Loaver - Lauran Hibberd - JJ Cale - Café Spice

Loaver shares a dreamy dark pop song that is beautifully atmospheric and irresistible. Lauren Hibberd makes her fifth appearance on Beehive Candy as the Isle Of Wight artist once again impresses us with a fabulous alt rocker. With the first posthumous album for JJ Cale due in April we have the first track and a really fine video accompaniment for one of musics true legends. Cafe Spice treat us to a mixture of gorgeous vocals & harmonies above a simple and beautifully matched musical backdrop.

Loaver - Out Of Town.

Malmö, Sweden, based singer-songwriter Linnea Hall started her solo project Loaver with a desire to be able to showcase all sides of her experiences and inspirations. The music that will be released as Loaver’s debut EP - experimental, smooth and dark pop at its finest - was written and recorded in Italy during 2017, in close collaboration with artists such as Giovanni Ferrario (PJ Harvey, John Parish etc.), who produced the tracks, and Emanuele Maniscalco. Through the six tracks we’re drawn between the uttermost boundaries of emotions - love, hate, dreams, doubt, chaos and naivety.

Apart from Loaver Linnea is also active in Malmö based band Kluster, a band that released their debut album, ”Civic”, on Rama Lama Records in June 2018.

Last month Loaver released the single "Therapy" - a track that got critical acclaim from Swedish and international media. "Out Of Town", a dreamy, slow building track, is out on all streaming services.


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Lauran Hibberd - Sugardaddy.

Kicking off 2019 with pulsating new anthem Sugardaddy, Isle Of Wight newcomer Lauran Hibberd sparkles in her latest release, moving further towards the forefront of the UK’s emerging indie landscape with aplomb.

Generating widespread acclaim throughout the online community (The Line Of Best Fit, The 405, Clash) in 2018 with her first few releases, in addition to extensive support at BBC Radio 1 (BBC Introducing Track of the Week), the rising talent’s expertly crafted blend of indie pop has already earned plenty of fanfare with her reputation certain to grow further over the next twelve months.

Recently named as one of Huw Stephens’ Top Tips for 2019 and confirmed to support US indie rockers Hippo Campus on a full UK/European tour this spring, plans are certainly shaping up nicely for the young musician whose off-kilter style has already earned comparisons to Courtney Barnett and Weezer, as well as lyricism reminiscent of acts such as Phoebe Bridgers and Soccer Mommy.

Detailing her upcoming release, Hibberd stated: “There’s a million love songs, but my dream is to live in a world where there’s a million songs about stuff like wanting a sugar daddy. I guess it’s a joke, it’s like wrapping bubblegum around depression. The idea stemmed from life being life, I have sort of a twisted humour so at some point my brain came to this as a comical solution. I wrote this track with Boe Weaver, my trusted day one producers. Don’t be alarmed”.

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JJ Cale - Chasing You.

Because Music will release 'Stay Around', the first posthumous album by beloved songwriter, guitarist, and singer JJ Cale, on 26th April. 'Stay Around' is compiled by those closest to Cale, his widow and musician Christine Lakeland Cale and friend and longtime manager, Mike Kappus. Because Music today released the official video for the album’s debut single, 'Chasing You', featuring footage of Cale touring (which he seldom did) and performing across the U.S. The video is a breezily bittersweet glimpse at the life of the artist who died in 2013 and left behind a vital, resounding legacy.

Cale spent his career as an “under-the-radar-giant” (New York Times) and influenced musicians as wide-ranging as Neil Young (who wrote in his autobiography, “J. J.’s guitar playing is a huge influence on me. His touch is unspeakable. I am stunned by it.”); Beck (who, speaking to the L.A. Times, referred to his “effortlessness…restraint and underplaying” as “very powerful”); Eric Clapton (who, in his autobiography, called Cale “one of the most important artists in the history of rock, quietly representing the greatest asset his country has ever had”); and many, many others.

All tracks on 'Stay Around' are previously unreleased, a fact that’s not unusual considering Cale’s modus operandi: often Cale would reserve outtakes from one album for later release on another. Mike Kappus, who managed Cale for 30 years and has worked with his estate since his passing, explains, “‘Roll On,’ the title track of Cale’s last studio album, was 34 years old. He would burn me CDs of demos, and one time I said, ‘You’ve got two good albums on here.’ Some of the tracks had detailed information, some of them had nothing. Some songs might be a full band of his buddies, others were him playing everything. These were songs he really did intend to do something with because they were carried to his typical level of production for release.”


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Café Spice – Bn2.

Bn2 (short for ‘Ballad number 2’) is the stunning second single to be released from new Manchester trio Cafè Spice. Taking the gorgeous Autumnal harmonies found on their debut single Lauren to a whole new level, the group’s soaring vocals on new track Bn2 are nothing short of exquisite.

Testament to their collective vocal prowess, the startling harmonies contain both a power and a velvety ethereal grace and are layered atop a gorgeous melody, acoustic guitar plucked and gently stirring. The sound is effortlessly sublime indie-folk that brings to mind contemporaries such as The Staves or HAIM.

Equally as emotive as the melody and vocals is the song’s heart-warming message of hope and comfort to a lovesick friend. As Cafè Spice explain: “(Bn2) was written for a friend struggling with unrequited love: a song of sleepless nights and swirling thoughts… ‘You’re half asleep but in your mind your fingers tie and unfold’”.

Cafè Spice are Georgia Gage, Eleanor Lang and Niamh Feeney. After spending time performing live around their hometown Manchester, the trio visited British Grove Studios, London to turn several live favourites into future singles with more to be released throughout 2019.

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Klara Zubonja - Babyteeth - The Stone MG's - Wes Hollywood

Klara Zubonja - The Winds Of Life.

Klara Zubonja, an alt-pop singer-songwriter who forms a distinct sound of her own, prepares to ascend with her latest single The Winds Of Life. Since the release of Klara’s debut album Stuck Between in late 2016, her sound has continued to grow and evolve, leading to Zubonja’s brand new EP Eye To Eye.

Like the entirety of the EP, The Winds Of Life is also about meeting oneself eye to eye, facing all facets that lie within, and learning how to go with the flow of it all. The track ventures into the contrasting aspects of oneself; the light, the dark. The song expresses various tempo and time signature changes, as Klara explores and reminds you of those ups and downs in life, but also nudges you to ride the wave, and let those winds of life carry you far.

“It’s about having the courage to face yourself, gently, and learn to flow, despite it all. Remembering that it’s okay to have darker days and darker aspects of yourself, and accepting that in yourself. It’s all part of the bigger plan, if only you trust within it.” - Klara Zubonja

The Melbourne artist approaches pop’s light-footed bop with underlying hints of experimental soul, jazz and psych. Immersed in traditional Croatian singing and dancing culture from a young age, she moved to Melbourne to study a Bachelor of Music degree and found success amongst National and community radio with her debut album Stuck Between in 2016.

