Weekend Wonders: Diamond Mind - Krief - Ayla - Taylor Payne - The Radio Dept. - Slow Hollows

Diamond Mind - Horseless Coach.

Background promo - Diamond Mind have announced their debut full-length album Heavy Metal Sunshine and shared the first track "Horseless Coach". Heavy Metal Sunshine is due October 7 on Wyatt Records. Formed in the summer of 2013, Diamond Mind is one of Edmonton, Alberta's favourite musical exports. Always looking to draw from many diverse wells - pop, noise, soul, all with an eye to the baroque - the band has already mapped extensive territory, leaping forward with the release of each of their three EPs. With these releases the band has won audiences through the unique character of their songs, recorded in environments ranging from attic bedrooms to storied, established studios.

The songs themselves echo this varied topography, ranging in content from intimate, confidential entries, elaborate pseudo-histories and haunting character sketches. Tracing the line back-and-forth between the accessible and the challenging, the music of Diamond Mind carved out an audience among both critics and fans, registering praise not only across Canada but from the international music community. In 2016, Diamond Mind partnered with Wyatt Records for the release of their debut album Heavy Metal Sunshine.

Melodic vocals and a fascinating range of sounds within the music makes 'Horseless Coach' stand out. It's a pop song, that is given a vital edge by the bands mass of imagination.

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Krief - Deo Gratias.

Background - Montreal singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Patrick Krief, has announced details of his highly anticipated fourth solo studio album, ‘automanic’ which will be released on September 30th via Culvert Music- available for pre-order now. He’s also celebrating the premiere of the latest single from the album, “Deo Gratias” which he shared on The Huffington Post this past week.  Krief is set to embark on an extensive Canadian tour in support of ‘automanic’ this fall. 

‘automanic’ is a double album comprised of ‘automanic red’ and ‘automanic blue’, which Krief describes as "autonomous in their flow, yet not meant to be listened to in one sitting." Krief’s deep content is a result of a string of deaths he experienced, blended with heartbreak, grief and despair. Creativity healed adversity and inspired Krief to write poetic lyrics, both earnest and abstract, paired against sounds of contemporary pop and rock, atop dreamy soundscapes and rock ballads alike.

Similarly to his previous albums, Krief created ‘automanic’ independently, playing all guitars, bass, drums, percussion, piano and keyboards. He also recorded, produced and mixed the album between Studio Mixart in Montreal and Studio Bottega, on an alpaca farm in Kelowna, B.C. Mastering duties were undertaken by Phil Demetro (Kevin Drew, Hey Rosetta) in Toronto and engineer David Schiffman (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Nine Inch Nails) monitored the Montreal sessions, the album also features long time collaborator Roberto Piccioni.

Known for his role as cowriter and guitarist in Montreal’s orchestral rock-noir band The Dears, Krief spent a decade with the band crafting a unique style. ‘automanic’ highlights the contrast of sounds in his solo endeavour.

'Deo Gratias' builds gently into a quite powerful song and is most definitely, an enticing taste of what you will hear on the double album to come. With twenty songs in total, it's hard to know where to start. Put simply the variety is staggering, as is the consistent quality across both albums. The statement above that the material is not meant to be listened to in one sitting, is actually quite reasonable. There is a richness across the material that deserves to be broken down, so as to take in the whole and enjoy each track. In summary this is a powerful work, musical art in all it's glory.

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Ayla - Like the Other Kids.

Background - After the unmeasured success of her 2015 debut EP When The World Ends, Ayla returns today with a new offering in 'Like the Other Kids' and a subsequent launch tour.

Premiered last night on triple j's Goodnights, the song's chugging, layered production is anchored by a pounding drum motif that takes it from stunning to anthemic, a catalyst for misty eyes and gentle steps forward despite its "dark imagery". Then there's that voice. The smooth, effortless gliding heights. The insouciant depths. Given a delicate yet self-determined vehicle through the considered nature of Ayla's songwriting prowess, 'Like the Other Kids' represents the dawning of a new age. You'd never guess it was conceived of while Ayla was washing dishes at her parents' house, testing out her rap flow.

Aylas reputation, built to its towering esteem via consistent support from triple j, a deal with Italy's Ego Records (Emma Louise, The Jezabels) and an awestruck slew of online outlets, has reached unshakable heights. Her single 'Wish I Was' claims the accolade of being the #15 most played song on triple j in the year of its release, and snagged international remixes from Spada and Zwette. Ayla has toured her own show across the country and supported heavyweights such as Kate Miller-Heidke (national tour), Husky and Asta. At Woodford Folk Festival, The Big Pineapple Festival, Bigsound 2015 and soon Caloundra Music Festival, her irresistible live show has stood out as a glittering jewel amongst the fray.

Ayla is not up-and-coming anymore, she's here. And with a headline 'Like the Other Kids' single launch tour and new EP on its way, she's only getting started.

'Like the Other Kids' is easy on the ear, and yet there is a lot packed into the song. It's melodic and Ayla provides really good vocals, in what is an imaginative song that flows oh so beautifully.

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Taylor Payne - The Jungle Talks.

