Background - South Coast quartet Sad Palace unveil their latest single, Melody Crux, its was release via Kissability on November 10th. Brimful of grooving attitude, the single is a continuation of the icy pop Sad Palace have already made their name with, just three sharp releases into their career. Fizzing organs and piercing alt.rock guitars sit atop jazzy breaks, delivered seamlessly by the rhythm section, whilst imperious vocals deliver commanding hooks, breaking at times into infectious falsetto.
If the track is channelling late night vibes, then here’s why: 'Most of the lyrics were written on a night out, sometimes you go out partying for the night when you really shouldn't. It's a weird feeling, being out dancing and drinking, and then realising you're just not in the mood.The music stays really upbeat as the words slowly deteriorate with the night, because the night doesn't care about your feelings, it goes on anyway.'
Sad Palace’s previous single Frostbeat was released on limited edition tape as part of International Cassette Store Day earlier this year, a move echoing their sonic combination of retro and contemporary influences.
With online acclaim building, invites to perform at the exclusive Sofar Sounds sessions and another glacial diamon under their belt, Sad Palace look set to break beyond their small town constraints, possessing the creativity and ambition to level-up to national indie stalwarts. Melody Crux will be available on all streaming and downloading services from 10th November. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
'Melody Crux' is a refreshing and sprightly song where the band are clearly putting their hearts into the music. It might be Indie or Alt something, it's certainly a breezy pleasing song.
Background - Ali Murray has just released a new EP called 'Only Wind'. Musically it's kind of atmospheric folk, influenced by the dark hills and barren moorlands...and the general harshness, beauty and sadness of remote Scottish island life. He will also be following up the EP with a full-length album sometime soon.
”Ali Murray is a songwriter/musician hailing from the cold and rainy Isle of Lewis in northern Scotland. Equal parts grandiose and humble, effervescent and melancholy, spatial and solitary, Ali’s dark blend of acoustic folk, atmospheric post-rock, and dream pop is as beautifully depressing as it is introspectively invigorating.
His lyrics, which speak of longing, loss, and various degrees of emotional turmoil we can all relate to in some way, speak volumes themselves but are also wonderfully complimented by moving melodies and expansive soundscapes; Ali proves himself to be a creator of an incredibly vast array of sound for a single person. An artistic channeler of all spectral ranges of human emotion, Ali Murray will appeal to any and all folks looking for that faint, but visible light at the end of the tunnel.” - Kevin Berk. BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.
The title track and one of four on the EP 'Only Wind' is typical of the refined and high standard of music Ali Murray creates. On the featured song Stephanie Ratcliff adds some beautiful additional vocals. It's worth noting however, that as a solo artist Ali is more than capable of filling all voids, and some.
Background - ‘Water’, the brand new single by Welsh Indie / Pop five piece 'The Tates', has been eagerly anticipate after the success of the band’s debut release ‘Electric Girl’. The song was supported by Huw Stephens, BBC Introducing, Radio 1 and gained Amazing radio playlisting as well as being A-listed on BBC Radio Wales.
Energized by their summer tour in support of ‘Electric Girl’ a confident and inspired band returned to the studio in Cardiff to work with producer Steffan Pringle (Estrons, Himalayas, Future Of The Left) again. They emerged with a sense of purpose with a song that will redefine 'The Tates' as the torch-bearers of a new sound, a sound that ranges from The Libertines’ poetic raw energy to the death disco of early New Order and the fuzzed day-glow pop melodies of MGMT. Lyrically ‘Water’ asks a poetic question exploring themes of nature over nurture, as Tom the guitarist explains: “Are the flaws that we share with our parents who we are, or have we learnt from them?
Are we free to be the people we want to be or are we trapped by our genetic makeup and our immediate environment and society?” It is testament to the band that with their unwavering belief in the pop song they are in full control of their chosen genre - they make the pop song theirs. 'The Tates' build from the ground up, step by step until they can reach the stars. FACEBOOK.
'Water' is vibrant and feisty. Vocals and harmonies are bright, and supported by a determined and delicious musical arrangement. Whatever it is in their 'Water' it's definitely a mood lifter!
Background - I'm With Her, the band of Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O'Donovan, have announced the release of their full-length debut, See You Around, out February 16, 2018. “See You Around”, the title track from the album, is available everywhere now. Co-produced by Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Laura Marling, Paul McCartney) and the band and recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in Bath, England, See You Around is a 12 track LP filled with finespun narratives and breathtaking harmonies – full track listing is below. Additionally, I’m With Her has announced an international headlining tour that will kick off in March 2018 and bring the band to major cities across the world including Los Angeles, Paris, London, and more.
See You Around presents a warmly textured, yet stripped-down sound layered with lush guitar tones and crystalline harmonies. The album is comprised of 11 originals, penned by the band in Los Angeles and Vermont, plus the never before released Gillian Welch-penned “Hundred Miles.” With each member playing guitar and handling various aspects of the instrumentation— including fiddle and ukulele for Watkins, mandolin and banjo for Jarosz, piano and synth for O’Donovan—the band cut most of the album live, performing just a few feet away from each other in the tracking room. All through See You Around, I’m With Her exhibits a refined musicality that reflects their deep musical roots.
After years of crossing paths in their intersecting scenes, I’m With Her came together by happenstance for an off-the-cuff performance at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival during the summer of 2014.The multi-Grammy-Award-winners have individually released nine solo efforts, co-founded two seminal bands (Nickel Creek and Crooked Still), and contributed to critically acclaimed albums from a host of esteemed artists. The band has garnered tremendous acclaim for their unique blend of instrumental interplay and indelible harmonies.
"We all feel immensely fortunate to be in this band together,” says I’m With Her. “As longtime friends and fans of each other’s music, it’s been wonderful to realise that writing and collaborating together fits so seamlessly into our lives. And now, we’re so excited to get to tour and share the work we’ve done as a band with our debut album, See You Around." WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
UK Tour Dates: Jan 30 London, UK @ Bush Hall May 11 Belfast, UK @ Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival May 12 Dublin, Ireland @ Whelan's May 14 Gateshead, UK @ Sage Two May 15 Manchester, UK @ Band On The Wall May 16 Bristol, UK @ The Station May 17 London, UK @ Union Chapel
I'm With Her just oozes class with 'See You Around'. The music is highly crafted yet restrained allowing the superb vocals & harmonies to hold centre stage. February feels like a long time to wait for the album, this song suggests it will be worth each week.
