Friendly Rich - NØMADS - Soft Fangs

Friendly Rich - The Melon Sun.

Background from Friendly Rich - My name is Rich but most people like to call me Friendly Rich. I wear various hats in the creative field ranging from composer, to publisher, and even soon to be Dr in Music Education. 

My journey in the music industry started back in the 90s composing music for 3 seasons of The Tom Green Show on MTV. Flash forward to 2017 and I now have released 10 records, a book, and now soon to be a one-of-a-kind video for my new single! 

When it came time to make the video for the single, I knew I had to reach out to the folks at Everything Is Terrible, as I’m a big fan. It’s been wonderful working with them, as they perfectly melt my song about a high profile Canadian divorce with North America’s forgotten past!

 ‘The Melon Sun’ is from my new full length studio recording The Great Blue Heron, out on Sept 14th, featuring Kevin Breit & Hawksley Workman, Facebook here.

'The Melon Sun' is a rowdy and riotous blast of crazy rock'n'roll where the vocals are wonderful, the music explosive, & the video suitably insane.

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NØMADS - Phasmophøbia.

Background - NØMADS’ new single “Phasmophøbia”, is the August installment of the post-punk duo’s forthcoming/ongoing Phøbiac project. Phasmophobia is the fear of ghosts. The phenomenon of paranormal experiences presupposes a duality of time between the past and the present; a figure existing in both the past and present planes. Phasmophobia is often confused with Spectrophobia, a fear of mirrors or reflection, which is interesting in that a ghost is in essence a reflection of a past reality.

We all have our ghosts. "Phasmophøbia" tells the story of an ex-lover, haunting the streets of the paranoid narrator's daily world. After last month's release of “Megalophøbia”, the duo has chosen to release the next two singles in live video form, showcasing the band's progression towards the synth-driven shape of Phøbiac Part 2, to be released in a March of 2018.

Featuring swirling, long-form synth improvisation, and man vs machine drums from Brian Wolfe (of David Byrne & St. Vincent and the Dap Kings), the Live from Pittsburgh video series was filmed in the cavernous shadows of an abandoned Catholic school's furnace room, executed in one full take with no edits. The full Live from Pittsburgh video EP will be included with any download of Phøbiac Part 2 next year. Phøbiac Part 1 (comprised of previously released songs) will be released this October. Facebook here, Bandcamp here.

This is our third dip into the year long single by single release that makes up 'Phøbiac' a collection of material that is proving to be a feast of energised inspiration. The latest release is 'Phasmophøbia' a song which is a little less full on post punk & where the synths are more upfront. The passion & increase in melody only serves to add more diversity to what is a very fine the collection of music.


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Soft Fangs - Honey Colony.

Background - Soft Fangs is the musical project of Brooklyn-based songwriter, John Lutkevich. Since his first EP (soft fangs | 2014) and subsequent full length (The Light | 2016), Lutkevich has been enticing audiences all over with his purposefully crafted dark pop.

Influences like The Beach Boys, Leonard Cohen and Pavement melt together to form a scuzzy tangle - from which emerges a dreamier sound reminiscent of acts like Sparkle Horse - while literary inspiration comes from the magical realism of author Gabriel Garcia Marquez and avant-garde poet Robert Creeley.

On his latest release ‘Fractures,' Lutkevich says: “The LP is a collection of songs that I wrote over the past year in fragments and then recorded in three days during a snowstorm in Maine. I wanted to take these songs that I’d written leisurely over the span of a year and then record them very quickly.  It’s the first album where I've enlisted the help of others to engineer, so I let my good friends Bradford Krieger & Chaimes Parker (Big Nice Studio) handle all of the recording aspects, and I just got to run from instrument to instrument.”

Songs like ‘Honey Colony,’ drip around the ears of the listener, melding the story of a bee with that of a workaholic, while other songs like ‘Elephant Girl’ and ‘We Don’t Live Together Anymore’ take on abstract interpretations of loneliness and alienation.

“The album varying in concept is precisely the concept, hence it’s title. They are fractures from my life and other people’s.” Bandcamp here, Facebook here.

'Honey Colony' gently unfolds with a lazy drum rhythm and soft guitar background allowing the subtle vocals to shine & carry the melody.

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Monogold - QTY - Keep Shelly in Athens - Cormac O Caoimh

Monogold - Cinnamon.

