Last summer Beehive Candy were mightily impressed by Moddi's 'Unsongs' album, and it is with absolute pleasure that we share his new single 'Kriegspiel'. The Maes style of contemporary folk reminds me in part of Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and if that's not a compliment, what is? Eleri Angharad vocals are a delight as are her songs, the two included below being our case in point. From Australia we have Elisa Kate, another singer-songwriter with that something extra, that sets her music apart.
Moddi - Kriegspiel.
Pål Moddi Knutsen reflects on the influence that previous album ‘Unsongs’ had on the new single; “through the work on Unsongs, I learned that when someone wants you to shut up about something, it is usually something important that they’re trying to hide. Therefore, I wrote this song not only to Frode Berg, but to all who become victims of the politics shadow play”
‘Kriegspiel’ was originally written in connection with the performance artist Morten Traavik's exhibition Borderlines, which was removed last year after a few days in front of the entrance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Moddi even participated in the opening with an explicit statement of support to prosecuted Berg.
“I don't care much about what he has or hasn’t done. He has given everything for Norway, and then one should expect that we also stand up for him” says Moddi further.
The trial against Frode Berg will start next week. It is expected that he will receive a long-term prison sentence. ‘Kriegspiel’ is the second single from the upcoming album ‘Like in 1968’, a celebration of the future hope and everyday activism.
Multi-award winning Melbourne contemporary folk outfit, The Maes (formerly The Mae Trio) have released a sweet taste of their new album with the first single 'Treat You Better'.
This new track from sisters Maggie and Elsie Rigby is an exploration of human kindness, respect and trust in others flavoured with defiant optimism, delivered with gorgeous, Australian-accent driven, a cappella harmonies and frailing banjo.
Maggie says "I wrote this song from a place of anger, I was angry about how I had been treated by someone. When I confronted them about it they told me that I was naive, that it was my inexperience that caused me to expect to be treated better. I thought hard about it and decided that I want to hold on to my naivety if that’s what it is. I want to choose to trust and love and expect humans to be kind and generous and brilliant, albeit flawed and struggling along in their own ways. Elsie and our dear friend John Flanagan helped me to finish the song and it turned into a good old cathartic group sing - one of the best ways for humans to exist together!"
The Maes’ upcoming self-titled record (set for release on Friday 3rd May) is a return to the sisters’ folk music roots. Gentle, intimate and conversational, the album is an unadorned showcase of Maggie and Elsie’s superb songwriting as well as honest, relaxed and stunning vocal and instrumental performances.
Swansea-based artist Eleri Angharad is thrilled to announce that her debut album 'Earthbound' will be released through Train Track Records on April 12th 2019. Inspired by a North American road trip, where she performed in Nashville, Greensboro, Chicago and New York, Eleri blends traditional US Country Music storytelling with the catchy melodies of modern Pop, drawing influences from James Taylor, Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift.
Eleri has also unveiled ‘Smokey Steel Lights’ the second single and the latest and third single taken from her upcoming album is an acoustic version of ‘Earthbound’
Eleri has previously gained airplay on BBC Radio Wales, BBC6 Music, Nation Radio and playlisted on BBC Radio Cymru - with her last EP funded by the BBC Horizon's scheme. 'What a beautiful and crystalline voice!' - Adam Walton, BBC Wales
Captivated by Nashville artists, unapologetically spilling their hearts out and telling stories of heartbreak, travelling and coming home, Eleri explores these themes in her upcoming album 'Earthbound'; body of work based on her travels around the US, Ireland and Sweden, co-written with former Catatonia writer and guitarist, Owen Powell and Cardiff based singer/songwriter Naomi Rae.
Tracks include 'This Ship' (October 2018), the story of a stormy breakup, that in its first week gained over 2,500 streams on Spotify. This release also gained Eleri recognition as Swansea Music Hub's Artist of the Week. Her second single Smokey Steel Lights (February 2019) has been described as 'An Americana Dream' by Welsh Sound Board Magazine.
The delightful pop piano invitations of Elisa Kate captivate with her skin deep smoky vocal tone. The warmhearted farm girl strips away the clutter, summoning the light in your soul to awaken. A call to anyone with a dream, Elisa Kate’s latest single, Now or Never invites you on a contemplative journey of personal conviction, that it's time to move out of your comfort zone, and find the courage to follow your own path.
Brought to life at Sydney's Church Street Studios by Emmy nominated producer and original Thirsty Merc guitarist Sean Carey, Elisa's wistful breathy vocals topped with sweet harmonies carry you endearingly through this warm, earthy and engaging masterpiece.
Now or Never's charming hooks, ear catching pop melodies and authentic storytelling are woven together with touches of Ukelele, old school organ, and Elisa’s memorable piano riffs, spurring you to take on that new adventure as the driving pulse builds like a chugging train.
A small town dreamer with a 100 year old piano, Elisa Kate was told she couldn't sing. Little did they know, Elisa gets a kick out of being underestimated, so these comments only strengthened her determination to be an uplifting voice through her music. Influenced by the emotive works of John Mayer and Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Elisa Kate combines her reflective piano style, with her frustration over meaningless pop music, creating an infusion of bright, stirring, hope filled melodies.
'Dowsabel' by Heavy hearts is a refined meeting of dream pop and alt rock, a combination that works exceptionally well. From Edinburgh we have Mt Doubt and 'Unravelling' where polished musicianship and distinctive vocals are notable. Josh Alexander shares a tender modern folk song which is both melodic and beautifully arranged. Our second taste of Wy's promising new album this month, and it comes in the form of 'Tired II', the rest will be released a month today. It's appearance number six on Beehive Candy for Trudy and the Romance whose 50's mutant pop remains wonderful and very catchy. Alice Tambourine Lover round things off today with 'Blow Away' as elements of psych, blues and cool rock come together with genuine feeling.
Heavy Heart- Dowsabel.
Expertly crafted dream pop has become something of a personality trait from London alt-rockers Heavy Heart and in spellbinding latest release Dowsabel their trademark approach is firmly on display once again.
The second of three tracks, mixed and co-produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Gabe Wax (The War On Drugs, Fleet Foxes, Soccer Mommy). Dowsabel provides the ideal follow-up to January release Bed Bug, capitalising on their widespread critical acclaim from the likes of The Line Of Best Fit and Clash.
Heavily touted across the airwaves courtesy of BBC Radio 1’s Phil Taggart and BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, the bustling quartet have become well-known for their dynamic and atmospheric live shows with slots alongside fellow indie risers Another Sky and Honey Lung already ticked off over the last few months.