Background - Robin Martin is a recording artist from Northern Ireland. While making a living from cover bands, Robin always had a passion for American country music. “The first singers voice I remember as a child was Willie Nelson singing "Yesterdays Wine" while traveling to the north coast to visit family.”
Robins influences include Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and more recently, Chris Stapleton, Zac Brown Band and Brad Paisley!
Robin has recently teamed up with the very talented song writer and producer Paul Mahon from Croc Recording Studio' to record his song "Drunk On You" After shooting the video Robin and Paul decided that this would be a partnership worth pursuing.
“With the help of my beautiful wife Karen, we will share our love of country music with anyone who wants to share the journey with us." FACEBOOK.
American country music has travelled well across the Atlantic to Northern Ireland care of Robin Martin. 'Drunk On You' is a natural helping of classic Americana, considering how many folk from Ireland made the journey west decades ago, music like this might well be part of Irelands heritage.
Background - 'Greed Wears A Disarming Face' is the first track to be released from Soho Rezanejad's debut album 'Six Archetypes', which is due out 19th January 2018 via Silicone Records.
The single marks the first in a series of videos, which will be themed around a different Archetype from the record. Speaking about the concept, Soho says "“The first passage in the video relates to the record’s overarching narrative and title, Six Archetypes. Apple seeds rest in my hand while I sleep, searching for my mother in a dream — a reference to the orphan complex that Carl Jung writes about. He thought that children orphan themselves by abandoning their heritage for the pursuit of a particular quest, one which in no way fits their parents' or caretakers' expectations.
In a different sense, one can become orphaned from society. An idea or ideology can become so common that the mass establishes a system of expectations: one person's idea becomes the people's image. So what choice do we have other than to be orphans? I am drawn to this archetype because it possesses qualities shared by all visionaries of the world. Inasmuch as the orphan relates to being alone, it's also about the obsession for breaking and challenging systems.”
Soho Rezanejad’s Six Archetypes is an exploration of humanity’s essential postures, and a bold statement of the artist’s range. The album is at once an opera and intimate ledger. Like in any good theatre, gestures within this album suspend not only reality, but a division between the universal and the particular. FACEBOOK.
A thought provoking song title such as 'Greed Wears a Disarming Face' left me hoping for something a little different. A rhythmic and atmospheric piece with gorgeous & almost pleading vocals, above a dark and sombre soundtrack, yes this is a little different, it's pretty special as well.
Background from Jason S. Matuskiewicz - Here's a song from yours truly, me, Jason S. Matuskiewicz, Esq. This is a song about similar formative trials--experiences that are, in a way, mutual to my girlfriend and me. It was written while she was undergoing intensive chemotherapy and was essentially bed ridden for the majority of the time.
To watch someone that you don't just love but love more than you ever imagined yourself capable of loving someone is a profoundly challenging experience. My only outlet is song. So, I wrote an EP and this is the opening track. And my friend let me record it at the studio he heads.
This song explores the alt folk and alternative styles that I have always loved, but band members have not embraced as much as I have, which is the magic and the frustration of collaboration. It also features Adam Kruckenburg, my band mate in Shapes on Tape, and Justin Craig, our producer, who produced the track and drums on it.
The major third garners The Pixies comparisons, my team of experts has determined. I hope you like it. FACEBOOK.
'Battle Born' may have come from extreme and difficult circumstances, I suppose from an artistic point of view, that situation fuelled the emotional charge in the vocals, and passion across the song. I'm still trying to figure out if that's a good thing or not, I guess plenty of music has come from intense pain and concern. If this seems a little deep, it's because a relative & friend faces this treatment very soon. Art from angst, on reflection this is a fine song.
Background - Empathy Test shares new LP track "All It Takes". Empathy Test will be releasing two LPs, Safe From Harm and Losing Touch (Remastered), next Friday, November 17th, both of which contain remastered versions of previously released material as well as brand new tracks. You can pre-order the LPs here.
Empathy Test was formed in 2013 by childhood friends Isaac Howlett and Adam Relf. Sharing a mutual love for all things sci-fi, the London-based duo draw inspiration from ‘80s movie soundtracks, ‘90s guitar bands and underground dance music. Their name, borrowed from Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi masterpiece, Blade Runner, gives a clue to the DNA of a band that, since its conception just three years ago, has self-released a string of meticulously layered, life-affirming Synthpop tracks that have won them both critical acclaim a legion of dedicated fans worldwide.
The twin debut albums, Safe From Harm and Losing Touch, represent the culmination of four years' work from Howlett and Relf, who, in a now wholly over saturated synth scene, have used their considerable talents to form an enthralling, standalone identity. Starting out with the dark, melancholy nightscapes of early tracks like their debut, ‘Losing Touch’, which has now had over half a million plays on Spotify, the duo's sound has continuously evolved, propelling them towards the genre-defying territory reserved for the likes of other UK acts like Editors, Hurts and White Lies.
Fiercely independent, the band remains unsigned, having already turned down their fair share of record deals in favour of crowdfunding their twin debut albums via PledgeMusic. The hugely successful campaign is now 600% funded and counting, showing the huge weight of support they have behind them. Despite the lack of label-backing, they’re also turning in the kind of Spotify streams you would expect from the latest industry-backed buzz band, with their last single Bare My Soul already having racked up 85K+ plays. BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.
We featured Empathy Test less than a month ago, however 'All It Takes' is gorgeous and deserves to be shared immediately. Electronic pop of a very high calibre.
Background - Kentucky based newcomer Willie Breeding will release his debut album ‘Big Sky’ in early 2018. With influences ranging from Lee Hazlewood to The Strokes, Marty Robbins to A Tribe Called Quest, "Big Sky" is first and foremost an album of well-crafted tunes. The melodies are rich and wavy, complementing well the lyrics of someone torn between their years in New York City, and their generations in Kentucky.
The first single to be take from, ‘Prague Spring’, features a guest vocal from Caitlin Rose.
Detailing the story behind ‘Prague Spring’ he explains "One night in Prague, 1962, the son of the Italian ambassador met an actress they called, “The Czech Bridgette Bardot”. Their adventures were like a black and white noir. Bullets were drunk out of martini glasses. Official diplomatic vehicles were stolen. 14 years later, my wife was born"
"I knew I wanted to make these stories into a song. The melody came first, but it was a hard story to tell in song form, and I didn't want it to be spelled out and specific like a folk song. I just wanted it to evoke what I imagined the feeling to be. I called Caitlin because she's one of my favorite lyricists, and I thought she would enjoy the story. I felt too close to the material working on it myself. Later, when I was showing my wife the lyrics Caitlin and I had written, she instantly came up with the last line of the song, which I took as a good omen" FACEBOOK.
