Five On Thursday: Ruth Carp and The Fish Heads - Siamese - Knife in the Water - Trementina - Ravines

Ruth Carp and The Fish Heads - I'm So Scared.

Background - Last week, Ruth Carp & The Fish Heads released "I'm So Scared," the first single from their upcoming album 'Can Men Like Us Go To Heaven.' The track speaks about the debilitating nature of anxiety, while the video captures Ruth Carp's isolationist attitude at a house party in Sydney's iconic suburb of Newtown.

Ruth Carp & The Fish Heads combine elements of Australiana, with shoegaze and psych rock. 'Can Men Like Us Go To Heaven' is the follow up to the band's debut EP, 'It's This Or The Noose'.

They will be on tour in the US this spring, with dates in Los Angeles, Austin (SXSW), Nashville, Chicago, New York, and more. Bandcamp here, Facebook here. Tour dates over on our tour page.

'I'm So Scared' might be described as lo-fi pysch rock, it's somewhere in that direction. The video and the song really do get across the sense of anxiety and just how much that can impact on any individual.

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Siamese - Older Hands Prevail.

Background - Siamese shares new track "Older Hands Prevail" from their debut EP 'The Mesmerist'. Siamese is the glam rock band of four theatrically inclined friends from Dallas, TX. 

Mixing ominous art pop with opulent set design and deranged alter egos, their live show makes you feel like you could go out and invent a new color, or wear a leotard to work.

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

Our second song feature for Siamese, who continue to offer up original and intriguing art rock music. For the first half of the track 'Older Hands Prevail' it is a little more stripped back allowing the vocals to standout. It gradually develops into a fuller multi layered piece and a catchy one at that.

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Knife in the Water - Sweet Gene.

Background - Knife in the Water began in the summer of 1997 in Austin. From the early stages their dark, quiet, avant-country was welcomed alongside Austin’s louder punk bands, despite the fact that their cinematic sensibilities, desolate sense of space, and woozy tension set them apart.

The Austin scene in the late 90s and early 00s was a hotbed of talent and they established themselves alongside Glorium and American Analog Set, toured with ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead and Calexico, and released three records and an EP: Plays One Sound and Others (1998), Red River (1999), Crosspross Bells (2001), and Cut the Cord (2003).

On February 24 Sonic Surgery Records (an imprint of Super Secret Records) will reissue the band's haunting 1998 debut, Plays One Sound and Others, on vinyl for the first time. Remastered by Chicago Mastering Service, the album rings truer than ever.

Closely following the reissue of Plays One Sound and Others on February 24, Knife in the Water will be releasing their first new album in 14 years, Reproduction, which will be out on Keeled Scales March 3rd. Website here, Facebook here.

'Sweet Gene' is taken from the new album 'Reproduction' and is a beautiful and gentle track with soothing vocals and harmonies glistening above an indie rock soundtrack. It's from the really fine new album, and for vinyl lovers the reissue of Plays One Sound, deserves checking out at the least.

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Trementina - Please, Let's Go Away.

Background - Trementina have announced theie new single, alongside a debut LP out March 24th On Burger Records, and SXSW Dates.

Trementina create music for lucid dreaming. It’s an intense, yet melancholic conjuring by art students and skaters from the damp forests of Valdivia, Chile, where the rainfall creates faded polaroids out of daily life. 

Valdivian shoegaze emerges from the fissures of their homeland. Isolated from urban static, Trementina has created a dizzying symphony that drowns you with noise, hallucinatory guitars, and beauty among chaos — which can be felt in the ethereal vocals of Vanessa Cea. 

Their third album, 810, is the evolutionary star-child of their sound, which first made contact with the U.S. in 2013, and then again in 2015 when their song “Hazy Youth” appeared on the now famous Ear to Ear Records’ shoegaze comp.

Recorded roughly 810 kilometers south of Santiago, during the cold winter, when the “sky is charcoal gray,” to borrow a line from DIY pioneer Martin Newell, 810 upgrades their sound from My Bloody Valentine-tinged haze on 2013’s Brilliant Noise [Vinyl Junkies], into a meditative experience that’s surreal, a “dream within a dream” — the byproduct of Cristobal Ortiz’s modulated guitar and the thick bass of Lucas Martinic. Facebook here, tour dates over on our tour page.

Now as someone who experiences a considerable amount of lucid dreaming, I hadn't though of a musical accompaniment. 'Please, Let's Go Away' is a little to bright to call shoegaze, it is however a gorgeous track which might just help get my dreams back on track.

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Ravines - Ordinary (EP).

Background - Indie/electronic duo Ravines share the release of their brand new EP Ordinary, featuring the single 'Breathe'. Ordinary is the third release by the band since their debut EP in 2013. Previous records have featured on MTV, TNT, TV3, Edge, ZM, Hauraki, George FM and more.

