Mind The Journey - Rose Colored Glasses.
Background promo - Raised on a tranquilising shoreline in Connecticut, Spencer Sabo spent his youth learning the drum set, making crazy films with his brother, and exploring his creativity. In high school Spencer found like minded peers and started playing drums in a band. Here he began his journey of learning the ins and outs of audio production, recording and mixing the songs they created. It wasn't until the age of 17, when Spencer began experimenting with an old keyboard, that Mind The Journey was born. He made sure that what was in his head was the exact way his creation came out.
This lead to Spencer releasing his first dreamy 8 song EP, of which gained buzz both on line and locally, with him playing shows in the New England area. Years later in Boston, a now almost-man and adrift introvert, Mr. Sabo is releasing his first 12 track album, entitled Colour In The Gray Machine, which was entirely created in his makeshift basement studio. Release date: January 5th, 2016.
'Rose Colored Glasses' quickly builds into a psychedelic maelstrom, before cooling off into a gentler synth and vocals piece. It's the sixth of twelve tracks on this intriguing album. There's a mixture of psychedelic rock (and pop) that at times seem to be suppressing the desire to break out into drum and bass. Original ideas meet retro styles, that make for a pretty cool album.
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Angela Burns - All Together.
Background promo - Raised in the suburbs of Austin, Texas, Angela grew up listening to 90s grunge, pop-punk, and post-grunge bands circa 2000s. Her biggest aspiration being acting, she wrote her first song at age 9 and began playing drums in a band with her two sisters, Kathryn and Carolyn. After working as an actress and playing local shows in Austin, she graduated early from high school and subsequently relocated to Los Angeles with the goal of seeking out more opportunities as an actress and musician.
A multi-talented and surprisingly experienced 21-year-old, her work can be seen behind the scenes in film (Richard Linklater's "Boyhood", Robert Rodriguez' "Sin City 2"), in front of the camera, and on her first musical effort, "So That You Can Feel Better". Her uniquely dark and emotive take on the genres is largely a result of her punk and underground rock leanings, and can be heard on a new eight track mix tape HERE.
'All Together' is the first of the eight tracks, and makes as good a starting point as any. Angela's music certainly demonstrates her punk and underground leanings, but those genres don't dominate the music, and she certainly puts her own style and ideas at the forefront. There's a link above to hear all eight songs, if you like the featured one, your in for a very pleasant surprise.
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Two For Your Ears: Housemate - Atlanter
Housemate - Wild Gardens.
Background promo - Housemate has never been one to conform to musical genres and "classification". A self-taught disciple in the craft of genre-splicing, "Wild Gardens" embodies the contrasting influences and conflicting diversity personified by his Stop Out Records back catalogue and live shows.
'Wild Gardens' coolly dissolves from its eccentric outset into a backdrop of acidic jazz trombones and cinematic melodies to disclose a calculated trapstep killer ominously lurking underneath its kooky leftfield exterior.
From the opening notes 'Wild Gardens' was one of those pieces of music that gained my total attention. Different, and yes a little eccentric, however immensely pleasing. With so many directions being taken, they somehow come together as a strange, but wonderful piece.
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Atlanter - Jareeze (Radioedit).
Background promo - Atlanter washed over Norway like a tidal wave in 2013. Their debut album, Vidde, became a favourite among both record buyers and critics, with its beautiful and natural mix of African desert blues, American delta blues and German “motorik” from the 70s. “Vidde blues” was a new and self-made term at that time - a term that summed up the quartet’s wish of uniting music from several corners of the world in “Norwegianised” and timeless attire. They fully succeeded. “Atlanter are a straightforward pleasure”, the NME wrote about their debut album. With a Norwegian Grammy nomination and several high positions in some critics’ summaries of the music year 2013, we’re allowed to have high expectations. The Atlanter wave is here again.
‘Jewels of Crime’ is both a natural sequel and a long step forward for the quartet. A conceptual album about diamonds and pearls. An album that Atlanter have spent three long years recording, but that really has provided the musical gems to befit the subject matter.
Arild Hammerø (guitar, vocal), Jens J Carelius Krogsveen (guitar, vocal), Jonas Barsten (drums) and Morten Kvam (bass) have all the time kept and developed their astounding knack for improvisation, their joy of playing and their intuitive musical understanding, which also in a live setting is central to the band’s sound. They’re proving on ‘Jewels of Crime’ that they also master the art of songwriting completely. Jewels of Crime will be released on Jansen Plateproduksjon on 22 January 2016.
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Background promo - Housemate has never been one to conform to musical genres and "classification". A self-taught disciple in the craft of genre-splicing, "Wild Gardens" embodies the contrasting influences and conflicting diversity personified by his Stop Out Records back catalogue and live shows.
'Wild Gardens' coolly dissolves from its eccentric outset into a backdrop of acidic jazz trombones and cinematic melodies to disclose a calculated trapstep killer ominously lurking underneath its kooky leftfield exterior.
From the opening notes 'Wild Gardens' was one of those pieces of music that gained my total attention. Different, and yes a little eccentric, however immensely pleasing. With so many directions being taken, they somehow come together as a strange, but wonderful piece.
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Atlanter - Jareeze (Radioedit).
Background promo - Atlanter washed over Norway like a tidal wave in 2013. Their debut album, Vidde, became a favourite among both record buyers and critics, with its beautiful and natural mix of African desert blues, American delta blues and German “motorik” from the 70s. “Vidde blues” was a new and self-made term at that time - a term that summed up the quartet’s wish of uniting music from several corners of the world in “Norwegianised” and timeless attire. They fully succeeded. “Atlanter are a straightforward pleasure”, the NME wrote about their debut album. With a Norwegian Grammy nomination and several high positions in some critics’ summaries of the music year 2013, we’re allowed to have high expectations. The Atlanter wave is here again.
‘Jewels of Crime’ is both a natural sequel and a long step forward for the quartet. A conceptual album about diamonds and pearls. An album that Atlanter have spent three long years recording, but that really has provided the musical gems to befit the subject matter.
Arild Hammerø (guitar, vocal), Jens J Carelius Krogsveen (guitar, vocal), Jonas Barsten (drums) and Morten Kvam (bass) have all the time kept and developed their astounding knack for improvisation, their joy of playing and their intuitive musical understanding, which also in a live setting is central to the band’s sound. They’re proving on ‘Jewels of Crime’ that they also master the art of songwriting completely. Jewels of Crime will be released on Jansen Plateproduksjon on 22 January 2016.
'Jareeze' reminds me of the days of jazz-rock in the sense of just how tight and funky the music is. Vocally it has a more indie feel to it. Overall it is a fascinating taster for the new album, which on the strength of this, promises to be, quite something.
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New Riders Of The Purple Sage - Fillmore East 1971 (IA)
From the Internet Archive (IA) this is the New Riders Of The Purple Sage live at the Fillmore East, New York, USA back on the 28th April 1971.
Back in 2009 we featured the band live at the Fillmore West from the same tour, (that feature has now been updated with Internet Archive streaming and download links). The Fillmore East gig is such an excellent performance and recording, that I just could not resist featuring this to. The background for the band below is the same as, that we provided with the 2009 feature.
The group emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco in 1969, and its original lineup included members of the Grateful Dead.
After a few warm up gigs throughout the Bay Area in 1969, the New Riders (for all intents and purposes John Dawson and David Nelson) began to tour in May 1970 as opening act with the Grateful Dead. This relationship continued on a regular basis until December 1971. Throughout much of 1970, the Dead would open with an acoustic set that often included John Dawson and David Nelson before segueing into the New Riders and then the electric Dead.
By the time the New Riders recorded their first album in late 1970, change was in the air. Dave Torbert, a young Bay Area musician, replaced Phil Lesh. After Mickey Hart went on sabbatical from music in early 1971, Spencer Dryden (from Jefferson Airplane) began a ten-year relationship with the group as their drummer, and eventually manager. The first album, eponymously titled, was released on Columbia Records in late 1971 and was a moderate success. Featuring all John Dawson songs, the record was driven by Jerry Garcia's inventive pedal-steel playing.
With the New Riders desiring to become more of a self-sufficient group and Jerry Garcia needing to focus on his other responsibilities, the musician parted ways with the group in November 1971. Sadly John 'Marmaduke' Dawson passed away in July 2009.
Source: Soundboard.
Sound Quality: Excellent (Linage - SBDMR > Reel > Alesis Masterlink > CDR > EAC > SHN).
Genre: Country Rock
Set: Full Set.
Set List:
Workingman's Blues
Superman
Truck Drivin' Man
I Don't Know You
Runnin' Back To You
Down In The Boondocks
Garden Of Eden
Glendale Train
Fair Chance To Know
Sailin'
Connection
Henry
The Weight
Last Lonely Eagle
Louisianna Lady
Fun, Fun, Fun
Honky Tonk Women
Band Line Up:
John Dawson - rhythm guitar, vocals
David Nelson - lead guitar, vocals
David Torbert - bass, vocals
Jerry Garcia - pedal steel guitar
Spencer Dryden - drums
Links: Official site HERE.
Comments: You can stream the concert below. For download files in either MP3 or OGG VORBIS format, visit the Internet Archive (here).
Listen:
Back in 2009 we featured the band live at the Fillmore West from the same tour, (that feature has now been updated with Internet Archive streaming and download links). The Fillmore East gig is such an excellent performance and recording, that I just could not resist featuring this to. The background for the band below is the same as, that we provided with the 2009 feature.
The group emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco in 1969, and its original lineup included members of the Grateful Dead.
After a few warm up gigs throughout the Bay Area in 1969, the New Riders (for all intents and purposes John Dawson and David Nelson) began to tour in May 1970 as opening act with the Grateful Dead. This relationship continued on a regular basis until December 1971. Throughout much of 1970, the Dead would open with an acoustic set that often included John Dawson and David Nelson before segueing into the New Riders and then the electric Dead.
By the time the New Riders recorded their first album in late 1970, change was in the air. Dave Torbert, a young Bay Area musician, replaced Phil Lesh. After Mickey Hart went on sabbatical from music in early 1971, Spencer Dryden (from Jefferson Airplane) began a ten-year relationship with the group as their drummer, and eventually manager. The first album, eponymously titled, was released on Columbia Records in late 1971 and was a moderate success. Featuring all John Dawson songs, the record was driven by Jerry Garcia's inventive pedal-steel playing.
With the New Riders desiring to become more of a self-sufficient group and Jerry Garcia needing to focus on his other responsibilities, the musician parted ways with the group in November 1971. Sadly John 'Marmaduke' Dawson passed away in July 2009.
Source: Soundboard.
Sound Quality: Excellent (Linage - SBDMR > Reel > Alesis Masterlink > CDR > EAC > SHN).
Genre: Country Rock
Set: Full Set.
Set List:
Workingman's Blues
Superman
Truck Drivin' Man
I Don't Know You
Runnin' Back To You
Down In The Boondocks
Garden Of Eden
Glendale Train
Fair Chance To Know
Sailin'
Connection
Henry
The Weight
Last Lonely Eagle
Louisianna Lady
Fun, Fun, Fun
Honky Tonk Women
Band Line Up:
John Dawson - rhythm guitar, vocals
David Nelson - lead guitar, vocals
David Torbert - bass, vocals
Jerry Garcia - pedal steel guitar
Spencer Dryden - drums
Links: Official site HERE.
Comments: You can stream the concert below. For download files in either MP3 or OGG VORBIS format, visit the Internet Archive (here).
Listen:
Radiohead - Spectre
Radiohead - Spectre.
And we quote - Last year we were asked to write a theme tune for the Bond movie Spectre.
Yes we were. It didn’t work out, but became something of our own, which we love very much.
As the year closes we thought you might like to hear it.
Simply wonderful, enjoy Radiohead and their interpretation of a Bond theme for Spectre. In my opinion, better than.... but hey ho, I'm an unashamed Radiohead fan.
