Arms Akimbo - Earth Girl Helen Brown - A Million Machines - Magic Wands

Arms Akimbo - Parachute.

Background - Arms Akimbo's newest song "Parachute" is a song about "what you get when you have a lot of emotion to funnel through a really small outlet." Arms Akimbo's previous release "Michigan" went viral on Spotify with over 750,000 plays and gained them the opportunity to open for The Animals (Eric Burdon) at The Santa Monica Pier.

Pay-to-play pushed the music scene east and it left the glam of Hollywood behind.  The Hyatt on Sunset is now the Andaz West Hollywood, the Whiskey is pretty much just metal bands, and the House of Blues was torn down to make room for a high rise hotel. 

This paradigm shift led to a new creative identity for L.A. musicians.  Fans became friends. Dive bars became hometown venues. Bands stopped competing and started a community.  They turned their focus to what matters most: good music. This is the L.A. scene that Arms Akimbo comes from.

Arms Akimbo is a 4-piece rock outfit comprised of Peter Schrupp, Christopher Kalil, Matthew Sutton and Colin Boppell; and their story is simple.  After meeting in college, they formed a band inspired by artists like Portugal. The Man, Local Natives, and Manchester Orchestra. FACEBOOK.

'Parachute' is a vibrant indie rock song, the vocals have some gritty edge whereas the harmonies add in a softer element that complements the whole.

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Earth Girl Helen Brown - Chisa Ramopolo.

Background - Empty Cellar Records and the Earth Girl Helen Brown Center for Planetary Intelligence Band (E.G.H.B.C.P.F.I.B.) are pleased to announce this fall installment of the E.G.H.B.C.P.F.I.B. 2017 seasonal series, Saturn.

Featuring Heidi Alexander, Jamin Barton, Aylin Beyce, Emilee Booher, Brad Caulkins, David Cousin, James Finch Jr., Graeme Gibson, Tahlia Harbour, Doug Hillsinger, Warren Huegel, Raven Mahon, Sean Smith, and Enrique Tena, Saturn aspires toward that pan-American afro-Caribbean after dark dance of devotion while considering the topic of communication from both within and without.

Saturn follows Spring and Summer installments Mercury and Mars. Each release benefits a unique set of causes that are dedicated to making the world more healthy, verdant and safe place.

Available from Empty Cellar Records on limited edition 100% post-consumer recycled cassette tape on 11/03, all proceeds benefit organizations committed to the promotion of open and free communication, communicative ingenuity and popular communicative infrastructural development. WEBSITE, BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.

We featured 'Flowers Of Darkness' from Earth Girl Helen Brown back in July & 'Chisa Ramopolo' makes for a welcome return. Previously we used the word "quirky" & the new song has a definite requirement for us to use it again. I can add, catchy, fabulous and upbeat as well as lovable!


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A Million Machines - Absence Without Leave.

Background -  LA-based synth pop outfit A Million Machines have announced 'Absence Without Leave' as the second single from their first full-length self-titled album, slated for release on November 24, 2017. This follows up the first single ‘Come Tonight’. The video for 'Absence Without Leave' was shot on the Yurikamome train, a driverless, automated transit service, while en route from Shimbashi to Odaiba.

Featuring 11 tracks, this album is a synth pop kaleidoscope, densely layered in clean, modular synthesizers and a heavy melodic aesthetic between light and darkness. The first two singles are pulsating electronic burners echoing Depeche Mode in their technical attack of modular synths, coupled with passionate male vocals.

‘Come Tonight’ is a pulsating electronic burner that echoes Depeche Mode in its technical attack of modular synths, coupled with passionate male vocals. "This song encourages an awakening to the state of the world. An awakening to prejudice, corruption and human rights. An awakening to a revolution," says vocalist Fate Fatal. BANDCAMP, WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Absence Without Leave' follows on just two months (& one day) from our first feature for A Million Machines, it's the second single from their debut album. This is some top notch synth pop and the video adds to the atmosphere. Check out both songs & if you like, there are another nine desirable tracks on the album that are ready & waiting.


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Magic Wands - Loveline.

Background - Magic Wands are a dream pop duo from Los Angeles, California. They are known for their melodic, catchy songs “Black Magic” and “Teenage Love.” Chris and Dexy Valentine create music that centers on their main influence— the love of all things “magic” “love,” and “dreams". They have recently expanded to a five piece for live. Magic Wands Abracadabra Tour begins this fall in anticipation of their third album ‘ABRAKADABRA' due out early spring 2018.
       
Magic Wands have been remixed by The XX and Crystal Fighters (featured #1 in NME) as well as have toured and shared bills with The Horrors, The Black Keys, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Wombats and The Kills. In 2012 they released their debut album Aloha Moon & performed live on BBC1 Radio and XFM followed by Jupiter in 2016. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

UK & EU Tour Dates:
11.04 - Kasbah Nightclub - Coventry
11.05 - Picture House Social - Sheffield
11.06 - The Lanes - Bristol
11.07 - Duffy's Bar - Leicester
11.08 - The Brewhouse - London
11.09 - Supersonic - Paris
11.10 - The Great Rang Teng Teng - Freiburg
11.11 - Die Kellerperle - Wurzburg
11.12 - Badehaus - Berlin
11.13 - Das Bett - Frankfurt
11.14 - Molotow - Hamburg
11.15 - Druckluft - Oberhausen
11.16 - Coq d'Or - Olten
11.17 - ACU - Utrecht
11.18 - Gebr de Nobel - Leiden

Just a quick mention that from November onwards all tour details will appear with the appropriate feature again as is the case with Magic Wands. As for 'Loveline' it's a well paced dream pop song, with a whole lot of hooks and layers of beautiful sounds.

