Alt-pop artist Celeste Corsano presents mesmerizing single 'XS', where size counts

Alternative pop artist Celeste Corsano has released her new single 'XS' via Magic Door Record Label. Conveying feelings of insecurity, body image issues, and the pressure for perfection and success, often driven by media and external standards, she uses the double meaning of "XS" (extra small) sizes and "excess" success. With a sound wrapped in analogue perfection, Corsano grapples with the cycle of comparison and the fleeting nature of achieving an "industry standard" of happiness.

Based in Milford, Pennsylvania (on the border with New Jersey), Corsano once again made the short trip to Magic Door Recording Studio in Montclair, NJ to work with Ray Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Elk City, Gramercy Arms, Luna, Crash Harmony), who produced, recorded, mixed and mastered this release. Recalling The Cars and Kate Bush, 'XS' appears on the trail of three stunning singles - 'Stuck', 'Nightbird'and 'Sunlight Gazing'.

"XS is about feeling like an outsider and trying to fit in, insecurities about body image and the trap of perfection.  These mindsets come from my own insecurities based on my personal experiences, examples of women I've seen growing up and by outside sources such as the media and the entertainment industry," says Celeste Corsano.

"The lyrics "XS" and "XXS" come from the clothing tags that I often fit into and the sort of shallow and fleeting satisfaction that I feel when I do...silly and kind of sad, but true.  But there are other meanings.  I'm comparing myself to other peoples' success and I feel like I don't measure up".

This song features famed guitarist James Mastro (The Bongos, Mott the Hoople, Ian Hunter, Patti Smith, John Cale), Ray Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Elk City, Gramercy Arms, Luna, Crash Harmony) on drums and synths, and David Nagler (Nova Social, Joan Baez, Aaron Neville, Rosanne Cash, Yo La Tengo) on bass.

"XS" begins with a light pop feel, but by the end develops an ominous tone that is highlighted fantastically with Ray Ketchem's tribal drumming and cymbal splashes and James Mastro's dark chord play. The creative production and analog synthesizers also enhance its primal feel; as if I am grappling in the wilderness of these thoughts of mine and singing with a troubled sarcasm which I feel reveals my true feelings about the bondage or cycle of comparison that we can all get into," says Corsano.

"Feeling we have achieved the "industry standard" of whatever it is we are trying to achieve - be it body size, our image in our creative expression, or success in social circles, perhaps, but then saying, “Well, have I reached it? Am I now in the perfect spot of happiness?” We all know how transitory this can be and the ambivalence that may set in after that high wears off."

Corsano's music blends poetic lyricism with adventurous arrangements, unexpected rhythms and a distinct emotional range -- from ethereal and moody to playful and bold. With a natural use of mixed meters and layered vocal timbres, her fearless approach to storytelling conveys a deeper truth. With a simple unassuming style, there's a disarming honesty in her work that feels deeply personal, yet speaks to something we all feel. Revealing a vulnerability that is both deeply personal and strikingly relatable, her sparse, almost childlike vocals amplify its impact.

From a musical family, Celeste is inspired by her brothers - Latin roots musician Tony Corsano and percussionist Chris Corsano (Björk, Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore). Corsano began in NYC's live music scene, drawing inspiration from punk and new wave while also writing poetry and studying art. After initially performing Celtic and Bluegrass music, she evolved into a songwriter. She also honed her ear during countless studio sessions with her ex-husband, producer Brad Morrison (and founder of Absolute A-Go-Go Records), working with notable artists like Phish, the Figgs and Spiral Jetty.

'XS' is out now, available from fine online music platforms, including Bandcamp, where her latest singles 'Stuck', 'Sunlight Gazing' and 'Nightbird' can also be found. 

CREDITS
Written by Celeste Corsano
Celeste Corsano – vocals & keyboards
James Mastro – guitar
Ray Ketchem – drums & synths
David Nagler – bass
Produced by Ray Ketchem
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording, Montclair, NJ
Cover artwork by Chris Corsano
Released by Magic Door Record Label
'Stuck' video production & concept by Brother JT
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


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New Jersey's The Melancholy Kings present 'Bitcoin Elegy', heralding first album in 6 years

New Jersey rockers The Melancholy Kings present 'Bitcoin Elegy', a guitar-driven single about the inevitable decline of meaningful personal relationships in the digital age. With gratuitous references to Yeats and King Canute, this song previews the first album from the Montclair-based outfit in six years. Not actually an elegy about the famed king of cryptos, the song references Bitcoin as a noted marker for the post-analog world, the elegy here being is specifically about the loss of interpersonal community.

With footage shot at Prototype 237, an art collective and performance space located in Paterson, NJ, the video is driven by the song's dynamic shifts, the uptempo and frenetic intro shifting to a more mellow, almost folk-rock progression in the second part of the verses. The time-shifting playing on the lyrical themes of disconnectedness and helplessness in the face of inevitable decline, the slow-motion segments convey the sense of band members trapped in a stasis as the world collapses around them.

Now based in New Jersey, The Melancholy Kings are transplants from NYC, who wear their love-hate relationship with the Garden State and its big city neighbor on their sleeve. Musically, they evoke a meeting of Paul Westerberg and Jeff Tweedy somewhere in the swamps of Jersey, blending the sounds of Wilco and The Replacements.

The core duo, singer/guitarist Mike Potenza (The Anderson Council, Crash Harmony, BARD, Gramercy Arms) and bassist Scott Selig (Ambulance, Uncle Moon, Deni Bonet Band, Super Tuesday), met while enduring the desolate misery of corporate life in a Midtown Manhattan law firm. Unknown to each other, they both had a secret past as musicians in the '90s and '00s NYC indie scene, having played in various "almost-famous" post-punk bands and toured as opening acts for legends. Escaping corporate misery, they rededicated themselves to music, solidifying the lineup with drummer Paul Andrew (Fluffer, Phantom Tollbooth) and guitarist Peter Horvath (The Anderson Council).

'Bitcoin Elegy' is the first offering from their second album 'Her Favorite Disguise', the long-awaited follow up to their eponymous debut album - an unapologetic nod to the rough-hewn insouciance of '80s pre-grunge alt-rock. Released via Magic Door Record Label, this album was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by renowned producer Ray Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Luna, Elk City, Gramercy Arms, Crash Harmony) at Magic Door Recording Studio.

"Bitcoin Elegy is a song about the lack of personal connectivity in the digital age. In a sense, it's meant to be nostalgic, but it's also about being resigned to fate and life going on despite what we think or do (the sun, the moon, the stars, they hardly care).  Like King Canute's efforts to stop the tides flooding his camp, the song is meant to invoke the inevitability of "progress" ("we told the tides to stop their to and fro; we still got sucked out by the undertow")," says Mike Potenza.

"Musically, the song came together very quickly with the opening riff leading into a straightforward guitar-driven rocker and a bridge with spectral backing vocals supplied by special guest, Olivia Selig."

On 'Bitcoin Elegy', the band is joined by vocalist Olivia Selig.  This new album also features the iconic Mac Gollehon (David Bowie, Al Jarreau, Duran Duran, Mick Jagger, Hall and Oates) on trumpet, cellist Carolyn Jeselsohn, vocalist Reneé LoBue of Elk City, accordionist Carl Riehl (Michelle Shocked, Uncle Moon) and Ray Ketchem on percussion.

Scott Selig shares, "When Mike sent us 'Bitcoin Elegy', played on acoustic guitar and sung into his phone, I was immediately hooked by the melody and chord progressions and the lyrics made me like it even more.  It was a pretty seamless process for the full band to develop it into the electric guitar-driven rocker that it became, and we quickly integrated the song into our live set.  It was fun refining it in the studio with Ray and rest of the band, bringing in acoustic guitars when the dynamic shifts mid-verse, and Mike added some nice lead guitar lines in the bridge to play against the vocal melody. Finally, the harmonies that Peter and Olivia sung really filled out the arrangement."
 
'Bitcoin Elegy' is available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. On November 28, 'Her Favorite Disguise' will be released digitally and also on vinyl. It can already be pre-ordered on Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Mike Potenza – guitar, vocals  
Peter Horvath - guitar, vocals  
Scott Selig - bass
Paul Andrew - drums, percussion
Olivia Selig - vocals
Produced by Ray Ketchem, Scott Selig & The Melancholy Kings
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording Studio, Montclair, NJ
Additional recording by Scott Selig at The Old Stone House, Maplewood, NJ
Written by Mike Potenza
Published by Hamilton Publishing (BMI) © 2025
© 2025 The Melancholy Kings
Released by Magic Door Record Label
Single art & design by Ray Ketchem & Scott Selig. Photo by Sonya Selig
Video filmed & edited by Scott Selig
Filmed at Prototype 237 & Phenotype 237, Paterson NJ
Additional footage filmed at Mike’s pad
Band photos by Carlo Cipriani
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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Robin Ross & The TW Howlers share 'Little Bit Older', a riff-driven reflection on life's journey

Sitting on the border between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Robin Ross & The TW Howlers present 'Little Bit Older', a rhythm-driven offering from their debut EP 'Back To The Forest', which pivots from spontaneous rock energy to a profound reflection on the sobriety that comes with life's relentless march and the realization that each rotation of the wheel of life grants a fresh, clear perspective on both the self and society.

Here, Robin Ross and TW Howell tell the tale of two rockers walking with nature and truth and living life to the fullest. These five compositions - co-authored and recorded over several months in early 2025 - blend classic, Americana-hued and folky blues-rock. Recorded at Baa Baa Leaf Music Studios, Ross produced and engineered this EP with Jonathan Duckett (Phillip Glass, Kenny G, David Sanborn).

The lyrics say it all: "As time wanders by, it's no disguise.  One day sober, another day older.  Left with no alibi, no tear from an eye.  Roll along, just take a number, fill up your order.  Time moves on, and I'm a little bit older."  The new single follows 'Whiskey and Ice', an upbeat roots-rock track about getting ready for whatever comes your way, and earlier videos for 'Walk With Me' and 'Back To The Forest'.

