Showing posts with label Earth Girl Helen Brown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Earth Girl Helen Brown. Show all posts

Heavy Heart - Deux Furieuses - The Ghosts - Curse Of Lono - Earth Girl Helen Brown

Heavy Heart have a new release entitled 'Cry Ice'. Combining melodic dream pop with hints of alt rock that gradually builds, this is a gently paced track that begs for a second listen.

'Year Of Rage' by Deux Furieuses is a high octane rocker that packs emotion and power as this duo combine to create some potent rock and roll.

The Ghosts have shared 'We Lie To Ourselves' accompanied by an imaginative video that works so well with the song. Musically there is a fresh indie rock feel, it's no surprise that the band are attracting plenty of attention. 

This is our second Curse Of Lono 'Live at Toe Rag Studios' feature, last month we shared 'Blackout Fever' and they return now with 'I'd Start A War For You', which is another refined and mellow Americana styled song.

Earth Girl Helen Brown return for a sixth time on Beehive Candy, this time with an E.P. called 'Uranus' plus a video for 'Oh! What A War' an epic twelve minutes of the band being as creative as ever. Whatever genre the band tackle (and they seem to cross over into plenty), their flare and musical ability is impressive and very engaging.
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Heavy Heart - Cry Ice.

Drifting seamlessly into the spotlight with a combination of vivid songwriting and luscious dream pop, London alt-rockers Heavy Heart showcase their emotional sensibilities to perfection in entrancing new release Cry Ice.

Forming the final part of the band’s 2019 trilogy of singles, mixed and co-produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Gabe Wax (The War On Drugs, Palehound, Soccer Mommy). Cry Ice frankly and unflinchingly documents the breakdown of vocalist Anna Vincent and guitarist Patrick Fitzroy’s 7-year relationship. Whilst there is pain and sadness underpinning all three tracks, the message is one of bittersweet happiness; that what is left after everything has fallen away is friendship. And music. Always music.

Widely touted across the airwaves courtesy of BBC Radio 1’s Phil Taggart and BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, the rising quartet have become well-known for their dynamic and atmospheric live shows with slots alongside fellow emerging acts Another Sky, Big Spring and Honey Lung already ticked off in recent months.

Speaking on the ideas behind the track, the quartet stated: “Cry Ice is about the end of a love affair; the glacial, slow, final moments of it all. Specifically, the song is about two people dying together on the side of a mountain, frozen forever just out of reach of each other”.

Produced by Patrick Fitzroy and Gabe Wax, Heavy Heart’s Cry Ice is out now and available via all digital platforms. Live Date: 15 Aug – Notting Hill Arts Club, London.

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Deux Furieuses - Year Of Rage.

Newly signed to Xtra Mile Recordings, the ferocious punk duo deux furieuses have announced the release of their new album ‘My War is Your War’ (18 October 2019), the long-awaited follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Tracks of Wire’ (2016).

Following its first play on John Kennedy’s Radio X Xposure show last night, Year of Rage - the first single to be taken from ‘My War is Your War’ -  is released today and available across streaming services and as an instant free download on all album pre-orders here.

Year of Rage was penned on New Year’s Eve leading into the centenary of Votes for Women and celebrates the #MeToo movement. Its accompanying video features art direction from both Jimmy Cauty (The KLF) and Alannah Currie (ex-Thompson Twins aka Miss Pokeno), with the latter also making a cameo appearance in the video. Currie’s Feel the Rage blog inspired the red flag imagery on ‘My War is Your War’ album artwork. As deux furieuses expand:

“We are honoured to have artists/musicians Dan Donovan and Jimmy Cauty (The KLF) behind the lense for our new Year of Rage video. Artist Alannah Currie (Thompson Twins) and Jimmy Cauty opened up their Doyce Street studio to us providing art ideas, inspiration and red flags!”

deux furieuses are Scottish vocalist and guitarist Ros Cairney and London Greek drummer Vas Antoniadou. Since their beginnings in 2013 they have earned a reputation for uncompromising politically charged rock which has seen them championed by the likes of Q Magazine, Classic Rock, Louder Than War, and Radio X DJ John Kennedy, whose enthusiasm caught the attention of Frank Turner leading to the duo supporting him at the Roundhouse, London for Lost Evenings Festival 2017.

Raised on a fiery blend of Irish and Greek music, 80’s post-punk and 90’s alt rock, and bonding over a love of early PJ Harvey and Kate Bush, their music is a visceral and impassioned call to arms against the world’s inequalities and rising storms.

