance the myriad of feelings teens experience through the frustration of just wanting to turn 18 and have rights to be on their own and take control of their path. This is represented in the 18 marks on Azula's forearm.
California mystical psych-jazz-folk duo Californiosos releases a music video for the single "Captain's Got a Brand New Heart." It follows the release of their self-titled album that was released on February 20th via Independent Release. The project is the brainchild of Farmer Dave Scher and Michael Vest. Farmer Dave is known for his work with acts like Jenny Lewis, Cass McCombs, Kurt Vile, Vetiver and Father John Misty.
With 14 generations of Golden State living under their collective belts, Michael Vest and Farmer Dave Scher aka Californiosos are naturals at bringing the nouveau, cosmic, West Coast jazz-folk-psych sound. Listen as they open the portals to mysticism, classic exotica, secret ancient-future mystery-history, connection to The Goddess, and much more. Positive vibrations and transcendentally-timeless poetic language make every track highly nutritious while strangely edifying.
The ten-track album takes the listener on a full journey through space and time, asking as many questions as it answers and exploring a wide range of musical styles. From the ceremonial shell blasts of “La Concha” to the final giggling elves of “Little Spinning Planet”, you are sure to be opened, amazed, entertained, and amused (possibly even simultaneously).
Hannah Georgas is sharing her latest single "That Emotion," a first glimpse of a forthcoming collaboration with producer Aaron Dessner, best known as a founding member of The National and for his production work with artists like Sharon Van Etten, Frightened Rabbit, This Is The Kit and Local Natives. For Georgas, who spent much of 2019 touring as a part of The National's live band on their tours in support of their album I Am Easy To Find, the track is her first release on a pair of new labels — Brassland, the imprint co-founded by Aaron & Bryce Dessner, and Toronto indie stalwart Arts & Crafts. A display of Georgas' capacity for crafting textured pop songs that confound expectations, the single is an engaging showcase of a hugely accomplished songwriting voice.
The fruit of a relationship born from a long email correspondence between Georgas and Dessner that began before the release of Georgas' well-received 2016 LP For Evelyn, the pair's work together began in Dessner's upstate New York studio in 2018. “Aaron and I agreed the production needed to bring out the truth in my voice," says Georgas. "I always felt happy with my songs but during these sessions we found something else—musically a new warmth and depth and, vocally, a delivery that is more raw and expressive, allowing the emotion of each song to shine through.”
Their musical chemistry is immediately clear on "That Emotion," where Georgas' plaintive vocals are enveloped by an expertly designed arrangement that builds and pulses as Georgas' melody unfurls. "This song is a portrait of one particular way that emotions can build up inside," Georgas explains. "You’re going through the motions, suppressing how you really feel, and pretending things are ok — but your body knows…that deep down life and worry can weigh you down in ways your head might not acknowledge. This song was inspired by the feeling of hiding emotions you would like to express but feeling alone."
Grace Gillespie is a London-based artist and producer originally from Devon, who spent much of 2017 touring as part of the live line-up for 4AD’s Pixx. In 2019 Grace received PRS’s WMM funding and consequently released her debut EP ‘Pretending,’ which garnered support from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, Clash and Earmilk.
Some of her notable live shows include supporting James Morrison at Dingwalls, Camden and headlining a stage the folk stage at Tipping Point festival in Newcastle. Her first two singles found their way onto Spotify’s ‘Fresh Folk’ playlist and received extensive support from Apple Music, appearing on their ‘A-List’ and ‘Best of the Week’ playlists, as well as backing from NME, Crack In The Road and The Wild Honey Pie.
She has received radio plays from BBC 6 music as well as being a featured artist on BBC Introducing London. Her early demo of ‘Restoration’ saw her tipped to Q Magazine by Newton Faulkner and brought her to the attention of Kaleidoscope, who worked with her to produce her first solo releases in 2018. Her sound takes influences from the folk, psych and dream-pop traditions, providing a backdrop to her intriguing vocal melodies, shifting harmonies and introspective lyricism.
