Dana Gavanski final single before next weeks album release is 'Small Favours', a stripped back piece that builds a little without losing a natural personal vibe. === We have always been fans of live music on Beehive Candy so Jakob's Ferry Stragglers live single 'Poison River' is very welcome especially as it's a fabulous Bluegrass song with superb musicianship. === Glenn Thomas shares 'Catherine Ames' an intimate modern folk song that is fabulously arranged. === Accompanied by a dramatic video Deleo has just released 'Unfair' a moody and hook filled modern pop song. === Our fourth feature for Jennah Barry just ahead of her 'Holiday' album release is for the new single 'Rocket' which is another beautiful soft rock song.
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Dana Gavanski - Small Favours.
Serbian-Canadian musician Dana Gavanski will release her debut album, Yesterday Is Gone, on March 27th via Flemish Eye Records (Canada), Ba Da Bing Records (Americas) and Full Time Hobby (Rest of the World). This weekend she presents “Small Favours”, the final single before the album release later this month. Dana shared her state of mind when she wrote “Small Favours” and how it came to her in a song. “Small Favours expresses cheekiness. A playful dismissal of heaviness and getting bogged down by emotions, acknowledging how things may seem small when they’re big and big when they’re small.”
By turns break-up album, project of curiosity, and, as Dana puts it, “a reckoning with myself,” Yesterday Is Gone is an album of longing and devotion to longing, and of the uncertainty that arises from learning about oneself, of pushing boundaries, falling hard, and getting back up. Moments of beguilement splinter a backdrop of tenderly picked guitar, bass, synth, and poppier elements, which commune to produce her own kind of wall of sound. Each component is meticulously placed, yielding a deeply sincere response to the chaos of human emotion.
Yesterday Is Gone was co-produced between Dana, Toronto-based musician Sam Gleason, and Mike Lindsay (Tunng and LUMP w/ Laura Marling). While Sam helped Dana bring out the tunes, Mike’s input marked the beginning of developing Dana’s sound. The two kept stripped it down to the essentials, keeping things bare and letting the songs speak for themselves. The album shapeshifted as it passed through the hands of Dana, Sam, and Mike, taking on different tastes, feelings, and visions. When Dana performed the songs with a band, they found new form again. She was intrigued by performers like David Bowie and Aldous Harding, who inhabit different personalities on stage, physically tuning themselves to their music.
“Often we have to go a little far in one direction to learn something about ourselves,” Dana says. The months of solitary writing and self-doubt testify to this, but they’ve led to Yesterday Is Gone: an optimistic, steely-eyed gaze into the future.
Jakob's Ferry Stragglers are eager and ready to release their first live album into the world, titled "The Straggle is Live". The album is a curation of the group's greatest hits and was recorded live at The Church Recording Studio by Dana Cannone. The set was performed on 10/9/19 with a private, invite-only intimate audience. It was mixed & mastered by Will Shenk at Metier Mastering in Front Royal, VA.
“The Straggle is Live'' started with an idea to capture the animated onstage energy of the band, in a controlled studio environment. It’s not often that a recorded bluegrass album truly matches the sights and sounds of seeing the talent live in-person.
The team took this task to heart and has produced an outcome where the at-home listener can truly understand what it means to be at a live Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers show. "Poison River (LIVE)" will be released ahead of the full album, which is set for a drop date of May 22, 2020, at their first-time appearance at legendary The Station Inn in Nashville, ahead of their weekend at DelFest in Cumberland, MD.
Glenn Thomas new song is called "Catherine Ames," named for the antagonist of Steinbeck's East Of Eden. In it, Glenn sings to Catherine and cathartically tells her he's let her go. The song is about resolution and moving forward.
Glenn says of "Catherine Ames": "This song takes it name from the antagonist in John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, Cathy Ames. She’s pretty evil and causes a lot of pain for the main character. This song is about holding on to pain and anger as though they are part of your identity.
Forgiveness is not the same as forgetting, and as with any kind of healing and moving forward, it takes time. There was a moment for me when I realized I wasn’t holding onto something in my past that hurt me and had become part of me for years, and it was a really cathartic thing to write about. I pulled Steinbeck’s character name because there is a similar theme of resolution and moving forward in that story that was relatable, and he’s one of my favorite American authors."
He's such a poetically clever songwriter, and his sound is like Brit-pop-inspired folky vintage sunshine. Would you be willing to share this one? The song is out officially on 3/20. We'd be so grateful for the support!
Unfair is representative of our sound – a hybrid of pop, rock and electro, as if these genres never split apart but remained a single, fused supercontinent.
The track is a good way to discover our music.
It’s a ballad, maybe our most subtly mutant song, one you can curl up in and sail away, as smooth as Black’s ‘Wonderful Life’ blended with Garbage and Archive.
Jennah's new single is entitled 'Rocket'. Quote from Jennah: "Rocket is about acting on impulse and saying things you can’t take back."
"Rocket" comes from the gorgeous Jennah Barry LP Holiday, coming March 27th 2020 on Forward Music Group. Majorly recommended for fans of Andy Shauf, whose bandmate Colin Nealis produced the LP, the songs here are built to last, with echoes of those soft-rock classics often referred to as "AM gold."
Barry's vocals are warm and weave through the arrangements with so much skill. The arrangements are full and pillowey but always pull up short of being cloying or overdone, more-so than the source material she's referencing. This record is like catnip for me, honestly, just a true pleasure to listen to.
Last month AM Clouds released their 'Rainmaker' album, we shared 'Tune Me In' from it, now this very fine indie rock (and more) band have shared a video for the title track. === We have already featured the first two singles from the debut E.P and now we have the full collection as Inbetween Movies today release 'Temporary Music For The Masses' where their mixture of dream pop and atmospheric shoegaze is magnificent. === Proud Creature has just shared his 'Opening Creature E.P' from which we have 'Eastern Lines' and 'Pines', expect anything from ambient to psychedelic and jazz, all superbly delivered. ===Good Wilson self titled album 'Good Wilson' is released today. The band describe their music as Sky Gaze or dream pop for staring at the sky letting your mind drift off, it's a good description for what is an exceptional album. === Elrichman shares 'I Mostly Consume' which is a vibrant sophisti-pop song, that exudes warm vibes throughout.
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AM Clouds - Rainmaker.
Oregon-based AM Clouds craft adventurous roosty indie rock that traverses both the internal and external landscapes of human experience. Their hometown of Bend offers extreme climate changes and expansive beauty, prompting them to coin the term ‘high desert rock.’ Even their name, AM Clouds, was derived from a phrase that was constantly broadcast across the Oregon weather forecast.
Meshing classic and alternative, the band connects the dots between several eras of rock music, from angular indie to psychedelic noise jams, equal parts Neil Young and Meat Puppets, Tom Petty and Uncle Tupelo. Their debut EP, War of Love, was released in 2017, and was welcomed with open arms by local press, picking up heavy rotation on KPOV and KRFM. “We’re located in a rugged, remote place, where culture has a tendency to be overshadowed by nature,” Moon relates. “I think people really connect to hearing their majestic surroundings captured musically with a bit of cinematic flair.”