Touching on the origins of the track, the band revealed: “Dowsabel is an old English word for sweetheart, and this song is about a love affair, but it’s a bittersweet, broken and defeated one. It’s about the jagged edges and the blood we draw; the damager that we do to each other in the name of love. Living in a room filled with dust, dying flowers, and the ghosts of unspoken words, we’re together but alone, too afraid to walk away, prisoners in an unlocked cage”. Produced by Patrick Fitzroy and Gabe Wax, Heavy Heart’s Dowsabel is out now and available via all digital platforms.
Scottish Fiction are proud to present Unravelling, the brand new single from Edinburgh alternative five-piece Mt. Doubt.
Returning with their first new music of 2019, Unravelling sees Mt. Doubt working with producer Rod Jones (Idlewild, The Birthday Suit) at Post Electric Studios, giving the band a fresh lease of life. The single builds throughout with chiming keys and melodic guitars swooning behind rich, warm vocals.
Lyrically the track continues to display frontman Leo Bargery's penchant for societal observations. The song rails against the negative impacts of our phones, social media and the culture of incessant self-documentation whilst yearning for a reconnection with the natural world; sequoia trees, buzzards and all.
Unravelling was be released digitally on all platforms on 29th March 2019 via Scottish Fiction.
The majority of 2018 saw multi-instrumentalist Josh Alexander working as a bike mechanic and finishing his studies whilst residing with his girlfriend in the Netherlands. This time abroad, steeped in the cultivation of story and discipline, nurtured Josh’s expressive power and the emergence of his rousing single Closing.
Closing is a heart breaking exposition into the beauty and pain of long distance love. The struggles with time zones, distance, intimacy and simple connection are expressed with undulating emotion and gospel-like declarations, countered with the delicate moments of reunion and the tender memories that are a made in such a circumstances.
Seeing this song come to fruition was a long time coming. Closing came really naturally to me when I began writing it and I knew I had to use it somehow. My girlfriend and I had been apart for a while, and it was becoming more apparent to formulate lyrics around the struggles of long distance relationships. Peter and I thought we would just do a short acoustic version and smash it out in a day, but 5 days in the studio later, we had a full and final version that we couldn’t have been any happier with.’ - Josh Alexander
Music has always been a vital part of Josh’s life. Whether it was learning to write songs at age 11, or performing in front of various crowds, there was no doubt for him that music was paramount. After spending time in his teenage years learning multiple instruments, such as trumpet, guitar, drums and piano, Josh Alexander began to fully flesh out his musical ideas, bringing them to life modestly in his own bedroom. The result of this was a surplus of 60 tracks, but it was not until he moved to the Netherlands in 2018 that Closing was realised.
Ahead of the release of their highly anticipated second album 'Softie', Swedish duo Wy have today shared a new taster of the record; the sincere and anthemic 'Tired II'. Written about being close to giving up, but pushing through your lowest moments, the spellbinding single is accompanied by a deeply personal video, which was directed by the band's singer Ebba and features both herself and fellow member/lover Michel.
Ebba says of the video, "We filmed it during the fall and winter of last year, which was a really tough time for both of us. I had a job that was killing me, we broke up with our current record label, we fought with our friends, we were forced to leave our apartment and cancel our tour. It was just a lot at the same time. We came up with the idea because we wanted to balance out the drama of the song with something simple and personal, and because of the circumstances the video became really important to us. I get very emotional when I watch it because this is the first time one of our videos is showing Michel how I see him, and how he sees me."
The band's earnest eleven track sophomore album is set for release on 30th April via Hybris/Beatnik, and includes the previously released, BBC 6Music supported singles 'Pavements' and 'Softie'. It follows their debut LP 'Okay', which became something of an underground sensation and garnered the highest praise with comparisons to Slowdive, Cigarettes After Sex and Mazzy Star. The new record is set to further cement their position as one of the most exciting bands around right now.
Trudy and the Romance reveal new single Doghouse alongside a vintage semi-cartoon video in the storied lineage of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Space Jam, directed by Homer & Farley and animated by Thunderpuss (AKA Amber McCall). It’s dropping just after they’re set to let their unique doo-wop sound loose in Austin, Texas, as an official SXSW showcase act for 2019, including a session with acclaimed tastemaker Desert Daze.
The timeless sound is accompanied by a timeless silver-screen theme; regret at a lovers’ squabble, a relatable yearning for putting romantic mistakes right. On this frontman Olly Taylor explains the video as “a noir with vibrant cartoons; troubled ne'er-do-well Little Johnny is lonely and out of luck. Fortunately magic sparks and the wonderful world comes to party.”
It’s the second act in their ride through the mutant 50s pop and self-declared alligator rock-n-roll of their eagerly-anticipated debut album Sandman. Following scene-setting opener The Original Doo-Wop Spacemen it maintains their flair for dreamboat-pop through Spector rhythms, and nods to Jonathan Richman, Louis Prima, Brian Wilson’s wall of sound, film composers Henry Mancini and Bernard Herrmann, and the golden age of Disney.
”Doghouse is our Hollywood thud & number 1 hit in another dimension. Waiting on a lover & always caught in the rain” says Olly, “With glitter on its socks to put diamonds on the soles of your shoes. An all-night fiery dance-floor bop, half way to heaven on the roof of a 7 car pile-up.”
'Blow Away', is the first single off Down Below, a new album by psych/blues/desert rock duo Alice Tambourine Lover.
Wandering between lazy Mazzy Star/Cowboy Junkies atmospheres and more gritty moments reminiscent of Mark Lanegan, the comeback of Bologna-based duo Alice Tambourine Lover lingers on their stripped down psych blues signature sound, this time plunging more on the psychedelic side, still keeping a folk-like authenticity.
Alice Tambourine Lover were founded in 2011 as a side-project of psych band Alix, with five albums released among which Ground, recorded by David Lenci and Good One, recorded by Steve Albini. In 2012 they played All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival, headlined by Neurosis, Shellac, Red Fang, Uzeda.
They have released, all on Go Down Records, Naked Songs (2012), Star Rovers (2013) and Like A Rose (2015), which features two songs by Dandy Brown (Hermano, Orquesta Del Desierto) and John Garcia (Kyuss, Unida, Hermano).
