ALLMAN BROWN – Finding Strength
Singer-songwriter – ALLMAN BROWN – has announced details of a new EP, ‘Second Son Part I’ (out 1 December 2023 via Nettwerk), and shared latest single “Bad Blood”.
A captivating and candid new offering, “Bad Blood” finds Allman Brown deftly juggling self-reflection with driving alt-pop rhythms, infectious synth riffs and organic vocal harmonies to capture the burden of the past and the steps we take to face it.
Bad Blood” also arrives alongside the new announcement of Allman Brown’s new EP ‘Second Son Part I’, which will arrive on 1 December 2023 via Nettwerk. The third track to be plucked from the new release, it follows “Breathe In, Breathe Out” and “Bewildered” and will be accompanied by two brand new songs inc. the infectious, folk-flecked “Your Nature” and closing-scene ballad “Call Me On”.
Keen to evolve away from the “singer-songwriter” label, ‘Second Son Part I’ also sees Allman experimenting with sound as he takes steps away from his usual acoustic guitar driven approach. Seeking to “bend and meld the singer-songwriter vibe with more pop elements”, each track sees the artist deftly upgrade his sonic approach with the addition of synths, live bass, electronic pianos, electronic percussion and live drums.
torpedo – Gripping The Gut
Swiss noise-rock/indus/post-punk/psych trio torpedo unveiled new single “HOPE | DREAM”.
Swiss fascinating noise-rock/post-punk/psych trio torpedo have collaborated again with the San Francisco-based label for a brand new single called “HOPE | DREAM”.
This brand new song is featured right now on the first ever digital compilation by Broken Clover Records called ‘BCR Clippings #1’ available right now for FREE STREAMING on Bandcamp.
Pfammatter on drums, the duo escaped from their urban and oppressive environment, to hide in a small house on the Irish west coast. It was there, facing the Atlantic Ocean, to the sounds of the crashing waves and the wind whistling through the windows of a house haunted by – undoubtedly – tortured spirits, that torpedo recorded their first album ‘Sphynx’. Self-produced, it was released in April 2019. We hear echoes of Sonic Youth, Siouxsie & the Banshees and hintsof grunge.
Midview – A Hard Hitting Debut
Pop Punk Band Midview Release Debut Single Featuring Harsh Vocals.
Ohio-based pop punk band Midview released their debut single “Radiant” featuring harsh vocals from their friend Brandon Sorrell of Rose Crest on October 20th 2023.
The band was formed from the remaining members of Overbite and Raised By Wolves and is for fans of Four Year Strong, The Story So Far, and Belmont.
The lyrics of “Radiant” convey a sense of betrayal and the desire for confrontation. I reflected on a broken friendship, where trust was shattered, and I ultimately took a stand to face the consequences of their actions.” – vocalist of Midview
Formed from the remaining members of Overbite and Raised By Wolves, midwestern band Midview blends pop punk with heavier elements and hints of emo lyricism. Their infectious hooks, driving rhythms, and relatable lyrics, will resonate with fans of Four Year Strong, The Story So Far, and Belmont.
Drawing inspiration from a wide range of artists, their music strikes a balance between melodic pop punk, intricate arrangements, ethereal textures, and hard-hitting heaviness.
With an album on the way, Midview has released their debut single “Radiant” featuring Brandon Sorrell of Rose Crest.
RICHARD WALTERS – Pure Positivity
RICHARD WALTERS EMBRACES THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE IN “LONG WAY DOWN”.
THE LATEST TRACK TO EMERGE FROM UPCOMING SOLO ALBUM: ‘MURMURATE’ RELEASED 17 NOVEMBER, VIA NETTWERK.
“Yeah it’s a long way down but don’t forget how far we’ve come” he coos, his soothing falsetto offering an air of chipper confidence in a song that’s all about facing up to your fears and embracing your achievements; whether it’s those small steps or giant leaps.