Klara Zubonja draws inspiration from her eclectic background in European folk music and combines this with her broad knowledge of various contemporary and independent musical traditions. A world exploding with colour, conceptually theatrical and thematically provocative, The Winds Of Life rises amongst the heady realms of emphatic and intelligent alt-pop and secures her as a contemporary of Montaigne and Jaala.

Alt pop seems to cover a lot of bases however 'The Winds Of Life' fits that label almost perfectly. Melodic & with plenty of hooks, the intricate musical backdrop and Klara's remarkable vocals add the "Alt" doing so with especial beauty.


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Babyteeth - Cocoon.

The new single from Babyteeth "Cocoon", is the third from the London based 5 piece, who with every release gets stronger and bolder.  Another banger, it follows the success of "Shame" which saw them garner new fans in Radio 1 and Kerrang Magazine, who featured the band, not once, but twice in so many months. 

Influenced by grunge and punk rock and inspired by strong female artists and role models, "Cocoon" arrives to rock the alternative world with Babyteeth’s signature guitar sound. Reminiscent of your best loved 90's rock bands, yet filtered through huge, exhilarating modern production, Babyteeth are certain to become your new favourite band for 2019 and beyond.  The new track not only makes an audio statement but a strong lyrical one to boot.  "Cocoon is about how we’re sometimes addicted to making bad choices because they’re the more exciting. It’s also about how powerful it can be to decide to feel gratitude for all the shitty experiences, as they’ve turned you into a stronger version of yourself. It’s about personal rebirth, and remaking"

These sentiments reflect in the bands video. In order to contribute to the eerie dark feeling of the song, it was shot in black and white, inside a 70’s time capsule- like, retro workingmen's club in North London. The video features various imagery around the theme of death and rebirth  -"Lot's of it is hidden if you take a closer look", says the band, which will prompt you to watch it over and over. Babyteeth loved getting to “destroy a load of stuff”, despite it resulting in two of the members setting themselves on fire accidentally!  Never give a band a can of lighter fluid is the real lesson here.

The video also hints at just how explosive Babyteeth are live.  It's no wonder they were Live At Leeds 'Ones To Watch' and have supported the likes of The Naked and Famous and The Pearl Harts. The band is in demand and will finish the year as fast and furious as they started it when they support Adam Ant at a sold out Roundhouse in Camden on the 19th December.

'Cocoon' opens with a slacker rock feel before powering up into something far more potent as Babyteeth display some impressive rock and roll credentials. The video works as intended, certainly giving me some 70's London pubs and clubs flashbacks, those were the days eh?


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The Stone MG's - I Need You.

Rodney James and S.J. Warman would make great neighbors in the country, where the effort of respect is as easy as a passing nod on a dusty backroad. In a Hells Kitchen fifth-floor walk-up, they would eat each other alive.

Personalities clashing like two cars on a dim lit street make The Stone MG’s what they are. On one side of the fence is a fierce reverence for the story; The other prays to the piety of performance. But they come together in a room where Otis Redding and the MC5 find common ground. Regardless of where you find yourself, all they ask is that you listen close, and maybe, just maybe, if they’ve done their job, you’ll understand what they’re all about.

 ’I Need You” is about addiction. The song takes us on the journey of addiction as it takes over, corrupting and distorting reality for the user. When Rodney James sings “Shelter undercover,  desire never satisfied,” the background vocals personify the persuasiveness of the addiction: “If you scream you love me, I’ll be your whore and give you the only thing worth dying for.

I was fascinated by the "Otis Redding and MC5 finding common ground" expression mentioned in the promo for 'I Need You' and it actually makes sense. Soulful vocals and primal garage rock vibes collide and combine wonderfully, this almost pleads to be played over and over!


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Wes Hollywood - Dynamite.

Wes Hollywood has a new album out and it's Dynamite.

Imagine Ray Davies and Elvis Costello having a punch-up in the front row of a Cheap Trick concert... 

it's exactly what your thinking... 

explosive Midwestern Power Pop steeped in 60's British Invasion and 70's New Wave.

Additionally, the surplus of hits spilled over onto an equally Amazing four - song e.p. You might even hear traces of The Cars, Bram Tchaikovsky, The Plimsouls or John Lennon.

'Dynamite' comprises of twelve tracks that have everything Wes Hollywood suggests in his brief resume above. Gorgeous sixties vibes some notable seventies new wave influences are all present and it is fair to say given a refined twist where pop sensibilities cram in endless hooks.

The vocals lend themselves to the musical styles, this is good music that deserves a large audience and plenty of attention.

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Eerie Wanda - Elliot - The Rev

Eerie Wanda - Sleepy Eyes.

Eerie Wanda shares new single "Sleepy Eyes." Eerie Wanda is the brainchild of audio and visual artist Marina Tadic. Born to Croatian parents in the former Yugoslavia, Marina became a political refugee when she was just 6 years old. Forced to leave their home due to the Bosnian war, Marina’s parents sought asylum in the Netherlands- which is where Marina grew into an adult, became an accomplished artist, and where she still resides.

Her second LP, Pet Town is an exercise in isolated creativity. Using minimal recording techniques, Tadic shapes these ten songs from sheer intuition, while drawing inspiration from solitude. Although her two bandmates Jasper Verhulst and Jeroen de Heuvel are each relatively close geographically (residing in Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Nijmegen), the band decided to record each of their parts alone, in their own homes. And weave the songs together remotely, like pen-pals making a quilt. "I've written the songs in a period of my life in which I was feeling quite alone. I wanted the recording process to feel like that too", says Marina.

Anchored by Tadic’s wistful lyrics and self possessed vocal delivery, these songs take on a stripped down, spectral quality. Mixed by producer Jasper Geluk, the album is perched in warm, homespun sounds—live drums are replaced with handclaps, finger snaps, and a Roland-CR 78 drum machine, enhancing the music’s tactile and intimate headspace.

Tadic is still left guessing how Pet Town came to be, exactly. “I wrote the songs over a period of time spent inside my shell, and I needed that time. Not escaping it brought me a lot of growth.” Like some mysterious shamanic voice from the future, Eerie Wanda hushes turbulent peaks and valleys into a comforting, deft equilibrium. “I love to think I'm connected with some other dimension which sends me the songs and I can catch them if I'm in the right zone.”

A week ago we shared 'Moon' by Eerie Wander and hot on the back of that we have the new single 'Sleepy Eyes'. Musically stripped back the focus is totally on the vocals and even when the rhythm kicks in the singing adds melodic hooks to this simple yet creative track.


