Tenth Electric - Princess Chelsea - Party Hardly - Fightmilk - For Esme

Tenth Electric - Brighter.

Background -  Tenth Electric announce the release of their upcoming single, Brighter, out on Friday 12th October. The band, who offer a gritty blend of electronic rock with powerful lyrics and guitar riffs deliver a message of empowerment, hope and faith in this new track and forthcoming EP.

The upcoming EP, out this Autumn, draws attention to the stigma surrounding mental health issues conveys positive ways to combat this together. Whether it is focusing on the little things in life or taking a moment to breathe, Tenth Electric believes music is a gateway to breaking down barriers that so many of us face.

Pain doesn’t discriminate; none of us are okay all the time and we should not be afraid to talk about our issues and share the burdens. Building on lead singer Luke Mitchell’s experience personally, spiritually, and as an advocate for vulnerable individuals, Tenth Electric want to unify people and encourage people to speak up and say ‘it’s ok to not be ok’. We are all in this together and change is around the corner.

Brighter is a song about seeking joy in the little things of life but within a bigger perspective; A moment in singer Luke Mitchell’s life at Glastonbury festival and its inspirational power. In a world where we are all travelling at 100 miles an hour it is important to learn to love the little things as these are what ultimately really matter. WEBSITE.

Powerful, genuine and vibrant 'Brighter' is a solid rocker with some delicious vocals and harmonies that make the song ascend, take shape and begin to really stand out. Add in the rich and dazzling musical backdrop and all aspects of Tenth Electric are in alignment and pretty much on fire.


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Princess Chelsea - Growing Older.

Background - Following the release of her fourth studio album The Loneliest Girl last month, New Zealand subversive pop artist Princess Chelsea (Chelsea Nikkel) shares the home grown music video for the album single "Growing Older."

"All of these shots i've included are particularly special moments with my grandparents, family and of course, my sister who is two years younger. It features my first instrument, a Yamaha keytar, which was left behind in a house we moved into when I was a kid. Also pictured are holidays at theme parks that capture the excitement but also frustration of being a teenager and feeling isolated.  Sometimes you can feel trapped like the Orca's at Seaworld but then excited to be riding the Wipeout!" - Princess Chelsea

Princess Chelsea's The Loneliest Girl album, out now via Lil' Chief Records, examines the loneliness and ultimately the artistic satisfaction a strong work ethic can bring. The result is this eclectic collection of pop songs. The Loneliest Girl captures moments of inspiration and madness, with lyrics that show Chelsea isn't afraid to ask the deeper questions while still maintaining a playful nature about it all.  "I can’t be bothered with subscribing to any kind of 'sound,'" Chelsea says.

As well as sharing an album trailer similar to her recent video for "Wasting Time", Chelsea shared an official fan video for the track "I Miss My Man" directed by the same director, Anastasia Doniants. This time she uses footage from the 1976 Soviet movie Little Mermaid. As Chelsea explains, "Unlike the fairy tale we’re all used to the Russian version is really sad - she gives up her legs and voice for this prince but he doesn’t fall in love with her at the end. She gives up everything for him for one day and then it’s all over!" TWITTER.

Having already featured and enjoyed 'I Love My Boyfriend' and 'Wasting Time' over the last few months the new single 'Growing Older' is another much welcome song to share. Sharing clips from her families home movies adds a further dimension as we see glimpses of Princess Chelsea literally growing up (or older), the song itself has all the creativity and imagination that she consistently achieves.


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Party Hardly - Football.

Background - Leeds upstarts Party Hardly share their newest fuzzy anthem Football, the second track taken from their forthcoming debut EP Cycle Of Life out this autumn.

Holed up in MJ of Hookworms’ Suburban Home Studio recording their latest material, the indie rockers show clear variations in their distinctive sound with gritty vocals, vibrant hooks and hazy guitars encompassing their most forward-thinking release to date.

Having already supported the likes of INHEAVEN and The Magic Gang, the four-piece continue to adopt a key role in the city’s thriving music scene and will be playing alongside Trudy and the Romance and Gengahr in the coming months.

Discussing the release, the band stated: “Football was written about general gender inequality, referring to how the unequal treatment or perception of individuals – wholly or partly due to their gender – is still very much prevalent in our western, spangled society. With our women’s national and club teams not receiving anywhere near the amount of pay/coverage that the men’s do, the future of our beloved sport depends on the effort we put in now”. FACEBOOK.

Back in August we first featured Party Hardly with impressive song 'Terry Shure'. With their second track 'Football' we have a further glimpse of the forthcoming E.P. which is shaping up to be a rather exciting affair, as these indie rockers carve out a definitive sound.

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Fightmilk - How You Move On.

Background - DIY pop punks Fightmilk share their new video for the single "How You Move On", which is the blistering opening track on their forthcoming debut Not With That Attitude, due out via Reckless Yes on 2 November.

On "How You Move On", Lily Rae sings about a man she was dating who was so incensed whey they split up that he got a tattoo of an ugly tree over his heart to commemmorate the relationship – turns out he had a gallery of bad tattoos of previous conquests. Lily says; “I like to try and write songs that I'd want to sing at karaoke whilst drunk which explains the chorus. It's entirely designed for post-breakup girls-night-out karaoke.”

Lily explains further about the video: "It was directed by our friend Gemma Grange and in a nutshell: when we started chatting to Gemma I explained that the song was inspired by an ex who, in a very committed expression of dismay, decided he'd get a tattoo to commemorate our relationship after we split up. It was awful. Gemma came up with the concept of having our miserable antagonist as a life-drawing model, delighted at the opportunity to strut his junk in front of a room full of people to impress, only to discover that everyone hates him and is out for revenge. It's kind of like Kill Bill but with Luke (@beardynoise on Twitter)'s naked butt instead of the Crazy 88."

The band formed in 2015 when lifelong friends Lily Rae and Alex Wisgard were both made romantically redundant at the same time. In the wake of broken relationships and an uncomfortable year spent living at their respective homes at the age of 25, they realised there was too much angst, too much Kirsty MacColl, and too many drunk nights of making up fake band names for them not to be in a band together. They began writing songs, partly as a way to work out some of their issues and partly so that they could reference It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Moving on from just the two of them and a drum machine called Elton that they couldn’t figure out how to operate, they were joined by Nick Kiddle on drums and Adam Wainwright on bass (who was also handy at piano, cooking dinner and making electronic music in his bedroom under the name of Future Wife). BANDCAMP.

'How You Move On' is our second song share for Fightmilk after they impressed Beehive Candy with 'Four Star Hotel' back in August. Another hook laden indie rocker with some intriguing lyrics, Fightmilk are just teasing us with goodies ahead of Novembers debut release.


