Saturday, 2 February 2019

Box of Moxie - Lola Bates - Eyesore & the Jinx - Ian George

We start with the title track from Box of Moxie's sixth studio album, the song typifies the quality and beauty of this collection of music. Lola Bates impresses us with a song that packs vibrant energy along with some very catchy hooks. Eyesore & the Jinx mixture of punk, psych and raw rock & roll is infectious to say the least, and finally we have something calm, melodic and full of natural folk vibes from Ian George just ahead of his debut album release.

Box of Moxie - Submission Admission.

A combination of alt-rock, Americana, folksy rock, and avant-garde, Box of Moxie is a manifestation of material that Stephen Jacques gathered throughout his multifaceted professional life as engineer, custom builder, TV host, and actor.

Strumming his acoustic guitar along the way, Jacques' real life experiences reveal their truths in a delicate, dreamy, oftentimes humorous fashion.

Submission Admission, the band's sixth studio effort, is a compilation of love songs revealed through an alt-rock prism, evoking a pureness and sweetness not dissimilar from the honeysuckle scents that enveloped Jacques' childhood walks along paths that straddled Virginia's James River.

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Lola Bates - Red Hot.

17-year-old singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lola Bates debut album Red Hot is set for release March 29 on Human Made Records. The single ”Red Hot” was released last Friday on all digital platforms and the video release is set for wide release on February 12.  Classically trained pianist since age 5, Bates may still be in high school but on her 8-song debut LP, she brings a wealth of professional experience and passion to her album.

Working entirely on her own, Bates wrote the music, lyrics and recorded demos for her debut album which evolved into the album Red Hot via a collaboration with her father, composer/producer Tyler Bates and Grammy-winning engineer/producer/mixer Robert Carranza. It was a familiar experience in this setting as the young Bates was tasked at age 12 to record piano work on the Marvel franchise film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.1 and again in 2017 recorded her piano work for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 at Abbey Road Studios in London with the London Symphony Orchestra. It was during these sessions that she expanded her knowledge and artistic expression to the point where she began applying her own musical ideas for her own music. This led to her vision to pursue life as an artist, musician and songwriter. The result is Red Hot.


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Eyesore & the Jinx - On an Island.

Commenting on social media isolationism and how this feeds into the Brexit-mentality, with their twitchy, socially minded psychobilly, feels natural for Liverpool trio Eyesore & The Jinx. There’s no plan to be a ‘political band’, it’s purely the result of writing about what they see and feel in their lived experience.

They are surrounded by likeminded musicians in a burgeoning Merseyside scene, fostered by label/collective Eggy Records – pile down to a show here, pick up a bass guitar to fill in there, there’s a messy, organic feel to this community. This however belies the precision and clarity with which one of the scene’s chief proponents deliver invigorating and sardonic post-punk, drawing on Ought, Parquet Courts and murky pioneers The Fall.

From these local foundations their sphere of influence is quickly expanding. New single On An Island was produced by Jonathan Hartley from iconic Liverpool psych-surgeons Clinic, they share a manager with International Teachers of Pop (from the co-founders of The Moonlandingz) and have recently spent time in the studio with Fat White Family’s Nathan Saoudi in Sheffield, as well as recording tracks with Daniel Fox from Girl Band.


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Ian George - The Wild & the Untamed.

Ian George has released the second single from his debut album Kingdom of My Youth to be released February 15. Titled "The Wild & The Untamed," it's an indie folk ode to love in unconditional form. Atop swirling melodies and evocative textures, Ian sings the pure and precious line, "all I can offer is who I am."

Kingdom of My Youth is Ian George's debut solo album and his first divergence from strictly acoustic music. It's an emotional, eight-song exhaltation of finding sweet childlike freedom in adult life. It was recorded at Labo M, the 17th Century manor originally built for King Louis XVI's nephew in Paris, by invitation and with assistance of French rock legend Matthieu Chadid better known as M. Ian recently relocated from Portland to Minneapolis and will play Icehouse on February 21. More tour dates to be announced.


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Friday, 1 February 2019

Sister John - Threatmantics - Shapes On Tape - The Wild State - The Limiñanas - Trudy and the Romance - Yacht Punk

Sister John may be drawing some interesting comparisons however the new single has plenty of individuality and the video is fabulous. The new single from Threatmantics is refreshingly original with distinct vocals and a superb musical arrangement. We featured Shapes on Tape three times last year and the new song is another hook fuelled affair to enjoy. The Wild State offer a breezy and infectious indie rocker that doubles as a massive tease for their forthcoming album. The Limiñanas exude psych that is addictive, intriguing and atmospheric. Although we have to go back to 2017 for our last taste of Trudy and The Romance, the new song is yet another delicious "mutant 50's pop" song demonstrating the bands modern take on retro sounds superbly. We finish up today with Yacht Punk where some beautiful guitar sounds and refined rock vocals make this song hard to resist.

Sister John - I'm The One.

Sister John formed in somewhat serendipitous circumstances, having all met whilst singing in The Parsonage Choir; from there Amanda McKeown cajoled the others into helping her perform her songs at a one off event and they immediately recognised the intrinsic musical understanding they shared as a group and were soon an inseparable gang.

The first single from the new album, ‘I’m The One’, welcomes comparisons to a post-Nico Velvet Underground and Patti Smith but the overall footprint is unmistakably Sister John’s.‘Lost and Won’ may well be the album’s true masterpiece, a dark sparse sorrowful affair that sees Amanda McKeown's vocals matched with Jonathan Lilley's slide guitar and the harrowing strings of Heather Philipsand Sophie Pragnell.


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Threatmantics - First Things.