"'Little Bit Older' was created off the main riff and as the drums pushed it forward when it was written, on the fly, I kept the same chord and changed rhythm into like a stick hitting you over the head beat and it worked. We rattled off words with ease with back and forth vocals, ping-pongeing some of the end vocals . TW and I will often sing together in parts or go off color - it doesn't work all the time - but this time it did," says Robin Ross.

"I play the music and make up melodies and find the words to match. I kept hearing the line, "A little bit Older", so I went with it. I realize every new day is a little more sober - which is not necessarily about drinking, but it could be if you need it to be. TW picks up the subject and writes lyrics to fill it in. We record a scratch take or two and develop the way to sing it, and then do it".

TW Howell adds, "This song stems from inner self-reflection when we come to a certain age, and also a realization at what society and life reflects.  Robin had a musical structure and hook line "every time I realize, I'm a little bit older", then the BaaBaa Leaf magic took us on the mutual lyrical adventure".

On 'Back To The Forest' EP, good-vibed rock and roll converges with the power of forest energy, each track a sonic immersion, elevating your personal vibration. Joined by their extended music family of Joellen (JoJo) Gaetani, Nancy Isola and Kristin Grazevichon back vocals, these songs also feature drumming by famed artist-producer Wharton Tiers (Wharton Tiers Ensemble, Laurie Anderson, Helmet, Sonic Youth, White Zombie, Swans, Dinosaur Jr.).

With a storied history of performing all over the United States, TW Howell is a folk-blues musician, whose style seamlessly blends these genres together with hints of rock. Writing and performing music his whole life, TW's music career launched in Florida on a trajectory that has zig-zagged  throughout the country. He too considers the Lake Champlain area and the Poconos as his home base.  

With musical roots in New Jersey and New York dating back to 1988, Robin Ross has established himself in the bustling artistic community of Milford, Pennsylvania, A musician, songwriter, and producer with diverse musical endeavors spanning over three decades, he has released five albums, holds an audio engineering degree and has played a pivotal role in the creation of several recording studios, including Triple R Studios and Sound Complex near New York City. In the early 1990s, he co-founded the band Laughing Jack, later rebranded as Jack’s Maze, acclaimed for their unique progressive rock sound, before life and business took him in a different direction.

In 2021, with rekindled passion, Robin embarked on new projects. Robin Ross & The Melodynes (a collaboration with Wharton Tiers, Joe Torres and Joellen (JoJo) Gaetani) infuses classic rock with modern sensibilities and contemporary influences. Robin also regrouped with Jack's Maze members Frank Cinquegrana, Scott Cowan, and Joe Torres to create new progressive rock albums.

The 'Back to The Forest' EP is out now on CD, available via Robin Ross' website and digitally from fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, SpotifyAmazon and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Music written by Robin Ross & TW (Tim) Howell
Robin Ross - lead guitar, keys, bass, back vocals
TW Howell - vocals, acoustic guitar
Wharton Tiers - drums
JoEllen Gaetani - back vocals on 'Back To The Forest' & 'Walk With Me'
Kristin Grazevich - back vocals on 'Back To The Forest'
Nancy Isola - back vocals on 'Whiskey And Ice'
Recorded at Baa Baa Leaf Music Studios (Milford, PA)
Music Producer & Sound Engineer: Robin Ross
Supervising Engineer: Jonathan Duckett
Photography & videos by Tina Ross
Album design by Tina Ross
Publishing & booking: RPM Entertainment Enterprises, LLC
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


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Manchester's INCA BABIES shares 'Candy Mountain', new twist on their classic post-punk grit

Manchester's iconic post-punk outfit Inca Babies is back with 'Candy Mountain', the steaming opening track from their 'Reincarnation' album, out November 28th via Black Lagoon Records. Originally found on their second LP ‘This Train’ in 1986 as a 5-minute live outing with a hypnotic bass line, this re-envisioning brings in a contemporary groove, with electronic sequencing and sonic studio work.

Led by Harry Stafford, Inca Babies were a vibrant part of Britain's early postpunk / death-rock scene, amassing a steady following through five intensive years of touring, six singles and four albums, all of which entered the UK Indie Charts.

After recording four sessions for BBC's legendary John Peel show in 1984-1988, the band called it quits, but then reformed in 2007. The Incas are now a 4-piece, with Stafford (guitar, keys, vocals) joined by guitarist Jim Adama, bassist Dave Carmichael (Rat) and long-term member Rob Haynes (The Membranes, Goldblade) on drums and percussion.

Directed and edited by Harry Stafford, the road-tripping video for 'Candy Mountain' escapes the urban grind to the country, where the air is sweeter and the landscape infinite - was filmed by Jonny Stafford on location in Manchester, Bala in North Wales, and on top of The Bwlch mountain pass in Gwynedd.

'Reincarnation' is a collection of select Inca Babies tracks, re-recorded, re-invented and reincarnated for 2025. Recorded and mixed over two years at  6Db Studios in Salford by renowned producer Simon ‘Ding’ Archer (The Fall, PJ Harvey) and Harry Stafford, with Ding also contributing serious sonic and dub flourishes, this album was mastered by Marco Butcher at Boombox Studio in North Carolina.

"Looking through our back catalogue, it occurred to me that there were tracks that should again be made available in some manner and others that would benefit from reinvention. Last year's 'Ghost Mechanic Nine' album was an opportunity to create new music for our fans, who would like this music in the form of digital downloads and, for the truly hardcore, as a 12” Vinyl Album," says Harry Stafford.

"But it was also a realisation that we could invigorate old tunes. We already had a ‘best of’ compilation in ‘Plutonium', released in 2006, so we embarked upon a new quest, to inject new life into our favourite back catalogue. This whole project was to be an Innovative re-imagining of old tunes: re-invented for contemporary consideration. All of them Re-awakened and 'Re-inca-rnated'."

Inca Babies' journey - from their formation in 1983 in Manchester's now-legendary deck-access flats of Hulme to where they are today - was highlighted in last year's documentary 'The Making of Ghost Mechanic Nine'. Since reforming, they have released four albums and toured Europe, Russia, North America, India and beyond. They continue to explore goth, punk and death-rock jazz-blues, while paying tribute to the strong riffing and cool, dead-pan delivery of the dark wave scene at the time.

'Candy Mountain' is out everywhere, including SpotifyApple Music and Bandcamp. On November 28, the 'Reincarnation' album will be released on both CD and digitally.

CREDITS
Harry Stafford - guitars, bass, keyboards & vocals
Rob Haynes - drums & percussion
Vincent O'Brien - slide guitar
Written by Harry Stafford
Harry Stafford – vocals, guitars & keyboards
Rob Haynes - drums & percussion
All songs re-recorded by Harry Stafford and Rob Haynes. + Slide Guitar Vincent O Brien+
Recorded & produced at 6Db in Salford by Simon ‘Ding’ Archer
Mastered by Marco Butcher at Boombox Studio, North Carolina
Artwork designed by Harry Stafford
from images by James Chadderton Art Ltd. (Manchester Apocalyptic visions)
Album released by Black Lagoon Records - catalogue no. BLRLP0061
Video filmed by Jonny Stafford. Directed & edited by Harry Stafford 
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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Lust, loathing & liberation: Charlie Nieland's "Shame" is a powerful ode to queer resilience

Renowned NYC songwriter-producer Charlie Nieland presents 'Shame', a firecracker that heralds his forthcoming 'Stories From The Borderlines' album, out on October 24. This video was directed and edited by multi-faceted NYC-based artist Hypnodoll, and filmed by Alice Teeple.

Nieland's backstory is extensive, having written, performed and produced music for decades. He has written for and produced such artists as Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Blondie and Scissor Sisters, as well as scoring the feature film 'The Safety of Objects' (with Glenn Close), Showtime's pilot episode of 'The L Word' and the VH-1documentary 'NY77: The Coolest Year in Hell'.

'Shame' was fuelled by the obsessive lust and repulsion that has been weaponized against the queer community - how fascination runs like blood from all sides, our own self-loathing driving us into the unknown. 

"We eroticize what we despise. 'Shame' twists the war over gender identity into a stomping glam anthem with big guitars and a psychedelic afterburn. I wrote this song for The Bushwick Book Club when we read Hugh Myers' book "When Brooklyn Was Queer: A History", says Charlie Nieland.

"In the late 19th century, before the word “homosexual” even existed, there was a thriving hedonism on the waterfront in Brooklyn, with male and female drag performers - known as inverts - entertaining a crowd that mingled in backrooms and filled the cabarets. After Freud popularized the actual diagnosis, the idea to arrest and imprison gays swept in with a vengeance and a special penitentiary built nearby. The word made it real."

The album's lead track 'Win' is a postpunk mini-epic that starts as a piano-led hymn, becomes an explosive jangling anthem before taking a spectacular turn by Staten Island activist / rapper spiritchild. This record arrives on the trail of Nieland's imaginative EP 'The Ocean Understands' and 'Redshift' and 'Drown' videos.

Presenting a visceral blend of post punk, glam, dream pop and progressive rock, 'Stories From The Borderlines' also involves keyboardist Joe McGinty (The Psychedelic Furs, Ryan Adams, Nada Surf). Atmospheric, with sweeping melodies and restless rhythms, these unique soundscapes promise an immersive journey, showcasing Nieland's continued evolution as an artist and producer. 

Charlie Nieland was awarded a Gold record (UK) for his production work on Blondie's 'Greatest Hits Sight & Sound' and achieved a Top 10 Billboard Dance Chart Positionwith Debbie Harry's single 'Two Times Blue', which he co-wrote and produced.

After 20 years with Her Vanished Grace, Nieland established himself as a solo artist rich on nuanced songwriting and sonic exploration, releasing 'Ice Age' (2014), followed by 'Hopeful Monsters' (2016) and ‘Divisions' album (2021). Half of the literature-inspired duo Lusterlit with Susan Hwang, he also produces and co-hosts the 'An Embarrassment of Prog' podcast.

