Puffy Saigon - Full Flower Moon Band - Sarah Louise - Jim Basnight

Puffy Saigon - Foster Child (Album).

Puffy Saigon explore an eclectic world of psychedelia and poetic expression. Conceived primarily as a studio project, Puffy Saigon brings together a fascinating blend of contrasting sounds, languages and influences, wrapped in striking, enigmatic lyrics inspired by magic realism and 20th-century European and American poetry. Drawing on an eclectic musical palette that embraces British and American psychedelia, West Coast electro-acoustic experimentation and the atmospheric late-period work of Talk Talk's Mark Hollis, the album also finds inspiration in the likes of Scott Walker, John Martyn, Skip Spence, Laura Nyro, Peter Hammill, Nick Drake, Neil Young and David Crosby. The result promises a richly textured and imaginative listening experience that refuses to be confined by conventional boundaries.

Behind Puffy Saigon is the multifaceted David D'Amore, an artist whose creative journey spans several decades of live music and visual art. His musical career has taken him from European tours with Wild Way during the 1980s to performances at Rome's legendary Folk Studio and Piper. Alongside music, D'Amore has established himself as a painter, draftsman and photographer, exhibiting at prestigious venues including Rome's 2RC Gallery, the Palazzo delle Esposizioni and New York's Frank Bustamante Gallery.

Much like his music, D'Amore's visual work resists easy categorisation, instead exploring the complexities of the human experience in all its shades and contradictions. Suffering, joy, fear, desire, ambiguity, loneliness and sexuality all find their place in an artistic world that embraces the beautiful, the uncomfortable and everything in between. This deeply human perspective gives Puffy Saigon its distinctive creative identity, bringing together a lifetime of artistic exploration in a project driven by curiosity and emotional honesty.

After almost fifty years of live performances, D'Amore has now chosen to step away from the stage to concentrate exclusively on studio production, a decision rooted in what he describes as a spiritual necessity. "We are pouring everything into composition and arrangements: recording each track takes months of work, and repeating those same memorized pieces in concert would drag us into a routine, preventing us from keeping our creative tension high." It's an approach that places artistic freedom and experimentation firmly at the heart of Puffy Saigon, allowing D'Amore to pursue his musical vision without compromise.

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Photo - Tori McGraw

Full Flower Moon Band - Party Hard.

Full Flower Moon Band Announce Fourth Album After Dark With Powerful New Single ‘Party Hard’ - Australian rock outfit Full Flower Moon Band, the project of songwriter, guitarist and frontwoman Kate ‘Babyshakes’ Dillon, are set to return with their fourth album, After Dark, arriving February 25, 2027. The announcement comes accompanied by new single ‘Party Hard’, following September's release of ‘Endless Summer’ and offering another tantalising glimpse into the darker, heavier direction of the forthcoming record. Having evolved from Dillon's original bedroom project into a formidable live band, Full Flower Moon Band have carved out a distinctive place in contemporary Australian rock, combining heavy guitars, psychedelic swagger and sharp, often darkly humorous songwriting.

Despite its seemingly carefree title, ‘Party Hard’ carries a deeply emotional message. Initially conceived with a spirit of abandon and celebration, the song took on an altogether different significance when Dillon learned, on the day she wrote its chorus, that a fan had died by suicide. Reflecting on the track's unexpected emotional weight, she explains: "The chorus is me trying to inspire someone to ‘ask for forgiveness and not permission’ to live the life they want, and to the fullest. It ultimately became a more gravitational anthem than I expected." It's a powerful sentiment that gives the single an added poignancy, transforming its celebratory instincts into an uplifting call to embrace life.

The forthcoming After Dark was shaped by an intense period of personal and creative discovery, beginning with a month Dillon spent in New York after receiving the prestigious Grant McLennan Fellowship. Removed from the familiar surroundings of Brisbane, the experience brought a mixture of isolation, uncertainty and heightened creative energy, providing the inspiration for much of the album's songwriting. Returning to Australia, Dillon subsequently relocated to Melbourne and embraced a fresh approach to making music, working closely with producer and drummer Jim Rindfleish to explore new possibilities and allow the songs to develop more organically.

Moving away from the hands-on involvement she has traditionally maintained throughout recording sessions, Dillon instead embraced a more collaborative creative process, giving After Dark room to evolve in unexpected directions. Reflecting on the experience, she describes the record as something both challenging and essential: "Making any album, I sit inside of it. This one felt intimidating, fateful and necessary." With ‘Party Hard’ already revealing a compelling combination of emotional depth, muscular rock energy and adventurous songwriting, Full Flower Moon Band look set to deliver another fascinating chapter when After Dark arrives next February.

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Sarah Louise - Sit With The Feeling.

Sarah Louise Embraces Emotional Honesty on Dreamy New Single ‘Sit With the Feeling’ - British singer-songwriter Sarah Louise combines heartfelt storytelling, soulful vocals and acoustic influences to create contemporary pop rooted in love, resilience, hope and human connection. Her new single, ‘Sit With the Feeling’, signals an exciting new chapter, introducing a dreamy, atmospheric sound shaped by personal experiences, heartbreak and renewal.

At its heart, the song encourages listeners to embrace their emotions rather than suppress or run from them, recognising how life's toughest experiences can shape who we become. Central to its message is Sarah's signature metaphor of heart-shaped pebbles, a reminder that life's storms don't break us, but shape us. Through honest songwriting and emotive pop, she offers a reassuring message about finding beauty in unexpected places and remembering that we're never alone.