Shadow On Your Heart is the third album from maverick Welsh art-rock misfits Threatmantics, recorded in Paris and Cardiff by French producer Anne-Sophie Ouvrier.It is their first album to be released on 12” vinyl, with a limited edition, numbered run of hand printed covers by acclaimed Welsh artist John Abell. 'Shadow On Your Heart' will be released via Ffatbyrg Records on 22.02.19.

Threatmantics attempt to crowbar as much into rock and roll as possible. Veering wildly from heartbroken folk, to balls-out rock, to spine-crushing metal, to good-time pop; barely held together by very fine thread and pretty ribbons, they play music that sounds as much like the band they wish they were as possible. Whether they will survive the pits and troughs remains to be seen, but it’s a special thing to be able to soundtrack your own adventure.


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Shapes On Tape - Goodness Comes In Time.

Shapes on Tape is a Brooklyn-based Brew-Wave/Ultrapop group whose infectious hook-laden three-minute bangers represent a new era where loud guitars and synthesizers can coexist and even party together. A band that once made L Magazine implore U2 to "move over and let Shapes on Tape seize the thrown(sic)," Shapes on Tape asks the question, "What if Walter Mondale had won?"

Genre-hopping producer/multi-instrumentalist/90s groovebox enthusiast Adam Kruckenberg, formerly of Midwest glam legend Vibralux, and guitarist/poet Jason Matuskiewicz, a veteran of beloved Lexington, KY band Candidate, began collaborating in 2014, but they didn't complete their sound, best described as a sonic assault of feels, until they expanded S on T to include drum savant and overall swell guy Justin Heaverin of Noisebody and The Silver Tongues.

Matuskiewicz’s lyrics and straightforward style walk the line between high and low concept with an abrupt 3-chord frankness that never takes itself seriously, while Kruckenberg’s powerful vocals and synthetic re-imaginings take the songs to epic proportions. Combined with Heaverin's unstoppable groove, you could be forgiven for wondering when The Boss had time to do a secret collaboration with Erasure. With the help of Grammy-nominated producer and Hedwig alum Justin Craig, SoT's forthcoming album Legends in The Process is sure to be a supersonic, beer-fueled dreamscape littered with the carcasses of waves and cores.

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The Wild State - Air Runs Out.

The Wild State are an enigmatic new band from Brighton, UK. Following their time studying songwriting together at BIMM, they began to create their ethereal debut album, which occupies a place between The National and Bon Iver. From the strength of their initial demos, the band signed a publishing deal with IAMSOUND Music and have now returned from recording their forthcoming debut LP 'Light Along The Waves' in Connecticut, with legendary producer Peter Katis (The National, Interpol, Kurt Vile). The first single from this unique and beautiful offering, 'Air Runs Out’, will be released on 1st February via US label Beverly Martel.

'Air Runs Out' is an epic and emotionally rich introduction to the Brighton band, who are already garnering excitement industry wide for their impeccable live show. The song is written about the break down of a suffocating relationship ("The ground we share is breaking / And the air we breathe is poison"). In singer/lyricist Josh Difford's words, "it's the horrible process of love turning stale and about why we sometimes tolerate it for routine and security".

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The Limiñanas - Trois Bancs.

To mark their live return to the UK in February with a tour which includes a sold-out London headline show at legendary 100 Club on the 13th February, French psych duo The Limiñanas has shared a new video for 'Trois Bancs', a track taken their latest album 'I've Got Trouble In Mind Vol. 2', a collection of rare recordings, 7" singles and unreleased materials, out now on Because Music.

“The ‘Trois Bancs’ (Three Benches) of this song are those from a French school in the 80s. With all the cliques from that period: the mods, the skins, the punks, the rude boys", says Lionel Limiñana, "It’s a trip. We don’t really know what happens to the main character. He’s probably dreaming. He comes across all the other characters of the story through a lysergic prism. He finds himself in a series of familiar situations, in which he meets all the important people in his life. The video by Sylvain Rusque tells that story. He’s done a huge, meticulous and highly dedicated work. I gave him very few information, only certain elements about the story and the people in it. We were very impressed when he showed us the film and so we’re very proud to release it today.”

Director Sylvain Rusque added: "I introduced myself to The Limiñanas and expressed my motivation to collaborate. I showed them some of my work and they really liked it. They told me about the ‘Trois Bancs’ and trusted me. The freedom to create I enjoyed creating this video really reflects their mindset. Additionally, I decided to introduce some references to their career and their last album.”


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Trudy and the Romance - The Original Doo-Wop Spacemen.

Bustin’ out of Liverpool, UK, Trudy and The Romance are ready to woo with the mutant 50s pop and self-declared alligator rock-n-roll of their eagerly-anticipated album Sandman. They preview its first cut, ‘The Original Doo Wop Spacemen.’

The new single drives forth the dreamboat pop of their recent “Junkyard Jazz” EP through its Spector rhythms, whilst incorporating the album’s nods to Jonathan Richman, Louis Prima, Brian Wilson’s wall of sound, film composers Henry Mancini and Bernard Herrmann, and the golden age of Disney. “We directed this like a blockbuster, with characters and a story,” Trudy’s singer Olly explains. “We worked with a pianist, 1940s Disney choir, county pedal steel guitar player, film score violinist and harpist. It’s heart-warming and gently creeps up on you. It’s not tugging but just kind-of-there; Alligator Rock’n’roll!”

Recorded with producer David Pye (Wild Beasts), Sandman draws the listener further into the trio’s colourful world, and follows the latest escapades of its central protagonist, little Johnny, and his inner turmoil. “It’s a coming of age tale about asking for your innocence back. It’s a breakup album and loosely based on the hero’s journey,” Olly says. Rocking and reeling through dreamy harmonies and dazzling guitars it’s everything good pop music should be – catchy, clever and brimming with curiously wonderful characters in Trudy’s inimitable realistic-cartoon narrative.

