Moonpools - The Little Kicks - Fastheaven - Los Blancos

Photo - Dominik Asche

Moonpools - Damaged Goods (E.P).

Moonpools, the charming quintet from Basel fronted by singer Marcie Nyffeler, will release their new EP 'Damaged Goods' on August 19th via Young and Aspiring. On their sophomore release, the band combines emotional dreampop with driving indie rock reminiscent of international artists such as Cocteau Twins, Snail Mail or Soccer Mommy.

Moonpools were formed in 2016 by Marcie Nyffeler (vocals/ guitar), Jasper Nyffeler (drums), and Francesco Vona (keyboard) and completed by Matthias Gusset (guitar) and David Blum (bass). The latter are known from various Basel-based projects such as Sheila She Loves You, Don't Kill The Beast, Brainchild and Mastergrief.

The band released their first EP 'Turbulent Times' in 2019, which was immediately met with positive reactions: For example, the single ‘Brainbug’ was chosen as SRF Virus CH-Song of the week. After a few concerts, including support shows for Oso Oso and Prince Daddy & The Hyena or a show at the Lauter Festival (ZH), the band started working on new music.

In contrast to ‘Turbulent Times’, which was a collection of songs with differing influences, the songs on their second EP ‘Damaged Goods’ are all cut from the same cloth. The sound is inspired by artists like Hatchie, Snail Mail, Ride and Soccer Mommy and moves between Indie Rock and Dream Pop with rousing guitars and anthemic synth parts.

The concise arrangements, however, only form the backdrop for the catchy and touching vocals that form the heart of the band. Marcie Nyffeler, whose lyrics are often a balancing act between melodrama and kitsch, sings about unrequited and unexpected love, loss of control and apathy. This honest and at times self-deprecating view, together with the tumultuous music, unfurls a charm that makes Moonpools' music so irresistible and brings a smile to your lips while you are still wiping a small tear from your eye.

Moonpools · Damaged Goods

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The Little Kicks - Right To Be Here.

Right to Be Here is the new single by The Little Kicks and is released today Friday 19 August 2022. Speaking about the single, front man Steven Milne said: “Lyrically the song is about taking pride in yourself and being less afraid to put yourself out there and it was inspired by a particular incident. 

In 2017 the band were nominated as finalists for an award (“Best Musical Group”) with the chosen winners to be announced and presented to as part of a ceremony in the centre of Scotland. We deduced we likely wouldn’t win but having been invited to attend -and with a new album to promote -we decided to go along. After some awkward entrance photographs, drinks for courage and a sit-down meal it was time for the awards to start and we were first up. As our nominated name was read, I remember thinking maybe we COULD win, wouldn’t it be nice to WIN something and if we did what on earth should we say. 

Then we lost to a funk band who had won the year before. No speech required. I was surprised at how disappointed I felt, not bitterly, more suddenly very self-aware and wondering “Are we imposters in the room, sitting dressed up for no reason?” and I wanted to disappear. Nevertheless, we made a hell of a night of it, brushed itoff and got through it. However, for weeks after the event I had a weird unfamiliar feeling of rejection and an anger kept coming back to me. This incident, coupled with another set-back or two around that time, had me thinking “Why should we be overlooked?” while also wondering “Why do I care?”. 

I decided I wouldn’t let that feeling take hold and jotted down how I felt in words. While lyrically the song hasn’t really changed much since its early inception, the demos of the song were initially much more electronic. Over time the song morphed into what it is now –it’s intended to have an almost modern soul/ warm retro sound. Citing things like Pastor T.L Burnett, Marvin Gaye, Durand Jones, Richard Swift and Michael Kiwanuka as production influences when we got to the studio, Paul really helped us achieve the feel we wanted. He knew exactly what we were trying to achieve and was great at listening to our suggestions while bringing his own expertise to the session and we are so proud to bring you the final results.

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Fastheaven - Big Satellite.

Fastheaven - the newly formed band from Fribourg - creates uniquely intimate atmospheres, warm and emotional harmonies and understands the craft of songwriting. 

Many of the band's songs feature the talented New Zealand-born singer Megan Carpenter.

The wonderful melodies of the track "Big Satellite", in which synth elements of the 80s flow, catapult us into other spheres and make us dream. 

The song is about change and at the same time about the difficulty of really finding one's way in a new environment.

