Thyla - AK Patterson - Franny and Zooey - Value Void

Thyla - Blame.

Background - Edging ever closer towards the forefront of emerging British indie music, Brighton’s Thyla deliver another glistening reminder of their boundless potential in thunderous new single Blame. Marshalled by frontwoman Millie Duthie’s soaring vocals, Blame exemplifies a band at the very top of their game with this latest display of euphoria soaked in reverb, brimming with creativity and accompanied by a series of stratospheric riffs and their trademark anthemic chorus.

Spotlighted alongside Pale Waves, Nilüfer Yanya and Sorry in NME’s 100 Essential Acts for 2018, the indie juggernauts have already attracted a whirlwind of online support this year alongside sharing bills with acts including Sunflower Bean, INHEAVEN and Fickle Friends.

Named by Huw Stephens (BBC Radio 1) as one of his Alternative Tips for 2018, the post-punk outfit will be headlining the BBC’s Biggest Weekend Fringe event later this month as well as appearances at The Great Escape where their tenacious live show is sure to earn plenty of plaudits.

Ahead of the track’s release, the band stated: “Blame is about the uncharacteristic choices people make when they’re trying to be like someone else, for the sake of someone else, at a cost to themselves. It’s a neurotic frenzy of guitars with self conscious lyrics about the state of paralysis jealously puts you in; blind anger with no real solution”. TWITTER.

It's our third feature for Thyla this time with 'Blame' another fine song from the band. Last time we described their music as "stylish dream pop/rock with a mixture of melodic vibes and some rock potency". With the latest track the potency is increased, this is one feisty rocker.

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AK Patterson - Lady Greyling.

Background - AK Patterson have just released ‘Lady Greyling’, the latest track to emerge from their forthcoming debut EP ‘Shadows’, produced by Charlie Andrew (Alt J, Marika Hackman) and due out on 6 July, 2018 through East City Rockers in partnership with Andrew’s own Square Leg Records. Having supported Alt J earlier this year, AK Patterson will perform at this year’s Great Escape, May 17-19, 2018. 

Across a hypnotic, 7 minute span, ‘Lady Greyling’ tracks the struggle of its vulnerable namesake to overcome insistent self doubt. Unfolding from hushed beginnings, the track is - as with recent debut single ‘Shadows’ - anchored by Alex Patterson’s startling, dynamic voice and the nuanced work of bandmates Alfie Weedon and Nat Reading. Speaking about the new track, Patterson says; “Lady Greyling is an imagined character, a fragile bird-like creature who is a vehicle for exploring the trope of being your own harshest critic. As the story unfolds, she conquers her demons by leaping into the unknown, and inhabits the defiant bird of prey she really is.”

AK Patterson has been dubbed a ‘woman possessed’, disappearing to a place of fierce enchantment each time she sings. The foundations of Patterson’s voice - which switches from a whisper to flashes of emotion - were laid growing up in a music-obsessed household in suburban Cambridge. The likes of Jeff Buckley and Bjork were played heavily, alongside a more unpredictable love for Portugal’s traditional Fado singers. A curiosity for the unknown was deepened by travels including a period spent by Patterson living with monks in Japan, where meditation studies were fitted in alongside work in rice paddy fields.

An accomplished guitar and fiddle player, she and her bandmates, Alfie Weedon and Nat Reading, build a rich musical world. Classically trained, Weedon provides backing vocals and versatile double bass playing, having previously spent time in Senegal living with the country’s traditional Griot musical storytellers and poets. Reading’s restless multi-instrumentalism meanwhile, has led him to play everything from Balearic pop to classical guitar with the National Youth Guitar Ensemble. FACEBOOK.

At seven minutes the new song 'Lady Greyling' slowly unfolds into a beautiful and passionate song where the vocals build with feeling and emotion, and the musical arrangement softly ebbs and flows on this gentle and yet epic journey.

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Franny and Zooey - My Love.

Background - Franny and Zooey are a sister duo from Melbourne. As new artists, they are in a formative state of exploration and self-discovery - finding their own voice both stylistically and as a means of expression. Their music is diverse in sound and focuses on using voice and piano to create interwoven harmonies and strong melodies. My Love is the first single from the duo.

My Love tells the story of a relationship that has over time fragmented and broken, now resembling something that is unknown to the couple. Life takes over and the simpler joys of a relationship, once treasured, are forgotten. My Love is the dialogue of a couple trying to communicate, to generate a discussion, but finding each has taken the other for granted, and what they once had is now lost. It’s about losing yourself and your partner, and finding, in the end, that you don’t recognise yourself or the relationship you have created together. The track was recorded by Daniel Morassutti at SAE Studios and produced by Jared Brentnall with additional sound engineering from Andrew Kerridge.

Music has been an integral part of Franny and Zooey’s lives from a young age, where they were exposed to both classical and popular music and studied piano, cello, violin and voice. The girls grew up composing music and writing songs, presenting them in the comfort of their lounge and at school concerts. After finishing school and starting university, Franny and Zooey found themselves with no time to devote to their music. After studying for a year they both decided to take break and join forces in order to pursue their musical ambitions! The name of the duo comes from the title of a book by JD Salinger, and were the nicknames given to them at school by their English teacher.

When Franny and Zooey put their dreams aside to study at university, they realised they lost an essential part of who they are. Their goal in life is to create music that gives people the joy and meaning it gives to both of them. FACEBOOK.

Sister duo Franny and Zooey are an absolute breath of fresh air, as is demonstrated by 'My Love' a gorgeous folk pop sort of tune. This is quality music with naturally melodic vocals and a refined musical backdrop, in fact I would go as far as suggesting First Aid Kit may just have some viable competition here.

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Value Void - Back In The Day.

Background - London-based trio Value Void are announcing the release of the lovesick mid-tempo gem "Back in the Day," in anticipation of their debut LP, expected later in the year on Tough Love. The trio is comprised of Paz Maddio (guitar, vocal), Marta Zabala (drums), and Luke Tristram (bass); three friends with longstanding bar experience and active roles in the London DIY scene, having also played in Los Cripis, Major Malfunction and COP.

"Back in the Day" is a song that looks back to an ambiguous object of fascination. It begins with an insistent riff that sounds as though it could be itching a memory, with the tense verse giving way to an understated yet instantly memorable chorus. Their signature sound is a marvel of songwriting economy, meshing a clear pop sensibility with precise DIY punk.

A narrator, who is conjured by Marta’s lyrics and conducted through Paz’s expressive vocal, puzzles then un-puzzles herself, as she reminisces about an old romantic partner. The premise is that they "are just this weird game", concluding uncertainly that, "without any rules I don't want to play".

Harnessing an explosive energy that befits a perfectly formed punk rock power trio, Value Void nonetheless do so with a minimum of sonic prosthetics, choosing to record live to tape with Euan Hinshelwood at TVT studios in Blackheath. They rely on a stripped-down amplification of their ideas and esoteric technique to create a compelling and visceral sound. Value Void will be touring with Frankie Cosmos in May. BANDCAMP.

Opening with a steady rhythm 'Back In The Day' mixes melodic vocals that have just a little punk feeling to them, alongside a chunky rock background with a hypnotic riff rounding the whole piece off.