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Yacht Punk - Indian Summer.

"The video was shot entirely on a vintage Super 8 camera during the summer of 2018. Each roll of film only has 3.5 minutes of footage, so you have to be really precise with the shots, which I wasn't. I wanted to capture an organic feeling of the end of summer and the nostalgia that goes along with it. I let a lot of my friends try it out and shoot whatever they wanted, so it kinda turned into a group project. We shot in Sequoia National Forrest, Venice Beach, and at a mansion a friend was house-sitting in Bel Air. Absolutely no magic mushrooms were involved in the making of this film." 

"Laying on the floor of his unfinished basement studio in Beachwood Canyon, Graham Bockmiller realized it was time to go out on his own. The LA-based band Great White Buffalo had run its course, leaving him unsure what would come next. Graham spent the next year holed up inside his studio by himself; contemplating life, writing, collecting nude calendars of Eastern European women suggestively holding large trophy carp, and experimenting with the raw recording skills he had taught himself. He began exploring new sounds and textures outside of the traditional rock staples of guitar, drums, and bass – testing the limits of his DIY recording chops in search for a more interestng, vibier sound. These songs would later become the beginning of Yacht Punk.


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Wednesday, 30 January 2019

Wild Rivers - Magnetic Skies - The Indica Gallery

Wild Rivers is both beautiful and emotional, a song from the heart, where both the band and the harmonies naturally and skillfully connect. The new song from Magnetic Skies is a taster for three E.P's due this year and bodes well with it's subtle melodies and lush musical arrangement. The Indica Gallery have a style that spans decades and yet is fresh as the band carve out a distinct and highly likable sound.

Wild Rivers - Moving Target.

2018 was an incredible gift. We toured North America extensively and met people who share a connection to our music. However, the reality of being touring musicians means that we often find ourselves in unfamiliar situations, far away from the things – and the people – that provide love and comfort.

Our new song, “Moving Target,” is the message you leave for the person back home. It’s about what we do to protect ourselves when relationships get difficult, and the realization that cutting yourself off can do more harm than good.

“Moving Target” was recorded live off the floor with our producer, Dan Hosh. After playing it night after night on the road last year, we really wanted to hone those sensations of vulnerability and earnestness.

We’re back home now, busy writing for our next project and gearing up to headline some shows (dates below!) around Canada and the States. As we sink our teeth into some new songs, our excitement to build on what’s next grows.


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Magnetic Skies - Dreams And Memories.

Synth-rock band Magnetic Skies’ debut EP, “Dreams And Memories”, is released on 22 March 2019 via ReprinT Records.

Magnetic Skies formed in early 2018 when singer-songwriter Simon Kent and vocalist/programmer Jo Womar were commissioned to collaborate for a one-off arts/charity live show. During rehearsals the pair discovered that they had a common love for electronic music and mapped out dates to experiment with writing songs for a potential band project. Simon’s latest solo album had received airplay on national radio, and live shows included touring with established artists like Echo & The Bunnymen, Emma Stevens and The Christians - but things went so well that he decided to take a hiatus to concentrate on the new project.

Simon says, “the Magnetic Skies songs took on a life and direction of their own, everything just flowed. Although I had a great band and backing at radio, sometimes you just have to follow your instinct and your heart. And this is where my heart wants me to go.”

Songwriting over the summer resulted in a selection of songs ranging from melody-driven electronic pop to atmospheric ambient songs which form the basis of 3 EPs the band will release in 2019, with a full-length album to follow. Jo says, “writing the songs has been a really exciting adventure! I have a really cool collection of analogue and digital synthesizers, which are the foundation for the tracks. Simon can play a bit of everything, so he was able to contribute keys, guitars and bass to finish everything off.”.

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The Indica Gallery - Wait For Your Love.

The new single from Liverpool quintet The Indica Gallery ‘Wait For Your Love’, came out Monday via Someone Great Records/PIAS.

Formed in early 2018, The Indica Gallery have a blossoming sound that blends 60s and 70s pop with modern psychedelic overtones and poetic Northern grit.

‘Wait For Your Love’ is a love letter personified in a 50’s-esque torch song.

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Monday, 28 January 2019

Rosie Carney - Coco Bans - Twain - Freedom Fry

Having spoken highly of her music on a number of occasions, along with sharing a good few of her songs, it's a pleasure to feature Rosie Carney once again, this time with the brand new album 'Bare'. Coco Bans mixture of synths, rhythmic guitar and gorgeous vocals works beautifully as this addictive song demonstrates. Twain's inviting voice and carefully matched musical backdrop ensures everything stands out with refined clarity, the piano adding even more. Our last inclusion today are Freedom Fry who have a three song E.P with plenty of variety and a whole load of hooks to enjoy.

Rosie Carney - Bare (Album).

Building on over 30 million Spotify streams and 1.8 million monthly Spotify listeners, breakout singer-songwriter Rosie Carney’s long-awaited, deeply personal debut album Bare is out now via Akira Records.

Bare is already receiving early rave reviews from the likes of Mojo Magazine who calls Carney’s music “haunting” and “the sound of a troubled soul finding her voice” while Earmilk describes it as “astonishingly beautiful,” “delicate but unwavering.” The Irish Times praises the record as “a gorgeous cycle that runs the whole gamut of life, love and loss.”

In support of the release, Carney will embark on a 26-date tour of the U.K and Europe with Benjamin Francis Leftwich.

Of the highly anticipated record Carney says, “I hope these songs encourage people to go into themselves. I hope they somehow find parts of themselves when listening to them. I definitely found parts of myself when writing them. I hope they experience that—that intimacy with themselves.”

