Charlie Nieland's 'Stories From the Borderlines' is the Year's Most Unsettlingly Glamorous Album - a darkly essential NYC rock statement

December 12, 2025

Renowned NYC songwriter-producer Charlie Nieland presents 'Stories From The Borderlines', a dazzling and deeply personal album that explores themes of connection and severance. This is one of the most profound albums from Nieland, known of his work producing and writing for such artists as Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Blondie and Scissor Sisters.

More than music, the meticulously crafted songs on this album—a geography of intention—are an act of imaginative resistance, passionately mining for light and truth in a darkening world. Shaped by a reverence for pioneering '80s and '90s synth and guitar-driven music, these cinematic soundscapes and poignant songs involve drummer Billy Loose, Staten Island rapper spiritchild, guitarist Dan McAssey and Joe McGinty(The Psychedelic Furs, Ryan Adams, Nada Surf, The Loser's Lounge).

"This set of songs is a kaleidoscope of styles. They are luminous secret rooms that reflect one human’s heart in a world at the precipice. Staying creative is resistance. As authoritarians attack culture, they make the mistake that imagination can be controlled when it actually emerges from the bottom up. Culture is not imaginary. It’s is rooted in imagination but it’s more real than what can be measured," says Charlie Nieland.

"These songs tell stories of growing up, of how we got severed, and how we connect. I burrowed into each idea over several years that were filled with love, uncertainty and family drama. The time allowed me to create and explore sound worlds with a cinematic eye; finding contrasts in texture and time. To create an experience that shifts with each listen. These songs are a geography of intention and intuition, mining for light in a dark world. Let’s find the switch."

Nieland also presents 'Shame' with a firecracker video, directed and edited by multi-faceted NYC-based artist Hypnodoll, and filmed by Alice Teeple. Fueled by the obsessive lust and repulsion that has been weaponized against the queer community, this song explores how fascination runs like blood from all sides, our own self-loathing driving us into the unknown.

Previewed the epic lead track 'Win' feat. spiritchild and 'The Ocean Understands' EP, this new album presents a visceral blend of post punk, glam, dream pop and progressive rock. With sweeping melodies and restless rhythms, these unique soundscapes deliver an immersive journey, showcasing Nieland's continued evolution as an artist and producer.

Nieland's backstory is extensive, having written, performed and produced music for decades. He 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. Hehas scored 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'.

An artist rich on nuanced songwriting and sonic exploration, he released the album 'Ice Age' (2014), followed by 'Hopeful Monsters' (2016) and ‘Divisions' (2021). After 20 years with Her Vanished Grace, he is half of the literature-inspired duo Lusterlit with Susan Hwang, and both produces and co-hosts the podcast 'An Embarrassment of Prog'.

'Stories From The Borderlines' is out now, available everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. Nieland returns in January with his next audio-visual offering.

CREDITS
All songs written by Charlie Nieland, except 'Win' (by Charlie Nieland & spiritchild   )
Charlie Nieland - vocals, 6 and 12 string electric and acoustic and e-bow guitars, lap steel guitar, fretted and fretless electric basses, upright piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, Korg MS20 analog synth, virtual Mellotrons and string machines, autoharp, glockenspiel, percussion
Billy Loose - drums 
Dan McAssey - guitar on 'Brutalist Monuments' & 'You Fell Down'
spiritchild - Vocals on 'Win'
 Joe McGinty - keyboards on 'Today'
Recorded at home and at Saturation Point Studios in Brooklyn, NY
Produced, recorded, mixed & mastered by Charlie Nieland
© 2025 Athame Music, xspiritmentaleyez Music (Win)
Album cover art by Hypnodoll™  
Videos for 'Redshift' and 'Drown' by Hypnodoll™
Video for 'Shame' by Hypnodoll™ and Alice Teeple
Artist photos by Alice Teeple and Bob Krasner
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Lowsunday releases 'Low Sunday Ghost Machine - White EP', first record of all-new material in 25 years

December 10, 2025

Projekt Records artist Lowsunday emerges with their first record comprised of all-new material since 1999, bridging three decades of distinct sonic legacy. The 'Low Sunday Ghost Machine - White EP' delves into emotional isolation, this music laced with a counterbalance of escapism, dreamlike sounds, drones and feedback, with carefully-placed classic song structures with melodic hooks. This is the first of a two-EP series being released via Projekt.

Based in Pittsburgh, Lowsunday is now a duo made up of Shane Sahene (vocals, guitar, synth, bass, drums) and Bobby Spell (bass, guitar, drums), this EP serving as both a reflection and a resurgence. The band also presents their new video for 'Love Language'.

Blurring the lines between post-punk, shoegaze, dreampop, and darkwave since 1994, Lowsunday brings something new to the music scene, treading sonic waters with screeching guitars and layer upon layer of arsenic-laced melodies, crowned with bittersweet and emotive vocals. From quiet intensity to sweeping sonic landscapes, Lowsunday makes a welcome return with their retro-futurist daydream.

The 'White EP' demonstrates a connection to the band’s history while showcasing a natural expansion that builds upon guitar-driven atmospheres, synth textures, emotive vocals and stripped down drum beats. A confident return to form that explores darker yet more expansive sonic territory, at times, they push atmospheres to the limits of noise and, at more delicate moments, into a dream pop air of deeper melancholia.

Sahene and Spell distill years of sonic exploration and inspiration into this release. Lyrically and sonically, these songs use classic post-punk rhythms and atmospheric layers to express simple, fundamental emotion.

This five-track EP arrives on the trail of the extended 30th anniversary remaster of their debut album 'Low Sunday Ghost Machine' a 2-CD feast recorded at the height of their ascent. The original nine tracks are complemented by a second disc with seven unreleased tracks, remixes and reinterpretations. Projekt also released the 25th anniversary remaster of their sophomore album 'Elesgiem' in 2024.

The 'Low Sunday Ghost Machine - White EP' is out now digitally everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, and as a five-song vinyl release, limited to 200 copies. The 'Low Sunday Ghost Machine' reissue and Lowsunday's limited edition 7" of 'Static / Besides' can also be found on these platforms.

Detroit Illharmonic Symphony releases 'Everything Is Shattered' album feat. punk pioneers from TSOL, Circle Jerks & Black Flag

December 10, 2025

Detroit Illharmonic Symphony presents their new album "Everything Is Shattered" — a wild mashup of punk, indie rock, hip hop, and cinematic chaos that involves southern California punk pioneers Jack Grisham (TSOL) and Keith Morris (Circle Jerks, Black Flag), among others. This 14-track collection comes to us straight from California's legendary Geza X Records.

The lead track "Everything Is Shattered" sees Jack Grisham (from TSOL) joined by future superstar Max Galbreath (ttwopercentmilk) on vocals. Produced and recorded by Paul Roessler (The Screamers, Nina Hagen, 45 Grave) at Kitten Robot Studios, this is a high-energy cinematic post-punk anthem with Bond-theme intensity. The accompanying video has toured around the world, was featured on the PBS television show "Music California" and has won four awards, the most recent received this week at the Los Angeles Animation Festival.

Keith Morris of Circle Jerks and originally Black Flag, contributes vocals on “If You Cooperate”, a psychedelic surf-punk fever dream meets spaghetti-western soundtrack, with Cecilia Suhr on violin. These two songs and others on this album are from the bold 2025 animated motion picture "I’d Rather Be Turned Into Cat Food", featuring both Grisham and Morris, along with artists Tony Nittoli, Kristina Wong and John Andrews, best known for his work with MTV and for producing Beavis and Butthead.

Written and directed by Walter Santucci and produced by Evil Cat Land (whose pedigree includes animation for MTV, Nickelodeon, ABC, Disney, Ice T, Margaret Cho, Cedric the Entertainer and Monty Python's Graham Chapman), this film does to cinema what punk rock did to music.

Detroit Illharmonic Symphony is not based in the Motor City but rather in Los Angeles (with some members also further afield). Fusing elements of punk, indie rock, classical music, hip hop and soul, “Everything Is Shattered” is an album loaded with punk attitude, cinematic soundscapes, and hip hop swagger — the stuff that unique, left-of-center playlists are made of.

This latest record brings to life fantasies of TSOL jamming with the Beastie Boys in a Quentin Tarantino movie. At the same time, there is a rich diversity here worth exploring, as seen on "You Have One Minute to Disperse" and “She’s Never Gonna Love Me”, both of which features Malyque Smith on vocals. Diana Lynn appears on "Doo Doo On A Stick", where 70s soul merges with Sesame Street groove, while "Welcome to Fear City" — with Venetia Phillips on trumpet — paints hip-hop with a shade of 60s movie soundtrack cool.

While the five core members are Cool Walt (bass, cello, guitar, piano), Raga Roni(samples, drum programming, turntables), Malyque Smith (rapping and turntables), Cecilia Suhr (violin, cello, piano) and Lukecage (piano, saxophone, drums), the group's line up is constantly changing.

Since 2001, Detroit Illharmonic has released nine albums and scores for several film and television projects. With an exciting and unique mix of symphonic instruments, samples, turntables and the involvement of various vocalists, their work has been featured at Brooklyn Academy of Music, REDCAT (LA), University of Chicago, Royce Hall (UCLA), University of Notre Dame, Cinema Detroit, and American Cinematheque. In 2014, the video for their song "It's a Lovely Day" toured with the 50th anniversary re-release of The Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night", screening in 20 cities across the USA. Many of their music videos have screened in cinemas internationally and have won multiple awards.

