Lake Ruth - Actual Entity (Album Release)

Lake Ruth - Dr. Snow And The Broad Street Pump.

Background promo - Lake Ruth was formed in 2015 by multi-instrumentalist Hewson Chen of The New Lines, drummer Matt Schulz and vocalist Allison Brice, best known for her prior work with UK groups The Eighteenth Day of May and The Silver Abduction.

With a unique sound rooted in 1960s experimentation, the trio blends elements of baroque pop, pysch, kraut, jazz and electronic music – resulting in rhythmically propulsive tunes, rich with multilayered guitars, modular synths and atmospheric vocals. The nine songs of 'Actual Entity' are highly varied in style yet sonically cohesive, ranging from cinematic Italian soundscapes and post-C86 pop anthems to delicate English folk songs and extended motorik jams.

The album's title 'Actual Entity' is a reference to the Process Philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead, and alludes to the fluid nature of reality. Its nine songs are populated with a collection of marginal characters – the dispossessed, the isolated and the dead. An artificial intelligence losing its mind during an endless winter. A necromancer unable to raise the dead. The revolt of nature against industrialism. The ghost of a vengeful mother forever hunting down her daughter's murderer. A Victorian physician desperate to save a dying community.

The Stereo LP (cat: 132) is available from the label The Great Pop Supplement (Spacemen 3, Dean & Britta, Wooden Shjips) in a limited edition pressing of 400 (released 24th June 2016), and available for streaming and download via all major digital distributors.

'Dr. Snow And The Broad Street Pump' is one of nine, really fine songs on the new album 'Actual Entity', (there's also a video for this song which will be added to our BeeVids page). The band cover a lot of musical territory with this album, sometimes it's quite retro, with sixties psychedelic vibes coming to mind, then there's a more modern chamber pop feel on some songs, then if you add folk flavours through to layered synthy music, we start to build the overall picture. It's a treasure trove of beautiful songs, the background above is pretty much spot on, as the old cliche goes - if you like the featured song , you'll love the album.

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Quality Not Quantity: Febria - Moddi - Brother Hawk

Febria - The End Of Something.

Background promo - Febria is a five-piece alternative rock band washed up on the banks of the river Usk. Originally formed in high school in Pontypool, and influenced by everything from prog, metal, grunge, indie and folk, they have recorded several EPs and a full-length live album, and have played many gigs around South Wales and the UK. Their music reflects a wide range of influences, varying from acoustic folk all the way through to dense prog, and they are proud of not easily fitting into one particular genre as a result. Their latest EP, 'The Sea Around Us', is their fifth recording, and they are currently working on their next release.
 
This EP represents an evolution in sound, carrying even further the complexity and rejection of traditional structure already shown in some of their previous releases adding multiple layers of vocals and guitars. One of the approaches to the songs was the idea of writing music which sounds like math/post-rock, but with vocals, focusing on the concept of introducing motifs and melodies in one section which then reappear in another section, over completely different chords - this occurs in every song. Despite all the repeating parts in many of the tracks, very little was looped artificially, but instead was played naturally from start to finish, to try to retain a sense of atmosphere and feel.

'The Sea Around Us' EP has been available on-line for sometime, with Nub Music recently releasing it. The first song and featured track 'The End Of Something' gives a good indication of the reasonably distinct sound the band create. Febria are clearly musically very competent and not afraid to test boundaries and experiment, whats more important is that they are also one very fine listen.

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Moddi - Army Dreamers.

Background details - “What a waste of Army Dreamers” – it’s an anti-war sentiment that was openly echoed through BBC play lists before its systematic suppression more than 10 years after release. Penned by Kate Bush in 1980, the Top 20 single was blacklisted during the Gulf War in 1991 – joining a list of 67 songs simultaneously banned from BBC airplay, including The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, ABBA and Queen.

It’s the latest track reworked by Norwegian singer/songwriter Moddi, from forthcoming album ‘Unsongs’ – released Friday, September 16 via Propeller Recordings. The album aims to uncover a collection of 12 songs that have, at one stage or another, been banned or suppressed, with the attempts to silence them as mild as an airplay ban (in the case of ‘Army Dreamers’) and as brutal as a murder. “Army Dreamers became one of Kate Bush’s most popular songs and was widely played on radio and TV until the First Gulf War in 1991, when it suddenly disappeared from all BBC playlists” Moddi explains. Despite on line records and a full list published by New Statesman and Society, in conjunction with Channel 4 [1991], “the BBC has had an absolute no-comment policy on this issue,” he says. “It has been impossible for me to verify that it has even been removed from radio airplay.”

‘Army Dreamers’ follows Moddi’s rework of satirical hymn ‘Punk Prayer’, that had Russian feminist collective Pussy Riot trialled and imprisoned in 2012. Watch it HERE. The track is partnered with news of Moddi’s European Tour to mark the release of ‘Unsongs’, including a one-off London show at St Giles-In-The-Fields on Monday, October 3rd.

I find the idea behind Moddi's planned album extremely appealing, so much so, that had his cover of Kate Bush's 'Army Dreamers' only been average, I would probably have featured it, to highlight this project. As it happens, his version is quite inspiring and also respectful to the original. The link for his Pussy Riot 'Punk Prayer' above is also worth checking. Moddi, is a very talented individual, who creates a beautiful sound both vocally and musically. Definitely an album to keep in mind.

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Brother Hawk - Have Love Will Travel.

Background bio - Brother Hawk puts on its morning jacket, unhitches its crazy horse, and gallops off in the direction of a big pink house somewhere over the hills and faraway. With this much horsepower at your command, why would you need to reinvent the wheel?

The four piece Atlanta band deals in raging riffs and huge hooks. Rhythms pound and pulse as serpentine guitar leads uncoil and slither, spiked with venomous licks that only a forked tongue could produce.

Their blend of Southern fried blues rock is firmly rooted in the earthy tricks traditionally traded for at the red clay crossroads but their live performances convey an electrified ebullience that blasts them into the stratosphere. On stage, they’re riding rockets fueled by a vicious cocktail of sweat and hellfire. An uncut, undeniable purity of purpose is palpable when the band is firing on all cylinders. Brother Hawk’s sound is the sunset that the hero rides into. It’s red hot white light. It’s honest emotion. It’s alive.

Having released the album 'Big Medicine' not that long ago Brother Hawk head out on a USA national tour this week (tour dates here). We feature the first track on the album 'Have Love Will Travel' which gives a flavour of their bluesy, soulful 'southern' rock. It's a little like early Black Crowes material, where you sense they are not trapped in any one genre, indeed as the album develops 'alt rock' seems just as appropriate as a description. Timeless and wonderful!

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Genre Wander: A Treehouse Wait - Searls - Basement Revolver - Chelan

A Treehouse Wait - Faith.