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Mayflower Madame - Terra Pines - Parker - Christopher Pellnat & Erin Pellnat - Rose Coyote - Jackson James Smith

Mayflower Madame - Premonition.

Background - Norway’s Mayflower Madame have shared a new video for their single, "Premonition." This is the title track off the band's upcoming EP, Premonition, dropping on May 18th. The band's 'Premonition' EP will be released digitally and on CD via their own label Night Cult Records as well as on cassette via SpiderChild Records (U.S.) and Black Verb (Germany).

Mayflower Madame was formed in Oslo in 2010. They started rehearsing in a desolate industrial building where they had to share the space with a carwash company. Amidst the gritty surroundings, their hazy, smoke-laden sound seemed to be conceived naturally and the band soon recorded a four-track demo. Just months later, they won the award "Unsigned Band of the Week" on one of Norway’s biggest radio channels. After nearly five years of playing a bunch of live shows across Scandinavia and carefully crafting their sound along the way, Mayflower Madame's debut album Observed in a Dream finally arrived in 2016.

The album proved to be well worth the wait and it's dazzling display of darkly inflected post-punk swathed in shimmering psychedelia earned them rave reviews. Since then the band has toured both in Europe and North America. They have shared the stage with bands like Crystal Stilts, Night Beats, La Femme, Psychic Ills and Moon Duo, which further gives you an idea of their sonic landscape.

The 'Premonition' EP is Mayflower Madame’s first release since their debut and is also a forewarning for the upcoming second album - expected to be launched in late 2018. The band consists of Trond Fagernes (vocals/guitars/bass), Haavard Haga (guitars), Ola Kyrkjeeide (drums) and Petter Marberg (bass). BANDCAMP.

Live Dates:
May 8 - Notsuoh - Houston, TX
May 9 - Hotel Vegas - Austin, TX.

From the opening sirens and chunky bass line 'Premonition' builds in atmosphere as a dark and mysterious post punk song. The vocals add even more depth, the soon to drop EP can't arrive quickly  enough!


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Terra Pines - Tired-al Wave / Kidult.

Background - Following support for "sublime" lead single 'Kidult' via FBi Radio, RTRFM, PBSFM, 2SER, 4ZZZ, Destroy//Exist, Left Bank Magazine and many more, Brisbane/Meanjin-based sludegepop trio Terra Pines (formerly Tall Pines) are set to release their debut self-titled album. 'Terra Pines' LP will be independently released this Friday 11 May; followed by a five-date national tour across May/June.

Crafting wholly enveloping music that can just as comfortably sit alongside heavy noise or dexterous indie pop, Terra Pines - Kelly Hanlon (guitar/vocals; also of DEAFCULT), Owen Dengate (guitar/vocals; Ghost Notes) and Cameron Smith (drums/vocals; Spirit Bunny, Tape/Off) - are, as self-proclaimed "mood merchants", more concerned with conveying raw emotion than anything else. Having won ears and hearts to the tune of international airplay from California's DKFM Shoegaze Radio and Reverb Radio in the UK, and plenty of support from local community radio under their former name Tall Pines, Terra Pines unleash their brand of gurgling, boisterous grungegaze with a fresh moniker via their first full-length record.

Endlessly fascinated with the duality and mystery of life, Terra Pines' self-titled debut LP interlaces gritty guitars, heavy reverberating drums and lilting vocals to weave a document of self-discovery. As can only be expected, it comes gloriously messily: 11 songs, effortlessly taut but undeniably fuzzed-out, presenting disjointed melodically-driven tales of anxieties, night terrors, excitement, spoon-bending psychics, and new romance, each more expansive than the last.

While bright and noisy lead single 'Kidult' highlights Terra Pines' love of the pop craft, soft-released album cut 'Tiredal Wave' is a weary dissection of ennui, exploding with one last sputter of spirit before descending into quiet again. Terra Pines' inherent love of dynamism and contrast is front and centre in latest instant-grat 'Dream Big', a rambunctious coupling of infectious melodies with heavy guitars and seismic drums that starkly offsets the impassive musings on reconciling youthful hopes and dreams with the reality that things don’t always go to plan.

With the release of their debut album, Terra Pines will embark on their first ever national tour. Witness their ability to create "the most heavily contrasted kind of dream pop aesthetic" (Chris Cobcroft, 4ZZZ) alongside support from their peers in underground noise, punk, and shoegaze scenes like Blush Response, Psychic 5, Concrete Lawn, Pleasure Symbols and many more. BANDCAMP.

We have two of the eleven tracks on Terra Pines self titled new album, 'Tired-al Wave' and 'Kidult' a couple of contrasting songs, that collectively give a fine indication of what the new release is all about. Indie rock meets sludge pop with the occasional drift into shoegaze, whatever direction the band take, the intrigue and addiction is never far off.


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Parker - The Life Illusion (EP).

Background - UK via Australia moody pop chanteuse Parker releases her highly anticipated debut EP 'The Life Illusion' (Killing Moon). Pairing up with Rupert Lyddon (Gabriel Bruce, Grand National) the EP is a gorgeous display of Parker at her finest; breathy and broody pop vocals, haunting melodies and deeply personal lyrics that mix together to create a collection of dark pop gems.

When discussing the 'The Life Illusion', Parker says, "This EP is a collection of songs I wrote when I first moved to London. I worked on them in the studio with Rupert Lyddon and it was the first time I’d ever been in a proper recording studio. They are a reflection of that time in my life and my thoughts and nostalgia around growing up in Australia and then leaving. "

The EP follows the release 'High' which landed a coveted spot on Spotify's Fresh Finds playlist and 'Thighs', her breakout track that has already racked up over 250K streams and landed her a synch on MTV’s Catfish. Hailed by Breaking More Waves as "midnight menacing electronic pop music" with HillyDilly adding "expect a bright future for her", the 21-year-old musician songstress is one to keep your eyes on for 2018.

Born in Doncaster, brought up in Australia, and now living in Hackney, Parker has had anything but a conventional life. Saying her goodbyes to her family in Australia and buying a one way ticket to England to focus on her music career, she hasn’t looked back since. Spending much of last year writing and recording new material and now with four incredible songs under her belt, Parker remains one of the most exciting new artists to emerge in recent years, ready to show the world what this Aussie is made of. FACEBOOK.

We featured the final song from the EP a month or so back and now we have the whole fabulous collection of music to enjoy from the rather talented Parker. From the opening moments of 'Thighs' my expectations were set high and 'The Life Illusion' fulfilled that anticipation with some creative and imaginative indie pop centred music.


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Christopher Pellnat - Pennies - ft. Erin Pellnat.

Background - "Pennies" - a song about enjoying the little things in life even though the world has gone mad.

I know I know I don't want to go
Wandering down that old rabbit hole
I think for sure we've been here before
This is nothing less than civil war

And I still bend down to pick up pennies
Reasons to smile, you don't need many
And I still skip stones
Still balance on the guardrail on that long walk home

I know I know the world has gone mad
We're here to sort the good from the bad
But it takes everything you've got just to survive
It's an accomplishment to be alive

And I still bend down to pick up pennies
Reasons to smile, you don't need many
And I still skip stones
Still balance on the guardrail on that long walk home

I know I know that sometimes it seems
This nightmare is swallowing our dreams
But there is never ever any doubt
we're gonna turn this nightmare inside out

And I still bend down to pick up pennies
Reasons to smile, you don't need many
And I still skip stones
Still balance on the guardrail on that long walk home.