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For Esme - Modern Love.

Background from For Esme - Whenever I find myself down in the well of self-loathing or in desperate need of affirmations, I always return to Joan Didion’s 1961 essay “On Self Respect”. It is a bible of sorts for me — a map that leads back to myself. I wanted to create a similar sign post, for myself and others, to look at ourselves in the mirror and know: I am complete, I am in charge of my own life, I am responsible for my own mistakes and my own victories.

“The dismal fact is that self-respect has nothing to do with the approval of others—who are, after all, deceived easily enough.” - Joan Didion, ‘On Self Respect’

When Director Nick Tiringer approached me about making the video, the concept of a great cast of womxn singing the affirmations to themselves in the mirror was perfect. The imagery was exactly on point with how I’d written the song: a note to self — a post-it on the bathroom mirror not to forget: “You are the one you’ve got to live with.

We live in a culture that places a great deal of emphasis on self-care and self-love, while simultaneously making those things feel impossible to do well. While I see the good behind these concepts, they’ve never sat easily with me. The incline from self-care to self indulgence feels too slippery— a cliff one risks falling over the edge of. Self respect on the other hand is more bonafide — something that we can all cultivate and nurture that involves taking responsibility for oneself. WEBSITE.

There is a rich electronic musical backdrop on 'Modern Love' that is absolutely engaging in itself. Adding in the melodic and beautifully matched vocals pretty much completes the circle, however on top of that we have superb video that drives home the songs passionately delivered message.


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Red Telephone - Gumshoe - Jessie Munro - Ghost Caravan - Piney Gir - MAWD

Red Telephone - Victoria Park.

Background - There is a timeless quality an other-worldly melancholic sadness that hangs on every passing note from Cardiff's most exciting psychedelic night urchins Red Telephone latest single 'Victoria Park'. It could be a long lost song from the 1966 'Blow-Up' soundtrack, The Yardbirds covering Syd Barrett in the minor key! 

Yet 'Victoria Park' is very much about today, the sound of a band transcending their influences to create a confident and thrilling world within their songwriting. As the bands singer Declan Andrews explains of the recording process. "we wanted to create a striking and recognisable landscape of sounds without overwhelming the core song. It could have easily ended up full of baroque-sounding parts but in the end we found ourselves taking parts away and opening up space"
  
The song itself "was written around loose recollections of Victoria Park in Cardiff, where I used to go every now and again as a child. I didn’t set out to write about that place but the core song and lyrics came out quickly. It’s mainly just a rumination over the passing of time condensed into a song and Victoria Park just happens to be the place used as a springboard to explore those ideas. It’s probably because 

Victoria Park has quite recognisable monuments such as the pool and bandstand which are easy to recall, even if they were peripheral to my experiences there when I was younger. There’s something romantic about parks anyway and there seems to be a strong relationship between parks and time too, especially with the memorandum benches and how a lot of them don’t change all that much compared to the people who visit them."  TWITTER.

'Victoria Park' is a cascading psychedelic song that is immersed in sixties cultural musical charm and yet some how it manages to be both fresh and relevant today. Having fond childhood memories of summer holidays in the latter half of the sixties, this track could have easily been on Radio Caroline or Big L in those British golden offshore radio days. That bands like Red Telephone are putting their own stamp and interpretations out there, leaves me very content and pleased. 

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Gumshoe - Barking At Shadows.

Background - Gumshoe debut first single "Barking at Shadows" off their upcoming album "The Governor's Brother" due out November 16th . The music of Athens GA's Gumshoe is an ever-changing structure built on the foundation of frontman Andy Dixon's "weirdo-as-Everyman lyrics" (Flagpole Magazine). Formed in 2011, the band its debut album The Bad Route Down in 2014, and was nominated for an Athens Music Award in the Americana category the following year. 

With the addition of free jazz drummer John Norris in late 2014, Gumshoe took on a sharper edge, pumping out "lean, darkly evocative rock songs with vivid imagery" (Flagpole). Bassist Jef Whatley came on board in 2017, rounding out the current trio formation.

Dixon honed his writing with short fiction and long poetry, along with a half decade as a sports journalist at newspapers from south Georgia to Philadelphia. He stumbled into music by making several albums of sound collage and experimental electronic under the name monkE. At age 28, he picked up a friend's guitar and began to put words and music together.

Informed by his compulsive reading of crime noir novels, his extended stays in Zen monasteries, and a habit of hiking in the Georgia woods that dates back to his days as an Eagle Scout, Dixon's lyrics cover a "schizophrenic landscape so full of split personality that Tom Waits seems reasonable in comparison" (Flagpole). Topics range from questioning one's own sanity amid dizzying celestial math, to tragic, drugged-up rural misadventures and a woman whose dreams are not-unpleasantly frequented by the ghost of the scoundrel Richard Nixon. FACEBOOK.

Laid back and cool 'Barking At Shadows' is a bluesy alt rocker, with plenty of Americana overtones. it's slick, relaxed and the lyrics are intriguing and delivered just as these genre styles should be.

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Jessie Munro - I'd Like To.

Background - Twenty-three year-old Toronto born, Los Angeles based artist Jessie Munro has been mesmerizing audiences worldwide, with her stunning soulful vocals and sleek, modern-electro R&B/pop. Finding her start in classical music and musical theatre, Munro went on to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music, propelling her songwriting abilities and giving her the musical maturity which is evident throughout her music. The soulful songstress is now preparing to release her Debut EP On My Own, a six-track release which tackles the stages of post break-up.

On My Own tells the story of living through bleak heartbreak, with relatable honest lyricism and beautifully poetic melodies, it’s an EP of reflection and contemplation. Narrating the feeling of being alone, the pain of unrequited love and finding courage and confidence to move on, the release is an authentic story of a lost love. Influenced by artists such as Carole King, Daniel Caesar and Charlotte Day Wilson, Munro describes “we were trying to harness old school classic sounds and marry them with modern sounds”.

Leading single 'Under Fire’ features a strong, melodic bassline which rides fluidly atop the driving drums and Munro’s soulful, dreamlike vocals. Thematically, the song focuses on the pressures of social expectations and constantly feeling scrutinized by others. Munro reflects on how she felt she was “under fire” from everyone in her life and the song is the realization that other peoples opinions aren’t always definitive. Inspired by Lianne La Havas and her technique of fusing lyrics with melody, Munro explains “the intent of the lyric is brought to life with a melody that evokes that same emotion” and this is clearly apparent throughout the single.