And we quote - Last year we were asked to write a theme tune for the Bond movie Spectre.
Yes we were. It didn’t work out, but became something of our own, which we love very much.
As the year closes we thought you might like to hear it.
Simply wonderful, enjoy Radiohead and their interpretation of a Bond theme for Spectre. In my opinion, better than.... but hey ho, I'm an unashamed Radiohead fan.
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Southern End - Lost Girl
Southern End - Lost Girl.
Background promo - Newcastle band Southern End, formed in early March 2014 with members Patrick McBeath on lead vocals/rhythm guitar, Aidan Liddle on lead guitar, Duncan Brown on Drums/percussion and Andrew Gray on bass guitar and backing vocals. After getting together in high school through similar influences, they decided to jam out a few of their favourite songs and have since then written and recorded many songs.
Lead singer Patrick McBeath brought ‘Lost Girl’ to the band’s rehearsal the day before their scheduled recording session at Trackdown Studios with producer/engineer Evan McHugh. Impressed by the songs potential the band quickly stuck the pieces together and recorded it in the studio the next day. “We had heaps of originals to go in with, but after we finished it at rehearsal we all knew it was the right song to use” says Southern End.
The finished product was a track that took an atmospheric pop approach to blues. Southern End are looking to start off 2016 with a slew of shows on the east coast supporting the launch of their new single. “Lost Girl” by Southern End will be released 15th of January 2016.
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Background promo - Newcastle band Southern End, formed in early March 2014 with members Patrick McBeath on lead vocals/rhythm guitar, Aidan Liddle on lead guitar, Duncan Brown on Drums/percussion and Andrew Gray on bass guitar and backing vocals. After getting together in high school through similar influences, they decided to jam out a few of their favourite songs and have since then written and recorded many songs.
Lead singer Patrick McBeath brought ‘Lost Girl’ to the band’s rehearsal the day before their scheduled recording session at Trackdown Studios with producer/engineer Evan McHugh. Impressed by the songs potential the band quickly stuck the pieces together and recorded it in the studio the next day. “We had heaps of originals to go in with, but after we finished it at rehearsal we all knew it was the right song to use” says Southern End.
The finished product was a track that took an atmospheric pop approach to blues. Southern End are looking to start off 2016 with a slew of shows on the east coast supporting the launch of their new single. “Lost Girl” by Southern End will be released 15th of January 2016.
This is a really cool bluesy rock track. Patrick McBeath has vocals just right for this type of song. The band are clearly a long way beyond jamming their favourite songs, 'Lost Girl' has all the right ingredients, and production is spot on.
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Gently Does It: Joseph Sant - Glass Face
Joseph Sant - Nor'easter.
Background promo - Joseph Sant is a musician living in Brooklyn, NY, hailing originally from Seattle, WA. He deals in lush, green, mountainous musical textures hewn out of his Pacific Northwest. He composes with angular shapes, the noise of subway brakes, off-kilter grids, and the encroaching sea.
His debut, Sea White Salt, is influenced by New York’s coasts, imperilled as they are by climate change, reshaped in an instant by catastrophic storms, and prey to wolfish markets. These songs explore the connections and analogies between forces of nature, impassable social barriers, and the gravity of all-consuming love and persistent dreams.
For Sea White Salt, Joseph collaborated with his good friend and producer Gabriel Galvin, erstwhile proprietor of Four Foot Studios in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn. They recorded Sea White Salt in a few overnight marathon sessions in the dead of winter, just before Four Foot Studios was evicted, casualty to the overheated real estate market synonymous with that neighbourhood. Fellow Brooklyn artist Stirling Krusing plays lap steel on the album. Long-time collaborator Tyler Graham plays drums. These artists, together with bassist Georgia Tan, form the five-piece band that now plays under Joseph Sant’s moniker. Release date: January 14, 2016.
'Nor'easter' is the third of four tracks on the forthcoming EP. There's a relaxed pace to the EP, the featured track is fairly typical of the style, however expect gentler offerings as well. The whole thing is a solid piece, great vocals and musicianship, and really good production, make this a pleasing collection, of rather classy songs.
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Glass Face - Roses.
Background promo - Glass Face recently released their debut EP, ‘You Are Nowhere’. A dream pop group based out of London, Ontario in Canada, Glass Face's members include Amelia Fraser on vocals, Cole Sefton on guitar, Dylan King on synths, and Rowan Grice on drums.
Fresh on the heels of their ‘Hotline Bling’ cover, which was featured on Spotify’s "Chill Covers" playlist, ‘You Are Nowhere’ marks the first official release from the band, composed of five original self-penned and self-produced tracks. The band describes the EP as an amalgamation - a cage match between folk, post-rock, and electronica. It’s twenty minutes of discovery: an exploration into the sound of four young Canadians who all bring distinct influence to a project which they foster with an evolving sense of direction.
‘You Are Nowhere’ features Glass Face’s debut single ‘Holland’, which received a high profile placement on MTV’s Teen Wolf and made the band one of the most Shazamed artists of the week. ‘Roses’, the second (and current) single lifted from the EP, is a mesmerizing atmospheric pop song with heartfelt vocals and a huge orchestral arrangement, which has already succeeded the bands cover of ‘Hotline Bling’ on Spotify’s official “New Music Friday” playlist. ‘Underkept’ is a two-part journey that takes the listener from a vocal-ridden dreamscape head first into an instrumental wall of pure sound and energy. Finally, the EP’s last track, ‘Wild Wood’, shows a softer side to the band, driven forward only by a grand piano and Fraser’s raw and powerful vocals.
A six track EP if you include the one minute 'Outro', it starts with the featured song 'Roses'. The band deliver a distinct and atmospheric sound, however what really makes them stand out is the song writing and the genre spanning musical interpretation. From dream pop to shoegaze via indie folk, Glass Face are not afraid to experiment, and importantly, they do it very well.
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Background promo - Joseph Sant is a musician living in Brooklyn, NY, hailing originally from Seattle, WA. He deals in lush, green, mountainous musical textures hewn out of his Pacific Northwest. He composes with angular shapes, the noise of subway brakes, off-kilter grids, and the encroaching sea.
His debut, Sea White Salt, is influenced by New York’s coasts, imperilled as they are by climate change, reshaped in an instant by catastrophic storms, and prey to wolfish markets. These songs explore the connections and analogies between forces of nature, impassable social barriers, and the gravity of all-consuming love and persistent dreams.
For Sea White Salt, Joseph collaborated with his good friend and producer Gabriel Galvin, erstwhile proprietor of Four Foot Studios in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn. They recorded Sea White Salt in a few overnight marathon sessions in the dead of winter, just before Four Foot Studios was evicted, casualty to the overheated real estate market synonymous with that neighbourhood. Fellow Brooklyn artist Stirling Krusing plays lap steel on the album. Long-time collaborator Tyler Graham plays drums. These artists, together with bassist Georgia Tan, form the five-piece band that now plays under Joseph Sant’s moniker. Release date: January 14, 2016.
'Nor'easter' is the third of four tracks on the forthcoming EP. There's a relaxed pace to the EP, the featured track is fairly typical of the style, however expect gentler offerings as well. The whole thing is a solid piece, great vocals and musicianship, and really good production, make this a pleasing collection, of rather classy songs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Glass Face - Roses.
Background promo - Glass Face recently released their debut EP, ‘You Are Nowhere’. A dream pop group based out of London, Ontario in Canada, Glass Face's members include Amelia Fraser on vocals, Cole Sefton on guitar, Dylan King on synths, and Rowan Grice on drums.
Fresh on the heels of their ‘Hotline Bling’ cover, which was featured on Spotify’s "Chill Covers" playlist, ‘You Are Nowhere’ marks the first official release from the band, composed of five original self-penned and self-produced tracks. The band describes the EP as an amalgamation - a cage match between folk, post-rock, and electronica. It’s twenty minutes of discovery: an exploration into the sound of four young Canadians who all bring distinct influence to a project which they foster with an evolving sense of direction.
‘You Are Nowhere’ features Glass Face’s debut single ‘Holland’, which received a high profile placement on MTV’s Teen Wolf and made the band one of the most Shazamed artists of the week. ‘Roses’, the second (and current) single lifted from the EP, is a mesmerizing atmospheric pop song with heartfelt vocals and a huge orchestral arrangement, which has already succeeded the bands cover of ‘Hotline Bling’ on Spotify’s official “New Music Friday” playlist. ‘Underkept’ is a two-part journey that takes the listener from a vocal-ridden dreamscape head first into an instrumental wall of pure sound and energy. Finally, the EP’s last track, ‘Wild Wood’, shows a softer side to the band, driven forward only by a grand piano and Fraser’s raw and powerful vocals.
A six track EP if you include the one minute 'Outro', it starts with the featured song 'Roses'. The band deliver a distinct and atmospheric sound, however what really makes them stand out is the song writing and the genre spanning musical interpretation. From dream pop to shoegaze via indie folk, Glass Face are not afraid to experiment, and importantly, they do it very well.
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Monday Double Up: Twin Ages - Sophie and The Bom Boms
Twin Ages - Outlaws.
Background promo - Formed in Melbourne’s inner South East, from the ashes of original angry, young band Junk and Jill, that featured various musicians and produced a couple of independent releases, Twin Ages has come a long way conquering everything you could throw at a band, from a broken hand in a broken down van to dating every Yoko in Melbourne.
Their passion is now supported by an arsenal of stories presented to you in the form of cut throat rock and blues. Twin Ages have played some of Melbourne’s most prestigious venues, (Espy, Cherry Bar, The Vineyard, The Hi- Fi Bar, The Brunswick hotel, Revolver, etc, etc) to large crowds. The unique sound these guys produce is unlike anything else coming out of this generation, combining a throwback to traditional Blues, a lot of rock and even some heavy undertones. Their style is one of a kind and marks them for future fortunes. ‘Sabertooth’, their 2nd release is already receiving airplay in Melbourne, and the new stripped back 3 piece line up is, “the best they’ve ever sounded” according to their fans. Twin Ages pedigree is formidable, featuring two sons of Melbourne’s legendary Blues Band from the 80’s and 90’s. “Outlaws” by Twin Ages will be released 15th of January 2016.
'Outlaws' has all the guts and swagger of The Black Crowes, back in their early days. Add to that the potency of a three piece band, one that knows how to mix rock and blues, and you arrive with Twin Ages. This is seriously one fine rock'n'roll tune.
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Sophie and The Bom Boms - Big Girls.
Background promo - If you’re not familiar with Sophie Stern, the Los Angeles native is a former pop songwriter that was signed to Dr. Luke’s camp. After spending a few years writing for some huge names, she decided to launch her own project, inspired by everyone from Erykah Badu to Tom Tom Club. Also, her father is a famous actor that had a huge role in one of the best holiday movies ever..(Stern…)
For her forthcoming EP, Sophie collaborated with two amazing producers - David Elevator (won three Grammy’s for his songwriting/production work on Beck’s “Morning Phase”) and Dan Dare (Marina and the Diamonds, Charlie XCX and MIA). The result is an exciting, innovative, fun new sound. “Big Girls” sets it off.
'Big Girls' is a nice slice of punchy indie pop. It's bright and it's fun, with a funky bass line driving the whole thing along.
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Background promo - Formed in Melbourne’s inner South East, from the ashes of original angry, young band Junk and Jill, that featured various musicians and produced a couple of independent releases, Twin Ages has come a long way conquering everything you could throw at a band, from a broken hand in a broken down van to dating every Yoko in Melbourne.
Their passion is now supported by an arsenal of stories presented to you in the form of cut throat rock and blues. Twin Ages have played some of Melbourne’s most prestigious venues, (Espy, Cherry Bar, The Vineyard, The Hi- Fi Bar, The Brunswick hotel, Revolver, etc, etc) to large crowds. The unique sound these guys produce is unlike anything else coming out of this generation, combining a throwback to traditional Blues, a lot of rock and even some heavy undertones. Their style is one of a kind and marks them for future fortunes. ‘Sabertooth’, their 2nd release is already receiving airplay in Melbourne, and the new stripped back 3 piece line up is, “the best they’ve ever sounded” according to their fans. Twin Ages pedigree is formidable, featuring two sons of Melbourne’s legendary Blues Band from the 80’s and 90’s. “Outlaws” by Twin Ages will be released 15th of January 2016.
