Chicago's PUSH PUPPETS present ‘Similar’, definitive preview of their fourth album

April 16, 2025

Chicago-based indie pop-rock outfit Push Puppets presents their new single ’Similar’, the third single from their fourth long-play album 'Tethered Together', out May 16 via Flowering Tree Music and produced by Doug McBride (Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt, Silversun Pickups, Cheap Trick). A favorite at the band’s live shows, this recording captures that energy with a little elegance on top.

The release of ‘Similar’ is accompanied by a vibrant new video, produced by Scott Thiele and Sebastian Gonzales with editing and animation by Metamorse Studio, which features eye-popping animations of DNA, brain synapses, x-rays, fireworks and other imagery that support the lyrics.

Push Puppets is the creative outlet for singer-songwriter and guitarist Erich Specht. The five-piece creates songs with earworm melodies and shiny production that belie often bittersweet sentiments. Specht (lead vocals, guitar) is joined by a core of Steve Frisbie(backup vocals, guitar), Kyle Magnusson (keyboards), John William Lauler (bass) and Greg Essig (drums). They earlier released the lead tracks 'All Together On 3' and 'This Whole Endeavor'.

On this song, they are joined by a string quartet, comprised of Stephanie “Sly” Youngon violin, Katherine Andrick on viola, Molly Rife on cello and Kelly Jozwiak on violin (note: Janis Sakai performs in the audio recording).

On ‘Similar’, Push Puppets come out swinging like arena rockers with a wall of backup harmonies and strings, as Erich sings about the commonalities among us in driving, anthemic style. With The Who’s influence apparent during the violin solo over an intricate synth sequence, this song ends with a head-bobbing hook with handclaps, driving home the title.

The 'Tethered Together' album is graced with impeccable songwriting that shines with lush harmonies, angular guitars, dramatic keyboards and strings backed by a rhythm section that smokes. Erich Specht muses on relationships and loss, as well as the weight and joy of life, in a manner that is poetic and seems effortless, his lyrics fitting to the melody like pieces of a puzzle. Wearing his vulnerabilities like a badge of honor, this music takes us on a journey to unexpected places.

As of April 16, 'Similar' is available from fine digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The 'Tethered Together' album, now available for pre-order, will be released digitally and on CD on May 16. Push Puppets will hold their album release show at Robert's Westside in Forest Park, IL on May 30.

SINGLE CREDITS
Lyrics & music by Erich Specht (ASCAP)
Produced by Doug McBride and Erich Specht
Mixed & mastered by Doug McBride at Gravity Studios
Recorded in Chicago at Gravity Studios and Erich Specht's home studio
Erich Specht – lead vocals, guitars, string arrangements
Steve Frisbie – backup vocals, guitar
Kyle Magnusson – keyboards
John William Lauler – bass
Greg Essig - drums
Stephanie “Sly” Young – violin
Janis Sakai – violin
Katherine Andrick – viola
Molly Rife – cello
Cover artwork by Crow Prints
Released & published by Flowering Tree Music (ASCAP)
Video produced by Scott Thiele and Sebastian Gonzales
with editing and animation by Metamorse Studio
Artist studio photos by Gintas Zaranka
Artist live photos by Gabi Bucataru
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

New Jersey artist Greg Amici presents 'I’ll Be Back' single, first offering from 'Tragicomic' album

April 15, 2025

New Jersey-based artist Greg Amici presents his haunting yet driven new single 'I'll Be Back', previewing his forthcoming 'Tragicomic' album, a storied set of 12 songs that blends absurdist-rock, ska, Americana, folk-punk and straight-up classic rock, with a clear-eyed view of the world through Amici’s unique lens. Greg's lyrics often offer an unexpected turn of phrase, delivered with full-throated rock power.

With roots firmly planted in Jersey, his creative journey has taken him from the heart of Manhattan to Los Angeles and back again. In the late '90s, Greg formed Big Honey, a NYC-based band whose rise peaked with an appearance at the CMJ Music Festival but paused indefinitely when a vocal polyp sidelined Greg for years. Despite this setback, he didn't let his distinctive voice and songwriting abilities go to waste, returning to the studio after a 16-year hiatus.

Reuniting with producer James Mastro (The Bongos, Mott the Hoople, Ian Hunter) and engineer / drummer Ray Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Elk City, Gramercy Arms, Luna) at Magic Door Studio in Montclair, the resultant 'Tragicomic' album was mastered by award-winning engineer Greg Calbi (John Lennon, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Talking Heads, Patti Smith, Tom Petty).

The creative process also involved former Amici bandmates Joe Gentile (Big Honey)and Tommy Aboussleman (Electric TNT), along with special guests Tony Shanahan (Patti Smith Band) and Renee LoBue (Elk City) contributing to the recording. Whether it’s a "serial killer romance" or a biting satire, Greg Amici proves that a Jersey count knows how to count on rock ‘n’ roll.

Greg Amici shares, "About 'I’ll Be Back', yeah, there have been a lot of songs with the same title and, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger made the words famous, but my work here is uniquely unique. Really, I was pissed off because the girl I was in love with started having sex with a guy I thought was my friend. So, not wanting to expose myself, I pretended that I was Ulysses returning to my home to annihilate all of Penelope’s suitors. A song was born. It was quite cathartic and probably kept me out of jail."

Calling himself a "count in name only", tracing his aristocratic lineage through Italian family names such as Benedetti, Stalute and Scala, Greg found his calling as a musician in high school, inspired by local bands. Picking up the guitar in his late teens, he founded his first band, The Clergy, and later teamed up with a musical partner to form the '80s alt-rock band Junk.

As of April 15, 'I'll Be Back is available from fine online music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The full 'Tragicomic' album will be released on June 13 via Magic Door Records. Amici will be supporting this album with a series of live performances, to be announced soon.

Dream-rock duo THE YETS 'Pinup Girl' debut album is out Now.

January 8, 2025

South Carolina alternative rock duo The Yets presents 'Enemy', the final single released ahead of their debut album 'Pinup Girl', out on February 7. Revolving around internal conflict, self-destruction, and the battle against one’s own darker impulses, 'Enemy' wrestles with the destructive forces that lie within.

The Yets features the creative synergy of guitarist-producer Craig Anderson Snookand vocalist Robin Wilson, both based in Myrtle Beach.

"Realizing your greatest adversary is yourself presents something we all confront at some point. The idea of being one’s “own worst enemy” is central; entrapment in a vicious cycle of self-sabotage and isolation," says Robin Wilson.

"Lyrically exploring the intoxicating allure of solitude, dancing alone symbolizes both freedom and self-deception. Meanwhile, lurking in the background is the ever-present enemy within waiting to resurface, stronger perhaps than ever before. Plagued by internal warfare forged of past fears and tendencies, corrosive thoughts haunt us even as we attempt to break free from our former selves, now feeling distant and ghost-like."

Despite the dark tone, there’s a sense of clarity emerging from the struggle. Acknowledging what once haunted them no longer wields such power, a new spirit signifying growth and self-awareness evolves. The darkness remains, but is now understood rather than feared in the struggle for self-liberation.

The song flirts with the paradox of freedom and destruction, where overcoming internal demons becomes the path towards self-realization. Themes of identity, inner strength, and transformation are woven throughout, with the final message being one of confronting, accepting, and ultimately moving beyond the internal chaos to a place we are no longer the “Enemy”.

As of January 8, 'Enemy' will be available from fine online music stores and streamable via Spotify. The full album, out February 7, can be obtained digitally or on CD directly via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written and performed by Craig Anderson Snook & Robin Wilson
© 2024 Craig Anderson Snook/Robin Wilson Snook (BMI)
Robin Wilson - vocals, other instruments
Craig Anderson Snook - guitars, other instruments
Recorded, mixed and produced by Craig Anderson Snook at 3’s in Myrtle Beach, SC
Mastered by Jay Matheson
Videos created and produced by The Yets
Album and website art by Robin Wilson
Website design by The Yets
Band photos by Gordon & Jill Backman
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

True-grit American songwriter JC Miller presents classic-on-arrival single 'Blackberry Canes'

September 23, 2024

"It isn’t just Americana; his songs feel like small vignettes in the everyday lives of ordinary people scraping a hard-fought living" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Miller takes us on a heartfelt journey. This veteran American storyteller's work is rooted in the rich soil of country music, the songs grapple with the heart of this nation. Infectious melodies and down-home grit weave an unforgettable tapestry, showcasing a true master of the craft" ~ Complete Country

"With talent and authenticity,.there's a realness to JC Miller's songwriting, focused on everyday struggles and the invisible and indivisible connection between past and present" ~ Rock-n-Roll.Biz

"Candid and catchy, this riveting and memorable music takes us to another time and place... frank lyrics, infectious melody, and pure Southern rock grit... impressive musical talent... the elements that allowed such artists as Wilco and Ryan Adams to transcend legendary status" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

American singer-songwriter JC Miller presents his new single 'Blackberry Canes', released via Tilt Records. Once again, this true-grit storyteller engages us in a captivating journey that blends time and nature within the American landscape.

From the opening dobro lick leading into a catchy baritone guitar entrance and the soulful Telecaster twang that follows, you know you are in JC Miller country. Classic on arrival you will be singing along with this infectious tune. In true JC fashion, this song's outro is a celebratory groove with all the twirling southern fried rock guitar mojo we have come to expect from JC Miller.