Made up of Bruce Troy Moon (lead vocals, lead guitar), Graham Boostrom (rhythm guitar, vocals), Pete Ficht (bass, keys, vocals), and Dan Paggi (drums, vocals), the band is both immediate and relatable, comprised of musicians committed to their individual tone but more invested in serving the overall sound. Since their inception, they’ve played across Central Oregon, sharing the stage with veteran roots rockers the Mother Hips and Portand’s psych rock pioneers King Black Acid.
Inbetween Movies - Temporary Music For The Masses.
Their first two singles have gained thousands of plays and streams on spotify, youtube and co.: Inbetween Movies provide the perfect soundtrack for the cinema in your head. Now, their debut EP 'Temporary Music for the Masses' is released today Friday, March 20th.
Inbetween Movies create atmospheric dreampop and shoegaze, while going back and forward in history and combine it's bits in a fresh and cheerful way. Their sound is a journey into the 1990s to the Pale Saints and Cocteau Twins, a detour into the 2010s to Ladytron and a trip to the present with Billie Eilish on the throne. Above all, Inbetween Movies lie their own spirit.
Zurich-based four-piece make us dream immediately, with «It all Sounds Quite Good To Me», the opener of the EP. At the same time this track reminds us of not closing our eyes permanently, but facing reality instead. And it make us watch one of their artistically playful video clips so we can dive into a colourful imaginery.
Introducing Psychedelic electronica/jazz/ambient musician Proud Creature, solo moniker for Todd Brozman. Expect fluidity, tension, otherworldly mystique and serious groove as this seasoned creator seamlessly merges genres, the underlying experience becoming of paramount importance.
Proud Creature's new 5-track EP release Opening Creature leans into it's sense of surrealism and should appeal to experimental ambient artists such as Oneohtrix Point Never and Future Sounds of London.
From the Artist: Opening Creature EP reflects travels and explorations I've had over the past few years. I'm trying to capture the headspace that opens up when we venture out of our default mindset and into something broader and more abstract. For me, these spaces have been explored through travel, dreams, nature, and spiritual exploration. Musically, there's lots of improvisation with eclectic instrumentation and non-traditional production techniques along with layerings of field recordings from travel, nature and religious prayer. Together, this creates an ethereal and otherworldly tone that underscores the broader themes of the album. As a whole, I am striving for something that feels alive, expansive, mysterious and alluring.
Over the past few years, I have gotten to create some great music with other artists. Now more than ever, I am inspired to release more music as a sole producer and instrumentalist. I hope you enjoy my first album as a solo artist.
Equipped with a mildly melancholic mood as travelling companion, the self-titled debut album “Good Wilson” is a dreamy walk in spring’s first sun rays, marked by easiness, absent-mindedness and sweet-tempered naivety. The band’s self-invented genre “sky gaze” - dream pop for starring at the sky and letting the mind drift off – describes Günther Paulitsch’s, Alex Connaughton’s, Mario Fartacek’s und Julian Pieber’s aka Good Wilson’s vibe perfectly.
Moony guitar loops, soulful strings, catchy synths and the unique smoothness of the pedal steel guitar remind us that life is a game, which shouldn’t be taken too seriously. “The daily struggle is real for all of us. Still, it’s important to sometimes lose your way on your own journey in order to discover new facets of yourself. You might stumble upon inspiring things, enriching yourself with confidence.”
Ethereal and snappy sound structures decoy the listener into letting go of everyday life and escaping into a parallel existence – if you engage in Good Wilson, you’ll wander off. Deeply submerged in a parallel existence, the album “Good Wilson” originated almost magically. “At time a mood went through all of us - we can find it again in our songs, but we can’t explain it.”
Toronto-based sophisti-pop artist Elrichman – the project of Paul Erlichman – is today sharing his breezy new single, ‘I Mostly Consume’. This is the latest track to be lifted from his forthcoming sophomore LP, Heaven’s Mayor which is due for release via the Madrid-based label, Bobo Integral in Summer 2020 (date moved due to COVID-19)
The record comes produced by Alex Gamble (Alvvays) with further contributions coming from members of Hooded Fang (Jon Pappo), Weaves (Zach Bines) and Twisted Pine (Anh Phung). The new collection trails Erlichman’s work as part of Goosebump (formerly Germaphobes) and bass duties in Toronto’s jangle-pop quartet, Ducks Unlimited.
Recorded at Toronto’s recently closed studios, The Hive, Heaven’s Mayor looks to meticulously examine how to be honest with oneself in a world driven by consumption. Chiming in with blissful stylistics akin to Orange Juice, Prefab Sprout and Sarah Records acts such as The Field Mice,‘I Mostly Consume’ thematically explores precisely what is says on the tin – consumption – focusing on the feeling that Paul has: the idea that we are on this planet solely for the purpose to consume.
Speaking about the track, Paul says: “‘I Mostly Consume’ is about feeling like you exist on this earth mostly to consume, which is the sense I have sometimes. The bridges set scenes of impending doom, but everything else is pretty cheery so I guess I'm a blissful consumer!” Heaven’s Mayor will be the follow-up to 2014’s Young, Healthy and Wonderful with a run of North American dates expected to follow the album release – we’ll have more on these shortly.
The Dollyrots brand new single was intended to be released at the start of a new tour, however not surprisingly that has now been postponed, however 'Make Me Hot' has been shared and their upbeat hook laden new wave/punk is once again wonderful. === Claire Atkins has just released 'Eternal Return' her debut E.P from which we have the title track where the singer songwriter serves up some heartfelt modern indie folk with a gorgeous musical backdrop.
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The Dollyrots - Make Me Hot.
The Dollyrots have released a new 7’’ on cloudy clear splatter vinyl that includes a brand-new song “Make Me Hot,” with a B-side of Lisa Loeb’s 1994 Grammy nominated number-one hit “Stay,” with a Dollyrots twist. The 7” will be available on March 17 on Little Steven van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records.
The bands 2019 album Daydream Explosion was deemed by NPR as a ‘Notable Release’ and Huffington Post called it “foot-stomping medley” as it debuted on three billboard charts.
Their 2017 album Whiplash Splash hit Heatseekers chart at #13 and on the Independent Albums chart at #31. The band’s 2016 live album/DVD Family Vacation: Live in Los Angeles hit #15 on Heatseekers, while previous studio album Barefoot And Pregnant peaked at #7 on the same chart.
From the time we can talk we’re asked what we want to be when we grow up, and as we grow there’s huge pressure to find and follow a single passion. At age 46, Byron-based artist Claire Atkins has just released her debut EP Eternal Return, a body of work born of heartbreak and curiosity. With her training in fine arts, for the last 20 years Atkins has worked solidly as a studio artist, magazine editor, actor and creative producer, but it in the wake of significant loss, she says she hit a creative brick wall, and to her surprise discovered music.
‘I was dealing with a whole bunch of grief. My dad and two close friends died suddenly and in quick succession, and it paralysed me creatively speaking… Music kept suggesting itself to me, which was strange, because at the time I couldn’t play an instrument. I was quietly terrified by that, and so I started small with the uke,’ she said.