‘Sit With the Feeling’ is taken from Sarah's forthcoming EP, Person I Needed, produced by Neal Handforth and due for release on 27th November. The collection promises to further explore the emotional honesty and self-discovery that have become defining features of her songwriting, inviting listeners to embrace every season of their own story.

Already boasting multiple UK and European iTunes No.1 singles, Sarah continues to build an international following. Her song ‘Sunflower’ has attracted more than 22 million Instagram views, introducing her music to audiences around the world, while performances at Nashville's iconic Bluebird Café and venues, festivals and theatres across the UK have established her as a compelling live performer.

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Jim Basnight - Think of Me / Looking into The Moonlight.

Jim Basnight Celebrates Guitar-Driven Rock and Roll on New Single ‘Think of Me’ - Veteran singer-songwriter Jim Basnight returns with ‘Think of Me’, a lively slice of garage-inspired jangle pop taken from his latest album, Under the Rock, which received nominations in five categories at the 2026 Josie Music Awards. Released worldwide last week, the single showcases a joyful festival of rock and roll guitar interplay, with Basnight joined by guitarist Bruce Hazen, whose playing features throughout the album and its accompanying non-album tracks. As Jim explains, it's a celebration of guitar-driven rock and roll, wrapped up in a great garage pop tune.

The track also features excellent contributions from Glenn Hummel on drums and Garey Shelton on bass, while Beth Peabody and fellow Jim Basnight Band member Cathy Sorbo provide tremendous vocal harmonies. Together, the musicians deliver an infectious combination of jangling guitars, driving rhythms and melodic hooks that captures the enduring appeal of classic garage and power pop.

The release is accompanied by ‘Looking into The Moonlight’, a previously unreleased non-album track with an equally interesting musical history. Originally recorded at Nuci's Space in Athens, Georgia, the song features John Carlucci, better known as Speedie John of Little Steven's Underground Garage, on bass, alongside Laura Carlucci on keyboards and Allen Wagner on drums, with Chris Byron handling engineering duties.

Basnight subsequently took the recording to Grammy Award winner Garey Shelton's studio in the Seattle area, where Bruce Hazen added guitar and Jim Basnight Band members Sean Peabody, Beth Peabody and Suze Sims contributed backing vocals. With two contrasting but complementary tracks, the release offers another enjoyable glimpse into Basnight's enduring passion for melodic rock and roll and the collaborative spirit behind Under the Rock.


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Mike Berman - Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble - Disgusting Sisters - The Dollyrots - Melina Coolen - Bandits on the Run

Photo - Kyle Cassidy

Mike Berman – In the Woods (Album). 

A beautifully crafted journey through love, loss and the natural world. With his third full-length album, In the Woods, Mike Berman delivers a warm, thoughtful and richly textured collection that showcases his considerable songwriting talents. Released on October 30, 2026, the eleven-track record explores love, loss, regret, longing and the many connections that shape our lives, drawing on traditional folk and the golden heritage of California folk-rock while bringing plenty of its own character and musical variety.

Following 2023’s Where I’m From and 2025’s Ghosts, Berman continues to develop his distinctive storytelling style, balancing intimate reflections with moments of real musical exuberance. His warm baritone and versatile acoustic guitar provide a reassuring centre to an album that effortlessly moves between gentle finger picked passages, sweeping slide guitar, expressive cello and piano, and more spirited electric guitar arrangements.

Opening track “Honey That Was Me” sets the scene beautifully, placing the listener in a mysterious woodland world of trees, owls, hawks and flowing water. Its intriguing atmosphere introduces one of the album’s recurring themes: the connections we make with other people and the natural world around us. Rather than offering straightforward answers, Berman allows the listener to find their own meaning in his lyrics, an approach that gives the songs considerable depth and lasting appeal.

The musical arrangements are equally impressive. Producer Ed Tree brings together an accomplished group of musicians, while the distinctive vocals of Canadian singer-songwriter Elissa Barron add another welcome dimension. There is a lovely balance between the stripped-back intimacy of tracks such as “Hospital for the Brokenhearted”, where delicate finger picked guitar is complemented by sensitive cello and piano, and the fuller, more expansive sound of “Hold Back the Sea” and “Farthest Thing From the Blues”.

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Photo - Larry Marano

Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble - Crazy Fingers.

Don Was pays tribute to Bob Weir with his new live album. There’s a genuine affection for The Grateful Dead running through Don Was’s latest project, as the six-time GRAMMY-winning musician, producer and composer releases a new rendition of ‘Crazy Fingers’. The track is the latest single from Live Dispatch Vol. 1: Blues For Allah ’26, a live album with his Pan-Detroit Ensemble, due November 20 via Verve. Captured during the group’s recent tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of Blues for Allah, the album is a heartfelt tribute to Was’s longtime friend and collaborator Bob Weir.

Was’s relationship with the Grateful Dead family deepened in 2018 when he joined Weir to form Wolf Bros, a band that toured extensively until Weir’s passing in 2026. Reflecting on that experience, Was explains how the songs gradually became old friends rather than simply lyrics and chord charts. He hopes the new recordings convey his deep respect for the music and the fans who have made it such an enduring part of their lives.

