Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir - Las Rosas - Honey Child

Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir - Stop Shakin'.

Background - Denver-based group Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir shares the first track "Stop Shakin'" off their debut LP Long Way Home. "Stop Shakin'" is about living in the moment, standing up for yourself and moving on no matter how terrifying the situation may seem. 

Frontman Blake Brown says of the track, “Please Stop Shake, Shake, Shakin', 'cause it's break, break, breakin' me down." It's almost as if the chorus of the song is to remind myself that we all face those situations and demons. The trick is finding a way to navigate through it and being ok with the result. Possibly admitting defeat, or at least acknowledging that an honest try was given. We have to take chances and hopefully we’re better off for doing so; even if it does rattle us."

Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir is made up of frontman Blake Brown (vocals/guitar), Tiffany Brown (keys/vocals), Adam Blake (drums), Jason Legler (bass), and Trent Nelson (guitar).

Long Way Home is a collection of songs that represent different periods and experiences in Brown's life. Heartbreak, healing, deception, reflection, growing up, and everything in between. Produced and engineered by Joe Richmond and mastered at Lurssen Mastering by Reuben Cohen, Long Way Home is due out March 9, 2018 on We Believers Music. It will be available on CD and vinyl direct through the website, and available for pre-order on all digital outlets on March 2, 2018. The first time they will be performing the record live will be at SXSW 2018, in an official showcase to be announced. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Tour Dates:
03/09 - Hi Dive - Denver, CO.
03/tbc - SXSW Official Showcase TBA - Austin, TX.

'Stop Shakin' has an alt rock feel to it, with some vibrant music and slick vocals. The pace gives the song an upbeat lilt, one that has road trip music coursing right through it.

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Las Rosas - Christa / Lost Cat.

Background - Brooklyn's Las Rosas will release their Christa 7" this Friday (2/2) via Greenway Records. It's currently available for pre-order on pink vinyl, limited to 200 copies.

The 7" pairs title track "Christa" -- the lead single from the band's upcoming sophomore LP, due out this spring on Greenway -- with exclusive b-side "Lost Cat." Both tracks feature the band's catchy, psych-tinged brand of garage rock.

Las Rosas will play a 7" release show at Brooklyn's Baby's All Right this Thursday (2/1) with The Nude Party & Glove and they open for Dirty Fences at Rough Trade on 2/15. PRE-ORDER.

Two songs & whilst 'Christa' might be the A side on the 7" release 'Lost Cat' is one very fine B side. Alt rock with some energy and plenty of those play me again hooks running through both songs, this is good music regardless of the colour of the vinyl!


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Honey Child - Gotta Wait Another Night.

Background - Los Angeles-based Chamber Pop choir Honey Child will release their self-titled debut on February 9th through Aeronaut Records. The 9-song album was recorded at the legendary EastWest Studios in the famed Studio 3 where The Beach Boys helmed their storied Pet Sounds. The album is available now for pre-order digitally from iTunes, digital and vinyl from Amazon, and is set to hit all major streaming services.

Opera singer bandleader Claire McKeown recruited six other female vocalists to build the band, and conducted and arranged most of the album as well as co-producing it. She also enlisted some amazing instrumental contributors including Sasami Ashworth (Cherry Glazerr) on French horn, Anna Bulbrook (The Airborne Toxic Event) and Dre Babinski (Steady Holiday) on violins, Daniel Brummel (Nada Surf, Weezer) on double bass, and acoustic guitar from Rolfe Kent, composer of many Alexander Payne films including Sideways and Downsizing. The final product is an album that combines majestic, lavish harmonies with a flair for the surreal.

Conducted and arranged by McKeown – with the exception of “She Calls His Name” which was arranged by Ethan Walter, who also co-produced the album with her – Honey Child’s self-titled debut was recorded at EastWest Studios in the famed Studio 3 where The Beach Boys’ storied Pet Sounds, a major influence here, was laid down. According to McKeown, “The goal of the album was to celebrate musicians sharing time and space. We set up for three days and tried to capture as much magic as possible honoring the authenticity of our sound and ability to record live performances. For me, the orchestrations and vocal arrangements of The Beach Boys and The Beatles were huge inspirations for the album along with the vocal delivery of Harry Nilsson, Dusty Springfield, and the dramatic honesty of opera singer Maria Callas." Recording at EastWest adds McKeown, “allowed for a wonderland of toys to play with. We used ribbon microphones, echo chamber, Hammond organ, Steinway grand piano, tracked the orchestra live, added a heavenly string section, even ran the lead vocals through a Leslie.”

The incredibly versatile McKeown is also a sought after voice teacher and vocal coach, composer, vocal arranger, and has contributed her voice to films including the Spike Jonze adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are, and many television commercials. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Chamber pop with considerable character and individual charm comes our way in the form of 'Gotta Wait Another Night'. There are a couple more songs from the forthcoming album on Aeronaut Records Soundcloud page (here), that collectively suggest something pretty special is on it's way.


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Tia Gostelow - Candace - stop.drop.rewind - Roxy Rawson

Tia Gostelow - Hunger.

Background - Tia Gostelow will top off what has been a hugely successful year with the announcement of her debut EP Status Anxiety via AntiFragile Music on February 16, 2018, which will include her never-before-heard track, “Giants”.  The EP will follow the 18- year- old indie rock songstress signing with the US label in 2017, along with a world wide publishing deal with National Tongue and has joining Footstomp Music/ Kandence Group Management's fantastic roster of artists. The EP will include her smash track “Hunger,” which has garnered over 500,000 streams since premiering in November, gained inclusion on multiple top playlists such as Spotify’s “Indie Arrivals,” and found its spot on Triple J’s Top 10 Most Played list in early January.

One of Australia’s most promising emerging talents, Tia and her band have recently toured alongside Frightened Rabbit, Bernard Fanning, Busby Marou, and Husky, performed a feature showcase at Bigsound 2016/ 2017. Folk Singer/ Songwriter Winner of Queensland Music Awards 2017, Tia Gostelow values the art of songwriting and creating music with integrity:

“I make sense of life through song. I really live and breathe music - it has to be sincere, from the heart. And I think it’s beautiful when people can relate to songs in their own ways with their own stories.”

Tia Gostelow’s EP marks the beginning of what is an already stellar career. (Status Anxiety)In 2018, the young vocalist is expected to drop her first full length LP, perform to sold out crowds across Australia, and will be headed across the pond for SXSW and a highly anticipated US tour. FACEBOOK.

We are a little late to the parade with 'Hunger' however, as the EP (Status Anxiety) from which this superb alt rocker is taken, is due to drop next month, let this be a kindly reminder to make sure you check that out as well.