Background - Taylor Payne, a prolific song writer from the Sunshine Coast releases her second single after teaming up with The A&R Department. ‘The Jungle Talks’ is pure allure, reeling in the listener with its moody introduction, then diving into the verse with buzzing Pop synths and syncopated drums. It’s a supremely crafted song that builds anticipation right until the very end. Taylor's voice commands a distinct authority, as she brings her story of the jungle to life, taking inspirational cues from The Cure, and Eurythmics.

‘The Jungle Talks’ was recorded at Heliport Studios, Buderim, mixed by Elliot Hendrich and mastered by Mike Marsh. Taylor calls the unique style of ‘The Jungle Talks’ “dark-pop”, and it’s been described as having an 80's pop vibe, riding on a bold synth sound throughout the song, but her voice’s deep register brings a dusky atmosphere to the track. She conveys the song’s sense of adventure with lyrics like, "No need to hide if you know how to run,” before sinking into a deep reverie.

Taylor released her first single ‘Outsider’ in 2015 along with a colourful music video, getting national airplay across Australia as well the US. Her track reached listeners around the globe from it’s feature on Spotify’s The Indie Mixtape playlist. Her latest, ‘The Jungle Talks’ will be released with a music video to exemplify the song’s character. As always, you can expect something slightly askew, yet fun and eccentric. “The Jungle Talks” by Taylor Payne will be released 9th of September 2016.

The first notable thing with 'The Jungle Talks' is Taylor's attention grabbing vocals, and pretty soon after, the fact that this is a really good song. Layered synth sounds and a commanding rhythm work so well with the melodic and pleasing vocals.

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The Radio Dept. - Swedish Guns.

Background - Running Out Of Love is an album about life in Sweden in 2016 moving in the wrong direction:  politically, intellectually, morally. It's about the impatience that turns into anger, hate and ultimately withdrawal and apathy when love for the world and our existence begins to falter. 

The issues addressed throughout the band’s stunning fourth LP - out 10/21 via Labrador - are relevant not just to Sweden but around the globe. New single “Swedish Guns” is a haunting take down of the Swedish arms industry.

The Radio Dept’s new album Running Out Of Love will be released on October 21st via Sweden’s Labrador Records. It's their first album since the critically acclaimed success of 2010’s Clinging To A Scheme. Pre-order the album and receive Swedish Guns as an instant track download.

This is one potent piece of electronic music. 'Swedish Guns' is music with a relevant and meaningful message. The musical soundtrack is very imaginative, complimenting and carrying the vocals superbly.

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Slow Hollows - Softer.

Background - Romantic is the forthcoming release from Los Angeles based post-pop band Slow Hollows. Written over the span of a few months between 2015 to 2016, Romantic is meant to serve as a response to the previous record Atelophobia. Austin Feinstein, the creative influence behind the project, wrote the songs from the album during his senior year of high school.

The project was original started by Feinstein in 2014 and was previously called Hollows. Their first record, I'm Just As Bad As You Are, was recorded in a minimal space and lead Hollows to receive some success playing along side such as Beach Fossils, Nothing, Twin Peaks, Spencer Moody, Antwon and more. In 2014 the name eventually changed to Slow Hollows after a shift in members and style. The current lineup is Austin Feinstein (vocals/lead guitar), Dylan Thinnes (guitar), Aaron Jassenoff (bass), Reed Kanter (synth/keys), and Jackson Katz (drums).

As time progressed, Slow Hollows grew into the post pop five piece from influences of the likes of Pavement and Radiohead as underlying tones of melancholy and indie rock are complemented by horns and various lush instrumentation. Band members were able to mold a sound that echoed truth of fears, self-doubt, and loneliness that speaks universal lengths to their audiences.

The album captures the sadness behind love, being an artist, and is ironically guilty of expressing the hardships and dejection that artists and people face day in and day out. Stating that the band members of this talented group have a deep understanding of emotion is an understatement. The music they create speaks at lengths of the unique interpretation they have of life and they way people feel. why romantic as the title to express their music? Feinstein realized that our society has this romanticised view of mental illness and instability of people who have some merit and are mentally ill. Or have problems that they can't handle. Our society tends to look at that from romanticised standpoint, Cool to look well-tortured artist is sexy.

Record Release Show
11-04-16 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom.

Understated vocals against a melodic and laid back indie rock soundtrack make 'Softer' a very accessible and likable song. It's one of those songs that just drew me in, so much so, that by the end, I was checking out the album release details, pretty much as an automatic response.

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Down Under Double: Ben Ford-Davies - Woodes

Ben Ford-Davies - Vitruvian Man.

Background promo - Having recorded a cracking new album, Papillon, which won him 3 South Australian songwriting awards, and previously opened for nationally celebrated artists (including Diesel and Jeff Lang), Ben Ford-Davies releases his latest single ‘Vitruvian Man’.

Recorded and produced by Nigel Grummet, Ronnie Taheny, and Ben Ford-Davies at Hiball Studios. ‘Vitruvian Man’ is based on the concept of Leonardo Da Vinci’s drawing of a perfectly uniform man and the idea that all his perfection is based largely on his connection with a universal formula.

