Celebrated NYC artist CHARLIE NIELAND unveils 'Win' (feat. spiritchild)', previewing new album

August 19, 2025

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 Music, Spotify 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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Boston alt-rockers BURN KIT releases 'Looking Through The Window At You' single & 'Split' 7" vinyl with Turquoise -

August 16, 2025

Boston alt-rock outfit Burn Kit presents their new single 'Looking Through The Window At You', a grungewave tune that bonds together influences of alt-rock, post-punk and grunge rock.

Burn Kit is a five-piece band comprised of vocalist Valentino Valpa, guitarist Joshua Sawhill, guitarist Frank Nordaby, drummer Andrew Mattern with bass duties split between Padraic McGuire (touring) and Christopher Belmonte (studio recordings).

Formed in 2024, their music channels a hardcore energy with a sound that is both nostalgic and refreshing. They wasted no time, their first year seeing them complete five tours involving 138 shows in 38 different countries, not to mention the recording of 'Demo Tape', a handful of singles and their most recently-release - their debut 'Fallen Rose' EP.

Apart from being released digitally, 'Looking Through The Window At You' is one side of Burn Kit's new 'Split' 7", a double A-side single with Chicago band Turquoise. Each of these tracks is exclusive to this one-off limited edition black vinyl with 270 copies pressed.

"The song 'Looking Through The Window At You' confronts the always-known locked door that exists within all human minds. The fact that no person truly fully knows one another. There are always things we are thinking, things we won’t say and appearances we keep up admist our automation of modern daily living," says Valentino Valpa.

Turquoise's contribution to this double A-side single is 'Oblivious', a driving indie-punk anthem that channels a 90s alt-rock vibe sprinkled with a Hüsker Dü influence. Effortlessly striking a balance between muscled-up hardcore indebted riffs and soothing, textured melodies, 'Oblivious' appears as the band gears up for an album release. With Burn Kit also approaching their sophomore EP, the stars aligned perfectly to offer these two one-off tracks to their growing audience.

The seed for this 7” release was planted when Turquoise played a Chicago hardcore basement show with Burn Kit vocalist Valentino’s previous project. The two stayed in touch and once Burn Kit formed, this idea could finally become reality. Recorded and mixed in March-April 2025 by Ryan Stack at The Electric Cave in Portsmouth, NH, 'Looking Through The Window At You' was engineered by Marc McElroy and mastered by Dan Coutant at Sunroom Audio in Cornwall, NY.

Burn Kit live shows are known for their intensity and unpredictability. Frontman Valentino Valpa has been known to frequently dive into the crowd, climb various structures (both inside and outside the venue) and even make his way to other buildings in the middle of a song. Whether it’s stretching a 100-foot mic cable to end up on the roof of an adjacent building while still singing, climbing the staging at a Mexican festival, or performing the song from a tree, Valpa's unpredictability has led to many to describe Burn Kit as “something you have to see live to fully experience”.

Accompanied by songs that invite both catharsis and chaos, this unique bond of energy and mutual understanding with the audience has led Burn Kit to unite a tight-knit group of friends and fans in DIY scenes across the world. Creating an experience that cannot be conveyed via the internet, they remind listeners of our true human nature and the importance of connecting with one another.

As of August 12, the 'Split' 7" can be ordered on vinyl via Bandcamp. 'Looking Through The Window At You' itself can also be found there digitally, as well as other music platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. Burn Kit is touring the USA in September and touring Europe to the end of the year.

CREDITS
Music written by Joshua Sawhill & Valentino Valpa
Lyrics by Valentino Valpa
Valentino Valpa - Vocals
Joshua Sawhill - Guitar
Frank Nordaby - Guitar
Christopher Belmonte - Bass
Andrew Mattern - Drums
Recorded & mixed by Ryan Stack at the Electric Cave in Portsmouth, NH
Engineered by Marc McElroy
Mastered by Dan Coutant at Sunroom Audio in Cornwall, NY.
Artwork & design by Jen D’Amore.
Turquoise music by Nico LaCorcia. Lyrics by Ben Wilson
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

TOUR DATES
Sept. 12th – Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon
Sept. 13th – Las Vegas, NV @ Dive Bar
Sept. 14th – Pomona, CA @ Glass House
Sept. 17th – San Diego, CA @ Voodoo Room at House Of Blues
Sept. 18th – Long Beach, CA @ Alex’s Bar
Sept. 19th – San Jose, CA @ The Ritz
Sept. 20th – San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge
Sept. 21st – Keizer, OR @ Radness Ensues **
Sept. 22nd – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Sept. 23rd – Seattle, WA @ Funhouse at El Corazon
Sept. 24th – Medford, OR @ Rockafairy **
Sept. 25th – Fresno, CA @ Strummer’s
Sept. 26th – San Diego, CA @ The Print Shop **
Sept. 27th – Glendale, AZ @ The 44

Scotland's FINI TRIBE announces "The Sheer Action of FINI TRIBE" anthology & shares 'I Want More' single

August 13, 2025

Scotland's iconic 1980s music mavericks Fini Tribe will be releasing "The Sheer Action of Fini Tribe: 1982-1987", a colossal retrospective anthology focused on the years 1982 to 1987 on October 10. These works include the legendary John Peel session from 1985, the original 12” singles (including "Detestimony") and the WaxTrax! singles, as well as unreleased live tracks. All tracks have been lovingly remastered and produced by the band's members.

Fini Tribe was born into the cash-poor but culturally-wealthy environs of post-punk Edinburgh in the very early 80s – 1980 to be precise. A tiny three-piece with no drummer would soon swell into a muscular six-piece with inherited or cheaply-purchased instruments. Band members Chris Connelly, Simon McGlynn, Andy McGregor, Davie Miller, Philip Pinsky, and John Vick haunted the cold, damp warrens of the Niddry Street and Blair Street rehearsal rooms, just off the high street in Old Town Edinburgh.

Drawing on the influences of everything from Throbbing Gristle, Wire, Can, Captain Beefheart, and numerous angular funk bands that were spewing out of the John Peel Show at the time, they also drew from the seemingly bottomless well of modern film, writing, and art that was abundant in the festival city.

"The Sheer Action of Fini Tribe" is their first retrospective, curated and designed by the band. It includes a wealth of archival photographs, an essay by original member Andy McGregor, who also designed the sleeve, and essays by longtime friend Shirley Manson (Garbage, Goodbye Mr. MacKenzie) and author Alastair McKay, an early champion of the band. The release features the first legendary John Peel Session, produced by Dale Griffin and originally broadcast in May 1985.

"This compilation was a long time in the making, a labour of love for the band, showcasing our most productive years as a six-piece. The compilation of tracks – from professional BBC recordings to live performance and rehearsal room demos – gives as broad a spectrum of the breadth of the band's creativity during those five important years from 1982 to 1987," says Chris Connelly.

"The first single “I Want More” was originally released by WaxTrax! Records in October 1987. This is a cover of a song by Can, a firm favourite of the band since even before its inception! We had a great time re-arranging the song and working on its percussion-driven framework. When we approached WaxTrax!, Jim Nash told us that this single by Can was in heavy rotation always at the WaxTrax! store in CHICAGO, so we knew we had come to the right place".

Rehearsing and writing tirelessly between high school and part-time jobs, Fini Tribe played whenever they got the chance: CND benefits, support band for local mentors Visitors and Explode Your Heart, and endless rehearsals turning them into a well-oiled, if frantic, machine. Gigs farther afield were found in London, Glasgow and Aberdeen, and the sound grew as the band became more unique and distanced from their peers and ploughed their own furrow.

