DreamVacation - Flawes - Houg - Superet

DreamVacation - Thin World (EP).

Background - DreamVacation’s new EP ‘Thin World’ is cinematic in nature and thematically metaphysical. The EP includes such tracks as the title track which touches on existential themes. 2nd single “The Same Love” was originally inspired by the travails of Laura Palmer of Twin Peaks. While the EP touches on such seminal bands like Interpol and Temper Trap, the band employs a driving and transcendent approach to Post-Rock.

DreamVacation’s stunning new EP, Thin World, delves into the inherent disparity of a world run by zeros and ones, what it means to exist, and what it might mean to not exist at all.  It was recorded at Big Ego Studios in Long Beach and produced by Rian Lewis and DreamVacation.

DreamVacation include Zilva Thustra on vocals and guitar, Gerry Matthews on bass and synth, and Noah Alexander on drums and synth. The band members previously supported live acts such as Foster the People, Airborne Toxic Event, The War On Drugs and Matt & Kim.

Formerly a band called Atlantic Line, the three-piece had a licensing/publishing deal with a group called Hype Music, a partnership between the publishing arm of Sony ATV and MTV.  They had success placing songs in films and TV shows including Showtime’s Shameless, TNT’s Boston’s Finest, and SYFY’s Being Human, to name a few. In 2011, the band played the Hype/MTV stage in SXSW, and walked the red carpet for the MTV Woodie Awards. Website here, Facebook here.

I was not quite sure where to start with the 'Thin World (EP)'. Being able to share it in full helps, as the band traverse a good number of musical genres, making it something of a challenge to easily summarise. So if alt rock, shoegaze & all manner of indie music is for you, then enjoy, as this is a fine collection of songs that slip & slide within those regions.

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Flawes - Blank Dice.

Background - London via Yorkshire band Flawes reveal their new single ‘Blank Dice’ via Red Bull Records. It’s the second track from their upcoming EP due for release this Autumn.

The new EP is the band’s first new material since 2016’s ‘CTRL’ and ‘Unspkn’ EPs created a feverish buzz around the trio. ‘Blank Dice’ - produced by young, London producer Lostboy (Ella Eyre / Anne-Marie) encapsulates the band’s flair for alternative pop which has been attracting a loyal fan base these past 12 months.

“The song is based on the concept of luck” commented front man Josh (JC) Carruthers. “… with the idea that you ‘make your own luck’ and ‘the harder you work, the luckier you get’. A dice is the worldwide symbol for luck. When you strip a dice of all it’s numbers and roll it, nothing will happen because you make your own chances in life.”

“It outlines the sacrifices and strains on life when working hard in a cutthroat industry so hugely competitive. It’s not a lifestyle built for everyone and some people don’t understand or agree with investing/gambling away a huge amount of time, effort and focus”.

The band’s new material highlights an exciting first half of 2017 for Flawes who have already performed at a host of festivals including Live at Leeds, The Great Escape Festival, and were also hand-picked to perform on the Introducing stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Hull earlier this Summer. Website here, Facebook here.

We featured Flawes for the first time around six weeks ago (with 'Forever') and the new track 'Blank Dice' is more than worthy of a feature. It's another finely crafted song where the production is top notch, which for an alt rock song with soulful vocals makes all the difference.

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Houg - The Seas I See.

Background - With a history in playing for multiple Singaporean bands ranging from Post Punk to Electro, Houg’s ambitions have taken him from the confinements of his local arts scene to the shores of Australia with hopes of pushing the ceiling and sharing his grooves with an international audience.

New single, “The Seas I See” was self produced and recorded in Houg’s home studio back in January. The song tries to sonically capture the essence of internal dread and chaos. It describes the subtle and invisible pains the people around us go through, unbeknownst to us. This is part of the greater theme of Houg’s debut album The Death Process, which also explores the different anxieties and pain, suffered first hand by Houg.

“Sonically, the song has its main line ‘It seems to me, all I see, my destiny, is at the bottom of the pit,’ repeat itself throughout in character of someone pleading in desperation. It also has the samples of saxophones as well as heavily effected vocals randomly appear throughout the song, signifying the chaos around the sufferer,” says Houg on the new song.