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Los Blancos - Chwaraewr Gorau (Yr Ail Dim) / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

You know it’s going to be an unforgettable, endless summer when the unmistakable sound of Los Blancos fills the hot mid-evening air, kicking it’s way out of the speakers with equal amount of attitude and boundless charm. The band are back with a Double A side Single ‘Chwaraewr Gorau (Yr Ail Dîm) / Kareem Abdul Jabbar’.

These songs are tantalising glimpse of where the next album will find Los Blancos. “I wrote a rough version of Kareem Abdul Jabbar during the first lockdown, after a phase of watching loads of basketball. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the all time leading points scorer in the NBA but is also a successful actor, author and social justice advocate. The song is a tribute to him. I'm always blown away with how humble he is, especially when you consider his accomplishments. There’s references to his unstoppable “skyhook” and his cameo in the film Airplane.

"I had been listening a lot to Jefferson Airplane, Hendrix and Neil Young, and had just re-watched 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' and was trying to create a kind of 1970’s California vibe (I’m not sure if that comes through, but i liked the result nonetheless)” Dewi Jones, Vocals, Bass

“Chwaraewr Gorau (Yr Ail Dim) was written before lockdown and takes influence from artists such as Stephen Malkmus and Twin Peaks. Both have been a favourite for the band since we began. It started out as a rough Demo and it was built on during recording sessions over lockdown. The song is a portrayal of someone who's a slacker/nearly man, who can't quite catch a break. I also wanted to include some football references in the song, It includes a reference to Nick Cusack, a former Swansea City player, who was a bit of a bruiser when the Swans were in the lower divisions.” - Gwyn Rosser, Vocals, Guitar

Libertino · Los Blancos - Chwaraewr Gorau (Yr Ail Dim)

Libertino · Los Blancos - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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Twain - Mini Trees - Florence Arman

Twain - 2 Lovers.

Twain shared “2 Lovers” yesterday, another new song from the upcoming album Noon to be released October 21. The song opens with familiar nostalgic warmth.

Songwriter Matthew Davidson shares that, " '2 Lovers’ is the oldest song on Noon, from the end of my time living in New York. The bar in the song was called Manhattan Inn, in Greenpoint. I was briefly employed there as a bar-back. There was a beautiful room in the back with tables and benches against each wall and a fucked-up grand piano in the center of the room. It was a great place to see shows, with the audience surrounding the band in a hush. I remember sets from Adrianne Lenker, Nick Hakim, Joanna Sternberg, and really special was working the brunch shift, juicing lemons in the hard sunlight while Dylan Meek made jazz music on the piano."

Davidson shares, "Something new for me about making Noon was allowing writing to be an active part of the recording process, making time each morning to finish or edit songs that we’d be working on that day. It was nice. I’m usually very fearful of not having ‘enough’ music prepared, so I corral it all together before a session takes place.” The new album has caught ears at BBC, Spotify’s "Fresh Folk" playlist, Brooklyn Vegan, and Consequence.

Twain’s fourth release on Keeled Scales, Noon, is a collection attempting to balance soul-fantasy with self-scrutiny, to erode the barrier between those two places, and to find the liminal state between the spirit’s ambition for itself and the often harsh truth of the present. Says Davidson, “Sometimes the facts of life make dreams difficult to protect. Twain is my effort to reconcile those two states… to forget that they could ever exist in opposition.” Noon was recorded by Twain’s longtime collaborator Adrian Olsen at Montrose Recording in Richmond, VA with Ken Woodward on bass and drums by Austin Vaughn.

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Mini Trees - Let Down.

Off the back of her critically acclaimed 2021 debut album Always in Motion and tours with Death Cab For Cutie, Julien Baker, Hovvdy and more, rising songwriter Mini Trees (aka Lexi Vega) today releases her version of Radiohead’s cult classic, ‘Let Down’ via Run For Cover. The release comes ahead of her newly announced UK / European tour dates with Gracie Gray.

Talking about her take on the much-loved song, she said: “I recorded this cover of “Let Down” with my friend and bandmate Andrew Goldring the day after we got back from 3 weeks of winter touring. Our van had just broken down on the way home and we were exhausted but this song had been in constant rotation on tour, and we knew we wanted to record a cover of it on the one extra day I had in town. 