Having made three different starts in three different states over the last decade, Ben has just returned from a successful debut 28-date tour of Europe. Teaming up with the Europe-based dynamo, singer songwriter Ronnie Taheny, his life has turned around and his career has been revitalised.

“Vitruvian Man is a great achievement for me as far as writing goes. I’m moving forward into a more contemporary realm and I am really loving the process and the journey.” - Ben-Ford Davies

It was in 1999 that Ford-Davies first left Adelaide to spend 2 years busking around Australia before settling in the idyllic tropical town of Port Douglas for the next seven. In 2009, Melbourne’s promising original scene beckoned and Ford-Davies followed. Those years gave us the In The City EP - 5 well honed and diverse tracks as well as his carefully accrued local audiences, his honed stagecraft and his songwriting skills; skills that can be observed on his aforementioned first full-length, semi-acoustic release; Papillon (2015).

Ben Ford-Davies will be touring Melbourne later in the year and then Europe early next year. “Vitruvian Man” by Ben Ford-Davies will be released 23rd of September 2016.

'Vitruvian Man' is a fine song and something of a modern folk ballad. Beyond Ben Ford-Davies gutsy vocals, the musical arrangement adds further layers and creates a melodic atmosphere. Totally play me again material.

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Woodes - The Thaw.

Background - Australian artist/producer Woodes has released the striking new video to her acclaimed hit single "The Thaw." Shot on location in Lake Mountain in collaboration with Josh Harris (Welcome The Machines), the clip showcases the unique wintery Australian mountains juxtaposing the trees with ice and snow.

Woodes explains her inspiration, "I wanted to shoot on location where it was possible. Shooting on location provides an array of new variables to work with, the main one being the weather, which we had to closely monitor in order to shoot up so high with drones. My favourite part is the final shot. It looks like a movie, a game or a painting but it is entirely natural and unedited. It gives a full scope of the beauty of those mountains, all built in layers on the horizon, covered in mist."

Woodes also worked with choreographer Courtney Hale to create flowing movement, which complimented her vision for the track. "For me personally I got to dance and incorporate movement to compliment my song. This was a great learning process, I found muscles I didn't quite know existed till after the shoot."

The music video for 'The Thaw' follows Beehive Candy featuring the song back in July. Woodes really does have a creative streak and releasing a video interpretation seems a good enough excuse to feature the song again.

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Midweek With: Shane Scheib - Fresh Snow - Brooklyn Doran - Alex Bent + the Emptiness - Birdtalker

Shane Scheib - Run! (Radio Version).

Background promo - Shane Scheib is an indie artist based in Nashville, Tennessee. His music expertly blurs the lines between the energy of alternative rock and the verve of indie-pop.

A creative and forward-thinking performer, Shane is known to produce music with an open heart and an open mind, bridging the gaps between clever arrangements and emotional lyrical wit. His distinctive guitar playing is also the result of lots of labour and dedication: when he was 13, Shane fell in love with the mastery and incredible ability of Stevie Ray Vaughn. He watched the bluesman's legendary live performances on video repeatedly, eventually mastering the blues and rock formula. Later, he took it to the next level as a trained jazz guitarist with a versatile mindset, incorporating influences as diverse as folk, pop and rock into his music.

Shane Scheib’s music is a lot like his humor: it’s witty, playful, and a little introspective at the same time. In his own words, “Fast Friends sounds like Bono Imagined Dragons while playing guitars that had White Stripes and Silversun Pickups; it was Fun.”

One of the most striking and endearing features of Shane's sound is definitely his ability to create songs that are challenging and diverse, yet extremely catchy and easy to relate to for a broad palette of listeners.

Shane's upcoming EP, "Fast Friends", will be released on September 13th, and it will be available through iTunes and Spotify.

First track on the new EP 'Fast Friends' the song 'Run' gives you a good idea of what's in store. Musically it leans more towards, energetic indie rock, with one or two more pop influenced moments. There are plenty of hooks and Shane has an ear for melody, that keeps everything quite accessible, without being to format driven. Overall it's a pleasing EP.

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Fresh Snow - I Can't Die.

Background - Fresh Snow, an acclaimed instrumental kraut-noise-psych rock quartet, are back with their second full-length album, ‘ONE’. Recorded with Graham Walsh, in a rural Ontario barn, ‘ONE‘ arrives less than a year after their 2015 EP ‘WON’, via Hand Drawn Dracula (Beliefs, Doomsquad, Etiquette) on September 9th, 2016.

With ‘ONE’, Fresh Snow pushes their own boundaries further than ever, creating something more confrontational, yet more accessible, than anything they’ve done before. The band describes ‘ONE’ as an album that is both structured and instinctual, made without ego or fear of alienating its listeners. Noise and texture is always prevalent, however minimalism is newly explored in places throughout the album, alongside electronic treatments, and English / French vocals.

After a split 7″ with SubPop artists Metz (2012), Fresh Snow earned critical acclaim with their 2013 debut album, ‘I’, and landed on the cover of Now Magazine, as well as being listed for the esteemed Polaris Music Prize, and making numerous year end best of lists. Brooklyn Vegan described Fresh Snow’s music as “mutant, motorik psych,” which the Toronto Star’s Ben Rayner also called “transcendental” and “overwhelming in the best sense possible.”

