Roscoe Roscoe - Sondew Lerche feat. Aurora - Geowulf

Roscoe Roscoe - Secret Underwater Love.

East London based five-piece Roscoe Roscoe have released a dreamy new single “Secret Underwater Love,” out now on Slow Dance Records / Missing Piece Records. The track comes off the back of the success from the band’s first two singles, the “ferociously alive” (NME) “Brain Retrieve,” and the “brilliantly psychedelic summer romp,” (Under The Radar) “Jacob’s Ladder.”

“‘Secret Underwater Love’ is one of our oldest songs,” states frontman Charlie Read Clarke. “I wrote and recorded the first demo when I was about 15, long before I'd even met half of the band and since then I think there have been at least 3 different recorded studio versions until this one. It has a special, weird place in my heart that both floods me with equal parts nostalgia and cringe. Despite being the least mature of all our songs, it felt worth releasing after all these years, as our sound feels like it is forever changing. The track was recorded at Famous Times Studios in Hackney with my Dad.”

The band met at The Brit School (following in the footsteps of Black Midi, who also formed there) and came together through a shared love of 60s counterculture and psychedelia. Rather than sheerly revivalist, however, their music comes from being part of a generation who have been able to take non-specific and widely drawn sources via the infinite bank of the internet. Other influences the band have cited include avant-pop groups Stereolab and Broadcast, along with evident echoes of Wand, Tame Impala, and Crumb in their music as well.

In 2019, they played a BBC televised performance at Glastonbury despite having no released music. Their charged, inventive live performance was also invited to The Southbank Centre for Nile Rogers’ Meltdown Festival within just a few months of their formation and in 2021, they closed the Rising stage at Green Man Festival.

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Photo - Synne S. B. Bønes

Sondew Lerche - Alone In The Night (feat. AURORA).

Sondre Lerche released Avatars of Love, his most ambitious work to date, via PLZ / InGrooves. The 14 song double album features contributions from AURORA, CHAI, Felicia Douglass (Dirty Projectors), Mary Lattimore, Rodrigo Alarcon, and Ana Müller. Also released today is the official video for the album’s closing single “Alone In The Night” (feat. AURORA).” On April 30, Lerche will embark on his first US tour in more than 5 years. The tour will make stops in Seattle Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and more.

Lerche explains: “‘Alone In The Night’ was the first recording I did for the Avatars of Love album. It put everything in motion, and surprised me greatly. I heard AURORA's voice singing it in my mind one day when I was out running in the sun. So I asked her if she'd sing it with me. It felt extra special, because I had just returned home to Bergen after 15 years of living in the US. And she was one of the first to greet me there. It's a song about what happens to our bodies and souls when we fall in love, and then again through the passage of time, when we age and die. It's ultimately about our memories and dementia. How frail we really are, and how heartless the process of aging can be to lovers."

This morning, the album was highlighted as one of the best albums of the week on NPR’s New Music Friday podcast, with NPR Music’s Cyrena Touros calling it, “A journey start to finish… I feel like I could spend six months just listening to this one album and I could find so much to mine and explore." In their four star review, American Songwriter said, “An impressive accomplishment, Avatars of Love probes the depths of desire to extraordinary effect." Recently, Lerche released the official video for the album’s 10+ minute long centerpiece “Avatars of Love,” which was praised by FLOOD Magazine and Stereogum, and was named one of the best songs of the week by BrooklynVegan and Under The Radar.

“This is without a doubt the biggest, boldest, most complex thing I’ve ever done,” explains Lerche about the new album. “At the same time, it was also the easiest, most natural, and most liberating. As an artist, it’s the kind of project you always dream about.”

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Geowulf - Drown.

Australian alt-indie duo Geowulf returns with a new song “Drown.” The song is the perfect track to kick back and reflect on good love, even if it’s not the right kind of love.  The track also comes with an official video with stunning images of a late-night drive into the unknown.

