Escape From Yesterday - Blondie - Noel Cowley - The Darts - Airpark - Frenship

Escape From Yesterday - Same Old Scene

Background - Escape From Yesterday are a four piece pop-punk band from Murray Bridge, South Australia. With tunes much to the style of bands such as Blink-182, Paramore and Fall Out Boy; Escape From Yesterday have taken the Adelaide music scene by storm in less than a year of forming. They are now ready to release their brand new single, Same Old Scene. 

The track is about breaking out of your hometown and embarking on your own adventure. Inspired by the band members personal struggles, hopes and dreams, Same Old Scene displays the bands edgy yet approachable style. The combination of punk-rock and funk influences gives the band’s music a very “Funky Punky" vibe. Same Old Scene addresses some very relatable issues that young people face, and the band hopes that the themes in this song will inspire others to take a leap of faith and pursue their dreams. 

Same Old Scene was recorded in a brand new studio that has been installed into local venue, The Station. It was recorded by members of Escape From Yesterday, and mixed by Jordan Holmes, vocalist and lead guitarist for the band. “Same Old Scene was written with the intention of inspiring others, but also ourselves” says Jordan, “Sometimes, we need to remind ourselves that we’re capable of more than we think, and we just need to believe in ourselves.” 

This year, the band is working non-stop on a debut album, which will hopefully be “released by the end of 2017”. The demo version of their track Run Along has seen positive reviews with Music SA’s Matthew Hayward noting it as “a rousing call and response number featuring some heavy distortion and developing pop sensibilities”. Same Old Scene is rapidly becoming a fan favourite at their live shows. They carry with them heavy sounds and an exciting presence on stage. Pop-punk single ‘Same Old Scene’, due to be released April 28th. Facebook here.

'Same Old Scene' mixes robust guitar fronted rock with more melodic and appealing vocals. Put together they make for a top-notch song, one that suggests a second listen is in order, at the very least.

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Blondie - Long Time.

Background - Blondie has premiered the video for latest single “Long Time,” off of the band’s 11th studio album Pollinator, out May 5th (BMG) “Long Time” is the third track from the remarkable new album that perfectly demonstrates the blend of Blondie's pioneering past with new influences from modern music's great innovators - the track is a collaboration between Debbie Harry and Dev Hynes (AKA Blood Orange).

Set in the city where Blondie's story began over four decades ago, the video for “Long Time,” sees the band in a chaotic, fast-paced New York City. Scenes flip between front woman Debbie Harry recklessly driving in a yellow cab and the band playing on the city streets. The video was shot and directed by Dikayl Rimmasch, who also worked with Beyonce on her Lemonade album videos and on her Formation World Tour. Rimmasch also directed the video for Pollinator's debut single “Fun”.

Blondie’s sound and sensibility is as fresh on Pollinator as when they first topped the charts. The band has enlisted an eclectic group of songwriters for their most collaborative album to date. Those offering their own interpretation of the band’s legacy include superstar Sia, British singer Charli XCX, Dave Sitek (TV On The Radio), Nick Valensi (The Strokes), Johnny Marr (The Smiths) and Canadian movie blogger and indie rocker Adam Johnston (an Unkindness). The LP, produced by John Congleton (Franz Ferdinand, St. Vincent, Sigur Ros) and recorded at NYC’s famed studio The Magic Shop, also features vocals from Joan Jett, cross dressing comedian and singer John Roberts and The Gregory Brothers (founders of Songify the News). Laurie Anderson appears on a special hidden track on the CD version.

Blondie will bring their one-of-a-kind live magic to the stage when they kick off their North American co-headlining Rage and Rapture Tour with Garbage on July 5th. The band has also announced a return to the iconic Roundhouse in London on May 3rd to celebrate the release two days later of their remarkable new album. Website here.

Many (many) years ago I went into my local record store to see if they had the brand new (debut) Blondie album. They did not and the shop manager was pretty underwhelmed when a younger version of me suggested they were going to be huge. I ordered a copy and a week later went back to collect. It was one of those fabulous moments when I could not get home quick enough to play it. Sadly like so many record stores it closed many years ago, Blondie on the other hand are still delivering the goods as 'Long Time' confirms. I'm looking forward to Pollinator, albeit without the youthful energy this time around.