‘My War is Your War’ lyrically and musically expands on their debut album ‘Tracks of Wire’. It takes the post-punk and Riot Grrrl influences of the predecessor and injects it with a darker rock sound, an angrier sonic energy representing the alarming rise of social injustices and right-wing power since the debut’s release.


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The Ghosts - We Lie To Ourselves.

The Ghosts formed when Alex Starling (Ou Est Le Swimming Pool) was introduced to New York trained jazz drummer Ian Palmer. They began to work with Alex Sharman and Dan Whiffin on what would become their debut album ‘The End’.

Written and recorded in two months the album received rave reviews in both the UK and abroad. The band signed deals in the US, Canada and Russia and began to tour extensively over the next few years.

After a break for Alex to work on writing projects and for Ian to perform a series of sell out concerts alongside legendary drummers Steve Gadd and Benny Greb, they have returned with ‘We Lie To Ourselves’. The single was mixed by Eduardo De La Paz (Arcade Fire, The National, Florence and The Machine).

The video for the single which features an animated mouse taking action against a prey-killing, corporate machine run by cats, has been nominated for the McLaren Award at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival.


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Curse Of Lono - I'd Start A War For You (Live at Toe Rag Studios).

Curse of Lono release new single I’d Start A War For You, taken from upcoming album 4am And Counting, recorded live at Toe Rag Studios, due out on July 12th. I’d Start A War For You was recorded with Grammy-winning producer Liam Watson (The White Stripes) and features a guest appearance from legendary pedal steel player BJ Cole.

Curse Of Lono’s forthcoming album '4am And Counting' consists of 11 mellow, rootsier versions of tracks off the band’s first two albums, recorded live at Toe Rag Studios in London with Grammy-winning producer Liam Watson (The White Stripes 'Elephant'), and mixed by Oli Bayston (Boxed In).

The album features guest appearances from legendary pedal steel player BJ Cole (Elton John, Dolly Parton, Pink Floyd, Massive Attack), and harmonica player Nick Reynolds (Alabama 3 and son of the mastermind of the great train robbery, Bruce Reynolds).

“We wanted to capture the vibe we get when we're jamming late at night,” explains frontman Felix Bechtolsheimer. “So we booked a couple of days in the studio, invited a few friends down and pressed record. Toe Rag Studios is an incredible place. There are no computers. There’s no technology to tempt you. We just played everything completely live like we do when we’re messing around in our rehearsal room, so what you hear is exactly what was played.”


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Earth Girl Helen Brown - Uranus / Oh! What a War.

About "Uranus", by Earth Girl Helen Brown: 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 the fifth installment of the E.G.H.B.C.P.F.I.B. seasonal planetary series, URANUS. Featuring Heidi Alexander, Jamin Barton, Eric Bauer, Emilee Booher, Brad Caulkins, Bart Davenport, James Finch Jr., Graeme Gibson, Tahlia Harbour, Doug Hilsinger, Warren Huegel, Josh Puklavetz, Sean Smith, Ryan Weinstein and mastered by Mikey Young.

In these times of many changes, URANUS considers the strain and repose of power which balances all things. The common English language word, power, refers to four quantitative properties of physics: energy, work, force, and power. In common use it is synonymous with strength, energy, electricity, vigor, and domination. A boundary between time (t) and energy (E) it is also the product of their division (P) and the great scale by which their separation is measured. How shall we manifest these interactions in our social and physical spheres from the atomic scale to the cosmogonic? F=ma, W=Fs, E=mc2, P=E/t so E=tP and t=E/P.

"Oh! What A War" from MARS / Four Satellites Vol. 1 by Earth Girl Helen Brown (Empty Cellar Records / In The Red) Recorded in Los Angeles by Ty Segall and Heidi Alexander:

Oh! What a War is a production of the Earth Girl Helen Brown Center for Planetary Intelligence Band (E.G.H.B.C.F.P.I.B.) with video synthesizer footage courtesy of Lefty Rybrow (Ryan Browne). The narrative is intended to provide a brief history of American armed conflicts over a 500+ year history however many armed engagements of the United States are not accounted for in this story nor are they in the common historic record. These blank spots are the result of numerous forces influencing the telling of history including discrepancies in the classification of such conflicts as war/not war such as the current global network of US special operations forces and any number of past conflicts funded by the American taxpayer without any official declaration of war.

The 12-year long Cold War-era civil war in El Salvador which claimed 75,000 lives with heavy backing by the Carter and Reagan administrations is one such example of a serious foreign engagement that does not make the official roster of American wars. If your war was not included, we apologize. For those offended by the content of this story please note that the raw timeline and subjects of this narrative were drawn from the common informational sources below. We hope that the lyrical suggestion that there is “really nothing left” of the American Indian does not offend those American Indian populations surviving and thriving today.