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Elliot - Best Eastern Motel.

Whether its pizza, burgers or anything else you can pick up during a late night binge, chances are that Elliot has a song to sing about it. A self-professed lover of all things fast and edible, the Stockholm-based frontman has already made a powerful name for himself throughout the year, largely thanks to his wonderfully wistful singles ‘Am I In Love Or Just Hungry’ and ‘Trade Burgers 4 Love’, and now returns to unveil his long-awaited new album ‘Fast Food Musik’, released last week via Icons Creating Evil Art.

Inspired by the LA art-pop scene, channelling artists such as Ariel Pink and John Maus, the frontman looks to create a warped and wild journey on his latest full-length. Filled with psychedelic synths and an abstract sense of humour, the new release sits as a satire towards modern society. The fast food representing the culture of instant gratification, where we are filled physically but not spiritually. His nods to the 60s era throughout this new album act as a fawning to return to a more enlightened time, looking instead to fill our minds with a higher understanding of the world around us, all while remaining so affectionately in love with greasy and instant delights.

Explaining himself and his ideas behind this release, the frontman added, “Maybe it is hard to discern anything other than detached irony from many of the tracks on the album. But in retrospect, the ’fast food’ subject matter was a guarded metaphor for toxic aspects of my personality, my vices and generally my self-loathing. It’s tough to deal with these subjects upfront when your head is swarming with self- harming thoughts and anxieties, so it was a necessary storytelling device for me.

“That being said, making songs about burger grease is a great way of distancing oneself from the rest of the local scene, where life-altering subjects like depression and love are ’brought to you by Adidas’.

“Nowadays, it’s not an open-ended question anymore. I’m well fed, just a tad overweight, and in love. I listen to this song with the person I wrote it to, who I am now back together with. She plays many roles on this album to which I’m the antagonist - and is likely the reason why I wrote it in the first place.”

With mysterious and intriguing voices and vocals 'Best Eastern Motel' has a haunting vibe that becomes quite addictive. Musically the piece swirls around adding greater depth and texture, this is one that's gonna get a good few more plays.

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The Rev - El Diablo.

Country music harkens to a certain level of independence, grit, and lawlessness of the open land. Arizona outfit The Rev bring together a cast of seasoned musicians, led by singer-songwriter Eric Meyers. Their debut single "El Diablo" comes as a seriously deep first cut, blending southern rock, classic and alt-country, as well as "outlaw swamp stomp", for an irresistible boot-stomping tune and savory taste of what's to come.

“We thought we should introduce ourselves to listeners with "El Diablo" because everything we do is rooted in country music," shared Meyers. "We get right down in the swamp and conjure images of the archetype outlaw and the soundtrack to accompany it. Country and southern rock are in our DNA, so "El Diablo" came naturally. Those genres are the platform upon which The Rev builds out our sound. We were raised on it."

In writing "El Diablo", Meyers shared his inspiration to summon up a heavy, nostalgic-inducing piece. "I had this feeling in my gut calling me to a bygone era and its mystique, but I knew I wanted to set it in a modern context. I had to shut out a lot of noise to get to that place and basically wall off today, to get to yesterday. As a writer, you not only get to suspend reality, but you have to. It allows the imagination to run wild." "El Diablo" evokes a vision of dirt roads, rowdy bars, and the unspoken rules of a lawless land. Even on first listen, it brings a sense of familiarity, drawing you in with a mesmerizing manner.

The track was brought to life as Meyers presented his foundation and lyrics to the rest of the band - composed of Frank Monaco (lead guitar), Josh Rozenboom (second lead guitar), John June (bass), Chris Chambers (drums), and Mitchell Leonard (piano/keys). Ciera Kamp would later join on backing vocals, transforming the track to an entirely new level with her contrasting vocals playing off of Meyers. "Our process lends itself to surprises because everyone brings his or her own sensibility to each song, independent of the rest," said Meyers. "I showed up with "El Diablo" as a skeleton—the tune, the chords, the lyrics and my imagination. As we always do, everyone created their own part from the ground up, no direction or heavy-handed leaning one way or another." They recorded with Josh Rozenboom, of SER Soundworks in Chandler, AZ.

Gritty, mean and totally natural 'El Diablo' is a mixture of Southern Rock and raw Country Rock. The vocals add the grit, the gorgeous background harmonies add some refined southern swagger and the band deliver seasoned and exquisite rock and roll. 


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Locks - Perhapsy - Katey Brooks

Locks - The Hangover Song.

Locks are a London based alternative skeletal strings bluesy band, made up of L.Geary-Griffin (lead vocal / guitar), Mike Byrne (double bass), Marian McClenaghan (fiddle) and Andrew Marvell (drums).

This song is us having a bit of fun, we’re not all doom and gloom. We wrote it in the same vein as The Gin Song, in a sense it’s The Gin Song’s big brother. We released The Gin Song a couple of years ago and was also one of Steve Lamacq’s ‘Best of the year so far (2017).

The Hangover Song is what it says on the tin. It’s an old school, knees-up, foot stomping track, we want to explore a different style which we’d hinted at before. The lyrics are still quite dark and morbid but the music drives the track towards something more playful.  We have a lot of different roots in our band and it’s nice to explore them and experiment with different styles. We wanted to explore a bit of the Trad element and a bit of the classic shanty style, we wanted to have another track which was a bit more light-hearted and fun to play live: we love seeing people dancing and laughing. The drums are classic Locks and tribal which keeps the momentum up, Marians fiddle takes a bit of centre stage here which is a mixture of bowing harmonies and melodies, it carries the song perfectly. Mikes double bass flits from sliding, sleepy notes at the start to dancing all over the neck.

The Hangover Song digital release 21st December 2019, Skeletal Blues & Rattle Them Bones! EP available now.

Live Dates:
14th December, 2018, The Harrison, London
8th January, 2019, The Bedford Tavern, London
28th January – 3rd February 2019, Independent Venue Week (TBC)
4th May, 2019, Electrowerkz.

It was 'The Gin Song' that introduced Beehive Candy to Locks and since then I'm always keen to hear them whenever something new comes along. 'The Hangover Song' is a feisty number considering hangover's are best served in low light and silence. So consider this more a "hair of the dog" song, or even better enjoy it in good health and jig along, it's not one to sit back to....

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Perhapsy - Neverending Story.

In case you missed it, Perhapsy's new record, Kingdom Starlight Bliss, is available everywhere! The record's been praised by national and local outlets, and the band is currently nominated for The Deli's Artist of the Month alongside other Bay Area breakouts like Rose Droll and Small Crush. We're so thrilled to see all the love coming in for this generous collaborator, and would appreciate any help in spreading the word!

