2010FM - September Edition Three

The final selection for September and a shed load of great music to cover, so plenty of copying from PR material to give some background on the artists, as is always the case take it as read that we like and recommend checking out these people.

The Phantom Band was pulled together from all four corners of Scotland, settling on Glasgow as PB HQ. Duncan Marquiss (guitar), Gerry Hart (bass), Andy Wake (keyboards), Rick Anthony (vocals) and Greg Sinclair (guitars) are a volatile cabal of creative contradictions: a disorientating amalgam of music, art and performance that defies categorisation and provides an object lesson in how to forge something distinct and unique from well-worn sources. Checkmate Savage won plaudits from the mainstream music press and the indie blogs alike, finding famous fans in Peter Buck and comic artist Frank Quitely, while the influential music emporium Piccadilly Records named it their album of the year.

Their new album may be The Wants, but what do The Phantom Band want for? “Survival.  For this album to lead to another after it, that's all. We think it's better than the last one, and if anyone agrees with us then brilliant, they can hop aboard. Those who disagree can hop aboard too, but they're sailing at the stern.”

This is a superb band and the featured track is just one dimension of them. On October 19th Chemikal Underground release The Phantom Band's album “The Wants”.

Featured Track: Walls.
Website: Official.
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Way Slow is a new series curated by Lefse Records. While maintaining the basic structures of a formal record label, they are embracing creativity in everything from artist sound to packaging. Each release will be a unique creation from start to finish.

Many of the artists are going to be releasing material that is well outside of their normal sound, some will be collaborations, some will be from parts of the world where most of us will never see. Alongside digital downloads, they will be offering limited edition cd’s, cassettes, and even vinyl in some cases.

All physical products will be hand wrapped/sewn/carved individually for every release and presented as a heartwarming package of beautiful sound.

Volume One comes from Banjo or Freakout on October 12th and will continue indefinitely. Other artists already on board are: Ganglians, Sonny Smith, Houses/Teen Daze, Phaseone, The Traditionist, Aloha Tigers, Sunnybrook, Algodon Egipcio, Brothertiger, Tape Deck Mountain, Solter, and Black Glass.

Featured Track: Over There.
Website: Lefse Records, Pre Order.
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LA-based songwriter Lelia Broussard, originally from the bayous of South Louisiana, is set to unleash her third full-length release, ‘MASQUERADE’ (November 2nd, Self-Release). With masterful production by Dan Romer (Ingrid Michaelson, Jenny Owen Youngs), the album boasts an intriguing collection of driving folk/pop gems, bringing to mind a cross between Jenny Lewis and Jonatha Brooke. Already, considerable buzz is building around ‘Masquerade’ with the early spread of “Satellite” and “Shoot For The Moon” among the songwriter’s fiercely loyal fan base.  Most recently, The Deli Magazine nominated Lelia for their Los Angeles “Artist of the Month” poll, and “Satellite” was prominently featured on powerhouse NPR AAA station WXPN's blog.

Over the course of her career, Lelia has collaborated with A-List producers including Rob Fusari (Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston Destiny's Child), Dave Trumfio (Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Built to Spill) and Marshall Altman (Kate Voegle, Marc Broussard).  Her songs have been featured on hit television shows such as CBS' Joan of Arcadia NBC’s Men In Trees, and MTV's The Hills  as well as a few small independent films. In 2008, Lelia signed a publishing deal with Rondor Universal Music Group. Lelia’s strong grass roots fan base recently raised over $15,000 to help fund her new record and pushed her to be one of the most successful music projects on the popular indie fundraising site, Kickstarter.

This is a great pop song and more than enough reason  to check out more of her music.

Featured Track: Satellite.
Website: Official.
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Birthday Boys are Graeme Kennedy (vocals, guitar), Jordan Mack (vocals, guitar), Jeremy Boyd (vocals, bass), and Matt Paige (drums). Based in Peterborough, Ontario, the band formed in 2008. They have since built a strong following with their debut album, 'Bad Blood' (recorded at Steve Albini's studio in Chicago with engineer Greg Norman - Built To Spill, Guided By Voices - and mixed by Jason Martin - Cold War Kids, The Drums) and their powerful live show.

Since the release of ‘Bad Blood’ Birthday Boys have been playing a steady circuit of shows in New York City, Montreal, Toronto, and several other Southern Ontario cities.

They have a new EP is called, "Tin Head" and consists of six songs that were recorded in an abandoned log cabin on Emerald Isle Ontario. The EP will be available on itunes, tunecore, and many other online distribution sites on October 1st.

Birthday Boys are about to head out on a Coast to coast Canadian tour, and are planning a very ambitious project while on the road. They will be writing a new song everyday of the tour, and filming a performance of the new song every night. Those who follow Birthday Boys  on twitter (twitter.com/birthdayboys) will be sent a message revealing the time and location of the filming, and are welcome to come out and participate in the performance of the song. The videos will then be posted daily at www.birthdayboysmusic.com/30songs.

Featured Track: Tin Head.
Website: Official.
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Simon Fagan is not our typical Irish singer songwriter. Blending elements of gospel and folk with acoustic rock, Simon and band produce a big Americana sound. He's opened for both Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson and has sold out shows in Ireland, The UK and Egypt.

2009 saw Simon tour heavily throughout Ireland and the UK, performing on no fewer then nine primetime BBC radio shows in the UK, Newstalk’s Weekend Blend and Today with Pat Kenny on RTE radio in Ireland. Fagan even ventured as far as Egypt, where he and his band not only performed sold out shows in Cairo, Sharm El Sheik and Dahab, but also invited to appear on national TV and Radio. He has previously opened for Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and more recently at Laura Izibor’s sold out Tripod show in Dublin.

With a new album released in May of this year Simon has been receiving accolades both in Ireland and the US. ‘Outside Looking In’ was named Album Of The Week by RTE, while individual songs have also been gaining attention. ‘Never Really Cried’ picked up Best Performance at this years International Songwriting Competition, chosen from 15,000 entries; ‘Damn Honey’ was named Song of the Month with Songwriter Universe in April and ‘Water’s Edge’ has just been selected for Paste Magazine’s August CD Sampler.

