Hoots & Hellmouth - Local Motive - Grant Earl Lavalley - Dave Wesley

Hoots & Hellmouth - The Down Part of Town.

Background - Philadelphia roots rockers Hoots & Hellmouth have released their newest EP, Uneasy Pieces, on The Giving Groove. With Uneasy Pieces, their sixth release, Hoots & Hellmouth edge toward rock and soul with grit and grace. Their signature bluesy Americana sound forms the foundation, layered with fuzzy, reverb-y guitar and warm organ, offering easygoing grooves and upbeat hooks that belie the tension beneath.

Frontman Sean Hoots’ voice cuts with clarity and cracks with vulnerability, soaring over rough-edged arrangements that swell from delicate acoustic guitar articulations to rich, densely textured choruses, driving rhythms always propelling forward. It’s atmospheric, it’s deeply personal, and it invites you to linger.

Uneasy Pieces was recorded at Mt. Slippery studios and mastered by Fred Kevorkian at Kevorkian Mastering. The album is released in limited-edition, hand-numbered black vinyl; MP3 and WAV downloads are available.

Following The Giving Groove’s “artist-friendly, socially conscious” model, Hoots & Hellmouth will donate half of all album proceeds to Pass the Beat, which brings instruments, lessons, and other music education resources to disadvantaged children around the world. Website here, Facebook here.


'The Down Part of Town' is gently melodic, with the vocals almost immediately adding a sense of passion and determination that need to be heard. The band are tight and build the groove slowly into a powerful matching piece. This is top notch roots rock, leaving me in anticipation of whats to follow.

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Local Motive - Grams (Album).

Background - As a followup to their debut 4-song EP, “Superconductors,” this new album captures the electric energy of a Local Motive performance, bursting with lyrical messages, irresistible soulful melodies, and the spirit of old-school rhythm & blues. 

The “Grams” LP is bookended by “Twig” & "Symbiosis" to begin & end on a hopeful note, lyrically & musically, but the album also delves into darker tones, commenting on universal struggles of identity on tracks like “Killer” & “High Life.”

Influences of soul legends are apparent in both the singing of Chilean vocalist, Daniella Rojas & Chicago-native, Mike Vinopal, along with their contemporaries like Alabama Shakes, The Black Keys, & Gary Clark Jr. 

This powerful new record from Local Motive is a fully-realized statement of new songs from the band that flows from start to finish, with loads of hooks that you’ll be whistling to yourself the next morning. Bandcamp here, Facebook here.

The first song on 'Grams' is the vibrant and sprightly 'Twigs'. Duel vocals and harmonies are matched by some zesty musicianship, in what is a soulful, bluesy, rock song. The band just build from the opening number, with a mixture of lyrical themes, sometimes quite deep, always surrounded by top quality musical arrangements and naturally passionate vocals. Overall I am very impressed with the bands ability to bring a fresh & dynamic sound that mixes old school styles with modern techniques and does so to such a high and consistent standard.

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Grant Earl Lavalley - The In-Betweens.

Background - Grant Earl Lavalley is an American singer-songwriter.  Ohio’s misfit son exposed to harsher California desert landscapes delivers on the long lost love letters you waited for at the mailbox all of those years. Hoping for a promise of return, you receive word of yet another lonely voyage.  Are you remembered?

Isolation waters the fertile land stretching out in all directions.  LaValley’s unapologetic crooning calls the banshees back from the frozen wilderness and welcomes them into his modest desert cabin.

A small crew of creative visitors contribute to LaValley’s debut full length, From LaValley Below.  Harmonica, lap-steel, and female vocals move around acoustic guitar, all the while the crestfallen and introspective lyrics roll downstream like gravel under water, catching the light and sweeping the riverbank grasses along with it.  A kindred spirit with contemporary songwriters like Ryley Walker, LaValley also conjures images of a gothic Gene Clark collaborating with a desert-dwelling Bonnie “Prince” Billy---with the blessing of Townes Van Zandt.

LaValley’s songs are infused with communalism and camaraderie.  However, the album’s creation was not without incident.  One day while recording, an unknown neighbor of LaValley’s in the Joshua Tree desert---apparently unnerved by the recording session going on up the hill from their fortified desert home---fired multiple rifle shots into the cabin where LaValley and company were working.  Thankfully no one was injured by the potent incursion, but perhaps the incident cast a shadow on the album’s recording.  Ultimately, From LaValley Below proves that beauty is bulletproof.  We believe that Grant Earl LaValley’s debut full-length illustrates this maxim both literally and figuratively. Soundcloud here.

'Grant Earl Lavalley has put out an enticing lead song with 'The In-Betweens' a refined track where his vocals are deep, rich and delivered with passion. It's the first of nine tracks on the album, which builds in depth and creativity as it progresses.

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Dave Wesley - Laranja Swadhisthana 67_5 - EPv1.

Background - Arctic Dub (Sursumcorda) has announced it will release a new single from Dave Wesley, a veteran experimental dub techno and ambient producer and DJ from Minneapolis, who is now based in Porto, Portugal.

Called “Laranja Swadhisthana 67_5 - EPv1”, this new single is comprised of two tracks, transmitted to us from a beautiful but “lonely ceremony place”. The spectacular single is, in his words, “constructed with the principles of sacred geometry and tuning… using parts of the north and the south… and with the fury.”

Dave Wesley’s music style integrates chill, dub techno, experimental, and ambient genres. His music revolves in the same realm as Michael Brook, Brian Eno, Passion-era Peter Gabriel, Deepchord (a.k.a. Rod Modell), output from Echospace Recordings and Basic Channel. It is also shares similar vibes as the work of Philip Glass, for whom Wesley even remixed 'Why Are We Here?' for the Philip Glass album 'Glass: Glasscuts', released on his own label Orange Mountain Music, in addition to DJing at the NYC release party for this album. 

Known for his adventurous DJ sets, Dave performs regularly in Portugal and Europe. He produces under several different names: Dave Wesley (ambient dub techno), Existente (ambient), Xerography (dark cinematic techno), and The Mayhem Lecture Series (experimental and field recordings). He’s also teamed up with Casey Borchert under the moniker The Push. As an active DJ and performer, he mixes eclectic deep sets and also performs live space ambient guitar with TV Crush, an experimental and an improvisational chill music ensemble.

Using production techniques based on the principles of sacred geometry, Dave’s music is captivating, seamlessly exploring evolving soundscapes, iteration and meditation, and seducing the imagination forward into transcendental realms. Arctic Dub website here, Facebook here.

Those of you who have visited Beehive Candy over a longer period of time might have noticed that high quality ambient music, alongside the occasional dub track have appeared on here when received. 'Laranja Swadhisthana 67_5 - EPv1' combines these genres in a creative and imaginative manner, in fact this is beautifully addictive music. I would even reference Krautrock pioneers Can, from their 'Soon Over Babaluma' era. Fabulous!