Marrying folk-pop arrangements laced with skipping percussion and fluttering finger-picked guitars, the British singer-songwriter presents an uplifting new addition to his songbook, written with an intentionally glass half-full outlook. As Richard explains of “Long Way Down”:
“It’s an attempt by a sad songwriter to pen something uplifting! I think post lockdown I was more appreciative of the ground I’ve covered in life and happy to acknowledge my successes and joys. It’s easy to forget or even ignore the past and progress.”
A song of pure positivity, “Long Way Down” arrives as Walters looks forward to the release of his first official solo album since 2020 – ‘Murmurate’, which will arrive on 17 November (via Nettwerk). The album will feature recent teaser tracks including “After Midnight”, “Anchor”, “Move On”, and “Lost In Your Light” (feat. the Kin Records signed artist Lydia Oliver).
Written in 2022 as the world recalibrated to the tides of change, the upcoming album ‘Murmurate’ will find an artist reflecting on that very human need for real-world relationships and the importance of meaningful connections with those closest to us. Combining unassumingly complex arrangements and openly heart-on-sleeve songs, it promises a trove of nocturnal piano ballads (“All Over”), to sprightly folk/pop poetry (“Long Way Down”), darkly lilting lullabies (“Open Everything”) to longing, love-lorn duets (“Locked Up Never Fade”). All tracks were performed and written by Richard Walters, with recording, production, and mixing assistance by Eliot James.
Currently on a tour across Europe with The Boxer Rebellion, fans will also be able to catch Richard Walters airing material from ‘Murmurate’ at a series of UK headline dates this November. Dates are as follows:
RICHARD WALTERS – LIVE DATES 2023
24 Nov – BRISTOL, The Louisiana
25 Nov – OXFORD, Jericho Tavern
29 Nov – MANCHESTER, The Castle Hotel
30 Nov – LONDON, The Grace
DARKO – A High Octane Wake Up Call
DARKO, release a live session video from Signal House Studios.
In May 2023, DARKO (UK) tripped to Signal House Studios, Hatfield to record a live session with Tim Kramer; The result was two brand new tracks, and one re-imagined from the 2017 album, ‘Bonsai Mammoth.’
“The guys had just finished working on some new material and they were keen to try it out live in the studio. DARKO and I go way back from when I was playing in Drones and it was revitalising to hear them bring so much fresh energy to the table. I was stoked to hear the new songs, and you all should be too.” says producer Tim Kramer.
“We had heard Tim’s top work on the Drones and Midwich Cuckoosrecords and knew he would knock this out of the park, however, it was then down to us to get a solid performance of the tracks. Whilst we wanted to focus on new material, we thought it would be nice to include a track from our back catalogue that we had been performing in our live set and ‘Life Forms’ seemed like a great choice. It was good to be given the challenge and the payoff of a great recording we can share with our friends.“ says guitarist Rob Piper.
‘Life Forms (Live at Signal House Studios)’ is streaming now on YouTube and listeners can expect more tracks from this session coming late 2023 showcasing brand new material, following the band’s 2022 EP SPARKLE.
Darko are:
Tom West Vocals
Rob Piper Guitar / Backing Vocals
Chris Brown Guitar / Backing Vocals
Karl Sursham Bass / Backing Vocals
Andy Borg Drums
Sabyna – An Intoxicating New Artist
British indie-pop artist Sabyna is showcasing her incredible vocal tone with her latest cover release: Wings.
Originally performed by Birdy, Sabyna puts her own spin on the track delivering a haunting vocal that breathes new life into the production.
The new offering follows on from her versions of ‘Let It Go‘, The Night We Met‘, ‘Let It All Go‘, and’ I Know A Woman‘, A collaborative single featuring 19 female vocalists released by the global collective I KNOW A WOMAN.
Those releases have seen Sabyna’s industry buzz grow along with her streaming numbers, with her reaching 4M+ organic streams and more than 1M followers on TikTok alone.