I needed a little break and a whole load of great tunes turn up, so once again I am playing catch up. Not that I'm complaining with songs like 'Hunted' from Luvia, it kind of makes it a pleasure. Cat Princess return with 'Silver Socks', this band are really impressing Beehive Candy right now! Jaws have released 'Please Be Kind' and I will, it's one fabulous song ahead of their album due next week. Deliluh are something else as 'Freeloader Feast' demonstrates, this is an imaginative and addictive rocker. Charlotte Cornfield's 'Silver Civic' is a beautiful singer-songwriter piece that exudes real personal emotion. We featured Far Caspian three times last year and 'A Dream Of You' is just wonderful, leaving me looking forward to hearing more again. Eli Raybon is described as a sci-fi weirdo auteur and that's from his promo, that said give him a listen, it starts to makes sense.
Luvia - Hunted.
Brighton’s Luvia is back with new single ‘Hunted’. Marrying the raw attitude of Mazzy Star with the melancholic pop sensibilities of Billie Eilish and Lana Del Rey, the newcomer has already been turning heads with appearances at The Great Escape, 2000trees & Liverpool Sound City.
Luvia’s haunting cinematic pop provides the perfect sonic landscape for her emotive storytelling. Her vulnerable lyrics tell the secrets that people are too afraid to share and new track ‘Hunted’ is no exception:
“Hunted has a few layers of meaning to it - the first addresses developing and growing as a person. The character starts off quite young and naïve. She’s left to her own devices and starts to 'grow thorns' as she goes through her life making mistakes and growing from them. She then becomes older, 'the lion as she hunts' which represents how life has affected her. She's become fierce and is trying to fill her life up with crazy experiences in order to learn from them and to excite herself. It deals with the extreme highs and lows of life, the desert being the low part and the rain and flood in the chorus being the highs. It brings out a crazy and manic side of her. The feeling is all-consuming, and she gets swept away within that mind set which inevitably leads her back to the desert. Each time she finds that she's more and more developed; she's changed from the rose to a lioness.”
Its accompanying video presents these ideas in visual terms, with Evan Galeano explaining: “I wanted to explore the themes of isolation present in the lyrics. We juxtapose Luvia’s traversal through a barren, almost alien desert with projector images that flicker in and out in a confined space. Luvia’s isolation is a form of growth, a decision to forge her own path. At the end of her journey, she climbs atop a mountain and rediscovers civilization on her own.”
Uppsala quintet Cat Princess formed at a New Year's party and debuted only days after playing at guitarist Robin's birthday party. Singer Nils joined the gang after drummer Victor claimed Nils was "a diamond in the rough" of a front-man. Just as spontaneous as the band's birth are their music. Today the new wave cut Silver Socks is released, the second single from Cat Princess' long-awaited debut album Forbidden Items.
Silver Socks follows first album single Sweet, released in February, and shows the band develop their sound further. Sweet broke about a year of silence from the band since their retro banging single Fly on Your Wall, which was followed by the band's debut London show and a support slot for synth legends OMD. Silver Socks is a fine representation of the band's live intensity and one of the brightest cuts from the upcoming LP which took a majority of 2018 to make. The result is an eclectic art rock mix, equally put together by the bands' influences spanning from 80s new wave to contemporary greats.
The band about Silver Socks: "In essence the song is about the feeling of meeting that one person who kind of soars above it all and who brings you with them on the journey; someone with the alien ability to make you not give a shit about worldly things. We wanted to match that theme in the energy and the melodies of the song. We want the listener leave the ground with us. We all dig late 70:s Bryan Ferry and also wanted to capture his luxurious sound in some way, but make it a bit dirtier and Cat Princess-esque. The result was Silver Socks."
Cat Princess' sound have been crafted since their 2016 debut EP Please Me which received positive reviews from Swedish magazines GAFFA and HYMN, stating that their explosive combination of modern indie pop and 80's art-pop channeled the spirit of David Bowie and Talking Heads. The band later signed to Rama Lama Records which re-released the EP on cassette. The quintet has since the EP shared stage with acts like Pale Honey, Magic Potion and Cloud Nothings as well as playing frequently on the Stockholm indie scene and an international appearance in Copenhagen and London.
Following the announcement of their long-awaited third album, "The Ceiling", Birmingham dream-pop group JAWS have shared a new single from the record entitled "Please Be Kind".
Their third and most ambitious album yet, "The Ceiling" (out April 5th 2019), sees the band head back into the studio with Gethin Pearson, who also produced 2016's "Simplicity". The album represents another musical leap forward for the band, adding new textures and further honing a sound that has been theirs since their inception.
"Please Be Kind" follows the bands latest singles "FEAR" and "Do You Remember?" as well as their propulsive 2018 single and album opener "Driving At Night", which earned numerous plaudits.
Front man and guitarist Connor Schofield has the following to say about the new album and single: “Lyrically "The Ceiling" is generally about feeling a bit lost, I think as you grow up everything feels like its moving along a lot quicker; friends, relationships, life can all seem to move at 100 mph. Sometimes we forget that its OK to stand still for a bit sometimes and actually breathe. A lot of these songs are about dealing with that. Musically I think we’ve surprised even ourselves with it, we’ve gone down paths we haven’t taken before and ended up with something we’re really very excited about.
Emerging experimental art-rock group Deliluh have announced a brand-new mini LP for release on May 3rd via Tin Angel (UK/EU) and Telephone Explosion (CA/US) – ‘Oath of Intent’ comes hot off the heels of a year spent tracking fresh ideas to tape in local veteran’s hall Owls Club. ‘Oath of Intent’ is a summer sibling, one of two albums birthed in the community space, and documents the group in its most cut-throat realisation to date.
Today the band share a first cut from the record, - Freeloader Feast is a visceral explosion, gritty and urgent as it arrives. The accompanying video was shot on 16 mm film in a vacant room of the band’s apartment with friends and neighbours discussing their everyday lives and personal struggles. The negatives were later distressed by members of the band (and nearly destroyed) through various combined methods; boiling, burning, scratching, painting, bleaching and other means of chemical tampering (detergent, window cleaner, ammonia, etc). The results portray the vulnerability of people under the pressures of modernity that escalate out of their control.
Following on from their self-produced debut LP ‘Day Catcher’ (released via Hand Drawn Dracula, 2018), new EP 'Oath of Intent' tells tales that pick apart the conflict and unease within our human makeup, respectively inhabiting its characters and peering through anxious lenses at the past, present and future, with lyrical tenacity and razor-sharp tact. Swift instrumental exchanges are opted in preference to layers or blending, delivering an experience front-to-back like a tight collection of hard-boiled short stories.