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A Shoreline Dream - Bootblacks - The Beautiful Ghosts - The Pains Of Being Pure at Heart

A Shoreline Dream - Room For The Others.

Background - Colorado’s A Shoreline Dream have revealed the video for their single ‘Room For The Others’. This is the fourth track from their ever-evolving new album, with each being released digitally as stand-alone singles, one at a time.

The video features a somewhat distorted and dream-like vision of the current state of self expression. Featuring Denver's live performance duo Scissor Sweethearts, the video is somewhat of a sequel to ASD's 2016 video 'Revolvist', in that it takes both Serana and Siara past their performance element and on the streets. As the sweethearts prepare and leave their domain feeling confident in themselves, we see how the public reacts to even the slightest "out of the ordinary look" in an increasingly more stereotype driven society. 

Featuring layers of the band, dream sequences and textures, the video comes together similarly to the production of the music itself. Hazy, vivid and surreal. "Given the nature of all the amazingly overwhelming things going on these days politically, socially, etc., this track became a personal reflection on it all. Both the good and the bad. The love and the sadness," says Ryan Policky. "I found myself feeling emotions from all sides of the spectrum, and room for the others is just that... a spectrum of emotions. This song goes out to those who may have ever felt just a little bit of place... who just wanted to stand in line with the rest."

While the original wave of shoegazers chose textures and otherworldliness over conventional clarity and 90’s post-rockers opted for progressive and fluid structures rather than traditional form, A Shoreline Dream are the keepers of both of those flames. Delivering a heady cocktail of dream-pop, shoegaze, neo-psychedelia, goth and progressive rock, the new single also brings a gothic undertone set against a pulsing, energetic rhythm and is, on the whole, more in keeping with northern European atmosphere than the warm sidewalks of Denver’s suburbs. A Shoreline Dream is Ryan Policky on vocals, guitar, keys, bass and programming and Erik Jeffries on guitar. Website here, Facebook here.

It's just one day short of a year since we last featured A Shoreline Dream and the new video for the song 'Room For The Others' is very welcome. Musically it's overriding genre is shoegaze, however there are some welcome dream pop influences, that ensure the track has some fine hooks.

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Bootblacks - Hold & Dissolve.

Background - Brooklyn-based Bootblacks have shared the debut single from their forthcoming album. The band's Panther MacDonald explains that the track is about "knowing you have to leave people behind, and how hard that is. And even though letting go is difficult, you can both find the time to remember someone while remembering that it’s not over yet.” 'Fragments' is out 9/14 via Manic Depression Records.

Since the group's founding in 2010, Brooklyn-based Bootblacks have been enthralling audiences with their frenetic live shows from the U.S. to Europe. Their sounds has been described as a balance of contradictions: both pensive and buoyant, referential and modern. Fitting, as the Bootblacks name is derived from novelist William Burroughs' description of the dark underbelly of glitzy New York City.

Vocalist and frontman Panther MacDonald lists an eclectic set of influences: Depeche Mode, New Order, Simple Minds, Echo and the Bunnymen, Joy Division, Early U2, as well as The Beatles and David Bowie for lyrical inspiration.

With the addition of Barrett Hiatt (The Harrow I Automelodi) in early 2017, fans can expect an even more synth heavy, atmospheric and "bigger-sounding" Bootblacks than before, with the followup to Veins set for release in early fall 2017 on Manic Depression Records, followed by a European tour. Website here, Facebook here.

Post punk with energised synths & some fabulous goth like vocals 'Hold & Dissolve' is a stirring and atmospheric song, the eclectic influences cited above are not without merit.

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The Beautiful Ghosts - Atomic Disco.

Background - Ottawa-based alt trio The Beautiful Ghosts specialize in dreamy blends of indie rock and ambient synth pop, infused with high-energy electronic components. They don’t really appreciate such labels and prefer to be associated with other artists who defy current standards such as Joy Formidable and Metric, among others.

The trio of Butch Gerald, Catherine Sugrue and Alisha Everett formed in the early 00’s. They all either worked or shopped at a popular record store in their hometown of Ottawa. Butch was actively searching for a female to sing his songs and found that Catherine and Alisha had strikingly similar voices with separate and unique traits. Their original project, Tones For Twilight, experimented with their newfound tonal arrangement but it wasn’t until 2012, when they reformed as Beautiful Ghosts, that they began to officially release material. Their new sound, helmed by producer/songwriter Gerald and featuring the haunting vocal blend of Sugrue and Everett, culminated in their forthcoming self-titled album, out August 25th.

The album is a clear statement from a band whose sharp take on synth rock comes from a genuine love of the original format. Gerald’s infatuation with analog gear dates back a few decades, and goes hand in hand with a deep nostalgia which is rooted in ‘actually’ living through the 80’s. “Seeing kids these days try to connect to the simplicity and innocence of past generations is interesting. They’re trying to explore these retro qualities but still seem to be slaves to new mediums.” Butch asserts, citing The Beautiful Ghosts music as an authentic alternative to the hype. “Songwriters tend to identify with what moves them and for me, it often reaches into a very sacred place”. Facebook here.

'Atomic Disco' mixes swirling synths, rhythmic vibes and fabulous vocals and harmonies, this is a catchy alt pop song that also doubles as a mood lifter.


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The Pains Of Being Pure at Heart - My Only.

Background - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have long set the benchmark for big-hearted, idealistic pop songs. With The Echo of Pleasure, The Pains push beyond their many inspirations and embrace their role as indiepop heroes in their own right. Showcasing the deft songwriting of frontman Kip Berman, The Pains’ fourth album is their most confident and accomplished. After three critically-acclaimed records, 2009’s The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, 2011’s Belong and 2014’s Days of Abandon received praise from The New York Times, Pitchfork, The Guardian and Rolling Stone, they have put together a collection of songs that possess a timeless grandeur, deeper and more satisfying than anything the band has done since their iconic debut.  

From their earliest days of C86-worship to Alternative Nation-sized anthems to a matured, “Simple and Sure” pop refinement, The Echo of Pleasure is what Berman describes as sounding “heavy and hopeful, like love.” It’s an album that reflects the band’s most joyous moments while maintaining Berman’s candid and critical lyricism, free of the self-abasing insecurity of youth. “The album is loving. The music is heavier, more expansive,” he says. “To me, songs about love shouldn’t be thought of as light. Love is big - sometimes it’s emphatic, overwhelming or simple - other times it’s tense, anxious or just exhausting. But at its best, it makes you want to be something better.”