On September 25, 'Shame' hits online platforms, including Apple MusicSpotify and Bandcamp, where 'Stories From The Borderlines' is now available for pre-order.  On November 5, Nieland will hold his Record Release Show at Berlin Under A, with Life in a Blender and Jessie Kilguss, who will also release the album 'They Have A Howard Johnson’s There'

SINGLE CREDITS 
Written by Charlie Nieland
Produced, recorded, mixed & mastered by Charlie Nieland
Recorded at Saturation Point Studios (Brooklyn, NY)
Charlie Nieland - vocals, electric guitars, 12 string acoustic guitar, bass, percussion  

Dan McAssey - guitar
Billy Loose - drums

Single cover photo by Bob Krasner
Album cover art by Hypnodoll™ 

Videos for 'Shame', 'Redshift' and 'Drown' by Hypnodoll™
Photography by Alice Teeple
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


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The Quality of Mercury takes us to 'Heaven's Gate', teasing sophomore album 'The Voyager'

Alt-rock artist The Quality of Mercury presents his latest high-paced trip with 'Heaven's Gate', the latest gem revealed from his forthcoming sophomore album 'The Voyager'. Nine years after releasing his debut 'Transmission' album, he is back with new music that is both anthemic and accessible, cinematic and catchy - a perfect blend of muscle and melody.

'Heaven's Gate' shines with an unexpected lift balancing the expansive feel of space-rock with vibrant pop elements. A story about longing to transcend into enlightenment, the upbeat pulse gives it a sense of momentum, like you’re cruising through the stars with the windows down.  

The Quality of Mercury is Pennsylvania-based artist Jeremiah Rouse, who handles everything from writing and performing to engineering. This groovesome, graceful and grand music with space-rock atmospherics speaks to our deep need for connection, both human and spiritual. His ongoing search for meaning is woven into songs that range from bursts of excitement to moments of quiet reflection. 

"'Heaven’s Gate' is inspired by the real-life cult of the same name, but it’s not a song about tragedy; it’s a song about longing. I saw myself in their story: the endless search for something beyond this world, the gaze fixed on the stars, waiting for a sign, a savior, an escape," says Jeremiah Rouse. 

"I’ve spent so much of my life looking up, hoping for divine intervention, for something greater to lift me out of the weight of this world. Whether that’s God, aliens, or something unnamed, 'Heaven’s Gate' is about the hope that there is something out there. Something bigger, kinder, more meaningful than what we know here on Earth. This isn’t a song about giving up. It’s about believing there’s more."

'The Voyager' is an adventurous journey, each track offering a different terrain of feeling: exhilaration, anxiety, longing, and introspection. Lead track 'Ganymede' is an upbeat cinematic journey that reflects the album’s overarching themes of distance, discovery, and transformation, this song is about finding love and losing it, fulfilling Rouse's mission of exploring emotion and texture across vast sonic terrain.

Rouse's recorded works serve as a bridge to his audience —a suitably distant medium, given his songs about receiving transmissions emanating from the other side of the universe and epic, intergalactic voyages. For all its otherworldly sound and association with vastness and space, the intensity and intellect, depth and profound insight found here is a journey into the artist’s own inner space.

Influenced by such iconic bands as Hum, Failure, Starflyer 59, and Sunny Day Real Estate, The Quality of Mercury creates a vast, immersive world, each track built as a sonic landscape - grand in scope yet meticulously detailed. The goal is simple but ambitious: to create music that reveals something new with every listen. Tiny flourishes, subtle swells, and sound elements crossing the stereo field are placed with obsessive precision, often blooming unexpectedly or popping out at just the right moment. Every detail matters, perhaps to a fault, but that’s part of the craft.

With a background in film production and a lifelong love of sci-fi cinema,  Jeremiah approaches songwriting with a distinctly visual mindset. Every song is imagined like a scene from a movie — framed, lit, and paced as though it were a short film. That cinematic sensibility, combined with a meticulous approach to sound design, results in music that’s as emotionally resonant as it is sonically rich.

'Heaven's Gate' is out now, available from fine music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The full album 'The Voyager', which can already be pre-ordered via Bandcampwill be released on October 24.

CREDITS
All music written, performed and recorded by Jeremiah Rouse
Back up vocals by Violet Rouse
Drums performed and recorded by Mario Quintero at AudioMQ Studio
Final Mixes by Mario Quintero at AudioMQ Studio
Mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music
Album artwork created by Jeremiah Rouse
Artist photos by Matthew Hamm
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


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Fitzsimon and Brogan (FaB) team up with ELO's Martin Smith on 'Flowers at Her Door' single

London-based indie rock / power-pop duo Fitzsimon and Brogan (FaB) are back with their new single 'Flowers At Her Door', released through Booster Music WTPL France. In a music landscape starved for originality, a UK duo is proving that sometimes the freshest sounds are born from old-school inspiration.

FaB is made up of songwriter Neil Fitzsimon and vocalist Bee Brogan, both members of the Sony-licensed band Pretty Blue Gun, who went on to form the London-based songwriting-production partnership FaB Productions and recorded their 'Big Blue World' album at Abbey Road's Studio Two, where The Beatles recorded so many great songs.

FaB has crafted a project that's both emotive and lighthearted, successfully bridging the spirit of '60s and '70s songwriting with a truly new feel. Recorded at FaB Productions, this single was co-produced, mixed and mastered by Martin Smith (Electric Light Orchestra, Shakin' Stevens) at Garage Studios in London. The music and lyrics for 'Flowers at Her Door' are written by Fitzsimon, with Brogan handling vocals, keyboards, drums and engineering.  

'Flowers At Her Door' is a sonic and lyrical achievement, calling to mind Debbie Harry with the deep tone of German singer-songwriter Nico. FaB has captured the attention of legends, with David Bowie's drummer Woody Woodmansey praising their ability to stand out from the crowd and Elvis Costello's Pete Thomas saying the avant-garde would be proud.

"This song was inspired by the Ridley Scott film "The Duellists", which depicts the Napoleonic wars and that particular film portrayed decadence, glamour and cruelty in equal measure. We’re trying to achieve the standard of the songwriting of the 1960s/1970s for a modern-day audience," says Neil Fitzsimon.

"My style of writing is old-school, with namely a guitar and a blank page. I give myself 45 minutes to work on a new song and if nothing comes, I’ll put the guitar down and go back to it the following day. It’s amazing how things that seemed insurmountable can then become vividly clear 24 hours later."

This new single follows FaB's latest album 'This Wicked Pantomime', which was co-produced by Pat Collier (Katrina and the Waves, Primal Scream, Maximo Park) at Perry Vale Studios, London and involved dummer Woody Woodmansey (David Bowie Spider's from Mars), as well as Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas.

Prior to that, FaB released four well-received albums, including 'Venus in Reverse' (2011), 'His Latest Squeeze' (2015), 'Big Blue World' (2018) and 'The Girl Who Shouted Love at the Heart of the World' (2019), which involved members of The Art of Noise, Eric Clapton bass player Dave Bronze, Moody Blues' Tobias Boshell and Pip Williams (Walker Brothers).

Having toured nationally across the UK and with song placements in Film and TV, they also wrote the musical 'Jack Dagger', which was showcased at the Greenwich Theatre, London for the Musical Futures Award, and also at the Bridewell and the Royal College of Music in London. With chart success in France, Belgium, and South Africa—and a song featured in a U.S. sci-fi film—the band is making waves on every front.

As with their full bouquet of sonic offerings, FaB's 'Flowers at Her Door' can be found across the web's music platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify.

CREDITS
Music and Lyrics by Neil Fitzsimon
All guitars, bass played by Neil Fitzsimon
Vocals, keyboards and engineering by Bee Brogan
Recorded and produced by FaB Productions, London
Mixed and mastered by Martin Smith at Garage Studios, London
Cover artwork by FaB Productions
All songs released via Booster Music WTPL, France
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


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Texan electronic artist PARIS MUSIC CORP shares new single 'No Soy A.I.' feat. RayPerez

Texas-based electronic and ambient composer Paris Music Corp. a.k.a. John Andrew Paris presents 'No Soy A.I.', the first taste of his latest electronic odyssey 'Ecotone'. Slated for release on October 24, this album promises to be a futuristic trip, and "No Soy A.I." is the perfect, human-first introduction.

In a world increasingly dominated by the cold, calculated logic of artificial intelligence, Paris Music Corp. throws down a human gauntlet with this dark slab of swirling electro, which features the searing Spanish vocals of fellow Texan musician, writer and actor RayPerez. A potent opening statement, this is a sonic challenge to the algorithmic chill of our times and the only track on this album with vocals.

Originally from Austin and now calling Brownsville, TX his seaside home, John Andrew Paris spent decades creating music and collaborating with artists, including Arthur Brown (The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, perhaps best known for his hit single 'Fire'), as well as DJ Rev Kathy Russell, DJ Lucas Ray, Catastrophe Ballet, Le Reve, Life's Eyes, Beast of Eden, OBOYO and Don Wigwam.

In 2022, Paris Music Corp. released his self-titled album, after taking hiatus for half a decade following the release of his debut album 'Rewind' in 2017.  Fast forward to autumn 2025 - now Paris is ready to release the next collection of his electronic adventures, having  written, recorded, mixed and mastered this full album at Tarantula Studios throughout 2024 and 2025. 

“With 'No Soy A.I.', I wanted to address the coldness of some of AI’s tendencies, such as people already having AI girlfriends and boyfriends. Ironically, this track ultimately turned out to be a love song of sorts, which is okay by me,” says John Andrew Paris.

"Sonically, this piece has a very futuristic sound to it. The words delivered in Spanish alongside make it even more relevant as something new and a little out there”. 

