New Jersey's DEARDARKHEAD reveals 'In Another Life', previewing first album in 26 years

June 9, 2026

New Jersey alternative rock outfit Deardarkhead presents 'In Another Life', their second offering from 'The Pendulum Swings', - their first full-length album in 25 years. Balancing tension between crystalline guitar arpeggios, a wall of fuzzed out tremolo, and melodic baselines, the band concocts an introspective atmosphere about what could have been.

Built around soaring guitar leads and melodic bass hooks, this follows the lead track 'Letting Go'. A song about growth and change, centered on releasing old patterns and embracing new directions, this track features keyboardist Joe McGinty, known for his work with The Psychedelic Furs, Nada Surf, Ryan Adams and Deborah Harry, adding additional layers of atmosphere and texture.

Now made up of guitarist Kevin Harrington, drummer Robert Weiss and bassist James Malizia, who recently replaced Brandon Howard following the recording of this album. Deardarkhead has built a distinctive identity since the departure of vocalist-bassist Michael Amper in 2009, shifting fully into instrumental composition where melody and texture take the place of vocals.

With many notable milestones over their nearly four decades, including shows with the likes of Supergrass, The Psychedelic Furs, Everclear, Nothing and The Lilys, the new album captures an ever-evolving band, refining their voice through texture, atmosphere, and emotional momentum.

Taking their name from the 1867 Irish poem “Cean Dubh Dilis” by Samuel Ferguson -- a work about a beautiful dark-haired girl -- Deardarkhead was formed in 1988 in the Atlantic City, New Jersey area. Their identity rooted as much in mood as in melody, their music blends atmospheric dreampop, shoegaze shimmer and ethereal rock, unfolding as an original, guitar-driven psychedelic tightrope walk balancing moody textures and shimmering melodies.

Drummer, Robert Weiss was particularly inspired by sitar music for the rhythmic droning lead sections while writing the song. He shares, "'In Another Life' is about the choices you didn’t make which still haunt you to some degree. The what ifs we all think about, but ultimately have no real impact. There’s no way of knowing where a different path would have lead, so you can’t be too bothered about it. One must live in the present."

Deardarkhead's sixth recording and second full-length album, 'The Pendulum Swings' captures a period of renewed experimentation and refinement. Recorded at Miner Street Recordings in Philadelphia, they worked with producers Brian McTear and Amy Morrissey (The War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, Sharon Van Etten) and Grammy-nominated mastering engineer Joe Lambert (Animal Collective, Blonde Redhead, Beach House, M83, Wild Nothing).

Across ten instrumental tracks, the record moves through shifting moods ranging from soaring, psychedelic-tinged guitar anthems to driving post-punk rhythms and more ambient, abstract passages. The result is a dynamic and cohesive work that highlights the band’s signature blend of shimmering guitars, pulsing bass, and powerful percussion. The band pushes the envelope with their instrumental approach, using drum loops, unusual time signatures, ebow, bass VI, and expanded guitar layering.

Deardarkhead has released five recordings via Fertile Crescent Records, beginning with their 1998 debut album 'Unlock the Valves of Feeling', and featured on numerous US and Japanese indie compilations. In 2011, Captured Tracks released 'Oceanside: 1991-1993', a retrospective of their early material (and second released in their Shoegaze Archives series). They then joined iconic label Saint Marie Records in 2015, releasing their critically-acclaimed 'Strange Weather' EP with them in 2016.

As of June 9, 'In Another Life' is available from music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. Now available for pre-order, 'The Pendulum Swings' album will be released on CD, digitally, and on 180-gram vinyl on July 10.

CREDITS
Written by Robert Weiss & Kevin Harrington
Kevin Harrington - guitars (all tracks) and bass VI, ebow & bass (track 10)
Robert Weiss - drums & percussion
Brandon Howard - bass (tracks 1-9)
Joe McGinty - keyboards (track 6)
Recorded at Miner Street Recordings, Philadelphia, PA
Produced, engineered & mixed by Brian McTear & Amy Morrissey
Mastered by Joe Lambert
Cover photography & design by Robert Weiss
Video directed and edited by William Murray
Band photos by Mike Maney & Rob Weiss
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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The Joy Thieves unleash 'Apocalypse Pending' album with video for 'No Anchor' & focus track 'Ambush Vinez'

June 3, 2026

Chicago-based alternative collective The Joy Thieves release their full-length album 'Apocalypse Pending' on June 5th via Armalyte Industries. While the industrial-rock-punk-experimental supergroup known has always combined a wide array of musicians together in order to craft their signature sound, they stretch this concept to its very limits with this record.

Highly influenced by the hip hop music production techniques of the 80’s and early 90’s, 'Apocalypse Pending' finds the Joy Thieves Productions team of Dan Milligan and James Scott redefining themselves by utilizing a sample-heavy production to forge elements of industrial, rock, experimental, punk, hip hop, metal, and freeform jazz. But instead of sampling the music of others, they found inspiration in the talents of the band’s 80+ other members, resulting in an incendiary sound all their own.

Anxious to explore new musical territory, they challenged themselves by turning the entire song-creation process upside down. Instead of relying on members to contribute already-written songs, as they’d done in the past, they meticulously gathered hundreds of unrelated recorded musical fragments from their fellow Joy Thieves, then painstakingly reconstructed brand new pieces of music from these fragments, ultimately creating a fresh and innovative sound.

Longtime fans of the band will instantly recognize the iconic voice of Chris Connelly (Fini Tribe, Revolting Cocks, Ministry, Pigface). Seething with frustration and rage at one moment, and coolly delivering beat poetry the next, 'Apocalypse Pending' finds the multi-talented Connelly in his element; using the album’s densely layered, sonic collage as the perfect vehicle to deliver the band’s violently anti-fascist sentiments.  

The Joy Thieves have also shared videos for 'No Anchor' and ‘The Wrong End of Your Rifle’, created by Lumbra Productions. Eyeing the edge of collapse, capturing the zeitgeist with such precision, they touch on the decay of the individual, exploring the isolation of our modern world.

“These days, the process of simply writing and recording an album no longer seems to be enough for me. In order to feel fully engaged, I need new and exciting musical challenges - preferably ones that make me start wondering if I just might be in waaaay over my head. Once I get that feeling, there’s absolutely no question I’m on the right track," says Dan Milligan.

" In the case of 'Apocalypse Pending', that challenge began as a question - What kind of music would RZA or The Bomb Squad make if they had been raised on a steady diet of Gang of 4, The Jesus Lizard, and Ministry?"

Chris Connelly adds, “At their core, the lyrics for 'Apocalypse Pending' are violently anti-fascist. It’s funny how worked up and angry I get when I talk about these songs. But I’m finding I simply can’t hold back anymore; and it feels so good to lyrically address every aspect of this current horror show. I’m so glad we have a creative outlet to express these thoughts. At least until we all get Pussy Riot-ed into prison."

Since signing with London alternative-industrial label Armalyte Industries in 2018, The Joy Thieves have delivered 11 critically-acclaimed releases. 'Apocalypse Pending' is the latest -- produced, engineered and mixed by Joy Thieves Productions at Populist Recording + Mastering.

The Joy Thieves includes current, former, and touring members of Ministry, Stabbing Westward, The Rollins Band, Killing Joke, Pigface, RevCo, PIG, David Bowie, Blue October, Machines of Loving Grace, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, Naked Raygun, Foetus, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Pegboy, Nitzer Ebb, Die Krupps and more.

The band crafts their cohesive signature sound from the contributions of its ever-growing 80+ roster of members, drawn from a diverse range of genres, including industrial, rock, punk, darkwave, hip hop and experimental music. Created by “all of us, and yet, none of us”, this is a sound all their own, their music aggressive, yet precise; confrontational, but refined; and harsh, yet melodic.