Both Christopher and Erin Pellnat have been welcomed on Beehive Candy in the past, sometimes as solo artists or as is the case with 'Pennies' performing together. Either way I'm happy, the song writing is always notable, and the musical execution gorgeous and refined. Erin's vocals are captivating, and those musical hooks are once again ready to dig in deep.

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Rose Coyote - Under Pressure.

Background - Rose Coyote are a boyfriend/girlfriend duo that have been building momentum with their third album ‘Goddess Cloaked in Stars’. Mostly covers, the duo cover a wide variety of bands and genres, adding their own outerspace sounds mixed with ultra modern electronic production, Rose Coyote have created an atmosphere that cannot be understated.

‘Goddess Cloaked in Stars’ is a sonic exploration that delves into a number of styles showcasing that several different musical sounds can exist harmoniously with one another. With outer space sounds, atmospheric themes and head-nodding percussion, the duo have crafted something highly individual and captivating.

Twelve tracks deep, ‘Goddess Cloaked in Stars’ is a mix of covers ranging from Queen and David Bowie's ‘Under Pressure’, Cat Stevens ‘Father & Son to Blink 182’s ‘Easy Target’, the duo showcase a wide variety of covers including an original as the final track titled '80s Night-Drive Through Hell (Mario’s Inferno). Rose Coyote have an excellent sense of balance with their production and they've  created something truly memorable and engaging. For each track there is a fanvid style music video created.

Bursting with a potent mix of atmospheric energy and remarkable talent to add their own innovative style to these classic songs, Rose Coyote are pushing boundaries and setting themseves apart from their contemporaries. ‘Goddess Cloaked in Stars’ is a vibrant, brave and forward-thinking effort by a band that is worth paying closr attention to. They are working on an all originals album.

'Under Pressure' the second track on 'Goddess Cloaked in Stars' is one of my favourites from this fascinating collection of "mostly" cover versions. Rose Coyote don't so much take the original and put their own mark on it, rather they seemingly turn the material inside out and start their interpretation from there. The result (whatever the real method) is a fabulous and often very catchy album.

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Jackson James Smith - Midnight Romance.

Background - Jackson James Smith is the honesty of an intimate conversation, stripped of assumption and musically personified. Midnight Romance is the second single off Jackson’s soon to be released Spence EP.

There is a certain appeal that comes with honest song writing. Iconic musicians from previous generations created timeless songs with their honesty, creativity and emotionality. Jackson James Smith embodies this in Midnight Romance. Blues movements and melodic nuances, pop vocal hooks and soul instrumentation coagulate into a balance for his musical interest and thoughtfulness towards listeners of multiple distinct tastes.

A song that has been a work in progress over the last four years, Midnight Romance is the culmination of experimentation with songwriting and Jackson’s own personal growth within that time, which have lent themselves to the final work. It is about and for no one and everyone, written not for one person, but for a feeling, for the listener and for the intimacy of connection between artist and them.

The song was recorded with Jared Adlam (Tori Forsythe, Aleyce Simmonds, Athena Joy) whom Jackson met at university and worked closely with in the year leading up to the release at his purpose built home studio. It was mastered by Paul Blakey (Amy Shark, Busby Marou).

The multi-faceted instrumentation and earnestness of Jackson’s lyrics have caused a stir in audiences who have witnessed the in,mate shows Jackson has played – only increasing his desire to reach out to listeners through song.  Jackson is releasing his EP Spence in 2018. INSTAGRAM.

Jackson James Smith vocals are soulful and just a little bluesy. 'Midnight Romance' has something of a classic feel to it, the music is superbly arranged as are the backing harmonies, this deserves the "timeless" tag, it's one extremely good song.

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Levity - David Philips - Kathryn Berry

Levity - Dreamers of the Night.

Background - Imagine the lovechild of Tom Morrello and Anthony Kiedis whose favorite uncle is Jimi Hendrix; this is Levity. 

Dreamers Of The Night , the new single by Levity is to be released 1st June.  The track showcases the band’s raucous but opulent energy, a hard edge with lashings of soul and funk.

Brighton’s beat dropping, slick licking outfit Levity will be joining South Africa’s fuzzy pop Early Hours for UK shows during May and June.

Packing out a string of headline shows across the UK, being championed by the BBC, appearing on multiple festival stages, Levity are a rock combo free from pretense, oozing with energy and excitement of a band rising. TWITTER.

UK Tour Dates | May / June 2018
15/05  London, O2 Academy Islington
19/05  Liverpool, Shipping Forecast
07/06  Bristol, The Thunderbolt.

Punchy, packed full of energy and a whole load of funky beats, 'Dreamers of the Night' is a feast of potent rock vibes with a good portion of hooks that dig in and demand another play.

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David Philips - Friends Like You.

Background - David Philips continues with his D.I.Y. approach for this his 7th album to date and his 6th on Black And Tan Records. Infusing Blues, Soul and Americana, he plays all the instruments on the record and also produced and recorded the album himself, as well as providing the hand drawn artwork. 

"Get Along" has a more upbeat and positive slant in terms of the songwriting compared to previous releases and although a full band sound is featured on most tracks, Philips still manages to keep things raw, organic and centered around his voice and acoustic guitar playing. 

With 8 new songs, 2 reworkings of old Philips classics and 3 acoustic demo bonus tracks, "Get Along" is the culmination of a lifetime of music making and music appreciation, showing how Philips continues to mature as both a performer, songwriter and producer.

This new record will be released digital now and later this year (September) we will follow with a physical release containing some more bird artwork from David. SPOTIFY.

From the brand new 'Get Along' album I have chosen the track 'Friends Like You' to feature. It is a splendid acoustic piece with David Philips rich and engaging vocals accompanied by a refined musical arrangement, what's more it typifies the quality and addictive nature of the album.

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Kathryn Berry - So You're Goin' To California.

Background - As they say, there is a story in every song and Kathryn’s latest single release, 'So You’re Goin’ to California', is no different. But here is a story we think pretty much everyone can relate to.

"My partner and I had been fighting for weeks (I can’t remember why, just the stresses of life…). My brother had invited me to his birthday and the date was yet another source of conflict between us.  But  I guess the whole storm of arguments leading up to the day made me just want to say, “f it all”, I’m going back to a time (in my head) when none of this mattered. " So what happened?

"So, I decided to just go with it and have fun for the night, wherever it took me. I stayed out all night with a random stranger. In truth, he was a perfect gentleman but the whole incident actually made my partner wake up and see me again. Or maybe I just felt attractive again and he saw in me what he’d loved from the start."

It turns out the song was an effortless write after that. When she returned, Kathryn sat down with her producer and wrote it in one session. They both loved it from the get-go and then Kathryn decided to call up her old friend, Denise Truscello, in Las Vegas. "Denise is a celebrity photographer and one of the co-founders of Wire Images. She is best known as Celine Dion’s personal photographer. The last time Denise took photos for me she fit me in between J Lo, Mariah Carey and Britney Spears. So I hopped on a plane and we shot the video on the way from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, guerrilla-style: no permits, no script.  All the people on camera agreed in the moment to participate, which seemed appropriate, as the song came from an event of the same making." And that’s how ‘Goin’ To California’ was born. FACEBOOK.

