Showing posts with label Diamond Thug. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diamond Thug. Show all posts

Wasuremono - Diamond Thug - Hanna Barakat

We featured the song 'Are You OK?' by Wasuremono two months ago and the new single 'Self-Help' is a much welcome follow up from the band, this time with an anthemic vibe & engaging melodic chorus.

Diamond Thug have a new single called 'Aphotic Waters', following on from 'Tell Me' which we shared just a week ago, as the band continue to build deserved interest in their Gaiafy EP due out this coming week.

Finally we have 'Damage Done' by Hanna Barakat a melodic rocker that gradually builds into a powerful and hook fuelled piece.

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Wasuremono - Self Help.

Wasuremono have released a brand new single entitled 'Self-Help' after 6 Music's Steve Lamacq gave the track it's first spin on his show last week. The track is taken from their recently announced upcoming album 'Are You OK?' that will be released on June 14th via The Wilderness Records. The brainchild of Wasuremono, William Southward, explained the meaning behind the song:

"'Self-Help', was the last song to be written. It’s got a Prince kinda vibe, but with low tuned guitars and gospel influenced backing vocals, with call and response. The running theme is one of optimism and feeling less alone, but there is also a sense of urgency to this song, of reaching out; “All I really wanna say, is I wanna help ya’. Essentially, it’s an uplifting and jubilant song that’s supposed to make you feel good and feel like we are all in it together. The hard panned toms of the Linn give it space to breathe and a slightly tribal feel too in the choruses."

Previous singles, 'Are You OK?' and 'Lonely Type' have been picked up by the likes of 6 Music's Lauren Laverne, Steve Lamacq, and Radio 1's Huw Stephens, and Dork recently described the release as "...sure to be a riot of synths and fun. A magic combo".

With the enlistment of friends Madelaine Ryan, Isaac Phillips, and Phoebe Phillips, Southward’s songs come to life. Wasuremono will be performing across the UK this summer in support of 'Are You OK?', with stops at festivals including Live at Leeds, The Great Escape, Bluedot, and Dot To Dot, as well as a headline show at the Sebright Arms in London on June 19th.

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Diamond Thug - Aphotic Waters.

Formed in a basement in Kommetjie, a small surf town on the southern tip of Africa, Diamond Thug combine Sub-Saharan rhythms with indie pop dreamscapes, with a vitality and energy bursting from the seams of each track that becomes juxtaposed with melancholic themes.

Lead singer Chantel Van T’s luscious vocals wash over layers of guitar, synth-bass and pounding drums with a certain quiet power. When Chantel was a teenager, she wanted to be a quantum physicist, which may explain some of Diamond Thug’s lyrical subjects.

The band’s debut album Apastron was set within the depths of space, with celestial bodies and laws of planetary motion being used as metaphors for earth-bound problems. New EP Gaiafy turns inward to human experience, pairing nihilism and existential crises with allusions to climate change.

On the new single, the band tells us that “the Aphotic zone is defined as the depths of the oceans,
void of any light. Musically we’re drawing comparisons to Evolution through the cyclical but progressive song-structure. Solace is found through the belief that although we feel distance and unfamiliarity between ourselves, all of our fates are connected.” Gaiafy EP due for release May 24th 2019.

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Hanna Barakat - Damage Done.

Austin-based, hard/alternative artist, Hanna Barakat, announces her new single, “Damage Done,” ahead of the upcoming album, Siren, due out August 16, 2019, produced by John Moyer (Disturbed).

Born in Texas to an American mother and a Lebanese father, Barakat spent her early years traveling around the world with her family. Barakat pays homage to her roots  on the album.

The album was produced by John Moyer, bassist from famed hard rock band, Disturbed, mixed by Martin Nessi (Michael Jackson estate, Ariana Grande, Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, Ricky Martin, Kelly Clarkson), and mastered by Ted Jansen of Sterling Sound (Disturbed, Evanescence, Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Halestorm, Pat Metheny).