The Pan-Detroit Ensemble brings together an impressive collection of musicians from Was’s hometown, including longtime collaborator and saxophonist Dave McMurray, drummer Jeff Canady, trombonist Vincent Chandler, vocalist Steffanie Christi’an, trumpeter John Douglas, guitarist Wayne Gerard, percussionist Mahindi Masai and keyboardist Phil Whitfield. Their collective sound draws on Detroit’s distinctive musical identity, combining jazz sophistication with an earthy groove and an unpretentious spirit.

Few musicians have enjoyed a career as varied as Don Was. His production credits include The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, John Mayer and Willie Nelson, while his work as a bassist, composer and former head of Blue Note Records has earned him considerable respect across the industry. With Live Dispatch Vol. 1: Blues For Allah ’26, he brings that wealth of experience to a fitting celebration of Bob Weir and the enduring music of The Grateful Dead.

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Photo - Milo Matthews

Disgusting Sisters - Skin & Blisters (Album).

Disgusting Sisters unleash a gloriously twisted debut with Skin & Blisters. Disgusting Sisters make a wonderfully chaotic entrance with their debut album Skin & Blisters, released this weekend via Source Records. Blending horror, humour and a musical palette stretching from electro to emo, the duo have created a ten-track collection that is as mischievous as it is entertaining. Drawing on childhood memories of pet rats, pranks and wicked games, their songwriting delivers a distinctly offbeat take on everyday life.

The album lives up to the tongue-in-cheek promise of the band's name, which takes inspiration partly from Succession’s Disgusting Brothers and partly from the wicked stepsisters in Cinderella, with whom they identify on stage. Across Skin & Blisters, they take aim at hopeless exes, workplace frustrations, productivity pressures and the daily grind of the nine-to-five, wrapping their observations in deadpan humour and gloriously dark storytelling.

Beneath the absurdity, however, there's a genuine emotional honesty to their writing. As Josephine explains, the songs are rooted in real experiences and feelings, making the album something of a diary as the pair navigate relationships, work and the wider challenges of being young women today. It's this contrast between outrageous delivery and relatable subject matter that gives the record much of its appeal.

Largely a DIY undertaking, Skin & Blisters was written and recorded with producer James McManus before producer Oli Bayston (Fat Dog, Barry Can't Swim, Rachel Chinouriri) helped give the material extra weight for the album. With influences ranging from electro and emo to the more indie-driven sounds of Viagra Boys and Getdown Services, Disgusting Sisters have delivered a debut bursting with personality, dark wit and refreshing individuality.

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Photo-  Jen Rosenstein

The Dollyrots - Apocalyptic Romance.

Pop-punk favourites The Dollyrots are back with a brand-new single, ‘Apocalyptic Romance’, released October 30, offering the first taste of their forthcoming album, due in spring 2027. The duo have also announced the first dates of their 2027 Apocalyptic Romance Tour, which kicks off on March 17 in Hamtramck, Michigan. With fresh music on the way and plenty to celebrate, fans have good reason to look forward to the year ahead.

The tour will feature the first live performances of songs from the new album alongside a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Because I’m Awesome, originally released on March 13, 2007. For Kelly Ogden and Luis Cabezas, the record remains a hugely important part of their musical journey, with its title track taking on an unexpected life as an anthem of self-empowerment. Cabezas says it has been particularly rewarding to hear how the song and album have helped fans through difficult times.

Ogden is equally excited about the prospect of bringing new material to the stage while revisiting the songs that helped establish the band's reputation. She describes making music today as feeling just as urgent and fresh as it did two decades ago, a testament to the enduring creative partnership at the heart of The Dollyrots.

Built around Ogden's bass and vocals and Cabezas's guitar, The Dollyrots have long delivered an infectious combination of buzzing guitars, sugar-rush melodies, punk attitude and irrepressible optimism. With a new album approaching and a much-loved record reaching its 20th anniversary, Apocalyptic Romance looks set to usher in another exciting chapter for one of pop-punk's most enduring duos.

The Dollyrots · Apocalyptic Romance

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Melina Coolen - Street Pigeon (Album).

Canadian songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Melina Coolen explores some deeply personal territory on her new album Street Pigeon, a thoughtful collection tackling grief, loneliness, resilience and the search for direction in an uncertain world. Moving between retro-pop, rock, country and electronic textures, the record brings together songs written over a decade, revealing a more poetic and contemplative side to her songwriting.

Inspired by the weathered street pigeons she encountered while living in Toronto, the album draws an interesting parallel between their ability to survive and the experience of feeling lost or unsettled in life. Whether dealing with bereavement, relationship breakdowns, career changes or unexpected twists of fate, Coolen explores the idea that feeling homeless can be as much an emotional experience as a physical one. It's a compelling concept that gives the record a strong sense of identity.

Adding another dimension to the project, Street Pigeon marks the first time Coolen has incorporated sound design as an instrument, while performing every instrumental sound herself. The result is a personal and carefully constructed musical landscape that allows her to move freely between genres without losing the album's emotional focus.

One of its standout moments is ‘I Will Be Me’, featuring Chris Cron, a hopeful affirmation of self-worth and the importance of finding happiness within. Originally written for a documentary before being dropped during editing, the melody eventually found its way back to Coolen during a particularly difficult and lonely period, inspiring her to complete the song. It's a fitting reflection of an album that turns personal uncertainty into something creative, honest and ultimately uplifting.

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Photo - Hunter Brown & Lucy Werner

Bandits on the Run - Dance Through The End Of Days.