'Outlaws' has all the guts and swagger of The Black Crowes, back in their early days. Add to that the potency of a three piece band, one that knows how to mix rock and blues, and you arrive with Twin Ages. This is seriously one fine rock'n'roll tune.
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Sophie and The Bom Boms - Big Girls.
Background promo - If you’re not familiar with Sophie Stern, the Los Angeles native is a former pop songwriter that was signed to Dr. Luke’s camp. After spending a few years writing for some huge names, she decided to launch her own project, inspired by everyone from Erykah Badu to Tom Tom Club. Also, her father is a famous actor that had a huge role in one of the best holiday movies ever..(Stern…)
For her forthcoming EP, Sophie collaborated with two amazing producers - David Elevator (won three Grammy’s for his songwriting/production work on Beck’s “Morning Phase”) and Dan Dare (Marina and the Diamonds, Charlie XCX and MIA). The result is an exciting, innovative, fun new sound. “Big Girls” sets it off.
'Big Girls' is a nice slice of punchy indie pop. It's bright and it's fun, with a funky bass line driving the whole thing along.
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Alternative Take: Zaflon - Colder
Zaflon - Nightmare Division (feat. Gilan-Music).
Background - An ambient and sinister down tempo, LDP 1 is the debut EP from South London innovator Zaflon. Two songs featuring Zaflon’s latest collaborator Gilan_Music among the cyclonic sub-bass, abstracted guitars, harmonic piano and crooked percussive breaks.
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Colder - Your Kind (Kasper Bjørke Remix).
Background - Following the digital release of “Many Colours”, Colder keeps digging on his post-punk approach to the contemporary electronic scene, using the raw material of his long awaited third album to come up with a remix EP for lead single “Your Kind”, and a limited edition vinyl of the album featuring unreleased B-sides. Including four guest artists from different horizons and a remix from Colder himself, the Remix EP of “your Kind” manages to blend in a various mix of influences with great results:
Influenced by the new wave and krautrock scenes, Kasper Bjørke seemed like a match made in heaven for the remix of a Colder song. With his take on “Your Kind”, the versatile Danish producer chose to put an emphasis in of the late 70’s influences already distinctive in Colder’s music. The result is a minimalistic song filled with troubling, addictive beats, making you reach for the replay button instinctively.
Featuring Matias Aguayo, Kasper Bjørke, Barney Khan, The Left Hand Path and an exclusive club mix by Colder himself.
The sheer level of difference and interpretation between each remix on this EP is remarkable. My natural liking for Krautrock made the Kasper Bjorke remix an instant favourite for me. Can't argue with the description above, however the other versions are equally worth checking out.
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Background - An ambient and sinister down tempo, LDP 1 is the debut EP from South London innovator Zaflon. Two songs featuring Zaflon’s latest collaborator Gilan_Music among the cyclonic sub-bass, abstracted guitars, harmonic piano and crooked percussive breaks.
The featured track is described as follows - ‘Nightmare Division’ (feat Gilan_Music) – is the first of two tracks featuring Gilan (both the low male vocal and high female vocal are sung by her). “This track uses a lot of samples of river noises that I recorded on the Thames riverbank, including the hull of a big old barge being hit with a stick. There are flies, doors and breaking watermelons in there, too, among plenty of other things. Abstracted guitars and an outro consisting of an old piano and a 909 drum machine play out as a modern nocturne. The river driftwood vibe is a theme that runs throughout LDP 1.”
'Nightmare Division' is the second of four tracks on LDP1. You can stream the entire EP as one piece (here). I can't really add much to the description above, the sheer amount of work and attention to detail that runs throughout the EP, makes this a must hear for anyone, with a liking for trip-hop or down tempo ambient music.
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Colder - Your Kind (Kasper Bjørke Remix).
Background - Following the digital release of “Many Colours”, Colder keeps digging on his post-punk approach to the contemporary electronic scene, using the raw material of his long awaited third album to come up with a remix EP for lead single “Your Kind”, and a limited edition vinyl of the album featuring unreleased B-sides. Including four guest artists from different horizons and a remix from Colder himself, the Remix EP of “your Kind” manages to blend in a various mix of influences with great results:
Influenced by the new wave and krautrock scenes, Kasper Bjørke seemed like a match made in heaven for the remix of a Colder song. With his take on “Your Kind”, the versatile Danish producer chose to put an emphasis in of the late 70’s influences already distinctive in Colder’s music. The result is a minimalistic song filled with troubling, addictive beats, making you reach for the replay button instinctively.
Featuring Matias Aguayo, Kasper Bjørke, Barney Khan, The Left Hand Path and an exclusive club mix by Colder himself.
The sheer level of difference and interpretation between each remix on this EP is remarkable. My natural liking for Krautrock made the Kasper Bjorke remix an instant favourite for me. Can't argue with the description above, however the other versions are equally worth checking out.
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Saturday And: Slow Culture - Shields
Slow Culture - Hoax.
Background promo - Slow Culture is the musical child of four guys who spent their adolescence saturated in music. The culmination of various lineups and bands dating back to 2009, their music holds within it the personality of four people who've effectively grown up together. It started (as all promising bands do), when Jack, Ben and Lee decided to form a band even though two didn't play an instrument. Ignoring this basic requirement, the three carried on. With Payton joining later, opting for bass synth, the groups sound was cemented, developed from a wide variety of influences.
The product of various lineups dating back to 2009, Slow Culture could be described as the meeting place of psychedelic and alternative rock. Their debut single, “Hoax”, alternates between quiet withdrawn verses and raucous choruses, layered with psychedelic sounds reminiscent of early Pink Floyd. Recorded at Free Energy studios in Camperdown and produced by the legendary Phil Punch, the singles reliance on experimentation in the studio is clear. Layers of guitar effects, synths and a cigarette lighter used as a guitar slide are the meat on the bones of a song held together by the incessant practice and revision that the band undertook prior to recording.
The band describes how the song “came out of an acoustic jam [they] just happened to record years ago”, the name taken from a biography of Brian Jones which was sitting in the corner of the room. Stating that the single has taken on so many forms that it’s almost “unrecognisable as the same song”. “Hoax” will be released 15th of January 2016.
I don't know why, but Radiohead sprang to mind when I started listening to 'Hoax'. It's certainly not a copy of their style, Slow Culture from this song at least, have quite an individualistic sound. Whatever, I like 'Hoax' and it's easy to understand the psychedelic meets alternative rock reference above.
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Shields - Mezzanine.
Background promo - Shields embody the Playlist Generation. While other artists publicly decry music streaming services, Shields have been shaped by the diverse artists whose music they might never have heard through more traditional means. Shields’ musical output is a reflection of these diverse influences, and their debut album ‘How Can We Fix This?’ has a genuinely broad appeal whilst at the same time refusing to conform to a simple description.
After hitting the live circuit heavily (including support tour dates with Placebo and Everything Everything, and performing at Glastonbury and the BBC6 Music Festival in Newcastle), the band crafted a tight sound and a solid body of songs, ready to record this debut. The development of their unique sound has been largely due to their DIY approach to production. Using their own studio space to record a vast range tracks over a 12-month period, the band caught the eye of double Grammy award-winning producer Adrian Bushby (Muse, Foo Fighters) who helped them complete their debut album.
Bushby said, “Shields, in my opinion, are one of the best bands I've heard in a long while in both songwriting and performance. They are an incredibly fresh and original-sounding band who I think will go on to achieve great things.” The recent single ‘Face to Face’ captures the kind of innovative alt-pop instrumentation and delicate harmonies that saw 2012 single ‘Mezzanine’ (also on appearing on the album) featured as iTunes’ single of the week and garnering praise from sources as diverse as Kylie and Zane Lowe. Shields – How Can We Fix This? is out 26th February 2016 on Kaleidoscope Records.
'Mezzanine' is the third of ten songs on the forthcoming album, and typifies the quality and vibrancy of the album. The band have toured a lot and worked hard to develop their pristine sound, something that becomes clearer the more you hear from the album. Work and effort aside, this is great music, after all that's what it's all about.
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Background promo - Slow Culture is the musical child of four guys who spent their adolescence saturated in music. The culmination of various lineups and bands dating back to 2009, their music holds within it the personality of four people who've effectively grown up together. It started (as all promising bands do), when Jack, Ben and Lee decided to form a band even though two didn't play an instrument. Ignoring this basic requirement, the three carried on. With Payton joining later, opting for bass synth, the groups sound was cemented, developed from a wide variety of influences.
The product of various lineups dating back to 2009, Slow Culture could be described as the meeting place of psychedelic and alternative rock. Their debut single, “Hoax”, alternates between quiet withdrawn verses and raucous choruses, layered with psychedelic sounds reminiscent of early Pink Floyd. Recorded at Free Energy studios in Camperdown and produced by the legendary Phil Punch, the singles reliance on experimentation in the studio is clear. Layers of guitar effects, synths and a cigarette lighter used as a guitar slide are the meat on the bones of a song held together by the incessant practice and revision that the band undertook prior to recording.
The band describes how the song “came out of an acoustic jam [they] just happened to record years ago”, the name taken from a biography of Brian Jones which was sitting in the corner of the room. Stating that the single has taken on so many forms that it’s almost “unrecognisable as the same song”. “Hoax” will be released 15th of January 2016.
I don't know why, but Radiohead sprang to mind when I started listening to 'Hoax'. It's certainly not a copy of their style, Slow Culture from this song at least, have quite an individualistic sound. Whatever, I like 'Hoax' and it's easy to understand the psychedelic meets alternative rock reference above.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shields - Mezzanine.
Background promo - Shields embody the Playlist Generation. While other artists publicly decry music streaming services, Shields have been shaped by the diverse artists whose music they might never have heard through more traditional means. Shields’ musical output is a reflection of these diverse influences, and their debut album ‘How Can We Fix This?’ has a genuinely broad appeal whilst at the same time refusing to conform to a simple description.
After hitting the live circuit heavily (including support tour dates with Placebo and Everything Everything, and performing at Glastonbury and the BBC6 Music Festival in Newcastle), the band crafted a tight sound and a solid body of songs, ready to record this debut. The development of their unique sound has been largely due to their DIY approach to production. Using their own studio space to record a vast range tracks over a 12-month period, the band caught the eye of double Grammy award-winning producer Adrian Bushby (Muse, Foo Fighters) who helped them complete their debut album.
Bushby said, “Shields, in my opinion, are one of the best bands I've heard in a long while in both songwriting and performance. They are an incredibly fresh and original-sounding band who I think will go on to achieve great things.” The recent single ‘Face to Face’ captures the kind of innovative alt-pop instrumentation and delicate harmonies that saw 2012 single ‘Mezzanine’ (also on appearing on the album) featured as iTunes’ single of the week and garnering praise from sources as diverse as Kylie and Zane Lowe. Shields – How Can We Fix This? is out 26th February 2016 on Kaleidoscope Records.
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Friday Pairing: Anna Rose - Powerkompany
Anna Rose - Start A War.
Background promo - At first glance, one wouldn’t guess that Anna Rose, the adorably petite blonde with the sugary name, is a fearless, unabashed, mind-blowingly talented Rock and Roll powerhouse. But, Rose, in fact, is walking, singing proof that big things most definitely come in small packages. It’s no wonder that Pancakes and Whiskey declares her a “complete badass.”