We here at Beehive Candy feel embarrassed that we have only recently come across Simon and hope to make amends by featuring one of his great songs here.

Featured Track: Tired Of Tryin.
Website: Official.
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New York's Backwords recently released their new psych-folk album 'Quilt' on September 7th and in support of it, are touring around the USA.

A couple of quotes to help put us all in the picture,

"Just as the album title would suggest, the music is extremely warm and puts you right at home next to your favorite quilt your grandmother made you as a child." -- The Noise Is...

"...with vocals that sound like they were ripped from a Beach Boys track laying on top of instrumentals that have that charming, lo-fi quality that sounds like it was recorded in a friend’s basement." -- NY Press.

Tour dates include:

10/02/10, Saturday @ Mocha Madness, Pocatello, ID
10/04/10, Monday @ House Show (342 Monroe Street), Eugene, OR
10/06/10, Wednesday @ The Maltese, Chico, CA
10/07/10, Thursday @ The Stork Club, Oakland, CA
10/11/10, Monday @ Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA
10/13/10, Wednesday @ Laughing Goat, Boulder, CO
11/14/10, Sunday @ Circle Bar, New Orleans, LA
11/19/10, Friday @ Homegrown Cafe, Newark, DE
11/06/10, Saturday @ Gillie's, Blacksburg, VA
11/07/10, Sunday @ Snug Harbor, Charlotte, NE
11/08/10, Monday @ Acoustic Coffee House, Johnson City, TN
11/09/10, Tuesday @ The Basement, Nashville, TN

Featured Track: And Then Sigh.
Website: Official.
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I like this intro to Pancake Breakfast and boy do I like the song (always helps if you want to be featured around here).

Times are hard. Folks want to see and hear something that makes them feel better, or at least different. Pancake Breakfast  is attempting to do just that. The nine, hardworking Northwesterners hailing from Portland, OR, have played memorable sets at festivals like Portland's Pick-a-thon and the Sisters Folk Festival to local house shows, bar gigs and campfire hootenannies with one goal: to send people home from their shows with a song in their head and a good story to tell the next morning. Doing just that, the nine-piece has begun to make a name for themselves with their eclectic blend of down-home folk, working-man singalong rock and south-of-the-border ballads.

Having locked themselves away for the past few months in a studio cabin near Mt. Adams with Producer Mike Coykendyll (M. Ward, She & Him, Blitzen Trapper, Bright Eyes), Pancake Breakfast has emerged with a impressive debut that maintains the vibrancy of their live shows while showcasing the intricate dynamism they share as a talented nine-piece. That's not it, though. The band wanted to take it a step further. So they have enlisted 12 different directors  to make an originally produced video to accompany each track which will be released near the release date of the record. The record will be released nationally (USA) on October 19th, 2010.

Featured Track: Little Bird.
Website: Official.
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Without wanting to take anything away from the other artists featured in this edition of 2010FM, this is without doubt my favorite song presented this time around.

Honeymoon is a new collaboration between singer/songwriters Lauren Shera, Andrea Blunt, Christina Bailey, and Sara Bollwinkel. These four young women, with accompaniment from Matt Bailey on drums and Matt Bollwinkel on bass, have come together to combine their exquisite talents and eclectic influences, creating a sound all their own.

Combining elements of traditional folk and americana with an indie rock and pop sensibility, honeymoon utilizes their various talents comprising four part harmonies, acoustic guitars, violins, accordion, piano, banjo, and ukulele.

More info from their website tells us - Each of the four front women have had great accomplishments and successes between their solo careers and various incarnations of the group in other projects; Lauren Shera tours nationally and has appeared with artists such as Nanci Griffith, Ray LaMontagne, and Billy Bragg. Andrea Blunt has built a name for herself both as a solo act and with several bands including indie hip-hop artist MC Lars, with whom she has appeared at venues such as the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and the Shoreline Amphitheater in San Jose. Christina Bailey and Sara Bollwinkel began their careers as solo artists, writing songs and singing in successful a capella groups and choirs, and later combined forces when they founded the indie-rock group Big American Family, which went on to open for AA Bondy, Truth & Salvage Co., and Carney

It is a rarity and a privilege to see artists of this depth coming together to create something so fresh and unencumbered, without ego or pretense but for the sheer love of creating, playing, and performing music together. The band’s stunning privilege to see artists of this depth coming together to create something so fresh and unencumbered, without ego or pretense but for the sheer love of creating, playing, and performing music together. The band’s stunning repertoire includes original songs from each leading lady, a few familiar cover tunes, and intricate band originals. With voices that command your attention and instrumentals that will give you chills, combined with their undeniable chemistry on stage, honeymoon creates a one-of-a-kind listening experience that is not to be missed.

Beehive Candy genuinely feels privileged to introduce this band to anyone yet to hear them, and to those already in the know - Why are you not shouting about them from your roof tops? Wonderful music.

Featured Track: Processional.
Website: Official.
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OK lets crank it up a little for them there visitors who like their music a little more on the rocking side (I will never make it as a DJ).

Quoting - It's not quite appropriate to pigeonhole Abby Gogo  as a shoegaze band and the garage rock shoe doesn't quite fit either. Rather, twin brothers Bon and Jon Alinson and company traverse an expansive middle ground where '60s pop sensibilities are tempered by elusive feelings of melancholy and elation. Previously releasing a split single with Carnivores in summer of 2009 on Double Phantom, Abby Gogo  are now set to release their first full length on November 30, 2010.

The grinding intonations of every guitar tone and distant voice are captured with clarity, illustrating jagged sonic textures that serve the long bouts of repetition in "Louder Than Dreams" and "Come On," rather than dirtying them up. Each song streamlines the group's sound without compromising how much a crest of feedback and distortion can underscore the strung-out sense of beauty evoked. "Glass" is an instant heartbreaker, with layers of slurred melody and ill-defined nostalgia that defies the murky nature of such influences as Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine. There's good variety as well, which is hard to pull off when you're lost in the grooves of such deep cuts.