In their decade long career, Berman has stood at the center of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and with a changing lineup, it’s become more apparent. “On [the last album] Days of Abandon, I was on my own. There was no one in the room making decisions with me. It felt strange experiencing that isolation while trying to make sense of it through writing,” Berman admits. “That album was about loss, and I think it conveyed that feeling well –  but I’m glad to move on from that place.” On The Echo of Pleasure, he’s learned to take full agency of something he’s always owned. “With this record, I’ve made peace with the fact I am Pains. It’s always been my band, but I haven’t been super comfortable saying that, partly because I’ve enjoyed working with so many talented friends, and also because the songs I wrote seemed to mean more than anything my actual life could live up to.”

The Echo of Pleasure navigates variability and safety without unraveling. Berman is no stranger to fragility; here, it’s structured with warmth, the kind found after life-altering moments. It’s reflected in the album title, too: “The Echo of Pleasure could be the near-symmetry of love,” he explains. “It’s the reflection back and forth, modulating over time, of two people who are together. It’s not a mirror - but a perpetual answering and asking. When one person is absent, that echo ceases or, as the title track laments, ‘fades into these silent days.’ In that sense, remembering is a kind of echo, each instance slightly less vivid than the one before.”

The record is augmented by guest vocals featuring previous Pains collaborators: Jen Goma on “So True” (A Sunny Day in Glasgow), bass guitar by Jacob Danish Sloan (Dream Diary), and horns by Kelly Pratt (Beirut, David Byrne, St. Vincent). The Pains of Being Pure at Heart live band consists of long-time guitarist Christoph Hochheim (Ablebody, ex-Depreciation Guild), bassist Jacob Danish Sloan, drummer Chris Schackerman (ex-Mercury Girls, ex-Literature) and vocalist/keyboardist Jess Rojas.  The band will tour the UK in late May, returning to New York for Northside Festival in June with more selective dates set to be announced shortly. The Echo of Pleasure arrives later this summer. Website here, Facebook here.

The first of nine tracks on the new album 'The Echo of Pleasure' is 'My Only'. Vibrant and richly layered indie pop manifests itself throughout this hook filled album, the featured track sets the pace, and it's a fabulous ride from there on in.

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Andi - 68creep - Jessica Lynn - Autobahn - A Valley Son

Andi - Half Home.

Background from Andi - I’m really excited to be releasing my new single “Half Home”. It’s my first song since I released my debut EP Sketches last year and landed top 4 in the national CBC Searchlight competition. 

This song is about being young and in a transitionary stage of life. When I wrote the track I was alone on the road, floating from recording sessions to rehearsals, and crashing in my car between gigs. Writing this song helped me embrace living in a state of change.

I’m proud to be involved in all aspects of my music  - from the concept to creation to production. It allows me to express my singular vision without compromise. My music is inspired by a combination of influences ranging from pop to noise rock to R&B, all of which combine to form a sound that is truly representative of me. Website here, Facebook here.

'Half Home' is a vibrant, melodic indie pop song with just a little hint of indie rock along the way. Add in the reflective lyrics and this really is a notable track.

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68creep - Black Cat.

Background - It says a lot about an artist when those trying to catch their essence in a witty sound bite move from being concise and descriptive into the realm of high literary art. Any band that can be metaphorically described as sounding like “murder at midnight” and “beautiful melodies telling me terrible things” makes for a tantalising proposition. NYC’s 68creep are indeed that.

‘Black Cat’ is inspired by lack of love and the persistence of hope and humor, ringing through in lyrics like “I wanna make you mine. You lovely waste of time”.

The spirit of filmmaker and musician David Lynch seems to hover above everything the band does like a mercurial patron and spiritual advisor. “What would David do?” has even become the band mantra for swerving creative blocks, ensuring that the music brims with the same essence as one of his films.

68creep’s backstory even starts with a very Lynchian starting point, with John McRandle and Patrick Casey meeting at a New York City advertising agency, where they were marketing drugs designed to combat schizophrenia. The Kiss/Kill/Repeat label gave the band the backing and impetus they needed and very soon they were pushing their heavy, surreal, carny, creepcore to like-minded music fans.

Adding to 68creep’s intense sound is Colyn Hunt on bass and Kimberly Seewald on vocals. “Kim’s pretty soft-spoken; well, except when she laughs,” says Patrick Casey. “But once she opens her mouth to sing, she can pin you up against a wall.” She’s more than pure power though. “Kim’s got versatile skills. Our softer, more melodic, melancholy songs really show that off.” Website here, Facebook here.

Dark & moody music with dramatic rock vibes course through 'Black Cat' a song where the vocals and music are seemingly at odds with each other and yet still blend perfectly. Having heard a few more of their songs, they have plenty more imaginative material to share.

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Jessica Lynn - Look At Me That Way.

Background - New country-pop sensation Jessica Lynn is planning to come back to the UK soon after successful dates here this summer and she’s just unveiled the title track from her latest EP, ‘Look At Me That Way’.

In the last two years, the New York singer/songwriter has completed three highly successful nationwide tours of the United States and has seen her first two full length concert television specials, “This Much Fun – Live from the Winery at St. George,” and "Jessica Lynn - Takin' Over - Live from The Paramount " be met with rave reviews and seen by millions of viewers nationwide across America.

She has sung her country’s National Anthem twice in New York’s famed Madison Square Garden by special invite, signed a major publishing deal with publishing giant Round Hill Music that had her in Nashville writing with today’s top hit writers, and wrapped up three national summer tours sharing stages with Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Hank Williams Jr., The Band Perry, Thompson Square, Jake Owen, Sammy Kershaw, Clint Black, Montgomery Gentry, Phil Vassar and others. Website here, Facebook here.

'Look At Me That Way' is another beautiful country pop song. It's our second feature for Jessica Lynn and once again the musicianship is high calibre and her vocals melodic and refreshing.

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Autobahn - The Moral Crossing.

Background - Leeds post-punk quintet Autobahn return this week with the frenetic first single and title track of their upcoming second album, “The Moral Crossing”. The album will be released by Tough Love Records on a selection of physical formats – including CD, a red vinyl pressing for indie stores, 100 red vinyl pressing with a poster available exclusively through Bandcamp / Tough Love Records and, finally, a 100 grey vinyl pressing only available for their hometown through Leeds record stores. 

Following considerable attention around their debut album from the likes of The Guardian, Uncut, NME, Louder Than War and more, Autobahn’s second has seen lead singer and principal songwriter Craig Johnson, guitarists Michael Pedel and Gavin Cobb, bassist Daniel Sleight and drummer Liam Hilton deciding to giving up their practice room that doubled as a hardcore/punk venue (which influenced their original sound, as did a love of The Birthday Party) and build their own studio space – on their own terms, all on their own.

"The first album hinted at emotion and feeling, but this record encapsulates that from the offset. The melancholic aspect of our music is often offset by an aggressive dissonance, but to me there's also a romantic side to what we do, which isn't always clear because of the 100mph drive of the band. That's what we are exploring with this new album." - Craig Johnson

They found a former double-glazing firm, under a disused bridge, in Holbeck (Leeds’ red light district), and despite having no experience of such a job, they undertook this feat. It took a year from ripping out the existing contents to finishing the album – which was then mixed in New York by Ben Greenberg, known for his work with the Sacred Bones label.