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A Million Machines - OxenFree - Year of October

A Million Machines - Come Tonight.

Background - LA-based synth pop outfit A Million Machines have announced they will release their first full-length self-titled record in November 2017, preceded by the single ‘Come Tonight’. Featuring 11 tracks, this album is a synth pop kaleidoscope, densely layered in clean, modular synthesizers and a heavy melodic aesthetic between light and darkness. 

‘Come Tonight’ is a pulsating electronic burner that echoes Depeche Mode in its technical attack of modular synths, coupled with passionate male vocals. "This song encourages an awakening to the state of the world. An awakening to prejudice, corruption and human rights. An awakening to a revolution," says vocalist Fate Fatal. 

The entire debut album is, in essence, a blast of heart-thumping beats, stomping propulsion and intoxicating melodies. Fatal injects his gloomy obsessions with an ultra melodic harmony, abetted by MIG, a conscientious technician with an understanding of the inner workings of modular technology and exploring the abyss of self-made modular circuitry. 

Recording at their own studio in Los Angeles, A Million Machines use modular synths to make some of the most human sounds around. Based in Silver Lake, California, A Million Machines is a duo comprised of producer/multi-instrumentalist MIG (The New Room) and vocalist Fate Fatal (The Deep Eynde, Kittens for Christians). They formed in 2014 when MIG and Fate were separately called into an audition with an upcoming LA underground band and, while waiting, dived into discussion about their passion for electronic music.

The result is output that is rooted in raw analog synths and punchy vocals, using low-res electronic noise and pop hooks. After being showcased on local college radio stations, including LA’s KXLU, A Million Machines’ sound quickly progressed to incorporate various areas of electronic music; electroclash, shoegazing, electropunk and electropop. Website here, Facebook here.

Right from the opening moments, some rhythmic synths and lo-fi vocals ensure ‘Come Tonight’ has plenty of atmosphere. Add in a layer or two more of vibrant synths and energise the vocals and we arrive with a notable & already very noticed tune. It's the last of eleven tracks on the forthcoming album, & judging by the interest so far, it would appear mighty likely, that a large number of music lovers, are about to add another superb album to their collection.

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OxenFree - Caterpillar.

Background -  “Caterpillar” is the excellent second single from OxenFree’s upcoming Another Land EP, which will be coming out through Sneaky Bear Records on October 13th.

The video was directed by Diane Russo and stars the talented kickboxers Venus Providence Smith, Stoney Morales and Mariana Firestone defining their home. While it might appear to be a a violent home on the surface, it's also filled with happiness and love for self and each other. Doyle felt that that dichotomy is reflective of the world we live in, and represented the song’s core themes.

OxenFree’s new EP Another Land was recorded with producer Andrija Tokic in his Nashville studio, whose other credits include Alabama Shakes, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Benjamin Booker and Clear Plastic Masks. The band credits Andrija with harnessing the vitality of the record, and bringing a sense of experimentation to the band, pulling the right gear from his stacks of organs and amps to get the live sound right in the room. The result on Another Land rears whirling organs, vocals playing in delay, fuzzy guitar leads, and a punchy rhythm section.

Jeff Doyle, the front man and primary songwriter was born in DC and reared in Virginia. Living in Charlottesville, he recorded his first EP with Mike Bishop of GWAR (the original Beefcake the Mighty and current Blothar), before moving to New York and starting OxenFree. He resurrected two of those songs when he moved to Brooklyn and recruited Christopher Burns (drums, Sydney), Sam Ghitelman (guitar, New York), Sean Padden (bass, New York), and Emilie Soffe (vocals and keys, Alabama) to round out the band. Jeff, Christopher and Sam grew up playing punk music at house shows, while Emilie grew up in the theatre (she recently co-created and appeared in the acclaimed play Ski End). Facebook here, Bandcamp here.

With feedback & reverb 'Caterpillar' unfolds into a feisty and expansive rocker, where the vocals dominate above a decidedly robust musical arrangement. The harmonies add another layer of beautifully emotive sounds, and the rhythm changes just add more.


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Year of October - Come & Get It.

Background - Year of October just unveiled their lead-single “Come & Get It”, from the impending 3rd studio LP Trouble Comes, out in October. Following the release of their critically acclaimed 2nd album Golden Days, Year of October built up a loyal fan-base, and received raving media attention from a number of outlets.

Formed at University of Kentucky in 2010, Year of October is the passion-project of Phlecia and Josh Sullivan. Mixing their diverse influences of Led Zeppelin and The Beatles for Josh, and Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald for Phlecia, Year of October stands out for their clawing Nashville-rock edge, and soulful, swirling vocals. 

Previously, the band has released debut LP Stories and sophomore album Golden Days. Year of October has played over 250 shows across the South, and has built up a devoted community of fans with their cohesive and genre-elusive style. Website here, Facebook here.

'Come & Get It' is a bluesy rocker, where passion infused vocals are equally matched by some fabulous & timeless rock riffs.


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