Fresh Snow’s inventive live shows – performances within pods or around projection screens, leading audiences from one room to another mid-show – are legend to those already in-the-know. They’ve performed alongside groups as diverse as Atlas Sound, Tim Hecker, The Pop Group and Ratking, as well as forming a one-off blisteringly loud band with Metz (FrETZ).

As Fresh Snow continue their journey through the ROYGBIV colour wheel – ‘I’ is red; ‘WON’ is orange; and ‘ONE’ is a yellow cover, the distinctive sonic elements that are the band’s trademarks continue to evolve, strengthen and feedback. ONE is filled with dissonance, stillness, intrigue and molten noise, as Fresh Snow continue to look for the beauty that is found in extremes.

Tour Dates:
Sept 10 Hamilton, ON - Supercrawl Festival
Sept 22 Toronto, ON - Ontario Place - Small World Fest 

'I Can't Die' is one of nine tracks from the 'ONE' album, and is something of a mini epic in it's own right. The album is a fascinating collection of instrumental pieces, with an almost constant theme, in that you just do not know what's gonna come next. Part experimental, the band move from kraut rock to more psychedelic moments, sometimes full on noise rock, and yet everything flows and the melodic moments are just wonderful. Highly creative and enjoyable.

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Brooklyn Doran - The Villain.

Background - The lyric video was shot entirely at the Scarborough Bluffs in Toronto and was created using a series of cinemagraphs. The video team partnered with Flixel to bring these still images to life. The video was filmed by the incredible team at Public Space Productions. "The Villain" comes from Brooklyn's new album “These Paper Wings”. Out September 9th.

“The Villain” captures the idea of regaining strength and power in a situation where I felt trapped and silenced. As women we are often taught to take full responsibility for uncomfortable situations we find ourselves in regardless of whether we have control or agency within them. When a toxic or abusive relationship breaks down- there are a lot of complicated feelings that come with it. With this song, I wanted to express all of those different angles, but most importantly I wanted to tell a story that presented strength and the ability to overcome. I am not only writing for me here; I am also writing for the startling number of women in my life who I know can relate. Through the lyric video, I wanted to showcase imagery that made me feel strong and powerful, but beautiful at the same time. - Brooklyn Doran.

'The Villain' is the second song we have featured from Brooklyn Doran in recent months and it is another engaging song from the debut 7-track album "These Paper Wings" released in September 2016. Full of melodic numbers and the beautiful vocals of Brooklyn, it's a collection of thoughtfully written material, where the attention to detail ensures seven very individual and absorbing tracks.

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Alex Bent + the Emptiness - Paper Mask '16.

Background - Alex Bent is a 22 year-old singer-songwriter from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The Emptiness is Bent’s musical expression. Alex Bent is the Emptiness and the Emptiness lives in him. Far from being a blank void, the Emptiness is vast, expansive, textured and nuanced. Intoxicated on emotion, earnestness, longing and poignancy, Alex Bent + the Emptiness are distinctive yet inseparable parts of a whole.

The album was written at a time where he chose to be reclusive out of fear of being hurt or humiliated. He found comfort in creating songs that took the stories he saw in his head and painted them into reality. Alex hopes others may listen and find a similar escape within these songs.

Taken from the new album "Dead, In The Water", 'Paper Mask '16' is the opening track, and as I was not sure which one to feature, it seems a good enough starting point for Beehive Candy. Alex describes his music as "Dark Piano Pop" and in those three words he pretty much sum's the new album up. Deep and sometimes emotional material, may sound like hard going, however the pop element really does lift the material up enough, through melody, a good choice of additional sounds, and a gentleness that soothes. In fact it is because of that, I find myself dipping back into the album, to enjoy a little escape of my own.

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Birdtalker - Graveclothes.

Background - Nashville alternative group Birdtalker has announced it will support The Saint Johns on tour this September. As a duo, Zack and Dani Green of Birdtalker will kick off the tour in Birmingham, AL on 9/7, and close out the shows on 9/30 in St. Louis, MO. See above for a full list of dates.

This tour follows the release of Birdtalker's debut EP, Just This, which was released on 8/19. The Wild Honey Pie premiered the EP, saying that even when the band, "...delve[s] into more uncertain and strained subject matter, they’ll still remind you to 'put what’s heavy behind' and that we 'don’t need no mournful sounds.' Simply put, you feel lighter by the end of this EP than before you began listening."

A few months after marrying, the band’s founders Zack and Dani Green began writing songs together. Neither had pursued music before, however, after finishing their first song together, each felt an electric surge and from that point on there was no turning back. Friends in Nashville began to take notice of the duo’s original tracks, and Birdtalker quickly grew into a five-piece ensemble. Just This EP reflects different themes of adulthood, touching on the evolution of the pair’s marriage, to prioritising what is most important in one’s life.

The six-song EP was recorded in Nashville at Glass Onion Recording Studio with co-producers JD Tiner (Erin Rae) and Dan Fernandez (Great Peacock). In its brief time performing together as a band, Birdtalker has had notable appearances in Nashville opening for The Strumbellas, Escondido, and Marc Scibilia.