Influenced by the likes of Mick Karn, Pink Floyd, Gary Numan, Tim Hecker, Casino Versus Japan and Miles Davis, John Andrew Paris has also scored 2 independent films - the documentary 'Andy Paris: Bubble Gum King', also released as an album, and the short horror film 'Spectral Wind'. He has also created a clever electronic rework of 'Lord of the Dance' for the Austin Christmas Collection Album.  

"After relocating Paris Music Corp. to Brownsville, TX, it became apparent that wildlife and nature in general were at the forefront with living on the border of Mexico next to the sea. The 'Ecotone' album made sense to me because you have a transitional zone, where two different ecological communities or ecosystems meet and intermingle, often resulting in high biodiversity,” says John Andrew Paris.

Cinematic and ethereal, Paris Music Corp. music is ambient and spacey electronica. Often with elements of 80’s darkwave and ambient soundscapes, his trademark sound includes heavily processed guitar and bass instruments locked into layered loops and further manipulated using software. Also employing live hand percussion, these dense soundscapes take the listener on a sonic journey to otherworldly places.

As of September 19, 'No Soy A.I.! is available from digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The 'Ecotone' album will be released on October 24.

CREDITS
All music written, recorded, mixed & mastered by John Paris
at Tarantula Studios in 2024-2025
Performed by John Andrew Paris, except vocals on 'No Soy A.I.' by RayPerez
Album cover / photo by John Paris
Video created by Gabriel Ramirez
John Paris photos by Jennifer Paris
RayPerez photos by Gabriel Ramirez
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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Seattle's AudioGust packs a post-grunge punch on 'Isotope', previewing new album

Seattle-based artist AudioGust presents his new single 'Isotope', which packs a fierce post-grunge punch, while delivering a song that is both emotionally and sonically heavy. This is the first track on the coming 'Falling From Down' album — his most unflinching yet — a journey through collapse, resilience, and the fragile beauty of survival.

AudioGust is accomplished songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Chris Evans, whose journey started as a guitarist and bassist in various 1980s bands. After a decades-long detour in the software industry, he has returned to his true passion - writing and recording in his own studio, releasing loads of music and collaborating with artists worldwide.

“’Isotope’ is about the kind of relationship that doesn’t just fade when it ends — it lingers like radiation in your bones. I wanted to capture that mix of danger, longing, and intensity, where even after someone’s gone, their presence still feels unstable and powerful inside you. It's about when someone leaves but doesn’t really leave. Their absence keeps echoing inside you, and it’s not just memory — it’s something volatile that you can’t shake,” says Chris Evans.

This is the sound of modern rock with teeth and a declaration that the coming album won’t pull any punches. With jagged guitar riffs and an explosive chorus, the track captures the volatility of an explosive relationship, its lyrics blurring memory, longing, and haunting echoes of what’s been lost.

With powerful, emotionally resonant music, AudioGust is known for his ability to blend high-energy performances with deeply personal storytelling. He has released over four dozen songs across multiple albums and EPs, including his debut 'Walk With Me', follow-ups 'Hope from Darkness' and 'Love and Pain', and his second album 'Here We Go Again' (2025).

AudioGust's coming third album, 'Falling From Down', showcases a harder-edged post-grunge and modern rock sound while retaining the melodic hooks and storytelling that have become his signature. Combining raw rock intensity with strong melodies and emotionally resonant lyrics, AudioGust's tracks are full of energy and memorable hooks, reflecting both a deep understanding of rock’s past and a fresh, contemporary approach. His songs resonate long after the last note fades.

Crafting memorable melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, upbeat rhythms and arrangements, AudioGust's music speaks to the disenchanted and dreamers alike through sonic explorations of the modern human condition. AudioGust was also a finalist in the 2024 USA Songwriting Contest. Writing hooky anthems, AudioGust creates a sound vortex imbued with 90’s to 2000’s alt-rock, his guitar-driven music brings in a strong, driving rhythm section, big choruses and even bigger bridge sections.

Earlier this year, AudioGust released 'Here We Go Again', an album that includes some of his most popular singles, along with new material. It explores the highs and lows of creativity, touching on the unpredictable nature of inspiration—both the exhilarating moments when it strikes and the emptiness when it fades.
 
'Isotope' is out now, available from online music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The full album will be released on November 7.

ALBUM CREDITS
Music & Lyrics by Chris Evans
Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keyboards and Vocals by AudioGust
Produced & performed by AudioGust
Recorded, mixed and mastered at AudioGust studio in Clinton, WA
Cover artwork by Chris Evans
Artist photos by Ernie Shapiro
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


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LA electronic duo LUCKYANDLOVE reveals 'Lonely At Night', rich taster of coming album

LA-based synthwave outfit LUCKYANDLOVE presents their new single 'Lonely At Night', a sultry retro-futuristic delight previewing their third album 'Humaura' (hu • mau • ra), defined by the duo as the atmosphere that emanates from the feelings of the human spirit void of technological control.

Inducing a melancholy dream state of layered sounds, 'Lonely At Night' brings a waterfall of cascading analog strings into shuttering bass lines as syncopated percussion splashes around. With haunted swirling vocals, buzzed out synths, and electrified vibes, they propose a sonic escape from the loneliness through this vortex-sea of sound.

Evoking a brand new art school originality, LUCKYANDLOVE is the raw sonic experiment of Loren Luck and April Love, whose music transcends genres. Their live analog synth beats, Moog instrumentation and beautiful, harmonic vocals trigger an immediate download of fuzzy sunset synthgaze, blue-black neon darkwave, and tigerprint electro punk.

"Picture of a vacant dorm room, where almost everyone left for holiday, leaving the character almost completely alone in a haunted dorm building. The track speeds up in the end, guitars and harmonies a cheerful finale," says April Love.

Loren Luck adds, "Loneliness is a killer. The song describes human feelings of being lonely and reconnecting. We are social animals that require human interaction in the flesh. Life is more enjoyable with someone to share it. Entrapments of modern day keeps people imprisoned. A romantic song."

'Lonely At Night' arrives on the back of their angst-laden anthem ‘I Am Human’, delicately fused together with pulsating molten kicks, abrasive fuzz-laden analog synths and confident sensual vocals. Calling out to make our own choices and take back our lives, this song underlines the need to reconnect with being Human.

This album was recorded, mixed and mastered for digital release by Grammy award-winning engineer Be Hussey (Modern English, Swervedriver, The Church, Alcest, Twin Tribes, Boy Harsher, Luna, Kim Deal) at Balboa Studio and Catwater for the digital music, and mastered for vinyl and lathe cut by Grammy-nominated engineer Nicholas Townsend (Cheap Trick, Weezer, Garbage, Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Grimes, Iron Maiden) at Townsend Mastering.

LUCKYANDLOVE’s visceral, urgently-present dark electro-pop appeal continues to stretch through time and space. Their 'Lucky + Love' and 'Transitions' albums earned them a global fan following and led to US and UK tours, while their tracks 'It's a Mistake', 'Animal' and 'Summertime Frolic' appeared in the film 'Tiger Within' (Ed Asner's final performance), featuring music supervised by Tony Knox, DJ at KXLU's No More Heroes show.

Blending raw analog synth sounds with driving punctuated percussion and punchy analog bass, the compositions on ‘Humaura’ feature enchanting lyrics rooted in emotions ranging from melancholy and sorrowful glom to a state of blissful trance. Shaped by the embers of Siouxsie and The Banshees, Cocteau Twins, and Bauhaus, resonant specters carry over from synth-laden galaxies, where the needle hit the vinyl groove and Doc Martens marched to basement dance floors.

On September 9, 'Lonely at Night' is available on all music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.  The 'Humaura' album will be released on October 3 via SRD - Southern Record Distributors and can now be pre-ordered from the LUCKYANDLOVE Store or Bandcamp.

LUCKYANDLOVE's record release party is October 11 at The Slipper Clutch in LA via Deathrecordzz Presents, with appearances by Warsaw Pact, Amore De Paris, No Exits, and a DJ set by Echolust. 

CREDITS
Written and arranged by Loren Luck & April Love
Produced and performed by LUCKYANDLOVE
April Love - vocals, synths (Moog, Juno, HX Stomp)
Loren Luck - drums, synths (Elektron Rytm, Elektron A4, HX Stomp)
Original songs written & performed raw on analog electronic synthesizers & analog drum machines
Recorded (live with live effects) on TASCAM DP-32SD 32-track Portastudio
Vocals recorded by Be Hussey at Catwater and Balboa Studios in Los Angeles
Recorded in LA at Downtown Rehearsal Studios & Echo Park Studios
Mixing & digital mastering by Be Hussey at Catwater (Los Angeles, CA)
Mastered for vinyl by Nick Townsend at Townsend Mastering
Album artwork painting, layout & design by LUCKYANDLOVE
Front cover artwork by Loren Luck
Video directed By Loren Luck of LUCKYANDLOVE
Cinematography & videography by Romeal Hogan and Kevin Mapp
Video filmed in LUCKYANDLOVE's Studio
©℗ 2025 All rights reserved LUCKYANDLOVE 2025
Published by Oilxice Publishing (ASCAP) and Lynx Technique Publishing (ASCAP)
Vinyl and digital Download Distributed worldwide by SRD/IDOL
Catalogue no. LNL003A
LUCKYANDLOVE studio photos by Alejandro Restrepo
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


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Push Puppets present heart-melting single 'Probably', showcasing new 'Tethered Together' album

Chicago indie pop-rock outfit Push Puppets present 'Probably', with an endearing video that pays homage to a very special basset hound named Louie. This is the latest audio-visual offering from the band's fourth multifaceted album 'Tethered Together', released via Flowering Tree Music.

Push Puppets creates songs with earworm melodies and shiny production that belie often-bittersweet sentiments. This is the creative outlet for singer-songwriter and guitarist Erich Specht (lead vocals, guitar), who is joined by a core of Steve Frisbie (backup vocals, guitar), Kyle Magnusson (keyboards), John William Lauler (bass) and Greg Essig (drums).