Deliluh’s live propensity to ignore the traditional circuit of bars and clubs in favour of unconventional venues has built a reputation at home, and one they intend to maintain. Over the past few years, they’ve given audiences a variety of performances in bakeries, libraries, apartments, and a decommissioned subway platform. They embark on a tour of the UK and Europe this May, with festival appearances across Canada to follow throughout the summer. The band hail from Toronto and have solidified a reputation as a torchbearer for the DIY music community. The exciting post-punk quartet combine drone and experimental music into a fiercely resonating sonic identity.
The group’s slow-burning force is becoming more potent by the month. Foregoing the clean polish of professional studios for living spaces of contextual importance, Deliluh's dedication to thoughtful writing and analog documentation has been a constant process that's kept loyal fans highly anticipating their culminate fruit in this year’s offerings.
Charlotte Cornfield has a new single from her forthcoming album The Shape of Your Name. The video for "Silver Civic" (feat. Leif Vollebekk on the piano) features a subtle, but devastating performance from Charlotte. The whole album features a star-studded cast of collaborators including (but not limited to) Grammy-winning engineer Shawn Everett, and Broken Social Scene members Brendan Canning, Kevin Drew and Charles Spearin.
Charlotte on the origins of "Silver Civic": This is something I think we have all experienced at some point, that association of an inanimate object with somebody, or something – that wave of emotion it brings. And cars, they’re just everywhere. I recorded what I thought was going to be a demo version of this song with my friend Matthew Bailey right when I wrote it. And then I tried recording it a bunch more times with different arrangements but in the end that first recording had the emotion, the rawness.
“You free yourself when you take away the script,” says Toronto songwriter Charlotte Cornfield. “That’s where this record came from, dismantling patterns and embracing the process.” Cornfield’s third full length, The Shape of Your Name, is set to arrive in Spring 2019 via Outside Music imprint Next Door Records. The album has a more honed studio sound than her scrappier 2016 release Future Snowbird, and for good reason: it was recorded in 5 different sessions over the course of 3 years. The songs are her strongest and most striking to date – contemplative and contemporary, funny and heart-wrenching – and they’ve got that stuck-in-your-head-for-days quality that Cornfield is known for. The Shape of Your Name features a star-studded cast of collaborators including (but not limited to) Grammy-winning engineer Shawn Everett, Broken Social Scene members Brendan Canning, Kevin Drew and Charles Spearin, and Montreal songwriter Leif Vollebekk.
Specialising in stylish, college dorm low-key indie, Leeds risers Far Caspian continue to show remarkable progression in latest release A Dream Of You, the second effervescent slice of luscious dream pop taken from upcoming sophomore EP The Heights out this summer.
Emerging last year with their collection of catchy lo-fi gems on hazy debut EP Between Days, and crafting their self-coined ‘melanjolly’ style to widespread critical praise, the trio’s newest output showcases their trademark sound with fresh commercial overtones and a very intentional 80s production sheen.
Discussing their forthcoming single, frontman Joel Johnston stated: “A Dream Of You was the first song I wrote for this EP. It was inspired by some of our favourite synth pop bands of the 80’s and gave us the idea to play with that sort of sound for the rest of the songs. It’s mainly about feeling abandoned whether that’s from a relationship or from friends or family and already knowing that feeling from previous experiences.
The inspiration for the lyrics came from a place where I was thinking about my experiences as a kid. I’m the youngest of five boys and I was always seeking validation and wanted to be a part of the fun. I quickly got used to the feeling of being alone as each brother eventually moved away from home. It made me realise my expectation of others now that I’m older. The more I have conversations with people the more I realise everyone carries something from their childhood with them and at our age it’s about figured out whether it’s a good or bad thing”.
With only a few releases to his name, 21-year-old Eli Raybon has quickly established himself as a sci-fi weirdo auteur. The staunch non-conformist is now priming his most rebellious release yet: a sci-fi concept album called Supertoys.
Raybon’s work is fueled by an unrestricted imagination, born from a serious case of childhood nostalgia. His formative years were spent exploring small-town Mississippi, writing songs, and directing his own Hi8 tape movies. But as he grew, Eli became keenly aware of the sobering realities that faced him and his peers – a conveyer belt existence where they were destined to become carbon copies of their parents. He himself was on route to New York to study computer science and mathematics, before pulling the emergency brake and changing his plans only two days before freshman orientation.
When the dust settled, Eli began recording his debut LP, The Machine & My Dilemma, which documented his desire to jump off the hamster wheel of life. Following its release, Raybon moved to LA to pursue music full time. Never one to flounder, Eli immediately recorded and released two lauded singles. The track 30 Cents was accompanied by an ambitious music video which was screened at film festivals across the country. He soon followed up with Green, an EP that drew praise from Buzzbands LA, Noisey and Paste.
Eli became infatuated with hardware synthesizers and moved from writing material on the guitar to a more expansive pallet on synths. Feeling his new material called for a producer beyond his skillset, Raybon sought the help of synth guru Prozak Morris, who had transitioned from making bass heavy hip hop to calibrating cutting edge vaporwave. The two collaborated on a remix and Eli quickly realized this was the producer he had been dreaming of. They began work on an album, recording from opposite coasts, Eli on the East and Prozak on the West, connecting through frequent phone calls as they slowly pieced their production together.
Some intriguing thoughts and comments from LISA below to accompany 'Primitive Us'. It's a gorgeous song full of melodic hooks whilst individuality brims through. From Rose Ette we have the title track from their 'Ignore The Feeling' album. It's one of nine songs and I have also included 'Skin', between them they give a good feel for bands highly engaging brand of rock. Yesterday Louien released 'Be Forgiven' and it's a fabulous singer-songwriter piece where both her refined vocals and the imaginative musical arrangement are outstanding.
LISA - Primitive Us.
“Primitive Us” is candy coated razor-blades. “Primitive Us” is phoney feelings. “Primitive Us” is dangling carrots. “Primitive Us” is self destruction. “Primitive Us” is winning big and then losing it all.
I think we’re happy to let the wool be pulled over our eyes. To sleepwalk through life a little. But as we all know, wool is hella itchy and at some point those blinders need to come off. I don’t want to know the secret behind the magicians tricks, I want to enjoy the illusion. Consciously purchasing a ticket to the magic show, then leaving it behind once the curtains are drawn and the lights go up.
“Primitive Us” explores the claustrophobic feeling which is sometimes symptomatic of living on the grid in today’s world. Constantly plugged-in, bombardment from every direction, disconnection from ourselves and each other. Lack of control, lack of purpose, mental/environmental pollution, and the realization that what you see is rarely what you get or what you need. This song was written and first demo-ed among the trees, very much off the grid at a cottage in northern Ontario.