Background - Monogold’s new album Babyfood (their sixth album since 2011, out September 29th via Chill Mega Chill Records), includes the heartwarming video for the album’s first single “Cinnamon”. 

The prolific NYC-based psych-pop trio recruited a group of young art students from The Good School, a mobile arts education school for young NYC students that specializes in stop-motion animation. Students at The Good School work out of schools all over Manhattan and Brooklyn, so Monogold went into a class to meet with a group of them and talked to them about food, candy and dreams, and the students created this absolutely adorable video that was as weird as the band hoped. All of the kids who worked on the video were between 6-7 years old and did all of the animation by hand, completely on their own. Pretty, pretty amazing!

Monogold has been incubating since the release of Yolk in late 2016, with their style and lyrical content developing and slowly evolving into something more than single-celled. Whereas “Cinnamon” approaches the concept of one discovering another’s body, “Feelers” shows what it would be like to see sunshine for the first time, if you were a newly born bug. Surf-pop gem “Pink Lemonade” strives to remind us of the simple pleasures of beautiful awkward first loves and strange nakedness in the summer. The egg has hatched and Monogold is ready to eat. Or, perhaps, they’re ready to feed the world with their new album Babyfood. Facebook here.

Refreshing, charming and melodic 'Cinnamon' is all of that and more, plus the video adds another layer of beauty, this one upgrades your day!


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QTY - Dress/Undress.

Background - New York duo QTY have revealed the video for Dress/Undress. The track is available as a limited edition 7” through Dirty Hit and is taken from their forthcoming debut album, produced by Suede guitarist Bernard Butler.

To take us further here are a few well chosen words from the band....

The bands North American tour dates are on Beehive Candy's tour news page, Website here.

Rich, distinct vocals are supported by a raunchy free flowing rock soundtrack. 'Dress/Undress' has a timeless feel to it, & is rammed full of hooks.


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Keep Shelly in Athens - Game Over (Daniel's Scene).

Background - Keep Shelly In Athens shares new single, "Game Over (Daniel's Scene)" -- new album Philokalia due Sept. 29. The ethereal and swirling sounds of the ambient-influenced pop of Greece's Keep Shelly in Athens captures the transient feelings of city life and the inevitable passing of time. With lush melodic beats and dreamy vocals Keep Shelly's production is an accessible and lighthearted entry into the world of down-tempo electronica.

With previous releases on labels including Forest Family Records, Transparent Records, Planet Mu, Cascine and Friends of Friends, the duo have already transported their whimsical arrangements and soothing productions across the globe, including performances at Coachella Festival, Parklife Festival, Brighton's The Great Escape Festival and Austin's Fun Fun Fun.

In addition to their own releases they have also done official remixes for Tycho (Ghostly International), Blood Diamonds (4AD), Steve Mason (Domino) and many more...

Their third LP, Philokalia, is coming out on September 29, 2017 via their own record label Athenian Aura Recordings with the Aussie award-winning novelist/poet Jessica Bell as their new singer. Website here, Facebook here.

Out third track in three months ahead of the new album, this time we have 'Game Over (Daniel's Scene)' a stirring & atmospheric piece, which for me cements the deal for 'Philokalia' an album that is clearly destined to join my collection.


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Cormac O Caoimh - Silence And Sound.

Backgroud - Cormac O Caoimh released his 4th solo album “Shiny Silvery Things” earlier this year to great acclaim in his native Ireland. It charted in the official IRMA charts and was launched with a sold out show in the Triskel Christchurch, Cork. All 12 songs have already received airplay and the first single (his most successful to date) reached over 3 million listeners in Ireland. The song was played in over 23 stations in Ireland and many more in the UK (including the BBC) and Europe (Italy in particular has attracted a big following with Italian cities topping the Spotify listener charts).

His intimate vocals, magical melodies and exquisite guitar playing has always attracted very favourable appeal to critics (with Mojo, The Irish Times, Hot Press, R2, Americana UK, OndaRock in Italy and many more) always quick to point to his unique style as well as comparisons to acts varying from the dreamy pop of The Go Betweens, Badly Drawn Boy, Elliott Smith and Prefab Sprout to the introspective and more folk-oriented Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen and Paul Simon. But he seems himself as a pop song-writer. When pop was good.