Featured Track: Louder Than Dreams.
Website: MySpace.
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Another band new to Beehive Candy and reminding us of the Cocteau Twins in a very positive way, that said they are definative in their own right City Of Satellites have a considerable amount to offer.

The sublime opening track from their debut album Machine Is My Animal, ‘BMX’ unfolds in a magisterial swirl of synths and hovering atmospherics, driven by Thomas Diakomichalis’ propulsive, detailed drumming and Jarrod Manuel’s pure vocal tones. Part misty paean to lost youth, part anthem for a better future, ‘BMX’ is premium 21st-century pop. Others have already discovered and enjoyed this band, a few quotes therefore seem appropriate - - -

“One of the most unabashedly shoegaze-y albums in recent memory… City Of Satellites’ Jarrod Manual and Thomas Diakomichalis have tuned their ears to the expansive dream-pop of the classic 4AD roster and the likeminded M83, relishing the elastic reach of spidery rhythms and unmoored melodies… There’s an almost austere sheen to Machine Is My Animal, such that we’re never bombarded but gently seduced and swayed. It’s a beautiful feeling.” – Cyclic Defrost

“What elevates City Of Satellites’ dream pop above others’ takes on the style is the urgency driving the nine songs on Machine Is My Animal … shoegaze is an obvious wellspring for the group, but one also hears traces of both ’80s synth-pop (OMD, for example) and New Wave in City Of Satellites’ pristine, analogue sound.” – Textura

“City of Satellites have crafted an album filled with dense space and fueled by vintage synthesizers and melodically rich vocals…. the production values on the record rival that of heavyweights M83 and Aphex Twin.” – Drum Media

"Australia’s new finest dream-pop duo ascend to orbit." – Rave Magazine

Featured Track: BMX. 
Website: Official.
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Singer-Songwriter Savio Rego was born in Bombay, India and raised in San Jose, California. Having left behind a successful career in Banking, this Californian singer-songwriter has gone back to his first love – music. Savio started playing guitar at the age of 13. As a self-taught guitarist, his playing evolved over the years. The first song he learned was "Patience" by Guns N' Roses.

Savio's style contains a breadth of influences – from R & B, blues, soul, pop, jazz to rock, electronica and house music. His songs are seductive, there’s no question about it.....featuring lyrics revealing open lust and melodies leading straight into hooky choruses. He can breeze through songs with his soothing style leaving listeners yearning for more.

Savio Rego's self-penned, self-produced record "All I Want sold over 2,000 copies here on myspace in 3 months since its release, on the back of little more than word of mouth. It's the kind of pop record that music lovers wish there were more of. It is a singer-songwriter’s record, but contains all the best elements of blues, jazz, soul, chill and folk. Yet his poignant lyrics and catchy melodies will also satisfy the discerning end of the pop market.

His debut "All I Want" is the perfect example of a record made by someone who does not see music defined by rigid genres. Savio Rego's music has been in rotation at several NPR, Satellite Radio and Internet Radio stations. So take a listen, "All I Want" is all you’ll need to make your personal CD collection a lot more exciting.

A superb way to finish up this 2010FM round up we hope Savio Rego reaches a wider audience and continues to produce music of this quality.

Featured Track: Senorita All I Want.
Website: Official
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Featured Tracks:

Flo & Eddie - Live in Hollywood 1976

This is Flo & Eddie live in concert at The Roxy Theatre, Hollywood, California, USA back on the 26th September 1976.

Flo & Eddie are Howard Kaylan, "Eddie", and Mark Volman, "Flo" aka "Phlorescent Leech".

The two were the original founding members of the wonderful sixties band The Turtles. After the Turtles dissolved, Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman first joined the Mothers of Invention  as "Phlorescent Leech & Eddie". Due to contractual restrictions made early in their career, Mark and Howard were prevented from using the name "The Turtles", as well as their own names in a musical context. The Phlorescent Leech and Eddie were actual nicknames of two of the Mothers of Invention road crew.

When bandleader Frank Zappa  was injured during a concert in London in 1971, Kaylan and Volman found themselves at an impasse, as the Mothers of Invention were out of action for a time. They responded to these events by recording The Phlorescent Leech & Eddie on Reprise Records with most of the other members of the Mothers of Invention. Although the album failed to chart, they continued releasing albums including the more successful Flo & Eddie, Illegal, Immoral and Fattening, Moving Targets, and Rock Steady with Flo & Eddie.

During the 1970s, Kaylan and Volman continued to do session work, lending their trademark harmonies to T.Rex, John Lennon, Roger McGuinn, Hoyt Axton, Ray Manzarek, Stephen Stills, Keith Moon, David Cassidy, Alice Cooper, Tonio K, Blondie, Bruce Springsteen, The Knack, The Psychedelic Furs, Sammy Hagar, Livingston Taylor, Burton Cummings, Paul Kantner, Duran Duran, the Ramones and others. This is a superb concert from them back in the 1970's and demonstrates just how good they were (and remain) live.

Source: FM Broadcast.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps.

Genre: Comedy, rock, unique.

Set: Full set

Set List:

Part One:
01 Intro                          
02 Cheap                          
03 "Kiss" routine > talking about Dylans babuschka
04 It Ain't Me Babe                      
05 Best Possible Me                      
06 talks about Flo & Eddie with Springsteen routine      
07 Nikki Hoi w/ Rockstar routine              
08 Mama, Open Up                      
09 The Lights Go Down                  
10 Illegal, Immoral And Fattening              
11 Now You Love Me Too                  
12 Elenore                      
13 Intermission - talking with the audience -  band intro
14 The Tibetan Memory Trick
                  
Part Two:
01 "Paul is dead" routine > There's No Business Like Show Business   
02 Show Me The Way                  
03 Hot                          
04 Sway When You Walk                  
05 It´s Kama Sutra Time >                  
06 Rock And Roll Endorsement Spoofs >              
07 Eddie, Are You Kidding? >                  
08 Keep It Warm                                          
09 Moving Targets                  
10 Happy Together      
11 She Would Rather Be With Me 

Website: The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie HERE. 