On top, Johnson taught himself how to make a record after the studio was built. “I was down there nearly every night,” Johnson recalls. “It was pretty horrible at times, but worth the pain to have control over everything. We’ve had the chance to create the sound we want, at times it’s more melancholic, and romantic.” Autobahn will follow the release of their album with a full UK tour, dates are listed on Beehive candy's tour news page. Facebook here.

Energised post punk where the drums drive the tracks momentum, whilst the other musicians slowly build up to the pace. 'The Moral Crossing' has gritty and moody vocals that are superbly matched, this is one fine rocker.


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A Valley Son - Mad God 20/20.

Background - A Valley Son’s newest single “Mad God 20/20”, is the latest offering from their debut album But The World Moves, which is coming out on September 7th. 

But The World Moves is the follow-up to the bands' critically-acclaimed debut Sunset Park EP that came out in January. With three of the four members growing up in the South and eventually migrating to New York City, the songs are heavily influenced by the experiences gained after their arrival. The record attempts to reconcile the world of one's youth with the one we call home as adults, all while dealing with what it means for the people we become. The core question being, does anyone ever really get away?

These are not a collection of somber acoustic ruminations, but raucous songs that pull heavily from the Southern soul, rock and gospel tradition that each of the members grew up on. Just like with their captivating live performances, the band sets a tone from the first track that tries to transport the listener back and forth between the past and the present seamlessly, in the hopes that the line between memory and reality are blurred. Facebook here.

Alt rock with a little swagger 'Mad God 20/20' is our sixth song feature for A Valley Son, a band that just keeps on producing fabulous and timeless genre spanning music!

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Carta - Granfalloon - Ben Catley - Port Cities

Carta - Madeira.

Background - Saint Marie Records is honored to release the fourth album from San Francisco Bay Area collective Carta. The evocativetitled The Sand Collector’s Dream is everything music should be in 2017—completely original and soaked in a despair that is both absolute and yet somehow uplifting.

Dreampop/ambient outfit Carta was born in 2002 as a bedroom recording project by Kyle Monday, Jason Perez, and a revolving cast of San Francisco musicians. The Sand Collector's Dream is their fourth record. An album of vast stylistic breadth, the band’s description of their sound as ‘paranoid inner-vacuum micro-dub and ruminative post-space hypno-drone’ still doesn’t convey it.

Just say it’s the missing link between Another Green World and Young Marble Giants. Songs of water & ghosts, what the band so eloquently refers to as 'the eternal internal struggle', they trace a journey from entanglement to solitude, from optimism to defeat.

Carta functions as a collective, trading off instruments, and even trading off vocals. Bassist Sacha Galvagna does most of the heavy lifting, but Kyle Monday and Jon DeRosa take lead on a couple of songs. Yet it’s the vocals of Odessa Chen, blending with the men in a series of duets, that steals the show. Their voices blend together like a Lee Hazlewood with more ‘haze’ and a Nancy Sinatra with more sin. Website here, Facebook here.

With the band describing their music as "paranoid inner-vacuum micro-dub and ruminative post-space hypno-drone" what else is there for me to add. 'Madeira'is the second of ten beautifully imaginative tracks, it's also just a glimpse of the whole piece, on this genre wandering magical album.

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Granfalloon - Down There For Dancing.

Background - Granfalloon is the musical moniker of Manchester based songwriter Richard Lomax. The debut album 'Down There For Dancing' will be released in September 2017 on new label The Dogan.

Granfalloon's use of lo-fi bedroom recording techniques point to a revelry in beautiful imperfection and a desire to create something very special. There is a real commitment to detail which involved patiently distilling the soundscapes until the elements of electronics, delicate acoustic guitar, and the mixture of lo-fi, folk & psych all fell into place.

It lovingly combines samples, synths, and the Omnichord (an electronic autoharp) as well as guitarist Dave Bertram’s liquid silver guitar sound over a mixture of 808 states and broken 8-bit beats. Website here, Facebook here.

'Down There For Dancing' comprises of eight very individual songs. Each one comes across as a labour of love, where attention to detail is very clear. The distinct and pleasing vocals add emotion & feeling, whilst the musical arrangements even when quite lo-fi, are a refined companion. A very impressive debut!

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Ben Catley - Strong Hands.

Background - After playing his heart out all over WA and supporting the likes of Ash Grunwald, Tijuana Cartel, Seth Sentry, Mat McHugh and OKA, Perth's Ben Catley is back with his first release in over 12 months, a most fitting AA side 'Strong Hands/Open Skies'. 

Recorded with Matt Gio (Birds of Tokyo, San Cisco, Illy) as a Jekyll and Hyde pairing of sorts, first single Strong Hands captures the frenetic guitar work and roots stomp that are always one of the highlight's of Ben's intense live shows. Originating as a challenge Ben gave himself of writing purely during shows, the piece naturally evolved across each sweat covered stage. 

Strong Hands is a mostly instrumental journey that hammers hard for two super energised minutes before ending sharply to the surprise of Ben screaming vocals into his acoustic guitar; a part of his performance he has become renowned for. “This is without a doubt my favourite song to play live. It's so much fun and I often end up extending it into a big six minute jam when people start jumping around to it.” 

Strong Hands/Open Skies will be launched beachside at El Grotto in Scarborough on Friday August 25th before Ben is straight off to the UK to play the Lindisfarne Festival (feat. The Fratellis, The View) and other dates around Europe, though will return for his busiest Oz Spring and Summer yet. Strong Hands/Open Skies is out August 23 via all good digital retailers. Website here, Facebook here.

'Strong Hands' has a robust roots beat that blends superbly with the electronica. This is an addictive, play loud piece, where the ending adds a wonderful twist.

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Port Cities - Where Have You Been.

Background - A port city is a place where cultures and histories collide, where goods and ideas are imported and absorbed into the local bloodstream. Not entirely un-coincidentally, Port Cities the band is the musical equivalent; a melting pot of three of Canada’s most creative individual talents, drawn together to make an entity even more outstanding as a group than as its constituent parts.

As with any form of musical collaboration, the magic occurs in the blending of one element with another, but unlike most groups, Port Cities never started out to be a band. Comprised of trio of celebrated Nova Scotian musicians Carleton Stone, Dylan Guthro and Breagh MacKinnon, Port Cities were drawn together through songwriting as independent artists, with every intention of crafting new material, and then going their separate ways. Yet that is not quite how it panned out.

