Nov 25, 2021

sunn O))) • Metta, Benevolence BBC 6Music • 2019


Artwork by Samantha Keely Smith https://samanthakeelysmith.com


In late October 2019, following a successful UK tour ending in a sold-out concert at the mythical Roundhouse in London, SUNN O))) entered studio 4 of the BBC Maida Vale. On invitation to record a live session for Mary Anne Hobbs to be broadcast on Samhain via her excellent radio show on BBC6. To enter the legendary John Peel studios was to enter a temple of music and experimentation, liberty in ideas and sound. The band was nearing the end of a long touring year around the Life Metal and Pyroclast albums. SUNN O))) had developed the compositions extensively, embracing the formative concepts of the Life Metal album conceptually and emotionally, but actualised and evolved into vast, open and bright hypersaturated arrangements. Particularly the pieces the band chose to perform on this recording: Troubled Air and Pyroclasts. The former enriched into a total aspect of the band's ethos and form in many ways, and Pyroclasts had evolved to become all-inclusive radiation of O))). The radiation embraces collaboration and freedom of interpretation by each player, within a structural format of the massive monuments of sound and distortion which define SUNN O))). Anna Von Hausswolf and her band had accompanied SUNN O))) on the UK leg, and Anna joined SUNN O))) in the studio on synths and with her tremendous voice on the Pyroclasts pieces.

Nov 23, 2021

Triptides • So Many Days • 2021




"Triptides’ latest effort takes the band back into the dreamy vibes of Laurel Canyon in the early ‘70s, along with a dose of jangling country rock delights. Sunny psych folk meets cosmic country that bears traces of The Byrds, The Doors, and Big Star in equal measure.” - Caleb Campbell, UNDER THE RADAR
 
“Triptides tap into a heartwarming sense of being on their latest song ‘So Many Days.’” - Anurag Tagat, ROLLING STONE 
 
“Triptides’ new single ’So Many Days’ is the kind of laid back groover that is perfect for passing joints on a sunny day. The band does a fine job of mixing cosmic country with power pop and folk-rock to make for a supremely enjoyable track.” - Neil Ferguson, GLIDE MAGAZINE
 
[5/5 stars!] "LA psych-rockers Triptides continues their jangly, wiggy voyage into the unknown, while packing more hooks into its 42 minutes than other bands manage in entire careers." - SHINDIG!
 
[4/5 stars] “It’s impossible to hear Triptides and not reference the sounds of classic acts the band audaciously cites as influences. Start with early Pink Floyd, move onto the psychedelic end of The Byrds, the eerie melodic vibe of The Zombies, a bit of krautrock Can, some Badfinger and T. Rex….the list continues but you get the idea. They write impressive songs, not unlike their more famous inspirations. And in some cases, even better.” - AMERICAN SONGWRITER
 
“L.A. band Triptides make jangly pop that recalls both the city's '60s psych-pop heyday but also the '80s Paisley Underground scene.” - BROOKLYN VEGAN
 
“With its jangly 12-string guitar, steady groove and airy harmonies, Triptides definitely brings to mind '60s psych rock with a sunny California vibe. Incorporating fine guitar solos that veer from surf rock to more far out, acid-soaked sounds, the band gives us a time capsule of a tune that still feels fresh.” – GLIDE MAGAZINE
 
“… a  hazy, lazy head trip.” - BUZZBANDS.LA

Nov 19, 2021

Deca • Source Material • 2021

beulahrecords.com

 

Working out of New York and previously a vital cog of Denver’s early 2000s hip hop machinery, Deca is a gestalt rapper, producer and visual artist with a dedicated global following. Since his debut album ‘The Veil’ in 2011, Deca’s released six more long players including the acclaimed ‘The Ocean’ in 2013, which brought him to wider attention.

MONSTA X • 몬스타엑스 'Rush Hour' • 2021



Worldwide phenomenon, Monsta X, have released their 10th mini album, No Limit, today. No Limit is an album that will become a turning point for Monsta X, where they will begin a new era amid the disordered, unprecedented world struck by Covid-19. This album contains a sense of calling to pioneer a new path, as they continue to infiltrate the North American market. With the bands second English-language album The Dreaming dropping on 12/10, a global movie launching in more than 70 countries [dates/tickets here], a Top 30 smash hit “One Day” currently climbing the charts, and 4 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball performances in December; Monsta X are here to close out 2021 triumphantly. 