Speaking about the song, Star explained “Drown was another song Toma and I finished in lockdown over Skype and as difficult as that was I think this song is pretty special because in a way this song is about love (or a form of it) and how when you can fall in love it can be magical but not always right. This song is about finding a new space to exist in love or friendship after the breakdown of a relationship.”

Of the video, Star added “This video was filmed at the first time Toma and I had seen each other in two years due to covid and lockdowns. We wanted to channel a pop noir  “Natural Born Killers” vibe and had such a great director in Tim Heinrich and his sidekick Jordan Kaye. It’s moodier vibe for us and we’re all about it.”

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Geowulf - November Ultra - Benz - Clever Hopes

Geowulf - Open Me Up.

Following on from the triumphant ‘I’ve Been Over It’, which marked Geowulf’s reintroduction to the world and the first glimpse of a forthcoming EP, the band return with brand new single ‘Open Me Up’.

‘Open Me Up’ is a country-tinged song written in the height of Covid that bristles with raw honesty and emotion as Star opines on falling in and out of love in a strange time.

About the track Star says: “Toma and I were having a brief catch up on the phone - I showed him a melody real quick I was working on, he was like “shit yeah I love it!” and we spent next two hours on FaceTime between London & Australia finishing the song. It’s a raw song for me that tells a personal story but it’s also one of my favourites we’ve done so far.”

Geowulf are an Australian alt-pop duo based between London, UK and Noosa, Australia. Childhood friends Star Kendrick and Toma Banjanin dived into the dream-pop scene in 2018 with their luminous debut album ‘Great Big Blue’ featuring their breakout single ‘Saltwater’. The duo followed up with their brilliant sophomore LP ‘My Resignation’ in 2019.

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November Ultra - le manège.

Often praised for her deep and warm voice, France’s November Ultra first entered people’s ears and hearts in November 2020 with the soothing DIY lullaby "Soft & Tender". Her first effort was quickly followed by the sweet and sour heartbreak anthem "Miel" and a maxi EP Honey please be soft & tender, which includes the gut-wrenching bonus track "The End." - giving us a taste of what this singer-songwriter is all about: comforting, personal, intimate and always very cinematographic bedroom pop.

Yesterday, she revealed the song “le manège” and showcases the musical roots of an artist who grew up listening to folk music, r&b and with a very obsessive Spanish grand-father addicted to 60’s musicals and Spanish copla, embracing all of it and proving the adage: "we contain multitudes".

Camila Cabello posted a video on TikTok using the song ‘’Come into my arms’’. As a singer-songwriter, she divides her time between recording studios and her DIY bedroom-studio, working for others as a topliner/songwriter (Jaden Smith, Kungs, Barbara Pravi etc) while recording, exploring and producing her own songs on Ableton.

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Benz - This Could Be The End (E.P).

Ebba Salomonsson (Benz) grew up in her stepfather's record store where she explored endless different influences and styles. Benz have signed to Rama Lama Records (Melby, Wy, Chez Ali etc.) and is back with another collection of songs packed with her playful and diverse psych-tinged indie folk.

Its a sound where Benz with big confidence lets her music both be direct and breathe - creating a musical soundscape for the listener to get swept away in. The new EP 'This Could Be The End' is out now. 

Thematically, the EP treats a broken relationship. But this is not your usual romantic sad-break-up-indie, as the lyrics tell the story about breaking up with an old friend. Ebba herself has compared the EP to "six seasons of Girls, a comedy-drama in a compressed format".

Rama Lama Records · Benz - This Could Be The End EP

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Clever Hopes - Shadow Waltz.

While in Tasmania, the island was on fire, and travel was limited to a small coastal region near the capital city of Hobart. 

Andrew spent his birthday in a beautiful beach villa with a woman he'd met along the way, who was already on her way elsewhere by the time he left the island. They swam as the ash from the fire was snowing down on the beach.

"Shadow Waltz" is about that conflict you can feel when you know things are changing and you need to say goodbye to who you were without fully understanding who it is you're about to become.

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Weekend Wonders: Alexandria - Laurel - Wicklow Atwater - Flora Cash - Philter - Geowulf

Alexandria - Hot Day.