Tidbits about song and video- I wrote this over two trips to Japan. The initial idea came from lavender bath water my first time in Tokyo. The second time around I traveled to an onsen in the mountains, and was soaking in this beautiful outdoor pool in the mist, hoping to feel exalted or something.. of course I didn't, and actually felt kind of miserable.. but that in and of itself was sort of the transcendent moment! This is all coupled with a vision of a Hollywood party (specifically one in Laurel Canyon that Father John Misty might host...), and feeling excluded, laughing at the ridiculousness of it all... yet also feeling bad about NOT being included and wishing to have a piece of the pie. For the video we focused sex/racial tensions.
Jett's work is colored by themes such as family, her identity as a mixed heritage woman, and the complexities of colonial history. “Our identities are colored by the context in which we are in - the way we grow up, our appearance, and our basic interests and beliefs”. It is through this belief that she channels her desire to seek out the true roots of individuality.
Sonically influenced by a variety of sounds from different eras, Jett’s music is built from pieces of the past with an essence of the future. With the desire to spark conversations about identity, the singer/songwriter confides, "I am inspired to tell not only my and my family’s histories, but a broader story of culture -to be a conduit for those stories and to find more innovative ways to express them."
Empowered by issues surrounding women’s rights, social and political reform and questions around justice, Jett hopes to contribute towards conversations for affecting change. Having performed at prestigious venues including the renown Carnegie Hall, Jett Kwong is ready for the next installment of her journey.
The Electric Mess share 'Last Call' where the bands ability to mix up the rock genres results in this glorious hook laden piece. === Beachtape latest song is 'Somewhere Better' which exudes laid back rock grooves. === Yusuf Sahilli shares his first single 'In The City' taken from his forthcoming album. Both vocals and the musical arrangement are refined on this enticing track. === Brendan & the Strangest Ways make their second appearance here in less than a month with 'We Can Beat Mercury' another fabulous country rocker. ===The Hideaways power up with 'Luminescence' a dominant rocker where even the reprises throb with angst and power. === We have already featured the first two singles and now Clem Snide returns with the third entitled 'Some Ghost' preety much ensuring the forthcoming album 'Forever Just Beyond' is a must hear. === Finally today we have Nicole Atkins and 'Domino' a fabulous modern pop song with an addictive groove throughout.
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The Electric Mess - Last Call.
NYC's rock & roll outfit The Electric Mess serve up a vibey, dark psych-pop single and accompanying music video titled "Last Call". A haunting chorus and memorable break combine for an immersive tune. It comes off their upcoming fifth full-length The Electric Mess V (Soundflat Records) due out April 17th.
"Last Call" opens with a bright guitar lick, quickly moving into an addictively catchy bass groove. Vocalist/keyboardist Oweinama Biu wastes no time jumping into a lyrical tale - pulling listeners ever deeper. "Last Call is dark and poppy, and gets great reactions at our shows," shared the band, making it a natural single ahead of their upcoming release.
Guitarist Dan Crow wrote the song a number of years ago, "about some things that went down in the house I lived in my senior year at college." The lyrics reflect on the outcomes and consequences of choices, lost friends, and what's left at the end of the day, asking "what are you going to do now?". The song came together with heavy sonic inspiration from The 13th Floor Elevators.
The accompanying video was inspired from 80's style MTV music videos, cutting between story-line shots and the band's performance. The band utilized local spots throughout New York City for a DIY approach to further bring the track to life, letting listeners still take their own interpretation
The Electric Mess defy a singular genre, blending elements of 60's garage, 70's punk, psychedelic pop, new wave, and high energy rock and roll into all of their performances. Lead vocals are shared between Biu and front-woman/rhythm guitarist Esther Crow, providing fantastically unique powerhouse of vocal teamwork. The band has a signature sound, yet always keeps listeners on their toes for what's to come.
Channelling the shifting perspectives we encounter over periods of change, ‘Somewhere Better’ is the latest scratchy, sunny indie-rock gem from Brighton quartet Beachtape. It’s being used to announce a new EP, ‘Bigger Picture’, out via CRC Records on April 10th, ahead of which they’ll be heading out to Austin to perform at SXSW.
The four-piece occupy a similar space to Happyness or Willie J Healey in recourse to the stilted, slacker-Americana of Pavement, Wilco and Dinosaur Jr, with a distinct beach-pop sheen adopted from their Brighton base. Their songs cover the fuzz of early-20s anxiety, a transitional phase of life with peaks and troughs dictated by paradoxical moments of drive and listlessness.