‘If Your Eyes Could Talk’ showcases ethereal soundscapes and minimalistic melodies, which still pack an impact through Munro’s smokey vocals, delivering a song of quiet intensity. Featuring notes of jazz and pop all underpinned by a soul underscore, the track is brought to life with it’s refreshingly vibrant chorus. The single succeeds in sonically portraying the emotions of a relationship and is a truthful depiction of a breakup, which establishes Munro's signature sound and sets the tone for the rest of the EP.

Munro has come a long way from coming in sixth place in CBC’s search for Dorothy in its 2012 Over the Rainbow series, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Having already performed to sold out audiences across the globe, as well as receiving critical acclaim, the singer is now ready for the next chapter of her musical endeavour, with On My Own currently available worldwide. TWITTER.

The third of six tracks on the new E.P. 'On My Own' is the addictive 'I'd Like To'. Jessie Munro's is described as having "soulful vocals with sleek, modern-electro R&B and pop/rock instrumentation." That in fairness is both concise and accurate, and the E.P. really does explore differing musical directions in a cohesive and often catchy manner, so expect a whole lot more than just the featured piece.

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Ghost Caravan  - Damn You.

Background from Ghost Caravan - Ghost Caravan is a group of collaborators lead by myself, Shaina Silver-Baird. My music is about dark places, but I focus on finding the light, the moment when you realize your own strength and ability to move forward. 

I want to be proud to share my songs with young women. There are so many voices in the world telling women how to think and feel about themselves. I want to be the voice that celebrates women. I want empower and uplift people.

On my forthcoming record T.O. Confidential, I collaborated with members of the Weeknd, Grand Analog, Hill Kourkoutis of the Launch, Martha and the Muffins, the Four On The Floor String Quartet and many others.

There were so many amazing artists who collaborated on this project. It felt like a whole village came together to make this record and I’m so grateful to that community. I love creating music with other people. The end result is so much better because of the many points of view, different opinions and experiences that are woven into each song. FACEBOOK.

'Damn You' is a song brimming with character and a whole load of melodic hooks. Shaina Silver-Bairdare vocals are a delight as they engage and draw you into the atmosphere and feeling of the song. Upbeat, a little funky and overflowing with charm, it comes with a very fine video to round matters off.



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Piney Gir - Dreamcatcher.

Background - Piney Gir follows up her recent single “The Great Pretend” with another dose of bittersweet pop delight in “Dreamcatcher”. Written at a difficult time, it was inspired by the wilderness and freedom, using driving desert rock to celebrate dreams and warn of dangers ahead. The song is about taking risks and living life on the edge. Swirling psychedelic synths are punctuated by twanging guitar, riff-led basslines and punchy saxophones featuring dreamy vocals spinning to infinity. The track features members of Gaz Coombes’ band, with whom Piney has been touring over the past year, as well as Tom Greenhalf (Man Without Country) and Sweet Baboo on saxophone.

Piney explains more about the track: “I wrote Dreamcatcher when I was in a dark place, it seemed like absolutely everything had gone wrong, love, work, health, family “best friends” not being good friends, just general hard knocks and feeling pretty isolated while facing some pretty big life stuff. Outwardly I was projecting the usual cheery Piney because that’s what everyone expects from me, but I was the lowest of the low; the lowest I’ve ever been, pretending to be happy was making that isolation even worse. The only way I know how to cope with that emotion is to channel it into something creative and my default setting is hopeful, I am always looking for the silver lining no mater how dark the clouds are.  Music is a healthy outlet for me. I feel the most myself when I’m doing music stuff.  When I said this album was about mental health, it really was. Without wanting to sound dramatic, I think making this album saved me from utter breakdown. Music is my mental health stabiliser, I feel very lucky to have it as an outlet.”

London-based Piney Gir originally hails from Kansas and has for many years been a prolific and prodigious musician, spanning various genres from electro to alt-country to folktronic to 60’s retro pop to krautrock. She is currently working on album number seven and her new material lands at art pop with angles and creating a real world of sound with deliberate spaces and spikes. There are still echoes of the signature Piney sound, with strong melodies, tuneful riffs and twisted lyrics that sound sweet at first listen and evolve to some kind of dark twisted storytelling. Piney’s inner Laura Palmer emerges with a tender bitter-sweetness, reminiscent of post punk basement bars and cherry martinis.

Piney heads out on the road in October to play some of her new songs, with shows in Oxford and London. She has a headline, single-release show at Sebright Arms in Hackney as well as a demonstration of her new venture “Drunk Cookery”, a punk zine cookbook of healthy and quick recipes for those late nights when you get home from the pub in desperate need of sustenance, with loads of rock’n’roll references, including using songs instead of timings. WEBSITE.

We featured 'The Great Pretend' back in the middle of June and now we have 'Dreamcatcher'. A rhythmic alt rocker, there is something hypnotic and engrossing about this song, the music and vocals are intertwined, as it quickly develops a level of intrigue, that's hard to let go of. 

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MAWD - Wandering Eye.

Background - California’s soulful rock’n’roll artist MAWD has a new release an infectious blend of gritty guitars, soulful vocals and hard hitting melodies. Entitled ‘Wandering Eye’.

MAWD is the moniker of Madeleine Mathews, a California singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist (piano, guitar, ukulele, bass, accordion & banjo), whose influences include, The Head and the Heart, The Staves, First Aid Kit, Nancy Sinatra, Lord Huron, and the Alabama Shakes.  MAWD’s sound gravitates towards an eclectic mix of genres including indie rock, folk, folk rock, retro rock, and blues rock. The soulful, textured timbre of Madeleine's vocals is diverse and ranges anywhere from a breathy sultry folk/blues vibe to a powerful Janis Joplin-esque/Karen-O belt. 

Born and bread in Northern California, Madeleine made her mark in her hometown of Placerville playing original songs at a weekly local open mic. She  found an even larger audience in Chico, CA, where she attended CSU, Chico's music program.  She quickly became a part of the blossoming local Nor Cal scene fronting and writing for various bands and winning local singer/songwriter competitions, resulting in TV and radio appearances and press. Madeleine's stunning live performances and the unique vulnerability, power and shear beauty of her voice caught the attention of Roger Gisborne of Los Angeles based indie label Sound x 3 Records, who immediately signed her and sent her to Scandinavia to tour.  As a result, she was invited to perform for several international festivals, including the Irish, YouBloom Festival.   

Gisborne produced and released MAWD's first EP during Madeleine's last semester of school and brought in Brian Lucey (Arctic Monkeys, Black Keys, Beck, Cage The Elephant, etc.) to master the record, which received critical acclaim from noteworthy tastemakers leading MAWD to SXSW and a southwest tour with a new line-up of top British, Irish and American musicians, known as the "MAWD Squad". TWITTER.