Background - The Stockholm-based band Alexandria muddling through the post-ironic middle class obstinate age. Their semi-electronic pop weaves together playful groove with muffled rhythms. Out of their combination of intoxicated palm tree sensualism, heard in their previous hit ”Secret Beach”, and melancholy influences from job anxiety arises an exciting harmony. In short: umbrella drinks meets ”back to the grind”.

The quintet has found an unconventional and dim world of sound of catchy melancholy, where shimmering synths engulfs the listener in a dream-like state. Alexandria has created their own sound where realism and escapism is in a state of equilibrium.

Alexandria describes ”Hot Day” with the following words: ”Hot day has its bright spots, and we are especially fond of the part after the chorus. Good vibe. We are really in to how the guitars sound the Stones album 'Tattoo You' from 1981 and tried to recreate that.”

The single will be followed up by the album ”Bossa” which is their first full-length. ”Bossa” will be released late January 2017 on Lab259.

Melodic and expansive music supports the smooth vocals on 'Hot Day'. I guess it sits somewhere between indie and synth pop, and it's one of those songs where the vocals and soundtrack are competing with each other for the attention of your ears. Next January's album seems very promising based on this track.

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Laurel - Maybe Baby.

Background - Southampton-raised, 22 year old London-based singer, songwriter and producer Laurel Arnell-Cullen has now shared a brand new track, 'Maybe Baby', taken from her forthcoming Park EP out 18th Nov on Counter Records (an imprint of Ninja Tune).

The Park EP was written, performed, recorded, produced and mixed by Laurel in her East London bedroom based studio. The first taster; 'Hurricane' demonstrates a maturity of sound beyond her 22 years, her breathy vocals sitting atop exquisite melodies with heartfelt, intimate delivery.

It follows the release of singles 'Life Worth Living' and 'San Francisco', which Laurel released on her label Theia earlier in the year. The tracks saw her garner a wealth of support from BBC Radio 1, Beats1, Apple, Spotify, New York Times, The Guardian, i-D, DIY, The Line of Best Fit and many more, reaching Top 3 on Hype Machine's Popular Chart and surpassing half a million plays in under a month - her Spotify listener figures are in excess of 300k every month.

With a debut album scheduled for early 2017, Park EP further enhances Laurel’s position as a phenomenal new talent, mixing raw organic production with striking yet touching songwriting and powerfully enchanting vocals. Website here.

Live Dates:
23rd Nov - Crofters Rights, Bristol
24th Nov - Green Door Store, Brighton
25th Nov - Eagle Inn, Manchester
26th Nov - The Attic @ The Garage, Glasgow
27th Nov - Think Tank Underground, Newcastle
29th Nov - Brudenell Games Room, Leeds
30th Nov - Servant Jazz Quarters, London
16th Feb - Sebright Arms, London

Our second feature for Laurel and the new song is 'Maybe Baby' released ahead of next weeks 'Park' EP. With her stand out vocals and a powerful and stripped back soundtrack, this is another very catchy and superbly produced song.

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Wicklow Atwater - I Wanna Be Yer Man.

Background - Wicklow Atwater is an American band. They formed and remain based in Atwater Village, Southern California. Being born and raised in the same neighbourhood all five members have been the best of friends since childhood which has created an unbreakable bond that some describe as brotherhood, in turn this has created a unique energy between the group that you can sense off and on stage.

Although its impossible to label Wicklow Atwater as a single genre it is safe to say they play a brand of acoustic music known as Americana which encompasses a blend of bluegrass, old time, country, folk, and blues. The group consists of array of multi-instrumentalists who have been recording, producing and releasing their own music independently without the aid of a record label. Wicklow holds nothing back and jumps to the occasion to grace stages, bar rooms and festivals where ever there are open ears and open minds. Growing up with big dreams and humble beginnings the boys have gotten by on a supportive fan base and a do it yourself mentality that goes hand in hand with an old fashion punk rock ethic.

The Ultimate goal of the band is simple, to serenade the nation and to live and experience the beauty that this country has to offer through touring and performing on road. With that said Wicklow Atwater does not wish to set the world on fire, they just want to reignite the fallen flame in America's heart. Facebook here.