Within 12 months Atkins was writing and performing her own songs. Curious about the recording process, and with her teacher’s encouragement she sent her songs to producer and sound engineer Paul Pilsneniks (Angus & Julia Stone, Powderfinger, Silverchair) at Rockinghorse Studios in Byron Bay.
Pilsneniks says, ‘Hearing Claire’s demos I felt that these beautiful tunes would really shine with some additional instrumentation and production, and so we brought some amazing local artists to guest on the songs. We’ve ended up with a stunning debut EP, and I encourage any music-listening aficionado to keep an ear out for this body of work in early 2020,’ Atkins’s hometown region has taken up Pilsneniks's good advice with the album receiving significant media attention and high rotation on Byron’s BayFM.
The album’s title track is inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy of eternal return that proposes the universe and everything within it has been recurring and will continue to recur in the same pattern infinitely. While Atkins says reliving heartbreak is not an attractive prospect she’s also confident of music’s power to transform hardship into something unexpected, beautiful and healing.
’In a strange way, I’m grateful for life’s challenging times, and if it wasn’t for them I may never have strummed a chord or written a lyric. That difficult period drove me to music and it saved me,’ she said. Atkins’s unique vocal style has been likened to Natalie Merchant and Julia Stone, and her story-driven songs are supported by a stunning line-up of guest artists including legendary horn players John Hoffman and Martha Baartz, and guitarists Angie Hudson and Al Brooker.
Corpulent Provocateur have just released their second single 'Brown' and it's a thumping good rocker with dramatic vocals and a tight rock backing, the video is a superb addition. === Tale Of Two are a duo made up of Alfie Jackson and Gemma Rogers and their latest song 'Lovelust' is gorgeous. Described as a dark folk song it's addictive from the opening moments, love it! === Stumbleine shares the new song 'Lost To The World' which follows on from 'Supermodels' which we featured last month. With hints of Shoegaze and dream pop, this synthy multi textured track is amazing. === Jacob Dixon latest single is 'Slip' it opens gently, and just builds in richness and feeling, Jacob's vocals are wonderful on this thoughtful piece.
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Corpulent Provocateur - Brown
The Czech band Corpulent Provocateur has released its second single, Brown
which was recorded at The Animal Farm Music studios in London. The song was released together with a new music video. After the success of their first single “Call Girl” (also recorded at The Animal Farm, whose music video has achieved tens of thousands of views on YouTube in a very short time, was played on thirty-five radio stations around the world and got to the top of the charts), Corpulent Provocateur continues to rock with a rhythmic song that reflects on the problems associated with alcohol addiction.
Outside Influence on the New Material: Last spring, the band took advantage of an invitation from Finnish producer and owner of The Animal Farm Music label, Ville Leppanen, and went to London. The main reason was to try a different approach to recording and get a new sound to complement their music. This attempt was successful and four songs were recorded, and it’s clear the band has taken a big step forward. An integral part of the process was the collaboration with Leppanen, who helped the band in the song-writing process over the two months prior to their trip to London.
The band also had help from sound engineer and co-producer Craig Smith, who worked with the band throughout the recording session. His experience, good ear and incredible work ethic (staying late each day and working on the material till the early morning hours) brought the songs to life.
Final Touches from the Famous Hafod Mastering in Wales. Thanks to Leppanen’s contacts, the final masters were made near Cardiff, Wales at Hafod Mastering (The Kooks,Euros Childs, etc.)
Tale of Two, a songwriting duo comprised of Alfie Jackson (ex Holloways frontman turned songwriter/producer) and multi-talented writer and performer Gemma Rogers and they have recently released "Lovelust." The track, which has been described as a dark folk song, is a "cautionary tale that warns us not to choose lust over love."
About the song: Lovelust laments through the foreboding future likely to plague the path one is tempted to slither down. Singing to each other, man and woman, the perspectives of two tempted souls who already have lovers are thrown back and forth discussing the drunken allure of something new, short and potent at the risk of what is old, long and lasting. The song calls upon classical melodies and moves from the dark and sinister to the hope of love.
Band History: Alfie and Gemma met while playing on the same bill together and immediately knew they wanted to work together. Writing songs remotely (Alfie lives in Austria) they recently racked up more than 20,000 plays in just two weeks on their first collaboration for Gemma's solo project (single ‘Stop’ was released June 18). Gemma has since been signed and so they have been working together on her debut album which will be released under Tiny Global productions in 2020.
As the title suggests, UK producer Stumbleine’s seventh album ‘Sink Into The Ether’ offers a deep submergence within a celestial upper region somewhere beyond the clouds. Thriving on the space in between things, ‘Sink Into The Ether’ is chilled, heavenly and thought provoking. It’s another multi-faceted creation of glowing sonic vistas that are set to enrapture in 2020.
The album envelops the listener from the outset with the soft, pitched sway of “Sonder”. The track ebbs through calming shadows, showcasing Stumbleine’s warm, electronic glow and gamut of influences, with hushed hypnotic delayed sounds, vocal samples and snappy beats. Stumbleine’s skill at blending an array of electronic timbres washes over the largely instrumental record, exemplified in “Supermodels”, with its lo-fi chorus-drenched haze building to an emotional, percussion-driven climax. Here, and scattered about the album, RnB vocals are chopped-up, but glistening a dark, dreamy hue.
A cover of the Hole song, “Malibu” features Elizabeth Heaton of Midas Fall. Her delicate, dream-like vocals waft over the hazy instrumental waves like tendrils of smoke, as they both grow ever more desperate, and slowly crash. Elsewhere on the album tracks like ‘Lost To The World’ come together more immediately with flourishing synths and soaring backdrops overlaid by a heady bass and intricate beats, while ‘White Noise Therapy’ invokes a cinematic Tokyo-set film score peppered with playful soft pianos.
“Lost To the World” swings in addictive pitched-vocal punches, circling itself into a spiral. “Your Angel Was Fake” has a hopeful darkness about it, recalling electronic shoegaze and witch house artists of the early 2010s. It scales and then pulls away, at once breathing and stopping, full of blanket synth pads and subtle snaps of percussion.
Also known for his work in post-dubstep trio Swarms, Stumbleine has steadily built a cult of admirers around himself following collaborations across his varied albums and EPs with the likes of ASA, Shura, Violet Skies, Birds of Passage, Steffaloo and more. His sound, if it can be compared to anything at all, straddles post-rock shoegaze soundscapes with ambient electronica and experimental movements into something that can be both an ASMR hug to the ears yet also similarly arresting, fractured and off-kilter depending on which way things flow. As different sounds shift in and out, narratives become clear slowly and disappear quickly throughout Stumbleine’s kaleidoscopic visions.
The album will be available on digital platforms, CD and a pressing of 500 LPs on cream vinyl with a free album CD inside. Pre-orders available from the Monotreme Records web shop: http://monotremerecords.limitedrun.com/categories/stumbleine
Singer-Songwriter Jacob Dixon released “Slip” last Friday, another tease to his upcoming EP Lionheart due to be released on April 24, 2020. “Slip” highlights Dixon’s acoustic indie-folk sound and sees him in an emotional plea with himself to not allow life to slip by but to enjoy every small moment that is a part of his journey. Remarking on “Slip” Dixon says, “ “Slip” is about our life together. It’s about this weird period of adulthood where you want to take risks and not be content with the mediocre, but you still have to pay the bills. Where you have the opportunity to make long-term, life-changing decisions, but you still want your everyday life to matter.”