For years now, musician slash graphic artist Derek Barber has bounced around Michigan and Bay Area music circles, making a name for himself with his jazz inflicted, inimitable guitar work. Currently a touring member of both Bells Atlas and the new Christopher Owen band, Curls, as well as a contributor to Madeline Kenney and Astronauts, etc., Barber has somehow found time to craft dense, emotion filled shoegaze pop under his moniker Perhapsy.

Vinyl is available through Porch Party Records, the boutique Southern California label that's championed influential West Coast artists like Religious Girls & Golden Drugs.

'Neverending Story' gives us a little taste of 'Kingdom Starlight Bliss' a collection of songs that stand in equal measure to this track. The guitar playing is impressive, the material is innovative and the hype is based on the quality that Perhapsy provides, rather than folk jumping on a bandwagon.


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Katey Brooks - In Your Arms.

The new single from Katey Brooks entitled ‘In Your Arms’ highlights her authentic musicianship, with soulful choral vocals, warm instrumentation and ethereal soundscapes, the track evokes a sense of intimacy between both the artist and the listener.

Katey Brooks is a clear-eyed rebel in an industry that demands consistency. A devastating songwriting talent that has drawn comparisons with Jeff Buckley (Supajam), Brooks has no shortage of famous admirers and yet she has resisted formula. Over a career spanning four continents, she’s journeyed from intimate living rooms to opulent concert halls, from dive bars to decorated studios with some of music’s biggest names. The wandering troubadour defies easy classification, with a back-catalogue incorporating soul, folk, blues and country. With her new album under construction, the mercurial songstress is more determined than ever to do things her own way. Applauded by the press, this ‘rising singer-songwriter has the crowd eating out of her hands’ (The Independent) and is simply ‘not to be missed’ (Time Out). To watch her sing live is to witness emotional exorcism, but when you know her backstory, it’s hardly a mystery why.

Growing up inside a cult, as a child Brooks found refuge in song. "It was a very chaotic upbringing, full of some pretty colourful and sometimes unsavoury, characters. But when I sang, I felt free and connected. For as long as I can remember, it’s been my way of getting what I need to say out”, she reveals. When she was sixteen, she turned down a spot at the Brit School, the performing arts college where a lot of the UK’s biggest musical exports – Adele, Amy Winehouse, Katie Melua – hail from. "When I was 22 my mum got ill and she died. And then not long after that, my lifelong best friend went missing and she also died. That’s definitely had an effect on the course of my life and my writing. I guess I’m lucky that I have songs that I can write, as a means to deal with things”.

All of these hardships seem to have driven, rather than dragged Brooks under. "Pain just reminds me why I sing," she says. "And not just for me; for everybody. They say in a funny sort of way musicians are like therapists," she muses. "Because music is a universal language. Everybody has experienced some kind of heartache, especially in relationships, and music allows us to purge these feelings." Brooks has certainly had her share of romantic turbulence, not to mention the struggle to come to terms with her sexuality. “In my most recent work I’ve finally been able to sing directly about women instead of using the mysterious ‘you’. I’m a private person in a lot of ways and I never wanted to be a poster girl for anything. But a few years ago I just thought screw it; I want to sing completely honestly. It felt like a weight lifted.”

Less than two weeks since Katey Brooks first appeared on Beehive Candy she returns with 'In Your Arms'. We commented that her vocals were "blissfully inspiring" first time around, an expression I feel is endorsed by the new song, and you can add gorgeous production and fabulous background vocals to the description for this one.


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The Persian Leaps - Young Robin

The Persian Leaps - Time Slips.

Power pop/indie rock band, The Persian Leaps have just shared a new video, created by Rouse Productions for “Time Slips” the lead single from the recently released album Pop That Goes Crunch. “The Persian Leaps” began as a phrase singer/guitarist Drew Forsberg doodled in a notebook margin during a college Greek Archaeology course. He wrote music independently under that name for years, until finally assembling a full band in 2012 to perform and record driving, chiming music influenced by My Bloody Valentine, The Smiths, Guided by Voices and Teenage Fanclub.

The Persian Leaps have adhered to a disciplined schedule of concise releases: each fall bringing an EP of five songs totaling fifteen minutes or less. In 2013, the Persian Leaps released their debut EP Praise Elephants, which NME Magazine described as a “celestial guitar jangle”. The band completed a follow-up EP Drive Drive Delay in 2014, praised by XS Noize for its “instantly catchy melodic harmonies layered on top of droning guitar.” In 2015, the band released High & Vibrate, an EP championed by The Big Takeover for its “big-time hooks, upbeat attitude, classic power-trio punch.” 2016 saw the release of Your City, Underwater, which earned a spot on The Big Takeover’s Top 30 EPs of 2016. In September of 2017, the band’s fifth EP Bicycle Face was delivered yet again to fan and critic praise. Named for a 19th-century medical condition concocted to scare women away from biking, Bicycle Face was described as a “perfect power pop cocktail” by 50thirdand3rd.

This year brings the band’s first full-length release titled, Pop That Goes Crunch, an 18-song “best of” anthology. With 17 remixed/remastered tracks, and one new single, it marks the end of an era, while celebrating and revisiting some of The Persian Leaps best work. It is available now via Land Ski Records.

'Time Slips' is the third song we have featured by The Persian Leaps in as many years, this time around we have a new video (the lead single) from their current album. The trio serve up another glorious helping of power pop with plenty of natural rock and roll edge, something they consistently do with apparent ease.


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Young Robin - Spaces.

Young Robin drop blissful new single 'Spaces' accompanied by a video. Young Robin are progressing so fast that it's exciting to watch – anticipating what they're going to do next, only to have those expectations surpassed. A band with an innate knack for hooks, Young Robin craft a beautiful sound that is somewhere between blissful indie and dance floor anthems. Fittingly, their latest single, the mesmerising Spaces, is both. Equal parts groove and melody, Spaces is the follow up to single U from the band's stellar EP, Transitions.

Built upon a rhythm you can't sit still to, Spaces is a delight for the ears with its perfectly-placed layers of delay-soaked guitar, bass, and effortlessly smooth vocals by both Jed Begho and Ben Teune. Playful and euphoric, Spaces feels like summer in Perth – as if the band have distilled the excitement of their beautiful hometown down into a singular burst of energy.

This is due in no small part to award-winning producer Andy Lawson, who has sculpted the Transitions EP masterfully – capturing the band's energy like lightning in a bottle. Bringing each vivid layer of the band to life, giving every instrument its perfect place in the mix, the combination of Young Robin and Andy Lawson has allowed each song to reach its full potential. Transitions is the band at its best and the remixed single Spaces elevates their sound to a new level.

