Social Gravy - The Dream Syndicate - Historian

Social Gravy craft some excellent West Coast rock as is demonstrated by two fine songs that just get on with rocking in an unpretentious way. Spoken word, psychedelic vibes, and atmosphere are everywhere on The Dream Syndicate's 'Black Light' a gorgeous and hypnotic song. The new album from Historian is full of imaginative songs, where folk music of sorts is taken in all directions from psych to indie, and the quality throughout is notable.

Social Gravy - Let It Out / California.

This is the story of a Belarusian and a Britt who met in downtown Los Angeles. Two foreigners who live in the epicenter of contemporary pop culture, creating quintessential West Coast rock, spun from the same cloth as Hotel California.

Brad Kohn and Vee Bordukov’s collaboration started in 2014, with a couple of song ideas and jam sessions. When the duo realized that they shared a mutual love of melodic rock and luscious harmonies, they started work on their debut album—2017’s Behind Every Yes, an engaging and varied collection of songs that showcased their soulful sensibilities and smart, snappy hooks.

Brad Kohn is an award-winning producer, songwriter, artist and engineer has been playing music all his life, starting with the piano at six years old. Ten years later, he was fronting a band on the London circuit. The talented musician’s production skills have seen him work with some of the industry’s biggest names, including Foo Fighters and Neil Young (via Global Citizen) and The Prodigy along with drum and bass luminaries like Pendulum, Chase and Status and Liam Bailey.

With rock ‘n’ roll music being the dangerous thing in Belarus—then a part of the Soviet Union—it’s no surprise that the adventurous Vee Bordukov rebelled against the gray status quo and fell in love with the forbidden fruit. The guitarist’s influences are rooted in classic solos from Jimi Hendrix while mixing up the bluesy passion of artists like Eric Clapton and J.J. Cale, spiced up with a love of the social commentary of The Kinks, Paul Simon and Bob Dylan.

Their newest project, the digital 7” California / Let it Out, was recorded at the infamous EastWest Studios in Hollywood and pays tribute to their love of West Coast tunage, particularly the honeyed hooks of The Eagles and Tom Petty.


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The Dream Syndicate - Black Light.

Los Angeles’s The Dream Syndicate is thrilled to announce 'These Times', their second album of new music since their 2012 reunion nearly thirty years after they first influenced California’s Paisley Underground scene. Watch mysterious creatures move through the psychedelic “Black Light” in the album’s first new song and video.

“When I was writing the songs for the new album I was pretty obsessed with Donuts by J-Dilla,” lead singer and songwriter Steve Wynn explained. “I loved the way that he approached record making as a DJ, a crate-digger, a music fan wanting to lay out all of his favorite music, twist and turn the results until he made them into his own. I was messing around with step sequencers, drum machines, loops—anything to take me out of my usual way of writing and try to feel as though I was working on a compilation rather than ‘more of the same’. You might not automatically put The Dream Syndicate and J-Dilla in the same sentence, but I hear that album when I hear our new one.”

If 2017’s 'How Did I Find Myself Here' was a 10pm record, all swagger and cathartic explosion, then These Times is the 2am sibling, moodier and more mercurial with the band acting as DJs of their own overnight radio station as the listener drifts off into dreams and wonders the next morning if any of it was real.

The Dream Syndicate recorded 'These Times' once again at Montrose Studios in Richmond, Virginia. Co-produced by John Agnello (Phosphorescent, Waxahatchee, Hold Steady, Dinosaur Jr.), Wynn wrote all of the song’s lyrics in the studio after the band finished tracking, so that the words would be dictated by the sound rather than the other way around. This process contributed to the urgency of the album’s title.

“These Times. That’s it. It is all we’re talking about, all we’re thinking about. There is no avoiding the existential panic of a world that’s hurtling somewhere quickly, evolving, and shifting course by the hour.  It seems like a lie to not address or reflect the things that we can’t stop thinking about—the whole world’s watching indeed. The lyrics are just a mirror of the dread, panic, mania, speculation, melancholy and ultimately shrugging abandonment that just might follow. It’s just all about where we are.”


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Historian - Hour Hand (Album).

LA-based psych folk outfit Historian has always made music that is diametrically opposed ‘what’s happening’ in the local scene. “I’m obsessed with making albums in an era of streaming songs and playlists” says band spearhead Chris Karman. “I actually feel more comfortable when our music is a little out of step with the its surroundings.”

The name Historian was originally put forth as a moniker for Karman, whose encyclopedic knowledge of music became a party trick of sorts amongst the band. “It was so on the nose, it began feeling obtuse enough to encompass our sound” Karman reflects. After a defining moment lying on a beach during clear Maui night listening to OK Computer, Karman made a pledge to start recording, in hopes to capture something just as strange and mind altering.  The band began releasing material in 2013, dropping a series of striking albums, all tied together by Karman’s unfailing dystopian aesthetic.

Shelf Life, Current and Expanse drew positive nods from LA Buzzbands, Impose & Austin Town Hall along with opening slots for notable acts like Haunted Summer and Globelamp. 2018’s Distant Wells, found the band exploring even stranger waters with Bitches Brew-esque folk rock and melancholic mellotron-laiden ballads. Outlets like The Big Takeover, Culture Collide and God Is In The TV all praised it’s experimental nature, fanning the flames of Historian’s cult following.

Hour Hand is the sister release to Distant Wells, and while it was recorded during the same session, the new LP operates as a leaner, more insular companion piece. There is ethereal folk, and mind bending orchestration with the now signature implementation of Quartetto Fantastico (whose members have worked with everyone from Father John Misty to Flying Lotus.) Possibly the strangest thing about the release is that Karman’s vision seems to now fall in step with the current cultural and political atmosphere.  “The American empire is slowly crumbling in front of us” Chris asserts. “Is it an ending or are we entering a new cycle? I don’t pretend to know.”

