Manchester's INCA BABIES presents 'Two Rails To Nowhere', previewing 'Reincarnation' album

October 28, 2025

Manchester's iconic post-punk outfit Inca Babies presents 'Two Rails To Nowhere', the latest re-envisioned offering from their 'Reincarnation' album, out November 28th via Black Lagoon Records. The Spotify version of this release includes both the 2025 version and the original from 1988.

The original version of this track - found on their fourth album 'Evil Hour' from 1988 - was never given the epic grandeur that it deserved. Previously a 3-minute folk rock tune that told a small story of country woe, this expanded version is now allowed to breath into the country prison song it always wanted to be, telling a far more heroic tale.

Led by Harry Stafford, Inca Babies were a vibrant part of Britain's early postpunk / death-rock scene, amassing a steady following through five intensive years of touring, six singles and four albums, all of which entered the UK Indie Charts. After four sessions for BBC's John Peel show in 1984-1988, the band called it quits, but then reformed in 2007.

The Incas are now a 4-piece, with Stafford (guitar, keys, vocals) joined by guitarist Jim Adama, bassist Dave Carmichael (Rat) and long-term member Rob Haynes (The Membranes, Goldblade) on drums and percussion.

With bottle neck Slide from blues guitarist Vincent O'Brien and the measured rhythm backing of Rob Haynes, the song has at last been allowed it’s epic status. Through its video, the song has been given a contemporary tilt, bringing the action into the 21st century with Manchester trams and a city centre setting providing the backdrop for the mournful pleading of Harry’s vocal delivery.

"The song was a take on Western blues, in the guise of Woody Guthrie and Burl Ives, maybe having the same sorrowful tale of ‘Worried man Blues’ from the 50s. Now it has been re-recorded and slowed down to a more contemplative pace. and with floating guitars and harmonic vocal blues the story becomes all the more of the prison song it was intended to be," says Harry Stafford.

This follows 'Candy Mountain', a reworking from their 1985 album ‘This Train’, with its hypnotic bass line, contemporary groove and electronic sequencing. The road-tripping video, filmed by Jonny Stafford, escapes the urban grind to the country, where the air is sweeter and the landscape infinite.

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

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

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

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

As of October 28, 'Two Rails To Nowhere' is out everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. On November 28, the full 'Reincarnation' album will be released on both CD and digitally.

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

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Texas-based electronic artist PARIS MUSIC CORP. releases sophomore 'Ecotone' album

October 24, 2025

Texas-based electronic and ambient composer Paris Music Corp. a.k.a. John Andrew Paris presents his latest electronic odyssey 'Ecotone', a futuristic trip, along with a video for the track 'Rituals'. A deeply personal and geographically-inspired exploration, this record is rooted in the artist's return to his childhood home in South Texas, just miles from the border and a stone's throw to the coast.

Originally from 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.

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

"I feel a lot closer to nature. The wildlife even comes into my yard - armadillos, snakes, ducks and birds of every kind, including parrots. Also tree frogs that are only known to exist in this subtropical climate. I am close to a birding center and a fish hatchery as well, so all of this has inspired me. I am 2.8 miles from the Mexican border and close to the Gulf of Mexico. 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."

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

"This album was inspired by my new surroundings and the hyper close relationship to nature and the Mexican border. Ecotone is described as a transitional area between 2 distinct ecological communities - like my area which is the Rio Grande River and the Gulf of Mexico. What you also have is 2 cultures in Mexican and the American and how those have produced a culture of their own," says John Paris.

Earlier, Paris Music Corp. shared the lead track 'No Soy A.I.', featuring the searing Spanish vocals of fellow Texan musician, writer and actor RayPerez. In a world increasingly dominated by the cold, calculated logic of artificial intelligence, this 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. This song also addresses the coldness of some of AI’s tendencies, such as people already having AI girlfriends and boyfriends.

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

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

As of October 24, the 'Ecotone' album is available from digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and 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

Renowned NYC artist-producer Charlie Nieland presents 'Stores From the Borderlines' album & video for 'Shame', a powerful ode to queer resilience

October 23, 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. These cinematic soundscapes are shaped by a reverence for pioneering '80s and '90s synth and guitar-driven music. More than music, these meticulously crafted songs—a geography of intention—are an act of imaginative resistance, passionately mining for light and truth in a darkening world.

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'.

"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.

Stories From The Borderlines' is inspired by my deep love of David Bowie, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Cocteau Twins, Thomas Dolby, Love & Rockets and The Cure. I played and sang most everything here; guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion. Besides spiritchild’s contribution, drummer Billy Loose and guitarist Dan McAssey, my musical friends of 20 years, were both pivotal in shaping these songs. It’s a joy to be collaborating with them," says Charlie Nieland.

"Keyboardist Joe McGinty (of The Psychedelic Furs, Ryan Adams, Nada Surf and many more) also contributes. I’ve gotten to know him singing in his popular NYC tribute series, The Loser’s Lounge and Joe brings the song 'Today' vividly to life with his stunning synth work."

Previewed the epic lead track 'Win' featuring Staten Island activist / rapper spiritchild and by 'The Ocean Understands' EP, released earlier this year, 'Stories From The Borderlines' presents a visceral blend of post punk, glam, dream pop and progressive rock. With sweeping melodies and restless rhythms, these unique soundscapes promise an immersive journey, showcasing Nieland's continued evolution as an artist and producer.

Nieland has established himself as an artist rich on nuanced songwriting and sonic exploration, releasing 'Ice Age' (2014), followed by 'Hopeful Monsters' (2016) and ‘Divisions' album (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'.

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

As of October 24, 'Stories From The Borderlines' is available everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. On November 5, Nieland will hold his Record Release Show at Berlin Under A, with Life in a Blender and Jessie Kilguss, who is releasing her album 'They Have A Howard Johnson’s There'.

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

New Jersey's The Melancholy Kings announce 'Victoria' single, previewing sophomore album

October 23, 2025

New Jersey rockers The Melancholy Kings present their latest single 'Victoria', a jangly guitar rocker resurrected and revamped from the time when the band members were busy wearing down the grooves of their REM, Miracle Legion and Replacements records. As the story goes, we all have our demons, and it’d be nice if we could all help each other exorcise them. This is the second taste of their sophomore album 'Her Favorite Disguise', released via Magic Door Record Label.