Anna Rose is gearing up for the release of her new EP, Strays In The Cut, a collection of six mesmerizing tracks that find the singer/songwriter pushing her musical boundaries. “I am very much an album artist and a storyteller, so the idea of scaling it all back to the size of an EP was a challenge in itself. It forced me to look at the songs in a different way, the production, everything. These six songs needed to tell the whole story. The limitations I placed on the length made the process so much more imaginative in every other aspect.” shares Rose.
Strays in the Cut is the much-anticipated follow-up to Rose’s Beyond a Pale Horse, which Flashwounds declared a “deep swirl of Blues and Rock and Roll” that “beautifully represents the many dark and beautiful corridors of the human heart.” Beyond a Pale Horse introduced us to Anna Rose’s dynamic voice and effortless command of the guitar; each song highlighted by attitude and pure grit. Undoubtedly, Beyond the Pale Horse cemented Rose as a veritable force, with hard-driving Rock and dirty Blues coursing through her veins.
In 2012, Rose also gained attention for her sultry take on Arcade Fire’s “My Body is a Cage,” which is currently available for download on iTunes. Cover Me Songs premiered the track, affirming, “The sparse cover showcases her effortlessly soulful singing.” Since then, Rose has shared the stage with a variety of notable artists, including: Crystal Bowersox, Howie Day, Teddy Geiger, Tyler Hilton and founding member of Live, Ed Kowalczyk. The consummate artist, Anna Rose lets her spirit shine through with every performance, while captivated fans hang on every note. Anna Rose is set to play the Brooklyn Bowl on January 27, 2016 with more dates to be announced soon.
'Start A War', may be a little laid back, however the tension and drama in Anna Rose's voice simmers, as this gentle bluesy song unfolds. If the EP is as good as this, we have something special to look forward to.
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Powerkompany - Can't Cry.
Background promo - Powerkompany's compound noun name is hardly coincidental; by the sound of their first single off their upcoming two-part LP Fever & Chills, it's completely possible that they are a fully functioning power station (but not the Robert Palmer/Duran Duran supergroup). "Can't Cry" features vocals by the band's Marie Davon that are so massive that not only has the song been probably powering our entire office like a mini nuclear reactor, but it gives Diane Lane's performance in Streets of Fire a run for its wallet.
Fever & Chills was recently completed at Chase Park Studio in collaboration with Andy LeMaster of Bright Eyes and Azure Ray fame. The two-part LP is made up of two sides of six songs that reach into the depths of the most orchestral music that permeated a more fun era in pop music, like in the 1980s, although there are hints of cabaret whimsy throughout that wouldn't be uncomfortable living in a dark, 1920s opium brothel. The album is out February 5th 2016, and its playful score and powerful vocals are a must for anyone who loves their favorite records to dabble in the cinematic.
'Cant Cry' is just a taste of what is one very good album. Songs are imaginative, diverse and some are splendidly big in production. The sheer variety that comes across, in the twelve tracks that make up the album, left me wondering why they chose 'Cant Cry' as the 'streamed' song. I guess you have to start somewhere, and it's a good song, it needs to be to get on the album.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background promo - At first glance, one wouldn’t guess that Anna Rose, the adorably petite blonde with the sugary name, is a fearless, unabashed, mind-blowingly talented Rock and Roll powerhouse. But, Rose, in fact, is walking, singing proof that big things most definitely come in small packages. It’s no wonder that Pancakes and Whiskey declares her a “complete badass.”
Anna Rose is gearing up for the release of her new EP, Strays In The Cut, a collection of six mesmerizing tracks that find the singer/songwriter pushing her musical boundaries. “I am very much an album artist and a storyteller, so the idea of scaling it all back to the size of an EP was a challenge in itself. It forced me to look at the songs in a different way, the production, everything. These six songs needed to tell the whole story. The limitations I placed on the length made the process so much more imaginative in every other aspect.” shares Rose.
Strays in the Cut is the much-anticipated follow-up to Rose’s Beyond a Pale Horse, which Flashwounds declared a “deep swirl of Blues and Rock and Roll” that “beautifully represents the many dark and beautiful corridors of the human heart.” Beyond a Pale Horse introduced us to Anna Rose’s dynamic voice and effortless command of the guitar; each song highlighted by attitude and pure grit. Undoubtedly, Beyond the Pale Horse cemented Rose as a veritable force, with hard-driving Rock and dirty Blues coursing through her veins.
In 2012, Rose also gained attention for her sultry take on Arcade Fire’s “My Body is a Cage,” which is currently available for download on iTunes. Cover Me Songs premiered the track, affirming, “The sparse cover showcases her effortlessly soulful singing.” Since then, Rose has shared the stage with a variety of notable artists, including: Crystal Bowersox, Howie Day, Teddy Geiger, Tyler Hilton and founding member of Live, Ed Kowalczyk. The consummate artist, Anna Rose lets her spirit shine through with every performance, while captivated fans hang on every note. Anna Rose is set to play the Brooklyn Bowl on January 27, 2016 with more dates to be announced soon.
'Start A War', may be a little laid back, however the tension and drama in Anna Rose's voice simmers, as this gentle bluesy song unfolds. If the EP is as good as this, we have something special to look forward to.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Powerkompany - Can't Cry.
Background promo - Powerkompany's compound noun name is hardly coincidental; by the sound of their first single off their upcoming two-part LP Fever & Chills, it's completely possible that they are a fully functioning power station (but not the Robert Palmer/Duran Duran supergroup). "Can't Cry" features vocals by the band's Marie Davon that are so massive that not only has the song been probably powering our entire office like a mini nuclear reactor, but it gives Diane Lane's performance in Streets of Fire a run for its wallet.
Fever & Chills was recently completed at Chase Park Studio in collaboration with Andy LeMaster of Bright Eyes and Azure Ray fame. The two-part LP is made up of two sides of six songs that reach into the depths of the most orchestral music that permeated a more fun era in pop music, like in the 1980s, although there are hints of cabaret whimsy throughout that wouldn't be uncomfortable living in a dark, 1920s opium brothel. The album is out February 5th 2016, and its playful score and powerful vocals are a must for anyone who loves their favorite records to dabble in the cinematic.
'Cant Cry' is just a taste of what is one very good album. Songs are imaginative, diverse and some are splendidly big in production. The sheer variety that comes across, in the twelve tracks that make up the album, left me wondering why they chose 'Cant Cry' as the 'streamed' song. I guess you have to start somewhere, and it's a good song, it needs to be to get on the album.
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Thursday Two: Three Tree Town - Ghost Wave
Three Tree Town - Two Birds.
Background Promo - The pleasantly contrasting vocals and war-drum beats of Three Tree Town’s latest track “Two Birds” marks the beginning of the bands delve into their new sound. After several successful festival sets and over ten years playing together, the band now takes their countryside popularity and head for bigger lights.
In an unprecedented alliance with renowned musician and studio owner Beau McKee (Closure In Moscow) the band have managed to capture their alt/folk roots and combine them with new percussion grooves to form an en/rely alternate sound. “We never tire of this track” says one of two lead singers Dylan Berends. “And now with the alternate arrangement, this apple landed nowhere near the tree it fell from!”
With a “pull and go” style guitar technique, mix of female and male vocals and bouncing drum rhythms, “Two Birds” is an upward journey, speeding towards eternity, gaining momentum with each bar. The raspy vocals Dylan Berends are relieved by the sweet and innocent return vocals of Tania Lodge that show hints of hit band Of Monsters and Men while maintaining reviews that Three Tree Town is Australia’s answer to an early Mumford & Sons.
A story of crossed paths, misconceptions and everlasting effects it echoes a tale of how the slightest interactions can result in catastrophic results. “Two Birds” finishes with a smooth sigh, giving closure to the listener but reminding them that there is more to come from Three Tree Town.
This is a really good song. The contrasting vocals, intricate guitar work and 'marching' drums are so well woven together, the end result is one short and sweet song.
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Ghost Wave - Blues Signal '79.
Background words - Yesterday Ghost Wave released their Blues Signal '79 single, taken from a forthcoming album out early in 2016. The album was recorded in Auckland and mastered by Sonic Boom....more details to come.
The band explain the background to the song as follows - Blues Signal '79 kinda eventuated out of this other song that we used to play called Jazz Style. The original of the version of the song was way different to what you hear, and I'm really glad that after playing Jazz Style for 3 years, we scrapped it. I'm a big one for throwing songs away, even when I really like them... 3 years later, recorded, the song just wasn't meant to be. I just heard the original recording on the drum stem and was like "nope, this isn't happening", so deleted it. Within 5 minutes the new organ hook had arrived, we dropped the bass on it, and felt like we had a way more captivating piece of music.
We decided to put this song out first cause it's kinda different to stuff we've released before. Ghost Wave isn't a singles band, but we're super proud to release Blues Signal 79 off our upcoming LP Radio Norfolk (Flying Nun). It's a slice of GW's future (album on the way), looking at the past (don't forget), wondering why nothing makes sense (or does it?).
This is one of those songs that's hard to pigeon hole in a specific genre. Whatever, it's catchy, clever and does the trick in making me look forward to checking out the new album, when it lands next year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background Promo - The pleasantly contrasting vocals and war-drum beats of Three Tree Town’s latest track “Two Birds” marks the beginning of the bands delve into their new sound. After several successful festival sets and over ten years playing together, the band now takes their countryside popularity and head for bigger lights.
In an unprecedented alliance with renowned musician and studio owner Beau McKee (Closure In Moscow) the band have managed to capture their alt/folk roots and combine them with new percussion grooves to form an en/rely alternate sound. “We never tire of this track” says one of two lead singers Dylan Berends. “And now with the alternate arrangement, this apple landed nowhere near the tree it fell from!”
With a “pull and go” style guitar technique, mix of female and male vocals and bouncing drum rhythms, “Two Birds” is an upward journey, speeding towards eternity, gaining momentum with each bar. The raspy vocals Dylan Berends are relieved by the sweet and innocent return vocals of Tania Lodge that show hints of hit band Of Monsters and Men while maintaining reviews that Three Tree Town is Australia’s answer to an early Mumford & Sons.
A story of crossed paths, misconceptions and everlasting effects it echoes a tale of how the slightest interactions can result in catastrophic results. “Two Birds” finishes with a smooth sigh, giving closure to the listener but reminding them that there is more to come from Three Tree Town.
This is a really good song. The contrasting vocals, intricate guitar work and 'marching' drums are so well woven together, the end result is one short and sweet song.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ghost Wave - Blues Signal '79.
Background words - Yesterday Ghost Wave released their Blues Signal '79 single, taken from a forthcoming album out early in 2016. The album was recorded in Auckland and mastered by Sonic Boom....more details to come.
The band explain the background to the song as follows - Blues Signal '79 kinda eventuated out of this other song that we used to play called Jazz Style. The original of the version of the song was way different to what you hear, and I'm really glad that after playing Jazz Style for 3 years, we scrapped it. I'm a big one for throwing songs away, even when I really like them... 3 years later, recorded, the song just wasn't meant to be. I just heard the original recording on the drum stem and was like "nope, this isn't happening", so deleted it. Within 5 minutes the new organ hook had arrived, we dropped the bass on it, and felt like we had a way more captivating piece of music.
We decided to put this song out first cause it's kinda different to stuff we've released before. Ghost Wave isn't a singles band, but we're super proud to release Blues Signal 79 off our upcoming LP Radio Norfolk (Flying Nun). It's a slice of GW's future (album on the way), looking at the past (don't forget), wondering why nothing makes sense (or does it?).
This is one of those songs that's hard to pigeon hole in a specific genre. Whatever, it's catchy, clever and does the trick in making me look forward to checking out the new album, when it lands next year.
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Tuesday Two: Flightress - Doprah
Flightress - The Room.
Background - “The Room” is the latest offering from Perth acoustic duo Flightress, and explores the idea of homelessness, and one version of how it could feel to be put in that place personally.
Songwriter Minky G says, “I wasn’t trying to make a political statement on being a refugee or losing your home, this is just how it feels to me when something that you thought was solid and immovable is taken from you, and you have to rely on other people to get you out of that place. But sometimes, that’s when you find the best parts of others, because it’s so much easier for them to walk away, and sometimes they don’t”.