The gradual drift into changing circumstances, and the way this offers pause for thought, is the theme in the cross-hairs specifically on ‘Somewhere Better’:
“It’s about change. The inevitable changes in our future, and reflecting on changes from our past. The idea of something feeling so significant in the moment, but becoming so insignificant over time and vice versa. Our lives in and outside of the band have changed a lot over the last year and we’re all in completely different places to what we may have imagined a year ago.”
Whilst the band’s usual laidback style remains, there’s an added sense of subtle urgency, born out of its last-minute addition to the EP: “We wrote this song the day before we got in the studio and had to get a last minute practice the night before to figure out the parts. It was fresh and unprepared, and was the moment we found the final puzzle piece to this EP.”
"In the City" is the first single taken from Yusuf Sahilli’s new album Let’s Do That due out June 5th, 2020. The single comments on consumption in modern society and how difficult it is to break the cycle. Russian animator Gosha Loshadkin brings the story to life by using Icarus from Greek mythology as he battles to make a healthy, well-balanced living - but will he be able to resist the temptations of modern life?
Let's Do That is completed by a video trilogy all animated by Gosha, starting with "Icarus Falling" (21 June 2019) followed by "In the City" (6 March 2020) and finishing with "You're It" (5 June 2020).
“It makes fun of music videos where artists try to show off their wealth with scenes like women in a pool being showered with money,” says Yusuf on the video for "In The City". “The song criticises the bank system that offers loans to people but also shows a society in a hamster wheel working from 9-5, never able to pay off their interest rates. We never see the horizon or the big picture in the city. Everything's fast and volatile. Too much noise. With light pollution now we can’t see the stars anymore. For centuries the saying "looking at the stars" was standing for hope. Especially in Berlin, there are so many contrasts. People try to live healthier lives, there are so many yoga clubs opening up, sometimes several in the same street. At the same time we're seeing more and more pubs and fast food outlets. We live healthily and then we reward ourselves with junk food, cigarettes and alcohol.“
Brendan & the Strangest Ways - We Can Beat Mercury.
Brendan & the Strangest Ways announces the release of the “We Can Beat Mercury” video directed by Omeri Monroe (Tuneworks Media). Through a talent-show-gone-wrong, the video takes on the satirical struggle of an independent musician trying to find an audience. The single is off the album due out later this year.
As any talent show observer knows, it’s often spectacle that grabs attention above everything else. While Brendan Shea earnestly sings his song of hope and optimism, it’s the spectacle surrounding him that gets the judges nodding their head in approval. Nothing is too over the top: ballet and sequined dancers, kickboxers, hoop jugglers all join the mix.
Shea says, “The video pokes fun at the song’s message. ‘We Can Beat Mercury” was intended to be hopeful, optimistic and earnest.’ The video allowed an opportunity to reinterpret those ideas and tell a story where the protagonist, while perseverent, never gets to overcome his obstacles.”
About Brendan & the Strangest Ways - Brendan Shea adopted the moniker Brendan & the Strangest Ways to create music for the restless spirit. Heartfelt reflections comprise the songs: loves and losses experienced over countless miles traveled in search of something that always felt just a little out of reach. Early in 2019, Brendan and the Strangest Ways broke ground on the sophomore album Are We Sure The Dawn Is Coming? at County Q in Nashville. In October 2019, Brendan connected with veterans of Buffalo’s alternative country scene and former members of the band Bareback Jack: Tommy Bijak (electric guitar), Pete Wilson (drums), Paul Belardi (bass) and Kenny Blesy (steel guitar) to reform the Strangest Ways. The members backing Shea on Brendan & the Strangest Ways have done stints in Nashville recording and playing live. In their previous band, they opened for Marty Stuart and Charlie Daniels.
A combination of raging guitars and driving rhythms alongside dark electronic and subtle trip-hop influences … The Hideaways return with new single ‘Luminescence’. Produced by Matt Glasbey (Editors, Marmozets).
"I reckon Luminescence is a spot on example of what we're about musically" says frontman Danny Pugh. "When we're writing we always try to stick a few left turns in tunes that might catch people off guard a bit. That's what we wanted to get from mixing the psychedelic, eerie choruses with all the snarl and noise in the verses. Then for the outro we just wanted something massive that'd give everyone a proper melodic smack in the face".