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

"Victoria was inspired by the party scene of the late 80’s, where it seemed to me people were alternately depressed or manic a lot of the time and not in that happy middle. I thought it would be nice if we could all settle down a bit, slow life down a tick or two and enjoy the little things together. That was the impetus," says Michael Potenza.

"We resurrected it when we started working on 'Her Favorite Disguise' by reworking some of the more dated lyrics (when we wrote the song, for instance, it was a pre-cell phone time so the first line about “staring into your phone” and an “app for demonology” was added later). The song is a bit of a time capsule to a guitar-forward, jangly, power pop time, but I do think the essential message — that we all have inner demons that could use some mutual kindness to exorcise — carries forward.

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

“I think this song captures our live sound more thoroughly than any other on the album. Other than a dash of organ at the end, and guest vocalist Olivia Selig adding some thickening to the harmonies in the choruses, there are basically no other enhancements to the song. I think the raw energy of our live set really comes across as a result. The video starts and ends with the band discussing the song and the take, giving the viewer a taste of our process in the studio. This song probably has the least amount of overdubs than any on the album, so the video captured nearly its entire recording,” says Scott Selig.

Earlier, the band shared 'Bitcoin Elegy', a guitar-driven single about the inevitable decline of meaningful personal relationships in the digital age. Joined by vocalist Olivia Selig, this song is not actually an elegy about the famed king of cryptos, the song references Bitcoin as a noted marker for the post-analog world, the elegy here being specifically about the loss of interpersonal community.

The coming album features several guests, including Mac Gollehon (David Bowie, Al Jarreau, Duran Duran, Mick Jagger, Hall and Oates) on trumpet, cellist Carolyn Jeselsohn, vocalist Reneé LoBue of Elk City, accordionist Carl Riehl (Michelle Shocked, Uncle Moon) and Ray Ketchem on percussion.

As of October 23, 'Victoria' is available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. On November 28, the 'Her Favorite Disguise' album will be released digitally and also on vinyl. It can already be pre-ordered on Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written by Mike Potenza and Peter Horvath
Mike Potenza – guitar, vocals
Peter Horvath - guitar, vocals
Scott Selig - bass, vocals, keyboards percussion
Paul Andrew - drums
Olivia Selig - vocals
Produced by Ray Ketchem, Scott Selig & The Melancholy Kings
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording Studio, Montclair, NJ
Additional recording by Scott Selig at The Old Stone House, Maplewood, NJ
Published by Hamilton Publishing (BMI) © 2025
© 2025 The Melancholy Kings
Released by Magic Door Record Label
Cover art & design by Ray Ketchem
Videos filmed & edited by Scott Selig
Band photos by Carlo Cipriani
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

NYC's Ecce Shnak & world-class DJ Eskei83 unleash 'Jeremy, Utilitarian Sadboy (Kill Em Mix)'

October 22, 2025

NYC-based alt-rockers Ecce Shnak and Germany's Eskei83 present 'Jeremy, Utilitarian Sadboy (Kill Em Mix)', an invigorating re-envisioning of the original version of 'Jeremy, Utilitarian Sadboy'. This adrenaline-filled hit, which has already lit up the DJ-producer’s recent sets at Tomorrowland and elsewhere, serves as a bridge towards the band's full-length album, 'Dandy Variances', slated for spring release via Records Man, Records.

Ecce Shnak (pronounced Eh-kay sh-knock) is 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 high-wire sonic performance, where intense musicality and a touch of madness exist in perfect, precarious balance, they whimsically incorporates diverse artistic expressions, tackling profound subjects and intriguing minutiae with remarkable clarity.

'Jeremy, Utilitarian Sadboy (Kill Em Mix)' evokes imagery of sci-fi and action-thriller fight scenes from the Matrix, Bladerunner, and John Wick. Rest assured, the good guys win! Reimagining the original’s math-metal guitar riff as a throbbing dubstep synth-bassline and its frenetic drums as a straightforward high-octane dance-beat, Eskei83 quotes snippets of Bella and Davey’s sung and shouted performance as a gang vocal for energized crowds to share their own voices to the ecstatic romp.

"The Dresdenian shite-kicker recently spun his version at the dragon-blessed Tomorrowland party in Belgium. Both Ecce Shnak and Eskei83 are proud to share this version with their own audiences and music-lovers generally. Endless gratitude to all music lovers worldwide," says David Roush.

Eskei83 adds, "I made a remix for Ecce Shnak and played it at Tomorrowland! In 2024, I was asked to create my version of 'Jeremy, Utilitarian Sadboy' and what started as an experimental challenge turned into a legit club weapon. My [Kill Em Mix] is now ready to smash floors!"

Since releasing their 'Shadows Grow Fangs' EP in February, 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 completed a successful U.S. tour with platinum-selling legends Spacehog and EMF. Ecce Shnak also features on the new 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.

'Jeremy, Utilitarian Sadboy (Kill Em Mix)' is out now viaRecords, Man Records, available from digital music platforms, includingSpotifyand YouTube and Amazon Music.

CREDITS
Music written / composed by David Roush
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

NYC-London duo THE KING CANUTES pay tribute to PREFAB SPROUT on 'Cars and Girls

October 21, 2025

Brooklyn-London indie duo The King Canutes present 'Cars and Girls', the second taste of their debut album 'Eastern Seaboard, Perfect Summer', forthcoming via the Montclair, New Jersey-based Magic Door Record Label. Prefab Sprout aficionados will surely appreciate the cover homage to the band’s Steve McQueen masterpiece.

The King Canutes is Keir Woods (vocals, electric and acoustic guitars), who brings a sonorous true folk voice of Northern England, while Richard Alwyn Fisher (vocals, backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars) is the scrappy Replacements-style Midwesterner. The pair met in Brooklyn in the early 2000s in NYC’s cosmopolitan pop / indie rock scene and released their debut EP 'Last Callers and Losers' in 2008.

The duo used to perform this song for ‘The Love Hangover’ [an annual post-Valentine’s Day show]. This version blossoms into a smooth swaggering rock ride out. Woods' vocals evoke the wistfulness of the original version while Fisher's sinewy guitar lines break down the layers, then build back as a drum machine transitions to live drums by Kevin March of Guided by Voices.

