Sunday, 4 January 2026

Wanderer - Brand New Box of Matches - Ulver

Wanderer - Time (EP) / Wake Up / The Door.

We came across Wanderer by chance on Soundcloud and it's always something special when curiosity for whatever reason leads us to a musical discovery that just sounds so good from the offset. Not having anything sent by a agent or PR company we have gleaned the following from their website. They have put up quite a few songs in recent days & weeks, here's a selection.  

Wanderer is an introspective musical project hailing from Germany, delving into the depths of psychedelic dream pop and indie rock. Their sound weaves a rich tapestry of floating synth pads, atmospheric guitars, and deep, hypnotic bass lines. Through their music, Wanderer explores themes of cosmic solitude, enduring love, and the profound journey of self-discovery.  

They also have a Manifesto: We are wanderers of invisible roads, crossing worlds within worlds — planets turning in silence, each carrying echoes of something lost. We move through cities of noise and mirrors, through the grand marketplace of vanity, where everything shines, but little is real. Here, souls barter their longing for the comfort of forgetting. Yet some keep walking. Not rushing, not chasing — just moving forward, guided by a pull they can’t explain. Beyond the surface, past what can be named or sold, there are quiet doors. They do not open with force.



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Brand New Box of Matches - Cold Tonight Here in Georgia.

Brand New Box of Matches is an award-winning independent bluegrass band out of Knoxville, TN. Elizabeth Sherman’s lovely vocals shine on haunting ballads and raucous honky-tonk inspired tunes, while Ryan Hardison’s catchy banjo & guitar playing along with his wry lyrics will have your toes tapping and face grinning.

The duo has three full length albums on CD and all the major streaming services.  2022’s Strike One is a collection of classic bluegrass and country tunes, 2023’s Flame & Water is a completely original album that covers everything from relationships to ghost stories to substance abuse.  Their original album, Light It Up!, was released on April 5th, 2024 and several songs off the album received significant radio play across North America, Europe and Australia.

Their latest original single (it's been out awhile but we love it), Cold Tonight Here in Georgia, is an exciting bluegrass tune that features Elizabeth’s powerful vocals and while Ryan provides some hot banjo picking. Written by Ryan Hardison & Elizabeth Sherman of Brand New Box of Matches in Knoxville, TN.


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Photo - Haavard Joergensen
Ulver - Neverland (Album).

Eclectic Norwegian cult act Ulver wish everybody a Happy New Year! by gracefully releasing their complete new album "Neverland" digitally on the day of New Year's Eve! Only the digital release of "Neverland" has been shared on December 31, 2025, while the physical release will arrive later on February 27, 2026. "Neverland", the fourteenth studio album by Ulver is the sound of an escape. A journey into undiscovered lands.

Following three albums – "The Assassination of Julius Caesar" (2017), "Flowers of Evil" (2020), and "Liminal Animals" (2024) – rooted in more traditional song and production structures, "Neverland" marks a new chapter in the revered Oslo band's history.

"With 'Neverland' we embraced a more 'punk' spirit – more dreaming, less discipline – freer, quite simply", the band comments on the creative process behind the album. Bursts of daybreak synths and whooshes of sound set the atmosphere, before the wolves start digging into the dynamics of ambient calm and anarchic mysticism. Dreamy and transportive textures develop into trippy percussive energies, and as the album unfolds, a lush and vibrant, and at times exotic space opens.

Apart from a few recurring distant voices and vocal chops, "Neverland" is a largely instrumental record, reminiscent of the mood and structure of that place where late '90s IDM sounds met the meandering structures of post-rock.


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Friday, 2 January 2026

Sydney Quiseng - Paul Boddy - The Gold Needles

Photo - Kelsey Runge
Sydney Quiseng - When a Good Thing Ends.

Echosmith frontwoman Sydney (Sierota) Quiseng, who is making a name for herself in the Country/Americana space, has released her new solo single “When a Good Thing Ends.” Capturing the dizzying heartache of watching something you love slip away and learning to let it go, “When a Good Thing Ends” showcases the emotive vocals and signature storytelling that have cemented Quiseng as an indie-pop superstar.  

“‘When a Good Thing Ends’ captures the heartache of watching something slip away, even when you see it coming,” shares Quiseng on the new single. “It’s that dizzy feeling of moving forward when your heart’s left behind. It’s a song for anyone learning to let go.”