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Candace - Rewind.

Background -  Candace's has just shared the video for "Rewind," the first single off of their upcoming full-length, New Ruins, which comes out on March 2nd.

Candace (formerly known as Is/Is) can be traced back to the summer of 2009 when Sarah Rose (guitar/bass/vocals), Sarah Nienaber (guitar/bass/vocals), and Mara Appel DesLauriers (drums/vocals) came up with the great idea to make music together. The band released the This Happening EP (2010), the “Vowel Movements/Blackest Beat” 7” (2011), their full-length debut, III, in 2012, Is/Is (2014), and a number of singles before announcing their name change to Candace in 2016. New Future, the band’s first official release under the new name, was produced, recorded, and mixed by Neil Weir and Candace at Jackpot! Recording Studio in Portland, Oregon, where the band all lives.

Writing momentum stayed steady following the release of New Future so the band took a trip to Iowa just a few days after Trump was elected to work on some new material. Working with long-time collaborator Neil Weir, at Flat Black Studios, built in an old barn in the middle of nowhere outside of Iowa City, surrounded by corn fields and nothing else, they ate frozen pizza, tracked for 12-hours a day, and then passed out in a loft sleeping area above the studio. Once the songs were done, the band handed the finished material off to Larry Crane at Jackpot! for mixing. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Upcoming Tour Dates:
March 2 Portland, OR at Mississippi Studios (Record Release Show!)
March 3 Eugene, OR at Luckey’s Club
March 4 Reno, NV at Holland Project
March 5 Las Vegas, NV at Bunkhouse Saloon
March 6 Tempe, AZ at Yucca Tap Room
March 7 Tucson, AZ at Club Congress
March 9 Laredo, TX at Second Chance
March 10 Monterrey, MX at Agua Fria
March 12 – 17 Austin, TX at SXSW
March 19 Wichita, KS at Kirby’s Beer Store
March 20 Lawrence, KS at Replay Lounge
March 21 Des Moines, IA at Vaudeville Mews
March 22 Minneapolis, MN at Eagles Club
March 25 Fargo, ND at Red Raven
March 26 Omaha, NE at Brother’s
March 27 Denver, CO at Hi-Dive

There are some desirable & highly melodic guitar vibes on 'Rewind', a dreamy and lush indie rocker meets dream pop type of song. This is one of those tracks you can close your eyes to and become totally immersed in, fabulous!


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stop.drop.rewind - Main & Lincoln.

Background - Here is  the latest from stop.drop.rewind, "Main & Lincoln" off their just-released album, Element & Aftermath. 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.

Following on from the song 'I Was A Portrait' which we shared back in December, we now have 'Main & Lincoln'. It's another feisty rocker, where the vocals carry the melody and the band just get on and deliver some energised rock&roll.

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Roxy Rawson - Black Eyed Soup.

Background - Bay Area artist Roxy Rawson has just shared her new single "Black Eyed Soup". The single is the first from forthcoming album Quenching the Kill, due out later this year.

Rawson gives us a whimsical and upbeat acappella track to snap along to as it slowly builds. She sings the story of a soup with eyes she ate in China that not only turned her stomach, but reminded her of a relationship that in the end, looked just as mangled and unappealing as the soup. “The song was my way of celebrating my discernment that the love wasn't right." Rawson’s quirky and energetic anti-folk style adds to itself throughout this track as if it were a choral jazz arrangement.

Born into a Mormon community in Hitchin, Roxanna Rawson was introduced to music through Church hymns, but first found her feet in Paris where she studied violin and piano at University of Paris VIII. Surrounding herself with local jazz performers, she joined several orchestras and spent much of her time studying classical and baroque styles of music. Rawson found her own voice however, developing a unique vocal style through singing ‘jumping jazz intervals’ on the streets of the French capital. She also joined an African Choir, adding yet another multi-cultural layer to her sound.

Rawson left Paris for London in 2004, and  joined an anti-folk collective by the name of AsYet, working alongside alternative original talents such as William Nein, David Goo, Miss Jo Williams, Fiona Bevan and Left with Pictures. She soon attracted the attention of producer and label owner Al Mobbs (Damon Albarn). A development deal with Sony led to her debut EP Changing Things, released on Ambiguous Records (2009) and the coinciding single "Fingers". Quenching the Kill is Roxy's debut full-length album. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Black Eyed Soup' opens with a simple and stylish accapella arrangement, leaving Roxy Rawson with plenty of room to expand upon. This she does in truck loads, the song is very catchy, her vocals are just gorgeous & so naturally engaging. Simple and yet superb!

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Annabel Allum - Leyya - Launder - Modern Time Machines

Annabel Allum - Beat the Birds.

Background - Guildford-based Annabel Allum launches into 2018 with new single Beat the Birds. By turns invigoratingly caustic and charmingly lackadaisical, Annabel’s first release since the acclaimed All That For What EP came out last year is further evidence of her ability to marry folk-style storytelling with snarling fuzzy indie.

“I wrote Beat the Birds during a heightened temerarious period of my life.” Allum says, “Riding on moments and not consequences, feeling and not thinking. The story of youthful, reckless abandon, morning after morning after morning.“

Annabel has performed a number of prestigious slots in the past few months, culminating is supporting the iconic Beth Ditto across her UK/EU tour at the back end of last year, as well as sharing the stage with Nadine Shah, Blaenavon and more. Sets at The Great Escape, Live at Leeds and SXSW last year brought her to wider international attention, and this spring she will be once again taking in the bright lights of Austin for SXSW 2018.

Alongside the striking sonic aesthetic of her music, her original look and self-styling has led to endorsements from Bastian Classics, Cheap Monday and various other indie clothing brands. Liam Corneloues on bass and Emma Hiley on drums complete Annabel’s trusty band, prepped to deliver fiery sets across the UK and Germany in early February, climaxing with her biggest headline show to date at London’s Camden Assembly on Feb 6th. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Loose and swaggering 'Beat the Birds' is a sumptuous rocker. The music is thumping and energised whilst Annabel Allum's vocals are determined with some real rock vibes and enough melody to throw hook after hook at the listener.

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Leyya - Sauna (Album).
    
Background - Austrian duo Leyya have arrived with their euphoric and eclectic sophomore LP, "Sauna." Leyya are looking forward to their performances at a string of European festivals in early 2018, before they head to SXSW Festival​, taking their idiosyncratic sound to the USA. ​Their debut album Spanish Disco was an instant success, with hit single ‘Superego,’ ​racking up over 3 million plays ​on Spotify putting the pair on the map, and inciting a whirlwind of huge festival performances and radio play, as well as television and film appearances.