Background promo - Jenny Wahlström from A Treehouse Wait grew up with one foot at a country farm in the south of Sweden. She had her other foot in Asia, where her parents worked for several periods of time during her childhood. She has mainly worked as a songwriter in the EDM-stage, co-writing and performing with acts like Martin Garrix (Virus), Shermanology (Stranger) and Ferry Corsten (Many ways).

Realising that it wasn’t just songs that made sense to herself, but the fact that people actually listened when she started singing re-inspired her. After spending a month in the USA, being the opening act for a Swedish folksinger, singer and songwriter Jenny Wahlström plucked up the courage to put the songs down on paper and record the songs she didn’t think she’d ever share with the rest of the world. A Treehouse Wait was born.

The music is mostly inspired by the things one is so familiar with, but mostly would not talk about. Like empty city streets during the summer. Or when anxiety leaves. Giving up your love or the fear of leaving home. It’s not all beautiful, but it’s all life. And sharing that experience, the music suddenly creates a place for you to be, and you know that someone else has been there, too.

Tour:
8-07-2016 Gullbranna Festivalen, Eldsberga, Sweden
07-08-2016  Rörstrands Café, Stockholm, Sweden
13-08-2016 The Brave Festival, Amsterdam, Holland.

Jenny Wahlström delivers a heartfelt song in the form of 'Faith'. Musically it just builds into something quite powerful before a wonderful refrain calms thing's down. It's hard to pigeon hole this song genre wise, which I so often feel is actually the sign of imaginative song writing.

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Searls - Follow (Prod. LJ Looper).

Background promo - The 'Follow' EP is a collaboration between singer/ songwriter Searls and electronic producer LJ Looper.

Searls, originally from Ireland, is a musician who takes older influences from the likes of Brian Eno, Kraftwerk and blends contemporary acts such as James Blake, Jessie Ware, Shura and mixes it all up to create his own sound. Learning his craft as a backing singer, he decided to turn his attentions to songwriting. Last year he released his first single Doing Time and remixes of the track received great attention from the dance community. This summer will see him release his debut-EP.

All of the EP was produced by LJ Looper, a London based Electronic Music Producer & DJ. Looper is mostly known for producing an ‘Electronic Urban’ sound; his future Bass remix of Doing Time was play-listed on Reprezent Radio. In April 2016, Looper was supported by the MOBO Awards for his track ‘Let Me Know’, featuring Keith Sweats’ protege, Jason Little. Regarding his latest collaboration, he says: “Searls’ vocal range was incredible to work with, allowing us to record an intimate lead performance, backed by rich, haunting choral layers. The distinctiveness and heartfelt emotion in his voice is what drew me to working with him in the first place.”

The EP consists of 3 tracks: Demons, Hurricane and Follow. Songs that are heavily infused with haunting Celtic choral backing vocals to Searls’ soulful lead. The songs explore themes such as addiction, sexuality, love and oppression through an electro-ambient RnB lens. Follow will be released on all platforms.

'Follow'gives you a really good feel for the new EP. It's a collection of lush, highly crafted songs and the collaboration has in my opinion really paid off. Here you have three imaginative pieces produced to achieve optimum audio and artistic quality.

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Basement Revolver - Words.

Background from the band - Last week we shared our second single 'Words' off our upcoming EP.

“Words” was written when I was in my last semester of university. I lived downtown and school was up on the mountain and somewhat inaccessible by bus. I was writing my honours psych thesis at the time, as well as many other papers, when it all began to feel meaningless.

 No matter what I said, in the end, words are just words, they can be stringed together to form something powerful but without context they become as mundane and uncontrollable as one’s commute to and from school. Similarly, a paper is just a paper, a degree is just a degree, and there is so much more to life than the plans and the empires that we build for ourselves.

Second time around on Beehive Candy for Basement Revolver, this time with the a new song 'Words'. I was mightily impressed with the first song 'Johnny' which I'm pleased to say will also be one of the four songs on the forthcoming EP. This band exude wonderful melodies, well written songs, and they put them together with so much heart and feeling. I'm way to old to be a gushing fan of any artists, however this band are testing me on that.

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Chelan - Beams.

Background promo - Its been a busy couple of years for Chelan (sh-lan). The american synth/indie pop band (based out of Joshua Tree CA) immediately started the planning process for their newest album "Vultures" after the early 2015 release of their 4th full length album "Equal Under Pressure." Chelan, who formed in California in 2007, is historically the duo of classical music teacher Jennifer Grady and film/tv music composer Justin Hosford. However, in early 2015 they added a third permanent member, Chad Austinson, to play drums. After a series of live performances and writing sessions, the group spent a year meeting for long periods of time at Hosford's studio in Joshua Tree and producer Matt Drenik's studio in Portland, Oregon. In addition to bringing on Drenik to co-produce the album with Hosford, they linked up with Doug Boehm (Guided by Voices, Girls) to mix a handful of tracks.

Vultures is Chelan's most ambitious studio effort to date but they were also careful to ensure they can replicate the album during live performances. When asked about the writing process for Vultures Hosford says "Its been a fun challenge morphing from the mostly electronic, subdued indie aesthetic of our last couple albums to the wall of sound, big production synth pop thing we went for on this record." The album surrounds layered vocals with lush analog synths, guitar, drums, cello and piano.  Chelan is currently planning a tour in the spring of 2017. Vultures was mastered by Jared Hirshland of Elysian Mastering. Album Artwork by Kime Buzzelli.

'Beams' is the first of nine songs on the new album 'Vultures'. The analog synths add a richness to the beautifully constructed and quite melodic music, and the vocals add even more colour. This is a clear and positive step forward from the previous album suggesting a band that are confident in their musical direction. 

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Sunday Gems: The Big Bend - Robbie Miller - Naropa

The Big Bend - Celebrate.

Background promo - “Celebrate” is the title track to The Big Bend’s new album that the always-reliable label Misra Records (Phosphorescent, Melaena Cadiz, Destroyer, etc) is putting out on July 22nd. Celebrate is the band's fourth release and has all the hallmarks of a career milestone, calling to mind early-‘70s Neil Young in its songwriting, with vocals reminiscent of The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle.

The Big Bend is led by Chet Vincent, who's been kicking around Pittsburgh playing in bands since he was a teenager. A regular fixture of the city’s quietly thriving music scene, he's established a reputation as one of the city’s most dedicated figures. Celebrate shows the band’s dynamic range - from the first discordant, psychedelic notes of album opener “The Spins,” through the closing bars of the stripped-down, folky “Su La Ley.”

In between, Vincent’s vocals show range stylistically, from shouts on the rowdier tunes, to lilting crooning reminiscent of The Weakerthans’ John K. Samson on the softer songs. He’s always been a storyteller, weaving characters and situations into songs, but here he takes on social issues, both obliquely and directly, on songs like “Cut Us Down” and Fingertrap.”