Geza X Records is an imprint founded by legendary producer Geza X, whose legacy as the sonic architect of West Coast punk involves engineering seminal music by punk royalty—Dead Kennedys, The Germs, Black Flag, The Avengers, Redd Kross and The Weirdos. Geza X Records still works with radical new artists, continuing to defy convention and release unique, genre-bending music.

The 'Everything Is Shattered' album is out now, available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The title track single is also being released on 7" limited edition translucent blue vinyl record with the same cover art as the album!

CREDITS
Written by Walter Santucci (Tracks 3-8, 10-11, 13); Jack Grisham & Walter Santucci (Track 1); Walter Santucci & Malyque Smith (Tracks 9, 12); Walter Santucci & Cecilia Suhr (Track 2)
Raga Roni - drums & drum programming
Cool Walt - bass, guitar, cello, piano
Max Galbreath - vocals on "Everything Is Shattered"
Jack Grisham - vocals on "Everything Is Shattered"
Keith Morris - vocals on "If You Cooperate"
Cecilia Suhr - violin on "If You Cooperate"
Venetia Phillips - trumpet "Welcome to Fear City"
Malyque Smith - vocals on "You Have One Minute to Disperse" & “She’s Never Gonna Love Me”
Diana Lynn - vocals “Doo Doo On A Stick”
Produced by Raga Roni, except "Everything Is Shattered' produced by Paul Roessler
Recorded by Donny Baker at ES Audio, Raga Roni at Evil Cat Land,
and "Everything Is Shattered' recorded by Paul Roessler at Kitten Robot Studios
Album released by Geza X Records
Published by Andthereitisthere / BMI (Jack Grisham) & Geza Music / BMI (Walter Santucci & Cecilia Suhr), ASCAP / Beats and Bluntz Publishing (Malyque Smith )
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Keep up with Detroit Illharmonic Symphony
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music| Publishing contact | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BlueSky | Threads | Soundcloud | LinkedIn | Email

NYC's Jessie Kilguss shares 'Fool's Fight', showcasing sixth album 'They Have A Howard Johnson's There'

December 6, 2025

NYC-based singer-songwriter Jessie Kilguss presents 'Fool’s Fight', a beautiful calling card for her new album 'They Have A Howard Johnson's There' - her sixth to date. Here, she delivers a powerful, indie-folk anthem about surrendering to a relationship so immediate and intense it feels like a cosmic force, compelling the narrator to abandon all societal pretense.

A name whispered with reverence in deep-cut New York songwriting circles, Kilguss is not one to shy away from the cinematic or the deeply literary. Defined by a clever, layered nostalgia, Kilguss crafts a sonic space that is intimately personal and universally resonant, proving that sometimes, the greatest stories can be found in the most unlikely places.

Engineered, produced, mixed and mastered by Charlie Nieland (Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Blondie, Scissor Sisters) at Saturation Point Studios in Brooklyn, this album is a collection of tracks that are nuanced, building from a simple guitar and voice into something far grander.

"I have a songwriting club with my friend Rembert Block, who is a singer-songwriter-bandleader and also sang backing vocals on my record. We meet every 3 or 4 weeks and share a new song with each other. Our club has been meeting for over two years now, which has been incredibly helpful for keeping us both in the habit of writing new songs on a regular basis," says Jessie Kilguss.

"When I wrote 'Fool’s Fight', I was deeply ensconced in Elena Ferrante’s "Neapolitan Quartet", which I loved! The song is slightly inspired by those books. As with any song it also relates to my own life but I like to let people project their own stories onto my songs, find their own meaning."

A fine cartographer of this emotional landscape, Kilguss isn't just making music; she's collecting fragments of the past, stitching them into a luminous, deeply felt present. A powerful collection steeped in sweet nostalgia, divine inspiration and sophistication, this album is a masterclass in mood and a sonic exploration where poetic introspection and light-filled melodies intersect with folk-laced resignation.

"This is a collection of songs I’ve written over the past few years, most being inspired, at least in part, by a book (Elena Ferrante’s 'The Lost Daughter & Neapolitan Quartet'), a movie ('Dog Day Afternoon') or a work of art ('The Ecstasy of St Teresa'). The title comes from a line in the song 'Howard Johnson’s', which is a roundabout tribute to my father Howard, who passed away in 2023," says Kilguss.

"I’ve been working on this album for the past year with producer Charlie Nieland, with whom I have been collaborating since 2007. We started every track with just voice and guitar and built them out from there. Previously, I’ve always gone into the studio with my band to record. This was an interesting way to work as we deconstructed each song and then put them back together.."

This album also involves heavy-hitters like Kirk Schoenherr (Tegan and Sara, Elle King, Chet Faker), John Kengla (David Byrne, Ben Kweller, Serena Ryder), Andrea Longato (Duncan Sheik, Jeremy Jordan), Rob Heath (Madison Square Gardeners, Julia Nunes), Dave Derby (The Dambuilders, Gramercy Arms, Lloyd Cole) and Rembert Block (Rembert and the Basic Goodness).

The lead track 'Howard Johnson's' is a beautiful, melancholic tribute to her late father, Howard, name-checked in a surreal line by Al Pacino in the movie "Dog Day Afternoon", while 'St. Teresa in Ecstasy' is a divine, slow-burn revelation, inspired by Bernini's dramatic sculpture and the dizzying feeling of being utterly overwhelmed by art or even something celestial. understands the power of great moments, and this song is pure, dramatic and full of radiant harmonics.

Kilguss is a former actress who cut her teeth working with titans like Daniel Day Lewisand Winona Ryder on 'The Crucible', as well as Marianne Faithfull and Mary Margaret O'Hara in the Tom Waits / William Burroughs musical 'The Black Rider'. Kilguss sings with Gramercy Arms, Loser’s Lounge, Jim Andralis & the Syntonics and Benjamin Cartel. She has performed at the Sundance Film Festival and with Freddie Stevenson, touring with The Waterboys, and was an artist in residence at Fish Factory Creative Center in Stodvarfjordur, Iceland in the summer of 2025.

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), composer-producer Naren Rauch, and Nathan Schram (Bjork, David Crosby, David Byrne), with whom Kilguss ran the non-profit organization Musicambia.

'They Have A Howard Johnson's There' is out everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.

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
Videos for Fool's Fight and Howard Johnson’s by Deborah Magocsi
Video for St. Teresa in Ecstasy by Alex Dar
Graphic design by Scott MX Turner
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Keep up with Jessie Kilguss
Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter |Instagram | BlueSky | Threads | Soundcloud | LinkedIn | Ema il

Tombstones In Their Eyes unleashes psychedelic majesty on 'Under Dark Skies' album (via Little Cloud Records & Shore Dive Records)

December 4, 2025

Los Angeles-based psychedelic rock outfit Tombstones In Their Eyes present their much-anticipated album 'Under Dark Skies'. For the first time ever, the band has support on both sides of the Atlantic, the album being released via Little Cloud Records (in North America) and Shore Dive Records (the UK and EU).

What began a decade ago as two childhood friends (John Treanor in LA and James Cooper in NYC) swapping demos quickly grew into a full-fledged band. Today, Tombstones In Their Eyes is made up of John Treanor (vocals & guitar), Stephen Striegel (drums), Courtney Davies (vocals), Phil Cobb (guitar), Nic Nifoussi (bass) and Clea Cullen (vocals). Guitarist Paul Boutin remains a member of the band in spirit, having passed away in mid-October 2025.

One year on from their 'Asylum Harbour' album, 'Under Dark Skies' emerged during a year of intense personal change, before finally moving into a place of peace and gratitude. Recorded and engineered by Paul Roessler (The Screamers, Nina Hagen, 45 Grave) at Kitten Robot Studios, this album was co-produced by John Treanor and mastered by multi-platinum engineer Alex DeYoung at DeYoung Masters (Michael Jackson, BTS, Macy Gray, The Linda Lindas, TSOL).

"In many ways, 'Under Dark Skies' is both a snapshot and a refutation of the period of time between mid-2023 and 2024. Drowning in self-created, self-centered, self-destructive shame, misery and chaos, the songs were a means to search for strength, clarity and grace. The songs on this album were driven by the desire to come back from a complete mental breakdown," says John Treanor.

"'Under Dark Skies' is an arrow pointed towards hope. Life is messy and, as human beings, we make mistakes, sometimes dreadful ones. But even when it seems darkest, one can find strength and move towards the light. Each moment, each day provides a chance for redemption. Moving towards the light is the theme of this record - music is a healing force. These songs contain pain, fear, strength and hope and ultimately, they helped me to heal".

Tombstones also present the video for 'Alive and Well', an unexpectedly fierce and defiant declaration of strength that is dedicated to the band's guitarist Paul Boutin, who recently lost his battle with cancer. Having met Tombstones' main-man John Treanor at Kitten Robot Studios about 10 years ago while working on his own projects, they fell into the same orbital realms until Paul eventually joined the band.

"When our beloved friend and guitar player lost his life on 10/18/25, we were shocked, confused and incredibly saddened. Paul was so kind, generous, intelligent and always optimistic. Being in TITE was a source of pride and joy for Paul. He was so easy to be around and was dedicated, driving many hours for practices and shows, always bringing his cheerfulness and optimism. We miss him greatly and are glad he is all over this record," says John Treanor.

"We were initially going to scrap 'Alive and Well' as a single after Paul's passing (for obvious reasons), but because it was one of Paul's favorites and a song on which he played guitar, we are going ahead with the release. The lyrics are about rising out of desperate circumstances with newfound strength - something Paul himself experienced, having dragged himself out of his own difficulties to ultimately rebuild a life full of joy and purpose. While not planned that way, 'Alive and Well' ended up being a statement of intent - a story of a journey from despair to strength."