Their performance at Iceland Airwaves was called one of the “most exciting​” on display by C of S, ​while their show at Eurosonic Nooderslag ​was branded “The best concert of this year’s Eurosonic Festival" ​by Musikexpress, and have graced the stages of a host of festivals: New York’s Indie Week, The Great Escape (Brighton, UK), Liverpool Sound City ​(Liverpool, UK), Tallinn Music Week (Tallinn, EE), PrimaveraSound ​(Barcelona, SP) and Electronic Beats at Reeperbahn Festival (Hamburg, DE) - before finally headlining Popfest (Vienna, AT) back home, where they played to a crowd of 20,000 in front of the famous Karlskirche​ in Vienna’s beautiful City Centre. After building a strong & passionate live following, Leyya won Austria's most prestigious prize - the Amadeus Music Award - for Best New Artist.

In true Leyya ​fashion, the track ‘Heat’ mesmerizes with wonderfully layered and intricately constructed electronic sounds, tastefully crafted into an experimental pop song. The track is a collection of the subtle contrasts that make Leyya such a fascinating act, complete with Sophie’s trademark breathy vocals sitting against an intricately designed soundscape. Forgive Leyya for their refusal to fall neatly into a single comfortable musical pigeonhole, and ‘Heat’ soon becomes a magnetizing musical journey. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

I was struggling to pick one song to feature, finally settled on 'Drumsolo' then re-read the promo and realised I can share the full album. 'Sauna' is one of those albums that needs to be heard in full, the Austrian duo, craft each track in such an individual manner (which is why I struggled to pick just one song). The music might be described as Electro alt pop but then again they are more than that & extremely engaging.

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Launder - Fade.

Background - Launder is the pseudonym of LA dream pop/shoegaze solo artist, John Cudlip, and today, January 26th, 2018, he released his single, Fade, giving a first taste of what to expect from his upcoming self-released debut EP, Pink Cloud. After John was introduced to Jackson Phillips (Day Wave) last year, the two began recording music out of Phillips' home studio in Echo Park for what would eventually become Launder's EP, Pink Cloud. It wasn't long before John enlisted the help of Soko and Zachary Cole Smith (DIIV), who both put their own personal touch on various parts of his EP.

"Fade" is the lead single from Launder's Pink Cloud and features the collaborative efforts of all three musicians with Zachary Cole Smith on guitar, vocals from Soko, and Jackson Phillips on synth. An unlikely group of musicians, sure, but each lent a hand to the completion of the EP in different ways. If you're trying to make sense of it, you could say DIIV, Soko, and Day Wave all walk into a bar and meet this guy John who happens to play guitar and before the night's over they agree to help him put together an EP.

That story's actually not too far from the truth. In fact, it kind of is the truth, minus a few details. They weren't at a bar and it wasn't some empty drunk promise to record some music together because here we are feeding you the first single. Pink Cloud was produced by Jackson Phillips and will be available across digital platforms in March 2018. FACEBOOK.

The arrangement on 'Fade' is notable. The band add layers musically, with some unexpected twists before reverting to the original flow & off we go again, leaving the vocals to anchor the song, which they do, and very well.

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Modern Time Machines - High Noon.

Background - The haunting, bittersweet melodies of LA-based shoegaze outfit Modern Time Machines have been described as a “noisy, romantic hurricane for those who like their rock with intricate layers” (Buzz Bands LA). Boy/girl vocal harmonies feature heavily in the band’s feedback-laced love songs, which have drawn comparisons to acts like M83, Medicine and Sonic Youth. The band have just shared the music video for "High Noon," which is loaded with over a dozen Paul Thomas Anderson-related easter eggs.

Following the local momentum of their earliest shows, the band’s first single “Dweeb” began receiving strong radio support from LA’s KROQ 106.7FM. Continually refining their sound with “nuanced playing and killer hooks” (Los Angeles Times), the band was invited to perform live nationally in 2012 on Adult Swim’s cult TV hit The Eric Andre Show, and their music will be featured in the upcoming film So Help You God by noted filmmaker Ashley York (Netflix’s TIG).

Modern Time Machines’ long-awaited sophomore LP MTM is set for release on April 6, 2018. Produced by Josiah Mazzaschi (Jesus & Mary Chain, Nothing, Deap Vally), the album will feature contributions from Dave Dupuis (Film School, Nightmare Air), Kenneth James Gibson (Bell Gardens), Kaitlin Wolfberg (that dog.), and a song remixed by KCRW favorites, disco duo De Lux. FACEBOOK.

Tour Date - 02/04 Los Angeles, CA - The Satellite.

Shoegaze from the opening moments 'High Noon' is light enough to allow the vocals and melody to come through with clarity, without compromising the energy and edge this genre is associated with, the refrains and catchy, the production gives it that special something.


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Tiny Fighter - Dantevilles - Marine - Pageants

Tiny Fighter - New Century.

Background - Indie-pop duo Tiny Fighter are releasing their debut single New Century. Meeting in Stockholm in 2017, this Australian/Swedish pair have quickly built a strong live reputation for mixing catchy indie-pop with darker themes and arrangements, led by the enigmatic Therese Karlsson. New Century was recorded in Los Angeles and Stockholm with Daniel Rejmer (Ben Frost, Foals, Girls Names) and extends on the more melodic moments from their previous work with bands such as Fire to the Stars and Mid-State Orange.

After relocating to Stockholm from Melbourne in 2016, Therese and Tim came together via some rather fortunate semi-random sampling (i.e. internet band forum) and quickly realised that where Tim was good at starting songs, Therese excelled at finishing them. Their single New Century describes the tension many experience between unfulfilled desire and resigning to one’s fate with a drive to take control of one’s destiny and make a difference. The title, New Century is meant to suggest reinvention, a personal reinvention – which whilst desirable is not always an easy or straightforward thing to do.

Accompanying the single is award winning directors Kyle V James & Mallori Taylor’s incredible video, short entirely on a 360-degree camera. The video extends on the lyrical theme of reinvention, using the 360-degree camera to distort or reimagine a range of natural and urban landscapes into dream-like exaggerations of their original selves: oceans turn to globes, whole forests morph into a single dandelion as a metaphor for the internal personal changes the song’s main protagonist so desires, but can’t quite seem to obtain. By pairing the music with such wild distortions of the everyday objects and landscapes the viewer is encouraged to look at their own everyday life in a different light and from a different angle – the truth may be right there in front of you, you just need to be more flexible with your interpretation.

Tiny Fighter will be performing a run of European dates (Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands) in support of the single, with a more extensive tour including Australian dates later in the year. FACEBOOK.