A debut self-released EP on their own FINIFLEX label led to a John Peel Session in 1985. Not to let the grass grow under their feet, the band quickly morphed into a formidable experimental dance unit. The arrival of sampling would cement this and 1986’s “Let The Tribe Grow” EP, with the anthemic, church-bell driven “Detestimony”, would become a lasting and iconic statement of intent unbeknownst to the band at that time. Fini Tribe heralded a new sound and new hypervisual approach, more akin to performance art than any straight rock ‘n roll, with a one-off performance at Edinburgh’s prestigious Assembly Rooms: sculpture, film, ritual, new music, and suspended bin bags full of lurid poster paint sprayed a shocked audience. The gauntlet was thrown, covered in paint, and slapped like a wet fish.

CREDITS
All tracks composed and performed by Chris Connelly, Andy McGregor, David Miller, Simon McGlynn, Philip Pinsky & John Vick, except "I Want More” (written by Karoli/Czukay/Schmidt/Leibezeit/Gilmour)
Published by Copyright Control / P.R.S. Concord Music / B.M.I. Momentum / Universal
Design & art direction: Andy McGregor, remixing 1980’s Fini art
Cover artwork: high school printed t-shirt by Simon McGlynn
Produced by Fini Tribe, John McVay, Dale Griffin, John Vick
Mixed by Fini Tribe, Paul Barker, John Vick
Engineered by Peter Haigh, Chic Medley, John Vick, Trigger, Mike Engles, Wilf Smarties, Rock Hardware
Recorded at Wilf’s Planet, Edinburgh
Pier House, Edinburgh
Demo & rehearsal recordings made at Niddry Street Rehearsal Rooms, Edinburgh with overdubs at various band members’ flats around Edinburgh
Live recordings made at Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh, 15 December 1983
Live recordings made at Calton Studios, Edinburgh, 27 May 1987
Location recordings made at Monimail, Fife, Scotland
Southern Studios, London
BBC Studios, Maida Vale, London, 12 May 1985
Mastered by James Scott, Populist Recording & Mastering
Shipwrecked Industries CD catalogue no. SHIP004CD
Shipwrecked Industries LP catalogue No. SHIP004LP
Distribution via Virtual Label
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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San Francisco's OCTAVIAN WINTERS unveils 'Hermine' ahead of A Murder of Crows appearance

August 12, 2025

San Francisco post-punk outfit Octavian Winters presents their new single 'Hermine', an invigorating song that channels the band's edgier energy. Erupting with a wall of sound from the first notes, this is the first song written for their debut album, anticipated for early 2026 via Stratis Capta Records.

Formed in 2022, Octavian Winters is guitarist Stephan Salit (Thrill of The Pull), drummer Randy Gzebb (Thrill of The Pull, Love Club), bassist Jay Denton and Ria Aursjoen (AURSJOEN) on vocals and keyboards. Fusing a visceral and ethereal sound, they create haunting textures and channel half-remembered stories from an indifferent metropolis, shadows and lunar energy looming over a concrete maze.

Now critically acclaimed, the band gained a solid reputation with their 2023 debut EP 'The Line or Curve', and 2024's 'Nebula / Velveteen' collaboration with Mark Pistel (Consolidated, Meat Beat Manifesto), their tightly crafted songs running the gamut from the ethereal to the dark and driving. This new offering, 'Hermine', visits those harder edges.

"Hermine was wonderful to write and sing because it has a real no-holds-barred energy about it. I was also able to revisit some of my metal roots, in terms of vocal delivery, which was both fun and cathartic," says vocalist Ria Aursjoen. "The lyrics reference the novel Steppenwolf by Hesse, and explore the nature of the fragmented psyche and passionately urges the freedom of self acceptance."

Randy Gzebb says, "It feels like the song is moving forward with unstoppable momentum. This is one of my favorite songs to play live". Stephan Salit adds, “I started out writing this as an homage to Geordie Walker (R. I. P. ) but it took on a life of its own and well, here we are".

Just as their forthcoming album, 'Hermine' was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by William Faith (The Bellwether Syndicate, Faith & the Muse, Christian Death) at 13 Studio in Chicago.

Octavian Winters' members have a rich history of collaborating and touring with notable artists, including Nine Inch Nails, Killing Joke, Lords of the New Church, Savage Republic, Christian Death, The Frozen Autumn, Everything Goes Cold and Black Tape for a Blue Girl.

Octavian Winters will be performing at A Murder of Crows Festival in New York on August 30, joining Pink Turns Blue, Vision Video, Ritual Howls, Hallowed Hearts, Astari Nite, Soft Vein, Altar de Fey, Nox Novacula, The Brickbats, The Long Losts and 45 Grave. West coast fans can also enjoy their October 31 show at Bar Sinister in Los Angeles for their legendary Ghostly Halloween Ball.

As of August 12, 'Hermine' is available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. Concert tickets can be obtained at https://octavianwinters.com/shows

CREDITS
Music written by Octavian Winters
Lyrics by Ria Aursjoen
Ria Aursjoen - Vocals / Keyboards
Stephan Salit - Guitars / Vocals
Randy Gzebb - Drums
Jay Denton - Bass
Produced, recorded, mixed & mastered by William Faith at 13 Studio, Chicago, IL
Released by Stratis Capta Records
Published by Flare and Bloom Music BMI
Cover artwork backdrop by Henry Austin Lannan
Octavian Winters wordmark by Eric Olson
Artist photos by David Kruschke, except
Banner portrait by Katheleen Landino
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

PERFORMANCES
August 30 @ 6pm - A Murder of Crows Festival, New York, NY
October 31 @10pm - Bar Sinister, Los Angeles - Ghostly Halloween Ball

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MAXIMO PARK maestro DUNCAN LLOYD takes us 'One Step Closer To The Dam' - dive in!

August 10, 2025

Maximo Park maestro Duncan Lloyd presents 'One Step Closer To The Dam', an uber-fun rock banger about embracing spontaneity and imperfection, with a music video that mirrors the tune's twitchy, energetic vibe through a collage of fast-paced and seemingly random visuals.

This is the latest single showcasing Lloyd's recently-released sixth album 'Unwound'. Previously with Warp Records, this is his first album of new material via Scotland's Reveal Records, who previously reissues of Lloyd’s early solo albums, including the colossal 31-track selected works collection 'Green Grows Devotion' (2022) and 'Fun City' (a trilogy of EPs recorded in 2024).

A critically acclaimed solo artist, Lloyd is the primary musician behind internationally renowned art-rockers Maximo Park and also half of Nano Kino (with Sarah Suri). He is a Mercury Music Prize nominee, has won an NME award, had A-listed singles at BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music (including lyric of the year), and has seen success with worldwide platinum and gold selling records. His songs have featured on eight hit albums with Maximo Park, consistently charting in the Top 10 U.K.

“Similarly to the song the video isn’t perfectly edited or produced. We treated it solely as a visual extension of the music, almost like an anti-video. Mirroring the twitchy energy of the song, it evolves with a spontaneity of sped up clips, cropped lyrics, bumper cars on a loop, animated cans etc, images rotate with playfully hidden messages & meanings," says Duncan Lloyd.

Written during a difficult personal period, 'Unwound' is a 12-track collection that came into being as a form of sonic therapy - a means of coping and catharsis, forging a sound with greater depth and ambition than past releases. Lloyd earlier shared the singles 'Laugh So Loud' and 'Rituals', blending a modern sound with a deeply personal message about habits and healing, voiced through a circular, radio-like musical journey.

With cover artwork derived from Lloyd’s own paintings, this record weaves a unique musical maze of free and varied personal expression, deep and transient, spare, intense and urgent with a balance of grit, beauty and melody. Things got moving when Lloyd set to work with Julie McLarnon (The Vaselines, Lankum, King Creosote, Brigid Mae Power) at Analogue Catalogue Studios in Ireland. Gaining impetus from his trip across the Irish sea, Lloyd returned to Newcastle to complete the rest of the album, each song carefully crafted with more anarchical arrangements than previous outings.

“I needed a break from all things online. Stepping away from it and being closer to nature reignites the imagination, it’s kind of obvious but easy to forget how important it is. It’s an album about experience, throughout you get the sense that dynamics, speed and space were all careful considerations. I am sort of looking under the soil trying to shape the sounds I imagine and if possible create something relatable that has a heart. I didn’t want it to be one produced sound, I wanted it to feel like different rooms, many spaces," says Duncan Lloyd.