The videos for 'Alive and Well' and the brooding lead track 'Under Dark Skies' were 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.

As of December 5, the 'Under Dark Skies' album is available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. It is also released on vinyl via Little Cloud Records (North America) and Shore Dive Records (UK and the EU).

CREDITS
Lyrics written by John Treanor

Music written by John Treanor, except Track 10 written by John Treanor & James Cooper

John Treanor - vocals & guitar
Paul Boutin - guitar & backing vocals
Phil Cobb - guitar
Stephen Striegel - drums & percussion
Nic Nifoussi - bass on Tracks 2,3,4,5,6,7,10
Joel Wasko - bass on Tracks 1,2,3,8,9 & harmony / vocals on Tracks 2,4,9
Courtney Davies - harmony / backing vocals, flute on Track 7
Clea Cullen - harmony / backing vocals
Paul Roessler - keyboards, harmony / backing vocals
John Miller - guitar on Track 3 & backing vocals on Track 2

Recorded at Kitten Robot Studios in Los Angeles, CA
Produced & Engineered by Paul Roessler
Co-Produced by John Treanor
Mastered by Alex DeYoung at DeYoung Masters
Cover artwork design by Robin Gnista

Released by Little Cloud Records (US) LC-136 & Shore Dive Records (UK & EU)
Digital UPC: 199800726071

'Under Dark Skies' & 'Alive and Well' videos by Francesca Bonci
Band photos by Karin Johansson
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Ecce Shnak teams with famed DJ-producer Madison Mars on dance-ready 'Prayer On Love' remix

December 3, 2025

Art rockers Ecce Shnak have teamed up with world-famous DJ-producer Madison Mars on the club anthem 'Prayer On Love (Madison Mars Remix)'. A 360-degree transformation of the chilled original version of 'Prayer On Love', found on their 'Shadows Grow Fangs' EP, this ecstatic dance version serves as a bridge towards their full-length debut album, 'Dandy Variances', slated for spring release.

Based in New York City, Ecce Shnak (pronounced Eh-kay sh-knock) is made up of David Roush (composer, bassist and one of two singers), Bella Komodromos(vocals), Chris Krasnow (guitar), Gannon Ferrell (guitar), and Henry Buchanan-Vaughn (drums).

Known for their thrilling performances — a high-stakes auditory experience where fierce instrumental prowess and an element of playful chaos exist in perfect, precarious balance — they cleverly manage to serve up one sonic adrenaline shot after another. Tossing the rulebooks out the window, Ecce Shnak has a talent for spinning serious subjects—the stuff of great rock tradition—into the same whirlwind as the wildest, most trivial footnotes of life, all delivered with blinding focus.

Madison Mars (aka Madis Sillamo) has a solid reputation as an electronic music producer, having created remixes for such artists as Pink, Sia, Armin Van Buuren, Shaggy, Robin Schulz, and even Sting. A recording artist with numerous sync licensing deals to his name, he has released music via top labels around the world, including Warner Music, Sony and Universal Music and earned a Double Platinum Record for his 'New Vibe Who Dis' album.

Ecce Shnak also recently released another electronic reworking of their original 'Jeremy, Utilitarian Sadboy' fashioned by German DJ-producer Eskei83. This re-envisioning — 'Jeremy, Utilitarian Sadboy (Kill Em Mix)' — is an invigorating adrenaline-filled hit that evokes imagery of sci-fi and action-thriller scenes from the Matrix and Bladerunner, the original’s math-metal guitar riff is transformed into a throbbing dubstep synth-bassline and its frenetic drums into a straightforward high-octane dance-beat.

In February 2025, Ecce Shnak released their debut EP 'Shadows Grow Fangs', which was recorded and produced by Jeff Lucci, mixed by Nicholas Vernhes (Animal Collective, Deerhunter, Wild Nothing, The War on Drugs) and mastered by Grammy award-winning engineer Joe LaPorta (David Bowie, The Weeknd, Foo Fighters, Vampire Weekend).

Since then, Ecce Shnak has garnered ample press attention and airplay, released their live 'Backroom Sessions' EP, hosted a hot series of live shows in New York City, and toured the USA with platinum-selling legends Spacehog and EMF. Ecce Shnak also features on the EMF single 'LGBTQ+ Lover', an epic indie dance track that offers a safe space for the marginalized queer community, the video footage being filmed during their recent joint tour.

'Prayer On Love (Madison Mars Remix)' is out now viaRecords, Man Records, available from digital music platforms, includingSpotify,YouTube and Apple Music.

CREDITS
Written / composed by David Roush
'Prayer On Love' remix by Madison Mars
'Kill Em' Remix' by Eskei83
Vocals by David Roush and Isabella Komodromos
Sound Engineer: Jeff Lucci at the Art Farm (NY)
Released by Records Man, Records
Artist photos byTommy Krause
A&R: Beth Narducci forYou + Me Entertainment
Publicity by Shauna McLarnon forShameless Promotion PR

PARIS MUSIC CORP. presents 'Wetlands' and 'Dark Laguna', showcasing new 'Ecotone' album

December 2, 2025

Texas-based electronic composer Paris Music Corp. is back with a tandem of water-themed tracks that explore the deep tranquility and visual symmetry of nature. 'Wetlands' and 'Dark Laguna' take us on a sonic and visual journey, where the gentle flow of the first meets the mesmerizing, reflective depths of the second, offering an immersive, watery kaleidoscope for the mind.

Each track is paired with an accompanying, calming kaleidoscopic video designed to provide a unique sense of grounding stability through fluid motion and reflective imagery. This immersive, watery kaleidoscope for the mind invites fellow travellers to lose themselves in the ebb and flow of these two calming, aquatic soundscapes.

The brainchild of long-time Austin artist John Andrew Paris (now based on the Texan coast), Paris Music Corp. recently released his new album. 'Ecotone' - an electronic odyssey whose audio-visual offerings explore tranquility and the visual symmetry of nature. Nature and cycles are two themes explored, as seen in his latest offerings - 'Midnight Pad' and 'Sun Halos' - exploring the cyclical and seasonal juxtaposition of light with dark.

But this album is also deeply personal and geographically-inspired, being rooted in the artist's relocation to his childhood home in South Texas, just miles from the border and the coast. Paris wrote, recorded, mixed and mastered this album at Tarantula Studios throug 2024 and 2025.

In Austin, John Andrew Paris has 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.

"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. I feel a lot closer to nature.. Some of my song titles reflect where I am. I actually lived in this area as a child and have come back to my roots,” says John Andrew Paris.

"A lot of these pieces were started on a phone app called Ableton Note. With this application you are able to scratch-pad a lot of cool ideas and then import them into you music workstation and finish them out. When I first moved to my new place I didn’t have a spacious studio setup and I wrote a lot just sitting up all hours of the night writing ideas on Ableton Note."

Known for his cinematic and ethereal music, 'Ecotone' shows Paris Music Corp's dark underbelly and futuristic imagination. Often with elements of 80’s darkwave and ambient soundscapes, his trademark sound involves processed guitar and bass locked into layered loops and manipulated using software. Also employing live hand percussion, these dense soundscapes take the listener on a sonic journey.

Earlier, Paris Music Corp. shared 'Rituals' and the lead track 'No Soy A.I.', featuring Spanish vocals by fellow Texan musician, writer and actor RayPerez, a dark slab of swirling electro casts a sonic challenge to the algorithmic chill of our times and the only track on this album with vocals.

In 2022, Paris Music Corp. released his self-titled album, after taking hiatus following his 2017 debut album 'Rewind'. Influenced by Mick Karn, Pink Floyd, Gary Numan, Tim Hecker and Miles Davis, John Andrew Paris scored the documentary 'Andy Paris: Bubble Gum King' and the horror film 'Spectral Wind', plus an electronic rework of 'Lord of the Dance' for the Austin Christmas Collection Album.

The 'Ecotone' album is available from digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotifyand Bandcamp.

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

Pennsylvania's Robin Ross & The Melodynes share 'Spill No Mo Wine', heralding new album

December 2, 2025

Pennsylvania-based outfit Robin Ross & The Melodynes present 'Spill No Mo Wine', a fun-loving single born from a high-spirited gathering on Lake Huron. Straight from the bottle right to your dancing feet, this track captures the energetic atmosphere of friendship and celebration, using a humorous mishap as a metaphor for resilience when life's plans briefly spill out of control.

Anchoring the band's sophomore 'Mind Space' album, scheduled for release in early 2026 via RPM Entertainment, here the band infuses classic rock with modern pop sensibilities in the spirit of The B-52s, with a side of Tony and even The Pretenders.

Robin Ross & The Melodynes is not just about music - it's about big fun between like-minded artists, including Wharton Tiers, JoJo Ellen Gaetani, Katlyn Albrecht, Nancy Isola, TW Howell, Emery Rhodes, Joe (Bass) Torres and Tony Anniello. Their collective good vibes cannot help but seep into the music, carrying over to their listeners.

'Mind Space' was recorded at Baa Baa Leaf Music Studio in Milford, PA, which straddles the border between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Ross produced and engineered this album, along with famed engineer Jonathan Duckett (Phillip Glass, Kenny G, David Sanborn). Not long ago, Ross released 'Back To The Forest', the debut EP as Robin Ross & The TW Howlers, a songwriting project with storied folk-rock artist TW Howell, which received critical acclaim and airplay in dozens of countries.