A slow, simple acoustic ballad creates the ideal backdrop for Dixon’s pleading vocals to sing “how many years, how many years will it take till I’m living like my heart wants to live…..how many tears, how many tears will it take till I realize that I let it all slip…oh please don’t let me let it all slip.” Dixon goes on to imagine his future family and the little life moments he will enjoy with them… living like the kid within himself, away from the distractions of the world. In a time of constant hustle and busyness, Dixon’s “Slip” is a necessary reminder to slow down and enjoy life before it passes you by.
Based in Raleigh, NC, Jacob Dixon is a singer-songwriter who explores the crossroads of indie-folk and indie-rock. While not necessarily “folk-rock”, Dixon has found his niche in the in-between with his newest release Lionheart - an EP that explores the fearlessness he experienced as a child, the treachery of taking his first few steps into adulthood, and the process of figuring out who he is going to be.
The 5 tracks of Lionheart carry an introspective, mature sound that has evolved since his debut EP New Zealand (2017). His musical influences are evident with a musical style and instrumentation reminiscent of Mumford & Sons, lyrical ingenuity like that of Noah Gundersen, and Ed Sheeran-esque vocals. However, Dixon doesn’t emulate his icons exactly, but he creates the ideal mash-up of his own unique soundscape. Able to perform in a quiet coffee shop with his acoustic guitar and a loop pedal, or on stage with a full band, Dixon undoubtedly brings fulfillment to each of his songs as the nostalgic words wash over listeners.
Satin Nickel share 'Free' where the Americana folk band open with a mellow understated feel, before expanding into a beautifully arranged and delivered piece. === Gizmo Varillas has a new single entitled 'Love Over Everything' and it's a vibrant mixture of musical rhythms and fabulous vocals and harmonies. === Purshink just released her debut single 'Kid' which is a gentle melodic piece with warmth and personal feeling. === From Magic Toy Missing we have 'War' a hook filled indie pop/rock song where the vocals exude emotion against a rich musical background.
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Satin Nickel - Free.
Americana/folk band, Satin Nickel, has released the new single, “Free,” and is currently putting the finishing touches on a live video to be released in late March. “Free” is the latest offering from the upcoming album, Shadow of Doubt, out April 10th.
Satin Nickel’s Samanta Aneson (vocals, guitar, banjo) wrote the song after moving from California to New York, away from her family and closest friends. “I’ve always been a super adventurous type and I knew from a young age I wanted to live in several different places throughout my life, but I didn’t realize how much I would miss the place I came from and the people there,” she told Audiofemme. “As an adult, I’ve lived on the other side of those decisions, and though I wouldn’t trade the opportunities and experiences I’ve had, I’ve lived with a lot of remorse. I’ve missed out on valuable years with my parents, for which the longing only grows stronger as they get older.”
Satin Nickel began as a collaboration between Aneson and fellow songwriter Morgan Hollingsworth (vocals, guitar, mandolin). Combining Hollingsworth’s aggressive approach to the Americana narrative with Aneson’s sentimental and introspective approach to folk music, they found their contrasting styles complemented each other, forming a powerful dichotomy, smooth as satin and hard as a nickel. In the winter of 2018, they met fellow theater artists Nikola Balac (drums) and Ariana Karp (cello) and released their debut self-titled EP. Adding bassist Andrew Shewaga to the group, Satin Nickel became a full-bodied quintet and recorded Shadow of Doubt.
Shadow of Doubt will be out everywhere on April 10th (which also happens to be Aneson’s birthday), and Satin Nickel will celebrate the release with a show at NYC’s Mercury Lounge.
Gizmo Varillas kicks off his 2020 with new single ‘Love Over Everything’. The follow-up to previous single ‘Saving Grace’, which featured an appearance from the legendary Tony Allen on drums, ‘Love Over Everything’ is a meeting of addictive rhythms and sun-kissed harmonies atop an insistently addictive bassline.
Talking about the track, Gizmo explains its inspiration; “Although we can’t always choose what happens to us, we can choose how we react. Choosing hate is much easier and loops back in a vicious cycle. The only way to truly heal is to choose love over everything”.
Response to Gizmo’s three 2019-released singles was spectacular, with plays received on BBC Radio Two (Jo Whiley), BBC 6 Music (Lauren Laverne, Chris Hawkins & Tom Robinson), BBC Radio Wales (Huw Stephens, Janice Long & Adam Walton), BBC London (Gary Crowley & Jess Iszatt), and Amazing Radio. A live sessions was recorded for BBC London (Gary Crowley), and “Out Of The Darkness” was added to the BBC Radio Wales A-List.
He has surpassed 30 Million Streams, with over 13 million streams on Spotify alone (with 300,000 monthly listeners & 750,000 monthly streams), making appearances on their ‘A Perfect Day’, ‘Discover With Friends’, ‘Feel Good Dinner’ and ‘FIFA 19’ playlists. He has also appeared on the Apple Music ‘A List’ and ‘Breaking Singer Songwriter’ playlists.
After a sold out headline show at London Assembly in November 2019, and having supported Rodrigo Y Gabriella, Jack Savoretti, and Seu Jorge, as well as making appearances at Montreux Jazz Festival, Zermatt Unplugged, Latitude Festival, The Reeperbahn Festival, and Eurosonic.
Purshink performs internationally as a solo piano and vocal act. A classically trained musician, she is seduced by different types of music.
During her travels as a performer, she started writing and experimenting with her own music and in the beginning of 2020 will be releasing her debut single “Kid”.
The song is recorded and mixed in Zurich and NY in collaboration with producer Arizona Stoneheart.
Magic Toy Missing is a project with a focus on creating music that blurs the lines between indie pop and rock. Based out of Zurich, Switzerland, the group started in 2019. Composer and producer Eddie Martin joined forces with Tetem, a charismatic singer from Tokyo, Japan.
They brought this amazing new project to life, channeling their diverse creative approach and writing songs that explore many different themes. Their lyrics are very honest and very easy to relate to, because they often talk about life. It's all about relating to the struggles in life, but also being able to look back on your journey as a human, Because, as they say, your most precious conviction is most certainly untrue.
“War” is actually the first single to be featured on the artist’s upcoming album, to be released in June 2020. As one of the highlights of the release, “War” is a perfect introduction to what people can expect from the album.
Magic Toy Missing is a band to watch out if you love music that is honest and made with passion!
We shared 'Body Of Water' by Hundreds in January and they are back with their third single 'Calling' and it's another splendid electro pop song. === It's a year to the day since we last featured Melby who have just released 'Things I Do When I'm Alone' a melodic indie folk track that is warm and so engaging. === Yesterday CocoRosie released their seventh album entitled 'Put The Shine On' from which we have already shared some tracks, now we have the whole collection and it is everything they promised and more. === Time flies by, it's been over a year since we last featured Rosie Carney whose back with the new single 'When I Look At You'. So this is appearance twelve on Beehive Candy, maybe that's enough of a recommendation in it's own right. === Today Ross Palmer releases 'You Wont Need To Cry' a smooth, melodic alt folk kind of a song and it's beautiful.
