Andrew Reed - Stephen Michael Murphy

Andrew Reed - If All the World Were Right.

Background - Auspiciously due on 1.1.2018, with "If All the World Were Right" there is a shot of positivity in the world. There is nothing really being sold here except an atmosphere to "believe in yourself" and "embrace your own greatness" with heavy doses of humility thrown in thanks to our struggles through dense matter. This concept album is of a journey...a journey of a Prodigal, who has to return home after being defeated by life and the world... Humility fills the album.

The new album, Andrew says, is "about my journey, but I don't think it is unique to me at all. Most of us go through really tough patches during our lives. So much of it has to do with our thinking and the emotions that result from our thinking. We are constantly thinking about how to interpret or reconcile our lives... but we have a choice in how we experience the world! And all it takes to improve things is to change your thinking or perception of things. Once I got ahold of that idea many years ago, Bam! My life changed! We tend to become what we think about...and it is about that simple. So I started to think positively, about all the options there are...and how I could see others in a more loving way...without judgment or without the need to call them "right or wrong"...but just accept everyone as they are...and trust in Life."

Andrew Reed's music is for seekers. He is a reclusive artist and creative figure whose reflective ideas expressed in music, film and spoken/written word platforms. He cannot be bought or sold. Never afraid of challenging popular opinion, detesting celebrity culture and non-value-adding commercialism that preys on the masses, he always seeks to “make better.” He is an outspoken voice for art and ideas.

Andrew is a recording artist and Executive Producer/CEO of Artists International Media and Financial Companies (AI) and Multi-View Incorporated (MVI). He is a creative known for different things to different people. As a songwriter, his works have been recorded by artists in the United States and abroad. He is a principal of these artistic/entertainment and healthcare-related entities by virtue of a twist of fate in the music business.

The most fitting genre description for Andrew’s music is “Introspective Rock/Acoustic” where the rich inner world of experience is explored. As cited in the liner notes of Search for Significance. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

The title track from the album 'If All the World Were Right' is one of thirteen songs, well make that twelve the final piece is a beautiful poem accompanied by some refined music. The featured song provides a fine impression of this gorgeous collection of material, that conveys a positive vibe throughout, even with the occasionally more sensitive song. What a grand release to greet the new year with!


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Stephen Michael Murphy - Root Down Low.

Background - "Root Down Low", the title track from the RDL CD featuring Curtis Clark on lead vocals.  The actual recording of the 15 Root Down Low original tunes was accomplished on a worldwide level in a unique manner. 

Hundreds of tracks were played and recorded by gifted musicians from across the globe. Truly, a project without borders. The music did the communicating.

"We were heading for the hills of Ecuador when I got that familiar call from mission control to create something new". Many moons later the 15 song album entitled “Root Down Low” came to be.

I received enthusiastic aid on this project from a number of fine young musicians starting with Curtis Clark who laid down an inspired lead vocal here on the title cut. Ezzy Mourao from Lisbon, Portugal did the way cool art work on CD cover and this lyric video. WEBSITE.

'Root Down Low' is a fabulous mixture of soulful vocals and a rich musical landscape with hints of reggae, blues and more all arranged with refinement. A fantastic teaser for the new album...


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DateMonthYear - Dirty Fences

DateMonthYear - March.

Background -  New Zealand outfit DateMonthYear has announced their forthcoming single 'March' on the trail of their well received single 'Numbers', released earlier in 2017. On both of these releases, the band tastefully combines pop melody and rock dynamics with a cinematic atmosphere, calling to mind such artists as Low, Cat Power, and Sharon Van Etten.

Based in Hamilton, DateMonthYear is a five-piece comprised of Trevor Faville, Emma Koretz, Brooke Baker, Hayely Schwass and Tyler Leet. 'March' eludes to the process of grief and loss, delivering a strong message with hard-hitting lyrics, music and video. The band worked with local production team Bad George in Hamilton to produce and film their new music video.

Bad George production team were award nominees at the HP 48 Hour Film Festival, with production crew member and also band member Brooke Baker nominated as best director and best female director, and Jay Baker nominated as best scriptwriter. Although March is Bad George’s first foray into making music videos, the video has received accolades at local and national film competitions.

"The lyrics in 'March' reflect the the transition from grief to hope when you lose someone suddenly. The shock when someone passes, and the questioning of your own identity and purpose, and then the point when you start to look forward again - whether it be in the sense of a traditional faith, or just about reconciliation with how life is. I think its quite a positive song, ending on an uplifting note," says Trevor Faville. “The song itself is quite different to our last one, musically. It’s a lot more dramatic and has dynamic changes involved. It’s something more of a big rock song. It is a completely different topic lyrically but probably just as intense.”

This release follows up their most recent single 'Numbers', which reflects on today’s society and how people’s lives revolve around numbers – those of your mortgage or rent, income, supermarket shopping and simply hoping that you have enough to pay for groceries and bills each week.

Shunning traditional band formats, DateMonthYear’s structure means that “commitment is defined by contribution”, allowing for new ideas and influences. The fluidity of the line-up ensures a smorgasbord of musical flavours. The band is already working towards their debut album release, focusing on songs addressing issues that need to be spoken about, rather than being a distraction from what is actually going on in the world. FACEBOOK, WEBSITE.

An expansive rock music landscape ebbs and flows with power and restraint on 'March.' The song has some beautiful duel vocals adding feeling and melody to this formidable and compelling track.


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Dirty Fences - One More Step (ft. Christina Halladay).

Background - NYC's Dirty Fences rolls out US tour in support of "Goodbye Love". Grab a thirty rack of Pabst, a liter of cheap whisky, and call up the boys because “New York City's favorite hard-workin' rock n' roll band” Dirty Fences is back on the road in the USA and ready to party down in your town in 2018!

The band will kick off a thirty-two city long haul tour in support of "Goodbye Love" via NYC’s own Greenway Records, the band’s third studio album and comes as a follow-up to 2013's Too High To Kross (Volcom) and 2015's  epic Full Tramp (Slovenly). The album is available on limited-edition splatter vinyl, cassette, CD and digitally.

Dirty Fences is a quintessential New York band: the kind the city is known for producing; the band you’d want to hear blasting out the PA at some dive bar that is beyond capacity before they even take stage. They often refer to themselves as a gang, and that mentality is evident in every meaty riff and perfectly-executed harmony on Goodbye Love. It’s a perfect slice of wax that evokes early American rock and punk acts such as Redd Kross, The MC5, and Johnny Thunders — whilst showing an obsession with early KISS and Motley Crüe through the lens of The Dictators and Ramones —yet the band still manages to maintain an identity all its own this new record. WEBSITE.