Announcing their tour dates seems a reasonable enough excuse to feature another song from Birdtalker's new EP and this time it's 'Graveclothes'. Another reason is the fact that all six songs on the EP are just so good!

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Five Good Ones: Kizzy Crawford - Dirty Sole - Mercy - BeLL - Australia

Kizzy Crawford - Gerridae.

Background promo - Gaining BBC Radio 1 play with your debut single release is a pretty astonishing boost for anyone, but 20 year old Welsh/Bajan artist Kizzy Crawford, is not one to rest on her laurels. Her solo career began just three years ago and she is on a mission - a mixed race Welsh speaking artist proud of her background and determined to make her mark by fusing bilingual soul-folk jazz. Kizzy’s already getting national recognition for her work; in addition to airplay on Huw Stephens show on BBC Radio 1, she’s had plays on BBC 6Music, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru as well as live TV performances on S4C, Children in Need for BBC 1 and the 6 Nations advert campaign.

Not surprisingly, she was won awards too,-the 'Brwydr Y Bandiau' at the National Eisteddfod 2013 and a Welsh Singer-Songwriter competition receiving money to record her first EP 'Temporary Zone' with Amy Wadge (Ed Sheeran co-writer). Over the last three years, Kizzy has developed an increasing sophistication to her songwriting and performance, which is complimented by her soaring voice that boasts both range and charisma. Her forthcoming double A side single release showcases her writing and performance to perfection. In 2014, Kizzy signed to publishing company BDi / Bucks Music and she was then selected as a BBC Horizons 12 Artist which included the opportunity to perform a live session at BBC Maida Vale. Kizzy was also a featured artist with Gwilym Simcock for a BBC Radio 4 music programme and she was invited to perform on The Verbs ‘Young Talent’ programme for BBC Radio 3.

Kizzy is the youngest singer songwriter to have her work selected for ‘set pieces’ for the Welsh examining board (WJEC) for their A Level Music syllabus, for the year 2016/17. Her compositions will stand side by side with Gruff Rhys, Super Furry Animals and the Manic Street Preachers and will include the songs Gerridae and Jungle, which was released on August 26th 2016.

'Gerridae' demonstrates just why Kizzy Crawford has been getting noticed in the UK. The featured song reminds me in part of earlier Maria Muldaur material, not so much in the composition, but that there is a sense of playfulness, and real personality shining through. The accompanying song 'Jungle' confirms further that Kizzy does not sit in any particular genre, which is absolutely fine, especially when the music is this good!

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Dirty Sole - Owning It (feat. Nick Maurer).

Background - Dirty Sole is the dynamic indie electronic group formed in 2001, rooted from the storied & significant musical history of their hometown, Chicago. It didn’t take long to get noticed, as their first release was signed by dance music pioneers Derrick Carter & Luke Solomon for their Classic Music (UK) label. The record went on with multiple chart placements, alongside the icons of the era, Basement Jazz & Roni Size.

The duo followed with a string of releases and global hits that saw their unique blend of house, funk and techno appear on labels such as Yousef’s Carioca imprint (UK) and Phil Week’s Robsoul Recordings (FR), and leveraged their forward-thinking sound with major brands like Nike & Toyota.

The pair has since been head down in the studio at work on their latest single featuring a remix from DFA’s The Juan MacLean, and their sophomore album, FWD Motion. Still keeping their eyes and ears looking towards the sounds of the future, the new LP marks a crisp beginning, blending elements of electronic, synth pop, dance, and hip-hop with featured artists Lyrics Born, Foremost Poets, Jon Von Letscher and James Curd.

With melodic and quite powerful vocals 'Owning It' thumps along with a creative and intricate electronic background. Indeed the vocals are well up in the mix and drive the song along as much as the rhythm, all of which makes the album due in December, one to keep in mind.

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Mercy - Depth Charges.

Background - Mercy released her new single a couple of days back, “Depth Charges.” It is a love song with a submarine warfare theme. Yes, that’s right: submarine warfare. “It’s a playful song about watching and waiting to be noticed by the one you love,” explained Mercy. “That translates in the song to lurking below the waves in a submarine.”

“Depth Charges” comes on the heels of Mercy’s five-song 2016 “Mercy EP” that showcased the Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter’s beautiful, soulful voice and unique style: “I think people will enjoy ‘Depth Charges’,” said Mercy. “It’s a fun song, but with attitude too.  Folks who liked the ‘Mercy EP’ will feel right at home with this new song.”


I'm all for imagination and different ideas, and a song like 'Depth Charges' ticks those boxes. Add in some fun and for me, your on to a winner. Musically understated the song skips along with Mercy's vocals charming their way into my ears.

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BeLL - Losing My Religion.

Background - Originally from Tyler, Texas, BeLL’s career so far has consisted of writing for other artists, including Natalie Imbruglia & The Script’s Danny O’Donoghue, & having songs in the media including a Volkswagen Super Bowl commercial & TV shows like Vampire Diaries & Pretty Little Liars. Now residing in Los Angeles, she learned the ropes behind the scenes collaborating with heavy-hitter producer/songwriters like the renowned Giorgio Moroder (Daft Punk) & David Hodges (Kelly Clarkson, 5 Seconds of Summer). In the meantime, BeLL volunteered as a keys instructor at LA's Rock n' Roll Camp for Girls & at Awaken Arts, teaching songwriting to at-risk youth girls.