What percentage of your day is filled with meaningful interaction vs. distraction? Are we in charge of our lives or just slaves to the inevitable? In order to create, must you destruct?
Rose Ette are a dream-pop meets post-punk band out of Houston, Texas who run their own label Miss Champagne Records and have been putting on shows in Houston for years now building the scene there.
Back in August, the gang picked up a limited run of Ignore the Feeling LPs before their day show at Athens Popfest. Right after their blissful set at Little Kings Shuffle Club, folks piled up at the merch table for a copy, and the line backed up to the patio.
Our protagonists have allured many a crowd in the past three years, jumping on bills with Deerhoof, Fred Thomas, Dressy Bessy, and La Luz, to name a few. Like a heart possessed by either desire or stress (or both at once), these illusionists don’t stand still.
Of course, all love-weary prose aside, Ignore The Feeling simply snaps a deceptively rosy thumbnail of a band in flux. And while Rose Ette might stand up for the silenced lover, don’t expect Vicinanza and her crew to soften their own voice any time soon.
Louien – AKA Live Miranda Solberg – returns with new music in the form of latest single Be Forgiven. Taken from an album set to emerge later this year on revered Norwegian label Jansen Records, Be Forgiven forms part of a new works that explores how the process of mourning and grief can change a person’s outlook. It focuses not only death, but isolation and separation in general. Live’s ability to marry these themes with delicate and intricate melodies make Be Forgiven an immediately rewarding listen.
Live comments on the single; “This is a song that was easy to write, but so hard to revisit. It's about this beautiful moment that never got to grow into something more, and we never got to realise this new turn in our relationship. It’s a song about reconciling with a loved one you’ve been estranged from for a long time. The situation has gotten so complicated that you’ve lost sight of what is really wrong. But then that moment arises when you both realise how much you’ve missed each other, and how much you both have grieved because of it. You let go of the bad things in the past to give way for the love you have for each other.”
About the album, she continues, “Grief allows for beautiful things as well - love and hope, for instance - and you really get in touch with your own feelings. But this album is probably more about the first phase of a grieving process – hopelessness, isolation, anxiety and depression."
It would be easy to get carried away with the multi-national make up of Oya Paya, or even their genre spanning musical styles, but as 'Fly' demonstrates, they make very fine music which is cool enough for starters. The Chats video for 'Pub Feed' is coming up towards 250 thousand views in just five days, it's fun, their music vibrant and full of youthful energy - makes me feel my age and some. By contrast Matt Perriment shares a tender folk song that exudes emotion and feeling. Kate Schell's new album 'Past Present Future' is quite splendid, her singer-songwriter talents shining through, along with her artful musicianship.
Oya Paya - Fly.
Based out of Liverpool, but counting four countries of heritage amongst the three members (Singapore, France, Iran, England) Ashwin, Maxime and Saam AKA Oya Paya are products of both the vastness of the material world and the intimate interconnectivity the internet brings.
Beleaguered by geographical distance after drummer Ashwin ran into visa issues and returned home to his native Singapore, Oya Paya would be forgiven for feeling sorry for themselves. However the three-piece take life’s frustrations and turn them into key inspiration for their music. Belying the troubles, both serious and small, that they riff on their tunes are technicolour sonic affairs, always accompanied by self-designed otherworldly cartoon art and oddball humour.
This being the case, the genre-bending trio cover odes to immigration woes, abused generosity and flying away to escape the 'man' across 6 vibrant tracks on new EP Som. Psych freakouts, skittish poly-rhythms, catchy 90s leaning pop hooks and even nudges to hip-hop make for a ear-opening listen.
This patchwork approach to genre is reflected in the songwriting process. The songs are weaved together bit by bit between the UK and Singapore, or wherever each individual happened to be at any one time. Constrained entirely to their bedrooms, the entire project sticks to a DIY ethos, including artwork and visuals.
With Ashwin available to visit the UK for a few months, Oya Paya have been strutting their stuff on stage once again as a three-piece to acclaim, without the need for fibre-optic cables and WiFi linked projectors. They're celebrating the release with their debut Liverpool headline show on April 11th, at the Zanzibar Club.
The latest single from the Sunshine Coast’s biggest export since The Crocodile Hunter (RIP) is an is an ode to spending the arvo at your sticky carpet local after a long day on the tools, nursing a coldie while waiting for the bistro to open because you’re hanging for a chicken schnitty with chips. Y'know. Relatable stuff. Perfect for your weekend.
Forming in 2016 in their mates bong shed, The Chats quickly came up with a set of catchy pub punk anthems. ‘Smoko’ came first, and mayhem followed. Now reaching over 6 million views, the tune has lead to a whirlwind touring schedule of 2018.
First, a mammoth tour of over 40 dates with drunken uncles and godfathers of grunge, the Cosmic Psychos, followed not long after with a personal request by Josh Homme to open for the Queens of the Stoneage across Australia. According to Homme, he was sent the bands video from Dave Grohl, and watched it a ton of times with Iggy Pop.
Life is strange. The Chats announced their debut tour in the motherland of the UK in October, which much to the bands shock, all sold out in a day. Agents scrambled to move all shows to larger venues, seeing the boys playing sold out shows in infamous rooms such as the Electric Ballroom in London, Academy 2 in Manchester and Institute 2 in Birmingham.
Not bad for a couple of 19 year olds who’ve never been outside of Australia before. With a ton of new material, and what feels like a couple of hundred bloody gigs now under their belt, the boys eyes are set heavily on world domination –as long as the beer is cold and the pies are warm.
Matt Perriment originally established himself in the South England festival scene with his folk-influenced song-writing and emotive lyrics. With rising choruses that nod to acts like Bears Den and Ben Howard, Perriment captures the best of the current indie folk climate without ever sacrificing individuality. After successful debut EP ‘Everlast’, two sold-out headline shows in London and 4 international headline and support tours, Matt Perriment returns with a new single from his upcoming ‘Memos’ EP set for release 22nd March 2019. With support from BBC Introducing, Spotify editorial, and placement in various singer-songwriter charts, Perriment is set to make an impact with his new body of work.
‘Memo’s’ first two singles ‘Oceans’ and ‘Promise’ came out in late 2018 and early 2019 respectively and introduced an expansion of Perriment’s signature sound. The soundscape is bigger, with haunting keys, textured strings, flavours of ambient electric guitar, and vocal delivery that strikes with undeniable sincerity.