"The song 'Blackberry Canes' came about from thinking about the rambling, ramshackle path of growth sometimes. It’s not always a pretty pattern but it gets the job done, always reaching and somehow surviving… Blackberry trunks go sideways and every which way and travel a roundabout trail, never a straight line. It is a small passing thought really but it serves to remind us that you have to keep moving forward no matter what into the unknown just to grab the next beam of light," says JC Miller.

"Like the lyric says, I feel ”Suspended in our time, Somewhere in between, Untold tomorrows and Countless yesterdays…” We are stuck between the past and the future, and that giant size idea can be expressed with the smallest details found in wild nature, or right in your front yard. I also think, like it says in the song, “It’s a punishment and crime how we’re slaves to the machine…” I am a throwback to the 20th Century analog era and old school all the way. I’m a throwback luddite type of guy".

JC Miller's music takes form through the music alchemy enjoyed with celebrated musician-producer Marty Rifkin, who is known for his work with Tom Petty, Glen Campbell and Jewel, in addition to playing pedal steel guitar in Bruce Springsteen's The Sessions Band.

With country balladry, this latest offering follows a hearty string of singles that include 'Tombstone Junction', 'Dead Horse Ranch', 'Sundown Slim','Wayward Son' and 'Before Nightfall'.

A Los Angeles-based artist hailing from Detroit, JC Miller has spent years creating music for major clients, which include the likes of Levi's, Coca-Cola and Nike. Now he is also pursuing his own authentic path as a singer-songwriter and guitarist with a distinctive sound invoking elements of Americana, Country and Southern Rock. Inspired by his personal journeys, Miller crafts relatable songs that are rooted in the fabric of America, his work infused in deep affection for its Southern realms.

With clever hooks, natural charm, and a talent for songsmithing, Miller's songs resonate with audiences at a deeper level. With passion and conviction, his lyrics are both relatable and thought-provoking, painting vivid pictures of life's joys and challenges - stories of America, both past and present.

JC Miller's 'Blackberry Canes' is out everywhere, including Spotify and Apple Music. The previous single 'Tombstone Junction' is also available everywhere, along with his recent run of stunning singles.

CREDITS
Written by JC Miller
Recorded by Marty Rifkin at Marty Rifkin Studios (Santa Monica, CA)
Mixed, mastered & produced by Marty Rifkin
JC Miller - Vocals, guitars, barritone guitar, drum programming
Marty Rifkin - Dobro, pedal Steel, bass, drum programming
Cover artwork by JC Miller
Executive Producer: Gabrielle Doré
Released by Tilt Records
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
Video production & artist photography by Gabrielle Doré

THE VELDT shares 'Live at KEXP' performance following release of ROBIN GUTHRIE-produced 'Illuminated 1989' LP

March 20, 2024

After a lifetime pursuing the creation of fantastic music and bringing it to their fans in person, The Veldt presents what their much-anticipated live session at Seattle'sKEXP, hosted by Larry Mizell, Jr. Filmed in December 2024, this was the final stop on their recent West coast tour.

On the trail of their 'Illuminated 1989' album, recently released via Little Cloud Records and 5BC Records, The Veldt's core members of Daniel Chavis (vocals, guitar), Danny Chavis (lead guitar) and Hayato Nakao (guitar) are joined here by Alex Cox (bass), LG Galleon (guitar), Martin Neuman (guitar) and Dale Miller(drums).

Formed in North Carolina in the 1980s, their heady and sensual blend of shoegaze and progressive soul, dreamy soundscapes and infectious grooves makes them stand out among the world's most notable first-wave shoegaze bands. Here at KEXP, they perform five tracks that exemplify their extraordinary sound: 'The Everlasting Gobstopper', 'Aurora Borealis', 'In A Quiet Room', 'Forever Green' and 'Joi'.

'Illuminated 1989' album is the original 1989 full-length record produced by Cocteau Twins' Robin Guthrie, who also remastered this album for vinyl. Originally intended to be the band's first album, their label Capitol Records shelved the recording and sent them back into the studio with producer Lincoln Fong (Moose, Piroshka), resulting in their first album released with the title 'Marigolds'.

Surrounding the album,The Veldt shared videos for 'Angel Heart', 'The Everlasting Gobstopper' and 'Shallow by Shallow', featuring footage filmed live at the Ritz in NYC by Simon Raymonde of Cocteau Twins (The Veldt had been opening for them). Most recently, they shared the seductive 'Aurora Borealis Remix' - the B-side to their 'Aurora Borealis' 7" single, featuring Elizabeth Fraser cameo on backing vocals.

Pitchfork included The Veldt's album 'Afrodisiac', produced by the legendary Ray Shulman (The Sundays, Bjork, The Sugarcubes) in the top 50 shoegaze albums ever released, while Stereogum included ‘Until You’re Forever’ in the top 31 shoegaze tracks. Their sound also inspired future generations of alternative artists, including TV On the Radio.

'ILLUMINATED 1989' ALBUM CREDITS
‘Illuminated 1989’ released via Little Cloud Records and 5BC Records
Danny Chavis - guitar
Daniel Chavis - vocals, guitar, lyrics
Marvin Levi - drums
Joseph Hue Boyle - bass
Elizabeth Fraser - additional vocals
Robin Guthrie - programming, additional guitars
Lincoln Fong - programming
Written by Danny and Daniel Chavis
Recorded and produced at September Sound by Robin Guthrie
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Dmitry Wild takes a diabolical ride in new 'Rock-n-Roll is My Business' video, showcasing latest 2-track single

February 20, 2024

"A sonic and visual storyteller... channeling Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, Jesus and Mary Chain, and Lee Hazlewood" ~ Post-Punk.com

"Shatteringly propulsive garage-psych romper... it kills" ~ Vanyaland

"A rock and roll smash that has both groove and heart. An infectious piece of foot-on-the-monitor rock that blends power with poignancy. It’s precisely what the world needs right now" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Bringing together sound, influence, and relevance. Taking the best bits of epic rock, garage, and punk, Dmitry Wild brings the bombastic and writes the drama with this rock musical style production" ~ Sound Read Six

New York-based garage rock purveyor Dmitry Wild presents a fiery new video in support of his latest 2-track single 'Rock-n-Roll Is My Business / Son of a Gun'. He earlier shared the video for the B-side 'Son of a Gun', full of swagger in a bright, eclectic reflection of the song's alluring "world is my oyster' message.

Recorded at the Amsterdam Castle in upstate New York, Wild impersonates the hardest working figure behind the music business in a kind of “A day in the life of…” as Diablo rides to work in a black mustang, signing contracts, playing vintage guitar and dancing around with the cast. The Rockstar is played by Jesse D. Leach (Killswitch Engage) and The Father is played by Byron Frayne, who also recorded the B-side 'Son of a Gun'. The video also features burlesque dancer and upcoming singer Tryst La Noir and Purple Goddess, who was the top pole dancer appearing on tour with Snoop Dog.

Produced by Dmitry Wild, 'Rock-n-Roll is My Business' was mixed and mastered by Will Hensley (Coldplay, Travis, Dream Theater, Ben Folds, Shakira, My Morning Jacket, The Wombats), the title track beingrecorded by Andy Cass at Sleeper Cave Records in Western Mass, MA.

'Rock-n-Roll Is My Business' was inspired by an experience Dmitry Wild had at a business convention. When asked “What is your business?”, he understood he was at odds with the other business people and specialists in attendance, ultimately answering "Rock-n-Roll Is My Business'.

Most recently, Dmitry Wild released the single 'New York Stones', a rock ballad dedicated to New York City, in July, following up his 2002 album 'Electric Souls', which presented a clever blend of 70’s vintage rock, 80s synths, garage rock, bluesy swash and post-punk DIY ethos.

The 2-track 'Rock N Roll is My Business' single is out now, available from fine online music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where Wild's full catalogue can also be explored.

CREDITS
Written by Dmitry Wild
Dmitry Wild - guitar, bass guitar, vocals
Tommy Love - drums
Justin Birk - saxophone
Garret Smelcer - keyboard on 'Son of a Gun'
Produced by Dmitry Wild
'Rock-n-Roll is My Business' recorded by Andy Cass at Sleeper Cave Records in Western Mass, MA
'Son of a Gun' recorded by Byron Frayne
Mixed and mastered by Will Hensley
Cover photography by Shannon Greer
Artist studio photos by Shannon Greer
Video & screenshots by Marco Charpentier, Byron Frayne
Alan Coxon - Production Assistant / Mechanic
Video directed by Byron Frayne and Dmitry Wild
Montage and Editing by Strange House Media
Filmed at Amsterdam Castle, New York

Bandcamp https://dmitrywild.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-is-my-business
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/5HFlgUMvVa8mcX07DmERwj

Swedish alt-rockers Then Comes Silence sign to Metropolis Records & announce new 'Trickery' album

February 11, 2024

"Then Comes Silence are everything a band should be - good tunes, good playing and singing, and good looking. Their songs are ear-worms, once heard difficult to forget, as catchy as gonorrhea but far better for your health" ~ Wayne Hussey

”I can see them being huge” ~ Dani Filth (Cradle of Filth)

"Truly love it" ~ She Past Away

"Hellacopters of Gothic Rock" ~ Jyrki 69 (The 69 Eyes)

"The only band that have been voted in as album of the month three times!" ( 'Blood' in 2017 / 'Machine' in 2020 / 'Hunger' in 2022) ~ Sonic Seducer Magazine

Iconic US-based label Metropolis Records is excited to announce the signing of beguiling Swedish post-punk outfit Then Comes Silence for the release of their seventh album, titled ‘Trickery’. This record celebrates friendship, unity and belonging to a group - your tribe. The first single - ‘Ride or Die’, which has already emerged in Germany's authoritative DAC Charts, will be released on March 1.