The King Canutes

Cars and Girls

'Eastern Seaboard, Perfect Summer' album out Nov. 21 via Magic Door Record Label

21 October 2025

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Brooklyn-London duo The King Canutes pay tribute to Prefab Sprout on 'Cars and Girls'

FOR FANS OF: Belle & Sebastian, Lloyd Cole, The Go-Betweens, Elliott Smith, The Chills, Orange Juice, The New Pornographers, American Music Club
INFLUENCES: Lloyd Cole, Richard Thompson, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen
FOCUS TRACKS: Seymour Stein, Mixture as Before, Cars and Girls, Man From Hawaii, Perfect Summer, Red Hook Sunset
FCC clean (no profanity)

FOR SHARING
'Cars and Girls' single https://distrokid.com/ hyperfollow/thekingcanutes/ cars-and-girls
Bandcamp https://thekingcanutes.bandcamp.com/track/cars-and-girls
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lex8QRtmMDs9njOCwTdMd
'Seymour Stein (for Earle Holmes)' https://youtu.be/y9tz2SAFKFg
Get the single https://distrokid.com/ hyperfollow/thekingcanutes/ seymour-stein-for-earle-holmes
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/3g8lOj27RRigNafFfZw2aT
Bandcamp https://thekingcanutes.bandcamp.com/track/seymour-stein-for-earle-holmes
Album pre-order https://thekingcanutes.bandcamp.com/album/eastern-seaboard-perfect-summer
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-king-canutes/295362605

FOR REVIEW & AIRPLAY
Album preview https://on.soundcloud.com/ bxHMO7lIMeNQyU0iLn
Online press kit https://haulix.promo/94zj
Download via Google Drive https://tinyurl.com/TheKingCanutes-PressKit

Brooklyn-London indie duo The King Canutes present 'Cars and Girls', the second taste of their debut album 'Eastern Seaboard, Perfect Summer', forthcoming via the Montclair, New Jersey-based Magic Door Record Label. Prefab Sprout aficionados will surely appreciate the cover homage to the band’s Steve McQueen masterpiece.

The King Canutes is Keir Woods (vocals, electric and acoustic guitars), who brings a sonorous true folk voice of Northern England, while Richard Alwyn Fisher (vocals, backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars) is the scrappy Replacements-style Midwesterner. The pair met in Brooklyn in the early 2000s in NYC’s cosmopolitan pop / indie rock scene and released their debut EP 'Last Callers and Losers' in 2008.

The duo used to perform this song for ‘The Love Hangover’ [an annual post-Valentine’s Day show]. This version blossoms into a smooth swaggering rock ride out. Woods' vocals evoke the wistfulness of the original version while Fisher's sinewy guitar lines break down the layers, then build back as a drum machine transitions to live drums by Kevin March of Guided by Voices.

“When we first began playing “Cars and Girls” live it was stripped back to the bare essence, in contrast to the Prefab Sprout very eighties classic. But over the years, and with the gifts of the studio, our version has become as layered and baroque as the original!,” says Keir Woods.

Richard Alwyn Fisher adds, “Prefab Sprout offered such a unique voice, and it was fun and satisfying to create a version that was both an homage and also a new and personal take on the song.”

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. Combining the dynamic tension of dual singer-songwriters, their music sites somewhere between The Go-Betweens and the long-distance, long-haul commitment of The Postal Service,

The duo recently released 'Seymour Stein (for Earle Holmes)', named for Earle Holmes, the club owner and friend who gave Keir his Paris bookings after moving from NYC. This song captures the elation of freedom and the frustration of starting the artistic journey again. This song is elevated by stellar horns by Mac Gollehon (David Bowie, Al Jarreau, Duran Duran, Mick Jagger), bassist Dave Derby (Dambuilders, Gramercy Arms, Lloyd Cole), and Jessie Kilguss on backing vocals.

Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by renowned producer Ray Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Luna, Elk City, Gramercy Arms) at Magic Door Recording Studio, this ambitious album involves world-class artists such as Kendall Meade (Sparklehorse, Mascott), Mike Dillon (Rickie Lee Jones), John Leon (Roky Erickson), David Nagler (Nova Social, Joan Baez, Aaron Neville), Doug McEachern (Suran Song in Stag), Renée LoBue (Elk City) and Verena Wiesendanger (Semi Gloss).

As of October 21, 'Cars and Girls' is out everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The 'Eastern Seaboard, Perfect Summer' album, out on November 21st, is now available for pre-order.

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

Kevin March / drums
Ray Ketchem / percussion, keyboard

Mac Gollehon / horns

Jessie Kilguss / 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

Oakland's Sword Tongue unveils 'Murder White Noise', showcasing 'Bonfire In The Tempest' EP

October 16, 2025

Oakland alt-rock trio Sword Tongue presents 'Murder White Noise', a wry commentary on the state of the world and our attempts to soothe ourselves to get through it. The latest offering from their explosive 'Bonfire In The Tempest' EP - their fourth to date.

In an increasingly stressful world, this song explores how people try to externalize their anxieties by consuming content that allows them to feel better about their own lives. We attempt to cope with the pressure of maintaining equilibrium by coming together to grieve, worry, and comfort each other, often finding that the only way to feel good about our lives is to reflect on others' misfortunes.

Creating dark music for dark times, Sword Tongue is 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.

“I started consuming true crime content as a way to turn off the thoughts that kept me awake at night and distracted me during the day. One day I told a friend I was a listening to a livestreamed trial where a lady put her husband on a burn pile. She said “WHOAH, what is that, murder white noise?” As I told people about the song, I found many others watch crime stories as a release from their stressful lives. It is important to bring that into the conversation about how we are coping today,” says Jennifer Wilde.

"Finding comfort in tragedy is new for me; during the pandemic and especially in the last year I find myself needing to look for reassurance that whatever I am facing is not as bad as it could be. 'Murder White Noise' was written as a way to come to grips that someone else's pain is that content, and what that says about where we are as a society right now. Gaetano wrote the perfect guitar line that hooks you in to get to the truth of the song."

On 'Murder White Noise', soothing vocals contrast with the song's macabre lyrical content, while steadily thrumming instrumentation lulls you into a false sense of security. For a moment, the listener feels heard and encouraged, then questions their own motivations, left to wonder whether they are now the tragic victim in this story.

"From a songwriting perspective, this pulled a lot of anxiety out of me," says Gaetano Maleki. "While writing the guitar and bass lines, I wanted to bring out tension to mirror the vocals, but with some kind of seductive undertones. I feel the instruments really complement the lyrics, like a hard boiled soundtrack."