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Hundreds - Calling.
After "Ready Shaking Silent" and "Body of Water", Hundreds now share their third single "Calling" from the upcoming album The Current, which will be released on March 27th on Embassy of Music.
On their fourth album, the siblings Philipp and Eva Milner know how to weave the organic with the electronic like few in the German pop landscape. They underlay great melodies and emotions with a steady pulse of electronic beats and synths that quickly gets under your skin. In this respect, The Current has even more facets than the previous albums, the timbre is brighter, the attitude more combative.
Soundwise, the courage to try out new things is most evident on the single "Calling". It starts with little more than the Hundreds DNA: Philipp's synth flickering, a beat that still has to decide whether it wants to appear euphoric or threatening, and Eva's longing, strong, yet cool and dramatic voice. And then suddenly, after 90 seconds, right after a break in which you can only hear Eva, a wind section suddenly burst open the song, a stadium-pop moment, which at this point doesn't seem cheesy at all but rather like a kind of positive battle cry. Which is partly because of Eva's words: "I’ll raise another banner I’m raising my own banner.“ That this point is so momentous is also due to the contrast to the theme of the song and lines like this: "I see you falling / falling apart / falling for yourself / and the stories you’ve made up I hear you howling in the dark and I won’t take part.“ What Eva describes here is nothing less than the moment of the struggle to break free from an emotionally unhealthy friendship to a person who turned out to be a chronic narcissist.
In the official video that was shot at the Baltic Sea, in the Wendland area of Germany, Eva takes the meaning of ‘Calling’ to a deeper level. Effortlessly striding across the beautiful landscape, she waves a red flag warning foes to keep their distance: "Raise your voice, discover your own strength, leave people behind you who are slowly poisoning you and 'raise your banner’!
Stockholm four-piece Melby have constantly been growing since their debut with catchy single 'Human' in 2016. Last year, the band took their biggest step yet with the acclaimed debut record 'None of this makes me worry' which was followed by tour dates all over Europe. Now, the band are set to return with new single 'Things I Do When I'm Alone' which is out now before the band head off on yet another tour that will see them play dates in Denmark and Germany.
The band often gets comparison to fellow Swedes Dungen and Amason but Melby’s dynamic sound, with influences from folk, psych, indie and pop, stand out. The quartets light, semi-psychedelic folk pop is led by Matilda Wiezell’s enchanting voice which fits perfectly with Melby’s unique musical landscape - a sound that's been called "otherworldly, and wholly brilliant" by The Line of Best Fit. The band consists of Wiezell, Are Engen Steinsholm (back-up vocals, guitar), David Jehrlander (bass) and Teo Jernkvist (drums) and formed while living together in a Stockholm shared housing.
Things I Do When I'm Alone is a development of the sound of Melby's debut, building on the more melancholy folk inspired sides that were showcased on None of this makes me worry without losing the playfulness and sense of melody that always have been a vital part of the band's sound.
Melby on the track: "Most of this song was recorded in kind of strange places: the staircase leading to our rehearsal space, and a friend's living room. This made us much less picky than we usually are. And it was easier to feel happy with what we did at once when we weren’t in a regular studio. I don’t think we did more than two takes on any track, and we decided on the sound of each instrument instantly. It feels like this gives the track more of a playful quality than our earlier songs have had. I think this mixes well with the themes of the song. You could say it is about longing for a sense of community, and to live with other people." Things I Do When I'm Alone is out on Rama Lama Records (ROW) and Sinnbus (GSA) now. The track was recorded with and produced by Alexander Eldefors.
Sister duo CocoRosie (Sierra and Bianca Casady) release their seventh album Put The Shine On via Marathon Artists. With stand out tracks such as “Smash My Head” including a Bianca Casady-directed video, “Aloha Friday” and “Restless” which includes a rollerskating fun video (directed by CocoRosie), the band have paved a new way for their follow-up to their 2015 album Heartache City.
Dear Ones. Let us celebrate together the release of our 7th Record! (Can you imagine we have been a band for 17 years?!) “Put The Shine One” means a lot to us and contains much of our heart & soul. Cheers to new light! And new love! Love, CocoRosie
Summer 2019 saw CocoRosie return first via a collaboration with Chance The Rapper, “Roo” (co-written, produced and performed by CocoRosie)on his album, The Big Day. CocoRosie’s music has influenced a wide variety of artists over the years - besides Chance The Rapper, from Melanie Martinez stating the sisters are a major inspiration, as well as Jay Rock on “Knock It Off” and Macklemore/Ryan Lewis on “Stay at Home Dad” sampling their music, to respected artists like Yoko Ono and Jim Jarmusch praising the sisters.
CocoRosie is the music-based project of American cross-disciplinary performance artists Sierra and Bianca Casady. Their songs blend a myriad of styles and references, from hip-hop to folk and opera, shaping the most painful of experiences into memorable and evocative pop songs. Taken as a whole, CocoRosie’s music is an ongoing psychologically intimate dialogue between the siblings. Each sister has multiple personae and vocal styles; Bianca delivers troubadours-style rap while Sierra often responds with ethereal tones while accompanying their voices on harp, piano, or guitar. A quintessential part of their sound is a percussive landscape made using children's toys and other found objects which adds a particular nostalgia to their songs.
Finding expression for their ideas in other disciplines beyond the traditional musical parameters is paramount to the sisters - and often a source of inspiration for their songwriting. In addition to their album tours and festival performances worldwide, Bianca has held solo exhibitions of her artwork in NYC at Deitch Gallery and Cheim and Read. Bianca has created “Nightshift,” a dance-theater production and Sierra wrote and performed “Soul Life,” an experimental opera, both staged at the Donau Festival in Krems which they curated in 2012. Continuing on her path to become a theater director, Bianca directed two theater plays with the National Theater Academy in Norway and is currently developing new works, exploring new forms of opera and dance where Sierra will play a lead role, to be premiered at the Manchester Festival in 2022.
Sierra has arranged and performed music in collaboration with the likes of the Symphony Orchestra of Amsterdam, The ICA in London and The Sydney Opera House. Most recently, CocoRosie has composed original scores for four full-length theatrical works by Robert Wilson: Peter Pan, Pushkin's Fairy Tales, Edda and Jungle Book. Last year they presented the second series of songs written for a collaboration with the Kronos Quartet at their hometown Kronos Festival in San Francisco.
In their seventeen years as CocoRosie, the sisters Sierra and Bianca Casady have released seven albums: Put The Shine On (2020), Heartache City (2015), Tales of A Grass Widow (2013), Grey Oceans (2010), The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn (2007), Noah's Ark (2005), and their debut album, La Maison de Mon Reve (2004) -- each one inspiring controversy and debate in equal amounts to praise; such is their fearlessness and willingness to take risks with their art. This strong creative vision runs through every aspect of their work - from videos to live performance utilizing theatrical costumes and make-up - which they create alongside each new body of songs.