Recorded by the sea at Driftwood Studios in Trigg, WA, and produced by the talented Rene de Vries, “The Room” takes on a uniquely Australian sound, with the duo including sounds from the garden outside the studio (check out the magpies at the end of the track!) They also enlisted a cello player, who rocked up with a 19th century instrument to include on the song.
Flightress combines songwriter Minky G’s mellifluous melodies with duo buddy Rosco’s seriously awesome guitar licks, the pair create a unique sound that makes them one of Perth’s most prolific live acts. Between them, they’ve jammed with Beyoncé's band (and taken them surfing!), supported UK artist Passenger, jazz muso James Morrison, John Butler, and once accidentally supported Gyroscope as well as a cheeky gig at the Queens Jubilee Celebrations in England in 2012.
This is a gentle and sincere song. Vocals skip above the acoustic soundtrack, and the addition of a cello really does add depth, to this well produced song.
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Doprah - Lucid Visions.
Background - Doprah are very proud to share Lucid Visions, the first single and video from their forthcoming album called Wasting. The video features an intriguing religious cult based plot, set amongst a hazed out and spooky forest.
Producer/Director Julian Vares has an interesting story about the video, which may even reveal a missing link to the infamous Parker-Hulme murder as portrayed in the Peter Jackson movie Heavenly Creatures. We shot most of this video in a random spot of forest up at Victoria park, just off Dyers pass road. The day before the shoot we doing doing some location tests and I had my wardrobe designer sitting under the tree we planned on shooting. She felt something sharp buried underneath the tree roots and actually un-earthed half a brick wrapped in what looked like an old 1950's girls-high issue stocking. The Parker-Hulme murder happened not far away after all. I did some research and apparently the actual murder weapon sits on some police-commissioner's desk as a paperweight. I'll never know if we found the legitimate other half brick, a relic from the Heavenly Creatures production, or simple fell victim to some weird prank. I've since lost the brick anyway so I guess we'll never know.
Doprah - a Christchurch New Zealand band - released their debut EP in 2014 to widespread acclaim and featuring a brilliant video for the track Stranger People. This was followed by a trip to CMJ New York, various festival slots including St Jerome’s Laneway Festival and performing with Lorde, Silicon, The Phoenix Foundation and more.
The video for 'Lucid Visions' has been added to our BeeVids page. It's no wonder the band have been getting noticed amongst music pundits, their imaginative and quite intriguing songs really do have that 'special something'. Lucid Visions has a trippy psychedelic vibe for me, whilst the video is something else and worthy of a check.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background - “The Room” is the latest offering from Perth acoustic duo Flightress, and explores the idea of homelessness, and one version of how it could feel to be put in that place personally.
Songwriter Minky G says, “I wasn’t trying to make a political statement on being a refugee or losing your home, this is just how it feels to me when something that you thought was solid and immovable is taken from you, and you have to rely on other people to get you out of that place. But sometimes, that’s when you find the best parts of others, because it’s so much easier for them to walk away, and sometimes they don’t”.
Recorded by the sea at Driftwood Studios in Trigg, WA, and produced by the talented Rene de Vries, “The Room” takes on a uniquely Australian sound, with the duo including sounds from the garden outside the studio (check out the magpies at the end of the track!) They also enlisted a cello player, who rocked up with a 19th century instrument to include on the song.
Flightress combines songwriter Minky G’s mellifluous melodies with duo buddy Rosco’s seriously awesome guitar licks, the pair create a unique sound that makes them one of Perth’s most prolific live acts. Between them, they’ve jammed with Beyoncé's band (and taken them surfing!), supported UK artist Passenger, jazz muso James Morrison, John Butler, and once accidentally supported Gyroscope as well as a cheeky gig at the Queens Jubilee Celebrations in England in 2012.
This is a gentle and sincere song. Vocals skip above the acoustic soundtrack, and the addition of a cello really does add depth, to this well produced song.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Doprah - Lucid Visions.
Background - Doprah are very proud to share Lucid Visions, the first single and video from their forthcoming album called Wasting. The video features an intriguing religious cult based plot, set amongst a hazed out and spooky forest.
Producer/Director Julian Vares has an interesting story about the video, which may even reveal a missing link to the infamous Parker-Hulme murder as portrayed in the Peter Jackson movie Heavenly Creatures. We shot most of this video in a random spot of forest up at Victoria park, just off Dyers pass road. The day before the shoot we doing doing some location tests and I had my wardrobe designer sitting under the tree we planned on shooting. She felt something sharp buried underneath the tree roots and actually un-earthed half a brick wrapped in what looked like an old 1950's girls-high issue stocking. The Parker-Hulme murder happened not far away after all. I did some research and apparently the actual murder weapon sits on some police-commissioner's desk as a paperweight. I'll never know if we found the legitimate other half brick, a relic from the Heavenly Creatures production, or simple fell victim to some weird prank. I've since lost the brick anyway so I guess we'll never know.
Doprah - a Christchurch New Zealand band - released their debut EP in 2014 to widespread acclaim and featuring a brilliant video for the track Stranger People. This was followed by a trip to CMJ New York, various festival slots including St Jerome’s Laneway Festival and performing with Lorde, Silicon, The Phoenix Foundation and more.
The video for 'Lucid Visions' has been added to our BeeVids page. It's no wonder the band have been getting noticed amongst music pundits, their imaginative and quite intriguing songs really do have that 'special something'. Lucid Visions has a trippy psychedelic vibe for me, whilst the video is something else and worthy of a check.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two For Monday: Living Hour - Chrystyna Marie
Living Hour - Seagull.
Background - Living Hour began in the basements of South Winnipeg, writing dreamy love songs inspired by the cinematic sky of their hometown. Blending bright shimmering guitar pop with thick casio drones and uniquely powerful, smoky vocals, their sound washes over you like the soundtrack to the best parking lot makeout session of your youth. Watery echoes of gorgeously sung melodies, psychedelic interlocking guitar, and huge driving crescendos create an enchanting wall of blissful dream pop.
Living Hour contributed two songs to Family Portrait II, a vinyl compilation put out by Art is Hard Records (Bristol/London) in April 2015, and released a super limited edition cassette of their debut s/t album with Tree Machine Records (Bloomington) that same month. The band will release their debut album world-wide with Lefse Records (Portland) on February 19, 2016.
Tour Dates:
March 3 Winnipeg, MB The Good Will Social Club
March 4 Fargo, ND The Aquarium
March 6 Des Moines, IA Des Moines Social Club
March 7 Rock Island, IL Rozz Tox
March 9 St Louis, MO Foam
March 11 Denver, CO Lion's Lair
March 13 Phoenix, AZ Trunk Space
March 18 Santa Barbara CA FUNZONE
March 19 Fresno CA Peeves Pub
March 22 Santa Cruz CA Bocci's Cellar
March 25 Davis CA Third Art Space Collective
March 29 Portland OR The Analog Cafe
March 31 Bellingham WA Loudhouse
April 2 Rossland BC The Flying Steamshovel
April 3 Kamloops BC Zacks Coffee.
A little bit dream pop & a little bit shoegaze (and quite a bit of the epic), 'Seagull' stands out from the crowd, with beautiful guitars and atmospheric vocals.
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Chrystyna Marie - Loaded Gun.
Background - Originally hailing from Toronto, Crystyna Marie sings with a powder keg voice over a cocktail of grungy blues and pop. The classically trained Canadian-born singer has supported Ontario acts and been featured as a demo singer on indie labels from as young as 18 years old.
Marie has taken first place in various categories in the Kiwanis Music Festival 2 years in a row. She's taken lead roles in local community plays; West Side Story as Maria and Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Over the years, she has racked up a long list of smaller roles in music videos, television and was also the lead singer in an LA founded pop group called Greencat. Writing and releasing her own music, with her own unique voice, however, is where her true passion lies.
Believing the classics are just as essential as modern favorites, she finds musical inspiration in everyone from Janis Joplin, Ottis Redding and Etta James to Selena and Christina Aguilera.
Although Crystyna has been represented by several independent labels over the years, she decided that in order to shape the sound she wanted, releasing music on her own was absolutely necessary. Her first solo single, "Loaded Gun", is proof that this was the right choice, revealing the first taste of Marie's gritty take on the blues. The EP is due to be released on Feb 29, 2016.
About the new material, Marie says "Breath is life, and life is music. I wanted to create music from personal experiences and true emotions. Something the everyday person can relate to and build strength from having been exposed to it. With a raw and gritty feel to emulate these experiences and emotions".
'Loaded Gun' has a timeless blues vibe, and a song that is delivered with power and passion by Chrystyna Marie. It deserves to be noticed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background - Living Hour began in the basements of South Winnipeg, writing dreamy love songs inspired by the cinematic sky of their hometown. Blending bright shimmering guitar pop with thick casio drones and uniquely powerful, smoky vocals, their sound washes over you like the soundtrack to the best parking lot makeout session of your youth. Watery echoes of gorgeously sung melodies, psychedelic interlocking guitar, and huge driving crescendos create an enchanting wall of blissful dream pop.
Living Hour contributed two songs to Family Portrait II, a vinyl compilation put out by Art is Hard Records (Bristol/London) in April 2015, and released a super limited edition cassette of their debut s/t album with Tree Machine Records (Bloomington) that same month. The band will release their debut album world-wide with Lefse Records (Portland) on February 19, 2016.
Tour Dates:
March 3 Winnipeg, MB The Good Will Social Club
March 4 Fargo, ND The Aquarium
March 6 Des Moines, IA Des Moines Social Club
March 7 Rock Island, IL Rozz Tox
March 9 St Louis, MO Foam
March 11 Denver, CO Lion's Lair
March 13 Phoenix, AZ Trunk Space
March 18 Santa Barbara CA FUNZONE
March 19 Fresno CA Peeves Pub
March 22 Santa Cruz CA Bocci's Cellar
March 25 Davis CA Third Art Space Collective
March 29 Portland OR The Analog Cafe
March 31 Bellingham WA Loudhouse
April 2 Rossland BC The Flying Steamshovel
April 3 Kamloops BC Zacks Coffee.
A little bit dream pop & a little bit shoegaze (and quite a bit of the epic), 'Seagull' stands out from the crowd, with beautiful guitars and atmospheric vocals.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chrystyna Marie - Loaded Gun.
Background - Originally hailing from Toronto, Crystyna Marie sings with a powder keg voice over a cocktail of grungy blues and pop. The classically trained Canadian-born singer has supported Ontario acts and been featured as a demo singer on indie labels from as young as 18 years old.
Marie has taken first place in various categories in the Kiwanis Music Festival 2 years in a row. She's taken lead roles in local community plays; West Side Story as Maria and Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Over the years, she has racked up a long list of smaller roles in music videos, television and was also the lead singer in an LA founded pop group called Greencat. Writing and releasing her own music, with her own unique voice, however, is where her true passion lies.
Believing the classics are just as essential as modern favorites, she finds musical inspiration in everyone from Janis Joplin, Ottis Redding and Etta James to Selena and Christina Aguilera.
Although Crystyna has been represented by several independent labels over the years, she decided that in order to shape the sound she wanted, releasing music on her own was absolutely necessary. Her first solo single, "Loaded Gun", is proof that this was the right choice, revealing the first taste of Marie's gritty take on the blues. The EP is due to be released on Feb 29, 2016.
About the new material, Marie says "Breath is life, and life is music. I wanted to create music from personal experiences and true emotions. Something the everyday person can relate to and build strength from having been exposed to it. With a raw and gritty feel to emulate these experiences and emotions".
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Alternative Take: Human Movement - Tomas Doncker - Jerome Blazé
Human Movement - Robots Have A Voice.