"Metropolis Records is thrilled to announce the return of Then Comes Silence. The new album “Trickery” will be the band’s first worldwide release with us. It’s a fantastic album and we are excited to get to share it with you. It’s a refinement of the band’s signature sound, a focused distillation of everything TCS has released to date. Metropolis will be releasing the first single from the record, ‘Ride or Die’ on March 1st," says Jim Smith of Metropolis Records.

Hailing from Stockholm, Then Comes Silence was founded by Alex Svenson in 2012, originally inspired by frequent touring with A Place To Bury Strangers and an attraction to horror and the occult. Today he is joined by drummer Jonas Franssonand Hugo Zombie (Los Carniceros del Norte) on guitar.

'Trickery' follows their 2022 album 'Hunger', released via Nexilis Records / Schubert Music (Europe) and Metropolis Records (North America). After dual record deals for the past few albums, Then Comes Silence has signed exclusively with Metropolis Records for this album.

"For this forthcoming album 'Trickery', we had a change of deal and went full member of the Metropolis Records family. We are ready to embrace the crowd again with our heart and can't wait to get the album out," says frontman Alex Svenson

'Ride or Die' single pre-save https://ingrv.es/ride-or-die-qgn-r
'Trickery' album pre-order https://thencomessilence.bandcamp.com/album/trickery
Album pre-save https://ingrv.es/trickery-fqf-x

Recorded by Jörgen Wall (Jay-Jay Johanson, The Hellacopters) over three days at Stockholm's Kapsylen Studio and mixed by Tom van Heesch (Rammstein, Apocalyptica, Backyard Babies), this album was mastered by Svante Forsbäck / Chartmakers (Rammstein, Amaranthe, Ville Valo, The Rasmus, Apocalyptica).

These sessions capture the heart and essence of rock. With electronic elements being essential to the new recordings, 'Trickery' is also a salute to punk music, to which Then Comes Silence traces their roots.

After debuting with their eponymous album in 2012, Then Comes Silence put out two more albums before releasing 'Blood' via Nuclear Blast in 2016. Their subsequent 'Machine' album was jointly released via Oblivion/SPV and Metropolis Records in 2020.

Then Comes Silence unexpectedly became a three-piece just ahead of their 2022 US tour, then setting out to answer the question "could they continue with only three members"? Proving to work well, the band transformed into a trio, their metamorphosis leading to a different way of creating music and performing live.

Then Comes Silence has toured and played live with The Fields of the Nephilim, The Chameleons, A Place To Bury Strangers and most recently with The Bellwether Syndicate and Vision Video. With many festivals to their name, highlights include M'era Luna, Wave Gotik Treffen, Amphi Festival, Castle Party and W-Festival.

The 'Ride or Die' single will be unleashed digitally everywhere on March 1. The full 'Trickery' album will be released on vinyl and CD, as well as digitally, on April 5. In March and April, Then Comes Silence will be touring North America extensively with Vision Video.

Berlin's CIRCOLO VIZIOSO channel outrage at Russian invasion of Ukraine into 'Walls' single. Debut album out March 1

February 8, 2024

"From Sonic Youth, The Black Angels to Fugazi and Nirvana, this is a band who wears their inspirations on their sleeves, blending these in a fascinating way. Raw and visceral, Circolo Vizioso makes for a highly recommended listen, presenting groundbreaking music with a signature sound" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Hailstorm distortion... that great feel like it has its own time signature; speeding up and slowing down depending on their anger levels or the nervous urgency that bubbles to the surface. It sounds fresh and in the moment, in part due to it being written in a little over an hour" ~ Joyzine

"Cathartic, a taste of the actual sound of the grassroots music makers, a reminder of just how false the world we are offered through advertising, media, marketing, branding... A timely, sonic wake-up call" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

Kraut-inspired punk rock duo Circolo Vizioso presents their new single 'Walls', a song written in outrage over the Russian invasion in Ukraine. This is the second taste from their debut album 'Verrueckt' (out March 1), a potent chaser to the first single 'Choppy', a high-octane song spawned from a bout of depression brought on by a failed love story.

This album arrives four years after releasing their 5-track 'Isolation' EP (2020). Here they offer a potent taste of their unique brand of high-intensity, lyric-driven punk, created mainly with electric violin, guitar and drums.

Hailing from Berlin, Circolo Vizioso is made up of Tony Scafidi (guitar, bass, drum, hi-hat, vocals) and Paul Geigerzaehler (violin, snare drum, vocals). The band plays abrasive, groovy punk music that is influenced, on the one hand, by the sound of 1990s New York, Chicago and Washington embodied in such bands as Fugazi, Blonde Redhead and Sonic Youth, and by the sound of early 80's and 90's Eastern German and Eastern European punk bands like Dezerter, Sandow and Schleimkeim on the other.

About this new single, Tony Scafidi explains, "The Bluesy guitar line let the cat completely out of the bag I guess. I was listening to a tonne of Blues and amazing bluesmen like Cedell Devis, R.L. Burnside, Johnny Farmer, who I learned about from an old Fat Possum Records documentary, and my bandmate Paul had an amazing text he had written against the war in Ukraine and the filthy growth of the extreme right wing movements in Washington and shortly later in Berlin, attacking Capitol Hill and the Reichstag. Paul walked into the rehearsing room while I was having a massive solo blues jam, started singing to it and off we went on to finish 'Walls' an hour later."

Formed in March 2020 on a balcony in Friedrichshain, Berlin during the first Covid-19 lock-down, Circolo Vizioso was born as an attempt to keep art and music alive and to provide support to their neighbours during a time when no concerts were happening and no cinemas, museums or galleries were open.

In spirit, Circolo Vizioso is a last ditch effort by these artists to resist the isolation and the lack of social and human contact, as well as the hunger for music and art during this unusual time.
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About the upcoming 'Verrueckt" album, Paul Geigerzaehler explains, "We wanted an album that could express anger, frustration and disaffection against an unfair world and all the discomfort entwined with that and we wanted to do it with direct and bare lyrics, abrasive violin lines, fat distorted guitar solos, and big fuzzy riffs. Yet we wanted people to dance to all this batshit crazy world in a sort of self-exorcising dance, where one can head to bed with the feeling that they have at least sweat their daily demons out for the night."

'Walls' is available via Bandcamp (with other platforms to follow), while 'Choppy' is available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify. The full 'Verrueckt' album, which will be released on March 1, is available for pre-order directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Music and Lyrics by Paul Geigerzaehler and Tony Scafidi
Tony Scafidi - guitar, bass, drum, hi-hat, vocals
Paul Geigerzaehler - violin, snare drum, vocals
Audrey Quillons - backing vocals on 'Walls' and 'Verruecht'
Produced by Paul Geigerzaehler and Tony Scafidi
Sound Engineer - Smail Shock Production at B Studio in Berlin
Mixed and Mastered by Sacha Tilotta in Catania, Italy
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Keep up with Circolo Vizioso
Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
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Chicago-based rocker LEON FREAR presents 'A Morning House', final single ahead of his debut 'Wild Rice' album

January 30, 2024

"Frear has a voice which somewhat recalls Marty Willson-Piper of The Church fame and his side project Nocturum... This is something for fans of Nick Cave and related"~ Side-Line Magazine

"Track of the Day. The way he tells the story makes it seem like he and the listener are commiserating together... a song with a great story" ~ Chasing Destino

"With a unmistakeable voice deserving of becoming a regular fixture in the mind-memory of music lovers everywhere... catchy and contemplative, showcasing clever lyrics channeled through his smooth and deep timbre. fabulous from start to end and is obviously confessional while also being an invested labor of love" ~ Rock n Roll Biz

"The combination of evocative lyrics and a dynamic musical backdrop creates an immersive experience, inviting listeners to delve into the complexities of love, longing, and self-discovery" ~ Skylight Webzine

Chicago-based rocker/ songwriter Leon Frear presents 'A Morning House', a song about regret and hope previewing his debut album 'Wild Rice'. His first album under this moniker, this represents a new start since relocating from his home town of Chapel, North Carolina.

The new single follows 'A Town Called Chapel', which Frear describes as “a poison pen love letter to an historically musical time and place, to big blown-up plans and irreplaceable, lost relationships", and Frear's debut single 'Secret Second Moon'with a fantastic animated video by French artist Ronald Grandpey.

This powerful album reflects a dramatic period in which Frear experienced a life-altering love affair, its implosion and aftermath, followed by a decade of reflection and changes. Informed by his own experience, Frear's music speaks of love, lust, broken promises, miscommunication, and incinerated bridges. This 10-track collection sees Frear playing every instrument and capturing every breath to tape during a recording process that took years to complete.

"When I first got to Chicago, I had been living alone in one of those long term stay motels. You know the type. Half a kitchen in your room, maybe a few coin-op laundry machines in the lobby. Lots of activity in the parking lot at all hours. Coyotes... I had been living there for a few years, really just trying to survive and get sober. Even though I had a few songs partially written, I wasn't sure if I would ever record or release music again," says Leon Frear.