Barakat states on "Damage Done:" - “Relationships are inherently messy, sometimes riddled with indecisiveness, and most commonly, clouded by sexual passion. Knowing what is right for you in a relationship, long term, is not always clear, leaving you struggling with your own intuition to resist falling back into something familiar or comfortable. ‘Damage Done’ is a song driven by passion – a story between ex-lovers, falling back into old patterns, knowing they may not gain anything from their encounter but still feeling alive and loving every single moment of passion they share together. The guitars start us on the journey, gently, but dive into long dramatic riffs as the story develops. As the vocals begin to overlap and build, the chaos created between lovers is reflected in the cacophony of sounds, driving us clear to the dramatic end.”

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The Curls - Diamond Thug - Jeanines

The Curls new single 'Lemon Lime' is a rhythmic psych/indie pop song with bags of originality. The fabulous musical arrangement competes with some slightly quirky but pleasing vocals, all coming together just right.

It's been over a year since we last featured Diamond Thug, this being their forth appearance on Beehive Candy. We have the new video for their recent release 'Tell Me', the band's distinct sound and quality continues to impress and appeal.

Jeanines emphasis on short to the point bursts of indie music are nonetheless very catchy, you just have to play each song twice, that's all!
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The Curls - Lemon Lime.

Chicago, Psych-Pop band The Curls have debut their new single "Lemon Lime". The track comes off their forthcoming album Bounce House due out June 7th, 2019 on Diversion Records.

The Curls hail from Chicago but seem to mentally reside in outer space or perhaps the lush palm tree lined hills of Hollyweird. An all-star cast of accomplished Chicago musicians led by songwriter Mick Fansler, the group blends genres like these health nuts blend their smoothies. As such, their music has been labeled Psych Pop, Art Rock, Nu-Angular Guitar and even Hardcore Experimental Power Adult Contemporary.

After being praised by Stereogum, Pitchfork, Under The Radar, The 405, and more, and following their 2017 album, Super Unit, The Curls have been avidly playing prominent music festivals including 2018's Pitchfork Music Festival and this year's SXSW, leading them to share stages with popular music greats like Tame Impala, Courtney Barnett,  Maps and Atlases, and Post Animal.

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Diamond Thug - Tell Me.

Formed in a basement in Kommetjie, a small surf town on the southern tip of Africa, Diamond Thug combine Sub-Saharan rhythms with indie pop dreamscapes, with a vitality and energy bursting from the seams of each track that becomes juxtaposed with melancholic themes.

Lead singer Chantel Van T’s luscious vocals wash over layers of guitar, synth-bass and pounding drums with a certain quiet power. When Chantel was a teenager, she wanted to be a quantum physicist, which may explain some of Diamond Thug’s lyrical subjects.

The band’s debut album Apastron was set within the depths of space, with celestial bodies and laws of planetary motion being used as metaphors for earth-bound problems. New EP Gaiafy turns inward to human experience, pairing nihilism and existential crises with allusions to climate change.

The band tell us that new track ‘Tell Me’ is “an empathetic song, dealing with the acceptance that suffering is a shared experience of all of life, albeit to differing degrees. Through our suffering, we are healed and can offer our healing to others in the form of sharing experiences.”


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Jeanines - Winter In The Dark.

Brooklyn's Jeanines specialize in ultra-short bursts of energetic but melancholy minor-key pop. With influences that run deep into the most crucial tributaries of DIY pop — Messthethics, the Television Personalities, Marine Girls, early Pastels, Dolly Mixture — they've crafted a style that is as individual as it is just plain pleasurable. Alicia Jeanine's pure, unaffected voice muses wistfully on the illusions of time, while My Teenage Stride/Mick Trouble mastermind Jed Smith's frantic Motown-esque drumming and inventive bass playing provide a thrilling rhythmic foundation.