Known for her live shows consisting of all-female musicians, her upcoming cover of REM’s “Losing My Religion” was a collaborative effort between BeLL & AG, a female producer known for the recent haunting rendition of Ciara’s cover of “Paint it Black&r dquo; featured in Billboard & Rolling Stone. “Having an all-female crew for the music video was icing on the cake. It created a safe space for the actors to focus on the art & message behind the song and be completely raw rather than focusing on sex appeal,” BeLL recalls. The editing for the video was completed when the horrific shootings in Orlando were announced, thus prompting BeLL to decide to donate a portion of the streaming proceeds to the National Center for Victims of Crime. “The song took on a much deeper meaning then. It’s heartbreaking when people distort & use religion to justify violence & malevolent hatred.” BeLL is excited to share her interpretation of REM’s song with the world.

'Losing My Religion' is such an iconic REM song, that you have to take it in a different direction, if you are going to cover it, which thankfully is exactly what BeLL has done. It's not only a slower version, there is a more sultry vocal feel, and the music takes on a darker, marching anthem manner. Whilst it's hard not to 'hear' the original, this really is a good reworking.

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Australia - Breathe In.

Background - Sydney based 5 piece, Australia (the band, not the country) have this week announced a run of tour dates around their upcoming Bigsound appearances and in celebration of their new single ‘Breathe In’ and it’s accompanying video.

‘Breathe In’ is the most recent single to be taken from the band’s debut album ‘Portraits of People, Places and Movies’ which they released independently in early 2016. Toeing the lines between pub rock and new wave, the music of Australia is fearlessly imaginative, undeniably danceable and yes, quintessentially Australian. Front man Guy Fenech’s melancholic howls are matched by his subtle baritone croon and punctuate the pulsating synths and angular guitars.

In the spirit of their name, which conjures an echo of the 1980’s Australian pub rock scene, the band’s live show is raw and immediate, cheeky and charming – oscillating between hypnotic driving indie rock and lush cavernous synth pop while overwhelmingly characterized by a group whose genuine love for playing live (and each other) is infectious to no end. It is no surprise then that Australia have been invited to showcase at this year’s Bigsound music conference in Brisbane.

Live Dates:
Fr1 2 Sep - Moonshine, Manly
Wed 7 Sep - BIGSOUND, Brisbane
Fri 9 Sep - The Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
Sat 10 Sep - The Pier, Port Macquarie
Fri 16 Sep - The Chippendale Hotel, Sydney
Thu 22 Sep - Rad Bar, Wollongong
Thu 29 Sep - Karova Lounge, Ballarat
Fri 30 Sep - The Grace Darling Hotel, Melbourne.

'Breathe In' is the latest single from the ‘Portraits of People, Places and Movies’ album, and it typifies the quality, power and imagination this band have. It's a driving rock song, where each member of the band comes across as commited to grabbing your attention, with energy and natural, refined rock'n'roll.

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Moddi - Unsongs (Album).

Moddi - A Matter Of Habit.

Background promo - “Learning to kill is a matter of habit, the more you have done it the better you’re at it… They’re just objects and shadows, not women and men. Learning to kill is a natural thing.” It’s a lyric that carries as much weight today as it did in 2012, when the song was prohibited from play on Israeli Army radio station Galatz. Penned by author Alona Kimhi – on account of first-hand testimonies from West Bank IDF soldiers – and performed by Izhar Ashdot, ‘A Matter Of Habit’ is the latest track reworked by Norwegian singer/songwriter MODDI on forthcoming album ‘Unsongs’.

In the case of ‘A Matter Of Habit’, Galatz justified the ban saying: “we should avoid celebrating a song that demonizes our soldiers”. However, delve a little deeper and the focus shifts to wider moral perspectives.

“A Matter of Habit may have been written about a particular conflict, but it carries a universal message: that anyone can become an oppressor,” Moddi explains. “It says something bigger about not just Israel, but the entire Western World. Everyone recognises the feeling of numbness that comes from being exposed to violence and death every day. We see it in the news, we hear about it on the radio. In the end it just passes as background noise. We don’t feel empathy anymore, just a growing fear that the same thing might happen to us one day.

The album aims to uncover a collection of 12 songs that have, at one stage or another, been banned or suppressed, with the attempts to silence them as mild as an airplay ban and as brutal as a murder. ‘Unsongs’ is released Friday, September 16 via Propeller Recordings. 

I am delighted to feature another track from the soon to be released 'Unsongs' album. There is a short video documentary to accompany 'A Matter Of Habit' which is included below. Having had a chance to listen to all twelve songs on the album, I have to say this is a truly exceptional musical collection. Moddi has a distinctive and beautifully sensitive voice, and the musical arrangement behind each song is constructed with great care and detail. A collection of twelve banned protest songs is a fairly powerful thing in it's own right, the really incredible thing fo me, is how Moddi has interepted them and breathed so much new life and heart felt intensity into them. One of the best albums for me this year. Moddi has tour dates lined up across Europe, details are available here.