We go back to March of this year for our first taste of MAWD. With our second feature 'Wandering Eye' we have a music video that is full of sixties imagery. Close your eyes and you have a modern soulful and energised mixture of funky blues with hints of modern folk. It's also exceedingly catchy!


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Free Love - Art Brut

Free Love - Playing as Punks.

Background - Glasgow’s disco-pop duo Free Love (fka Happy Meals and consisting of Suzanne Roden and Lewis Cook) have announced their new EP ‘Luxury Hits’, due for release November 9th and shared a brand new single from the EP, ‘Playing as Punks’, out today. The duo have also announced their own run of headline shows in London, Manchester, Dublin, Belfast and Glasgow.

Since their seductive Euro disco-flecked single ‘Pushing Too Hard’ came out in late July, the duo have rounded off a busy summer of festival bookings with a live performance at Gottwood, Lovebox, supporting Django Django & Sylvan Esso at Edinburgh International Festival and a live 6 Music session for Vic Galloway (sitting in for Marc Riley) after Tom Ravenscroft made them his 6 Music Recommends. Their credentials as one of the best new live acts continues to go from strength to strength - they will be supporting James Holden and The Animal Spirits on a string of UK tour dates next week, starting at London’s Southbank Centre on 4th October, followed by their own run of headline shows which was announced today, then finishing off their fruitful year with a New Years Eve performance at the famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay with Metronomy & Franz Ferdinand.

The duo’s new 8 track EP ‘Luxury Hits’, which features previous underground dance-pop favourites ‘Synchronicity’ and ‘Pushing Too Hard’, is an open-hearted love letter to possible futures. With the political continuing to linger beneath their dance party, the duo describe the EP as a “trans-temporal projection through pop music for dancefloors. The music is about breaking through the limitations of our surroundings, not through escapism but defining a new reality on our own terms and breathing it into existence.” Featuring 6 brand new tracks, the record is a tropical soup of sonic utopias - channeling balearic nightcrawlers, wistful acid drenched production, French vocals and glittering italo and synth-heavy rhythms - served in the mercurial bowl of here and now.

Free Love emerged in 2014 as Happy Meals from Glasgow’s renowned musical hub The Green Door Studio (the birthplace of other critically acclaimed DIY acts like LAPS, Golden Teacher, Total Leatherette and more). Their debut album Apéro on Night School Records was shortlisted for Scottish Album Of The Year in 2015, and was followed up by their second album last year, Full Ashram Devotional Ceremony, on Optimo Music. TWITTER.

Disco-pop is not a genre Beehive Candy has featured that often however 'Playing as Punks' is so wonderful how could we possibly ignore it. Actually this gorgeous song I would argue, goes way beyond any specific categorisation, it's warm, atmospheric, very catchy and imaginative.


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Art Brut - Hospital!

Background - Art Brut has announced their new LP Wham! Bang! Pow! Let's Rock Out!. Along with the album announce, they also shared their new single "Hospital!", which is out now on all DSP's. Wham! Bang! Pow! Let's Rock Out! is out 11/23 on Alcopop! Records and is produced by award-winning folk musician Jim Moray.

Berlin-based post-punk art rock band, Art Brut, are delighted to announce details of their new album, Wham! Bang! Pow! Let’s Rock Out!, which will be released on 23rd November via Alcopop! Records.

The record’s striking artwork comes courtesy of contemporary German pop artist Jim Avignon—a hugely respected cult figure in the art and Techno subculture in Berlin, he currently lives and works both in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and in Berlin.

Alongside the album, the band are also very pleased to announce a run of UK headline tour dates for February and March 2019. The band’s forthcoming London headline show at Boston Music Room on 7th November sold out in just 24 hours, and they play a further London headline show on 17th January at The Garage.

To celebrate the news the band have revealed the video for their new single ‘Hospital!’, in which a delightfully fragile ‘Eggy Argos’ traverses the pitfalls of modern life. It’s a stark juxtaposition with the deeply personal track for the band’s larger-than-life front man and huevo-namesake Eddie Argos who, three years ago, found himself dangerously ill in hospital. TWITTER.

More punk than post punk and more rock than art rock 'Hospital!' is a feisty and straight to the point song. Based on a real life experience where the patient hated every minute in hospital, deciding to change his lifestyle rather than return, in true punk tradition three years on, that whole lifestyle change thing is on the back burner again...


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Anne Marie Almedal - Malojian - Louise Lemón

Anne Marie Almedal - You Keep Me At Arm's Length.

Background - Norwegian singer-songwriter Anne Marie Almedal has shared a new single from her forthcoming album 'Lightshadow', which is due out 26th October 2018. The single is also accompanied by a stunning new video by Pål M. Laukli.

Somewhat destined to be the first track of Anne Marie Almedal’s new album 'You Keep Me At Arm’s Length' arrives with just Anne Marie’s commanding vocals and Nicholas Sillitoe’s wistful folk guitar accompaniment, a brooding piano and synth bass slowly adding momentum. 

Melancholy as ever,  bittersweet, focused and full of longing, the new single is a bold blend of folk, electronics, indie-dream-pop and nonchalant vocals. It’s a song about unrequited nearness, love forlorn, hopes and dreams flailing in the distant horizon. Something familiar, something new.

'You Keep Me At Arm’s Length' was recorded in Anne Marie’s hometown Kristiansand in a summer break with producer/co-writer Nicholas taking time off his busy soundtrack schedule together with new-found producer/multi-instrumentalist Alf Vaksdal. Drums were added by the young and talented Marius Trøan Hansen, and Nicholas returned home to London to polish the mix with producer Tim Bran (London Grammar/Halsey/Birdy). The result, a one-listen-and-you’re-hooked defining new direction and perfect introduction to the new album. FACEBOOK.

Calm, relaxed and oh so engaging, Anne Marie Almedal vocals shine on 'You Keep Me At Arm's Length' a refined modern indie folk song. The musical backdrop adds more vibrancy to the track as it gradually builds as a beautiful accompaniment.   


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Malojian - Beardness.

Background - Northern Irish songwriter and musician Malojian (aka Stephen Scullion), releases a deluxe version of his recent Northern Irish Music Prize shortlisted album Let Your Weirdness Carry You Home, featuring seven extra demos, acoustic and live versions of album tracks. Blending folk and Americana with psychedelia, Scullion weaves intricately drawn vignettes with imaginative and contemplative songwriting, dotted with warmth and humour.

Malojian shares a brand new track "Beardness", which blends the music of title track “Let Your Weirdness Carry You Home” and the words to lead-single “Beard Song”, which fit like a glove. 