"I partly had the book "The Poetics of Space" by Gaston Bachelard in mind, every song is its own room with its own signature. This is probably my heaviest album, in sound and mood. There are songs that lean towards post-punk and with hypnotic rhythms that are darker in tone. I wanted it to feel like the listener can climb inside the sound rather than be on the outside looking in. I don’t want them to be in the cinema. I want them to be in the film or in the room, so it’s almost spooky."

The album features a host of Lloyd’s musician friends, including Maximo Park keyboardist Jemma Freese and drummer Tom English, Andrew Mills (Purploid Zing) and Joe Boyer (Cloud Nothings, Autopolitan, Nicole Yun).

'Unwound' is imbued with a darker mood than Lloyd’s previous works, but with a continuing sense of melancholy at its core. Restrained yet intimate lyrics are housed in inventively evolving structures. The album draws to a close with 'A World Away Now', a song of lost opportunity. Sometimes simply making a connection is enough.

Writing and recording under his own name for the last decade, Lloyd has enjoyed many collaborations, including with Paul Epworth (Bloc Party, Glass Animals, Rihanna), Gil Norton (The Pixies, Echo & The Bunnymen), Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Ben Allen (Gnarls Barclay, Deerhunter), Rudimental, Dave Okumu, Batidaand legendary Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen.

'Unwound' is out now, available digitally via Bandcamp and digital music platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify, as well as on CD. The first 200 ordered coming with a bonus live four-track recording in 'The Polestar Sessions' EP.

CREDITS
Music & lyrics written by Duncan Lloyd (Reveal Publishing)
Duncan Lloyd - vocals, guitars, bass, piano, synth & drum machine
Tom English - drums, percussion (all tracks except 8, 11 & 12)
Andrew Mills - bass & synth (tracks 4 & 5)
Jemma Freese - backing vocals (track 2)
Joe Boyer - guitar & noise (tracks 2 & 7)
Recorded & Mixed by Duncan Lloyd (except 4 & 5) at The Dagda Rooms
Tracks 4 & 5 recorded & mixed by Julie McLarnon at Analogue Catalogue
Guitars on tracks 2 & 7 recorded by Joe Boyer in Cleveland, Ohio
Produced by Duncan Lloyd
Mastered by Carl Saff at Saff Mastering, Chicago
Released by Reveal Records
Digital catalogue no. REVEAL204 / CD catalogue no. Reveal196CD
Cover art & layout by Duncan Lloyd
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

From Island Records to "Additional Animals": New LAPTOP single tackles the human condition

August 8, 2025

Jesse Hartman’s cult electro-pop project Laptop returns with "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.

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.

After going viral on TikTok with their first single “Weirder” (4M+ views and counting), mixed by Grammy award-winning producer Mario McNulty (David Bowie, Prince, Nine Inch Nails, Laurie Anderson, Julian Lennon), the duo continues their reboot of 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 Hellbefore 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 August 8 on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The full album "On This Planet" arrives in Spring 2026.

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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Indie-pop artist CELESTE CORSANO offers an animated escape for charming single 'Stuck'

August 4, 2025

Alternative pop artist Celeste Corsano has unveiled the video for her latest single 'Stuck', the third in a trilogy of singles the Pennsylvania-based artist has released this year, following 'Nightbird' and 'Sunlight Gazing'. With hues of Kate Bush and Tori Amos, Corsano is the latest artist to join the talented roster of blossoming Montclair, NJ-based indie label Magic Door Record Label.

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

A tender composition that explores being caught in the inescapable grip of an emotional impasse, Corsano masterfully conveys the struggle of a mind wrestling with an unyielding heart, creating an intimate space where raw emotion takes center-stage. The animated video reflects this perfectly through the journey of a ball cutting loose from his existing reality and his loss of direction to find a new path.

"I'm really excited to have a video for this song - the first video created for my music. This artist, known as Brother JT, is an incredible musician, artist and animator. So happy to share it with everyone. It’s fantastic and gives me goosebumps. Lots of humor and wisdom here and very well thought-out," says Celeste Corsano.

"'Stuck' is a "little" song with a big meaning. The lyrics come from a tender place that needed simplicity and not a big vocal sound. Actually, any time I tried to sing it any differently, the vocals still came out simplistic and childlike."

A gentle but potent counterpoint to the noisy world we live in, Corsano forfeits flashy gestures in favor of the quiet sacred space, offering an raw peek into the most fragile parts of our hearts. 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.

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.

For the past year, Corsano has been working with renowned producer Ray Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Elk City, Gramercy Arms, Luna, Crash Harmony) at Magic Door Recording Studio, who produced, recorded, mixed and mastered this release, as well as several recordings to follow.

"When I first brought the demo to Ray Ketchem, drummer on all of my recordings and producer / engineer at Magic Door Recording, he remarked about the time changes. Actually all the singles I brought to him had some time changes and Ray did a fantastic job interpreting them into the arrangement with the drums. I write on piano, so it was percussive already, but was fully realized and blossomed into the wonderful arrangements that all three songs are now," says Celeste Corsano.

"Guitarist James Mastro and synth and bass player, David Nagler added the perfect touches to the arrangement, complete with a great guitar solo, and some added percussion to finish off the song perfectly."

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.

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

UK singer-songwriter Nick Haeffner releases 'What Time Can Do' album via Dimple Discs

August 3, 2025

Dimple Discs is thrilled to announce the official release of the fourth album 'What Time Can Do' from UK singer-songwriter artist Nick Haeffner, now available on CD and limited-edition white-label vinyl. Offering a unique take on quintessential British folk-pop, this is Haeffner's most ambitious work to date.

Involving a considerable amount of creative input from Marcus Holdaway (High Llamas, Stereolab, Colourway), this album was recorded, produced and mixed by Nick Haeffner and remastered by iconic producer Paul Tipler (Stereolab, Elastica, Idlewild, Placebo, Julian Cope, House Of Love).

Four years in the making, 'What Time Can Do' marks a new stage in the evolution of Nick’s music, blending the folk, psychedelic, experimental and orchestral sounds of his earlier material with Latin, jazz and dub influences. The title track exemplifies this ambition, described as "Eleanor Rigby meets Sly and Robbie" with its strident cello parts over a dub backbeat. The song poignantly tells the story of a young immigrant navigating big dreams, demanding shift work, and the challenges of English weather.

Haeffner first gained prominence in the 1980s as the guitarist for post-punk band The Tea Set (supporting legendary acts like U2, The Stranglers, The Clash, Iggy Popand XTC) and has a storied career ever since. Following the band's breakup, he worked on numerous projects, often under assumed names, having signed with Phil Smee's Bam Caruso label.

"This album represents a big step forward for me. Elements of my previous albums are present, but there is a lighter, jazzier touch to some of the tracks, much of it due to the presence of some superb musicians I came into contact with during the making of the album. Marcus Holdaway (cello, vocals, keyboards), Chris Cummings (backing vocals and keyboards) and Yani Martinelli (backing vocals) are associates of Sean O’Hagan of The High Llamas, while Marcus and Chris also have associations with Stereolab. Their contributions, especially the backing vocals, are a real highlight, bringing a new level of musical sophistication to my sound," says Nick Haeffner.

"The album is very accessible and easy to listen to, but there’s a depth to the lyrics, an underlying darkness and an attention to detail in the production, which I think gives the album substance and the ability to outlast musical trends or fashions. It contains some of my best songs, performed to perfection by the musicians, produced with loving care and given a final polish by one of the best engineer-producers in independent music, Paul Tipler".

As of August 1, the 'What Time Can Do' album is officially out everywhere on CD, which can be ordered directly from the label via Bandcamp. The album release show happened that evening, upstairs at the Betsey Trotwood.