Showcased by 'We Are The Resistance' and 'Diamonds To Rust', this EP was galvanized during our current age of cultural upheaval. Bursting with raw emotion and tempered by sophisticated production, this collection blends alt-rock, post-punk and dream pop, giving voice to anguish, anger, transformation and triumph. Vocal lines that oscillate between a croon and a roar, seduction and rage, while shimmering guitar tones and bass lines mesmerize and intricate drum lines drive the message.

This 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.

The 'Bonfire In The Tempest' EP is out now as a first-print red variant cassette, including a special album poem inside, and als

Irish singer-songwriter Ger Eaton heralds the release of debut album 'Season Changes'

October 13, 2025

Well known in his homeland thanks to a string of brilliant singles, Irish bard par excellence Ger Eaton is back with a large dose of Renaissance Pop. Finally, he will be releasing his long-awaited debut album 'Season Changes' via Dimple Discs, a Peckham-based label that has championed many Irish artists. In the home-stretch before its release, he shares the singles 'Hollow' and 'The Time It Takes To Fall'.

Ger Eaton is the singer and sonic auteur behind a remarkable and acclaimed set of songs, released as singles over the past two years, both on his own imprint and by enterprising indie label Dimple Discs, who spotted a good thing and snapped him up. An artist who has graced many a stage, his distinctive keyboards have graced many Irish bands of the last two decades.

With a rich progression from baroque pop and cinematic balladry to more folk elements, Eaton creates music that is laced with broad orchestral arrangements, drama, and honesty. Complimenting the video for his recent single 'Season Changes', a live rendition of 'Phoenix (Reborn)' and 'Season Changes' was also recorded live at Hyde Dublin.

"‘Season Changes’ is essentially an old fashioned break-up LP. All of the songs deal with the complexities, both emotional and physical, that come with the ending of a very long and significant relationship. Mirroring the seasons, ‘Season Changes’ charts the often inevitable decay of a relationship, from the glowing bloom of its Spring, gradually ebbing away to its wintery conclusion," says Ger Eaton.

"The songs were written about and recorded during the end of my marriage, and I decided from the off that the Lyrics would be raw and honest… I felt I owed that much to myself. Musically, I wanted the arrangements and instrumentation to bring a lushness and drama that would wrap the words in the appropriate Musical Cloak ...For me, music has always been a place where I can both lose and find myself… a Solice … my Phoenix."

Beginning with 'I Thought I’d A Friend' and continuing through the beautiful 'Hollow', 'The Time It Takes To Fall', 'Phoenix (Reborn)', 'Home Again' and the most recent single 'Season Changes', Ger’s work carries echoes of Scott Walker, Jimmy Webb, Brian Wilson, Ian Brown and the high melodic heyday of the late 1960s, yet shot through with a contemporary slant and edge.

Each new song and accompanying video has marked an exciting stage in Ger’s progress and has received recognition and tremendous support from national and regional radio programmers in his native Ireland and also in the UK, as well as music writers and tastemakers.

On October 17th, the 'Season Changes' album will be released on vinyl and CD. It will also be available from digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and also Bandcamp.

On October 23rd, Ger Eaton and his 11-piece band take the stage at The National Concert Hall in Dublin, with support from Andrew Keeling & vocalist Toni Kay. Tickets can be ordered at https://www.nch.ie/all-events-listing/metronome-ger-eaton-oct25

CREDITS
All songs written by Ger Eaton
Produced, recorded and mixed by Ger Eaton, Duncan Maitland & Sean Coleman
Recorded at Old County Studios, The House of Horns, Clane HQ and at Ger Eaton's home
Mastered by Anthony Chapman
Cover Illustration and Design by Josh Fogarty
Ger Eaton - vocals, drums, guitars, mellotron, xylophone, sitar, tabla & percussion
Duncan Maitland - acoustic & electric guitars, bass, mellotron & vocals
Sean Coleman - glockenspiel, mini moog, guitars, harmonium & vocals
Kieran Eaton - flutes & recorders
Ronan Dooney - trumpets & flugelhorns
Graham Hopkins - drums
Gavin Fox - bass
Castle Quartet - Strings
String Arrangements - Andrew Keeling
Released via Dimple Discs. Catalogue No DD 027LP
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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Seattle's AudioGust battles the noise on new single 'Easier', an escape from news fatigue

October 12, 2025

Seattle-based artist AudioGust presents 'Easier', which explores the mental toll of living in a world overflowing with bad news. This is the second single from his third album 'Falling From Down' — his most unflinching yet — a journey through collapse, resilience, and the fragile beauty of survival. This arrives on the trail of the post-grunge lead track 'Isotope'.

Opening with introspective verses that capture the strain of living in a world full of overwhelming news and challenges. The refrain— “Some days, it would be easier if I didn’t know”—becomes a mantra for that tension between awareness and avoidance. Midway, the song bursts into a high-energy pop-punk bridge, imagining what life might feel like if one could truly escape the weight of it all, before settling back into reflective intensity, acknowledging that life’s challenges inevitably return.

“I wrote ‘Easier’ out of frustration with how overwhelming it can be to take in all the bad news every day. There’s a fantasy in the song about how simple life might feel if you just tuned it all out — but in the end, you can’t really look away. The world always pulls you back," says Chris Evans.

"Easier serves as the emotional and thematic centerpiece of the album, hinting at a journey through struggle, growth, and resilience that listeners will encounter in the full release."

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

With powerful, emotionally resonant music, AudioGust is known for his ability to blend high-energy performances with deeply personal storytelling. He has released over four dozen songs across multiple albums and EPs, including his debut 'Walk With Me', follow-ups 'Hope from Darkness' and 'Love and Pain', and his second album 'Here We Go Again', released earlier this year and exploring the highs and lows of creativity, and the unpredictable nature of inspiration.

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

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

'Easier' is out now, available from online music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The 'Falling From Down' album will be released on November 7.

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

Fitzsimon and Brogan (FaB) presents 'The Hourglass Girl', a sonic commentary on serial dating

October 12, 2025

UK indie rock duo Fitzsimon and Brogan (FaB) present their new single 'The Hourglass Girl', a sharp, indie-rock takedown of modern-day dating, offering a catchy, powerpop-laced commentary on fly-by-night relationships. The central character acts like a black widow of the modern dating world. The story takes a cynical turn, as our subject is attractive and charming, but also calculated, counting down the time before moving on to her next catch.