“Let Down” was always a song that really captivated me, from the unexpected moment the drums come into the massive build into the final chorus and all of the beautiful melodies that weave throughout. I recently read somewhere that this year is the 25th anniversary of OK Computer, so while the timing of this cover was a complete coincidence, it feels like a good way to celebrate the first Radiohead album I fell in love with.”

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Florence Arman - Stupid Heart.

Florence Arman (UK) today launches the official video for her incredibly honest yet emotional, self-reflective alt-pop single “Stupid Heart.” Heart-on-the-sleeve to its very core and  playful lyrics now has an incredibly funny video.

Speaking about the song, Florence said  “Stupid Heart' is the first song I wrote about family stuff.  Being the youngest in my family I think I’ve inherited a bit of baggage, which is normal I think and totally fine, but then again I still want to be able to write very dramatic songs about it."

Florence’s debut EP ”Out Of The Blue” out last year was supported on BBC Radio 1, The Line of Best Fit, Clash, COLORS, and Dork Magazine.  She has since begun touring extensively in 2022 including pitstops at The Great Escape, Eurosonic, and more recently at  Mad Coo. She also toured with Dadi Freyr.  She is also confirmed for Reeperbahn and Lollapalooza, both in Germany. Florence will also support indie superstars Milky Chance on their European tour dates in October.

Florence Arman is an established singer-songwriter and no stranger to the international pop scene, having worked with artists such as Rhys Lewis, The Kooks, Barns Courtney, G-Flip, Bakermat, John Martin, filous and Harry Hudson to name a few. Over the last year she has established herself as one of the most promising newcomers with her intimate, yet witty and light-hearted artist project. 

She writes all her songs alone and works with a close team of producers to finish them. She comes from a family of English musicians, her father is a conductor and composer, her mother a vocal coach, one of her brothers a jazz guitarist and the other is a songwriter/producer. Arman released her debut EP in July 2021 is now working on another 7-track EP that will be released this year

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Natalie Holmes - Annie Keating - Tough On Fridays

Natalie Holmes - Floating TV.

Described as a consistently astounding songwriter, South West/ Bristol based singer-songwriter Natalie Holmes writes lilting, haunting and yet also invigorating Indie-Folk tinted with a hint of Pop. Now back with new single ‘Floating TV’ taken from the upcoming album ‘Vitamin Be’, Natalie once again demonstrates her honey toned vocals and incredible musicianship.

‘Floating TV’ is a prime example of Natalie’s work, bringing together gentle musical textures with dappled moments of experimentation to create a beautiful and warming soundscape. Blending the gentle folk-infused nature of her material with shuffling drums, twinkling piano, swelling guitar lines and jazz influenced double bass, the result is a stunning, multi-faceted musical backdrop. Topped with Natalie’s effortless, ethereal vocals and a deceptively catchy vocal line, the track manages to gracefully tread the ground between Bon Iver-esque raw instrumentation and accessible indie-pop in a unique and hugely effective way.

With her soberingly relatable, yet soothing lyricism, Natalie sets out to strike a conversation between the conflicting effects of modern society, and those of the natural world on our ability to be content. With mental health struggles being talked about and diagnosed more and more, Natalie felt called to write about the simple bewilderment at being a young adult in today’s society and the pressures that brings.

From the constant comparisons we make on social media, to the over-stimulated, unrelenting pace of modern life, to the money fears that leave younger generations wanting to run for the mountains, the upcoming album touches on many elements of modern life and how they can affect mental wellbeing.

Speaking about the meaning behind the new single ‘Floating TV’, Natalie explains: “I have this ever-present sadness at the way the world is becoming more limiting, constantly feeding us stimulation and keeping us needing or wanting an endless cycle of stuff and achievements. This song is about rebelling I suppose - in a sweet, naive kinda way."

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Annie Keating - Sunshine Parade.

Ahead of a fresh run of UK and Ireland shows this Autumn Annie Keating is revealing a surprise new single: “Sunshine Parade”. Released yesterday, the track is a taster of a brand new EP from the NYC singer-songwriter, ‘Twenty 22 Tour EP’, which will be exclusively available at her upcoming shows.

With its blazing Keith Richards-inspired guitar licks and vaporising lyrics capable of blistering even the most hydrated of tongues, “Sunshine Parade” is the tarmac-melting new release from Annie Keating.