CREDITS
Recorded, produced and mixed by Nick Haeffner
Mastered by Paul Tipler at Unit 13 Studios
Written by Nick Haeffner, except 'The Cat’s Pyjamas' (Haeffner/PiG), 'My Funny Valentine' (Rogers/Hart) and 'Cranham' (Holst)
Nick Haeffner - guitars, vocals, keyboards, mandolin, melodica
Chris A. Cummings - backing vocals, electric piano (3,8)
William Hayter - percussion (5, 10)
Marcus Holdaway - cello, keyboards, backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10)
Pierre Lassegues - spoken voice (7)
Yani Martinelli - backing vocals (1, 4, 6, 8)
Ian Montague - bass (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10)
Clive PiG - vocal (4)
Arjuna Satchitananathan - trombone (3, 7)
Allan Seago - dobro (2)
Sowa - drums (1)
Getrude Veremu - vocals (3, 7)
Jim Wallis - drums, percussion
Nat Yelverton - bass, guitar solo (5)
Cover design by Paul Brand
Released by Dimple Discs. Catalogue no. DeeDeeLP29
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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Push Puppets present 'Shake It Like You Mean It', an anti-inhibition hymn for free expression

July 29, 2025

Chicago-based indie pop-rock outfit Push Puppets present the single 'Shake It Like You Mean It', a lighthearted Spanish-tinged rocker about lowering your inhibitions, showcasing their fourth multifaceted album 'Tethered Together', released via Flowering Tree Music. After sharing a few reasons why it’s better to let it all out, that attitude is personified in a playful guitar solo that dances it’s way to the final choruses where the string quartet and the wall of vocals make it hard to not shake along

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).

"For such a simple little song, I enjoy how each verse explores a different facet of why it's best to express yourself fully," says Erich Specht.

The video is presented like a silent movie, featuring footage of pie fights, magic, and of course dancing hard dating back to the period 1894-1927. Produced by Scott Thieleand Sebastian Gonzales with video editing and animation by Tcomas Studio, Push Puppets are joined here by a string quartet, comprised of 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.

With impeccable songwriting that shines with lush harmonies, angular guitars, dramatic keyboards and strings backed by a smoking rhythm section, Erich Specht muses on relationships, loss, and the weight and joy of life. Poetic and seemingly effortless, his lyrics fit 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.

Push Puppets recently shared 'Launching a Satellite', a brilliant hymn on insecurity with its striking interplay between strings and electric guitar. Other album highlights include 'This Whole Endeavor' with the ebb and flow of a past relationship set to a memorable piano riff, the arena-rock anthem ‘Similar’, exploring 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
Video editing and animation by Tcomas Studio
Artist photos by Gabi Bucataru
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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Public Image Ltd. icon JAH WOBBLE unearths cavernous 'Dub Volume 1' album via Dimple Discs

July 23, 2025

Legendary bass player and vocalist Jah Wobble has released his new album ‘Dub Volume 1', 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.

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.

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.

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.

‘Dub Volume 1' is out now digitally on music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Musicand Bandcamp, where it is also available on vinyl and CD. Jah Wobble continues to tour extensively with Invaders of the Heart, with a UK and European tour happening in October and November. Tickets can be obtained 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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Psych-rockers Tombstones In Their Eyes present anthem 'I Am Cold', transmuting inner turmoil

July 13, 2025

Los Angeles psychedelic rock outfit Tombstones In Their Eyes present their new single 'I Am Cold', born from a period of intense personal freefall. It's a raw, unflinching look at vulnerability and the chilling acknowledgment of emotional detachment, transforming inner turmoil into a powerful, resonant anthem.

'I Am Cold' is released by Kitten Robot Records, along with the B-Side 'Take It Down', which was recorded during the 'Asylum Harbour' sessions. Spawned from a dark night of the soul, is a visceral outpouring of longing and a stark confrontation with a perceived numbness. A testament to creativity salvaged from the depths, this song is a gripping sonic journey forged in a crucible of personal hardship.

'I Am Cold' is the final offering from the band's latest 'Asylum Harbour' album, following psychedelic audio-visual trips for the singles 'By My Side', 'Gimme Some Pain', 'I Like to Feel Good' and 'Mirror'. Recorded at Kitten Robot Studios, this album was recorded produced and engineered by Paul Roessler (known for his work with Josie Cotton, Nina Hagen, Hayley and the Crushers and Gitane Demone) and co-produced by John Treanor.

Today, Tombstones In Their Eyes is made up of long-time members John Treanor(vocals & guitar), Stephen Striegel (drums), Courtney Davies (vocals), Phil Cobb(guitar) and Paul Boutin (guitar), along with new band members Nic Nifoussi (bass) and Clea Cullen (vocals).

What started as a demo-swapping exercise between Treanor in LA and James Cooper in NYC a decade ago evolved into a powerhouse band crafting expansive psychedelic soundscapes. For Treanor, these sonic explorations are not only an immersive subliminal journey, but a way to grapple with anxiety and depression by channeling it into art that boldly gazes outward at the universe while diving deep into the soul. Literally a cosmic therapy session.

The video for 'I Am Cold' was created by Italian multi-arts visionary Francesca Bonci, known for her work with Federale (BJM's Collin Hegna), British bard Philip Parfitt,The Dandy Warhols' Peter G. Holmström a.k.a. Pete International Airport and Slowdive's Rachel Goswell.

'I Am Cold' is out now, digitally everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where the 'Asylum Harbour' album is also available on CD and on snazzy red vinyl.

CREDITS
John Treanor - vocals & guitar
Paul Boutin - guitar & backing vocals
Phil Cobb - guitar
Stephen Striegel - drums & percussion
Nic Nifoussi - bass
Courtney Davies - harmony & backing vocals
Paul Roessler - keyboards, harmony & backing vocals
Recorded at Kitten Robot Studios in Los Angeles, CA
Produced and Engineered by Paul Roessler
Co-produced by John Treanor
Mastered by Alex DeYoung at DeYoung Masters
Video by Francesca Bonci
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Maximo Park maestro Duncan Lloyd releases 'Unwound' LP, an exercise of coping & catharsis

July 12, 2025

At long last, Duncan Lloyd has released his sixth album 'Unwound'. Previously with Warp Records, this is his first album of new material via Scotland's Reveal Records, who previously reissues of Lloyd’s early solo albums, including the colossal 31-track selected works collection 'Green Grows Devotion' (2022) and 'Fun City' (a trilogy of EPs recorded in 2024).

Written during a difficult personal period, this 12-track record came into being as a form of sonic therapy - a means of coping and catharsis, forging a sound with greater depth and ambition than past releases. Lloyd earlier shared the singles 'Laugh So Loud'and 'Rituals', blending a modern sound with a deeply personal message about habits and healing, voiced through a circular, radio-like musical journey.

A critically acclaimed solo artist, Lloyd is the primary musician behind internationally renowned art-rockers Maximo Park and also half of Nano Kino (with Sarah Suri). He is a Mercury Music Prize nominee, has won an NME award, had A-listed singles at BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music (including lyric of the year), and has seen success with worldwide platinum and gold selling records. His songs have featured on eight hit albums with Maximo Park, consistently charting in the Top 10 U.K.

With cover artwork derived from Lloyd’s own paintings, this record weaves a unique musical maze of free and varied personal expression, deep and transient, spare, intense and urgent with a balance of grit, beauty and melody. Things got moving when Lloyd set to work with Julie McLarnon (The Vaselines, Lankum, King Creosote, Brigid Mae Power) at Analogue Catalogue Studios in Ireland. Gaining impetus from his trip across the Irish sea, Lloyd returned to Newcastle to complete the rest of the album, each song carefully crafted with more anarchical arrangements than previous outings.