"But one night I had this dream that I was in a bright green field of grass, with a white house in the background, gleaming on the top of a hill, with rows of chairs arranged on the lawn. There was a crowd and I was seated in one of the chairs. There was a small stage set up and a man with curly hair was playing guitar and singing. Even though he didn't look like me or sound like me, I understood that he represented me, some part of me or maybe a different version of me. Maybe I was imagining what could have been, or feeling regret for what I had lost. I don't know. But in the dream, this man and his band were playing a song. And A Morning House is the song I heard in my dream that night."

He adds: "It's about feeling regret for things that you've done. Maybe bad things. But even more than that it's a song about the strong feelings of regret you feel for the things that you haven't done. All of those missed opportunities. Unhad adventures. Unexplored romances. But for me, having that dream, it felt like an extraordinary thing had occurred. In the end, that helped me find my motivation again. When I was finally able to put myself together enough to leave that place, find a real home and start putting a studio together, A Morning House is the first song I completed."

Laced with hints of sadness and regret, anger and remorse, the lyrics are tempered with sardonic wit that leaves the listener wondering if Frear doesn’t secretly savor feeling bad. If there’s an opportunity to mock an uncaring universe, this is an opportunity Frear doesn’t let go to waste.

Dubbing his brand of post-alternative music “vocabulary rock”, Frear aims to shift the emphasis away from the man and towards the music and lyrics, while inviting the listener to commiserate together through this exploration of grief, depression and sadness.

As of January 30, 'A Morning House' is available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The 'Wild Rice' album will be released (on vinyl and digitally) on March 1.

CREDITS
Music and lyrics written by Leon Frear
Recorded by Leon Frear in his Chicago home studio
Mastering by Adam Boose at Cauliflower Studios
Vocals and instruments performed by Leon, except
Faye Whitt - backup vocals on 'Murder of Crows'
Front cover collage by Faye Whitt
Ronald Grandpey - Director / animator for 'Secret Second Moon' video
Artist photos by Jeremy Glickstein

'Wild Rice' album order https://leonfrear.bandcamp.com/album/wild-rice
'A Morning House' https://youtu.be/W1swotHm85E
Bandcamp https://leonfrear.bandcamp.com/track/a-morning-house-2
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/3xQbXV8N0deoePOT3H35US

NYC indie rock-power pop outfit Otherworldly Things debuts 'Time Turns To Memories', previewing their sophomore album

January 25, 2024

"A tantalising upbeat British beat offering for discerning music connoisseurs and lay-men alike... High-energy feel-good music, this is as infectious as The Kinks and The Monkees ever were... loaded with new vigour and vitality, coupled with classic power pop stylings, synchronous drum-guitar sequences and tight delivery" ~ The Spill Magazine

NYC rock outfit Otherworldly Things presents 'Time Turns To Memories', offering an irresistible first taste of their 'Heavy Dream Cycle' EP, out February 16 via New Jersey-based Magic Door Records.

With a band name that brings to mind everything from aliens to angels and other creatures, Otherworldly Things is actually a four-piece band from New York City, formed in 2014 and made up of Jim Browne (guitar, lead and backing vocals, violin), Matt Revie (guitar, keyboards, glockenspiel), Jason Binnick (bass, backing vocals, keyboards, cello) and Travis Harrison (drums, percussion).

It's been a few years since the band's first full-length album 'Beeline to the A-List', released in 2017. Like many artists, Covid and its respective lockdowns put a dent in any tangible plans for the band.

As the world began to return to normal, Jim Browne spearheaded the effort to record new material at Serious Business Records in Brooklyn with Travis Harrison (Guided By Voices, Built To Spill), who also joined the band on drums and percussion, adding some notable pizzazz for this release.

The resultant 5-track EP is entitled 'Heavy Dream Cycle'. Released on Magic Door Records, based in Montclair, NJ, it was mastered at Listen Up Studios by Jamal Ruhe (Guided by Voices, Phoebe Bridgers, Death, Jimmy Eat World, Misfits).

Formed in autumn of 2014, Otherworldly Things would deliver their debut concert in great company, opening for Buzzcocks at New York City's Irving Plaza in April 2015, even before releasing their debut album.

The band recorded their early material in Brooklyn at the legendary BC Studio, run by Martin Bisi, some of which can be found on their 'Beeline to the A-List' album. Additional material was recorded at the home studios of bassist Jason Binnick and former drummer Kevin Hudson, who ended up moving away from New York during the pandemic. The band ultimately went on hiatus... until now..

'Time Turns To Memories' is out now, available from fine online music platforms, including Bandcamp, Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon. On February 16, Otherworldly Things will release their 'Heavy Dream Cycle' EP, which can be pre-ordered directly from the band.

CREDITS
Jim Browne - Guitar, Lead and Backing Vocals, Violin
Matt Revie - Guitar, Keyboards, Glockenspiel
Jason Binnick - Bass, Backing Vocals, Keyboards, Cello
Travis Harrison - Drums, Percussion
All songs written by Jim Browne
Recorded at Serious Business Studios (Brooklyn, NY)
Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Travis Harrison at Serious Business Studios
Mastered by Jamal Ruhe at Listen Up Studios
Artist photos by Julia Khoroshilov
Single cover photo by Renée LoBue
Single and EP cover design by Ray Ketchem

Keep up with Otherworldly Things
Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Amazon | Booking contact| Press contact

Keep up with Magic Door Label
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
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London's SABATTA unveils fiery instrumental rockout 'Take You There' with new video

January 24, 2024

"An unholy amalgamation of sounds... Refusing to obey genre lines, they eventually realised that their misfit sound was what defined them – and they didn't want to fit in anyway" ~ Clash Magazine

"Charismatic and wild,... psychedelia, grunge punk and funk with some great shredding and even falsetto heights.... a blaze of fiery, magnetic vocals, funked-out bass and thrashing guitar" ~ The Spill Magazine

"The grit and the glory... a powerful calling card for the album... You can hear the London concrete embedded in their sound and it is brutalist and compelling" ~ Joyzine

"2024 may be young as far years go, but it may very well already have its best instrumental track... a riff heavy workout that’s full of bluesy bliss and pure hard rock groove... bona fide melodic muscle" ~ Stereo Embers Magazine

"Exhibiting a style that can be closely linked to punk legends Bad Brains and Dead Kennedys... uncompromising modern punk rock music" ~ Fortitude Magazine

To kick off 2024, London-based alternative-psychedelic rock artist Sabatta presents the single 'Take You There', a special rollout for rock lovers! Unashamed and unabashed, Yinka lets his guitar rip in a similar vein to Van Halen’s 'Eruption' with the soul-wrenched vibes of Hendrix. This powerhouse song packs more rock and roll integrity into just a few minutes than many offer in an entire album. Breathe it in! This song is lifted from his new album 'How To Get Even’ (out now via Blackfriars Entertainment).

Revolving around guitarist and songwriter Yinka Oyewole, who was raised in Essex and is of Nigerian lineage, Sabatta crafts a raw and individual sound with spiky guitar and an inimitable voice, like a mix of Hendrix, QOTSA and early Red Hot Chili Peppers, strained through the sieve of South London. It's no wonder with musical influences ranging from Curtis Mayfield, Prince, Tupac and Hendrix to Bad Brains, Thin Lizzy, Parliament / Funkadelic and Black Sabbath.

"'Take You There' is an "extraterrestrial blues riff fest, a 2-minute instrumental cosmic slop with furious guitar antics," says Yinka. "I wanted this album to be authentic from start to finish to the spirit of Sabatta. Anyone who’s seen Sabatta live knows there’ll be points in the show, sometimes at the start and elsewhere in the set where I just left to fly on the guitar - I improvise and basically let the spirit take me and let the guitar howl, growl and scream - outside of song. This single is kind of like henresing that energy for 2 mins. If you love this genre of music, you'll love this tune!

Earlier, Sabatta also released the groove-laden singles 'Get Over Yourself' and ''Get Your Shit Together'. From the opening drum rolls of the album’s first track 'Something' to the lilting final notes of album closer 'Small VIctories', 'How To Get Even' is a bit like sitting in a South London dive bar with singer/guitarist , setting the world to rights until the sun comes up. The chorus of the opener defiantly announces ‘I can’t be something you want that I know I’m not!’, a sentiment that runs throughout the album, explored against the backdrop of a raw, spiky guitar sound and inimitable voice.

He shares, "While songs like 'To Love Me Is To Know Me', 'Not Today' and the title track 'How To Get Even' show a defiant and indomitable spirit, 'Plugged In' and 'Here I Go Again' respectively celebrate the importance of living in the moment and finding new love. Back-to-back tracks 'Blood, Sweat and Tears'and 'Get Over Yourself' are almost like a yin and yang to each other, the former acknowledging struggle and the latter warning not to take it all too personal. 'Get Your Shit Together' is a mantra we all need to hear sometimes, while 'One Chance’ is a deeper, darker tale of survival."

Produced and mixed by Oyewole, this album was recorded by Alex Franklinos at Shrunken Heads Studio (King Krule, Ghostpoet, Songdog, Domino Records)and mastered at London's EC Mastering (Sony, Universal, BBC).

Yinka Oyewole began making noise with Sabatta's debut album 'Middle Of the Night' in 2015, their sound compared to Hendrix and QOTSA, but with an edge like Bad Brains and The Clash, the album’s lead single 'Politician' garnered national play on BBC 6 Music, setting the band off touring nationally.

The ‘How To Get Even' album is out now, available from all fine digital music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, with a CD release anticipated later this spring.