"Winter In The Dark" and a lovely, jaunty cover of The Siddeleys' "Falling Off Of My Feet Again" provide great insight into what Jeanines are about. 60s-meet-80s melodies combine with timeless guitar jangle in a way that recalls everything from The Aislers Set and Saturday Looks Good To Me to more recent DIY pop groups like Parsnip and Chook Race. Album opener "Either Way," "Hits The Bone" and "Where We Go" hearken back to some of the most intriguing bands of the C86/C88 era, when bands like Jesse Garon & The Desperadoes crafted perfect pop gems enlivened by the inspiration of punk.

Gorgeous songs like "Where I Stand," "Too Late" and "In This House" are windows into Alicia's lyrical style and inspiration. She expands: "I'm kind of obsessed with mortality and how weird the passage of time is so I think my lyrics reflect that. I definitely lean into that kind of melancholy state of mind when trying to think of lyrics, while trying to avoid cliches!" The marriage of the minor-key melodies and melancholic lyrics is powerful and make Alicia's songs all the more memorable, especially so on songs like "No Home," with its echoes of girl harmony post-punk groups like Grass Widow and Household.

Clearly, with 16 great songs included, there is a lot at work here on this standout debut album. Jeanines have been compared to such cult pop icons as Dear Nora, Black Tambourine, and more recent acts like Veronica Falls and Girl Ray, but their dark, modal melodies and pensive, philosophical lyrics, along with Smith's versatile but ever-economical musicality, ensure them a place of their own in today's crowded but boisterously healthy DIY pop scene.

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Ruby Vidor - Diamond Thug - Basement Revolver

Ruby Vidor - Ten Days.

Background - Ruby Vidor, is a 19-year old Melbourne based singer-songwriter releasing her debut independent single, 10 Days. 10 Days is a song about the pain and heartache when time conspires against a relationship. It’s melancholy and gentle vocal underlies the heartbreak that weaves through the captivating melody. 

The lyric starts with a question - can the relationship survive? As the songs builds it reaches the conclusion that the relationship has come to a natural end.

“I wrote this song whilst studying in New York. Relationships start with such promise and yet often the timing is just not right” stated Ruby Vidor. As a songwriter, Ruby loves to tell stories that are inspired by real life experiences. She has a passion to tell a story that connects her with her audience. The folk vibe and love of storytelling is inspired by her greatest musical influences, Missy Higgins, Joni Mitchel and Birdy. Her musical style ranges from Pop, to Indie and even a little bit of country.

‘10 Days’ was recorded independently in 2018, mixed by Andrew Kerridge. The music and lyrics were written by Ruby Vidor in 2017. FACEBOOK.

Upcoming Show: 3rd April - Holy Moly Bar, Hawthorn, Victoria.

'Ten Days' is a sensitive modern folk song. Ruby Vidor's vocals are personal, melodic and refined, add in the beautifully structured musical arrangement and it's impossible to ignore the track or the artist.

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Diamond Thug - Sapphire.

Background - In 2016 the South African band, Diamond Thug, recorded their debut EP with the help of Dave Minehan (The Replacements) and released it to waves of support, Indie Shuffle calling it ‘…a joy to listen to’. After significant support on a double platinum selling collaboration, Diamond Thug have introduced their music internationally with singles ‘Eclipsed’, 'Cosmic Dreamer' and 'Sweet Return' which have garnered fast increasing support. 'Choo Choo' is available via Phonofile.

Since their formation, Diamond Thug have continually evolved, always striving to create a unique sound that’s stay true to their perspective. Their music glides through dream-pop, skittish, off-kilter electronica & psychedelic-rock, creating cosmic-influenced ethereal soundscapes, which swirl below Chantel’s haunting, yet beautiful melodies.

The pursuit of an authentic & honest sound has earned the band various honours in international competitions such as Culture Collide’s pick to perform at SXSW 2017, as well as Converse’s Music Global Takeover and the attention of Grammy Award winner Darryl Torr, who had this to say about the band: "When listening to Diamond Thug, you are taken on a journey. It’s the effortless vocals, supported by a solid band, that tips you over the edge & pulls you through into their world. It’s rare to find a voice that can execute such interesting melodies so effortlessly as well as a band that leaves space for the vocals to shine, yet are able to maintain musical integrity." WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We featured Diamond Thug a couple of times in 2017 and so the new song 'Sapphire' was of real interest. The bands creative style of alt rock is centred around some smooth melodic vocals and harmonies, there is something of a fresh Americana feel to the song, along with some deep digging hooks.