Less than a month ago we shared 'Faker Faker' from Young Robin and they quickly return with 'Spaces' another bright refreshing indie song where every element shines through with aural delight and a fine new video that adds even more sparkle (we're starting to sound like a washing powder advert so I will leave it at that)....


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Psychic Love - The Differents

Psychic Love - One & Two.

"One & Two is a restless song about how communications bend and warp, especially in this new frontier, where nothing is as it seems." The term “dream grunge” is not one that’s used often...unless you’re describing Los Angeles band Psychic Love. Fronted by “queen of the underground,” Laura Peters, Psychic Love embodies the true meaning of indie rock wholeheartedly.

Self-described as Nirvana Del Rey, Psychic Love’s first EP, “The Hive Mind,”  has garnered exciting critical acclaim. Noisey dubbed the release “one of the more promising and refreshing debuts in a sea of staple LA psych and surf rock.”

Laura isn’t just a front woman. In 2015, Peters started the underground venue Vega’s Meat Market out of a converted Echo Park storefront (it was once a butcher shop), and co-founded Play Like A Girl, a music collective that presents a monthly, all ages showcase at The Echo, featuring female and female identifying acts.

Whether it’s bringing the underground music world to the forefront of Los Angeles culture, or creating addictive pieces of music, Laura and Psychic Love are a lifeline to the alternative music scene in Los Angeles.

The description Dream Grunge makes more sense having listened to Psychic Love and is ably demonstrated with the new song 'One & Two'. Melodic pop sensibilities are immersed in a deeper musical surrounding where they cleverly combine, add in a coach load of hooks and you have a very creative piece.

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The Differents - It's All Too Beautiful (album).

Guitarist and vocalist Lou Hallwas (Penthouse Sweets, Decoy Prayer Meeting) started The Differents with some high school buddies in Chicago’s Norwood Park neighborhood in the early ‘90s and current drummer Dan Garrity joined the band in 1994. 

Hallwas and Garrity were then joined by Gary Stier, who took on bass duties and began writing new material with the group, in 2015.

Over the years, the band has played hundreds of gigs, have opened for the likes of Wayne Kramer and Soul Asylum and released three albums before their long-awaited fourth LP, It’s All Too Beautiful, which was recorded by Adam Yoffe.

Their music has strong roots in 60s and 70s R&B and rock ‘n’ roll and has drawn comparisons to The Who, Small Faces and The Replacements.

As albums go 'It's All Too Beautiful' packs plenty of variety. From fully fledged natural rock and roll through to more refined slower pieces The Differents have come up with a selection of songs that keep you guessing what's next in store. The musicianship is highly crafted, the vocals lend themselves to pretty much all the styles the band create. Yes there are comparisons as mentioned above, yet this feels original and the music is fresh and consistently catchy.

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Calva Louise - Team Picture - Tullycraft

Calva Louise - Tug Of War.

London punksters Calva Louise share gripping new single Tug Of War, the third track taken from their debut album Rhinoceros out 1st February.

Laying down a firm marker within London’s raucous punk scene over the last 18 months, the rising trio have since earned support slots alongside the likes of Albert Hammond Jr, Spring King and Anteros and recently finished an extensive UK tour with label-mates The Blinders.

Bursting with ferocity in their trademark anthemic style, Tug Of War encapsulates everything that’s come to be expected of the band. Silky guitar work, biting vocals and infectious, chaotic riffage takes centre stage and only adds to their growing reputation heading into next year’s debut LP release.

Discussing the video, the band stated: “We feel like in any kind of relationship there are unwritten rules everybody should follow, and that becomes a constant tug of war, dealing with unnecessary pressure. If everybody could have a complimentary point of view, then that tug of war could be a fun game where there are no set rules”.

We have featured Calva Louise twice this year and the new song 'Tug Of War' makes it three. The trio once again provide us with an energised punk come garage rocker, where the vocals add some melodic refinement whilst the music just crunches on with exuberance. The video adds a little humour as this London band continues to impress.


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Team Picture -  Clone You.

Leeds-based six-piece, Team Picture have just shared their new track, ’Clone You’. Co-produced with Chris Mulligan (Treeboy & Arc, WH Lung), the track, which was initially penned during the band’s infancy, arrives as part of a AA-side alongside ‘Bedroom Genius’ which is due for physical release as a limited edition cassette via Big Dumb Music (DSP launch for AA-side set for January 18, 2019).

Speaking about the release, guitarist JL says: “‘Clone You’ and ‘Bedroom Genius’ are two songs dating from a period when we were still experimenting with different sounds and lineups which would culminate in ‘RECITAL'. It's the sound of us trying to reconcile our fondness for floaty waves and chunky guitar habits: of a band in the infancy of trying to educate themselves away from popular alt-rock tropes.” The AA-side release acts as the first piece of music from the band since the 6 Music-supported mini-album, ‘Recital’ which arrived earlier this year, produced by Matt Peel (Autobahn, Eagulls, Menace Beach). News arrives ahead of the band’s headline at Leeds’ Hyde Park Book Club on December 7, 2018 (tomorrow).

“The focus of the lyrics wasn't dwelt upon much at the time, but in hindsight, they both feel like they're about loneliness. Something I only really realised when Rufus Newell (designer) sent through his ideas for the artwork.”

Since forming in late 2016, Team Picture have earned praise at Radio 1, 6 Music, Radio X and BBC Introducing, as well as opening for the likes of Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Parquet Courts, The Orielles and Trudy & The Romance. Earlier in 2018, they released the mini-album, ‘Recital’, before embarking upon their debut headline tour, ticking off a stop at Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club and further festival dates at The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City and Hit The North. The band are set to return to the studio in the early stages of 2019 with view to releasing more new music throughout the year.

It's our third Team Picture feature this year with new song 'Clone You'. Once again the band explore different musical territory with a creative and notable style, the vocals are outstanding the mood a little dark, the overall experience is hypnotic and gorgeous.

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Tullycraft - Passing Observations.

Tullycraft debut their first single/video "Passing Observations" off their upcoming 7th album "The Railway Prince Hotel" due out on vinyl & CD on February 8th on HHBTM Records. Tullycraft is known for writing indie pop anthems. Over the years they've penned a handful of songs that practically define the twee movement in America.

While the mainstream has largely ignored Tullycraft, their status in the indie pop underground is undeniable. Formed in 1995, they are considered to be one of the genuine pioneers of the American twee pop movement. Touring relentlessly during the last gasp of the truly independent indie-underground, they influenced countless young bands. They were once called “the Johnny Appleseed of Indie Pop - making their way across the country, leaving new bands, promoters, zines and record labels to sprout up in their wake." In recent years the band has stopped performing live, instead shifting their focus to their personal lives, while still writing and recording music together.