Background - Last week Australian duo Human Movement, released the first taste of their upcoming debut EP, "Dancing Room," with a one-two audio-visual punch for the title track. Lead single "Dancing Room" reassured eager fans that the 19 and 21-year-old duo still have a Midas touch when it comes to poignant dance floor hits, while the music video granted them a first time look into the Movement.
Now, after debuts on Anna Lunoe's Apple Music Beats 1 Radio, spins on Triple J Radio, and praise from Insomniac, Stoney Roads, Your EDM, Music Ninja, Next2Shine, and more, Human Movement's Blake Gilray and Edward MacDonald have unveiled their second EP cut, "Robots Have A Voice." On this track that Nest HQ calls "powerful and dark," Human Movement relish in their trademark sound that fuses menacing rhythms with pulsating kick drums and synth.
Looking forward to the remainder of the EP, fans can anticipate the debut of two remaining tracks "5:00 AM" and "Better Off Dead," the latter of which features a team-up with hype-worthy Deadmau5 signee Eekkoo.
'Robots Have A Voice' is my personal favourite of the two tracks from the EP shared so far. It's no surprise that the duo Human Movement have gained so much attention, their imaginative music and quality production, makes tracks like this an audiophiles dream.
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Tomas Doncker - Some Ol Dolls.
Background - As a prime mover on New York’s downtown “No Wave” scene in the early 1980s, Tomás Doncker cut his teeth as a guitarist with such genre-busting groups as James Chance & The Contortions, Defunkt, J. Walter Negro & The Loose Jointz and many more. Eventually he went international, touring and recording in Japan with jazz pianist Masabumi Kikuchi, and producing studio and songwriting sessions with Boosty Collins, Yoko Ono, jazz saxophonist Sadao Watanabe and Grammy-winning producer Prince Charles Alexander, to name just a few. Since then, Doncker has continued to work with an A-list of iconic musicians, including Ivan Neville (on his solo album Thanks), Bonnie Raitt, Meshell Ndegeocello, Living Colour lead singer Corey Glover, former P-Funk keyboardist Amp Fiddler…and the list keeps growing. In 2008, he produced and released Inside Out, and followed that with The Mercy Suite, a collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa.
Power of The Trinity, a meditation on the legacy of Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, features legendary bassist/producer Bill Laswell, Ethiopian singers Ejigayehu “Gigi” Shibabaw and Mahmoud Ahmed, legendary Ethiopian guitar hero Selam Woldemariam (who also served as production consultant for the project) and a host of New York’s finest jazz, funk and rock musicians. Power of The Trinity was released on Mr. Doncker’s True Groove label in June 2012
The summer of 2013 was quite exciting for Tomás. He was invited to perform again at NYC’s Summerstage for 11 shows. He co-wrote and was the musical director for performance artist Marla Mase’s multi-media dance concert, “Speak.” He was also the musical director and a featured performer in “Diablo Love”, a fantastical love story with live music that re-imagined songs made famous by American Blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, Howlin’ Wolf. He also wrote original compositions for this show with legendary director Alfred Preisser. founder of The Classical Theatre of Harlem and currently the artistic director at Harlem School of the Arts.
The new and extremely potent release inspired by the Charleston Massacre; Tomás Doncker's "The Mess We Made" (released December 8th) is a racially charged epic that shows his unshakeable political views. Doncker is a renowned New York blues/soul artist. On "This Mess We Made" he gives all of us a glimpse into the bitter realities of modern America.
'Some Ol Dolls' is the first song on the new album, and is a clear foretaste of what's to follow. There is a powerful charge to each song, underpinned by a mixture of incredible blues music and the soulful voice of Tomas Doncker. It's music with a message, delivered with feeling, and superb musicianship.
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Jerome Blazé - Lone Pine.
Background - The Battle of Lone Pine is one of the most famous assaults of the Gallipoli campaign, and this was the inspiration for the track from start to finish.
Tucked away in the picturesque Southern Highlands of New South Wales in Australia, Jerome Blaze began writing and producing music in a self-made studio when he was only 14, where he continues to hone his creative talent today. Gifted with a producers ear, an intrinsic ability to cohesively fit sounds together, along with the love of poetry and literature which is evident in his lyrics Jerome creates music which is relatable and conjures a vast array of emotions, unique for every listener.
'Lone Pine' is one of those refreshing surprises. Jerome Blaze creates a vast landscape of sound, that builds into a synth laden fast paced piece. Vocals are sensitive and kept to a minimum, as the music production increasingly demands your attention.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background - Last week Australian duo Human Movement, released the first taste of their upcoming debut EP, "Dancing Room," with a one-two audio-visual punch for the title track. Lead single "Dancing Room" reassured eager fans that the 19 and 21-year-old duo still have a Midas touch when it comes to poignant dance floor hits, while the music video granted them a first time look into the Movement.
Now, after debuts on Anna Lunoe's Apple Music Beats 1 Radio, spins on Triple J Radio, and praise from Insomniac, Stoney Roads, Your EDM, Music Ninja, Next2Shine, and more, Human Movement's Blake Gilray and Edward MacDonald have unveiled their second EP cut, "Robots Have A Voice." On this track that Nest HQ calls "powerful and dark," Human Movement relish in their trademark sound that fuses menacing rhythms with pulsating kick drums and synth.
Looking forward to the remainder of the EP, fans can anticipate the debut of two remaining tracks "5:00 AM" and "Better Off Dead," the latter of which features a team-up with hype-worthy Deadmau5 signee Eekkoo.
'Robots Have A Voice' is my personal favourite of the two tracks from the EP shared so far. It's no surprise that the duo Human Movement have gained so much attention, their imaginative music and quality production, makes tracks like this an audiophiles dream.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomas Doncker - Some Ol Dolls.
Background - As a prime mover on New York’s downtown “No Wave” scene in the early 1980s, Tomás Doncker cut his teeth as a guitarist with such genre-busting groups as James Chance & The Contortions, Defunkt, J. Walter Negro & The Loose Jointz and many more. Eventually he went international, touring and recording in Japan with jazz pianist Masabumi Kikuchi, and producing studio and songwriting sessions with Boosty Collins, Yoko Ono, jazz saxophonist Sadao Watanabe and Grammy-winning producer Prince Charles Alexander, to name just a few. Since then, Doncker has continued to work with an A-list of iconic musicians, including Ivan Neville (on his solo album Thanks), Bonnie Raitt, Meshell Ndegeocello, Living Colour lead singer Corey Glover, former P-Funk keyboardist Amp Fiddler…and the list keeps growing. In 2008, he produced and released Inside Out, and followed that with The Mercy Suite, a collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa.
Power of The Trinity, a meditation on the legacy of Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, features legendary bassist/producer Bill Laswell, Ethiopian singers Ejigayehu “Gigi” Shibabaw and Mahmoud Ahmed, legendary Ethiopian guitar hero Selam Woldemariam (who also served as production consultant for the project) and a host of New York’s finest jazz, funk and rock musicians. Power of The Trinity was released on Mr. Doncker’s True Groove label in June 2012
The summer of 2013 was quite exciting for Tomás. He was invited to perform again at NYC’s Summerstage for 11 shows. He co-wrote and was the musical director for performance artist Marla Mase’s multi-media dance concert, “Speak.” He was also the musical director and a featured performer in “Diablo Love”, a fantastical love story with live music that re-imagined songs made famous by American Blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, Howlin’ Wolf. He also wrote original compositions for this show with legendary director Alfred Preisser. founder of The Classical Theatre of Harlem and currently the artistic director at Harlem School of the Arts.
The new and extremely potent release inspired by the Charleston Massacre; Tomás Doncker's "The Mess We Made" (released December 8th) is a racially charged epic that shows his unshakeable political views. Doncker is a renowned New York blues/soul artist. On "This Mess We Made" he gives all of us a glimpse into the bitter realities of modern America.
'Some Ol Dolls' is the first song on the new album, and is a clear foretaste of what's to follow. There is a powerful charge to each song, underpinned by a mixture of incredible blues music and the soulful voice of Tomas Doncker. It's music with a message, delivered with feeling, and superb musicianship.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jerome Blazé - Lone Pine.
Background - The Battle of Lone Pine is one of the most famous assaults of the Gallipoli campaign, and this was the inspiration for the track from start to finish.
Tucked away in the picturesque Southern Highlands of New South Wales in Australia, Jerome Blaze began writing and producing music in a self-made studio when he was only 14, where he continues to hone his creative talent today. Gifted with a producers ear, an intrinsic ability to cohesively fit sounds together, along with the love of poetry and literature which is evident in his lyrics Jerome creates music which is relatable and conjures a vast array of emotions, unique for every listener.
'Lone Pine' is one of those refreshing surprises. Jerome Blaze creates a vast landscape of sound, that builds into a synth laden fast paced piece. Vocals are sensitive and kept to a minimum, as the music production increasingly demands your attention.
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Genre Mix: Citizen Of The World - Animal Daydream - The Aquadolls
Citizen Of The World - Setting Out.
Background - Citizen of the World has built on the success of the foot stomping folk-rock genre, popularised by the likes of Mumford & Sons, to carve a new genre described by one competition judge as “epic folk”. The band successfully combines the unique sound of the saxophone with acoustic folk and traditional rock to have you reflecting on the stories that shape your life. Since forming in 2012, the band has played at various venues and band competitions around Sydney, toured India, released their first EP and is now releasing their third music video.
Their new song ‘Setting Out’ fits directly into their signature genre of epic folk, combining contemplative verses with a powerful chorus lifted up by a strong drums and horns section. The song tackles the strong feelings associated with new beginnings, new projects, and new perspectives. The kick carries the song through soft verses and strong choruses, and tries to harness a multitude of emotions into one piece.
The song was recorded and mixed in Gerrit’s living room in Coogee (affectionately known as Bay Street Records).
Described as part of the modern folk-rock genre, Citizen Of the World stand out to me, as a band to take note of, in an increasingly crowded music style. 'Setting Out' is the first song I have heard by the band, it's not overly produced and sounds very natural, so that it is 'epic' without becoming pretentious and artificial, something I find a little to often in this musical genre. I look forward to hearing more from them.
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Animal Daydream - Citrus.
Background - In early 2015, Animal Daydream appeared on the scene and took the indiepop world by storm, garnering positive press from Austin Town Hall, Back Seat Mafia, Big Takeover, Collapse Board, Examiner, Get It On Vinyl, Magnet, Vinyl District, When You Motor Away, and Whispering' & Hollering' just to name a few outlets - pretty impressive for a new, enigmatic duo from Gothenburg, Sweden.
Now, just over one year after the release of their debut single, we are proud to present another small batch of songs that will just melt away in your ears. Not too far off from what they gave us the first time, these songs are reminiscent of later Teenage Fanclub and Fleet Foxes, but also borrow liberally from the sound of '70s soft rock, particularly Fleetwood Mac and CSNY, with their strong vocal harmonies and overall smooth, almost slick production. And once again, all four tracks are pure gold, solid gold. Now if they would only follow up with that full length they might rule the world.
'Citrus' has that classic jangly guitar sound that I associate so often with indie pop, however the vocals and harmonies really do take it into the realms of 1970's soft rock. The overall effect is something quite timeless, so that the name checked references above really do hold water.
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The Aquadolls - Girl Riot.
Background - Formed by the lead singer and writer of the band, Melissa Brooks and bred out of the Southern California, Orange County do-it-yourself garage scene.
Melissa Brooks and The Aquadolls put forth a trip out, pop punk vibe as they discuss love, opening your mind and hating being a teenager.
OC based indie label Burger Records released their debut album Stoked On You in December 2014, which peaked at #10 nationally on the US CMJ chart.
“Girl Riot” is an anthem celebrating the strength and courage of any woman having to fight against what society expects you to accept, whether it be wage inequality or double standard social norms." -Melissa Brooks.