'One More Step' is a swaggering rocker with gorgeously gutsy and commanding duel vocals. Primal and natural rock & roll, I would imagine based on this song alone that those going to any of their tour gigs will be for a feast of raw rock music.

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Candy Ambulance - Modesta

Candy Ambulance - Weekday.

Background - Candy Ambulance are a high-energy band from upstate NY. They're gearing up to release their new EP Spray scheduled for release on February 18, 2018. The trio self-released their first single "Weekday" earlier this fall. Described as alternative grunge rock, the band pulls plenty of pop hooks and punk energy into their sound.

Formed in the summer of 2014, grunge-influenced Candy Ambulance of upstate NY are Caitlin Barker, Jesse Bolduc & Jon Cantiello. Lifelong friends and musical mates, Bolduc & Cantiello rescued Barker from a wealthy engagement prospect and whisked her away to the land of DIY punk. Poppy melodies, dynamic vocal changes and half naked live shows have solidified this rock trio as always entertaining, unabashed fun.

Boasting a healthy and frequent tour schedule the band has played with notable acts such as Screaming Females, Speedy Ortiz, Daddy Issues, and Dorothy. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

The second of six tracks on the forthcoming EP 'Spray' is 'Weekday' an often grungy Alt rock collection of material. The band do however vary their styles both in terms of mood, energy and the sheer amount of differing hooks along the way. The featured song is therefore more a glimpse of the band, and definitely not the only trick they know, if this song appeals, then the EP will delight.

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Modesta - VHS.

Background - On January 12, 2018, the indie duo Modesta ​will release their highly anticipated debut studio endeavor, a self-produced four track EP entitled ‘VHS​.’ The eclectic set of songs masterfully walks the line between contemporary indie influence, electronic stylings, and organic, retro sonic flavors. Today, Modesta’s single, ‘VHS,’ has been made available prior to the full album release.

Fronted by Arjun Viswanathan and Kostas Papadopoulos, Modesta is a retro R&B-infused indie rock duo with an electronic charm, thus offering a wholly unique and genuine sound unlike anything else in the independent music scene. Calling upon influences the likes of Roosevelt, The Shins, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Modesta’s style is rooted in musical diversity and experimentation.

Modesta, founded in the Boston area, has accrued almost half a million spins on Spotify, with over 15,000 monthly listeners. Over the last year, Viswanathan and Papadopoulos have built a home recording studio from the ground up, learning new ways to improve their craft and achieve a high level of creative control and artistic integrity with their work. FACEBOOK.

'VHS' opens with a layered synthy sound above gentle beats. The falsetto vocals add another dimension to this melodic and flowing song, the EP is awaited with both intrigue and anticipation!


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Delta Deep - Late Sea

Delta Deep - Bless These Blues.

Background - Blues-Rock-n-Soul supergroup Delta Deep is thrilled to announce the release of their live CD/DVD East Coast Live on January 26, 2018 through Frontiers Music Srl which as an added plus will also be availble on vinyl. The East Coast Live CD is a full show performance filmed at legendary Daryl’s House in Pawling, NY while the DVD showcases select songs and highlights from that night. The label will also be re-releasing Delta Deep's debut album. The group, which made their chart topping debut in 2015, featuresPhil Collen, lead guitarist of Def Leppard,  Debbi Blackwell-Cook (back-up vocalist for such artists as Michael Buble & Gregory Hines), Robert DeLeo (bassist for Stone Temple Pilots) and Forrest Robinson (drummer for Joe Sample & The Crusaders, India.Arie & TLC).

Delta Deep’s self-titled debut was released in June 2015 entering iTunes Blues charts at #2. The band immediately hit the road performing at festivals and concert venues across the country. Critics lauded the band, with Elmore Magazine declaring, “Delta Deep is a rocking force due to bring down any house– historical or modern.”  While San Francisco’s BAM Magazine said, “the live experience for Delta Deep is one not to be missed…Debbi Blackwell-Cook is mesmerizing!”

The group originally came together when Collen was jamming at home with his wife's godmother, Debbi Blackwell-Cook. What started as a casual pairing, singing Motown favorites and classic blues when Debbi visited, quickly turned into much more.  Along with Collen's wife Helen, the three began writing original music together. Eventually Collen and Blackwell-Cook began laying down demos and the rest is Delta Deep history.

Collen, widely known to millions of rock ‘n roll fans for his iconic albums with Def Leppard, recently explained why they decided to put out this live album and DVD. "We recorded every night of our 2016 tours, east and west coast, expecting to pull out the best performances from different cities. But we managed to capture one of those special, magical nights where all the stars fall into place in Pawling, NY at Daryl's House. This whole album was recorded that night. It was so relaxed but we were so on fire at the same."  The musicians of Delta Deep bring their varying experiences from all corners of the music spectrum together to make a unique stew of blues-rock-n-soul.  Collen also adds, "The intention was never to have a DVD addition to the CD but seeing the performances live and the fact that Daryl's House also video records its shows was an added bonus for us." WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Blues, Rock and Soul are all rolled up together and performed live with total enthusiasm and style, on the East Coast Live album due in late January. From the opening salvo of Led Zeppelin classic 'Black Dog' the band take the audience through some fabulous songs including the new piece 'Bless These Blues' featured below. This is as you would expect from a band of this calibre, one very fine album.


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Late Sea - The Writers Trilogy (EP).

Background - Late Sea are not afraid to create music that challenges listeners to question and reimagine everything they know. Jerusalem-born singer and composer Izzy Gliksberg and his band craft lush, dynamic soundscapes that fall somewhere between experimental electronic rock and indie-pop. The band's new EP The Writers Trilogy explores this unique musical confluence. Gliksberg's cryptic lyricism, delivered in his trademark sing-speak style, fearlessly traverses the dark terrain that he and his bandmates create.

As the title suggests, The Writer's Trilogy is a collection of three original songs, that pay homage to literary giants Frankz Kafka, Paul Celan, and Baruch Spinoza. Gliksberg shares, "The making of the EP was literally reaching back to the writers that shaped my concept of what it means to be an artist and to have some sort of inner dialog with them. Every creative person is the sum of his influences: we immerse ourselves in the works of others, consciously or unconsciously, and then we process it into something that's our own. Sometimes we have so many ideas buzzing in our heads and all of them demand our attention and time. In a way,  when working on the EP I had the chance to give voice to many ideas at once - lyrically, musically and visually. In that sense it was a very satisfying process."