With an eclectic range of influences mentioned above Willie Breeding set expectations high and with the help of Caitlin Rose on 'Prague Spring' delivers a fabulous song. If the pass mark is wanting to hear more, then it's A+ and as soon as possible please.
Background - “It started with the keyboard part. Doug (Grey Goon) played it in the studio one day. It found it very peaceful and aligned with a kind of freedom I had been enjoying lately. That year I had driven alone from LA to Utah and back twice. I absolutely loved it, in the way I’ve always loved the independence of no one needing me, no one expecting me, no one to confer with about where I might stop, when I might leave, if I might come back. I was grateful on those trips (as one usually is) for the dissolution of a relationship I had been overly attached to. I was grateful that my mind was clear and that I had the experience to myself. I was happy. I didn’t need to know what was next.” - Rebeca Arango
Oddnesse is the soulchild of songwriter-producer Rebeca Arango, a first generation American from Hoboken, New Jersey. Arango met her partner-in-crime, fellow songwriter-producer Grey Goon (aka Doug Walters), in Los Angeles. The two east-coast expats bonded easily over pop hooks and apocalyptic prep while sporting the mandatory black uniform of studio nerds who find solace spending hours inside making music even when it's very very nice out.
The Oddnesse directive is to construct heavy, harmonious dreamscapes of soaring melodies and simple grooves, pulled freely from a wide range of nostalgic sounds. The project features numerous contributors and collaborators, including musicians Casey Feldman, Eddie Rivera and Lauren Kinney (who all perform in the live band), and designer/art director Dexsy Repuyan. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
'I Used To' is the fourth song we have featured by Oddnesse this year. Last time we stated that "the ability to sound both powerful and yet uncomplicated is increasingly
becoming a hallmark of their dreamy and passionate music." I stand by that assessment, with yet another fine track to enjoy.
Background - Stockholm-based Dream Pop band Novah have teamed up with acclaimed singer/songwriter Amanda Mair for new single ‘Ghost’. This follows their debut EP ‘Alaska’, which won them fans across Scandinavia, North America and the UK.
Taking their cues from the likes of Broken Social Scene, Beach House and The Radio Department, the track features industrial drum grooves, which are juxtaposed with haunting piano chords and Mair’s delicate voice. On working with Amanda Mair Novah told us: “Amanda is a really cool artist, we’ve been talking for a long time about doing a collaboration with her and when this song came up it just felt right.”
Having recorded their debut EP on a remote island, a studios’ individuality has a significant effect on Novah’s recording process: “We were recording in Stockholm in a studio with an old upright piano, and started messing around with complex beats on a drum machine and then adding piano chords together with it. It took a while before it turned into something you can actually listen to… but it ended up as a beautiful song and we are very proud of this one!”
Novah consist of David Tranberg on Vocals/Guitar, Simon Hagström Rennerstedt on Vocals/Guitar/Keys, and Filip Hagström Rennerstedt on Bass. Raised on the same street on an island outside Stockholm, they played in different formations during their early teenage years until they decided to form their first band together at the age of 15 with British Indie as a common musical thread. The project quickly became serious, and their melancholic sounds can be heard on TV shows on networks such as MTV – their intense crescendos are the perfect backdrop for emotional drama. FACEBOOK.
We featured a couple of songs from Amanda Mair back in early October, this time she is featured in the new Novah piece 'Ghost'. This is a gentle dream pop track where the dual vocals contrast beautifully with a detailed & refined soundtrack adding additional dynamics.
Background - Swedish indie/dream pop quartet Steve Buscemi’s Dreamy Eyes are back with an excellent first taste of their upcoming debut EP ‘Four Waters’. New single ‘Swim Deep’ explores the idea of wanting to hide away from your own mistakes in life, deconstructing the feeling behind wanting to simply “disappear”. Effervescent, intriguing pop music, with a pure Swedish heart, on this new single the band meld indie pop, electronic rock, and dream pop - into one fluid hybrid.
Prior to forming via Twitter, all 4 members of Steve Buscemi’s Dream Eyes had been operating in different small Stockholm bands. It was in the summer of 2015 that Tilde Hansen (bass, vocals) tweeted out a request for fellow musicians to start a new band. A couple of months later, Steve Buscemi’s Dreamy Eyes were formed.
Behind the odd name — you’ll find one of the most promising new bands on the blooming Swedish indie scene. With all the band members still at the tender age of 22, they’ve already picked up an impressive amount of attention; from both Sweden’s biggest music sites and influential international sources such as DIY, Billboard and Amazing Radio, Spotify also included the band’s 2016 dance-friendly indie pop single ‘Closer' in their Fresh Finds playlist which helped get the track into the top 10 on the Top 50 Viral in USA Spotify chart.
On 'Swim Deep', Siri Sjöberg leads the vocals, and bassist / songwriter Tilde Hansen said this on the lyrical meaning behind the new single: "Swim Deep is about wanting to hide from your mistakes and all the embarrassing things you’ve done. It’s about wanting to disappear and not having to deal with life. But then realising that you eventually have to face it all and stand for what you've said and done. There will always be people who do it better than you, but that doesn't matter because you will find your way and your people.” FACEBOOK.
'Swim Deep' is a mash of genres that come together in a coherent and gorgeous manner. Atmospheric and flowing, everything from the impassioned vocals to the intriguing musical arrangement works.
Background - "The title track of Future Telephone is a lament on modern day (mis)communication. It was written, recorded, mixed and mastered in Montreal, but Madeline's been based in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2006. These past few years of living a bi-coastal lifestyle have made holding down an intimate relationship challenging. "The lyrics of this tune are paraphrased from actual lines and emotions spoken and felt by myself and my (now ex-) sweetheart in a long period in different timezones, when our words and intentions got lost in pixelation thanks to these future telephones we were trying to communicate complex emotions through.
