Moderate Rebels - Far Caspian - Lightfoils - The Ophelias

Moderate Rebels - Faith & Science.

Background - London-based anti-music collective Moderate Rebels – whose members include Mo, Kate, Chris, Nick, Emma, Susan, Bob, Beth, Joe and more (crucially, not all at the same time) – present their new song ‘Faith & Science’ as a further preview of their second album ‘Shared Values’, which is released on 30th November on Everyday Life Recordings.

It follows recent singles ‘I Love Today’ and ‘Beyond Hidden Words’. Moderate Rebels say: “Faith & Science seems to be about the romance of feeling doubts and recognising that there can be mysteries in life… Which is a good thing. We actively have no intentions when writing; music just forms and we guess about any meanings, along with, hopefully, the listener. Language is inclined to be tricksy, and can be looked at from a number of angles. Less chords and words; simple and complicated; direct and vague. We have our mottos.”

As with all Moderate Rebels music so far, Shared Values was recorded in a small studio in South Bermondsey, London, where “you can hear church choirs through the walls – people looking to lift up each other’s spirits. We hope somehow that seeps into the racket we make.” TWITTER.

Upcoming live shows (more to be added soon):
24th Oct @ The Finsbury Manor House, London (For The Rabbits night)
2nd Nov @ The Cause, London
10th Nov @ Sebright Arms, London (w/ Olden Yolk)
25th Nov @ Broadcast, Glasgow.

'Faith & Science' is the brand new Moderate Rebels track and the last single before the album is released on Nov 30th. This is the third track we have shared from the bands the highly anticipated 'Shared Values' album, once again the bands distinct and hypnotic sound is highly compelling, their approach to writing, developing and recording music might be a little nonconformist, but oh boy does it work!

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Far Caspian - Blue.

Background - Leeds, England, quartet Far Caspian unveil new single Blue, the latest cut taken from their forthcoming debut EP Between Days, out via UK label Dance To The Radio. Following on from the majestic Holding On, which turned heads when it drifted into the online sphere’s consciousness, and following singles Let’s Go Outside and The Place, Blue reaffirms the band’s knack for hazy, infectious dream-pop.

Whilst Far Caspian have been based in Leeds since formation, frontman and guitarist Joel Johnston has only recently moved over to England from his native Ireland, and themes of isolation born of relocation pervade his  writing.

Blue however tackles a more intimate theme, yet just as universal. “The track itself is about unrequited love, and being consumed by being so close to a person, yet knowing that your feelings wouldn't be reciprocated” Johnston says, before revealing “My good pal Milhouse Van Houten was the main inspiration for the song.”

Referencing the dichotomy between the often gloomy themes in the lyircs and breeziness of the music with the playful self-nominated tag of ‘melanjolly’, Far Caspian’s wistful sound calls to mind the likes of Local Natives, Real Estate, Grizzly Bear or Band of Horses. However where those bands’ textures lean on the symphonic side, the lo-fi origins of the project in Johnston’s university house, before Nath Sayers (guitar), Alessio Scozzaro (bass) and Jof Cabedo (drums) came in to complete the line-up, lends Far Caspian’s sound a comforting, insular edge. TWITTER.

Our third feature for Far Caspian this year is the new song 'Blue'. The band are consistently producing fabulous indie pop that is crammed full of melodic hooks and delivered with refreshingly bright production and dreamy vibes.

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Lightfoils - Summer Nights (radio edit).

Background - Lightfoils have announced their new album Chambers (Bandcamp pre-order, out November 16th), which is their first taste of new music since the release of their acclaimed 2014 album Hierarchy. To coincide with the long-awaited announcement, Lightfoils is sharing the album’s mesmerizing lead single “Summer Nights”. The song is a gorgeous, richly layered shoegaze track with a calculated build-up that pairs melodic bass with alternately chiming and blanketing guitars, while Lightfoils’ lead singer Jane Zabeth Nicholson's vocals float longingly above.