Each stunning track is accompanied by an equally impressive video, providing a visual component that helps to reinforce each songs narrative and sonic impact. Part one "Ring the Bells" and part two "The Great White", previously released, are chock-full of thought-provoking themes and imagery. The third video, for "Hunter" will be released in January 2018, continuing and fulfilling the mysterious and mythical themes found throughout the series. Passionate about combining music and visuals, Late Sea creates a new level of powerful and transformative art.

A fourth track provides a reimagined cover of Simon & Garfunkel's 1964 hit "Sound of Silence," for which a music video was released yesterday. Punctuated by Sam Nester's ambient trumpet lines, the somber rendition of the track is paired with sobering images of nuclear war and political propaganda. The cinematic tone of the music combined with the stark imagery conveys a sense of impending doom. Over fifty years after the original release, Late Sea manages to breath new life into both the music and interpretation of the message. The video features animation by international award-winning animator Yulia Ruditskaya. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Imaginative and creative, 'The Writers Trilogy' is a beatiful collection of four quite unique songs. The music is intricately developed and supports the atmospheric vocals, alongside intriguing lyrics that demand attention in their own right.  


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Micah Olsan - Endre Nordvik

Micah Olsan - Open Space.

Background - Micah Olsan is a versatile singer, songwriter, guitarist and tape machine enthusiast who's sound falls somewhere between Nick Drake and Michael Kiwanuka. Olsan’s energy, talent, and seminal sound have made him one of Milwaukee’s longtime beloved musicians.

A one-man sound machine, Micah Olsan bucks the trend of overly-produced perfection choosing instead to focus on capturing a moment in time and preserving it for posterity. Using his voice, guitar, and a few old machines, Olsan wanders through dimensions of Americana, Soul and Psychedelia.

With every offering on the ‘Open Space’ EP blurring the lines of archetypal styles, it’s no wonder that Micah Olsan hunkered down at National Studio with a handful of prodigious guest musicians to create the perfect cocktail of melodrama and focus into four deceptively simple tracks. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

The first of four tracks on Micah Olsan's 'Open Space' EP is the featured title track. The song exudes Americana musical sensibilities whilst Micah's vocals are warm and genuine. It typifies the quality across this varied and unpretentious collection of music, one that has many hooks and originality.

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Endre Nordvik - Like Old Friends / Sometimes.

Background -  With well-established singles like "I'm In Love with You" and "I Believe", Endre Nordvik's first album "Suburb Hero" is due for release on January 12, 2018.

"Suburb Hero" contains ten pop songs that falls within the boundaries of the soul inspired indie and Americana genre. “Suburb Hero” was Recorded at Demningen Studio in Norway, with producer Eirik Grønner, the album is well crafted with top-class musicians, a great sound, and solid songwriting.

"Suburb Hero" is my first album and, I'm very proud of it! says Endre Nordvik. I have worked for more than 2 years, together with producer Grønner, and I'm humble of what we've achieved.

The songs are written by Grønner and me, except for 2 songs that I have written myself. World Idol winner Kurt Nilsen has also been involved in the writing process and participates in three songs where “Let The Good Times In” is a duet with Kurt. FACEBOOK.

'Superb Hero' the forthcoming album from Endre Nordvik is a collection of ten beautifully crafted songs. 'Like Old Friends' and 'Sometimes' two very fine tracks, provide the listener with the opportunity to hear some of the variety and scope found within this collection. The musical arrangements are consistently well constructed, the vocals, harmonies and in the case of 'Sometimes' duets are melodic and very engaging, and the catchy nature of every piece, whether gentle or full bodied is notable. Endre Nordvik is providing us with a very fine new musical start to 2018.

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Kudzu - Almond Soy - Percival Elliott

Kudzu - No Backbone / Some Cops.

Background - Missouri-based post-punk synth wave duo Kudzu have announced their forthcoming album 'Defeated', slated for release in early 2018 via Push & Pull Records. This album is a reaction to mounting disappointments and frustrations with increasingly frustrating and disappointing realities.

On this 9-track long-play, Kudzu delivers a cheerfully caustic synth pop assault with psychedelic underpinnings, like paint fumes you'd happily dance to. The offerings range from post-punk (Defeated) to synth pop (One Purpose, No Backbone) and tracks with a darker more industrial sense (Balking The Grave). If that's not enough to intrigue you, the vocal delivery oscillating between John Lydon of Sex Pistols and PiL fame and the cold sinister lyricism of Al Jourgensen's Ministry in the band's earliest phase.

Based in Springfield, Kudzu is Seth Goodwin (vocals, synth, and drum programming) and Mark Gillenwaters (vocals and guitar). Influenced by bands such as Tears For Fears, The Cure, Spectrum, Guided by Voices, Sympathy Nervous, and This Heat, they've managed to concoct a sound original from any of them.

"A lot of these songs come from a place of disenchantment with punk and "diy" scenes i've dedicated too much time to and the resulting dissociation as i've continued to have involvement in those scenes," says Seth Goodwin. "A documentation of a transitional period that im sure a lot of people feel as they start to feel parts of them age out from this type of lifestyle but dont know how to do anything else."

'Defeated' was recorded by Adam Schoeller and Jonathan James at No Coast Recording, and mixed by the latter, with Shay Rainey creating the cover artwork. FACEBOOK, BANDCAMP.

'No Backbone' and 'Some Cops' are two of the nine tracks that make up the forthcoming 'Defeated' album. This is an impressive collection of mostly high octane post punk material, with plenty of synth lead music. Echoes of John Lydon ride alongside the pairs own modern and creative musical developments, resulting in an addictive album that begs to be heard performed live.

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Almond Soy - Happy Ever After.

Background - One of the surest signs it's summer in Perth is the wave of brilliant new music that emanates from the city every year. A perfect case in point is Social Misfit, the debut EP from indie five-piece Almond Soy. Opening with the band's energetic single Happy Ever After, the EP is a triumph of mature songwriting and the boundlessness of youth.

Undulating through varying moods and tempos, Social Misfit shows off the multi-dimensional talent of the band. I Could Be The One is more beat-driven and swaying; awash in an ocean of synth and reverb... leading perfectly into the bouncy third track Whiskyand its dance floor rhythms and duelling guitars. The EP closes with the tranquil I Always Wanted The Moon, creating a beautiful ambience with its layers of nonchalant vocals, orbited by spacious guitar riffs and subtle horns.

Taking these beautifully written songs and giving them the sonic grandeur they deserve, The Money War's Dylan Olivierre has excelled in his duties as producer. While there is no definitive 'Perth sound' to speak of, Social Misfit has certainly encapsulated the mood of the city. Laid-back yet adventurous, Social Misfit balances warmth with a cool breeze; allowing each song to radiate without being overbearing. Each song is bursting with unique character, yet they flow together as one coherent work of art.