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Quality Not Quantity: Hawking - Ablebody

Hawking - Comfortable.

Background promo - Canadian alternative rock band Hawking have released their latest single "Comfortable". The track boasts themes of loss and fear while showcasing the group's signature intense percussion and complex vocals.

"Comfortable" is a meaningful title for the band because it's about the desire to feel comfort at the end of the day. It's about defining and finding comfort, whether that's emotionally, financially, physically, or creating your own version of feeling at peace. The song was written by lead singer Tom Vanderkam while on a plane to Los Angeles with his girlfriend Maddie Phillips, who stars as the heroine in the music video.

Vanderkam reflects on the track, "'Comfortable' is about having someone that you love and depend on ripped away from you. Whether that’s a breakup or the death/deterioration of a family member or what have you, we’ve all known that sorrow. Lyrically, the song is interesting because it can be from the perspective of either party – the person losing someone, or the person who’s becoming lost."

Hawking is a progressive alternative foursome from Vancouver, Canada. They released their Hawking EP in July 2015 and recently embarked on a 50-date tour across North America. The EP was immediately met with an onslaught of acclamatory reviews from indie tastemaker publications. The group strives to keep their songs as enigmatic as they are catchy; combining powerful, evocative vocals with melodic hooks, angular guitar riffs and a liberatingly adventurous rhythm section. As the Canadian music mavericks continue to take the scene by storm, Hawking is driven to make passionate, real, and memorable music for many years to come.

The mixture of vocals and harmonies works well on 'Comfortable', add to that the funky clear rhythm, and layered synth sounds and you have both a pleasing and punchy song.

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Ablebody - Gaucho.

Background - Ablebody is an LA-based duo comprised of identical twins Christoph and Anton Hochheim (members of The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart + The Depreciation Guild). They've been quietly releasing music under this moniker since 2013, self-releasing an EP and 7" single, crafting remixes and demoing original material as well as a myriad of covers. This week they share the single "Gaucho" .

Drawing from the raw grandeur of the 60's, the melodicism of soft 70s pop and the sophisticated side of romantic 80s synth pop, Ablebody stand suspended between decades; students of the past but far from retro fetishists. Their musical prowess is evident but the songwriting remains tastefully direct at all times, with arrangements that bend and move in surprising ways but tastefully blanket the overarching sentiment of the songs in a way that we rarely hear in this decade.

The duo have recently taken their sound from the bedroom to the studio, working with producer/engineer Kenny Gilmore (Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti) to craft songs with a more visceral edge than they've explored in the past. Daniel Rosenbaum (Pomar) and Jordan Sabolick (Mt. Ossa) have joined the duo to help bring the songs to life and add new dimension to the live dynamic.

Their debut full length record Adult Contemporaries will be released by Lolipop Records on October 14, 2016.

Tour Dates:
September 9 - Pomona,CA - Acerogami - with Sea Lions, Foliage
October 18 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Theater [Record release show] - with Winter

'Gaucho' is the second song we have featured from Ablebody this year, and continues the dynamic and synthy sounds that are both melodic and funky. If the album maintains these standards the twins deserve to be noticed.

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Genre Wander: Tanya Gallagher - Computer Magic - Lion Sphere - Otis Redding - Lion's Den

Tanya Gallagher - Virginia.

Background bio - A little town in the Florida panhandle may be the only true home to Southern songstress Tanya Gallagher, but her music spans the country from the coastal plains of the Gulf of Mexico into the far reaches of the Pacific Northwest. Born and raised near the Florida-Alabama line, she spent her formative years along the Gulf Coast studying environmental science and working odd jobs whilst fine-tuning her song-writing skills. Her 2013 release, Oh My Love, reveals beautifully crafted melodies and thoughtful folky refrains, enough to garner the attention of both her US and Canadian peers. 

Collaborating and performing alongside fellow wordsmiths and fans, like James Adkins, Logan Vath, and James Dupre, her song-writing conveys the honesty and wisdom of a woman who is beginning to establish a musical identity all her own, yet one still rooted in the soulful folky crooners who have paved the way before her. With her voice as smooth as whiskey and an acoustic guitar, Gallagher uprooted and moved from Pensacola, Florida to Vancouver, BC in the fall of 2013 to pursue a PhD in Landscape Ecology and continue song-writing. Her latest album, Virginia, is set to be released September 30th, 2016.

The first of seven songs 'Virginia' gives a good taste of the folky and refined music Tanya Gallagher creates. Her songs tell stories and conjure up mind pictures, whilst the music and harmonies, add melody and atmosphere. Understated and yet full of feeling, it's a really fine collection of songs.

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Computer Magic - Dimensions.