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Noel Cowley - Spring You Bring.

Background - "Stay-at-home-dad-singer-songwriter", to give Noel Cowley his full, snappy job title. This Londoner - and now honorary Essex man - who grew up in Ireland sees music as an essential accompaniment to his life as a parent, together with wife Katrina, of toddler triplets.

It's a far cry from two decades spent flitting in and out of service industry jobs while concentrating on living a musician's life outside of work hours. These days parenting is the focus with music the sideline, and both roles are the richer for it. If there's one continuous thread that runs through Noel's life in music, it's his writing, recording and performing partnership with younger brother Ewan Cowley, the Dublin based musician, producer and solo singer-songwriter/composer.

The two Irish brothers learned to play the guitar together as teenagers, busked pop hits in the streets of Derry and formed and fronted a glam-punkypop band (The Bexleys) in the early 2000s. Latterly they've been collaborating on Noel's solo music, their Beatles and Beatles-inspired influences such as Crowded House and Squeeze sustaining a love of creating easily hummable melodies married with emotive lyrics.

The culmination of the Cowley brothers' work together so far is Noel's debut album produced, arranged and co-written by Ewan. The album is set for release in the summer of 2017 on Indie label Nub Music and the first single from it, Spring You Bring, is out now. Website here, Bandcamp here.

With a sprightly piano rhythm and the impeccable vocals of Noel Cowley, 'Spring You Bring' is a bright uplifting song, given extra vigour as the music develops.


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The Darts - You Got Me.

Background - Formed in 2016, The Darts are the explosive union of Nicole Laurenne (The Love Me Nots, Zero Zero, Motobunny), Rikki Styxx (The Dollyrots, The Two Tens, Thee Outta Sites), Christina Nunez (The Love Me Nots, The Madcaps, Casual Encounters), and Michelle Balderrama (Brainspoon). 

The debut EP was self-released by the band on ten-inch vinyl in October 2016, with a second EP released in January 2017. The band signed to Dirty Water Records, which re-released the two EPs as one full-length digital album in January 2017. A second full-length album is very much anticipated this summer with six new tracks already in the can and another six almost ready.

“I knew it was special before it even was the beginning,” Nicole said of her new band. “These three women are musicians I have performed with for years and years, watching them and wanting to do this kind of project with them. When Michelle and I finally talked about writing some songs together for real in 2015, it was almost like a fully-formed idea in my head. And it has been so easy to make it all come to fruition, like nothing I’ve ever done before. Even just getting in a van with these people is special. They’re just fun, supportive, hilarious, goofy, and no one takes herself too seriously, which is a pretty hard quality to find in good musicians, if you ask me.”

With two tours of the southern and western United States with Oakland’s all-girl rock duo Steel Cranes and France's Weird Omen under their belts, the Darts are gearing up to take their music overseas for a European tour this May which Louder Than War Magazine describes as "dirty, rough around the edges, good ol’ dive bar rock n roll". Website here, Facebook here.

With some UK and European dates coming up in May and June (see our tour page) it seems like a good enough reason to feature The Darts again, this time with the rather potent 'You Got Me'.


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Airpark - Plenty To Pine For.

Background - Last month, Nashville-based alternative pop/rock duo Airpark released their debut EP Early Works, Volume 1 via Eugenia Hall Records. The band have just shared their video for "Plenty To Pine For". 

Raised in New Orleans, the Fords grew up surrounded by music, from the Crescent City's jazz to the soul of Irma Thomas and Allen Touissant. Later while living in Nashville, the two rekindled the music connection they'd kick-started back home, finding popularity as The Apache Relay performed alongside the likes of Jenny Lewis, Mumford & Sons and more. Michael and Ben move at a deliberately different speed with Airpark, thus finding new musical territory to explore. 

Taking their cues from a wide set of influences — the rhythmic world music of Tinariwen and Lijadu Sisters; the production of Air, Damon Albarn, and Fiona Apple's The Idler Wheel; the tenor vocal range of Big Star's Alex Chilton and Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham, with the occasional pop crooner delivery of Harry Nilsson — the two unveil their new direction with Airpark's debut EP, Early Works, Volume 1. 