Following her critically acclaimed debut album Bare, Rosie Carney returns with new single “when i look at you.”, the first single of upcoming EP i dreamed i was the night. With more than 2 million monthly listeners and over 70 million streams on Spotify, Carney’s debut album ‘Bare’ received praise from The Line of Best Fit (9/10), Mojo, The Sunday Times, PASTE, NPR and Uncut. Written after the release of Bare, Rosie created a collection of dark folk songs which she recorded in New York with Thomas Bartlett (Doveman), known for his work with Sufjan Stevens, Vagabon, Florence + the Machine and more.
The first single ‘when i look at you’ is being released with an accompanying video. It’s another intimate moment from Carney in a first choreographed visual pursuing the song’s themes: “heartbreak, betrayal and destruction. All of which I have inflicted on myself for as long as I can remember.” She explains; “I never felt comfortable being in front of the camera, it’s like I wrapped myself in chains, and I knew in order to really tell this story I had to break myself free from them.”
It’s a further exploration into the effects of her past which she so devastatingly conveys on Bare. The album received a critical acclaim from the press with NPR writing “her songs feel lived-in and worn, conveying a bruised ache well beyond her years… the weary grace of a survivor who’s located the source of her strength.” This was echoed by the outpouring of messages from her fiercely expanding fan base as it resonated globally.
Throughout the period from her being discovered and signed the age of 16 to Bare’s release, the only constant was the catharsis that came with song writing: “I see my songs in images as I write them, so I knew as I wrote this song that I would be in the video, something I’ve never done before. I knew I wanted to move my body (again something I’ve never done before) but I knew I had to do it in a way that would tell the story of the pain and fear I've been through both physically and mentally over the past 10 years.” Alongside dance partner Tylor Deyn, she uses subtle and minimal movement in order to portray the discomfort she has lived with for some time, “just before the shoot, I was diagnosed with PTSD, and honestly since the video, I have been so hooked on creatively moving my body. It’s the therapy I didn’t know I needed.”
“I knew when my mum couldn’t talk to me after watching the video that we had succeeded,” she explains. ‘when i look at you’ is another incredibly personal cut from Rosie, as she fully welcomes the listener into her self-described “weird little world”. ‘when i look at you’ is available on all online platforms from March 13th. ‘i dreamed i was the night’ EP is out April 10th via Color Study, a self-described “personal pop” indie label founded in 2019 by her manager Spencer Kelley.
Ross Palmer is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and audio engineer based in south London. He has played guitar, bass and drums in a variety of bands, from traditional English folk to lo-fi rock 'n' roll.
Currently he plays in an acoustic/folk duo with fellow singer-songwriter Melanie Crew, and also plays guitar with Americana artist James McKean and alternative folk/pop songwriter Yo Zushi.
About You Won't Need to Cry - Needing a break from his acoustic guitar and open tunings, Ross wrote You Won't Need to Cry and Hard to Begin to satisfy his urge to play guitar solos and rock drums, and sing lots of harmonies. The songs sound a little like Elliott Smith, or Joe Pernice, or the Posies when they turn their amps down a bit. He recorded and mixed the songs himself at home, playing all the instruments, and invited Melanie Crew to sing extra harmonies on You Won't Need to Cry.
Derayernah just released 'Siberian Scopes' along with the lyric video for what is an exceptional song where power meets creativity resulting in this gorgeous piece. === Ttrruuceshave shared 'Sensations Of Cool'. We featured debut their track 'Sad Girl' last October and the new song has lush electronica with some psychedelic vibes and fabulous vocals. === The Last Morrell shares 'A Comedy' where majestic dual vocals (thanks to Caitlyn Scarlett) make this a very special song. === From Claire Coupland we have 'Leave Me Alone' where the folk/roots singer songwriter is in feisty form and the video adds more to this musical story. === Swedish singer song-writer Marlene Oak has released the rather gorgeous 'One Way', her vocals are melodic and powerful on this very catchy track.
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Derayernah - Siberian Scopes.
Derayernah is not just a band name: it’s a feeling; a spirit animal; a footnote at the bottom of a religious text; a foghorn in the night directing you to another realm. It’s no surprise then that the band have chosen now to introduce the world to not just their debut album, “In Joys” but also a brand-new single, “Siberian Scopes”. Derayernah chose not to promote “In Joys” last year: “We didn't promote our debut album because we wanted to wait for the Consummation of All Things to draw nearer, the end of the world. That time is now".
Though time is running out for music lovers to experience the unruly whirling dervish daymare of 1920s Dadaism, lyrical surrealism and knowing humour (sometimes lost on humans) of their recorded work, Derayernah is proud to present, though bullishly indifferent to judgement, a glimpse of what would happen if Gregorian monks met prog yetis in a boxing ring in the Middle East via a scenic route taking in Turkey. To quote the band’s slogan, Derayernah are finally ready to Unveil the Arm.
Recorded in 2019 at Anchor Lane Studio in Glasgow by Luigi Pasquini, In Joys is the full-length debut of Derayernah (Drue Marsland and Jhau Watema), though they chose not to bother telling anyone about it at the time. Over seven tracks, the band evoke shades of the concentrated freak concerti of Mothers of Invention, the proto-surgery rock of Black Midi and the proggy excesses of Porcupine Tree. Having met when Drue walked into the wrong rehearsal room and opted to stay with Jhau rather rejoin his actual bandmates, the band never doubted the cosmos’ choice in uniting them and succumbed to their destiny of writing art rock with lyrics which would doubtless spook horses – for example, from Dreaming on the Upper:
Lystra, where are your ephods?
(At the core of the giant cosmos)
Derbe, where are your priests?
(The ram was slain out of time’s realm)
Icon, we are not godings
(Catch the foxes in our starry vineyard)
Firstly, big on your wreath
(Scar their kind lest they spoil what we’ve made)
https://genius.com/albums/Derayernah/In-joys
To accompany the album is a brand-new single released on 12th March, Siberian Scopes, which builds on their transcendental foundations. The band happy to explain the story behind the track: “The song tells of a voyage to the dystopian city of Abakan to pay homage to a larger-than-life monarch known as “the Tsar”.
Sonically, we’d long been fans of Turkish folk music, and wanted to infuse an Eastern vibe into one of our numbers, but not in a patchy gimmicky way. So, we used conventional rock instrumentation, but the melodic skeleton of the song is Near Eastern-ish, with chanted vocals”.
TTRRUUCES’ mind-altering narrative has started to infiltrate the nation’s airwaves. Their latest, self-titled track - themed around an experimental, consciousness expanding new drug - has picked up Radio 1 plays courtesy of Jack Saunders, adding to previous support from Tom Robinson at 6 Music.
So far, their tracks have also introduced the two lead characters in their story. There’s Sadie, the 17-year-old Sad Girl, who’s disenchanted, depressed and out of place in the world. We’ve also met Syd, the Lost Boy. He’s a little older than Sadie, but he’s also an outsider. He can’t find his lust for life, despite living a hedonistic existence of risk-taking and epic nights out.
And most recently, TTRRUUCES was unveiled. The experiemental new drug which is available as a blue pill or a deep electric blue powder. The drug reputedly opens your mind, makes your confront your fears and shows you the world for what it really is. With ‘Sensations of Cool’, TTRRUUCES have continued to exapand their sound, this time around it is a sleek concoction of French tinted electronic and symphonic psychedelia, with the elegant lead vocal expressing Sadie’s experiences.