Formed in 2010, Lightfoils’ sound is decidedly shoegaze, although the band subtly stretches the auditory boundaries of what the term embodies, honing in on a more cosmopolitan and ethereal sound. Their forthcoming album Chambers (advance below) represents a band that has mastered the atmospheric tone they've become synonymous with and continue to occupy, almost a decade after formation. The band is self-releasing the album, both for the autonomy and for the ability to be intimately involved in all aspects of the album’s production and subsequent roll-out. The first track on the album “The Bitter Over” opens with dream-like guitars, transporting the listener away - it's the sound of Lightfoils taking the listener by the hand and leading them into the unknown. Zabeth’s vocals both echo in the background, and dance in the front.

“Duende” sounds like a surf rock wave rolling onto darker shores, with the rhythm section keeping an upbeat tempo, keeping one grounded, while the vocals and guitars provide a loss of gravitational control. This mix of rhythm and reverb-laden guitars, combined with the right amount of bite from classic fuzz distortion is what Lightfoils does best. “This Time is Up” speeds things up with a faster tempo and swirling, distorted guitars, and rattling bass. Zabeth’s vocal melodies are reminiscent of classic 90s rock that has a touch of shoegaze, a touch of grunge, and channels the softness of singers of earlier alternative rock bands. It has an easy comedown, changing in tempo to seduce the listener into the next track. “Honeydew” draws on whirring guitars and crashing cymbals, carrying Zabeth’s vocals through an experience of senses. The track enters an intermittent key change midway, and continues to soar toward a more upbeat, crashing close. WEBSITE. 

'Summer Nights' is a combination of atmospheric shoegaze and lush dream pop. The vocals are set perfectly within the mix allowing their melodic beauty to shine through, the music is creatively textured. As a taster for the album, this ticks pretty much all the right boxes.

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The Ophelias - Moon Like Sour Candy.

Background - The Ophelias have just shared their "Moon Like Sour Candy" video ahead of fall tour dates with WHY? "Moon Like Sour Candy is based on Midwestern longing and all four of the elements. The video takes everyday textures and pushes them into surreal territory." - Spencer and Jo. Through a blend of understated rock, baroque pop and wide-skied atmospheres, The Ophelias explore the juxtapositions of youth on their album, Almost.

Having formed the band while still in high school, bassist Grace Weir, guitarist/lyricist Spencer Peppet, percussionist Micaela Adams, and violinist Andrea Gutmann Fuentes first met at a time when each were independently serving as the “token girl” in various dude-bands from their hometown of Cincinnati, OH. Coming from varied musical backgrounds (ranging from garage-rock, to surf, to opera), the distinct talents and influences of each member collided in unexpected ways at the band’s first rehearsal. It was here the band discovered that their chemistry wasn’t rooted in a shared musical reference point, but in the creative relief from the expected censorship of being a sideperson.

“In the past we had all kind of been the ‘girl in the band,’ in some capacity,” Peppet said. “Having a band of all women eradicates that possibility logistically, but also makes for a really creative environment without the patronization that often comes along with being the ‘girl in the band.’”

Produced by Yoni Wolf (WHY?), the new album Almost glides between palatial assuredness and pallid introspection, looking back on youthful yearning — the uncertainties, the traumas, the anxieties — without discounting its soft beauty. The Ophelias steer Almost through the lineage of coming-of-age confessionals, and affectionately document their growth into a warm, fractured adulthood. TWITTER.

Tour Dates:
02 Nov.   Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland (OH) *
03 Nov.   Bottom Lounge, Chicago (IL) *
04 Nov.   Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (MN) *
23 Nov.   The Loving Touch, Fernadale (MI) *
24 Nov.   Spirit Hall, Pittsburgh (PA) *
25 Nov.   MOTR Pub, Cincinnati (OH).

We have already shared three tracks from The Ophelias 'Almost' album released a short while back, however with a tour scheduled they have just presented the video for 'Moon Like Sour Candy' and I'm not about to pass up on featuring another enticing song from this very fine collection.


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Sonny Falls - The Ophelias

Sonny Falls - Easy To Lose.