This is FaB's second single this year, released through Booster Music WTPL France, following 'Flowers At Her Door' in August - a sonic and lyrical achievement that recalls Debbie Harry with the deep tone of German singer-songwriter Nico.

In a music landscape starved for originality, FaB proves that sometimes the freshest sounds are born from old-school inspiration. Made up of songwriter Neil Fitzsimon and vocalist Bee Brogan, both members of the Sony-licensed band Pretty Blue Gun, the two went on to form the London-based songwriting-production partnership FaB Productions and record their 'Big Blue World' album at Abbey Road's Studio Two, where The Beatles recorded so many great songs.

About the new single, Neil Fitzsimon explains, "We thought we’d turn the rather hackneyed phrase, "the hourglass girl", on its head and instead write a song about the ephemeral modern-day dating scene. The girl in question, the ‘hourglass’ girl, leads partners into thinking they have something special, whilst all the time, she is counting down the clock before she moves on to her next victim".

Creating remarkable power pop for now people, FaB has captured the attention of legends, with David Bowie's drummer Woody Woodmansey praising their ability to stand out from the crowd and Elvis Costello's Pete Thomas saying the avant-garde would be proud.

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

FaB's 2020 album 'This Wicked Pantomime' was co-produced by Pat Collier (Katrina and the Waves, Primal Scream, Maximo Park) at Perry Vale Studios, London and involved dummer Woody Woodmansey (David Bowie Spiders from Mars), plus Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas. This followed the well-received albums 'Venus in Reverse' (2011), 'His Latest Squeeze' (2015), 'Big Blue World' (2018) and 'The Girl Who Shouted Love at the Heart of the World' (2019).

Those releases involved world-class musicians from The Art of Noise, Eric Claptonbassist Dave Bronze, Moody Blues' Tobias Boshell and Pip Williams (Walker Brothers). Having toured nationally and achieved Film and TV placements, they also wrote the musical 'Jack Dagger', showcased at the Greenwich Theatre, London for the Musical Futures Award, and also at the Bridewell and the Royal College of Music in London. With chart success in France, Belgium, and South Africa—and a song featured in a U.S. sci-fi film—the band is making waves on every front.

As of October 10, 'The Hourglass Girl' is available from music platforms globally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.

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

NYC songstress Jessie Kilguss unveils brilliantly inspired ‘St. Teresa in Ecstasy’

October 12, 2025

NYC singer-songwriter Jessie Kilguss presents her single 'St. Teresa of Ecstasy', showcased in a brilliantly inspired video by Alex Dar, a sonic exploration of being moved by something magical and the sheer, vital power of all great art. Inspired by Bernini's dramatic Roman sculpture, this is a lyrical journey rooted in a feeling of being whisked away by something that feels celestial and profoundly greater than us all.

This is the second taste of her sixth album 'They Have A Howard Johnson's There',which was engineered, produced, mixed and mastered by Charlie Nieland (Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Blondie, Scissor Sisters) at Saturation Point Studios in Brooklyn. This song features drummer-percussionist Rob Heath (Madison Square Gardeners, Julia Nunes), guitarist-keyboardist Kirk Schoenherr (Tegan and Sara, Elle King, Chet Faker) and guitarist Andrea Longato (Duncan Shiek, Jeremy Jordan, Alphonso Ribeiro), with Charlie Nieland on bass, violin bow guitar and keys.

"The story of this song is really in the lyrics. I was visiting a friend in Rome and two different friends highly recommended I go see the sculpture The Ecstasy of St Teresa by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the Cornaro Chapel of Santa Maria della Vittoria," explains Jessie Kilguss.

"I had a transcendent experience looking at this piece of art which I think I express better through song rather than just speaking or writing about it. Art (of all disciplines) has the ability to transport us to other places or states of being. The song is about experiencing the magic of this specific sculpture and maybe in a greater sense, the magic of being transported by something that feels bigger and more important than the everyday – something that feels otherworldly and divine."

Kilguss recently released the near-title track 'Howard Johnson's' with an era-inspired nostalgic video by Deborah Magocsi, for which she is accompanied by John Kengla (David Byrne, Ben Kweller, Serena Ryder) on guitar, bass and keys, Rob Heath on drums and percussion, and Dave Derby (The Dambuilders, Gramercy Arms, Lloyd Cole) and Charlie Nieland on backing vocals. Rembert Block (Rembert and the Basic Goodness. also features elsewhere on this album.

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

A former actress, whose acting highlights include 'The Crucible' (with Daniel Day Lewis and Winona Ryder) and the stage production 'As You Like It' (directed by Royal Shakespeare Company founder Sir Peter Hall), Kilguss made songwriting her focus after working with musical heroes Marianne Faithfull and Mary Margaret O'Hara in the Tom Waits / William Burroughs musical 'The Black Rider'.

Kilguss also sings with the Loser’s Lounge, Gramercy Arms, Jim Andralis and the Syntonics and Benjamin Cartel. She's also performed at the Sundance Film Festival and with Freddie Stevenson, touring as support for The Waterboys' European tour. In June 2025, Kilguss was an artist in residence at Fish Factory Creative Center in Stodvarfjordur, Iceland where she wrote 9 new songs.

As of October 8, 'St. Teresa In Ecstasy' is available everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp with the full album to follow on November 14th. On November 5, Kilguss' Record Release Show is at Berlin Under A, with Life in a Blender and Charlie Nieland, who marks the release of his 'Stories From The Borderlines' album.

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

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Messiness brings slick psychedelic 'Eternity Unbound', final single ahead of debut album

October 10, 2025

Psychedelic indie-rock outfit Messiness presents 'Eternity Unbound', an intense explosion of sound and the final single ahead of their highly anticipated debut album 'Messiness', slated for release on November 21 via Tarla Records and StoneFree Records.

Clocking in under four minutes, the music constantly shifts beneath the listener's feet, utilizing unconventional time signatures to create a dizzying, unstable rhythm. Masterfully fusing numerous genres and melodic scales in this trippy sonic journey, the lyrics explore a shattered sense of self, wrestling the feeling of being adrift as time relentlessly takes its toll on one's sense of who they are. This brief, thrilling psychedelic experience is both feverish and impossible to predict.

Messiness is the compelling culmination of Max Raffa's diverse artistic and academic pursuits. This Sicilian polymath – singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, author, and sociologist – forged his unique sound across Europe. Having performed in rock 'n' roll bands across Europe and in bustling British port cities, his ethnographic research also profoundly influenced his musical outlook. His journey eventually led him to settle in the stark fringes of Milan, deep in the less glamorous parts of Italy's fashion hub.