From co-writing Echosmith’s quadruple-platinum hit “Cool Kids” to forging her path as a solo artist in Nashville, Quiseng’s journey has been defined by reflection, resilience, and self-discovery. Arriving on the heels of recent single “Coffee Shop in Kyoto,” “When a Good Thing Ends” is a new chapter in her story, offering listeners an unfiltered look into her heart and mind that carries forward the authenticity listeners have always connected with. Continuing her evolution as a solo artist, the universally relatable track leans into the emotional weight of endings to explore the uneasy space between holding on and moving forward when something meaningful begins to fade.

In celebration of her new music and the start of her journey as a mom-to-be, Quiseng and Echosmith will be performing at The Mint in Los Angeles on January 19 for a special, one-off show to celebrate her baby shower. The intimate evening will feature a full concert from Echosmith, solo songs from Quiseng, and a few fun surprises to celebrate this joyous moment with their hometown fans. 


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Paul Boddy - Soul Gone Blu' (EP).

Paul Boddy; Pennsylvania Blues Hall of Fame inductee, and SlideWinder Blues Band front-man, has been working on a solo E.P. This collection of Northern Soul songs helped define music for Paul while growing up in England in the 60’s and 70’s. The rhythm section is comprised of Aaron Comess on drums (Spin Doctors) Jack Daley on bass (Lenny Kravitz, Prince, Dana Fuchs) & Rob Clores on the organ (Black Crowes). Guests include Sonny Landreth, Jessie Wagner, Lynn Lockamy, The Cinelli Brothers, Mikey Jr. & Early Times.

One Hundred Years has been reimagined with Early Times providing dueling vocals and guitars, originally recorded by Freddy (later spelled Freddie) King on the Federal label. James Brown’s Chonnie-On-Chon permits Paul to stretch out on the slide guitar while answering to Mikey Jr’s soulful harp.

Every Dog’s Got His Day takes us south to NOLA where Eddie Bo penned this big hit. Paul is again joined by his good friend Mikey Jr. on harp. Tina and Ike Turner’s Cussin’, Cryin’ & Carryin’ On was a bit out of reach for Paul’s voice, so he is helped out here by Jessie Wagner from Little Steven’s band and Lynn Lockamy. So Is The Sun is a collaboration between Paul and members of The Cinelli Brothers. Marco Cinelli is singing with Paul, while Tom Jones plays the Harmonica parts.

Lastly, Need Your Love So Bad is a revisit of Peter Green’s masterful slow Blues. This track features Paul’s soulful fretted guitar during the intro solo. Then Sonny Landreth takes over on the slide in the middle section and the outro.


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The Gold Needles - Keep On Telling Me Why. 

Big Stir Records kicks off their 2026 release year with a single from the final 2025 album The Gold Needles' Mood Elevator as a potent reminder of just how much the new record from the British indie rockers brightened the end of the year. “Keep On Telling Me Why,” the fifth track from the acclaimed new album sees it's standalone release, today January 2 on all digital platforms worldwide.

The instrumental work on this track is infectious, hooks abound, and it has a party feel despite the lyrics touching upon the thorny subject of infidelity. It isn't a judgmental song, but an exploration of its causes and conclusions. 

Perhaps more importantly, it's an energetic rocker with an instantly memorable chorus and a fitting finale to the quintology of singles from Mood Elevator, which can now boast fully half of its tracks seeing standalone releases and noteworthy airplay in the US, UK, and beyond.  

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Monday, 22 December 2025

The Heavenly Bodes - Diët Spanglë - Maria Taylor ft. Dashboard Confessional - Delafaye

Things have as expected calmed right down on the new music front, so we will probably have a few quiet days before the new year. Here's some recent arrivals at Beehive Candy that we really want to share and we will be back if any surprises come our way before the year end. 

Photo - Ollie Carr
The Heavenly Bodes - A Shelf You Can Applaud At A Distance (EP).

Already digitally released the debut EP by The Heavenly Bodes is due for release on 10" vinyl hand cut in Kernow UK by Sam Stacpoole on 27th December 2025.