Her version of ‘Wings’ further gives her fans a feel for her artistic style and for more music to consume, ahead of her original music arriving in 2024. The single is also accompanied by a stunning visualiser that showcases the artist prowess Sabyna possesses.
YOVA – A Beguiling Soundscape
The first in a series of three unique interpretations of the same song, “Dreamcatchers” is also the title-track of YOVA’s awaited second album (set for release in early 2024).
A disparate and dream-like track that conjures a whirlwind of warped and windswept imagery, it sees Jova Radevska’s beguiling vocals intertwining amongst shape-shifting instrumentation that builds with a mounting intensity.
With a pared-back and sparse opening that spirals toward a haunting choral finale, the band say “Dreamcatchers” is “intended to be a part immersive, timeless pop anthem and part mini-requiem for a modern world where societal pressures erode our imagination and catch our dreams.”
Focused simply around a revolving (and evolving) chord pattern written on an acoustic guitar, Mark Vernon explains:
“In-keeping with the title, “Dreamcatchers” exists in its own curious orbit and arrived unexpectedly as any dream does: so completely out of the ether.”
An ode to the internal battle that often accompanies the fear of straying away from your dreams, Jova adds:
“Life is such that there are always reasons to stop following one’s dreams. There are hundreds of reasons to veer off one’s path, and someone will always be waiting to catch you in their net and give you their purpose. Sometimes the internal battle can be very loud and long, hence the inner voice calling to “make up your mind”.
The track also sees YOVA accompanied by an array of collaborators who each add their own unique twist to “Dreamcatchers”’s beguiling soundscape. With a focus on the unorthodox use of analogue instrumentation, the new track principally features award-winning Dutch/Australian composer Kate Moore on cello. Using the distinctive ‘sulpont’ technique, Kate’s cello work creates an unpredictable range of otherworldly harmonics.
Fusing together a brooding and seductive sonic atmosphere, YOVA are also joined by Alex Thomas (John Cale/Anna Calvi) who plays primitive, tribal-like percussion on mallets, Daniel O’Sullivan (Sunn O))) / Grumbling Fur)who offers mysterious and medieval-sounding zither phrases and James Sedwards (Thurston Moore) on electric guitar.
YOVA – NEW SINGLE: “DREAMCATCHERS”
YOVA – LIVE DATES
25 Oct – LONDON, The Troubadour – TICKETS
YOVA are Jova Radevska and Mark Vernon. With Vernon a seasoned veteran of the alternative music scene who has managed and recorded with John Cale and co-produced tracks on PJ Harvey’s debut album ‘Dry’, a chance encounter with Macedonian vocalist and songwriter Jova paved the way for their bewitching collaborative project.
Their debut album ‘Nine Lives’ was released in late 2021 to praise from the likes of Louder Than War, Electronic Sound and MOJO, with the latter hailing the album as “a beguiling debut from a duo of sonic adventurers” in their four star review.
The band’s video for previous single “An Innocent Man” also scooped the Best Animation Music Video at the New York Animation Awards 2022.
With new single “Dreamcatchers” arriving as the first sampler from the band’s forthcoming album of the same name, expect more news from YOVA coming soon..
Tian Qiyi – Pushing The Boundaries
Tian Qiyi have released the video for title-track of their debut album Red Mist which is out now via Pagoda Arts.
Mesmerising as the music itself, the video perfectly captures Tian Qiyi’s eclectic mix of electric jazz, hip-hop, contemporary sounds and traditional Chinese instrumentation with psychedelic undertones.
John Tian Qi Wardle says, “I’m absolutely over the moon about the music video Jon Klein and me and my brother shot at Wimbledon Library in London. The end result is beyond our wildest expectations, and we’re both ecstatic with how our collaboration brought our vision to life in such a unique and special location. It’s been an incredibly rewarding journey, and we’re excited to have shared it with the world.”
Charlie Tian Yi Wardle adds, “It was great working with Jon Klein, he’s very experienced and everything went smoothly, and considering the location, Jon really thought about the great spots within the library for interesting shots, we think the video came out great, and really managed to capture what our music stands for.