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Coco Bans - Fighting Feathers.

From Iowa to France, the voice of Coco Bans weaves around the globe with pop anthems and intimate hybrid folk songs – the effects of which stay with you long after listening. The American singer-songwriter, having already collaborated with some of the biggest and most promising artists (Lil Wayne, Julian Perretta, Fakear, Kiddy Smile, Jabberwocky), stormed onto the scene in October 2018 with debut single “Make It Up” and a packed MaMA Festival show in Paris.

Coco Bans’ debut EP ‘Fantasy & Parables’ will be released on February 28th, 2019. A collection of songs that explores the internal worlds we cultivate and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. A narrative of 6-parts, ‘Fantasy & Parables’ documents struggle, determination and triumph over a magical folk-gospel landscape. With support from Rolling Stone and Pop & Shotamong others, Coco Bans is set to be one of the key breakout artists of 2019.

‘Fighting Feathers’ opens with airy vocals and synths which create a dreamy sonic landscape, accompanied only by snappy lead guitar which gives the track percussive momentum from the outset. The verse instrumental stays restrained, making room for a lead vocal that commands the listener’s attention. Coco Bans lures you into a magical trance before a distorted bass kicks into add punch to a musically inventive outro that builds to a soaring height and fades out slowly, practically demanding you to press repeat.

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Twain - Death (or S.F.?).

Twain's highly anticipated double EP is out now on Keeled Scales. Titled 2 E.P.s, the 13-track collection represents two distinct moments in the artist's recording history. Side A is New Miami Sound, unreleased material from the Rare Feeling album sessions.

Side B is Alternator, an intimate recording of Davidson performing a selection of his songs in a van; it is the first fully solo Twain music to be released on vinyl. Since its announcement, 2 E.P.s  has garnered fervent attention from tastemakers including NPR, Brooklyn Vegan, Hype Machine and more.

Twain will tour this spring, first with critically acclaimed label-mate Buck Meek then with art pop legends Rubblebucket.



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Freedom Fry - The Seasons EP.

Freedom Fry have just released their first of the year - The Seasons EP. The title track might be their most “radio-friendly” song to date, whilst “A Beautiful Day” is another original to set the year off and “Hey Moon” is a beautiful cover of Molly Nilsson’s original.

"The Seasons" is about how people's moods are more up in the Summer and down in the Winter. It's also about time passing and watching the seasons of your life go by.

We wanted to write something upbeat with a strong bass-line. The verses are dark like Winter and the choruses are feel-good and bright like Summer.

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Sunday, 27 January 2019

Hobby Club - Rue Snider - Heavy Heart - Amycanbe - Lily & Madeleine

Hobby Club serve up a bright indie pop song with some fabulous vocals and a crisp musical backdrop. Rue Snider has impressed us in recent years, his ideas and musical creations are always met with keen anticipation. London alt rockers Heavy Heart mix melodic vocals with some natural rock vibes. From Italy Amycanbe have a distinctive sound, with plenty of detail in the musical arrangement and soft enticing vocals gliding above. Last today we have our second track share from Lily & Madeline ahead of next months album release and it's another beautifully crafted and hook laden song.


Hobby Club - For Maurice.

London based indie-pop duo Hobby Club release their debut single ‘For Maurice’ from their first EP ‘Video Days’ released 8th March on Manchester tastemaker label Heist or Hit (Her’s, Pizzagirl).

Beth Truscott and Joe Rose’s sound is as unique as their vision of the world – sharing an unusual eye condition they only discovered after meeting each other. Inspired by Arthur Russell, The Beach Boys and Kate Bush, the duo craft a lyrical domesticity that evokes harbours and mills towns, polyester and chip wrappers, bus tickets and slate grey skies.

‘For Maurice’ is Hobby Club’s anthem for leaving home, named after a local celebrity in Joe’s hometown Barrow, the “brash and absurd, yet sensitive and creative”  Maurice G. Flitcroft, who “at all times was striving for something more than his humble origins would allow by studying art and literature and becoming the self-professed best at anything he put his mind to.”

The track becomes the duo’s rebellion of limited small-town life: “Like my own Dad,” Joe describes, “Maurice begrudgingly worked in the shipyard but never let the narrow opinions of others corrode his delusions of grandeur.” Subverting this tradition, Joe now uses an abandoned canteen in the shipyard to record the jangle-pop of Hobby Club, proving “that no matter how absurd your goal is, you can just tell yourself you’re the best and that everybody else is wrong”.

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Rue Snider - Tripping On a Raft With Girls/Go Back To Carolina.

Go Back To Carolina is a brand new track by Brooklyn, NY based singer songwriter Rue Snider that has an indelible hook punctuated by biting electric guitars and organ reminiscent of  the louder side of early alt country favorites like Uncle Tupelo, Whiskeytown, and Vigilantes of Love. The lyrics address the concept of psychological triggering, which in this story comes in the form of an Avett Brothers song.

“'Go Back To Carolina' is an attempt to illustrate the idea of psychological triggers in a funny, sort of profane way that most people will be able to understand even if they haven't been introduced to the concept before. Once I started to grasp the role that my past plays in my current life and began to have compassion for myself for some of my triggered responses, and once I started to really identify what those triggers were, I was able to begin the process of rooting them out."

Tripping On a Raft With Girls celebrates the need for community that feels built into human DNA. It details a psychedelic experience that the narrator undertakes with a group of friends. The lyrics are his inner monologue. It features Jon Estes on guzheng.

Both songs have lyrics that make a stab at humor and are a bit absurd but dig into serious topics. They fit together sonically as they're both loud rock songs and lyrically as they both take place inside of someone's brain.