A few artist references in the promo above, however I reckon it's fair to say that The Big Bend have enough good attributes of their own as the song 'Celebrate' clearly demonstrates. I have not had a chance to check out any other material by the band yet, however on listening to this again today, that's down to happen pretty soon now.

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Robbie Miller - Road.

Background promo - Robbie Miller continues to forge his own path with new single 'Road', and whispers of a new EP to come later this year.

Keeping busy following the release of triple j favourite, 'The Pain' and 2015 EP The Faster the Blood Slows, the Brisbane based Indigenous artist went straight back into the studio to create a wealth of new tracks. Devised as a collaboration with friend and band mate Nathan Morrison, 'Road' brings more electronic elements to Robbie's folk sound than ever before. Pulsating synths swirl around his signature brooding vocals to create an emotionally powered three and a half minutes. Connecting with listeners already, the track is off to a flying start, added to triple j rotation this week just a day after its debut on Good Nights with Linda Marigliano.

Road-testing the new material with a number of coveted support spots, Robbie recently toured alongside Josh Pyke and will support Dustin Tebbutt on his upcoming First Light album tour in August. He then releases his much anticipated second EP later this year with a few more surprises still to come.

'Road' really does showcase Robbie Miller's wonderful vocals. What's equally fine is the song, melodic, and sensitively layered, it's one of those instant likes for me.

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Naropa - If Only While I'm Sleeping.

Background from the band - We're a band from London called "Naropa". We're University students and have been really busy gigging around London for six months, as well as constantly writing and rehearsing, working on developing our sound and live set.

These demos got us a load of great reviews which you can check out on our website and we ended up getting completely booked up by London promoters four months in advance, as well as getting us some attention and airplay from BBC Introducing and further radio play worldwide in places like Holland, South America and USA. To keep building momentum, we got back into the studio as soon as possible and recorded our new single. The track is called "If Only While I'm Sleeping", and was officially released on all major streaming platforms yesterday, 25th June.

There's bags of passion and energy within the new song 'If Only While I'm Sleeping' from Naropa. It's clear the band have developed their sound through live gigging and plenty of graft, and by the sounds of this I'm not surprised they have been getting attention and performances. Ones to watch out for, I would say.

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Friday Mix: Destrends - Kolumbus - Kid Bloom - Slowcoaching

Destrends - Papa.

Background promo - Outfitted in Dr Martens, tight jeans and glitter, Destrends are a Melbourne based three-piece quickly building a reputation as a distinctly theatrical live band with a sound influenced by early 80s post-punk. Their sound is a unique blend, reminiscent of the new wave sound of the late 70s and early 80s, with a gentle touch of gothic hysteria.

“Papa” is the first offering off Destrends’ forthcoming debut EP, which is set for release in late 2016. The Melbourne post-punk three piece have clocked up a handful of impressive gigs since forming in 2014, including sharing the stage Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age), touring with Stonefield and Apes on their recent national tours, supporting Aussie icons Hoodoo Gurus, and performing at King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s inaugural Dawn of Gizzfest.

Recorded by Finn Keane at Head Gap Studios, “Papa” is loud, fast paced and aggressive whilst maintaining pop sensibilities. The track is characterised by a jagged and catchy guitar hook, and the listener is confronted with deep and compelling vocals. The song narrates an honest guilt and desperate plea for a father’s forgiveness.

“The song is about the time I ruined family Christmas”, said lead singer/bassist Matt Savage. “It’s also about finding your identity and learning when to shut your mouth”. “Papa” will be released 15th of July 2016.

Upcoming Shows:
Fri Aug 5 - Mynt Lounge, Werribee
Sat Aug 6 - The Loft, Warrnambool
Fri Aug 12 - Karova Lounge, Ballarat
Sat Aug 13 - The Evelyn, Melbourne
Fri Aug 19 - Transit Bar, Canberra
Sat Aug 20 - Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle
Sun Aug 21 - Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney
Fri Aug 26 - St. Kilda Pier, St. Kilda.

With a strong riff delivering upfront vibes, 'Papa' comes across as a timeless new wave song, with something quite goth like about the vocals. It may have something of a retro feel to it, however it's also fresh and very catchy.

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Kolumbus - I Hope You Find Happiness.

Background promo - Irish singer-songwriter Kolumbus has announced a new single ‘I Hope You Find Happiness’ from his forthcoming debut EP 'Give Them Life' on the back of an enthusiastic reception for the first single 'Leave The Light On'.  Kolumbus is a musical project representing the solo journey of Irish songwriter Mark 'Cappy' Caplice. ‘I Hope You Find Happiness’ was written as a lament regarding the droves of Irish people that left the country to find better lives, while looking forward to happier times. "They had to leave family, friends loved ones behind to fly half way across the world. So many of my own friends and close family were among them and I saw first hand how difficult it is, both for those who leave and those who stay," explains Kolumbus. "I would never hold it against anyone for leaving. Life is too short to dwell on anything."

Earlier, Kolumbus' Christmas single 'You Know It's Christmas' hit the No.1 spot on the Google Play Music Charts and Top 20 on iTunes, ahead of heavy hitters Adele and Justin Bieber, with all proceeds goint to Inner City Helping Homeless and Baltinglass Lions Christmas appeal. That song also features the West Wicklow Voices and Chorus Kids Choir. Born in Kilkenny, Ireland, at a young age Mark Caplice moved to Wicklow, where he still resides. His performance name Kolumbus derives from the fact that he has always had a passion for travel and exploration, even from a young age. The 26-year-old believes life is too short to dwell, so his philosophy is to lead an active life.

Kolumbus was also influenced by artists such as Ben Howard, Elbow and Fleetwood Mac. His output exhibits clever craftsmanship both lyrically and melodically, blending several different styles to create his own unique brand of energetic captivating music. Of course it helps that this track was produced by Gavin Glass, the music director for John Carney's new film "Sing Street", and engineered by Scott Halliday, previously a guitar tech with Prince and James Vincent Mcmorrow. Several other notable musicians make contributions here: drummer Graham Hopkins, who plays with Irish folk legend Glen Hansard, and organist Conor O'Reilly, who has recorded with U2 and has had his music performed in Carnegie Hall.

2016 is proving to be a very busy year for Kolumbus, having already toured through Germany and Austria, travelling over 4000 km on 2 planes, 17 trains and 1 bicycle. This year, Ireland, England, Germany and the U.S.A are all set to figure on his tour schedule.

Well the Irish have always been adventurous in travelling, and settling in far off places, and the song 'I Hope You Find Happiness' is a melodic and sincere song that may have been written as a lament, but Kolumbus has such an infectious voice, it also sounds like an upbeat celebration.

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Kid Bloom - Electric U.