Yot Club • Alive • 2021


Ryan’s lo-fi indie pop project Yot Club stems from a diverse array of influences, and offers a unique and recognizable brand of vibrant, sunny pop rock.  Since 2019, Yot Club has released three EPs and more than thirty tracks. Taking a simplified approach to recording, intentionally working within his restrictions of owning one microphone, Ryan boosts his creativity.


"Combining elements of lo-fi with retro sunny-pop, the artist intricately carves out his own lane of vibrant bedroom-pop while riding adding in touches of hip-hop and indie."
Wonderland

"The minimalistic yet carefully layered production taps into a hazy, warm vibe that comforts right from the first notes of guitars and synths."
EARMILK

"'Alive' is a perfect example of how the world works, it’s not all black and white, and there can be fun in boring and artificial suburbs."
MXDWN

"A lo-fi indie pop tune packed with clean, dreamy guitar riffs and hazy vocals."
Indie88

"Similarly to his past sunshine-drenched releases, 'Alive' is a warm, synth-driven pop-rock tune that’s ultimately feel-good and summery by nature."
Glide

"‘Alive’ is practically dripping with melancholy in spite of its breezy, feather-light sound."
Backseat Mafia


"A fresh lofi / DIY masterpiece"
Indie Tapes


Z Tapes • Fall 2021



A soundtrack for Fall 2021. A celebration of 8 years of Z Tapes. 

 

Cover art by Seb Westcott (iamseb.co.uk
Mastering and track order by Etai (twitter.com/etaimusic

All proceeds will go to Le Foyer Notre Dame des Sans Abris.

Nov 18, 2021

Field Guide - Parachutes ft. Begonia




"Parachutes is a retreat to earlier times, when inspiration was most transparent and palpable"
American Songwriter

"The entrancing song barely reaches one minute in length, but its beauty stretches far beyond"
Cool Hunting

"Revolves around beautiful harmonies and a stripped back guitar line"
Indie88

"Infused with originality and charm, the track gives us a glimpse of the cozy, intimate vibes that transform the classic Coldplay record into something more comforting and atmospheric."
EARMILK

Leif Vollebekk • I'm Not Your Lover • 2021



Today, Leif Vollebekk shares a live version of “I’m Not Your Lover,” recorded at The Troubadour in Los Angeles back in 2020. “This was the first time we played the song live, a couple of months before the lockdowns. It was a beautiful sold-out show at one of my favourite venues,” Leif explains. “When I first heard the live recording,” he continues “I thought it sounded better than the record.” Its accompanying video, directed by close collaborator Kaveh Nabatian, captures once again the essence of Leif’s music and its connectivity to nature. Leif Vollebekk will be on tour across North America and Europe beginning at the end of November until May 2022, see below for full listing. Get your tickets HERE.

Beau • Dreamer • 2021



NYC alt-pop duo Beau (consisting of singer/songwriters Heather Goldin and Emma Jenney) make dreamy indie pop that straddles the line between atmospheric '60s folk and frenetic late '70s punk. Heather and Emma grew up children of painters in Greenwich Village and became fast friends at a young age. Originally calling themselves "The Boos" and playing gigs around NYC, a trip to France inspired a name change to Beau [the masculine term for beautiful in French] and the rest is history. Lead singer Heather sounds like Karen O, dances like Jim Morrison, and entrances like Lana Del Rey. Emma is equally captivating, she's the Keith to Heather's Mick.
 
CHECK OUT THE DIGITAL EPK HERE

Princess Goes To The Butterfly Museum • "Tomorrow's Screams" • 2021



Princess Goes To The Butterfly Museum is comprised of vocalist, lyricist, musician and actor Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Six Feet Under, Hedwig and the Angry Inch), drummer Peter Yanowitz (The Wallflowers, Morningwood) and keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen (Blondie). The band released their debut full-length album, THANKS FOR COMING, earlier this year which was preceded by their self-titled EP.

Riches • Hang in Pieces • 2021


"Hang in Pieces" articulates the altered, psychedelic, and beautiful web of intersecting ideas, senses, and feelings within the creative process.
  
The performance and rites of crossing this threshold both destroy us and leave us feeling lit up and transformed.

You may hear the shoegaze-inspired "Hang in Pieces" on the platform of your choice.

James • Miss America (Library Session) • 2021



Nov 16, 2021

Ashley Shadow (feat. Bonnie Prince Billy) • "Don't Slow Me Down" • 2021



It’s easy to fall under the spell of Ashley’s haunting voice. The Vancouver, B.C.-based songwriter forged her own identity as a songwriter with 2016’s eponymous self-titled debut. Her sophomore effort, Only the End, maintains the moody introspection that is ingrained in Pacific Northwest life, but now comes armed with a palpable hope complementing her signature melancholy.