The track’s video finds the narrative’s lead character Sadie as she desperately seeks a like-minded soul in her mundane neighbourhood. Her curiosity rapidly becomes voyeuristic as she discovers that fakery, vanity and consumerism has overwhelmed society. She discovers that the town has become a grotesque suburban freak show, populated by weird sex, Stepford Wives and psychotic late night gardeners. The video reflects the immorality that’s an essential part of TTRRUUCES’ fictional world, but one that’s just a step away from our own existence. “This is by far the most kooky video I’ve ever directed,” commented filmmaker Sam Kinsella. “We went Lynch meets Dr. Seuss, and I still get genuinely scared every time I watch it back. Both the song and the video perfectly capture my feelings towards the current world, which I’ve been struggling to express for some time.”
London based TTRRUUCES relocated to the seaside for a year to give themselves the freedom to fully immerse themselves in creating their debut album. They produced it themselves before calling on Alan Moulder (Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, Foals) for mixing duties, and France’s leading engineer Chab (Daft Punk, Christine & The Queens) for mastering. Emerging from their self-imposed exile, TTRRUUCES released ‘Sad Girl’ late last year and it received early airplay from Tom Robinson at 6 Music. They’ve also played select introductory shows including The Great Escape and The British Sound Project as well a secret show at their HQ, a converted studio warehouse named The Factory.
Raised in a small Yorkshire town, emerging artist The Last Morrell has already performed alongside BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter Tom Odell and exciting jazz four-piece Ezra Collective, as well as a set at BBC Introducing Live last year. He also performs as a session musician, hiding at the back of the stage playing keys and guitar for ‘alternative soul’ artist VC Pines and prodigal talent Caitlyn Scarlett. The latter joins him on his new single ‘A Comedy’ out 12th March.
‘A Comedy’ is the story of a couple who’ve been arguing for hours, they’ve lost sight of why they started fighting and it’s become more about who wins the argument than who is right or wrong. The song follows the aftermath of this argument as the couple try to get their connection back, calling to each other to let their guard down and find comfort in each other’s arms again. ‘A Comedy’ is about a communication breakdown between two people who ultimately love each other.
With over 10 million streams on Spotify, Caitlyn Scarlett is an exciting addition to the track, softly harmonizing The Last Morrell’s sultry McCartney-esque whispers with oozing honey-like tones. Vintage organ rays and twinkling guitars set the backdrop for the duo’s yearning and self-reflective nostalgia.
Similar to The Last Morrell’s last single ‘Another Boy’, it’s a warm track that draws on classic 70s influences with confidence and ease yet weaves seamlessly into a modern paradigm which twists and turns like a black swan ballet. ‘A Comedy’ offers somewhere between a stunning duet that recalls the chemistry of past love duets like ‘I Got You Babe’ to ‘Islands In The Stream’ fused with peak Wings and Fleetwood Mac. This is quality music.
A Vancouver Islander at heart, now a Toronto dwelling folk/roots singer songwriter, Claire effortlessly pulls her audience into her personal world of love and life experiences, but always with a touch of her “wicked sense of humour” (Rik Emmett, Triumph). Influenced by folk/rock artists growing up and a degree in Contemporary Music performance, she blends her own style of intricate guitar playing and jazz influenced melodies, progressions and arrangements.
An OAC songwriting nominee, she’ll have concert goers bobbing their heads one minute, and silence the room with a tender rendition the next. With the vocal power of Susan Tedeschi paired with the velvety softness of Eva Cassidy, she brings her warm, approachable west coast charm to the stage and a graceful contemporary feel to indie folk music.
Known for her ability to “transport her listeners to another world” her pure, clear voice, passionate performances and skilfully crafted songs paired with a personable performance approach win over audiences, time and time again. She also has a talent for mimicry and may whip out a voice impression or two…
Sam Doores - Other Side of Town (ft. Alynda Segarra).
Sam Doores of The Deslondes (and formerly Hurray for the Riff Raff), is set to release his self-titled solo debut tomorrow via New West Records. The 14-song set was recorded in Berlin by Anders ‘Ormen’ Christopherson, in Nashville by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Hurray for the Riff Raff) and in Doores’ homebase of New Orleans. Written on-and-off over the course of several years, Doores’ captivating solo debut is classic and contemporary all at once. Blending traditional southern roots, New Orleans R&B, and psychedelic landscapes, Sam Doores is a cinematic and infectious collection that reckons with heartache and loss, love and gratitude, fresh starts and, ultimately, a whole lotta change.
Working in Berlin, Doores found himself collaborating with an inspiring cast of characters from all over the world assembled by the producer Christopherson, resulting in a wild international “Wrecking Crew” of sorts. The album also features Alynda Lee Segarra of Hurray For The Riff Raff, Margo Price, Mat Davidson of Twain, and the New Orleans jazz mainstays Tuba Skinny.
The Bitter Southerner has premiered the video for the single “Other Side of Town” featuring Alynda Lee Segarra of Hurray For the Riff Raff today. Shot in New Orleans during this year’s Mardi Gras, The Bitter Southerner says, “In this track, a modern doo-wop song set in our beloved New Orleans, Doores and his former bandmate Alynda Segarra deliver an upbeat antidote to heartbreak. A response to hard times, these beats might be just what the doctor ordered.”
Swedish singer-songwriter Marlene Oak follows up her recent track ”Black Roses” with new single “One Way” - co-written and co-produced by Jake Bugg. The new single will be a part of Marlene Oak’s debut album, to be released on the 10th of April. “'One way' for me is about taking the courage to open up new doors in your life, breaking old patterns and destructive ways of living” says Marlene Oak. “But in order for new opportunities to arise, you gotta have the courage to leave old patterns behind.”
Marlene Oak wrote the song together with Jake Bugg - a new friend and collaborator who she got in touch with in an unexpected way. “Jake and I have mutual friends from Sweden, so I contacted him on my own and asked if he wanted to have a writing session. To be honest - at first, I was very nervous to have a session with him since he’s always been a big inspiration to me, but as soon we started writing it all came naturally. We met up at the studio Riksmixningsverket when he was in Stockholm, and then we sat there for a full day, writing together. That’s when we wrote ‘One Way’” says Marlene Oak, and continues:
“I love the way Jake's writing, he's so good at finding melodies and making all the parts fit together. He has taught me a lot and I'm very happy that we wrote this song.” With co-writing, co-production and guitar by Jake Bugg, drums by Guido Ros, bass by Samuel Colmar, and mixing by Linn Fijal, together they’ve managed to create an atmospheric and raw track that hits you right in the heart.
“Growing up on an island outside Stockholm, singer-songwriter Marlene Oak turned to music as her escape, and then spent her teenage years busking on the streets of the Swedish capital’s Old Town.”