Port Cities’ music is a perfect balance of Nashville (where much of it was recorded) and Nova Scotia (where the band reside); of the rustic and atmospheric, of indie intimacy and the sort of arena-pop anthems that betray Port Cities’ globe-trotting ambitions; 2017 sees the band embark upon their second cross-Canadian and European tours. Such ambition does not prevent moments of delicate musical insight though and new single “Where Have You Been” is seductive with oozing harmonies, intricate slide guitar and acoustic movements and contemplative lyrics. As Stone explains, “One thing we all seem to connect with lyrically is showing a less-than-perfect idea of love, and not being scared to talk about how everything is not great, or call out a lot of what normal, traditional love songs would be about.”

Double A-side “In The Dark” is an instantly engaging track that show’s off a minimal slight 80’s style sound with washes of affected guitar proving that the band can ‘come alive in the dark’ across varied sound palettes whilst retaining their grounding.

The first thing anyone observes when hearing Port Cities is that this band is tight. Seriously tight. Yet it begs the question; How to go about fusing divergent styles and experiences into such a singular rootsy Americana sound? From MacKinnon’s silky jazz-schooled timbre, allied to Gutho’s R&B influenced natural tendencies and Stone’s acoustic troubadour, the space in between the three is delightfully warm and resonant, yet entirely coherent across the course of their self-titled debut album expected early 2018. Website here, Facebook here.

Melodic and very catchy 'Where Have You Been' is another refined and foot stomping song that mixes pop sensibilities with some raw country vibes.

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Ryan Joseph Anderson - Belle Game - The Karpinka Brothers

Ryan Joseph Anderson - City of Vines.

Background - Chicago singer, songwriter and band leader Ryan Joseph Anderson has followed up his acclaimed 2014 debut, The Weaver’s Broom, with the stunning City of Vines, which has just been released on vinyl, CD and for digital download.

Ryan Joseph Anderson’s solo career began in April 2014 with the release of his debut album, The Weaver’s Broom. The album, engineered and co-produced by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Hooray for the Riff Raff), was hailed as one of the best Americana records of the year. Songs from The Weaver’s Broom made "best of" lists at Daytrotter and Songpickr and were featured at Paste and Magnet. American Songwriter said that Anderson "evokes the open-tunings of Nick Drake as well as the barroom howl of Tom Waits." 

Before going solo, Anderson was known as the bandleader and songwriter for the beloved Chicago roots outfit Go Long Mule, as a guitar slinger for garage rockers Rambos, and as a producer, sessions man and sideman for numerous artists. His influences range from country blues to psychedelic rock and are on prominent display in his masterful guitar playing and songwriting. Anderson’s sophomore release City of Vines is out now. Website here.

The title track from the album 'City of Vines' is accompanied by a second album track 'Molly the Flood. Combined they give a good flavour & feel for this very fine new release, where Americana tunes both gentle & powerful are delivered to a very high standard.


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Belle Game - Low.

Background - Vancouver's Belle Game returned last Friday with a new single "Low". Belle Game are preparing to release their sophomore album Fear/Nothing on September 8th via Arts & Crafts.

Produced by Dave Hamelin (The Stills) and executive producer Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene), the album is led by the powerful and hypnotic vocals of Andrea Lo. A ten-track-collection of lush compositions, Fear/Nothing combines the sweeping synth-driven dream pop of the Cocteau Twins with confident vocal-driven melodies of genre-defying artists like Empress Of and Jessy Lanza.

Upon the release of their debut album Ritual Tradition Habit, the band earned critical praise from the likes of Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, while their emotional live performances prompted Paste Magazine to name them one of the "10 Great New Bands." Facebook here.

The sixth of ten tracks on the Fear/Nothing album is the new single 'Low'. This is a collection of tracks awash with imaginative ideas that broadly sit in the shoegaze & dream pop genres. Take 'Low' as an indicator and expect a whole lot more, I'm confident you will be happily surprised.


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The Karpinka Brothers - You Make It Look Easy.

Background - The Karpinka Brothers are excited to share the infectious new single, "You Make It Look Easy", from their upcoming full-length, Talk Is Cheap.  The inspiration for the track came from Shawn Karpinka's wife during a time of self-introspection, and "wondering about [his] place in the world." 

The Karpinka Brothers' new LP, Talk Is Cheap, feels like a call to arms. It finds a seemingly impossible balance of sincerity and positivity. When they sing lines like “Where would I be without music in my heart?” You not only believe them, you relate without a trace of irony. The brothers have a longstanding reputation of putting their money where their mouth is, finding a delicate balance between professional musicians and community volunteers. In addition to sharing the stage with influential artists like John K. Samson and Gordon Lightfoot, they’ve played dozens of concerts for residents of a local long-term care residence.

Produced and recorded by Grammy nominee Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Leonard Cohen, Vic Chestnutt) at his legendary Hotel2Tango in Montréal, Talk Is Cheap is the most realized and expansive Karpinka Brothers album to date. Their eloquent blend of timeless folk and 60s pop songs are complimented by an impressive list of contributing musicians including Mathieu Charbonneau (Timber Timbre) on piano and keys, Jamie Thompson (Unicorns/Islands) on drums and percussion, Sophie Trudeau (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) on violin, Joel Kerr (Sara Slean) on bass, and backing vocals by Krista Muir.

Following on from our first feature (last month) for The Karpinka Brothers we can now share 'You Make It Look Easy' which is another feisty folk rocker, where both the vocals and musical arrangement are crisp and refreshing. Having now heard a couple of tracks from 'Talk Is Cheap' it's looking very promising for the album.

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Sc Mira - Common Holly - Satellite Mode

Sc Mira - Mexico.

Background - ‘Mexico’ is the new single from the forthcoming ‘Keep Crawling’ EP. Sc Mira formed in 2013 when singer-songwriter Sadye Cage met lead guitarist Ty Vega and the duo began playing acoustic gigs in their home town of Winnipeg, Canada. However, coffee shops and open mic nights barely scratched their creative itch, and it wasn’t long before they found themselves enlisting additional musicians to play live and in the studio with them; and so their 2015 debut, 'Waiting Room Baby', was born. 

Produced by Vega and mixed by Montréal legend Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Basia Bulat), the critically auded six-song album found its way onto several best of year-end lists in Canada and was a record that,  according to Noisey, “will give you the bad feels in a good way.”

Now, two years after Sc Mira discovered their darkness, the band is back with a new collection of songs, beginning with the aptly titled 'Keep Crawling' EP, from which ‘Mexico’ is the first official single. Bright on the outside but ice cold within, the self-produced record is guided by an unlikely partner in mix engineer Ferro Montanino, a pop producer and composer with a knack for film work and a collaboration with EDM star Skrillex under his belt. Ferro’s knowledge of the electronic and pop world complements Sc Mira’s synth-driven indie rock sound, resulting in a fusion that places it in the modern day Death Pop lineage. Website here, Facebook here.