 "A gentle testament to resilience in the face of emotional hardship"
– Pitchfork

“Dusty and mournful and Webber’s voice quivers as she reflects on the passage of time"
– Stereogum

"A VU thrum underpins its multi-layered, darkly folky arrangement and rolling groove"
– MOJO

“... the kind of haunting loner folk that’ll likely hit fans of Leonard Cohen, Sibylle Baier or Angel Olsen, but Ashley’s got a bigger voice than these kinds of artists usually do"
– Brooklyn Vegan

The Furniture • Strom • 2021




"'Strom' incorporates amorphous drones throughout, sprinkled with analogue synths to emulate a composition of spontaneity and surprise."
Wonderland.

"While the pair point to 1970’s German experimental music such as Cluster, and the pioneering minimalist composer Moondog as touchstones; fans of Brian Eno’s most ambient works will find The Furniture’s musical offerings cinematically enthralling."
Glide

"A meditative 5-minute piece that straddles the line between ambient and post-rock"
Backseat Mafia

"Dark, moody instrumental works, heavy on cinematic atmosphere"
Brooklyn Vegan

"It’s music borne of a hard won, deeply felt understanding of each other. It’s together that their sound becomes something truly special, after all, with Matthew Pierce’s synth-work and textures – which would likely venture into pure ambient on their own – perfectly complemented by Matthew Kuhl’s assured, propulsive drumming. It’s the perfect combination."
Beats Per Minute

Nov 13, 2021

Cedric Noel • Dove • 2021




I've tried to care about trivial things like love
To care about trivial things like love
To waste away trivial things like love… ooh

Qunmuuyuq • Ascend • 2021




PIQSIQ (pronounced “pilk-silk”), comprised of sisters Tiffany Ayalik and Inuksuk Mackay, makes modern music based on traditional Inuit throat-singing. Their unique art is purely displayed on their latest album Live from Christ Church Cathedral, a haunting collection featuring a completely improvised six-song set. Recorded in October 2020 in an empty Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Vancouver, the setting allowed PIQSIQ’s enchanting melodies and guttural beats to echo through the old, gothic architecture, creating a deep sense of magic, time travel and futurism.

Mike Block • "Sea of Tranquility" • 2021




Discussing “Sea of Tranquility” Block stated, "Contemplating the feeling of approaching and then exploring the moon for the very first time, this track is named after the site where Apollo 11 landed on July 20, 1969. This track was recorded at a fully improvised live performance from a warehouse in Brooklyn, presented for just one listener. The singular audience's influence on the emerging music felt significant in the moment, despite being hard to quantify. My desire as performer was to improvise freely, with only a few seconds of premeditation as the audience member entered the room, so that each of us could discover the music for the first time, together." The solo improvised performance was paired with footage from the groundbreaking 1902 film, 'La Voyage Dans la Luna', by George Méliés

caroline • IWR • 2021



The London-based eight-piece combine elements of classical minimalism, Appalachian folk and even Midwestern emo into songs that feel both spare and sweeping, managing to mesmerize in spite of their rustic, even spartan simplicity. On their latest single, “IWR,” Jasper Llewellyn’s gentle nylon-string guitar is the tiny seed from which a towering tree slowly, surely grows, with almost lullaby-like group vocals urging it on: “Somehow / I was right / all along,” caroline insist as the track expands, guitars, bass and percussion all blossoming. paste

Nov 12, 2021

Cedric Noel • Hang Time • 2021



The album opens in mid-air with ‘Comuu’, a song that implores a becoming-more while hovering triumphantly. Then follows a suite of songs (‘Headspace’, ‘Keep’, ‘Stilling’) that recall the heart-rending power of y2k-era Low, albeit with a more vigorous beat. On ‘Bass Song’, an intimate duet with musician Ella Williams (Squirrel Flower) that explores the depths of interpersonal constriction, Noel sings: “I don’t get to say the truth / When I want to / But I want to”, signalling that the singer is ready, finally, to shed expectations and stand in his truth(s). At the crux of the album sits ‘Born’, a deceptively pleasant-sounding song that explores the confounding emotionality of adoption before fading into a distended soundfield. 