The Aquadolls in part, recreate the sound of seventies punk, whilst sounding modern and relevant. Part pop, part punk, 'Girl Riot' has the energy, attitude, and message, you would expect from this type of music, and enough heart and sincerity to carry it off.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background - Citizen of the World has built on the success of the foot stomping folk-rock genre, popularised by the likes of Mumford & Sons, to carve a new genre described by one competition judge as “epic folk”. The band successfully combines the unique sound of the saxophone with acoustic folk and traditional rock to have you reflecting on the stories that shape your life. Since forming in 2012, the band has played at various venues and band competitions around Sydney, toured India, released their first EP and is now releasing their third music video.
Their new song ‘Setting Out’ fits directly into their signature genre of epic folk, combining contemplative verses with a powerful chorus lifted up by a strong drums and horns section. The song tackles the strong feelings associated with new beginnings, new projects, and new perspectives. The kick carries the song through soft verses and strong choruses, and tries to harness a multitude of emotions into one piece.
The song was recorded and mixed in Gerrit’s living room in Coogee (affectionately known as Bay Street Records).
Described as part of the modern folk-rock genre, Citizen Of the World stand out to me, as a band to take note of, in an increasingly crowded music style. 'Setting Out' is the first song I have heard by the band, it's not overly produced and sounds very natural, so that it is 'epic' without becoming pretentious and artificial, something I find a little to often in this musical genre. I look forward to hearing more from them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Animal Daydream - Citrus.
Background - In early 2015, Animal Daydream appeared on the scene and took the indiepop world by storm, garnering positive press from Austin Town Hall, Back Seat Mafia, Big Takeover, Collapse Board, Examiner, Get It On Vinyl, Magnet, Vinyl District, When You Motor Away, and Whispering' & Hollering' just to name a few outlets - pretty impressive for a new, enigmatic duo from Gothenburg, Sweden.
Now, just over one year after the release of their debut single, we are proud to present another small batch of songs that will just melt away in your ears. Not too far off from what they gave us the first time, these songs are reminiscent of later Teenage Fanclub and Fleet Foxes, but also borrow liberally from the sound of '70s soft rock, particularly Fleetwood Mac and CSNY, with their strong vocal harmonies and overall smooth, almost slick production. And once again, all four tracks are pure gold, solid gold. Now if they would only follow up with that full length they might rule the world.
'Citrus' has that classic jangly guitar sound that I associate so often with indie pop, however the vocals and harmonies really do take it into the realms of 1970's soft rock. The overall effect is something quite timeless, so that the name checked references above really do hold water.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Aquadolls - Girl Riot.
Background - Formed by the lead singer and writer of the band, Melissa Brooks and bred out of the Southern California, Orange County do-it-yourself garage scene.
Melissa Brooks and The Aquadolls put forth a trip out, pop punk vibe as they discuss love, opening your mind and hating being a teenager.
OC based indie label Burger Records released their debut album Stoked On You in December 2014, which peaked at #10 nationally on the US CMJ chart.
“Girl Riot” is an anthem celebrating the strength and courage of any woman having to fight against what society expects you to accept, whether it be wage inequality or double standard social norms." -Melissa Brooks.
The Aquadolls in part, recreate the sound of seventies punk, whilst sounding modern and relevant. Part pop, part punk, 'Girl Riot' has the energy, attitude, and message, you would expect from this type of music, and enough heart and sincerity to carry it off.
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Weekend Wonders: Daniel Amedee - Great Lakes - Crossroad Y
Daniel Amedee - Everything Will Change.
Background - Daniel Amedee is living proof that a musician can be from New Orleans, but not necessarily be of New Orleans, a distinction that courses through his quirky, eccentric songwriting style, informed by a haunting bluesy vocalese that scratches the soul somewhere between Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart, and certainly belies Daniel’s 28 years. In fact, he’s been at it – writing and producing his own music (and getting by with a little help from his friends) since age 14. Which prompts the question: How and where did this unassuming bundle of talent come to be inhabited by the avant garde spirits of progressive rock and guerrilla classical that suffuse his debut CD, Themes From (ExPat Records, 2011) and it’s follow-up Climbing (Arabella Music, 2013).
After the release of Climbing in 2013, Daniel has spent the last two years touring the United States and Canada. He’s performed from LA to New York, from Vancouver to Montreal, and everywhere in between. He was joined for a period by vocalist SE and the duo released a live record Soul With A Body in July 2014 of a concert at HotSpot in Waynesboro, VA.
Everything Will Change is the title track off the New Orleans singer-songwriter's Everything Will Change EP, due out February 2nd, 2016. The single mixes meditative beats and haunting, blues vocals to create an urban folk anthem. Tackling themes of love and human consciousness, Amedee croons, “when you see love instead of hate, when you see freedom instead of fear, and when you see truth…everything will change.”
I think it's probably the music that made me play this song for a second time. Its just got that little something extra to it, that made me really take note. Daniels vocals just add some more, they feel natural and at the same time a little less mainstream. Put together you get a fine song, one of five good ones, on the EP.
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Great Lakes - Swim The River.
Background - Great Lakes formed in 1996 in Athens, Georgia and has been based in Brooklyn, NY since 2002. The band has released 4 albums. A 5th record called Wild Vision will come out in January 2016 on the band’s own label, Loose Trucks. For this new album singer-songwriter-guitarist Ben Crum reconvened the same lineup of musicians who helped him make 2010's Ways of Escape: vocalist Suzanne Nienaber, drummer Kevin Shea, bassist David Lerner and keyboardist Joe McGinty.
While Great Lakes' early records traded in a whimsical, light-hearted psychedelia, with their 3rd and 4th albums, 2006's Diamond Times and 2010's Ways of Escape, the band gradually gravitated toward more personal songs, with a darker tone. That pattern continues with Wild Vision. Of the band's musical evolution, Crum explains, "I feel like I'm past the point of citing influences, or of discussing what happened that made me go from writing carefree psych-pop to this much darker, weightier music I'm making now. What I can say is that I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and every album I've done has been a carefully deliberate artistic statement, for better or worse."
Put simply if you like 'Swim The River' the new album is a must have. It's packed with high quality songs and musical craftsmanship, from a band that have clearly honed their individual and collective talent. If I write any more it could get 'slushy', so just give them a listen.
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Crossroad Y - Summer Days.
Background - Indie pop gem, Crossroad Y from Sydney, Australia, invites you to indulge in the catchy and uplifting sounds of their new single ‘Summer Days’ from their first EP out on the 30th December 2015.
The song is a hopeful anthem about breaking away from things that have been holding you back. “It’s about acknowledging that your past is in the past and finding the strength within you to pull through the tough times to see the better day” says vocalist Joanna. The track features Fabian and Joanna’s voices standing out as lead vocals as well as intertwined in beautiful harmonies. The bright layered guitars, punchy yet warm drum beat and airy bass guitar encourage the listener to lose themselves in the story.
“We wanted to write an encouraging tune to help those struggling with different things in life to see the light and know the bad moments will pass, to breathe in the fresh air and not fear the occasional rain, for it can wash you clean” says Joanna. ‘Summer Days’ was composed by John, written by Joanna, John and Fabian, produced by multi-award winning songwriter, composer and producer Jeff Cripps (The Vines, The Atlantics) and mastered by Don Bartley (Abba, Cold Chisel, INXS, Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Duran Duran).
'Summer Days' is indie pop at it's finest. A good song, uplifting vocals and harmonies, and a musical soundtrack that just gets on and provides the foundation for great pop music. Play it and try not to smile!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background - Daniel Amedee is living proof that a musician can be from New Orleans, but not necessarily be of New Orleans, a distinction that courses through his quirky, eccentric songwriting style, informed by a haunting bluesy vocalese that scratches the soul somewhere between Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart, and certainly belies Daniel’s 28 years. In fact, he’s been at it – writing and producing his own music (and getting by with a little help from his friends) since age 14. Which prompts the question: How and where did this unassuming bundle of talent come to be inhabited by the avant garde spirits of progressive rock and guerrilla classical that suffuse his debut CD, Themes From (ExPat Records, 2011) and it’s follow-up Climbing (Arabella Music, 2013).
After the release of Climbing in 2013, Daniel has spent the last two years touring the United States and Canada. He’s performed from LA to New York, from Vancouver to Montreal, and everywhere in between. He was joined for a period by vocalist SE and the duo released a live record Soul With A Body in July 2014 of a concert at HotSpot in Waynesboro, VA.
I think it's probably the music that made me play this song for a second time. Its just got that little something extra to it, that made me really take note. Daniels vocals just add some more, they feel natural and at the same time a little less mainstream. Put together you get a fine song, one of five good ones, on the EP.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Lakes - Swim The River.
Background - Great Lakes formed in 1996 in Athens, Georgia and has been based in Brooklyn, NY since 2002. The band has released 4 albums. A 5th record called Wild Vision will come out in January 2016 on the band’s own label, Loose Trucks. For this new album singer-songwriter-guitarist Ben Crum reconvened the same lineup of musicians who helped him make 2010's Ways of Escape: vocalist Suzanne Nienaber, drummer Kevin Shea, bassist David Lerner and keyboardist Joe McGinty.
While Great Lakes' early records traded in a whimsical, light-hearted psychedelia, with their 3rd and 4th albums, 2006's Diamond Times and 2010's Ways of Escape, the band gradually gravitated toward more personal songs, with a darker tone. That pattern continues with Wild Vision. Of the band's musical evolution, Crum explains, "I feel like I'm past the point of citing influences, or of discussing what happened that made me go from writing carefree psych-pop to this much darker, weightier music I'm making now. What I can say is that I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and every album I've done has been a carefully deliberate artistic statement, for better or worse."
Put simply if you like 'Swim The River' the new album is a must have. It's packed with high quality songs and musical craftsmanship, from a band that have clearly honed their individual and collective talent. If I write any more it could get 'slushy', so just give them a listen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crossroad Y - Summer Days.
Background - Indie pop gem, Crossroad Y from Sydney, Australia, invites you to indulge in the catchy and uplifting sounds of their new single ‘Summer Days’ from their first EP out on the 30th December 2015.
The song is a hopeful anthem about breaking away from things that have been holding you back. “It’s about acknowledging that your past is in the past and finding the strength within you to pull through the tough times to see the better day” says vocalist Joanna. The track features Fabian and Joanna’s voices standing out as lead vocals as well as intertwined in beautiful harmonies. The bright layered guitars, punchy yet warm drum beat and airy bass guitar encourage the listener to lose themselves in the story.
“We wanted to write an encouraging tune to help those struggling with different things in life to see the light and know the bad moments will pass, to breathe in the fresh air and not fear the occasional rain, for it can wash you clean” says Joanna. ‘Summer Days’ was composed by John, written by Joanna, John and Fabian, produced by multi-award winning songwriter, composer and producer Jeff Cripps (The Vines, The Atlantics) and mastered by Don Bartley (Abba, Cold Chisel, INXS, Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Duran Duran).
'Summer Days' is indie pop at it's finest. A good song, uplifting vocals and harmonies, and a musical soundtrack that just gets on and provides the foundation for great pop music. Play it and try not to smile!
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Two More On Wednesday: The Altered Hours - Field Music
The Altered Hours - Silver Leather.
Background - Following the organic buzz that arose from “Way Of Sorrow”, the Altered Hours are set to make a further mark on the flourishing psych-rock scene with the direct, sultry follow-up “Silver Leather”.
The band, whose sound has been continually honed over the last few years, have been building a solid identity that will be truly apparent from their upcoming debut. Already a real prospect live, their shows are known for their intensity and the band's ability to envelope both themselves and the crowd in their sound – but where so many focus on the textures, The Altered Hours set themselves apart with as much a focus on the songs themselves. The group have toured Ireland, the UK and Europe and have won critical acclaim along the way.
The group have released another 7'' – Dig Early – on Irish label Art For Blind since and their full length, In Heat Not Sorry, will finally see the light of day this coming January (29th). Part of a burgeoning Irish scene that continues to spawn young and seemingly brilliant, vital bands, Altered Hours will take their place on a wider scale with this record. Melodic, abrasive, dual girl-boy vocals, a Sonic Youth and ‘White Heat’-era Velvets approach to atmospherics, guitar tone and crashing feedback, and the indefinable that is all of their own making - this band’s sounds are surely destined to travel.