It's a sound that targets the feet and the head. It's pop music for thinkers. It's dance music for wallflowers. And with the brothers pulling triple-duty as songwriters, multi-instrumentalists and co-producers, Early Works, Volume 1 is their most forward-thinking project to date, pairing the band's growing ambition with musical chops to match. Website here, Facebook here.

Our second feature for Airpark this time with 'Plenty To Pine For'. This is another beautifully crafted song, the duo's ability to write and perform intelligent pop to a high standard is notable, as is their commitment which gently drifts to the fore as the track develops. We featured their current tour dates on our tour page last time around.


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Frenship - 1000 Nights.

Background - The new video from Frenship is entitled "1000 Nights". When talking about the video the duo states, "We originally had the idea for the video out on a camping trip in Stanley, Idaho. We had just received the song back from mastering and took the first listen on the shore of Lake Stanley at the base of McGown Peak. This place inspired the idea, look and feel for the 1000 Nights video. With the idea in place we sought out a director that could fully capture beautiful shots outdoors and filmmaker Matt Kleiner perfectly fit the bill for this.  The video was shot at Diablo Lake in Washington State." The 'Truce' EP is out now on Columbia.

There's a strong contrarian streak in Frenship, the Los Angeles-based duo of James Sunderland and Brett Hite. James grew up in Colorado and relocated to LA after 4 years of college studying production, where he was part of a DJ duo that didn't work out. Brett grew up in Spokane, Washington with a passion for soccer. An injury led him to discover a burgeoning interest in music and he began to play coffee shops and small venues after college as a singer/songwriter.

Brett and James met while working retail in LA and began to realize they each brought something to the table musically that the other could appreciate. They describe their hypnotic production as a combination of the twosome's affection for 80s-styled pop.

The duo signed on with Columbia Records and subsequently released their debut EP, Truce, in September 2016. Frenship's platinum-selling single “Capsize” was one of the most viral hits of 2016, surpassing 20 million streams in its first month and collecting over 300 million to date. Spotify crowned them #2 Breakout Artist of the year due to the song's chart performance. Facebook here.

'1000 Nights' might slowly fade in, however once the beat kicks in, alongside he distinct and gratifying vocals the song begins to standout. That might have been enough, however the chorus explodes into being, adding something of an anthem vibe taking a fine song even higher.


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Sundays Finest: The Masonics - Sweet Gum Tree - Airpark - Siamese - Go Fever

The Masonics - I Ain't Hurting For You.

Background - The Masonics New Album Release "Obermann Rides Again". Masters of the Medway Beat made famous by Mr Billy Childish, this is the group that in our view should be the more famous one – with their more original style of raw and tender rock’n’roll songsmithery. Renowned drum wizard Bruce Brand played alongside Childish in the Pop Rivets back in the late 1970s and both he and gruffly charming singer/guitarist Mickey Hampshire were both in the Milkshakes in the early 1980s. (In fact, it was actually Mickey & the Milkshakes originally!) Bass thumper John Gibbs, meanwhile, cut his jib in his younger years in near-legendary Scottish group, The Kaisers.

This new limited edition – 500 copies only – album of muscular British rock’n’roll from this widely celebrated beat power trio comes trampling merrily over a swathe of garage rock pretenders. While many young groups clutch equipment of equal quality (almost) and vintage, none of them have put in the years that these chaps have – themselves and their gear have been pushed well past breaking point over the years but their energy is far from dimmed. Their vast experience means that The Masonics have built a solid reputation on live shows across Europe and around the UK that delight teen twisters and pop purists alike.

That reputation was more enough for them, as they themselves put it, to “allow those whipper snapper colonial upstarts The White Stripes to close a series of performances for us in the early part of this century, during their maiden voyage to this great country of ours”. While other musical copyists and johnny-come-latelys continue to come and go, The Masonics continue to plough their furrow, in a never ending quest to make the perfect beat-pop album and delivering passionate performances to excitable audiences.