This felt like the right title for the whole EP because these songs are largely a response to the heaviness of 2016 and they carry so much hope and love for humanity and this beautiful planet, but then I think to myself ... who knows if all that intention will land on peoples' hearts like I hope it will, or if it'll be "lost in pixelation" somehow. Or just drowned out by radio noise of modern life. I feel like our communication as a species is rife with misunderstanding, riddled with assumption and an epidemic single-mindedness. These songs carry with them a hope that we can regain some of our natural empathy and the humility that comes with some sense of the vast complexity of life and all things."
Accompanying herself on piano, guitar and ukulele, Canadian-Californian songcrafter Madeline Tasquin weaves from jazzy folk to soulful ballads in odd meters to playful new romantic pop to delicately dark musical fairytales, delivering it all with a stage presence that radiates joy. With influences including Primus to Billie Holiday to Joni Mitchell to Chopin, it's no surprise that her songs takes harmonic and rhythmic twists and turns, though whether performing solo or fronting one of her bands, she manages to pull this off without leaving anyone in the room behind. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
Madeline Tasquin vocals are gentle & melodic to begin with, however they are clearly not without passion & power. 'Future Telephone' is a fabulous song, the music builds, with hints of jazz, folk and more.
Background - Seattle-based 4AD-styled ethereal folk-noir duo The Blue Hour present their new video for 'On The Wall', the second single from their new album 'Always'. This 11-track offering is replete with swoons whirling the listener into the ether, wisped along with sonic elements cherished by fans of Kate Bush, This Mortal Coil, Marissa Nadler, Dead Can Dance, and Chelsea Wolfe.
The new video was created by Carl Andrén, a young man from Gothenburg, Sweden, whose childhood love of drawing has evolved into a truly unique approach to video production and animation. The band also recently introduced their video for 'One More Mystery', based on original animation created by Rayhan Khan and produced by Rooster Studio.
'Always' comes on the trail of the duo's 'Kyoto Songs' single, featuring a beautiful rendition of The Cure classic 'Kyoto Song'.
Living near Seattle, Brian and Marselle Hodges have been inspired by their life amongst the moss and mud and the ferns and forests of the Pacific Northwest, their raw mix channeling the purely natural and the esoteric via The Blue Hour.
Blending traditional folk melodies with dream pop, ethereal wave and synthpop, the result is ethereal folk-noir that is unique to them, charged with haunting ambience and some classical structures. This potent cocktail creates an otherworldly and hypnotic effect, focusing on texture and rhythm and beautiful discord ... and most of all magic. WEBSITE, BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.
We featured a couple of tracks from The Blue Hour a couple of months back and the second single 'On The Wall' & it's accompanying video are a welcome addition.The creative ideas and diversity of styles, ensures the duo keep surprising me, with their unique and fabulous music.
Background - Smoke Season's new single "Wolves" has now been released. LA buzz-band Smoke Season is fresh off their UK tour where they debuted new music. The new material features a shift in creative direction which showcases anthemic melodies, rocksteady grooves and hard hitting beats - including their latest single, “Wolves."
The indie-electronic duo, once referred to as “Fleetwood Mac with beats" has upcoming singles featuring Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys and a collaboration Sonny Diperri (Animal Collective, Portugal the Man).
Los Angeles-based Gabrielle Wortman and Jason Rosen, the duo that comprises Smoke Season, seem to form their own genre of music drawing on electro-pop, rock steady and soul.
In the past 2 years, Smoke Season has independently released an EP with a corresponding short film (which received features at 2017 Cannes Film Festival and 2017 Hollyshort Film Festival), and toured nationwide.
Their millions of Spotify plays and acclaim from major press outlets (W Magazine, Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, Clash Magazine, LA Weekly, and The New York Times to name a few), are proof that their sound is resonating with fans throughout the country. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
'Wolves' has already gained considerable attention which is hardly surprising. The songs catchy electro vibes & melodic vocals will most likely see the "plays" grow a whole lot more.
Background - Brass Box presents their video for "Moonlight Desires" The video was directed by Joey Halter, and plays with old school filming techniques. "Moonlight Desires" was originally written by Laurence Gowan, a Canadian pop star from the 80s who now fronts the band Styx. The track was released in 1987 under his solo project Gowan. After discovering the music video for the song was filmed onsite at Teotihuacan (Mesoamerican pyramids) in northeast of Mexico City, Brass Box felt the need to record a cover fo the track, as an homage to the native Canadian and the pyramids (especially after Ammo developed a slight obsession with Teotihuacan after visiting in mid-2013).
With enchanting dream goth/ shoegaze tracks, Brass Box takes listeners on a journey through life, death and the darkness that swells beneath the surface. The inception of this artistic force began with front woman Ammo Bankoff; her obsession with being lost at sea and the intangible as the makeup for her musical expression.
After demoing multiple songs, she contacted her long lost friend Neil Popkin to join her after running into each other at a seedy Echo Park bar. The duo had originally met several years prior at an underground new wave/ goth party in Los Angeles. The bands in which Bankoff played (Tête, Black Flamingo) occasionally shared bills with Popkin’s bands (War Tapes, Rituals). Due to their musical connection both musicians naturally collaborated.
Neil then brought in guitarist Matt Bennett (War Tapes) and drummer Pablo Amador (Rituals), to round out the heavy sounds of Brass Box. Since joining forces the quartet has assembled lush compositions of melody and noise while recording in their Downtown Los Angeles home studio. Some describe the sound as a mix between My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins, but you can decide for yourself. BANDCAMP,FACEBOOK.
Maybe it's just the video but 'Moonlight Desires' has something of a psych feel, alongside the mixture of dream pop & shoegaze that compete with each other beautifully as the song develops.
Background - For over 25 years, Life in a Blender has been the canvas for singer and songwriter Don Rauf's blackly comic landscapes. The group has released eight albums ranging from screaming punk to orchestrated chamber pop, and has brought the high theatrics of its live act to stages from Berlin to Austin to Toronto to Brooklyn and Seattle.
Don Rauf formed the band with high school friend Dave Moody (then bassist, now cellist), and within a couple of years had acquired the drumming services of Ken Meyer. Guitarist Al Houghton and bassist Mark Lerner joined in 1992, and violinist Rebecca Weiner Tompkins signed on in 1993. While the band's core lineup has remained remarkably constant for the past 18 years, the list of former members, guest artists, and collaborators includes Chris Butler (The Waitresses, Tin Huey), Chris Rael (Church of Betty), Jonathan Gregg, John Linnell (They Might Be Giants), Gavin Smith (Les Sans Culottes), Susan Hwang (Debutante Hour), Brian Dewan, and Olivier Conan (Chicha Libre, Las Rubias Del Norte).