Background - Chicago based indie rock band Sonny Falls shares the lead single "Easy To Lose" off their forthcoming LP Some Kind Of Spectre, due out 8/17 on Sooper Records (Nnamdi Ogbonnaya, Sen Morimoto). On "Easy To Lose" the band addresses the way a toxic situation can be all-consuming. It is about codependency in all forms, like addiction or an unhealthy relationship. The rest of their forthcoming album deals with the same themes. Over 10 tracks, Sonny Falls’ Some Kind of Spectre finds songwriter and frontman Ryan 'Hoagie Wesley' Ensley exploring the nuances and complexities of relationship; whether with a person, a drug, or even just a mindset.

While the album contains explicit references to heroin and the opioid epidemic, metaphorical lyrics create space for the listener to insert their own meaning. Hoagie makes obvious reference to particular issues that have plagued he and his loved ones, but the flexibility of interpretation also highlights the archetypal nature of human struggle. Despite the drastic differences between people in the world, there is space for empathy in the commonality that we all have Some Kind of Spectre.

Sonny Falls is the song-writing project of Chicago DIY veteran Ryan “Hoagie” Wesley Ensley. Disarmingly personal in his presentation, Consequence of Sound once described Sonny Falls as “the sound of a songwriter struggling to assert his own agency in a world that refuses to do him any favors.” Hoagie’s writing gives voice to a depleted notion of modern Americana saturated by fortuneless upbringing, tragic devotion, and the untold losses of the opioid epidemic. These themes recur honestly and without pretension in his writing; erected as dark windows into the soul of songs that nonetheless break glass to let the sunshine in. Dire narratives are beset by a survival instinct of unrelenting optimism, and are delivered with a graceful balance of honest guitar rock and soulful self-expression. The result is that special kind of timeless indie rock. Bands like Built to Spill and Neutral Milk Hotel are strong points of reference not only because of the familiar sonic territory but because, like those bands, Sonny Falls is a project that listeners might fall in love with forever.  

On 2018’s Some Kind of Spectre (Sooper Records), themes of codependency and addiction underwrite melancholic sing-alongs extruded through a foundation of blistering guitar rock. The rhythm section of drummer Calvin Schaller and bassist Jeff Perlman joyride with the signature lead guitar of Anthony Santoro to rocket the songs light years beyond the domain of singer-songwriter tropes. Notable horn and string arrangements feature prominently in the album and shine as a definitive symphonic element. The result is an epic of honesty presenting as the masterwork of a talent screaming to be heard. Bleak but optimistic, Some Kind of Spectre is an ambitious work of pop-rock brilliance that urges the recognition of Sonny Falls as an authentic and substantive voice in the landscape of American rock music, FACEBOOK.

'Easy To Lose' is a sturdy rocker, with bags of energy and vocals that ooze rock and roll credentials. The video adds a layer of good feeling to the song, with or without the images, this is one fine blast of natural rock music.


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The Ophelias - Lunar Rover.

Background - The Ophelias have just shared the new track and video "Lunar Rover." Through a blend of understated rock, baroque pop and wide-skied atmospheres, The Ophelias explore the juxtapositions of youth on their album, Almost.

Having formed the band while still in high school, bassist Grace Weir, guitarist/lyricist Spencer Peppet, percussionist Micaela Adams, and violinist Andrea Gutmann Fuentes first met at a time when each were independently serving as the “token girl” in various dude-bands from their hometown of Cincinnati, OH. Coming from varied musical backgrounds (ranging from garage-rock, to surf, to opera), the distinct talents and influences of each member collided in unexpected ways at the band’s first rehearsal. It was here the band discovered that their chemistry wasn’t rooted in a shared musical reference point, but in the creative relief from the expected censorship of being a sideperson.

“In the past we had all kind of been the ‘girl in the band,’ in some capacity,” Peppet said. “Having a band of all women eradicates that possibility logistically, but also makes for a really creative environment without the patronization that often comes along with being the ‘girl in the band.’”

Produced by Yoni Wolf, the new album Almost glides between palatial assuredness and pallid introspection, looking back on youthful yearning — the uncertainties, the traumas, the anxieties — without discounting its soft beauty. The Ophelias steer Almost through the lineage of coming-of-age confessionals, and affectionately document their growth into a warm, fractured adulthood. TWITTER.