About the song itself, Charlie says, “Lyrically it was inspired by films like apocalypse now and come and see. We’d composed the song already; the atmosphere of the music gave me the same emotion as those films did, so it felt organic.
“I didn’t want to write a single, structured storyline in the lyrics, or create a motif/theme of sorts with the vocal melody. We try to treat vocals as an instrument in our music as opposed to its presence being the core of the song like a lot of music nowadays.”
Following an incredible performance at the Lancaster Music Festival at the weekend, Tian Qiyi have more live shows planned in November supporting Jah Wobble on his UK tour with more to come.
LIVE IN NOVEMBER
4th – The Forge (Camden, London)
23rd – Blues Kitchen (Manchester)
Comprising of brothers John Tian Qi Wardle and Charlie Tian Yi Wardle, Red Mist sees the pair explore a myriad of sound through their innovative and unique blend of traditional Chinese music with contemporary sounds. “Me and my brother focus on music made in the moment. We like to keep it spontaneous.” says Charlie.
The album also features their father, Jah Wobble, a prominent bass player who has collaborated with various musicians such as Brian Eno, Bill Laswell and Bjork. Discussing Tian Qiyi and the new album Wobble says, “As my career inexorably comes to its close, my sons are taking the mantle.”
Born and raised in England, John and Charlie were exposed to a diverse range of musical styles and traditions from a young age. Their mother, Zilan Liao, is a skilled and globally respected guzheng player from Guangzhou China, who has performed at various events and concerts across the world and has influenced their musical style immensely and led to the formation Tian Qiyi and share their innovative musical style with the world.
Red Mist also features the captivating track ‘Incantation’, which fuses electric Jazz with traditional Chinese instrumentation. You can watch the video here. You can also see a short performance of ‘Incantation’ on the band’s Tik Tok page, which has had a huge response with over 938,500 views.
Watch the clip here
Red Mist showcases their creative approach to music-making and ability to seamlessly blend genre and sound through a range of tracks that are both energetic and danceable and haunting and reflective, demonstrating their versatility as musicians.
The new album also serves a testament to their talent and hard work and their commitment to preserving the essence of traditional Chinese music while infusing it with modern, contemporary and experimental sounds that push boundaries and make it exciting.
HUMM – A Deadly Combination
Bath-based contemporary folk duo Humm are pleased to announce the release of their upcoming single ‘Danced Alone (who I am when I’m in love)’, due for release October 20th 2023.
Since 2018, Humm have been captivating audiences with their deadly combination of melodic finger-style guitar, lush, ethereal vocals and rich harmonium drones, creating genre-defining tracks that are mellifluous yet anthemic, capturing nature, folklore and Cornish fairytale in every song.
They were recently chosen from hundreds as one of four acts to visit, write and perform at Sir Paul & Mike McCartney’s childhood home, 20 Forthlin Road in Liverpool as part of The Forthlin Sessions.
The duo are inspired by a plethora of artists from Richard Thompson and Joni Mitchell to Eels, Radiohead and XTC, which has helped them to untie traditional and contemporary styles, carving out their own signature sound. The importance and presence of nature is at the heart of Humm’s music, with conversational melodies and wistful instrumentation bringing their earnest lyrics to life.
Following up on their recent single Mother Nature’s Lost Love, their upcoming single Danced Alone (who I am when I’m in love), produced, mixed and mastered with Josh Clark at Get Real Audio, blends gorgeous harmonies, delicate, driving guitar lines and poignant lyrics to explore self love, reflection and appreciation for the hard lessons you learn after a complicated relationship.
“It is a love letter to the newly lonely, exploring the difficulties of losing yourself within a relationship and finding yourself in the aftermath. This song is a reminder for you to love and appreciate yourself and the beautiful world around you”, the band state.
Website: https://hummtheband.wixsite.com/hummtheband
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HummTheBand/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hummtheband/