Born in the daze of the New York heatwave in the summer of ‘21, “Sunshine Parade” came together as Keating found herself dreaming of escaping the city’s almost claustrophobic temperatures. As Mercury relentlessly rose, she began to play around with some phrases that were hounding her thoughts in the heat.

“It was hot enough to fry an egg on the pavement” remembers Annie. “When I was walking my dog in the thick August heat, I wanted to take myself someplace else with my imagination, to have some fun with words”

Inspired by a phrase inherited from her mother to not “let it rain on your parade”, the single offers a tongue-in-cheek inversion of that old adage, as Keating purrs:  “There’s no rain on this parade / yeah not today babe not today / You can lie down in the shade but sunshine’s what I really crave / There’ll be no rain now on this Sunshine Parade”.

AnnieKeatingNYC · Sunshine Parade

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Tough On Fridays - Growing Pains.

Tough On Fridays has proven time and again that they are experts at the big, in-your-face, wall of incendiary, alt-rock salvos. The new single by the alternative indie rock band, ‘Growing Pains’ expertly shows off the more understated, deft, and delicate side of their musical personality. Rock it still is, but rock showing its more sensitive side. 

Big rock guitars are replaced with washes of indie rhythms and almost country-esque vibes. On top of that, you’re reminded how great the twin vocals of Caleigh and Carly can be, especially when they are given the room to breathe, intertwine and beguile, that this song allows. This release marks a first for Tough On Fridays after finding their home at newly launched label Archangel Records, a subsidy of the Golden Robot Global Entertainment Group.

The ironically named single 'Growing Pains' is nothing short of sonic anarchy to trip up those who would pigeon-hole the band or the sound of them evolving, being adventurous, and spreading their sonic wings. Instead of being weighed down by expectation Cayleigh and Carly remain expertly in control, staying true to their eclectic sound and pushing the limits of genre and familiarity. As long as it is an approach and attitude that they don't lose, who needs, or indeed would want to maintain, musical comfort zones when you have bands like Tough On Fridays in the world?


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Michael McArthur - Yumi And The Weather - Olive Louise - SPECTRA*Paris

Michael McArthur - Winding River.

Singer/songwriter Michael McArthur just released another peek at his forthcoming album with his brand new single "Winding River." Originally penned years ago but never finished, the hopeful song closes out Milky Stars with a message of assurance surrounded by gently finger-picked guitar and McArthur's smooth, elegant vocals. Under The Radar featured the song and called it "a blissful dreamy folk tune, gently burnished by subtle synth lines and soulful guitar melodies. McArthur sweeps you away on the titular winding river, leaving you awash in pastoral instrumentation and fervent lyricism."

"If you’ve ever had a day that hasn’t gone your way, you’re not alone," stated McArthur. "It’s likely not the first time it’s happened and it surely won’t be the last. Like the river that winds in pursuit of an ocean, we will, all of us, get to where we’re going. So long as we bend with the bends and seize the ride. That's 'Winding River.' A gentle reminder that we're together in this life. Fighting the same fight. Figuring it out as we go along."

McArthur recently shared the "stunning" (Ghettoblaster) official video for his previous single "Run Around," which was also featured on CMT. Holler previously called the track "one of those songs that will shine brightly in the imaginations of many listeners that fall under its spell; a raw slice of bluesy country soul that brings to mind Stanley Road-era Paul Weller with the emotional weight of Colin Blunstone and the playfulness of Leon Russell." Lead single "Lady Luck" is out now as well, a gritty cry for help which features Drew Smithers (Marcus King Band) on slide guitar. The song has since spent multiple weeks in the Top 40 on Billboard's Triple A Indicator Chart and in the Top 40 on RMR's Roots Rock Chart. McArthur was also recently featured as a showcase artist at JBE SummitFest in Boulder alongside artists such as Charley Crockett, Delta Spirit, Nikki Lane, and KT Tunstall.

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Yumi And The Weather - Can You Tell.

A cautionary tale for the brave, the latest from the creative voice of Ruby Taylor is an ensnaring electro/punk proposition inspired by a series of real-life events that almost had the most calamitous of outcomes.