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Basement Revolver - Lake Steel Oil.

Background - Ontario trio Basement Revolver have re-released their critically acclaimed self-titled debut EP in a limited run of vinyl pressings via Label Obscura. Formed in the honest grit of Hamilton, ON, the band has seen a quick and notable ascent into the spotlight with their unique brand of 90’s infused indie-rock. Basement Revolver has been able to formulate a captivating and refined hypnotic aural experience typically found with those who are well beyond their years. Rarely captured in first works, the band exhibits this maturity and ensures promising future releases.

“Lake, Steel, Oil is song that kind of grows and progresses with me moving through life. It starts out with me and my sister as kids watching the northern lights on Manatoulin Island. As a young adult, I moved to Hamilton while my sister moved to Alberta as a newlywed. The song turns to reflect on Hamilton – this city that I have come to love and to call home. It is a reminder that our lives are short, so we shouldn’t waste it. So I guess that those are all things that we tried to show in this video – how as a band we all have our separate lives but we all find a home (in some form or another) in Hamilton. It is what brought us together as a band.”

Before the release of their debut, Basement Revolver was already opening for accomplished acts such as Dave Monks (Tokyo Police Club) and others. Sensing something special between the band, six months into the project they seized the opportunity to record with local studio, TAPE (Memoryhouse, The Dirty Nil, Single Mothers). Together with Adam Bentley and Jordan Mitchell they began to sculpt and carve out their signature atmospheric sound. Gaining momentum, they soon decided on releasing their debut single, “Johnny”, which encountered an unstoppable wave of support with grassroots endorsements from sites such as The FADER, DIY, Indie Shuffle, CBC, Exclaim! Magazine, and numerous others.

Basement Revolver’s self-titled debut proved to be a success eventually being released via Memphis Industries’ UK sub-label Fear Of Missing Out. The band continued this momentum with the release of their follow up EP Agatha in 2017 which received overwhelming support from fans and critics both old and new. FACEBOOK, WEBSITE.


I have to admit to being a real fan of Basement Revolver ever since I first heard their song 'Johnny' back in 2016 and 'Lake Steel Oil' is our fifth feature for the band. The recent vinyl re-issue of their first EP alongside this new music video is good reason for another chance to showcase the band, whose enchanting & timeless music deserves far wider attention.


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Diamond Thug - Cloning the Mammoth - PLGRMS

Diamond Thug - Cosmic Dreamer.

Background - In 2016 the South African band, Diamond Thug, recorded their debut EP with the help of Dave Minehan (The Replacements) and released it to waves of support, Indie Shuffle calling it ‘…a joy to listen to’. After significant support at Spotify where they have now had several million plays on just one single, and in their home country, Diamond Thug have introduced their music internationally with their last single ‘Eclipsed’. And more comes in the form of their next single ‘Cosmic Dreamer’, and it doesn’t disappoint. The track is available from August 4th via Phonofile.

Since their formation, Diamond Thug have continually evolved, always striving to create a unique sound that’s stay true to their perspective. Their music glides through dream-pop, skittish, off-kilter electronica & psychedelic-rock, creating cosmic-influenced ethereal soundscapes, which swirl below Chantel’s haunting, yet beautiful melodies. 

The pursuit of an authentic & honest sound has earned the band various honours in international competitions such as Culture Collide’s pick to perform at SXSW 2017, as well as Converse’s Music Global Takeover and the attention of Grammy Award winner Darryl Torr, who had this to say about the band:  "When listening to Diamond Thug, you are taken on a journey.  It’s the effortless vocals, supported by a solid band, that tips you over the edge & pulls you through into their world.  It’s rare to find a voice that can execute such interesting melodies so effortlessly as well as a band that leaves space for the vocals to shine, yet are able to maintain musical integrity." Website here, Facebook here.