Starting out as a bedroom project, Almond Soy have developed at an unbelievable pace. Formed at the end of 2016 and lead by brothers Brandon and James Stockbridge, the band has evolved into a sophisticated ensemble, exemplified by Social Misfit. Driving each note is an emotional energy that shows the band's natural chemistry. Now ready to kick things into the next gear, Almond Soy will be heading out on their first Australia-wide tour in January 2018, following up a run of sold-out headline shows in their home city. FACEBOOK.

Upbeat and fast paced music is accompanied by more measured vocals on 'Happy Ever After' a refreshing indie song that is both energised and catchy.


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Percival Elliott - Forever.

Background -  Percival Elliott are an indie-folk rock duo from the south coast of England. Formed by the belief that true friends can create something meaningful, Olly Hite and Samuel Carter-Brazier united to grace audiences with their poignant lyricism and neo-nostalgic melodies and have since been captivating listeners at sold-out shows across the UK.  

Titled in memory of Hite’s great grandfather, Percival Elliott, born in 1883 was an inventor who created one of the first ice-cream emporiums in Brighton. After discovering a dusty box of trinkets in the back of Hite’s family attic, the untouched time capsule unveiled Percival Elliott’s mysterious inventions, engraved ice-cream paraphernalia, haunted photographs and time honoured war medals. The revelation of these long-forgotten hidden treasures became embedded within the duo’s imagination and musical creativity and thus Percival Elliott was reborn. 

“Forever” is the first single to be released off the duo’s upcoming album Save Your Soul. Inspired by the likes of Jeff Buckley, The Beatles and Father John Misty, “Forever” is a gracefully heartfelt and atmospheric song about eternal love. Hite reveals, “Forever is about a chance meeting with someone. Sparks and butterflies, even if it’s just for a second, that feeling can last forever”. The use of yearning lyricism seamlessly blended together with Hite’s celestial vocals and Carter-Brazier’s soothing guitar, “Forever” succeeds in crafting a song of compelling honesty and authenticity.

The duo are known for their signature style of hard hitting piano melodies, rhythmic guitars and retro vocal harmonies, all underpinned by a string quartet. “Forever” illustrates the band’s desire to create music that makes the hairs on your neck stand up, “We want to make the listener feel alive” Hite expresses.

Percival Elliott's successes to date include a national tour with numerous UK charting artists, as well as collaborating with the likes of Fatboy Slim. Percival Elliott are now ready for the next chapter of their musical endeavour with the highly anticipated release of Save Your Soul due early 2018.  WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Indie folk may have become something of a crowded place, however songs such as 'Forever' suggest there is plenty of mileage and opportunities for creative people to continue to build upon. This is a melodic and superbly arranged song, the vocals are smooth and pleasing, the music builds instrumentally and adds even more to this engaging piece.

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Yellow Feather - White Birches - Little Axe

Yellow Feather - Lucille.

Background - Old Fort, North Carolina band Yellow Feather, which features vocalist Casey Kristofferson, daughter of Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, released their debut album, And Gold, arlier this month.

Yellow Feather also features guitarist/vocalist Hunter Begley (who stars in the video for the album’s first single “Lucille”) and lap steel player Charlie Wills and the album features drummer Herschel VanDyke and bassist Robert Parks along with a slew of special guests!

And Gold was recorded at Echo Mountain Studio in Asheville, NC with producer Rorey Carroll, mixed at Café Rooster Records in Nashville w/ sound engineer Gabe Masterson and mastered by Alex McCollough (Jim Lauderdale, Amanda Shires, Todd Snider) at True East Mastering in Nashville.

Mountains call many to their bosom. Born sheltered by the winding valleys, amidst time-worn peaks, or discovered down a  shady dirt road, songs and humans alike, have many origins. Hunter Begley found himself in an eastern descent past Asheville, past the weird, and staring at truth. In the small town of Old Fort NC, searching for a room to fit his bed and guitar,he found a loft belonging to Casey Kristofferson. What became of the friendship that followed was the band, Yellow Feather.

Music in moments. Stories in sunsets. Poetry in progress. This is how songs are made. Kristofferson weaves lyrics and melodies  perfectly, while Charlie Willis works the lap steel into a smooth, sometimes rhythmic, but always haunting eulogy to the past. WEBSITE.

'Lucille' is one of twelve songs on the recently released 'And Gold' debut album. The album is a melting pot of gorgeous Americana rooted music, where vocal duties are shared, melodic hooks are a constant feature and the band are just so good. Like featured song = Love the album!


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White Birches - Howl.

Background - White Birches' music has been compared to Depeche Mode, Cocteau Twins and Sisters of Mercy mixing sweet piano and alarming guitars with dark wave synthesizers. Haunting pop melodies with dark lyrics.

The band formed in the summer of 2013 and their debut EP Stands of White Birches was recorded during the fall of 2013 and released april 2014 followed by a 10 day tour in an old station wagon. One year later, in April 2015, their debut album Dark Waters was released. Dark Waters was nominated in the catogory "Best Synth" at the swedish "indie grammy awards" Manifestegalan.

 In the fall of 2017 White Birches signed with the label Progress Productions and their second album is to be released during the dark winter of 2017/2018. The duo consists of Jenny Gabrielsson Mare and Fredrik Jonasson. WEBSITE.

We featured Jenny Gabrielsson Mare a couple of times back in 2016, and now as one half of White Birchs she returns to Beehive Candy with the song 'Howl'. Her vocals are immersed in Fredrik Jonasson's richly textured keyboard sounds as the song flows along growing in energy and passion. The video is also Jenny's handiwork, the song is very much a team effort.


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Little Axe - London Blues.

Background - Twenty-three years ago, this quotation foretold a great career for Little Axe aka Skip McDonald. The musician had already had a taste of fame with the Sugarhill Gang Backing Band / Tommy Boy Co-operations and their Hip Hop Masterpieces, writing music history along the way. Then he rolled out Little Axe and gave the blues a new, groovy face! Releases on legendary labels like Okeh Records, Realworld, On-U Sound and majors like Sony, BMG, Warner, etc. followed.

On-U Sound label mastermind Adrian Sherwood has always given Skip a platform to present his entrancing blend of blues, gospel, cajun, dub and trip hop: pioneering and authentic at the same time. His sound takes the essence and sound samples from blues legends such as Howlin Wolf, Leadbelly and Son House and distils them to create musical visions that are both penetrating and highly hypnotic. Little Axe has released seven albums to date; London Blues is his eighth official album. Old mates, like Mark Stewart (Pop Group and Maffia), Doug Wimbish (bass player for Living Colour), Keith LeBlanc (drummer), Perry Melius (drummer for African Head Charge) have provided assistance – and JebLoy Nichols collaborated on writing.