Ravines (formerly Ophelia) launched their first EP under the new name with a performance at Cassette Nine in Auckland, on February 3rd 2017. Ravines is a name inspired by the channels and routes music takes to reach people, reminiscent of streams of water through ravines. Their most varied release yet, Ordinary is a continuation of their ever evolving sound, showcasing dense electronic textures combined with rich orchestral scoring.

Ravines is the creation of composer/producer Patrick Shanahan and singer/song-writer Alex Louise. The pair began working together in late 2012 recording and mixing Alex’s original folk/acoustic tracks. Changing pace, they began experimenting with dubstep inspired soundscapes, drawing inspiration from the likes of Adventure Club and Purity Ring to begin crafting their ambient, orchestral and beat-driven sound. They produced two EPs as Ophelia over two years and found their niche in the indie/electronic genre. Website here, Facebook here.

It was only a couple of weeks ago that we featured 'Breathe' by the duo Ravines, and now we can share the EP 'Ordinary'. Comprising of five remarkable songs, any one of which could be a single, this is refined Indie electro music, that deserves to be heard.

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Weekend Wonders: American Anymen + Lise - Anna Coogan - AyOwA - Rosie Carney - New Mystics - Patrick McKinney - Ravines

American Anymen + Lise - Nobody Made Me Smile Like You Did.

Background - New York City outfit American Anymen have released their new 'OUI EP' with Lise, a Parisian singer and pianist. The first single 'Nobody Made My Smile Like You Did' is accompanied by a charming video shot around the Big Apple. This is the second collaborative release for American Anymen and LISE. In 2014, they released a demo called the '+EP'. In the two years that have since passed, they have jointly played shows in NYC and Paris. 

American Anymen is a music collective, whose view on art is that what you have to say is more important than the equipment you own and that passion is more important than technical expertise.  Hailing from Paris, Lise’s eponymous debut album was released in 2011 on French label Cinq7. Versed in piano since she was five, her music path took her on a detour from her classical music education at the Conservatory of Narbonne.

"The two American Anymen + LISE albums present more personal songs. These 4 new songs are about how I dealt with my time in prison, my 13-year battle with heroin addiction, the memories of friends who made me happy but are not around to hear these new songs, and how the world is much simpler than the ruling elites make us think," explains Brett Sullivan. American Anymen Facebook here, Lise Facebook here.

If a beautiful vocal duet and understated yet sophisticated soundtrack sounds good for you then 'Nobody Made Me Smile Like You Did' could well be just for you, it's gorgeous.

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Anna Coogan - Burn For You.

Background - Anna Coogan has been preparing for this moment her whole life, ever since she was a girl growing up in Boston, influenced by her classical opera training and her father’s protest albums by Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan. After several efforts with her Pacific Northwest-based alt-country band north 19, a pair of well-received indie solo releases and a collaboration with producer JD Foster (2014’s Birth of the Stars), Coogan’s latest is a stylistic breakthrough. Anna Coogan will release The Lonely Cry of Space & Time on April 28.

The album, a virtual two-person effort which features Willie B (Brian Wilson) on drums and Moog bass, combines Coogan’s three-octave soprano vocals, electric guitar soundscapes and pointed social commentary into a fierce cohesive piece which combines the personal and the political, in a musical hybrid of rock, country, pop and classical opera into a unique whole.

A true independent, Anna releases her own albums and books her own tours, which have taken her all over the world, including international festivals like the Blue Ball in Lucerne, Switzerland, the Maverick in Suffolk, U.K., as well as the Glasgow Americana Festival and Celtic Connections in Scotland.  She has also played extensively in Germany and the Netherlands, and toured as a member of the Johnny Dowd Band. Website here, Facebook here.

'Burn For You' is a straight forward and pleasing simplistic rock song until... well until it upgrades into something absolutely wonderful as Anna Coogan just nails the whole thing with her incredible vocal abilities.

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AyOwA - Rus.

Background - AyOwA are back with a beauty of a 3rd single coming out 24th Feb. “Rus” follows the critically acclaimed singles ’Newcross’ and ’Sommer’ leading up to AyOwA’s debut EP set for release in May on Copenhagen label Music For Dreams.

It seems the melancholy is coded in to the Scandinavian DNA. Many months of darkness and anticipation for a summer that sometimes never comes, sets the tone for soulful longing. Danish duo AyOwA takes this melancholic keynote and makes it into music, and armed with modular synths, old reel-to-reels, and Schneider’s haunting voice, they create their dark and moving electronic pop songs.

Sung in Danish, but with a certain universal and dreaming approach, this band combines noise pop with vapor wave and melodies with improvisation, in an energetic, evocative and playful mix. “Rus” marks the duos 3rd single, leading up to their debut EP set for release in May on Copenhagen label Music For Dreams. In an intoxicated state of mind,  AyOwA finds themselves on a quest to break free of the walls around them, giving in to new love, and letting go of the past. Facebook here.

