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Saturday Songs: August Wells - The Sea Birds - Angus C Crowley

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August Wells - Come On In Out Of That Night. Background Info - 'Come On In Out Of That Night' is the new single by August Wells and was released on September 4th on FIFA ('Forever In Financial Arrears') records. A musical project formed in New York by Dublin native Ken Griffin (Rollerskate Skinny, Kid Silver and Favourite Sons) and New York pianist John Rauchenberger, August Wells teamed up with the Cork based independent label earlier this year for the release of the sumptuous 'Here In the Wild' single and that partnership continues for what is the perfect follow up.  'Come On In Out Of That Night' once again has the deep lilt of Griffin's voice combined with the sound of Rauchenbergers piano arrangements, add to that Louis Schwadron (Radio Head & Grizzly Bear) and Griffins uplifting brass arrangements which are accented by fat choruses contrasting with the deep twisted vocal. The result is a an elegant three minutes of lustrous music tin...

Friday Five: Liphemra - Peru - Little Death - The Noted - Apothek.

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Liphemra - 'did u cry'. Background - Los Angeles based Liphemra (comprised of Liv Marsico, Trey Findley, Miles Gray, Chris Parise) have just dropped their first official release 'did u cry'. Both dark and hypnotising in it's repetition, the track manifest an aesthetic unrivalled by any other project coming out of LA right now. "You break up... Never talk again. You just want to know if they cried." - Liv 'did u cry' teases an up-coming EP by the same name which is set for an early March release via LA-based label Future Gods . A wonderfully powerful background sound, gives way to Liv Marsiso's emotionally charged vocals, that dance above the ever changing soundtrack. A real alternative that works so well. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peru   (the band) - I Need You. Background - Great music can take you places.  So, perhaps it’s appropr...

Double Delights: $omeone feat Kite - Lydia Schubert

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$omeone feat Kite - Hollow. Those background words - When the music producer, $omeone, recently signed on Gotta Records, meets the sensitivity of the genius vocalist named Kite. Kite is an award-winning Liverpool-based, Cumbrian-born songstress. Her debut EP ‘The Bed of The Brook’ was released in 2011 and led her on to play festivals such as Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Kendal Calling, Solfest and Ireby as well as gaining her a spot to play across the pond at Dewey Beach Music Conference in Delaware. Her first single ‘The Water’ was self-released in 2013 and has had extensive radio play including BBC Cumbria, BBC Merseyside and BBC Radio 2 as well as having been playlisted by BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson. Since her trip to the US in 2012 Kite has been working closely with Brooklyn-based collective Mason Jar Music (Feist, Wood Brothers, Josh Garrels, Alicia Keys) . Lot's of recognition and words of praise, already written for Kite here in the UK, and on the strength of this song, it...

Another Genre Mix: Before The Flood - herMajesty - Still Parade

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Before the Flood - I Can't Wait For You. Background words - Before the Flood's 2nd LP (Hole in the Sky - 2015) is heavy on vocal harmonies, layered strings and deep percussion and bass. Electronic elements and synths add to the rich, and at other times ethereal soundscapes BTF creates through a long-awaited and eclectic 14 song journey. BTF's style and performances are constantly evolving but they continue to draw comparisons to Wilco, The Shins, The Weakerthans & Skydiggers. Before the Flood formed in 2005, and the line-up has fluidly performed with between 4 and 7 members.  The backbone of the band has been strong, diverse song writing and rich, textured arrangements. Bars Wire and Wood (2008) had two singles (the title track & The Halls) that charted on college radio across Canada. Over the last seven years BTF has been honing their craft performing through Southern Ontario - with 14 appearances at The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern (Toronto), 15 at The Moonshi...