'So You're Goin' To California' is a bluesy indie rocker that quickly builds with power and emotion. Kathryn Berry's vocals are melodic and edgy enough to fit perfectly into the rock & roll environment, doing so with commitment and feeling.

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Jamie Lynn Vessels - wojtek the bear - Rue Snider

Jamie Lynn Vessels - Dear Love.

Background - "Storm Coming" is Jamie Lynn Vessels' new blues-rock album, released last month. Jamie Lynn Vessels is a soulful rock and blues artist with her roots in songwriting. Likened to Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow, this six-foot tall rocker will captivate the audience and command the stage as a solo act or with her full band. She has embraced New Orleans as her musical hometown, and the city has done her the same, affording her the opportunity to add grit and soul to her style and music.

No matter where JLV travels and plays, there is something undeniable about her songs and musical appeal... whatever your taste, Jamie's voice and presence will capture you. Her music is soulful, bluesy, filled with intricate lyrics and beautiful stories, and delivers a stunningly intoxicating ride of rock 'n' roll.

Jamie has had the opportunity to play with local celebrities at Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest, and the Mahalia Jackson Theatre. Jamie has opened for Dilana, Roxie Watson, Grayson Capps, and others. She has played around the country and has regular solo and full band shows in and around the Crescent City.

Jamie’s first full-length album “Home” and EP were released in 2013. Her new all-original sophomore album was released April 19th, 2018, featuring Cranston Clements (Cyril Neville, Boz Scaggs, Irma Thomas, Twangorama), David Brouillette (Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue, Vivaz!, Kyper, Dick Deluxe, Voodoo Grove), Sam Shahin (Naughty Professor), and other New Orleans locals as guest musicians, engineers, and artists. Blues-rock and songwriting are just the beginning. Jamie's live performances and her raw, soulful sound have evolved since her start in live music in 2012. It's not just a concert -- It's an experience. WEBSITE.

With fourteen tracks 'Storm Coming' is packed full of some refined blues rock material. The moods and momentum vary along the way, sometimes full on with rock energy, other times more restrained and sensitive. 'Dear Love' is a more blues ballad orientated piece, which helps showcase Jamie Lynn Vessels vocals well, however expect a whole load more in terms of variety and you can be sure the musicianship is consistently high in calibre.


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Wojtek the bear - oil & water.

Background - Scottish Fiction Records are proud to present oil & water; the second single from Glasgow indie four piece wojtek the bear's forthcoming album a talent for being unreasonable. 

Following on from the success of their maiden EP, wojtek the bear tucked themselves away to work with in-demand producer Chris McCrory (Catholic Action) to record a talent for being unreasonable at Shady Lane Studios in late 2017.

oil & water deftly mixes pointed percussion with gentle instrumentation as lead single Tam Killean calmly broods that "one's too many, but a hundred's never enough."  Of the lyrics, Killean describes the track as being a song about addiction, be that to something or someone.  "I think we all have those low-level addictions that we probably don't even realise are there so it's about sort of being aware of what you're doing whilst also feeling like you can't actually, or maybe don't want to, stop it."

oil & water is out now digitally via Scottish Fiction Records. A talent for being unreasonable will be released on limited edition blue vinyl and digitally on 25th May 2018 via Scottish Fiction Records. TWITTER.

Upcoming Shows:
Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh – Thursday 24th May
King Tut's Glasgow – Friday 25th May
Drummonds, Aberdeen – Saturday 26th May
Droughy Cobber, Elgin – Friday 1st June
Mad Hatters, Inverness – Saturday 2nd June
Head of Steam, Newcastle – Friday 20th July
West Riding Refreshment Rooms, Leeds – Saturday 21st July

You have to go back to June 2016 for Beehive Candy's only other feature for wojtek the bear, that said as soon as we received the new song 'oil & water,' I remembered them and had a feeling, it would be a good one. Last time around we had a "breezy indie pop" piece, the new song is a little more towards alt rock, that said the melodic vibes are there and the hooks gently dig in deep.

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Rue Snider - Experiment In Love.

Background - Timeless and genre-bending singer songwriter Rue Snider releases "Experiment In Love", the second single off of his forthcoming record, City Living. The track follows the sucess of the first single off of the album, "Vamonos."

Of "Experiment in Love" Rue valiantly proclaims, "Experiment In Love is one of several songs on my forthcoming record City Living that deal with heartbreak, loss, and obsession. The record is a snap shot of life in New York in the mid 2000s and that picture would be incomplete without presenting a good bit of sadness. New York City is a magical place that affords boundless opportunity but very often everyone is moving so fast that fundamental human needs get ignored or pushed aside. It can wreak havoc on one's emotions and mind. Heartbreak and loss are part of the experience of being alive and they are especially part of the experience of living in New York where ambition often trumps love."

Heavily influenced by the sounds of the 80s, from Cyndi Lauper to R.E.M, Rue's new album City Living presents an aural experience of the downtown Manhattan scene in the mid-2000s brought to living color in 2018. Rue's lyrics are informed more often that not by his personal life experiences. Broken Window, released in 2016, speaks of his journey to sobriety - a time defined by a hunger for consciousness and by dramatic emotional battles. City Living now serves as the musical prequel to Broken Window. A more upbeat record, City Living is colored by the sometimes blissful ignorance of living life unintentionally before waking up to an awareness of the reckoning and difficult choices that are ahead. WEBSITE.

We featured the first single 'Vamonos' just a month ago, and hot on it's heels is the second single 'Experiment In Love'. Rue Snider crafts some excellent music, his attention to detail is equally matched by his interpretation of human experiences, and turned out as engaging and honest musical journeys. Fresh and always intriguing, his genre sliding music is proving to be very addictive.

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DIET - Therese Lithner

DIET - Danny Boy.

Background - Melbourne five piece DIET are set to launch their third single “Danny Boy”, a live show favourite, that recites a passionate “…how are you?” from one brother to another over an interstate phone call. Following on from their 2017 single releases that included the ode to the classic Aussie tradition of streaking in “Clothes Off”, and the heartfelt love letter that was “Take Me”.

“Danny Boy” features all the classic DIET hallmarks of nostalgic synthesizers and playful guitar lines influenced by classic UK underground sounds of yesteryear.

DIET have officially joined the artist roster of leading Australian Talent agency New World Artists. It follows on from supporting Australian band Polish Club across a sold out National Tour and playing a number of sold out shows up the east coast that included their now legendary PIZZA Party at Melbourne’s infamous “GASO”. 

The band are continuing to roll out the calorie crunching fun with billing on Melbourne’s Cherry Rock Festival, a headline National tour for Rare Finds and a ten city support run for indie-rock stalwarts British India through ’til July. DIET are: Ben O Loughlin, Carlos Tinsey,  Ted Mitchell, Andrew Taylor, William Clancy. FACEBOOK.

Our first exposure to Melbourne's DIET is 'Danny Boy' (not the classic "pipes are calling" song), a vibrant indie rocker of sorts, where the synths and guitars playfully swirl around each other as the vocals add just a hint of stadium rock vibes. It's no wonder this is a live show favourite, that said the band keep it natural and cool on the studio version.