The Hideaways also continue to build their reputation as a ferocious live act, having supported established names like Shaun Ryder and Little Comets alongside sharing stages with such up and coming bands as Fangclub, BERRIES and Football FC.
Clem Snide, the moniker of Eef Barzelay, shares the new single "Some Ghost" from his first album in five years, Forever Just Beyond, out on March 27 via Ramseur Records/Thirty Tigers. Scott Avett, who produced the record, co-wrote and provided harmonies on the new single as well. "I have not had much luck over the years in my (few) attempts at co-writing," states Barzelay. "But with this one Avett and I just vibed hard and it came together as quick as you please! We both share a deep respect for the unknowing part of the process. It all starts in the dark but then the door was unlocked all along."
"Some Ghost" is the third single from Forever Just Beyond. The second single "Don't Bring No Ladder" was spotlighted by Nashville's Lightning 100 while the first single "Roger Ebert" was described by Rolling Stone as "a pretty, probing ballad that contemplates the mysteries of life...Clem Snide uses Ebert’s epiphany to make something that is wildly abstract, both relatable and comforting”.
Roger Ebert's wife Chaz even heard the song and wrote on RogerEbert.com thanking Eef for the song about her husband, "I was astonished and moved when I listened to 'Roger Ebert,' the new song inspired by words of my late husband, which serves as the lead track on Forever Just Beyond. If Roger's words in any way served as an inspiration to Clem Snide to not give up, it makes my heart overflow with joy. And Clem Snide (Eef Barzelay), I bet Roger appreciates it too."
The road to Forever Just Beyond, Barzelay’s stunning new album under the Clem Snide moniker, was an unlikely one, to say the least. “About ten years ago, everything just seemed to fall apart,” he explains. “The band bottomed out, my marriage was crumbling, I lost my house, and I had to declare bankruptcy. That started this process of ego death for me, where I realized the only way to survive would be to transcend myself and to try to find some kind of deeper, spiritual relationship with life and with being. Once I committed myself to that, miraculous things started to happen.”
Some miracles were financial (a superfan in Spain, for instance, sent Barzelay an unsolicited thank-you-for-the-music donation that covered the exact amount he desperately owed his bankruptcy lawyer); other miracles were more intangible. Roughly four or five years ago, as Barzelay struggled with how and if to carry on, a fan sent him a video of Scott Avett singing a Clem Snide song in front of a massive audience. Shortly after that, another fan sent an interview in which Avett raved about Clem Snide’s music. It seemed like a sign from the universe. “I had just hit this low point where I realized I couldn’t do it alone anymore,” says Barzelay. “I passed along a little message and a new song I wrote to The Avett Brothers’ manager, and Scott wrote me right back to say what a fan he was.”
During the writing of her upcoming album 'Italian Ice', Nicole Atkins experienced a freak sinkhole accident turned life-altering revelation that led her to a new mantra: “Don’t be a bystander. Take action. Speak up. Make something. Live.” To this effect, the Jersey Shore-bred musician had a bold idea she’d typically brush off as unattainable: fuse the funky strut of her beloved French Electro music with the Italian Ice’s analog-focused Boardwalk Soul. And do it in Muscle Shoals, AL.
Atkins channels this fresh sound and attitude into 'Domino', a genre-pushing mission statement for living fully in trouble times. Citing additional inspirations like Prince and 'Miss You' by The Rolling Stones, Atkins delivers a groove-heavy pop gem with the utmost swagger: “I’m not gonna play / Safe and sound / When the world comes tumblin’, tumblin’ down.” In that respect, 'Domino' is not only the radio single off 'Italian Ice', but the vehicle for its central themes.
Like each of the eleven tracks on Italian Ice, 'Domino' was recorded at the hallowed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio with a group of her “best musical friends” – who just happen to be Jim Sclavunos and David “Moose” Sherman of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Dap-Kings’ Binky Griptite, and drummer McKenzie Smith (St. Vincent, Midlake) – along with Spooner Oldham and David Hood of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Co-produced by Nicole and Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes), Italian Ice also features special guests Britt Daniel, Seth Avett, John Paul White and Erin Rae, and songs co-written with Daniel, Hamilton Leithauser and Carl Broemel.