"'Spill No Mo Wine' came to be on the shores of Lake Huron on the Bois Blanc Island in Michigan. There upon the bowling-ball-shaped rocks, wearing flip-flops, I composed this with a guitar in one hand and one big carafe-sized glass of wine in the other. I sat down, put the wine carefully on a rock and began playing, when this riff started. I took one more sip of wine, put it down and it fell off the rock, spilling the wine completely into the soppy sand," explains Robin Ross.

"But the glass held firm and didn't break. Deciding to finish the riff, I put it back on the rock and looked into it for inspiration. Then came the hook, chorus and a special break. In good spirit, I returned to the house for a refill and played the song for our friends. The song is about grit and how, sometimes, best laid plans can vanish in one quick moment."

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, PA, A musician, songwriter, and producer with diverse musical endeavours spanning over three decades, he has released five albums and played a pivotal role in creating several recording studios, including Triple R Studios and Sound Complex near New York City. Ross' current recording studio, Baa Baa Leaf Music Studio, continues to expand.

In the early 1990s, Robin co-founded the band Laughing Jack, later rebranded as Jack’s Maze, who gained acclaim for a progressive rock sound reminiscent of such icons 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 both of the aforementioned projects. Robin also regrouped with Jack's Maze members Frank Cinquegrana, Scott Cowan, and Joe Torres to create new progressive rock albums. The Forecast is predicting a new Jack's Maze album in the Spring of 26'.

As of December 1, 'Spill No Mo Wine' is available via the artist's website and from fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
'Spill No Mo Wine' written by Robin Ross
Performed by Robin Ross, JoEllen Gaetani, Wharton Tiers, Katlyn Albrecht
Robin Ross - guitar, bass, keys, back vocals
JoEllen Gaetani - back vocals
Wharton Tiers - drums
Katlyn Albrecht - vocals
Recorded at Baa Baa Leaf Music Studios (Milford, PA)
Produced and Mixed by 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

Keep up with Robin Ross // Robin Ross & The Melodynes
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Reverbnation | Apple Music | Spotify | Booking contact | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BlueSky | Threads | Soundcloud | LinkedIn | Email

'Scream If You Wanna Go Faster' - new album from Manchester electronic outfit Scissorgun out now

November 25, 2025

UK electronic outfit Scissorgun present their album 'Scream If You Wanna Go Faster', releases via Dimple Discs. A must-have for Factory Records collectors, they mix urban electronica with fuzz and wah guitar, these trailblazers present a solid collection of songs, dances and abstract soundscapes. The vinyl includes seven tracks, while the digital and CD versions include three bonus tracks. Ahead of its release, they presented the tracks 'Gone Rogue' and 'Bad As Bingo'.

Formed in Manchester in August 2016, Scissorgun is an electronic trio comprised of Dave Clarkson (synths, rhythms, tapes, percussion), Alan Hempsall (vocals, treated guitar, samples, loops) and Adrian Ball (light show and projections). Carriers of Factory Records' legacy, this project is based on the central premise that everything must come from improvisation. Their musical scope is varied - pastoral dreams one minute and, the next, crashing swathes of noise chased down with a dub twist.

“We always operate on instinct and improvisation is the key starting point. Some ideas become structured songs, but others remain as first recorded, with the music finding us and not vice versa. The title is a soft attempt at social comment, intended to be inferred rather than overt," says Dave Clarkson.

"The idea for 'Gone Rogue' started with a busy electro bass line and, as soon as we found a good quote from a conspiracy theorist on social media, the whole thing seemed to turn into a polemic against turning your back on humanity in revulsion. We dwell on the impact of the fight for our attention on the individual and the damage done. All the while, the driving beat is pushing us on with heavy cowbells and pulsing bass. We’ll all feel better if we dance."

Alan Hempsall adds, "As for 'Bad as Bingo', we were both overjoyed when this came out of the mincing machine. We’d been looking for something with a go-go beat to it, so this was perfect. The words flowed automatically as the best ones always do. Broad brush observations of a situation gone bad coupled with a mawkish sentimentality for what’s lost. The glitching and grinding bass line and barking dogs take on a life of their own. Suddenly it all makes sense and the initial spark revolts into structure and form."

Alan and Dave first met in 2007 when Dave’s band, Triclops, were supporting Biting Tongues at Islington Mill in Salford. Alan was in the audience and was so taken with Triclops’s performance that he wandered over to show appreciation and a friendship was struck up, bonding over a mutual weakness for early industrial, rock and modern jazz. After nine years of gig-hopping and hanging out, the timing was suddenly right for them to organise some jam sessions to see what came out.

It so happens that both of their bands were on hiatus at the time. While Dave Clarkson was in Triclops from 2000 to 2015, he was in White Cube prior to that. He since boasts an extensive catalogue of solo works.

As for Alan Hempsall, he was the vocalist for Crispy Ambulance, who was on Factory Records from 1980 to 1982, before spending five years in the mid ‘80’s playing percussion in a Brazilian Samba band. Hempsall also famously appeared on stage with Joy Division in April 1980, standing in for Ian Curtis at a show in Bury that descended into a riot.

"As with any album, we operate on instinct. Improvisation is the key starting point. At this moment, anything can and generally does come out. The bizarre accidents and serendipity that occur during this process are the parts we keep. Those moments that feel like you’re merely the vessel that the music is transmitted through," says Alan Hempsell.

Dave Clarkson adds, "Some ideas gradually emerge into structured songs whilst others have the fortitude to remain in their original form to some extent or another. Yet no conscious decision is made. We are not in control. It is the music that finds the musicians. As the body of work is growing and developing, it seems to take on its own identity, something else we appear to have little influence on. So, there is an element of Praxis at work here, we’ll do it because we want to and think up the reasons why later."

Prior to this album, Scissorgun released three albums - ‘Assault Two’ (2017), ‘All You Love Is Need’ (2020) and ‘Psychological Colouring Book’ (2021). They frequently perform live and have opened for such artists as Wolfgang Flur, Wrangler and Eric Random.

‘Scream If You Wanna Go Faster’ is out now, available via Bandcamp - both digitally and as a signed white label vinyl release (with colour paper photocopy of a brilliant sleeve). It can also be ordered on CD and cyan-coloured vinyl directly from select record shops.

The Quality of Mercury unveils stunning video for 'The Voyager', title track from new album

November 25, 2025

Alternative rock artist The Quality of Mercury has unveiled his debut video for 'The Voyager', the title track from his sophomore album 'The Voyager', a cinematic journey that explores overarching themes of distance, discovery and transformation, previewed by the singles 'Heaven's Gate' and 'Ganymede'.

Set against an infinite backdrop of silent galaxies and infinite star systems, the song follows a lone voyager drifting deeper into the unknown. As distant horizons stretch endlessly outward, the lyrics reveal a psyche slowly warping under the weight of solitude—haunting whispers, fading purpose, and the desperate craving for contact in a universe that never answers. Atmospheric and emotionally charged, the track captures the eerie beauty and psychological unraveling that come from traveling too far beyond the reach of anything at all.

The Quality of Mercury is Pennsylvania-based artist Jeremiah Rouse, who handles everything from writing and performing to engineering. Nine years since his debut 'Transmission' album, his new album is both anthemic and accessible, cinematic and catchy - a perfect blend of muscle and melody.

“With 'The Voyager', I tried to capture what happens when the hunt for purpose leads you past the edge of the familiar. It’s about the thin line between exploration and unraveling. Inspired by the grand, meditative science-fiction films I’ve always loved, it explores what happens when you travel so far into the stars that reality starts to shimmer," says Jeremiah Rouse.

"It’s a story of distance, of isolation reshaping the mind, and of finding a strange beauty in the infinite. My overall intention with this song was to capture the essence of the album as a whole and to bring the listener on the journey with me.”

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

"'The Voyager' album is an adventurous journey that explores different terrains and sensations: exhilaration, anxiety, longing and introspection. This groovesome, graceful and grand music with space-rock atmospherics speaks to our deep need for connection. His ongoing search for meaning is woven into songs that range from bursts of excitement to moments of quiet reflection.

Jeremiah Rouse shares, "'This album is born from a deep place of longing -- for connection, for meaning, for something beyond the surface of everyday life. It’s about the desperation we often feel when distance, whether emotional, spiritual, or physical, gets in the way of our need to connect truly."

With majestic imagination and propulsive energy, Rouse's work is preoccupied with the thrill of the sublime universe, chronicling epic intergalactic voyages and the faint echo of cosmic transmissions from untold distances. Expansive and absorbing, each track a grand yet meticulously detailed aural landscape. Ambitious but simple, this music reveals something new every time it's heard. Tiny flourishes, subtle swells, and sound elements moving across the stereo field are placed with painstaking precision, often blooming unexpectedly or emerging decisively at the optimal moment.

With a background in film production and a lifelong love of sci-fi cinema, Rouse 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.

'The Voyager' album is out now, available from fine music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and 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 Hamm
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

NYC's Jessie Kilguss presents luminous sixth album 'They Have A Howard Johnson's There'

November 23, 2025

Songstress Jessie Kilguss, a name whispered with reverence in deep-cut New York songwriting circles, has released her new album 'They Have A Howard Johnson's There'. Never one to shy away from the cinematic or the deeply literary, on this sixth album, she drives her classic vintage automobile straight into the heart of American mythology, albeit with European art-house sensibility.