Let Your Weirdness Carry You Home (Deluxe Edition) will be available as an 18-track CD via Quiet Arch Records on 30 November. There will also be a package of the original vinyl album with the 18-track CD and a bonus 7 inch single. The CD and Single can be bought separately for those who already own the vinyl album. He's playing shows all over Ireland and heading to England for a few dates (see below).

Let Your Weirdness Carry You Home was recorded in a lighthouse on the remote picturesque island of Rathlin off the coast of Northern Ireland and only accessible by boat. The coastal element is reflected in some of the songs and imagery, with Vikings landing ashore in “The Beard Song” video and in the vintage seaside feel of the video for title track “Let Your Weirdness Carry You Home”. The album features guests including; Teenage Fanclub’s Gerard Love, session drummer Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M., Atoms For Peace, Roger Waters), bassist Jon Thorne (Yorkston/Thorne/Khan, Lamb) and more, enhancing Malojian’s musical vision.

Let Your Weirdness Carry You Home is Malojian’s fourth studio album, following his debut The Deer’s Cry in 2014, Southlands in 2015 (nominated for the Northern Irish Music Prize), the Steve Albini produced (and also Northern Irish Music Prize nominated) This Is Nowhere in 2016. There’s an accompanying documentary about the making of There Is Nowhere, which documents the rush to complete the album in just four days at Steve Albini’s studio in Chicago. WEBSITE.

Opening with some sonic guitar blasts, the song quickly settles into a steady alt rocker as 'Beardness' gathers momentum and feeling. Hints of psychedelic influences are both there vocally and within the music on this rather catchy song.

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Louise Lemón - Cross.

Background - Following on from last year’s critically praised debut album ‘Purge’, Louise Lemón returns with her ambitious new single ‘Cross’ taken from her highly anticipated new album, due for release in March 2019. The Swedish ‘Death gospel’ artist has delivered a truly awe-inspiring release that sees her channel the confident and sultry vibes of the early Fleetwood Mac-era, producing a tighter and more focused sound in the process.

Since the release of ‘Purge’ last year, Louise has been focusing her attention on more elementary deep sounds and even more profound lyrics. ‘Cross’ sits as the example of what we can expect from this new record, confident and captivating throughout with her immensely strong vocals in the foreground.

Experimenting with instrumentation and production since her last full-length, Lemón is a rejuvenated presence on these new songs. Shaking off the expectations of her past, she is looking to tread a new path with her latest material, taking cues from the 60s and 70s psych-rock and soul era to influence her new direction. The sound is crisper, cleaner but unmistakably her.

“’Cross’ is one of the last songs I wrote for this album and this song, as well as the whole album, is about acceptance and growing” Louise says. “To dare to really listen to the most inner thoughts. Not judging instead trying to learn and rather than running from something owning it. Looking back to rise forward.”

Speaking about the new album, Louise added, “I wanted to make it this album both darker and brighter. We've used far cleaner sounds than ever before, concentrating on creating darkness in new ways. The songwriting has been very focused. I’ve evolved as a woman and with my writing I’ve explored new feelings, going further and deeper in to the ways I’ve felt and the situations life's brought me to. It was such a blessing to be able to work with my band so closely, they are very much a part of the soundscape and we couldn’t be happier to have had Randall Dunn produce it.” WEBSITE.

It was back in April 2017 that we last featured Louise Lemón, I have to say I didn't realise it had been that long. 'Cross' makes for a grand return, the gospel style chorus is notable as are Louise's confident and melodic vocals. There is plenty of additional energy in the musical arrangement, this is a splendid return, one that is full of promise.

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Karine Polwart - Hilma Nikolaisen

Karine Polwart - Laws Of Motion.

Background - Multi-award winning songwriter and musician, theatre maker and published writer Karine Polwart - six-time winner at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including 2018 Folk Singer of The Year - is today sharing the title track from her forthcoming album release, Laws of Motion, (due out October 19, 2018 via Hudson Records). Polwart’s seventh release, it’s the follow-up to 2017’s much-praised A Pocket of Wind Resistance, which earned Karine & co-writer Pippa Murphy a New Music Scotland Award, alongside nominations for the 2018 Scottish Album Of The Year & Radio 2 Folk Album Of The Year. Laws Of Motion - recorded alongside long-term collaborators Inge Thomson and brother Steven Polwart - will arrive amidst a 13 date UK tour, including London’s Cadogan Hall on October 17, 2018.

A Pocket Of Wind Resistance used the migratory habits of geese to crack open universally human societal & ecological issues. Across Laws of Motion Polwart continues to coalesce the familial and the familiar alongside the unsettling and the unknown, driven as ever by her gift for empathy and accessibility. Subject matter as disparate as Trump, WW2 & holocaust survivors are drawn together by the laws of the album’s title alongside the experiences of migrants and allegorical folk & children’s stories. Speaking about the broad focus of the album (which includes several co-writes with Martin Green), Polwart says; “I didn’t set out to write songs on a unified theme - they’ve just landed that way. Perhaps that’s no surprise, given the times we’re in.”

Laws of Motion is the latest in an evolving series of collaborative projects across which Polwart has combined music & storytelling with politics & environmental-societal issues. Karine wrote A Pocket Of Wind Resistance (a Songlines & BBC Radio 3 Late Junction Album Of The Year) as a musical companion to her acclaimed theatre debut Wind Resistance, now published via Faber & Faber and selected by Robert McFarlane as a Guardian Book of 2017. The production, which debuted at the Edinburgh International Festival with a residency at The Royal Lyceum Theatre, was written, musically directed and performed by Polwart, winning her the Best Music and Sound Award at the 2017 CATS. Alongside three other nominations, it also placed Polwart on the shortlist for the Best Actor ‘Scottish Oscar’ in the Sunday Herald Culture Awards. WEBSITE.

'Laws Of Motion' is clearly a thoughtfully constructed folk song, and I have to say that the lyrics alone captured my attention. Their intuitive and beautiful delivery and the gorgeous musical arrangement and performance anchors the track. Personally the soon to be released album is going to be a compulsive listen.

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Hilma Nikolaisen - Election Day Blues.

Background -  Norwegian musician Hilma Nikolaisen announces her new album Mjusic, which is due out on 30 November via Fysisk Format. She shares the first single "Election Day Blues", saying; "Change isn't always for the better, everything will not always be ok. To accept and adapt is not an option when things are actually going to hell. Fortunately, there might still be time to break the vicious cycle. We can do better."

Mjusic is Nikolaisen’s follow-up to her warmly received debut Puzzler (2016). It takes its title from a childhood punk band she started together with her brother Ivar in 1987, at the tender age of five. This time Ivar Nikolaisen (Kvelertak) appears on several of her songs, along with other siblings, and so the mjusic continues.