On June 5th, 'Apocalypse Pending' will be available on Digipack CD and across music platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Track 1 written by Dan Milligan, DJ Darryl Hell
Tracks 2, 4, 7, 10,11 written by Chris Connelly & Dan Milligan
Track 3 written by Chris Connelly, Jeff Harris, Dan Milligan
Track 5 written by Chris Connelly, Dan Milligan, Derek Christopher, Dee J Nelson
Track 6 written by Chris Connelly, Dan Milligan, Derek Christopher, Jeff Harris
Track 8 written by Chris Connelly, Dee J Nelson, Dan Milligan
Track 9 written by Chris Connelly, Dan Milligan, Jane Jensen
Track 12 written by Chris Connelly, Dan Milligan, James Scott
Track 13 written by Chris Connelly, Dan Milligan, Dee J Nelson Nelson, Jeff Harris, Steven Archer
Produced, engineered & mixed by Joy Thieves Productions
at Populist Recording + Mastering, Wheaton, IL
Mastered by James Scott at Populist Recording + Mastering
Additional production by:
Derek Christopher at Penfield Studios, Mark Pistel at Room 5 Studios, Jeff Harris at JH Studios
Steven Archer at House of Wolves, Dee J Nelson at DJN Music Studio, Jane Jensen at Autozen Music, and DJ Darryl Hell at HellLab Studios
Art direction by Destiny Justic Scott
Original artwork by Charlie Athanas for Burning City
Videos by Joel Lopez by Lumbra Productions

Released via Armalyte Industries

Portland's Wooden Overcoat serves potent psych-pop on debut "Hello Sunbeam" EP

May 31, 2026

Portland dreampop outfit Wooden Overcoat presents their debut "Hello Sunbeam" EP, a sweet spot where lo-fi garage psych meets 90s shoegaze, all anchored by layered harmonies and an evocatively intimate vocal delivery. The focus track "Heaven Right Now" is a reverb-soaked desert psych-rock track about hidden emotional fractures, shared suffering, and how people quietly break under pressure.

Wooden Overcoat is the sonic brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Brant Hajek, having returned to music after a hiatus, recording songs he'd written in his late teens. What started as a practice in self-production transformed into a deep creative obsession with soundscapes and gear. Recording in a rented basement, Hajek built the foundation of the EP through spontaneous experimentation—often veering away from planned sessions to follow sudden bursts of inspiration.

"Recording this EP almost ruined my life, and I hope it sounds like it. Each song is its own little world, in which I lost myself. With childlike wonder, exploring concepts and sounds, I was inspired to make something new each time just to keep the wheel turning. I loved the feeling of momentum, knowing I was creating something out of thin air and maybe grabbing ahold of something slippery and evasive. There’s a feeling of satisfaction I can’t compare to anything else that I get when listening back to something fresh," says Brant Hajek.

"Over countless hours tinkering away with mics, pedals, amps, preamps, and the overall process of tracking and layering guitars, I wanted to make something that sounds old but fresh. I want something that sounds warm and dense, but somehow also airy. I think I achieved that. The curse of any recording artist is wishing you could go back and do it all differently. But instead of beating it to death, I want people to hear the rawness of the result of someone finally figuring out how to a make a record."

Hajek’s creative process is a deeply personal, layered journey towards the spark that turns an emotionally restless melodies into finished pieces. While he himself performed every instrument on thise EP, Wooden Overcoat is now a full band, bringing these tunes to the stage. With Hajek on guitar and lead vocals, he is joined by bassist Dillon Glusker, guitarist Mac and drummer Brian Levin.

The band debuted with the shimmering single "Home", enveloping the senses in a reverb-drenched sanctuary, blending in sun-drenched textures and a wash of tape echo and reverb, followed by "Finally Arrived" with its viscous guitars, slow thudding drums, rhythmic trance-like pulse and dreamy soundscape. A tapestry of personal mourning and romantic friction, at its core, it examines the delicate nature of human connection, lamenting a cultural tendency to view individuals as replaceable assets.

The video for both singles were created by Italian multi-arts visionary Francesca Bonci, well known for her work with The Dandy Warhols, Pete International Airport and Slowdive's Rachel Goswell, LA's Tombstones In Their Eyes, Federale (The Brian Jonestown Massacre's Collin Hegna), post-rock outfit The Quality of Mercury, and iconic British bard Philip Parfitt.

"This EP was written at a dark time in my life. My mother was diagnosed with cancer, the world was flipped on its head and never really recovered, political turmoil and conflicts overseas dominated the collective conscious, and it profoundly affected me. My relationship was suffering from cumulative stress and I can now see how it came through in what I created. Themes of beauty that doesn’t last, self-sabotage, dissociation, cynicism, and desire for connection but feeling removed from it," says Hajek.

"To me this album is about romanticism vs. reality. “Hello Sunbeam” is something I might say to myself when I’m having a bad day, joking about how grumpy I’m being. But it’s also something I might say when I look outside to see the clouds are parting for a bit and maybe things don’t have to be so dreary."

The name Wooden Overcoat—an old Americana euphemism for a coffin—hints at the project’s core philosophy: a playful balance of moody, mystical imagery with light-hearted humor. Hajek’s creative process is personal, the rough versions eventually coalescing into vivid, emotionally resonant themes. In contrast, this music is vibrant, creating a fantastic dreamlike environment for lovers of life.

The "Hello Sunbeam" EP is available from digital platforms everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.

Iconic indiepop songstress Jacqui Hunt presents 'Desiderium' album with 2 sublime videos

May 27, 2026

Iconic Australian indie pop artist Jacqui Hunt presents her new album 'Desiderium' — out on CD & vinyl on June 26th — marking 40 years since launching pioneering electronic band Single Gun Theory. This superb collection moves through personal reflections on grief, loss, healing and love, it is released by her independent label QUSP with musical collaborator and husband Brian Conolly, previewed two superb videos — 'Planet', directed by Hunt with original graphics by Brian Conolly, and 'Cycles', which conveys an equally personal story.

Sonically abstract, smooth synths are intermittently spaced between organic pop structures. Songs that levitate, then ground, are fused together by the ethereal thread of Jacqui’s poetic radiance. Merging elements of Kate Bush, Tori Amos and Beth Gibbons, Hunt describes the feeling of this album "Like stepping out of your body for a while and grounding back to earth — floating on a synth wave while holding the raw reality of a simple piano. The bones that connect to the human voice like a string of air as it floats to the ether and returns to base."

"'Planet' is an electro-ethereal soundscape building to a rhythmic frequency of dreamy vocals that merge into the ether and dissipate into space. Initially a poem sent to me by Brian from overseas; I spontaneously turned it into a demo and sent it back to him from Sydney. He received it in a transit lounge in Kuala Lumpur. It conveyed so much to one another with so little. It is a love song; the poem stretches back through time and distance," says Jacqui Hunt.

'Cycles' presents a completely different landscape. A raw, melancholic piano ballad of heartfelt simplicity, it serves as a reflective turning point of grief, longing, and gratitude for a great love transitioned. Enveloped in powerful, multigenerational symmetry, this music video was created by Kade Stenders, a budding teenage filmmaker whose parents, famed film director Kriv Stenders and photographer Lisa Stonham, had previously directed several Single Gun Theory videos.

Jacqui shares, "There was a cyclic symbolism to this process, which was very fitting to the track and one that appealed to me, since 'Cycles' is very caught up in the life and death of my own father, who also directed theatre. The symbolic layers were of great importance to me, representing a huge turning point in my own life."

Primarily known as frontwoman of Single Gun Theory, formed in 1986, Hunt’s stellar artistic trajectory stands as a testament to her versatility and enduring impact across the global independent and electronic music landscape. As a powerhouse vocalist and intuitive co-writer, Hunt etched her name into Australian music history through her pivotal contributions to numerous projects.