Indie pop with some intense and soulful vocals, 'New Century' also carries a musical arrangement that adds some melodic layers, along with a fabulously chunky beat, be warned, this is very catchy.

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Dantevilles - Blackjack.

Background - Manchester fourpiece Dantevilles have announced the release of their new single Blackjack released through Heist or Hit last Friday.

Dantevilles are a new breed of Manchester band singing songs for a New North. Their inspired yet modern take on alternative pop is fresh, polished and completely addictive. Full of soul, punchy guitars and completely unique duel vocals, Dantevilles know how to create a melody. A group of tight-knit friends with infectious personalities, they’re a gang you want to be part of.

Produced by Joe Cross (Hurts, Courteeners), Blackjack opens with energetic guitars and charismatic duel vocals that combine for a fast-paced and upbeat chorus. Written with lust in mind, it’s a song for the young generation about trying to live your dream and living in the moment. The band say;

“Blackjack relates to playing your cards right and if there is a risky hand, play it anyway.” Dantevilles are Jamie Gallagher (guitar, vocals), Connor McNicholas (bass, vocals), Paul Tanton (guitar) and Cory Devine (drums),  FACEBOOK.

Vibrant and urgent Dantevilles are one polished band whose music is tight and dynamic. The song 'Blackjack' is taken even further with vocals that are a perfect match for high octane music of this calibre.

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Marine - Sirens.

Background - London based quartet Marine have announced their debut album 'Fable Electric', set for release on The Vinyl Factory late March, and shared a beguiling new single titled 'Sirens'.

‘Fable Electric' is an album that brims with exploratory wonder and bridges the gaps between spectral pop, dreamy grunge and ambient folk, whilst lyrically exploring ancient tales of mythology and the underworld. Since forming in 2014, the band - made up of Cara Sebastian (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Ruby Jack (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Beth Dariti (Bass) and Kaja Magsam (Drums) - have been running their own show in their own way, touring across Europe and the UK and quickly building a cult following in both Berlin and London, whilst racking up support from tastemakers at BBC 6 Music and across the blogosphere.

After wowing crowds at Secret Garden Party, Shambala and more this summer, the band swim deeper into their own concepts to present their debut album, which was recorded at Grand Chapel Studios with esteemed producer Rob Ellis (Anna Calvi, PJ Harvey, Cold Specks).

Both wild and elegant, the record is framed by intuitive beats, bass hypnosis that playfully counters melody, and a deep love of contrast. The two vocalists braid together over hooky guitar lines in a complex plait of old and new, understated and operatic, light and dark. The songs of Marine crystallised from mythology and fables, mingling with personal words and emotions to form tales of the ordinary and extraordinary. Their songs reference the underworld, seal demons, mighty Kraken, werewolves, witches and Gods, and even question the very nature of storytelling itself. FACEBOOK.

Second time around on Beehive Candy for Marine and their new single 'Sirens'. The lush and intricate musical arrangement is gorgeous in it's own right, the vocals are outstanding taking the song to an even higher level. Marine have something special going on here, the album can't arrive soon enough!

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Pageants - Musings Of The Tide.

Background - Pageants new music video for their second single "Musings of the Tide" has just been released. Since releasing their first single "Cacti For Clothes", the band have received an overwhelming amount of support from Spotify being added to some of their largest Playlists including "Ultimate Indie", "New Indie" and "Undercurrents" - that track is now averaging over 12k streams per day - over 500k as of today.

Pageants were formed by Rebecca Coleman in the aftermath of leaving Avi Buffalo (Sub Pop) in 2010, a band in which she was a founding member at the age of sixteen. Frustrated with clashing personalities and differences in musical sensibility, she, along with two other Avi Buffalo defectors, set out to revive the simplicity and spirit of earlier days. Diaristic yet dreamy and abstract in nature, her songs merge pop levity with melancholic lyrical undercurrents.

Collaborating with boyfriend Devin O’Brien to flush out demos, their debut LP, ‘Forever’ was close to completion in 2015. When label interest around the album hit a wall, the band decided to hold off on finishing the record while pursuing other opportunities. Coleman continued to write, O’Brien focused on engineering and producing, while also being picked up by Cherry Glazerr (Secretly Canadian) to tour as their bassist and drummer Dylan Wood went on to play with Best Coast (Harvest). Inspired by fresh material and perspectives, Pageants decided to finish ‘Forever’ earlier this year and will be releasing their debut album on February 26 via Eye Dull Records. FACEBOOK.

Our third feature for Pageants, this time with the new music video for 'Musings Of The Tide'. This is also the third song we have featured from next months album release, where there are an additional seven fine tracks to discover. Dreamy and melodic Pageants are consistently delivering music that is just easy to love.


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I Hate You Just Kidding - Mo Kenney - Annachristie Sapphire - Sur Back

I Hate You Just Kidding - Fallen.

Background - I Hate You Just Kidding have just released the new single "Fallen." Fallen is an emotional tug-of-war between hope and despair, between desperation and delirium. It’s meant to find you in that dark place and carry you out.”

Jeremy and Jessi Brock are the husband & wife songwriting duo known as I Hate You Just Kidding. They started making music together shortly after meeting and formally formed the project in 2009.

Their music has been featured in film/television and commercials, and they have gone on several national tours, leaving two EPs and one full-length album in their wake.

Upon releasing their debut "Days Grow Longer" in 2011, I Hate You Just Kidding began writing a follow up. However, the touring life sometimes takes a few detours. After a 5 year hiatus, the sophomore album “Constellations” will be released on February 2nd, 2018. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Back in November of last year we featured 'Smokestacks' from the band, describing that song as "uncomplicated pop that occasionally builds into more of a rock track, either way it addictive & gorgeous." Now we have 'Fallen' a gentler, dreamy indie pop song that has the same addictive qualities.

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Mo Kenney - On The Roof.

Background - 2017 was the year that Mo Kenney plugged in, the Canadian singer recently released new album The Details and hit the road, and now Mo has announced a string of UK tour dates this February along with the release of new video for single On The Roof.

Mo has released two records with long-time producer and Canadian rock mentor Joel Plaskett since 2012. With her third album, Mo comes fully and completely into her own as an artist; she swaps her trademark acoustic guitar for a Fender Mustang, tracing her own strange, devastating, and ultimately hopeful trip through the trials and tribulations of booze-fuelled breakdowns, clouds of depression, and disintegrating relationships.