Specialized alternative radio stations were always on his side. Every album has received airplay from radio stations and DJs who love music and who love uncovering hidden gems. But with this album Cormac has seemingly hit a pulse on the mainstream and has also been playlisted on daytime stations and shows reaching a far bigger audience than previously possible. His loyal and enthusiastic fanbase (cd sales are still important for this man...the budget of every album is strictly based on the previous album sales) is growing. Finally too in his home country of Ireland where up to now the majority of sales were outside of Ireland (in the UK, Europe and US). The second single (Silence and Sound) is due for release Sept 15th 2017. Facebook here.

'Silence And Sound' is one of those less is more songs. Gradually building however never saturating, the melody, the vocals and a superbly understated yet very complete musical arrangement, makes for one fabulous song.

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Discolor Blind - The Rigs - Josh Taerk - WYO - Silk Village

Discolor Blind - Poor Receipts.

Background - Montreal's Discolor Blind has revealed 'Poor Receipts', the second single from their debut EP 'Long Vivid Dream', set for release at the beginning of September. This follows up their well-received single 'Black and Grey'.

‘Long Vivid Dream’ was recorded in Montreal between April 2013 and October 2015. It features vocalist Alexis Nadeau, who Malayeri met through a mutual friend in September 2013. The EP also involves Grammy and Oscar-winning music producer Jeff Bass, best known for his long-term work with Eminem and collaboration with George Clinton.

This EP is laced with the melancholia and angst that crept in from the cold Canadian winters Ashkan now found himself acclimatising to, summing up the myriad textures found on the record. A mix of chilled and measured washes are used as platforms for more intricate sounds from raw guitars and plaintive pianos to pop beats and even sultry jazz grooves.

Building up the songs involved a long and dedicated process, where Askhan plays the core sounds across a variety of instruments and digital methods, many of which are then replaced by other players for the final recording, and vocals added above the tracks. He likened the process to “rebuilding a large cathedral brick by brick”. Facebook here.

Our second feature for Discolor Blind in just over a month, this time with the second single 'Poor Receipts'. There is a distinctive and quite original sound emerging from this duo, where genres are merged with considerable attention to quality & detail. An underlying sense of passion, is matched by the growing energy as the song develops, fabulous stuff!

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The Rigs - Fall or Fly.

Background - With a plethora of film/tv placements under their belt, Los Angeles duo, The Rigs, debut their haunting new single “Fall or Fly.” Born out of the desire to create, TJ Stafford and Caitlin Parrott began collaborating in 2014. Both prolific songwriters on their own, their unique synth-pop meets gritty alternative rock sound immediately began gaining attention. 

Their tracks have been featured on major television shows like HBO’s True Blood, AMC’s The Walking Dead, NBC’s Parenthood, FreeForms Pretty Little Liars and many more. The mix of emotive vocals, harrowing melodies and unexpected instrumentation create music that has captivated audiences and critics alike.

Their new single, “Fall or Fly,” begins with a pulsing beat and whispering vocals. Though the track begins in a subdued manner, their voices mingling in a breathy duet full of nuance and frisson, it explodes into a radioactive electric chorus that serves as a warning. Serrated distortion and a pounding rhythm build unexpectedly beneath layers of vocals that convey a suffocating intensity akin to the subject matter at hand—a relationship that is falling apart. This haunting track combines two incredible songwriting and vocal talents, each coming at the music with a ferocity that lives wildly in the melody. Website here, Facebook here.

'Fall Or Fly' might be described as synth pop meets EDM, however there are also rock undertones that need to be mentioned. By the end of the song what's really clear is, the way it moves from a more haunting start to become a very catchy and addictive track.

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Josh Taerk - Learning To Let Go.

Background - Back with his new single,  "Learning to Let Go," the track  is about taking that leap of faith, letting go of the need to know all the answers and about living in the possibilities of right now.

"This was the first song I wrote with my producer and good friend Teddy Morgan who I was introduced to by John Oates (Hall and Oates).  Teddy and I wrote it in Teddy's studio in Berry Hill, Tennessee and recorded it at Buzz Cason’s studio, The Creative Workshop. Cason was a backing singer for Elvis Presley and Kenny Rogers. In 1970, he founded 'Creative Workshop', a recording studio, where Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed, Merle Haggard, The Judds, The Doobie Brothers, Emmylou Harris and Olivia Newton-John recorded material.