Releasing three albums from 1987–1994, Single Gun Theory gained a steady international following, an ARIA nomination in the electronic dance category, and charted in Spain with ‘Exorcise This Wasteland’. With extensive placement in television and film, their music was most recently heard on the Paris runway for French label Chloé for their Winter 2026 parade.

Signed to Nettwerk Records, the band toured North America with Sarah McLachlanon her ‘Fumbling Towards Ecstasy’ tour, followed by a series of U.S. headline shows that gained them a loyal following. Releasing music in Australia through the cult label Volition, Single Gun Theory never officially broke up, but never toured again. Their latest release was the soundtrack for the film ‘The Monkey's Mask’ in 2001.

In the late 1990s, Hunt achieved global recognition through involvement with dreampop trailblazers Delerium, collaborated with Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber as songwriter and vocalist on ‘Euphoria (Firefly)’ for the ‘Karma’ album, the Rabbit In The Moon remix of that song receiving a Juno Award.

Jacqui's solo career took center stage with her 2008 debut album ‘Auraphonic’, featuring the track ‘Calisthenics’ - licensed for the feature film ’Adore’ starring Naomi Watts. Expanding this independent creative footprint, 2017 also saw the debut album by her innovative design duo CiiVE.

A sought-after collaborator, Hunt co-wrote and voiced standout tracks like ‘Stay’ on Paul Mac’s Gold-certified debut album ‘3000 Feet High’, teamed with Volition label mates Vision Four 5 for their 2017 retrospective album ‘Cloud’, and crossed genres in 2022 to feature on ‘Centuries’, the solo album by David McClymont of seminal Scottish post-punk band Orange Juice. These diverse milestones highlight Hunt’s rare chameleon-like ability to seamlessly shift between genres and collaborative works.

Out now digitally, the 'Desiderium' album will be released on CD and limited edition vinyl on June 26th. The remix of the 'Alice Magic' by K.I.M, one half of the Australian charting band The Presets, is also available across digital platforms such as Spotifyand Apple Music.

Joan As Police Woman shares 'I Defy' feat. Krystle Warren, final single from 'Real Life Evolution' album (out June 12th)

May 26, 2026

n the home-stretch towards her “Real Life Evolution' album, out June 12th via UK independent Reveal Records, trailblazing NYC artist Joan As Police Womanpresents 'I Defy' feat. Krystle Warren. Co-written and originally performed with Anohni, this infectious version previews a stunning collection of new arrangements of the songs from her debut album 'Real Life'.

Joan is also sharing a live rendition of 'I Defy', accompanied by Will Graefe and Jeremy Gustin, as part of 'The Real Life Anniversary Sessions', following earlier videos for 'Eternal Flame', 'Flushed Chest', 'The Ride' and 'Anyone'. The entire series was recorded by Adam Sachs at The Owl Music Parlor in Brooklyn and filmed by Ehud Lazin.

Exactly 20 years since releasing 'Real Life', Joan has reimagined and re-recorded the album in full with numerous guests, including Iggy Pop, Will Graefe, Jeremy Gustin, Tony Scherr, Parker Kindred, Danny Blume, Oren Bloedow and Thomas Bartlett. Developed through countless performances, these renditions are brought to life by the brilliance of the players who helped define their sound.

“This song is dear to my heart. Anohni and I wrote it mid-conversation in her tiny apt on 15th St. “I defy, I love your way”. It’s a declaration, an insistent act of love. Finding the right voice for Anohni’s part in 'I Defy' required someone truly special. I’ve long considered Krystle Warren one of the finest singers alive, and when I reached out to her, she sent her vocals back within a day. When I heard them, I nearly fell over,” says Joan Wasser.

"When playing live with Will and Jeremy, we took it down, softened the edges and warmed it with some muted sunshine. Will’s voice has a warmth you could describe as tawny. Jeremy’s drumming glows."

Joan Wasser, known professionally as Joan As Police Woman since 2004, is a critically acclaimed musician and producer, and a sought-after collaborator, dubbed “the coolest woman in pop” (The Times) and “one of the 21st century’s best musicians” (The Economist). As a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, her music defies easy categorization, crafting her own sound that blends various genres. She has released ten albums of original material, two cover albums, and an anthology.

Joan As Police Woman has recorded and performed with hundreds of artists, including Afrobeat legend Tony Allen, Lou Reed, Anohni & The Johnsons, Meshell Ndegeocello, Rufus Wainwright, John Cale, David Byrne, Dave Okumu, Chris Dowd, Lau, Scissor Sisters, Sparklehorse, Beck, Laurie Anderson, Lloyd Cole, Afel Bocoum, Dave Gahan, Tanya Donelly, David Sylvian, Steve Jansen and Damon Albarn (who collaborated with Joan on her song 'Get My Bearings' and on Gorillaz' 'Song Machine' album). She also a member of Iggy Pop's touring band (on keys and vocals).

As of May 26, 'I Defy' is available digitally everywhere. The 'Real Life Evolution' album will be released on June 12th. Now available for pre-order on Bandcamp, it is available on CD, digitally, and Limited Edition exclusive red marble vinyl.

Later this year, Joan embarks on her Real Life 20th Anniversary Tour, performing the 'Real Life' album as a trio, plus singles from her catalogue, fan favourites, deep cuts, reworked covers and some surprises! Ahead of June's sold-out NYC shows at Joe's Pub, she has a free show at Bryant Park on June 18. Tour tickets can be ordered at https://linktr.ee/japw or www.joanaspolicewoman.com/tour.

CREDITS
Lyrics & Music written by Joan Wasser & Anohni
Published by Fists of Fury (BMI) / Rebis Music (ASCAP)
Joan Wasser - vocals, piano, Wurlitzer, strings
Krystle Warren - vocals
Will Graefe - acoustic guitar
Oren Bloedow - electric guitar
Danny Blume - electric bass
Parker Kindred - drums
Produced by Joan Wasser
Recorded by Danny Blume at Hidden Quarry Studios, Bearsville, NY
Mixed by Patrick Dillett at Reservoir Studios
Mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound
Video recorded live at The Owl Music Parlor, Brooklyn, NYC
Adam Sachs - audio recording engineer & mixer
Ehud Lazin - videographer
Album cover photo by Judi Rosen
P & (C) 2026 Sweet Police LLC under exclusive licence to Reveal Records
Joan As Police Woman photos by Judi Rosen
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

NEW YORK PERFORMANCES
JUNE 18 New York, 7pm - Bryant Park (FREE SHOW)
JUNE 20 New York, NY, 7pm - Joe's Pub (SOLD OUT)
JUNE 20 New York, NY, 9pm - Joe's Pub (SOLD OUT)
JUNE 21 New York, NY, 6pm - Joe's Pub (SOLD OUT)

REAL LIFE ANNIVERSARY TOUR 2026
NOV 5 London, UK - Union Chapel
NOV 6 London, UK - Union Chapel
NOV 7 Manchester, UK - RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music)
NOV 9 Glasgow, UK - Oran Mor
NOV 11 Brugge, Belgium - Cactus Club
NOV 12 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Zonnehuis (sold out)
NOV 13 Hamburg, Germany - Mojo Club
NOV 15 Aarhus, Denmark - Train
NOV 16 Copenhagen, Denmark - DR Concert Hall
NOV 18 Budapest, Hungary - House of Music Hungary
NOV 20 Roma, Italy - Angelo Mai
NOV 22 Berlin, Germany - Haus des Rundfunks & Großer Sendesaal

Keep up with Joan As Police Woman
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Jah Wobble & Tian Qiyi announce 'Mystic Liverpool' album, a psychedelic reimagining of The Beatles, out August 14th

May 26, 2026

Iconic bassist and producer Jah Wobble has teamed up with his sons' ethno-psychedelic duo Tian Qiyi on the fascinating new album 'Mystic Liverpool: The Beatles' Psychedelic Psongbook', a deeply personal reimagining of The Beatles’ psychedelic period. Framing these songs within a soundscape of Chinese, Mongolian and dub traditions, this album is out on August 14th via Cherry Red Records.