Kilguss isn't just making music; she's collecting fragments of the past and stitching them into a luminous, deeply felt present. This album is a powerful collection that's steeped in sweet nostalgia, divine inspiration and sophistication. A masterclass in mood, this is a sonic exploration where poetic introspection and light-filled melodies intersect with folk-laced resignation.

The near-title track, 'Howard Johnson's', is a stroke of lyrical genius—a beautiful, melancholic tribute to her late father, Howard, name-checked in a surreal line by Al Pacino in the movie 'Dog Day Afternoon' ("I’ll charter a plane to Algeria. They have a Howard Johnson’s there"). The whole project is defined by a clever, layered nostalgia, as reflected in the era-inspired video by Deborah Magocsi. Kilguss crafts a sonic space that’s both intimately personal and universally resonant, proving that sometimes, the greatest stories can be found in the most unlikely places.

"This is a collection of songs I’ve written over the past few years, most being inspired, at least in part, by a book (Elena Ferrante’s 'The Lost Daughter & Neapolitan Quartet'), a movie ('Dog Day Afternoon') or a work of art ('The Ecstasy of St Teresa'). The title comes from a line in the song 'Howard Johnson’s', which is a roundabout tribute to my father Howard, who passed away in 2023," says Jessie Kilguss.

Charlie Nieland (Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Blondie, Scissor Sisters), who engineered, produced, mixed and mastered this album at Saturation Point Studios in Brooklyn, brings a nuanced touch, building from a simple guitar and voice into something far grander.

Kilguss says, "I’ve been working on this album for the past year with producer Charlie Nieland, with whom I have been collaborating since 2007. We started every track with just voice and guitar and built them out from there. Previously, I’ve always gone into the studio with my band to record. This was an interesting way to work as we deconstructed each song and then put them back together.."

This album also involves heavy-hitters like Kirk Schoenherr (Tegan and Sara, Elle King, Chet Faker), John Kengla (David Byrne, Ben Kweller, Serena Ryder), Andrea Longato (Duncan Sheik, Jeremy Jordan), Rob Heath (Madison Square Gardeners, Julia Nunes), Dave Derby (The Dambuilders, Gramercy Arms, Lloyd Cole) and Rembert Block (Rembert and the Basic Goodness).

'St. Teresa in Ecstasy' (and its beautiful video, created by Alex Dar) is a divine, slow-burn revelation, inspired by Bernini's dramatic sculpture and the dizzying feeling of being utterly overwhelmed by art or even something celestial. understands the power of great moments, and this song is pure, dramatic and full of radiant harmonics. 'Fool's Fight'rounds out an album that flows seamlessly.

A fine cartographer of this emotional landscape, Kilguss is a former actress who cut her teeth working with titans like Daniel Day Lewis and Winona Ryder on 'The Crucible', as well as Marianne Faithfull and Mary Margaret O'Hara in the Tom Waits / William Burroughs musical 'The Black Rider',

Apart from her own music, Kilguss also sings with Gramercy Arms, the Loser’s Lounge, Jim Andralis and the Syntonics and Benjamin Cartel. She has performed at the Sundance Film Festival and with Freddie Stevenson, touring with The Waterboys' for their European tour. In summer 2025, Kilguss was an artist in residence at Fish Factory Creative Center in Stodvarfjordur, Iceland.

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), composer-producer Naren Rauch, and Nathan Schram (Bjork, David Crosby, David Byrne), with whom Kilguss ran the non-profit organization Musicambia.

'They Have A Howard Johnson's There' is out everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.

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
Video by Deborah Magocsi
Graphic design by Scott MX Turner
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Keep up with Jessie Kilguss
Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter |Instagram | BlueSky | Threads | Soundcloud | LinkedIn | Ema il

NYC-London duo The King Canutes release 'Eastern Seaboard, Perfect Summer' album

November 22, 2025

Brooklyn-London-based indie duo The King Canutes present their debut album 'Eastern Seaboard, Perfect Summer', an artistic record worthy of their majestic title, via the Montclair, New Jersey-based Magic Door Record Label.

Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by renowned producer Ray Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Luna, Elk City, Gramercy Arms) at Magic Door Recording Studio, The duo's playful duality sits with hard-earned life lessons. Evocative tales of triumph and tragedy are leavened with everyday fatalism across each of its nine tracks. The album focus track 'The Mixture as Before' is a case in point.

Some fifteen years in the gestation and three years in the making, 'Eastern Seaboard, Perfect Summer' is a testament to the tenacity of Keir Woods (vocals, electric and acoustic guitars) and Richard Alwyn Fisher (vocals, backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars), capturing and expanding on their unique visions of this songwriting duo.

The King Canutes make intelligent, skewed pop with echoes of early 80s-90s Australian and Scottish pop, British folk and Midwestern indie rock, all melted in the current cosmopolitan cauldrons of New York and London. Having met in the early 2000s amidst NYC’s cosmopolitan pop / indie rock scene, they debuted with their 'Last Callers and Losers' EP in 2008. With the dynamic tension of dual singer-songwriters, their music sits somewhere between The Go-Betweens and the long-distance, long-haul commitment of The Postal Service.

Their ambitious new album involves world-class artists - a veritable who’s who of the NYC indie scene. Lending their talents to this outstanding collection are Mac Gollehon (David Bowie, Al Jarreau, Duran Duran, Mick Jagger), Kevin March (Guided by Voices), Dave Derby (Dambuilders, Gramercy Arms, Lloyd Cole), Kendall Jane Meade (Sparklehorse, Mascott), Mike Dillon (Rickie Lee Jones), vocalist Jessie Kilguss, David Nagler (Nova Social, Joan Baez, Aaron Neville), John Leon (Roky Erickson), Doug McEachern (Suran Song in Stag), Renée LoBue (Elk City) and Verena Wiesendanger (Semi Gloss).

“I’m so proud of the album and that we managed to keep the flame alive for all these years. Every addition, expansion and revision added something. The final cut represents the best we can possibly be, and that’s deeply satisfying!,” says Keir Woods.

Richard Alwyn Fisher adds, “From the opening horn blast of 'Seymour Stein (for Earle Holmes)' to the achingly beautiful ride out of 'Come Undone', this album really shows The King Canutes at our finest. There are many styles here, all held together by the vision Keir and I have been forging for a long while.”

The duo recently released 'Cars and Girls', honoring Prefab Sprout, which they used to perform this song for NYC's legendary annual showcase ‘The Love Hangover’, following the lead track 'Seymour Stein (for Earle Holmes)', capturing the elation of freedom and the frustration of starting the artistic journey again, named for the club owner who gave Keir his first Paris bookings after moving from NYC.

As of November 21, the album is out everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. On November 23, The King Canutes holds their album release show at New York City's Berlin - Under A, joined by Elk City and The Dambuilders, reuniting to perform their 1989 debut album 'A Young Person's Guide'.

ALBUM CREDITS
Written by Keir Woods and Richard Alwyn Fisher, except
'Cars and Girls' written by Paddy McAloon
Produced, recorded, mixed & mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door in Montclair, NJ
Keir Woods / vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
Richard Alwyn Fisher / vocals, backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
Dave Derby / bass, backing vocals
Doug McEachern / drums
Kevin March / drums
Ray Ketchem / drums, percussion, keyboards, programming
John Leon / pedal steel guitar
Mac Gollehon / horns
David Nagler / piano
Mike Dillon / vibraphone
Kendall Jane Meade / duet and backing vocals
Verena Wiesendanger / duet and backing vocals
Jessie Kilguss / backing vocals
Renée LoBue / backing vocals
Joe Colwell / backing vocals
Single artwork by Peregrine Honig
Album artwork by Ray Ketchem
Released by Magic Door Record Label
Artist photos by Lisa Whiteman
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Psychedelic alt-pop outfit Messiness unleashes sonic supernova on debut eponymous album

November 21, 2025

Psychedelic indie-rock outfit Messiness presents their highly anticipated debut 'Messiness' album, released via Vienna-based StoneFree Records and Istanbul-based Tarla Records. A collection that resists easy categorisation, this music is playful yet serious, critical yet hallucinatory. This is a record for disobedient nights, for cracked screens and seaside sunsets, and for listeners who suspect that, in disorder, there may also lie a different kind of clarity.

Here, Messiness presents a vibrant sonic supernova, delivering an exhilarating blend of indie rock riffs, baroque and power pop harmonies, and razor-sharp Britpop energy. Highlighted by the standout focus track 'Cómo Baja, Cómo Sube', this album masterfully captures a feeling of adventure and possibility that unites their seaside roots and humanity's cosmic future through dizzying psychedelia and high-velocity art-rock euphoria.

Steered by Sicilian polymath Max Raffa – singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, writer and sociologist – Messiness is a psychedelic art-rock band born in the shadowy outskirts of Milan. A compelling culmination of his diverse artistic and academic pursuits, Raffa forged his unique sound playing in various rock 'n' roll bands while touring across Europe and the UK.

On stage, Raffa is joined by Rosario Lo Monaco (guitars), Filippo La Marca(keyboards, backing vocals), Giovanni Calella (bass), and Luca Anello (drums and percussion), expanding the studio vision into a dense, unpredictable, and immersive live experience.

With an inviting and energetic sound, Messiness masterfully weaves art pop, psychedelia and space rock into a distinctive and compelling style. With rich harmonies, this rich tapestry is both accessible and exhilaratingly vibrant, drawing from the finest traditions of British rock and continental flair.