"Probably" is a song celebrating the life of a loved one who has moved to the other side. The verses, sung in harmony, build to a chorus that expresses a desire to send one last message. An instrumental break featuring a string quartet elevates the final chorus and outro to a dramatic and powerful conclusion.

Erich Specht shares, "I wrote this song for my awesome big basset hound Louie when he died.  It's meant to be a celebration of the time together with someone who has passed."

A real demonstration of team-work, this videos was produced by Scott Thiele and Sebastian Gonzales and features artwork and animation by renowned Turkish artist Uluc Ali Kilic with video editing and animation by Tcomas Studio. Push Puppets are joined here by a string quartet with Stephanie “Sly” Young on violin, Katherine Andrick on viola, Molly Rife on cello and Kelly Jozwiak on violin (note: Janis Sakai performs in the audio recording).

Produced by Doug McBride (Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt, Silversun Pickups, Cheap Trick) and Erich Specht, ‘Tethered Together’ was mixed and mastered by Doug McBride at Gravity Studios in Chicago. Most of the songs on this album also involve a string quartet, with a horn section on one.

Erich Specht crafts deeply moving music with a masterful blend of soaring harmonies, sharp guitar lines, and sweeping keyboard and string arrangements - all of this anchored by a powerful rhythm section. Exploring themes of love, heartache, and the complexities of human existence, his lyrics feel both poetic and natural, locking into the melodies with precision. This album is a testament to his raw honesty, inviting listeners on a truly unpredictable and heartfelt journey.

'Probably' follows the band's latest offering - 'Shake It Like You Mean It', a lighthearted Spanish-tinged rocker about lowering your inhibitions, with a video resembling a silent movie flashback to 1894-1927 with footage of pie fights, magic, dancing and dating.

Earlier, Push Puppets shared 'Launching a Satellite', a brilliant hymn on insecurity, 'This Whole Endeavor', exploring the ebb and flow of a past relationship set to a memorable piano riff, the arena-rock anthem ‘Similar’ about universal connections, the super-catchy 'Hearts Aren’t Souvenirs', the AM-friendly anthem 'Probably', and 'All Together On 3', highlighting the strength found in unity.

After a lighthearted interlude with the retro rocker 'Tell Colleen to Calm Down', the album delves into the pain of lost love in the Americana-influenced'Hearts Are Fragile' before reaching a powerful and dramatic conclusion with 'The Logical Conclusion', driven by intense strings and piano.

The 'Tethered Together' album is out now, available on CD, digitally on fine digital platforms. It can be obtained in either format directly from the artist via Bandcamp

ALBUM 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 studio
Erich Specht – lead vocals, guitars, string arrangements
Steve Frisbie – backup vocals
Kyle Magnusson – keyboards
John William Lauler – bass
Greg Essig - drums
Stephanie “Sly” Young – violin
Janis Sakai – violin
Katherine Andrick – viola
Molly Rife – cello
Mitch “The Lip” Goldman – trumpet on ;Hearts Aren't Souvenirs’
Tom Trinka – saxophone on ‘Hearts Aren't Souvenirs"
Norman Friede – trombone on ‘Hearts Aren't Souvenirs’
Tommi Zender – add. vocals, guitar, charango on ‘This Whole Endeavor’ & ‘Hearts Are Fragile’
Cover artwork by Crow Prints
Released & published by Flowering Tree Music (ASCAP)
Videos produced by Scott Thiele and Sebastian Gonzales
Artwork and animation by Uluc Ali Kilic
Video editing and animation by Tcomas Studio
Artist photos by Gabi Bucataru
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR 


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Jah Wobble shares 'Tyson Dub Remix' video from 'Dub Volume 1' album ahead of Euro-UK tour

Legendary bass player and vocalist Jah Wobble has released the animated video for 'Tyson Dub Remix', a solid gem from his new album ‘Dub Volume 1', dedicated to his dear departed Staffordshire bull terrier.

Jah Wobble's poignant account of his rescue dog, Tyson, reveals a bond that was both tough and tender. He recalls how the staffy, described by the shelter as "just absolutely sort of delinquent," was a dog "full of love, full of fun" and a steadfast companion on their daily 10–12 mile hikes. Wobble reflects on the heartache of Tyson's final days, a battle with cancer that ended peacefully in a final, heartbreaking moment: "And when he had to go, he just went to sleep in my lap. So that was it".

Born John Wardle, his career has encapsulated genres from post-punk, dub and world music to experimental rock and electronic music. An original member of Public Image Ltd (PiL) from 1978-80, he made two groundbreaking albums with the band, which included the iconic ‘Metal Box’ (1979). He continues to tour with 'Metal Box in Dub', presented as a two-hour show with Jon Klein.

This is Wobble's first solo release via Dimple Discs, having earlier participated in other label releases with Telefís (Cathal Coughlan and Jacknife Lee), The Ukrainians, along with Siouxsie & The Banshees / Specimen legend Jon Klein, and the Irish heritage project Bring Your Own Hammer.

A solo effort that sees him write, play and arrange everything, this long-play record features full-colour outer and inner sleeves based on paintings that Wobble created himself. The Limited Edition vinyl is clear with yellow and red colours dropped in to reflect the artwork.

Mastered by Anthony Chapman (Collapsed Lung) and cut for maximum clarity and volume, this solo deep dive into dub boasts astounding top layer sonics, guided by sonic pioneers like Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and King Tubby. This rich, immersive listen is full of low-end weight and intricately layered textures.

The album includes the groovy dub offering 'Dub In The East' and also 'Old Jewish East End Of London Dub', both of which were inspired by his East London upbringing - a deep dive into the historical influences that shaped his community, from the waves of Irish immigration and the perilous lives of his watermen ancestors on the River Thames, to the vibrant Jewish community that had long made the area its home.

‘Dub Volume 1' is out now everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and also Bandcamp, where it is available on vinyl and CD. Jah Wobble tours extensively with Invaders of the Heart. They are touring the UK and Europe in October-November with tickets available at https://jahwobble.com/#live

CREDITS
Written & performed by Jah Wobble
Mastered by Anthony Chapman (Collapsed Lung)
Cover artwork & design by Jah Wobble
Released by Dimple Discs
UPC for vinyl - DEEDEE042LP
UPC for CD - DEEDEE042CD
Jah Wobble outdoor photos by David Guttridge
Jah Wobble live photos by Nick Haeffner
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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UK-based electronic artist Max Rael (History of Guns) presents 'Almost' from debut album

British electronic artist Max Rael presents 'Almost', a powerful and introspective track that explores the gut-wrenching feeling of being on the brink of success, only to have it slip through your fingers. It’s a raw look at the best-laid plans—whether in love, career, or life in general—and the crushing disappointment that comes with defeat. 

This is the latest taste of Rael's debut solo album 'The Enemy Is Us', released via London imprint Liquid Len Media. Capturing the moment when hope gives way to anger and self-blame, a feeling many of us know all too well, this is a track for anyone who has ever dared to dream, only to be left to pick up the pieces.

Showcases his singular talents, unique twists on sound design, and unique lyrical perspectives, Rael's powerful thought-provoking spoken-word lyrics confront a world in freefall—its corruption, alienation, and misery. Conflating a painfully personal portrait of an interior world, this is an achingly universal depiction of society and the world outside. Unearthing a resilient core of hope and gallows humour that burns brightly through the darkness, this is a complex and compelling take on the human condition.

"I wrote 'Almost' about the anger that comes from failure, especially when you've put everything on the line. I wanted to explore the idea that when things don’t work out, that anger can so easily turn inward. It’s a commentary on that self-defeating spiral where you start to question your own right to hope in the first place. This song, along with the music video, is about finding a way to release that frustration in a safe way, a way that doesn’t turn into self-punishment," says Max Rael

"The music video visually represents this theme of suppressed anger and release. Inspired by Stu Francis, host of early 1980's UK children's television program 'Crackerjack' and his classic catchphrase "Ooh I could crush a grape," the video features the repeated motif of fruit being squashed. This act serves as a metaphor for finding a healthy, acceptable way to vent your frustrations rather than internalizing them. It’s a commentary on the small acts of release we can use to prevent our anger from becoming a destructive force."  

Based in Hertfordshire, Max Rael is a key creative force in the UK underground, beginning with 1990s-2000s electro-goth trailblazers History Of Guns, frontrunners of the Wasp Factory / FuturePunk scene, and later, Decommissioned Forests. Musician, writer, actor, engineer and producer, Max Rael has collaborated with Fish (Marillion), Last July, Kommand + Kontrol, Freudstein and Bienheldenschafgegenstand

A dark bouquet of minimalist synth, darkwave and spoken-word electronic pop, Rael's album introduces his compelling ‘futuretroist’ sound: an alternative sonic universe built on a unique sound design that feels at once familiar and alien. Rael recently released the video for  'Pressing Against The Glass', a danceable elegy for those who don't "belong", channelling the deep-seated ache of being an outsider.

Rael's earlier shadow-streaked 'Slightly Less Than Human' is a nervy electronic track with a great hooky synth melody and spoken word vocals. Partly inspired by Japanese author Osamu Dazai. Lyrically, Max Rael relays his feeling of being somehow different from the rest of the human race, while the non-album B-side 'When the Only Winning Move Is Not to Play' relates to the 1983 film "War Games" and the book 'The Games People Play' by Eric Berne.

Max Rael's debut single 'Brighter Future', released in April, explores avoidant strategies of coping with life in a seemingly increasingly chaotic and unsafe world and an anticipated dystopian future. The B-side 'The People We Love Have Won (Persistence Is All)' is darker, named after Coil's 2000 London performance at The Royal Festival Hall (which he also tattooed on the inside of Rael's left wrist).