“I needed a break from all things online. Stepping away from it and being closer to nature reignites the imagination, it’s kind of obvious but easy to forget how important it is. It’s an album about experience, throughout you get the sense that dynamics, speed and space were all careful considerations. I am sort of looking under the soil trying to shape the sounds I imagine and if possible create something relatable that has a heart. I didn’t want it to be one produced sound, I wanted it to feel like different rooms, many spaces," says Duncan Lloyd.

"I partly had the book "The Poetics of Space" by Gaston Bachelard in mind, every song is it’s own room with it’s own signature. This is probably my heaviest album, in sound and mood. There are songs that lean towards post-punk and with hypnotic rhythms that are darker in tone. I wanted it to feel like the listener can climb inside the sound rather than be on the outside looking in. I don’t want them to be in the cinema I want them to be in the film or in the room, so it’s almost spooky."

The album features a host of Lloyd’s musician friends, including Maximo Park keyboardist Jemma Freese and drummer Tom English, Andrew Mills (Purploid Zing) and Joe Boyer (Cloud Nothings, Autopolitan, Nicole Yun).

'Unwound' is imbued with a darker mood than Lloyd’s previous works, but with a continuing sense of melancholy at its core. Restrained yet intimate lyrics are housed in inventively evolving structures. The album draws to a close with 'A World Away Now', a song of lost opportunity. Sometimes simply making a connection is enough.

"Sometimes on a song the bass or percussion talks louder than a voice, so I mixed it like that. Sometimes nothing else contends if the emotion isn’t clear. When you hear musicians playing together, you are invited into something far more personal or engaging. You can’t always tell the detail, yet you can feel the dynamics -- you can sense it is living," says Duncan Lloyd.

"I may let guitars get loud and careen around if that’s where it wants to go. It can then go the other way and be minimal, economical. Although it is a very personal album, it’s also addressed to the stranger and, if the listener can relate and even laugh about what life throws at us, then a connection lives”.

Writing and recording under his own name for the last decade, Lloyd has enjoyed many collaborations, including with Paul Epworth (Bloc Party, Glass Animals, Rihanna), Gil Norton (The Pixies, Echo & The Bunnymen), Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Ben Allen (Gnarls Barclay, Deerhunter), Rudimental, Dave Okumu, Batidaand legendary Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen.

'Unwound' is out now, available digitally via Bandcamp and digital music platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. It is also released on CD, the first 200 ordered coming with a bonus live four-track recording in 'The Polestar Sessions' EP.

Robin Ross & The TW Howlers Whiskey and Ice 'Back To The Forest' EP is out now via RPM Entertainment

July 10, 2025

Pennsylvania artists Robin Ross & The TW Howlers present their new single 'Whiskey and Ice'. Set in New Orleans, this is an upbeat track about battening down the hatches and getting ready for whatever comes your way. With distinctive roots-rock hues, it's a little CCR andw a lot of energy in a sonic call-to-action to take care of business before the storm hits.

Robin Ross & The TW Howlers recently released their debut EP 'Back To The Forest', a tale of two rockers walking with nature and truth, living life to the fullest. This collaboration between singer-songwriters Robin Ross and TW Howell offers five original compositions, co-authored and recorded over several months in early 2025. With a stealthy mix of classic and Americana-hued and folky blues-rock, they earlier released videos for 'Walk With Me' and 'Back To The Forest'.

'Whiskey and Ice' paints a vivid picture of confronting an environmental disaster, beginning with a heavy, uncertain morning after a night of revelation. The recurring motif of "whiskey and ice" emerges as a central coping mechanism, a steadying presence amidst the escalating threat of a powerful storm bearing down on New Orleans.

The narrative skillfully blends personal unease with the impending external disaster, shifting from a sense of being overwhelmed to a determined call for action – to "put out the sandbags" and "clean up our house." Ultimately, it's a compelling exploration of resilience, finding a way to feel "right" and "set free" even as the world around them threatens to shut down, highlighting the human need for both escape and resolve in the face of adversity.

With a musical foundation that started in New Jersey and New York in 1988, Robin Ross has since established himself in the bustling artistic community of Milford, Pennsylvania, A musician, songwriter, and producer known for 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.

With a storied history of performing all over the United States, TW Howell is a folk-blues musician, whose style of music 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.

Recorded at Baa Baa Leaf Music Studios in Milford, this album was produced and engineered by Robin Ross with Jonathan Duckett (Phillip Glass, Kenny G, David Sanborn) serving as supervising engineer. Ross and Howell are joined on this album by their extended musical family of Wharton Tiers on drums and back vocalists Joellen (JoJo) Gaetani, Nancy Isola and Kristin Grazevich.

Back To The Forest is more than an album; it's a sonic bath, a meticulously crafted immersion where the exhilarating pulse of good-vibed rock and roll converges with the serene power of pure forest energy. Each track is designed to envelop you, gently yet powerfully elevating your personal vibration and tuning you into a deeper sense of well-being. The lyrics say it all, "Walk With Me and see what we can find. Looking for something, listening for something, walk with me!"

In the early 1990s, Robin co-founded the band Laughing Jack, later rebranded as Jack’s Maze, which gained acclaim for a progressive rock sound reminiscent of such iconic bands as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. But, as occurs for many artists, life and business took him in a different direction.

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

Dedicated to the art of music production and performance, Robin finds joy in the creative process and the connections it fosters with fellow musicians and audiences alike. With an eclectic musical style that transcends genres, Robin Ross continues to captivate listeners through soulful storytelling and infectious melodies, embodying the timeless spirit of rock and roll.

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, Spotify, Amazon 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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Maximo Park maestro Duncan Lloyd presents 'Unwound' album: Antidote to the daily grind

July 9, 2025

English songwriter-guitarist Duncan Lloyd presents his new 12-track 'Unwound' album, his sixth solo endeavour, introducing the focus track 'One Step Closer To The Dam'. Previously with Warp Records, this is his first album of new material via Reveal Records following the label's reissues of Lloyd’s early solo albums, including the colossal 31-track selected works collection 'Green Grows Devotion' (2022) and 'Fun City' (a trilogy of EPs recorded in 2024).

Written during a difficult personal period, this record developed as a form of coping and catharsis, fortifying his sound with depth and ambition relative to previous releases. Lloyd earlier shared the singles 'Laugh So Loud' and 'Rituals', blending a modern sound with a deeply personal message about habits and healing, voiced through a circular, radio-like musical journey.

A critically acclaimed solo artist, Lloyd is the primary musician behind internationally renowned art-rockers Maximo Park and also half of Nano Kino (with Sarah Suri). He is a Mercury Music Prize nominee, has won an NME award, had A-listed singles at BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music (including lyric of the year), and has seen success with worldwide platinum and gold selling records. His songs have featured on eight hit albums with Maximo Park, consistently charting in the Top 10 U.K.

'Unwound' album order https://duncanlloyd.bandcamp.com/album/unwound-2025

With cover artwork derived from Lloyd’s own paintings, this record weaves a unique musical maze of free and varied personal expression, deep and transient, spare, intense and urgent with a balance of grit, beauty and melody. Things got moving when Lloyd set to work with Julie McLarnon (The Vaselines, Lankum, King Creosote, Brigid Mae Power) at Analogue Catalogue Studios in Ireland. Gaining impetus from his trip across the Irish sea, Lloyd returned to Newcastle to complete the rest of the album, each song carefully crafted with more anarchical arrangements than previous outings.

“I needed a break from all things online. Stepping away from it and being closer to nature reignites the imagination, it’s kind of obvious but easy to forget how important it is. It’s an album about experience, throughout you get the sense that dynamics, speed and space were all careful considerations. I am sort of looking under the soil trying to shape the sounds I imagine and if possible create something relatable that has a heart. I didn’t want it to be one produced sound, I wanted it to feel like different rooms, many spaces," says Duncan Lloyd.

"I partly had the book "The Poetics of Space" by Gaston Bachelard in mind, every song is it’s own room with it’s own signature. This is probably my heaviest album, in sound and mood. There are songs that lean towards post-punk and with hypnotic rhythms that are darker in tone. I wanted it to feel like the listener can climb inside the sound rather than be on the outside looking in. I don’t want them to be in the cinema I want them to be in the film or in the room, so it’s almost spooky."