Life in a Blender (featuring Don Rauf of Seattle), squirreled away at Old Soul Studios in the summer of 2016 at Old Soul Studios in Catskill, NY, to record their most personal album ever. Each CD comes with its own special tissue. In between endless bowls of pale pasta and bourbon from a can, a visibly distraught Blender committed their secrets to tape. Kenny Siegal manned the large recording knob.
In the title song "Happy Enough," lead singer Don Rauf laid bare the workings of his tortured innards. "Happy Enough is not for cowards," said Rauf, through three-day-old growth (not hair). "I hope you feel as bad as I did when I wrote it.
Some of the better songs are inspired by (not stolen from) other people's works of art. A few of the songs were written for the Bushwick Book Club, a project developed by the shimmering Susan Hwang. The BBC forces musicians to write songs based on books and other written works. WEBSITE.
The title track & the first of ten songs 'Happy Enough' is a gentle opener. Be prepared for the incredible assortment of sonic brilliance that follows. Sometimes loud & full on, other times crazy, this is a fabulous collection of individual pieces that all battle to be the best!
Background - Jon C Butler is a writer and singer from Leicester, England who first came to attention with the classic album Shakespeare Alabama by Diesel Park West at the dawn of the nineties. With a particular awareness of the beauty and richness of sixties American west coast rock'n'roll the band were responsible for a clutch of highly invigorating albums from 1989 to 2011.
'When The Walls Went Down' is a contemporary take being filtered through time. Taken from Jon's 'brilliantly infectious' album Universal Stranger, the song is a sonic shoot along the decades since the Great Society.
“Well, my take on it at least”, says Jon. “I wonder if we could have got things together better than we have? I certainly think so, but you never know! Maybe this actually is the best we can do!” — Jon C Butler
The soul-searching resonance of the lyrics also take us into familiar territory for Jon - wrong turns and the passing of time. A deft reminder of those infrequent moments when, maybe, we should have let our emotional walls come down and allowed our hearts to rule our heads. 'When The Walls Went Down' is available from 10 November 2017 on Strataville. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
'When The Walls Went Down' has some thought provoking lyrics that are passionately delivered by Jon C Butler. Emotionally charged the song simply demands to be noticed, the accompanying video adds to the narrative, it's time to go & check out the album.
Background - London's latest and greatest rock'n'roll party band, The Fuzillis, are ready to Blast Off! This non stop, rock’and’roll grind-a-go go machine was formed in London in late 2014 and features the high energy rock and roll twang of guitar player Dan Criscuolo; the sleazy, growly tenor sax-tones of Thomas "T-Mag" Maguire; the thunderous jungle rhythms of Wilco “The Hammer” van Eijk and the low down tones of the boss of the bass, Mr Frankie Fuzilli Sr. (a.k.a. Zig Criscuolo, bass player of MFC Chicken).
They mix up a sleazy atomic age r’n’r cocktail blending Link Wray and the craziest Las Vegas Grind tunes with a large shot of Grady Gaines' Upsetters, a dash of The Fabulous Wailers, a slice of Nick Curran and top it all off with the wildest titty twistin' tunes on the Planet Earth.
Recent live activity includes multiple Spanish tours and two Dutch tours, the Festival del Valle di Tobalina (with Mambo Jambo and The Limboos), headlining The 10th Anniversary Rock and Roll Circus in Amsterdam, Weirdsville (with Big Boss Man and King Salamis), What’s Cookin’, Bule Bule Toga Fest (with Les Grys Grys and Dr Explosion), The New Barcelona Hayride and Funtastic Dracula Carnival, Benidorm (with Guitar Wolf and The Mummies).
2017 has also been incredibly busy with main feature slots at Hipsville (UK), Surforama (Spain), Voodoo Festival (Italy), Montesquiou On The Rocks (France) and The Rockabilly (Rave). In 2016 they released their (now Sold out) debut single Mogul Monster c/w Beavershot on strictly limited 7” vinyl through FOLC Records.
In 2017 they completed the recording of their first LP "Grind A Go Go, Volume 1" at Space Eko East Recording Studios with Alex McGowan (Jim Jones Revue, MFC Chicken, Josh Homme, Oh! Gunquit, Wilco Johnson, Jah Wobble) in the chair. The album features 16 brand new and vintage grind a go go classics. To support the launch of the record, the Fuzillis will be gigging around Europe starting in Nottingham (Blast Off! Festival) followed by Spain (including support slots with Barrence Whitfield and Mambo Jambo), Italy and the UK. They’re also planning a special UK LP London launch show at Weirdsville on Jan 27th, 2018.
The Fuzillis... One word instr-o-mental grind-a-go go party monsters who’ll make you twist till your toes bleed. BAND-PAGE, FACEBOOK.
Tour dates: 10 Nov UK Nottingham Blast Off Festival 16 Nov Spain Barcelona Apolo 2 17 Nov Spain Castellon Four Seasons 18 Nov Spain Madrid Funhouse 19 Nov Spain Segovia Beat Club 20 Nov Spain R3 Interview Madrid 21 Nov Spain TV Show Madrid 21 Nov Spain Valladolid Backstage Bar 22 Nov Spain Oviedo Lata de Zinc 23 Nov Spain Burgos Carmen 13 24 Nov Spain Ubeda La Teteria 25 Nov Spain Malaga Sala Velvet 26 Nov Spain Cox TnT Blues 30 Nov Spain Valencia 16 Toneladas 01 Dec Spain Zaragoza Casa del loco 02 Dec Spain Tomelloso Sala Beat 07 Dec Italy Macerata Terminal 08 Dec Italy Perugia Urban 09 Dec Italy Treviso Nasty Boys Saloon 06 Jan UK Brixton Stranger Than Paradise 27 Jan UK London Weirdsville 03 Feb Spain Torremolinos
Just one of sixteen wonderful tracks on 'GRIND A GO GO, Volume 1' I have chosen 'UNGAWA!' for you to savour over. I just love this album, as described above the band are "one word instr-o-mental grind-a-go go party monsters." If you are in need of a massive mood lift, or just want to take a discreet and personal cobweb removal session, then The Fuzillis are a remarkable starting point.
Background - Throughout his successful career as the lead guitarist and co-writer of the Canadian indie rock band The Dears, Patrick Krief has been busy, and we mean b u s y.