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The Astronots - Skye Wallace - Boo Boo Davis

The Astronots share a feisty and powerful rocker softened only by the more melodic layered vocals. Skye Wallace keeps the momentum going with a tornado of pure rock and roll, with storming vocals to match. Boo Boo Davis has been featured on Beehive Candy accompanying The Electro Blues Society, now we have some fresh material from him, where his superb blues vocals and musicianship can be sampled with five songs from the forthcoming album.

The Astronots - Settle Down.

The new single from The Astronots. ‘Settle Down’ narrates the feeling of anxiety and being trapped inside yourself. Featuring resonating guitars, throbbing basslines and eerie layered vocals the track truly packs a punch.

The Astronots are an American rock’n’roll outfit, spearheaded by its founding members, Niko Giaimo (Vocals/Guitar) and Allee Futterer (Vocals/Bass). The two are established musicians in their own right. Futterer has had years of cutting her musical teeth, backing some of the biggest names in the Los Angeles music scene, while Giaimo was an integral member of the scoring team behind productions such as Dexter and Dishonored II. The two come together on The Astronots, combining elements of their quintessential Los Angeles upbringing, classic rock, and west-coast cool. Now completed by guitarist Eddie Campbell, the group continues to wow audiences across the nation.

Inspired by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Alabama Shakes and Kings of Leon, the trio have crafted an EP oozing with gritty guitars, explosive percussion and raw energy. The highly anticipated Cotati is brought to life through its organic instrumentation and authentic lyricism. “We really wanted to capture something honest. The songs cover a variety of issues.. school/public mass shootings, anxiety, drinking, love, pain, passion, cheating.. I think we managed to create individual genuine stories in each song. I think the theme would be honest perspective on many of life’s challenges”, they reveal.

Leading single ‘Settle Down’ narrates the feeling of anxiety and being trapped inside yourself. Featuring resonating guitars, throbbing basslines and eerie layered vocals the track truly packs a punch. ‘El Dorado’ further showcases the band’s signature sound of rawkus rock’n’roll with vibrating soundscapes and raspy vocals.

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Skye Wallace - Coal In Your Window.

I wrote this song in a building in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland that used to be an old cottage hospital (Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital / Julia Ann Walsh Heritage Center). It was inspired by a story I heard about one of the young folks that used to work in the hospital and the boy that would throw coal at her window at night to beckon her down to their meeting place in the boiler room.

“Coal In Your Window” may be about a specific story, but it’s a truly universal concept of jittery, passionate love and doing whatever it takes to access that fire that another person ignites in you. I wanted to evoke an excited, dangerous, lustful energy that gets the heart pumping.

I’m so excited to put my new record out. It’s been a long time in the making – between writing it during two residencies in Newfoundland and the Yukon, and recording it in Toronto and Montreal. I am fiercely proud of the result. We’re going to tour the heck out of it this year to make sure it reaches as many ears as possible!


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Boo Boo Davis - Tree Man.

After a string of single releases of famous blues covers on KuvVer Recors it’s now time again for Boo Boo to release a new and ‘all original’ album.

Like most of the previous recordings with Boo Boo we captured everything live in one room without any overdubs.

Ten brand new songs and one new version from a song that was released earlier in 2002.

The title of the new album is TREE MAN and it will be out on Black and Tan Records just before the upcoming European tour in March 2019.


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Native Harrow - Benedict Benjamin - Alice Phoebe Lou - Lowland Hum - Grace Acladna - Kuri

We begin today with Native Harrow and her gorgeous new video for 'Happier Now' a superb and natural indie folk song. Benedict Benjamin share's a fresh and unpretentious rocker with the emphasis on melodic hooks and an upbeat pace. At the time of writing this, Alice Phoebe Lou's new video for 'Galaxies' has already had close to forty thousand views, which is unsurprising, both the song and the video are sublime and totally moreish. We have featured Lowland Hum just once before and they are more than welcome back with this subtle and catchy albeit rather short modern folk song. Grace Acladna mixes quite differing genres together in style, in what is a very pleasing, original and refreshing song. We finish today's round up with Kuri and an original sounding and catchy folk based song, I say 'based' as it morphs comfortably beyond that genre, sounding really good as it does so.

Native Harrow - Happier Now.

Indie folk-pop artist Native Harrow, out of New York's Hudson Valley, has released the official video for the title track off their forthcoming record Happier Now via Different Time Records.

"’Happier Now’ is essentially my own anthem," says singer-songwriter Devin Tuel. "I had this very powerful year of touring and making things happen for myself and feeling like I was getting out from under the waves, but people close to me would still say, ‘Do you ever sing any happy songs? Why are you so sad?’ and I think that that is such a shallow thought to have about any art."

"My songs aren’t meant to crush people, but I live in reality and sadness and struggle have a lot to do with the reality of the human experience. So 'Happier Now' is me saying I could be happier if it makes you feel good, but I won’t because this is who I am, these are my songs, and I like them melancholic."


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Benedict Benjamin - Aint Easy.

Benedict Benjamin is Ben Rubinstein, formerly of The Mariners Children and Peggy Sue. He has just released ‘Ain't Easy’, the first single from his forthcoming album ‘Truant,’ a driving and melodic piece of sixties influenced garage rock.

After writing and recording his debut, Ben turned to a more full band sound for his second album. The early sixties Everly Brothers influences are still present in the melodies, but now there is an urgency and grit to the instrumentation that sits somewhere between The Velvet Underground and Tom Petty or more recent forbears such as Kevin Morby and Angel Olsen.

Speaking on the release of 'Ain't Easy', Benedict said: "This song's about how much work you’ve got to put into anything in order to make it work. It’s about how hard it sometimes is just to keep things afloat and not pack it all in. You go through good spells where everything is great and bad spells where everything feels crap and difficult. When you’re in one of the latter you either persevere or you just give up, and this song’s about the persevering."

His songs undercut the dream-like beauty of early sixties pop music with lyrics both frank and poetic, creating a powerful Lynchian duality that makes the heart swell and the head spin.


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Alice Phoebe Lou - Galaxies.

Having been ensconced in the studio working on her forthcoming album, Paper Castles, Alice Phoebe Lou is pleased to release the new single, "Galaxies."