This past year, Josh toured the U.S. and has charted on Hot AC Commercial Radio. On tour, Josh and his band have opened for famed blues guitarist Robin Trower (Procol Harum), Kevin Costner & Modern West, Jon McLaughlin, Austin Jones amongst others; and have played shows from coast to coast. They even headlined a show in his hometown of Toronto this past March.

Josh has an amazing history - he was playing local venues in Toronto when Max Weinberg - drummer for Bruce Springsteen – saw him play. Max was so impressed, he  invited Josh to open for him at his sold out show in New Jersey, as well as play with him onstage to pay tribute to the late Clarence Clemons at Summerfest. He was then selected to play the 7908 John Oates Aspen Songwriters Festival, where he met another great mentor and now friend, John Oates who would later record back up vocals on his album and connect him to his producer Teddy Morgan. Facebook here.

Josh Taerk's fine vocals really do drive 'Learning To Let Go' forward with considerable power & passion. Musically this is also a great track, the band are just so smooth, the arrangement tight & understated at times, which works so well with the vocals.

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WYO - Down by the River.

Background - Indie rock outfit, WYO, debuted their cinematic, heartfelt music video for lead single, "Down by the River."  Shot in the band's hometown of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the video features the epic mountainsides and landscapes that inspired the forthcoming record, Untamed. 

The band WYO found its roots in a small town south of Yellowstone National Park.  Inspired by the surrounding natural beauty, singer-songwriter Andy Sorge utilizes an organic instrument palette to create the soundscape that is WYO. 

After attending film school in New York, Andy met multi-instrumentalist, Scott McKay Gibson, and the two began composing music for documentaries, commercials, and short films together in Wyoming. Perhaps this explains the reason that WYO's music has a way of evoking such striking visuals that stir the imagination. The pair began delving into Andy's original songs that would soon become this debut album. They teamed up with Los Angeles-based producer, Brad Wood, to provide a fresh ear to finalize their work. 

The product is the full-length album, Untamed. This record is a search for a place that's alive and wild. It's a record that deals with love, loss, and constant exploration. It's a tale of reconciling city life with the Wild West of Wyoming. WYO releases their debut full-length, Untamed, worldwide on October 20th, 2017. Instagram here.

An atmospheric vibe is there from the word go on 'Down by the River' a rich, melodic and quite haunting indie rock song. This is a beautiful track where the music video adds something extra, and I am left hoping it's not long until we can hear more from the band.


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Silk Village - Company.

Background - Silk Village are an emerging 4-piece psych-rock group hailing from the tropical paradise of Darwin, Australia. Bringing together their signature vocals, pleasing leads, and an earthy sound to the stage and the studio. Even with the tropical heat, the band’s mellow attitude reflects the laid back lifestyle of Darwin.

Silk Village’s debut single ‘Company’ finds itself from feelings of disorientation and loneliness. ‘Company' combines unique vocals and luscious leads to create a sound that brings together the smooth style of the band.

‘Company’ was recorded at Masters Studio in Darwin, along with their upcoming EP. Even though the recording process was quick at Masters Studio, it also took place across multiple bedroom studios over the course of about 6 months.

"Being our first experience recording not just a single but our first studio release, there were inevitable set backs along the way, never the less, the band pushed through together to create a body of work that truly represents our collective intuition,” says the band on making the EP.

The band’s first release was mixed by Jez Giddings and mastered by David Briggs, who were both based in Melbourne. "They brought out what we wanted from the track, and were very professional throughout the whole process, Jez did a great job of bringing out a sound that reflected the feel and tone we were trying to communicate.” Facebook here.

A gentle start allows 'Company' both to gradually unfold and from there build into a splendid & melodic rock song. The band & vocalist work so well together & as debut songs go, this track really deserves to travel not just beyond way Darwin, but Australia as well!

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Matthew James and the Rust Belt Union (Video Premiere) - Gill Landry - Sarah Cripps

Matthew James and the Rust Belt Union - Goodbye.

Background - American music nostalgia as if finding an odd record in your uncles hidden collection of 1970’s country and blues bands. Galloping drums with a relentless and lonesome holler reigned in by steady upright bass and soothed by the lost watering hole of pedal steel. This sound is self described as Midwest Junk Soul.

Impromptu Musicals for the Skeptic is singer Matthew James’ story album about moving to Des Moines from his home of Detroit for a girl and leaving everything thing behind including music with his nationally touring string bands. The single “Goodbye” was written on that drive as heard in the lyrics.