Recorded at Ransombe Studios (regular home to Billy Childish as well as The Wave Pictures), the all-new recordings on this, their ninth album, 14 slices of suave and rocking pop beat nuggets show that the group have not lost their merciless instinct for touch­ing, simple, timeless rock’n’roll melodies and lyrics. The band performs with verve and precision, on record and on stage, always giving their followers their money’s worth. This new release will soon be followed up by a limited vinyl and download releases from The Masonics’ back catalogue, starting with Outside Looking In and the singles compilation plus downloads of the entirety of their decades of releases. Download the Obermann Rides Again. Website here, Facebook here.

From the new 'Obermann Rides Again' album and the first of fourteen tracks we have 'I Ain't Hurting For You'. There is a timeless British rock'n'roll feel right across the album, and that feel is just so good and right. If Dr Feelgood had formed a decade earlier, or The Beatles had been a lot more raw and edgy, then perhaps they would have sounded like The Masonics, that said this is also fresh enough and well produced to sit comfortably as new in 2017.

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Sweet Gum Tree - Twinkle.

Background - Sweet Gum Tree's new album ‘Sustain The Illusion’ is out on March 31st via The Orchard/Plastic Head. Sweet Gum Tree’s first and heavily supported album by the likes of Mojo, Uncut and The Line Of Best Fit, came to fruition with the help of many prestigious collaborators such as Isobel Campbell -Belle & Sebastian, Earl Harvin -Tindersticks and Marty Willson-Piper -The Church. This time, Arno Sojo has reshuffled his cards and chosen to record this new album almost entirely on his own, except for the help of Irish producer David Odlum (long-time partner-in-crime of Gemma Hayes and Glen Hansard).

Both a beautiful, romantic adventure and an unnerving trip through a mind crowded with troubled creatures, Sojo’s earnest vocals confirm that he is amongst those who still believe that music and words can touch the soul, by way of sincerity, constant reinvention and fine craftsmanship. Minimal drum machines and echo-laden guitars throughout create a state of grace evoking the ethereal new-wave productions of British label 4AD as well as hymns from great pop architects like Talk Talk, Prefab Sprout or Divine Comedy. The album’s electronic rigidity contrasts perfectly with the elegant strings and soaring melodies, while Sojo’s gravelled vocals ensure it remains an outstandingly humane and sensitive collection of tracks.

The album’s title nods to Wes Anderson’s acclaimed, ‘‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’’, which itself was based upon Stefan Zweig’s writings on the rise of Nazism in the mid-30’s. Drawing a parallel with the current fiery state of the world and Anderson’s tale of creating love despite all circumstances, Sojo reflects on the challenge of how one can fulfil the need to dream whilst in such a desperate context.

 The soul in Sojo’s voice is what really drives ‘Sustain The Illusion’, particularly on tracks such as ‘Someday’, ‘Guilt Trip’ and the closing lullaby, ‘Keeper’ that lulls you into a complete sense of security. On the other hand, ‘Burn Your Icons’ is both a thought provoking, sharp and ironic look at the relevant question of how we view our fallen idols that gives a truly unique perspective on our society’s traditions.Website here, Facebook here. mp3 (Amazon) from 31 March here.

'Twinkle' is the first single from the forthcoming album 'Sustain The Illusion'.The rhythm has pace and yet the vocals are a little less anxious and carry plenty of the melody. Musically everything is clean and clear, overall the new album sounds promising.

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Airpark - All The Time.

Background - "All The Time" is off Airpark's first EP Early Works, Volume 1, out March 3rd via Eugenia Hall Records. The band is on tour now, with upcoming dates in NYC, Philly, Chicago, Boston, Southeastern US and more.

Inspired by minimalism, melody and groove-heavy percussion, band mates Michael Ford, Jr. and Ben Ford launched the group in 2016, one year after their previous project The Apache Relay quietly called it quits. The Apache Relay had been a large band, staffed with six members and armed with a thick, wall-of-sound approach. With Airpark, the Ford brothers sharpen their focus and scale back their arrangements, focusing on songs that pack a punch with bold, basic ingredients.

On "All The Time," Michael spins the autobiographical story of a musician who's starting over and swinging for the fences, finally coming to terms with his own ambition. "Now I know I need it to be ocean-sized," he sings, backed by propulsive percussion, syncopated electric guitar and his brother's harmonies.