Recorded entirely on analogue equipment, the album is a kaleidoscope of influences: psychedelic rock, Canterbury scene experimentation, Mediterranean folk traditions, space-funk grooves, and baroque pop. Guitars bleed into Mellotron swells, oud and shawm cut through saxophone blasts, while theremin and electronics haunt the edges of the mix. The result is a sound that is both grounded in history and untethered from time: at once classic and futuristic, earthy and celestial.

But Messiness is not only about sound - this album is also a work of social commentary. Its songs confront the contradictions of contemporary life: the pressure to optimise everything, the commodification of well-being, the collapse of solidarity, and the shifting borders of identity and belonging. Rather than offering manifestos, the band responds with atmosphere, irony, and dissonance, turning critique into music that drifts between satire and reverie.

Some of these compositions are biting and sardonic, exposing the rituals of productivity and the comforts that anaesthetise dissent. Others move toward dreamlike meditation, evoking Mediterranean coastlines where time loosens its grip and memory becomes indistinguishable from imagination. Throughout, Messiness' creativity thrives in the midst of contradictions rather than seeking to resolve them, essentially discovering intensity despite overload and beauty amidst collapse.

Messiness earlier shared four superb singles - 'Eternity Unbound', a feverish trippy explosion of sound that explores a shattered sense of time and self-identify; 'Fatally', a Britpop-hued track that delves into the harrowing reality of substance dependency; 'Feature With a Rapper', a biting critique of the music industry and creative legitimacy in the digital age; and the head-turning lead track 'Previous Life'.

Messiness' visual identity is curated by Istanbul-based artist Güneş Akyürek, whose imagery expands their world beyond sound, translating their intensity into colour, form and atmosphere. Sun-drenched memory against metropolitan nights, social critique against psychedelic drift, collapse against luminous renewal.

As of November 21, the 'Messiness' album is available from fine online music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The LP can be ordered on hand-numbered 12" black vinyl, limited to 200 pieces, while the 12" blue mirage vinyl is limited to 100 pieces, each of them including an inlay sheet and download card.

CREDITS
Words and Music by Massimiliano Raffa
Produced by Ivan A. Rossi and Massimiliano Raffa
Recorded by Ivan A. Rossi at 8brr.rec Studio, Milan
Additional recording by Lorenzo Di Blasi (at Sartoria 57 Studio, Milan), Giovanni Calella (at Diabolicus Studio, Milan) and Massimiliano Raffa (at The Faraday Cage, Milan)
Mixed & mastered by Ivan A. Rossi at 8brr.rec Studio in Milan
Massimiliano Raffa – lead vocals, guitars, mellotron, celesta, synthesizers, oud, violin, shawm, sound effects, glockenspiel, live electronics, programming, arrangements
Filippo La Marca – keyboards of all kinds, backing vocals, tambourine
Rosario Lo Monaco – guitars
Giovanni Calella – bass
Beppe Scardino – baritone saxophone and flute
Andrea Quattrini – drums and percussion
Luca Anello – drums and percussion
Lorenzo Di Blasi – theremin
Cover artwork by Güneş Akyürek
Released by StoneFree Records. Digital management by Tarla Records
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Keep up with Messiness
Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BlueSky | Threads | Soundcloud | LinkedIn | Emai l

Oakland's Sword Tongue presents new 'Diamonds To Dust (Anthony H. Remix)'

November 20, 2025

Oakland alt-rock trio Sword Tongue presents their new offering - 'Diamonds To Dust (Anthony H. Remix)', an infectious, tribal inspired, EDM version of the original 'Diamonds To Rust', a highlight track from the recently-released 'Bonfire In The Tempest' - the band's fourth EP to date. Fusing dark electricity and soaring emotion, this remix harnesses a storm of tension and release within a hypnotic, irresistible groove.

Creating dark music for dark times, Sword Tongue is made up of vocalist Jennifer Wilde and guitarist Gaetano Maleki, a husband and wife who launched this project in the pandemic year of 2020, now joined by renowned drummer-producer Dan Milligan.

Anthony (H) delivers a tour-de-force reinvention of 'Diamonds To Rust', taking the song completely onto the dance floor. Stomping beats raise the tempo and crush the instruments into a distilled, hard-hitting foundation for Wilde's deadpan vocals and hushed tones.

“We’ve partnered with Anthony (H) before, for a remix of The Illusionist on our second album, and were excited to hear how he would transform one of our favorite tracks into a more DJ-friendly and dance floor filling powerhouse," says Jennifer Wilde.

"This is a track born out of an anxious reckoning of the unceasing progress of time, counting down to the inexorable end we all face. These days when all that is desired is rest and pause, we are reminded that there is no cheating time – it moves forward whether we are prepared or not."

Electro-Industrial DJ / artist Anthony H. (a.k.a. Anthony Hudson) is a charted Industrial, electro bass artist & EBM, dark electronic DJ - artist - producer, who has worked with Empirion, Omnimar, Sebastian Komor, Moaan Exis, Matt Hart, Dark Tunes, Ruined Conflict, Die Warzau, Spankthenun, Solemn Assembly, 40 Octaves Below, as well as with Nettwerk Records' Anthony Valcic (Frontline Assembly, Skinny Puppy, Numb).

The 'Bonfire in the Tempest' EP was produced by Dan Milligan, brainchild of The Joy Thieves, who has co-created, produced and remixed such artists as Chris Connelly, PIG and Consolidated, and members of such bands as Ministry, Stabbing Westward, The Rollins Band, Killing Joke, David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails, among others.

Just recently, Sword Tongue released the single 'Murder White Noise', a wry commentary on the state of the world and our attempts to soothe ourselves to get through it, and 'We Are The Resistance', a unified protest anthem that marks the 249th anniversary of the USA's founding.

Gaetano Maleki shares, “In the last few years, Jennifer and I have had some significant milestones with our children coming into adulthood. It made us realize how fleeting it all is, as cliché as that sounds.”

Galvanized during our current age of cultural upheaval, this EP bursts with raw emotion and is tempered by sophisticated production. Blending alt-rock, post-punk and dream pop, it explores anguish, anger, transformation and triumph. Vocals oscillate between a croon and a roar, seduction and rage against the backdrop of shimmering guitar tones, mesmerizing bass, and intricate drum lines.

'Diamonds To Dust (Anthony H Remix)' is now out everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where the 'Bonfire In The Tempest' EP is also available digitally and as a first-print red variant cassette with a special album poem inside.

EP & REMIX CREDITS
Lyrics by Jennifer Ryan Wilde
Music written & arranged by Sword Tongue (Wilde / Milligan / Maleki)
Jennifer Ryan Wilde - vocals
Dan Milligan - drums & percussion
Gaetano Maleki - guitar & bass
Produced by Dan Milligan
Remix by Anthony H
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

NYC's LAPTOP unpacks '90s Fame & Failure on "Indie Hero" with epic video

November 19, 2025

Laptop, the cult NYC project led by Jesse Hartman (formerly with Island Records), continues their cinematic synth pop revival with “Indie Hero”, a wry and wistful love song to the myth of late 20th century cool, but also a hate song about hero worship gone hideously wrong. Anchored by Laptop’s signature mix of cinematic synths, dry wit, and bittersweet reflection, this track opens a new chapter for Hartman, now joined by his son Charlie as co-frontman in this multi-generational pop experiment, with equal parts satire and sincerity. The single previews their forthcoming album "On This Planet", slated for release in Spring 2026 via Hurricane Cove Records.

The details? Hartman isn’t at liberty to say. Well, maybe just a little: As a teenage guitarist, Hartman once toured overseas with one of his idols, watching the myth of cool dissolve in real time. "Indie Hero" captures the moment (during a fateful night in a Tokyo restaurant), when youthful ambition collided with middle-aged madness. The Hartmans sing: “I’ll dive across a table for you, my indie hero, I’m feeling so unstable for you, my indie hero” - half romantic, half tragic, all reckless. Together they go on a dangerous, adolescent journey, both literally and symbolically, repeating in the outro: “I want to go to Japan again.” “Indie Hero” ultimately reflects on fame, failure, and the pursuit of artistic immortality.

Hartman shares, “This is a love letter to the ghosts of the ’90s and their obsession with the ghosts of the late ’70s. All the beautiful people who never quite went the distance. Including me. It’s about idol worship, but also about outgrowing it."

The video, directed by Jesse Hartman, reimagines that journey as a Japanese comic-book fever dream: a young musician chasing his dreams and heroes across neon cities and sake bars, only to discover that the real revelation isn’t fame—it’s self-discovery (and maybe a little heartbreak).

“When I was starting out in the ’90s, I met a lot of my punk and new wave heroes in New York’s East Village. They weren’t always as cool as I thought they’d be. It taught me that sometimes it’s best not to meet your heroes, and better to just become your own," Hartman recalls. “I think the video sketches that coming of age picture in comic-al way”.

Written years ago by Hartman and longtime musical collaborator Luke Wood (from Hartman’s first band Sammy), and recorded this past year between New York, Nevis and Valencia, “Indie Hero” layers drums and machines, horns and synths, shimmering guitars and the Hartmans’ sly vocals into something both nostalgic and immediate, like hearing your favorite 2001 record on a futuristic radio.

Laptop emerged in the early 2000s with three cult classic albums on Island Records, earning praise from NME and The Guardian, who dubbed Hartman the master of “insincere sincerity.” Having got his start as a teenage Voidoid with Richard Hell, Hartman then co-founded the indie rock band Sammy (with Luke Wood, later President of Beats by Dre), releasing albums via Fire Records and Geffen Records.