Spoken word, electronic music and loud drums feature strongly on the 12-track album, produced and mixed by Max Rael with additional mixing by Caden Clarkson and mastered by Pete Maher (U2, Nick Cave, Depeche Mode, Pixies. Nine Inch Nails).Fusing a range of electronic music styles with other genres, Max Rael is a master journeyman of existential exploration into humanity, self, society, reality, psychology, philosophy and the future.

'The Enemy Is Us' is out now, available from fine digital platforms, including Apple MusicSpotify, Amazon, and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written by Max Rael
Max Rael - vocals, keyboards, guitar & programming
Caden Clarkson - guitars on 'My First Death' and 'Almost'
Produced by Max Rael
Additional production, mixing & string arrangement by Caden Clarkson
Mastered by Pete Maher
Released by Liquid Len Recording Company
'Almost' video shot by Priyanka Trivedi in Kew, UK & Abades Leper Colony, Tenerife
'Brighter Future' video by Abigail Clarkson
'Slightly Less Than Human' video by Max Rael
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
Single cover artwork for 'Almost' by Priyanka Trivedi
Album cover artwork & photographs by Filiz Photography 
Copyright @filizphotographyuk 2025 - must not be altered or sold without photographer's permission
UPC / EAN no. 199199781569


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Brooklyn's CLONE announces coming 'Care To Try' EP, with first offering 'Galvanized'

Brooklyn alt rockers CLONE have released their single 'Galvanized', an adrenaline-inducing offering that vibrantly foreshadows their new 'Care To Try' EP, out October 3 via Portland label Little Cloud Records.

Written over the past year with Clone's original lineup of LG Galleon (Dead Leaf Echo), Gregg Giufree (Pilot to Gunner), Max Idas and Dominick Turi, this EP was produced by LG Galleon and Martin Bisi (Sonic Youth, Swans, Brian Eno, John Zorn, Herbie Hancock, Iggy Pop, Helmet, Dresden Dolls) at his famed BC Studio (built with Brian Eno), and mastered by Fred Kevorkian (The White Stripes, Sonic Youth, Juliana Hatfield, Regina Spektor, Lloyd Cole).

The band has also announced autumn tour dates with current members LG Galleon, Paul Liziragga (Namesake) and Alex Cox (The Veldt) now joined by new drummers Avery Brooks and Jeremy Duvall.

“Sliding away from our standard programming, we have just a silly little live song about that moment when u first lock eyes with the possible “one” and think to yourself "could this be it?" - a moment frozen in time and then you both move into stimulated action.… galvanized," says LG Galleon.

"These songs were again recorded with the legendary Martin Bisi, who helped bring the determination and drive in the studio to the forefront when recording these songs. A different lineup makes for a novel live experience every time, yet always with incendiary results.  The full tour in October should prove a very fruitful experience and we are looking forward to playing these new songs from the EP live."

Last year, Clone debuted their 'CL. 1' album and 12" vinyl LP, born from a seemingly lost wellspring of shared imagination and youthful transformative power, via Little Cloud and North Carolina's 5BC Records, previewed by the iconoclastic singles 'Immutable', 'Dividing Line' and 'Redeemer'.

A passionate attempt to revive the kind of music that once profoundly resonated with the isolated and vulnerable, Clone's music possesses a transformative power, capable of inspiring through its galvanizing, redemptive power. Drawing on the raw energy and boundless creativity of youth, Clone has created a personal sonic world that they now invite us all to experience.

The past few years has seen Clone tour with Christian Death, Twin Tribes, Wand, La Witch, Live Skull, and The Veldt, among others. With recent stops including SXSW, they continue touring, soon to appear at INKFEST and the Purple City Music Festivalin Providence, RI and Edmonton respectively.

'Galvanized' is out digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. On October 3, the 'Care To Try' EP will be released on 7" vinyl, as well as digitally.

CREDITS
All tracks written by Clone
Lyrics by LG Galleon (onewithwave music ASCAP)
Performed by LG Galleon / Gregg Giufree / Max Idas / Dominick Turi
LG Galleon - guitar, vocals, keys
Gregg Giufree - drums
Max Idas - bass
Dominic Turi - guitar, keys
Lyla Vander - back vocals on 'Galvanized'
Recorded and mixed by Martin Bisi (Sonic Youth, Swans) at BC Studios
Co-produced by LG Galleon
Mastered by Fred Kevorkian at Kevorkian Mastering
EP cover art designed by LG Galleon
Cover photograph by Simon Larbalestier
Released by Little Cloud Records
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

TOUR DATES
Sept 09 - Edmonton, AB - Purple City Music Festival
Sept 20 - New York, NY - EP release party - Rubulad
Oct 09 - Kingston, NY - Night Swim
Oct 10 - Clinton, CT - Scottish Dave’s
Oct 11 - Boston, MA - O'Briens Pub (Allston)
Oct 12 - Providence, RI - The Scurvy Dog
Oct 13 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Desperate Annie’s


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TIAN QIYI presents a sonic psych-trip video for 'Watch The Sunrise' feat. JAH WOBBLE, highlighting sophomore album

London-Liverpool based music outfit Tian Qiyi are back with a new video for 'Watch The Sunrise', highlighting their sophomore album 'Songs For Workers', featuring the legendary Jah Wobble on bass.

Tian Qiyi is more than just a band, bringing together brothers John Tian Qi Wardle and Charlie Tian Yi Wardle with their father, Jah Wobble (John Wardle). Their unique sound reflects their rich family heritage, blending their father's pioneering work in post-punk and dub with the Chinese cultural influences of their mother, Zilan Liao.

"I can’t say 'Watch the Sunrise' was consciously born out of spirituality — at least not in a traditional sense. Musically, it was one of the more composed pieces on the album, particularly in terms of melody. But when it came to the lyrics, I was drawn to the idea that there is something beyond rationality. It’s not strictly a Buddhist concept — though it’s certainly adjacent — but it’s something that’s fascinated me for years. The notion that there’s a space or state of being that language and logic can’t quite reach. That idea became the emotional and philosophical root of the song," says Charlie Wardle.

"I tried to explore that tension melodically as well — there’s sweetness, but also moments of dissonance. That contrast is deliberate. When I introduce melodic friction or veer into a microtonal space, it’s like offering the listener a challenge — a kind of small sacrifice — before resolving it in a way that feels emotionally earned. I think that mirrors the journey of the lyrics: moving through uncertainty, dissolution of the self, and coming out the other side with a different kind of clarity. There’s a kind of psychedelic beauty in surrendering to something unknown or ungraspable — that’s what I was trying to tap into."

Over its 10 tracks, 'Songs For Workers' takes us on a fascinating ethno-psychedelic musical journey, bridging generations and cultures, blending deep dub grooves with Eastern traditions. Earlier, Tian Qiyi also shared the singles 'Mongolian Dub' and 'Dharma', each with a captivating blend of Eastern psychedelic melodies and Charlie's ethereal vocals, underpinned by a hypnotic fusion rhythm and beautiful percussion. As groovy as it is addictive, the trio serve up a truly grounding experience.

Building on their acclaimed 2024 debut album 'Red Mist', with standout singles 'Incantation' and 'Red Mist',Tian Qiyi continues to forge a sound that blends dub, post-punk, and experimental production with rich influences from Traditional Chinese, Mongolian, and Irish music.

With support from Gideon Coe, Mark Riley and Stuart Maconie on BBC 6 Music, and from John Kennedy on Radio X London, 'Songs For Workers' presents limitless musical experiences that honour their diverse influences while crafting something uniquely their own, further exploring the intersection of traditional Asian and Celtic soundscapes with contemporary dub production techniques.

With John Tian Qi on drums and percussion, Charlie Wardle’s unique vocal style is to the fore. His incredible musical dexterity on traditional Chinese and Mongolian instruments imbues their music with a funky and, at times, psychedelic quality. While Jah Wobble plays bass on most tracks, John Tian Qi contributes bass on 'Luoyang' and 'Siege' and synth / Moog bass on 'Watch The Sunrise'.

Songs for Workers' is out now. Released via Pagoda Records, it is available from fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.  A handful of appearances have been scheduled this autumn in support of this album.

CREDITS

Composed by John Tian Qi Wardle, Charlie Tian Yi Wardle, Jah Wobble

Charlie Tian Yi Wardle - Morin Khuur, Er Hu, Ghijik & vocals
John Tian Qi Wardle - drum kit, percussion
Yang Qin, synth bass, keys & synths
Jah Wobble - bass on 'Songs For Workers', 'At the Beginning', 'Mongolian Dub', 'Dharma' & 'Dharma AMBIENT'
Mike McGoldrick - pipes and flute on 'At the Beginning', 'Dharma' & 'Dharma AMBIENT'
Martin Chung - guitar on 'Songs For Workers' single
Produced by Tian Qiyi (Charlie Tian Yi Wardle and John Tian Qi Wardle)
Recorded at Pagoda Studio, Airtight Studios, and Pressure Drop.
Engineering by John Tian Qi Wardle
with Seadna McPhail (on 'At the Beginning', 'Mongolian Dub', 'Dharma' & 'Dharma AMBIENT'
)and with Will Farley (on 'Songs For Workers')
Mixed by John Tian Qi Wardle, with additional mixing by Charlie Tian Yi Wardle & Jah Wobble on 'At the Beginning', 'Dharma' & 'Dharma AMBIENT
'Special thanks to Sean Leonard, Pagoda Arts, Will Farley, and Antony Walsh at Pressure Drop
Published by Domino Publishing / 30 Hertz
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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Renowned NYC artist-producer Charlie Nieland returns with new single 'Win' (feat. spiritchild)'

Following his latest masterpiece - 'The Ocean Understands' EP, acclaimed NYC songwriter-producer Charlie Nieland has announced that his forthcoming album'Stories From The Borderlines', set for release on October 24. The first offering from this atmospheric and imaginative collection is 'Win (feat. spiritchild)'

Defying expectations, 'Win' is a postpunk mini-epic that starts as a piano-led hymn, becomes an explosive jangling anthem and winds up with a spectacular turn by Staten Island-based activist / rapper spiritchild. This new music arrives on the trail of Nieland's recent 'The Ocean Understands' EP and videos for 'Redshift' and 'Drown', directed by multi-faceted NYC-based artist Hypnodoll.