'Cosmic Dreamer' lives up to the song title with some refreshing & dreamy music. Melodic vocals are well up in the mix, adding additional power to the magnetic atmosphere.

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Cloning the Mammoth - San Francisco.

Background - Blending memorable melodies and driving tempos with ethereal soundscapes and ambient backdrops, Perth band Cloning the Mammoth have already honed a style that is uniquely their own.

This style is on show in their new song ‘San Francisco’, noticeably in the guitar work, which refuses to marry with conventional rock stereotypes. Heavily effected guitars are used to create synth like backdrops for the band’s more pop-oriented melodies and hooks. An extended range of notes afforded by use of a 6-string bass guitar helps give the bass playing a unique melodic edge. Combined with some unpredictable structures and arrangements, ‘San Francisco’ forms a captivating mosaic of sound.

The writing process behind this sound is very studio based as guitarist Bevan Green explains, “We spend a lot of time fiddling with effects and gear until we can create interesting sounds to fit the music. Especially lately we just write to record, and many of the songs start as sounds and ideas on a laptop before we translate it to a live band format.” 

‘San Francisco’ has all the hallmarks of a young band reaching towards an eclectic, textured and refreshing new sound. With a debut EP in the works and none of the band having reached the age of 20, the future is looking promising for Cloning the Mammoth.  “San Francisco” will be released 11th of August 2017. Facebook here.

The music is enticing and upbeat on 'San Francisco' a vibrant Indie track that is taken even further by the flowing vocals. This is very catchy!

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PLGRMS - Crawling Back.

Background - Australian duo PLGRMS, have released their new single ‘Crawling Back’, via London-based label 0E0E Records. A hugely welcome return from the Sydney based pair - whose spritely, glitchy electronic pop has gained a reputation for being some of the most inventive, exhilarating electronic music coming out of Australia at the moment. The duo have been making some impressive waves of late. Not only have they amassed over 7 million streams for previous singles in the past 12 months, along with with tours supporting Mansionair, Vera Blue and Oh Wonder on their home soil - PLGRMS' stocks are rapidly rising.

"'Crawling Back' was one of the first songs we conceived as PLGRMS” the band explain. “Lyrically, the song is based around seeing friends go through situations where their relationship had gone bad — and they just stuck around because it was all they knew. So I guess the inspiration was more observational than a personal experience.”

Where previous singles have landed more on the electronic end of the spectrum, PLGRMS new single 'Crawling Back’ is more organic in its instrumentation. Still retaining the key elements that make it very much a PLGRMS track, but with more of live and "band” sound to their previous releases. Synths wail amongst African-tinged percussion, with Jacob’s warm vocals elegantly weaving around the beat - all carried by a funk-laced bass line. It’s another exciting step forward, for an incredibly exciting band.

PLGRMS is the Sydney-based duo of singer-songwriter Jacob Pearson and multi-instrumentalist songwriter/producer Jonathan Bowden. Website here, Facebook here

It's getting on for a year ago that we first featured PLGRMS. The new song 'Crawling Back' can easily be described along the lines of our last review where we commentated "the superb vocals immediately grabbed my attention.. ..musically it's a sophisticated electro soundtrack". The latest release only serves to confirm this duo are consistently very good.


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Diamond Thug - LUMER - Chances

Diamond Thug - Eclipsed.

Background - In 2016 the South African band, Diamond Thug, recorded their debut EP with the help of Dave Minehan (The Replacements) and released it to waves of support. After significant support from their home country and now at Spotify, where they have had several million plays, and with the wind in their sails, Diamond Thug introduce their music internationally with upcoming single ‘Eclipsed’, an evocative track that takes influence from the likes of Warpaint, Beach House and Vulfpeck.

Since their formation, Diamond Thug have continually evolved, always striving to create a unique sound that’s stay true to their perspective. Their music glides through dream-pop, skittish, off-kilter electronica & psychedelic-rock, creating cosmic-influenced ethereal soundscapes, which swirl below Chantel’s haunting, yet beautiful melodies.