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Therese Lithner - Eye.

Background - The new single 'Eye' has just been released. "The lyrics for 'Eye' was written separately and then I made the guitar track and song melody. It was written (except lyrics) in what felt like an instant. I wanted to keep the shape exactly the way it was when I played the song for the first time, and instead build on it with more instruments. The song is about a lack of communication, the pain of unsuccessfully trying to reach another person."  - Therese Lithner

With a past in bands like Vaken and My Sound Of Silence, Therese Lithner was an active part of Umeå's flourishing music scene in the early 2010's. To begin writing songs for a solo project wasn't an obvious choice or any direct plan but fell more like a coincidence. It was during a session in the rehearsal room, when it suddenly was as the 90s shined through and old childhood idols got free play. With reverb on vocals and guitar, Therese began improvising material, wrote three songs on pure inspiration and recorded them on her mobile phone. Somehow they felt different and the idea of ​​a solo project began to take shape.

After Therese moved down to Stockholm, she found a rehearsal space south of the city and started working on the material that now has resulted in an EP, set for release on June 19 via Lazy Octopus Records on 12" vinyl and digitally. FACEBOOK.

Following on from our feature for the track 'Drown' back in early April we now have 'Eye' ahead of next months EP release. We described the previous song as "an atmospheric rocker with a rhythmic and addictive feel to it," whereas 'Eye' is all about the passionate and enticing vocals. Not that the musical backdrop is lacking in substance, there's plenty of energy around, however the pace is slower, and Therese Lithner takes centre stage doing so with grace and commitment.

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The Special Pillow - The Orange Peels - Umbra & The Volcan Siege

The Special Pillow - Hudson River Dreamboat.

Background - For the past two decades, The Special Pillow have operated from the margins of the marginal, creating a distinctive string-driven sound—a heady brew encompassing concise ’60s-flavored pop gems, dreamy psychedelic reveries, and a propulsive drive redolent of the antipodean indie acts of the ‘80s. In 2015, Yo La Tengo shined a light on the Pillow’s shadowy demimonde with their cover of the band’s “Automatic Doom.” Now, The Special Pillow unleash Sleeping Weird, their senses-shattering sixth album.

Since the dissolution of cult heroes Hypnolovewheel, songwriter and majordomo Dan Cuddy has played bass with such notable combos as Sleepyhead and XL Kings, but has reserved his own compositions for The Special Pillow.

Sleeping Weird is the group’s third project with engineer Mitch Rackin, recorded and mixed at Brooklyn’s Seaside Lounge recording studio. Featured players are charter Special Pillow member Katie Gentile (Run On, Mad Scene) on violin and viola; longtime collaborator Peter Stuart (Headless Horsemen, Tryfles) on a staggering arsenal of guitars; and Eric Marc Cohen (Fly Ashtray) on drums and percussion. All the band members contribute vocals, and the ensemble is enhanced by the keyboards of Ariella Stok (Sloppy Heads) and horns courtesy of Steven Levi and Cheryl Kingan (The Scene Is Now).

A much-abused hyperbolic trope of recent years posits that a given work of art has special resonance with “the way we live now” or is needed “now more than ever.” We won’t attempt to convince you that Sleeping Weird is such a topical watershed. The Special Pillow are in it for life and their lives are reflected in these songs: The days are getting dark and they want a way to keep the world at bay, sweep everything under the rug, and retreat to a cryogenic tomb. But it’s getting older every day and they’re concerned about it and it seems as though their skulls may burst into flames if they don’t speak out loud. They’re floating on, and singing. WEBSITE.

'Hudson River Dreamboat' is a fine example of 'Sleeping Weird' an album consisting of eleven finely crafted songs. The Special Pillow's musicianship is of a high calibre, the vocals and harmonies polished and melodic. However it's the natural feel, the differing levels of energy and brightness, and variety, that makes this collection really stand out.

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The Orange Peels - Trespassing (Album).

Background - If The Orange Peels got paid each time a music critic said, “It’s the kind of music that makes you feel like you’re speeding down the Pacific Coast Highway with the top down,” they’d be billionaires. The Orange Peels formed in 1997, rising out of the ashes of Allen Clapp and his Orchestra—whose debut album 100 Percent Chance of Rain was heralded in the heyday of the burgeoning American indie-pop movement.

The band has featured members of The Mummies, The Ocean Blue, Half Japanese, and Continental since its inception, and has never stopped evolving. In this decade, the lineup has solidified with Clapp on vocals, guitars and keyboards; Jill Pries on bass; John Moremen on lead guitars; and Gabriel Coan on drums. This incarnation is now into its third album together, exploring ever more sophisticated pop landscapes while keeping melody as its North Star.

Clapp’s ear for pop magic has landed his tunes and vocals in major ad campaigns for Coca Cola, Target, and Samsung. On the band’s last tour opening for Matthew Sweet in the summer of 2015, Sweet fell in love with guitarist John Moremen’s playing during the soundcheck for their first show together. The next two years would see Moremen recording and touring with the pop legend leading up to the release of Tomorrow Forever.

On its 7th album, Trespassing (April 2018, Minty Fresh), the band doubles down on melody and experimentation making perhaps the ultimate Orange Peels album. Recorded at the band’s redwooded retreat in the Santa Cruz Mountains, it’s a study in contrasts—organic outdoor drums vs. programmed digital computers; tack pianos and string quartets vs. icy synthesizers. After all, they’re looking at life from both sides now. In the dawn of 2018, it almost feels like the world is finally ready to discover The Orange Peels. WEBSITE.

'Trespassing' is a gorgeous album and being able to share it in full, makes describing it less of an issue. Right from the opening song 'Camera 2' my anticipation was set very high and the band fulfil that promise with style and beauty. Describing the collection as Indie pop feels like something of an understatement, calling it future gold is to cheesy and an over used expression, pressing play, kicking back and immersing yourself, is the best option, and by far...

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Umbra & The Volcan Siege - Someone Will Love You But Its Just Not Me (Album).

Background - Chicago psych collective Umbra & the Volcan Siege have released their fourth full-length on vinyl, cassette (via TMB Limited) and for digital download.

The album features bandleader and multi-instrumentalist Jim Licka (The Luck of Eden hall) accompanied by a core group of musicians (Curtis Evans on guitar, Russ Mallord on drums, Pete Trillo on bass) and joined by guests from the bands Blood People, Oh My God and The Luck of Eden Hall on various tracks.

Umbra and the Volcan Siege was founded in 2006 by Jim Licka embracing his "super hero ultra-identity" as Umbra.. Umbra is surrounded by his siege of musicians which help create a sound-scape of genre bending music.
 
Umbra and the Volcan Siege has released 3 albums and have now released their 4th "Someone Will Love You But It's Just Not Me". WEBSITE.

Psych rock and a whole lot more, 'Someone Will Love You But Its Just Not Me' is a delicious collection of brand new rock and roll, that deserves the "timeless" accreditation. In fact the band visit so many differing points within the rock genre directory, that I am relieved to share the whole album. From psychedelic to blues to prog and more, there is something for every rock fan, the fact that this collective are just so good, really does seal this deal. 


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GRDNS - Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread - Steven Adams & The French Drops

GRDNS - Roulette Love Gun.