The album features a host of Lloyd’s musician friends, including Maximo Park keyboardist Jemma Freese and drummer Tom English, Andrew Mills (Purploid Zing) and Joe Boyer (Cloud Nothings, Autopolitan, Nicole Yun).

'Unwound' is imbued with a darker mood than Lloyd’s previous works, but with a continuing sense of melancholy at its core. Restrained yet intimate lyrics are housed in inventively evolving structures. The album draws to a close with 'A World Away Now', a song of lost opportunity. Sometimes simply making a connection is enough.

"Sometimes on a song the bass or percussion talks louder than a voice, so I mixed it like that. Sometimes nothing else contends if the emotion isn’t clear. When you hear musicians playing together, you are invited into something far more personal or engaging. You can’t always tell the detail, yet you can feel the dynamics -- you can sense it is living," says Duncan Lloyd.

"I may let guitars get loud and careen around if that’s where it wants to go. It can then go the other way and be minimal, economical. Although it is a very personal album, it’s also addressed to the stranger and, if the listener can relate and even laugh about what life throws at us, then a connection lives”.

Writing and recording under his own name for the last decade, Lloyd has enjoyed many collaborations, including with Paul Epworth (Bloc Party, Glass Animals, Rihanna), Gil Norton (The Pixies, Echo & The Bunnymen), Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Ben Allen (Gnarls Barclay, Deerhunter), Rudimental, Dave Okumu, Batidaand legendary Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen.

As of July 11th, 'Unwound' is available digitally via Bandcamp and digital music platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. It is also released on CD, the first 200 ordered coming with a bonus live four-track recording in 'The Polestar Sessions' EP.

Alt-pop songstress Celeste Corsano moves forward and upward with new 'Stuck' single

July 8, 2025

Presenting the third in a trilogy of singles this year, alternative pop artist Celeste Corsano presents 'Stuck', a tender exploration of being caught in the inescapable grip of an emotional impasse. Here she masterfully conveys the struggle of a mind wrestling with an unyielding heart, creating an intimate space where raw emotion takes center-stage.

In a world clamouring for bombast, Corsano delivers a powerful intimacy in this raw, unfiltered dive into the tender corners of the human heart, delivered with a disarming simplicity that belies its profound emotional depth. Revealing a vulnerability that is both deeply personal and strikingly relatable, her sparse, almost childlike vocals amplify its impact.

"'Stuck' is a "little" song with a big meaning. The lyrics come from a tender place that needed simplicity and not a big vocal sound. Actually, any time I tried to sing it any differently, the vocals still came out simplistic and childlike," says Celeste Corsano.

"There aren't many lyrics but there is the play on the lyric "something in the way". The first verse meaning "something in the way that I'm feeling", and the second verse to mean "something is in my way...something in my heart". Both refer to a heart situation that I can't let go of. I'm stuck, for better or worse in a vulnerable heart space. "I should know better.." says the mind....how do you tell a heart that?? There's some more going on in these brief lyrics and I hope it speaks to you too."

Earlier, Corsano released the singles 'Nightbird' and 'Sunlight Gazing'. With hues of Kate Bush and Tori Amos, this singer-songwriter is the latest artist to be added to the growing roster of the blossoming Montclair, NJ-based indie label Magic Door Record Label.

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.

For the past year, Corsano has been working with renowned producer Ray Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Elk City, Gramercy Arms, Luna, Crash Harmony) at Magic Door Recording Studio, who produced, recorded, mixed and mastered this release, as well as several recordings to follow.

With Ketchem also on drums, this single also features fantastically notable guitarist James Mastro (The Bongos, Mott the Hoople, Ian Hunter, Patti Smith, John Cale) and keyboardist-bass player David Nagler of Nova Social (who has also played with Joan Baez, Aaron Neville, Rosanne Cash, Andrew Bird, Steve Earleand Yo La Tengo).

"When I first brought the demo to Ray Ketchem, drummer on all of my recordings and producer / engineer at Magic Door Recording, he remarked about the time changes. Actually all the singles I brought to him had some time changes and Ray did a fantastic job interpreting them into the arrangement with the drums. I write on piano, so it was percussive already, but was fully realized and blossomed into the wonderful arrangements that all three songs are now," says Celeste Corsano.

"Guitarist James Mastro and synth and bass player, David Nagler added the perfect touches to the arrangement, complete with a great guitar solo, and some added percussion to finish off the song perfectly."

Born into a musical family, Celeste is inspired by her brothers - Latin roots musician Tony Corsano and avant-garde percussionist Chris Corsano (Björk, Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore). After discovering the pulse of the new wave and punk scenes, Corsano was initiated in NYC’s live music scene, in addition to writing poetry, studying art and absorbing sound at a granular level. Initially performing Celtic and Bluegrass music in the tri-state area, she has evolved as a solo artist and songwriter.

Corsano also honed her ear during countless studio recording sessions, attended with her ex-husband Brad Morrison, producer and founder of Absolute A-Go-Go Records, known for working with such notable artists as Phish, the Figgs and Spiral Jetty.

As of July 8, 'Stuck' is available from fine online music platforms, including Bandcamp, where 'Sunlight Gazing' and 'Nightbird' can also be found.

Beauty in Chaos unveils striking rendition of 'Made of Rain' ft. Ashton Nyte & Whitney Tai New BIC album ‘Signs In The Heavens Reality Upside Down’ is out now

July 7, 2025

The ever-evolving, always revolving, world-wide entity known as Beauty In Chaos presents the latest offering from their latest album ‘Signs In The Heavens Reality Upside Down’, recently released via 33.3 Music Collective. 'Made Of Rain (Almost Acoustic)' features BIC alumni Ashton Nyte and Whitney Tai.

Based in Los Angeles, Beauty In Chaos formed in 2018 by guitarist Michael Ciravolo(formerly of Human Drama and Gene Loves Jezebel and current President of Schecter Guitars) with Grammy-nominated producer Michael Rozon (Ministry, Jarboe, Wayne Hussey, The Melvins), who also mixed and co-produced Ministry’s new ‘Squirrelly Years Revisited’ album.

In following with BIC's modus operandi, ‘Signs In The Heavens Reality Upside Down’is a supersized 29-track Limited Edition double-CD, featuring re-envisioned versions of tracks from their fourth studio release, 'Dancing With Angels', in addition to two bonus tracks ('Children Of The Revolution' featuring Ministry’s Al Jourgensen and 'Open Your Eyes', paying homage to T.Rex / Marc Bolan and The Lords of the New Church, respectively).

“I absolutely love that we are able to create these ‘stripped-down’ versions of some of our songs, and more so, just how well these are received by our loyal BIC Family! The original version is very special and is probably my favorite song on ‘Dancing With Angels’, but there is also something really beautiful about this ‘almost acoustic’ version," says BIC curator Michael Ciravolo.

"Ashton and Whitney’s ‘duet’ is simply stunning, their voices totally complimenting each other. I love the track’s minimalistic approach, highlighted by Michael Rozon’s haunting pedal steel and BIC newcomer Heather Lockie’s tasteful violin. Tish’s rock-solid acoustic bass and my quasi ‘pink floyd’ inspired guitar lines support, without distracting, letting Ashton’s words and melody take the starring role!”

This new stunning rendition offers a delicate and emotional take on the song’s original version (the closing track on 'Dancing With Angels'). Directed by Vicente Cordero (Industrialism Films), the warm endearing video was filmed by Fernando Cordero and edited by Ryan Conlon. Michael Ciravolo shares “As always, we strive to make the new video drastically different from its predecessor, and the simple ‘lounge’ setting seemed fitting for this intimate track, certainly a polar opposite to the bombastic sonic and visual overload of “Hollow”, and as usual, Vicente helped bring this vision to life!”