One of seventeen songs on the new album 'I Wanna Be Yer Man' is wonderful in it's own right, and yet has to fight for it's place in the collection. Even when the band slow things down a little, there is a sense of energy and passion just waiting to burst through again. Seriously, if you like the featured song, you will love the album. It's Americana that explodes in so many different directions, it's fun and foot stomping, and deserves to be heard in full!

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Flora Cash - Sadness Is Taking Over.

Background - Flora Cash are a Scandi duo that have taken upon themselves to sonically explore the diversity of human relationships. They go straight to places where tears are shed, chairs are thrown, discussions of parting are present, but the music is created regardless. Having “met” on Soundcloud and instantly e-hitting it off musically, their “atmospheric in theme and vibe” material had soon after been supported by the likes of Noisey US, Paste, The Music Ninja, Earmilk, Interview Magazine and more.

With the release of their upcoming new album, containing the “Sadness Is Taking Over” single, Flora Cash face their most challenging moments to date sewn deep into the music. They instantly share this uneasy and raw kind of anxiety with the listener, the type that affects one’s mind, body and then somehow manages to creep into every aspect of one’s life, soon to be in control of it. Topping the song with the backing vocals, in the style of Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes, Cole and Shpresa are not only conveying their feelings but also examining them with each sung harmony.

The duo skilfully blend their deep love for acoustic soundscapes and layer it with just the right amount of ethereal production hinting at Mt Wolf, Poliça, Vogue Dots and Kings Of Convenience. Through the painful dialogue between Shpresa’s observations and Cole’s suffering, the duo succeeds at designing an inter-dimensional delicate yet mighty piece of music. 

“Sadness Is Taking Over” creates a sonic desire for tranquillity and emotional freedom which despite the heartbreak, loss or destruction, aids one with the ability of personal growth and moving on. The single is now out via the Swedish label Icons Creating Evil Art. Website here.

The vocals and harmonies exude atmosphere and melody on 'Sadness Is Taking Over'. The soundtrack is equally fine, mixing gentle beats and intricate patterns, the duo have something pretty special going on here.

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Philter - Katana.

Background - When you step into the Philter universe, his self-described cinematic electronica makes up only a portion of the experience that spans beyond the music into film, merchandise, animation and video games. With a dedicated and growing fanbase worldwide, Philter is positioned to catapult to international stardom. Behind the curtain, you find a very charming and humble guy named Magnus Gangstad Jørgensen from Molde in Northern Norway nicknamed “The Town of Roses”. 

Growing up with long dark winters and summers of light, Magnus was influenced at a young age by this duality. This manifested itself in many ways as a youth, but it was not until he moved to Bergen on the Western side of Norway that his interest in music production would become his destined choice. His first album The Beautiful Lies became a success upon arrival and resonated with a much larger demographic than a typical electronica album. His follow-up, The Blossom Chronicles, capitalized on the success of TBL and continued the journey of Blossom, Floyd and The Bunny Man, characters that create the trilogy’s universe and are the creative influences behind the music.

The new album, The Campfire Tales, brings his trilogy of albums (including The Beautiful Lies and The Blossom Chronicles) to a conclusion with an experience enhanced by the presence of the Apollon Quartet. The foursome has performed at Carnegie Hall (NYC), The Louvre (Paris), Tonhalle (Zurich) and many other prestigious locations around the world. Their magic helps set the album mood, providing Philter with a prepped canvas for his work. Each contributor adds their own stamp, yet the album maintains the sound and feel of Philter that keeps his fans clamoring for more. 

With music used in a variety of features, ski-films from Field Production, sporting events, documentaries and advertisements, with clients ranging from Discovery Channel to Norwegian broadcasting station NRK, Philter’s appeal crosses over to a mainstream audience regularly. His music is often used in major international DJ sets and Avicii made a remix of Revolver. Website here.