Houg’s influences range from Electronic acts like Gorillaz, Little Dragon & Bonobo in its electronic sound and sampling style, to New Wave artists like Tears for Fears & New Order for the synth sounds and lyrical style. He even has influences ranging from early Michael Jackson to DJ Shadow for his drums and beats.

Houg will be playing multiple shows in Melbourne from August, with a show at the Non DJ Showcase 9 on the 23rd of August at the Tago Mago Bar. He will also be playing at other local bars such as The Night Heron amongst others with dates to be confirmed. Website here, Facebook here.

'The Seas I See' is a creative and original piece. Houg's vocals are refreshing, the music rich with ideas & the production crisp & clear. It's also very addictive!


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Superet - Who Is This Guy.

Background - Los Angeles rock band Superet today shared their frenetic new single "Who Is This Guy". The song, was mixed by Dave Fridmann (Spoon, MGMT, Tame Impala).

Earlier this Summer, Superet supported Dreamcar on an East coast tour and Gang of Youths on a West coast tour, before returning to Los Angeles for a sold-out headline show at The Troubadour. Next month, the band will rejoin Dreamcar on a run of Southern California dates and will also be part of Echo Park Rising Festival. 

Superet is an American rock band that formed in Los Angeles, CA on Valentine's Day of 2016. Tattooed across the arm of singer/guitarist Matt Blitzer, the date marks both the project's genesis and the manifestation of the musical partnership between five close friends. Having collaborated in various iterations over the preceding years, Blitzer, along with Alex Fischel (keyboards), Sam KS (drums), Patrick Kelly (bass) and Isaac Tamburino (guitar, keyboards, percussion) present Superet as the culmination of their longstanding creative kinship. 

Snatched from the facade of a decrepit Los Angeles church (cult), the Latin word "superet" translates to "may it overflow," an apt description of the reclusive band's modus operandi. After quietly stockpiling eccentric, hook-laden rock gems behind closed doors, the group unveiled its blistering debut single "Pay It Later" in May of 2017. Website here.

Frantic beats, introduce 'Who Is This Guy' a track where every musical element seems to compete to provide a higher energy level. The vocal keep up & add even more to this two & a half minute blast of refreshingly beautiful music.


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Flawes - Chuck Berry - Fruit & Flowers

Flawes - Forever.

Background - London via Yorkshire band Flawes return with their first new recorded material since 2016’s ‘CTRL’ and ‘UNSPKN’ EPs created a feverish buzz around the trio. ‘Forever’, released last Friday (16th June) via Red Bull Records, is the first track from their upcoming EP, due for official release this Autumn.

‘Forever’ - produced by young, London producer Lostboy (Ella Eyre / Anne-Marie) - is a luxurious, electronic arrangement, brimming with the band’s uplifting synth lines, guitar motifs and underpinned by frontman Josh Carruther’s smooth, captivating vocals.

“The song is about when you rush into a relationship and everything is ‘perfect’, the other person seemingly has no flaws whatsoever and you find yourself love blind” comments frontman JC. “It goes through the different stages of a battle in your head when realising that they aren't as perfect as you perhaps once thought. In the end, you finally pluck up the courage to set things straight. As a producer Lostboy definitely got our vision for this track and it's been great to work with him”.

With only 2 EPs under their belt, the trio’s gift for dark, alt-electronica and huge soulful, pop choruses didn’t go unnoticed and Flawes were picked up by Red Bull Records who signed them to a worldwide deal at the back of last year’s achievements. The band have since spent the last six months writing and recording between LA and London, with ‘Forever’ being the first track from the studio sessions to showcase material from the next EP. Website here, Facebook here.

Alt rock with a soulful twist ensures 'Forever' soon stands out from the crowd. A top class musical arrangement and equally fine productions adds technical quality, however the passion and feeling makes the song!

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Chuck Berry - Darlin'

Background - Chuck Berry’s new and final record, CHUCK, has entered the Official Albums Chart at No. 9 – his first UK Top 10 album in 40 years. Released last week on Dualtone/Decca Records, it fought off competition from the likes of Dua Lipa, Hank Marvin and Harry Styles. It is his first UK Top 10 since 1977’s Motorvatin’. A moving new music video to Darlin’ – a duet with his daughter Ingrid – which features family stills and footage, was also unveiled.