"I began writing "On The Roof" during a solo tour in the US. I had a day off in Syracuse, NY, and wrote the chorus for the song that day. When I sit and think of all the negative things in the world it can get me down, because there's a lot of it. I go down that wormhole often, as I'm sure a lot of people do. The song is about being in that mindset and not being able to shake it. " Mo Kenney

Known for her smooth vocals and fearless lyrics, the Canadian singer releases the fast-paced single On The Roof combining elements of bruising rock ’n’ roll, vivid psychedelia, and haunting, left-of-the-dial pop. WEBSITE.

UK Dates:
Saturday 3rd Feb: Inverness Tooth & Claw
Sunday 4th Feb: Aberdeen Lemon Tree Studio
Tuesday 6th Feb: Sheffield Cafe No.9
Wednesday 7th Feb: London Green Note
Thursday 8th Feb: Preston The Continental
Saturday 10th Feb: Exeter Phoenix
Sunday 11th Feb: Manchester The Castle

We shared the audio for this track a few months ago, however with some tour dates to announce and a new music video for the song 'On The Roof', lets have another helping of this tune. We previously described this as "an energised rocker with some fine hooks, that brighten up the somewhat darker lyrics."


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Annachristie Sapphire - Cut The Line.

Background - Annachristie Sapphire has a soulful huskiness and power that could break glass. Her compelling songwriting style lends itself to an emotionally evocative experience for her listeners time and time again. Annachristie explores new measures of Folk and Americana by marrying the genres with styles more grunge, dreamlike, and enduring- reminiscent to the rawness brought to light by the music rebels of the 90’s. With this, Annachristie Sapphire welcomes a sense of nostalgia even for those who might be hearing her music for the first time.

 Annachristie has shared the stage with household favorites such as First Aid Kit, Amos Lee, and Langhorne Slim, as well as Victoria Williams- the founder of Sweet Relief Musicians Fund best known for work with Neil Young and Lou Reed, who lends her backing vocals to Annachristie Sapphire’s new single and upcoming EP.

 “Cut The Line,” the first single from Annachristie Sapphire's upcoming LP “Desert Car”, was produced by the Grammy Award- winning Tim Sonnefeld. The song is about fishing for love. The melody reels you in and then sets you free with it's 1950's inspired backup vocals, in contrast to an atmospheric landscape of sounds that allow the listener to live inside of the melody. Annachristie Sapphire’s EP was recorded at Chaparral Bottom Studio and Red Star Studios. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Cut The Line' slips between definitive genres and creates something quite beautiful. Passionate and melodic vocals, Americana centred musical grooves, with shades of rock & roll for good measure, this song has some real edge and a good few hooks to ensure some repeat plays.

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Sur Back - Anyone Else.

Background - NYC-based, orchestral pop artist, Sur Back, shares her new track "Anyone Else" off her follow up EP, Kitsch II, due out February 23rd, 2018. The EP was written, recorded and produced by Sur Back, and mixed and mastered by Patrick Brown of Different Fur Studios (Toro y Moi, Grimes, Zola Jesus, K. Flay, The Morning Benders).

Sur Back is the solo project of Caroline Sans, a formally trained dancer and musician, who channels the two forms of art into a baroque pop aesthetic. Kitsch II is Kitsch's darker, more somber cousin, as displayed by the similar, but darker, album art. Although most of the second EP's tracks were written around the same time as the first EP, as a collection, the record has taken on a new meaning with Sur Back's transition to living in the city and moving away from her childhood home.

While finishing production of this record, Sur Back moved from South Florida to NYC, which is reflected through the EP's wide-eyed optimism and dreamlike aesthetic. "Valentino" was written as if scoring a fashion show, with a straightforward beat with a bit of jaggedness, as if walking in heels. The gorgeous instrumental layers that Sur Back is able to produce and write alone in her bedroom pushes past the typical DIY sound of bedroom pop. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Live Date:
02.03 - Elsewhere - Brooklyn, NY.

Earlier this month we shared 'Valentino' and Sur Back quickly returns with another imaginative song in the form of  'Anyone Else'. Described as "orchestral pop", there is a grandness and depth to her music, that leaves that tag as something of an understatement. Maybe unique, creative and inventive pop is a more suitable label.

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Ann'so M - Fine China - The Beaucrees - Earth Girl Helen Brown

Ann'so M - Screw You.

Background - Ann'so M in a few references: A electro-pop-rock duo not soft knee, sung by an artist reminiscent of a French Pat Benatar. Many concerts given in jails, festivals, Coffee Scenes ... Prestigious collaborations including a very nervous song that has benefited from the talent of Louis Bertignac (Telephone). Captivating riffs and a groaning six-string, all led by a voice, that of a flayed skin, with an engaged pen.

"Au coeur du système" Inspired by the events of recent years, Ann'so M offers five assertive songs raging and addictive to heady melodies. Five years after "Dans des artères", Ann'so enchants on some titles in the language of Shakespeare. From her frenglish accent, she claims her continentalism.

This EP is an invitation to think for yourself. "At a time when social networks can reveal themselves as a source of the most precarious thoughts, is religion an obstacle to reason? In the same way, the man is consumer of media, but from now on it is the media which consumes it. "(Eben Moglen) All traced? All controlled?

Attracted by electro sounds, but keeping forever and ever his rock spirit, the duo out of his comfort zone thanks to this tasty mix, sailing in the Franco-British new wave influences. On a coffee terrace in Paris, they collaborate with Joseph d'Anvers, who wrote the ballad "Zero Degree". "Au coeur du système" will be available in March 2018 , it will be possible to order it directly on the band's WEBSITE.

For "electro pop rock" I suggest focusing on rock as the key element of Ann'so M's five song EP. 'Screw You' is typical of the assertive nature that permeates this collection, don't get me wrong the other elements are there, but the sumptuous energised nature of the music is fuelled by some feisty rock & roll.


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Fine China - No Vibe.

Background - We have another single from Arizona-based Fine China who just put out a 7" out on Velvet Blue Music.

A little more about the song from the band: "No Vibe started as a simple drum machine beat and the two telecaster guitar parts that come in at the beginning of the song.  I had written the chorus guitar parts several years back but never had a good place to land them, but when this track presented itself, they worked perfectly as the chorus.  I've always loved early Cure tracks, where they just kind of go, and parts come in and out but they are more of a jam, and the dynamic parts and stops/starts are kept to a minimum, and so that is how this track evolved. 

One we started putting together the track list for the album, it became clear to me that No Vibe didn't quite fit as an album track, but I liked it and it was a bit of an oddball arrangement for Fine China, which I liked, so we kept it as a B-Side.  The production is a little rougher than the album tracks as well, as we recorded and mixed it all in my home studio, which I thought fit the song." WEBSITE.