London Blues sticks tenaciously to tradition – to the blues – but at the same time is infused with a plethora of musical lingos (see above ….). On London Blues, Skip McDonald’s creative team is even more sophisticated and innovative than on the predecessor albums. Amazing instrumentals (Be Thankful), a touch of gospel (Deep River), splashes of trip hop with blues harp (Next Week Thursday) and delta blues meets dub (When I Rise) – the album meticulously follows a trail between Chicago and London, blending all the stepping stones to form a smooth, irresistible pathway. 

The title track and featured song 'London Blues' is typical of the album as a whole, a vibrant collection of songs, where reggae and blues collide with other styles resulting in some wonderful material. There are even some dub versions along the way. Top musicianship and refined natural vocals, this is a very fine collection.


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Stalking Like Candy - Joe Rusi - Belle Miners - Jenn Vix

Stalking Like Candy - Can You See The Light.

Background - Stalking Like Candy are celestial beings, transcended from the ennui of terrestrial life. Indomitable. Their latest single Can You See The Light builds on the Cyberpunk universe of movies like Blade Runner and books like Neuromancer. It tells the tale of a street urchin from neo-Tokyo, her rise out of the slums, and the nostalgia she retains for the neon alleyways of her childhood.

Stalking Like Candy combines a Pixies post-punk ethos with synths, beats, raps, and soaring melodies and harmonies. The lineup is Thida G (vox, synths, samples), Dr J (aka Jamie Q) (vox, guitar, synths, ukulele and stuff), Gabe (vox, bass), and Aleŝ ‘jazz hands’ Svoboda (drums). The band grew out of Locos, a covers band that’s been demolishing the Coogee covers scene since early 2016. Stalking mostly plays originals, but they love reinterpreting a few classics to really get the crowd pumping. You’ll see.

Can You See The Light was born on a rainy winter’s morning when Jamie Q was playing around on his son’s ukulele. The song lay dormant for a year before exploding into a Cyberpunk, synth-pop extravaganza in late 2016, when Thida G added her uplifting vocals to the intro and choruses.

The track is set in neo-Tokyo. It tells the tale of a street urchin who watches the rockets arcing over the city on their way to Sky Wheel, a space station like Freeside in Gibson’s Neuromancer. The girl is mentored by Yukio, a down-on-his-luck exec who’s living out of a pod in Shinjuku. In time she makes it out of the slums to herself walk on Sky Wheel. But she can’t forget her roots – the neon alleyways of her youth are forever her home. The messianic cry, Can You See The Light, refers to seeing the flames of the rocket boosters – they are the only light that can be seen in the night sky. But the ignorant slum dwellers think these flames are a sign from God. The children’s voices that shout back ‘Yes, I can see the light!’ speak of hope for a better life. In the video clip, the band cruises the night-time city streets on their rollerblades, the lights of the city mirrored in the neon light-up wheels of their blades. This aesthetic is reminiscent of the glowing umbrella handles in the original Blade Runner.

The song was co-produced by Jamie Q and Syd Green at MonoNest, and mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound. While the Moog analogue synths are a big part of the track, the coolest aspect is the intro and chorus vocals that were run through a Leslie rotating speaker. This gives them their shimmering, old-world quality, which is of course what Cyberpunk is all about – the cutting edge mixed with the archaic. The greatest challenge in recording the track was getting the acoustic guitar just right – exploiting its percussive qualities, but not losing the chords themselves. FACEBOOK.

'Can You See The Light' has a bright synthy & guitar driven vibe that contrasts beautifully with the determined vocals and vibrant harmonies.


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Joe Rusi - À Tout Le Monde From New Orleans.

Background - Joe Rusi is out with his 2nd solo album ”À Tout le Monde from…” (BIGHCD1703) on Big H Records (CD and digital). This is the follow up to the album ”Who I Am” which was nominated for Norwegian Grammy/Spellemann in 2015.

”À Tout le Monde From…” is also recorded in New Orleans with legends like Doug Belote (drums), John Papa Gros (piano), Cyril Neville (The Meters), Mark Mullins & the Levee Horns and George Porter Jr (bass, the Meters) in the rhythm section. Arne Skage Jr. (Reidar Larsen and Rita Eriksen) has produced this soulful album recorded at the Music Shed in New Orleans in the late summer of 2017. Joe Rusi is fronting the band with his impeccable guitar playing and soulful vocals. His performance really makes this an album that that stands out from the crowd, brimming with New Orleans vibe and swampy grooves.

Joe started out on violin when he was 6 years old, picked up the guitar at 10 and became a professsional musician at 15. In 2001 he relocated to Flekkefjord on the Norwegian West Coast and has been a force to be reckon with ever since. He has become a favourite on the local club scene and on Norwegian festivals. He also did a US tour back in 2012. Off stage he teaches music at Lundheim Folkehøgskole.

"Joe Rusi's guitar playing is simply great." Rick Peckham (Assistant Chair of the Guitar Department, Berklee College of Music) Since 2013 Joe has had his own radio show ”Blues with Rusi” on Radio Kvinesdal (local station). He has recieved the ”Celebrity Scholarship” from Berklee Collage of Music with Masters Certificate in Songwriting and Guitar (with Steve Vai, Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock and Mark Mothersbaugh in the jury). FACEBOOK.

Rich with New Orleans flavours 'À Tout Le Monde From New Orleans' is a gorgeous funky, soulful, blues song with some fabulous musicianship throughout. There is a respectful nod towards Dr John here, however Joe Rusi really does carve out his own signature style on what is a fabulous album. 


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Belle Miners - Night Flight.

Background - Glorious folk-pop trio Belle Miners have released a stunning music clip to accompany their latest single, 'Night Flight'.

Taken from their 10-track debut album Powerful Owl, Canadian friends and musicians Felicia Harding and Marina Avros and Australian-based Jaime Jackett blend beautifully into the starry night sky of the Kimberley in outback Western Australia. Their soaring harmonies and delicate instrumentation pop against a sparkling violet vision of moonlit horizons and Magpie geese flying to roost over a blood-red sunset.

The video captures the emotion behind the song's lyrics and deep personal meaning for Jaime, as well as the strong connection Belle Miners have with Australia's birds and the freedom of its landscape. "I imagined myself as a spirit, having left my body, soaring out into the vast expanse beyond our blue-green planet, flying through the cool air like I always wished I could as a child", says Jaime.