Nicole Atkins is a songwriter and performer with a fearless and frank style. Fans of Atkins’ previous release Goodnight Rhonda Lee include Rolling Stone (which before named her a “Top 10 Artist to Watch”), Uncut, Mojo, NPR, and American Songwriter. In addition to writing, recording, and playing music, the Nashville-by-way-of-Asbury Park musician is an art school graduate who specialized in wildlife illustration and is an active painter. Nicole has also shared her original artwork with fans through her newly-launched Patreon page, Natkins Funhouse. Fans who join will have access to items from Nicole including hand-designed monthly calendars and seasonal 8x10 art prints - as well as exclusive content like unreleased videos, demos and brand new covers. Step inside the Natkins Funhouse on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/natkinsfunhouse
The Caress have released 'The Grave' today and it's one gorgeous song where a refined shoegaze guitar arrangement backs some beautiful vocals. === Dutch singer-songwriter Marle Thomson shares 'Castles' where the uncluttered musical backdrop is just right for her soulful melodic vocals. === Thrillhouse share their brand new track 'Lesser' which is a crisp rhythmic and catchy alt rocker. === It's an absolute pleasure to be able to share today's album release from Ani Glass entitled Mirores. We featured the title track back in January and everything that song promised has been delivered across this blissfully wonderful collection of music. === Last month we featured 'The Mountain' from The Danberrys and today they have shared the title track 'Shine' from their forthcoming album, which again has some natural rock & modern Americana sensibilities. ===Alt rock band Tourists have released 'Smokescreen' a swirling atmospheric and hook filled song, with that play me again feel way before the piece ends.
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The Caress - The Grave.
The Caress are a London-based alternative five piece, taking the wall of sound guitars of shoegaze, harmonies of 60s girl groups, and the kitchen sink lyrical sensibilities of Ray Davies to create their own brand of melodrama.
Formed in 2018, and off the back of support shows with Fontaines D.C., Talk Show and Far Caspian, The Caress’ string of self-released singles to date have received airplay on Steve Lamacq & Gideon Coe’s 6 Music drive time and recommends shows, editorial playlisting on Spotify and press coverage in the likes of Clash, culminating in a slot at 2019’s All Points East Festival.
Written whilst listening to The Beach Boys’ ‘Pet Sounds’, their latest release, ‘The Grave’, sees the band take their sound in an expansive and atmospheric direction. Lyrically, the song reflects on childhood memories of visits to the resting place of a family member.
Following the release of ‘The Grave’, the band will release two EPs in 2020, with the first collection of songs to be unveiled in May.
Dutch singer-songwriter Marle Thomson is one to watch! With her warm and colorful voice and guitar sound, she brings soulful songs about longing, vulnerability and having the courage to open yourself up. Soulful Space Pop, as Thomson calls it herself.
Marle Thomson already made fame in The Netherlands with prominent performances and a well-received 8 track debut EP. She played live on Dutch national radio, prime time Dutch national television, performed at various festivals and stages such as Amsterdam Fashion Week, internationally acclaimed festival Eurosonic-Noorderslag and also as opening act for British singer Heather Peace and Australian singer Mark Wilkinson. In 2018 Marle went on her first ever UK tour.
Previous single ‘Satellites’, an unprecedented, striking song written, recorded and produced by Marle herself, was immediately picked up by UK blogs Music Week, Guestlist and Clash Magazine. Castles is the second single from the long awaited and much anticipated new EP that will be released this spring. The soulful sound of Castles creates a unique universe full of beats, loops, guitars, keys and vocals: a mix of power and vulnerability.
Marle Thomson about her new single: "Castles is a song about dreams. Future dreams that might fade and maybe turn out to be different than dreamed. Do we dare to accept that? Dreams might crumble and are formed into something new, like sand castles. It can be difficult to let go of the image we had, or to say a loving goodbye to someone, without knowing what the future will bring."
When we fall, we fall
Your name in the palm of my hand
We let go, we’re letting go
Crumbling castles made of sand.
Brighton’s alt/indie bedroom whizz kids Thrillhouse return with their second single, Lesser. Lesser follows debut single One of These Days, which grabbed all who heard it, including Radio X’s John Kennedy, half of the DJs at KEXP, and Amazing Radio.
About ‘Lesser’ - Now the attention turns to Lesser. The song is a reflection on the ups and downs of life and how it can often feel like an uphill struggle - “I’ve been swimming under water, against the tide, for a long time”.