Background promo - “Electric U” may derive its inspiration from the disco days of yore, yet in doing so Kid Bloom creates a thoroughly refreshing entry into the world of contemporary music. With the popular trend of musical sound leaning towards dark electronic trap, the jovial horns and violin strings of “Electric U” remind us that music is at its heart layers of instrumentation, or as the band lovingly calls it, “glittery arrangements.” Kid Bloom (a young quintet) says the new track is incredibly fun to play live -- though such is easily inferred from the infectious groove of the pop/disco blend. “Every time I need my fix, I can get it,” repeats Lennon Kloser through the song’s chorus, a sentiment fans will hope is true for them as well, as they clamour for more material from the promising new band. Kid Bloom's upcoming single, Electric U, will be featured on the soundtrack for Independence Day: Resurgence, the sequel to the 1996 blockbuster starring Will Smith.

Kid Bloom is a L.A. quintet engaging in lovingly warped, sneaky-smart psych-pop. They’ve recorded an EP’s worth of tunes at an Atwater Village studio that feel like the ’60s and ’70s in a fun house — theirs is an arty approach to composition, deconstructing and reassembling pop elements seemingly on a whim, judiciously subtracting where others might pile on and shifting tempos and moods like jazzmen. The music is the work of singer-guitarist Lennon Kloser, along with singer/guitarist/keyboardist Jesse Perlman and drummer Josh Conway (both of whom played with Dreamers Dose) and Englishmen Will Reynolds (guitar/vocals) and Max Sterling (bass). There’s no tidy genre that fits Kid Bloom, unless you count the category: Now That’s Different, Is There More?

'Electric U' has a gentle funky feel to it, with vocals that echo a calm summers day where laid back moods come into there own. The band have a natural feel, delivering soulful tight music, and yes as hinted at above, slipping in and out of genres at a whim.

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Slowcoaching - Night Fiction.

Background promo - Armed with a newly minted name and an ever so slightly cynical outlook on international copyright claims, Melbourne man about town Slowcoaching (formerly Slowcoach) rivals musical euphoria with impressive results. Recognising his feats, Slowcoaching aims, and invites you, to relax and float away with his music.

New single, 'Night Fiction' has been garnering wide critical acclaim from reviewers and radio hosts around Australia and internationally. Ready and willing to bring 'Night Fiction' to its prime potential, Slowcoaching is pleased to announce a single launch, and consequently, his debut headline show at Melbourne's Boney, Friday 1st July.

Constructed in a perfect dream-pop atmosphere, 'Night Fiction' pairs sweeping melodies and transcendental instrumentation challenging his contemporaries such as DIIV, the War on Drugs and the Strokes. Together, it produces a brilliantly measured track and an intelligent step forward for Slowcoaching (better known as Dean Valentino to his parents).

Joining Slowcoaching for this evening's performance is fellow Melbourne dream boats and sound pioneers, Fountaineer. More guests TBA.

Single launch Show:
JULY 1st Boney, Melbourne, VIC.

If you were asked to define dream pop 'Night Fiction' would lend a mighty hand. It's bright and breezy and awash with dreamy hazy feelings. Melodic, infectious and full of hooks, it's getting well deserved attention..

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Quality Not Quantity: Divan - Earth Heart

Divan - Sale Of Lakes.

Background promo - There's a lot of life in the city. Growing up in the idyllic Irish countryside and finding a place amid the alien, urban sprawl had a huge impact on Divan. Their music; all pulsating rhythm, soaring vocals and oscillating guitars, draws on a rich tapestry of styles and sounds, which evolves into a real statement of intent: the desire to understand art and its relevance in modern life.

 Singer, Jamie Clarke writes: 'I think always having an innate desire to surround yourself with activity & action when all you've known is peace & tranquillity comes out in our music. It draws me to people, and also to the art that I love.'

The lyrical narrative in Modern Knowledge weaves its way through such themes, affecting not just today's artists and creators but everyone that, like Jamie, is drawn to the bustle of something more than what was known... From experimenting with accessible but unusual time signatures in ‘Shards’ to exploring vulnerability both lyrically and vocally in ‘A Clarity Appears’, the heart and soul that runs through this record is achieved via subtle nods to the likes of Radiohead, The National and Richard Hawley, as well as the band’s own profound voice and subject matter.

There are mournful sparks of looped piano from Brent (Knopf) in ‘Darkened Room’ and dark melodies inspired by the encompassing warmth of Sufjan Stevens…while frontman Clarke’s subtly reedy voice is reminiscent of Benjamin Gibbard in his more delicate moments. Major chords are utilised to strengthen the depths alongside jolting, haunted stabs of guitar and the end result is compelling, intense and overwhelmingly thoughtful; demanding repeated listens.

Going by the song 'Sale Of Lakes' the transition from rural to urban life for the band Divan, has at least at a musical level paid off. Having gone in the opposite direction, I personally think both can help with musical creativity, however the urban sprawl does spark passion and reality, the case in point being this really fine song.

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Earth Heart - Homesick.

And the band say - We're a garage/street rock band from Allston, MA. Our influences range from local acts such as Fat History Month and Krill to the Mouldy Peaches, the Melvins, and Cat Power.

We formed in February 2013 when Katie and Matt met at the old All Asia Cafe in Central Square, Cambridge. She was working on a solo project at the time, as she didn't have a band. She mentioned she needed a drummer and Matt volunteered without having heard her songs. We played a show the next day without rehearsing and have been playing together ever since. We continued as a duo (guitar and drums), playing extensively in the Boston area at venues such as TT The Bears Place, Middle East upstairs, O'Briens, Out Of The Blue Gallery and Zuzu, as well as a handful of basement shows in Manchester NH.

We self-recorded and -released five EPs along the way, and completed our first full-length, professionally recorded album in January 2016 with Shaun Curran at Napoleon Complex in Somerville, MA. The following month (January 2016) we were joined by Natan Keyes on bass. Our plans are to continue playing locally and tour for the first time this summer. 

'Homesick' is a little bit punky and garage, and a whole lot raw unrefined energy. It's good old rock'n'roll with attitude, and it never ceases to please.

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Midweek Double: Ghost Wave - Pip Blom

Ghost Wave - All U Do Is Kill.

Background promo - New Zealand’s Ghost Wave return with their sophomore album Radio Norfolk. Following on from 2013’s Ages the latest album sees the duo explore deeper into their psychedelic sound, while adding a more electronic focus to their sunny warped songs.

From the opening track onwards Radio Norfolk is a series of trippy, psych hooks filled with clashes of keys, organs, and percussion. Taking minimal cues from their previous work, Radio Norfolk’s songs dance through a colourful, hyperactive rhythm sets (All U Do Is Kill), dazed, dub-laden melodies (Honeypunch, Blues Signal ’79), 70s jangle gems (Don’t Ask Why, Slow Cone Descent), the album offers no limit to the duo’s vision.  It’s the album they started a band to make, in the first place. On top of this, they aptly brought on the talents of Spaceman 3’s Sonic Boom to master the record.

With a less serious, yet more focused, approach to their craft and seeking good times only, they created  individual production personas (Malcolm S/ Dr Billy) and huddled up for a year in their Auckland studio, Breeze N Soul (named after the Kool & The Gang song). 