Here's a little background on this highly listenable and noteworthy band.. South Cornwall garage-psych-rockers ‘The Heavenly Bodes’ emerged through chance meetings at kernowbeat (formerly kernow psych society) shows in Falmouth. Formed in 2023 through a collective love of all things pebbles & acid-garage - a slew of limb injuries put the brakes on proceedings until summer 2024.

Cutting their teeth with opening slots for NZ Flying Nun heavyweights The Chills as well as LA fuzz stalwart Charles Moothart & His Fast Band. The band have been writing and performing continuously, with headline shows for Bad Vibrations and Label Mates, and festival slots including Glasgow’s Freakender.


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Diët Spanglë - They Think We're Stupid (EP).

It looks like we are staying in Cornwall as this gorgeous EP arrived at Beehive Candy just before the weekend, there is something quite special happening musically in England's South West, long may it continue. We are told Penzance based Cornish supergroup Diët Spanglë just released a surprise EP. 

Though the band has been together in some form or another for nigh on 8 years, "They Think We're Stupid" is this rag-taggle bunch of aging misfits debut recorded release. A veritable Venn Diagram of the West Cornwall music scene Diët Spanglë take on the challenge of covering their own songs - from the bandsDië Spanglë, Tremoans & Pondlife - then re-inventing them into an arguably more popular form!

Diët Spanglë are: Pondy - mandolin / bass / vox, Paulo - bass / harp / vox, Nige - baritone sax, Kenny - drums, Leo - guitar / bass / vox, Jojo - vox

With songs that consider potential alien landings in Pendeen, West Penwith, festival etiquette in the modern age where campsites are adorned with bunting to mark the territory of friendship groups. A song called Stoopid where wit meets cynicism in a takedown of consumerism and another purporting that the world's troubles could be settled by wrestlers this is clearly worth a listen, surely you agree? 


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Photo - Maria Taylor
Maria Taylor ft. Dashboard Confessional - Colorblind.

Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Maria Taylor releases a cover of Counting Crows’ “Colorblind” featuring Dashboard Confessional. The recording, produced by Mike Bloom, was given to Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz as a birthday gift two years ago. 

About the recording, Taylor explains: “A couple of years ago, as a birthday present to Adam Duritz, a group of friends decided to cover a few of his songs. Chris Carrabba and I met at Adam’s New York apartment years ago. We kept in touch and talked about collaborating someday. I texted Chris and told him that I was going to cover my favorite Counting Crows song, ‘Colorblind,’ and asked if he would want to sing it with me. He thought it was a great idea! That same night I went into my little home studio and recorded the dreamy guitars and vocals. 

I asked my good friend, Mike Bloom, to take it over from there and produce it. Chris sang it a week later and we finished it just in time to give to Adam for his birthday! Recently I came across this track and was reminded of how much I love it. I love the song, the production, and collaborating for the first time with Chris. I really love how our voices sound together. And to package it up beautifully, my friend (and artist) Alvaro Ilizarbe let me use his amazing art as the single cover. It was a collaborative project from start to finish.” Taylor’s cover of “Colorblind” marks her first proper song release since 2022 as she prepares to release new music next year.


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Delafaye - Twenty Dollars / I Can't Feel You.

Delafaye is well and truly back, returning with his last single 'I Can't Feel You', now comes 'Twenty Dollars', both recorded at his home studio in Jeffersonville, Indiana, with them being two of the most pivotal songs from his new EP 'Blue Light' which is coming in early 2026. 

The moniker of Andrew Shockley, born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Delafaye, now based in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and who records at his home studio named ‘Beechwood’, is an indie folk singer-songwriter, whose deeply relatable songs often come laced in melancholy, providing honest, raw, modern day reflections straight from the heart.



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Friday, 19 December 2025

Strawberry Alarm Clock - Dark And Twisties - Frank Rabeyrolles & Marin Esteban - Scarlet Tantrum

Strawberry Alarm Clock - Blow Your Mind / Live Water.

We have a brand new single out today December 19 from psychedelic rock legends Strawberry Alarm Clock that's much more a sign of things to come than a blast from the past. The single features not one but two never-before-heard tracks from the band: “Blow Your Mind” and “Live Water,” both bristling with fresh energy and previewing a brand new SAC album on the way in 2026. 

