OYSTER KIDS • 'Give In' • 2019

Walter Gavitt Ferguson • The Legendary Tape Recordings Vol​.​2 • 2019

„100-year-old Walter Gavitt Ferguson from Costa Rica is a living legend, a Calypsonian of mythical proportions. Rooted like an old tree on the caribbean shore, he has never left his home town to look for fame, instead fame came looking for him. Throughout eight decades his musical gifts have attracted people from near and far, contesting Calypsonians, travellers, musicologists, musicians, pilgrims and the president of the Republic. They once even moved a recording studio to his house, as he refused to go to the city. 

Mipso • People Change • 2019

People Change once again showcases Mipso’s undeniable ability to write beautifully poignant indie-Americana with otherworldly instrumental flourishes throughout. The video is equally stunning, with the art and animation created by Jake McBride. Talking about the single, frontman Jacob Sharp elaborates, “a lot of what I write is centred around articulating loss. My mother died when I was young and I've had a normal amount of romantic relationships end… People Change is a different angle on loss, that of a friendship fading away. In some ways it's a lot more difficult to process, because the loss feels more within your control - the situation less futile - but the impact of the absence is pretty much the same.”

tindersticks • 'The Amputees' • 2019

bdrmm • Shame • 2019

bdrmm combine a flair for weaving together dreamy sonic textures and introverted small-town sketches, channelling hazy adolescent disconnection into a washy synthesis of Beach House, jangly slackers DIIV and otherworldly shoegazers Slowdive. They’ve found a kindred spirit in cult shoegaze label Sonic Cathedral (Spectres, Lorelle Meets The Obsolete, Echo Ladies), to whom the Hull based quintet have signed.

The Cordial Sins • "Cruel" • 2019

https://diversion-records.com/artist-cs.html

Atwood - "Returning with an unquenchable fire, leaning into a heavier rock sound defined by overdriven, grungy guitars, unforgiving lyrics, and a magnetic, riot grrrl punk attitude. It’s got the kind of resolute spirit we can’t help but embrace." 

With Guitars - "Delectable meld of alternative, shoegaze and pop”

Born Online - "Bouncy guitar driven pop with rippling synths, emotive undercurrents, bombastic drums, and whirring guitars"

Ghettoblaster - "Grittily fizzing meld of raspy indie rock, melty shoegaze and combatively raw emotion”

The Autumn Roses - "Lush with a serene sense of possibility... leafy and emerald-toned ”

Milky Chance • The Game • 2019

Milky Chance have won our hearts yet again with The Game, a bittersweet slice of folk pop for anyone who feels like life moves too fast.

Dying Adolescence • please be kind • 2019

"please be kind" is the final of all that is adolescence. It's the final summary of everything that Michael Barker has been obsessed, influenced and affected by during his adolescent years. This may not be the end but it's a time of change.

Pallas Athene • The Wall • 2019

Website

I wrote my new song, “The Wall,” from my perspective as an observer in the virtual world. I notice myself and others just not as present in-person, overwhelmed by the critical state of the world and the constant information overload from our newsfeeds, ads and notifications. This track represents the restriction, loneliness, and disempowerment that I feel in being a part of the virtual world and also represents my fear of isolation and obsolescence in leaving it behind.

The song is from my upcoming self titled EP. I wrote, produced, performed and mixed all of these songs by myself, with the exception of “Communion” which was a virtual collaboration with Dollarstore Keyboard. In the past I had to rely on others to help me actualize my vision, but that didn’t always feel good, and I needed to know if I was capable of doing something of value, on my own. I feel like I have a deeper connection to these songs as I’ve been involved in their creation, every step of the way.

The Naked Sun • Secret We Both Know • 2019

WEBSITE

“...a shuffling roots-rock boogie tightly punctuated by hummable saxophone lines, snappy rhythms, and energetic delivery.”  John Vettese, WXPN’s The Key

"The Naked Sun’s infectious honest rock is on full display on debut album ‘War with Shadows’, a record of raw self-awareness, hope, heart, and possibility.” - Atwood Magazine

“With a sound as catchy and clean as the Naked Sun's, it wouldn't be surprising to see these up-and-comers in the roots-rock industry one day climb their way to the top.” -PopMatters

Leanne Tennant • Bring It All Back • 2019

"Compelling, surreal, cinematic scenes set in familiar suburban landscapes… (...) Bring It All Back is a display of astute, mature pop music, delivered with grace and emotion."

CLASH Magazine

“With all of its elements working together towards a single theme, Tennant’s release is looking to be stunningly cohesive, not to mention a killer, head-bobbing work of contemporary indie-blues”

Atwood Magazine

"Right from the haunting acapella intro, Leanne Tennant's commandingly haunting vocals latch on. ‘Gentle Annie’ — the first track lifted from her forthcoming second album, Red Wine, Late Nights — teasingly edges towards complete collapse or euphoric explosion (dependent on your own perspective), as Tennant slowly succumbs to the soulful darkness of her late-night world."

Rolling Stone

"Leanne impressed us all here in the BBC - Merseyside studio with her last track ‘Bearing the Crown’, and she's done it again with this wonderful new single ‘Cherry Cola’". 