New single ‘Distance’ explores the distortion of memory that occurs in the temporal space between a past relationship and the present. As Perriment describes, “Distance is about the way we look at our first love, and how we idealise them in our minds. Seeing them again so many years later, you realise that they are no longer the person you once knew, they’ve changed, they sound different, but yet you hang onto this image of who they once were, despite it all being fiction in your head.”
The lyrics express the difficulty of coming to terms with the change in someone you used to know and having to negotiate your idealised vision of them with the new reality that’s facing you. Musically, the instrumental matches this melancholy sentiment with stirring strings and finger-picked guitars that move in unison with Perriment’s expressive vocal.
Kate Schell is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based out of Chicago, Illinois. The origins of her music are deeply rooted in her varied life experiences. When she was six years old, she started piano lessons and joined church choir. Eight years later, she began writing her own music. This was also the year her brother, Greg was diagnosed with leukemia. Schell turned to songwriting to help cope with her younger brother’s diagnosis. This experience led her to create her debut album, Emptier Streets (2005), which was released under the name “Katherine Schell.”
While in college, Schell garnered many accolades for her work, including winning the prestigious 2005 International Songwriter of the year award benefiting VH1 Save the Music and Billboard songwriting awards. Schell performed the first song she had ever written, “Come to Me,” live on KISS 103.5 FM in Chicago in 2005. She was also a featured national anthem singer for the Chicago Cubs, White Sox and NASCAR races in front of over 400,000 people. Schell graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a double major in music and philosophy. Her music major concentration included classical piano, classical opera and composition. Her style is an eclectic blend of classical, folk and electronica. Some of her biggest influences are Bat for Lashes, Bjork, Emily Haines, Tori Amos and Cat Power.
After college, Schell started a band called “Paper Thick Walls,” who were named one of Chicago’s top five emerging artists by the Deli Chicago and Chicago Magazine. PTW was described as a “sweet miss-mash of influences from Wilco to Sufjan Stevens,” with “a bit of Cursive’s dramatics and a dash of the boldness found in bands such as Broken Social Scene and Arcade Fire” (Loud Loop Press). The band’s 2011 debut record, A Thousand Novels, claimed numerous “Best of 2011” lists and over 150 positive reviews. Following the successful press reception, Schell and the band spent the year touring over 100 cities in the US and Canada, moving more than a thousand records with their own hands and playing with touring bands such as The Lumineers, Company of Thieves, Mutts, Drive by Truckers, Joe Pug and the Smoking Popes. The band played major music festivals including SXSW, NXNE, CMJ, Mid-Point Music Festival and Summer Fest. In addition to the rigorous touring schedule of 2012, Schell played a lead role in a full-length feature film premiering in 2013 entitled “We Grew Up Here.” Schell co-wrote the soundtrack to that film. Schell left the band in 2016 due to creative and personal differences.
After the band break-up, Schell decided it would be best for her to take some time away from the music scene to focus on herself and her writing. This time of reflection led to the creation of Past Present Future, a compilation of songs that were written but not recorded (until now) over the past 10+ years. Our past and present blend to create our future, much like a phoenix dying and then rising from the ashes with a new life. This concept is captured on the album by having some untouched old songs, some untouched new songs and some that fall between the two. Because this structure captures years of her growth as an artist, you can hear the transformation of Schell’s songwriting style change, often within a single song.
It was back in 2017 when we first featured Pocket Of Lollipops and 'Non-Friend Friend' is a welcome albeit brief return with a sub two minute addictive rocker. Lenny Bull shares a slick rocker that fires plenty of hooks along the way. The Spring Peaks 'Coming Of Age' is one very catchy rocker, the video adds even more, and the vibe is wonderful. Just over a month since Grace Aclanda first appeared on Beehive Candy she is back with 'Fuming' where once again her vocals are stunning and the musical backdrop imaginative. Jesper Lindell impresses in a big way with 'Stormy Waters' a beautiful song with more than a hint of Van Morrison which can't be bad.
Pocket Of Lollipops - Non-Friend Friend.
A Pocket Of Lollipops has dropped the music video for their song 'Be My Non-Friend Friend', the title track from their upcoming 6th album of the same name. The album is just released, nd comes as a celebration of the band's 10th anniversary of their first ever performance (at Lisa Rockford's AntiValentines Day Party in 2009).
The psychedelic visuals of the video, produced by Michael Goodson, match the band's Avant-guard aesthetic, fully submerging the viewer in mind-altering stimulus. Just as the band's unique sound explodes conventional expectations, so too does their video, as they continue to expand our creative norms and horizons.
"The song is a meditation on releasing oneself from the ego, and self-consciousness and allowing for playfulness. Break down the barriers you put up; sweat on sunny days with no clouds in the sky, riding horseback with both bullies and friendlies. Reshape your relationship to yourself and others" - Pocket of Lollipops.
With the footage recorded at Kendale Lakes Park & HoundsTooth Cottage, the collage of vibrant colors and tropical images drenched in effects almost induces a palpable psychedelic reaction. Let the video draw you into the band's trippy and tropical scape.
Sometimes mischievous, sometimes provocative, sometimes humorous. The songs I write dive into relationships, getting over yourself, and not taking any bull. “Don’t Talk About It” is a tongue-in-cheek message to anyone out there who’s spreading rumours or talking trash.
It’s a reminder to not be bothered by what people say or think. The “Don’t Talk About It” video was directed by Zeebrah Media’s Ryan Brough.
It’s a day in the life of a very disgruntled, very lazy office employee, who would rather be anywhere else.
It pokes fun at what we have to do to make ends meet, in order to do what we love. With the release of my debut Sharp Teeth EP on April 25th, my band and I plan on conquering the open road - Lenny Bull.
Perth's The Spring Peaks return with new single - 'Coming Of Age' - a jangly yet analytical ode to a troubled relationship. It's the title track to the band's forthcoming second EP which they'll imminently celebrate with a trio of regional WA shows next weekend.
"I know we're talking but are we still talking the same." It's not until you dive deeper into the lyrics of The Springs Peaks' latest single that you realise they're not as fun as they sound. 'Coming Of Age' cleverly runs the gamut of a relationship in turmoil - but spoiler alert - our protagonist emerges with the best possible outcome after the heartfelt message in the bridge.
Produced once again with Sam Ford (Pond, Abbe May), the track packs a punch from the get-go, wearing everything that is great and quickly becoming signature for the Western Australian outfit loudly on their sleeve - hooky, honest and clever songwriting, solid lead guitar, a warm rhythm section and a bold Australian twang in the vocals.