Background - "Danielle Johnson, is a Catskills-born producer and recording artist who makes music as Computer Magic. She spent years as a fixture on the NYC nightlife scene as a teen DJ going by the name Danz, then dropped out of college and started making music withe her midi controller and her computer. She's particularly revered in Japan; she likes to wear NASA space suits. Since 2010 she's released a bunch of EPs and last year's debut LP Davos (Gary Numan fans get involved!) and below is the premiere of her new song, "Dimensions," lifted from her forthcoming EP Obscure But Visible. "Life is short but love is long / Take a breath and carry on," she exhales wistfully over canned beats and dancing synth lines. There's a pinch of "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots."

"The song 'Dimensions' was inspired by my recent time spent in upstate New York—the intense skies at night, the infinite green fields," she explains. "When you're lying on the grass in the middle of nowhere looking up at the stars, you realise how small your place is in the universe, and in turn your current problems tend to fade away if only for a moment. I suppose the lyrics are about this, the feeling I experience looking up at the stars."

'Dimensions' is a dreamy, melodic and totally catchy, synth pop song. Danielle Johnson has some very real creative talent. Why say more?

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Lion Sphere - Sisters.

Background promo - Berlin based four-piece Lion Sphere are one of the most exciting bands to come out of Germany this year. The release of debut single 'Sisters', and accompanying visuals, set the boys on a trajectory of nationwide shows and increased demand.

The band blend thumping electronic fragments with heavy hip-hop grooves, spacious guitar licks and raw, soulful vocals to create a mixture of genres which don't quite sound like anyone else, and this is what sets them apart in the German musical landscape. The music is a mesmerising fusion of dreamy melodic detail, airy synths, jazz infused drums and a satisfyingly throbbing bass presence.

Their modern and unexpected song structures are strung together by hooky melodies that range from delicate falsettos to smoky powerful vocals. Lion Sphere break with the conventions of overused pop palettes and create their own synthesis of each members unique musical and cultural background. "Sisters" is the first taste of their debut EP The Infinite You to be released in October 2016.

The soulful vocals on 'Sisters' are matched almost to perfection by the equally superb musicianship. Produced with layers of beautifully blended sounds this is one encouraging introduction for the EP.

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Otis Redding - Mr Pitiful.

Background - Stax Records and UMC, are pleased to announce the release of Otis Redding – Live At The Whisky A Go Go: The Complete Recordings. In chronological order, this six-CD collection presents the entirety of Redding’s historic performances over three nights at the famed Sunset Strip venue. The seven sets, recorded Friday, April 8th – Sunday, April 10th,1966, feature the singer’s popular songs of the time, including “Respect,” “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” and his cover of The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Several of these recordings--all remixed and remastered from the original 4-track analog tapes--will be made available for the very first time on October 21. In fact, this collection will be the first to offer fans the chance to relive all of the sets in their entirety, including between-song banter by Redding exactly as they were performed. Rounding out the package is a poster, plus new liner notes from Los Angeles-based journalist Lynell George and box set co-producer Bill Bentley.

By the spring of 1966, 24-year-old Otis Redding was a bona-fide star on the R&B and soul radio waves. The singer was enjoying the critical and commercial success of his third studio album, Otis Blue, and was watching his singles cross over to the (typically very white) pop charts. Redding had yet to be fully embraced by a white audience, and this weekend-long gig in Hollywood, booked at a venue known more for hosting hippies, and launching bands like The Doors, The Byrds and Buffalo Springfield, was a shrewd move to introduce Redding to a new market. In fact, Redding would be the first major soul act to perform on the Whisky’s stage. In her liner notes, Lynell George adds context: “The Strip, like much of 1960s Los Angeles, had invisible but tough to permeate dividing lines...Redding began to see this three-night run as just the right spark to help him jump over all those many lines, from star to superstar, from R&B/soul to pop, from all-black rooms to arenas…” In the end, these Whisky sets (with Otis' nine-piece band) did prove to be an important step in Redding’s career, and introduced him to the emerging counter-culture of the 60s. Of the Whisky shows, The Doors' guitarist Robby Krieger said, "I remember standing right in front of the stage for the whole show. I never heard of Otis Redding before and I was amazed at the energy that he created on the stage.”  A year later, Otis would be the star act at the Monterey Pop Festival, sharing a lineup that included Jimi Hendrix and The Who. Tragically, just as his career was reaching its peak, Redding’s life would be cut short in a plane crash, in December 1967.

'Mr Pitiful' is all I have to hear, for a compulsive need to own the entire six CD collection. Otis Redding, soul master, what a tremendous experience listening to all of this is likely to be.

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Lion's Den - Scars.

Background - Stockholm based Lion's Den, including members from bands such as Wild Fangs, Holograms, Mind Traps and Martin Savage Gang, release a new single from their forthcoming debut album!

Lining up to the album the band has released singles "Nothing's Fine" and "Timetimetime" receiving great praise from blogs all over the world. "Scars" is out now and the debut album will be here on August 31st.

Tour Dates (more tba)
2 sep - Debaser Strand, Stockholm - w Föllakzoid
29 sep - Grand Öl&Mat, Malmö - w Growth
30 sep - Koloni / High Time, Göteborg - w Growth, LA Hell Gang




Uncomplicated it may be, however'Scars' has all the vital ingredients for an indie garage/pop/rock or whatever you decide it is song. Hooks galore, a lively upbeat soundtrack and vocals that add some rock'n'roll edge.

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