A deep bass and delicate synths are no match for the beautifully defined vocals as 'Mexico' begins to unfold. The music gradually builds in layers of refined sounds, adding more texture and charm to this fabulous song.

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Common Holly - If After All.

Background - Solitaire Recordings is extremely proud to announce the release of Common Holly’s incredible first single 'If After All' from the forthcoming album entitled Playing House. Born in New York and raised in Montreal, Common Holly (AKA Brigitte Naggar) puts unpredictable compositional elements into a singer-songwriter/folk framework, packaged in textured, eclectic electro-acoustic production. Her forthcoming album, Playing House, contemplates the notion that it is conscious thought and deliberate action that defines and cements maturation from child to adult.

‘If After All’ demonstrates Common Holly’s astonishing ability to structure and compose highly intelligent yet incredibly emotive songs. Beyond the compositional intricacy of each section, the real beauty and genius of the song can be found in how Naggar uses the meaning of the lyrics to mirror the structure of the music. Naggar sings about her difficulty moving forward from broken relationships, of attempting not to slip back into old vices but feeling hopelessly trapped in a cycle of failed recollection. She expresses a strong need to move forward, to progress and grow, a sentiment which is unmistakably mirrored in the way the music evolves within the track.

‘If After All’ consists of three distinct sections: First, a collage of playful and mechanic percussion fills, swirling guitar harmony and deliberate vocals. Each instrument is ostensibly independent of each other; yet, collectively, each part fits together to create an intentional musical illustration. The second section mellows into somewhat of a tempered Angel Olsen singing over a Godspeed You! Black Emperor string arrangement that slowly but brutally climbs towards its peak. It finds its climax in the third section, a Mitski (see: Your Best American Girl) or Radiohead (see: Paranoid Android) almost math rock finish.

At no other moment in the song does the parallel of lyric and structure become more evident than in the final seconds of the track. Despite the erratic sounds around her, Naggar remains calm, attempting to move forward but ultimately relapsing: “I will always forget, any way you spin it”. Website here, Facebook here.

'If After All' came our way by virtue of featuring another artist albeit from a very different genre, the sender making a calculated guess this might also appeal and it does! Perhaps it's because the track has a number of unique attributes, it does not sit in any specific genre and morphs through differing stages. Whatever, I like it a lot as I hope will you.


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Satellite Mode - Wild Excuses EP.

Background - New York City-based, indie pop/rock duo Satellite Mode share their debut EP, Wild Excuses, on all DSPs. Satellite Mode is the project of the classically trained duo  of vocalist, Jess Carvo and producer and instrumentalist Alex Marko. Facing the threat of never being able to sing again, Carvo found her voice after an emergency vocal surgery and delved into writing as a creative outlet. Soon meeting Marko, who had just gone through a breakup, the duo transformed hardship and strife into power and success, using their musical chemistry and formal training as a vehicle for expressive and creation. 

The band independently released single, "Wild Excuses,"  via Noisey, landing a spot on Spotify's coveted Weekly Buzz playlist, gaining over one million streams on Spotify to date. The track holds the namesake and is the opening track for their forthcoming 6- track EP. Satellite Mode has supported a variety of live acts including Great Good Fine Ok, The Night Game and Flor. The duo shared their lead single, "Bad Woman," via BlackBook, who describe the track as "a statement of defiant self-possession set against a potent musical backdrop of contemporary rock & roll cabaret – with its fuzzed out synths and ominous strut of a groove."

Wild Excuses, the first full collection of works released by the duo, includes previously released (and beloved) tracks such as "Fair," "Aphrodite" and "Warm Fire Lightning," and unheard new material. Lead single, "Bad Woman," highlights the duo's expressive dynamic musicality, beginning with Carvo's soft croon, slowly escalating to an explosion of glitchy electronics, shimmering keys, blissed out guitar and anthemic vocals. The duo's second single, a cover of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game," presents a reinterpretation of the classic rockabilly track with dreamy layers of sound, passionate vocals and constant crescendo to a sonic climax. "Warm Fire Lightning" was mastered by Alex DeTurk (DIIV, TEEN, The Knocks) at Strange Weather in Brooklyn. Wild Excuses was mixed by Damian Press. Website here, Facebook here.

The 'Wild Excuses EP' has already received plenty of listens via Soundcloud excepting 'Bad Woman' & 'Wicked Game'. Now that might not be the case on other digital platforms, however unless you want to volunteer to be an unpaid researcher & check all of that out, I'm happy to let that be my excuse for an additional feature on Beehive Candy.

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Smoke Rings - Majken - Ian Randall Thornton - The Max Tribe

Smoke Rings - Happiness.

Background - Yearning for a slice of 'Happiness' Melbourne five piece Smoke Rings plug-in with a bittersweet new single from their double A side 7" Go To Hell and a string of live dates. 

Strengthening their penchant for writing incredibly well constructed melodies, 'Happiness' sees the band once again pay homage to 90s brit-pop in three minutes and thirty three seconds of clever instrumentation and cavalier lyrics. Recorded with producer extraordinaire Malcolm Besley (City Calm Down, The Creases), the band take a sonic leap forward from their debut self titled offering while retaining their signature melancholy. 

Pricking ears with 2016 single 'Rose Coloured Glasses' from their debut EP, Smoke Rings achieved spins and praise from triple j's Richard Kingsmill and Dom Alessio. With an add to triple j's sister station Double J and love from key community radio stations nationwide, they've been solidifying a strong national profile and will head out on the road later this month. No strangers to sticky stage floors and eager crowds, Smoke Rings have impressed on bills alongside Northeast Party House, Moses Gunn Collective, Green Buzzard, Jarrow and Good Boy. Smoke Rings will surface 'Happiness' on the live stage when the band support Siamese in Adelaide and formidable electric lady Ali Barter in September/October. Website here, Facebook here.

'Happiness' is an expansive indie rocker, that does as mentioned above, have some 90's Brit-pop vibes running through it. What's more the band have their own distinct sound and an ear for some fine, catchy material.

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Majken - Here And Now.

Background - LA-based, Nordic indie pop artist Majken will release her debut album, Dancing Mountains, this month on August 25, 2017. Last week, Majken shared her third single and video, "Here and Now." 

Majken wrote and recorded Dancing Mountains on a journey between gritty Los Angeles, romantic Paris and the simple, laid back feel of the Nordic Fjord, where she spent her childhood. Influenced by experimental rock legends such as The Velvet Underground and the sensibilities of master songwriters like Leonard Cohen, Majken creates experimental pop with accessible themes and song structure. Her collection of dreamy songs contain raw, emotive lyrics, cushioned by indie beach rock and a vintage Europop vibe. She's inspired by wild nature, breakfast in bed, the various cities she's visited and called home and the people in those places.