Comments:  
Flo & Eddie (Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan) - vocals, Phil Reed - guitar, Eric Scott - bass, Greig Krampf - percussion, Andy Cahan - keyboards, Ian Underwood - sax, Bruce Fowler - trombone, Walt Fowler  - trumpet

Download links (two) in comments below.

Editors - Berlin 2009.

This is Editors live at the Club Maria, Berlin, Germany on the 25th September 2009.

This was just before their third album 'In This Light and on This Evening' was released (12th October 2009) and includes eight songs from that album release.

Editors have so far achieved two platinum studio albums, selling over two million copies between them worldwide. Their debut album The Back Room was released in 2005. It contained hits such as "Munich" and "Blood" and the following year received a Mercury Prize nomination. Their follow-up album An End Has a Start went to number 1 in the UK Album Chart in June 2007 and earned the band a Brit Awards nomination for best British Band. It also spawned another Top 10 hit single with the release of "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors".

After their continued success in the charts, sold out tours and numerous headlining festival slots, Editors received critical acclaim. Their brand of dark indie rock is habitually compared to the sound of bands such as Echo & the Bunnymen, Joy Division, Interpol and U2.  

Source: FM Broadcast.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@150kbps.

Genre: Indie Rock, Alt Rock.

Set: Full set

Set List:

01 – In This Light And On The Evening
02 – An End Has A Start
03 – Bullets
04 – Eat Raw Meat
05 – You Don’t Know Love
06 – Bones
07 – The Racing Rats
08 – Like Treasure
09 – The Big Exit
10 – Lights
11 – You Are Fading
12 – Fingers In The Factories
13 – Papillon
14 – Walk The Fleet Road
15 – Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors
16 – Munich
17 – Bricks And Mortar

Website: MySpace HERE, Official HERE.

Comments:

The band consists of Tom Smith (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano), Chris Urbanowicz (lead guitar, synthesizer), Russell Leetch (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Ed Lay (drums, percussion).

Download link in comments below.

2010FM - September Edition Two

The second September edition is all over the place in a positive sort of way. Loads of different styles and moods from both new and established artists and we start with someone with real style and class.

Grammy nominated Sylvia Bennett, (and we quote) the timeless smooth jazz and pop vocalist sings of love with a warmth, clarity and spirit that is enveloping and tender, showcasing the depth of her skill, talent and experience. She's sung with Lionel Hampton and she's sung for presidents - all with a singular style and intimacy that is hers and hers alone.

Quoting some more however it's all pretty much 'on the nail' - 'Sylvia Bennett's big break came in the 1980's, when legendary vibraphonist (and National Arts Award Winner) Lionel Hampton took Sylvia under his wing and made her the first female singer to record with him in thirty years. She recounts, “Lionel validated me as a performer and inspired me to be the best singer I can be. He made me realize that the audience was the most important thing and that all I needed to do was to sing from the heart and be honest.” Sylvia worked with Hampton for ten years, touring and recording two albums together. The first, Sentimental Journey, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1987. The second project, There Will Never Be Another You, was a CD/DVD tribute to “Hamp” from Sylvia, and she furthered the honor to her mentor with the show, “The Lady and the Legend,” premiering in Miami in 2007. In the wake of Sylvia's tribute to Hampton, Hal Batt suggested that she record timeless love songs and standards, backed by a small band to convey the desired intimacy for her next album. Songs From The Heart featuring the Three Tenors (tenor saxophone legends Boots Randolph, Ed Calle and Kirk Whalum) was released in 2007'.

More recently 'Smile' was released in April 2010 and our featured track is from this superb album. 

Featured Track: Make Someone Happy.
Website: Official.
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We featured them back in May, however you cannot fault Mutts for being tenacious and when they sent us a copy of their third EP 'The Tells of Parallels' which is out October 1st 2010, we thought this had better be good if you want another audacious Beehive Candy plug.

Well for starters I think it goes without saying that there is a definite contrast with the previous artist whether you measure it in decibels or any other kind of standard.

Mutts brand new EP is to use their terms "rambunctious keyboard rock music". Well we here at the Beehive needed a few cobwebs blown away and Mutts have delivered on that one. Taking a prompt from the EP cover, it's a bit like standing next to the railway line as a crazy express train hurtles past.

If you like good old rock'n'roll with some attitude and energy and a hint of insanity you will like Mutts. Check out their website for even more music.

Featured Track: Terranaut.
Website: Official.
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We are quoting again (well we would only rearrange the details so why not?) - "NU SHOOZ was nominated for a “Best New Artist” Grammy award in 1987 and earned a Gold Record for the album “Poolside.” Their breakthrough hit, “I Can’t Wait” continues to be played on radio stations around the globe every 11 minutes. The band has been featured on MTV, VH1, and classic music programs like American Bandstand, Solid Gold, and the UK’s Top of the Pops. They’ve toured with some of the biggest names in show business, including Tina Turner, Billy Ocean, and the Pointer Sisters".

More than two decades after their 1986 Top Ten Hit single, “I Can’t Wait,” took the world by storm, NU SHOOZ have returned with a new album, “Pandora’s Box”, and a 10 piece orchestra Gil Evans would have loved. Formed in Portland, Oregon in the summer of 1979, their line-up has changed over time, but in all its various forms, they’ve always pushed the boundaries between pop, funk, and jazz. Now, with the release of Pandora’s Box, Portland’s favorite soul explorers take one giant leap for mankind with a brave new sound, combining their signature brand of funk with elements borrowed from Film Noir, ‘60s Spy Movies and even Tarzan.

And not quoting, this is one class act that we are delighted to give a taste of here on Beehive Candy. 