Ghost Wave started life in 2012 as the brainchild of Matt Paul (Vocals, Guitar). What was a initially a project relegated to a small room in Auckland, New Zealand over time the sonic chemistry he was cooking up caught the attention of fellow music maker and soon-to-be collaborator Eammon Logan (Drums). Together they self-recorded what came to be their self- titled EP and followed this up with debut album Ages.

Inspired by skate vids, Persian rugs and the music of Little Richard, you could simply characterise Ghost Wave by jangly guitars underpinned by motor-style rhythms and a unique melodic sensibility. Yet, with Radio Norfolk they have gone further than that, creating something even more captivating and intriguing. In their own words it’s “ ...the countdown to the meltdown.” Radio Norfolk is out in New Zealand on 8th of July and worldwide on 5th of August. The next single Honeypunch drops on 24th of June.

Ghost Wave play their album release show on 8th of July at the Las Vegas Strip Club Auckland - with special guest Peach Milk.

Second time around on Beehive Candy for Ghost Wave this time featuring the song 'All U Do Is Kill'. It's one of ten tracks on the soon to drop album 'Radio Norfolk'. It's worth reading the second paragraph of the promo description above (and it saves me repeating much of it), this is a band who create fine songs, test the boundaries and can musically charm your socks off.

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Pip Blom - Hours.

Background promo - Pip Blom has released her new track ’Hours’ online. Pip Blom is a 19 year old artist from Amsterdam. DIY is in her genes. She writes, records and releases her own indie pop tunes with a twist. Although she just started releasing her material in 2016, her rough diamonds with catchy melodies have already found their way to an international audience. The songs have been featured on influential Spotify play lists with more than 150.000 plays.

When she was 15 years old, Pip started playing a three-string Loog guitar and in a month she wrote 13 songs, recorded them and released them under the name Short Stories. With the album, Pip ended up on the front page of worldwide tech website ’TechCrunch’ as they did a feature of Loog guitars. She writes and records everything on her own but she brings her songs live as a four piece band. Tours in the Netherlands and England are scheduled for the band in the near future for her and the three other Amsterdam youngsters; Tender Blom, Bowie Thörig and Berend Kok, who accompany her on stage.

Two of Pip’s songs, Hours and Truth will be released on a limited edition 7” single via the Norwich based Grunt Grunt A Go Go label on the 1st of July. Hours is now available on all platforms.

'Hours' is just so delightful. Musically it's a stripped back piece, that gently grows as the melody supports her hypnotic vocals. Wonderful!

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Genre Busters: Prison Escapee - SPC ECO - Closely

Prison Escapee - Gunslinger.

Background Bio - Prison Escapee is the moniker of Erik David Hidde located in Los Angeles, CA. After running the independent record label, Housewarming Records, out of New York from 2011-2013, Hidde has since decided to put all his focus into his original music. Inspired by equal parts post-rock, electronica, lo-fi field recordings, and film soundtracks, Hidde has been investing the hours into his music when he returns home from his day-job until he puts himself to sleep. Both his debut and sophomore albums were written, recorded, produced, and mixed in his living room.

Hidde was raised in Fort Hunter, a hamlet located in upstate New York by a christian family, which is represented in his music. Surround by water, Fort Hunter is also a common subject in his music, which subject matter often includes reflecting back on his childhood. Other subject matter includes loss, which is centred around his close friend's prison cell suicide. Hidde was brought up singing in his church, and all-county chorus in grade school. The first music he ever produced was in college, and was part of his multimedia degree. It wasn't good, but it brought something out in him and also filled a void. He then went on to record short looped songs using a digital camera microphone for his vocals, and later created original music dedicated to his late friend. He was also the lead singer of a five-piece rock band that often played in upstate New York. After years of writing, recording, and practising production, he started Prison Escapee in 2015 and has since been releasing his melancholic electronic, rock songs.

What a delight the song 'Gunslinger' is. In the ever crowded music world, it's always very good to hear music that is made out of appreciation for the art, and that remains unpretentious, moving and so accessible.

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SPC ECO - Out Of My System.

Background promo - SPC ECO  release lead single "Out of My System"  from upcoming album "Anomalies" (Saint Marie Records), August 19th, 2016. It was less than a year ago SPC ECO (pronounced Space Echo, a name that’s part riddle & part publicly-traded stock) released Dark Matter to ecstatic reviews, and here they are back already with Anomalies. Dean Garcia, famously of Curve, and singer Rose Berlin, famously of SPC ECO, are on a creative hot streak. With yet another album scheduled for later in the year, there’s nothing left for Saint Marie records to do but sit back and enjoy the ride.

Anomalies continues the parade of alternate-universe pop hits they’ve come known for, existing somewhere beyond genre, somewhere beyond understanding. Its beats provide the missing link between trap and trip-hoptrap-hop? The sharpest father-daughter team since Ryan and Tatum O’Neal in Paper Moon. And if you’ve never heard of Paper Moon then that must mean SPC ECO is very sharp indeed.

'Out Of My System' is the first taste of the forthcoming nine song album. It only hints at what's in store on the album, where SPC ECO dig even deeper, and create music that fills entire landscapes. Saint Marie Records suggest they are on to something special with the August release, having listened I think it fair to say, that they are not overstating matters.

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Closely - Still Here.

Background words - "An eclectic mix of indie pop / house vibes with bottle taps and other wild percussive elements, "Still Here" is a summer jam with a nostalgic feel."

Closely was formed accidentally. Michael posted on Kijiji looking for a female singer for a project he was working on & the only response he got was a male guitarist (Joel). 

Michael and Spenser were writing slow, dreamy pop and Joel was writing electro jams. After a few practices and a lot of experimenting "Closely" was born.

'Still Here' is my first taste of Closely, and the promo we received does not give much away either. It's a good song, with excellent production, and as summer jams go, a generous offering.

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Genre Wander: Vallens - Shaun Black - Graveyard Lovers

Vallens - Devour.

Background - Vallens debut album Consent (out June 24 via HDD). The songs on Consent are quite dark and discuss important issues to songwriter Robyn Phillips, such as the title track of the album "Consent." The song is about various issues around consent, consent to have a stranger talk to you, no means no, why women have to do something triply better than a man to just be considered, and the ever underlying sense that women only do things for the attention of men.

Robyn Phillips created Vallens in late 2014 to serve as her performance alter ego, secretly constructing her own world of music alone while playing guitar and gigging in various Toronto projects. The Vallens moniker allowed Robyn to introduce her own sound within the scene under the influence of namesake, David Lynch’s Dorothy Vallens.

Conjuring the likes of Rowland S. Howard, Wire, Angelo Badalamenti and Portishead; Vallens has been living deep in the construction of her first record, Consent (Due June 24th, 2016 on Hand Drawn Dracula). The album was recorded and produced by Josh Korody (Beliefs, Nailbiter) at Candle Recording in Toronto, as well as with Jeff Berner (Psychic TV) at Galumium Foil in Brooklyn, NY.  The themes on Consent evoke the tension and stratosphere of Robyn’s early years and what it means to be female in our society.