There is sincerity in the words, but a sense of playfulness in the music that reaches its joyful peak in the gaudy (but glorious) synth solo at the end of the song (a nod to Talking Heads’ exuberant live performances). The honesty in the lyrics and optimism in the music come together to create a truly uplifting and moving listening experience.
Released on Seymour Butz Records, the track was recorded primarily at home, and then completed at The Silk Mill, Staffordshire.
The new Ani Glass album, MIRORES is finally released today (6th of March). With its tapestry of electronic sounds, elliptical melodies and samples threaded into a song cycle, MIRORES is based around the idea of movement and progress - one which takes us on a journey around her hometown of Cardiff. You can hear Ani’s recorded sounds of the urban landscape throughout; the movement of traffic and people and the magical yet infrequent sounds of nature coming together to create the score of a city’s symphony.
MIRORES also represents Ani’s first foray into production. Having been inspired by her experience of working with Martin Rushent during her time as member of indie-pop group The Pipettes, Glass has spent the past few years teaching herself the art of recording and production.
Glass' sound is inspired by many leading electronic and avant-garde artists and producers of the 1980s including Martin Rushent, Giorgio Moroder, Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre and Arthur Russell whilst the album’s wider themes are inspired in part by the works of abstract painter Agnes Martin and the author and activist Jane Jacobs. Despite some of the album’s heavier themes, Ani maintains a strong pop sensibility throughout, most certainly cemented during her time as member of R&B pop group Genie Queen – managed by OMD’s Andy McCluskey.
Husband and wife Americana duo, The Danberrys, officially released their single “The Mountain” in February. The song quickly drew praise, with American Songwriter noting their musical shift to an “...outlaw country style with pivoting riffs and beats.” Now, The Danberrys slow it down and explore the weight of trauma in their latest single, and album title track, “Shine”, out this Friday on all streaming platforms.
“Shine” lyrically delves into the process of healing from childhood trauma. The Danberrys carefully crafted the track to convey the mining for one’s innate divinity by mending the pain from the darkness. Reflecting on the creation of the single, Dorothy Daniel says, "'Shine' is about finding forgiveness when there has been no justice, no apology, no explanation - forgiveness for the sake of releasing yourself. It's about journeying steadfastly towards the tiny seed of light within and setting it on fire. The lyrics reflect the hard-earned skill of existing in more than one place within yourself once, learning to accept and even embrace the dichotomy of darkness and light."
Not only is “Shine” the title track off The Danberrys’ upcoming album, releasing May 8, 2020, but also the second official track release from the project. With 12 new tracks, "Shine" departs from their signature acoustic sound to capture elements of rock, blues, and folk. This new musical direction lets the pair venture into a darker atmosphere as well as allowing their self-written lyrics to stand tall. Shine will mark The Danberrys’ third full-length album.
Currently, The Danberrys are elated to release "Shine". To continue exploring the meaning behind “Shine”, The Danberrys will be releasing a music video for the track. Directed by Scot Sax, and filmed on Dorothy Daniel’s family’s land in Charlotte, TN, the music video will depict the story of a child escaping and healing from a nightmare. Be sure to check out The Danberrys on social media and check out "Shine", once available on all streaming platforms.
Tourists share their enveloping and driven new single Smokescreen today. It’s the second single following Align (Oct 2019), to be taken from Tourists’ long-awaited debut album Another State, mixed by producer Daniel Schlett (The War on Drugs, DIIV, Here We Go Magic), and set for release late 2020.
Tourists are a five-piece from Torquay whose sound is a distinctive strand of dark melodic dream-pop which combines elements of shoegaze and synth-pop with a deeper-rooted post-punk influence.
New single Smokescreen is indicative of the band’s more driven, darker side, created with a deliberate urgency emphasised by its persistent drum beat and siren-esque guitar riff. The song explores the Western world’s consumerist culture, one that controls and distracts us from what is important. The song took inspiration from Graham Hancock’s banned TED talk ‘The War on Consciousness’ which explores the hypocrisy of drugs laws, and what Tourists describe as “the repression of our rights to a meaningful experience that gives us an alternative perspective on our lives and our true meaning.”