Raised in New Orleans, the Fords grew up surrounded by music, from the Crescent City's jazz to the soul of Irma Thomas and Allen Touissant. Later while living in Nashville, the two rekindled the music connection they'd kick-started back home, finding popularity as The Apache Relay performed alongside the likes of Jenny Lewis, Mumford & Sons and more. Michael and Ben move at a deliberately different speed with Airpark, thus finding new musical territory to explore. Website here, Facebook here. Live dates on our tour page. mp3 (Amazon) from 10 Feb here.

Musically stripped back 'All The Time' initially appears to rely on the vocals and harmonies to carry the song. In reality both elements have there moments and the overall effect is of a feisty pop/rock song, with plenty of hooks.

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Siamese - Chromatose.

Background - Siamese is the glam rock band of four theatrically inclined friends from Dallas, TX. Mixing ominous art pop with opulent set design and deranged alter egos, their live show makes you feel like you could go out and invent a new color, or wear a leotard to work.

The group’s debut release The Mesmerist, tracked with producer Alex Bhore at the studio Elmwood Recording, is set for release March 3, 2017. With two monolithic bookends and a slew of twists in between, the record treks through the charming, soothing and savage, with lyrics inspired by sociopathic film characters and a few shades of identity crisis.

A prime example of this is the first single, "Chromatose." Inspired by the Truffaut film Bed & Board, the song is a sardonic shout out to the neighbourhood dilettantes. "There's a neighbor character in the film that everyone deems a murderer," Nicole Marxen-Myers explains. "He turns out to be a television star, and the main characters are quick to retract their impressions of him, swapping them for praise. That idea inspired a juxtaposition between whimsy and horror for the song. It’s fun, but there’s something unsettling about it."

The band – comprised of Paul Alonzo (bass), Paul Grass (drums), Nicole Marxen-Myers (keys, vocals) and Teddy Georgia Waggy (guitar, vocals) – materialised in 2015 as a means to intersect music, performance and visual art. To do so, they take elements from carpentry to choreography to costume design, and their live shows have come to serve as a parallel universe for the members to act out alternate identities and face the terror of vulnerability with their audiences. Live dates on our tour page. Website here, Facebook here. mp3 (Amazon) from 03 March here.

Whether this is glam rock or art pop or something dreamy that sits in between 'Chromatose' is a really intriguing song that has me hooked and wanting to hear more. Definitely a band on our radar!

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Go Fever - Come Undone.

Background - Austin-based band Go Fever releases their debut single "Come Undone" last Friday. “Come Undone" is an upbeat and catchy track with a deeper meaning. Lyrically, it centres on how Go Fever vocalist and founder Acey Monaro’s life rearranged beautifully after serendipitously meeting her husband. "Come Undone" is a delicious first taste of Go Fever’s self-titled debut album, embodying a surf pop sound mixed with classic rock and roll influences.

Raised in an Australian country town, Acey Monaro dropped out of school at 14, left home a year later, then married a man twice her age. Divorcing her husband after 7 years at the ripe old age of 26, she began writing songs and performing solo gigs in Sydney. Her strong voice and crafty lyrics, evoking Tracey Ann Campbell as much as J. Tillman, were all inspired by her own brimming storybook. She soon garnered a dedicated audience, prompting an early reviewer to compare her simultaneously to Feist and Emmylou Harris.

Acey fell in love whilst on holiday in Austin, Texas with Go Fever bass player Ben Burdick, eventually making the permanent move to the Lone Star State to marry him and record her debut EP with Brad Bell (War On Drugs, Arcade Fire, Spoon). It was during a visit to Austin in 2012 that Monaro wrote the lyrics to "Come Undone" in the local Halcyon cafe, and years later revisited the track for Go Fever's debut self titled LP (produced and engineered by Danny Reisch / Delta Spirit, White Denim, Other Lives). Go Fever will be available via independent release on February 24th, 2017. Website here, Facebook here.

'Come Undone' is the first of ten tracks on the forthcoming release. The band can and do mix up the styles whilst retaining an identifiable overall sound. The featured song gives some insight into the album, and there are plenty of other contenders that could have been the first single. I have to say February has started with some really fine music, of which Go Fever are a welcome part.

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