CREDITS
Music & lyrics by Yinka Oyewole
Recorded by Alex Franklinos at Shrunken Heads Studio, London
Produced & mixed by Yinka Oyewole for Blackfriars Entertainment
Mastered by Aaron McIntosh at EC Mastering, London
Yinka Oyewole - guitar, vocals, bass
Adam Frederick Jacques - drums
Cover artwork by Tilt Designs
Artist photography by Marisa Knight
'Get Over Yourself' video shot & directed by Rodney Victor Williams
Co-directed by Yinka Oyewole
Edited by Alan Schaaf for Otter Studios
Filmed on location in Borough, South-East London
Aaron Scars - bass (video)
Sebastian Fernandez - drums (video)
Location manager - Art Terry

Keep up with Sabatta
Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Booking contact | Press contact

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Iconic Scottish songsmith John Douglas shares 'Lost (Live Session)' and beatitude over Trashcan Sinatras' developments.

January 21, 2024

One of Scotland’s finest songwriters - John Douglas of Trashcan Sinatras fame - presents a live version of 'Lost', originally filmed for The Scotsman Sessions. This is the opening track of his eponymous debut album, released via Scotland's Reveal Records, presenting an intimate snapshot of the talent, charisma and depth of this celebrated Scottish indie songsmith.

This is the start of a new chapter in Douglas' creative life as he looks back at a lifetime of musical adventures and accolades while moving forwards. Recorded live at Kyoti Studio in Glasgow (with no overdubs), Douglas worked with producer Mark Freegard (New Model Army, Lush, The Breeders, Del Amitri, Marillion), who also mixed and mastered it.

This record features original material, along with new recordings of some of John's favourite Trashcan Sinatras' material and his own rendition of the Prefab Sprout classic ‘We Let The Stars Go’. Apart from the album version of 'Lost', Douglas also recently shared live videos for 'I'm Not The Fella' and 'Always', plus Trashcan Sinatras' classics 'Oranges & Apples', 'Leave Me Alone'and 'Weightlifting'.

John Douglas is a founding member of Trashcan Sinatras, who recently re-released their debut record 'Cake' via Last Night From Glasgow, finally seeing UK Top-40 success 33 years later since its original release (it only reached 74 in the charts back in the day).

‘I’m really enjoying having my record out in the world. It seems to have found a place in people’s hearts. Maybe it’s the simplicity of approach -there’s not much of that around these days. I don’t know really. I try not to dwell on it. I’m happy to show up and sing the songs with my guitar as partner, keep it intimate and let the songs come to life," says John Douglas.

"The recent interest in the Trashcans' records has been a wonderful coincidence…it’s long overdue and well deserved.. for it to arrive as I put my own record out feels mysterious and miraculous.. whoever’s organising this runs a pretty slick operation."

As of late, John has been playing gigs across the UK and Ireland, both as a solo artist and as part of his partner Eddi Reader’s band. He has also put on shows with musical friends, such as Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), Jill Jackson, Withered Hand and James Grant (Love & Money). John was also invited to perform with Martin McAloon (Prefab Sprout), the two having first met in 1990 when the Trashcan Sinatras' were touring with Prefab Sprout for ‘Jordan - The Comeback' LP.

The 'John Douglas' album is out now and available from fine online platforms and also on Bandcamp - both on CD and digitally.

CREDITS
Written by John Douglas (1, 2, 4, 6, 11), Trashcan Sinatras (3, 5, 7, 8), Trashcan Sinatras / Dine (9) and Paddy McAloon (10)
All songs published by MCPS/PPL, except Track 10 (published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC)
Recorded, mixed & mastered in Glasgow by Mark Freegard
Photographs taken on the Old Largs Road by Susie Lowe
Cover photo by Janette Ayachi at The Strand Club, Glasgow
Design by Martin Rowsell Simply Marvellous: Music
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

THE VELDT shares 'Shallow By Shallow' single with live video footage by SIMON RAYMONDE from 1989 NYC concert

January 20, 2024

"This album is not only a historical sonic document, but it's a shimmering, charming, sensual and cinematic body of remarkable psychedelic rock that resembles nothing currently in the music sphere" ~ The Spill Magazine

US trailblazing shoegazers The Veldt present 'Shallow by Shallow', a highlight track from their new 'Illuminated 1989' album, recently released on vinyl via Portland-based Little Cloud Records and North Carolina’s 5BC Records.

One of the most notable first-wave shoegaze bands, formed in North Carolina in the 1980s, The Veldt revolves around identical twins Daniel Chavis (vocals, guitar) and Danny Chavis (guitar).

'Illuminated 1989' is the original 1989 full-length record produced by Cocteau Twins' Robin Guthrie, who also remastered this album especially for vinyl. While originally intended to be the band's first album, their label Capitol Records shelved the recording and sent them back into the studio with producer Lincoln Fong (Moose, Piroshka), resulting in their first album released with the title 'Marigolds'.

"Shallow by Shallow is one of the first songs that we recorded at Cocteau Twins' studio 'September Sound' in Twickenham. It was also the opening song on our first Cocteau Twins opening slot in 1989, which was filmed live in NYC at the RITZ by Simon Raymonde of Cocteau Twins. Lincon Fong, who would go on to record our ' Marigolds' album in 1993, also joined us there on stage for the closing song 'Get Up'. We would inevitably go on to play and record with Robin Guthrie throughout the years, including for the album that is now titled 'Illuminated 1989', which we are finally able to release," says Danny Chavis.

"This is a stream of consciousness... It’s the search for the soul and the energy of the earth, out-of-body experiences, and explores how to communicate with the universe... This song also ask the universal question what is hamburger but chopped steak".

The Veldt earlier previewed the singles 'Angel Heart', 'The Everlasting Gobstopper', and 'Aurora Borealis' (featuring Elizabeth Fraser cameo on backing vocals and a B-side remix by The Veldt). The Veldt has also just wrapped up their U.S. tour, culminating in a performance at Seattle's KEXP.

The Veldt's unique sound was influenced by Cocteau Twins as readily as Marvin Gaye and free-jazz warriors Sun Ra and Pharaoh Sanders. Referencing European post-punk while embracing modern hip-hop, these trailblazers work with transient dreamscapes as fluidly as solid song structures.

Pitchfork included The Veldt's album 'Afrodisiac', produced by the legendary Ray Shulman (The Sundays, Bjork, The Sugarcubes) and released via Mercury Records, in the top 50 shoegaze albums ever released, while Stereogum included ‘Until You’re Forever’ in the top 31 shoegaze tracks. Their sound also inspired future generations of alternative artists, including TV On the Radio.

The Veldt's journey is fascinating. Performing since they were children, the Chavis brothers’ musical roots lead back to the church and southern juke-joints, and listening to music that included gospel, Motown and Pink Floyd. The Veldt formed in the late 80’s in Raleigh amongst the legendary North Carolina music scene of the time, initially signing with Mammoth Records - leading to a chain of major-label relationships that took the group across Europe and the U.S. playing shows with the likes of Throwing Muses, Pixies, Cocteau Twins and Jesus & Mary Chain.

After moving from Raleigh to New York, they briefly performed as Apollo Heights before returning to their original name The Veldt. Joined by Japanese bassist-programmer Hayato Nakao, they together forging music that is a heady and sensual blend of shoegaze and progressive soul, dreamy soundscapes and infectious grooves. Some of the band's recent notable releases include 'The Shocking Fuzz Of Your Electric Fur' EP (2017) and the album 'Entropy is the Mainline to God' (2022).

Over the years, The Veldt has collaborated with TV On The Radio, Mos Def, Lady Miss Kier (Deee-Lite), A.R.Kane and toured or played with Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Pixies, Throwing Muses, Echo & The Bunnymen, Cocteau Twins, Manic Street Preachers, Phantogram, Modern English, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Oasis, Chuck D, Living Colour and Schooly D.

The 'Illuminated 1989' album is out now on limited edition translucent pink or clear vinyl with a gatefold sleeve. It is also available from fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
‘Illuminated 1989’ released via Little Cloud Records and 5BC Records
Danny Chavis - guitar
Daniel Chavis - vocals, guitar, lyrics
Marvin Levi - drums
Joseph Hue Boyle - bass
Elizabeth Fraser - additional vocals
Robin Guthrie - programming, additional guitars
Lincoln Fong - programming
Written by Danny and Daniel Chavis
Recorded and produced at September Sound by Robin Guthrie
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

KMFDM presents title track from new 'Let Go' album, out via Metropolis Records on February 2

January 12, 2024

Rising up lean and mean, KMFDM is doin’ it again, celebrating 40 years of conceptual continuity in grand style! 'LET GO' marks the group’s 23rd studio album, the core lineup of Sascha “Käpt’n K” Konietzko, Lucia Cifarelli, Andy Selwayand Andee Blacksugar presenting their signature onslaught of pulse-pounding rhythms, scorching electronics, blistering guitars, and vocals full of grit, growl, and grind addressing the social, political, and cultural ills of a world in perpetual turmoil.

The first taste of their new record is the title track 'LET GO', the first of the 11 tracks on the album.

Stylistically diverse as ever, KMFDM continues to bridge the gaps between genres, coalescing into what we know and love as the Ultra Heavy Beat! “Never let them know your next move,” says Käpt’N K, laying down the band’s primary philosophy on this record, commanding you to let go of precept and pretense, to hold on tight, leave your worries behind, and get ready to rock!