Less than a week since we first featured Fine China along comes a second single 'No Vibe. We said that the previous song 'Not Thrilled' was "a high quality piece that bodes very well for next months album". The new single just re-emphasises our opinion and ups the stakes even higher.

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The Beaucrees - Give Them A Break!

Background - “There are all sorts of problems in the world and I know we can't stop the actions of others but I do believe that there is one problem that can be resolved. This is it. There are people sleeping on the streets in every city in the world. Some are old. Some are young. Some have simple but beautiful minds. Homelessness is not about race or religion. It's about loneliness and despair. It's about being unwanted and unneeded.I honestly believe that very few people choose to sleep on our streets.

There are people and governments that can solve this problem. We need to get them to listen. Let them know that we the people are not happy for this situation to continue. How can we all help? We must make everyone be aware that there is a problem. Today (26th January 2018) The Beaucrees, a band from the sixties, are releasing the " first record of awareness."

What's that I hear you ask? It's a record with a simple message.The message is STOP THE HOMELESSNESS. Hopefully some one might listen if we all Shout STOP the HOMELESSNESS” - Michael Kain, The Beaucrees

Formed: 1963 Walthamstow, London, England, why would you wait over 50 years to release your first single? Perhaps you’re just waiting for the right song to come along? But that’s the story of The Beaucrees; formed in 1963, worked their way around the clubs and pubs of London in and the South East in the ‘60s and ‘70s and broke up finally in 1979.

They reformed in 2012 and then Michael Kain wrote “The Game” a record to raise money for a charity that helps wounded service men and women – Help for Heroes and the great work that they do. ’Give Them A Break’ is their second single, evoking a classic 60’s sound with quality songwriting and a powerful message. WEBSITE.

Apart from the worthy message cited above 'Give Them A Break!' just happens to be a fabulous and timeless song that exudes sixties charm and yet is clearly relevant and of today's production standards. Back in the late seventies I remember some of the homeless that slept around London's west end, they always seemed to look old to me then. Nowadays they look far to young, it's not hard to see why this band feel this way, I guess it's a case of what about me, what am I going to do...


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Earth Girl Helen Brown - Chains of Love.

Background - The lead track "Chains of Love" from Venus, the final EP in the inaugural year of the planet series by Earth Girl Helen Brown. The new track features Brigid Dawson (Thee Oh Sees), Grace Cooper (Grace Sings Sludge / The Sandwitches), Kelley Stoltz, Graeme Gibson, Tahlia Harbour (The Dry Spells), Emilee Booher; and of course, Heidi Alexander (The Sandwitches / Pruno Truman).

Born a figment of Sonny Smith’s imagination in the storm of invention and tributary appropriation that formed the 100 Records project (2010), Earth Girl Helen Brown resurfaced last year in response to cosmic cultural forces seeming to demand an engaged response.  It’s no coincidence that the Center for Planetary Intelligence Band (E.G.H.B.C.F.P.I.B.) launched the inaugural EP of their 2017 planetary series, Mercury (a collection of songs dealing with the topic of “responsible fire management”), on 1/20/17 at an event dubbed Inauguration Station. The band has subsequently released one cassette EP per season in collaboration with Empty Cellar Records, each confronting a singular solar satellite, topic planetary of importance, and aspirational genre, with proceeds of each benefiting organizations committed work related to the topic at hand.  Summer was MARS (war), Fall SATURN (communication), and now the first series concludes with the Winter installation VENUS on the topic of love. Preferencing the expansive catch-as-catch-can vibe of the 100 Records project the band has hosted an ever-changing cast characters in the first year. With Heidi Alexander (The Sandwitches / Pruno Truman / The Fresh and Onlys) at the helm the band and its related media artists and technicians has included:

Jamie Barron, Jamin Barton, Eric Bauer, Aylin Beyce, Emilee Booher, Ryan Browne (Sonny and The Sunsets), Tim Cohen (Fresh and Onlys / Magic Trick), Grace Cooper (The Sandwitches / Grace Sings Sludge), Dave Cousin, Brad Caulkins, Mikal Cronin, Bart Davenport, Brigid Dawson (Thee Oh Sees), John Dwyer (Thee Oh Sees), Chris Fallon, Lars Finberg, James Finch Jr. (The Sandwitches), Davin Givhan (Chris Cohen Band), Dylan Hadley, Dustin Hamman, Kearin Harlow, Wilder Harlow, Graeme Gibson, Tahlia Harbour (Sonny and The Sunsets), Anna Hillburg (Magic Trick), Douglas Hilsinger, Warren Huegel (Daevid Allen's University of Errors), Emmett Kelly (The Cairo Gang), Nora Keys, Shannon Lay, Raven Mahon (Grass Widow), Rusty Miller, Charlie Moonheart (CFM), Jack Name, Ethan Novikoff, Tim Presley (White Fence / Drinks), Ty Segall, Dave Sitek (TV on The Radio), Sean Smith, Sonny Smith, Kelley Stoltz, Enrique Tena, Alicia Vanden Heuvel (Aislers Set / Magic Trick), Lida Vanden Heuvel and Mikey Young. BANDCAMP, WEBSITE.

A massive welcome back to E.G.H.B.C.F.P.I.B. and the latest song share that is 'Chains Of Love'. Our third feature and another gorgeous song with some addictive R&B meets soul vibes going on, it does not seem fair to miss out any of those who have contributed to this series of EP's, so there they all are above, for the story so far.

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Cat Princess - The Crowleys

Cat Princess - Fly on Your Wall.

Background - Having formed at a New Year’s Eve party and debuted live days later, it’s fair to say Swedish quintet Cat Princess don’t conform to the usual status quo, and in new retro banger Fly On Your Wall (released this week via Rama Lama Records), their combination of modern indie pop and 80’s inspired art-pop really backs up that theory.

Providing a fine representation of the band’s live intensity and their uniquely flavoured sound, the band’s new release spotlights frontman Nils Krång's thrilling and almost psychotic vocals alongside their fusion of influences and shows exactly why they’ve already shared bills with acts including Cloud Nothings, Pale Honey and Magic Potion.

If that’s not enough, the single is accompanied with an eye-catching stop motion hand-drawn video made by bassist Isabelle Friberg which besides the band and friends features characters like Newman from Seinfield.

Discussing the release, drummer Victor Klint states: “It’s our most straightforward song yet and probably the catchiest stalker-song since Every Breath You Take”. FACEBOOK.

'Fly on Your Wall' is just a little off the wall, if you get my point, which only serves to enrich the song even further. Art pop, retro style and all wrapped up in a modern twist, this is catchy, very catchy.


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The Crowleys - Pink Rainbows.