NYC-based trio Bandits on the Run have truly embraced their “ethos of artmaking” with their new album, Rough Magic, and the subsequent tour that has taken them from New England to Alaska, with appearances at prestigious festivals including Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Americanafest and Kerrville Folk Festival. Now, Adrian Blake Enscoe, Sydney Shepherd and Regina Strayhorn are adding another treat for fans with the release of bonus track ‘Dance Through The End Of Days’, recorded during the Rough Magic sessions.

With their innovative arrangements, ever-changing instrumentation and rotating lead vocals, Bandits on the Run effortlessly capture the spirit of 60s and 70s favourites such as Fleetwood Mac, The Mamas and the Papas and The Velvet Underground, while bringing a distinctly contemporary edge reminiscent of First Aid Kit, Bonnie Light Horseman and Lucius. Their impeccable harmonies and accomplished songwriting also place them in the company of I'm With Her, Folk Bitch Trio and The Staves, creating a sound that feels both timeless and refreshingly inventive.

The band's sophomore full-length is ultimately a celebration of friendship in all its complexities: the connections we make, the arguments we have, the times we drift apart and, above all, the love that keeps us together. It's a record that explores the magic of creating something from nothing alongside the people closest to us, with relationships, both old and new, providing its emotional heart. Across its songs, Rough Magic moves effortlessly between cinematic, lush and expansive arrangements and moments of remarkable intimacy, rawness and vulnerability.

That sense of closeness is part of what makes the album so special, with some of its most personal vocal performances recorded in a makeshift booth fashioned from a closet and a collection of sweaters. It's an approach that perfectly captures the band's creative spirit: resourceful, adventurous and unafraid to follow an idea wherever it leads. With Rough Magic, Bandits on the Run have delivered a wonderfully heartfelt celebration of collaboration, connection and the enduring power of friendship.

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Abby Posner - HMS Morris - Bitw - Big Little Lions - Oscar LaDell - Sheva Elliot - Sandhouse

Abby Posner - Rest and Rise (Album).

Los Angeles singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Abby Posner makes a truly impressive return with Rest and Rise, a beautiful, deeply personal and wonderfully crafted album that showcases her exceptional songwriting, musical versatility and artistic vision. Arranged in two parts, Side A, “Rest”, and Side B, “Rise”, the 12-track collection takes the listener on an emotional journey through heartbreak, grief, self-discovery and, ultimately, renewal. Inspired by personal experiences and a period of significant change, Posner explores themes of love, loss, queer identity, ageing and the sometimes complicated process of finding yourself again.

What makes this album so special is Posner's ability to turn deeply personal experiences into songs that feel both intimate and universally relatable. There is an honesty and vulnerability running throughout, balanced beautifully by a sense of hope and optimism. Rather than offering easy answers, she embraces life's contradictions and reminds us that something wonderful can emerge from even the most difficult chapters.

Musically, Rest and Rise is equally rewarding. While retaining elements of Americana and folk, Posner confidently explores indie-rock influences, inventive arrangements and adventurous production. Her musicianship is exceptional, having produced, engineered, mixed and performed almost every instrument herself, including the distinctive cello banjo, which adds another fascinating dimension to the album's sound.

Abby Posner has created something genuinely special here. Rest and Rise is an album full of heart, character and musical imagination, demonstrating an artist who continues to evolve while remaining completely true to herself. Beehive Candy really love this album! It's an absorbing, uplifting and beautifully realised collection of songs that deserves to be heard. A wonderful release from an immensely talented artist, and one we will certainly be returning to again and again.

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HMS Morris – SACI HACS (Album).

Almost three years after Dollar Lizard Money Zombie, Cardiff's wonderfully inventive HMS Morris return with their fourth studio album, SACI HACS, released yesterday 30th October 2026 via Bubblewrap Collective.

Described as an “enigmatic sack of peculiar hacks”, the album explores the little tricks, personal rituals and everyday survival techniques we all develop to navigate modern life. There's plenty of wit, wisdom and playful absurdity along the way, but above all, it's about finding joy in life's unpredictability.

Musically, HMS Morris are on gloriously adventurous form, blending art-rock, electro-rock and dramatic pop with warped electronics, playful instrumentation and infectious melodies. It's chaotic, colourful, wonderfully eccentric and packed with surprises, yet there's a warmth and emotional heart running throughout.

SACI HACS is another fantastic example of a band refusing to stand still or follow the rules. Full of imagination, personality and unexpected delights, Beehive Candy absolutely love this album!

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Bitw – Gaddo Glaw (Album).

Welsh musician Gruff ab Arwel returns with his solo project Bitw and a wonderfully unconventional new album, Gaddo Glaw, released on 30th October 2026 via Klep Dim Trep. A true DIY artist, Gruff has always done things his own way, combining lo-fi pop, quirky creativity and a healthy sense of humour.

Made almost entirely alone using a borrowed Portastudio, Gaddo Glaw is his most homemade and personal release to date, and his first entirely in the Welsh language. Beneath its deceptively accessible pop melodies lie reflections on climate change, global conflict and an increasingly uncertain world. There's plenty of darkness in the subject matter, but also warmth, honesty and a wonderfully understated charm.

What makes this album so appealing is the contrast between its bleak outlook and its infectious musical spirit. Gruff may have given up on hope, but he's certainly not given up on making great music, finding comfort in the simple things, particularly love.