The Railway Prince Hotel is Tullycraft’s seventh album, their first since 2013’s Lost in Light Rotation. This new batch of songs sees Sean Tollefson and Jenny Mears continue to share most of the vocal duties, while long time musical stalwarts Chris Munford and Corianton Hale create most of the music. It would be selling Tullycraft short to say that The Railway Prince Hotel picks up where their last album left off. These new songs have a modestly different sound, somewhat due to the fact that long-time drummer (and original Tullycraft member) Jeff Fell, doesn’t make an appearance, but also because of the fresh approach the band took to recording this record. Equipped with lyrics, vocal melodies and rough bass lines (provided by Tollefson) the band composed many of the new songs from the ground up in the studio. This was an untried approach for Tullycraft. The result is an extraordinary album of 12 ultra-catchy, whip-smart gems that take aim at everything from failed relationships to the danceability of Billy Joel songs.

Throughout the album the music has an exciting urgency which is likely attributed to both the band’s spontaneous recording process and the enthusiasm each member brought to the new material. Are the wonderfully snarky, self-referential indie pop lyrics still here? Of course they are, this is Tullycraft after all. A deep dive into the lyrics uncovers an embarrassment of obscure indie references to be discovered. It’s hard to imagine a band or artist genuinely hitting their stride on their seventh outing, but much like Achtung Baby (U2’s 7th album) or Blonde on Blonde (Bob Dylan’s 7th album) somehow Tullycraft has hit the sweet spot between deliberate and daring. The result is a truly great batch of songs. With standout tracks like “Passing Observations,” “Has Your Boyfriend Lost His Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?” and the much too short “Lost Our Friends to Heavy Metal” – the question needs to be asked: Could The Railway Prince Hotel be Tullycraft’s true masterpiece? Honestly, it very well could be.

The second of twelve tracks on Tullycraft's seventh album due next February is 'Passing Observations' accompanied by a clever cartoon video. It's a good representation of what to expect from 'The Railway Prince Hotel,' where the band seemingly tear their way through the album with some highly original indie pop songs, that consistently have the bands unique and adorable sound.


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Fox and Bones - Fanclub - Margot - Every Kid Knows

Fox and Bones - Better Land (album).

Based in Portland, OR, these internationally touring sweethearts aren't your average duo. Rather than simply documenting their experiences in song, Sarah Vitort and Scott Gilmore write from the perspective of quasi-fictional characters. There’s Fox, a down-and-out it girl, and Bones, a rootless orphan bad boy with a heart of gold. The two fall for each other, decide to hit the road, and never look back. The characters, as well as their real-life counterparts, use music as the canvas on which they paint a new life together that defies traditional relationship roles and life goals. Their music is ripe with vocal harmonies that pull at the heartstrings and a complex, at times metaphysical, lyrical landscape. Each element serves their stories of a life lived on the road, in pursuit of a dream that most never have the courage to chase. Live, they give audiences a peek into their world and challenge them to believe in life, adventure, and modern love.

 In the fall of 2017, the two began working with producer, Dominik Schmidt, and engineer, Matt Greco of The Rye Room, looking to evolve and add more mainstream pop elements to their quiet, folky sound. The first effort by the new team was the single “Love Me Like a River,” which quickly made a name for itself in Portland and beyond. The song debuted on Portland’s Kink Radio, and was met with positive feedback from fans and press alike. 

Over the last year, the duo has continued to work with Schmidt and Greco on their sophomore effort, due out fall of 2018. The album, titled Better Land, will introduce fans to a whole new iteration of Fox and Bones that was teased with “Love Me Like a River.” It’s a sound with rocking drums, grooving baselines, and melodies that are catchier than ever. But don’t worry, those who fell in love with Fox and Bones for their simple, harmony-driven songs will not be disappointed. Better Land has something for everyone, appealing to the adventurous spirit in all of us. Gilmore and Vitort continue to manifest the lives they want to live through song, encouraging listeners to dream as big as they have.

In the small window of time that they aren’t on the road, Fox and Bones has also founded Portland’s Folk Festival, which sold out in its first year and continues to grow. The two aim to create culture and camaraderie around folk music in Portland, bringing musicians and music fans together in a lasting and mutually beneficial way to celebrate Portland’s thriving folk scene.

Comprising of eleven tracks Fox and Bones new album 'Better Land' is a highly likable affair. Dual vocals and harmonies are just part of the pedigree for this duo, along with this you can add well written and constructed songs and plenty of variety. Drifting from modern Americana or folk through to indie rock and pop, this original set of songs are all available to stream below, as they take you on musical journeys in all directions.

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Fanclub - Stranger.

Austin, Texas’ newest band Fanclub share their new single ‘Stranger’ on December 5th, taken from the band's forthcoming debut EP to be released via newly founded Berlin based label Friendly Reminder.

Fanclub is Mike Lee, Leslie Crunkilton, and Daniel Schmidt from Austin, TX. Fanclub began from Mike's love of twee pop, synth pop, and dreamy guitars. He searched for a vocalist, and when Leslie started singing on a song, it became clear that her voice would be the drive of the band. The songs are dazzling, both melancholic yet upbeat. Fanclub gives us a sound that is hopefully nostalgic but also distinctly brand new.

The new single ‘Stranger’ follows on from the release of 'Reflection' and is a catchy synth-driven slice of dream pop, and another display of the band's penchant for writing songs that incorporate beauty and pain into a lo-fi, melodic aesthetic.

To cap off the year, Fanclub are performing shows in their home state of Texas in the lead up to their debut EP 'All the Same', which will be released in early 2019 and will be followed by a showcase at SXSW.

"'Stranger' is about falling out of love. Even when it’s obvious what is happening, there is the instinct to try and maintain the illusion that everything is okay. This song is positioned at that devastating moment when a decision is made, and you have to learn how to continue loving. The last line “Now let it go, we’re all the same. We’re all, we’re all, we’re all the same” removes blame, and joins us all in the shared experience of love and loss." - Leslie Crunkilton.

'Stranger' is a catchy dream pop song that rocks along as both the vocals and synths vie for attention. With some post punk and eighties vibes this is nonetheless fresh and feisty music.

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Margot - Coffee Stained Scars.

Margot are slowly becoming masters in imbuing their hazy, insular guitar lead dream-pop with a subtle drama born of a close eye on the minutiae of modern human existence, lending their music an unflinching authenticity. Characters, and relationships between them, are imagined to create a voice through which vocalist Alex Hannaway can express his personal thoughts, derived from his own social experiences and engagement with politics.

Inspiration for latest single Coffee Stained Scars came from a scene in Greta Gerwig’s coming of age film Lady Bird – in which a mother’s drive between work and home is the only time in her day when she’s not serving others, creating a time of contemplation.