South African singer-songwriter, Alice has just announced a series of live shows in Europe, as well as North America, having sold out two Cape Town shows in February, which pre-empts her forthcoming album due 8th March. Overseen by Grammy winning producer Noah Georgeson (Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom), "Galaxies" follows previous track, "Skin Crawl," described by The FADER as ‘powerful and stunning,’ and is once again accompanied by visuals that portray Lou’s charm and elegant fragility.

The track, as Alice herself explains, “Happened on a rainy moody day in Berlin, my friend Harry Charles & I wrote this song while lying on the carpet of my room. Space had become such a theme in my life & music, not in a scientific way but more in a metaphorical sense; drawing parallels between a planet in the expansive universe & the way that one's tiny & seemingly insignificant existence interacts with the world.

This song is about being nothing & everything. Abut being overwhelmed by the weight of existence while simultaneously being in awe & wonder of it all. 'Galaxies' came to life the first time we played in the Planetarium in Berlin; we've played 13 shows there now & every time I see the visuals come to life & the audience being swept away by the combination of the song with the projections of flying through the galaxies, the song makes so much sense”.


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Lowland Hum - A Drive Through the Countryside.

Lowland Hum have shared a new single from their highly anticipated new album Glyphonic out May 10. Titled "A Drive Through the Countryside," the song is a serene rumination on nature's expanse with ominous undertones. The band tell us, "This one stems from a poem Lauren wrote after feeling both moved and disturbed by the beauty of a drive through the countryside in rural VA. It explores the glory of the landscape here and the horrors of our local history as it relates to slavery and exploitation."

Lowland Hum tour about 200 days out of the year and have done so with the likes of Josh Ritter, The Oh Hellos and more. The indie pioneers will headline a national album release tour this spring including key stops in Nashville, Los Angeles and and New York City. Shows begin this month and the full list of dates is below.

Today's release follows critically hailed singles including "Salzburg Summer," "Raise The Ring" and "Slow," all of which have proven to be steadily infectious. Since album announcement, Lowland Hum have shared the new music at captivating sessions like Paste Studios and City Winery and garnered attention from enthused tastemakers including Billboard, Garden and Gun, Popmatters, Atwood Magazine and more. Glyphonic is the band's fourth studio album and a masterful exploration of the power of restraint, to be released May 10.


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Grace Acladna - When I Saw You.

Grace Acladna, producer, singer, song writer and multi instrumentalist from Hounslow, London has released her long-awaited new single 'When I Saw You'. The first single to be lifted from new EP 'Phonophobia' out this Spring via Hometown Records, Grace has a unique pop sound of her own - fusing nu-house, soca, electronica and dub; partly inspired by her Egyptian, English and Bajan heritage.

Self-produced and written by Grace - ‘When I Saw You’ was written at a time when she had found herself part of a friendship group of overly serious and self conscious people.

"It was really hard to have fun without looking over your shoulder to see who was judging you for it," Grace said. "For me - fun and liberty go hand in hand - so finally I met someone who encouraged me to love and dance freely. This song is a celebration of that relationship and every joyful encounter I’ve had since."

Speaking on the video accompaniment, Grace said: "Our idea behind the video was to convey the soul of the song in an unadulterated way that didn’t take itself too seriously. I was looking at clips of Anna Karina dancing in ‘Vivre sa Vie’ & ‘Bande à part’ as my inspiration for being carefree and not letting anything or anyone steal away your confidence or joy."


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Kuri - Sort Sol.

The new single from British Columbia artist Kuri is entitled 'Sort Sol'. The cinematic folk tune features sweeping acoustic guitars, Irish laced fiddles and harmony rich soundscapes. Reminiscent of Sigur Rós meets Fleet Foxes, ‘Sort Sol’ combines earthy traditional folk and chamber pop for a stunning release.

Though he may be a singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer, Kuri chiefly describes himself as “an observer.” His keen insight and sonic curiosity thread together an intriguing framework of carefully constructed and composed alternative on 2018’s debut Human Nature EP [Nevado Music] and the forthcoming 2019 debut album. The foundation remains rooted in organic performances, classically infused orchestration, jazzy freeform spirit, cinematic ambition, and ultimately inspired observation.

“I like to watch, analyze, and create systems in my brain,” he affirms. “As a solo artist, I enjoy the freedom to express exactly what I want by drawing on what I see.”

Born and raised Scott Currie in the city of Abbotsford, British Columbia, he found himself constantly looking outward. The small Mennonite community he grew up in incited “a sense of questioning everything to figure out why we do what we do.” As the youngest of four brothers, mom bought him a drum set to jam with his guitarist siblings. Soon, he transitioned from behind-the-kit to an old piano in the house by the age of twelve. After a string of high school bands, he founded Oh Village and generated a palpable buzz even competing in “B.C.’s Best teen Band” competition.

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Saltwater Sun - Emily Breeze - Fever High - Ghost Caravan

We have to go back to March last year for our only other feature for Saltwater Sun, however their sprightly guitar sound, pleasing vocals and fresh rock feel is there in abundance on this fine new song. Emily Breeze mixes spoken word and song on 'Ego Death' a dark and brooding piece that is also very addictive, whilst the remixes take the track into some fascinating new dimensions. Fever High last graced our pages almost a year ago to the day, and their brand of vibrant Electro pop is again catchy, dynamic and hard to resist. 'Love Me If You Dare' is our second song share from Ghost Caravan whose refined music mixes subtle funk vibes, gorgeous vocals and a musical arrangement that is tight and polished.

Saltwater Sun - Blood.

Reading’s guitar pop sensations Saltwater Sun hurtle into 2019 with blistering new single Blood, the first track taken from forthcoming EP The Great Deceiver out this April.

Punctured by explosive guitars and deftly fusing elements of shoegaze and indie with the edginess of garage rock, the quintet’s typically addictive latest effort follows their 2018 return with heavyweight singles The Wire and Hot Mess, and explores a much more personal element of their songwriting.