This is a lyrical device meant to reflect the relentless and brutal force of the US Military assault on the American Indian in a series of conflicts which dominate the early history of American war from 1775-1923 and which are regarded by many historians and academics as being genocidal in nature. We single out top military contractors as complicit as it is only those individuals and organizations that make war their business who profit off its propagation.  All others pay. We believe in peace.



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The Soft Underground - Earth Girl Helen Brown - Silent Forum

The Soft Underground - Ghosts.

Background - NYC-based The Soft Underground may hail from the outskirts of Manhattan, but have been hailed as modern decedents of the touchtone bands from Seattle’s 90’s alternative scene.

Formed in 2010 by drummer, Andrew McCarty and guitarist, Charlie Hickey, the band quickly began to write, perform and record original music. Their mode of working involved perfecting their musical beds and then casting the correct guest vocalist for each song, working in the rock genre in a similar way that French electro innovators Air recruit collaborators for their tracks. Guests have included Nick Redmond (Star & Micey), Brannon Barnett (The StoneCoats) and Rick Steff (Lucero, The Afghan Whigs, Hank Williams Jr.)

What emerged from these collaborations was unique yet accessible to the mainstream, and their debut album, 2015’s Lost in Translation, garnered positives nods from The Big Takeover, Music Street Journal and Alt Nation. The latter was quick to nail down their dynamic combo of solid hooks and rock riffs, noting the potential for radio ready singles.

Their forthcoming sophomore follow-up, Morning World, is a much more personal work which continues their penchant for eclectic variation. They labored over the recording process for over two years, insuring their melodic, dreamy and diverse esthetic evolved beyond their debut. The resulting recordings could be described as alt art rock in the vein of Deftones, Father John Misty and Stone Temple Pilots - a solid rock foundation that integrates big band swing, jungle electronica, shoegaze and punk. WEBSITE.


'Ghosts' is a refined alt rocker that mixes pleasingly distinct vocals and a slick soundtrack together, and adds in some delicate harmonies and subtle melodic hooks. If the sophomore album is this good throughout, it's gonna be something very special.

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Earth Girl Helen Brown - Set the Woods on Fire.

Background - A new video for, "Set The Woods On Fire", off Four Satellites, Vol. 1 by Earth Girl Helen Brown has just been shared. The Earth Girl Helen Brown Center for Planetary Intelligence Band (E.G.H.B.CF.P.I.B.) is pleased to join forces with In the Red Records & Empty Cellar Records, presenting the first vinyl release of their proto planetary series: Four Satellites Vol. 1. Double gate-folded LP (3 sides + etching), the release is a collection of songs and information from the band’s 2017 consumer recycled cassette series. Spring: MERCURY: fire; Summer: MARS: war; Fall: SATURN: communication; Winter: VENUS: love. Classic black or green and gold all proceeds benefit 12 earth-minded organizations.

The band, related media artists and technicians includes: Heidi Alexander, Jamie Barron, Jamin Barton, Eric Bauer, Aylin Beyce, Emilee Booher, Ryan Browne, Tim Cohen, Grace Cooper, Dave Cousin, Brad Caulkins, Mikal Cronin, Bart Davenport, Brigid Dawson, John Dwyer, Chris Fallon, Lars Finberg, James Finch Jr., Davin Givhan, Dylan Hadley, Dustin Hamman, Kiran Harlow, Wilder Harlow, Graeme Gibson, Tahlia Harbour, Anna Hillburg, Douglas Hilsinger, Warren Huegel, Emmett Kelly, Nora Keys, Shannon Lay, Raven Mahon, Rusty Miller, Charlie Moonheart, Jack Name, Ethan Novikoff, Tim Presley, Ty Segall, Dave Sitek, Sean Smith, Sonny Smith, Kelley Stoltz, Enrique Tena, Alica Vanden Heuvel, Lida Vanden Heuvel and Mikey Young. WEBSITE.


Appearance number five on Beehive Candy for Earth Girl Helen Brown, this time we have a new music video for 'Set the Woods on Fire'. Musically it's another imaginative and massively catchy song, on that front they are so consistent, and the video adds just a little more message and some intriguing dancing as well.


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Silent Forum - How I Faked The Moon Landing.

Background - Cardiff's Silent Forum are a combination of shadowy post punk and the more accessible side of indie rock.

The band are releasing their new single How I Faked The Moon Landing on 10th August on Libertino Records’ ‘Singles Club’. A music video for the single has just been made available. 