Our second feature for AyOwA this time with the delicious track 'Rus'. Mixing vibrant synths with dreamy vocals the duo have impressed me again, and some!

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Rosie Carney - Awake Me.

Background - "Awake Me” is a song that’ll stop you dead in your tracks. From the swirling ambience permeating the track to the tender plucked arpeggio, Rosie proves a deft hand at creating sublime tonal flourishes to compliment her vivid lyrics and enchanting voice. At just 19, Rosie Carney has already experienced more of the tumult of life than most her age. Through her raw poetic talent, her experience is channelled into her beautiful music which, at times, recalls the vivid and imaginative folk ambience of Joni Mitchell.

For Rosie to be getting on with her career she has had to overcome insurmountable odds. In a year where discussion about mental health both in the music industry and in broader society has come a long way in removing the stigma and providing insight into sufferers, Rosie is determined to help others by being vocal about her own experiences through her music and her website/blog here, and Facebook here.

It's not far off a year ago that Rosie Carney was first featured on Beehive Candy. 'Awake Me' is a gentle drifting song, where the music is calming and creatively structured, the vocals once again make the track into something very special.

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New Mystics - Modern.

Background (and a minimalist one at that) - New Mystics is the solo project of the Other Lives band member who has previously toured with Radiohead, The National and Bon Iver and played major festivals including Glastonbury, Coachella, Outside Lands, Lollapalooza, Latitude, Sasquatch, and more.

Upcoming collaboration with NoMBe “Can’t Catch Me” hand selected by Pharrell for his executive produced HBO documentary series, to be released as next single in March.

New Mystics releases second single “Modern” via TH3RD BRAIN Records, and is now on all streaming platforms. Debut Los Angeles Show at the Bootleg Theater February 21 at 9pm. Facebook here.

The above promo doesn't give much away about New Mystics, however 'Modern' is a powerful alt rock track that is laden with hooks, charm and emotion, and more than good enough for a feature here.

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Patrick McKinney - Want You To Know.

Background - Patrick McKinney is a singer/songwriter from Queanbeyan, New South Wales. He is currently releasing his debut single ‘Want You To Know’ on all major digital platforms, on the 17th of February. ‘Want You To Know’ was recorded at the Canberra Institute of Technology's Music Industry Centre.  The song has been produced by James Costin & Patrick McKinney.

The song is about going through life and the trials it can throw our way, and how often people stay silent but need to let these feelings out. The song has a pretty relaxed but deep vibe throughout, showcasing elements of low key rock and pop, including a classic guitar solo just after the bridge.
 
Patrick McKinney and his band, will be showcasing the release at Transit Bar Canberra, supporting The Byzantines & The Montreals on the 2nd of March 2017. Patrick’s band includes Paul Moon (Bass Guitar) & Anthony McGaun-Smith (Drums). The trio all met whilst studying music at the Canberra Institute of Technology.

Upcoming Show - Mar 02, Transit Bar, Canberra, (ACT) “Want You To Know” is available on 17th February at all online music stores. Facebook here.

Patrick's distinct and emotive vocals are hard to ignore and who would want to on this gorgeous song. 'Want You To Know' also packs in fine harmonies and a pleasingly robust musical arrangement.

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Ravines - Breathe.

Background - Indie/electronic duo Ravines are releasing their latest single ‘Breathe’ ahead of the release of their forthcoming EP Ordinary.

‘Breathe’ is about a power struggle in a relationship – it’s about a couple suffocating from the over-dominance of one of the partners. The driving beats of the chorus and darker harmonies called for lyrical content that was strong and assertive, and challenged the listener to think beyond the obvious ideas and sets of imagery being used. Ravines (formerly Ophelia) launched their first EP under the new name with a performance at Cassette Nine in Auckland, on February 3rd 2017.

Ravines is a name inspired by the channels and routes music takes to reach people, reminiscent of streams of water through ravines. Their most varied release yet, Ordinary is a continuation of their ever evolving sound, showcasing dense electronic textures combined with rich orchestral scoring.

Ordinary was recorded throughout 2016 in Auckland at Opus Studios and Roundhead Studios, mixed by Patrick Shanahan and Jordan Stone (Wilco, The Datsuns, Crowded House). The tracks 'Ordinary' and 'Breathe' were recorded in Sydney at Alberts Studios and were produced by Michael Szumowski (Josh Pyke, Guy Sebastian, The Veronicas). Website here, Facebook here.

With a simple and  minimal synthy start it's the melodic vocals that first gain attention on 'Breathe'. As the track gently builds the musical soundtrack develops as does the singing, adding a layer of power to what is a very catchy song.

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