Director Josh Berendes is known for his work with nature including his current film on the Galapagos Islands. Here he shot these animals in their natural environment partying and playing music!  Rust Belt Union is shown as a pack helping each other load in during the grind and chill before they release art and energy like a caged animal on stage. There's a feeding of the beasts as a hot dog gets cooked on an acoustic bass. At one point the upright bassist chugs beer out of the pedal steel players boot!

As the scenes pass by it begs the question what scene does this music belong? Matthew James and The Rust Belt Union call their music Midwest Junk Soul as their sound doesn't fit the typical Americana, freak folk, or cow punk. Here lies a bluegrass rhythm and vocal cadence laced with electric pedal steel and drums. Listening to the other songs on the record, nobody is playing this style, not even the hipsters in Portland or the cool kids in East Nashville. The video shows nearly extinct instruments hitting new territory and ready to take over like an invasive species.

Capturing raw live footage and intimate b roll, the vibe is set for whiskey and cigars. If this environment seems like a get away, grab their new vinyl at sumppumprecords.com, Facebook here.

The vocals are gritty, determined and flaunt the passion that underpins 'Goodbye'. Add to this some wonderful musicianship from a band whose love for what they do is all apparent, & you arrive with one beautiful explosion of Midwest Junk Soul, a genre that very much belongs to these folk.

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Gill Landry - Berlin.

Background - Gill Landry has unveiled his brand new single ‘Berlin’, the song is taken from Gill’s newly announced solo album ‘Love Rides A Dark Horse’, set for release on October 6, 2017 via Loose.

Gill Landry’s ‘Love Rides A Dark Horse’ follows his critically acclaimed self-titled 2015 album, which featured appearances by Laura Marling and Robert Ellis among other musical pals. Rolling Stone raved that the record landed at "the four-way intersection between Dylan-inspired folk-rock, atmospheric Americana, dusty cowboy songs and street busker ballads," while American Songwriter hailed it saying “these songs, and especially Landry’s honest performance, resonate long after the last note fades. They beckon you back to further absorb his heartfelt, occasionally comforting, musings on the trials and tribulations of romance-gone-sour. It’s a subject most of us have experienced, can easily relate to and one that Landry explores with taste and subtle, refined passion.” The album earned Landry dates with Ben Harper, Laura Marling, Brandi Carlile, Justin Townes Earle, Warren Haynes, Bruce Hornsby, and more, in addition to festival appearances in the US, UK, & Europe. 

'Love Rides A Dark Horse' breaks new ground for Landry with contributions from fiddler Ross Holmes (Mumford & Sons, Bruce Hornsby), keyboard player Skylar Wilson (Andrew Combs, Rayland Baxter), and drummer Logan Matheny (Roman Candle, Rosebuds), the songs explore a more seductive, stripped-down sound built upon a hushed sense of intimacy that calls to mind Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. The album's tattered narratives cast aside romanticism in favour of reality.

Landry sets the tone from the outset with the alternately joyous and ominous album opener "Denver Girls," singing, "If it's not paradise now / Tell me what you're waiting for / Don't you know there is no evermore?" The song features haunting background vocals from First Aid Kit's Klara Soderberg, who joins Landry again later for a proper duet on the driving "Berlin." Additional female vocals appear throughout the album, some from Karen Elson and others from Odessa, their presence a gentle reminder that, as Landry puts it, "it takes two to disagree."Website here, Facebook here.

The brand new single 'Berlin' is a beautiful flowing song, that exudes high class Americana. The vocals and harmonies are heartfelt, whilst the music is understated and pristine. A fabulous taste of the album to come & one that sets expectations very high.


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Sarah Cripps - Leave Behind.

Background - Leave Behind is the first single from Sarah Cripps new album. Sarah tells us "During the making of this album, I was going through a turbulent transition in my life. I was struggling with the perception of who I thought I was supposed to be, and who I truly am. 

It left me feeling pretty dark at times. It was making this record that helped me decide I would embrace the darkness and the weirdness. 

I pulled myself out of the perfect box I thought I had to fit into. I found a way to create my own narrative and not subscribe to the one that is often forced on young women.  

Although ‘Leave Behind’ is a reflection of losing myself and some of my lowest moments, ultimately, it’s the turning point that gave me the guts to just embrace the weirdness". Website here.