Nov 11, 2021

Jasmyn • "Find The Light" • 2021




Branching out on her own, it’s the first single from her new project Jasmyn, a shuffling, driving banger  that is being released by both Royal Mountain and ANTI- Records. A repetitive synth line is backed by an ever-present tambourine and some really powerful guitars, with Jasmyn’s unique and vibrant vocals sitting front and centre. Coupled with an excellent video featuring a ton of drone shots of multiple Jasmyn’s (what an array of wigs!), it’s such an exciting introduction to her new work and it’d be awesome if you were up for sharing it. I have the video and press release below with a little more information, and as always please let me know if you have any more questions or need anything else from me.

Woolfy • Shooting Stars • 2021


"A lofty track that combines the other worldliness of Alt-J and the pop flair of Glass Animals"
- Glide

"Shimmering new single revolves around an infectious beat as Woolfy’s voice takes the forefront"
- Indie88

“Kings Of Convenience jamming with James Murphy on the beach”
- Turntable Lab 

“That voice is the core of his songs, the mellowest British accent on record, occasionally sped up for urgency, but always freckled with West Coast lassitude”
- Fader 

“Trojan Horse-ing in a great pop number under the guise of a dance track”
 - Pitchfork 

"Flies in the face of almost every prevailing trend in current dance music."
-XLR8R 


Nov 10, 2021

San Fermin & Wild Pink • You Live My Dream • 2021




"Vibey, blissful, and oh-so-dreamy"
FLOOD

"It’s a characteristically lush offering, with hints of San Fermin’s expansive string-backed chamber pop soundscapes set against Jenn Wasner’s ethereal vocals and some warm synth melodies."
Under the Radar

"Lush, with an emphasis on both harmony and rhythm."
Brooklyn Vegan

"San Fermin always has a way with creating songs that take you away to somewhere magical. 'My First Life' accomplishes just that."
The Revue

"The song’s output stays on point until the end and the song stands for itself in the ether."
Closed Captioned

Leif Erikson • Waiting for a Brighter Day • 2021



"Enlivening and purgative...undeniable" Stereogum
"An expansive journey...there isn't a note out of place or a stone unturned." DIY
"Reminiscent of Kurt Vile or War on Drugs...sets their heights high" Clash
"A statement of intent...there's a glimmering, cathartic quality to their songwriting" Line of Best Fit
"Sweeping, bittersweet...both luminous and melancholic" Under The Radar

Tour dates 
Manchester, Yes | 21 November
Leicester, Firebug | 22 November
London, Electrowerkz | 24 November
Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach | 26 November
Southampton, The Joiners | 28 November
Brighton, Hope & Ruin | 29 November
Glasgow, King Tut’s | 1 December
Huddersfield, The Parish | 2 December

Nov 5, 2021

Fall into Winter Playlist • 2021

Barbarisms • Soft Random Lies • 2021



Now that Helen’s been had
An all good woman is expensive 
And no one ever asking me for a drag
Was ever really asking me for a drag
Soft random lies, soft random lies
And smoke — lick the sky
I was living in the third district
We were all drunk we were all pathetic 
We were all well dressed
I was happy as a pig in shit
Saving my last wish for one more wish
I never thought that — I never had the time
So now how do I play in this stranger’s land?
Now that I’m so aware of what my right hand
Has done — oh fuck, the damage was
Um…
Soft random lies, soft random lies
And smoke —
Now who will wrap his rotten arms
Who will wrap his rotten arms around you?
You see every ancient city’s
Got two women outside
And as fate blows the dust
Back into their eyes
They say, ’Stop that —
You were never character 
You were context’
’You were soft random lies,
Soft random lies and smoke’
They say, ’Who will wrap his rotten arms,
Who will wrap his rotten arms 
Around you — tonight?

Nov 3, 2021

Violent Femmes • Me and You • 2021


Me, me and you
That's what I want, that's what I want
You, you and me
That's what I need, that's what I need

Oh, but something, something, something, something
Something, something, something always
Mess me up, man, I'm messing up, I'm messing up
And nothing, nothing gonna keep me from your loving
'Cause I, I love you too too much to tell you something else but...



Violent Femmes have announced a 30th anniversary reissue of their 1991 album Why Do Birds Sing? The deluxe edition arrives October 8 via Craft Recordings. The 2xCD version will feature previously unreleased material, remastered songs, outtakes, alternative takes, new liner notes by songwriter and journalist Jeff Slate, and a complete concert recording from ’91. The original LP will also be remastered and reissued on vinyl. Today, the band has shared a previously unreleased track called “Me and You.” Check it out below.