Prior to the release of Align and Smokescreen, Tourists released a string of singles to introduce their sound to the world. Their Cut and Run (2016) single landed in the Spotify Global Viral 50 chart earning over 500,000 plays, receiving support from tastemakers such as DIY and Clash, culminating in Tourists playing to a packed-out tent at Glastonbury Festival on the BBC Introducing stage in 2017. The band spent the following year writing and then recording their debut album Another State, with aforementioned Daniel Schlett in his Brooklyn studio.
Jaunt release their second single 'Delighted To Be Spoken To' ahead of the debut album 'All In One' due in April. The new song is full of delightful and creative twists and turns. === Glass Cristina share 'Bali' accompanied by a beautifully matched video, the ambient and intricate nature of the song makes their May album release something to anticipate. === Belfast band Junk Drawer are another band with a new album on the way and have teased us with 'Temporary Day' a genre defying track where Krautrock rubs shoulders with rhythmic psychedelic vibes. === Canadian act Partner are gearing up for some live U.S. shows and have also shared 'Good Place To Hide (At The Time)' which is a feisty and fresh rocker of a song.
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Jaunt - Delighted To Be Spoken To.
Toronto-based six-piece Jaunt are set to release their debut album All In One on April 16th. The band formed in 2016 as a casual recording project that, upon the release of their debut E.P Chat, became a local overnight sensation. Now, word is spreading with their last few singles gaining support from the likes of Lauren Laverne at BBC Radio 6 Music and Matt Wilkinson at Beats 1.
Jaunt share Delighted To Be Spoken To, the second single to be taken from their upcoming full length album, a song about resisting self-pity by developing a practice of gratitude for the fleeting, simple, joyful details of life. The accompanying video co-directed by Pia Perez & Sylvain Chaussée of Toronto filmmaking and production house tranquilo Production (formerly FUEGO!)visually reflects that sentiment. The video is the first in a series of 6 tableaus depicting mundane, yet vibrant and playful environments caught, slowed down, under a microscope, on repeat, and in reverse. In the first of the series we explore a moment with Caitlin - wavy and coiled.
Recorded over three years and engineered in collaboration with BADBADNOTGOOD drummer Alex Sowinski, this collection serves as a travelogue for the band’s growth. All In One celebrates connection, creativity, and adaptation all passed through the lens of desktop pop sensibilities and an endearingly adventurous spirit. Equal parts experimental and infectiously raw, faintly electric and distinctly exposed, the cornucopia of styles and sounds presented in All In One find itself glued together by a palpable and unique sense of understanding and friendship.
A trip down memory lane might credit Jaunt’s beginnings to an elixir of coincidence and surrendering to try something new. Pat O’Brien, now the band’s guitarist, met future lead singer and songwriter Tom Helliwell at a Halloween party, striking a friendship that manifested across a few years of jams and shared musical creations. Somewhere along the way, Pat booked a show out of the blue, the band released their first EP, “Chat”, and Jaunt had graduated from a digital manifest of closeted collaborations to something tangible. Keyboardist Daniel Reardon entered the fold for the band’s first performance, followed closely by the addition of drummer Duncan Hood and bassist Nick Nausbaum.
Jaunt’s artistic palette, social circle, and resume developed quickly and organically, alongside their time active in the Toronto music scene. Duncan’s friendship and collaborations with Alex Sowinski intersected with Nick’s ties to the Montreal ecosystem that produced breakouts like Homeshake and Yves Jarvis; this further fostered creative community and opportunities to tour and record on top of groundwork already established by Pat, Tom and Daniel. Duncan and Nick began performing with Charlotte Day Wilson as her backing band and would cross paths with vocalist and video artist Caitlin Woelfe-O’Brien playing similar venues. A friendship was sparked, Caitlin contributed her voice to coloring the band’s second EP, Cue, and now is a full-time member of the group. By this time, Jaunt had become a well-oiled machine: a synergetic sextet fueled by earnest ambition and artistic momentum.
Following the success of their previous single 'Kings Of Nowhere', the latest release from Glass Cristina is 'Bali' - a hypnotizing single, fuelled with constant ambient energy. With a typically ambiguous yet stunning video, featuring the masked characters for which they have become synonymous, it’s another opportunity for audiences to watch the on-going metamorphosis of one of the world’s most exciting, imaginative bands.