Gaddo Glaw is an intriguing, heartfelt and refreshingly original record from an artist who continues to follow his own path. Beehive Candy really appreciate the individuality, honesty and DIY spirit of this album.

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Big Little Lions – World Goes By.

Multi-award-winning duo Big Little Lions continue their run of monthly releases with World Goes By, released on Thursday 29th October.

Written for anyone who has ever felt they don't quite fit in, the song explores the loneliness, heartache and emotional struggles that can come with feeling different or out of place. It's a relatable subject, delivered with the warmth, sensitivity and heartfelt songwriting that makes Big Little Lions such an appealing musical partnership.

World Goes By is a thoughtful and beautifully engaging release, offering a gentle reminder that we're not alone in feeling a little out of step with the world around us. Another lovely addition to their growing collection of monthly singles, and one that deserves a listen.

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Oscar LaDell – Tell Me True.

US-born, Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Oscar LaDell delivers a beautifully soulful and heartfelt new single with Tell Me True, released on 30th October ahead of his forthcoming album Untouchable.

Exploring the heartache, unanswered questions and lingering memories that follow a relationship breakdown, LaDell combines velvety yet gritty vocals with melancholic piano and vintage acoustic guitar to create a wonderfully atmospheric blend of blues and soul. His smoky, expressive voice carries real emotional weight, bringing a genuine sense of vulnerability and passion to every note.

There's a lovely warmth to Tell Me True, despite its bittersweet subject matter, and its stripped-back arrangement allows the songwriting and vocals to shine. It's a moving reflection on love and loss that feels both intimate and instantly relatable.

Oscar LaDell is clearly an artist with plenty to offer, and this latest release has certainly whetted our appetite for the forthcoming album. Beehive Candy love the soulful delivery, beautiful musicianship and heartfelt emotion of this one.

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Sheva Elliot – River Run Dry.

Los Angeles-born Americana singer-songwriter Sheva Elliot makes a powerful impression with her new single and accompanying video, River Run Dry. An upbeat, infectious Americana rock anthem, the track is all about letting go, embracing change and discovering the freedom and strength that can come from surrender.

Blending roots-rock, Americana twang, gospel and good old-fashioned rock and roll, Elliot delivers a fantastic combination of gritty instrumentation, soulful melodies and powerhouse vocals. There's a wonderful mix of attitude, passion and emotional depth here, with her rich musical influences shining through while maintaining a distinctive sound of her own.

Elliot has a real gift for combining heartfelt storytelling with music that makes you want to turn up the volume. River Run Dry is uplifting, full of energy and packed with soul, showcasing an artist who clearly knows how to deliver a memorable song.

A brilliant release and an exciting taste of what's to come from her forthcoming album. Beehive Candy absolutely love the energy, vocals and infectious spirit of this one.

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Photo - Hannah Jane Murrell

Sandhouse – Pollyanna (EP). 

South London duo Sandhouse return with their second EP, Pollyanna, released on 30th October via Broke Records. Featuring four tracks, including the previously unheard focus single Into Nothing, this is a darkly captivating release that showcases the duo's adventurous approach to alternative music.

Blending warped indie rock, grunge guitars, hazy trip-hop beats, psychedelia and nocturnal alt-pop, Sandhouse create a wonderfully atmospheric and distinctive sound. The EP explores complicated emotions, healing and the pressures of modern beauty, with vocalist Anna Sutherland's seductive, darkly playful lyrics adding plenty of character and intrigue.

Focus track Into Nothing is a particularly fascinating highlight, exploring the loss of individuality in the pursuit of an idealised version of ourselves. Its flickering electronics, inventive guitar effects and distorted basslines create an absorbing musical backdrop for its thought-provoking subject matter.

Pollyanna is an intriguing, beautifully unconventional EP that shows Sandhouse aren't afraid to push boundaries or explore the darker corners of human experience. Beehive Candy love the creativity, atmosphere and wonderfully twisted musical imagination on display here.


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Cat Nova - Tindersticks - Viv & Riley - QUESTA - Big Mess - Schaefer Llana

Cat Nova - Heaven When It's Easy.

Cat Nova is back with another hauntingly reflective tune about love, with the beautiful 'Heaven When It's Easy' Before taking a hiatus from music to complete a doctorate, write a book, and establish herself as a clinical psychologist, Cat spent a decade as a much-adored frontwoman of Oxford-based indie rock bands the Courtesy Kill & At Risk (the latter’s catalogue recently re-issued for streaming by indie label Quickfix Recordings), supporting the likes of Kasabian, King Adora & other 00’s luminaries at the now legendary Zodiac in Oxford.

This, and previous releases Parallel World and IFLY mark a new chapter for the singer-songwriter, who has traded (at least for now) her primary writing instrument/accompaniment from the guitar to a piano, with sparse instrumentation that allows the melodies to take centre stage. Drawing inspiration from artists including The Cure, AFI, Cigarettes After Sex and Garbage, her instinctive songwriting process blends atmospheric indie pop rock and her trademark open-hearted, somewhat doomed romantic lyricism with an intimate yet cinematic feel. 

"Sometimes songs just download into my head while I'm driving or walking. The melody and lyrics arrive almost fully formed, and I have to quickly record a voice note before they disappear. Other times, writing lyrics is a way of processing emotions and experiences before the music follows."

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 Artwork - Sidonie Osborne Staples

Tindersticks - Loving, leaving.