They reveal: "The direction came from our fun nature that we share and just our general positive attitude towards life and bands such as The Creases really inspired us to write classic pop melodies with most of the lyrical content based around the general theme of love and love that has been lost."
Hounslow, London based producer + singer Grace Acladna is releasing new single and video 'Fuming' - lifted from her upcoming second EP Phonophobia. Fusing inspiration from a variety of different sounds and genres including nu-house, soca, electronica and dub; 'Fuming' was written during the aftermath of a breakup between her friend, and her friend's ex.
"There was something quite sinister about the whole thing. This song is my portrait of her - the verses portray the cool subdued exterior and the choruses reveal a pain stricken heart that cloaks itself in fear, rage and envy." Grace said. "She had this aura of contempt and angst that followed her everywhere she went. It was almost like you could smell the smoke coming off her,"
Carefully developing her vibrant experimental pop sound since her last release - ’Phonophobia’ - due for release this Spring via Hometown Records, takes the listener on a journey through the universal themes of love, loss and longing. From the euphoria of the first encounter; the genesis of desire and yearning, the heartbreak of rejection, to the dark abyss of loneliness, sensuously revealed above techno-house-pop rhythms.
The video for 'Fuming' was co-directed by Grace, and her friend C.O.M.M - and was inspired by an un-released Henri George Clouzot film called 'Inferno'. Speaking a little more on the inspiration behind the video Grace said: "He [Clouzot] did endless test shoots using kinetic art to find new ways of portraying character's emotions, playing with light and different filters to show the actor's descent into delusion. The film is about a man who is convinced that his wife is cheating on him, which sends him spiralling into envy induced madness. Not only is it visually beautiful but the theme of the film had similarities to the sentiment of the song - which is also why it inspired my vision for the video."
Jesper Lindell debuted with the EP ”Little Less Blue” which contained the hit single ”Moving Slow” featuring the Swedish sister-duo First Aid Kit.
The EP was produced by the duo’s father Benkt Söderberg and was well received by music media. ”Mowing Slow” was featured on multiple Spotify-playlists and has today streamed over 3,1 million times.
2019 he is back with his first full-length album. In the coming weeks, three singles will be released before the album reaches the listeners in May. The first single "Stormy Waters" from Lindells debut album is out today.
“It has been a long process. My first EP took almost two weeks to record. This time, I really wanted to spend time in the studio - to experiment and develop" - Jesper Lindell.
Madelline gives us her background to 'Ghost' just below, I would add it's a dreamy indie pop song and her vocals are beautifully soulful. We featured Magnetic Skies for the first time in January and they have followed up with 'I Am Your Friend' a smooth lush synth rock piece. With dual vocals and a feisty rock vibe Gaffa Tape Sandy have been getting plenty of attention and 'Headlight' is a good example of why. Andrew Rinehart's 'They Say' is accompanied by a very personal video, a wonderful companion for the nine minutes of absolutely gorgeous music. 'These Wicked Things' is the title track and one of fifteen songs on Beat Circus's new album, an epic collection of tracks as typified by the featured piece, a small glimpse of the whole. JW Riley has released the very impressive 'Homesick' where genres blend together, to create a mixture of rock sensibilities with a clear individual identity. Lucky 757 share some delicious rockabilly music with all the swagger and class associated with this timeless and natural rock and roll music.
Madelline - Ghost.
“Ghost” is an anthem for embracing solitude.
The song was initially formed as I felt overwhelmed by loneliness. It’s about emptiness – being surrounded by people but not feeling understood, listened to, or seen. It’s about social anxiety. It’s about feeling unwanted.
Stefano Pando produced the track, and we arranged it as we went. I went into the studio with a rough melody to freestyle over. I think freestyling is awesome because it lets a lot of things come up from your subconscious.
If you feel anxious or lonesome, I hope that “Ghost” comforts you. It’s okay to be a lone wolf, but remember you are never alone with your feelings. Life is about making peace with your journey - Madelline.
Madelline is a singer and songwriter from Connecticut currently living in Montreal.
Synth-rock band Magnetic Skies’ debut EP, “Dreams And Memories”, was released yesterday via ReprinT Records.
Magnetic Skies formed in early 2018 when singer-songwriter Simon Kent and vocalist/programmer Jo Womar were commissioned to collaborate for a one-off arts/charity live show. During rehearsals the pair discovered that they had a common love for electronic music and mapped out dates to experiment with writing songs for a potential band project. Simon’s latest solo album had received airplay on national radio, and live shows included touring with established artists like Echo & The Bunnymen, Emma Stevens and The Christians - but things went so well that he decided to take a hiatus to concentrate on the new project.
Simon says, “the Magnetic Skies songs took on a life and direction of their own, everything just flowed. Although I had a great band and backing at radio, sometimes you just have to follow your instinct and your heart. And this is where my heart wants me to go.”
Songwriting over the summer resulted in a selection of songs ranging from melody-driven electronic pop to atmospheric ambient songs which form the basis of 3 EPs the band will release in 2019, with a full-length album to follow. Jo says, “writing the songs has been a really exciting adventure! I have a really cool collection of analogue and digital synthesizers, which are the foundation for the tracks. Simon can play a bit of everything, so he was able to contribute keys, guitars and bass to finish everything off.”.
Raucous garage rockers Gaffa Tape Sandy announce their signing to acclaimed indie label Alcopop! Records and share pulsating latest single Headlights, the first track taken from the band’s forthcoming EP dropping this summer.
Marking the start of a whole new chapter for the Bury St. Edmunds outfit, Headlights showcases the trio’s brand of high-octane rock ‘n’ roll in remarkable style, spearheaded by the playful dual vocals of Kim Jarvis and Catherine Lindley-Neilson and ably supported by a relentless rhythm section and crescendo of epic punk riffage.
“We wrote Headlights as an open embrace to anyone who finds it hard to talk about their mental health, and to serve as a reminder to check up on your loved ones in this busy stupid world”, the band stated. “We wanted the back-and-forth vocal play to feel and sound like a conversation, a playful way of communicating a message that we believe in. It’s important to be lovely to one another, and the people who have been lovely to us are the people who inspired this song”.
Heralded as one of NME’s 100 Essential Acts for 2018, the rising trio have developed an impressive live reputation supporting the likes of Indoor Pets, IDLES and Peace, whilst much-lauded displays at Glastonbury and Latitude (BBC Introducing) have lead to a slew of festival appearances (including The Great Escape and Truck) being lined up over the coming months.