"The material for 'Stories From The Borderlines' got its start in the NYC performance series The Bushwick Book Club in response to various literary sources. The lead single 'Win' is actually a song about surrender - “I just want you to win”,  written as part of Bushwick Book Club’s residency for Banned Book Week at the Kurt Vonnegut Library and Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana," says Charlie Nieland.

"I was struck by the fearful response to the coming-of-age YA novel "All Boys Aren’t Blue" by the young, gay, African-American author George M. Johnson, which was the second most banned book in 2023. Book banning ultimately backfires. The act of hiding something from ourselves forces discovery. It begs us to honor what we don’t yet understand. Our fragile self-created identities - especially those formed in opposition to our adversaries - dissolve in the bright light of our interdependence. Our shared divinity. In a flash, the chorus woke me up in the middle of the night. “Go ahead and take my place. Take a look at my face. This is how it begins”.

Nieland's backstory is extensive, having written, performed and produced music for decades. He has written for and produced such artists as Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Blondie and Scissor Sisters, as well as scoring the feature film 'The Safety of Objects' (with Glenn Close), Showtime's pilot episode of 'The L Word' and the VH-1documentary 'NY77: The Coolest Year in Hell'.

Charlie was awarded a Gold record (UK) for his production work on Blondie's 'Greatest Hits Sight & Sound' and achieved a Top 10 Billboard Dance Chart Position with Debbie Harry's single 'Two Times Blue', which he co-wrote and produced.

Presenting a visceral blend of post punk, glam, dream pop and progressive rock, the forthcoming album also involves an appearance by keyboardist Joe McGinty (The Psychedelic Furs, Ryan Adams, Nada Surf, Polyvox). Atmospheric, with sweeping melodies and restless rhythms, these unique soundscapes promise an immersive journey, showcasing Nieland's continued evolution as an artist and producer. 

After 20 years with dreampop band Her Vanished Grace, Nieland established himself as a solo artist rich on nuanced songwriting and sonic exploration, releasing 'Ice Age' (2014), followed by 'Hopeful Monsters' (2016) and ‘Divisions' album (2021). Half of the literature-inspired duo Lusterlit with Susan Hwang, he also produces and co-hosts the 'An Embarrassment of Prog' podcast.

'Win (feat. spiritchild)' is available from digital music platforms, including Apple MusicSpotify and Bandcamp, where Nieland's latest EP 'The Ocean Understands' EP can also be found. The full 'Stories From The Borderlines' album, out on October 24, can now be pre-ordered.

SINGLE CREDITS 
'Win (feat. spiritchild)' written by Charlie Nieland and spiritchild



Recorded at Saturation Point Studios (Brooklyn, NY) from January 2023 to April 2025

Charlie Nieland - vocals, electric guitars, bass, piano, electric piano, virtual mellotrons and string machines, percussion
spiritchild - vocals
Billy Loose - drums

Produced, Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Charlie Nieland
Cover Art by Hypnodoll™ 

© 2025 Athame Music, xspiritmentaleyez
Video for 'Win (feat. spiritchild) by Charlie Nieland
Videos for 'Redshift' and 'Drown' by Hypnodoll™
Photography by Alice Teeple
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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NYC songstress JESSIE KILGUSS releases 'Howard Johnson’s' single, previewing sixth album

NYC singer-songwriter Jessie Kilguss presents her latest single 'Howard Johnson's', previewing her sixth album 'They Have A Howard Johnson's There', which was engineered, produced, mixed and mastered by Charlie Nieland (Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Blondie, Scissor Sisters) at Saturation Point Studios in Brooklyn.

For this single, Kilguss is accompanied by John Kengla (David Byrne, Ben Kweller, Serena Ryder) on guitar, bass and keys, Rob Heath (Madison Square Gardeners, Julia Nunes) on drums and percussion, and Dave Derby (The Dambuilders, Gramercy Arms, Lloyd Cole) and Charlie Nieland on backing vocals. Other tracks on this album features Andrea Longato (Duncan Shiek, Jeremy Jordan, Alphonso Ribeiro), guitarist Kirk Schoenherr (Tegan and Sara, Elle King, Chet Faker), and Rembert Block (Rembert and the Basic Goodness).

"This song originated from some writing I did in a poetry workshop with performance artist Karen Finley. I had seen her read at the fantastic On The Verge Festival, which celebrates women artists of all disciplines at the Wild Project, produced and curated by my friend Heather Litteer. I was drawn to Karen's writing and saw a post of hers on Instagram advertising an online poetry workshop inspired by the movie 'Dog Day Afternoon', as well as dogs in general. I had never taken a poetry workshop before but I am a huge dog lover and thought "what the hell". I like pushing myself out of my comfort zone," says Jessie Kilguss.

"In the movie, Al Pacino is speaking with his lover about what he’ll do to prove his love and he says something like “I’ll charter a plane to Algeria. They have a Howard Johnson’s there”. It stood out to me because it was so ridiculous and also, my father Howard had passed away a month earlier. So the song is a tribute to my father, Howard Kilguss, and is also inspired by 'Dog Day Afternoon'. My father had a deep connection with dogs, so I thought it was even more appropriate to write this song for him".

This offering follows her single 'Too Far From Texas' (a collab with Jim Andralis), 'You're the One' and 'Wuthering Heights'. Kilguss' 2022 album 'What Do Whales Dream About at Night?' LP features drummer Brian Griffin (Patti Smith, Brandi Carlisle, Lana Del Rey), bassist Whynot Jansveld (The Wallflowers, Butch Walker, Sara Bareilles), composer-producer Naren Rauch, and Nathan Schram (Bjork, David Crosby, David Byrne), with whom Kilguss ran the non-profit organization Musicambia.

A former actress, whose acting highlights include 'The Crucible' (with Daniel Day Lewis and Winona Ryder) and the stage production 'As You Like It' (directed by Royal Shakespeare Company founder Sir Peter Hall), Kilguss made songwriting her focus after working with musical heroes Marianne Faithfull and Mary Margaret O'Hara in the Tom Waits / William Burroughs musical 'The Black Rider'.
 
Apart from writing and performing her own music, Kilguss sings with the Loser’s LoungeGramercy ArmsJim Andralis and the Syntonics and Benjamin Cartel. She's also performed at the Sundance Film Festival and with Freddie Stevenson, touring as support for The Waterboys' European tour. In June 2025, Kilguss was an artist in residence at Fish Factory Creative Center in Stodvarfjordur, Iceland where she wrote 9 new songs.

'Howard Johnson's' is out now, available everywhere, including Apple MusicSpotify and Bandcamp with the full album to follow on November 14th. Kilguss performs next on September 23rd at New York's 11th Street Bar, together with Rembert Block and Erica Smith. On November 5, Kilguss' Record Release Show is at Berlin Under A, with Life in a Blender and Charlie Nieland, who marks the release of his 'Stories From The Borderlines' album. 

ALBUM CREDITS
All songs written by Jessie Kilguss, except 'Jesus Was a Crossmaker' (written by Judee Sill)
Produced, engineered, mixed & mastered by Charlie Nieland at Saturation Point Studios, Brooklyn
Jessie Kilguss - vocals, arrangement
John Kengla – guitar, bass, keys on Howard Johnson’s, Fool’s Fight, Lost Causes, Jesus Was a Cross Maker
Kirk Schoenherr – guitar and keys on Chasing Down a Ghost and St Teresa in Ecstasy
Andrea Longato – guitar on St Teresa in Ecstasy
Rob Heath – Drums and percussion
Rembert Block – Backing vocals on Fool’s Fight, Chasing Down a Ghost and Lost Causes
Dave Derby - Backing vocals on Howard Johnson’s
Charlie Nieland – bass, violin bow guitar and keys on St Teresa in Ecstasy, Fool's Fight and Lost Causes, backing vocals on Howard Johnson’s
Single cover photo by Shervin Lainez
Graphic design by Scott MX Turner
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


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Alt-pop mavericks Laptop return with "Additional Animals" & NYC show with UK legends Cast

Jesse Hartman’s cult electro-pop project Laptop has unleashed "Additional Animals" — a darkly funny alt-disco track about extinction, meat, and the absurd human urge for more. It’s the second single from "On This Planet", an album co-written and performed with his 19-year-old son Charlie Hartman.

Laptop also performs on September 3rd at NYC's Sony Hall in support of this and earlier single “Weirder” (which went viral with 4M+ views and counting), mixed by Grammy award-winning producer Mario McNulty (David Bowie, Prince, Nine Inch Nails, Laurie Anderson, Julian Lennon). This is the band's first New York show in 20 years, opening for British indie-rock legends Cast, whose members draw from The La's and Shack. “Additional Animals” emerges with a Stop Making Sense-esque 13-piece “band of Animals”, uniting members from London with family talent (including acclaimed artists Odetta Hartman and Camellia Hartman) and guests from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway phenomenon "Freestyle Love Supreme" and Denise Gordon of Nevis, whose voice shines across the coming album "On This Planet", spotlighting the project’s Caribbean influences.

Now based in New York, Laptop originally emerged in the early 2000s on Island Records with three legendary cult classic albums —  "Opening Credits", "The Old Me vs The New You" and "Don’t Try This at Home" — earning praise from NME, The Guardian, and others for its stylized blend of synth-pop, irony, and heartbreak. Now they've rebooted the Laptop aesthetic — part indie-pop, part satire, part family therapy session.

“Additional Animals” is as much about appetite as it is about climate anxiety, blending shimmering synths, mandolin and Mediterranean horns. An extension of classic Laptop, this witty indie-pop is a logical evolution for the band, presenting a cross-generational blend of dry wit, anxiety and synth-driven swagger.
 