One of 2025's greatest and most delightful musical surprises came along with the scares of the Halloween season as genuine psych-rock pioneers Strawberry Alarm Clock returned with the superb new single “Monsters,” in truth a song for all seasons, and its trippy B-side “White Light”. Now they're back again, readily proving that those tracks were no one-off fluke with two more tunes pointing the way to a new full-length album on the way in 2026. 

The new single pairs the ultra-catchy and irresistibly boisterous “Blow Your Mind” with the lushly beautiful “Live Water,” both crafted by the near-complete 1967 lineup of the band. Taken together, the two tracks give every member time to shine, and they display an inventiveness and energy that goes far beyond nostalgia, Strawberry Alarm Clock is most definitely in top form, with much to offer the modern world. 


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Dark And Twisties - Ungrateful Women (Album).

Seasoned Alt-Folk troupe 'Dark And Twisties' release their debut LP 'Ungrateful Women' today 19th December 2025. Prepare to be swept into a world of beauty and shadow with Dark And Twisties, the alt-folk band that’s making waves with their evocative harmonies and story telling. Drawing inspiration from both nature’s power and the depths of the human experience, the group brings a unique sound that intertwines the dark beauty of traditional folk with modern, ethereal sensibilities. Dark and Twisties are; Sarah Birch, Kate Ronconi, Sarah Passmore, Danny Kilbride and Huw Rees
 
They have received a rapturous reception since bursting into the scene just months ago, weaving stories old and new into strange and beautiful songs with glorious harmonies and skilful musicianship. With an uplifting sadness the Dark And Twisties produce harmonies, counter melodies and  a beautiful arrangement to tell this modern folk tale for all of us : perfectly flawed and flawlessly perfect.

Dark And Twisties continue to build a loyal following across the alt-folk scene with intimate live performances and harmonies that transport listeners into a different realm. Their music is a perfect fit for those who love the eerie, the beautiful, and the transcendent. “Known for their ethereal storytelling and masterful harmonies, Dark and Twisties seamlessly blend traditional folk influences with modern, atmospheric elements. Their music feels both nostalgic and forward-thinking, resonating with fans of eerie, transcendent sounds.”


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Frank Rabeyrolles & Marin Esteban - To Figure Out.

To Figure Out marks the first collaboration between Frank Rabeyrolles and Marin Esteban, a rare dialogue where the former’s shadowy lo-fi pop meets the latter’s cinematic folk. The track moves in weightlessness, woven with muted guitars, airy textures, and suspended melodies, like a whispered question still searching for its answer.

It carries the handcrafted, introspective sensibility of Frank Rabeyrolles, a discreet yet essential figure of the French independent scene, as well as the ambient poetry of Marin Esteban, a composer who has spent years shaping an intimate, luminous atmospheric folk.

To Figure Out is a point of convergence: a piece that explores what we grasp about the world, about ourselves, and about everything that continues to elude us, carried by the quiet, persistent tenderness that binds the two artists.
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Scarlet Tantrum - Insignificant.

Scarlet Tantrum delivers a devastating emotional punch with “Insignificant,” a haunting alt-rock/indie confession that captures the quiet kind of heartbreak, the kind that doesn’t shout, but slowly erodes your sense of worth. Hailing from North Carolina, Scarlet Tantrum draws from deeply personal experiences to tell the story of feeling unseen by someone who was supposed to provide safety, love, and validation. Instead, neglect crept in silently, convincing her that her pain wasn’t real, until it was impossible to ignore.

Co-written and produced with Jess Soelberg, the track balances delicate, aching melodies with swelling cinematic tension. Soft, fragile verses build into a crushing chorus that feels like a cracked-open diary, exposing every raw nerve. Her vocal performance sits at the center of the storm, intimate, wounded, and brutally honest.

Lyrically confronting emotional neglect, gaslighting, and longing, “Insignificant” resonates with anyone who has ever felt disposable in a relationship. It’s a song about the damage silence can do, and the strength it takes to finally walk away. With its moody production, vulnerable lyricism, and immersive atmosphere, “Insignificant” marks a new creative chapter for Scarlet Tantrum, one defined by emotional clarity, fearless honesty, and artistic depth.


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Wednesday, 17 December 2025

Emily Woolf - Falling You - Chase

Emily Woolf - Voices In My Head.