Gussie Clarke - From The Foundation (Reggae Anthology)

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Various Artists - Gussie Clarke - From The Foundation (Reggae Anthology). Press Release - VP Records' vintage imprint 17 North Parade opens its vaults to present a new reggae anthology from one of the most influential Jamaican producers and businessmen Gussie Clarke. On Oct 9th, 2015, 17 North Parade will release a comprehensive double-disc compilation From The Foundation, spanning Gussie Clarke's catalogue of hit productions from the 1970s until today, accompanied with a DVD that takes an in-depth look of the man behind the controls. All the music is re-mastered and coupled with deluxe packaging and extensive liner notes. In addition, a vinyl companion piece (carrying the same name) will be available the following week (Oct 16) that features exclusive tracks not available on the CD and digital version. In the early 1970s, Clarke's breakthrough success with deejay-style vocalists like Big Youth and I Roy put him at the forefront of the new rebel sound because he was ...

Four 4U: Parlour Tricks - The Little Unsaid - Foreign Architects - Unnveig Aas

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Parlour Tricks - Lovesongs. Promo words - Parlour Tricks released a new Double A side single yesterday (5th October) – the two tracks ‘Lovesongs’ and ‘Requiem’ will be out on cool New York label Bar/ None Records. Catchy and charming ‘Lovesongs’ is an electro synth pop earworm - think dreamy Goldfrapp, complimenting ‘Requiem’ a beat heavy, rhythmic track that is layered with the mystical and airy vocals of Lily Cato. The band are lead singer and songwriter Lily Cato, bassist and synth player Brian Kesley, drummer Terry Moore and guitarist Angelo Spagnolo, They met at college and first played together on a whim when Cato decided to try her hand at song writing. A few months later Cato asked Morgane Hollowell and Darah "DeeDee" Golub (also friends from college) to join when she realised that nearly every song she'd written was begging for three female voices. Influenced as much by the Andrews Sisters as she is by Vampire Weekend, Cato’s first few years of song writing...

Sundays Alternative Take: Soothing, Grooving and Dancing

Tom Swoon Vs Ale Q & Sonny Noto - Alive. Promo words - Released through Ultra Music on September 25th is ‘Alive’, the collaborative single from Tom Swoon, Ale Q & Sonny Noto. Producers/DJs Ale Q and Sonny Noto have gone head to head with Polish artist Swoon for this track, and the results are nothing short of epic. A stirring piece of progressive house, the tune almost bubbles into action at the start before effortless vocals soak over the top of the bass line, and complementary piano twinkles add a further expressive edge. As the electro-edged beat really starts to take hold, there is another soulful intermission - before the power and intensity reaches a dance floor ready climax . Actually the promo words are pretty much spot on. Progressive House fans will love this energised and driving song, the vocals if anything help calm the whole thing down, so we can pause for breath. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...

Saturday Double Selection: Sloom - Tohearmeroar

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Sloom - Magic Cup. What we are told - Sloom is a rock n roll band from Sydney’s Inner West, whose members are Chris Diamond and Cristian Di Paolo on guitar and vocals, Dane Macintosh on bass and Jamie Graham on drums. Coming from a variety of musical backgrounds they set out together to create their own original music. After recording their first EP, Kahayalan in 2014 Sloom has refined their sound and are set to release their first single ‘Magic Cup’.  Produced and recorded by the band, ‘Magic Cup’ captures the spirit of their live performances and draws inspiration from an older era. ‘Magic Cup’ might resonate with fans of John Dwyer, Ty Segall and any living thing that likes their music energetic and fun! Sloom are playing a show at Frankie’s Pizza on Hunter St on October 11, come down and grab yourself a slice of Sloom . The live feel to 'Magic Cup' gives the song natural, raw energy. The retro feel for me, is in the vocals, whilst the no nonsense rock soundtrack reta...

Friday Uplift: Rabid Young - Peter Henry Phillips - Indiago

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Rabid Young - Not Enough. Background - At some point in 2014, Las Vegas musician Eric Rickey found himself at the end of a well-travelled road wondering where to go next. That year Eric’s previous band, Most Thieves, had opened for the Killers through Europe and Canada, playing arenas and getting a taste of international success. Reflecting on the experience Eric explains: “We had all the opportunity in the world but for whatever reason it didn’t pan out.” That tour culminated in a home town show at the Cosmo on New Year’s Eve where they played for thousands of people before the members decided to take a break from the project. It was at this pinnacle, looking out at the sea of eager faces, when the words “rabid young” popped into his head. Back in Vegas, Rickey joined up with friend and fellow musician Jackson Wilcox (A Crowd of Small Adventures) and the two began plotting their new endeavour with fellow Most Thieves alum Bobby Lee Parker (guitar), as well as Matthew Long (drum...