The deluxe CD reissue of Why Do Birds Sing? includes early versions of songs that wound up on later albums by the band, including a stripped-down version of “Color Me Once,” original takes of “4 Seasons” and “Breaking Up,” an alternate mix of “American Music,” and more. Slate’s new liner notes include interviews with founding members Gordon Gano and Brian Ritchie on the making of the album.

Back in May, Violent Femmes reissued their their greatest hits compilation Add It Up (1981-1993). Find out where the band’s 1983 self-titled debut landed on Pitchfork’s list “The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s.” Pitchfork

alt-J • Get Better • 2021


“Get Better” is the stirring centerpiece of The Dream, and one the band's most emotionally resonant songs to-date. alt-J peel away the dense layers of sound that they are known for, leaving lead singer Joe Newman's vocal next to a plaintive solo guitar and harmonies from bandmate Gus Unger-Hamilton.
 
The single arrives alongside an animated music video, made by Hamburg-based award-winning pixel artist Stefanie Grunwald. Since 2016, Grunwald has quickly gained recognition for her detailed nighttime animations, which caught the eye of Newman and led to the collaboration.
 
Going deeper into the process of creating the track, Newman says, “‘Get Better’ is the union of two songs. The first was an improvised song I sang in 2018 to my partner. To her I sang ‘Get better my Darcy, I know you can’. She filmed it and I kept revisiting the fragment with a plan to write more. The second was a chord structure I worked on in lockdown that focused on someone living through a bereavement. I felt a nervous heat when writing ‘Get Better’. The context of the Coronavirus pandemic lent my words a chilling weight and gave me a new sense of responsibility as a lyricist. Whilst the direct events described are fictional, I believe - or I hope - that it's emotionally the most honest song I've written.”




HANDWRITTEN LYRIC INSCRIBED GUITAR FOR CHARITY CONTEST
WITH ALL PROCEEDS GOING TO PLAN INTERNATIONAL

alt-J 2022 North American Tour With Portugal. The Man
with special guest Sir Chloe 2/25-3/20
with special guest Cherry Glazerr 3/23-4/17
 
February 25, 2022 – Pittsburgh PA - Petersen Events Center
February 26, 2022 - Washington DC - The Anthem
March 1, 2022 - Nashville TN - Nashville Municipal Auditorium
March 2, 2022 - Atlanta GA - State Farm Arena
 March 4, 2022 - Tampa FL - Yuengling Center
March 5, 2022 - Hollywood FL - Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood
March 6, 2022 - Orlando FL - Orlando Amphitheater
March 9, 2022 - Dallas TX - The Factory in Deep Ellum
March 12, 2022 - Austin TX - Germania Insurance Amphitheater
March 13, 2022 - Houston TX - White Oak Music Hall
March 15, 2022 - St Louis MO - Chaifetz Arena
March 16, 2022 - Detroit MI - Masonic Temple Detroit
March 19, 2022 - Chicago IL - Credit Union 1 Arena
March 20, 2022 - Minneapolis MN - The Armory
March 23, 2022 - Denver CO - 1STBANK Center
March 25, 2022 - San Diego CA - Pechanga Arena San Diego
March 26, 2022 - Santa Barbara CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
March 27, 2022 - Los Angeles CA - STAPLES Center
March 29, 2022 - Seattle WA - WAMU Theatre
March 30, 2022 – Vancouver BC - Pacific Coliseum
April 1, 2022 - San Francisco CA - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
April 3, 2022 - Las Vegas NV - The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
April 5, 2022 - Salt Lake City UT - UCCU Center
April 7, 2022 - Kansas City MO - Cable Dahmer Arena
April 8, 2022 - Cincinnati OH - PromoWest Pavillion at Ovation
April 9, 2022 - Columbus OH - Schottenstein Center
April 11, 2022 - New York NY - Madison Square Garden
April 13, 2022 - Philadelphia PA - TD Pavilion at the Mann
April 14, 2022 - Boston MA - Agganis Arena
April 15, 2022 - Montreal QC - Place Bell
Apri 17, 2022 - Toronto ON - Coca-Cola Coliseum

Ultraviolet Communication • Moon Man • 2021


"The trio showcases their proficiency for well balanced and thought out instrumentals, infectious pop melodies and just the right amount of 60’s acid-inspired rock elements." - Psychedelic Baby Magazine 


The trio is releasing their debut album on December 3rd called Paper Tiger, blending warm and expressive vocals that float through sonic elements of psych, garage, prog, and indie-rock. The band points to Rush, The Doors, and The Black Keys as equally influential, pairing retro with modern alternative to create an eclectic sound all their own.