John Wardle, a.k.a. Jah Wobble is a founding member of Public Image Ltd (PiL) and formed Invaders of the Heart in 1982. In his nearly 50-year career, he has had chart success, a Mercury Music Prize nomination and a rich discography via his label 30 Hertz. He has collaborated with Can's Holger Czukay, Jaki Liebezeit, U2's The Edge and producer François Kevorkian, in addition to Sinéad O’Connor, Massive Attack, Ginger Baker, Björk, Brian Eno, Pharoah Sanders and, most recently, Horace Andy on his 'Timeless Roots' album, Ken Boothe on his 'Old Fashioned Ways' album, and Jon Klein on the 'Automated Paradise' album.

Tian Qiyi is a duo made up of John T Wardle and Charlie Wardle, taking its name from their Chinese middle names, Tian Qi and Tian Yi. Based in Liverpool, the duo bridges British, Chinese, Mongolian and dub traditions, their fascinating ethno-psychedelic music bridging cultures to forge a sound that also weaves in post-punk and experimental production, their sound imbued with magnetic tension between ancient tradition and dub futurism, East and West, land and spirit.

The album draws largely on Jah Wobble’s signature dub bass, John T’s drums, Chinese percussion and yangqin, and Charlie’s erhu and vocals. Their clever rendition of “Strawberry Fields Forever” also sees Charlie playing morin khuur with the boys' mother Zi Lan Liao — a Royal Academy of Music–trained harpist and the most recognized gu-zheng performer worldwide — joining on gu-zheng.

Album pre-order www.cherryred.co.uk/jah-wobble-tian-qiyi-mystic-liverpool-the-beatles-psychedelic-psongbook-cd-digipak-edition
Rough Trade CD pre-order www.roughtrade.com/en-us/artist/jah-wobble-and-tian-qiyi-mystic-liverpool

Jointly produced by Jah Wobble, John T and Charlie, this album was recorded and mixed by John T at Pagoda Studios in Liverpool. But the Liverpool connection runs even deeper through their family. Zi Lan’s father, Mr K.H. Li (Liao Gui Xiong), arrived from Guangzhou in 1981 as Chinese Cultural Officer at the Pagoda and went on to establish the Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra — the ensemble Zi Lan (now also director of Pagoda Arts Centre) runs and that both her sons grew up playing in from the age of three. The record is dedicated to him; a lifelong Beatles fan, he owned everything they ever released on vinyl.

“The track that flipped it for me as a kid was ‘Strawberry Fields Forever,’” says Jah Wobble. “I didn’t have the language for what was going on in that song — I just knew it was more than music. The words you’d reach for are the ones people use about psychedelia: ego dissolution, a sense of unity, cosmic connection. I consider dub music to fit into the psychedelia genre, and John T grew up listening to dub, so Mystic Liverpool was always going to have that sensibility.”

The album moves through The Beatles’ psychedelic-era songbook with Chinese instrumentation and dub-inflected mixing, treating the material as the genuinely mystical music it always was rather than as nostalgic covers. As listeners will be pleased to discover, "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Magical Mystery Tour" are particular touchstones.

On August 14th, the 'Mystic Liverpool' album will be released as a CD Digipack and digitally via Cherry Red Records. It is now available for pre-order. Jah Wobble is touring the UK throughout 2026 with The Invaders Of The Heart - tickets are available at https://jahwobble.com/#live

The Horrors’ Tom Furse Reimagines Strange Fruit’s ‘Monopolar’ for New ‘Drips’ EP

May 16, 2026

British artist, producer and composer Tom Furse, celebrated for his work with The Horrors and MIEN (alongside The Black Angels' Alex Maas and Elephant Stone's Rishi Dhir), shares a transformative remix of 'Monopolar' for dreamgaze outfit Strange Fruit. Featured on their 'Drips' EP, newly released via Gentle Tuesday Recordings, Furse’s re-envisioning strips back the original’s sensory explosion to reveal a deeper, darker core—infusing the track with slow-burning breakbeat grooves, abrasive ambient textures, and a distinct acid house pulse. Furse lends his signature atmospheric lens to this centerpiece, immersing Strange Fruit in UK electronic innovation.

Furse has also built a solo and scoring practice, developing immersive, cinematic compositions rooted in texture and atmosphere. As a producer and remixer, he's worked with Depeche Mode, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Franz Ferdinand, Tame Impala, Temples and The Twilight Sad. A resident on NTS Radio and active visual artist, with commissioned work including projects involving Fatboy Slim and The Rolling Stones, his practice bridges audio and visual worlds, exploring narrative, abstraction, and sensory experience through a distinctly atmospheric lens.

Based in Jakarta, Strange Fruit is Baldi Calvianca (vocals & synth), Irza Aryadiaz(synth), John Tampubolon (guitar), Nabil Favian (bass) and Dino Kristianto (drums). Since their 2015 debut EP 'Dolphin Leap', they've moved fluidly between noise pop, krautrock, shoegaze and electronica. Now converging into a more focused, hybrid sound with deeper integration of electronic elements, this EP is driven by machine-led rhythms and analog textures, fusing emotional depth with rhythmic precision.

A lucid trip to the edge of sonic consciousness, the 'Drips' EP is a defining moment in the band’s evolution, unifying fragments of their kosmische experimentation to achieve a more cohesive sonic identity. Apart from joining an exclusive lineage of artists who have received the Furse treatment, this EP also involves renowned UK producer Sean Johnstone a.k.a. Hardway Bros (co-founder of A Love From Outer Space with Andrew Weatherall) with his downtempo club atmosphere and Jonathan Kusuma of Jakarta’s Dekadenz collective with his leftfield disco echo-rich bass drum tempos.

Produced by Strange Fruit and electronic producer Bernardus Fritz, the EP is driven by machine-led rhythms and analog textures, fusing emotional depth with rhythmic precision. The title track 'Drips' blends shoegaze textures and electronic elements in a dense, immersive soundscape, while 'Pouvoir Moteur' brings steady motorik rhythms that flow seamlessly down an endless highway. 'Iridescent' channels dancefloor euphoria through minimalist beats and atmospheric layering, balancing introspection with forward momentum while finding luminosity within adversity.

The album's lead track 'Monopolar' is a sensory explosion suspended between dream and awareness, and between the surreal and radiant. Gradually fading and blurred in technicolor, the video was directed by Mellow Splice, who also created the EP cover artwork, reflecting the track’s fluid and surreal qualities through abstract, water-like imagery.

Gentle Tuesday Recordings began as a recurring event night in Jakarta in 2017, founded by Calvianca together with Benedict Pardede and Moses Sihombing. It became a label in 2021, their name derived from a Primal Scream track.

The 'Drips' EP is available from digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. Cassette and vinyl releases are planned for mid-2026 in collaboration with Loide Records (South-East Asia & Japan) and TipTop Records(other territories worldwide).