Dancing Mountains reflects on vivid dreams, fond memories and restless nights. Majken's sultry vocal melodies, intoxicating layers of sound and surf rock guitar come together to create an ideal soundtrack for a summer daydream. Album track "Everything's Wild" encapsulates this feeling, inspired by floating wild in a bizarre dream state - not alive and not awake. "A Little More Time," produced by Cody Crump, is about a hazy heartbreak while "Fainted Love" reflects on a summer fling, through rose colored glasses and introspection. All songs were written by Majken, with the majority produced in collaboration with Jesse Nolan and Maxime Sokolinski. "You And I" was produced by Fingazz. Website here, Facebook here.

We featured Majken back in June & it's a pleasure to be able to share 'Here And Now.' This is a much gentler piece where atmospheric music and vocals hold down a simmering tension that slowly unleashes as the song develops.


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Ian Randall Thornton - See You Through.

Background - “See You Through” is the third and final single from Ian Randall Thornton's gorgeous debut album Lineage, which is coming out August 25th. Thornton wrote the song on a Swiss train a few years back, halfway through an extensive house show tour across Europe. The train went through a mountain, and when it emerged, Thornton was overtaken by one of the most beautiful sights he’d ever seen - vineyards stretching for miles, sloping down to the crystal clear waters of Lake Geneva that stretched out towards the Swiss and Italian Alps in the distance. It was the sort of sight that takes over all of your senses, causing your entire body to vibrate with adrenaline. 

At the time, Thornton was in the middle of writing his debut album Lineage, a brilliant conceptual album about family and heritage, while spending much of his travel time meditating on the concept. Each song on his new album flows from one to the next like movements in a symphony, ideas weaving incandescently throughout. Sparks of world influence and folk traditions light up different tracks, such as the African influences heard in the fretless banjo dancing through “Philadelphia,” and distinctly Appalachian influences mixed with sounds of hope and history in “Dance Upon the Tables.” With “See You Through,” an ode written from a father to his daughter, the album comes to a crescendo of three part harmonies and a unique combination of Asian and Appalachian melodic influences.

Ian Randall Thornton’s sound resides in a delicate balance between Americana, timeless folk, and progressive post-rock. His sound provides a unique tension, the balance of remembering the past and hoping unabashedly for the future. One could see Lineage as a soundtrack to the film of Thornton’s life experiences, carrying secrets of friendship, made from family and for family. Its concept carries a definitive story of the golden threads of family history. In this Thornton finds purpose, writing odes to generations past, with songs such as “See You Through” serving as a guidepost for generations to come. 

The chance to share another track from the imminent album release is something I am more than pleased to do. 'See You Through' is the third & final single from 'Lineage' this time showcasing the Americana side of this very fine album. Highly recommended.

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The Max Tribe - Yellow Pages.

Background - The Max Tribe share their new single "Yellow Pages," the track comes off of the band's forthcoming album Retrofit, to be released on August 18th, 2017. 

The Tribe was born in 2013 when Nashville native Austin Max (Guitar/Vox) united with Northern Virginia Native Conner Kessler (Drums) at music school in Boston. For a year they developed a psych sound playing around New England. Their Debut Single, “Tape Machine” was featured on Sound of Boston as one of the top 5 releases of 2015. 

Max, Kessler linked up with Noah Lubert (Keys/Vox) and Rafael Minerbo (Bass) in 2016. Noah and Rafa contributed to form the intertwined charisma that became the group's signature Psych sound. Over the course of 15 months, the Tribe wrote and Recorded their Debut LP Retrofit at 1867 studios due August 2017. In January of 17, they embarked on a Winter tour covering the North and Southeast. They are currently gearing up for their LP Release and summer tour of the record. 

Together, the Tribe creates a unique blend of psych rock with influences stemming from The White Stripes, The Beatles, The Doors, The Black Keys, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, and Cage The Elephant. The Tribe have kicked off their East Coast tour, dates available on Beehive Candy's tour news page, website here, Facebook here.

A stylish arrangement slowly unfolds alongside some very natural and engaging rock edged vocals. 'Yellow Pages' is a fabulous psych rocker, which occasionally lets the power organically build, suggesting the band might blast some mighty riffs anytime they choose.


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FAERS - Joey Sweeney & The Neon Grease - Prawn - Lunar Hand - Me for Queen - Freedom Baby

FAERS - Last Of Our Kind.

Background - FAERS’ latest single ‘Last Of Our Kind’ is a rousing reflection on the state of modern guitar music, an allegorical love story, and a clear nod to their childhood heroes The Maccabees. Written during a songwriting retreat to the welsh countryside, and recorded in Gothenburg with producer Anders Lagersford, ‘Last Of Our Kind’ is a shimmering example of the bold and brazen songwriting that inspires youngsters to pick up guitars and form bands in the first place. Steven Anderson-Howard’s rich vocals are bolstered by intensely atmospheric and colourful production as the song effortlessly mounts to a heady climax. ‘Last Of Our Kind’ is the sort of song that leaves a lasting impression in the hearts, minds, and ears of listeners long after it’s finished. It’s a clear and powerful indicator that there’s still life left in that old dog we call rock and roll.

FAERS’ singer Steven Anderson-Howard met his future bandmates at his popular weekly indie night Club Yuck in Uxbridge in early 2015. Named after his label, the event showcases groups he’s signed alongside guest DJ slots from established bands. A bond quickly formed between the London five-piece and they released their debut EP ‘Waves’ in October that year. Before long they were selling out shows in London and Brighton and netting support slots with Jaws, Native People and The Cribs. Having sold out Barfly, The Borderline, and single launches at The Water Rats and The Lexington, alongside appearances at the Y Not, Penn and Camden Rocks festivals, FAERS are rapidly growing a loyal fanbase thanks to their intriguing melange of afrobeat and psychedelic indie. 

Staunch radio support has come from John Kennedy at Radio X and Gary Crowley on BBC Introducing. Throughout the coming year FAERS’ fanbase will undoubtedly grow. Their raw, visceral sound and effortless songwriting is channelled through their electrifying chemistry when they perform together. With a host of new material that will showcase new frontiers for the group, FAERS may well prove to be one of the most vital acts in the capital, and by extension, the nation. Facebook here.

FAERS serve up some refined alt rock with the new song 'Last Of Our Kind'. Energised and passionate both musically & vocally, this is a notable song.

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Joey Sweeney & The Neon Grease - Black Ice (feat. Renée LoBue).

Background -  “Black Ice” is the second new single from Joey Sweeney & The Neon Grease’s forthcoming project. Joey Sweeney is a long-established fixture of the Philadelphia songwriting scene dating back to the early 90’s, having previously fronted the influential Philly bands The Trouble With Sweeney and The Barnabys. “Black Ice” follows their rollicking debut lead single “Baptized In Vibe”, and is one of the first songs Sweeney wrote for the new project after taking an extended hiatus from performing and songwriting after the dissolution of his previous projects.