'Leave Behind' mixes Sarah Cripps melodic and poignant vocals, with a carefully constructed soundtrack that allows her voice to shine whilst providing some additional richness to the song. Melodic and reflective, I cannot wait to hear more.

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Blue Rose Code - Sam Vance-Law - Elijah James And The Nightmares

Blue Rose Code - Love Is... (feat. Julie Fowlis).

Background - Blue Rose Code, aka acclaimed singer-songwriter Ross Wilson, unveils the first cut from his forthcoming new album, The Water Of Leith (out 27th October on Navigator Records). ‘Love Is…’ - a duet with the multi-award winning folk singer and multi-instrumentalist, Julie Fowlis, talks of ideals and anticipation.

Love will save us,
Love will save us,
They say love will save us all -
So, what you waiting for?

A nomad both geographically and musically, Ross writes from the heart eschewing any specific genre and the twelve new songs on The Water Of Leith, addressing themes of love, loss, travel, home, accepting the past and embracing the future, are painted with colours of folk, jazz, soul and pop; an eclecticism that has become a hallmark of Blue Rose Code and has seen him compared to John Martyn, Van Morrison and Tom Waits.

In the space of a few short years and the release of well-received albums North Ten, The Ballads Of Peckham Rye, and And Lo The Bird Is On The Wing, Blue Rose Code has built a growing reputation as a powerful writer and performer, gaining extensive radio play and the praise of key broadcasters.  Author Ian Rankin is also a fan and has written insightful sleeve notes for the new album. Website here, Facebook here, live dates on Beehive candy's tour news page.

Although the album is not due until October, Blue Rose Code have given us a head start with the fabulous 'Love Is...' featuring Julie Fowlis whose harmonies add character to the song. Musicianship is absolutely delightful, and as a whole this two and a half minute track is a massive teaser for the album.


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Sam Vance-Law - Prettyboy.

Background - ‘Prettyboy’ is the debut single from Sam Vance-Law, available today on Caroline International. Produced by Konstantin Gropper (aka Get Well Soon),  ‘Prettyboy’ is at its core a guitar-driven indie-up-tempo-stomper, though it changes its musical colouring multiple times, effortlessly moving from a string and piano primed introspection into a multi-voiced orchestral crescendo, before finally flowing into a smooth lightness which calls to mind The Smiths and their floating elegance.

‘Prettyboy’ is the first single to be taken from Vance-Law’s debut album ‘Homotopia’ – due In early 2018 - which tells the story of a gay man’s world in the 21st century. Smart, theoretically schooled, and armed with a wide range of feelings, Vance-Law describes the common homo-stereotypes in order to expose them.

Sam Vance-Law’s music could comfortably sit alongside the likes of John Grant, The Magnetic Fields and Father John Misty, it’s also unafraid of nodding to – among other forms – theatre, operetta and orchestral pop. Given Vance-Law’s upbringing, perhaps that’s unsurprising.

Born in Edmonton, Canada to an academic mother and journalist father, Vance-Law moved to Oxford at the age of five, where he soon joined the renowned New College Choir, juggling five services a week with violin lessons. After three unhappy years at one of the UK’s most distinguished boarding schools the family returned to Canada when he was 16. It was here that, especially once he’d begun studying English Literature at university, Vance-Law began to broaden his musical horizons, meeting the likes of Mac DeMarco, Sean Nicholas Savage and Tops’ David Carrier.

“I spent a lot of time with them and others, playing pool, biking around, working a bunch of different jobs, drinking coffees, drunkenly eating pizza at 3am and going to uni,” says Vance-Law. “That might sound laidback, but I was wholly dedicated and focussed on every one of those things.” Facebook here.

The music video for 'Prettyboy' is a joy, however the song on it's own, is exceptionally catchy and vibrant. With the debut album not due until early 2018, perhaps we can look forward to some more single material prior to the release, if not, I reckon the album will be worth the wait.


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Elijah James And The Nightmares - On A Stage (Live From Elevator Studios).

Background - Elijah James And The Nightmares are an eight piece band that burst onto the Liverpool music scene in May 2017, stepping onstage for the first time together in front of a 250 capacity crowd to headline the popular venue, District. In short few months then the band have already created a buzz in the city, played Sound City Festival and in June went in the studio to record a live EP.