“Since the death of my father, I’ve come to know joy as sorrow-tinged throughout each altering epoch and mundane happiness in my life”, states frontwoman Jen Stearnes on the origins of the track. “With age, I mourn less for my loss and more for his, and so endeavor to carry his memory so that he might live on through me. It’s deeply personal, yet completely universal; Blood is about finding solace in the idea that we might transcend death through lineage”.

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Emily Breeze - Ego Death (Single and Remixes).

Bristol based chanteuse Emily Breeze is set to release second single “Ego Death” on the 8th March 2019.

Recorded at Rockfield studios and produced by Stew Jackson (Massive Attack, Nick Cave, Tom Waits), “Ego Death” has already received airplay from Tom Robinson (BBC Radio 6) and was earmarked as his favourite track on forthcoming Emily Breeze album “Rituals”. This single will be accompanied by remixes from Former Bad Seed and David Lynch composer Barry Adamson, Retro Futurist improv maniacs Modulus III and Giallo Disco deviant Antoni Maiovvi.

Seductive as it is cynical, “Ego Death” is a misanthropic fantasy inspired by Emily’s unsavoury internal monologue during her bus ride to work through the bowels of Bristol town centre to an industrial estate on the outskirts of the city. A departure from Breeze and band’s trademark lounge noir offerings, this song sees (Rob Norbury lead guitar, Andy Sutor drums, Duncan Fleming organ and Graham Dalzell bass) in full synth sleaze mode to offset Emily’s tragicomic lyrics such as “I drink a joyless cup of Gregg’s coffee” and “Today’s specials are ego death coupled with a side of nameless longing”. This is dysfunctional pop at its finest for the deranged, disillusioned and dishevelled, as glossy and menacing as Pulp and as smooth and as subversive as Serge Gainsbourg.

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Fever High - Just A Ghost.

Brooklyn's Fever High released “Just a Ghost,” the latest single from their upcoming Avec You EP (out February 22).

“'Just a Ghost' is about the frights of bumping into an ex- a haunting figure that can pop up at any moment stirring up all the hurt and pain all over again. At first you try to dodge the ghost, but one day you face it and find that you've grown. That it no longer possesses the ability to hurt you anymore.”  - Anna Nordeen

 The duo — multi-instrumentalists Reni Lane and Anna Nordeen — have found fans in places like Billboard, NPR Music, BlackBook, Bitch Media, The New York Times, The Guardian, and Interview Magazine who described the group’s sound as a “fizzy blast of electro-pop.” The Avec You EP also features production from Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne, Ivy) who produced the indie-pop duo’s 2017 album FHNY and their 2016 debut EP All Work. The EP’s title track was featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday and Indie Pop playlists upon release.

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Ghost Caravan - Love Me If You Dare.

“Love Me If You Dare” is Ghost Caravan’s love letter to retro pop.

Says lead vocalist Shaina Silver-Baird, “I get to sing through the roller coaster ups-and-downs of falling for a new lover and the internal war between confidence and vulnerability, ego and doubt that is inherent in explosive love. It’s both a challenge (love me if you dare) and a plea (would you follow me?I would follow anywhere!). One of the things I love most about “Love Me If You Dare” is that, just like the emotions it represents, the track takes you on an unexpected journey; musical arrangements change and double back, beats alter, breaking your expectations. It’s somehow cool and fiery, groovy and experimental all at once.”

“Love Me If You Dare” was produced by Graham Stairs. Recording this song felt like a breeze. Despite it’s challenging nature, the band including Juliana Iannuzziello on keyboards, Michelle Faehrmann on five string electric cello and Sarah Riegler on drums and percussion has been playing it live off and on for a while now, so we already had a groove that we could sink into. The most challenging component was identifying and capturing the many layers; from two counterpoint bass parts to multiple layers of percussion and harmonies.

The song was co-written by Martha Johnson and Mark Gane of Martha and the Muffins who had a worldwide hit in the 80’s with the song Echo Beach and toured with Roxy Music. Three of their albums were co-produced by Daniel Lanois (Peter Gabriel/Brian Eno). The dance mix of another one of their songs, “Black Stations/White Stations,” was number 2 on the Billboard Dance Chart, only beaten out to the number 1 spot by “When Doves Cry” by Prince.

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Leem Of Earth - Vilma Flood - Hush Pup - Grace Inspace

Leem Of Earth return with another really fine song to share, we featured a track from their Chapter One release last October and with Chapter Two they continue to develop some intriguing and creative music. Vilma Flood's vocals are something special in their own right, add in some superb song writing and refined musicianship, and we arrive with something unique and beautiful. Hush Pup tell their story for the new song 'The Hours' a gorgeously melodic and dreamy track crammed with hooks. It's back to July last year for our first Grace Inspace feature, and the new song was worth the wait after the debut E.P, as we are treated to some fabulous protest pop that is both clever and very catchy.

Leem Of Earth - Only So Many Ways.

On Chapter Two, Florida band Leem of Earth continue the musical expedition they began on Chapter One (which was released in Oct.). This three song release expands on the sound and the story. The sound is a nod to the vibe of the best nineties bands part romance and part grunge. The band cites The Innocence Mission, Radiohead and Sunny Day Real Estate as some of their favorite bands from the period.

With Chapter Two, the band adds in otherworldly aspects. "Water" is a Peter Gabriel-style conversation with a skeleton. In "Faithful Lights", the sun and moon watch over the dreaming narrator, and the music swells and surges with synth, voice and rhythm section all keeping pace with each other. "Only So Many Ways" features guitarist B's towering electric, while N on bass and E on drums are vivid and relentless, and LM's velvety voice wraps it all up.

Producer Jeremy SH Griffith (Johnnyswim, SUNBEAMS!) lends his synth expertise and creates a couple of codas from tiny pieces of the songs. Leem of Earth's sound and vision is ethereal and not all that easy to describe, but we think that's definitely a good thing.

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Vilma Flood - Fan of You.

Vilma and famed producer Tobias Fröberg explores musical landscape way beyond the blues- and country influenced sounds of her 2016 debut album. Up coming ”Moodswinger” was recorded at Fröberg’s studio on the Swedish island Gotland in the darkest hours of December, with a constant fire going to keep the cold out.