From the driving techno, dance, and funk infused thrust of 'LET GO' to the airily melodic and swirling vibes of 'AIRHEAD' and 'TOUCH', the grooving revolutionary oratory and percolating spaghetti western guitar and glitch-laden synth leads of 'TURN THE LIGHT ON' to the sneering and seething riot grrl fury of 'WHEN THE BELL TOLLS', the sinister hip-hop injected 'NEXT MOVE', the downright cinematic and Teutonic electro of 'ERLKÖNIG', and the virulent dub warcry of 'WW 2023' – KMFDM continues to break down barriers and immerse audiences in a bold new reality.

Konietzko and Cifarelli prove as vicious a team as ever, equally sharing vocal and lyrical duties, with longtime associate MC Ocelot appearing to give 'NEXT MOVE'an extra touch of raucous rap energy. All the while, Blacksugar’s prowess on six-strings continues to awe and astound, backed by Selway’s dynamic drumming, meshing with Konietzko’s masterful programming.

Mixed and mastered by Benjamin Lawrenz (VNV Nation, Deep Purple, Saga, Mono Inc., Lord of the Lost), at Chameleon Recording Studios in Hamburg, 'LET GO' signals KMFDM’s 40th anniversary loudly and proudly, with Aidan “BRUTE” Hughes’ distinctive cover artwork mirroring the album’s breakneck power. After four decades, the Ultra Heavy Beat simply refuses to rest in pity and regret, raising a sharpened middle finger at a world in chaos.

As of January 12, the 'LET GO' single will be available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. On February 2, the full 'Let Go' album will be released digitally, on CD and as a Limited Edition Vinyl double LP. Following this, they embark on a month-long US tour, for which tickets are already available for pre-order.

CREDITS
Sascha Konietzko - Bass, Beats, Synths & Vocals
Lucia Cifarelli - Vocals
Andy Selway - Drums
Andee Blacksugar - Guitars
MC Ocelot - Rap
Written by Blacksugar, Cifarelli, Konietzko, Selway
Produced by Sascha Konietzko
Recorded at Kommandozentrale (Hamburg), Swamp Studios (Florida) & Casa Blacksugar (Brooklyn NY)
Mixed by Benjamin Lawrence & Sascha Konietzko
at Chameleon & Kommandozentrale (Hamburg)
Vocals on 'Airhead' mixed by Veronica Ferraro
Mastered by Benjamin Lawrence at Chameleon (Hamburg)
Art by BRUTE!
Layout by Chris Zander

Artist photos by Bobby Talamine

About KMFDM:

KMFDM (originally Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid, loosely translated by the band as "no pity for the majority”) is a multinational industrial band from Hamburg, Germany, led by Sascha Konietzko, who founded the band in 1984 as a performance art project in Paris, France.

Their early albums were recorded in Germany before moving to the USA, where they found much greater success with Chicago-based seminal record label Wax Trax! Throughout the 90’s, KMFDM constantly evolved with a revolving door line-up, becoming a household name in the US music scene. Their 1995 hit 'Juke Joint Jezebel' catapulted KMFDM into the Billboard charts and got them onto many movie soundtracks, notably 'Bad Boys' and 'Mortal Kombat'. Bands like Rammstein and Korn had their humble beginnings opening on KMFDM tours. The band took a brief hiatus in 1999 after recording their 10hh album for Wax Trax Records.

Konietzko resurrected KMFDM in 2002 on Metropolis Records with a line-up featuring, among others, American singer Lucia Cifarelli (from the band DRILL) and Tim Skold (who later joined Marilyn Manson). Releasing studio albums and touring frequently throughout the 2000’s, Konietzko and Cifarelli returned to Germany in 2008. Over their 22 studio albums and countless singles, dozens of musicians have worked with KMFDM, with sales now in excess of two million records worldwide.

One of the first bands to bring industrial music to a mainstream audience, Konietzko refers to KMFDM's music as "The Ultra-Heavy Beat". Meshing heavy metal guitar riffs, electronic music, and both male and female vocals, their music encompasses various styles, including industrial rock, electronic body music, and even reggae and dub. Fiercely political, many of the band's lyrics take a stand against violence, war and oppression. KMFDM tour after every major release, its band members known to be accessible to and interact with fans, both online and at concerts.

Brighton artist NICK HUDSON presents 'For My Silence', a statement of clarity after the storm - first taste of his new album

January 11, 2024

“Beautifully written, recorded, produced and arranged... all complimented by vocal that lives up to the same standard. No cheating, no fronting, just honest crafted musicality” ~ Billy Gould (Faith No More)

"Kanda Teenage Honey is shockingly emotional, thoughtfully orchestrated and wonderfully curious lyrically. It is a record for true music lovers" ~ Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu)

"There isn’t really anyone making music like Nick Hudson“ ~ The Quietus

“Nick Hudson is a unique talent. His song writing and performances are breathtaking. He is long overdue being heard by a wider audience. This solo album is a peak in an already stellar career” ~ Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai)

"Scott Walker channeling Coil” ~ MOJO Magazine

"Genius” - BBC Radio (BBC Introducing)

British avant pop artist Nick Hudson presents his new single 'For My Silence', the first offering from his forthcoming album 'Kanda Teenage Honey', recorded largely in Georgia under the shadow of the Ukraine war, featuring some incredible Georgian musicians in a huge former Soviet movie studio.

Mixed by Toby Driver and mastered to analogue tape by Paul Pascoe at Church Road Studios in Hove, this album was recorded and engineered by Ilya Lukashev at Leno Studio and Sano Studio in Tbilisi.

"This is a song about apologizing to those you love for the period in which you disappeared to make bad life choices, while also singling out those who stood by and did nothing in the name of friendship during this period. The period in question was the third lockdown, where I literally had a glimpse of hell courtesy of a significant mental health collapse," says Nick Hudson.

"This is a reflective song, both confessional and confrontational. The piano for the record was tracked on a 1953 Steinway grand in Leno Studio in Tbilisi – a former Soviet movie studio whose live room is vast enough to record orchestras."

This is Hudson's first release since the 'Lights Svoboda' single, released in 2022 support of Ukraine, for which all proceeds were contributed to charities directly involved in humanitarian aid efforts.

Hudson adds, "The video stars my friend Nika – a 17-year-old Georgian aspiring actor, and whom I've found myself mentoring in cinema. It was shot in a Stalin-era secular graveyard on the mountains outside of Tbilisi and incorporates footage of the actual vocal sessions in the studio, captured by Vlad Gutsin, a 20-year-old refugee from Tomsk. Gigi Koberidze and Beqa Minadze, on drums and guitar respectively, are two of the finest musicians I've had the privilege to work with."

A prolific figure on the UK music scene, Hudson's latest album 'Font Of Human Fractures' was released in 2021, followed by the 'K69996ROMA:EP' later that year. These were Hudson's first solo works in 5 years, only one year had passed since 'The Quiet Earth', the opus album from his band The Academy Of Sun.

Nick's vast output also encompasses painting, film, and a novel. Hudson has also collaborated with Wayne Hussey (The Mission), Matthew Seligman (Bowie, Tori Amos, Morrissey), members of Kayo Dot, David Tibet (Current 93), Asva, queercore icon GB Jones, as well as Massive Attack's Shara Nelson. Having toured 3 continents, highlights include shows with Mogwai, Toby Driver and Keith Abrams (Kayo Dot), and Timba Harris (Mr Bungle, Amanda Palmer).

Hudson has also just released his book 'The Land Exists So The Seas Don't Argue'. Limited to 50 numbered and signed copies, this is the first volume featuring his lyrical output across the last decade, encompassing five albums plus ephemera created at the same time as the main works – satellite poems that inhabit the same world as each of the primary cosmologies. This collection is possessed of a searing intensity and unity of vision - paganism, queer love, grief, death, ecstasy, radical politics, social satire, hymns to nature and her rhythms and forces. The book also features a foreword by renowned Scottish author and artist Chris Kelso.

As of January 11, the single 'For My Silence' will be available on Bandcamp, followed by other platforms, such as Spotify and Apple Music, soon afterwards. The full album 'Kanda Teenage Honey' will be released on March 15.

CREDITS
Composed, produced and arranged by Nick Hudson
Nick Hudson – Steinway piano, acoustic guitar & all vocals
Gigi Koberidze – drums
Beqa Minadze – electric guitars & ebow
Engineered by Ilya Lukashev at Leno and Sano Studios, Tbilisi
Produced by Nick Hudson
Mixed by Toby Driver in NYC
Mastered by Paul Pascoe at Church Road Studios, Hove, UK
Video directed by Nick Hudson
Video actor - Nika Shavgulidze
Artist photography by Carl Solomon
Single cover artwork by Kenneth Anger

'Kanda Teenage Honey' album order https://nickhudsonindustries.bandcamp.com/album/kanda-teenage-honey
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/4WcMfCi66CMy2zRZnjnxSJ
Bandcamp https://nickhudsonindustries.bandcamp.com

Ithaca, NY-based artist Rose Alaimo releases high energy 'Power Lines' single on the power of human connection 'A Place To Go When You Need To Hide' album is out now

January 9, 2024

Alaimo sweeps through indiepop dreamery to sophisticated balladry to pulsating and superb rock, in her own sonic diary of life over the past few years. Stunning, sobering and inspiring" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Sonic highs and lulling lows, fierceness and serenity, self-doubt and enlightenment, challenging questions and unexpected answers... lush folk and considered Americana are punctuated with more driven rock urges, where the immediacy of pop music is subsumed under ambient dreamscapes" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

American indie pop-rock artist Rose Alaimo presents 'Power Lines', a song about how we as humans are all inter-connected to one other like never before. This is the second single from her new album 'A Place To Go When You Need To Hide', following the more grounding lead track 'Stars', which is about finding an unexpected moment of stillness in the midst of a crazy world.