I chose 'Katana' from 'The Campfire Songs' as I think it gives a flavour of the quality found across all twelve tracks and also because I think it's a fabulous instrumental. You can sample more via the website, it really is a musical feast.

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Geowulf - Don't Talk About You.

Background - Following the incredible success of their debut single 'Saltwater', dream-pop duo Geowulf have now unveiled a brand new track; the melodic and reflective 'Don't Talk About You'. On writing the track, Star comments: "This song went through a geographical & creative metamorphosis over almost two years... We originally wrote it in Copenhagen, demo'ed it in Stockholm and then revisited it recently when Toma & I were both in London. I guess the song speaks for itself but ultimately it falls in the good ol' "wanting-something-that-ain't- good-for-you" vein ..." The band returned to the studio with producer Duncan Mills at the end of the summer to record the song.

The band's first release 'Saltwater', which dropped this summer, was an instant hit - the single has now exceeded 1.5 million plays on Spotify, reached the Top Ten on Hype Machine's Popular Chart and peaked at #4 in the Spotify US Viral Chart (it was #6 in the Worldwide Viral Chart).
 
This week also marks the launch of the band's new creative portal online, for regular musings, lyrics, personal photos, insights and original content direct from Star. The site will be regularly updated.

Geowulf will be performing live as part of The Line of Best Fit's annual Five Day Forecast festival of new music in January. They will play the sold out opening night, on Monday 9th January at The Lexington in London. Dagny and Ider are also on the bill. Geowulf is Star Kendrick (vocals) and Toma Banjanin (guitar/production). Website here.

It was back in July when we featured the debut single 'Saltwater' and it's a delight to now share 'Don't Talk About You', which from my point of view is another dream pop come beach pop gem. It could well be another big hit, how many artists would settle for that twice in a year!

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Four Good Ones: Geowulf - Magic Trick - Eileen Carey - SD3

Geowulf - Saltwater.

Background promo - Burgeoning London independent label 37 Adventures (Jones, Deptford Goth, salute) have added another string to their bow, with the signing of Geowulf - a dream pop duo based between London, Gothenburg and Berlin.

Originally from Noosa, on the Sunshine Coast of Australia, Star and Toma met in their teens. Despite both her parents being musicians, Star only found her voice 3 years ago - the pair naturally joined forces and have written together ever since.

Channelling sweet sounds reminiscent of Beach House, Mazzy Star and Lana Del Rey, Geowulf's debut offering 'Saltwater' is a sinuous and melodic pop single; a bright and uplifting introduction to a band we're going to be hearing much more from.

The single features on the forthcoming 37 Adventures label compilation 'Odd Numbers Volume 1', which is due for release on 5th August and showcases new and select cuts from the label's brilliant roster. Geowulf is Star Kendrick (vocals) and Toma Banjanin (guitar/production).

'Saltwater' is a really beautiful beach pop song. Melodic, dreamy and for me a song, I know I will play again, almost from the opening notes. The above references to other artists make sense, however there is plenty of room for Geowulf, when the music is this good.

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Magic Trick - More.

Background - Empty Cellar is proud to release the newest album by Magic Trick, Other Man’s Blues. This offering from the band finds songwriter, Tim Cohen at a crossroads. It was written and recorded during a year that split his time between two lives, in two worlds. The newer of these was on a horse ranch in the northern Arizona desert where he and his partner spent their first year with their newborn daughter. The second of these two was the music world. The latter took place on the road, on tour with Magic Trick or with the Fresh & Onlys. And in the case of Other Man’s Blues, it took place for one week at Phil Manley’s Lucky Cat Studios in San Francisco.

Tim arrived at the studio with a colour-coded composition book of songs he’d been writing while bouncing to and fro. This book would have to suffice in lieu of rehearsal time with the 13 other musicians who appear on the tracks. About half of the tracks feature James Kim on drums, the other half James Barone (Beach House). Alicia Van Heuvel (Aislers Set) and Paul Garcia split time on bass. Joel Robinow (Once and Future Band / Danny James) contributes on keys. Emmett Kelly (The Cairo Gang / The Muggers) provides a couple stunning guitar solos. There are omnipresent vocal harmonies from Alicia, Noelle Cahill and Anna Hillburg, the latter of whom also plays some trumpet. San Francisco standbys Dylan Edrich, Tom Heyman, and Marc Capelle all contribute. It was a loose, largely improvised affair.