How I Faked The Moon Landing is the first track to be released from our debut LP produced by Charlie Francis of R.E.M., Future of the Left and Ultravox fame.

How I Faked The Moon Landing’s video was filmed in Barry Island by filmmaker Jaydon Martin - it features the band on jubilant form, surprising the locals in Barry’s famous arcades.


Silent Forum comprise of Vocals - Richard Wiggins, Bass - Oli Richards, Guitar - Dario Ordi, Drums - Elliot Samphier. FACEBOOK

'How I Faked The Moon Landing' opens with some addictive, rhythmic vibes, that suggest this song is going to be rather hard to ignore. Once the vocals commence and the band subtly take things up a notch, it's all apparent that Silent Forum have developed one engaging and resplendent sound. Whether it's indie rock, post punk, alt rock or whatever, it is without doubt an impressive track that guarantees further investigation of anything else they already have to offer.


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Abbey Baker - Archie and The Bunkers - Earth Girl Helen Brown - Trevor Hall - Paul Littlewood

Abbey Baker - Tell Me How.

Background - Emerging Sydney songstress, Abbey Baker, is set to confidently stun audiences with her endearing indie-pop records. Poised by a passion and skill for songwriting, Abbey’s artistry is propelled by honest and clever lyricism, and her ability to seamlessly transcend genres of soul, indie-pop, funk and jazz. Abbey’s sound is a gorgeous cocktail of heartfelt vocals and delicate piano driven melodies, perfectly complemented by angelic layers of harmonies, soft pop rhythms, and subtle synth productions.

Recently, the singer-songwriter stepped out onto the music scene with her infectious debut track Tell Me How. “The song is about my experience of being in that early stage of a relationship, where I am all in and the other person isn’t. I explore the feelings of frustration and insecurity that I felt, a situation in which many others may have experienced”, Abbey reveals. The track was recorded at Main Street Studios in Wollongong produced by Xavier Lardner. To coincide with the release of her debut single, Abbey shared the official music video, creatively produced by media artist, Jasmine Lee Ryan.

Tell Me How is an epic first release from the young talent, which sets grand anticipation for Abbey’s upcoming debut EP. Abbey is currently back in the studio writing and recording new material for her forthcoming record, but audiences in the meantime can catch the emerging artist performing live at intimate gigs across Sydney.

Abbey Baker grew up on the beautiful South Coast of NSW before moving to Sydney at age 18 to pursue a career in music. The trained pianist and singer, built upon her skill sets and musical knowledge by attending the Australian Institute of Music, recently graduating from the arts college with a Bachelor of Music (Contemporary Performance).

Now at 22 years of age, Abbey is ready to share her music. The singer-songwriter draws musical inspiration from the likes of Joni Mitchell, Meg Mac, Sarah Blasko, Missy Higgins and Kimbra, producing music that is both raw and poetic, just as it is infectious and charming. FACEBOOK.


Abbey Baker's vocals are melodic and alluring on 'Tell Me How' an indie pop song where the musical arrangement has a few genre twists that give a soulful feel as the piece develops.

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Archie and The Bunkers - The Traveler.

Background - Norton Records is proud to announce the label debut of infamous Cleveland rockers Archie & the Bunkers with the agitated pairing of original songs "The Traveler" and "Looking". A&tB are brothers Cullen and Emmett O'Connor. Cullen plays "hi-fi organ" and Emmett plays drums. Both sing and compose. These teenage siblings have exploded locally and have taken Europe by storm with their wild live festival and club dates. They have recorded for Third Man (USA) and Dirty Water Records (UK) and have now come home to Norton Records with their most captivating sides to date. All of their influences have resulted in these riveting original comps.

Noted filmmaker Reuben Kincaid shot the band video for "The Traveler" out in the wilds and wastelands of Cleveland, showcasing the key vistas of the city. A few of you know the story of how we were struck cold in our tracks at hearing The Traveler being ground out of an antique wooden pump organ at 3 in the morning at Franklin Castle in Cleveland this past October 13th-- by 16 year old Cullen O'Connor-- those who don't, suffice it to say that it jarred us out of the blue and into the black. 


I'm not spreading hype (although I'd love to) in saying this record was meant to be-- and meant to be on Norton. In 1963 Cashbox terms it's a "twin spin destined for chart stardom". In 2018 Norton lingo, it's a "stormy weeper with a will to dominate" b/w a "belligerent teen raver". Music educator Steve Rosen stated that this A&tB release is "teen music at its tormented best"... .we're excited as heck to have a 45 RPM record out there to test everybody's mettle, 'cause this is like Screamin Jay meets the Zombies in a death match. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Archie & the Bunkers first appeared on our radar around a year ago, then promptly disappeared. 'The Traveler' is a very welcome second sitting from this feisty duo, and by this bands standards is almost a ballad, where once again modern meets the past, on this occasion without so much raw rock & roll.