Featured Track: Right Before My Eyes.
Website: Official.
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Unashamedly ripping this info to get the detail spot on - International star and platinum recording artist, songwriter and producer Gregory Abbott's roots stem from Venezuela (his mother) and the Island of Antigua (his father). Raised in New York City, he is a dual citizen of the USA and Antigua.

In college he majored in psychology and minored in music and dramatic arts. He holds a Masters degree and is currently working towards his Ph.D and was awarded a Wallace Stegner Fellowship to Stanford University's Creative writing Masters program. While pursuing graduate studies at Berkeley, and Stanford University, he helped pay his tuition by starting a band. It was here he developed his own personal musical style. While teaching English at the University of California at Berkeley, he decided to become a professional musician built a studio, and applied his academic discipline to developing skills as a singer composer and producer.

He released the single and album "Shake You Down" shaking up the music industry with countless honors and awards. His music has crossed every barrier imaginable. In his music you hear the Caribbean/Spanish influence topped off with Abbott's incredibly smooth and soulful voice. Abbott is noted for coining the term "groove ballad" his signature style. When referring to him music writers have affectionately used the term " Wall Street Soul". He is a favorite with the ladies for his good looks, sophisticated demeanor and intelligent green eyes, but there is a sense of something more beneath the surface. Abbott’s' songs have gone to #1 on every chart here in the US and around the world.

He hails from a family of entertainers. His first cousin Diahnne Abbott (for many years married to actor Robert De Niro), is herself an actor of merit. Gregory has guest starred on the daytime drama "All My Children" and is now delving more heavily into acting and writing for film and television.

He's served on the Board of Directors of both NARAS (the Grammy’s), and the NAPM (Songwriters Hall of Fame). Some of is community service work includes Rock Against Drugs, when they brought their message to Washington, DC, and the "Bands to Beat AIDS" campaign whose focus is AIDS awareness across the nation.

This is wonderful music that oozes class from Gregory Abbott and as we like to say here on Beehive Candy - enjoy...

Featured Track: Middle Of Harlem.
Website: Official.
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Ireland-based duo Low Sea combine warped seasick-shoegaze, nostalgic pop melody and fuzzed-out dreampop, all cemented on a solid krautrock platform.

With sounds that reference everything from Suicide to Spacemen 3, A.R.Kane to Mazzy Star, Giorgio Moroder to The Big Pink, Low Sea’s songs are a hazy journey between looming shadows and bleached-out light.

Who are we to argue with Pitchfork who said - “… Low Sea cut the dark, pressurized atmosphere with an update on steady-state krautrock motorik, bringing to mind some of the experiments on the Horrors’ Primary Colours (not to mention the “Sea Within a Sea”/”Low Sea” connection.) The track “Never Yours” from their self-released debut ‘Las Olas’ builds unhurriedly with swirling synthesizers and distant vocals and …growing more forceful when the repeated line “I was never yours” cuts through the haze.” Pitchfork

We are gonna share one track from their EP released on the 13th September, which would currently be on heavy rotation if we were a radio station to ensure you stay tuned and 'dont touch that dial'. 

Featured Track: Never Yours.
Website: MySpace.
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After meeting in college in 2005, Oakland based duo James & Evander  began making music together in the bedrooms of their apartments. There they discovered a shared love of Moog synthesizers and analog delays and began writing the twee electronica that would make up their first EP. In the time that’s passed, James & Evander have constantly been making music, releasing a full length, starting an ongoing remix series, and now present a new EP: Sunlight and Circuitry.

Sunlight and Circuitry finds James & Evander wrapped inside their synthesizers and drum machines, exploring new territory while continuing to reference their long standing influences (Dntel, The Album Leaf, and Kompakt Records). Much of the EP was written and recorded in their West Oakland basement (dubbed “The Turtle Shell”) where the one corner window let in the sunlight that covered their scattered mess of keyboards, cables, and pedals. The six songs that make up the EP are moody pieces of electronica that can best be described as weedwave, the stonier more introspective cousin of chillwave. Processed and glitched drums drive the songs while melodies bleep and bloop through thick layers of delay. James & Evander attempt to make music that doesn’t say “Hey! Look at me!” but more “Hey, we make music in our basement. Want to check it out?”

One of six tracks from their EP we share Turtle Two, which sounds more like it was recorded on a sunny day in a park or by the sea - more please!

Featured Track: Turtle Two.
Website: MySpace.
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Some more quoting here but once again it is fair and to the point - 'Over the past year, Leslie DiNicola has built an impressive following of fans and played packed shows at famed NYC venues such as Crash Mansion, Arlene's Grocery, Fontana's, and Googie’s Lounge.

This summer she embarked on her first mini-tour, during which, the highlight was being asked to sing the National Anthem for the Atlanta Brave’s on two separate occasions. Once in Atlanta at Turner Field, then, again, in New York at Citi Field. She says, "Singing the National Anthem at two Major League Baseball Games was, quite simply, the most rewarding feeling I have ever felt. It's hard to describe how it feels when so many people start applauding you. As I sang, "…the rocket's red glare" and heard the excitement in the crowd, I got chills straight up my spine." As Leslie DiNicola's songs continue to reach a wider audience, it is easy to imagine her playing sold out shows for thousands of fans every night'.

As fans of both baseball and Alt Country and the other genres Leslie can claim to include in her repertoire, we are delighted to include a song from her in this edition!

Featured Track: Lay Me Down.
Website: MySpace.
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Peter Buzzelle (Vocals, Drums, Guitar) is a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and indie rock musician from Boston, Massachusetts. Buzzelle’s main influences are mixed amongst artists such as Elliott Smith, Morrissey and Band Of Horses.

Peter is an original singer and songwriter whose lyrics and vocal melodies are memorable. His music tells a story about his life and his experiences, with a blend of unique genres that gives him an emotive sound that has not been heard before in the genre of indie rock.