Touring with the likes of Midlake, Morrissey, Metric, Broken Social Scene in places like the Wembley Arena, Hyde Park, Electric Ballroom, Koko as well as V Festival, Redding, Leeds, Glastonbury, T in the Park to name (not) a few, we can confidently say that sonically Krief knows his stuff.
Signed to Fierce Panda Records, his upcoming new single “Ordinary Lies” unveils a musician with a true eloquence of expression. The intimate piano-based intro, in the style of Cat Power’s “I Don’t Blame You”, instantly grabs both ears with its authenticity (fyi, sounds incredible on headphones). It hits you from the get-go and you just know that this is going to be good.
Krief’s soul-bearing Jose Gonzalez/ Ray Lamontagne-esque vocals begin singing with the soft Whitley-like harmonies joining soon after. David Schiffman’s production (RHCP, Tom Petty, NIN, Johnny Cash) is impeccably modest in its approach, where each part- from synths through guitar bits to piano plonks (all played by Krief himself)- serves its purpose, holds its depth and builds the arrangement’s thematic expansion.
“Ordinary Lies” is taken from the forth-coming Automanic Red + Automanic Blue albums, which according to Krief, are "autonomous in their flow and not meant to be listened to in one sitting. Although releasing one without the other simply wouldn’t make any sense — the plot truly exists within the invisible line that bonds them." “Ordinary Lies” is out everywhere via Fierce Panda Records Now, with the double album Automanic to follow on the 17th November 2017. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
UK Tour Dates: 18th November - The Swan, Ipswich 21st November- The Wheatsheat- Oxford City Festival 23rd November- Paper Dress Vintage, London 24th November- Sofar Sounds, London 25th November- Factory, Manchester
Personal and gently developing 'Ordinary Lies' is a captivating song, rich with vocal intimacy, alongside a musical arrangement that drifts up and down with layers of gorgeous sounds.
Background - Nervous Twitch matched twisted rock’n’roll and punk rock on their previous LPs ‘Get Back In Line’ (2015) and ‘Don’t Take My TV’ (2016). With a Marc Riley 6 Music session under the belts the band return with their 3rd LP ‘I Won’t Hide’ – their first as a three piece. Nervous Twitch take on both personal and universal themes of alienation, anxiety and adversity transform it into 14 tracks of hook filled fuzzy New Wave Pop – sounding more cohesive than ever before. This new LP expands on their previous releases pushing their arrangements further whilst maintaining their pop sensibilities, with a range of influences from The Swell Maps to The Crystals, Nervous Twitch take you on a trip through the modern world as seen through their eyes. FACEBOOK.
'She's So Hip' is a small glimpse of the fourteen songs that make up 'I Won't Hide' a feisty affair in part, accompanied by some slower paced tracks. That said the potency, passion and energy is clearly trying to burst out from just beneath the surface throughout the album. It's new wave pop with some clear respect for older new wave, if you get my drift.
Background - J Lee and the Hoodoo Skulls are an instantly addictive contemporary blues rock band projecting dirty guitar riffs, stomping swamp percussion, and gut wrenching vocals. The Surrey based band blends Americana with bluesy retro vibes to create their unique brand of urban blues rock. Their unique, innovative sound is typically the stuff of biker rock legend that you'd find somewhere down an American highway, and thus have to pinch yourself to remember that they come from the UK!
Fronted by Jason Lee Barratt of whom has adopted a phenomenal vocal range thanks to the lineage from his father (Shakin Stevens), but also honed his own sound which soars over the driving guitars of Harun Kotch on lead guitar and Luke Sohl Williams on bass, whilst sitting on solid drum grooves by drummer Wayne Riches (has also been the live drummer for Skin- Skunk Anansie amongst others.) Between them, the band have already played on every corner of the globe with international chart success, received national award nominations, and had music used for various advertising campaigns, (including Henri Lloyd and the Mercerdes Petronas F1 Team.)
Off the back of their debut single Woman going viral online and a successful UK tour earlier this year supporting Shakin Stevens, J Lee and the Hoodoo Skulls are now back with their next single 2 Bit Lovers, which is out on Friday 1st December ahead of a debut album release set for Spring next year.
The new video exposes the band members themselves for the first time, performing amidst chunky choppers with gritty smokey surroundings pulling you into their atmosphere of ballsy blues rock! 2 Bit Lovers sits perfectly between a classic vintage sound, and something originally raw...J Lee and the Hoodoo Skulls have smashed it again! WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
'2 Bit Lovers' just gets on with being a blues rock song that we know is new, however could easily pass for something decades old. It's the modern production that gives the game away, apart from that, this is a timeless blast of full on rock & roll, with more to follow.
Background - Jordan Klassen is thrilled to unveil his new music video for the song, “Dominika.” “Dominkia” is off Klassen’s new studio album, Big Intruder, out now via Nevado Music.
Klassen says, “For the ‘Dominika’ video I wanted to make something that was playful like the song; silly in an honest way. We were inspired by a lot of late 80s/early 90s music videos where it felt like the artist just shot a bunch of footage of them hanging around and lip syncing.”
Big Intruder is an album about growing up and making adult decisions. The eleven tracks, which Jordan Klassen wrote, recorded and produced himself, venture away from the whimsical soundscapes of his past work and exude themes of growth and maturity, both in lyrics and sound. Klassen previously strived for a cinematic sound, avoiding drum kits but tried to embrace the idea of 'band' on this record. Big Intruder speaks to the dilemma of the overwhelming array of choices available in life, and the doubt and caution that become excuses to avoid commitment. The resulting songs are intimate and personal, guided by a sense of honesty and vulnerability.
Jordan Klassen is a decorated songwriter in his own right who has spent more than a decade quietly crafting music that has been deemed 'unsentimentally sincere' and 'whimsically hopeful'. He recently released his EP, Curses, which was an assembly of brooding pop songs that continue in it's predecessor's exploration of mental illness and hushed vulnerability since his 2016 LP, Javelin. Writing about his life experiences is one of the essential elements in Jordan’s creative process – particularly events that he had deemed as his failures. FACEBOOK.
'Dominika' is refined & melodic with a mature indie pop feel to it. The video is an imaginative nod to music promo's from days gone by, even so it's the song that stands out as hook after hook dig in.
Background - The new single from Holly Miranda entitled "Exquisite" features T.V. On The Radio's Kyp Malone. “I’ve always been a proponent of not making the same record twice,” Holly Miranda says. “Some people find a niche and go with that, but I need to try something different every time.”