This is the third full-length album from the Ithaca, NY-based artist. Honest, hopeful and emotive, Alaimo takes on her internal struggles as she finds her way through darkness to exercise her own will-power, freedom of choice and self-empowerment.

A veterinarian and vegetable farmer in her day-to-day life, this record exposes a whole other side of Alaimo as she finds her way through darkness to exercise her own will-power, freedom of choice and self-empowerment.

"The song ‘Power Lines’ is about the connections that exist between us, whether we are aware of them or not. One thing that was highlighted during Covid was how unbelievably interconnected we are. How fast the virus spread across the world was astounding, and in the middle of everyone debating mask and vaccination mandates and people becoming increasingly stressed and angry and there being more and more division between everyone, a tree was blown over on my property, taking the power lines down in front of my house. I walked outside and, after the shock of seeing this healthy tree ripped up by the roots by a strong wind, I noticed the lines that were down,” says Rose Alaimo.

“I saw how they were connected to my house, and how the main lines also connected to my neighbor's house, and how those same lines connected every single house on the street. I never stopped to notice how physically connected all of these houses were by these power lines and how what happened to my house affected everyone else around me. It struck me as an interesting analogy to how we as humans are also all more connected to each other and to the world around us than we might initially assume. These connections may not be visible but they are definitely there. We can spread viruses to each other and we can spread anger and fear, but if we are mindful of this interconnectedness, we can also choose to spread GOOD things: kindness and understanding and peace.”

Rose Alaimo writes, sings, performs, programs, records and co-produces her own music. Additional production and mastering was provided by Jamie Hill (Nada Surf, Zola Jesus, House of Pain), at Department of Energy Management in Tacoma, WA. She released her more acoustic debut album 'The Importance of Centers' in 2019, followed by the gritty and anthemic 'Grow' in 2021.

The emotional range of this album mirrors the intense highs and lows of life, from soft and dreamy lullabies, where we remember loved-ones who are no longer with us ('Stars'), to anthemic, thrashy songs protesting Russia's war on Ukraine and unethical and dangerous world leaders ('Resist The Force'). On 'The Devil That You Know', she explores the challenge of letting go of familiar toxic patterns due to the fear of making changes in a world that feels increasingly unstable wrapping up with 'Here I Am', a grounding and hopeful reprise medley reminding us of the stillness and peace that we can find, even in times of trouble.

'A Place To Go When You Need To Hide' is out now and available via fine music platforms, including Bandcamp, Spotify and Apple Music.

CREDITS
Music, lyrics & arrangement by Rose Alaimo
Rose Alaimo - vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, fretless bass, banjo, mandolin, theremini, percussion, MIDI and electronic instruments, & drum programming
Produced & mixed by Rose Alaimo in Ithaca, NY
Additional production & mastering by Jamie Hill at Department of Energy Management, Tacoma, WA
Artist photos by Kate Catalano-Collins
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Phoenix's SNAILMATE offer antidote to a pressurized year: treat yourself to a 'Stress Sandwich'

January 6, 2024

"Ferocious and evocative... an intense sonic fusion of thrash rock, hip hop and punk complete with an infectious layered screamo chorus and daring synths. Fuzzy basslines glide over intense drumming full of emotion for an enthralling must listen"~ Earmilk

“This homage to being chronically, unwaveringly lazy is another standout hybrid gem from the pair, and proves as eccentric as it is downright catchy” ~ Phoenix New Times

“A genre-bending rollercoaster ride that defies convention and categorization. This album seamlessly weaves together elements of synth music, punk and metal while drawing inspiration from an eclectic mix of artists ranging from Daft Punk and Public Enemy to Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park... unique and electrifying” ~ Skylight Webzine

"How this isn’t pouring from every MF-ers lips in time of need is a mystery" ~ Global Texan Chronicles

Phoenix-based Snailmate crowned 2023 by releasing their album 'Stress Sandwich' and relentlessly touring. Rleased via Toronto's Indiestructable Records, they offer a twisted humorous take on existential anxiety, delivering funky, poppy, screamy fun through alternative raps. The duo's also presents the video for 'Trash, Baby', created by Chase A Warren.

Alternatively described as synthpunk grindcore pop nerd rap, this has practically become a way of life for the duo, reinforced by their earlier albums 'Live In Japan' (2019) and 'Love in the Microwave' (2017), plus a myriad of EPs and singles. Known for their frenetic and impressive shows (numbering over a thousand now), 2023 saw the ban

Snailmate is lyricist-vocalist and synth wizard Kalen Lander and drummer-backup vocalist Bentley Monet, whose music fuses synthpunk, grindcore, pop and nerd rap for an unpredictable and explosive sound. Together they craft music that is cathartic and relatable yet unique and genre-defying, using humor and wit to tackle topics from isolation and queer identity to bangers about hot sauce and nostalgia.

Produced by Ari Leopold at Lava Lake Studio in Phoenix, 'Stress Sandwich' is about growth, exploring themes such as vulnerability, disappointment, and art-making as a beautiful yet imperfect process. They go head to head with depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, anger, hunger, laziness... but also fun things! These 10 tracks - laced with sarcasm, breathless lyricism and unpredictable genre-bending energy - will leave you satisfied and wanting more.

"This album has been in the works for so long. It took years to process all these feelings and experiences and distill them into just ten short songs, but I’m really glad we didn’t try and finish this thing any sooner. It would have tasted so much different. The flavors needed time to develop. I couldn’t have written 'Toll Road' until that bastard stole our money. 'The Snailmate Show' wasn’t a thing before we were forced to quarantine and couldn’t play live. And until we had to go through some intense physical changes, 'My Weird Gross Body' just wouldn’t have been the same," says Kalen Lander.

"I beat myself up a lot during this whole process. I felt like I was taking too long to write the lyrics, and that meant that I was bad at writing. I had lost my touch. But then I really started to understand how, when I FINALLY finished the words for a song, it was perfect. It couldn’t have been perfect if I’d forced it out any sooner. And I think 'The Laziest Man in the World' encapsulates that sentiment better than anything."

As part of the LGBTQ community and with Bentley being a transgender artist, Snailmate inspires their listeners to be unapologetic and unashamed of who they are, cultivating a fervent fanbase based on inclusivity and shows as a safe space for all genders and people of all sexualities.

'Stress Sandwich' is out now, available digitally from fine music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. It can also be ordered on vinyl and CD vinyl from the band's own store, where ample merch is also available, including their very own award-winning hot sauce!

CREDITS
Performed by Kalen Lander & Bentley Monet
Written by Kalen Lander & Bentley Monet
Produced by Kalen Lander & Ari Leopold
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered by Ari Leopold @ Lava Lake Studio in Phoenix, AZ
Music video by Chase A Warren

LIVE DATES
Jan. 12 Tempe, AZ @ The Beast
Jan. 14 Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit Live
Mar. 23 Phoenix, AZ @ Gracie's Tax Bar
Apr 19 Los Angeles, CA @ The Offbeat

Stress Sandwich' album https://snailmate.bandcamp.com/album/stress-sandwich
CD, vinyl & merch https://snailmateband.storenvy.com
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/4Hw9gzWkUvZ2tLNCKjTU7S

Art-Punk Kraut-Rock duo CIRCOLO VIZIOSO presents 'Choppy' single, previewing debut album

January 6, 2024

"From Sonic Youth, The Black Angels to Fugazi and Nirvana, this is a band who wears their inspirations on their sleeves, blending these in a fascinating way. Raw and visceral, Circolo Vizioso makes for a highly recommended listen, presenting groundbreaking music with a signature sound" ~ The Spill Magazine

Kraut-inspired punk rock duo Circolo Vizioso presents 'Choppy', a high-octane song spawned from of a bout of depression brought on by a failed love story. This is the first taste of their debut album 'Verrueckt' (out March 1), following their 5-track 'Isolation' EP (2020). Here they offer a potent taste of their unique brand of high-intensity, lyric-driven punk, created mainly with electric violin, guitar and drums.

Hailing from Berlin, Circolo Vizioso is made up of Tony Scafidi (guitar, bass, drum, hi-hat, vocals) and Paul Geigerzaehler (violin, snare drum, vocals). The band plays abrasive, groovy punk music that is influenced, on the one hand, by the sound of 1990s New York, Chicago and Washington embodied in such bands as Fugazi, Blonde Redhead and Sonic Youth, and by the sound of early 80's and 90's Eastern German and Eastern European punk bands like Dezerter, Sandow and Schleimkeim on the other.

"I'd had a severe break up and the song went out as a sort of persistent beat, prolonging an apex point that hardly makes it out of the main riff, opening up only at the very yet repeating it self only faster," says Tony Scafidi.

"Metaphorically, it's kind of like when a couple try to sort things out and get back together, but then fail due to continued use of old commuication tools for a completely new situation they can no longer manage. At the time, I was also listening to The Black Angels a lot and having sleeping problems. There's a weird cocktail here."

Formed in March 2020 on a balcony in Friedrichshain, Berlin during the first Covid-19 lock-down, Circolo Vizioso was born as an attempt to keep art and music alive and to provide support to their neighbours during a time when no concerts were happening and no cinemas, museums or galleries were open.