Tour Dates:
07/12 Kansas City, MO - Uptown Arts Bar
07/16 Los Angeles, CA – Moroccan *
07/19 Seattle, WA – Fremont Abbey *
07/20 Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios *
07/22 San Francisco, CA – Swedish American Hall *
07/23 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
07/27 – Cincinnati, OH – We Have Become Vikings
* = w/ The Low Anthem.

We featured 'Fog' in May, 'General Electric' in June and now were in July 'Lunar Rover' makes it's timely arrival, increasing our anticipation even further for The Ophelias new album 'Almost'. Well three in a row is all down to the bands unique and fascinating creative works, which have consistently grabbed my attention. The latest song is another mixture of baroque meets low key rock, the vocals add more dimension and depth, this is very impressive and pleasing material.

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Esther & Fatou - Silverbacks - The Ophelias

Esther & Fatou - Home

Background - Belgian duo Esther & Fatou release new single Home, a captivating and dreamy folk-pop track, perfectly tuned-in for long upcoming summer evenings. Written over the course of last summer, it’s the follow up to their wintery debut single At Night.

Introduced by galloping percussion and a beguiling piano pattern, Home soon bursts into an addictive chorus replete with trademark rootsy instrumentation and symphonic production, without losing focus on the chemistry between each half of the duo. This is the key tenant to their sound, the hauntingly beautiful harmonies and the way their pin-point vocals play off of one another.

“‘Home’ recounts a response to a confrontational situation”, Esther & Fatou explain, “In a state of complete disbelief, we are trying to escape the things we can’t handle. There’s nowhere to process, there’s only the road. Searching for some peace of mind.”

Once again produced by Isbells mastermind Gaetan Vandewoude and mixed by Staf Verbeeck (dEUS, Hooverphonic, Selah Sue) Home showcases a different, warmer side to Esther and Fatou’s dreamy Americana. FACEBOOK.

Back in November of last year we stated "Esther & Fatou have merged together natural folk sensibilities with dream pop and the resulting song is lush and beautiful." Now we have 'Home' our second feature from the duo, and it's a vibrant and more energised piece, where once again the vocals are outstanding and beautiful.

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Silverbacks - Dunkirk.

Background - Dublin art-punks Silverbacks stomp back into action in 2018 with the release of their new single produced by Girl Band’s Daniel Fox 'Dunkirk' on June 15th through their own PK Miami Records. 

“The song is about a character who is questioning the life they have been dealt,” Silverbacks explain. “They find themselves in a near dystopian future where Dunkirk, despite its history, has become a built-up holiday destination for young families.”

Underpinned by an insistent, nagging bassline and creepy crawly guitar lines, it provides the ideal vehicle for frontman Daniel O’Kelly’s stream of consciousness ramblings about martial strife, the perfect sandcastle and spotting a con artist when he sees one. Produced by Girl Band’s Daniel Fox, the track lurches forth, pressure building from the undulating backbeat and layers of skronking guitars accenting Daniel’s increasingly frazzled yelps before finally collapsing into a sugar sweet coda. Indie kids no more, Silverbacks mean business and ‘Dunkirk’ is a powerful first move. The single is accompanied by a brilliantly creative video from Belgian graphic designer and artist Cameron Francis Taylor.

Hailing from Dublin, Silverbacks are a thrilling prospect, delivering their own louche take on NYC-indebted rock: slack enough for the tastemakers while also mining the gems of a pop vein, catching the ears of those with a taste for a good hook. Now a full-fledged five piece after graduating from the bedroom project of songwriting brothers Kilian and Daniel O’Kelly, they ply their trade with as much emphasis on the dry humour running through Daniel’s lyrics as the propulsive, triple guitar-led onslaught in their music. TWITTER.

A hypnotic rhythm and determined vocals are centre stage on 'Dunkirk' a driving and stripped back rocker. The song gains some extra energy along the way and those punk influences are never far away.

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The Ophelias - General Electric.

Background - The Ophelias shares new single "General Electric".  Through a blend of understated rock, baroque pop and wide-skied atmospheres, The Ophelias explore the juxtapositions of youth on their album, Almost.