In the past year Vallens has expanded to a full band (Colin Morgan - drums, Marta Cikojevic - synth & keyboards and Devon Henderson - bass) who have shaped and influenced Robyn’s further writing. The project debuted live in 2015 and quickly captured the attention of music critics, promoters, and the local music scene. Vallens has since been invited to perform at NXNE, Pop Montreal, M for Montreal, and CMJ, as well they've shared the stage with Frankie Cosmos, Freak Heat Waves, Porches, Mourn, Ringo Deathstarr, U.S Girls, A Place to Bury Strangers, Speedy Ortiz, Dilly Dally and La Luz.

'Devour ' is one of ten tracks on the debut album 'Consent'. It's a varied album with sometimes bleak and distant shoegaze music. The featured song sits somewhere in the middle of overall band sound, full of dreamy and haunting sounds, I guess it's pretty representative. Overall this is a good album that breathes some new ideas into the shoegaze genre, Vallens appear to have quite alot to offer.

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Shaun Black - Time.

Background - Hailing from the Yarra Valley in Melbourne, Shaun Black’s influences include Paul Kelly, INXS, Counting Crows and Matchbox 20. His debut album Refraction is a collection of Aussie Acoustic-Rock taking you through a very real, down to earth journey. This eclectic album has tracks ranging from Rock, Roots, Reggae, Country, Pop and Blues-Rock. The first single “Time” is a Blues-Rock ballad with a mesmerising vibe.

“Time” was recorded at Oakland studio in Upwey, a town that sits in the hills surrounding Mt Dandenong, east of Melbourne. It was co-produced by Phil Smith and Shaun Black and features Mike Maguire on lead guitar and Emma Hales with her resonating backing vocals.

“This song is about something we all seem to not have enough of. In today’s world full of smartphones and deadlines I think we all feel at some point in time that we need to get back in touch with ourselves and our own lives,” says Shaun on the creation of the song.

The first single from the album 'Time' is a really well put together bluesy song, with that timeless feel this type of music so often has, when performed well. A great introduction and the promo words above are spot on, I look forward to to hearing more.

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Graveyard Lovers - Storm.

Background - Indie garage rock band, Graveyard Lovers, announce the release of their album, Past The Forest of the Fruitless Thoughts, just out, June 17th. The band signed a publishing deal with Roundhill Music and their music can be heard in movies, TV shows and commercials, namely on the Season 6 finale of Shameless on Showtime. Graveyard Lovers recorded their two-part album, Past The Forest of the Fruitless Thoughts, in rural Connecticut at The Radar Studio with Will Benoit (Bad Rabbits, Ellie Goulding, Caspian). Part 1 will be released this June, and part 2 is due out later this year. CraveOnline declares, “It's as if the best parts of the Saddle Creek family spent a Summer with the Pixies and burned their White Stripes records in a distancing ritual that only deepened the connection to some of the most viscerally passionate sounds of our time.”

Graveyard Lovers, founded by core members Zach Reynolds (vocals, guitar) and Tricia Purvis-Reynolds (drums), produce "big, loud primal rock and roll...throwback, non-pretentious music.” (Huffington Post) Hailing from New Orleans, Zach Reynolds moved to New York in 2009 to pursue a solo music career.  After meeting drummer Tricia Purvis, the pair found they had both a musical and romantic chemistry. In 2010, they began to co-write songs together in a home studio. The band released their highly acclaimed, debut album, Dreamers, in 2013 and soon after,  recruited Zach’s brother, Joel (Junius, Prosthetic Records, Driftoff), to play bass. Now, the band welcomes their sophomore, two-part album, Past the Forest of the Fruitless Thoughts, this year. 

'Storm' gives you a clear idea of what's in store on the bands new album. Blistering no nonsense indie and garage rock songs demand your attention, along with some less energised but still very hook laden music. Five songs on part one set standards high, however somehow I think the band will maintain this with ease.

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Quality Not Quantity: Renders - Arc Iris - La Legacie - Chain Wallet

Renders - Running Through The Night.

Kelly McMichael (Renders) has this to say about the featured song and forthcoming EP - The song is my 'take back the night' anthem, inspired by Slutwalk, dedicated to empowering those of us who feel vulnerable walking at night, and to protest victim-blaming. It's the first track off my Self-titled EP. The EP is out July 8th.

On this EP, I am looking both inwards towards the emotional core and outwards to the dance floor. I write about the fluid and complex relationships we face - relationships tied to personal growth, inner struggles, and the multi-faceted world of human relations. This debut EP is about claiming space and demanding acceptance. Writing from an emotional intelligence; and singing for the fluid and tangled forces tied to nature. Keeping a keen ear to both classic and contemporary pop music.

There are four really cool songs on the EP and featured track 'Running Through The Night' is the opener. Beehive Candy featured Renders in the latter part of 2015 and we were impressed back then. Her music remains consistently pleasing and there is considerable variety packed into the new EP.

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Arc Iris - Kaleidoscope.

Background - On August 19, the New England based Arc Iris will release a new album called Moon Saloon. Produced by the group and mixed by electronic producer David Wrench of FKA Twigs and Caribou fame, the album showcases beat-heavy melodies and textural, groove-riding rhythms.

Lead singer and lyricist Jocie Adams, Tenorio-Miller, and drummer Ray Belli form the core of Arc Iris, all virtuosic musicians in their own right. Adams spent eight years as a key member of indie darlings The Low Anthem, effortlessly zipping from hammer dulcimer to clarinet to bass to vocals, sometimes barely pausing to take a breath. As the band members see it, Moon Saloon works like a song cycle that parallels the arc of everyman’s passage through modern day dilemmas. According to Adams: “The album is meant to be cathartic. There’s an imbalance in everyone’s lives. When there’s often so much going on, we yearn for simplicity.”

The album starts with “Kaleidoscope”, mimicking a kind of fanciful stroll down the street, and ends with the title track, a delicate soliloquy in a strange, desolate landscape. The album sometimes offers a sharp counterpoint to the mean-spirited nature of current American political discourse. One example is “Paint with the Sun,” a paean to those who help others in need. Soaring over each song is Adams’ ethereal voice, often joined in close harmonies with other members of the band.

Tour dates:
7/5: Brooklyn, NY - C'mon Everybody
7/12: Brooklyn, NY - C'mon Everybody
7/19: Brooklyn, NY - C'mon Everybody
7/21: New Haven, VT - Cafe Nine
7/26: Brooklyn, NY - C'mon Everybody
9/9: Elizabethtown, NY - Otis Mountain Get Down

'Kaleidoscope' suggests there will be considerable quality across the awaited album. Production is superb and the musicianship is quite stunning. Add to this the exquisite vocals, and waiting another couple of months for the rest seems a bit of a tease.