Hilma played in several significant underground bands during her teens and early adulthood, before she had somewhat of an indie-breakthrough as bass player in her brother Emil’s internationally acclaimed shoegaze outfit Serena Maneesh (4AD). Emil also appears on Mjusic, playing drums on “Only Me” and “Light Shines”.

While Puzzler was years in the making, with songs written over a longer stretch of time, Mjusic was conceived in a more spontaneous way. This time Nikolaisen has acted more freely on her intuition and imagination throughout the process. The result is a sparkling album that builds upon her debut, but utterly refined and with more attitude and immediacy. Different styles and colors come together in Mjusic, and they’re all unmistakable Hilma. BANDCAMP.

Uncomplicated and catchy 'Election Day Blues' is an engaging and likable modern rocker. Hilma's vocals give this song some unique character, this is one of those songs where a second listen is decided upon well before the end.

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Hajk - Fröst

Hajk - Dancing Like This.

Background - 'Drama' – of the interpersonal kind – that’s what Hajk have turned their focus to in 2018. The band burst onto the scene with their self-titled debut album last year, garnering support around the world as well as making a name for themselves in their home country of Norway. Now, the highly anticipated follow-up 'Drama' has been announced for February 2019 – a record that both pulls at the heartstrings and urges you to dance away your sorrows. Lead single and first taste of what is to come arrives in the form of the bubblegum-flavoured new cut, 'Dancing Like This'. It's a lyrically melancholy and wide-eyed love song, with an addictive melody that looks to sugarcoat your tears.

Hajk’s 2017 debut received praise from the likes of Astrid S, Sigrid and Kimbra, as well as actress and model, Chloë Grace Moretz. International acclaim came in waves from Noisey, Stereogum, The Line of Best Fit, Drowned In Sound, V Magazine, The Independent, Indie Shuffle, and more, noting their idiosyncratic, yet supremely catchy pop tunes, while likening them to everything from Fleetwood Mac and Aztec Camera to Dirty Projectors and Little Dragon.

With their second album, 'Drama', a more self-assured band reveals themselves. Sharpened by more studio experience, they have once again produced the record themselves, taking extreme care over every second and minute detail of their work. Blending analogue and digital sounds, switching between programmed arrangements and live takes from the studio, drawing on three lead vocalists and an assortment of guest musicians, Hajk conjured up whatever was necessary to fulfill their creative vision.

The title 'Drama' relates to the drama of humanity and a somewhat naïve yearning for love in a world in which love can sometimes seem in scarce supply. 'Drama' is due for release on February 1st via Jansen Records. FACEBOOK.

We featured Hajk and their 2017 debut three separate times as they impressed Beehive Candy so much. With 'Dancing Like This' we have another enticing indie pop song, as expected the melodic hooks are everywhere and the band provide a vibrant backdrop for the ever pleasing vocals.

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Fröst - La Vénus d'Argent.

Background - Fröst have just released their debut album Matters and the record’s sultry bilingual lead track La Vénus d’Argent as a stand-alone digital single via Lost Room Records.

Fröst is the work of Steve Lewis (Fujiya & Miyagi’s synth player and producer) and French-Swedish sound artist Johanna Bramli (vocalist for Stereolab offshoot Imitation Electric Piano). Together they create a sound that effortlessly blends a bilingual French pop aesthetic with cool electronica, hypnotic motorik beats and trippy psychedelic soundscapes. With comparisons to Kraftwerk, Broadcast, Silver Apples, The Golden Filter and Goldfrapp.

Their music has garnered coverage from Mixmag through to Prog Rock, The Line of Best Fit through to Resident Advisor with massive radio support from Lauren Laverne as well as Nemone and Gideon Coe (BBC 6 Music), Annie Mac (BBC Radio 1) and John Kennedy (Radio X) - among many others.

Matters was written by Fröst, produced by Steve Lewis, mixed by Ed Chivers and mastered by Eric James at Philosophers Barn Mastering. It is released today on CD, Vinyl and Digitally via Lost Room Records.

Fröst have been confirmed to support 77:78 at Oslo, London on 15 October, with additional UK shows next month: WEBSITE.

Live:
2 October: Sebright Arms, London
3 October: Prince Albert, Brighton
6 October: Dials Festival, Portsmouth
13 October Shake The High Road Festival, London
15 October: Oslo, London (supporting 77:78)

'La Vénus d'Argent' is a gorgeous combination of seductive vocals and some layered and cleverly crafted electronica that is driven by simple set of beats. Hints of psychedelic feeling come and go, this is very addictive music.


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Thyla - The Brevet - Valley Maker

Thyla - Candy.

Background - Riding a wave of momentum that shows no signs of stopping anytime soon, Brighton’s latest indie juggernauts Thyla announce plans for their debut EP and share mesmerising lead single Candy, further solidifying their status as one of the UK’s finest emerging indie acts.

Expertly masterminded by frontwoman Millie Duthie’s commanding vocals, Candy strikes a much more sombre tone than their previous material with a series of carefully constructed guitar parts and dreamy intervals capped off with another trademark anthemic chorus.

Earmarked as one of NME’s 100 Essential Acts for 2018 alongside Dream Wife, Nilüfer Yanya and Pale Waves, the quartet demonstrated their potential in the first half of the year sharing bills with Sunflower Bean, INHEAVEN and Fickle Friends as well as encouraging displays at The Great Escape, Live At Leeds and Dot To Dot.

Praise from all corners of the press, widespread support on the BBC Radio 1 airwaves (one of Huw Stephens’ Alternative Tips for 2018) and recent shows alongside Slaves have only added to the growing excitement surrounding the band heading into what promises to be a busy autumn period.

Discussing their forthcoming release, the four-piece stated: “You know when you have impending doom and you have no idea why because there’s nothing specifically wrong that you can put your finger on, and your dreams are messed up, and when you wake up you wonder what they mean? That’s what Candy is about”. TWITTER.

Thyla appeared a few times on Beehive Candy early on this year and make a fine return with 'Candy'. A refined and beautifully structured indie rocker the vocals are charming and power up with intensity when required. Surrounded by some notable alt/indie rock musicianship, the debut EP is eagarly anticipated.

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The Brevet - So Long.

Background - On October 12th, Southern California-based band The Brevet will release their alternative rock album titled Legs. The upcoming album is a powerfully charged work, full of gritty soulful vocals and distorted guitar riffs.

The video for “So Long” was inspired by the tv series Westworld and acclaimed film Get Out. Video director Sarah Thacker, who was recently featured in the Hollywood Reporter, said, "the piece takes inspiration from both Westworld and Get Out, sort of riffing off concepts presented in those films and putting a retro modern spin on them. Aric and I liked the idea of the video being a lesson in looking for love and purpose in all the wrong places, before finally taking over and righting your ship."