The birds were filmed by Simon Mustoe (Belle Miners Manager and founder of Wildiaries) and Nick Hayward (whose most famous work includes the Lyrebird sequence from Attenborough's Life of Birds). The footage was originally collected over 150 days, for a tourism series about Australia's people, nature and places - and even includes a film about Broome Bird Observatory where Jaime now works.

Jaime's reasons for thinking about death are deeply personal - she spent 11 years with a brain stem tumour deemed inoperable. Fortunately, one of the world's leading brain surgeons Dr. Charles Teo removed the tumour and Jaime is now cancer free. The song serves as a powerful and poignant reminder to never give up. Belle Miners will take their songs and stories on tour around Australia in January. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We first featured the Belle Miners back in September and now we have another fine song 'Night Flight'. Last time we described their music as "melodic and with delicious vocals and harmonies", well that is obviously a hallmark of the trio. The bands Australia tour details can be found on their website.


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Jenn Vix - Complicated Man (Into The Veldt Mix).

Background -  Alternative singer-singwriter Jenn Vix phas teamed up with Danny Chavis of shoegaze pioneers The Veldt to present the 'Into The Veldt Mix' of 'Complicated'. Featured on her new ‘Unlocked’ EP, this new version is trippy with psychedelic underpinnings and a very urban gazey vibe.

Here Danny Chavis re-envisions this song, contributing guitar and other instrumentation. As a principal member of The Veldt, he has a rich history of collaborations with the likes of TV On The Radio, Mos Def and Lady Miss Kier (Deee-Lite), and touring with Phantogram, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Pixies, Throwing Muses, Echo & The Bunnymen, Cocteau Twins, Manic Street Preachers, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Oasis, Chuck D, Living Colour, and Schooly D.

The accompanying video for this track was directed, produced and edited by Renan DeAraujo, a 27 year old, Brazilian filmmaker who loves to tell stories with light and rhythm. The video features Jenn Vix herself, along with actor Michael French. Not long ago, Vix presented the new video for the original version of 'Complicated Man', working with the same team.

"My interpretation was to put Jenn's personality on the screen, and in particular, the overall feeling of the trck; a mysterious and delicate mood, at the same time. I was trying to express the character's point of view," says DeAraujo.

Based in Rhode Island, Vix is an solo electronic-rock recording artist, songwriter, producer and recording engineer, who has, over the years, ventured into other genres including alternative rock, trip hop, darkwave, modern new wave and electro-industrial.

We featured the original version of  'Complicated Man' back in October and now we have 'Complicated Man (Into The Veldt Mix)' We described the 'Unlocked EP' as "an imaginative, creative collection of material" something this version of the song (which is also part of the EP) helps put more light on.


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The Go Ahead - Hot Dreams - Rosie Carney & Henry Jamison

The Go Ahead - On My Side.

Background - Seven year Bay Area music scene stalwart The Go Ahead has evolved a lot from the early, funk-jam-band side project featuring a motley crew of best friends. Since their start, they have matured into a sound that mashes the glossy distortion you’d hear at The Bronze nightclub in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, while tossing out angsty harmonies that would pleasantly float around the dock of Dawson’s Creek. And in that time, they have steadily gained a following.

While there are a few eye-and-ear catching features to their sound and live shows (lead singer Kyna Wise’s gritty exuberance, for starters) The Go Ahead isn’t the vision of a singular individual with backup pieces. Rather, the band employs a more decidedly egalitarian mode of music making. Every member has equal ownership of the band: No one is the designated writer or composer, so they all, in turns, pull their creative weight and lend their unique perspective to the music. The result is work that can range from brooding, to grungy, pop-y and everything in between, all in a 45 minute set.

In Harms Way (released last week) is a collection of songs dealing mostly with the joys and anxieties of solitude, loss, and humanity. This is in stark contrast to their 2014 release Cycles which was a very specific map of the lifecycle of a bittersweet romantic relationship.

This last year has been one of heartbreak and frustrations for The Go Ahead. They lost their very close childhood friend, Jon Harms, suddenly due to exceptional complications while in hospital. The EP has been named In Harms Way to honor his life. Despite all the hurdles—mourning their friend, major surgeries, relocations—The Go Ahead has evaded the normal cycle of entropy that has ended countless other bands. They stick together like glue with one goal in mind: To make music together. For them, there is no other option. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

The second of six tracks on the new 'In Harms Way' EP (which has just been released) is 'On My Side'. It is a good indicator of the bands musical feel, there is a consistent level of energy throughout the EP, which features well constructed songs that are artfully developed, and where each band members input results in a catchy feel, with plenty of attention for detail.


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Hot Dreams - Another Night.

Background - London quartet Hot Dreams are building to be one to watch after just two tracks - their debut single ‘Plungepool’ and the follow-up ‘Will You Dive’. Radio 1’s Annie Mac highlighted the band as one of her New Names while further airplay has included support from BBC London Introducing and Radio X.

Now Hot Dreams move towards the release of their debut EP by sharing its first track ‘Another Night’. The track’s majestic moody opening verse brims with emotional yearning before it erupts into flight with a soaring, anthemic chorus that deserves to grace larger stages. Produced by Ian Dowling (Everything Everything, Black Honey), ‘Another Night’ blurs the boundaries between the atmospheric intensity of post-punk and the enticing immediacy of pop.

Lyrically it’s a track which reflects the unexpected changes that come as friendships mature into adulthood. Work, life and relationships are just some of the reasons why people can sometimes find that their connections with old friends slowly slip away - and it’s an often unspoken phenomenon that seems to be particularly prevalent in big cities.

“’Another Night’ is a love song to a friend,” says drummer and lyricist Cameron Fyall. “It’s about the acceptance that friends are like any other serious relationship that experiences ups and downs. If the good times mean enough to you then it’s worth holding onto.”

Hot Dreams formed in 2016 over a shared interest in artists such as Foals, Pumarosa, Timber Timbre, and Porches. They’re completed by Kai Fennell (vocals, guitar), Aaron Clarke (bass) and Alex Bloomfield (guitar, keys). FACEBOOK.

There is a brooding atmospheric feel right from the opening moments of 'Another Night'. When the chorus eventually arrives, the track ups the emotional charge considerably and the hooks are everywhere.

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Rosie Carney & Henry Jamison - Hot Scary Summer (Villagers Cover).

Background - Framed by centuries' old churches, pubs, and a perpetually grey sky, "visionary" (Ladygunn) Vermont singer-songwriter Henry Jamison and Irish folk singer Rosie Carney channeled the stark, historical energy of Dublin into a live cover of Villagers' "Hot Scary Summer" while on their European tour this fall. Henry's electric, Jeff Buckley-esque chords and haunting falsetto blend with Rosie's pure, mature-beyond-her-twenty-years voice to create a cutting emotional depth that builds on lyrical themes of a relationship in it twilight.