CREDITS
Written by Baldi Calvianca & Irza Aryadiaz
Produced by Bernardus Fritz & Strange Fruit
Mixed by Nabil Favian
Guest vocals on 'Drips' by Putri Effendi
Vocals recorded by Aggasta Giovanno (Studiomaja)
Drums recorded by Devfian Julius Simputra (Studio 1 SAE Institute)
Premasters prepared by Hosea Hanelsan (Studio 1 SAE Institute)
Mastered by Sam at The Wall Studio in France, except Track 6 (mastered by Tom Furse)
Remixes by Jonathan Kusuma, Tom Furse and Sean Johnston
'Monopolar' video produced by Gentle Tuesday Recordings & Strange Fruit
Video directed by Mellow Splice. Filmed by Moses Sihombing & Hafizh Armynazrie
Edited buy Hafizh Armynazrie & Moses Sihombing
Photographer: Osman Luqman
Album cover artwork by Moses Sihombing and Hafizh Armynazrie of Mellow Splice
Bookings & Management - Benedict Pardede
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Darkwave-shoegaze pioneers LOWSUNDAY unveil ‘Black EP’, new offering after 25-year hiatus

May 14, 2026

US darkwave-shoegaze pioneers Lowsunday is back with new music via Projekt Records - the 'Low Sunday Ghost Machine - Black EP', the second release of all-new material released since 1999. The album released focus track 'Shattered', the band has also shared a darkly fascinating video for 'This Is Not Heaven', produced by Jer Herring.

Lowsunday (initially Low Sunday Ghost Machine) emerged as a "retro-futurist" pioneer, blending darkwave and shoegaze long before the genres saw their modern revival. Their legacy was cemented with their debut album 'Low Sunday Ghost Machine' and the 1999 masterpiece 'Elesgiem', both re-released via Projekt Records in the past 18 months (for their 30th and 25th anniversaries, respectively).

When they dissolved, they left behind a cult reputation for mercurial sounds and blistering guitar work that set the stage for subsequent generations of alternative artists. Following a nearly 25-year period of inactivity, the band resurfaced as a duo in 2025—consisting of original members Shane Sahene (vocals, guitar, synth, bass, drums) and Bobby Spell (bass, guitar, drums).

Earlier, the Pittsburgh-based duo released their ‘Low Sunday Ghost Machine - White EP', ranked second among Post-Punk.com's Best EPs of 2025, and showcased by the singles 'Love Language', 'Soft Capture' and 'Nevver'. Both a reflection and a resurgence, Lowsunday's two new EPs usher in a welcome return, marked by superb production and a renewed creative clarity, bridging three decades of distinct sonic legacy with balanced doses of escapism, dreamlike sounds, drones and feedback.

With a sound defined by atmosphere, precision, and heartfelt shadow and depths since 1994, Lowsunday is now asserting their presence with a new force. While the 'White EP' explored light and texture, the 'Black EP' is the darker counterpart and definitive statement. Shadow and intensity, layered guitars, tight rhythms, and austere synths, this new EP' distills the duo's vision into a sharper, more potent form — a bold declaration of their enduring artistic power.

"The 'Black EP' was an exciting record to make — it just flowed through us, as did the White EP. We have many moments on the record where we don’t understand how the songs got to where they did. We recognize that the songs are somehow more than us — that’s the magic that keeps us coming back for more. I can’t help but view this new EP like the Jungian shadow. We let ourselves indulge in some of the darkest emotions we experience -- there is a confessional nature to it," says Shane Sahene.

"Musically, it’s a natural extension of the 'White EP'. We dreamed of releasing the two EPs back to back - one white, one black -- like a big, heavy record that looks like an Oreo. The cover art makes a completed 12 x 24 image when placed one above the other. This EP series will go down as a very pivotal moment for the band in that it has cleared our emotions and let out many creative impulses."

Their crystalline shimmer, classic song structures and melodic hooks makes for and atmospheric sound that is timeless and as relevant as ever, elevating the elements that defined their earlier work. A bold evolution into more cavernous soundscapes, oscillating between walls of chaotic feedback and fragile, ethereal passages, their resurgence delves into shadowy and vast acoustic realms, shifting from abrasive ripples of distortion to brittle, shoegaze-infused moments of intense longing.

Bobby Spell shares, "For me, this EP is deceptive, opening with energetic and wistful 'You’re So Wired' but followed by songs that are melancholy and introspective. These are the strongest songs we’ve yet done. With strong and memorable melodies, they invoke feelings of isolation (not a new theme for us) and sadness, but in a way that feels familiar instead of depressing, leaving a sense of hope".

As of May 15th, the 'Low Sunday Ghost Machine - Black EP' is available across digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where the limited edition 7" of 'Static / Besides', can also be ordered. The vinyl edition of the album (limited to 200 copies), released on May 29th, can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp and the Projekt Records website.

NYC's Julia Greenberg shares 'Leaves' single, a masterclass in the art of letting go 'Born Sentimental' EP to be released via Magic Door Record Label

May 11, 2026

NYC-based singer-songwriter Julia Greenberg presents her new single 'Leaves', an uplifting track that feels remarkably hopeful despite being written amidst the quiet wreckage of personal loss. Mastering the art of letting go, she offers a poignant reminder that some seasons simply cannot be held captive. This is a hauntingly graceful prelude to her 'Born Sentimental' EP, slated for June release via New Jersey's Magic Door Record Label.

Directed by Julia Greenberg and edited by Nico Greenberg with Yumiko Takagi as director or photography, the accompanying video captures a small-town schoolhouse that is "frozen in time", this setting serving as a poignant monument to the people and milestones we’ve moved on from. The lens treats these relics as a visual meditation on the bittersweet friction between honoring our most precious, fleeting memories and finding the courage to keep walking toward the hope of an unmapped horizon.

'Leaves' sets the tone for the EP. Written over several years in the aftermath of a personal tragedy, the song is reminder that, try as we might, we can’t hang on to those autumn leaves. Referencing the incomparable and oft interpreted Kurt Weill song, Julia chastises herself: “There’s nothing dumber, than the girl who sings September Song in summer”, as she ruminates over her guitar in the shade while everyone else is at the lake.

Recorded live at Chrometop Studios, this music vibrates with the raw, lived-in chemistry of a quartet that has spent half a decade honing these stories while touring the Northeast, capturing their emotional and creative connections and vulnerabilities. It’s a deeply personal and gorgeous collision of alt-country grit and the sophisticated wit of American Standards, capturing a vulnerability that feels both timeless and bracingly honest. Co-produced by Bob Perry (The Winter Hours) and Julia Greenberg, this EP was engineered by Bob Perry and mastered by Ray Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Elk City, Gramercy Arms, Luna, Crash Harmony) at Magic Door Recording Studio in Montclair, NJ.

"These songs are unapologetically written and sung by a woman who has been around a while and has seen and lost a thing or two—and knows the power of the proximity of funny and mournful. The songs, and the kind of raw way I’m putting them out into the world, is a reaction to all the screens, and filters and bullshit projections of ourselves that rule us," says Julia Greenberg.

A chanteuse, theater composer and filmmaker with roots in the downtown NYC music scene, Julia Greenberg has released two albums of original music - 'Past Your Eyes'and 'Greenland' - both produced by James Mastro (The Bongos, Mott the Hoople, Ian Hunter, Patti Smith, John Cale). Her her music has been featured on 'This American Life' (including the ever-popular Dr. Phil episode, in which Phil Collins evaluates a breakup song she co-wrote), and Ronnie Spector also recorded one of her songs.

Greenberg's award-winning documentary 'Dory Previn: On My Way to Where' can now be watched on PBS, having had its world premiere at the SXSW Film & TV Festival in 2024. Prior to directing the film, Julia became the foremost interpreter of Previn’s music, performing her work around the country at venues such as Joe’s Pub, Mass MoCA, the 92nd Street Y, the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, and on WFMU and WNYC radio. She is also the archivist for Previn's estate.

Apart from co-writing the hit off-Broadway rock opera 'People Are Wrong!' with Robin Goldwasser, she composed the music for the off-Broadway play 'Cavedweller' with "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" composer Stephen Trask. In her spare time, she is a health justice advocate and co-curates the music program at the Rock Valley Schoolhouse in the Catskills.

"After years of interpreting other people’s songs and making a film about my musical idol, Dory Previn, this release feels like some kind of catharsis. It’s just me and my unadorned voice and musical companions of the last decade, doing what we do live, captured so beautifully by engineer and co-producer Bob Perry," says Julia Greenberg.