Having formed the band while still in high school, bassist Grace Weir, guitarist/lyricist Spencer Peppet, percussionist Micaela Adams, and violinist Andrea Gutmann Fuentes first met at a time when each were independently serving as the “token girl” in various dude-bands from their hometown of Cincinnati, OH. Coming from varied musical backgrounds (ranging from garage-rock, to surf, to opera), the distinct talents and influences of each member collided in unexpected ways at the band’s first rehearsal. It was here the band discovered that their chemistry wasn’t rooted in a shared musical reference point, but in the creative relief from the expected censorship of being a sideperson.

“In the past we had all kind of been the ‘girl in the band,’ in some capacity,” Peppet said. “Having a band of all women eradicates that possibility logistically, but also makes for a really creative environment without the patronization that often comes along with being the ‘girl in the band.’”

Produced by Yoni Wolf (WHY?), the new album Almost glides between palatial assuredness and pallid introspection, looking back on youthful yearning — the uncertainties, the traumas, the anxieties — without discounting its soft beauty. The Ophelias steer Almost through the lineage of coming-of-age confessionals, and affectionately document their growth into a warm, fractured adulthood. TWITTER. 

Tour Dates:
07/16 Los Angeles, CA – Moroccan
07/19 Seattle, WA – Fremont Abbey
07/20 Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
07/22 San Francisco, CA – Swedish American Hall

Less than a month since we first featured The Ophelias, they are back with 'General Electric'. Once again the vocals and harmonies are sophisticated and beautiful, the musical arrangement drives the piece along at a steady pace and the catchy nature of the track soon begins to work it's charm.


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Basement Revolver - The Ophelias - Many Voices Speak - Johnny & the Bootlegs

Basement Revolver - Baby.

Background - Canadian indie-rock trio Basement Revolver have released their expansive new single “Baby” from their debut album Heavy Eyes, which is due out via Fear Of Missing Out Records on 24 August.

Weaving melancholia with fuzzy dreamy pop melodies and a heavy guitar undercurrent, lead-singer Chrisy Hurn shares intimate stories and personal wounds from her past, revealing a deeply affecting and rewarding insight:

“I feel a lot of emotions, sometimes annoyingly so. Baby is about feeling sad and down even though you are generally happy about everything and everyone in your life. It’s about feeling confused about what I want in life, and how that affects other people. It is about crying a lot and feeling like I was burdening my partner with those questions (even though he has always been completely sorry) and not wanting him to feel like he was the source of my anxiety. It is also about my tendency to retreat when things get too overwhelming, to spend all day and night in my bed and watching Netflix and eating Doritos.”

Basement Revolver head over to the UK for the very first time in May for The Great Escape and a headline show at Paper Dress Vintage in London on 22 May. Photo credit - Rohann Agalawatte, TWITTER.

Basement Revolver have carved out their own definitive sound and it's one that has consistently impressed me. So 'Baby' makes it half a dozen features for the band, it's emotional and powerful rock and roll, packed with charm and putting it mildly, the debut album sounds very, very promising!  


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The Ophelias - Fog.

Background - Through a blend of understated rock, baroque pop and wide-skied atmospheres, The Ophelias explore the juxtapositions of youth on their album, Almost.

Having formed the band while still in high school, bassist Grace Weir, guitarist/lyricist Spencer Peppet, percussionist Micaela Adams, and violinist Andrea Gutmann Fuentes first met at a time when each were independently serving as the “token girl” in various dude-bands from their hometown of Cincinnati, OH. Coming from varied musical backgrounds (ranging from garage-rock, to surf, to opera), the distinct talents and influences of each member collided in unexpected ways at the band’s first rehearsal. It was here the band discovered that their chemistry wasn’t rooted in a shared musical reference point, but in the creative relief from the expected censorship of being a sideperson.

“In the past we had all kind of been the ‘girl in the band,’ in some capacity,” Peppet said. “Having a band of all women eradicates that possibility logistically, but also makes for a really creative environment without the patronization that often comes along with being the ‘girl in the band.’”

Produced by Yoni Wolf, the new album Almost glides between palatial assuredness and pallid introspection, looking back on youthful yearning — the uncertainties, the traumas, the anxieties — without discounting its soft beauty. The Ophelias steer Almost through the lineage of coming-of-age confessionals, and affectionately document their growth into a warm, fractured adulthood. INSTAGRAM.