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Earth Girl Helen Brown - Language Of Love.

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 the fourth and final installment of the first E.G.H.B.C.P.F.I.B. seasonal series. Venus follows Mercury, Mars and Saturn The season is Winter, the planet is VENUS, the topic is Love. Featuring Heidi Alexander, Tahlia Harbour, Graeme Gibson, James Finch Jr., Jamin Barton, Rusty Miller, Kelley Stoltz, Doug Hilsinger, Ryan Browne, Brigid Dawson, Grace Cooper, Anna Hillburg, Meryl Press, Alicia Vanden Heuvel, Lida Vanden Heuvel, Kearin Harlow and Wilder Harlow. VENUS aspires toward a softer more lustrous operation with hearts and minds in the fold of that ever human emotion.

Available from Empty Cellar Records on limited edition 100% post-consumer recycled cassette tape, all proceeds benefit organizations committed to the expansion of love and empathy as an antidote the absurd and vacuous practice of hate.

In step with the executive format the band is on a four-year trajectory of narrative abstraction, economic entanglement, art, information, administration, music, and hopefully a little policy making. 2018 will focus on administration and narrative expansion with the band forming as a CA 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and initiating their MONEY MONEY commerce and lifestyle blog. Expect four follow-up 7”s from In the Red Records and a vinyl compilation, Four Satellites Vol. I, in the Spring. In 2019 they will return to visit another four solar satellites, then onward and outward. WEBSITE.


Over the past year we have featured a song from Mercury, Mars and Saturn, so it's with considerable pleasure that we now arrive in orbit around Venus. 'Language Of Love' continues the impressive collection of music in this series, this time there are hints of soul and blues, and a groove that is hypnotic in the most pleasing of ways.


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Trevor Hall - The Fruitful Darkness part. 3.

Background - Raised on an island in South Carolina, singer/songwriter Trevor Hall realized at a young age that music was more than just a passion - it was, rather, his life’s art. At sixteen, he recorded his first album, soon after which he left South Carolina for Idyllwild Arts Academy in California where he studied classical guitar and was introduced to the practices of yoga and meditation, which would greatly influence his life and his music.

Hall’s music, a blend of roots and folk music, is imbued with a deep love of Eastern Mysticism. This powerful symbiosis fostered a deep connectivity with his growing fan base and Trevor quickly matured into a leader of the burgeoning conscious musical community. Along with numerous pilgrimages to India, he has also completed a series of sold-out tours and collaborations with artists such as Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Matisyahu, Michael Franti, Xavier Rudd and Nahko & Medicine for the People.

His previous full-length album releases, Chapter of the Forest (2014) and KALA (2015), debuted at #3 and #2 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart respectively and were supported by extensive tours around the US and Australia. Beyond his intention to spread love and healing through music, Hall also collects donations to support children’s education in India and has continuously donated to charities and relief funds.

The Fruitful Darkness is Trevor’s first independent release supported by his fans known as The Villagers has become the #1 Music campaign of its kind in 2017. “There have been many hurdles and triumphs along the way” Hall reflects, after a decade plus recording for established labels such as Geffen and Vanguard. “This album conveys the deep vulnerability of journeying through the unknown, as opposed to playing it safe.” Besides the change in infrastructure, the album itself explores completely new sonic terrain and is being released unconventionally, in three song installments on specific lunar dates, with the intention to buck the trend of fly-by-night releases and hold the conversation for a whole year. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.


Five songs to feast upon with the new EP 'The Fruitful Darkness part.3' all of which are there to enjoy just below. The music is a blend of natural roots music with excursions in differing directions held together by Trevor Hall's beguiling vocals and musical themes that are always of a very high standard.

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Paul Littlewood - Today.

Background -  British artist Paul Littlewood has announced his forthcoming double A-side single, comprised of tracks 'Today' and 'Television' and set for release via Anklebreka Records. Hailing from Swinton, South Yorkshire and currently based in Sheffield, Littlewood is a prolific songwriter and music producer.

'Today' soothes the listener with an endearing yet hazy musical familiarity with its swirls and blurred sonic edges, hanging in the air with raw emotion, cocooning the listener. The more upbeat 'Television' ramps up the energy with a very real statement on the situation with modern-day TV. Both tracks present perfect pop viewed through a technicolor prism.