Peter Buzzelle has written and recorded his newly released debut album “To Telescope” with the help of Chris Zerby, a producer from California. In the beginning of his career, Peter was the founder of a band called Frequency dB that has toured for over half a decade across the west coast of the United States with well known bands such as The Posies. Buzzelle is an independent musician that has learned to market himself and manage his own career over the years. His album “To Telescope” tells a story about his life and his experiences amongst a broad range of genres that creates a unique and refreshing sound.

We cant quite put our 'finger on it' but there is something about Peter that gets our attention here at Beehive Candy in the crowded world of indie rock - anyhow here's a stab at it, 'nice and fresh music with a lift that we feel' - oh just listen, we have never claimed to be journalists.... 

Featured Track: Summer Home.
Website: Official.
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Another band that have contacted the Beehive directly are Quiet Lights.

To demonstrate once again the wonders of keeping a message short and to the point (along with sharing some really cool music which tends to be the deciding factor) we received the following...

Hey this is Marcus from Quiet Lights from Brooklyn, think you may dig this.  We've recently put out a 3-track pre-release that we're giving away while we finish the proper album.  The album is getting mixed by John Congleton (St Vincent, Explosions in the Sky) then mastered by Alan Douches (Frightened Rabbit, Sufjan Stevens) and should be out by the fall..   A good short descriptor could be dream-pop but we think its a bit more then just that.

Well a good short descriptor is always welcome especially when the prompt is accurate, we think the emphasis should be on 'a bit more than just that'. This is dream pop with more than a bit more, that is well worth a listen (or two) and lets hope the full album builds on this!


Featured Track: We Live In Balloons.
Website: Bandcamp.
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We finish with a new video from Nice Purse. The song is called Kathalaugh and its an upbeat celebration of young spirit (well thats what we are told and it seems that way).

Keeping on message it's not unlike Bright Eyes or The Violent Femmes, it's a folk stomp fit for a care free scene in a teen coming of age movie. In fact they will be contributing original music for the nationally (USA) syndicated sketch comedy show M@dAbout TV. We agree the video is light hearted and fun, just like the music.

Plus we get to try out a new way to embed a video on Beehive Candy - seriously this is a great way to end this edition and an mp3 version is included for good measure (in case the video dont work).


___________________________________


Featured Tracks: 

Lita Ford - California USA 1992

Keeping the emphasis on rock with a capital R for a little bit longer this is Lita Ford live at the Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, California, USA back in 1992.

After The Runaways split in 1979, Lita began a solo career. Her first album Out for Blood as well as the title single were released in 1983 and had no luck on the charts. The next effort, 1984's Dancin' on the Edge  achieved moderate success. It included the single "Fire In My Heart" which reached the Top 10 in several countries. The next single "Gotta Let Go" was one of Ford's biggest hits. It reached Number One on the Mainstream Rock charts.

Lita Ford toured extensively and made several guest appearances on TV shows for the next four years, but had no releases; a follow-up to Dancin' On The Edge, titled The Bride Wore Black, was abandoned and never released because Ford did not like the production of the album and this upset the head of her record label, leading to Lita switching from Mercury Records to RCA Records. The artist has described the album as being in "Label hell! Who knows what shelf that is sitting on!"

By the time Ford returned again, the lighter pop-metal she had long favored had broken through to mainstream audiences, which set the stage for her most commercially successful album, 1988's Lita. With Sharon Osbourne as her manager, and again produced by herself, the album featured four commercial hits, including "Kiss Me Deadly", "Back To The Cave", "Close My Eyes Forever", and "Falling In And Out Of Love" (co-written with Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe). The ballad "Close My Eyes Forever", a duet with Sharon's husband Ozzy Osbourne, was her only Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit, reaching number eight.

Her next release was called Stiletto. It featured the singles "Hungry" and "Lisa" (the second was dedicated to her mother). However this album was not as successful as Dancin' On The Edge and Lita.

Lita Ford's next release was Dangerous Curves, which featured her last charting single "Shot Of Poison". Ford's last release would be with ZYX Records and would be titled Black. It failed to repeat the success of 1991's Dangerous Curves. Hopefully all of this info helps get this concert material from 1992 in context.

Source: FM Broadcast.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps.

Genre: Hard rock, post punk.

Set: Edited radio broadcast

Set List:

01. Larger Than Life
02. What Do Ya Know About Love
03. Black Widow
04. Bad Love
05. Shot Of Poison
06. Hungry
07. Kiss Me Deadly

Website: MySpace HERE.

Download link in comments below.
 

Nina Hagen - Rockpalast Germany 1999

We think it only fair to admit that Beehive Candy has been a little gentle just lately with our selection of live concert material. 

Well to help rectify this situation who better than the multi talented and highly energised legend that is Nina Hagen.

This is Nina live in concert at Rockpalast in Bonn, Germany back on the 28th August 1999. The gig consists of a number of her original songs of which some are sung in English and some covers of well known English language songs that are sung in German.

All of which provides some incredible twists and turns. As I do not speak German at all (except to say please and thank you badly) I can only guess of what is being said between numbers however whatever the language one cannot mistake high energy, passion and an element of the surreal. If you are not familiar with Nina Hagen but love any of the genres described below you will I think find this introduction a fascinating experience, if you are then this is a must have (yes we do say that on occasion but only when we think it is right). The band also deserve a mention - they are superb.

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@242kbps.

Genre: Punk rock, post-punk, New wave, Gothic rock, Reggae, Psychedelic rock

Set: Full Concert

Set List:

1. Return Of The Mother (5:12)
2. TV Glotzer (White punks on dope) (5:03)
3. Frequency Control (6:09)
4. Yes Sir (3:52)
5. Schachmatt (4:46)
6. Wir Leben Immer Noch (4:36)
7. Hollenzug (4:00)
8. Ska (1:57)
9. African Reggae (4:48)
10. Nina For President (5:43)
11. Der Wind Hat Mir Ein Lied Erzahlt (5:42)
12. Hey Shiva Shankara (3:34)
13. My Way (5:44)
14. Zara (Ich weib es wird einmal ein Wunder gescheh'n) (4:38)

Website: Wikipedia HERE.