Now this is good! 'Fog' is a fascinating mixture of pop sensibilities, where fabulous vocals and harmonies, are accompanied by an imaginative and creative musical arrangement.


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Many Voices Speak - Necessaries.

Background - Swedish artsit Many Voices Speak has announced the release of her debut album 'Tink Town' on 31 August via Strangers Candy. "'Necessaries' is about the progress and crisis you find yourself in when your certainties weaken or even withdraw. It reflects my own attempts to replace cynicism with knowledge and humility for the conditions of life", she says about the first single taken from the album.

Featuring the dreamy singing and songwriting of Matilda Mård, Many Voices Speak was born out of Mård's move from Stockholm to the smaller Swedish industrial town of Borlänge. Less distraction gave way to creative rejuvenation and a revitalized approach to music.

Mård found liberation in one of the Borlänge more unlikely places — the karaoke bar. It became a “free zone” for her, she says, “far away from my own self doubts and prestige about music.” After piling songs for years without ever releasing anything, she was relieved of the pressure she felt towards her own creations and began again as Many Voices Speak.

Her debut EP Away for All Time was released in 2016 and received early attention online with its nostalgic lead single "Video Child" and an airy cover of Rodgers and Hartz's classic "Blue Moon," garnering support from Spotify, Stereogum, Noisey, WNYC, Idolator and more, while landing Many Voices Speak highly on the Hype Machine charts and a poignant placement in Riverdale. WEBSITE.

There is a gentle flowing vibe coursing through 'Necessaries', the vocals are sensitive, dreamy and melodic, the musical backdrop adds some power and atmosphere and is arranged with precision and beauty.


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Johnny & the Bootlegs - NYC Woman.

Background - Blues-punk-rock outfit Johnny & the Bootlegs released their EP NYC Rags today, for a delicious taste of NYC nightlife to devour whole. Blending a perfect mix of gritty rock n' roll, heartfelt-blues, and a dash of punk to taste, the band barrels their way through the urban jungle of NYC, with equal parts of debauchery and genuine reflection in tow.

The songs on NYC Rags were written by lead vocalist and guitarist John Santiago (aka Johnny) during his time as a general manager of the legendary New York City venue, Webster Hall. Immersed daily in the NYC entertainment and nightlife scene, the new tracks reflect some of his personal trials and tribulations throughout a “wild six years”. Santiago shared further on the inspiration of the EP's five-track collection. "'Thrift Shop' speaks about the odd underlying nature of wearing someone else's clothing, while 'NYC Woman' is a direct discussion of the extremes present in NYC dating. 'Hesitant' is a haunting ballad that piggybacks on the damage of those extremes, causing people to hold back, cautious of city love. 'Wings' is a broken hearted guitar tribute to Jimi Hendrix asking an ex to“fly away”. Lastly, 'Hey, Jenny' is about the desire and need for love, though unrequited in the face of screaming sincerity."

NYC Rags comes as the band's second release, and a follow-up to their full length self-titled album, which was released last summer. "With the addition of Ryan Adams on drums, the sound is transforming a bit to expand our blues and rock repertoire," commented Santiago. "Our first album was entirely with Danny Kenny, who has taken more of a songwriting/arrangement role, in addition to management duties. In addition, Erik has contributed more to the backing vocals and has switched to Modelo Especial... and I've recently become obsessed with J. Cole." NYC Rags was recorded at Studio G in Brooklyn, NY by engineer Jeff Berner (Psychic TV, Chris Cubeta and the Liars Club, NAAM, Heliotropes) through the summer and fall of 2017. WEBSITE.

Thursday, May 31 – Knitting Factory  – Brooklyn, NYC
Friday, June 8 – Asbury Park Brewery – Asbury, NJ
Wednesday, June 20 – Silvana – Harlem, NYC.

The first of five tracks on the 'NYC Rags' EP is the song 'NYC Woman'. The bands concoction of blues and punk rock is at the very least feisty and potent. That's not to say the band cannot slow things down a little, they do and what's more they can add in some melody along the way. It's the raw natural delivery that makes Johnny & The Bootlegs standout, and an apparent love for what they are doing.

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