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Heavy Heart - Bed Bug.

London alt-rockers Heavy Heart share deeply emotional new cut Bed Bug, the first of three tracks mixed and co-produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Gabe Wax (The War On Drugs, Fleet Foxes, Soccer Mommy).

Starting out as a bedroom project in a tiny South London flat, the quartet have since capitalised on their early promise with widespread praise throughout the online community (NME, The Line Of Best Fit) and across the airwaves (BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, Radio X), with their introspective and intimate soundscapes earning plenty of fanfare.

Touching on profoundly relatable themes of love, loss and finding happiness, Bed Bug showcases elements of Alvvays and Wild Nothing nestled deep within their sound, coupling luscious melodies and cascading guitars with a vivacious blend of dreamy, atmospheric noise.

Detailing their upcoming single, the band stated: “Bed Bug is a nocturnal love song exploring obsession and lethargy, sex, blood and dirty sheets. It’s about staying in bed all day and staying awake all night, feeling your skin crawl and your nerves itch. It’s also about the beauty and agony of loving someone to the point of self-destruction; picking the wounds open again just to feel the way it felt the first time”.

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Amycanbe - White Slide.

Born and based in Cervia, Italy, Amycanbe was formed by Mattia and Marco until 2005 when they decided to add Francesca and Paolo to the lineup, and this the quartet Amycanbe was born. Amycanbe has had some slight lineup changes throughout the years, but they currently consist of Francesca Amati (vocals), Mattia Mercuriali (bass, guitars, keys), Marco Trinchillo (drums, keys) and Mattia "Matta" Dallara (keys). With 3 albums and several EP’s behind their name, their 2011 album ‘Mountain Whales’ garnered significant success with their hit ‘Buffalos’ gaining a lot of traction from fans and critics alike.

Inspired by legendary acts across the genre spectrum such as Nina Simone, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Portishead, Aphex Twin, and David Bowie, it is clear that Amycanbe prefers to surround themselves with only the best influences. With dream pop being rooted in elements of alternative and psychedelic rock ‘n roll with a blend of pop, it’s evident that any fans of The xx, The Naked and Famous, or The Cocteau Twins will enjoy Amycanbe’s music as part of their collection.

‘White Slide’ reimagines the ethereal song with hard hitting bass while the wobble in the bassline ensures a groove between each bar. Francesca’s tender voice is only complemented by the intricate, yet subtle production elements that can be heard throughout. ‘White Slide’ demands multiple listens as the undiscovered concaves of this track are revealed to the listener upon every repeated listen. A stellar track that aims (and succeeds) in transporting the listener to a cosmic realm where Amycanbe controls every facet of this musical plane. True performers by nature, this live version is a testament to their electrifying performances.


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Lily & Madeleine - Analog Love.

US sister duo Lily & Madeleine are pleased to share their new single "Analog Love", which is taken from their forthcoming album Canterbury Girls - out on 22 Feb via New West.  The album was recorded in Nashville and produced by Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk, the team behind Kacey Musgraves' Golden Hour. Although the bulk of the album's songs are burdened by personal angst and the weight of expectations, "Analog Love" is a sweet romantic plea.

As Lily and Madeleine explain: "We wrote "Analog Love" with our dear friend, songwriter Lucie Silvas. The song is an attempt to capture the feeling of an uncomplicated and reassuring romantic relationship. Being on tour a lot of the time, nearly all relationships we have become long distance at some point. Communicating over the internet is a great way to continue to share your love, but after a while, its monotony makes you wish you could just be face to face with the person, communicating without any distractions. In the studio we wanted the song to feel whimsical and nostalgic with lap steel, acoustic guitar, and soft, tender vocals. We don't write many love songs, but "Analog Love" was written so easily with Lucie, and captures a special feeling of uncomplicated love."

Lily and Madeleine Jurkiewicz explore the conventions of 21st century womanhood on the ten-track Canterbury Girls, named after Canterbury Park, located in the duo’s hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana. The songs were all written or co-written by the sisters, which, despite the album's poppy veneer, boasts some of Lily & Madeline's densest and most intense lyrics to date.


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Friday, 25 January 2019

Stephanie Rose - Roman Harris - Fling - ElectroBluesSociety feat Boo Boo Davis - Odetta Hartman - Small Forward - Business of Dreams

With a gorgeous musical arrangement and beautiful vocals Stephanie Rose's 'Luxury' is a timeless country song. South London's Roman Harris has a distinctive and engaging voice that is accompanied by a refined musical backdrop on his latest track. Fling exude psychedelic charm, the vocals add some grit, whilst the band add layers of psych goodness. Once again ElectroBluesSociety and Boo Boo Davis serve up some classic blues rock with their natural take on Little Red Rooster. Odetta Hartman exquisite vocals glide above a stripped back guitar driven soundtrack whilst the hooks dig deep. Melodic and gentle, Small Forward take us on a dreamy indie journey where the vocals and harmonies are notable and the music precise and atmospheric. Finally we have our second helping of Business Of Dreams this month, with a vibrant & catchy indie rocker to conclude today's new music picks.

Stephanie Rose - Luxury.

A storyteller beyond her years, Stephanie Rose is an old soul with a new sound.  Her new single Luxury is a perfect example of using real life experiences as fodder to blaze a lyrical trail. Rose embraces the true reality of love amidst the hardships of life.

Nominated for two categories at the 2018 Saskatchewan Country Music Awards, small town Stephanie Rose has had a big year. Releasing her single “Crushed” on February 5th, 2018, she cracked the Top 100 on both the BDS and Trax national radio charts, which was the launching pad to a great season.