As of April 21, 'Leaves' is available across digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon and Bandcamp, where it is currently available for download. On June 11, the 'Born Sentimental' EP will be released via Magic Door Record Label.

CREDITS
Music & lyrics for all songs written by Julia Greenberg
Jeremy Chatzky - upright bass
Will Holshouser - accordion
Tricia Scotti - backing vocals
Julia Greenberg - acoustic guitar
Bob Perry - electric guitar
Paul Moschella - drums
Stephanie Seymour - percussion
Recorded at Chrometop Studios
Co-produced by Bob Perry and Julia Greenberg
Engineered by Bob Perry
Mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording
Cover artwork by Jamil Azam
Artist photos by Yumiko Takagi
Released by Magic Door Record Label
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Keep up with Julia Greenberg
Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Amazon | Press contact

Keep up with Magic Door Record Label
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New Jersey's Deardarkhead presents 'Letting Go' feat. Joe McGinty, first taste of 'The Pendulum Swings', first full-length album in 26 years

May 10, 2026

New Jersey alt-rock dreampop outfit Deardarkhead presents their new single 'Letting Go', the first taste of 'The Pendulum Swings', an instrumental anthem built around soaring guitar leads and melodic bass hooks. A piece about growth and change, centered on releasing old patterns and embracing new directions, the track features keyboardist Joe McGinty, known for his work with The Psychedelic Furs, Nada Surf, Ryan Adams and Deborah Harry, adding atmosphere and texture.

Now made up of guitarist Kevin Harrington, drummer Robert Weiss and bassist James Malizia, who, in August 2024, took over from Brandon Howard, who recorded bass on this album. Deardarkhead has built a distinctive identity since the departure of vocalist-bassist Michael Amper in 2009, shifting fully into instrumental composition where melody and texture take the place of vocals.

With many notable milestones over their nearly four decades, including shows with the likes of Supergrass, The Psychedelic Furs, Everclear, Nothing and The Lilys, the new album captures an ever-evolving band, refining their voice through texture, atmosphere, and emotional momentum.

Taking their name from the 1867 Irish poem “Cean Dubh Dilis” by Samuel Ferguson -- a work about a beautiful dark-haired girl -- Deardarkhead was formed in 1988 in the Atlantic City, New Jersey area. Their identity rooted as much in mood as in melody, their music blends atmospheric dreampop, shoegaze shimmer and ethereal rock, unfolding as an original, guitar-driven psychedelic tightrope walk balancing moody textures and shimmering melodies.

“This first single 'Letting Go' is a song about growth. It’s a song about change. Letting go of old ways. It’s about taking a new direction and knowing that it’s going to be right," says Kevin Harrington.

Rob Weiss adds, "This started out as a piano piece by guitarist Kevin Harrington and quickly grew into a full blown anthem with soaring guitar leads and melodic bass hooks. In demand keyboardist Joe McGinty and fellow South New Jerseyan provided backing keyboard tracks for the song."

Deardarkhead's sixth recording and second full-length album, 'The Pendulum Swings' captures a period of renewed experimentation and refinement. Recorded at Miner Street Recordings in Philadelphia, they worked with producers Brian McTear and Amy Morrissey (The War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, Sharon Van Etten) and Grammy-nominated mastering engineer Joe Lambert (Animal Collective, Blonde Redhead, Beach House, M83, Wild Nothing).

This album moves through shifting moods ranging from soaring, psychedelic-tinged guitar anthems to driving post-punk rhythms and more ambient, abstract passages. The result is a dynamic and cohesive work that highlights the band’s signature blend of shimmering guitars, pulsing bass, and powerful percussion. The band pushes the envelope with their instrumental approach, using drum loops, unusual time signatures, ebow, bass VI, and expanded guitar layering.

To date, Deardarkhead has released five recordings on their own Fertile Crescent Records, their music also featured on numerous US and Japanese indie compilations, beginning with 1998 debut album 'Unlock the Valves of Feeling'. In 2011, Captured Tracks released 'Oceanside: 1991-1993', a retrospective of their early material as the second contribution to their Shoegaze Archives series. They then joined iconic label Saint Marie Records in 2015, releasing their critically-acclaimed 'Strange Weather' EPwith them in 2016.

'Letting Go' is out now, available from music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Musicand Bandcamp. Now available for pre-order, 'The Pendulum Swings' album will be released on CD, digitally, and on 180-gram vinyl on July 10.

CREDITS
Kevin Harrington - guitars (all tracks) and bass VI, ebow & bass (track 10)
Robert Weiss - drums & percussion
Brandon Howard - bass (tracks 1-9)
Joe McGinty - keyboards (track 6)
Recorded at Miner Street Recordings, Philadelphia, PA
Produced, engineered & mixed by Brian McTear & Amy Morrissey
Mastered by Joe Lambert
Cover photography & design by Robert Weiss
Video directed and edited by William Murray
Band photos by Mike Maney
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Sneaker Pimps' Ian Pickering unleashes The Noise Who Runs' explosive new album ‘Re: GenX’

May 9, 2026

France-based UK alternative-electronic hybrid artist The Noise Who Runs has released his new album, aptly titled 'Re: GenX' album. Both a reckoning and a reply, this is a response from within a generation that inherited progress, equality, and expanding liberty, but failed to defend them when they came under threat.

The Noise Who Runs is songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ian Pickering of Sneaker Pimps (for whom he co-authored such hits as 'Spin Spin Sugar', '6 Underground' and 'Tesko Suicide') and also known for his work with Front Line Assembly). After relocating from Hartlepool in the north-east of England to Lille, France, 2023 brought his ‘Preteretrospective’ album, followed by 2024's ‘Come and Join the Beautiful Army’ EP, both met with rave reviews and airplay in more than 60 countries.

Mixed and mastered by Colin C at The Cell Studio, 'Re: GenX documents a civilization caught in a downward spiral. Framing systemic greed, perpetual warfare, and the erosion of human dignity as the foundational mechanics of a world engineered for its own ruin, this album assesses society fueled by the interests of the elite, leaving behind a singular, urgent uncertainty.

“This album is a reply to my own generation — what it stood for, what it stayed silent for, and how it enjoyed progress and liberty without doing much to protect any of it when it actually mattered. But it’s beyond generations, it’s humanity, society - it’s a class war, always has been — and the powerful rely on fear and division to stop people recognising that, even when we know all the tricks,” says Ian Pickering.

Across the record, exhaustion, outrage, and repetition form a recurring loop. Political failure, cultural denial, and performative morality are examined not as abstract forces, but as habits — things learned, tolerated, and repeated. Resisting slogans and solutions, Pickering holds up a mirror to complicity, comfort, and collapse. Re: Gen X is a sonic examination, leaving open the question of whether awareness, this time, will finally lead to action.

“Everything after 'Come and Join the Beautiful Army' desperately wanted to be simpler and more direct. All the songs were half-finished demos, and I finally treated myself to a half-decent electric guitar. Just playing along to try it out, the guitar found its way into the songs and gave them a bit of impetus — "I Think I'm a Psychopath and "This Song Sucks" clicked first, then "The Summer Talking" and "Bang Bang" followed naturally. I wanted the whole record to feel more immediate: shorter songs, more traditional shapes, and lyrics that were leaner, more precise, and less overthought," says Ian Pickering.

“It all really took shape lyrically after the summer of 2024 and the riots the summer Starmer came to power, and against the backdrop of a looming Trump 2.0 presidency. I chose to wait and record the vocals back home in Teesside as it felt right to put my voice in the place that made me. I went back to Hartlepool while visiting my mum in January 2025, and that sharpened everything — it felt like watching the consequences arrive years late, but fully formed. You can sense that sharpness in the vocals."