Henry just released his synth-tinged folk debut 'The Wilds,' which has accrued more than 40M Spotify spins and scored 4 stars as The Observer’s album of the week - and he's getting ready for tours with Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker, Darlingside, and Caroline Rose in 2018.

Rosie recently released new single 'Winter', produced with her frequent collaborator Orri McBrearty in her hometown of Donegal. The song is just another part of her exciting year so far, having played shows supporting Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Saint Sister and Haux, co-headlining dates with Henry Jamison in the UK and Ireland, alongside festival slots at Latitude, Seven Layers, and the Bon Iver, National, and Cillian Murphy curated Sounds From A Safe Harbour. Henry Jamison WEBSITE, Rosie Carney WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Well we featured Henry Jamison a couple of times last year and as far as Rosie Carney goes, this is her fifth appearance on Beehive Candy (including the song 'Winter' that appeared last month). 'Hot Scary Summer' is a fabulous duet, that gently develops with natural live vibes, and passion. In a word, glorious!


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Twin Jackal - The Prids - Taylor Mac

Twin Jackal - Cruel.

Background - Twin Jackal are a band on the move! The South London based rock band are to release ‘Cruel’, their follow up single to ‘Humility’. Both songs are from their forthcoming debut EP ‘Optimo Animo’ which has all the hallmarks of a future classic.

We are pleased to unveil ‘Cruel’ a forceful contemporary rock punch that’s both adrenaline-powered and lyrically eloquent. Producer Chris Coulter (Arcane Roots, Jamie Lenman, Arctic Lake) recorded and produced the song in Decimal Studios, his riverside studio in late 2016.

Twin Jackal formed through a love of underground, experimental rock and post-hardcore bands such as Arcane Roots and Marmozets, along with the starrier likes of Biffy Clyro and Million Dead. With the anger of hardcore or metal, the fuzz of stoner rock and always searching for the true emotion of pop and indie rock, they have truly found their own unique sound: a mind-boggling mix of math rock rhythms, unpredictable guitars and soulful vocals sewn together into a fierce wall of sound. FACEBOOK, WEBSITE.

'Cruel' is an impressive and full bodied rocker that just gets on with being what it is. Unpretentious and energised, the band just cut to the chase and deliver up a persuasive rock & roll piece.


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The Prids - Elizabeth Ann.

Background - Portland, OR-based, noise pop band, The Prids, share their new single and video, "Elizabeth Ann." The Prids new LP, Do I Look Like I'm In Love?, is due out January 12th, 2018 via This-a-Way Records. The fact that there’s even a new Prids record is a miracle. In March of 2015 bassist-vocalist Mistina La Fave suffered a brain hemorrhage the night before the band was scheduled to enter the studio. The recovery was physically and mentally taxing, and La Fave is lucky to be alive, let alone playing and performing again. The Prids’ 22 years have been marked with death, sickness, divorce, and a near-fatal van crash that cut a tour short and left members bloody and broken—but they survive through the friendship and bond of founding members La Fave and guitarist-vocalist David Frederickson. While those events have invariably made their way into the band’s narrative, the two simply chalk it up to life.

They met in La Fave’s small hometown of Saint Joseph, Missouri, in 1995, not long after Frederickson had moved there from Southern California. They started a relationship (they divorced in 2001, not long after they married), formed The Prids, and moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, before settling in Portland, Oregon, in 1999. In that time they’ve released four full-lengths and a trail of EPs, toured all over the world, while gaining the respect of bands throughout Portland for their tenacity and longevity (The Prids are one of the longest-running active bands in the city). They continue to make music for the right reasons—with or without a label, for themselves. A few years ago they brought in drummer Gordon Nickel and multi-instrumentalist Tim Yates, their sturdiest lineup to date. These four individuals are what make Do I Look Like I’m In Love? such a special record.

Throughout it all The Prids have remained completely DIY (the band even launched its own label/artist collective This-a-Way Records in 1996). Their videos and album art are as brilliantly conceived as the music itself. And in 2017 the Prids are playing with the same ardor they did 20 years ago. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and this band is the embodiment of that. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We first featured The Prids in late September and can now follow up with their new single 'Elizabeth Ann'. Fast paced and dynamic this is an impressive indie rock song, where the melody is light and yet fuels some fine hooks along the way.


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Taylor Mac - Never Wanted You.

Background - Russian Winter Records is excited to announce the release of Never Wanted You, the debut single from Kansas City based singer, Taylor Mac. The 23 year old has a smooth, powerful voice, with a strikingly pure vibrato.

The single was just named Number 157 of the NBT Music Radio Top 300 Singles of 2017 and here's what Emerging Indie Bands said about the single:

"The listener finds themselves drawn, like iron to magnet, as the stunning vocal wraps around the room. The unhurried song is layered with inflection, melody and harmonies which belie the sparse framework creating an immersive composition and finds the audience wanting to hear more." BANDCAMP.

There is something of a timeless feel to 'Never Wanted You' in the sense that if you told me it was from the late sixties I would not argue. It's not of course, however a classic pop feel permeates through this song, and that surely cannot be a bad thing!

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Cole Phoenix - Have You Ever Seen the Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? - stop.drop.rewind

Cole Phoenix - Back Back To Me.

Background - Cole Phoenix is a singer, songwriter, scriptwriter, novelist, writer, producer, actress and director born in Brisbane, Australia. She creates music that encompasses elements of pop, soul, electronic and rock music

Cole Phoenix has worked in feature films such as The Ruins alongside Shawn Ashmore and Jena Malone and Bright Flame, currently in development which Cole wrote, produced and stars in.

Nominated for Best New Top 40 Artist of the Year in 2015 at the New Music Awards alongside Sam Smith, Iggy Azalea, Meghan Trainor and Charli XCX. “Back Back To Me” is a contemporary party song with cheek, mixed with old school sass and brass. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Back Back To Me' is a rich combination of styles that includes soulful musical grooves and refined pop vocals. Powerful, upbeat and melodic, this is a catchy, engaging song.

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Have You Ever Seen the Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? - Bambi Act.

Background - Finnish 3-piece Have You Ever Seen The Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? reveal new single Bambi Act, out last Friday via VILD.

Ekku Lintunen likens his songwriting to crafting surreal movies. Starting with a picture in his mind, he throws out lyrical phrases to create this image for the listener. Enough is held back though that there are more questions than answers. Like all great films, the listener interprets as they do.