Playing multiple shows throughout the spring of 2018, which included a packed-house performance at the Professional Bull Riding circuit in Nipawin, SK. Stephanie shared the stage with her fellow Saskatchewan artists at the Songwriters Café at the 2018 SCMA awards weekend. With the release of her sophomore album EP “Sprout” (Sept. 28th, 2018), produced by RyLee Madison (ECMA Country Recording of the Year) and Clay Krasner (touring bass player for Terri Clark) of 7-17 Music, Stephanie Rose will be bringing her new songs on the road again in 2019 and to both Commercial Country Radio and the international media.


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Roman Harris - The Smell Of Heather.

Roman Harris is a singer and songwriter from Brixton, South London. With his guitar in hand, a voice of raw emotion and heart on his sleeve he crafts songs of simplicity enriched with depth and feeling.

In 2016 Roman achieved song writing credits on the Snakehips ‘Money On Me’ EP with the track ‘Falling’ followed up in 2017 with his first feature as an artist on the track ‘Moving Again’ produced by Cr3on & Marcus and released through Dutch record label PM Recordings.

Influenced by Indie, Folk and R&B, Roman now releases his debut single ‘The Smell of Heather’ a truly heartfelt ballad influenced by a poem of the same title from the book ‘Heather’s Book’ written by the poet Vivian Anglin.

Roman is now looking forward to a year in which he intends to let the world hear his sound and warm the ears and hearts of many. That starts with ‘The Smell of Heather’. ‘The Smell of Heather’ will be released on all platforms on 25th January, 2019 with a house concert at a secret location taking place that night in celebration of the release.

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Fling - Revolution.

Psych-rockers Fling are set to release debut album ‘Fling Or Die’ via Dance to the Radio on 22nd February. Ahead of this they tease with one final SoundCloud only single, Revolution, an upbeat fuzz-bass driven psych stomper, with a colourfully cathartic chorus. The quintet’s kitchen-sync approach to instrumentation comes to the fore, a glittery wall of noise ramping up the decibels throughout.

 The debut LP release comes off the back of a year of sold-out hometown shows, appearances at Live at Leeds, Swn Festival, Neighbourhood Festival and singles supported by Steve Lamacq (6 Music), Huw Stephens (Radio 1), Gideon Coe (6 Music), Tom Robinson (6 Music) Radio X, Beats 1 across radio, and Wonderland, The Line of Best Fit and Clash at online press.

Describing themselves as ‘Wonky Pop’, the 5-piece from Bradford comprise of Charles McSorley (Vocals), Jack Winn (Guitar), Billy Fielding (Drums), Jake Lees (Bass) and Sam Malynowsky (Keyboards).

The quintet explain the feelings they’re chasing: “This album for us, is a coming together of our collective imaginations, through themes of longing, wonder and hedonism. It feels like an audible representation of a brief moment in our lives and how we evoke the best emotions in each other. There’s an overall positive undertone to the record that definitely reflects on us as people, and it feels good to be able to share it with everyone.”

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ElectroBluesSociety feat Boo Boo Davis - Little Red Rooster.

For this recording session ElectroBluesSociety went back to basics and teamed up with Mississippi blues man Boo Boo Davis.

Together they revisited classic Chicago blues and recorded seven songs. These will all be released as singles in the near future.

Here is the fifth track from the recording session This time it’s another Howlin Wolf classic with a little 'electrofication'.

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Odetta Hartman - You You.

Following the release of her critically acclaimed album 'Old Rockhounds Never Die', Odetta Hartmam has shared a new video for track 'You You', to mark her return to the UK and Europe at the end of January. Inspired by the fuzzy double vision of first love, 'You You' dances through a pastoral adventure while celebrating a young woman in bloom. In this wild, wonderful and warm landscape, Odetta Hartman explores the superpowers of romance on a sultry summer night.

'Old Rockhounds Never Die' is a bonanza of beautiful contradictions: intimate yet fiercely internationalist, spiritual and yet tangible, sweet and also sexy. It convenes with the ghosts of the past while marching relentlessly forwards.

Drawn from experiences as far-flung as riding a train from San Francisco to Chicago with an old-style, rootin'-tootin' cowboy for company ('Cowboy Song'), to experiencing the intense natural beauty of Icelandic waterfalls ('Dettifoss'), it’s a record that taps into the musical traditions of the past while being a collection of songs about living in the moment.

Raised by pioneering parents on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, NYC, Odetta’s milieu was a “colourful culture of artistry,” that included early exposure to community activism, renegade film screenings, poetry readings and trips to CBGB's. Inchoate punk and hip hop were aural wallpaper, as were the 45s spinning in the household jukebox featuring her dad’s extensive collection of soul and afrobeat records, as well as her Appalachian mother’s classic country selections. A classically trained violinist with a penchant for back-porch banjo, Odetta combines these variegated sounds of her childhood with her personal passion for folk music and the musicological legacy of Alan Lomax. Lomax is writ large on 'Old Rockhounds...' at least in spirit anyway. Odetta plays all the instruments on this and her debut '222'. 


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Small Forward - Kind of Funny.

While attending college in Los Angeles, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Michael Stevenson and Rounak Maiti converged on a desire to collaborate and meld their love of Americana and pop music. Informal bedroom jam sessions resulted in hours of demos, constructed from the duo’s rudimentary yet textured take on songwriting. After condensing their work down to four downtempo, home-recorded songs, they self-released an eponymous debut EP in 2014. From hazy, forlorn atmospheres to more heart-on-sleeve folk, Stevenson and Maiti worked with Campbell Scott (bass) and Nick Waldram (drums)  to craft rich, full band arrangements.