With her determined voice, Zurich-based artist Emily Woolf makes a striking impression with her first single. “Voices In My Head” marks a debut that moves, empowers and lingers long after listening – an impressive first step by an artist who transforms her own darkness into radiant music.

The music, says the musician, comes from an open heart and tangled thoughts. “Voices In My Head” tells the story of an inner struggle that gradually turns into self-empowerment: from oppressive voices emerges a clear, self-defined melody.

For the production, Emily Woolf assembled an experienced team. Producer Mario Baumann, who has previously worked with singer-songwriters such as Moes Anthill, lends the track a warm, organic depth and brings out Emily Woolf’s voice with great sensitivity.


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Falling You - Metanoia (Album). 

Metanoia (self-released, December 2025) is the new album from Falling You: an ethereal / ambient musical project formed in 1995, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA. In turn, Falling You is the project of composer and producer John Michael Zorko, collaborating with - and featuring front-and-center - other artists whom he very deeply admires. For Metanoia, these collaborators include Dru Allen (Mercury’s Antennae, This Ascension), Courtney Grace, Slim Heilpern, Amelia Hogan, Anji Lum and Ryan Lum (Lovespirals / Love Spirals Downwards), Erica  Mulkey (Unwoman), Colleen Segale, Shikhee (Android Lust), and Jennifer Wilde.

Like some of Zorko’s collaborators, Falling You is comparable to This Mortal Coil, Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins or Slowdive; or the 1990s ethereal / darkwave roster of the renowned Projekt label who, in 2017, also released the previous Falling You album, Shine, and the retrospective compilation, Charms (Best Of 98-13). Earlier, largely self-released albums from Falling You also include: Mercy (1998), Touch (2005), Human (2006), Faith (2008), Adore (2011), and Blush (2013).

The new album, Metanoia, explores transformation – how events beyond our control cause us to reshape who we are. Through the lens of Ovid’s Metamorphoses and other myths from antiquity, these songs trace moments of profound change. Subtle blues inflections emerge within ethereal darkwave and shoegaze textures, grounding the album’s atmospheric reach. John Zorko elaborates: “Metanoia means ‘change of mind’ or ‘change of heart’ in Greek – transformation born from adversity. Many of the songs pull from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, which is full of people literally changing form, often against their will. Thinking about everything the world has been through these last several years, and how we’ve all had to adapt to circumstances we never chose, the theme just clicked. Growth implies we’re steering the ship, but sometimes change is thrust upon us, and that’s what this record explores.”


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Photo - Jorge Castro
Chase - History.

New York-based newcomer Chase shares her impressive second single ‘History’. Born from a heavy, aching place, ‘History’ reflects on the current state of the world. Through rich, distinctive vocals and cathartic songwriting Chase reflects on the far reaching consequences that continue to impact lives long after the headlines fade. 

The soothing instrumentals offer a gesture of comfort and a reminder that hope is always possible, even in the midst of uncertainty. Sharing more, Chase explained: ‘As I’ve watched the world change, I’m struck by the way that history tends to deal in broad strokes. It can mark moments, but it can’t hold the pain or the real human cost. That weight lives on in people- in families, in communities- long after, in ways no record can capture. That truth sits heavy on my heart, and it’s something I can’t overlook. I think even beyond that, the song comes from the interconnectedness I see in the sense that our private pain also lives inside a collective struggle. I feel that if we can share in grieving, we can also share in healing, and I’m stubbornly hopeful in that. I think “History” is a quiet prayer longing for courage, and it’s my refusal to give in to the temptation of despair.’

‘History’ arrives as the second single to be released by Chase and follows on from her debut ‘Pretend Again’ which was released back in June. Both tracks have had the brilliant Philip Weinrobe (Adrianne Lenker, Florist, Tomberlin) on production duty and were recorded in his New York studio. ‘I’ve been very inspired by classic singers like Nat King Cole and their orchestras and that big‑room, everyone‑all-together feel. Phil Weinrobe also made me fall in love with the ethos of recording without headphones which happens to be a part of that tradition” Chase shared.

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False Figure - Matilda Schyborger - Hiding Places - JP Soars & Anne Harris

False Figure - Incarnate (Album). Oakland, California - based post-punk band, False Figure has just unveiled their new full-length album, I...