“‘Coffee Stain Scars’ is a middle-aged man’s wet-traffic-ridden journey, and his partners anxiety regarding his mental fortitude.” explains Alex “I’ve had experience with adults of that age stoically withholding information in regards to their mental health and I’ve seen how this can affect friends and family. It’s desperation, it’s unconditional love, and a hope that things can turn around.”

This is a theme set to continue through Margot’s work, this being the first of a triptych of singles revolving around  characters in differing situations relating to mental health. Citing influence from various art-forms - Emily Dickinson’s poetry or John O’Hara’s unvarnished realism to The Smiths and Coronation Street – Margot’s loving treatment of kitchen-sink drama blurs the lines between high and popular culture.

Self-produced once more in the band’s own studio space, not beholden to time or financial pressure, the band’s relentless DIY approach enables a perpetual artistic process, agile to accommodate their evolving thematic interests.

Melodic guitars and some distinct and highly engaging vocals ensure that 'Coffee Stained Scars' stands out in the crowd. There is a laid back indie rocker feel at times and the musicianship is slick and considering the DIY production this is a beautifully produced song.

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Every Kid Knows - Spinning Jenny.

“The River Fowey is a magical place. From the small wharf in front of the Fisherman's Arms in Golant we took a small boat with our guitars and amps and drum cases downriver to the creek where Sawmills Studios lies buried in the woods. Down there you only hear the birds and the stream and occasionally the iron rattle of the Mineral Railway. You can't see any other houses. You can switch the world off and start looking for something - it's Heart of Darkness in reverse.

And it was important that we went there to make our album. I wanted to reconnect to some innocence, some lost spirit of pop music that has been written over by the ones and zeros. I wanted to record everything in a single take – I didn't even know whether it was even possible to make a record like that anymore. I wanted the music to be alive - not the digital plug-in facsimile of being alive. Spinning Jenny was one of the first tracks we recorded in the I’ve days that we were there. We'd performed the track a hundred times live. I had recorded a great demo that was really trippy but a lot slower. This was a chance to let it fly.

We did three takes and the third take was a spiritual experience. Tom Joyce, the engineer, asked us if we wanted to have another go. We were all just giggling, overwhelmed by what had just happened in the last four minutes. I knew that if we did a thousand more takes we'd never get close again. It was a great moment. I can't say too much about the song. It came to me like a dream – something over which I had no control. The words just wrote themselves. I like the idea of a rickety wooden machine that comes along and kickstarts a revolution. I like the idea of a girl who just blows your world apart. I like the idea of evolution and wheels and music that comes around and makes sense of where you are.

Back in Den Haag we met up with Caitlin and Jana from Glitterstudio and spent a freezing cold day on the beach. I said I wanted the video to be colourful and crazy. They kept asking me what the song was about and I kept saying I didn't know. It just felt right.” – Dylan Rippon, Every Kid Knows. The featured single will be released online by Hero Rhymes With Zero on 10th December 2018 and is a taster of the band’s debut album expected next year.

Due out on Monday the brand new single entitled 'Spinning Jenny' is a gorgeous and somewhat psychedelic sounding piece. It's oozing melodic hooks and the vocals add that psych vibe, considering this is a taster for next years debut album, it looks like we may be heading towards something rather special.

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Cold Collective - Frederick the Younger - Ocean Potion - Eerie Wanda - Jacko Hooper

Cold Collective - Don't Forget To Leave.

MA's Cold Collective, the latest project from Tim Landers (ex. Transit, Misser, Off and On) has released a new single and video. Cold Collective started with Tim Landers, some guitars, a drum pad and a laptop. Tim, whose previous acts include Transit and Misser, wanted to return to his roots and the things that made him fall in love with music. After writing non-stop day and night, Tim recruited Paul Debenedictis (November 5, 1955), one of his favorite drummers growing up in the North Shore Massachusetts music scene, and they went into the studio with Jay Maas (Dropkick Murphys Title Fight, State Champs). They emerged with Cold Collective’s debut album, Bachelorette Party.

Bachelorette Party is fueled by dark times in Tim’s life where he says, “I spent a lot of time trying to understand human instinct, and myself.” Through the process of writing the album, Tim came out with a clean slate and new ambition. The result is an album comprised of 10 tracks that spit out pure emotion.

Tim has been writing ever since. After recently opening up about his struggles with addiction and mental health, he is back with "Don't Forget To Leave"- a self- produced, honest ballad.

"I've met so many amazing people on this journey, and it kills me to know other people struggled as I have. It's a song about putting the fear of opening up aside. It's about being comfortable with yourself" - “Bachelorette Party" was recorded with Jay Maas (The Dropkick Murphys, Title Fight, State Champs, The Menzingers).

Subtle synths, a pacey beat and some engaging vocals make 'Don't Forget To Leave' a hook laden track. The video adds some more charm to this vibrant indie type rocker.


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Frederick the Younger - Everyone’s Changing.

Frederick The Younger's unreleased song "Everyone's Changing" has just been shared. Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, some of Jenni Cochran’s earliest memories are of writing songs. Returning to the USA after working in Vietnam for a few years, she met Aaron Craker (guitar, keys, vocals) who was performing with his band Dr. Vitamin. 

The two immediately bonded over their shared love of Elliott Smith and The Beatles. They formed Frederick The Younger a few years later, releasing their first full length record “Human Child” in 2017.

The band is their bond, formed on groovy garage pop, soulful vocals, a hint of Broadcast and 60s pop with a modern twist. 

There is an earnestness to their newest songs on a forthcoming EP, due out early 2019, that rings true - the kind of sincerity born from experience. These songs feel alive and well-lived, tragic, nostalgic, beautiful, and contemplative, all with a solid hook.

Feature number five for Frederick the Younger so clearly they are creating something that strikes home for Beehive Candy. 'Everyone's Changing' has a natural live feel to it (helped by the music video no doubt) and thankfully it hasn't stayed unreleased for to long.


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Ocean Potion - Lights Out.

Ocean Potion are super pleased to tell you that our self-titled, debut album will officially be out today Dave Azzolini (Forces) and Jay McCarol (Brave Shores) will round out our live band as we plan to tour Ocean Potion throughout 2019.

“Lights Out,” the second single to be shared from our debut LP, started from a riff in A6 to Amaj that alternated back and forth in a hypnotic way. Most of the melodies came from improvising over these chords.

The lyrics are partly inspired by an old radio drama of the same name, Lights Out. The show always started with the same, ominous phrase: Lights out everyone. It is later than you think. After laying down the basic framework, we took it on a journey and gave it that dreamy sound with a thick groove.

Ocean Potion is the result of a burgeoning friendship, so it’s no coincidence that it’s a persistent theme throughout the album – a reflection of the good vibes that were happening while creating it.'