From 2015-16, Small Forward began developing their live act, playing with a full band across the Los Angeles area. During this time, they began recording The Moon You Stand On, the band’s debut full-length album. Here, Maiti and Stevenson’s lush, folk-inspired ideas were rounded out by a prominent rhythm section, where Scott’s dulcet bass tones dot Nick Waldram’s jazzy, intrepid approach to percussion and drums. Together, the four wrote, recorded and produced the album entirely in their shared home, over the better part of a year. Self-released in October 2016, Deli Mag described the album’s sound as “timeless, teeming with multi-layered guitars and chugging beats that lend a uniformity to their quietly resplendent melodies.”

The band began recording another project, Affections, in early 2017. They channeled 70s psych-rock and AM pop with the first single, “The Reservoir”. The release was met with praise from Gold Flake Paint and Buzzbands LA, the latter describing it as a “soundtrack to (their) reverie.” The resulting collection of 6 songs, released on Forged Artifacts in October 2017, saw left-turns and plenty of new texture, decorated with their customary take on sweet wistfulness. With live performances across the greater Los Angeles area and a southwest tour under their belt, plus two new singles on the way, Small Forward is alive, kicking and ready for 2019.

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Business of Dreams - N.R.E.A.M.

Following on from the lovely "Keep The Blues Away," Slumberland Records and Business of Dreams are psyched to share another song from their forthcoming album Ripe For Anarchy. "N.R.E.A.M." is a tune about the fashionable negativity that seems rule the mood and discourse of the day.

Says the song's writer Corey: "This song was my attempt to write something fun for the album. Of course it had to be the one song focusing on negativity but I think a dose of cynicism is quite healthy these days. Humanity isn’t exactly passing its classes lately so I decided to poke a little fun at the more coarse side of our nature. It’s my version of “Ring-a-round The Rosies.” Ashes, ashes we all fall down! Wee!"

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Wednesday, 23 January 2019

The Day - Kopper - Sarah P - Short Shadows - Jess McAvoy

The Day share a catchy and imaginative dream pop song. Kopper provides us with a six minute epic piece that is full of passion and power. A firm favourite of Beehive Candy is Sarah P, who has impressed us since her days with Keep Shelley In Athens, the new E.P. is a real treat. Short Shadows vocals are a splendid affair as is the fabulous musical backdrop and finally we have Jess McAvoy whose addictive bluesy rock song is given extra edge by her guitar licks and fabulous voice.

The Day - Grow.

"'Grow' is quite literally about growing up through different phases of life and your very personal 'pursuit of wisdom'" says Singer Laura Loeters. The song is about farewells" and realizing how you grow older yourself by watching close people around you getting older.

Laura adds: "Like many of our songs when I came up with the first idea it sounded more like a quiet more folky song. But when I picked it up on electric bass with our drummer at rehearsals it became much more of a grooving pop song than we first intended."

The Day are Laura Loeters from Utrecht/Netherlands and Hamburg based Gregor Sonnenberg. Since meeting at 'Hogeschool voor de kunsten' in Arnhem the two keep reconciling distances, differences and always new approaches and perspectives. What runs like a thread through all of this is the interest to take charge of things themselves, try out and grow on it together.

The Day is where whimsical Dream Pop meets a DIY ethos learned from hardcore. A sparse, springy and rapturous dynamic alternates with a wildly imaginative dream-pop harmony, rock and synths create just as inspiring contrasts as the refreshing, reduced postpunk references.

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Kopper – Winter Sun.

Kopper is the brainchild of visionary London musician and experimental filmmaker Jon Williams. Born in a soporific small town in Kent, the artist packed up to London to build something louder, fiercer and more anthemic. Jon is joined by his fellow provocateurs, artists and all-round renaissance men, band members: Ed Smith and George Town.

Elegant, emotional, energetic – the early dusk of a November evening has enticed London artist Kopper from hibernation. Their debut single, Winter Sun (released on January 10, 2019) evokes the inner warmth of a cold evening through soulful guitar and exploding electric soundscapes. Its big heart and dreamy scope enchants like a burnt dusk skyline, delivering something that will glow through your stereo on bitter nights.

The track’s sierra tones tell a story drawn from romance, heartbreak and old lives passing into the dark. Inspired by the likes of the National, the War on Drugs and Arcade Fire, it’s littered with moments of tenderness and contemplation ripped apart by glorious, cinematic melodies. This sumptuous and exciting song from one of London’s extraordinary talents is the first from Kopper’s debut EP Fading Fires, due for release in Spring 2019.


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Sarah P. - Maenads E.P.

Maenads is a triumphant return for Sarah P, where the artist explores the theme of female power – its magic, strength, and imperfect perfection.

With her debut album Who Am I (2017) praised amongst music lovers and tastemakers alike, Sarah P. returns to celebrate feminine power and her Greek heritage with a transcendent collection of songs known as Maenads. The former frontwoman of Keep Shelly in Athens does not shy away from revisiting the past as she uses music, aided by magnificent, self-directed visuals, to divulge her endless accomplishments: be it her openness about mental health and the creation of her monthly zine EraseRestart aimed to wipe out the stigma that surrounds it, to the lobbying for the protection of artists’ rights as an active member of IAO (International Artist Organisation).

“This record is the link between my previous work and what’s coming. Free symbolised my rebirth as an artist, Who Am I helped me discover different music paths and Maenads is representing 100% me, both musically and as an individual. I’m not big on classifying my music in genres, because I believe that this process is taking away from the magic of listening. I think that Maenads is way more accessible than my previous work, yet mysterious and uncommon.” (Sarah P.)


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Short Shadows - Nothing Good Comes Out Of Preston.

Short Shadows, a self-professed short-ass, middle-class, north suburban smart-ass punk with a piano has written the soundtrack to your public transport journey. The alter ego for Andy Coates; a singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Melbourne, War Anecdotes From The Northern Suburbs takes indie rock, hip-hop, jazz and punk and blends it all with wry observations, punchy horns and suburban soundscapes that are epitomised in lead single Nothing Good Comes Out Of Preston.