In spirit, Circolo Vizioso is a last ditch effort to resist the isolation and the lack of social and human contact, as well as the hunger for music and art during this unusual time.

About the upcoming 'Verrueckt" album, Paul Geigerzaehler explains, "We wanted an album that could express anger, frustration and disaffection against an unfair world and all the discomfort entwined with that and we wanted to do it with direct and bare lyrics, abrasive violin lines, fat distorted guitar solos, and big fuzzy riffs. Yet we wanted people to dance to all this batshit crazy world in a sort of self-exorcising dance, where one can head to bed with the feeling that they have at least sweat their daily demons out for the night."

As of January 5, 'Choppy' will be available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The full 'Verrueckt' album, which will be released on March 1, is already available for pre-order directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Music and Lyrics by Paul Geigerzaehler and Tony Scafidi
Tony Scafidi - guitar, bass, drum, hi-hat, vocals
Paul Geigerzaehler - violin, snare drum, vocals
Audrey Quillons - backing vocals on 'Walls' and 'Verruecht'
Produced by Paul Geigerzaehler and Tony Scafidi
Sound Engineer - Smail Shock Production at B Studio in Berlin
Mixed and Mastered by Sacha Tilotta in Catania, Italy

Bandcamp https://ilcircolovizioso.bandcamp.com/track/choppy-2
Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/ilcircolovizioso/02-circolo-vizioso-choppy
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/4cyHfW7iVPabkk5hIj6pxa
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/choppy-single/1721429546
'Verrueckt" album order https://ilcircolovizioso.bandcamp.com/album/verrueckt

2+ decades since first recorded, THE VELDT and ROBIN GUTHRIE finally see the release of The Veldt's 'Illuminated 1989' album

December 18, 2023

"This album is not only a historical sonic document, but it's a shimmering, charming, sensual and cinematic body of remarkable psychedelic rock that resembles nothing currently in the music sphere" ~ The
Spill Magazine

At long last, groundbreaking shoegazers The Veldt have released their 'Illuminated 1989' album on vinyl via Portland-based Little Cloud Records and North Carolina’s 5BC Records. This is the original 1989 full-length record produced by Cocteau Twins' Robin Guthrie, who also remastered this album especially for vinyl. While originally intended to be the band's first album, their label Capitol Records shelved the recording and sent them back into the studio with producer Lincoln Fong (Moose, Piroshka), resulting in their first album released with the title 'Marigolds'.

They earlier previewed the singles 'Angel Heart', 'The Everlasting Gobstopper', and 'Aurora Borealis' (featuring Elizabeth Fraser cameo on backing vocals and a B-side remix by The Veldt). The Veldt has also just wrapped up their U.S. tour with TREMOURS, culminating in a performance at Seattle's KEXP.

One of the most notable first-wave shoegaze bands, formed in North Carolina in the 1980s, The Veldt revolves around identical twins Daniel Chavis (vocals, guitar) and Danny Chavis (guitar). Their unique sound was influenced by Cocteau Twins as readily as Marvin Gaye and free-jazz warriors Sun Ra and Pharaoh Sanders. Referencing European post-punk while embracing modern hip-hop, these trailblazers work with transient dreamscapes as fluidly as solid song structures.

Pitchfork included The Veldt's album 'Afrodisiac', produced by the legendary Ray Shulman (The Sundays, Bjork, The Sugarcubes) and released via Mercury Records, in the top 50 shoegaze albums ever released, while Stereogum included ‘Until You’re Forever’ in the top 31 shoegaze tracks. Their sound also inspired future generations of alternative artists, including TV On the Radio.

'Illuminated 1989' album https://theveldtmusic.bandcamp.com/album/illuminated-1989
Vinyl order https://littlecloudrecords.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-veldt-illuminated-1989-pre-order
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/5Tf9MrkDsfKi5leleBZt7n

The Veldt's journey is fascinating. Performing since they were children, the Chavis brothers’ musical roots lead back to the church and southern juke-joints, and listening to music that included gospel, Motown and Pink Floyd. The Veldt formed in the late 80’s in Raleigh amongst the legendary North Carolina music scene of the time, initially signing with Mammoth Records - leading to a chain of major-label relationships that took the group across Europe and the U.S. playing shows with the likes of Throwing Muses, Pixies, Cocteau Twins and Jesus & Mary Chain.

After moving from Raleigh to New York, they briefly performed as Apollo Heights before returning to their original name The Veldt. Joined by Japanese bassist-programmer Hayato Nakao, they together forging music that is a heady and sensual blend of shoegaze and progressive soul, dreamy soundscapes and infectious grooves. Some of the band's recent notable releases include 'The Shocking Fuzz Of Your Electric Fur' EP (2017) and the album 'Entropy is the Mainline to God' (2022).

Over the years, The Veldt has collaborated with TV On The Radio, Mos Def, Lady Miss Kier (Deee-Lite), A.R.Kane and toured or played with Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Pixies, Throwing Muses, Echo & The Bunnymen, Cocteau Twins, Manic Street Preachers, Phantogram, Modern English, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Oasis, Chuck D, Living Colour and Schooly D.

The 'Illuminated 1989' album is out now on limited edition translucent pink or clear vinyl with a gatefold sleeve. It is also available from fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
‘Illuminated 1989’ released via Little Cloud Records and 5BC Records
Danny Chavis - guitar
Daniel Chavis - vocals, guitar, lyrics
Marvin Levi - drums
Joseph Hue Boyle - bass
Elizabeth Fraser - additional vocals
Robin Guthrie - programming, additional guitars
Lincoln Fong - programming
Written by Danny and Daniel Chavis
Recorded and produced at September Sound by Robin Guthrie
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

New Jersey's ELK CITY releases seventh album 'Undertow', one of 2023's top releases, via Magic Door Record Label

December 12, 2023

"Elk City’s cool and elegant sound draws on 1980s “dream pop” and bits of 1960s folk-rock" ~ The New York Times

"Sophisticated – vivacious, harmonious and memorable due to many factors, not least of all is the remarkable vocal timbre and convincing delivery of vocalist Renée LoBue, recalling Eddie Brickell at times and Jefferson Airplane’s Grace Slick at others" ~ Music-News.com

"Clever lyrics, winning arrangements and superb production, but with a seemingly darker underbelly... one of the best albums of 2023. From start to finish, this is a solid offering – a thoroughly pleasing and inspired aural experience" ~ The Spill Magazine

New Jersey art-rock outfit Elk City present their seventh album 'Undertow'. From the opening title track, this album sucks you into a different kind of record. Recorded, mixed and mastered by renowned producer (Guided By Voices, Luna, Gramercy Arms), this album was released via NJ-based Magic Door Record Label, co-founded by Guided by Voices' Kevin March, Ketchem and artist Renée LoBue.

'Undertow' was created with peculiar pop constructs built of rare materials, found only in the wilds behind Magic Door Recording Studio in Montclair, where Elk City meticulously built this record and this band a whole other way. Songs often begin with improvised live-jams that become load-bearing beams for layers of instrumentation and harmonies. Elk City’s live shows also push boundaries of what a band should be.

Founded by Renée LoBue and Ray Ketchem, Elk City is rounded out by Luna’s Sean Eden, Richard Baluyut (Versus) and Chris Robertson (Psychedelic Furs side project Feed, Punch Havana).

After seven albums, Elk City are still deliberately hard to define, still seekers, leading the listener on a journey to new sounds and feelings. And as long as they remain curious, they will report back what they have found, with albums like 'Undertow', packed with siren songs to lure you in and fill you with a devout ecstasy, body and soul. You came here looking for something. And now you know... Welcome to Elk City.

Like their previous album 'Above the Water', this record is inspired by the band’s love of documentaries and films that explore the allure of cults and extreme alternative lifestyles. Ahead of this album, the band released the singles 'Tried To Move On' and 'Strong (You're Not Alone)'.

“The albums 'Undertow’ and ‘Above the Water’ were written and recorded simultaneously. We actually considered releasing them together as a double album. Numerous songs on ‘Undertow’ are long and sprawling and take the listener on unexpected adventures. But, of course, there are a few pop songs too,” says Ray Ketchem.

Renée LoBue adds, “Undertow is the darker continuation of our latest 'Above the Water' LP. As Ray mentioned, both records were recorded at the same time. Undertow stands alone as a listening experience. You can hear us going deeper into unchartered sonic waters.”

The 'Undertow' album is out now, available across fine digital outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written and performed by Elk City
Renée LoBue - vocals
Sean Eden - guitars
Chris Robertson - guitars, backing vocals
Richard Baluyut - bass, synths, backing vocals
Ray Ketchem - drums, synths, sounds
Claudia Chopek - violin
Recorded, mixed and masted by Ray Ketchem
Produced by Ray Ketchem
Created at Magic Door Recording, Montclair, NJ
© 2023 sound is crazy music (BMI)
Single cover artwork by Renée LoBue
'Strong' video directed, filmed and edited by Ray Ketchem
featuring Renée LoBue, Chris Robertson and Richard Baluyut
'Strong' video filmed at Eagle Rock Reservation & Kip's Castle Park, Essex County NJ
Elk City live photos at the Bowery Ballroom by Eric Kayne

'Undertow' album pre-order / Bandcamp https://elkcity.bandcamp.com/album/undertow
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/1HfBv1vvbuy2dMRoPIWyaW
Album digital order https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/elkcity/undertow