Inspiration was drawn from the following artists, all tied together by their strong voices, dark lyrics and fragile, detailed soundscapes: Melanie Safka, Ane Brun, Leonard Cohen, Karen Dalton and Alela Diane.

The tracks were built around the pedal steel, slide guitar, big sounding drums, harmony vocals and Vilma’s vibrating, immediately recognizable voice.

”Moodswinger” will be released on April 26th, with first single ”Fan of You” out now!

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Hush Pup - The Hours.

We’re Hush Pup & we make music that sounds a lot like driving at night through the board game Candyland – soft cotton candy trees brush up against the windows of your glass car as you ride toward a friend's cabin nearby the molasses swamp.

“The Hours” is a song about kindness. It's about being sweet and slow as a practice. It’s inspired by a scene from an Allen Ginsberg documentary where he conducts a workshop that integrates spirituality into artistic practice.

Watching this, I felt as if he had created a kindness crew. “The Hours” is written from the perspective of this crew. They're taking time to be gentle & they're high on that concept. The video for “The Hours” was made by members of our kindness crew. Emma Thais Holland & Jameel Mulani combined their super-8 footage with colourful karaoke text.

Our Flower Power EP & Panacea, a romantic film-inspired album, will be released on a double cassette with Lone Hand (lonehand.xyz) in March.


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Grace Inspace - Paradise Syndrome.

English-American musician Grace Inspace introduced herself with her ‘Protest Pop” sound last year and has announced a brand new single Paradise Syndrome released on 14th February.

The single follows her debut EP release Lazy Grace’s Apocalyptic Kitchen Vol.1 which featured the singles Tame Teens, Watersource, Uncertain, CA and Go Slow. The 4-track EP was produced in part by John King of the Dust Brothers and featured Steve Perkins of Jane’s Addiction and Nick McCabe of The Verve.

22-year-old Grace has a mature head on her young shoulders, with politically-charged character-driven lyrics amidst collaged soundscapes, which address current issues in the world in a humorous and refreshing way.

Paradise Syndrome kickstarts 2019 with a unique musical style; it's melodic and catchy chorus is Capital "P" Pop, but the track also puts the "on" in conscious with a satirical message about a culture that insists on high comfort levels.Grace says; “It’s about the condition that haunts the western world; feeling unsatisfied and anxious even though all your needs are met.”

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Edmond Jefferson & Sons - Talkboy - Orla Gartland - The Great Escape

Swiss band Edmond Jefferson & Sons create a beautifully atmospheric vibe with a level of energy simmering and slowly building both vocally and musically. Talkboy's lively indie rock/pop is infectious with 'Someone Else For You' going someway to explain the growing interest in this fine band. We have a thought provoking and personal song from Orla Gartland where her melodic vocals are outstanding. The Great Escape take us on a creative sonic journey with delicious vocals and a beautifully constructed musical arrangement with hints of psych and quirkiness, leaving me looking forward to the series of releases they have planned for the year.

Edmond Jefferson & Sons - The Winter.

Oscillating between explosive riffs, dark rock and soft ballads, their music is perfectly harmonised by organic sound textures and a mesmerising voice...

A few weeks after unveiling the single "Helsinki", Swiss 70's alternative / explosive-blues rockers Edmond Jefferson & Sons shared another excerpt from their upcoming effort with the music video of "The Winter".

The song will feature on the band's second full-length album also called 'The Winter' and planned for CD, LP & Digital on March 8th through Hummus Records (Emilie Zoé, Killbody Tuning, H E X....).

 “The Winter is a melody that resonates in the wind, a wanted notice addressed to sweetness. Hills just before nightfall, that moment when everything takes on a blue colour, a feverish guitar line that appears in the air, a mild cold soothes the forehead of the one who thinks he is inconsolable.” (Josette Seydoux, vocals).


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Talkboy - Someone Else For You.

Capitalising on their growing status as one of the city’s hottest prospects, Leeds indie risers Talkboy share addictive new offering Someone Else For You.

Partnering up with Leeds label Come Play With Me and LAB Records, the sextet’s first release of 2019 continues to showcase their remarkable versatility with delicious melodies and compelling guitar work firmly justifying the growing hype surrounding the Yorkshire outfit.

With the obvious influences of contemporaries Alvvays and The Big Moon nestled deep within their sound, the band’s glowing brand of indie pop has already drawn acclaim from the online community and support slots alongside the likes of Bully, Caro and Our Girl, owing much to their budding live reputation.

Discussing their forthcoming release, guitarist Tim Malkin revealed: “Someone Else For You is our first venture into the scary world of the love song. It’s a very honest account of a relationship I had that wasn’t even really a relationship. In retrospect, it was one of those that meant a whole lot more to me than it did to the other person, it’s weird to look back and think of all the things you did to try to impress someone. Ultimately, I think you just have to be you, which is sometimes a lot easier said than done”.

With a slew of releases in the pipeline and several festival appearances already lined up (including Live At Leeds), 2019 promises to be a thrilling year for the fledgling six-piece.

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Orla Gartland - Why Am I Like This?

Dublin-born, London-based singer-songwriter Orla Gartland returns with a new single ‘Why Am I Like This?’. With a songwriting skill, perception and maturity that belies her young years, Gartland has created an existential pop track for her generation. ‘Why Am I Like This?’ articulates what many suffer but simply can’t put into words – feelings of social anxiety, self-doubt and the strain of that constant negative voice in one’s own head.

“Maybe I’m an old soul in a young body,
Maybe you don’t really want me there at your birthday party.
I’ll be there in the corner,
thinking right over everything single word of the conversation we just had.”
- ‘Why Am I Like This?’

With comparisons already made to the confessional and cathartic pop of Stevie Nicks, Gartland has a reputation for being brutally honest and always personal in her writing, with ‘Why Am I Like This?’ being her most vulnerable and inward-facing song to date.  She expands:  “’Why Am I Like This?’ started with me reflecting on a couple situations, filled with regret and forever fixated what I could have done, what I could have said.  As the chorus hits we cycle around the same question again and again, as if stuck in a loop - Why Am I Like This?”.