"'Made Of Rain' is a song of hope. It is about getting up and trying again despite the scars life can leave. This "almost acoustic version" is very dear to me. I love the organic elements present: the pedal steel, violin, and, of course, Whitney Tai's beautiful, ethereal voice elevate this piece, making it something transcendental. Similarly, the video shoot was an almost spiritual experience. A celebration of friends and art. What more can you ask for?” asks Ashton Nyte of The Awakening, who will soon tour Europe in support of the band's self-titled album.

“Made Of Rain” is a warm amber glow in a velveteen speakeasy where tales of folk and longing send a message from the beyond. There’s a wisdom and a patience in Ashton’s voice. His lyrics swarmed in the magic of Beauty In Chaos’ production for the acoustic version hits different. Doing this duet with Ashton is a dream, as he is someone with the vocal tenacity of the wisest tree in the forest. Together, it felt like we planted wildflowers in a gentle field. What made this collab special for me apart from the music is the friendship that Michael, Ashton and I share. We are family and making art with feeling is at the forefront of our passions," says Whitney Tai, who appears on many BIC tracks. Her latest single 'Slumber Party' is out now, previewing her third full-length album 'American Wasteland' (out in September).

Beauty In Chaos also recently shared ‘Hollow’ (Crimson Cupid Mix)’ featuring Cynthia Isabella (of Silence In The Snow and Lost Gems). Past BIC releases involve members of The Cure, Ministry, Cheap Trick, The Offspring, Gene Loves Jezebel, Marilyn Manson, Human Drama, Bauhaus, Nine Inch Nails, Van Halen, A Flock of Seagulls, dUg Pinnick, ICE-T, Rolan Bolan, and Zakk Wylde.

'Signs In The Heavens Reality Upside Down' is out now, available as a Limited Edition Double CD from the Beauty In Chaos store, on CD and and also digitally – get it from the Beauty In Chaos store or on Bandcamp.

CREDITS
‘Made Of Rain’ written by Ashton Nyte, Michael Rozon and Michael Ciravolo
Mixed & produced by Michael Rozon at SAINTinLA
Video directed by Vicente Cordero (Industrialism Films)
Filmed by Fernando Cordero (Industrialism Films)
Edited by Ryan Conlon
Lighting by Skum Love
Makeup by Dania Ridgway
"Signs In The Heavens Reality Upside Down" cover and guitar art by Maren Platzhoff
Thumbnail by GABB
Video features Ashton Nyte (voice & acoustic guitar), Whitney Tai (voice), Michael Ciravolo (electric guitar), Tish Ciravolo (acoustic bass), Michael Rozon (pedal steel), Heather Lockie (violin), Dirk Doucette (percussion) and Taylor Vlasaty (flower girl)
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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South African goth-rock /darkwave legends THE AWAKENING launch 'Haunting Tour 2025'

July 7, 2025

South African gothic-darkwave act The Awakening is touring again for the first time in nearly a decade, kicking things off this week. This time around, it's in support of their eponymous 12th album, released via Intervention Arts on vinyl, CD, digitally and various limited-edition formats.

The 'Haunting Tour 2025' includes headline shows in Germany, France, Canada, the UK and the USA, as well as co-headline performances at the legendary Castle Party in Poland and Brainstorm Fest in the Netherlands. They will also headline the first edition of Glōm Fest, a new pop-up festival, which will take six international acts up the west coast of the US from Los Angeles to Vancouver, Canada. The band is also set to tour Mexico and Portugal this year (dates to be announced).

Joining Ashton Nyte on stage for The Awakening’s tour is long-term guitarist Jeremy Kohnmann (also of London After Midnight), bassist Diego “Ashes” Ibarra(previously Static-X, DevilDriver, currently Wednesday 13) and long-term South African drummer Sevven. At various points, the band will be joined by Germany's The Last Decade and Britain's The Royal Ritual.

Now US-based, The Awakening was formed in Johannesburg in the late ’90s as the creative expression of vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Ashton Nyte, who was anointed as "Johannesburg's Bowie" for his widely varying musical styles and theatrical performances. Having morphed over the years, The Awakening's sound incorporates numerous genres, including gothic rock, darkwave, post-punk, electronic rock, folk noir, new wave and more.

The Awakening recently shared the video for 'Through The Veil', following dark creations for 'Mirror Midnight' and 'Haunting', each of which has amassed over one million views. Once again, we can indulge in his preferred black-and-white Film Noir format.

"'Through The Veil' tells the story of someone who has left this world but still wants to be near the one they love. I think it is beautifully romantic and relatable in any setting where we are separated from the person we need to be close to," says frontman Ashton Nyte.

"After the uptempo adventures in the last two videos, I enjoyed approaching this one from a more atmospheric story-teller perspective".

Ashton Nyte is a core contributor to LA-based supergroup Beauty In Chaos, involved with every album released to date, including the latest 'Dancing With Angels' and 'Signs in the Heavens Reality Upside Down'. Nyte has also collaborated with members of The Cure, The Mission, Tricky, Peter Murphy's band and All About Eve.

'The Awakening' album is out now and can be ordered directly from the artist on vinyl, CD, digitally and limited-edition formats. It can also be found on Spotify and other fine digital platforms. Tickets for live dates are available at www.theawakening.com/live

CREDITS
All music and lyrics by Ashton Nyte
Published by Intervention Arts / ASCAP (2024)
Recorded, mixed & produced by Ashton Nyte at Intervention Studios (USA)
Cover artwork & artist photos by Ashton Nyte
Video created by Ashton Nyte
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

TOUR DATES - 'HAUNTING TOUR 2025'
July 8 - Bielefeld, Germany - Movie *
July 9 - Berlin, Germany - Maschinenhaus [Kesselhaus in der Kulturbrauerei] *
July 10 - Leipzig, Germany - Naumann's Tanzlokal [Felsenkeller] *
July 11 - Bolków, Poland - Castle Party Festival (co-headline main stage)
Sep 12 - Los Angeles, CA, USA - Lodge Room (headline Glōm Fest)
Sep 13 - San Francisco, CA, USA - DNA Lounge (headline Glōm Fest)
Sep 19 - Portland, OR, USA - Star Theater (headline Glōm Fest)
Sep 20 - Vancouver, BC, Canada - The Cobalt (headline Glōm Fest)
Oct 24 - Leeds, UK - Belgrave Music Hall **
Oct 26 - London, UK - Bush Hall **
Oct 29 - Angers, France - Joker's (Ashton Nyte solo acoustic)
Oct 30 - Angers, France - Le Chabada
Nov 01 - Stuttgart (DE) - MS Wilhelma *
Nov 02 - Karlsruhe (DE) - KOHI! Kulturraum *
Nov 03 - Hannover (DE) - Café Glocksee *
Nov 04 - Hamburg (DE) - Nochtspeicher *
Nov 05 - Cologne, Germany - Yard Club [Die Kantine] *
Nov 06 - Dortmund, Germany - Pauluskirche (full band acoustic)
Nov 07 - Apeldoorn, The Netherlands - Brainstorm Festival (full band co-headline main stage)
Nov 08 - Apeldoorn, The Netherlands - Brainstorm Festival (full band acoustic headline theater stage)

Special Guests: * The Last Decade (DE) ** The Royal Ritual (UK)

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TIAN QIYI releases stunning sophomore album 'Songs For Workers' feat. JAH WOBBLE

June 28, 2025

After much anticipation, Liverpool-London music outfit Tian Qiyi has released their sophomore album 'Songs For Workers' via Pagoda Records, which features the legendary Jah Wobble on bass. Over its 10 tracks, they take us on a fascinating ethno-psychedelic musical journey, bridging generations and cultures, blending deep dub grooves with Eastern traditions.

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.

In the lead-up to this album's release, Tian Qiyi shared the stellar singles 'Watch The Sunrise', 'Mongolian Dub' and 'Dharma', each offering 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.