The album's focus track 'Just The English Way' is a sharp, darkly witty slice of alternative electronic commentary on English identity, exposing how politeness and tradition can mask deeper social and political fractures. It turns cultural understatement into critique, capturing a nation caught between quiet pride, denial, and the pressure for change.

Earier single 'Commercial Road' dissects a world where everything is for sale — bodies, truths, and even outrage itself. The song reframes relationships as mere transactions and identity as a casualty of exploitation or numbness - symptoms of a broader cultural sickness. 'The Bodies Are Under The Bus Again' is an anti-war song and the lead track, 'Bang Bang' capturing the psychic exhaustion of life lived inside permanent crisis mode, where outrage replaces thought and reaction supercedes responsibility.

The "Re: GenX" album is out now via TNWR Records, available everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.

The Joy Thieves share 'No Anchor' feat. Chris Connelly, teasing 'Apocalypse Pending' album

May 5, 2026

After Chicago alt-rock outfit The Joy Thieves' boisterous April with the release of ‘The Wrong End of Your Rifle’ and bombastic video from Lumbra Productions, they present the second taste of their full-length album 'Apocalypse Pending', out June 5th via Armalyte Industries. 'No Anchor' doesn’t just make noise, but detonates with intent—leaving scorch marks where complacency used to stand.

‘No Anchor’ examines how increased isolation in our modern world has pushed people towards amorality and an increased sense of hopeless nihilism. Featuring Chris Connelly (Fini Tribe, Revolting Cocks, Ministry, Pigface) on vocals, this song articulates a world slipping free of moral gravity. Longtime mavericks at the edge of collapse, the band captures the zeitgeist with such precision.

While the first track vents our collective fury at a world where corporate giants and billionaires operate with total impunity, this new single shifts the lens toward the resulting decay of the individual, exploring a chilling world where the absence of a moral "anchor" leads to total societal and personal dissolution.

Revolving around musicians-producers Dan Milligan and James Scott (a.k.a. Joy Thieves Productions), The Joy Thieves is a musical supergroup that includes members of Ministry, Stabbing Westward, The Rollins Band, Killing Joke, Pigface, RevCo, PIG, David Bowie, Blue October, Machines of Loving Grace, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, Naked Raygun, Foetus, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Pegboy, Nitzer Ebb, Die Krupps and more.

“These days, it seems like people are capable of being pushed or tempted to exist in a state where they are alone. No moral compass. No ethics. No empathy. No forgiveness. No anchor. In a society where guilt seems to be gone, people can act however they want,” says Chris Connelly.

Dan Milligan adds, “When I was writing the music for ‘No Anchor,’ I purposefully used ever-changing, off-kilter guitar riffs that seem to stray farther and farther from the song’s key as it progresses. Because the music never truly repeats, or settles down, it creates the sickening sense that everything is unresolved, and it’s only going to get worse."

Since signing with London alternative-industrial label Armalyte Industries in 2018, The Joy Thieves have delivered 11 critically-acclaimed releases. 'Apocalypse Pending' is the newest addition -- produced, engineered and mixed by Joy Thieves Productions at Populist Recording + Mastering.

Joy Thieves Productions crafts their surprisingly cohesive signature sound from the contributions of its ever-growing 80+ roster of members, drawn from a diverse range of genres, including industrial, rock, punk, darkwave, hip hop and experimental music, they produce a sound created by “all of us, and yet, none of us”. Creating a sound all their own, their music is aggressive, yet precise; confrontational, but refined; and harsh, yet melodic.

This new song cycle began with producer-drummer Dan Milligan re-recording iconic hip hop breakbeats with modern drum sounds. ‘The Wrong End of Your Rifle’ began exactly that way -- with a modern re-imagining of the one of the most famous breakbeats of all time (‘Ashley’s Roachclip’ by The Soul Searchers). This formed the basis upon which the entire track was built.

For a band with members all over the world, The Joy Thieves' music feels very Chicago. Anchored by their love of industrial rock, their music immediately outgrows the restrictions of the genre by stretching into the new realms, creating a sound that both honors the past while pushing its evolution into the future.

As of May 5th, 'No Anchor' is available from digital music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where ‘The Wrong End of Your Rifle’ can also be found. The 'Apocalypse Pending' album, now available for pre-order, will be released on June 5th

CREDITS
'No Anchor' written by Chris Connelly & Dan Milligan
'The Wrong End of Your Rifle' written by Chris Connelly, Dan Milligan, Derek Christopher, Dee J Nelson
Produced, engineered & mixed by Joy Thieves Productions
at Populist Recording + Mastering, Wheaton, IL
Mastered by James Scott at Populist Recording + Mastering
Add. production by Derek Christopher (Penfield Studios), Mark Pistel (Room 5 Studios), Jeff Harris (JH Studios), Steven Archer (House of Wolves), Dee J Nelson (DJN Music), Jane Jensen (Autozen Music), DJ Darryl Hell (HellLab Studios)
Art direction by Destiny Justic Scott
Original artwork by Charlie Athanas for Burning City

Released via Armalyte Industries

The Noise Who Runs counts down to 'Re: GenX' album, previewing 'Just The English Way' & ‘Commercial Road’

May 4, 2026

In the home-stretch towards releasing the new 'Re: GenX' album, alternative-electronic artist The Noise Who Runs shares 'Just The English Way', a sharp, darkly witty slice of alternative electronic commentary on English identity, exposing how politeness and tradition can mask deeper social and political fractures.
It turns cultural understatement into critique, capturing a nation caught between quiet pride, denial, and the pressure for change.

Mixed and mastered by Colin C at The Cell Studio, 'Re: GenX documents a civilization caught in a downward spiral. Framing systemic greed, perpetual warfare, and the erosion of human dignity as the foundational mechanics of a world engineered for its own ruin, this album assesses society fueled by the interests of the elite, leaving behind a singular, urgent uncertainty.

The Noise Who Runs is songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ian Pickering of Sneaker Pimps - also known for his work with Front Line Assembly. Native to Hartlepool in the north-east of England, Pickering co-authored Sneaker Pimps hits 'Spin Spin Sugar', '6 Underground' and 'Tesko Suicide'. After relocating to Lille, France in 2018, he launched this project, debuting the ‘Preteretrospective’ album in 2023, followed by the ‘Come and Join the Beautiful Army’ EP the next year, both receiving rave reviews and airplay in more than 60 countries.

Across the record, exhaustion, outrage, and repetition form a recurring loop. Political failure, cultural denial, and performative morality are examined not as abstract forces, but as habits — things learned, tolerated, and repeated. The album resists slogans and solutions, instead holding up a mirror to complicity, comfort, and collapse. Re: Gen X doesn’t ask to be forgiven; it asks to be examined — and leaves open the question of whether awareness, this time, will finally lead to action.

“Everything after 'Come and Join the Beautiful Army' desperately wanted to be simpler and more direct. All the songs were half-finished demos, and I finally treated myself to a half-decent electric guitar. Just playing along to try it out, the guitar found its way into the songs and gave them a bit of impetus — "I Think I'm a Psychopath and "This Song Sucks" clicked first, then "The Summer Talking" and "Bang Bang" followed naturally. I wanted the whole record to feel more immediate: shorter songs, more traditional shapes, and lyrics that were leaner, more precise, and less overthought," says Ian Pickering.

“It all really took shape lyrically after the summer of 2024 and the riots the summer Starmer came to power, and against the backdrop of a looming Trump 2.0 presidency. I chose to wait and record the vocals back home in Teesside as it felt right to put my voice in the place that made me. I went back to Hartlepool while visiting my mum in January 2025, and that sharpened everything — it felt like watching the consequences arrive years late, but fully formed. You can sense that sharpness in the vocals."