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La Legacie - Dinner.

Background - La Legacie is an award winning band of 5 with Vermillion and SouFire. La Legacie is based out of Northern France and are all English except their drummer, Baptiste who is French and their Lead guitarist and Pro Engineer, Benoit (who is also French, but completely bilingual), making La Legacie a bilingual band.

La Legacie has their our own recording studio which they create classics out of. Originally setup purely for writing and recording songs for the band, but now they are opening it up for others to use. (www.dusktodawnstudios.com) Dinner is La Legacie's latest single, described as a cheeky song.

'Dinner' may be 'cheeky' however it's one really good listen. The band are clearly making good use of their own studio, and there is plenty of room on Beehive Candy for good quality music that can add a smile anytime.

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Chain Wallet - Muted Colours.

Background - You can’t deny that there is something sorrowful behind the Bergen-based, lo-fi dream/psych pop trio Chain Wallet, and you can’t hide that their music suits the environment wherein it was created. It may be a cliché that it always rains in the band’s hometown, but when you play Chain Wallet’s self-titled debut album, it’s not too difficult imagine the mist hanging heavily over their indie dystopian vision of Bergen.

Even though feelings of nostalgia and melancholy lurk in the Scandinavian shadows, it’s not difficult to find indie-pop gold in its purest form, glittering below the heavy layers of synth and reverb. Tracks like ‘Shade’ and ‘Abroad’ have an up-tempo urgency to them which calls to mind bands like Motorama, whereas other dreamy psych ballads like ‘Muted Colours’ and ‘Stuck In The Fall’ occupy a rich and hazy middle ground between Diiv and Wild Nothing.

On their debut album, Chain Wallet explore themes of betrayal, idleness and crushed dreams against the backdrop of an existential breakdown; The album is loosely based in the same universe, and portrays different aspects of the quarter-life crisis, ensuring that ‘Chain Wallet’ hits on a visceral, teenage level, amongst the shimmer and haze of the lo-fi soundscape that they conjure.

Frode Boris from the band explains the band’s ethos and sound - “We want to capture the acute distress of an afflicted character; his self-indulgent pity, gradual loss of touch with reality and his forlorn attempts on returning to normal life. The abrupt disintegration unveils interesting tensions between urgency and inertia. The album is about fragmented memories, unfulfilled ambitions and the quiet whisper of a stranger.” Self-title debut album due out 7th Oct 2016 via Jansen Plateproduksjon.

Having read the bands promo material I was left wondering what to expect. 'Muted Colours' is actually a pretty bright song, with lot's of dreamy vibes and psychedelic leanings. The bands brand of Indie pop, has another fan.

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Genre Wander: Highland Kites - Club Kuru - Jasmine Rodgers - Hiva Oa - Harpooner

Highland Kites - This War Inside.

Background - Highland Kites’ confessional anti-folk could easily be misconstrued as indie rock. With their angular grooves, new wave leanings and sharp-witted lyrics, the LA-based twosome exude an off-the-cuff coolness that is effortlessly backed by a hard earned substance.  The band is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Marissa Lamar who spent the majority of her 20’s very ill with Lyme disease. As the symptoms progressed, Lamar medication increased and she found herself stagnating as the years passed her by. She watched friends fall away and became resigned to her predicament; not entirely sure she was going to make it. Music emerged as her saving grace; giving her a reason to persevere and ultimately share her life-affirming strength as she overcame her illness.

By weaving hope, positivity and closure into her songs, Marissa was able to create compelling and often dark content that ultimately felt uplifting. She still maintains her “goal with music is to make people feel better even though most of my songs are themed around painful experiences.” With a few original tunes under her belt, Lamar began gigging solo around LA and finally formed Highland Kites in 2014 with drummer Neil Briggs. Their first EP, So Vicious, caught the attention of producer Raymond Richards (Local Natives, honeyhoney, etc) who reached out to the duo about working together. They all clicked immediately and Richards ended up producing their first full length album All We Left Behind which climbed the college radio charts in 2015, with over 70 stations putting it in heavy rotation, and garnered notable mentions in local press including a glowing article in Buzzbands LA.

Marissa and Neil have again teamed up with producer Richards for their newest EP, Let Me Run, due out July 23rd. While the duo felt free to dive into a more into varied pallet of sounds, Lamar is admittedly a staunch purist about her work; keeping it is as close to its original state as possible. “I feel like parts of my past that I have had trouble talking about come out in waves and end up resulting in these songs and albums” Lamar asserts. “It's a form of closure for me and after writing Let Me Run I felt like a million bricks were lifted off my shoulders.”

'This War Inside' is the third of five songs on what is a splendid EP. Consistently melodic and varied in pace and direction, it's a fine collection of songs that deserve to be noticed.

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Club Kuru - Tonight.

Background - With the recent BBC Radio 1 and 6Music approved single 'Not Fot Me' signalling a shift in their musical direction and line-up, London five piece Club Kuru are excited to share more of their mesmerising psychedelia in the form of brand new cut 'Tonight'. The track will hit download stores yesterday (here).

What was previously the "languid R&B/bedroom producer" solo project of Laurie Erskine, Club Kuru evolved into a full band set up after he and some musical friends built their own studio in north east London. In the process, the group realised a collective love of 60's and 70's American RnB and soul, and a mutual obsession with analog synthesis and classic songwriting. Thus the reincarnation of Club Kuru was born.

All self-written, recorded and produced, 'Tonight' melds hazy melodies with soulful vocals and gliding guitar riffs, inviting the listener on a journey into a sexy and sinister dream land. Through modern production and psych-leaning undertones, the revived formation is aligned with the likes of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Tame Impala and Connan Moccasin, or in the words of the band as having "the backbone of Shuggie Otis, the head of Serge Gainsbourg, and the cinematic aura of Vangelis".

Club Kuru will be showcasing their very special live show at the forthcoming dates, with more to be announced soon:

12/09 - The Castle, Manchester, UK
13/09 - Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham, UK
15/09 - Corsica Studios, London, UK
16/09 - The Louisiana, Bristol, UK

'Tonight' is a gorgeous song. The various instruments seemingly melt into each other as the ethereal vocals fly above. Indie psychedelia, now that's one good genre.

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Jasmine Rodgers - Icicles.

Background - Produced by two-time Mercury nominee Dan Carey (Kate Tempest, Nick Mulvey), the infectious melodic resonance of ‘Icicles’ calls on trad sounds of Anglo, Celtic and Middle Eastern origin. Its pirouetted string-pickings, sustained bass notes, measured percussion and mystical ambience form an intimate folksy backing for Jasmine’s gleaming harmonies as she draws the listener into an impassioned quest for emotional rescue.