Background - Psychedelic rockers GRDNS share Roulette Love Gun, the third cosmic offering from their forthcoming EP out this summer via Dance To The Radio.

Loaded with intricate, soaring guitar lines and hazy, atmospheric vocals, the quartet’s latest reverb-laden number ebbs and flows with precision and shows a band brimming with creativity following widespread acclaim from the online community.

Having fast established themselves within the Yorkshire music scene and beyond, the four-piece will look to build on impressive support slots alongside Gengahr, Husky Loops and whenyoung with their debut festival appearances at Live At Leeds and Gold Sounds in the next few months.

Produced by James Kenosha (Pulled Apart By Horses, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Rhodes) GRDNS’ Roulette Love Gun is out now and will be available on all platforms. GRDNS is Jacob Lyons (vocals/guitar), Sam Gledhill (guitar), Cameron Harrison (bass) and John Fitzpatrick (drums). TWITTER.

Our third feature for GRDNS this year, again with another track from their forthcoming EP  this time we have 'Roulette Love Gun'. There is a lush and expansive feel from the opening moments as the band tease us again, taking another musical direction and doing so with style. Dreamy alt rock with a dash of psychedelic overtones, on the strength of these three tracks I think it's safe to say the EP is stunning.

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Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread - Less Than Positive.

Background - Michael Nau will release his new, full band album ‘Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread’ through Full Time Hobby on 3rd August. ‘Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread’ is the follow-up to last year’s critically acclaimed album ‘Some Twist’ and its extension ‘The Load’ EP. 

The band have unveiled the first track from the album, ‘Less Than Positive’. Of the song, Michael says "This song's been around and part of the live thing for a long time. I'm not sure how or why it came back around during this session, but it was recorded on the final day. The apartment where we recorded this album has a big spiral staircase in the entrance of the building - we set up drums in there for this one, and hung a mic from the ceiling. Other than harmonies, nothing was overdubbed.".

“There was a musical language that we created; something without a guiding pattern that you could really just jump into and see where things could go,” Michael Nau says of the process of recording ‘Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread’. He’s wildly poetic, especially when recounting his dedication to music, and the work that led to this particular collection of delicately passionate songs. “These things became the vehicle by which we traveled, giving us reason to spend most of our lives in a van of uncertainty.”

The sprawling new album was recorded in guitarist Benny Yurco’s one-bedroom apartment in downtown Burlington, Vermont. Nau and his collaborators had a cool little set up going in Yurco’s spot — drums and bass took over the bedroom, the guitar amp in the bathroom, Nau’s vocals and piano in the living room, and a vibraphone in the kitchen. It’s the first time one of Nau’s records happened all in one place, and “it feels most like a band record than ever before”. Nau and this particular group of musicians held it down together as a true team, which is why Nau named the record in their honour.

The songs on this layered record sound sunny and familiar, like sharing stories and worries with a close friend on a late summer day. In a gorgeous and natural way, he contemplates his own process, those feelings of uncertainty. “Making it too hard just comes easier,” Nau croons on ‘Funny In Real Life,’ an exquisite meditation on creation and self. “Truth is such a beautiful force/And every time we find the chorus/There’s no second-guessing the real/I don’t ever know how I feel.” FACEBOOK.

Michael Nau's vocals are everything Alt Country and Americana needs to set the mood and feeling for these styles. The first taste of the album due in August is 'Less Than Positive' a steady, personal and beautifully natural song that is totally engaging from the opening moments. Without any exaggeration, I am left eager to hear some more...

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Steven Adams & The French Drops - Ex Future.

Background - Steven Adams & The French Drops share the video for their new single "Ex Future", taken from the album Virtue Signals, out this Friday, 4 May, via Hudson Records. Anger seldom sounds as enticing as it does on Virtue Signals. It is an album that rails against the iniquities of the world and meshes the personal with the political, without ever smacking the listener around the head. Adams (former songwriter/singer/guitarist with The Broken Family Band and Singing Adams) can’t help but be witty and empathetic even as he rages, and the fury is wrapped inside his characteristically sweet melodies.

Virtue Signals captures the sound of a band finding “its own thing”. Laurie Earle (Absentee, Dan Michaelson & The Coastguards, Wet Paint) plays guitar with a loose, intuitive touch; Michael Wood – who had played bass with The Singing Adams – switches to keyboards here, while Daniel Fordham (drums) and David Stewart (bass) from The Drink complete the band.

Following a few years of performing and recording solo (see 2014’s House Music and 2016’s Old Magick), Adams says he wanted to put together “a band where everyone was following their noses. I’ve been calling the shots for ages now, and now I can lean on these people, make more noise. It’s fair to say we share a lot of the same thoughts and feelings about the state of the world. But mostly we talk about food.”

It’s over 16 years since Adams started making music with The Broken Family Band, generating critical acclaim with each subsequent release and maintaining a dedicated cult following ever since. So, all these years later – having been called a national treasure enough times to fill a pirate’s chest, without ever having become an actual pop star – why does Steven Adams still do it? “I write songs and I play them and I try not to overthink it or to feel reliant on this for anything other than what it is; sounds, words, feelings, and an excuse to hang out with good people. That’s virtue signaling, in case anyone asks.” WEBSITE.

With a deep bass riff and lighter vocals 'Ex Future' begins to build layer by layer, into a polished and addictive alt rocker of sorts. The lyrics add intrigue, the band are as tight as anything and the emotional feel builds with intensity, totally play me again music!


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Brooke Annibale - Paper Hawk - Phillip Broussard - Frog Eyes

Brooke Annibale - Glow.

Background - Singer-songwriter/guitarist Brooke Annibale will release her third full-length album Hold To The Light on June 8th. The new record marks Annibale's return following her 2015 critically acclaimed album The Simple Fear and features several major departures in terms of both songwriting and production. Annibale sheds a few layers of her folk-acoustic skin and introduces a new indie-pop direction offering a fusion of textured electronic and traditional instrumentation centered around Brooke's stunning voice and keen, soulful lyricism. This week she released her radiant new single "Glow.

The songs on Hold To The Light develop like Polaroid photos: each reveals a memory suspended between the perspective of the past with all its wistfulness, pain, and joy, and the revelations of the present. Produced by Sam Kassirer (Josh Ritter, Lake Street Dive) at his Great North Sound Society in Maine, Hold To The Light features contributions from seasoned artists Zachariah Hickman (Ray Lamontagne, Josh Ritter) on bass; Josh Kaufman (The National, Josh Ritter) on accompanying guitars; Sean Trischka on drums; and Matt Douglas (Sylvan Esso, Mountain Goats) on woodwinds. Brooke's thoughtful, layered songwriting anchors the production to explore a range of narratives working through themes of seeking truths, letting go, and reconciling the past with the present. WEBSITE.