Glass Cristina is the first band to be signed to Vegan Caníbal, an offshoot of renowned record label Blanco y Negro, Spain’s most successful independent record label, with over 30 years of success promoting the likes of Moby, Carl Cox and Sven Vath. The trio also recently performed at the 2019 Sziget Festival, alongside the likes of The 1975, Jungle, Twenty One Pilots, Foo Fighters, among others.
From Supermagic’s upbeat electro-soul to Icarus’ atmospheric synth bass lines, all the way to their last beachy-sax-led vibe single Tiramisu, we have seen an ever-shifting palate of colours and shades, something which will become even more apparent with the release of their album, Nudity, on 22nd May.
More than a passion project, Nudity is the result of a profound self-discovery through incessant work and composition for the band, showcasing an unrelenting evolution in both sound and identity.
Belfast quartet Junk Drawer announce debut album ‘Ready For The House’, out via Irish indie label Art For Blind on April 24th. Channelling the likes of Pavement, Silver Jews, Beak> and more with their shapeshifting sound, the four-piece veer between slacker-rock, post-punk, krautrock and swirling psych across 7 sprawling, chaotic vignettes. The announcement comes alongside the release of motorik new single ‘Temporary Day’. Built around a propulsive bassline, drum-beat and organ drone, fuzzed out guitars poke in and out as you get locked into its meandering, off-kilter groove.
Whilst the music across the record conforms to the abstract nature of the genre influences, the themes offer a blunt catharsis. Lyrical duties are split between brothers Jake and Stevie Lennox, the fraternal link resulting in sentiment that is two sides of the same coin. Both relate, with varying viewpoints, to similar ideas of malaise & self-worth, showcasing the transience of mental illness and touching upon the fragmented, distorted narrative that it brings with it. The early/mid-Twenties personality crisis is very much a prevailing mood.
Jake’s lyrical inclination tends towards the poetic, and he’s at the helm on ‘Temporary Day’. It chronicles a struggle with sexual identity and eating disorders, and the strain of the constant internalisation of these issues on mental health. As he expands: "'Temporary Day' is about having a temporary day of relief from all the horrible feelings I usually have. The fog ascends briefly & I can think clearly for a time. Also about my face not being puffy from burst blood vessels because I hadn't thrown up in a day or two."
Jake no longer suffers from bulimia, and it is from this viewpoint of healing that the record is best understood. Though the subjects tackled are darkly personal on the whole, the writing of the album was therapeutic for the group, and at moments of warmth and colour this hope is felt. The four-piece have had a lot of acclaim in their native Ireland, becoming the first DIY act ever to win a Northern Ireland Music Award for Best Single, as well as live slots with icons in Mclusky, Built To Spill and Grandaddy. They’re also responsible for spearheading a community of Irish grassroots artists with vinyl compilation 'A Litany of Failures', which has become an institution.
Sharing instruments during sets, each member of the band is a multi-instrumentalist, and they are: Stevie Lennox (Guitar, Synth & Vocals), Jake Lennox (Guitar, Synth, Bass, Drums & Vocal), Brian Coney (Guitar & Bass) and Rory Dee (Drums, Guitar, Bass, Synth, Piano & Backing Vocals). ‘Ready For The House’ was produced by Chris Ryan (Just Mustard) and is out via Art For Blind on April 24th. New single ‘Temporary Day’ is out March 5th.
“How could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads?” - Plato
"You find yourself in a room with a locked door. You have always been there. It is all you have ever known. You have no reason to believe you could leave, no reason to believe you would ever want to. And then one day you hear the murmurs. Faint at first, you can’t make out the words. But their very existence tells a truth that you have always known. There is something else. And you search and search and just when you are feeling spent and the bright beam of hope has faded to a glimmer, it reveals itself to you, miraculously. The key. And so you cast aside your doubt and grin with victory. But when you slide the key in, behind the door there is another locked door. The search continues.
We wrote this song over the course of about a year. We had long wanted to explore the idea of hiding, of hidden truths. A chance phrase from our friend Alfred set this song in motion. We hope you enjoy our newest offering."
- Partner 2020
Partner, the loveable guitar shredding Canadian stoner goofballs Lucy Niles and Josée Caron are back and ready to rock, with a new single for a new decade. The band spent the end of 2019 in the studio and have some surprises for 2020. You can catch Partner on the road in the USA and at SXSW this month.