‘Why Am I Like This?’ is a soul-searching pop ballad coloured with a pop, with Gartland taking inspiration from the multi-layered, characterful indie sounds of artists such as Regina Spektor and St. Vincent.


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The Great Escape - Possibilities.

About to return with its third full-length Pulsing Synchronicity, an album to be released as a series of stand-alone singles throughout 2019, Venice-based trio The Great Escape unleashes brand-new track “Possibilities” this week – an incredibly sweet and sexy, psychedelic trip that zooms in on life’s countless possibilities.

Back with a brand-new, seductively minimalist sound that’s nevertheless still raw around the edges, “Possibilities” perfectly encapsulates The Great Escape’s new approach: playful, sexy and flirtatious, the single manages to feel confident and mysterious at the same time. Whereas singer Hanna Leess’ voice sounds more like a modern-day northern fairy queen (think Icelandic mic slinger 2019), it’s a psychedelic underwater tune that, in its eclectic minimalism, mirrors the countless possibilities we face as human beings – and the resulting uniqueness of each moment that passes.

Boasting lush and warm production, “Possibilities” comes with all sorts of surprising, quirky elements: Slowly drifting through the aquatic maze, the Rhodes are somewhat reminiscent of Jim Morrison’s hey-days, while early hip-hop roots shine through in Leess’ experimental call-and-response lyricism (featuring cat meows!). A shape-shifting and bubbling sound collage that also incorporates classic movie samples, Mellotron harps, guitars, and a Theremin, it’s an irresistible 4-minute trip through a futuristic wonderland of sonic opportunities…

Releasing the new album as a series of stand-alone tracks over the course of 2019, The Great Escape continue to break new ground visually as well: The cover art to “Possibilities” is the first in a series of 9 original artworks created to accompany each track (8 tracks plus album cover) – a spectacular collaboration with up-and-coming artist Gino Belassen from Phoenix, AZ that is going to see its gallery premiere once all tracks are unleashed. For the new single, Belassen concentrated on a fittingly minimalist palette, relying on fingernail scratches that reveal dark layers underneath a pink surface.


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Yawners - Laurie Luke - Jackie Charles - I Was a King

There is an international dimension from today's artists. Madrid based Yawners are described as a power pop duo however they can also power rock as demonstrated by the potent & pleasing song 'Please, Please, Please'. Laurie Luke serves up some chunky riffs, emotive vocals and plenty of hooks on 'Seventeen' a feisty rocker. Jackie Charles share a refreshing indie piece with 'Time Travel' ahead of what is a fabulous album with eleven songs, all vying for our attention. Norway's I Was A King round things off with the melodic and catchy 'Hatchet' mixing energy and warm vibes with style.

Yawners - Please, Please, Please.

Yawners are the Madrid-based power pop duo of Elena Nieto and Martin Muñoz. Founded by Nieto in her home town of Salamanca and persisting through a move to Germany before finding its current form with Muñoz in Madrid, Yawners have established themselves at the forefront of the blossoming Spanish guitar pop scene.

Following a series of early singles that have earned critical praise and comparisons to acts like Swearin’, Husker Du, and Blink-182 in their home country, Yawners are preparing to release their debut LP, Just Calm Down. Composed of 10 effortlessly engaging pop songs, the album introduces a promising voice in Nieto, who weaves ‘90s college rock and skate punk influences into collection of nostalgia-inducing, lovelorn tracks that showcase a mix of stunning compositional dexterity and enchanting melodies.

Despite their stripped down line up, Nieto’s deft and inventive guitar parts are layered with her and Munoz’ harmonized vocals to produce a huge sound reminiscent of the early Ric Ocasek-produced Weezer albums, production that is perfectly suited for the immediacy of the material. Nieto, who is a translator and speaks Spanish, German, and English fluently, has a refreshingly direct songwriting approach imbued with playfulness and humor — as on the affectionate kiss off to a stoner ex-boyfriend on buoyant early album stand out “Seaweed” — but with the range to find moments of emotional resonance that would not be out of place beside the band’s emo heroes like The Get Up Kids, American Football, and Tigers Jaw.

Lead single “Please, Please, Please” provides an example of the latter. Utilizing overlapping vocal melodies and a powerful performance from Nieto to elevate the song’s soaring chorus to great effect, it captures a feeling of mingled hope and longing in the face of tragedy. The track is a suitably impressive introduction to a band with a bright future, who appear poised to be the latest Spanish export to garner a global audience in 2019.


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Laurie Luke - Seventeen.

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune often come flying seemingly out of nowhere in your late 20's/early 30's. It’s a scenario that singer-songwriter Laurie Luke has endured and ultimately turned into a creative force on his debut EP, Way Back When.

To turn back the clock for a moment tho - like so many, Laurie was thrilled and inspired by Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles while also growing up on 90's icons like Soundgarden and Tool. He formed SOMA – a heavy, angry, politically-driven prog-rock outfit. He then made his first forays into serious home recording, before forming Heavy Love, a band that was a positive, polar opposite of SOMA and toured around WA before parting ways. Laurie by this point, was recording entire albums at home that were mixed, mastered and stored away.

During this time Laurie was raising a young family at home, and had come to the end of a long marriage. Through that personal turbulence he again turned his time and intensity into music, but on a release that would actually see the light of day.  Way Back When is both the EP and the experience.


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Jackie Charles - Time Travel.

Jackie Charles (the love-child, band and alter ego of Kaja Bremnes) are releasing their debut album Future Fantasies on April 19th 2019. Dividing their time between the rooftop bars of Berlin and a Norwegian fishing boat, the record was recorded in Hannover and mixed / mastered at Oslo’s Propeller Studios.

The band’s songwriting combines the 1980s goth angst of The Cure with the nihilism of Ariel Pink with the heartbreaking vulnerability of Alvvays. A washed out, hallucinogenic quality permeates the album, with brutally honest lyrics concealed beneath sugary sweet melodies. This is a Summer soundtrack for those with more nihilistic tendencies.