Tour Dates:
06/02 - Newark, OH @ The Bootlegger
06/03 - Cleveland, OH @ Music Box Supper Club
06/08 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Three Rivers Arts Festival
06/15 - Philadelphia, PA @ Philadelphia Folksong Society
06/16 - New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall
06/17 - Northampton, MA @ The Parlor Room
06/19 - Burlington, VT @ The Skinny Pancake
06/21 - Boston, MA @ Fraser Performance Studio
07/03 - Edgartown, MA @ Harborview Hotel - WMVY Porch Concert Series
07/14 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hotel Cafe - 2nd Stage (w/ The Sweeplings)
07/15 - San Francisco, CA @ Neck of the Woods (upstairs) (w/ The Sweeplings)
07/16 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (w/ The Sweeplings)
07/18 - Spokane, WA @ The Bartlett (w/ The Sweeplings)
07/29 - Allison Park, PA @ Hartwood Acres
08/16 - Fort Collins, CO @ Magic Rat.

The soft melodic vocals glide above the musical arrangement on 'Glow' a rhythmic and flowing indie pop soundtrack, where traditional instrumentation mixes alongside imaginative electronic swirls of sound.


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Paper Hawk - Written In The Lines.

Background - Crafting an intimate, ethereal sound, inviting you into their private world, Paper Hawk’s debut EP The Tide is released this week through Brighton’s boutique record label Folklore Sessions. The 4-track record signals the beginning of a new adventure for this emerging band. Alongside digital distribution on iTunes and Spotify, a limited run of 50 physical copies will be available in June, a month after the digital release date. Each record comes with a handwritten thank you letter, additional artwork, and a signed art print. Although new to the scene, Paper Hawk have swiftly left their mark playing across the country with sets at Glastonbury, 2000 Trees, YNOT and the Alternative Escape Festival.

Recorded in the living room of their Brighton flat the record marks a cathartic release from a tumultuous few years. From the defeated notes of ‘Trails’ - a hypnotising whisper chronicling the throes of a volatile relationship - to the comforting promise of support in ‘Northern Sky’ - The Tide is a collection of songs written with a hand-on-heart approach and striking honesty.

Produced by Josh Trinnaman (the brain of jazz-IDM fusion band, Luo), the intimate guitar and vocal arrangements are brought to life with rich soundscapes and electronic ambience, creating a dream-like atmosphere that draws you in and keeps you captivated.

Paper Hawk is an alt-folk duo currently based in Brighton, who combine intricate guitar driven melodies with hushed tones and raw confessional lyrics. A collaboration of two songwriters, Rebecca Brandler and Scott Booth, the project began after the two met a few months after both moving to Brighton to study. Rebecca heard Scott playing a cover of ‘Ocean’ by John Butler and instant musical sparks were ignited and she knew she wanted to write music together. The bond was then nurtured in a cold basement flat with muted rehearsals to avoid complaints from the neighbours but has proven to pay off, being nourished into a harrowingly beautiful EP with layers that muster unique strength, blanketed with velvet vocals.

We featured the song 'Trails' from the new EP just last month, and it is with pleasure to be able to do the same for 'Written In The Lines,' with Paper Hawk's splendid new EP being released just yesterday. The latest song features some beautiful vocal harmonies, accompanied by a refined musical soundtrack, driven along by a resonating bass line.

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Phillip Broussard - All Over Again.

Background - In November 2017, Seattle-based acoustic blues-pop singer-songwriter Phillip Brousard released his debut EP, "Wavelength." The EP was dedicated to the memory of his father. First single, "Just Wanna Believe" thrust Phillip into the national spotlight, garnering critical praise and radio airplay.

Born and raised in Washington State, Phillip Broussard discovered his passion early in life, when his father brought home a guitar. His father's original intention was to play the guitar himself, but he soon found Phillip picking up the guitar, when he didn't think anyone was watching. Phillip grew up under the influence of his father's favorites, Pink Floyd, James Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton. What started as just a few chords, ignited a desire to share his new found passion with the world.

Then, tragedy struck at 18 years old, when Phillip's father, grandfather and uncle passed away within 6 months of each other. Phillip put down his guitar and enlisted in the United States Navy, in an attempt to quell his grief. Early on in his Naval career, someone handed Phillip a copy of John Mayer's cd, "Room for Squares". This album reignited Phillip's passion for the guitar. In 2007, Phillip deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. During this time, he refined his guitar skills… TWITTER.

'All Over Again' has some notable Americana characteristics to it, as the accomplished acoustic guitar playing and natural vocals of Phillip Broussard accompany each other, within this engaging and inviting song.


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Frog Eyes - Your Boss's Shirt.

Background - Frog Eyes are set to release their final album Violet Psalms May 18th on Paper Bag Records, and have shared the new single "Your Boss's Shirt." 17 years after their teetering debut, the Vancouver band unveils Violet Psalms—a giddy lament; a gnashing jubilee; a rain-drenched allocution on hope vs. horror, paradise vs. pride, Marx and Brexit and bad acid trips.

It's an ending like a beginning. "We were trying to pretend it was our first record," Carey Mercer says. This is their final record, Frog Eyes' last gasp—but the art-rockers wanted to capture the energy of a debut, the freedom you feel "when there's no expectation that anyone will actually listen." They made it at home, burrowing under the house where Mercer lives with drummer Melanie Campbell. The goal was to blot out the world, focusing on what they could grow down there, four musicians in a basement. Could they squeeze out ten songs? Was there enough paste in the tube to squeeze out 10? "In the end there was. Which is rad."

No guests, no engineers. A self-invention. Violet Psalms began with its frantic, reverb-drenched guitar, squiggling over a modulation pedal. Next Mercer and Campbell concocted the drum parts—imagining them as onomatopoeia then recording them in fragments, kickdrum by kickdrum, tom by tom, with tailored effects. "The goal was to disorientate," Mercer explains, but also to work by instinct, gut—a cut-up of music and image, songs that coil back and kiss. The band pruned as they went, adding Terri Upton's bass parts, taking other parts away. Whereas past LPs used piano, Shyla Seller worked with shimmering synths—chords like bleeding watercolour, shadows casting on a wall. TWITTER.

On the 1st April we featured the track 'Idea Man' (you can also checkout the bands tour dates in that edition), and now just over a month later, we have 'Your Boss's Shirt' to enjoy ahead of the bands final album release later this month. Once again the vocals are distinct and fascinating, as the band develop some slow chunky beats and more, all of which interacts beautifully.

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Yonatan Gat - AHI - Shriekback - The Goon Sax

Yonatan Gat - Cue The Machines.

Background - Yonatan Gat recently shared his new album Universalists' opening track "Cue the Machines". The undefinable track opens with an Italo-Spanish choir recorded by Alan Lomax in 1950s Genoa – but it only takes 20 seconds for the voices get manipulated, chopped and mangled beyond recognition into stuttering rhythms below Yonatan's live band – guitar, bass, saxophone and drums working up an uncontrollable maelstrom of punk and free jazz.

Since his days as co-founder of legendary Israeli garage-rockers Monotonix, Gat's music has always had a strong sense of chaos. Getting his start in a band that was wild enough to get banned from their home country has certainly sipped into Gat's manner as a bandleader. And the far-and-wide world travels that come with playing over 1500 shows in 50 countries and 5 continents made another mark on his sound.

Universalists lists numerous collaborators, the most important of which being Silver Jews frontman David Berman credited as album co-producer, in a rare collaboration during a quiet 10 year period. "We were talking about how to contain the live energy in a studio recording," recounts Gat, "Berman was there all along, encouraging me to edit like a writer, filmmaker or painter does. To break the cycle, to capture live energy into wax we talked about subjecting fiery performance to post production, which is another way of saying being hard on yourself."