"'Today' was inspired by the discovery of a collection of tape cassettes, when I purchased a second-hand tape recorder for making home demos. Each cassette is an audio letter by a young couple in New York to send home to their parents in the UK in the early 1970’s. I managed to discover one of the couple's names using information disclosed on the tapes (they speak of a move to California and the company he'd be working with). The couple also discloses that they are expecting their first child, and I’ve always felt that it would be fantastic to reunite the tapes with the family. The lines of ‘Today’ are adaptions of the tapes' dialogue, and the single cover is an image of audio from the tape," explains Paul Littlewood.

"After discovering the tapes, suddenly the practice of making records made sense to me. The dialogue was so honest and unfiltered due to the nature of their purpose. From then on I resolved to make music this way.” WEBSITE.


'Today' is one of those songs that feels very personal, whilst letting the listener immerse themselves in and imagining that it's their own. The gorgeous hooks do the rest and repeat play becomes compulsive.

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Ann'so M - Fine China - The Beaucrees - Earth Girl Helen Brown

Ann'so M - Screw You.

Background - Ann'so M in a few references: A electro-pop-rock duo not soft knee, sung by an artist reminiscent of a French Pat Benatar. Many concerts given in jails, festivals, Coffee Scenes ... Prestigious collaborations including a very nervous song that has benefited from the talent of Louis Bertignac (Telephone). Captivating riffs and a groaning six-string, all led by a voice, that of a flayed skin, with an engaged pen.

"Au coeur du système" Inspired by the events of recent years, Ann'so M offers five assertive songs raging and addictive to heady melodies. Five years after "Dans des artères", Ann'so enchants on some titles in the language of Shakespeare. From her frenglish accent, she claims her continentalism.

This EP is an invitation to think for yourself. "At a time when social networks can reveal themselves as a source of the most precarious thoughts, is religion an obstacle to reason? In the same way, the man is consumer of media, but from now on it is the media which consumes it. "(Eben Moglen) All traced? All controlled?

Attracted by electro sounds, but keeping forever and ever his rock spirit, the duo out of his comfort zone thanks to this tasty mix, sailing in the Franco-British new wave influences. On a coffee terrace in Paris, they collaborate with Joseph d'Anvers, who wrote the ballad "Zero Degree". "Au coeur du système" will be available in March 2018 , it will be possible to order it directly on the band's WEBSITE.


For "electro pop rock" I suggest focusing on rock as the key element of Ann'so M's five song EP. 'Screw You' is typical of the assertive nature that permeates this collection, don't get me wrong the other elements are there, but the sumptuous energised nature of the music is fuelled by some feisty rock & roll.


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Fine China - No Vibe.

Background - We have another single from Arizona-based Fine China who just put out a 7" out on Velvet Blue Music.

A little more about the song from the band: "No Vibe started as a simple drum machine beat and the two telecaster guitar parts that come in at the beginning of the song.  I had written the chorus guitar parts several years back but never had a good place to land them, but when this track presented itself, they worked perfectly as the chorus.  I've always loved early Cure tracks, where they just kind of go, and parts come in and out but they are more of a jam, and the dynamic parts and stops/starts are kept to a minimum, and so that is how this track evolved. 

One we started putting together the track list for the album, it became clear to me that No Vibe didn't quite fit as an album track, but I liked it and it was a bit of an oddball arrangement for Fine China, which I liked, so we kept it as a B-Side.  The production is a little rougher than the album tracks as well, as we recorded and mixed it all in my home studio, which I thought fit the song." WEBSITE.


Less than a week since we first featured Fine China along comes a second single 'No Vibe. We said that the previous song 'Not Thrilled' was "a high quality piece that bodes very well for next months album". The new single just re-emphasises our opinion and ups the stakes even higher.

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The Beaucrees - Give Them A Break!

Background - “There are all sorts of problems in the world and I know we can't stop the actions of others but I do believe that there is one problem that can be resolved. This is it. There are people sleeping on the streets in every city in the world. Some are old. Some are young. Some have simple but beautiful minds. Homelessness is not about race or religion. It's about loneliness and despair. It's about being unwanted and unneeded.I honestly believe that very few people choose to sleep on our streets.

There are people and governments that can solve this problem. We need to get them to listen. Let them know that we the people are not happy for this situation to continue. How can we all help? We must make everyone be aware that there is a problem. Today (26th January 2018) The Beaucrees, a band from the sixties, are releasing the " first record of awareness."