Themes of escapism are explored, for example on ‘Time Travel’, with the band telling us “reality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and sometimes living in the past is better than being in the present. Haven’t you ever wanted to travel back to a time when things were less complicated and you felt safe?” whilst title track ‘Future Fantasies’ is more grounded, demanding a reality check for the culture of “thinking positive, dreaming big… If you can dream it, then you can do it. Who cares if society is failing and the sea levels are rising? *whispers* -you’re special-”

Having toured Europe extensively, Jackie Charles have built up their reputation among discerning gig goers, with Steve Lamacq regularly championing her on his BBC 6 music show. They will be heading over to our shores for a Parallel Lines show on April 19th at The Islington.

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I Was a King - Hatchet.

Originating from the windswept, moody southwestern coast of Norway, I Was A King are living proof that the sweetest pop songs can be cultivated and thrive in the oddest places.

They have just released 'Hatchet - the second single from upcoming album 'Slow Century'. One of the first songs written for their much-anticipated new album - it was tested out live at an early stage and remained, along with previous single, 'Bubble', one of the key tracks throughout the recording process. Hatchet represents one of those infectious high-energy moments of the album, which is emphasised by Legend Jad Fair (Half Japanese) joining in with a 6 second long guest appearance on his trademark rubber band guitar.

New album Slow Century, out March 8th via Coastal Town Recordings was produced by Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub. Led by singers and guitarists Frode Strømstad and Anne Lise Frøkedal, whose united vocals melt into one extraterrestrial voice, their new album Slow Century is a collection of instantly classic power pop tunes, written, recorded, and pressed to vinyl – all in the picturesque town of Egersund, on the south-west coast of Noway.

 


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Emily Jean Flack - Julia Bardo - And The Kids - IV League

We have two very fine songs from Emily Jean Flack which feature her gorgeous vocals set against some Celtic musical influences, along with some superb electronic touches. Julia Bardo creatively merges elements of folk, rock and classic pop with her splendid vocals adding even more hooks to this charming song. And The Kids were featured around three weeks ago and return with another track just ahead of their album release, a melodic rocker that builds anticipation for 'When This Life Is Over' even more. IV League have some real edge on 'Lose Me' a notable alt rocker with depth and emotional power.

Emily Jean Flack - Another Year Gone By / Tread Softly.

Canadian, Emily Jean Flack’s passion for traditional Irish music has led to her most accomplished work yet, showcasing her gorgeously pure vocals and the Celtic music she has grown up with, whilst injecting uber-cool electronic textures - a genre-spanning mix which defies expectation and delivers on every level.

Throwing Shapes is the forthcoming EP from Emily Jean Flack, five tracks which see her demonstrating her place as one of the artists to watch in 2019. Bridging the traditional sounds of her homeland in Ontario and those of her current home in Limerick, yet still sounding utterly fresh and contemporary.

Vocalist, musician, songwriter and dancer, Emily Jean Flack, has spent her life being surrounded by music and musicians but has always been keen to express her influences in a way which is entirely her own. Honing her craft whilst studying for a Masters in Traditional Irish Music at the University of Limerick, her musical lineage is impeccable, daughter of Denise Flack, member of the ground-breaking Celtic pop band, Leahy.

“Although I come from a traditional instrumental folk background, I’ve always listened to so many other styles of music. And my own music has always been more personal, more modern and more contemporary. Being in Ireland is wonderful in the sense that it’s so culturally rich, but there is a ferocity and sense of independence within the music. It’s not cute or quaint. It’s quite raw and organic. Ireland has offered me an environment to openly make the music that moves me,” - Emily Jean Flack.


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Julia Bardo - Desire.

Singer-songwriter Julia Bardo has released the video for her debut single Desire, which follows the release of the single via Someone Great Records/PIAS last month. Manchester based Julia Bardo is one of a kind. An old soul with a captivating mysterious air, her wistful nostalgia-soaked sound pays homage to the introspective pop and folk of the 1960’s but with contemporary lyrics which stem from her romantic daydreams and poetic visions.

Desire balances feelings of discontent with a cheerful melody and silky vocal, rousing conflicting emotions that keep you coming back for more. With its folk, pop and old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll influences, it’s a modern-day single with a difference.

The retro-tinged grainy video, which features Julia herself singing the track in various locations, is filmed in a Super 8 style by video maker & cinematographer Ed Stone and director Beck Clewlow. Julia says;

“I wanted to make a video that created images for my sound rather than the story behind it – a visual representation of my sound. Me and Beck have very similar taste so it was easy to accomplish my mission”.


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And The Kids - Butterfingers.

And The Kids have shared a new song from their upcoming album When This Life Is Over out February 22 on Signature Sounds (Lake Street Dive, Josh Ritter, Dustbowl Revival).

Known for their scintillating live performances, And The Kids have shared stages with Blondie, Shakey Graves, Lucy Dacus, Caroline Rose, Rubblebucket and more, often times by headliner's personal invitation. The band will embark on a tour with Slothrust this February, followed by a national headlining run in March including two hometown shows in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Today's release follows "Champagne Ladies," an indie rock ode to the impending end of life and "No Way Sit Back," an indie rock attack on the media's effect on minorites.


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IV League - Lose Me.

After smashing airwaves over summer with latest single ‘Lose Me’, Melbourne alt-rock darlings IV League have unleashed an equally badass clip, indulging their penchant for the dramatic and enforcing their reputation for producing “some of the most exciting indie-pop in the country” (Purple Sneakers).

Collaborating with friends to make the clip, the result is an eerie, hypnotic affair that perfectly captures the track's themes of mental warfare and self-identity struggles, while also putting the band's visual aesthetic at the fore.

Front woman Isabella Venutti explains that she fully embraced the chance to take the creative helm - “The inspiration for the music video came from a lot of films dealing with women and the occult such as 'Valerie and Her Week of Wonders' and 'Suspiria' as well as aesthetics that we are drawn to in general.