Drive-By Truckers - Live at Cooley's House, 2003 (IA)

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From the Internet Archive (IA) this is the  Drive-By Truckers in a private family and friends performance at band member Mike Cooley's House in Gardendale, Alabama, USA. It is an incredible acoustic performance with superb audio quality and as one reviewer put it " this recording is amazing. I was having a few beers listening to it and the next thing I know I'm doing shots of Elijah Craig and singing out loud like a jackass" . Of the time before and around this session Wikipedia say's - After three years on the road, a tight-knit group of musicians emerged and began work on 2001's double album, Southern Rock Opera. The album weaves the history of Lynyrd Skynyrd into a narrative about a fictitious rock band called "Betamax Guillotine," whose story unfolds within the context of the South during the 1970s. Southern Rock Opera was originally released independently on Drive-By Truckers' own Soul Dump Records on September 12, 2001, and garnered p...

Wednesday Double: Eleven Eleven - John Byrne Band

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Eleven Eleven - The Original. Background - Eleven Eleven is a formation of two bands who morphed together back in 2012. Consisting of Kaitlin Brown on vocals, Max Heaslip on bass, Otto Falson-Ree on drums, and Harry Brown on guitar, they mix the worlds of riff-rock and sweet melodic vocals to create huge, unique walls of sound. Eleven Eleven have been recognised on several occasions, being nominated at the Music Oz awards, working their way into the Top 50 of Triple J Unearthed several times and hitting number one with the track ‘King Tide’, as well as gaining a 5 star review from Alex Dyson on Unearthed, who commented that "Some people are young, some people rock. These guys cover both categories, then smash the categories against an amp and walk off the stage flipping the bird at the crowd." Eleven Eleven is currently working on new material whilst they release their new single ‘The Original’ through The A&R Department. 'The Original was the very first song we e...

Tuesdays Genre Mix: The Pacers - Victoria Celestine - Absinthe Rose

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The Pacers - Losing Touch. Background - The Pacers draw their influences from the sixties Psych/Garage scene, mixing it up with their own unique ideas to create unforgettable and  energetic live performances in the same vein as The Stooges and The Stones, with a healthy dose of freak out psychedelia. The band formed in the late summer of 2013 when Alexander Friedl and guitarist Harry Stam met under what they describe as "mysterious circumstances". With a shared interest in all things 60's and a desire to escape the monotony of everyday life, they duo picked up their guitars and began writing songs.  A former band mate of Harry, bass player Jay Creswell, was next to join The Pacers, closely followed by drummer Jamie Yuan. With the line up complete, the band set about making a name for themselves on the underground music scene, playing a string of venues primarily in north and east London which have earned them a loyal and ever increasing fan base. 'Losing Touch...

Alternative Take: Chris Savor - Super Duper - Hayden Calnin - M.I.L. - Mikaela Davis

Chris Savor - TTMO (Can't Lose You). Words from Chris - After 6 years in New York, I finally made the move back to London. And here is my first UK-dance inspired track after being back home. - It's time to move on, but you still feel the same and you can't let go.  And you thought you would have a steady love by now... "Life's confusing, all the things I was meant to have by now". I wrote this as I finally decided to move back home, alone. I don't know if it's the right decision or why I keep moving, "maybe I'm just choosing situations with expiration's". But the only way is to follow your heart and keep going, so the track ends with, "It's about time we move, It's about time we moved on". TTMO has an emotional message, but a dance sound. Maybe it's about that time your tears glistened in the disco lights . 'Time To Move On' is a fine reflection on Chris Savor's ability to go beyond the convention...