Comments:

There is a reasonable introduction and short biography of Nina Hagen through the wikipedia link above.

Download link in comments below.

2010FM - September Edition One

Well we are a little slow of the mark this month bringing you a selection of new music, so thats our current excuse for rushing headlong through eight great new selections of music that really do take us in different directions.

We start very gently with a track from 'Under The Sodium Lights' which is Drew Sullivan’s Slow Dancing Society latest ambient epic. We are told that "The album feels like a distillation of the three stunning releases that preceded it – and as such is Sullivan’s finest work to date. The delicate interplay between focused melodic details and blurred washes of sound draws the listener into a hypnotic state, where the waking world and the world of sleep cascade in and out of balance".

Or to put it another way it's a great selection of music that fans of ambient and mood music should love and a wider selection of people should also check out!

Under The Sodium Lights sees its official release on 30 September 2010 through Australian label Hidden Shoal Recordings. The album is also available as a digital pre-release now.

Featured Track: '…and to the dust we shall return’
Website: Hidden Shoal Store.
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Producer and musician Cisco Adler, best known for his work in alterna-rap duo Shwazye, is preparing to debut his new solo project. Adler recently finished work on the albums of Mike Posner, Big B, G Love and Dirt Nasty. He will be introducing previously unreleased solo music as well as some new material he has started writing for an upcoming album.

Cisco Adler recently released “The Rough Demos”—three brand new solo songs, online for free on his bandcamp page. All of the tracks feature Adler’s ever-present California sound and distinctive production style. “Body Language” has a catchy, classic vibe to it, showcasing upbeat piano and horns. “California King” invokes the laid-back, SoCal theme that Adler is proudly known for. He mellows it out with a stripped-down, acoustic alt-country love song, “Maybe Never.” The range of styles and influences continues to demonstrate Adler’s breadth as a musician.

Featured Track: Body Language.
Website: MySpace. Official.
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Falling and Laughing are a dynamic two piece band from Birmingham (England) who draw upon indiepop melodies and post-rock dynamics in order to make their sound.

The band stumbled out of Birmingham’s acoustic and open mic nights in 2007 when guitarist and singer Dunc met a drummer called Darryl and bassist called Stu Fletcher. This line up played across Birmingham learning the fine art of how not to do in-between song banter and winning a few quid on pub machines after the gig. Stu later moved away, but rather than replacing a good friend, the band slimmed down to their current two piece and they started gigging again in 2009.

The sound of just a guitar, drums and singing allowed the two piece to explore a whole new dynamic, the lack of instruments was more than compensated by Dunc’s quick chord changes and Darryl’s busy drumming which brought some kind of cheery intensity to the songs. It was harder to win on the pub quiz machine with one less member though.

The debut release 'Bunnyhood' by Falling and Laughing  hit record shops on 6th September. This is a super limited release of just 120 copies - which are going to sell out super fast. It comes in a deluxe card box and has a free zine about the EP created by the band themselves.


Featured Track: 'Roly Poly'.
Website: MySpace. Also Prospecting Distant Systems.
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OK heres the background - Redstone Hall has been ruling the clubs of LA since their debut at the Roxy in 2003. The quartet – lead singer, songwriter and keyboard player Steven Rothstein; lead guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Zack Hall; bass man and vocalist Mac Hadar and drummer Mike Nussbaum – is known for exciting stage shows that combine rock, funk, soul, blues and pop, with an expansive improvisational element.

The band started as a heavily improvisational unit, playing progressive compositions that allowed the members to show off their instrumental skills, but they evolved rapidly. The band was soon drawing on the sounds of the soul and rock of the 60s and 70s, writing tunes that were more focused and hook driven without sacrificing their originality or complexity. They began headlining clubs and creating a street-level buzz. Music Connection named them one of LA’s top unsigned bands in 2008.

They took a few tries at making a debut record, but their eclectic blend of styles confounded producers. Then they met Dave Cobb (Shooter Jennings, Jack White, Nico Vega.) “We were more of a live act than a recording band,” Zack Hall says. “Dave knew what we were going for and helped us get it.”

Cobb recorded the band live, using vintage equipment to capture their forceful live energy and expansive sound. Brian LeBarton (Beck’s keyboard player) helped out with keys on a few tracks. “Dave understood our modern take on retro styles and pulled the best out of us,” Steven Rothstein says. “We had a bunch of tunes we’d road tested, but Dave encouraged us to stretch and challenge ourselves.” Rothstein and Hall went on to write most of the EP during the recording sessions, giving the music an immediate feel that’s palpable.

Having heard the featured song from the forthcoming release of brand new EP "ElePhant" (out October 5th), Beehive Candy strongly recommends checking this band out further - we intend to.

Featured Track: Get Back Jack.
Website: MySpace.
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The NME wrote regarding The Gay Blades "Prepare to have your love defribulated by the raw, garagey sound of these two reprobates, strutting on to our airwaves with more saw-riffed swagger than a dog with two dicks and cougar's yowl. Clark Westfield and Puppy Mills are bad, bad men, and we love 'em".

Our featured track "Try To Understand" is from their album Savages which is out on the 5th October. Now if you go over to their official site you can send a tweet to your friends and then receive a copy of this song.

We just happened to have short cut the process because we here at Beehive Candy are on occasion 'bad bad men' ourselves. Seriously the forthcoming album sounds like it gonna be a good one if this song is anything to go by.

Featured Track: Try To Understand.
Website: Official.
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We featured this band back in May and Thicker Milk, the sprawling twenty-one song opus from Norfolk, Virginia’s The Super Vacations, finds the band expanding in all manner of ways. We are reminded that "since the release of their self-titled debut in 2008, the band has expanded its ranks to a formidable five-piece, giving the band’s psych-surf nuggets a bigger, more aggressive, and occasionally darker sound".