“We worked in collaboration with two close friends to make the video and I think having creative control was really important as we had a really clear vision for how we wanted the clip to play out. We didn’t focus too much on a narrative arc, we just wanted to play with our aesthetic inspiration and give a sense of emotional turmoil in a theatrical way.


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Katey Brooks - Kap Bambino - Cartoon Lizard - Mags On Earth - Sparkling

We begin with Katey Brooks who is appearing on Beehive Candy for the third time and once again she is mightily impressive with another exceptional song. Kap Bambino's video for 'Erase' has already gained considerable attention as it drives home the sheer energy and vibrancy of this electro punk blast. Cartoon Lizard share a creative song and imaginative video as the band prove hard to categorise with this track, it's rock of some sort and it's rather addictive. Mags on Earth creativity is notable as is the atmosphere and feeling on 'Tulip Stone' a refined and intriguing song. The duo Sparkling keep today's somewhat "alternative" vibe on track with some classy synths and distinct vocals along with some deep hooks.

Katey Brooks - Never Gonna Let Her Go.

Katey Brooks latest single ‘Never Gonna Let Her Go’ is about being true to yourself and rejecting shame. The singer reveals, "We're all going to walk this planet with different scripts in our heads, different upbringings, experiences and beliefs, and if we want to get along and be peaceful we need to accept that.  Hate isn't the answer in any situation - so I believe anyway”. The stunning single exudes soaring vocal harmonies, bluesy guitars and passionate lyrics, essentially becoming a peaceful protest song. Brooks prevails,  "Judge me for my true failings, ask me to change those things that actually effect you, and I'll hear that. But one thing I'll never change, and one thing that is definitely not wrong with me, is my love for women”.

Brooks has found success recording with the likes of Brian May (Queen), Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones) and Paloma Faith at Abbey Road. She has played some of the world’s biggest festivals, as well as having received an enthusiastic reception from radio stations around the UK and internationally.  Brooks has also received acclaim from such prestigious outlets as Billboard, Pride and The Advocate to name a few. Katey Brooks is now ready for the next chapter of her musical journey, with ‘Never Gonna Let Her Go’ out now.

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Kap Bambino - Erase.

French duo Kap Bambino announce their return with new album 'Dust, Fierce, Forever', out on 12th April on Because Music.

Notorious for their uncompromising live performances, Orion and Caroline bring that raw energy to 'Erase', the first single taken from the upcoming album, and to the riveting video that accompanies it.

Their fifth album is an irresistible whirlwind of sounds, in which the most disparate of elements spin together breathlessly. The record's 13 concise, momentous tracks juggle around familiar sounds, suggestions of Eurodance and a hint of hardcore, creating an acrobatic, incongrous mix that never lacks moments of beauty.


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Cartoon Lizard - Lay Of The Land.

Each year, we dedicate months at a time and set aside our lives to write and record music deep in the woods of Cedar, BC. We live at the studio and immerse ourselves in the process of making music. We’re very particular about the fidelity and character of every aspect of a production, sometimes spending days refining individual elements.

The recording of “Lay of the Land,” our new song, was left dormant for a year before being resurrected in 2018 during our tenure at Risque Disque Records where some extra details were added.

It's been hard not to get political lyrically in recent times, and “Lay of the Land” is definitely a product of that. We've all felt the change in climate and have been questioning our beliefs more so than ever. “Lay of the Land” is essentially motivation to never stop questioning yourself. Nobody has the answer, nobody is perfect. That’s something you have to be willing to accept and acknowledge when you're in the wrong - Cartoon Lizard.


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Mags On Earth - Tulip Stone.

Born in Sweden, raised in Germany, and now living between London and Paris, Mags On Earth combines these geographical influences into her wonderfully crafted, dreamily melancholic, electronic-touched pop sounds.

Inspired by the likes of Lana Del Rey and Bat For Lashes, and shaped musically, lyrically and visually by the city sounds she finds herself surrounded by, new single ’Tulip Stone’ was recorded with producer Jose Manuel Cubides in London, and deals with "wondering what else life could be looking like right now, and the pressure of spending your youth in a certain way and how time keeps passing”. 

The single comes backed by a Paris-influenced video that Mags On Earth made herself.  She explains "I spent a month in Paris last October and was so inspired by the atmosphere. Paris has that authentic beauty and elegance that I strive for in my visuals, even in its less pretty parts.  Paris is always Paris. And to me it feels kind of faded in the colours which really works well with the theme behind Tulip Stone”.

‘Tulip Stone’ is taken from her debut EP “Girl in the City” (available to stream here).  The tracks are accompanied by self-produced videos. Talking about the EP, Mags On Earth explains, “I think the whole EP is not about feeling good or bad, it is much more about a mundane in-between-feeling-stuck state of longing for something more, thinking nothing is ever enough maybe. It idealises big metropolis cities as places of potential reinvention and new beginnings.”



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Sparkling - Fractions

Danish duo Sparkling are relishing returning to music after a long break with new single ’Fractions’ which just come out on 4th February following their recent single ’Say Goodbye To The Ragged Tiger’. The latter set blogs and radio stations alight last year and intrigued listeners with its organic yet futuristic sound.

’Fractions’, as the title might suggest is mathy with an electronic basis. However, whilst others may hunt tightness and efficiency - Sparkling insist on exploring the human aspect of synthesizers and machines. Consequently, most of the parts are played by hand and re-amped in the studio to create maximum depth and to bridge naturally to both the vocal and the additional instrumentation.

’Fractions’ is a song about embracing getting older and becoming more aware of your surroundings and inner life. The character in the track is looking back - in fractions he experiences and feels notes from his life. Above all, the track expresses the strong love that transforms someone from a dreamer flying restless in space to a man on earth.

On the recording process, Jens Christian Madsen of the band says “We wrote the song quite fast and laid down the basic tracks in the studio (the dirty intro beat and the synth lead-motif catching up on the choruses are some of the few elements that have ‘survived’ throughout the whole production process). We penned the lyrics in my summerhouse by the northern coast one beautiful late summer evening. And we were so excited and moved by our own words, that we decided to record the vocals immediately; Carsten singing in the open, under the starlit sky at night.”

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