This week Tindersticks have announced their 15th studio album, Dog roses, out March 12, 2027 via City Slang Records. Alongside the announcement, the band released the album’s opening track and first single “Loving, leaving.” Opening with an undeniable glockenspiel-and-organ hook, with the faintest hint of saxophone underneath, “Loving, leaving” is the sound of a band trading 20 years of habit for new instincts. From synth-flecked atmospheres to a hazy dream-pop period piece and a lush orchestral high point, Dog roses finds Tindersticks pushing into new territory while drawing on the distinctive musical interplay that has defined their sound for more than three decades.

“With our last album, 2023’s Soft tissue, we felt like we were looking over the fence into a new landscape, maybe even leaning over,” Stuart Staples explains. “Making 15 albums we have learned that sometimes there are steps forward, sometimes there are leaps. Soft tissue was a great step, but it was time to try and leap over that fence.”

Written and recorded between December 2025 and August 2026, Dog roses emerged from a period of change for the band where they left behind their beloved studio home of 20 years, an ambient, almost church-like space, for a hidden underground studio. As Staples describes, “A place where old methods didn’t seem to work and new solutions had to be found.”.

Produced and recorded by frontman Stuart Staples, the album features the effortless feel of Earl Harvin’s drums, Dan McKinna’s adventurous bass, David Boulter’s unexpected touches and choices, and Neil Fraser’s guitar always pushing at the song’s edges.

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Photo -  Libby Rodenbough

Viv & Riley - Sourwood.

A couple of days ago Durham-based indie folk duo Viv + Riley released “Sourwood” via Free Dirt Records, a new single inspired by the brilliant autumn colors of Virginia’s sourwood trees and the parallels between the natural world and our collective human experience. Written by Appalachian songwriter Vivian Leva, the track reflects on aging, loss, and the beauty of life. Recorded live to tape in Frome, England, with producer Dom Monks (Big Thief, Adrianne Lenker, Paul McCartney), the track features the duo singing together into a single microphone. A homemade music video for “Sourwood” premieres alongside the release, and follows the duo’s same raw, unfiltered approach that runs through much of their other work.

“‘Sourwood’ was inspired by the sourwood trees that erupt into orange and red blazes in the mountains of Virginia every fall. I was thinking about how these trees display such vibrant beauty before they inevitably lose their leaves and become bare each winter,” Vivian shares. “There is something that seems parallel to the human experience too, how people spend their lives growing, creating, and connecting, but also lose many of those things as they grow old. 

“‘Sourwood’ is a shared moment of companionship with someone in their autumnal season of life as they look back on the things they’ve done and the people they’ve lost, and wonder how many springs are in their future. It was recorded live to tape in Frome, England with producer Dom Monks, just the two of us singing into the same mic, a few feet apart.”

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Photo - Hannah Zimmerman

QUESTA - She Gave Me.

Rising creative force QUESTA has released his dreamy new pop rock single and music video “She Gave Me.” Juxtaposing dark lyrics with joyful melodies to capture a toxic relationship fueled by control, “She Gave Me” explores the imbalance of a one-sided relationship. Drawing inspiration from the dystopia of A Clockwork Orange, the Freudian, tongue-in-cheek visual follows QUESTA as he undergoes intense conditioning to become a better person – someone completely different from who he really is.

“‘She Gave Me’ touches on the idea that there is no such thing as unconditional love. In many instances there is a cost to pay or at least an expectation for receiving love,” shares QUESTA, the musical alter ego of singer-songwriter Emilio Cuesta. “The song is also about being too immature to be in a relationship and not being ready to receive love in the first place because you might not be able to give it back. Ultimately, as I learned in the relationship I was in, the milk – or the love - was never free and she needed me to be someone I was not ready to be.”

As an actor and filmmaker, QUESTA brings a visual sensibility to his lyrics, recordings, and live performances – creating music that feels equally at home on stage and on screen. His recently released single “Sophie’s Plan,” a hazy, dream pop diary entry which laments leaving a failing relationship as the loneliness is worse than the toxicity, embraces his melody-driven sound and infuses vintage psychedelic folk-rock with modern sonic elements.

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Big Mess - Report Card (Album).

We have the brand new album by Scott Allen's band Big Mess called Report Card, which is out now and streaming everywhere on Underflow Records. Report Card is a concept album exploring the universal experience of high school through its many personalities, social hierarchies, awkward encounters, and unforgettable moments.

From overachievers and underachievers to bullies, outcasts, class clowns, and hopeless romantics, the album examines the roles we play during adolescence. Some identities are assigned to us, others we choose, and a few we spend adulthood trying to outgrow.

Rooted in American high schools at the turn of the millennium, Report Card reaches beyond any particular graduating class. Music, fashion, and cultural references may change, but the desire to belong, the fear of embarrassment, first love, heartbreak, and uncertainty about the future remain remarkably familiar. Through humor, irony, nostalgia, and the occasional uncomfortable truth, the album celebrates a time when insignificant moments felt monumental and important lessons often went unnoticed until years later.

Ultimately, Report Card is about more than looking back. It’s about recognizing how those formative experiences continue to shape who we become. The names and faces may change, but the characters and stories remain surprisingly familiar. After all, we may graduate from high school, but some part of high school never quite graduates from us.

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Photo - Photo - Kaylee Vaughan

Schaefer Llana - Court Street.