Raffa is joined by Rosario Lo Monaco on guitars, Filippo La Marca on keyboards, Giovanni Calella on bass guitar, and Luca Anello on drums. With an inviting and energetic sound, Messiness masterfully weaves art pop, psychedelia, and space rock into a distinctive and compelling rock style. Their rich harmonies are a vibrant tapestry, drawing from the finest traditions of British rock and continental flair, resulting in music that is both accessible and exhilaratingly vibrant.

"'Eternity Unbound' packs three and a half minutes with psychedelic fire. Verses in 5/4, choruses in 4/4, and a solo in 3/4 twist rhythm into constantly shifting patterns, keeping the ground in motion. This track fuses the jazzy edge of the Canterbury scene with Eastern Mediterranean tonalities, summoning the shadowy heat of West Coast mystique in a sun-scorched swirl of ritual, menace, and sensual incantation.," says Max Raffa.

"These lyrics wrestle with alienation, fractured identity, and the relentlessness of time, turning abstraction into something visceral. The result is a pocket-sized trip: feverish, disorienting, and impossible to pin down."

This single arrives on the trail of three stunning singles - '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 debut single 'Previous Life'.

As of October 10, 'Eternity Unbound' is available from fine online music platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music and, as well as directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Words & Music by Massimiliano Raffa
Produced by Ivan A. Rossi & Massimiliano Raffa
Recorded in Milan by Ivan A. Rossi (at 8brr.rec Studio), Lorenzo Di Blasi (at Sartoria 57 Studio) &
Giovanni Calella (at Diabolicus Studio)
Mixed & mastered by Ivan A. Rossi at 8brr.rec Studio in Milan
Massimiliano Raffa – Vocals, Guitars
Rosario Lo Monaco – Guitars
Giovanni Calella – Bass
Filippo La Marca – Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Beppe Scardino – Baritone Sax
Andrea Quattrini – Drums
Cover artwork by Güneş Akyürek
Released by Tarla Records and StoneFree Records
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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Scottish mavericks FINI TRIBE present "The Sheer Action of Fini Tribe: 1982-1987" anthology

October 9, 2025

Scotland's iconic 1980s music mavericks Fini Tribe are releasing "The Sheer Action of Fini Tribe: 1982-1987" via Shipwrecked Industries. Previewed by the razor-edged singles “I Want More” and "We're Interested", this colossal anthology includes their legendary John Peel session from 1985, the original 12” singles (including "Detestimony") and the WaxTrax! singles, along with unreleased live tracks - all 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.

"The Sheer Action of Fini Tribe" is the first retrospective that is curated and designed by the band's members. 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. This release also includes 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.

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. Eventually gigging in London, Glasgow and Aberdeen, their sound grew as their sound became more unique. Influenced by Throbbing Gristle, Wire, Can, Captain Beefheart, and numerous angular funk bands championed by John Peel, they also drew from modern film, writing, and the art that was abundant in the festival city.

A debut self-released EP on their FINIFLEX label led to the John Peel Session. The band quickly morphed into a formidable experimental dance unit, cemented by the arrival of sampling. Their 1986 “Let The Tribe Grow” EP, with the anthemic, church-bell driven “Detestimony”, would become a lasting and iconic statement of intent. Fini Tribe heralded a new sound and new hypervisual approach, more akin to performance art than 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.

In 1987, the band signed to WaxTrax! Records with a high-octane, percussion-driven cover of Can's “I Want More”, introducing the band to the temptations of the American dance floor. One more single for WaxTrax!, a reworking of “Detestimony”, and a few more events – including a night at Glasgow's Third Eye Centre that ended in flames - that was the end for this incarnation of the Fini Tribe. The band would lose a few members, including Chris, who joined The Revolting Cocks and moved to Chicago.

The tracks found on "The Sheer Action of Fini Tribe: 1982-1987" were recorded in Edinburgh at Wilf's Planet, Pier House, Niddry Street Rehearsal Rooms, Pleasance Theatre, and Calton Studios, and in London at Southern Studios and at BBC Studios, Maida Vale.

As of October 10,"The Sheer Action of Fini Tribe" is out digitally everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp and as a three-CD digipak with 24-page booklet. October 24 brings the release of the vinyl LP in a gatefold sleeve with insert.

On October 10, Chris Connelly joins Fini Tribe for the album release celebration at the West Port Oracle in Edinburgh - an "in conversation" with Nicola Meighan (this non-ticketed event begins at 7.30pm).

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
'We're Interested' video by Kimberly Blessing
Footage of 1986 Edinburgh courtesy of Jean-François at Popcards Factory
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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NYC's Laptop announces 'I Don't Know' single & London headliner show The former Island Records outfit now bridges generations

October 7, 2025

NYC-based 2000s x-Island Records innovators Laptop return with "I Don't Know", the third single from their forthcoming album "On This Planet" (out spring 2026). Following the viral momentum of their topical, TikTok-fueled singles “Weirder” and "Additional Animals", the band delivers a sharp back-to-school anthem laced with trademark deadpan wit. Balancing childlike defiance with Orwellian unease, “I Don’t Know” doubles as personal history and protest in these authoritarian times. Both playful and unsettling, it’s another strange dispatch from life on this planet.

Laptop emerged in the early 2000s on Island Records with the 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. The cult indie project has seen a proverbial reboot as a father-son duo with Jesse Hartman now joined by his 19-year-old son Charlie Hartman. An extension of a classic band, Laptop's witty indie-pop is a logical evolution, presenting a cross-generational blend that is part indie-pop, part satire, part family therapy session.

Written years ago by Jesse Hartman and his then four-year-old after Charlie gleefully sabotaged his first standardized test, this song channels the spirit of rebellion, absurdity, and questioning authority. As the chorus shrugs: “I don’t know, I’m just a kid — thinking about silly stuff.” You can even hear 4-year-old Charlie during the intro and outro, as he and dad wrote this crazy song.

“This song has always cracked me up — Charlie was four when we came up with it, after taking an IQ test. We knew he was a child genius (for real), but he failed this test, gleefully answering every question with purposeful wrong answers or a plain "I don’t know". The song stuck with us all these years because it felt bigger: a child’s joke that is really a protest anthem. And boy, do we need a protest anthem right now. It’s rebellion by accident, which turns out to be the perfect kind,” says Jesse Hartman.