Background - The Crowleys are comprised of four musicians from Hamilton, ON, who met in high school and bonded over music. When they are not jamming, the boys enjoy looking for an Old Milwaukee Ice sponsorship, playing D&D in the van between gigs, and writing love songs.

The band's thoughts on the song: Pink Rainbows is the first song that we have recorded that we never played as a full band prior to hitting the studio. Cohen wrote the song a while back and recorded a few of the parts, and then the rest of the band kind of wrote and recorded on the fly. It gave a lot of creative freedom and we believe it shows in the final product.

The song comes from their new EP 'Colours Change Their Tone' out Feb 9th. FACEBOOK.

Any band that can go into the studio with a part developed song & use their imagination and improvisation to complete the piece, should be very proud of 'Pink Rainbows' as the finished product!

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Nightmare Air - Ismay - Darling West - Bamako Overground

Nightmare Air - Who's Your Lover.

Background - Nightmare Air has a new album coming out in March to support a full EU tour run with the one and only Gary Numan. Named after a skateboard move from an 80’s skate film, Los Angeles band Nightmare Air emphasizes sonic momentum, during both live performances and in the studio.

Nightmare Air’s Dave Dupuis, a veteran of L.A. shoegazers Film School (Beggars Banquet Records), and Swaan Miller, whose stark acoustic album on Important Records melted hearts and faces everywhere, meticulously layer boy-girl harmonies, pulsing pop synths, psych noise loops and glam soaked walls of guitars. Add to that Detroit heavy hitter Jimmy Lucido on the drums (The Strays/ TVT records) in their combined years of touring, these road veterans have supported heavyweights from Smashing Pumpkins to the The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Previewing the album - “Who’s Your Lover” offers shoegaze as it opens with a post-punk guitar riff which marries the soft, high-pitched string-like synthesizer which floats around as an all important extra-terrestrial layer, as Swaan asks “Who’s Your Lover?” The chorus moves on a thick bed of bass line that the distorted guitar riff and vocals bounce on. “Who’s Your Lover” is an instant modern shoegaze anthem, comparable to Slowdive or The Cure.

Having had a successful year in 2017 headlining clubs, playing festivals around the world such as SXSW and Starry Night Festival, and shared stages with The Kills, The Dandy Warhols and Cat Power to name a few. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Full on and energised 'Who's Your Lover' gets straight into the action with some fine guitar work, a strident rhythm, whilst adding some melody through the gorgeous vocals. Looks like the band will be keeping Gary Numan on his toes during the forthcoming tour!

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Ismay - Oh Precious Light.

Background - Ismay's second single is entitled "Oh Precious Light", following on from her first single "River Of Light". Both songs will be featured on her debut EP 'Songs From A River' out 2/9/2018.

Coming from the coastal hills of Northern California, Ismay is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter drawing inspiration from the natural landscape of the American West. With an ear for an old-time aesthetic and artistry of indie folk, Ismay blends inventive songwriting, ethereal vocals, and dynamic fingerpicking on the guitar. When she is not traveling the western states on horseback, Ismay can be found working on her ranch, collecting the sounds and stories of rural California. From this cultural history comes Ismay’s deep-rooted sound of the New American West.

The creation of Ismay’s debut EP began with a river. After dropping out of college, Ismay (Avery Hellman) wandered from California to New Mexico and up through the Pacific Northwest. During this time she sought out a place of natural significance through which to explore her passion for the arts and the environment. Eventually she found herself on the banks of the Klamath River in far Northern California. It was in this country that Ismay became entranced by the intricate cultural landscape of the Klamath. In the following two years, she embarked on a horseback trip to document the river through film, photography and audio recordings.

In addition, she wrote and recorded five original songs, both along the Klamath with an old cassette tape machine and in a studio above the Pacific Ocean. Ismay worked with producer Tim Bluhm (Sarah Lee Guthrie, Johnny Irion, Nicki Bluhm) and engineer Robert Cheek (Band of Horses, Chelsea Wolfe) at Panoramic Studios in Stinson Beach, CA. The field recordings were produced by Eric Drew Feldman (Polyphonic Spree, PJ Harvey), and string arrangements in Nashville with Brad Jones at Alex the Great Recording (Justin Townes Earle, Nancy Griffith, Yo La Tengo).

Weaving natural symbolism into this coming-of-age story, Ismay’s EP, Songs from a River, explores the way in which a connection to place shapes and parallels songwriting and recording. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We featured the first single back in early December and the second release 'Oh Precious Light' is another really fine Indie folk song. Ismay's vocals shine above a gentle and intricate musical arrangement, the EP can't arrive soon enough.

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Darling West - Loneliness.

Background - Darling West have shared a new video for new single "Loneliness", with their new album "While I Was Asleep" is out Feb 16 on Jansen Records.

The last twelve months of Darling West’s musical career can't be described as anything other than fantastic. Since the release of their second album, "Vinyl And A Heartache", they have played concerts all over the world, been playlisted on the biggest radio stations in Norway, appeared on the Top 100 Country charts in the US, amassed more than 2.5 million plays on Spotify, been booked for the biggest festivals in Norway, Americanafest in Nashville, and won a Norwegian Grammy.

Talking about the video, vocalist and banjo player Tor Egil Kreken comments;  "Loneliness was made by Norwegian movie director Jorunn Syversen. She came out with a fantastic film last year called "Hoggeren", and one of our songs was in the movie. We really wanted to work with her, and she came up with the idea of shooting the video in a house designed by Norwegian architect Sverre Fehn. It was such a beautiful setting! The dog belongs to the people who live in the house, and he turned out to be a great actor." WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Our third feature for Darling West with the new single and video for 'Loneliness' a song that has some delightful Americana charm running right through it, and melodic hooks that just dig for attention.


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Bamako Overground - The Swallow's Tale.

Background - Born in the inspired mind of London’s own Malian rhythm buff, vocalist and band leader Hans Sutton, Bamako Overground have been busily forging a curious new sound. The trio are irresistibly seduced by the music of West Africa, blending its influences overtly and covertly with their own carefully-selected flavours to settle into mystical grooves and rocking desert blues.

Hans plays his distinctive hybrid drum kit, which brought Mandé styles to worldly pop folksters such as Nick Mulvey and Cocos Lovers. He’s flanked by the sparkling guitar of Yaaba Funk co-founder Tobias Sturmer and the hypnotic, heavy bass of folk maestro and Woodburner impresario Theo Bard.

Deep and soulful rhythms meet soaring melodies, while crunching three-part vocal harmonies speak of pilgrimage and placelessness, spinning allegories in Bamanankan and English to complete a brew that’s compelling and utterly unique.