Recorded over the past two years by the band in various locations, Thicker Milk is a record that dips its toes in psych, surf, pop, and points in-between without ever sounding nostalgic or dated. Over the course of thirty-five minutes, the band whittle their precision riffs and ethereal harmonies down to perfect pockets of sound. Sample track suggest this will be another good one.

Thicker Milk will be available September 14th, 2010 via SHDWPLY Records.

Featured Track: Be Glad. 
Website: MySpace.
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MJ Hibbett & The Validators released the world's first true download single 'Hey Hey 16K' in 1999. Rob Manuel's video for this song became a massive viral hit in 2004 and has since been downloaded over three million times.

Well thats what they tell us and who are we to argue. Indeed we received an email direct from them which charmingly started -  'Hello! Hope you don't mind me emailing out of the blue like this, just wondering if you'd have time to maybe have a listen to our rather exciting new album?'

Not only do we not mind, but because we are enjoying the two albums you sent us so much, we thought we would copy and paste the whole press release!

Indie legends MJ Hibbett & The Validators are releasing two rarities
albums for the price of one and promoting them with a three month tour
in a pub. The albums feature songs played on Radio One, in viral
videos, and in the offices of Marvel Comics.

Forest Moon Of Enderby is a collection of 12 rare b-sides with an
extra 23 track album of further rarities called Hibbett's Superstore
on the CD-R. Leave My Brother Alone was featured in the band's live
Radio One session at Maida Vale while Data Storage Thing appears on
the multi-million download Samsung SSD Awesomeness online advert. The
Ballad Of Alan Moore is a tribute to the comics genius which has been
admired by the editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics as well as Mr Moore
himself.

Tim and Emma from The Validators are currently living in Mauritius,
making conventional touring impractical, so MJ has decided instead to
do a three month tour in his local pub. From 11 October he will be
performing acoustically every fortnight in the upstairs room of The
Lamb in London and releasing each show as a free podcast.

"Doing the shows as podcasts is a fantastic new way to tour", says MJ
Hibbett. "It allows thousands of people to enjoy relaxed and intimate
performances, while the performers themselves get to go home to their
own beds afterwards. Everyone's a winner!" Special guests include
Chris T-T, The Bobby McGees, Gavin Osborn and members of Pocketbooks.

MJ Hibbett & The Validators have always been at the forefront of new
developments in music on the internet. They released the first
download single, created one of the earliest viral videos, and
successfully used web promotion to stage a series of shows at the
Edinburgh Fringe. Their next project will be even more ambitious - a
full cast rock opera about Space Dinosaurs!

Now thats what we call an unashamed plug, see what happens when we really like an artist! MJ Hibbett & The Validators: Forest Moon Of Enderby is available from 18th October via Artists Against Success on CD and as a download.

Featured Track: Other Bands Setlists.
Website: Official.
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The three song EP including the featured song 'The One Light' is the first solo release by Ned Oldham (of The Anomoanon fame and brother of Will Oldham aka Bonnie "Prince" Billy).

Recorded in Baltimore at the Blue Third Floor and released as a limited edition (small run of 500) 7" record on colored vinyl, these are the first recordings since 2004's Joji by The Anomoanon.

The EP, titled Let's Go Out Tonight, carries a lot of weight in the three songs; though steeped in Americana and folk traditions, the tracks showcase Ned's penchant for bitter to bright lyrics and beautiful compositions.

This is a great way to end this edition of 2010FM and we here at Beehive Candy just hope we get to hear as much new music from Ned as we have over the years from his brother. For some reason the featured song reminds me of Buffalo Springfield however Ned's vocals are quite distinctive from Stepehen Stills. The comparison is meant as a compliment, this is a lovely track, enjoy!


Featured Track: The One Light.
Website: Gold Robot Records.
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Featured Tracks:

Robert Earl Keen - Austin, Texas, 1988 to 1997

This is a selection of songs performed for Austin City Limits by Robert Earl Keen, at the Austin City Limits Studios, Austin, Texas, USA.

None of these songs were included on the official release 'Live In Austin' which is from a 2001 concert recording.

Robert Earl Keen first performed on Austin City Limits in 1988 as part of the Texas Showcase which included four other artists. This selection also includes sets recorded in 1994 and 1997.

Trying to place Robert in one music genre is difficult, hence the various descriptions below, he can move from one style to another in a seamless manner. The musicians that work with him are part of the trick and his own down to earth style makes listening a joy. Songs like 'Road Goes On Forever' remind me of both Bob Dylan, and Emmylou Harris in terms of delivery and arrangement however he stamps his own style completely on each song. If Robert Earl Keen is new to you and you only half like anything 'Americana' then check him out right now!

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps. 

Genre: Country, Country rock, Alternative country, Folk, Texas Country.  

Set: From three studio sessions.

Set List:

14th October 1988  
01 Front Porch Song
02 Mariano
03 Going Down In Style
04 I Would Change My Life

18th October 1994    
05 Whenever Kindness Fails
06 Corpus Christi Bay
07 Merry Christmas From The Family
08 I’m Coming Home
09 So I Can Take My Rest
10 Road Goes On Forever

16th January 1997  
11 Shades Of Gray
12 Amarillo Highway
13 The Coming Home Of The Son And Brother
14 Then Came Lo Mein
15 Undone
16 Over The Waterfall

Website: Official HERE.

Comments:

Robert Earl Keen, Junior (born January 11, 1956 in Houston, Texas) is a Texan singer-songwriter. He is popular with traditional country music fans, folk music fans, the college radio crowd and alt-country fans. He currently resides in Kerrville, Texas and maintains a ranch in Medina, Texas.

Download link in comments below.

Bumper Catch Up featuring: Rubblebucket - Mollie Elizabeth - Lilly Hiatt - The Kearns Family - WILDES and St Francis Hotel - Lucette - Caroline Strickland - Mon Rayon - Lala Salama

Keeping the comments a little shorter so we can cram a few more songs in than usual, this is our first bumper catch up of some really fine r...