Live From Elevator Studios is the band's debut EP and includes four songs from their live setlist. It was recorded with Tom Roach in Elevator Studios (The Coral, Echo And The Bunnymen and The Last Shadow Puppets). The EP showcases the band as they play together, capturing the raw energy, intensity and excitement of their live sound. With the accompaniment of Violin (Emily Claire), Tenor Horn (Rachel Notrahw), Clarinet and Saxophone (James Cudworth) the EP ranges from climactic builds to luscious sweeps, this atop of Elijah’s intricately crafted songs creates a dynamic four track EP.

"In terms of writing these songs, I’ve been taking on more of a storytelling role, creating characters and worlds in which the songs explore opposed to being totally autobiographical. I think the songs we chose to perform for this EP achieves a good balance between the two.’’- Elijah James

Elijah James And The Nightmares are hosting a launch for Live From Elevator Studios EP at Studio2 Parr Street in the bands hometown of Liverpool on Friday September 8th, with support from popular and highly anticipated ‘Horrible Pop’ four piece Shy Billy and alt/rock band The Mono LPs. Website here, Facebook here.

If you like this first taste of the EP, then I can confirm that another song/video is due out this coming Friday. 'On A Stage' is a fabulous song, where the band are full of passion and provide a high quality backdrop for some distinct and commanding vocals.


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Terra Lightfoot - Lomelda - The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer - Castle Black

Terra Lightfoot - Paradise.

Background - The artist’s strengths as a songwriter, vocalist and performer, memorably showcased on her last studio outing, Every Time My Mind Runs Wild, are even more evident here. With New Mistakes, Lightfoot offers up something rare: the kind of genuine document that can only come from a road-tested breed of songwriter and performer. The song premiered today at American Songwriter.

Terra creates soulful rock that has landed her on stages alongside Gordon Lightfoot, Built To Spill, Guided by Voices, + more. Her most recent LP Everytime My Mind Runs Wild was released last year to critical acclaim and has already accumulated hundreds of thousands of streams. This new album sees her focusing her rock, blues, and soul influences into a clear creative vision.

Terra Lightfoot on “Paradise”: For me, “Paradise” is about letting go of perfection in love. It’s not wrestling with the problems and missteps in our relationships but embracing them. I think it's a more realistic way to look at love and it gives me some comfort to know I'm not standing there with rose-coloured glasses on.  “Paradise” actually started out as a different song called “Thunder” that was a huge hit at our shows. On the last day of tracking the record, I had this crazy idea that I wanted to change the words because I wasn’t happy with all of them, so I set up a pillow fort and a guitar in the tracking room, went to work… and ended up with a new verse melody and completely different lyrics. Gus and Werner liked the new verse so much they said, “Okay, now go write a chorus to match that verse” — and “Paradise” was born!

"Paradise" is the lead single from Terra's upcoming LP New Mistakes, out October 13th on Sonic Unyon. Photo credit - Dustin Rabin, Website here, Facebook here.

Our third feature for Terra Lightfoot in less than a year, this time with the new track 'Paradise'. It's a foot stomping rocker where Terra's powerfully melodic vocals, carry enough rock'n'roll edge, to blend seamlessly with the soundtrack.


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Lomelda - From Here.

Background - Lomelda has shared "From Here," the latest from her upcoming album, Thx. She has also been announced for Mirrors Festival taking place on 28th October in London. Venue and stage time TBC.

Hannah Read, who performs under the moniker Lomelda, makes music that is textural and spacious. Her words are suggestive snapshots of loosely knitted observations, depicting quiet moments between friends and lovers and half-remembered celestial occurrences. In her songs, the memory of the past and glimpses of future stretch out on either side of you, and the present is unsteady and always shifting. 

If you were to ask Hannah Read what Lomelda means, you'd probably end up with some kind of non-answer and a new topic. It is a guarded secret reserved for those who really pry. It is a high school attempt at describing something vast and powerful yet uniquely quiet and complex. And it is ever-changing. Lomelda is about memory, intimacy, and the tragedies of distance. As a band, it has appeared in several forms over the years, but always, to Hannah, Lomelda has been about discovering friendship and connection. Close collaborators have become closer friends. And when you see Lomelda, when you hear it, it is apparent that Hannah cares deeply about the connection made with the people on stage, the connection with you. Bandcamp here, Facebook here.

We featured Lomelda back in July stating then that "her vocals are gentle, a little vulnerable perhaps and beautifully melodic, supported by some fresh, intricate and understated music."  'From Here' carries a little more weight or body to the soundtrack, and Hannah Read's vocal delivery trades up accordingly to the increase in energy, doing so without losing any of her fabulously intense charm.