Leading the release of the 3-year-in-the-making highly anticipated LP, Yonatan will perform a unique concert in NYC's Le Poisson Rouge which he describes as "immersive", in which different musical projects—all led by Gat—will all be playing separate sets in different parts of the venue, blending into each other with no breaks between the sets. Opening the night will be legendary jazz double bassist, multi-instrumentalist, poet and composer William Parker. WEBSITE.

Having heard just three tracks from the 'Universalists, I'm not sure there will be just one song that typifies the collection, such is the eclectic nature of this material. 'Cue The Machines' is a fabulous piece, that I would struggle to describe without just reiterating the above promo description in my own words. It's a case of please listen and I hopefully you will understand where I am coming from.


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AHI - Breakin' Ground.

Background - Canadian singer/songwriter, AHI (pronounced EYE) has today announced details of his forthcoming album ‘In Our Time’ which is set for release via 22nd Sentry/Thirty Tigers on August 10, 2018. In-line with announcing the new album, AHI is sharing new single ‘Breakin’ Ground’, his first piece of new music since performing at Nashville’s DIY Musician Conference 2017, attracting the attention of NPR who would later invite him in for a Tiny Desk Session in January 2018 - watch at this link here. AHI will support the forthcoming release date with a string of UK dates to be announced shortly.

First single ‘Breakin’ Ground’ arrives as an inspirational tale stimulated by the songwriter’s own experience of overcoming adversity. It highlights AHI’s honesty, warmth and authenticity, capturing his ability to unify his range of folk, soul and rock influences, personal philosophy and penchant for melody.

AHI’s 2016 independent Canadian debut ‘We Made It Through The Wreckage’ was released digitally worldwide in January 2017. Without any promotion, publicity, marketing or budget to pull from, AHI’s songs were gradually discovered, reaching and converting one new fan at a time. His intimate and captivating live performances only enhanced and accelerated interest. The album began to receive recognition in Canada and beyond with AHI winning the 2017 Canadian Songwriting Competition award for Folk/Singer-Songwriter and the 2017 Stingray Rising Star Award for his infectious song ‘Ol’ Sweet Day’, a song that would make the  Billboard Spotify Viral 50 Chart and go on to receive over 2.4 million streams. WEBSITE.

What a voice AHI has and his delivery on 'Breakin' Ground' is just so good! Bluesy, rocky and soulful the song is addictive, simple as that.


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Shriekback - And The Rain.

Background - Seminal British alternative rock outfit Shriekback has announced they will release their fourteenth album ‘Why Anything? Why This?’ on May 25. As a teaser, they are previewingthe first single ‘And The Rain’, along with a darkly intriguing video filmed by Howard Davidson (a.k.a. Hodah).

Shriekback was formed in 1980 by ex-XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews and bassist Dave Allen on his departure from Gang Of Four, in collaboration with guitarist Carl Marsh from Out On Blue Six. Under the auspices of the visionary Y Records label (home to The Slits, The Pop Group and Pigbag), the group found their voice experimenting in EMI Music’s KPM demo studio in London, refining a uniquely recognizable sound in 1982 on their first full-length album ‘Care’ and eventually achieving wider recognition with the singles ‘Lined Up’ and ‘My Spine (Is The Bassline)’. In 1983, they were joined by drummer Martyn Barker (King Swamp, Billy Bragg).

A move to a major label, Arista, allowed the band to fully realize their sound on ‘Oil & Gold’(1985), a milestone album that remains the band’s best-known (helped by the success of the single ‘Nemesis’) and the foundation of their popularity on the US college circuit and elsewhere.

‘And The Rain’ is dark and infectious, conjuring up steamy, swampy, Southern Gothic blues. This 14th studio album, which boasts a wide, organic and detailed sound, is already being described by early listeners as their best since the landmark album ‘Oil & Gold’. The sound is dense, woody and fibrous. Here we find evolved Bo Diddley beats and African blues”. However you describe it, this is Shriekback refocused, reinvented and reinvigorated.

Band members have also pushed themselves musically and sonically – Barry contributes a lot of guitar, Carl has essayed some slide guitar and keyboards and Martyn has brought in a whole arsenal of world percussion alongside his drumkit. Regular Shriekback listeners will hear more guitars and live drums and fewer loops and electronics. The sonic palette is very broad.

New collaborator Scott Firth (of P.i.L) adds irrefutable bass to selected tracks, while Shriekback regulars Wendy and Sarah Partridge contribute their ever-invaluable backing vocals. Live drums were recorded by Ian Caple (who’s been with Shriekback since the beginning) at Yellow Fish in Lewes and Christoph Skirl at Echo Zoo in Eastbourne. The album was mixed and mastered by Stuart Rowe in The Lighterthief Bunker, Swindon – his fifth Shriekback album in this role, an indication of the value placed on his objective ear and technical skill. WEBSITE.

The second of ten tracks on the forthcoming album is 'And The Rain' a song that typifies the sheer quality to be found across the collection. Shriekback explore differing directions always with fabulous vocals and a musical set up that is sublime. Rock & Roll lovers from all points on the musical compass should give the album a listen, it's a goldmine of musical treasures from a band whose music has matured into something quite epic!


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The Goon Sax - She Knows.

Background - Freshly signed to Wichita Recordings, Australian teen trio The Goon Sax announce a brand new album, We're Not Talking, due out on 14 September worldwide. They will be heading to Europe for shows at the end of May supporting Frankie Cosmos, including a date at Gorilla in Manchester on 28 May as well as their own headline show at London’s Sebright Arms on 29 May, before heading off for their first US tour in June.

They share the first single, “She Knows”, which marries sublime indiepop with frenetic, scratchy post-punk. The song is full of surprising angles and jagged sounds to create a perfectly awkward pop gem.

Taking the lead on this track is James Harrison, who explains further: "She Knows has become a very fast song, which took us a lot of practice to be able to finally hit and strum our instruments fast enough, with a lot of string breaking. I hope it makes people energetic and excited to listen to, it’s a song about losing hope, stubbornness and heartache. I’m not sure if it’s our saddest song, but maybe if you lock yourself in your room for a couple of days and only listen to it you might not feel so happy, it is also okay if you feel happy to this song! Even better!!!"

The Goon Sax are James Harrison, Louis Forster and Riley Jones from Brisbane, Australia. Still in high school when they made their first album Up To Anything in 2016, their brand of awkwardly transcendent teenage guitar pop took them into end of year lists for BBC 6Music, Billboard and Rough Trade, and earned them raves from the Guardian, Pitchfork, Spin, Uncut, Rolling Stone and elsewhere. According to Metacritic, Up To Anything was the 8th best-reviewed debut album anywhere in the world in 2016.

The Goon Sax toured UK and Europe twice on that record, played shows with Whitney, US Girls, Twerps and Teenage Fanclub, graduated school, and then turned their focus to album number two. They flew to Melbourne to record with James Cecil and Cameron Bird, respectively former/current members of Architecture In Helsinki. TWITTER.

Fresh, catchy and unpretentious 'She Knows' is a feisty indie pop/rock song that delights. The vocals and harmonies are backed by some simple yet energised rhythmic music & combined the hooks just dig right in.


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