After releasing a couple of singles, and last year’s EP “Silver Moon”, she has gone all-in as a live artist, and built her following on the pub and festival stages around Sweden. Marlene Oak has enchanted audiences with her folk-rock melodies across the country as she focuses on performing live, including lucrative festival performances such as Way Out West, STHLM Americana and Irisfestivalen. Marlene Oak’s debut EP ‘Silver Moon’ was released in 2019, with the debut album “Northern Winds” coming on the 10th of April.
Yumi Zouma recently shared 'Southwark' which is taken from this coming Friday's album release by the band 'Truth Or Consequences'. Comprising of ten songs the album really is a breath of fresh air, the featured track indicating their refined quality and beautifully crafted music. === Ben Wood and The Bad Ideas have released 'Noon Drunk', following on from 'Cora Cora Cora' which we featured last month. We described the last song as no nonsense rock, this is some more and its gritty, fabulous, and I love the video (I miss those London Pub day's). === We have the new album from Phantoms vs Fire streaming in full below, it's entitled 'Superbloom II'. The electronic artist was featured by Beehive Candy back in 2018, his creativity and imagination impressed us then, this takes the music even further, it's glorious. === Pyrotechnist new album is called 'Fire Crackers' from which we have 'Noi-Zee Boy' and 'Captain Kidd' to enjoy, their mixture of Dub and so much more is just fabulous. === 'Two Minds' is the latest single from Cayley Thomas's forthcoming album, 'How Else Can I Tell You?' and it's melodic, catchy and a beautifully arranged song.
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Yumi Zouma - Southwark.
In the early 2010s, the members of Yumi Zouma spent time together on a New Zealand street that gave its name to their first single, “The Brae.” After the 2011 Christchurch earthquake destroyed that street and much of the city, its members took off for other parts of the globe and soon began writing their first songs over email.
As a result, the band was born, and distance became a recurring theme in Yumi Zouma’s work. This makes sense given the far-flung cities the group of musicians currently call home: New York City for Burgess, London for Ryder, Wellington for Campion, and Simpson remaining in their native Christchurch. Of course, distance can also manifest metaphorically, and it’s in these figurative chasms that Truth or Consequences, Yumi Zouma’s third album and first for Polyvinyl, finds its narrative: romantic and platonic heartbreak, real and imagined emotional distance, disillusionment, and being out of reach. There are no answers, there’s very seldom closure, but there is an undeniable release that comes from saying the truth, if only to oneself.
“In the age we’re living in, there’s an emphasis on making things clear cut” says Burgess about the album’s title. “But in life and in art, nothing is ever that definitive. The truth is usually in the gray zones, and I think that’s so much of what we were trying to explore and understand on this album.”
Whilst exploring these realms, Yumi Zouma deliberately pursued a deeper sense of collaboration in order to craft a record that reflects the bond between them. Produced by the band and mixed by engineer Jake Aron (Solange, Grizzly Bear, Snail Mail), Truth or Consequences stems from sessions in Los Angeles, London, and Christchurch, where the band actively took a collegial approach, often working note-by-note, to ensure the foundations of the album reflected a sense of togetherness.
“We wanted to make the songwriting process as egalitarian as possible. Completely sharing the process helped us feel like we were capturing a purer sense of atmosphere,” says Ryder.
Whilst starting out as a performer in London and a busker on the London Underground, Ben Wood was offered the unique opportunity to contribute to an X-Ray Spex charity album in the US -one of only two UK bands who were offered the privilege. Ben had to find a band and put a Track together and send it over in 48 hours.
Amazingly, he pulled it all together and formed his band, Ben Wood and The Bad Ideas from the experience: the name was a reference to his trepidation about the previous situation. They went on to play many stages: Prince Charles’ Garden Party, the Yes To Life Festival and release their compilation track, Obsessed With You as their debut single.
The band’s single “The Reveal” (released in 2018) featured Bruce Thomas of Elvis Costello and theAttractions on bass as well as artist Cristabel Christo.The band’s 2020 offerings will prove to be no exception with guest spots from legendary musicians such as Dave Barbarossa of Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow, Billy Ritchie of 60s prog pioneers Clouds (Ritchie famously introduced a young David Bowie to Jimi Hendrix) and even Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols. LA based musician Nick Maybury (Scott Weiland Band/ Juliette & The the Licks) and Mike Webster of Southend’s Asylums will also feature on guitar.
“We’ve always tried to push ourselves and to try different ways of making music. We’re really excited about releasing the new material in a different way.” “We love collaborating. Things that we just wouldn’t have thought of come to the fore and it brings such different character and identity to the songs.”
Superbloom II paints a picture of a mystical desert landscape inhabited only by a lone, wandering botanist by observing her roam the expanse from the perspective of the hardy plants surviving the strange land.
Inspired by the early works of Buchla synth pioneer Suzanne Ciani, Brazil's Thiago Desant, Phantoms vs Fire, shapes each track as an embodiment of the voice of one of these watchers -- the shrubs and cacti and wind and stars above -- pulling from the inquisitive progressive electronics of Ciani and fusing with contemporary minimalist and neoclassical harmonies, wandering acoustic soundscapes, orchestral tension, and buried field recordings to concoct an atmosphere as rooted in the earth as it is flashing across the expanses of open space.
Over the arc of the album, the botanist melds with the land around her, days spent studying flora and nights spent gazing at the infinite stars overhead, guiding us along on a journey filled with unending mystery and awe.
After Moon Invaders split in 2014, Nico, former drummer and Pierre, former guitarist reconnected during a Slackers' gig in Belgium. They agreed that the Pum Pum Hotel Studio would be the perfect place to experiment with a new dub project so they scheduled a date to meet there and give it a try.
Just a few minutes after entering the studio, the record key was pressed and the first tracks’ recording of Dub Rocketry was on the way. Nico playing drums with Pierre playing bass first and next Nico adding keyboard, melodica, percussions and Pierre adding the guitars. They were joined later by David Loos and Rolf Langsjoen, previously saxophonist and trumpetist of Moon Invaders.
It took one year to record the 12 tracks and finish the dub mix using analog tapes machines, vintage effects and vintage instruments. With the help of Chuck Wren, "Dub Rocketry" first LP came out in 2016 on Jump Up Records the famous label from Chicago.
They had so much fun doing this first album that they decided to renew the experiment and launched the "Fire Crackers" recordings one year later, right on time for the Badasonic Records label creation.
“Two Minds” is the latest single from Cayley Thomas's forthcoming album, "How Else Can I Tell You?", which will be released in full on May 1st, 2020.
Cayley tells us - “Two Minds” is my favourite song on the record. It is all about the negotiation and mental drama that the primitive part of my brain likes to produce when faced with a challenge. Luckily, I have learned to identify this state and am now able to intervene, bringing my higher consciousness into the equation to form a sort of thought tug-o-war.
Negative emotion does not produce positive action. Criticizing yourself and telling yourself that you should be better than you are just makes you feel worse and act in ways that manifest more of the behaviour you are criticizing.
This is one of the tragedies of perfectionism. Making it seem like the destination is too far to even bother. Because it keeps us thinking that doing a little bit is pointless. But doing a little is everything. You don’t get anywhere with ambitious perfect plans. You get there little bit by little bit.
“Two Minds” is an optimistic song despite the conflicted tone in my voice. It marks an opportunity for a new beginning.