Schaefer Llana will release her label debut, Full Circle, on November 13, 2026 via Strolling Bones Records. The 10-song set was produced by Llana and Starlin Browning and recorded at Matt Patton of the Drive-By Truckers’ Dial Back Sound in Water Valley, Mississippi. The captivating debut is lush and literate, meditative and dreamy, and radiates a languorous Southern heat as it drifts between past and present, connection and isolation, love and loss. Llana delivers her songs with a tender, almost casual ease, and the result is a cinematic slice of alt-Americana. 

Met with early critical acclaim, Glide Magazine said “Full Circle carries an understated power. The songs don’t strain for drama; they unfold naturally, carried by Llana’s relaxed vocal delivery and arrangements that seem to shimmer in the humid air.” Of her performance at the Americana Music Festival last month, Pandora said she “exuded atmospheric intimacy, hypnotizing the room with a set of spellbinding siren songs. While her performance occasionally channeled the ghostly, nocturnal coo of Hope Sandoval and the peerless vocal control of Paula Frazer, Llana operates in a sonic stratosphere entirely her own. It was an otherworldly, magnetic display that left the crowd deadlocked in silence, hanging onto her every word.” 
 
Born in Missouri, Llana moved to Mississippi as a child where she spent her formative years first singing in church. After high school, she headed deeper into the cradle of American music to study at Delta State University. It’s there where she fell in with a likeminded crew of artists and writers and landed a job working at the recording studio Dial Back Sound. 

She says, “Matt Patton gave me real opportunities early on. I worked at the studio for several years as an engineer and would record background vocals for anyone who came to record there.” That’s how she met Jimbo Mathus, best known as a founding member of Squirrel Nut Zippers (and more recently for his work with the Black Keys). Mathus was a fellow Mississippi native who took an immediate shine to her voice, first asking her to sing on records he was producing and then later inviting her to join his band on the road for several years. Full Circle features two songs written by Mathus and he also appears on its lead off track. 

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The Gentle Spring - Sam Scherdel - The Clumps - Rachel Cribby - Eliza Hull - Soot Sprite

The Gentle Spring - Down With Love.

Just released we have the first single "Down With Love" by The Gentle Spring from their forthcoming second album "Northernhay". The witty lyrics of this upbeat single feel like they could be a riposte to the lovelorn romance of The Field Mice (songwriter Michael Hiscock’s first group). But the music and the arrangements sound like a reprise of that much-loved band – Down With Love is melodic, infectious, pure pop.

Michael Hiscock, co-founder of legendary indiepop band The Field Mice, along with his new cohorts Émilie Guillaumot and Jérémie Orsel have created an album that combines wisdom, wistfulness, reflections on love and celebrations of community - all threaded through a set of songs whose melodic power and sheer catchiness recall The Field Mice at their best.  

The music is more upbeat than on debut album Looking Back At The World. The shimmering acoustic guitars and sinuous bass are still present, but this time Michael’s and Émilie’s voices are accompanied by drums and percussion. With this new recipe, the songs sometimes remind you of early Microdisney, and sometimes The Pet Shop Boys, with deadpan, considered, unvarnished, but deeply emotive human vocals, and an insistent rhythm that drives on regardless.  Depending on where you are situated, you could dance to Northernhay, or you could sit very still and just immerse yourself in it.

The album title, Northernhay, is a clue to the inspirations that drive the songwriting.  It is the name of a winding street that led from the Croydon suburbs where Michael lived as a kid, leading out to a wilderness, surprisingly close to the city, where foxes are seen, where the streetlights don’t penetrate - where you can get lost: one of those places where you first discover that the world is awesome, mysterious, deeply romantic and unknowable. 

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Photo - Rizzo (Ianthe Warlow)

Sam Scherdel - Kyoto Snow.

Following a breakthrough single approaching four million Spotify streams and widespread press and radio acclaim, South Yorkshire singer-songwriter Sam Scherdel returns with ‘Kyoto Snow’, out now via Broke Records / Ostereo. After losing his job in 2022, Scherdel faced a defining moment: with no label backing him, he began independently funding his own recordings and releases, determined to turn his music into a viable career. What began as a leap of faith has since developed into an extraordinary journey of success, driven by relentless work, self-belief and a growing audience that has carried his music far beyond his Yorkshire roots.

From a residency at SXSW in Austin, to opening for Duran Duran at BST Hyde Park, to going viral on TikTok, having his music played on Love Island and now having a recording contract with Broke Records and Ostereo the forthcoming EP, Boy Who Fell To Earth, is set to be another big moment for Scherdel as he continues to build an exciting career. 

Produced by Colin Elliot at Sheffield’s Yellow Arch Studios, ‘Kyoto Snow’ explores the search for beauty amid difficult, emotionally toxic circumstances. Built around the image of something fragile and fleeting, the track captures a relationship beginning to fracture and the desperate desire to hold on to what remains.

Sonically, the track leans into folk and Americana influences, while retaining the melodic pop sensibilities, indie accessibility and emotionally driven songwriting that have been central to Sam’s rise so far. A blossoming soundscape places Sam’s captivating, raspy vocals front and centre, with organic instrumentation weaving around them to create a warm, vibrant and effortlessly catchy listening experience.

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The Clumps - Easy.