Since reviving the band, Laptop has released the surreal trilogy "Additional Animals", "I Don't Know", and “Weirder”, mixed by Grammy award-winning producer Mario McNulty (David Bowie, Prince, Nine Inch Nails, Julian Lennon), collectively drawing millions of views and reintroducing Laptop’s postmodern humor to a new generation.

Laptop has recently staged an epic return to live performance with a 14-piece band at New York's Sony Hall (their first hometown show in two decades) opening for UK legends Cast, and a headliner show at London's Waiting Room. These Stop Making Sense–like spectacles underscore the scale and ambition of Laptop’s reboot.

As of November 19, “Indie Hero” is available on major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The full album "On This Planet" will be released in Spring 2026.

CREDITS 
Written by Jesse Hartman and Luke Wood (BMI)  
Published by Exurbia Music, Inc.  
Released by Hurricane Cove Records 
Jesse Hartman – vocals, guitars, keyboards, synths, piano, bass, percussion 
Charlie Hartman – vocals 
Lulu Hartman – vocals
Anna Heddad – vocals 
Geddys “Ch4se” Ferguson – vocals
Arthur Lewis – keys, piano, vocals 
Mike Desmarais – drums 
Lluisen Capafons – drums, congas, additional percussion
Dima Faustov – Saxophone
Lev Borovskiy – trumpet and trombone 
Santo Fazio – Harmonica
Oliver Freiberg – drum programming 
Produced by Jesse Hartman 
Recorded by Iñaki Ariste Aznar (Valencia), Edward Douglas (NYC), Jesse Hartman (NYC/Nevis)
Mixed by Jesse Hartman, Ray Aldaco, Edward Douglas (final mix by Jesse Hartman & Edward Douglas) 
Mastered by Dave Trumfio 
Recorded in Valencia, Spain. Additional sessions in Nevis. Final overdubs & edits in NYC
Video concept, direction, cinematography & editing by Jesse Hartman 
Featuring Charlie Hartman, Jesse Hartman & the Laptop band: Santo Fazio, Flynn Mulcahy, Fergus Segrove, Aviv Tal, Odetta Hartman, Camellia Hartman, Denise Gordon, Alex Friedman, Richard Baskin, Brandon Volel & Sam Rowley
Shot at Tall Tree Court and Sony Hall (at a live Laptop show September 3, 2025) 
Cover artwork by Jesse Hartman & Scott Ratner
Artist photos by Thomas Krause
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

BEAUTY IN CHAOS pays homage to Johnny Cash & Joe Strummer on 'God's Gonna Cut You Down / Get Down Moses'

November 11, 2025

The evolving revolving entity Beauty In Chaos present their latest sonic offering - 'God's Gonna Cut You Down / Get Down Moses', released via 33.3 Music Collectiveand produced by Grammy-nominated producer Michael Rozon (Ministry, Jarboe, Wayne Hussey, The Melvins),

Beauty In Chaos has come a long way since launching in 2018 by Los Angeles-based guitarist Michael Ciravolo (formerly of Human Drama and Gene Loves Jezebel and current President of Schecter Guitars) but his musical road often finds him circling back to visit his roots, celebrating them with new renditions.

The new two-song digital EP single features an enveloping, smokey rendition of the traditional gospel hymn 'God’s Gonna Cut You Down', popularized by The Man in Black himself - Mr. Johnny Cash (who also happens to be a distant cousin to BIC’s own Tish Ciravolo), along with the B-side showcasing Beauty In Chaos' own take on Joe Strummer’s 'Get Down Moses'.

In addition to very familiar territory (guitars and textures), BIC curator Michael Ciravolo contributes vocals on both tracks, joined by Michael Rozon (lap steel guitar, snare drum, voices), as well as Tish Ciravolo, Whitney Tai, Set Miller, Anthony Loveand Tim Perry (background vocals and foot stomps).

“While both of these songs have certainly been covered before, I think we have injected BIC into them … even if we have stretched, what some have come to expect from us sonically,” says Michael Ciravolo.

BIC also unveils the video for 'God’s Gonna Cut You Down', filmed and directed by Vicente Cordero (Industrialism Films) and edited by Ryan Conlon based on a concept by Michael Ciravolo.

Ciravolo shares, “I think the haunted New Orleans’ French Quarter vibe compliments our approach to the song. There is certainly an underlying story-line running through the video, which is left to an individual’s interpretation… but in the end; good indeed triumphs over evil”.

This two-track single follows two solid releases for BIC' - their 'Dancing With Angels' album and the remix companion album ‘Signs In The Heavens Reality Upside Down’, which is available as a limited edition double CD, along with videos for 'Made Of Rain (Almost Acoustic)' feat. Ashton Nyte and Whitney Tai and the double-whammy offering 'Children Of The Revolution' feat. Al Jourgensen and 'Open Your Eyes' (honoring T.Rex / Marc Bolan and The Lords of the New Church, respectively).

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 and dUg Pinnick, ICE-T, Rolan Bolanand Zakk Wylde, among many other luminaries.

The new single is available everywhere digitally, including Beauty In Chaos' store, Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. Beauty In Chaos also plans to release the video for 'Get Down Moses' in December.

CREDITS
Michael Ciravolo – voices, guitars and textures
Michael Rozon – lap steel guitar, snare drum, voices
Background voices & foot stomps – Tish Ciravolo, Whitney Tai, Set Miller, Anthony Love & Tim Perry
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Michael Rozon at SAINTinLA
Produced by Michael Rozon & Michael Ciravolo
Video filmed and directed by Vicente Cordero (Industrialism Films)
Edited by Ryan Conlon. Concept by Michael Ciravolo
Lightning by Anthony Love (SL Lighting)
Hair and Makeup by Dania Ridgeway. Props courtesy of Prop Heaven
Video features Michael Ciravolo (voice), Tish Ciravolo (guitar), Michael Rozon (guitar) & Anthony Love (priest & devil)
EP cover art by Liz Ardman
Video cover by GABB
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

TOMBSTONES IN THEIR EYES shares 'Alive And Well', a hymn of revival & tribute to late bandmate

November 11, 2025

LA-based indie rock outfit Tombstones In Their Eyes presents 'Alive and Well', a beautifully raucous psychedelic rock revival hymn, following the brooding lead track 'Under Dark Skies'. This unexpectedly fierce and defiant declaration of strength is the second taste of their 'Under Dark Skies' album, to be released via Little Cloud Records (for North America) and Shore Dive Records (for the UK and EU). This 2-track offering also includes the radio edit.

This song is dedicated to TITE guitarist Paul Boutin, who recently lost his battle with cancer. As Paul Lovecraft, he was a prolific musician, releasing music even after an operation nicked his vocal chords. Having met Tombstones' main-man John Treanor at Kitten Robot Studios about 10 years ago while working on his own projects, they fell into the same orbital realms until Paul eventually joined the band.

The song features John Treanor on vocals and guitar, Paul Boutin on guitar, Nic Nifoussi on bass, Paul Roessler on keyboards, Stephen Striegel on drums and percussion), and Courtney Davies, Clea Cullen and Joel Wasko on backing vocals,

"When our beloved friend and guitar player lost his life on 10/18/25, we were shocked, confused and incredibly saddened. Paul was so kind, generous, intelligent and always optimistic. Being in TITE was a source of pride and joy for Paul. He was so easy to be around and was dedicated, driving many hours for practices and shows, always bringing his cheerfulness and optimism. We miss him greatly and are glad he is all over this record," says John Treanor.

"We were initially going to scrap 'Alive and Well' as a single after Paul's passing (for obvious reasons), but because it was one of Paul's favorites and a song on which he played guitar, we are going ahead with the release. The lyrics are about rising out of desperate circumstances with newfound strength - something Paul himself experienced, having dragged himself out of his own difficulties to ultimately rebuild a life full of joy and purpose. While not planned that way, 'Alive and Well' ended up being a statement of intent - a story of a journey from despair to strength."

The accompanying video 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.

A year on from their 'Asylum Harbour' album, this record emerged during a year of intense personal change, before finally moving into a place of light and gratitude. Recorded and engineered by Paul Roessler (The Screamers, Nina Hagen, 45 Grave) at Kitten Robot Studios, this album was co-produced by John Treanor and mastered by multi-platinum engineer Alex DeYoung at DeYoung Masters (Michael Jackson, BTS, Macy Gray, The Linda Lindas, TSOL).

As of November 11, 'Alive and Well' is available everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where the 'Asylum Harbour' album can also be found on CD and red vinyl. On December 5, the 'Under Dark Skies' album will be released digitally and on vinyl via Little Cloud Records (US) and Shore Dive Records (UK and EU).

CREDITS
Words and Music written by John Treanor
John Treanor - vocals & guitar
Nic Nifoussi - bass guitar
Stephen Striegel - drums & percussion
Paul Roessler - keyboards
Courtney Davies - backing vocals
Clea Cullen - backing vocals
Joel Wasko - backing vocals
Recorded at Kitten Robot Studios in Los Angeles, CA
Produced & Engineered by Paul Roessler
Co-produced by John Treanor
Mastered by Alex DeYoung at DeYoung Masters
Cover design by Robin Gnista
Released by Little Cloud Records (US) LC-136 & Shore Dive Records (UK & EU)
Videos by Francesca Bonci
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Portland's Rayon unveils 'Shopping' single, a tongue-in-cheek ode to consumerism & survival

November 10, 2025

No-wave, angular post-punk outfit Rayon present their beautifully whacked-out single 'Shopping', a tongue-in-cheek ode to consumerism and travel born from near-burnout and a revitalizing trip south of the border. The video for 'Shopping', filmed with their awesomely nostalgic Super 8 video, showcases grocery store antics before being kicked out, proving that new life can always be found on aisle five.