Legs is The Brevet’s third studio album and stands for “L”ike “E”very “G”reat “S”tory. Staying true to its acronym, The Brevet’s upcoming album contains all elements of a memorable tale; reflecting the band’s growth and maturity leading up to the explosive new record. Damm explains, “Our band has been through an evolution these last couple years.

We absolutely love the writing and recording process, but somewhere along the way, our focus shifted more towards touring and performing live, and the music we were creating just naturally started to reflect that energy...We’re writing in a way we want to write now. I’m not trying to follow trends; I just want to write from my heart.” Legs is a powerfully charged work, full of gritty soulful vocals and distorted guitar riffs. WEBSITE.

Opening with a potent and almost rasping soulful vocal piece 'So Long' is a dynamic, powerful and heartfelt song. It's also something of an alt rock anthem without sounding contrived or pretentious, rather the band are just totally into the piece which naturally conveys itself.


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Valley Maker - Beautiful Birds Flying.

Background - Valley Maker, the folk project of Seattle songwriter Austin Crane, will release his new album Rhododendron in two weeks, and today he shares the video for his new single "Beautiful Birds Flying," which was produced by Chaz Bear of Toro y Moi and the video directed by Movie Company (Joseph Kolean and Zach Gutierrez).

Austin says; “Beautiful Birds Flying was the first song I wrote for the album that would become Rhododendron. I wrote it almost immediately after hearing about the horrific Mother Emanuel Church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina – which is a city I love in the state where I grew up. It was meaningful to record the song a few years later with Chaz Bear, who I went to college with at the University of South Carolina. The song wrestles with the presence/recurrence of violence in the world and how to respond to that – feeling tendencies towards escapism, while also acknowledging an inevitable rootedness in places and patterns that are complicit.”

On Valley Maker's second full-length album, Rhododendron, songwriter Austin Crane sings about movement - from one kind of belief to another, from place to place, through time. This new record from Crane, a Seattle-based musician and PhD student in Human Geography, reflects both the rootedness and rootlessness that shapes his songwriting on the precipice of his third decade. Like his noted inspirations Jason Molina, Bill Fay, and Gillian Welch before him, he speaks to the strange and transitory ways we mark time through our lives. Years pass and fold in his cosmic American songs.

Rhododendron, which also features the previously released singles "A Couple Days" and "Light on the Ground," is out on October 12th via Frenchkiss Records. WEBSITE.

'Beautiful Birds Flying' is a beautiful song, simple as that really. The music is expansive and yet uncluttered, the vocals and harmonies are exquisite and the melodic hooks just keep on coming. It's folk music at the core, it's also surrounded by fabulous and relaxing vibes.


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Calva Louise - Vaureen - Eliza Shaddad - Julie Kember - Mantell - Jesika von Rabbit

Calva Louise - I Heard A Cry.

Background - London newcomers Calva Louise launch pulsating new anthem I Heard A Cry, offering another glimpse of the trio’s unbridled potential ahead of their debut album release early next year.

Having developed a fierce live reputation within London’s flourishing punk scene, the chaotic garage rockers have since earned support slots alongside the likes of Albert Hammond Jr, Spring King and Anteros and will be heading off on tour with label-mates The Blinders later this autumn.

In their newest cut, two minutes of boundless energy showcasing a band brimming with potential, the three-piece lay down a real marker and reinforce why they’ve received extensive backing throughout the online community (Clash, Dork) and across the airwaves (BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, Radio X).

Discussing their upcoming release, the outfit stated: “I Heard A Cry deals with the misinformation we often feel regarding what’s happening elsewhere in the world. But at the same time, it’s about the will of many people who are trying to inform themselves”. TWITTER.

Back in July we shared the track 'Outrageous' from Calva Louise and 'I Heard A Cry' is another feisty garage rocker from the band. Masses of energy and attitude is one thing (and there is plenty of that), however this song comes armed with a salvo of enticing hooks and at just over two minutes duration, hitting repeat play is as compulsive as it is instinctive.

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Vaureen - Secret.

Background - Formed in 2011 in Brooklyn, New York, three-piece Vaureen are anything but straight-forward. Combining the off-kilter fuzz of mid-90’s grunge aligned against abreactive passages of noise, left-of-centre shoegaze and the bleak doom of psych-infused stoner rock, Vaureen create a brooding, nihilistic sound, steeped in a raw energy and honesty that could shake even the most apathetic listener. With an acclaimed EP behind them along with a number of US live dates under their belt, the band are now set to release their debut album ‘Extraterra’.

Vaureen’s forthcoming album exhibits their unique brand of ethereal yet intensely foreboding alt-rock, which could be equated to the sound of early-The Breeders meets Fugazi meets Chelsea Wolfe meets The Sword. Tracks such as ‘Stare Into The Sun’ showcase vocalist Andrea Horne’s sonorous and dynamic vocals while stripped back instrumentation seamlessly transforms into atmospheric shoegaze infused post-rock, driven forward by a powerful rhythm section. The entire album is flooded with progressive moments like this with songs evolving at every opportunity. You’d be forgiven for thinking the band might have some affiliation with Sargent House, but despite having these moments of beguiling familiarity their music remains entirely distinctive. Elsewhere, you can hear a much heavier set of influences such as on ‘Forms Beyond My Own’, where fuzz laced guitars descend into doom-inspired riffs, becoming more caustic, whilst also hinting at their more experimental influences.

Recorded by long-time friend and esteemed producer Aaron Bastinelli (Fun Sound Studio), ‘Extraterra’ sees Vaureen release their most dynamic and consummate material to date. Speaking about the album, Andrea Horne (vocals/guitar) says, “I came to music from an art background and I have a form of synesthesia. For me the album is highly visual. The title comes from my personal interest in spaces beyond direct perception, both within and without… like Carl Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot and Charles & Ray Eames’ Powers Of Ten.”

Debut albums boasting the dexterity of ‘Extraterra’ are extremely rare. Vaureen refuse strict categorisation and in doing so have produced an incredibly textured record, which is all at once dark, pensive, expansive and airy, and will appeal to many both on and beneath the surface. The new album 'Extraterra' due out 26th October via Rising Pulse Records. WEBSITE.

Pretty much a month to the day since we first encountered Vaureen they return with 'Secret'. Fuzzy guitars build a shoegaze orientated wall of sound, that mellows just a little when the sweeping and atmospheric vocals kick in, this is powerful and impressive music.

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Eliza Shaddad - Just Goes To Show.