That’s more than apparent on “Exquisite” first new material released by Miranda since 2015. More than just an artistic step forward, it’s a whole new way for her to make music. “This really is the most collaborative record I’ve ever done,” she says. “It’s first time I’ve shared so much of the writing and the production, the meat and bones of making an album.” This song finds Holly bridging the gap between 2010’s experimental synth laden release The Magician’s Private Library and her stripped-back, soulful self-titled record.
Miranda grew up between Detroit and Nashville, two music towns that would influence her own journey in a very profound way. She began playing piano at the age of six, taught her self-guitar at 14 and moved to New York at 16 to start her professional career. For nearly 20 years, she’s been performing, writing and producing with some of the best talent in the business. She has performed with the likes of Karen O, Lou Reed, The XX, and Lesley Gore. She released two records with her band The Jealous Girlfriends and has co-written and produced a mass of other projects. FACEBOOK.
'Exquisite' is a delightful collaboration with Holly Miranda joined by Kyp Malone. The duel vocals are astonishing, the song exudes atmosphere and feeling & the production is of a very high standard.
Background - A trip to the cradle of North American music was a signpost of the journey to the Buffalo Hotel. Geoff flew South to the cities of sound: Muscle Shoals, Nashville and Memphis. "When I got back home I wasn't just inspired, I was altered," Geoff remembers. Echoes of this experience permeate the musical tapestry, most pointedly with the harmonies of The Sojourners, a soulful trio of male backing vocalists who impart an ecclesiastical aura of Southern gospel.
Sepia-tinted panoramas and meticulous song craft: Across the breadth of the 12 songs that comprise his latest release Buffalo Hotel, singer-songwriter Geoff Gibbons breathes life into lyrics with facile economy, metaphoric ease and an ear for conversational proximity.
As verses turn the pages of the stories, Gibbons drops the listener directly into the dramas as he silhouettes a vibrant cast of characters in sheer authenticity. Backed by players from a tight community of first call studio musicians, Geoff's soul deep vocals are imbued with experience and empathy. Against the intimate grain of his voice, the players reflect his themes with subtle flourishes and stellar musicianship.
From Vancouver, BC, Canada, Geoff is a full time working musician and a producer-engineer who has lived his life immersed in music. Geoff Gibbons avows that the tales he tells on Buffalo Hotel are based on real stories that he needed to turn into songs. "As writers we have worlds inside of our brains and there's always something we've not experienced. 'What If I had done this? If I was there what would it feel like?' There's an element of that -- like a lush dream that permeated my consciousness. This is who I am. I have always been true to music. I'd like to have this music come out and affect peoples' lives; to haunt them in the best possible way." FACEBOOK.
The opening song on 'Buffalo Hotel is 'Ain't Goin' Back' and it is typical of the wonderful tracks that follow. Soulful Americana might be a starting point, the album explores differing styles, however always present are the natural heartfelt vocals & the influence of musical styles that can be found much further south of Vancouver. A fabulous collection of material, from a genuine and creative music professional.
Background - Following on from this year's taster track 'Fight On', North-Perth avant-folk darlings Simone & Girlfunkle are pleased to share their summery new single 'Gary Song'. In celebration of the release, the band will be taking to stages across Perth and Margaret River this month while also showcasing new material from their forthcoming album due out in 2018.
In her ever-so poetic and enthusiastic demeanour, vocalist Bridget Turner says of the new track "Gary Song is inspired by the upbeat-meets-melancholy vibe of bands like Alvvays. It’s an ode to our dead best friends – our pets specifically, one very loving and loved, yet guitar-phobic feline: Gary."
Hailing from the city of lights avant-folk darlings Simone & Girlfunkle were born on one of North Perth’s hazy, sun-drenched afternoons. With a mesmerising combination of three-part female harmonies and delightful arrangements, they produce shimmering, winsome pop-folk perfection that demands attention. FACEBOOK.
We featured Simone & Girlfunkle back in May and it's a pleasure to share the new single 'Gary Song'. It's another top quality indie pop piece, their vocals are gorgeous and the band simmer with musical passion.
Background - Brighton indie upstarts White Room have announced the release of psychedelic thriller Cannibal Song, taken from their upcoming double EP Eight out later this year via Deltasonic Records (The Coral, The Vryll Society).
Recent signees to the legendary Liverpool label, White Room’s nod to 60s psychedelic rock alongside more contemporary influences (Pond, Temples, Cage The Elephant) is evident throughout their new record Eight, a collection of songs that interlock conceptually, comprising similar themes such as forward thinking, hope, positivity and escape.
Inspired by the current social and political climate of the world and the uncertainty we all live with, the synergy between the lyrics and themes signified by 8 – the number of infinity – hints at the real depth within Eight, touching on aspects of joy, strength, balance and power in unity.
Discussing the sixth track from their forthcoming double EP, the band stated: ““Cannibal Song has a real childlike playfulness in the music and melody, which complements the more sinister, comedic lyrics. Together it makes a rather pretty little nightmare. For the video we wanted to incorporate inspiration from classic low budget horror films such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre and other 70s slasher movies. The DIY nature of the production and filming process, just us and a few of our mates, really lends itself to that style.”
The band will be heading out on their debut headline UK tour this November, showcasing the record in its entirety as the band envisioned, including new material unreleased at the time of tour. White Room’s Cannibal Song, is out now via Deltasonic Records and available on all platforms.WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
Debut Headline Tour:
25 Nov – Live At Leeds Big In 2018 Showcase 27 Nov – The Hope & Ruin, Brighton 28 Nov – The Shacklewell Arms, London 29 Nov – Actress & Bishop, Birmingham 30 Nov – The Magnet, Liverpool 02 Dec – The Eagle Inn, Manchester
Third time around for White Room on Beehive Candy this time with 'Cannibal Song' accompanied by a rather darkly humoured & almost film noir video. The song is melodic indie rock and very catchy, I might just settle for listening to the track in future, less chance of a nightmare that way!
Background - Mildlife have announced their debut album with the premiere of the first song to be taken from it, 'The Magnificent Moon', at Dummy Mag where it was described as a 'masterpiece'. Tom Shanahan of Mildlife has said “The Magnificent Moon feels like the veteran journeyman to the rest of the album. I’m not sure if that’s because it was written first or because it seems to know what it wants and has a more considered direction. It never really second guesses itself except for maybe just before the outro when he realises he may have journeyed too far and his space suit has a hole in it. But then he just jams some gum in the hole and gets on with it anyway.”