Debut single ‘The Swallow’s Tale’ is quite possibly the most delightful rhythmic folk tale you’ll have heard for some time, with a beautifully hand-drawn animated video from May Kindred Boothby and a promise of more ‘tales’ to follow later in the year Bamako Overground honour the traditions of African music with such abundant joy that it is only right that they go on to become a huge success. Some live dates are below, which you’ll not want to miss as they are as compelling live as on record rewarding each listener with their spiritual Gris Gris grooves, psychedelic desert blues and mystical melodies. FACEBOOK.

Live Dates:
26.1 Prince Albert, Stroud, UK
27.1 The Canteen, Bristol, UK
28.1 The Bell, Bath, UK
2.2 The Harrison, London, UK

Oh this is good - 'The Swallow's Tale' is a must hear song! Mixing West African influences and natural charm, along with English lyrics Bamako Overground create something beautifully unique, and very addictive. 


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Somali Yacht Club - VOWWS - Madeleine & Salomon

Somali Yacht Club - Vero.

Background - Dreamtoned trio from Ukraine, Somali Yacht Club, are going to release their sophomore album “The Sea” on Robustfellow Prods. (CDs and limited editions) and Kozmik Artifactz (vinyls).

After their first LP “The Sun” - which was highly acclaimed both by critics and listeners worldwide and showed the band’s ability to mix styles, create dreamy vibe and submerge listeners into fantastic sound landscapes - the band is ready to continue their musical journey with their next album “The Sea”. Rich fuzz, blended with atmospheric psychedelia, warm grooves and airy leads show the band’s progression both musically and lyrically and once again prove Somali Yacht Club’s inventiveness in blending styles.

Somali Yacht Club is a stoner rock trio from Lviv, Ukraine. The band mixes elements of stoner rock, psychedelic rock, shoegazing and post-metal in their music. Formed in 2010, as a jam band, but evolved to a main band for it's members. BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.

'Vero' is the first of six tracks on the bands 'The Sea' album. It's a good indicator of the quality of this album, where the band drift through rock genres whilst retaining a consistent identity. The energy levels and emotional feeling, switch without notice adding a level of anticipation at any given moment. This should appeal to a wide range of rock fans.

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VOWWS - Esseff.

Background - LA-via-Australia based duo VOWWS share their latest single "Esseff". They explain that "'Esseff' is like James Bond spy music updated for the modern world. We wanted to create a sound that felt like you were being chased by something scary, but enticing". The single is from their forthcoming album Under the World, out 3/2 on Anti-Language Records. VOWWS will also be kicking off their US tour this March, you can find a full list of dates below.

With their new album, 'Under the World,’  VOWWS craft their dark pop masterpiece - a cinematic, stylish and menacing statement of intent. Drawing upon influences as diverse as classic western, electronica, surf rock, metal, and film music, the enigmatic duo weave disparate threads of cultural influence together into a tapestry of drama, imagination and surprising warmth - only to deconstruct them again in front of your ears.
 
Under the World was largely recorded with friend, mentor and engineer Kevin S. McMahon at his New Paltz, NY studio - building upon a symbiotic relationship formed while piecing together their debut, 2015’s The Great Sun - a dirty, grinding and swaying work featuring guest appearances by electronic music legend Gary Numan and Swans’ percussionist Thor Harris.

This time around VOWWS took on a more prominent role in producing and mixing the record, but the timeless influence of McMahon and his weatherworn New Paltz studio/barn is still present. Under the World deliberately eschews any obvious Post-Punk and Industrial tropes, instead allowing space for its stylish hooks, direct vocals and rich textures to shine. It will be released on the band's own label, Anti-Language Records on March 2nd, 2018. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

3.19 - 529 - Atlanta, GA
3.20 - Strange Matter - Richmond, VA
3.22 - Saint Vitus - Brooklyn, NY
3.23 - Meatlocker - Montclair, NJ
3.24 - Geno's - Portland, ME
3.25 - Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA
3.26 - Cafe Nine - New Haven, CT
3.27 - O'Brien's - Boston, MA
3.28 - Casa Del Popolo - Montreal
3.29 - Coalition - Toronto
3.30 - Now That's Class - Cleveland, OH *
3.31 - Deluxx Fluxx - Detroit, MI *
4.1 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL *
4.3 - Reverb Lounge - Omaha, NE *
4.4 - Hi Dive - Denver, CO *
4.5 - Metro Music Hall - Salt Lake City, UT *
4.6 - Neurolux - Boise, ID *
4.7 - Barboza - Seattle, WA *
4.8 - Tonic Lounge - Portland, OR *
4.10 - Old Nick's - Eugene, OR *
* w/ Soft Kill and Choir Boy

Almost a year to the day since we first featured VOWWS they return in style with 'Esseff'. The duo have created an expansive sounding, and very catchy rocker that just oozes atmosphere and plenty of originality.

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Madeleine & Salomon - Swallow Song.

Background - French duo Madeleine & Salomon have just released their album 'A Woman’s Journey' in the USA, along with a little tour on the east coast.

The epic and libertarian duo Madeleine & Salomon embraces with ardor the feminist American songbook. They cover it with loving-kindness tinged with a minimalistic music and with a deep and incandescent chant. Their first album A Woman’s Journey reveals a graceful and unexpected reinterpretation of a humanist and rebellious repertoire from Nina Simone to Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday and Josephine Baker.

Madeleine sings, Salomon sits at the piano. Madeleine & Salomon, a duo with a natural elegance, “less is more” is their essence. This homage to American female protest songstresses is enriched on stage by free improvisations inspired by screened dreamlike short films.

Madeleine & Salomon is the meeting of two artists with well-established musical visions: the pianist Alexandre Saada (Malia, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas…) and the vocalist and flutist Clotilde. Her previous album In Extremis has been ranked #5 NPR annual Jazz critics poll 2013 – Debut album category, US CMJ Week 1300 Top Adds #5 – 2013, #5 ‘Best Jazz’ music category 2011 by the SundayTime.

Long-term friends, they discovered, during a tour of Asia, in 2014, that they shared a common musical aesthetic and decided to form the duo Madeleine & Salomon stamped in impressionist poetry. They took advantage of the invitation of the Melbourne Recital Centre in June 2015 to rethink the American Songbook in their original fashion, and record their first album A Woman’s Journey. BANDCAMP.

'Swallow Song' is just a tiny glimpse of the duo's album 'A Woman's Journey', a little taste if you like, before you devour what is a fabulous album. If your in the mood for original, different and engaging wide appealing jazz centred music, you have arrived at your destination.

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