"This song is about the human appetite — for meat, for more, for everything — and how that hunger’s eating us alive. It’s a song about extinction that you can dance to. The lyrics are a little more connected to the moment than usual for me — our failing planet, our endless consumption — but it’s still wrapped in this shimmering, international pop packaging," says Jesse Hartman.

“We tracked the song in hip Valencia, added harmonies and Caribbean instruments in Nevis, and finished it in our hood in New York. It’s a global pop fever dream about survival, meat, and the slightly hilarious fact that humans always want just a little more."

The video, directed and shot by filmmaker Jesse, was filmed during a surreal family summer in Valencia and features Jesse, Charlie and Jesse’s daughter Lulu, along with rooftop horn solos, fishing boats, flamenco parades, aquariums, and sun-drenched chaos — part European art film, part alternate-universe vacation video. Jesse shares, “It stars me, my kids, our percussionist Mike (who used to play with Brian Eno), and our Nevis family singer Denise. It’s chaotic and colorful and oddly hopeful — like maybe we’re not the last animals standing.”

Before Laptop, Jesse Hartman got his start as a teenage Voidoid with Richard Hell before he co-founded the indie rock band Sammy (with Luke Wood, later President of Beats by Dre), releasing albums on Fire Records and Geffen Records. Known for his dry humor and cinematic aesthetic, Hartman was once described by The Guardian as the master of “insincere sincerity.” Now joined by his son Charlie, a multi-instrumentalist and co-writer, he brings that same emotional contrast into a new era — with Laptop’s blend of deadpan pop and wide-eyed dread more relevant than ever.

With a London show coming in October and a full album on the way in the Spring of 2026, Laptop’s return is both a throwback and a reinvention — legacy pop for a collapsing planet.

“Additional Animals” is out now, available on major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The full album "On This Planet" arrives in Spring 2026. Tickets for the Cast + Laptop show at Sony Hall are available now.   

CREDITS
Jesse Hartman - vocals, guitars, keyboards, synths, piano, bass, percussion
Charlie Hartman - vocals
Lulu Hartman - vocals
Geddys “Ch4se” Ferguson - vocals
Denise Gordon - vocals
Frank and Snowflake - vocals, mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar
Mike Desmarais - drums
Lluisen Capafons - congas, additional percussion
Dima Faustov - saxophone
Lev Borovskiy - trumpet, trombone
Oliver Freiberg - drum programming
Recorded by Iñaki Ariste Aznar (Valencia), Edward Douglas (NYC), Jesse Hartman (NYC/Nevis)
Mixed by Jesse Hartman, Ray Aldaco, Edward Douglas, Nicholas Vernhes
(Final mix by Jesse Hartman and Edward Douglas)
Produced by Jesse Hartman
Mastered by Dave Trumfio
Recorded in Valencia, Spain (Summer 2022), Additional sessions in Nevis (February 2023), Final overdubs and edits in New York City (2023–2025)
Written by Jesse Hartman (BMI)
Published by Exurbia Music, Inc. (dba Yodel Productions, Inc.)
Released by Hurricane Cove Records
Video concept, direction, cinematography & editing by Jesse Hartman.
Featuring Charlie Hartman, Jesse Hartman, Lulu Hartman, Mike Desmarais, and Denise Gordon.
Shot on location in Valencia, Spain
Cover artwork by Jesse Hartman & Scott Ratner
Artist photos by Thomas Krause
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


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UK legacy duo FITZSIMON AND BROGAN (FaB) shares catchy 'Flowers at Her Door'

Back with remarkable power pop for now people, UK-based indie rock / power-pop duo Fitzsimon and Brogan (FaB) present their new single 'Flowers At Her Door', released through Booster Music WTPL France. Recorded at FaB Productions, this single was co-produced, mixed and mastered by Martin Smith (Electric Light Orchestra, Shakin' Stevens) at Garage Studios in London.

FaB is made up of songwriter Neil Fitzsimon and vocalist Bee Brogan, both members of the Sony-licensed band Pretty Blue Gun, who went on to form the London-based writing-production partnership FaB Productions. A well-honed songwriting and production team, the music and lyrics for 'Flowers at Her Door' are written by Fitzsimon, with Brogan handling vocals, keyboards, drums and engineering.  

"'Flowers At Her Door' was inspired by the Ridley Scott film "The Duellists", which depicts the Napoleonic wars and that particular film portrayed decadence, glamour and cruelty in equal measure," says Neil Fitzsimon.

"We’re trying to achieve the standard of the songwriting of the 1960s/1970s for a modern-day audience. My style of writing is old-school, with namely a guitar and a blank page. I give myself 45 minutes to work on a new song and if nothing comes, I’ll put the guitar down and go back to it the following day. It’s amazing how things that seemed insurmountable can then become vividly clear 24 hours later."

This new single follows FaB's latest album 'This Wicked Pantomime', which was co-produced by Pat Collier (Katrina and the Waves, Primal Scream, Maximo Park) at Perry Vale Studios, London and involved dummer Woody Woodmansey (David Bowie Spider's from Mars), as well as Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas.

Prior to that, FaB released four well-received albums, including 'Venus in Reverse' (2011), 'His Latest Squeeze' (2015), 'Big Blue World' (2018) and 'The Girl Who Shouted Love at the Heart of the World' (2019), which involved members of The Art of Noise, Eric Clapton bass player Dave Bronze, Moody Blues' Tobias Boshell and Pip Williams (Walker Brothers).

Having toured nationally across the UK and with song placements in Film and TV, they also wrote the musical 'Jack Dagger', which was showcased at the Greenwich Theatre, London for the Musical Futures Award, and also at the Bridewell and the Royal College of Music in London. With chart success in France, Belgium, and South Africa—and a song featured in a U.S. sci-fi film—the band is making waves on every front.

A studio act in the vein of Talk Talk or Tin Tin Out, Fitzsimon and Brogan cleverly blends elements of classic 60s and 70s pop-rock with a modern, energetic and uplifting feel. Fun and charismatic, FaB offers a refreshing alternative to mainstream pop.

As of August 27, 'Flowers at Her Door' is available from fine music platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify.

CREDITS
Music and Lyrics by Neil Fitzsimon
All guitars, bass played by Neil Fitzsimon
Vocals, keyboards and engineering by Bee Brogan
Recorded and produced by FaB Productions, London
Mixed and mastered by Martin Smith at Garage Studios, London
Cover artwork by FaB Productions
All songs released via Booster Music WTPL, France
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


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THE QUALITY OF MERCURY debuts driving indie rocker 'Ganymede', previewing first album in 9 years

Pennsylvania-based alternative rock artist The Quality of Mercury presents his infectious and upbeat 'Ganymede'. Building patiently and purposefully, it takes us on a cinematic journey that reflects the album’s overarching themes of distance, discovery, and transformation. It’s a song about finding love and losing it, fulfilling Rouse's core mission of exploring emotion and texture across vast sonic terrain.

Following the 'Transmission' album, released in 2016, this is the first offering from The Quality of Mercury's sophomore album 'The Voyager', which was conceived as an adventurous journey, each track offering a different terrain of feeling: exhilaration, anxiety, longing, and introspection.

The Quality of Mercury is the solo project of Jeremiah Rouse, whose groovesome, graceful and grand music melds space-rock atmospherics with indie rock.  At its core, his music speaks to a deep and desperate need for connection, both human and spiritual. It’s an ongoing search for meaning, woven into songs that range from bursts of excitement to moments of quiet reflection.

"Ganymede is a love story told through the lens of science fiction. It follows two people who meet and fall for each other on a space station that’s orbiting in the golden atmosphere of Jupiter, a place full of warmth, wonder, and the thrill of possibility. He’s cautious. She’s fearless. And he follows her, chasing the gravity of her spirit," says Jeremiah Rouse. 

"But when she persuades him to explore Ganymede, a cold, sterile moon, the warmth between them starts to fade. The relationship fractures in the isolation and cold environment, and eventually, she walks away, leaving him alone at the edge of an airlock. This song is about how love can start bright and beautiful, but lose itself in unfamiliar terrain. I want listeners to feel like they’re watching a film unfold in slow motion and to feel the quiet heartbreak of trying to hold on to someone who’s already gone."

Handling not only writing and performing, but also engineering, this music is a reflection of Rouse's sonic DNA. Influence by such iconic bands as Hum, Failure, Starflyer 59, and Sunny Day Real Estate, The Quality of Mercury creates music that is anthemic yet accessible, cinematic but catchy - the perfect blend of muscle and melody.

Rouse's recorded works serve as a bridge to his audience —a suitably distant medium, given his songs about receiving transmissions emanating from the other side of the universe and epic, intergalactic voyages. For all its otherworldly sound and association with the vastness of outer space, the intensity and intellect, depth and profound insight of this music is also a journey into the artist’s own inner space.

For Rouse, music isn’t just sound. It’s a vast, immersive world. Each track is built as a sonic landscape, grand in scope yet meticulously detailed. The goal is simple but ambitious: to create music that reveals something new with every listen. Tiny flourishes, subtle swells, and sound elements crossing the stereo field are placed with obsessive precision, often blooming unexpectedly or popping out at just the right moment. Every detail matters, perhaps to a fault, but that’s part of the craft.

With a background in film production and a lifelong love of sci-fi cinema,  Jeremiah approaches songwriting with a distinctly visual mindset. Every song is imagined like a scene from a movie — framed, lit, and paced as though it were a short film. That cinematic sensibility, combined with a meticulous approach to sound design, results in music that’s as emotionally resonant as it is sonically rich.

'Ganymede' is out now, available from fine music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The full album 'The Voyager', which will be released on October 24, can also be pre-ordered via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
All music written, performed and recorded by Jeremiah Rouse
Back up vocals by Violet Rouse
Drums performed and recorded by Mario Quintero at AudioMQ Studio
Final Mixes by Mario Quintero at AudioMQ Studio
Mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music
Album artwork created by Jeremiah Rouse
Artist photos by Matthew Ham
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


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