What's that I hear you ask? It's a record with a simple message.The message is STOP THE HOMELESSNESS. Hopefully some one might listen if we all Shout STOP the HOMELESSNESS” - Michael Kain, The Beaucrees

Formed: 1963 Walthamstow, London, England, why would you wait over 50 years to release your first single? Perhaps you’re just waiting for the right song to come along? But that’s the story of The Beaucrees; formed in 1963, worked their way around the clubs and pubs of London in and the South East in the ‘60s and ‘70s and broke up finally in 1979.

They reformed in 2012 and then Michael Kain wrote “The Game” a record to raise money for a charity that helps wounded service men and women – Help for Heroes and the great work that they do. ’Give Them A Break’ is their second single, evoking a classic 60’s sound with quality songwriting and a powerful message. WEBSITE.


Apart from the worthy message cited above 'Give Them A Break!' just happens to be a fabulous and timeless song that exudes sixties charm and yet is clearly relevant and of today's production standards. Back in the late seventies I remember some of the homeless that slept around London's west end, they always seemed to look old to me then. Nowadays they look far to young, it's not hard to see why this band feel this way, I guess it's a case of what about me, what am I going to do...


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Earth Girl Helen Brown - Chains of Love.

Background - The lead track "Chains of Love" from Venus, the final EP in the inaugural year of the planet series by Earth Girl Helen Brown. The new track features Brigid Dawson (Thee Oh Sees), Grace Cooper (Grace Sings Sludge / The Sandwitches), Kelley Stoltz, Graeme Gibson, Tahlia Harbour (The Dry Spells), Emilee Booher; and of course, Heidi Alexander (The Sandwitches / Pruno Truman).

Born a figment of Sonny Smith’s imagination in the storm of invention and tributary appropriation that formed the 100 Records project (2010), Earth Girl Helen Brown resurfaced last year in response to cosmic cultural forces seeming to demand an engaged response.  It’s no coincidence that the Center for Planetary Intelligence Band (E.G.H.B.C.F.P.I.B.) launched the inaugural EP of their 2017 planetary series, Mercury (a collection of songs dealing with the topic of “responsible fire management”), on 1/20/17 at an event dubbed Inauguration Station. The band has subsequently released one cassette EP per season in collaboration with Empty Cellar Records, each confronting a singular solar satellite, topic planetary of importance, and aspirational genre, with proceeds of each benefiting organizations committed work related to the topic at hand.  Summer was MARS (war), Fall SATURN (communication), and now the first series concludes with the Winter installation VENUS on the topic of love. Preferencing the expansive catch-as-catch-can vibe of the 100 Records project the band has hosted an ever-changing cast characters in the first year. With Heidi Alexander (The Sandwitches / Pruno Truman / The Fresh and Onlys) at the helm the band and its related media artists and technicians has included:

Jamie Barron, Jamin Barton, Eric Bauer, Aylin Beyce, Emilee Booher, Ryan Browne (Sonny and The Sunsets), Tim Cohen (Fresh and Onlys / Magic Trick), Grace Cooper (The Sandwitches / Grace Sings Sludge), Dave Cousin, Brad Caulkins, Mikal Cronin, Bart Davenport, Brigid Dawson (Thee Oh Sees), John Dwyer (Thee Oh Sees), Chris Fallon, Lars Finberg, James Finch Jr. (The Sandwitches), Davin Givhan (Chris Cohen Band), Dylan Hadley, Dustin Hamman, Kearin Harlow, Wilder Harlow, Graeme Gibson, Tahlia Harbour (Sonny and The Sunsets), Anna Hillburg (Magic Trick), Douglas Hilsinger, Warren Huegel (Daevid Allen's University of Errors), Emmett Kelly (The Cairo Gang), Nora Keys, Shannon Lay, Raven Mahon (Grass Widow), Rusty Miller, Charlie Moonheart (CFM), Jack Name, Ethan Novikoff, Tim Presley (White Fence / Drinks), Ty Segall, Dave Sitek (TV on The Radio), Sean Smith, Sonny Smith, Kelley Stoltz, Enrique Tena, Alicia Vanden Heuvel (Aislers Set / Magic Trick), Lida Vanden Heuvel and Mikey Young. BANDCAMP, WEBSITE.


A massive welcome back to E.G.H.B.C.F.P.I.B. and the latest song share that is 'Chains Of Love'. Our third feature and another gorgeous song with some addictive R&B meets soul vibes going on, it does not seem fair to miss out any of those who have contributed to this series of EP's, so there they all are above, for the story so far.

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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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Earth Girl Helen Brown - The Stevens - People Like You

Earth Girl Helen Brown - Flower Of Darkness.