Along with B-side 'Running', the single is available on 7" vinyl and as a two-track digital release via Little Cloud Records. This is the first in an exciting new series of similar records in the works for Rayon.

The project of long-time North Portland resident and Detroit-area native Eric Sabatino, Rayon now also involves members of Sun Atoms, Yuvees, Pastilla and Martha Stax - namely Anna Sabatino, Riley McLaughlin, Eric Rubalcava and Derek Longoria-Gomez. Recording on rainy weekends in a garage studio packed with old reel-to-reel tape machines, partially-functional tube amps, and leaky British motorcycles, these songs were recorded onto 16 tracks of 1/2” tape, while running the tracks through a slightly-wonky sounding tape echo.

Sabatino broke tradition with this release, deciding to mix it together with famed recording engineer Larry Crane (Cat Power, Sleater-Kinney, The Decemberists, The Go-Betweens, Elliott Smith, Death Cab for Cutie) at Jackpot Recording and Timothy Stollenwerk (Yo La Tengo, Grouper, Morphine) at Stereophonic Mastering.

"Doing everything on film and tape is a bit of a safety check-valve, to make sure we make everything like humans with no autotune, copy/paste or AI. I'm becoming an imperfectionist,” says Eric Sabatino.

“This was the first time we’ve engaged a "professional" to work on our recordings. The education we received was immense, and Larry was kind with his explanations of everything we had previously done "wrong" with our recordings, was willing to work with what we provided and willing to get weird with us."

Written in two parts, 'Shopping' is a tongue-in-cheek song about consumerism and travel, written by a person who travels and consumes quite a bit. 'Running' is an anxious song about the people you love and the addictions that they can't shake - and the sound of a tape echo that's about to stop working.

Rayon spent last winter honing these and other songs through a series of live shows, including an epic trip to Guadalajara, which served as creative fodder for the band's latest inspiration and re-invigoration.

"This EP almost didn’t happen. I nearly walked away from Rayon. The last record wasn’t selling, a lack of decent show offers, festival rejections and a general feeling of burnout was happening. Our second guitarist left, and then our drummer. The addition of guitarist Riley McLaughlin (from Yuvees and Club Deluxe) and Eric Rubalcava (drums) and Derek Longoria-Gomez (percussion and bass) from our "band-in-law" Sun Atoms brought new life and energy to the band," says Eric Sabatino.

"We played some of the first enjoyable shows in a few years, and a new energy emerged. We started functioning as a band, we traveled to Mexico, and came back to record these songs. And another record is in the works. As for the new video, we got kicked out of two grocery stores making it. The Mexican Tienda was cool as hell; they loved it. We shopped and goofed around in stores, drove the old car down to the park under the bridge and had a picnic. Jeff filmed it all on a cute old Super 8 camera."

Before forming Rayon, Eric Sabatino spent years playing with bands in Southern Michigan and Portland, sometimes with as many as six projects on the go at the same time. Self-described as “a guy who grew up on 80’s/90’s post punk and grunge trying to reconcile their love of R&B, Soul and 60’s British Pop”, Sabatino is now fully focused on this one project, built on the experience of years of writing, collaborating, studio work and touring with some of the Pacific Northwest’s hardest working bands.

'Shopping b/w Running' is out now digitally and available as a limited pressing of 150 blue transparent 7" record and 150 black 7" vinyl. It can be ordered in all formats via Bandcamp.

UK electronic outfit Scissorgun shares 'Gone Rogue', teasing new album 'Scream If You Wanna Go Faster'

November 3, 2025

UK electronic outfit Scissorgun announce their album 'Scream If You Wanna Go Faster', out November 21 via Dimple Discs. Mixing urban electronica with fuzz and wah guitar, these trailblazers present a solid collection of songs, dances and abstract soundscapes. A must-have for Factory Records collectors, the vinyl includes seven tracks, while the digital and CD versions include three bonus tracks. Ahead of its release, they present the tracks 'Gone Rogue' and 'Bad As Bingo'.

Formed in Manchester in August 2016, Scissorgun is an electronic trio comprised of Dave Clarkson (synths, rhythms, tapes, percussion), Alan Hempsall (vocals, treated guitar, samples, loops) and Adrian Ball (light show and projections). Carriers of Factory Records' legacy.

“We always operate on instinct and improvisation is the key starting point. Some ideas become structured songs, but others remain as first recorded, with the music finding us and not vice versa. The title is a soft attempt at social comment, intended to be inferred rather than overt,” says Dave Clarkson.

Their musical scope is varied - pastoral dreams one minute and, the next, crashing swathes of noise chased down with a dub twist.

"The idea for 'Gone Rogue' started with a busy electro bass line and, as soon as we found a good quote from a conspiracy theorist on social media, the whole thing seemed to turn into a polemic against turning your back on humanity in revulsion. We dwell on the impact of the fight for our attention on the individual and the damage done. All the while, the driving beat is pushing us on with heavy cowbells and pulsing bass. We’ll all feel better if we dance," says Dave Clarkson.

Alan Hempsall adds, "As for 'Bad as Bingo', we were both overjoyed when this came out of the mincing machine. We’d been looking for something with a go-go beat to it, so this was perfect. The words flowed automatically as the best ones always do. Broad brush observations of a situation gone bad coupled with a mawkish sentimentality for what’s lost. The glitching and grinding bass line and barking dogs take on a life of their own. Suddenly it all makes sense and the initial spark revolts into structure and form."

Alan and Dave first met in 2007 when Dave’s band, Triclops, were supporting Biting Tongues at Islington Mill in Salford. Alan was in the audience and was so taken with Triclops’s performance that he wandered over to show appreciation and a friendship was struck up, bonding over a mutual weakness for early industrial, rock and modern jazz. After nine years of gig-hopping and hanging out, the timing was suddenly right for them to organise some jam sessions to see what came out.

It so happens that both of their bands were on hiatus at the time. While Dave Clarkson was in Triclops from 2000 to 2015, he was in White Cube prior to that. He since boasts an extensive catalogue of solo works.

As for Alan Hempsall, he was the vocalist for Crispy Ambulance, who was on Factory Records from 1980 to 1982, before spending five years in the mid ‘80’s playing percussion in a Brazilian Samba band. Hempsall also famously appeared on stage with Joy Division in April 1980, standing in for Ian Curtis at a show in Bury that descended into a riot.

"As with any album, we operate on instinct. Improvisation is the key starting point. At this moment, anything can and generally does come out. The bizarre accidents and serendipity that occur during this process are the parts we keep. Those moments that feel like you’re merely the vessel that the music is transmitted through," says Alan Hempsell.

Dave Clarkson adds, "Some ideas gradually emerge into structured songs whilst others have the fortitude to remain in their original form to some extent or another. Yet no conscious decision is made. We are not in control. It is the music that finds the musicians. As the body of work is growing and developing, it seems to take on its own identity, something else we appear to have little influence on. So, there is an element of Praxis at work here, we’ll do it because we want to and think up the reasons why later."

Prior to this album, Scissorgun released three albums - ‘Assault Two’ (2017), ‘All You Love Is Need’ (2020) and ‘Psychological Colouring Book’ (2021). They frequently perform live and have opened for such artists as Wolfgang Flur, Wrangler and Eric Random.

Ahead of its official release on November 21, ‘Scream If You Wanna Go Faster’ is available via Bandcamp - both digitally and as a signed white label vinyl release (with colour paper photocopy of a brilliant sleeve). It can be ordered on CD and cyan-coloured vinyl from select record shops. Scissorgun's album release show takes place on November 19 at the Amersham Arms in London.

Alternative pop artist Celeste Corsano unveils animated adventure for new single 'XS'

November 3, 2025

Alternative pop artist Celeste Corsano presents'XS', released via Magic Door Record Label, and its animated video by Brother JT. This collaboration relays Corsano's message through surreal imagery that questions the pressure to achieve perfection, leading to a symbolic release or escape, embodying freedom through transformation.

The 'XS' single expresses feelings of insecurity, body image issues, and the pressure for perfection and success, often driven by media and external standards, using 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 worked withRay Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Elk City, Gramercy Arms, Luna, Crash Harmony), who produced, recorded, mixed and mastered this release, at Magic Door Recording Studio in Montclair, NJ. Recalling The Cars and Kate Bush, 'XS' follows the 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.

"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."

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.

"Brother JT is a visual artist, videographer/animator and musician, who has had a following for both his visual art and with his psychedelic rock core. He was gracious enough to do another video for me, the first one being for my song ‘Stuck’, a heartfelt exploration into emotional impasse. With ‘XS’, we find more of JT’s signature style and there is a message, although not hammered home in my lyrics or his conceptualization, that we both developed in some aspects," says Celeste Corsano.

"This gives thought to trying to squeeze oneself into the cruel arena of perfection and constantly changing rules of it. The ending has a bit of my idea and JT’s idea: the woman reaches out for herself in the mirror as if accepting herself, but then releases herself from the bondage of all of the rigidity of perfection and escapes into nature, in the form of a deer, and then the deer runs into the forest. Nature is my refuge and my freedom, so I suggested the ending be a kind of ambivalence because the lyrics say “am I perfect? ‘. This is a question that should never have to be asked. Freedom from the whole prison of perfection looked like this to me - the girl jumping into the forest in the body of a deer."

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.