The Clumps just released their new single “Easy” marking their first release with AWAL and the first taste of an EP due in early 2027. Still early in their story but already building serious momentum, the four-piece have amassed 3.3 million streams on previous single “Worthless”, grown to 100,000 monthly listeners, and recently played Eurosonic and Soho Calling in London.

Built around a collision of grunge, post-rock and noise, “Easy” looks at the psychological toll that can sit behind pursuing something you care about — the pressure, exhaustion and uncertainty that are often flattened into the idea that following your passion should somehow feel effortless. “Nothing left, Hold your breath, While they tell you everything, They never said it was easy” — The Clumps

Behind the scenes, that momentum is being matched by an expanding international team. The Clumps work with Made Management, whose roster includes Aurora and Sigrid, alongside ACT Booking / Live Nation, as they begin building towards a wider European presence through 2027. Musically, the band draw from the weight and abrasion of ’90s alternative rock without leaning too heavily on nostalgia. Their sound pairs heavy, immediate guitars with atmosphere, tension and an increasingly strong sense of emotional restraint. “Easy” is the first indication of where that next phase is heading, with further new music to follow ahead of the EP next year.

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Photo - Kelsey Gale

Rachel Cribby - Frankenmuth, MI.

Rachel Cribby has shared the second single 'Frankenmuth, MI' from her debut album ‘I Can’t Wait To Forget This Later,’ to be released November 20 on First City Artists (Coco, Alexa Rose, Eliza Edens). Cribby wrote the song about a peculiar town in Michigan designed to architecturally mimic Bavarian Germany, famous for its chicken and fudge. Cribby shares, “It is objectively a bizarre place, but as a kid, it was my personal paradise. I wrote this song after I stopped by on my way home from Traverse City a few years ago. The town hasn’t really changed that much since the 90s. But it really does turn out you can never go back.”

Produced by Daniel Ledwell (Jenn Grant, Oh Pep, Ken Yates), ‘I Can’t Wait To Forget This Later’ shimmers with early aughts alt pop appeal—brisk melodies laden with sharp, darkly comical lyricism reminiscent of Aimee Mann, Rilo Kiley, or Liz Phair. Today’s offering follows the lead single “Rich Boy Luck,” a zipping and incisive assessment of privilege that landed on several playlists.

The Canadian-born, Detroit-based songwriter’s sardonic style is for more than listener’s amusement; it’s her healing method of choice. And in recent years, she’s needed one, having lost her father and left her beloved Montreal in quick succession. “It’s not like my twenties weren’t tumultuous,” shares Cribby. “I had plenty to sing about. I was dumped more than I can count and maybe did a bit of dumping myself. But something has happened to me in my thirties, where all of the big life stuff that I thought I could ignore by moving away, by trying to become a completely independent and self-assured person, smacked me in the face. And then it promptly started to eat me alive.” 

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Photo - Michelle Grace Hunder

Eliza Hull - Balcony.

Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Castlemaine-based multi-award-winning songwriter, musician, advocate and writer Eliza Hull O.A.M shares her new single and video 'Balcony' from forthcoming album You'd Think We'd Be Used To Change By Now (4 Dec/independent). 

Written and recorded in London with Sneaker Pimps' Liam Howe (fka twigs, MARINA), 'Balcony' flits between bittersweet nostalgia and sky-high euphoria, sonically drawing from atmospheric 90s trip-hop; "a song about trying to hold onto something beautiful long after it has passed". 'Balcony' arrives with the announcement of intimate album preview events the week of album release across 2x dates in so-called VIC, featuring acoustic performance, signing and conversation to be paired with ABC Melbourne's Jacinta Parsons at the Naarm/Melbourne event. 

‘Balcony’ penned quickly to capture something instinctive and almost fleeting is Eliza Hull's aching love letter to a long-past summer that can't ever be recreated, tracing the emotional tension between what was and what is: revisiting being young, free and naïve, surrounded by friends, falling in love with a particular moment in your life and desperately wanting to return to it. 

Drawing on the gently-haunting atmosphere of British 90s trip-hop and electronic music, 'Balcony' features live instrumentation in minimalist drums and reverb-drenched guitars, first-demo vocals and dramatic, sweeping strings melding to create an organic, cinematic feel that will resonate will fans of Portishead and Goldfrapp. 

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Soot Sprite - Cautious Optimist (Reckless Version) 

Brighton rockers Soot Sprite have today dropped ‘Cautious Optimist (Reckless Version)’ and also announced their ‘Carbon Copy’ EP, which is due out November 20th via Specialist Subject. 

‘Cautious Optimist’ first appeared as the closing track on Soot Sprite’s critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Wield Your Hope Like A Weapon’. Ahead of their UK headline tour, the band have reimagined the song as a rousing anthem, released alongside the announcement of ‘Carbon Copy’, an EP of reworked tracks from the record. 

Soot Sprite front woman Elise Cook says: I originally wrote this about 6 years ago now when I was essentially given an eviction notice at the height of a pandemic. It would mark the 11th time I had moved in about 10 years period and having recently upped and moved across the country from Torbay to Brighton it retains its relevance! 

It’s about the rocky uncertainties around your home space, and how shaping your life round the music industry feeds into that. How sometimes you feel burnt out by it all and find yourself idealising a life with regular stable work to provide a stable home. Ultimately it’s not been for me, and that always comes at a cost. Getting to realise this song from a somber solo pursuit to this defiant anger with the whole band has been so fun, and reminds me why I chose these people to play in Soot Sprite. Everyone elevates it.

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