Originally tracked in Valencia, Spain during a chaotic family trip, it was later overdubbed in Nevis, in the Caribbean, before being finalized back home in New York City. Its cinematic cast includes Nevis vocalist Anna Hadeed, whose playful lines spar with Jesse and Charlie; Hartman’s daughter Lulu, standing in for young Charlie with echoes of the song’s origin; and a raw, soulful harmonica turn from Santo Fazio—an actor and longtime Hartman muse, now lending a theatrical edge to Laptop’s sound.

The video, directed by Jesse, was filmed at Bravo Studios in New York. It reimagines a classroom as a surreal stage: Jesse and Charlie at school desks, Korina Deming as the stern teacher (and also choreographer), and Stephanie Koffroth as “Lulu”. Shot against a green screen and punctuated with animated detours (based on the brilliant animation on “Weirder”), toy harmonicas, and absurdist deadpan, the origin story is transformed into a playful, cinematic echo of the song’s fever dream.

Prior to Laptop, Jesse Hartman got his start as a teenage Voidoid with Richard Hellbefore co-founding the indie rock band Sammy (with Luke Wood, later President of Beats by Dre) and releasing albums on Fire Records and Geffen Records. Known for his dry humor and cinematic aesthetic, Hartman was once described by The Guardianas the master of “insincere sincerity.”

Laptop’s reboot has already amassed millions of streams and views worldwide for“Weirder” (4M+ views), mixed by Grammy award-winning producer Mario McNulty (David Bowie, Prince, Nine Inch Nails, Julian Lennon), and "Additional Animals" (2M+ views) with Britain's Radio 6 and Radio X also lending strong support.

Laptop recently staged an epic return to New York live performance with a 14-piece band at Sony Hall — their first hometown show in two decades. This Stop Making Sense–like spectacle underscores the scale and ambition of Laptop’s reboot, setting the stage for their October 20 headliner show in London at The Waiting Room with support by Room Service.

“I Don't Know” is available on major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The full album "On This Planet" is forthcoming in Spring 2026.

CREDITS
Jesse Hartman - vocals, guitars, keyboards, synths, piano, bass, percussion
Charlie Hartman - vocals
Lulu Hartman – vocals
Anna Heddad - vocals
Geddys “Ch4se” Ferguson - vocals
Mike Desmarais - drums
Lluisen Capafons – drums, congas, additional percussion
Santo Fazio – Harmonica
Matthew Dakoutro – violin, viola, cello
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 (Final mix by Hartman & Douglas)
Produced by Jesse Hartman
Mastered by Dave Trumfio
Recorded in Valencia (2022), Nevis (2023), Final overdubs & edits in NYC (2023–2025)
Written by Jesse Hartman (BMI)
Published by Exurbia Music, Inc.
Released by Hurricane Cove Records
Video concept, direction, cinematography & editing by Jesse Hartman
Featuring Charlie Hartman, Jesse Hartman, Korina Deming, Stephanie Koffroth
Filmed at Bravo Studios, NYC
Cover artwork by Jesse Hartman & Scott Ratner
Artist photos by Thomas Krause
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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LA dreamwave duo LUCKYANDLOVE shares 'Secret Is Out', final single from 'Humaura' album

October 7, 2025

In the home-stretch to their third album 'Humaura', electro-wave outfit LUCKYANDLOVE share the wonderfully kinetic 'Secret Is Out', an anguished theme of sacrifice, where the protagonist moves from the safety of darkness into the stark glow of discovery, the song's swirling sonic textures leading to the next high-speed beat.

LUCKYANDLOVE is the raw sonic experiment of Los Angeles-based artists Loren Luck and April Love, whose music transcends genres. Their live analog synth beats, Moog instrumentation and beautiful, harmonic vocals trigger an immediate download of fuzzy sunset synthgaze, blue-black neon darkwave, and tigerprint electro punk. With this new single, the duo weaves in and out of the shadows in a back-and-forth clandestine love affair with attention-grabbing percussion and pitch-bending strings.

'Secret Is Out' generates anticipation, the bass rising and beats prowling around before exploding into stabbing synths and overdriven analog-filter sweeps. With enchanting wistful vocals, the bell tones build to climatic sawtooth screams. Its driving pulse of drum, bass and growling synthesizers create a thrilling sense of flight—a sonic getaway. At its core, the song tells a doomed romance: a bloodsucker's devotion that must be abandoned upon exposure to the light.

"This is a story is of a love-stricken vampire, where love is tragic when caught in the sun; out of the shadows into the black light— love just must be withdrawn once the vampire’s secret is out. The track is chopped full of drum and bass, growling synths with time to hear oscillating swirls take you around till the next groove of the motorcycle escape," says April Love.

“This track laments in a kind of romantic science-fiction story painting - a picture of a break up and make up cycle of two people, a break up and make up cycle of a scene, ultimately leading to their exodus from a futuristic city."

Loren Luck adds, “It's freeing to let those secrets out and get honest with ourselves. No matter who we are, it’s okay to be ourselves. Mixed feelings about how to handle the situation. It’s just a story of how to escape from the lies. The song has a lot of parts and break downs. Lying hurts people. I like the growling synth that comes up from the low end. This is our fastest song with some calming moments.”

Released by SRD - Southern Record Distributors, 'Humaura' (pronounced "hu • mau • ra" and defined by the duo as the atmosphere that emanates from the feelings of the human spirit void of technological control), follows their latest sultry offering 'Lonely At Night' with its melancholic dream state of layered sounds, and the atomic anthem ‘I Am Human’, fused together with pulsating molten kicks, fuzzed-out analog synths and sensual vocals.

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

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

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

As of October 7, 'Secret Is Out' is available on all music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The 'Humaura' album will be released digitally and on vinyl on October 31, and can be ordered from the LUCKYANDLOVE Store or Bandcamp.

LUCKYANDLOVE will hold their record release party is October 11 at The Slipper Clutch in LA via Deathrecordzz Presents, with appearances by Warsaw Pact, Amore De Paris, No Exits, and a DJ set by Echolust. On December 13, they also perform Mohave Gold Bar in Yucca Valley, California for Luna Negra Goth Nights Presents, along with BLAKLIGHT and Dead Energy.