Coates has entertained audiences Australia wide while fronting his nine-piece band Frankie Wants Out. FWO, who brought original party-swing back on to the music scene, could play a classy cocktail bar one night, then a grungey pub next and worked hard gigging, recording and touring for over ten years.  While still paying tribute to his love of swing music, Short Shadows is a step away from the jump-blues and focuses on the peculiar styles of suburbia.

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Jess McAvoy - Do What You Want.

With the recent release of her newest single “Do What You Want,” Jess McAvoy just released the lyric video. Harkening back to the golden oldies with an infusion of rock, pop and blues, Jess McAvoy delivers “Do What You Want” with an astute lyricism that is seldom heard in music today.

Coming about in a playful way, McAvoy wrote the single when she seeing someone even though her heart wasn’t quite open to a romantic commitment, but both she and her partner were open to having a good time together.

Even though her friends were all up in arms over the idea of it, Jess’ outlook was very much towards the idea that good things happen when we all feel good. So, from a law of attraction standpoint, it’s important to move towards things that make us all feel the most like ourselves, even if it’s not meant to last forever.


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Monday, 21 January 2019

Hajk - Marble Mammoth - Henry Jamison - Porteau - Living Hour

Hajk are polished, melodic and with some R&B vibes rather catchy on their new song. It's been some time since we featured Marble Mammoth and the alt rockers return with a stunning couple of tracks. Henry Jamison's beautifully crafted songs continue to impress, whilst Porteau offer us an exquisite piece that exudes both feeling and quality. Living Hour's vocals are gorgeous and the musical backdrop is a perfect complement on this wonderfully lush song.

Hajk - Breathe.

Hajk have released a brand new single entitled 'Breathe', the third and final single from the upcoming album 'Drama' that is out on February 15th on Jansen Records. The track is a soaring, emotional R&B-tinged song with an instantly infectious melody guided by Sigrid Aase’s powerful vocals that enthrall throughout.

Behind the sheen though, the band's Preben Sælid Andersen has explained that 'Breathe' is actually, "about the ability to believe in yourself and the ones close to you. It’s about trying to hold on to something, but deep down you know it's already too late. Breathing is also something we have talked about a lot during the making of this album, and it now serves as a theme throughout the record, in the lyrics and with actual breathing sounds hidden all over. Being able to take a step back and take a deep breath can be the only right thing to do sometimes."


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Marble Mammoth - The Light.

Marble Mamoth have just released a new single The Light.

It’s a track in two parts with a fuzzed out bass, a didgeridoo and sampled seagulls from The Beatles.

It is the second single release after the debut EP, and the band are planning on releasing two more tracks this spring. 

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Henry Jamison - American Babes.

Henry Jamison’s upcoming album ‘Gloria Duplex’ is out February 8th on Akira Records, and is shaping up to be not only a formidable follow-up to his stellar debut album ‘The Wilds’ (which has over 90 million streams on Spotify alone), but also an insightful deconstruction of what it means to “be a man” in 2018. And this week Henry has unfolded another chapter in his exploration of masculinity by releasing the fourth single from the upcoming set, “American Babes”.

If album cuts like the previously released “Boys” and “Gloria” acknowledge the ways young boys are enlisted into a “toxic fraternity” by society, “American Babes” is a mini tableau of that society as a whole. As Henry describes it, “The verses are about a group of students that I saw on the train from New York to Vermont years ago and about a homeless man who I talked to once in Baltimore. The juxtaposition isn't totally worked-out, but it's loosely about young people who still feel some trust in institutions and an old man who felt utterly failed by them. When the structures of our lives crash down, what can we lean on?”

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Porteau - River Song.

Do we really have a choice? Does instinct guide us home? These are the questions posed in “River Song,” the first single from Water’s Gate, our forthcoming debut album. At the time, the lyrics were simply poetry I wrote in a journal during summer evenings spent in a remote Alaskan village. We were independently writing ideas/songs that neither of us necessarily intended to combine together; we weren’t trying to write a record. This poetry was a catalyst, and “River Song” as a whole naturally revealed itself.

I found myself inspired to write “River Song” while watching salmon swim in the streams. Their journey back to spawn is magnificent – one that brings life, but ultimately ends in death. Using the earth’s magnetic field, like a compass, the salmon return to their final resting place. I was struggling to wrap my head around accepting the natural cycle of life. Seeing the salmon’s instinctual guidance drawing them back to their place of birth helped me discover where I needed to be “River Song” is not a story with a concrete ending. Ask yourself – do we really have a choice? Does instinct guide us home?


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Living Hour - Water.

Winnipeg’s Living Hour shares "Water," the second single from their upcoming album, Softer Faces. The band teamed up with filmmaker Ryan Steel for a short film to accompany the song.

Steel says:  "'Water' is a video about winter in Winnipeg. The video was shot covertly on the streets and in the homes of friends and grandmothers. Liminal spaces such as buses, shopping malls, and arcades all percolate together. Periods of rest and the textures of winter were captured on the outdated medium of 16mm film."

Everything about Winnipeg’s Living Hour has been expanding since their humble basement beginnings in 2015. What started with dreamy love songs inspired by the cinematic sky of their hometown has transformed into even more sprawling and expansive expressions on their latest effort, Softer Faces due March 1, 2019.


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LeVolume - Clint Wilson - Pam Ross - Chad Price Peace Coalition

LeVolume - LeVolume (Album). LeVolume is a new project for its members Jenny Whiteley, Joey Wright and Julian Brown. "That Was Then, T...