The pursuit of an authentic & honest sound has earned the band various honours in international competitions such as Culture Collide’s pick to perform at SXSW 2017, as well as Converse’s Music Global Takeover and the attention of Grammy Award winner Darryl Torr, who had this to say about the band: "When listening to Diamond Thug, you are taken on a journey.  It’s the effortless vocals, supported by a solid band, that tips you over the edge & pulls you through into their world.  It’s rare to find a voice that can execute such interesting melodies so effortlessly as well as a band that leaves space for the vocals to shine, yet are able to maintain musical integrity." Website here, Facebook here

Alternative pop might be something of an oxymoron, however with Diamond Thug and songs like 'Eclipsed' it's pretty much spot on. The track is fabulously original, hard to put in any one genre, and yet the attention this band have received so far, suggests their music is very pop, as in popular.

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LUMER - Gruel.

Background - Hull postpunks LUMER return this Spring with their new standalone single Gruel. With slots at BBC Radio 1 ’s Big Weekend in 2017’s UK City of Culture Hull (the band’s home town) and also Dot to Dot festival in Manchester during the week of release, Gruel takes the band to new heights in their very short life and meteoric rise as “a band to watch out for in 2017/18”.

On Gruel the four-piece have branched out into something borderline schizophrenic, with their twitchy guitar riffs and warped vocals giving way to something softer and more downtempo. To quote the band’s lead vocalist and bass player Alex Evans: “Gruel is about jealousy, anger, and failed attempts at escaping false thoughts. We had a lot of inspirations for Gruel, but mainly it’s a combination of Goth and Post-Punk bands like Bauhaus & Viet Cong (Preoccupations) as well as being inspired by our environment. Practicing in a dark, damp warehouse building in Hull has shaped the dark nature of the song.” This darkness is captured in the single’s somewhat tortured vocal and eerie instrumental middle section.

With their scuzzy and feverish grunge riffs LUMER are fast becoming a manic force to be reckoned with. Recently likened to acts such as Yak, King Nun and Black Flag, LUMER have bloomed out of Hull’s thriving
alternative music scene, holding the garagepunk torch aloft and lighting the way for the angry and the disenfranchised. Formed in the wintery beginnings of 2016, LUMER have develop their cryptic post-punk sound and have gone on to play high-octane shows supporting Life on their UK tour, Weirds and Vulgarians on their Manchester dates plus a performance at the prestigious Rough Trade Nottingham. Facebook here.

'Gruel' is one of those "cut to the chase" pieces. Post punk, ploughs straight into some alt rock, full of attitude, angst and passion. The resulting explosion of incredibly fresh music, gives hope to first generation punks. Those who remain in search of a refill of those years of the youthful vigour. Something only punk genres can deliver.

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Chances - Leave The Light On.

Background from Chances - We are excited to be releasing our new single after our debut single received so much support from listeners and taste makers like you. 

The song is about trusting that you’ve got some things to learn along the way from the connections in life that may be fleeting yet beautiful. It describes going ahead with something or someone, even when you know right from the start that it may not take you all the way to the finish line.

Musically, the song features a rhythmic counter-play between the melody and percussion. We wanted the vocals to be uplifting - infused with a feeling of hope and possibility. Near the end of the song you can hear some french lyrics weaved into the line; reflecting our roots.

We came together in Montreal in 2016 to sketch out a few songs, just to see where uninhibited brainstorming might lead us. New rules brought new possibilities, one person’s writer’s block became another’s building block. Website here, Facebook here.

And if alternative pop is not enough 'Leave The Light On' takes us into the wonderland of experimental pop, and by it's very credentials establishes such a place exists. With this song, it is also clearly thriving.

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Bumper Catch Up featuring: Rubblebucket - Mollie Elizabeth - Lilly Hiatt - The Kearns Family - WILDES and St Francis Hotel - Lucette - Caroline Strickland - Mon Rayon - Lala Salama

Keeping the comments a little shorter so we can cram a few more songs in than usual, this is our first bumper catch up of some really fine r...