Background - "Flower Of Darkness" is the new single from Earth Girl Helen Brown. The track will be featured on her forthcoming EP entitled 'Mars' out July 21st on Empty Cellar Records. 'Mars' follows EGHB's recently released EP 'Mercury'.

Empty Cellar Records and the Earth Girl Helen Brown Center for Planetary Intelligence Band are pleased to announce the summer instalment of the E.G.H.B.C.P.F.I.B. 2017 seasonal series, MARS. 

Featuring Heidi Alexander, Tahlia Harbour, Sonny Smith, James Finch Jr., Jamin Barton, Tim Presley, John Dwyer, Jack Name, Dave Siteck, Ty Segall, Dylan Hadley and Mikal Cronin. MARS marks a change in style and content and is concerned with the persistent topic of war. 

Available from Empty Cellar Records on limited edition 100% post-consumer recycled cassette tape 7/21, all proceeds benefit organisations committed to the cessation of violent conflict, the promotion of peace, and the dissolution of the military industrial complex. Website here.

'Flower Of Darkness' is a likable and perhaps, tiny bit quirky pop song. Whatever the description this has hooks that dig deep, making a few more plays irresistible.

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The Stevens - (Two Tracks) Chancer + Pulling All The Facts Together.

Background - Australian indie-pop group The Stevens (feat. members of Twerps) are back with their sophomore album 'Good' out July 14 via Chapter Music. ood picks up where their 2014 debut A History Of Hygiene left off - 18 short songs, alternately frenetic or laconic, packed with twists and hooks that merge lo-fi outsider songcraft with 70s prog wizardry and classic rock swagger.

The Stevens formed in 2011 around guitarists Alex Macfarlane (Twerps, Tyrannamen) and New Zealand-born Travis MacDonald, and were soon joined by bassist Gus Lord (Twerps, Boomgates, Tyrannamen) and drummer Matt Harkin. In 2012, Chapter Music re-issued the band’s self-released debut EP, six insanely catchy guitar pop songs in 13 minutes. Then in late 2014 Chapter released A History Of Hygiene. The album was written up by the likes of Pitchfork and The Guardian, reviewed by Austin Brown of Parquet Courts for Talkhouse, and played on BBC6.

The Stevens toured the US in 2015, playing Memphis’ legendary Gonerfest on the back of killer single "Thirsty Eye" (included as the final track on Good) and getting to support their hero R Stevie Moore. In Australia they have played with Wire, Parquet Courts, Real Estate and more.

The Stevens recorded Good in their own Melbourne bedrooms/jam rooms throughout 2016, and once again employed the services of New Zealand mastering engineer Tex Houston, veteran of a thousand Flying Nun releases, to give it a fuzzy polish. The tasteful sleeve is painted by the band’s own Travis MacDonald.

Alex and Gus from The Stevens have spent the last couple of years as the newest members of Twerps, with Alex drumming on their 2015 album Range Anxiety, and Gus joining on bass a short time later. Bandcamp here.

Two songs to share from today's album release from The Stevens, and we have 'Chancer' and 'Pulling All The Facts Together'. Putting together the two tracks helps show the diversity of sounds and styles on the new album, where indie pop and other shades of rock can be found.


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People Like You - Thumbnail.

Background - People Like You are set to release their sophomore album entitled Verse on July 28 via Topshelf Records. "'Thumbnail' is about being in a long-distance relationship," explains guitarist/vocalist Chris Lee-Rodriguez. "I used to say to my partner at the time that if you look far back enough you could measure the distance between each other with your thumbnail. No matter how hard it got, that  would always help me get through it."​

The five-piece Boston-based band, People Like You, formed in 2014 from the short-lived emo/math punk band, I Kill Giants, which included guitarist/vocalist Chris Lee-Rodriguez and drummer Sander Bryce. After the release of their first record, This is what you learned. on Broken World Media, People Like You expanded to include longtime collaborator and trumpet player Matt Hull, as well as vocalist/pianist Michi Tassey, and Animal Flag’s Sai Boddupalli on bass.

After several years of making a name for themselves in the small DIY house show circuit in the Northeast, the indie jazz outfit will release their sophomore album, Verse on Topshelf Records. Incorporating improvisation, classical guitar, breakbeats, a punk ethos, literary references, and beautiful pop melodies, People Like You has developed a sound that they can truly call their own. Verse will be released on July 28th, 2017. Facebook here.

One of my favourites so far this month is 'Thumbnail' a stylish, and impressive song, where the musicianship is high calibre and the vocals beautifully matched. Add in the catchy nature of this track and it's timeless feel, and for me People Like You are on for a real winner.

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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...