A song about recklessness and regrets, fate and fortune, loneliness and a longing for love, its suggestive lyrics construct a troubling narrative of a near-miss only narrowly evaded. “Let’s drive straight into the fog, All I know is this isn’t love,” lulls Yumi with all the dreaminess of someone sleepwalking into a cul-de-sac, “This could be the last road that I take, No time to go back or contemplate…”

Of “Can You Tell”, Yumi AKA Ruby explains: “‘Can You Tell’ was inspired by a very impulsive decision… It could have been the biggest mistake of my life, but luckily it was absolutely fine. This song came out of the sadness from feeling the fear I felt that overcame me when I realised I was no longer in control. Thoughts of what could happen came into my head, and I thought about what I was doing and had to have some words with myself. I lived and learnt that life is not a dream where I can just wake up when it goes bad, so I slowed down after that because trust is something you build in time, and presumption is the mother of all **** ups!”

With a laissez-faire cool somewhere between Sonic Youth and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Can You Tell” creates a joyride of veering sonics and compulsive rhythms that will fasten you in tight and refuse to let-go until the road runs out.

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Olive Louise - The Loveliest.

The new single from NY based whimsical indie pop artist Olive Louise is entitled "The Loveliest", the single was written in an airbnb with Olive's fiance.  She confides, "It was awesome putting into a song how much I love the person I'm with and plan on being with forever. I think it’s relatable because it’s how anyone that’s really in love feels, like, this person is amazing and you have your own language with them, and that feeling is universal." With fanciful piano under Olive's signature soul-drenched ethereal vocals, "The Loveliest" is a heartfelt alt pop lullaby. 

Olive Louise is a classically trained musician with an innate pop sensibility. The New York-based artist is a promising new voice in alt-pop, thoughtfully carving her own path through captivating storytelling and refreshing vulnerability. 

Louise possesses the rare ability to delve deep into self-exploration and still emerge open-hearted, optimistic, and deeply empathetic. This gift, paired with her natural musicality, is ultimately what has drawn listeners to her. Her poetic-yet-digestible lyrics and haunting, airy soprano are a hypnotizing amalgamation of her classical roots and indie-pop influences. In the short time that she’s been releasing music, she has amassed a passionate fan base that recognizes and appreciates her talent and authenticity. 

Growing up in Kings Point, New York (on the very estate that inspired F Scott Fitzgerald‘s novel The Great Gatsby), Louise spent her early years studying piano and violin under the tutelage of her mother, who was the lead pianist of the Long Island Philharmonic Orchestra. Her earliest memories include falling asleep to the sound of her mother’s playing and being allowed to leave for school only after mastering a Vivaldi concerto — inevitably, music is part of Louise’s molecular makeup. 

Unfortunately, Louise’s dreamy childhood was cut short by the tragic passing of both of her parents. After this devastating loss, she turned to songwriting as a way to process her emotions, eventually recording a song at a studio in her hometown. The experience showed Louise that while she loved Vivaldi and Mozart, she was capable of creating something entirely her own.

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SPECTRA*Paris - Poison Fresh.

Enigmatic Italian singer Elena Alice Fossi has released the lush single, 'Poison Fresh', which is taken from the forthcoming new full-length of her dark electro project SPECTRA*Paris. The fifth album of that band is entitled "Modernism" and has been slated for release on August 26.

SPECTRA*Paris comment: "The new single 'Poison Fresh' is perhaps the most psychedelia-inspired song on the album", singer, composer, and lyricist Elena Alice Fossi writes. "It is a journey to unknown shores, where you learn how to free yourself from reptilian and poisonous empires. Getting on that spaceship has a price and takes you away from the known side of the world. But the dream is well worth living. 'Plant your stigma on all dogma'!"

Charismatic, enigmatic, and absolutely outstanding, singer Elena Alice Fossi, who is best known for her work with Italian electro-trailblazers KIRLIAN CAMERA, presents "Modernism", the fifth album of her eclectic project SPECTRA*Paris. "Modernism" is transfiguring electronic music through the prism of Elena’s voice and several collaborations with other musicians into a beautiful kaleidoscope of stylistic colours ranging from EBM, future pop, dark electronic, art pop, and various influences more.

"Modernism" in a way is a musical child that was born out of the isolation that was imposed on Northern Italy during the pandemic. To cage a tigress like Elena and to separate her from the beloved stages and music performances probably had to result into something consequential and massive. With "Modernism" the singer and composer turned something horrible into something wonderful in a process that was liberating and empowering at the same time. Elena trapped into the SPECTRA*Paris songs all the notes that absorb her fears, her astonishment, and her sense of confusion into what she calls "a weird concoction of melancholy and rhythm".

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