The album’s roster is less the product of grand ambition, and more the result of an open-door policy at the studio. These sessions also served as an opportunity for Tim to hang out with friends while in town. He’d see who was around, they’d swing by. Allegedly tequila was centrally involved. A “hit the joint and come up with a bit” approach. “Here’s a chord chart. Go.”  And guest appearances are more than just a little icing on top here. It’s the principle that warranted giving this project a band name five years ago: when Tim’s non-onlys oeuvre stopped being credited to Tim Cohen and instead was attributed to Magic Trick. Especially in the case of Other Man’s Blues, the players on the album define what shapes these songs take. Magic Trick - Other Man's Blues [Empty Cellar] Release Date: Aug. 26, 2016.

'More' is the only song I have heard from the forthcoming album, and it's an absolute tease, leaving me impatiently waiting to hear more (pun intended). Seriously this is a superb track with wonderful choir like harmonies, within a beautifully crafted song.

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Eileen Carey - In The Air.

Background -  Proving that love is more inspiring than hate, award-winning country star Eileen Carey has countered recent terrorist attacks, racial violence, and global turmoil with “In the Air,” her feel-good ode to the City of Love, Paris, France. Credited by music blog Country Music, ATK with “blending pop, country, and rock in a way that feels uniquely hers,” Carey was recently named the 2016 National Radio Hits Favorite Female Country Artist of the Year and New Music Weekly’s Country Breakthrough Artist of the Year. “In the Air” features champagne, limousines, movie stars, and, of course, love. "In the Air" is the first single from Carey’s fifth studio album, produced by Travis Allen Childress and set for release later this fall.

According to Carey, “In the Air” is a heartfelt tribute to Paris, the city she visited two weeks before terrorists killed 130 people there in November of 2015:

“Paris is such a whirlwind of love, romance, and excitement that the terrorist attacks there felt personal to me. I had just visited the City of Love two weeks before. It inspired me to write a love song for two people set in the gaiety that is still Paris, a kind of victory for the spirit of love.”

Having recently made her third consecutive appearance at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Carey’s “Bottle Your Crazy Up” reached #1 nationally in 2015, where it competed with major-label country performers. Carey’s three released singles are from Let It Go, her most successful album to date. Carey won The Academia Music Awards Best Country/Rock Song of the Year for “Bottle Your Crazy Up.” Akadamia.com called Carey’s composition and performance “a clever country jam with dulcet vocals and superb instrumentation, illustrating one of the most stringent performance standards we've encountered.”

'In The Air' may be a heartfelt tribute, however it's no sentimental dirge. Rather it is a bright and breezy song that seemingly celebrates the romance of Paris, as many feel the city to have. More "pop that rocks" than country, it's a pleasing and catchy track.

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SD3 - All That I Want.

Background - SD3, the Los Angeles based synth-pop group, wants you to dance all night, drive faster while you sing along and, most importantly, have fun. And their music demands the same results.

SD3’s much-anticipated new single “All That I Want” is available now on all digital outlets.

With its combination of bittersweet lyrics and buoyant rhythms, “All That I Want” reminds us that we all have a shot at getting that one great love back.  “It’s about the moment in a relationship when things get too comfortable,” shares the band.  “It’s all being held up by memory, and you either fight to get it back, or you let it go.  This song is about the desire to fight.”

Influenced heavily by the music of the 80s, SD3 exhibits a refreshing, hopeful innocence and pop purity that’s impossible not love.

“This is not music of rebellion,” declares the band. “This is music of acceptance, a place where everyone is invited. The door is open and we’d love to have you.”  

I have been receiving some rather good synth pop songs in recent months, and 'All That I Want' can happily join the collection. Another melodic song that's full of hooks and really well produced, it lifts the spirit and sometimes that's all you need.

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