Comprised of 10 new recordings, eight of which were written by Berry, CHUCK is his first new album since 1979’s Rock It’. It was recorded and produced by Berry in various studios around St. Louis and features his longtime hometown backing group - including his children Charles Berry Jr. (guitar) and Ingrid Berry (harmonica, vocals), plus Jimmy Marsala (Berry’s bassist for 40 years), Robert Lohr (piano), and Keith Robinson (drums) – which supported him for nearly two decades on over 200 residency shows at the famed Blueberry Hill club. The album also includes guest performances from Gary Clark Jr., Tom Morello, Nathaniel Rateliff and Chuck’s grandson Charles Berry III.  Acclaimed author and historian Douglas Brinkley contributes liner notes.

They were originally conceived as far back as the 1980s, with Berry developing them in his home studio in St. Louis over many years. Some of the songs on down time between tours.  He worked on the album through 2014.  When health concerns forced him to stop touring and recording in 2015, Berry continued to oversee production and planning for CHUCK, enlisting his family and close friend Joe Edwards, the owner of Blueberry Hill, to fulfill his wishes that the album be completed and released. And from album highlight ‘Lady B. Goode,’ a spiritual sequel to the iconic ‘Johnny B. Goode’ featuring ripping solos from three generations of Berry guitarists, to the poignant country balladry of ‘Darlin’, CHUCK truly is a family affair.

“Working on my Dad's record has been one of the best experiences of my life,” said Charles Berry Jr. “I will forever treasure the musical conversations we had, and the time we spent together completing it.” Website here, Facebook here.

I could not let the opportunity to mention Chuck Berry's final album release pass us by, especially as one of the new songs 'Darlin' is available to feature. A sentimental country ballad seems a fitting song to share, and the reflective video is beautiful.


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Fruit & Flowers – Subway Surfer.

Background - Brooklyn-based "surf noir" garage psych band Fruit & Flowers share their second single, "Subway Surfer," from their forthcoming, debut EP, Drug Tax, due out June 30th via Little Dickman Records. The single comes along with a video, debuted today on She Shreds, who say, "The video gives us a peek into their stellar live shows, which are a lot more than a good-time punk rock party. FxF’s dead perfect vocal harmonies and guitar interplay clearly displays a band operating with a fully formed idea and a love for their respective instruments."

Fruit & Flowers are one of the most active bands in the NYC area, and have been deemed one of "NYC's Hardest Working Bands" by Oh My Rockness. The band embarks on its third tour of 2017 in July to Canada and the Midwest in support of Drug Tax. Fruit & Flowers' exuberant, electric performances draw a local following. Ana Becker's angular, expressive guitar style and Lyzi Wakefield's gritty rhythmic backbone merge a post-punk heaviness with psychedelic warmth. Committed and charismatic front woman Caroline Yoder summons a fervent energy, surrounded by distinct, warm and refreshing three part harmonies, the bedrock of Fruit and Flowers' sound.

Conceived in a Bushwick loft with broken AC during the summer of 2015 by Caroline on bass and Shaw Walters on drums, the band was soon joined by Lyzi Wakefield and Ana Becker on guitars and vocals. The band agreed to play its first show at Northside festival just weeks after formation and wrote the record in a furious fit of hot nights and inspired mornings. The band became fully realized when Shaw handed the role of drummer to Jose Berrio (drummer-cum-art director), whose inimitable style elevates the strong rhythmic character of the band.

Drug Tax was born out of necessity, capturing the grit and rush of New York City summer and the newfound chemistry between the bandmates. Weaving together the perspectives and expressions of the band's multiple songwriters, Drug Tax unfolds to present the unique and varied voice of Fruit & Flowers. Lead single "Out Of Touch" is about the ennui of a missed love opportunity, with soaring, sultry vocals, beachy surf rock riffs and fuzzy bass. Album tracks range from the sultry moody and beautiful "Dark Surf" to the post-gothic title track "Drug Tax." 

Drug Tax was recorded at Thump Studios in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The EP was engineered and co-produced by John Thayer, and mixed and mastered by George Harris. Jose Berrio designed the band's logo and album art. Website here, Facebook here. Live dates on Beehive Candy's tour news page.

When we featured 'Out Of Touch last month we described the song as having "sultry vocals, beach surf rock riffs and fuzzy bass". The new single release 'Subway Surfer' is a little more feisty, however the bands surf rock instincts are there, alongside a raft of hooks throughout.


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