Background - Following recent singles ‘White Lines’, ‘My Body’ and ‘This Is My Cue’, 'Just Goes To Show' is the anthemic new cut from Eliza Shaddad’s eagerly-anticipated debut album Future. Like singing the words of her own secret diary aloud, Eliza’s personal truth is laid bare through her smouldering vocals alongside foggy swathes of vintage 90s guitar. Bringing together the brooding melancholy of The Cranberries, Wolf Alice’s understated ferocity and the sincerity of Marika Hackman, the song’s drive will wound and kiss everything better.

“’Just Goes To Show’ is about that gross, desperate, world-ending feeling you get just as you’re being broken up with," offers Eliza of the familiar raw emotions that drive her latest release. “Like many songs on the album it deals with themes of escape and regret, but in a rare case here it’s from the perspective of the person being left behind.”

Returning to the wildest depths of Devon for Future’s recording sessions, Eliza reunited with Mercury-nominated producer Chris Bond, who had worked on her earlier Run and Waters EPs, to give this track its heady post-rock charm.

Equally at home in libraries perusing Scottish murder ballads and sat under baobab trees decoding Arabic scales, Eliza’s music exists through discovery of the world around her. Whether culled from her travels as a nomadic solo musician, touring with jazz group Hansu-Tori, adventures through pop as a vocalist with Clean Bandit, experiencing folk festivals in her teens, or being raised across seven countries throughout Europe and Africa by her Sudanese and Scottish parents, each song collates and celebrates a variety of musical styles. “There’s a wide and wild array of influences coming out on these tracks - typically creating huge dynamic shifts in each song so they’re going from very quiet, which I guess comes from my folk roots, to this huge wall of sound, very likely from the grunge I used to listen to growing up,” Eliza says. TWITTER.

Eliza Shaddad is another artist we have featured just once before ('White Lines' back in April) and her latest single 'Just Goes To Show' is a gorgeous indie rocker that just exudes class. On the strength of the singles shared so far, her debut album is looking very good, to say the least!

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Julie Kember - Undone.

Background - Julie Kember shares revealing new single 'Undone' from her upcoming album 'Million Lives'. With critical acclaim, chart success, international TV syncing and awards a-plenty, it is hard not to see Australian songstress Julie Kember as a bona fide overachiever. The beating heart of all her wild success is wonderful music that touches the soul. Built around the gorgeous timbre of her voice, Kember's songs are majestically poetic, cinematic and relatable – providing her with a passport to tour the world. From Tamworth and Boyup Brook, to Nannup and Nashville, Julie Kember's music is at home anywhere it touches the ground.

Capturing her story in all its globetrotting glory, Julie Kember is currently preparing her new album, Million Lives. Some of her revelations on the album are deeply personal and vulnerable. Thumping blues number and first single Undone is a perfect case in point. Written under the storm cloud of anxiety, Julie took the emotion of her struggles as an artist and from them created a metaphor we can all relate to. It is a representation of both the dark tunnel of mental illness, and the light that exists at the end of it. Summoning strength and determination, Undone is the voice of encouragement.

With a WAM Award for Outstanding Regional Artist, and several coveted WA Country Music Awards in her trophy cabinet, it would be easy for people to assume Julie Kember is a genre specialist. Alas, the multi-talented songwriter is better known for a more sophisticated, nuanced sound. Incorporating the best aspects of blues, soul, folk and pop, her music is versatile and creative – expanding beyond one style into a wondrous new thing all its own. Sewn throughout all of Julie Kember's deeply personal songs, this beautiful uniqueness is what makes Undone and the forthcoming Million Lives an exceptional work of art. FACEBOOK.

'Undone' is a fabulous alt country rocker, with Julie Kember's enticing vocals just right for the style. Passionate, mischievous and with a hint or two of attitude, this is put simply, a catchy and appealing song.

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Mantell - Lulu.

Background - Hailing from Melbourne’s inner suburbs comes Mantell, an indie rock quartet set to take on the city’s ever-evolving music scene. The band offers a fresh take on the genre with an alluring mash up of diverging guitars, harmonious base lines and classic seventies drumming, contributing to their unique and modern edge.

A blend of dulcet and upbeat tunes which pay homage to influences including Big Scary, The War on Drugs and Radiohead make up the self-described ‘racket’ that is Mantell. The band had humble beginnings as two brothers jamming in their suburban garage, soon joined by a cousin and a high school friend to complete the outfit.

Officially formed in 2013, Quintin and Connor Tuan, Brayden Filippone and Sam Reader experimented with different styles and utilised an array of techniques before they reached their signature sound for their debut EP thirty two.

The opening track Lulu was recorded at their home studio in their garage over the period of a week with a mix of vintage instruments and analogue recording equipment. Mantell’s take on old school recording techniques is a nod to the music that the boys hear on their favourite albums. Matt Stapleton (of Magic America) mixed the song and helped shape the sound with his unique approach to post production processing and effects.

Lulu captures the carefree essence of youth through a nostalgic lens, with the lyrics creating an evocative narrative. The track drew some of its inspiration from the jangled guitar sound heard in Hockey Dad tracks such as ‘So Tired’. The outro features a guitar solo reminiscent of The War On Drugs- a sound which you can sing along as well as you can a vocal melody. FACEBOOK.

Opening with some steady and rhythmic guitar riffs 'Lulu' seemingly upgrades as soon as the sweeping and melodic vocals begin. The clever synth driven reprise and classic rock drumming throughout add even more, and as my first listen to Mantell, this is a real delight to hear.

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Jesika von Rabbit - Calypso Facto.

Background - Jesika von Rabbit releases Dessert Rock, and the LP title is a funny play on the name of the synth-infused singer-songwriter's home in the California desert. Known as "Queen of the Hi Desert," Jesika von Rabbit has been making fun music about her beloved desert region, but this time she takes a few pokes at her quirky surroundings.

Jesika von Rabbit has a great outlook on life and sense of humor that keeps her fans clamoring and a sense of music that people respond to. Her music has been called enlightening upbeat pop by the critics and her work is familiar to TV watchers, as her catchy tunes are often used on series and TV commercials.

The album opens with the upbeat "Calypso Facto," moves into the social commentary "Palm Springs Livin'," before wending its way through the rest of the selections, all of which are related to her own life.

"Dessert Rock is built on the themes of freedom, adventure and little darkness that all stem frpm personal experience," von Rabbit said. "We all have hard times once in a while but hopefully the good times outshine the rest. Our music is fun with a message. We want the people to have fun and think, too." WEBSITE.

This is one of those "if you like the featured song you must check out the album" moments. 'Calypso Facto' is but one dimension of the whole piece and an addictive one at that. The album is full of upbeat and feel good vibes, it's not without depth and feeling either, in fact there is a considerable amount of ideas packed into the collection, so dig deeper and enjoy...

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