Mildlife take the musical canvas, rip the lids off the paint tins, and throw vibrant splashes of colour into kaleidoscopic jams. Old friends, the Australian four-piece bonded over the desire to push musical boundaries, developing tight live shows bolstered by wild improvisation and a debut record that mines jazz, psych and disco for its irresistible groove. A melting pot of musical sensations, Mildlife combine progressive 70s sounds with electronic krautrock, backed by a mixture of rhythmic funk, house, and dream-pop, to create an addictive atmosphere that’s illustrated perfectly by their first single ‘The Magnificent Moon’, out November 3rd via Research Records. The single comes as an introduction to their highly anticipated debut LP due out early next year.
Taking cues from artistic pioneers such as Can and Herbie Hancock, creating a Mildlife song is a constant process of teasing and tugging, expanding and refining. But Mildlife are adamantly not a studio band. Between 2014 and 2015 they took a year off playing shows to figure out how they could produce as much of their music live as they possibly could without losing its complexity. “It makes the performance, the composition, more malleable,” says guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Adam Halliwell. Bassist Tom Shanahan adds “It feels more authentic. The energy can be in the song rather than sitting on top of it. We wanted to leave a lot of room for improvisation.”
On the first single to be released from the upcoming album, bassist Tom Shanahan explains its entrancing grip further, “The Magnificent Moon feels like the veteran journeyman to the rest of the album. I’m not sure if that’s because it was written first or because it seems to know what it wants and has a more considered direction. It never really second guesses itself except for maybe just before the outro when he realises he may have journeyed too far and his space suit has a hole in it. But then he just jams some gum in the hole and gets on with it anyway.” WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
'The Magnificent Moon' is just seconds short of nine minutes duration, and not a moment is wasted. Layers of rich musical sounds twirl & swirl around, as the band morph between genres and create a fabulous sound. The vocals are refined, the rhythm occasionally adding a funk feel, whilst the synths are creatively used. The debut album is eagerly looked forward to.
Background - Blushing is an Austin, TX based dream pop / shoegaze quartet comprised of two husband and wife pairs that originated in the summer of 2015 when Michelle shared a few songs with long time friend Christina that she had been writing on guitar.
A friendship quickly became a musical partnership as Christina, a classically trained vocalist, picked up a bass and together they evolved those rough songs into fully formed compositions. They then enlisted the talents of their spouses, Jake on drums, Noe on lead guitar and shortly after self-released their debut EP "Tether" in January of 2017.
Energised by positive reception, a growing fan base and a grip of new songs they headed back into the studio as soon as possible. They recorded their follow-up EP “Weak” at Bad Wolf Recordings in Austin, TX. The album encompasses influences from all of the bands they collectively share a deep affection for such as Lush, Cocteau Twins, The Sundays, etc.
“Weak” will be released digitally, on cassette and 12” vinyl January 26th 2018 on Austin Town Hall Records. BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.
'Weak' opens with a dream pop feel & quickly powers up adding the shoegaze dimension. Melodic and atmospheric, the band have some very fine influences, however they definitely add their own quality and imagination.
Background - Nick Heyward's has a new video for his upcoming single ‘Perfect Sunday Sun’ out on 17th November via his own label Gladsome Hawk. It's from his critically acclaimed new album ‘Woodland Echoes.’ Nick is also touring the UK ins 2018 starting on 24th May at Concorde in Brighton, taking in 13 dates including 02 Academy Islington in London. The “idyllic” track, as described by Uncut magazine, focuses on “my interpretation of indecision, idealism and havering - a kind of trilogy, like Krzysztof Kieślowski’s ‘Three Colours’ film series,” explains Nick. Its college rock choruses part away from the bucolic pop of the rest of the album, making the single into the perfect soundtrack of an endless English summer’s afternoon. Prior to his hugely successful and prolific solo career, Nick came to prominence as the frontman of percolating pop-funk new wave group Haircut 100, a foundational part of the 80s-pop explosion. They released four UK Top 10 hit singles, with their debut album ‘Pelican West’ reaching no. 2 in the UK album charts, no. 31 in USA’s Billboard 200, and ending up being certified platinum by BPI, with Nick gracing the cover of pacesetting style magazine The Face. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK. UK Tour 2018: May - Thurs 24th BRIGHTON - Concorde 2 Fri 25th LONDON - O2 Academy Islington June - Fri 1st BIRMINGHAM - O2 Academy Sat 2nd LIVERPOOL - O2 Academy Thurs 7th GLASGOW - Òran Mór Fri 8th SHEFFIELD - O2 Academy Fri 15th OXFORD - O2 Academy Thurs 21st BATH – Komedia Fri 29th EASTLEIGH - Concorde Club July - Fri 6th MILTON KEYNES - The Stables.
'Perfect Sunday Sun' is one of those songs that does exactly what the song title suggests it should do. Add in the opening lyrics & it gets personal for me, having spent some fabulous times in Richmond, it's wonderful park & walking along by the Thames. The video adds some hazy sunny vibes, and the music is further evidence that Nick Heyward still has plenty of creative flair.
Background - The Sea Birds debut album …blue or grey explores the rich musical soundscape of this Melbourne five-piece from Australia. Following the 2015 release of their EP …a short romance, this album captures the band’s indie pop sensibility with shades of alt rock and lyrical story telling of modern day relationships – intricate, uplifting, hopeful and honest.
From the innocence of early rock’n’roll in Love gets in the way, the evocative and haunting Downtown Waitress and the complexity of Stay, the band’s rich dexterity, strong vocal harmony and nuanced guitar work define its approach to writing music – accessible, yet beautiful and simple melodic pop songs.
The Sea Birds strength lies in the cross over potential to be many things due to the diversity of the group’s influences and members. Comprising dual lead vocalists Lara Wentworth and Loic Mamet, lead guitarist Michael Amarant and rhythm section, James W. Du Plessis on drums and Lucas Wentworth on bass.
…blue and grey was recorded with David McCluney at Atlantis Sound and David Warner at Studio One.Be, and produced by David McCluney and The Sea Birds. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
'Heavenly Skies' is a refined and beautiful indie pop song. Melodic and extremely catchy, as the track develops there are hints of the bands alt rock leanings. I'm left looking forward to hearing the album.
Sad Palace - Melody Crux.