"'Songs For Workers' is an album where we have moved away from influences and inspiration, instead embracing instinct and familiarity. Our background played a crucial role, from the traditional Chinese music we learned with our grandad and mum, to the improvisational, instinctive playing we developed from performing and recording with our dad," says John Tian Qi Wardle.

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' not only highlights their growing creative independence and production skills, but also marks a bold step forward in their cross-cultural, multi-generational musical journey. Rooted in heritage and driven by experimentation, their sound is shaped by the magnetic tension between ancient tradition and dub futurism, East and West, land and spirit—a musical space that is uniquely their own. 

Drawing inspiration from Miles Davis's groundbreaking electric period and the experimental spirit of Krautrock, the band creates expansive, boundary-pushing soundscapes that defy easy categorization. Jah Wobble's involvement adds a deep, distinctive dub foundation to the family's cross-cultural vision, while the brothers' mastery of traditional Chinese instruments reflects their maternal heritage.

The duo's name carries deep personal significance, combining elements of the brothers' middle names: "Tian," shared by both siblings, paired with "Qi" (meaning "together") and "Yi" (meaning "one"). This linguistic fusion mirrors their musical approach, where disparate elements unite to create something entirely new—much like their parents' union of Eastern and Western cultural traditions.

'Songs for Workers' is out now, available from fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. A handful of festival shows will be happening this summer 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 & synthsJah Wobble - bass on 'At the Beginning', 'Mongolian Dub', 'Dharma', 'Dharma AMBIENT' & 'Songs For Workers'
Mike McGoldrick - pipes and flute on 'At the Beginning', 'Dharma' & 'Dharma AMBIENT.'
Martin Chung - guitar on 'Songs For Workers' singleProduced 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

Buffalo-based DOTSUN MOON releases 'Tiger' album, a collection of reverb & light

June 27, 2025

Upstate New York-based artist Dotsun Moon presents his third album 'Tiger', which is both spiritually and sonically influenced by M83 and New Order. Dashing out of the gate, this music is inspired by the music that motivated this artist to write music in the first place. The album also subtly weaves in the atmospheric influences of Harold Budd, John Foxx, and Robin Guthrie.

Based in Buffalo, Dotsun Moon is the creative wellspring from which Richard Flierl's musical visions flow, transforming his artistic inspirations into tangible form. Seeing several incarnations since releasing their debut album 4 A.M. in 2011, the trajectory remains steadfast on a path of dreamy rock offerings over the years, with multi-instrumentalist Flierl also gradually assuming vocal duties.

This album arrives on the trail of his lush and gazey singles 'Save Us' and 'Never Had a Heart', inspired by the driving energy and artful restraint of those who pioneered the early post-punk and new wave scene, and the invigorating singles 'Bring Love' and 'Give Up The Tears'.

"You’d be forgiven if M83 comes to mind. The inspiration stops at the power of the intro and allows me to launch into the bass and guitar influences that are pronounced throughout this album. The song is a fun yet urgent call to someone important to let me in and find the good around us," says Richard Flierl.

"This is a huge change to prior releases, which have powerful female singers at the center. On this album, I am on vocals and all the songs are written and played by me from guitars and bass to keyboards, drums and programming. Doug White at Watchmen Studios brought decades of recording and mixing knowledge to the recordings that allows the songs to truly shine."

Conveying his bold and self-contained vision in every note and vocal line, Dotsun Moon's new album is a complete solo endeavor and a departure from previous work, which involved female vocals. Evoking both euphoria and a poignant sense of grounding, Dotsun Moon brings you this compelling and unique exploration. Engineered and mastered by Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, NY, Richard Flierl and Doug White mixed the album on location.

'Never Had A Heart' kicks off the album with a propulsive, Hook-esque bassline and Daniel Ash-inspired guitar, leading into vocals that evoke New Order or Love and Rockets. 'Bring Love' follows as an upbeat, John Hughes-esque anthem of hopeful reconciliation, featuring angelic synths and a yearning guitar riff. 'Save Us' delivers an urgent plea, blending an M83-like power intro with the album's core bass and guitar influences. 'Piano Trailer Melody 4' is a reverent homage to Harold Budd, showcasing rich chords influenced by his collaborations with Guthrie and Foxx.

'Army of Me' navigates overcoming adversity, starting with a piano riff hinting at Erik Satie before bursting into David Gilmour/Will Sergeant-esque guitar bends. 'Give Up The Tears' offers anthemic hope, a perfect summer driving song propelled by synths and Will Sergeant-influenced guitar. 'Moments In The Sun' provides melancholic hope, with intertwining synth and guitar recalling The Clean/The Chills. Finally, 'Winter Streets' captures the spirit of a harsh Buffalo winter, evolving from quiet sounds to a burst of energy that embodies resilience against "cabin fever."

Over the years, Dotsun Moon has performed with such notable artists as Mary Ognibene (The Lovely Intangibles) and Buffalo Music Hall of Famer Maria Sebastian, having also played shows with Joywave, Vanishing Kids and The Lost Patrol, not to mention Pride Festival.

The 'Tiger' album is out now, available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Music & lyrics written by Richard Flierl (ASCAP)
Vocals, guitar, bass, drums, programming & synths by Richard Flierl
Mixed by Richard Flierl and Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, NY
Engineered and mastered by Doug White at Watchmen Studios
Cover artwork by Doc Wintersmith
Artist photos by Meredith Snow
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

American rockers Robin Ross & The TW Howlers channel good vibes on 'Back To The Forest' EP

June 25, 2025

Pennsylvania artists Robin Ross & The TW Howlers has released their debut EP 'Back To The Forest', a tale of two rockers walking with nature and truth, living life to the fullest. This collaboration between singer-songwriters Robin Ross and TW Howell offer five original compositions, co-authored and recorded over several months in early 2025. With a stealthy mix of classic and Americana-hued and folky blues-rock, they have also created videos for 'Walk With Me' and 'Back To The Forest'.

With a musical foundation that started in New Jersey and New York in 1988, Robin Ross has since established himself in the bustling artistic community of Milford, Pennsylvania, A musician, songwriter, and producer known for 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.

With a storied history of performing all over the United States, TW Howell is a folk-blues musician, whose style of music 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.

Recorded at Baa Baa Leaf Music Studios in Milford, this album was produced and engineered by Robin Ross with Jonathan Duckett (Phillip Glass, Kenny G, David Sanborn) serving as supervising engineer. Ross and Howell are joined on this album by their extended musical family of Wharton Tiers on drums and back vocalists Joellen (JoJo) Gaetani, Nancy Isola and Kristin Grazevich.

"This is an album of Baa Baa Leaf conceptually-inspired cosmic tunes, sonically chaneling our inner soul rock and roll. This was, metaphorically, like heading into the forest, unafraid to come out with new music," says Robin Ross.

"We are like brother travellers, reuniting to co-create and sharing a creative flow on a pass through the Baa Baa Leaf studio vibes and countryside! For us, it was an unexpected musical adventure that we just had to pursue."

Back To The Forest is more than an album; it's a sonic bath, a meticulously crafted immersion where the exhilarating pulse of good-vibed rock and roll converges with the serene power of pure forest energy. Each track is designed to envelop you, gently yet powerfully elevating your personal vibration and tuning you into a deeper sense of well-being. The lyrics say it all, "Walk With Me and see what we can find. Looking for something, listening for something, walk with me!"

In the early 1990s, Robin co-founded the band Laughing Jack, later rebranded as Jack’s Maze, which gained acclaim for a progressive rock sound reminiscent of such iconic bands as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. But, as occurs for many artists, life and business took him in a different direction.

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

Dedicated to the art of music production and performance, Robin finds joy in the creative process and the connections it fosters with fellow musicians and audiences alike. With an eclectic musical style that transcends genres, Robin Ross continues to captivate listeners through soulful storytelling and infectious melodies, embodying the timeless spirit of rock and roll.

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, Spotify, Amazon and Bandcamp.