Never is this more apparent than on Bambi Act, a dark vaudevillian modern fairy-tale – Lintunen offers his interpretation: "A man falls for another man. Man goes for a sex change operation, and now as a woman, charms her beloved; soon, we can hear their wedding bells. Happiness proves to be false, and she's ultimately rejected. Shocked by this dreadful event, unhappy incidents occur, and through wrong choices she ends up on the street turning tricks with her decaying body. What's your interpretation?..."

The trio have carved out a unique sound for themselves, opting to use keyboards instead of guitars. This is after Lintunen and drummer Janne-Petteri Pitkälä, on seeing the film Drive, instantly decided to form an 80s synth-pop band as a side project to the garage-rock act they were in at the time. When Susse Stemma-Sihvola came in on vocals, bringing her scuzzed out bass tones with her, it ended up being garage-rock with a twist. FACEBOOK.

Less than a month since we first featured Have You Ever Seen The Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? we now have 'Bambi Act' a sub two minute blast of fabulous garage rock. Last month we said of the forthcoming album "This is a high octane collection of music, the band are energetic throughout, mixing up some fabulous pop to punk or glam to grunge styles, with catchy upbeat and potent material every time". I reckon this song pretty much confirms all of that!

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stop.drop.rewind - I Was A Portrait.

Background - stop.drop.rewind is a progressive/powerpop band from Valparaiso, IN. ​Formed in 2008, members Kris Loh​n,​ DJ Crenson​, ​Andy Sutton​ and ​Josh Andrews ​have since released four EPs: "Part of the Whole" (2012), "Smoke Signals (2014), “Polarity” (2016), and "SDR Saves Christmas" (2016).

They have performed in 12 states, and opened for The Misfits, Secondhand Serenade, Ronnie Winter, Hawthorne Heights, Amber Pacific, Real Friends, The Spill Canvas, among many others. 

2016's EP “Polarity” was acclaimed by local media personalities and publications such as Tom Lounges (X-Rock, WLPR), John King (WVLP), the Broken Record Press, and landed them a spot on Pandora. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Opening with some chunky riffs 'I Was A Portrait' is a feisty rocker. The vocals are notable, giving the bands sound some clear distinction. The music is fabulously tight power rock, collectively this is one very stylish rock & roll song.

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Walter Martin - Newspoke - Jimmy Sweet

Walter Martin - I Can Run Now From The Hellhounds But I Can't Hide.

Background - Walter Martin (co-writer/multi-instrumentalist of The Walkmen) will release his new album Reminisce Bar & Grill on February 16th via Ile Flottante Music. His fourth solo record since The Walkmen's hiatus in 2013, Reminisce Bar & Grill was announced earlier this month with a surprise appearance on NPR Music's Tiny Desk in which he performed two of his new songs with a full band and a barbershop quartet.

Reminisce Bar & Grill is one that might throw fans of his two award winning kids' records (2014's We're All Young Together and 2017's My Kinda Music) for a loop. Listeners will still recognize the same affable narrator and quirky musical style as his previous solo work, but here the subject matter is shifted dramatically. With frankness and poignancy, Martin, now a 43-year-old married man with two young children, squarely tackles the subject of adulthood - specifically, his own.

"I think this is my mid-life crisis album," said Walter. "These days my friends and I all seem to be thinking the same dark thoughts - 'What the hell am I doing? What the hell's going on? I'm lost. I'm running out of time and I'm doing everything wrong. And I'm probably dying.' This is definitely an insane period," he continues, "but most of the time I kind of love it."

While Martin approaches these subject matters with candor and sincerity, he clearly also enjoys mining them for humor. "I wanted this album to be an entertaining discussion of marriage, fatherhood, work, fear, and weakness," he explained. "I'm definitely influenced by Woody Allen movies. No matter how serious or romantic or dark his story may be, there's always a strong undercurrent of comedy."

Reminisce Bar & Grill was recorded at various studios in Brooklyn and at Richard Swift's National Freedom Studio in Cottage Grove Oregon. The songs were mixed by D. James Goodwin (Bob Weir, Craig Finn), Richard Swift (The Shins, Foxygen) and Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses). A nimble multi-instrumentalist, Martin handled guitar, piano, organ, bass and percussion duties, but he also relied on the services of a coterie of crafty players and singers: Brian Kantor (Fruit Bats) on drums, Josh Kaufman (Craig Finn, Josh Ritter) on guitar, and Jamie Krents (French Kicks) on bass. The soaring harmony vocals woven throughout the album are delivered by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah singer Alec Ounsworth. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Musically 'I Can Run Now From The Hellhounds But I Can't Hide' is a rhythmic vibrant affair. The vocals add a little gravitas to the song, overall however this is a hook laden and very pleasing tease for next years album release.


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Newspoke - Judas Tree.

Background - Anonymous New York City-based indie artist Newspoke has shared the video for "Judas Tree." It's a dark, tongue-in-cheek story of someone descending hell with visuals to match.

This is the lead single off Faces, Newspoke's forthcoming debut album due out February, 2017. Newspoke explores the contrast of lightness and darkness in Faces. 

The record was born out of failed relationships, life-threatening illness, and new beginnings. It's both dark and comedic. Standout tracks on the record include, "I Apologize For Dying On Your Shoes," "Normal," and "Heather."

Faces was mixed and mastered by Larry Crane (Elliott Smith, Sleater-Kinney, The Decemberists) in Portland, OR. It will be available on all digital distribution platforms February, 2017. FACEBOOK.

'Judas Tree' may start gently, however don't be fooled. The passion and energy soon builds, with gritty determined vocals and an increasingly layered musical arrangement, heart and soul is there in abundance.


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Jimmy Sweet - You Say You Don't Love Me.

Background - You Say You Don’t Love Me is the debut single from Los Angeles singer / songwriter Jimmy Sweet, released earlier this month. The track is a melancholy take of the song by 70's British punk sensation Buzzcocks.

Jimmy Sweet is a singer / songwriter, but not in the typical sense. Yes, he writes love songs, but Sweet uses sweeping strings and a gospel choir to get his message through. "I have a place in my heart for the over dramatic" - Jimmy Sweet

A staple on the LA music scene for years, Jimmy also plays in a hugely popular cover band The Goodtimes Boys with members of Fleet Foxes, Hot Hot Heat, The Heavy and The Growlers. 

Jimmy Sweet got his start playing with Rolan Bolan (son of glam rock icon Marc Bolan of T.Rex) and legendary San Francisco garage rock band The Richmond Sluts. Jimmy Sweet and his band will be releasing a host of original material throughout 2018. FACEBOOK.

If you like your music to build into a sweeping, melodic mixture of vocals, harmonies, and orchestral flavours then 'You Say You Don't Love Me' ticks all those boxes, and does it with style.

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