Andrew Rinehart and his former romantic partner Rachel Len Cary had a wildly tumultuous 2-year relationship. After a lengthy separation, and an agreement to stay on their separate paths, the two eventually decided to collaborative on a music video for one of Rinehart’s songs (’They Say’), interspersing actual archival home video / cell phone footage from the early days of their relationship with present day / post-breakup footage shot by their friend Danielle Bartley. The intention behind making the video together was to find some sort of closure.
Video made by Andrew Rinehart, Rachel Len Cary and Danielle Bartley. Cover artwork made by Greg Sheppard.
Rinehart is a Louisville, KY native who has, for the last 5 years or so, paid his dues bouncing around the usual bigger-city zones. He was one of the original 10 founders of the influential Body Actualized Center in Brooklyn, and more recently threw shows at Basic Flowers, a DIY space in downtown LA which Ariel Pink co-funded. Now on the verge of exiting the purgatory of grad school, Rinehart is currently in the process of releasing a series of singles (“Off On A Roll…” being the first), all of which explore the inscrutable ups and downs inherent to that age-old pleasure/torture device: love.
These Wicked Things is the fourth release from the determinedly eclectic Boston-based band Beat Circus and the final installment in singer/multi-instrumentalist/composer Brian Carpenter’s “Weird American Gothic” trilogy. The record bridges a number of disparate genres including experimental music, cowpunk, post-punk, Mexican folk music, mariachi music, and Italian giallo soundtracks. The cover and booklet include a 18-page graphic novelette by renowned Croatian artist Danijel Zezelj, best known for his live paintings, multimedia, and collaborations with DC Comics/Vertigo.
Brian Carpenter formed Beat Circus in 2002 shortly after his arrival in Boston and since then, he's been the ensemble's guiding light and sole constant member. He has recorded or performed with Swans, Kronos Quartet, Colin Stetson, Marc Ribot, and Roswell Rudd, and collaborated with producers Martin Bisi (Dreamland, 2008), Sean Slade and Bryce Goggin (Boy From Black Mountain, 2009). Returning on These Wicked Things are drummer Gavin McCarthy (Karate, Thalia Zedek Band), bassist Paul Dilley (Reverend Glasseye), and guitarist Andrew Stern (Brian Carpenter & The Confessions). Relative newcomers include violinist Abigale Reisman (Tredici Bacci), violist Emily Bookwalter (Ghost Train Orchestra), and multi-instrumentalist Alec Spiegelman (Cuddle Magic), all three of whom worked with Carpenter on The Barbary Coast in San Francisco.
These Wicked Things began in Berkeley, California when Carpenter was commissioned by the Berkeley Repertory Theater to compose music and lyrics for Dominic Orlando’s play The Barbary Coast in 2014. Based on the true crime book by Herbert Asbury (Gangs of New York), The Barbary Coast detailed the violent rise of San Francisco in the late 1800s. The play centers around Joaquin Murieta, the real-life inspiration for Zorro, a Mexican who went on a notorious revenge spree after his wife Rosita was killed by gold miners. Two versions of “Rosita” and some incidental music from the play are included.
After recording These Wicked Things with Beat Circus at the legendary Q Division Studios in Boston, Carpenter flew out to Tucson, Arizona to mix the record with esteemed producer Craig Schumacher (Calexico, Neko Case, Giant Sand.) Carpenter worked with Schumacher previously on his singer/songwriter outing The Far End of the World (2015, Accurate.) Special guests on These Wicked Things include trumpeter Jacob Valenzuela of Calexico, bass saxophonist Dana Colley of Morphine, and guitarist Stephen Ulrich of the NYC guitar noir trio Big Lazy.
Whilst co-habiting as a property guardian in South London, JW Ridley had to use what little space and time was available work on his music; as he explains “the building had these strange little rooms so I would go and record demos in them whilst no one was there”. New single Homesick (Out the Blue), the follow up to recent acclaimed single Glass Eyes, was written in such snatched moments.
An Arthur Russell and Radiohead by way of krautrock inspired post-punk shuffle, it’s a track with an emotional density that builds throughout, and another example of the expressive, cathartic song-writing that’s seen him labelled as one of London’s most exciting artists.
Matching the sense of geographical dislocation there’s an element of psychological contrast behind the song’s meaning too, “it’s about the things we hold on to or the things that never really leave us”.
JW (AKA Jack) has slowly built up a canon of emotive and immersive songs. These have caught the attention of Huw Stephens, Zane Lowe, Lauren Laverne and Steve Lamacq on the airwaves, as well as tastemaker tomes Stereogum, DIY, Wonderland and more.
Portsmouth, VA-based, modern retro quartet Lucky 757 would make the founding pioneers of early rockabilly proud, aggressively pushing the genre forward with a combination of chops, passion and innovation.
The band formed in 2014 around core songwriting team of father/son duo Danny (rhythm guitar and backup vocals) and Cory (lead vocals and lead guitar). Wielding their twin Gretsch guitars, Danny and Cory deliver the classic hollow body sound, drenched in Copycat tape echo, and aided by the vintage rockabilly rhythm section of Sam Haga (bass) Angel Lopez (drums). Together, they’ve canvased Virginia and traveled down the coast, playing alongside The Screaming Rebel Angels and opening for Reverend Horton Heat, tearing up big stages such as the Gretsch stage at Lake Havasu Rockabilly Reunion (NV), and the Rats Nest Run Inn (NY), and the Americana Music Fest (Virginia Beach).
They released their debut self-titled album in 2015 and quickly followed up with a second LP, tracked in a feverish all night session at Sun Studios in Memphis. Both releases were praised by the rockabilly community and found airplay on international FM stations. Their 2018 release, the Surf Rock instrumental album Lonesome Lagoon, found acclaim among the blogosphere, eliciting hipster hang tens for its deep cultural excavation of banana palms, gogo boots and Ennio Morricone scores.
Feeling their attention sway back to the well-calibrated rockabilly that first got their pistons pumping, the band endeavored to capture the newest embodiment of their evolving sound by heading back to the legendary ‘room’ at Sun Studios. They tracked three new songs, holistically, in raw and raucous live takes, laced with banging piano lines, courtesy of Matt Jordan, the key player for Rev. Horton Heat. The resulting album, Memphis Sun, is a delectable slice of rhythm and ooze. A twangy ode to the long-lost vibes of early rock and roll, distilled into a glowing little EP that begs to be savored, like the sunset over the Mississippi River.