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

Tombstones In Their Eyes shares 'Under Dark Skies', heralding first album released via Little Cloud Records & Shore Dive Records

October 6, 2025

LA-based psychedelic rock outfit Tombstones In Their Eyes presents their brooding single 'Under Dark Skies', previewing their 'Under Dark Skies' album, to be released via Little Cloud Records (for North America) and Shore Dive Records (for the UK and EU). Without wallowing in self-pity and emotional upheaval, this song leans hopefully toward a new beginning in the understanding that sometimes the bottom is the best place to start.

The 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.

Tombstones In Their Eyes is made up of John Treanor (vocals & guitar), Stephen Striegel (drums), Courtney Davies (vocals), Phil Cobb (guitar), Paul Boutin (guitar), Nic Nifoussi (bass) and Clea Cullen (vocals). What began casually a decade ago has evolved into a powerhouse band known for their expansive psychedelic soundscapes. For Treanor, these sonic explorations are like a cosmic therapy session - an immersive subliminal journey, as well as a way to grapple with anxiety.

This record was created during a year of intense personal change, followed by a clearing of the decks and a move forward into a place light and gratitude. Recorded and engineered by Paul Roessler (Josie Cotton, Nina Hagen, Hayley and the Crushers, Gitane Demone) 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).

“'Under Dark Skies' is essentially a prayer sent for a path forward from the darkness of the spirit into the light. When the spirit is crushed, a rebirth is possible but the way forward is not always obvious. I feel fortunate to have a creative outlet like music to deal with the chaos in my head. Having said that, fighting the urges for self destruction by self-soothing in harmful ways is still not easy," says John Treanor.

"We live in a tough and harsh world that is also filled with beauty and joy. Finding beauty and joy is the goal. I’m aware that I have many privileges and do not discount that, but mental health challenges do not seem to discriminate. Finding strength and hope is a daily practice that I must undertake and writing these songs is one of the many ways that I cope. By expressing and sharing these feelings, I let go of the poison and seek connection with others.”

This album arrives a year on from their latest 'Asylum Harbour' album (and standoutaudio-visual trips for 'I Am Cold', 'By My Side', 'Gimme Some Pain', 'I Like to Feel Good' and 'Mirror'), released via Kitten Robot Records.

The single is now out everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where the 'Asylum Harbour' album can also be found on CD and on snazzy red vinyl. On December 5, the full 'Under Dark Skies' album will be released via Little Cloud Records (US) and Shore Dive Records (UK and EU).

CREDITS
Words and Music written by John Treanor
John Treanor - vocals & guitar
Joel Wasko - bass guitar
Stephen Striegel - drums & percussion
Courtney Davies - harmony and backing vocals
Clea Cullen - harmony and 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
Cover design by Robin Gnista
Released by Little Cloud Records (US) LC-136
and Shore Dive Records (UK & EU)
'Under Dark Skies' video by Francesca Bonci
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

San Francisco's OCTAVIAN WINTERS unleash dark and primal 'Saints of Absolution'

October 2, 2025

San Francisco post-punk outfit Octavian Winters presents 'Saints Of Absolution', a dark and rich teaser of their debut album, out in early 2026 via Stratis Capta Records. Marrying their hallmark ethereal sound with a classic death rock vibe, this dark and primal offering follows the lead track 'Hermine'. Both singles accompanied by short films by Bay Area producer David Kruschke.

Guitarist Stephan Salit (Thrill of The Pull) channels his Eastern roots with a guitar motif that circles like a hypnotic dance, over a tribal groove by bassist Jay Denton and drummer Randy Gzebb (Thrill of The Pull, Love Club), which undulates below. Mesmerizing vocals by Ria Aursjoen (AURSJOEN) enter like temple incense wafting atop of the music - sinister and confessional, before building to a wild visceral delivery as the song builds to its intense ending.

"This song 'Saints of Absolution' is about false idols, on two levels. The broader level, and the one we most often think of when we think of the idea of false idols, is about people attaching to negative ideologies that subvert our better natures, and the toxic swamp that lies down that path. The other level is the individual, and the poison of envy, hatred and spreading gossip behind others' backs -- often serious lies that can be very damaging to people's lives," says Ria Aursjoen.

"This world is full of enough horror without adding to it; although the lyrics are a little darker than my usual style, the intent is to make people think, to urge us all to not lose sight of our common humanity."

'Saints of Absolution' was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by the iconic William Faith (The Bellwether Syndicate, Faith & the Muse, Christian Death) at 13 Studio in Chicago.

"This is another one that I originally intended to go one way, but then went another. I had the two main themes with the dissonance I desired when William made a suggestion that turned into the break that Ria takes flight over! What a glorious din," says guitarist Stephan Salit.

Drummer Randy Gzebb adds, "I've always been drawn to playing tom grooves that give the song a darker more primal feel".

Formed in 2022, Octavian Winters profess a visceral ethereal sound with haunting textures, channeling half-remembered stories from an indifferent metropolis and lunar energy. This newest single confirms the band's well-earned reputation for weaving multiple stylistic influences together into a sonic tapestry that is altogether unique and identifiably their own.

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.

Following their recent appearance at A Murder of Crows Festival in New York, West coast fans will now be treated to their performance at Bar Sinister in Los Angeles on October 31 for their legendary Ghostly Halloween Ball.

'Saints of Absolution' is out now, available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. Tickets for their L.A. show can be ordered 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
Recorded at OW Studios, San Francisco, CA
Produced, Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by William Faith at 13 Studio, Chicago, IL
Released by Stratis Capta Records
Published by Flare and Bloom Music BMI
Artwork and layout by Henry Austin Lannan
Octavian Winters wordmark by Eric Olson
Video and artist photos by David Kruschke, except
Banner portrait by Katheleen Landino
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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

October 1, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

September 30, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scott Selig shares, "When Mike sent us 'Bitcoin Elegy', played on acoustic guitar and sung into his phone, I was immediately hooked by the melody and chord progressions and the lyrics made me like it even more. It was a pretty seamless process for the full band to develop it into the electric guitar-driven rocker that it became, and we quickly integrated the song into our live set. It was fun refining it in the studio with Ray and rest of the band, bringing in acoustic guitars when the dynamic shifts mid-verse, and Mike added some nice lead guitar lines in the bridge to play against the vocal melody. Finally, the harmonies that Peter and Olivia sung really filled out the arrangement."

'Bitcoin Elegy' is available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. On November 28, 'Her Favorite Disguise' will be released digitally and also on vinyl. It can already be pre-ordered on Bandcamp.

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

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

September 29, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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