Well Ocean Potion are clearly pleased with 'Lights Out' and for good reason as this is a beautiful song! On the strength of this I really hope today's album release is gonna get some well deserved attention, and some!

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Eerie Wanda - Moon.

Eerie Wanda is the brainchild of audio and visual artist Marina Tadic. Born to Croatian parents in the former Yugoslavia, Marina became a political refugee when she was just 6 years old. Forced to leave their home due to the Bosnian war, Marina’s parents sought asylum in the Netherlands- which is where Marina grew into an adult, became an accomplished artist, and where she still resides.

Her second LP, Pet Town is an exercise in isolated creativity. Using minimal recording techniques, Tadic shapes these ten songs from sheer intuition, while drawing inspiration from solitude. Although her two bandmates Jasper Verhulst and Jeroen de Heuvel are each relatively close geographically (residing in Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Nijmegen), the band decided to record each of their parts alone, in their own homes. And weave the songs together remotely, like pen-pals making a quilt. “I’ve written the songs in a period of my life in which I was feeling quite alone. I wanted the recording process to feel like that too”, says Marina.

Anchored by Tadic’s wistful lyrics and self possessed vocal delivery, these songs take on a stripped down, spectral quality. Mixed by producer Jasper Geluk, the album is perched in warm, homespun sounds—live drums are replaced with handclaps, finger snaps, and a Roland-CR 78 drum machine, enhancing the music’s tactile and intimate headspace.

Tadic is still left guessing how Pet Town came to be, exactly. “I wrote the songs over a period of time spent inside my shell, and I needed that time. Not escaping it brought me a lot of growth.” Like some mysterious shamanic voice from the future, Eerie Wanda hushes turbulent peaks and valleys into a comforting, deft equilibrium. “I love to think I’m connected with some other dimension which sends me the songs and I can catch them if I’m in the right zone.” Release date: Friday, January 25th 2019.

A tasteful teaser for January's album release comes in the form of 'Moon'. Soft and gentle and brimming with melodic hooks, this bodes well for what's to come next.


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Jacko Hooper - Trust In Me Always.

Jacko Hooper’s new video is for his excellently poignant ‘Trust In Me Always’ from new EP ‘Together We’re Lost’. Together We’re Lost is the third EP release from Brighton singer-songwriter Jacko Hooper. Following a year of writing and taking a step back from performing live, Jacko returns with an EP written and recorded from his bedroom with the help from life long friend and Producer, Josh Trinnaman (Whose mixing credits include Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, RY X and his own Brighton-based IDM/Jazz/Electronic outfit Luo).

With a limited edition run of CDRs available via Jacko’s boutique record label and promotions company Folklore Sessions, there is, as always with Hooper’s releases be an opportunity to not just stream the record digitally but get something much more personal which his devoted army of followers will enjoy once again.

Recorded off the back of Folklore Vol.1, a 4-track EP released with fellow musicians and friends Bess Atwell, George Ogilvie & Oktoba, Together We’re Lost tells a story of personifying emotions and situations that Jacko has found himself in, especially over the last year. A constant inner dialogue between his fears, anxieties and ‘logical thinking’ soon turned into words and melody that found themselves needing to be expressed, sticking with what Hooper is most well known for - true emotion and honesty.

Back in November we shared 'The Long Road' which led us to comment "Jacko Hooper can really sing, in this case with notable sensitivity and feeling." The new song and video 'Trust In Me Always' is another majestic and beautiful piece, yep this guy can sing and create fabulous music.


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Small Forward - Lydian Collective

Small Forward - Tearjerker.

While attending college in Los Angeles, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Michael Stevenson and Rounak Maiti converged on a desire to collaborate and meld their love of Americana and pop music. Informal bedroom jam sessions resulted in hours of demos, constructed from the duo’s rudimentary yet textured take on songwriting. After condensing their work down to four downtempo, home-recorded songs, they self-released an eponymous debut EP in 2014. From hazy, forlorn atmospheres to more heart-on-sleeve folk, Stevenson and Maiti worked with Campbell Scott (bass) and Nick Waldram (drums)  to craft rich, full band arrangements.

From 2015-16, Small Forward began developing their live act, playing with a full band across the Los Angeles area. During this time, they began recording The Moon You Stand On, the band’s debut full-length album. Here, Maiti and Stevenson’s lush, folk-inspired ideas were rounded out by a prominent rhythm section, Scott’s dulcet bass tones dot Nick Waldram’s jazzy, intrepid approach to percussion and drums. Together, the four wrote, recorded and produced the album entirely in their shared home, over the better part of a year. Self-released in October 2016, Deli Mag described the album’s sound as “timeless, teeming with multi-layered guitars and chugging beats that lend a uniformity to their quietly resplendent melodies.”

The band began recording another project, Affections, in early 2017. They channeled 70s psych-rock and AM pop with the first single, “The Reservoir”. The release was met with praise from Gold Flake Paint and Buzzbands LA, the latter describing it as a “soundtrack to (their) reverie.” The resulting collection of 6 songs, released on Forged Artifacts in October 2017, saw left-turns and plenty of new texture, decorated with their customary take on sweet wistfulness. With live performances across the greater Los Angeles area and a southwest tour under their belt, plus two new singles on the way, Small Forward is alive, kicking and ready for 2019. Bandcamp.

There is a smooth and refined feel to 'Tearjerker' a flowing psych rocker with plenty of melodic hooks both vocally and through the blissfully good musicianship.

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Lydian Collective - High 555.

After the success of their popular debut acclaimed album ‘Adventure’, (which has generated over 1 million album streams on Spotify in just 6 months). Lydian Collective are now following this up with their new single ‘High 555’.

The first release helped to put themselves firmly on the map of the instrumental Jazz Funk Fusion scene, which has has lead onto recent appearances at festivals such as Cheltenham Jazz, ‘So What’s Next’ Festival in The Netherlands, Cambridge Jazz Festival and plays on BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction show; as well as features on Spotify’s ‘The State of Jazz’ and ‘Fusion Fest’ playlists.

After the intricate and rhythmically complex ‘Adventure’ album, they have now shifted gears on this single with a hi-octane stomping four to the floor danceable fun and funky groove, led by a phat distorted synth bass line!

‘High 555’ takes the listener through the usual compositional twists and turns that have made Lydian Collective tunes so popular, but this time the focus is on a solid groove to get the body moving!  This single came out on 30th November and will be part of an EP, which is due to be released in Spring next year. Website. 

It's almost a year to the day since we first (and last) featured Lydian Collective and now we have their latest single 'High 555'. So a year ago we commented that the band produced "Vibrant and dynamic music that reaches across Jazz and Blues genres (& a few others) this is superbly crafted musicianship". Well they are consistent regarding all of that, and the cool video drives home the point.



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