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The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer - Get Ready.

Background - Armed with a sack of harmonicas, a mess of foot percussion and a road-worn Telecaster, Shawn Hall (The Harpoonist) and Matthew Rogers (The Axe Murderer) kick out raw and primal blues while electrifying the genre with a lightning bolt of new life. Hall and Rogers limit their sound to whatever they can play between them, using only their mouths, hands and feet. Hall provides soul-tinged vocals and blues harmonica, while Rogers simultaneously lets rip on guitar and foot percussion.

These days it feels like our world is on the verge of collapse. But it’s with near-end times in the breeze  that we plunge deeper into the pleasures of sex, revelry and entertainment. ‘Apocalipstick’ begins with  the doom-laden warning call of ‘Get Ready’ (to be released as a UK single). Set to a contrastingly  bouncy drumbeat, Shawn Hall alerts us to “Get ready for the hard times / Get ready for the heavy load  / Get ready for the who knows what”. “Ben Rogers [guest vocalist] first sang ‘Get Ready’ to us by the  piano in the basement of my home,” says Hall. “It was instantly familiar to us and embodied this loose  campfire-like group vocal thing, which carried right into the recording sessions. The beauty of this song is the impression of hopefulness it leaves you while layered in a bed of chaos.” With the fate of  the world certainly in question, ‘Apocalipstick’ delves into lustful begging with ‘Pretty Please’,  summons complete heartbreak in ‘Treat Me Kind’, while ‘Nancy’ and ‘Forever Fool’ touch on themes of bullying and revenge. 

Framed by psychedelic landscapes and world-ending jam-outs, The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer ignite the gritty, blues-rock grooves they have been acclaimed for by adding drummer John Raham  (The Be Good Tanyas) and keyboardist Geoff Hilhorst (The Deep Dark Woods) into the melting pot as  well as the golden voices of Dawn Pemberton, Andrina Turenne, Alexa Dirks (Begonia), Ben Rogers,  Khari Wendell McClelland, Erik Nielsen and Ricardo Khayatte. Add equal parts soulful, sweaty vocals  and biting guitar and you have an album perfect for any doomsday date-night. Website here.

Some chunky rhythmic rock vibes, provide just the right musical arrangement for the vocals and soulful harmonies on 'Get Ready'. It's a catchy rocker where energy and passion are there in equal amounts!


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Castle Black - Trapped Under All You Know (EP).

Background - NYC’s female fronted punk-rock/grunge outfit Castle Black  have just released their new EP Trapped Under All You Know. With gritty female vocals backed by powerful but masterfully layered instrumentation, their music demands to be heard. Reminiscent of famous acts such as Sleater-Kinney, The Dead Weather, Hole, Savages, and Bikini Kill, Castle Black brings an infusion of genres and influences to their music, hurtling through social anthems and pure emotion.

The album kicks straight into gear, with the first track “Seeing In Blue” providing a driving anthem, full of lively drums, hooky melodies and demanding lyrics. The track premiered earlier this month via The Big Takeover. The album’s intriguing title, Trapped Under All You Know, comes as a line from the song “Blind Curtain”. “That line/title was decided upon because it best represented the themes of this album and the trajectory of the songs as ordered on the album,” shared vocalist/guitarist Leigh Celent.

Celent described the EP as a cohesive project, which provides a story experience when consumed in its entirety. Despite this purposeful intention, she also invites listeners to take away their own interpretations. “…while I may have written a song from a certain perspective, that doesn’t mean the words can’t be emblematic of other situations. There have been times that I’ve started writing a song about one thing, but by the time it was done, it was about something else, or a different perspective on the initial topic.”

In addition to their talented instrumentals, Castle Black utilizes vocal harmonies heavily throughout. “It’s been a running joke in the band, that if we want to add something outside of the three instruments, just ask Lisa to vocalize it! So, some of her vocal parts end up being these wordless vocals for this very reason and we like how it contributes to the overall vibe.” Website here, Facebook here.

From the first song 'Seeing In Blue' the band set out to ensure the new EP 'Trapped Under All You Know' doesn't disappoint. The mixture of frenetic punk orientated pieces alongside some hook laden grunge keeps the four song collection powerful and pleasing throughout.

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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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