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Field Music - The Noisy Days Are Over (Single Version).
Background - Field Music recently announced its return with a new 14 track album Commontime, set to be released on February 5th, 2016 via Memphis Industries.
The first song to be taken from the album is 'The Noisy Days Are Over', an insistent, sax-punctuated groove and a conversation between two friends struggling to say farewell to the bad old boozy days, when they should "get to bed like everyone else" -- yesterday they shared the video for the track, directed by Andy Martin.
Over the past four years, North-East siblings Peter and David Brewis have threaded their way through one extra-curricular project after another but were inevitably drawn back to working together on their own songs. "As much fun as we might have had on our own or collaborating, we missed just spending time in the studio, the two of us, trying things out and playing together." explains David. The space that Field Music vacated in those four years still appears to be empty. No one else really does what Field Music do: the interweaving vocals, the rhythmic gear changes, the slightly off-chords, but with the sensibility that keeps them within touching distance of pop music. But with Commontime, Field Music show off their unashamed love of choruses in a way they've only hinted at before.
Written and recorded in spontaneous bursts over six months in their Wearside studio, Commontime is built around the brothers playing and singing together again, but also features a wider array of players, including original Field Music keyboardist Andrew Moore, Peter's wife Jennie Brewis and new member of the live band Liz Corney on vocals, plus a panoply of other players. "We wanted to embrace being a duo and, perversely, that made us feel more comfortable about all of those conspicuous cameos" reveals David. Over the fourteen songs of Commontime, real life conversations are replayed, acquaintances come and go, hard won friendships are left to drift and diffuse snap shots of the everyday are pulled together into what must rank amongst Field Music's best works to date.
Commontime is available to pre-order (here) on limited edition 2 x 180gram green vinyl + download code, CD, and download. The first 250 physical orders include an exclusive signed print. The album is also available to pre-order on iTunes with an instant download of 'The Noisy Days Are Over.'
The new video is viewable on our BeeVids page. 'The Noisy Days Are Over' has been around for a little while, it's just steeped in class, and is massively catchy. In terms of building up anticipation for the new album, the video is a (highly enjoyable) reminder, to make a note of the release date, for this extremely talented band.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background - Following the organic buzz that arose from “Way Of Sorrow”, the Altered Hours are set to make a further mark on the flourishing psych-rock scene with the direct, sultry follow-up “Silver Leather”.
The band, whose sound has been continually honed over the last few years, have been building a solid identity that will be truly apparent from their upcoming debut. Already a real prospect live, their shows are known for their intensity and the band's ability to envelope both themselves and the crowd in their sound – but where so many focus on the textures, The Altered Hours set themselves apart with as much a focus on the songs themselves. The group have toured Ireland, the UK and Europe and have won critical acclaim along the way.
The group have released another 7'' – Dig Early – on Irish label Art For Blind since and their full length, In Heat Not Sorry, will finally see the light of day this coming January (29th). Part of a burgeoning Irish scene that continues to spawn young and seemingly brilliant, vital bands, Altered Hours will take their place on a wider scale with this record. Melodic, abrasive, dual girl-boy vocals, a Sonic Youth and ‘White Heat’-era Velvets approach to atmospherics, guitar tone and crashing feedback, and the indefinable that is all of their own making - this band’s sounds are surely destined to travel.
Whereas 'Way Of Sorrow' for me, had a punk feel to it (a little like early Banshees material), 'Silver Leather' is definitely more psych-rock orientated. Slower, clearer, with each instrument and the vocals clearly defined, the band put a lot of work into their material, and it works, case in point being this taster for the new album.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Field Music - The Noisy Days Are Over (Single Version).
Background - Field Music recently announced its return with a new 14 track album Commontime, set to be released on February 5th, 2016 via Memphis Industries.
The first song to be taken from the album is 'The Noisy Days Are Over', an insistent, sax-punctuated groove and a conversation between two friends struggling to say farewell to the bad old boozy days, when they should "get to bed like everyone else" -- yesterday they shared the video for the track, directed by Andy Martin.
Over the past four years, North-East siblings Peter and David Brewis have threaded their way through one extra-curricular project after another but were inevitably drawn back to working together on their own songs. "As much fun as we might have had on our own or collaborating, we missed just spending time in the studio, the two of us, trying things out and playing together." explains David. The space that Field Music vacated in those four years still appears to be empty. No one else really does what Field Music do: the interweaving vocals, the rhythmic gear changes, the slightly off-chords, but with the sensibility that keeps them within touching distance of pop music. But with Commontime, Field Music show off their unashamed love of choruses in a way they've only hinted at before.
Written and recorded in spontaneous bursts over six months in their Wearside studio, Commontime is built around the brothers playing and singing together again, but also features a wider array of players, including original Field Music keyboardist Andrew Moore, Peter's wife Jennie Brewis and new member of the live band Liz Corney on vocals, plus a panoply of other players. "We wanted to embrace being a duo and, perversely, that made us feel more comfortable about all of those conspicuous cameos" reveals David. Over the fourteen songs of Commontime, real life conversations are replayed, acquaintances come and go, hard won friendships are left to drift and diffuse snap shots of the everyday are pulled together into what must rank amongst Field Music's best works to date.
Commontime is available to pre-order (here) on limited edition 2 x 180gram green vinyl + download code, CD, and download. The first 250 physical orders include an exclusive signed print. The album is also available to pre-order on iTunes with an instant download of 'The Noisy Days Are Over.'
The new video is viewable on our BeeVids page. 'The Noisy Days Are Over' has been around for a little while, it's just steeped in class, and is massively catchy. In terms of building up anticipation for the new album, the video is a (highly enjoyable) reminder, to make a note of the release date, for this extremely talented band.
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Two On Tuesday: No Monster Club - Mleo
No Monster Club - Lemonade.
Background/promo - The new album 'I Feel Magic' from Ireland's No Monster Club - the follow-up to this year's highly acclaimed 'People Are Weird' LP, will be released by Popical Island on February 5th 2016. 'Lemonade' (the first single to be taken from the album), basks in a strange, new found intersection of Future Islands, Talking Heads and early Flaming Lips.
Prolific Irishman Bobby Aherne may well be one of the best kept secrets in the world of underground pop music. In addition to a previous life using the moniker 'Dublin Duck Dispensary' (and his work as a member of Grand Pocket Orchestra, Women's Christmas, Paddy Hanna and Ginnels), this album marks the 28 year old's eleventh - and most fully realised - release as No Monster Club.
'I Feel Magic' could be the sound of Neutral Milk Hotel, William Onyeabor and the Beach Boys jamming out a series of lost one-hit-wonders on to a tape deck in their bedroom. This is rich, cartoonish art pop following in the eccentric lineage of Tommy Roe, R. Stevie Moore, Jeff Lynne, Captain Sensible, and Kevin Ayers...
After just one listen to this, the band's seemingly bizarre, unorthodox journey so far will begin to make a lot more sense; No Monster Club has performed everywhere from Wisconsin to Verona (with a live band consisting of members of Dublin's 'Popical Island' collective), embarked upon several tours with The Polyphonic Spree, supported scene luminaries such as Wavves and Ariel Pink, mimed along to their hit 'La La Land' on American children's TV, contributed music to documentary films about subjects as diverse as surfing, hotdogs and baseball, inducted to the club personalities as diverse as Jedward and Jeffrey Lewis, and become known for their surreal music videos which tend to feature puppets, dance routines, clones and singing dogs.
'Lemonade' has a quirky and yet quite intense feel to it. Musically it's as refreshing as ice cool lemonade (sorry - compulsive requirement to say that). Whatever the influences and references mentioned above in the promo, this song, has dug it's hooks into me, it's a little different, but highly enjoyable.
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Mleo - Ridiculous.
Bio - Mleo (muh-lee-oh) is an alternative pop/rock band born in Sacramento and raised in Los Angeles. A blossoming project of young, well-trained musicians, Mleo has its roots in the cities of Sacramento and Los Angeles. The band originally started as a trio in the year of 2012 with members Audrey Reed, Victor San Pedro, and Nick De La O, and has grown immensely since then. The three already had years of experience performing together at their high school in Sacramento, CA, so it made sense that they would continue to perform together as they furthered their education in L.A.
Led mostly by singer Audrey Reed, the group brings influences of jazz, funk, indie rock/pop, R&B, hip hop, and hard rock. With a variety of musical perspectives, the band strives to become the face of the modern rock band. They continue to shape this vision by writing songs with no boundaries, yet retaining elements that have kept listeners interested throughout the history of music both melodically and lyrically.
'Rediculous' builds on the bands 2014 record Sunken City. I've included the title track for the album over in BeeVids, and although 'Rediculous' has been about for a while I wanted to feature it, simply because it's such a fine song, from what is a very talented band.
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Background/promo - The new album 'I Feel Magic' from Ireland's No Monster Club - the follow-up to this year's highly acclaimed 'People Are Weird' LP, will be released by Popical Island on February 5th 2016. 'Lemonade' (the first single to be taken from the album), basks in a strange, new found intersection of Future Islands, Talking Heads and early Flaming Lips.
Prolific Irishman Bobby Aherne may well be one of the best kept secrets in the world of underground pop music. In addition to a previous life using the moniker 'Dublin Duck Dispensary' (and his work as a member of Grand Pocket Orchestra, Women's Christmas, Paddy Hanna and Ginnels), this album marks the 28 year old's eleventh - and most fully realised - release as No Monster Club.
'I Feel Magic' could be the sound of Neutral Milk Hotel, William Onyeabor and the Beach Boys jamming out a series of lost one-hit-wonders on to a tape deck in their bedroom. This is rich, cartoonish art pop following in the eccentric lineage of Tommy Roe, R. Stevie Moore, Jeff Lynne, Captain Sensible, and Kevin Ayers...
After just one listen to this, the band's seemingly bizarre, unorthodox journey so far will begin to make a lot more sense; No Monster Club has performed everywhere from Wisconsin to Verona (with a live band consisting of members of Dublin's 'Popical Island' collective), embarked upon several tours with The Polyphonic Spree, supported scene luminaries such as Wavves and Ariel Pink, mimed along to their hit 'La La Land' on American children's TV, contributed music to documentary films about subjects as diverse as surfing, hotdogs and baseball, inducted to the club personalities as diverse as Jedward and Jeffrey Lewis, and become known for their surreal music videos which tend to feature puppets, dance routines, clones and singing dogs.
'Lemonade' has a quirky and yet quite intense feel to it. Musically it's as refreshing as ice cool lemonade (sorry - compulsive requirement to say that). Whatever the influences and references mentioned above in the promo, this song, has dug it's hooks into me, it's a little different, but highly enjoyable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mleo - Ridiculous.
Bio - Mleo (muh-lee-oh) is an alternative pop/rock band born in Sacramento and raised in Los Angeles. A blossoming project of young, well-trained musicians, Mleo has its roots in the cities of Sacramento and Los Angeles. The band originally started as a trio in the year of 2012 with members Audrey Reed, Victor San Pedro, and Nick De La O, and has grown immensely since then. The three already had years of experience performing together at their high school in Sacramento, CA, so it made sense that they would continue to perform together as they furthered their education in L.A.
Led mostly by singer Audrey Reed, the group brings influences of jazz, funk, indie rock/pop, R&B, hip hop, and hard rock. With a variety of musical perspectives, the band strives to become the face of the modern rock band. They continue to shape this vision by writing songs with no boundaries, yet retaining elements that have kept listeners interested throughout the history of music both melodically and lyrically.
'Rediculous' builds on the bands 2014 record Sunken City. I've included the title track for the album over in BeeVids, and although 'Rediculous' has been about for a while I wanted to feature it, simply because it's such a fine song, from what is a very talented band.
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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...