Dave Monks, BBC Music Introducing in Merseyside

"That simple guitar picking at the start draws you straight in.  The atmosphere Tennant has created through the song - with the stomping rhythm and the layers of voices - brings out such an ominous mood" - 

Richard Kingsmill, Triple J Radio, Australia

LUCABLUEFIRE • Signs • 2019

In this new single guitars are back at the centre of attention. 

It shows once again Luca's introspective and melodic side. 

Inspired by bands such as This Will Destroy You, Hammock, Mogwai and instrumental/post rock in general, "SIGNS" is released through Long Gone Days Records

Alexandra Savior • Saving Grace • 2019

"Portland's mystery girl (VICE)" may no longer be a kept secret, but Alexandra Savior can never be fully figured out. With her latest single "Saving Grace," she also releases a cinematic noir film directed by Joseph Bird (Blonde Redhead) — complete with a motorcycle ride through the desert and Savior's signature stare piercing the lens outside a drive-thru chapel — to accompany the already sweeping track. Savior painted the single artwork herself, and it showcases that see-right-through-you Mona Lisa smile that we see in the video.

The Academic • Aftertaste • 2019

"Soaring chorus, crisp verse, and sheer triumphant energy." - CLASH

"Catchy anthemic tracks shimmer with the relatability and charm of teenage youth." - Wonderland

"Up-tempo, heartfelt, and catchy as hell." - Independent 
"Shows an anthemic wisdom well beyond their years." - UPROXX

"Punchy, swaying alternative rock-flavored." - Popmatters

"Echoing vocals, thrumming-bass verses, and infectious rock." - Popdust

Neal Francis • Changes • 2019

“The reincarnation of Allen Toussaint.” Craig Charles, BBC RADIO 6

“Think New Orleans meets the Midwest with a little bit of California sun shining in the background.” - TWIN CITIES MEDIA

“There’s a good chance you’ll have heard of Francis by the time the year is over…classic Funk, Soul and R&B.” - CINCINNATI CITYBEAT

“… gleefully mired In '70s style funk.” - Jon Norton, WGLT | NPR

“Soulful style…uplifting vibe…” - DUSTY GROOVE

“If Happy Days ever got a reboot, Neal Francis’ single ’These Are The Days’ would be the new theme song.” - Erin Bromhead, MONSTER CHILDREN

“Instant Americana-funk classic…R&B, blues and touches of gospel and good old fashioned funk merge into pure beauty and soul here, making the appetite and excitement for whatever Francis does next all the more intense.” - RECORD CRATES UNITED

FELIN • LaLaLa • 2019

Talking about her new single, FELIN tells us “LaLaLa is about being mistreated and hurt by someone and while you’re destroyed, they just go on with their life as if nothing has happened. That can make anyone go a little psycho, right? And even if you would never act on it, the villain in you secretly wishes for karma to bite back when they least expect it. The lyrics on the upcoming album are all pretty twisted, but in a playful way. Movies are a big inspiration of mine, so I wanted to create my own movie in the form of an album with a story about a dark and wild romance that ends in chaos”.

Daniel Johnston • 1961 - 2019

A lot has been said about the “childlike” aspects of Johnston’s music and personality, and it’s true his voice has a certain untouched-by-age cast to it — that, and his career feels like what would happen if the funny kid in your freshman high school class who made goofy little tape deck songs and could draw a pretty damn good Jack Kirby Captain America just … never stopped being that, and then he found a scene that dug him for it. SG

True love will find you in the end
You'll find out just who was your friend
Don't be sad, I know you will
But don't give up until
True love will find you in the end
This is a promise with a catch
Only if you're looking can it find you
'Cause true love is searching too
But how can it recognize you
If you don't step out into the light, the light
Don't be sad I know you will
Don't give up until
True love will find you in the end

An all-star band of musicians join cult favorite Daniel Johnston for a live session in our studio. Ben Lee is the bandleader and is joined by Mike Watt, Maria Taylor, Joey Waronker, Guy Blakeslee and members of the Silver Lake Chorus to play a handful of Johnston's songs.

Friendship • Clairvoyant • 2019

Orindal Records

"Friendship are a Philly-based band centered around Dan Wriggins’ narrative pull. His stories tend to be long-winded but confined to small moments, and the rest of the band — currently made up of Peter Gill, Mike Cormier, Evangeline Krajewski, and Jon Samuels — play into this in an unobtrusive but all-encompassing way." 

Stereogum

shy kids • Backward in Love • 2019

shy kids (no caps, no the) is a creative collective from Toronto that make film and music. most famous for their short film NOAH, which won TIFF in 2013 and issued in the trend known as desktop filmmaking. since then the band has worked on projects for Alvvays, Shania Twain, VICE, Netflix, Quibi, and many others in development; incase being directors didn’t pan out their fallback plan is to be rockstars.

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy • "At The Back of the Pit" • 2019

I Made a Place is Bonny’s first LP of original songs officially released on Drag City since his 2011 record Wolfroy Goes to Town. Since, he’s self-released a 2013 self-titled album, reworkings of older material, a collaborative record with Bitchin Bajas, a double-album tribute to Merle Haggard, and most recently, a collaborative LP with the National’s Bryce Dessner and Eighth Blackbird. Last year, using his name Will Oldham, he released an album called Songs of Love and Horror. pitch