Born into an artistic family – her mother a Japanese poet, her father the legendary vocalist Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company, Queen) – Jasmine Rodgers knew her way around both keyboard and fretboard before she even enrolled at secondary school. But given her love for art and zoology (in which she has a degree), music was initially a passionate pastime rather than a full-time pursuit. This changed when her older brother Steve, on hearing the ethereal beauty of Jasmine’s voice, asked her to sing with him and they formed the group Boa. Boa went on to record two albums, achieving renown in the Americas, France and Japan, after their single ‘Duvet’ featured in the anime series Serial Experiments Lain. The group disbanded in 2005, but Jasmine continued her association with the anime/manga genre, writing songs for the soundtrack of Armitage: Dual Matrix, which starred Juliette Lewis.

Jasmine continued rehearsing, writing and recording, releasing an EP of self-penned alt-folk nuggets and collaborating with artists including Indian classical musicians Mendi Mohinder Singh and Waqas Choudhary. She found inspiration for new material in the exploits of her travels (live performances led her from the Royal Albert Hall to the Venice Biennale and the Edinburgh Fringe). It was one such journey to the Joshua Tree desert in California that inspired Jasmine to capture the best of her material on a full-length album. She enlisted producer Sean Genockey (Tom McRae, Futureheads), whose experience working at Joshua Tree’s Rancho de la Luna studio made him ideal for bringing forth the material’s widescreen yet rootsy vibe. Blood Red Sun, to be released later in 2016, was recorded at Black Dog Studios in London and is the sound of an exceptional artist drawing deep from global musical experiences to craft a set of inventive, euphonious 21st-century folk.

'Icicles' is a delicately crafted folk song, that is rich in textures and beautifully delivered, it's also highly addictive.

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Hiva Oa - A Great Height.

Background - New material from Hiva Oa has been a long time coming. Sometimes, it seems, a period of inactivity is better for a band than one of constant creation. With the release of their forthcoming EP mk2 (part 1), core members Stephen Houlihan and Christine Tubridy departed Edinburgh, returning to their native Ireland seeking renewed inspiration. Hiva Oa retain the mystery and ambition of their former incarnations, but inject a heavy thrum to their intricate patchwork style, and turn their attentions to themes of fear, loneliness, abandonment and awakening.

On lead single A Great Height the band continue their controlled experimentation by marrying primal, dizzying electronica and a swelling bass hum, with minimal guitar patterns to create a tightly wound, suffocating and intense atmosphere that sets the tone for the EP. Somewhat appropriately it’s an anxious listen, the influence of Thom Yorke on vocalist Stephen Houlihan here provides the forlorn, and almost hopeless, punctuating refrain “…and I fall from a great height.”  Elsewhere Seskinore demonstrates their skill in developing percussive motifs that flit from the suspenseful and shuffling, to eruptive, deafening, conclusions. A powerful resolution to each composition is never far from the minds of Hiva Oa.

The latter part of mk2 (part 1) begins to bring subtler intricacies to the fore. Christine is awash with swathes of gentle guitar, gifting the four-minute piece a transcendent quality that, coupled with another yearning vocal, offers the listener a brief glimpse into one of the EP’s more intimate moments, in this near-fearful, dream-like, serenade. Closing track Jonny Brazil again shifts unassumingly from sinewy indie-rock before revealing a raft of squalling guitars and inter-playing vocal melodies. Hiva Oa have become masters of developing atmospheres proving that, for them, a visit to old pastures has worked wonders.

Intense and swirling music drives 'A Great Height' along and the bare vocals work perfectly alongside. It may not be easy listening, however there is something quite compulsive here, that has me dipping back in for another play.

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Harpooner - Hush Up.

Background - Nashville three-piece vivid-pop band Harpooner will release their debut full length Rose Park on June 24th. Two years ago Harpooner migrated to Nashville from Indiana in search of better opportunities and a change of scenery. Since the move they have already shared the stage with Caitlin Rose, Margo Price, Cory Chisel, Water Liars, Future Birds, and Promised Land Sound.

Frontman Scott Schmadeke (vocals, piano, Mellotron, guitar, organ, synthesizer) formed the band in 2013 in Bloomington, IN with fellow former Indiana University students Max Mullen (bass, background vocals) and Josh Morrow (drums). Bloomington's rotating tight-knit community of musicians, artists, and writers gave Harpooner a freedom of expression and fertile ground to form a network of basement-show locations close to the IU campus. Recorded in Bloomington by Schmadeke and Andy Beargie, Rose Park digs into strange voicing and textures as an homage to the work of artists like Leon Russell's Carny, Harry Nilsson's Nilsson Schmilsson, and Wings' Speed of Sound. Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Benjamin Booker, Natural Child) was enlisted for mastering duties at The Bomb Shelter in East Nashville.

Seated and singing close-up on the microphone, sometimes underneath a brimmed hat, Schmadeke delivers his cosmic awareness with a tenderness toward sensitive issues and big questions—like a Jeff Lynne that grew up in the suburbs of Indianapolis in the 90s. On “All I Get Back” and “Bigger Thoughts” he weaves the band in and out of sophisticated movements that shimmer and punch right on time—the kind of arrangements traded-in long ago by popular music for high-gain marketing strategies. He grapples with racial inequality on songs like “Carolines” and “Immigration” but not so that the songs become fodder for corporate social campaigns. Many of the songs on the album spring from a small fictitious midwestern town that Schmadeke imagines as a canvas for the ideas he and the band have picked-up along the way.

Morrow’s drumming is fierce and solid as a forging hammer made of electric current. And when performing live, Mullen, who stands between the other two, is the only one facing the crowd night-to-night—like a totem to calm confidence. Morrow cut his teeth on math-rock and has toured internationally with acts like Austin Lucas and Memory Map, while Mullen quietly makes furniture out of reclaimed wood in his basement to make ends meet. Schmadeke also plays keys in the band of Nashville singer-songwriter Andrew Combs.

Upcoming Shows:
June 18: Vinyl Release Party @ Blockhouse - Bloomington, IN
June 23: Vinyl Release Party @ The Basement - Nashville, TN
June 25: King's - Raleigh, NC
June 27: Petra's - Charlotte, NC
June 28: Soul Bar - Augusta, GA
June 29: Palmetto Brewery - Charleston, SC
June 30: Jack of Cups - Folly Beach, SC
July 1: Flickr Theatre - Athens, GA
July 2: Marty's PM - Birmingham, AL
July 23: BK @ Alphaville w/ Lord Youth, Horse Eyed Men and CVS at Night
July 24: NYC @ Bowery Electric w/ Girlyboi and Alice K
July 27: Lancerster, PA @ The Single File
July 28: Philly @ Ortlieb's w/ Pine Barons
July 29: Ann Arbor @ Luther Fest

Harpooner describe their music as vivid pop and having only heard 'Hush Up' so far, I think it makes for a pretty good description, that or vivid rock. This is an imaginative and powerful song, I would describe it as driving music, but only if you want a speeding ticket!

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