“Black Ice" feels like a narrative or storytelling song about the tropes of the latent menace of the suburbs, and features spooky 12-string guitar, vaguely influenced by goth mystery love songs from the late 1980s — stuff like "Under The Milky Way" by the Church or "All In My Mind" by Love & Rockets. It also features back-up vocals from Renée LoBue, the singer from Elk City, who Joey met when back in his Trouble With Sweeney days.

Sweeney's new songs draw inspiration from sources as disparate as 1970s Philly nightlife folklore and Denis Johnson’s The Incognito Lounge. In their new songs, chiming guitars, classic rock sax solos and rainy bedroom Velvet Underground listening sessions all blend together. In these songs are little stories of triumph over dirty circumstance and grace under pressure, with the friendship of an urban family “street band” woven throughout. His songs and records have received widespread critical acclaim. A jack of all literary trades, he's also the publisher of Philly-centric blog Philebrity, co-curator of the literary fest The 215 Festival, and a creative director at Quaker City Mercantile. Facebook here.

'Black Ice' is a hook filled rocker where the musical arrangement is striking and the vocals flow smoothly above adding to the melodic feel.

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Prawn - North Lynx.

Background - On September 22, Ridgewood, NJ's Prawn will release their new album entitled Run via Topshelf Records. Prawn’s magnetism has always come from the textures they produce. Drawing as much influence from post-rock and punk as the emo world they’re often written in to, the Ridgewood quartet have released two full-length albums, two EPs, and three splits since their 2008 formation - and make their return this year with a new record, Run, which is released this September on Topshelf Records.

Recorded in the space of just two weeks this March at The Barber Shop Studios, a lake-front old stone church in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, but written over the course of two painstaking years, the new album sees the band expand upon those aforementioned influences, carving out a dark but wildly immediate collection of songs that sits as their most formidable work to-date.

“A lot of what came out was the sheer difficulty of truly relating to one another,” Tony Clark says of the records thematic poise. “I felt like everywhere I looked at relationships in my life, there was some feelings of alienation and isolation. I tried to go further than my personal relationships and analyze how I was relating to ideas or communities I partake in.”

A significant release on its own terms, let alone as a building block to wherever this band might take themselves, Run is the sound of a band truly finding comfort in their surroundings and channelling it in to the most focused and exhilarating work of their life. Live Dates are over on Beehive Candy's tour news page, Facebook here.

The gentle intro on 'North Lynx' soon explodes into some fine alt rock music, the vocals have some fine rock'n'roll edge to them and a funky bass line adds a little more muscle to the track.

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Lunar Hand - Smoke and Chandeliers.

Background - SoCal garage psych trio Lunar Hand exhibit a musical maturity that belies their young age, exhibiting the same kind of smart and streamlined chops that pulled other high school bands like Arctic Monkeys from the depths of obscurity to international awareness.

Band spearhead Junior Reed began writing original songs at age 15, an endeavor which synchronistically coincided with his father’s first foray into recording music. “He had just set up some recording gear so it was good timing” Junior asserts, referring to his dad’s Northern San Diego-based studio. “I’d give him material and he was eager to record and experiment with it.” Around the same time Junior and his father began hashing things out in the lab, the young songwriter found kindred musical spirits in bassist Derulo Boulet and drummer Christian Ruth, whom he connected with in his high school jazz band. They quickly formed the rock trio Voltage Control and began playing out, exciting the local scene with their streamlined blend of amped up rock with vintage pop appeal.

After extensively touring the West Coast, the band returned to the studio to officially record their debut. Things had shifted, influences had expanded, and while they remained a tight musical unit with a cohesive vision, Junior felt a new name was in order - one that properly represented the sound they had carved out on the road and reflected the more melodic psych elements they had touched on. Now operating under the banner of Lunar Hand, the trio is gearing up to release their new EP, Magic Hour, is due out September 15th on Desert Coast Records. Website here.

Some potent riffs open up 'Smoke and Chandeliers', a thunderous psych rocker that's packs that extra layer of energy that rock trio's are more capable of offering up.

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Me for Queen - Jessica.

Background - Critically-acclaimed soul-folk artist Me for Queen (aka Mary Erskine) will release her new single ‘Jessica’ on August 19th. This is the first song Mary has written and recorded on the guitar. It is “a vulnerable song about vulnerability” as well as a reflection on the role of art and that of the artist. The intricacy and elegance of Me For Queen’s songwriting and delivery has prompted comparisons to Regina Spektor, Alessi’s Ark and Carole King, with a slight touch of Kate Bush and Laura J Martin.

Mary has already garnered support from prolific songwriter Gretchen Peters, as well as Tom Robinson at BBC Radio 6 Music. The Edinburgh Metro described her as “blessed with a profound skill in the art of songwriting”, and she was also featured in The Guardian in 2014, who highlighted her “beautiful, soaring vocals”. 

Years of classical training together with a Blues guitarist for a father make for an interesting mix of Soul and Folk. While Me For Queen’s piano-based songs inevitably draw obvious comparisons to Regina Spektor and Laura Marling, Mary cites Judee Sill & This is the Kit as a few of her favourites and says Me For Queen is “a sort of sketchpad for whatever’s happening in my head. I just try to write songs that talk to people.”

Her last single, Slow Train, from her EP “Who I Am and What I’m For” (released in February) was included in Tom Robinson’s personal top 5 Fresh Faves on BBC6’s Fresh on the Net and was also single of the week on the Janice Forsyth BBC Scotland Culture show. 

This August will see Mary head out on tour for the 4th time in one year. Having supported Lewis & Leigh and Bryde on their respective UK tours, she is looking forward to her first headline tour, which will also include some co-headline dates with Emily Maguire. Live Dates are over on Beehive Candy's tour news page, website here, Facebook here.

'Jessica' is a beautiful, personal & intimate song, that's wrapped in a delightfully breezy acoustic arrangement. Instantly captivating, no wonder the attention Me for Queen is starting to gain.

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Freedom Baby - Video Daydream.

Background from the duo - Freedom Baby is a boyfriend-girlfriend duo. We met at a local show that we both performed at back in 2013. We fell in love with each other's record collections and then with each other. In 2016 we decided to try making records together. 

It was after a while of experimenting with electronic sounds and orchestral elements we came up with “Video Daydream”. We arranged the song with a Snakes & Ladder game board as our blueprint. Each melody and instrument snakes and climbs from one place to another and each time you play something new is going to reveal itself.  

We recorded “Video Daydream” in the spring of 2017 in Eric’s apartment along with a handful of other songs (which will be released early fall on our debut EP). The combination of Brianna’s voice paired with Eric’s arrangements creates a dreamy and melancholic experience. Facebook here.

'Video Daydream' is a sweet sounding chamber pop song, that is very catchy. The gently building musical layers add further vibrancy to a melodic & very imaginative piece.

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