Portland dreampop outfit Wooden Overcoat shares 'Finally Arrived', previewing debut EP

April 28, 2026

Portland dreampop outfit Wooden Overcoat presents "Finally Arrived", the second taste of the band's debut "Hello Sunbeam" EP, featuring a hypnotic foundation of viscous Gooey guitars and deliberately slow thudding drums, creating a rhythmic trance-like pulse, locking in this dreamy soundscape.

The accompanying video was created by Italian multi-arts visionary Francesca Bonci, well known for her work with The Dandy Warhols, Pete International Airport and Slowdive's Rachel Goswell, LA's Tombstones In Their Eyes, Federale (The Brian Jonestown Massacre's Collin Hegna), post-rock outfit The Quality of Mercury, and iconic British bard Philip Parfitt.

Emerging from a period of digital isolation, 'Finally Arrived' weaves together a tapestry of personal mourning and romantic friction with a critique of the grand fantasies surrounding stardom. At its core, it examines the delicate nature of human connection, lamenting a cultural tendency to view individuals as replaceable assets rather than cherished companions.

Wooden Overcoat is the sonic brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Brant Hajek, having returned to music after a hiatus, recording songs he'd written in his late teens. What started as a practice in self-production transformed into a deep creative obsession with soundscapes and gear. Recording in a rented basement, Hajek built the foundation of the EP through spontaneous experimentation—often veering away from planned sessions to follow sudden bursts of inspiration.

"I wrote "Finally Arrived" when I was thinking a lot about social media, which I was completely off of for many years. Like many songs, it’s actually about multiple things all at once. Some of it reflects my own experience at the time going through grief and relationship issues, and it’s also about the delusions many people have about fame, making it big, becoming larger than life," says Brant Hajek.

"I think the through-line is actually about the fragility of our relationships to others in our lives. I was feeling that many people take others for granted and can sometimes treat people as expendable, which is something I find really sad."

Earlier, Wooden Overcoat shared their shimmering debut "Home", enveloping the senses in a reverb-drenched sanctuary and blending in sun-drenched textures. Between the wash of tape echo and reverb, the track finds a sweet spot where lo-fi garage psych meets 90s shoegaze, all anchored by layered harmonies and an evocatively intimate vocal delivery.

While Wooden Overcoat's lyrics and aesthetics might suggest a certain darkness, they are often rooted in inside jokes and a sense of warmth. You could call it an exercise in productive contradictions. Hajek’s creative process is a deeply personal, layered journey involving mumbled placeholder lyrics and a patient wait for the specific spark that turns an "emotionally restless" melody into a finished piece.

While Hajek performed every instrument on the studio recordings to preserve the project’s intimate DIY spirit, he has since found his tribe, assembling a full live band to translate these compositions to the stage. With Hajek leading on guitar and lead vocals, Wooden Overcoat is rounded out by Dillon Glusker on bass, Mac on guitar, and Brian Levin on drums and backing vocals.

The name Wooden Overcoat—an old Americana euphemism for a coffin—hints at the project’s core philosophy: a playful balance of moody, mystical imagery with light-hearted humor. Hajek’s creative process is personal, the rough versions eventually coalescing into vivid, emotionally resonant themes. In contrast, this music is vibrant, creating a fantastic dreamlike environment for lovers of life.

As of April 28, "Finally Arrived" is available from digital platforms everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The debut "Hello Sunbeam" EP will be released on May 29. Wooden Overcoat performs next on May 16 at Portland's Midnight PDX & The Six Venue benefit show for the Portland Immigration Rights Coalition, along with Kerosel and Gondos. Then, on May 30, they play at Swan Dive with Jewelry Exchange and Only Only.

CREDITS
Written, recorded, mixed and mastered by Brant Hajek
Performed by Brant Hajek
Recorded in a house in Portland, Oregon
Only humans made this art
Cover art + photo by Brant Hajek
Band photos by Brett Chauncey
Video by Francesca Bonci
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Joan As Police Woman ignites 'Eternal Flame' ahead of 'Real Life Evolution' album

April 28, 2026

Iconic NYC artist Joan As Police Woman presents her new rendition of 'Eternal Flame', the latest offering from her new “Real Life Evolution' album. Comprised of new arrangements of the songs from the original 'Real Life' album, this record will be released on CD, Limited Edition exclusive red marble vinyl and digitally on June 12 via UK independent Reveal Records .

Exactly 20 years since releasing her debut album "Real Life", Joan has reimagined and re-recorded the album in full with guests, including Iggy Pop and Krystle Warren. Twenty years in the making, this record was developed through countless nights on stage, these new arrangements brought to life by the musical brilliance of the players who helped define their sound. Contributors include Will Graefe, Jeremy Gustin, Tony Scherr, Parker Kindred, Danny Blume, Oren Bloedow and Thomas Bartlett.

Joan Wasser, known professionally as Joan As Police Woman since 2004, is a critically acclaimed musician and producer, dubbed “the coolest woman in pop” (The Times) and “one of the 21st century’s best musicians” (The Economist). As a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, her music defies easy categorization, crafting her own sound that blends various genres. She has released ten albums of original material, two cover albums, and an anthology.

Several weeks ago, Joan released Real Life Evolution versions of 'Flushed Chest' and 'The Ride', following the video for 'Anyone'. Accompanied by Will Graefe and Jeremy Gustin, she now unveils the fourth video in the 'The Real Life Anniversary Sessions', recorded at The Owl Music Parlor in Brooklyn by Adam Sachs and filmed by Ehud Lazin. The album version was recorded at Hayyam Studios in Istanbul by Ceylan Akcar and Sinan Sakizli.

Joan explains, “This arrangement grew from a beat Parker Kindred developed nearly a decade ago. It found its current form when Will Graefe crafted a beautiful acoustic guitar part, and the three of us — Will, Jeremy Gustin, and I — played it together every night on tour. I originally wrote it as a gospel song about the impossibility of being someone’s “everything.” Over time, it’s taken on a new meaning too: a reminder not to demand that of myself.”

Joan As Police Woman is a sought-after collaborator who has recorded and/ or performed with hundreds of artists, including Afrobeat legend Tony Allen, Lou Reed, Anohni & The Johnsons, Meshell Ndegeocello, Rufus Wainwright, John Cale, David Byrne, Dave Okumu, Chris Dowd, Lau, Scissor Sisters, Sparklehorse, Beck, Laurie Anderson, Lloyd Cole, Afel Bocoum, Dave Gahan, Tanya Donelly, David Sylvian, Steve Jansen and Damon Albarn (who duetted with Joan on her song 'Get My Bearings' and invited her to feature on the Gorillaz album 'Song Machine'). She also a member of Iggy Pop's touring band (on keys and vocals).

As of April 28, 'Eternal Flame' is available digitally everywhere. Now available for pre-order on Bandcamp, the 'Real Life Evolution' album will be released on June 12 -- on vinyl, CD and digitally.

Later this year, Joan embarks on her Real Life 20th Anniversary Tour, performing the 'Real Life' album as a trio, along with key singles from across her catalogue, fan favourites, deep cuts, reworked covers and a few surprises! Joan next performs a handful of shows in New York City at Joe's Pub. Tickets can be ordered at www.joanaspolicewoman.com/tour or https://linktr.ee/japw.

CREDITS
Lyrics & Music written by Joan Wasser
Published by Fists of Fury (BMI / Domino Publishing)
Produced by Joan Wasser
Mixed by Patrick Dillett at Reservoir Studios
Mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound
Joan Wasser - vocals
Will Graefe - guitar & vocals
Jeremy Gustin - drums & vocals
Thomas Bartlett - piano & Rhodes bass
Recorded live at The Owl Music Parlor, Brooklyn, NYC
Adam Sachs - audio recording engineer & mixer
Ehud Lazin - videographer
Recorded by Ceylan Akcar & Sinan Sakizli at Hayyam Studios, Istanbul
Assisted by Ilker Cicek and Tolga Kurt
Album cover photo by Judi Rosen
P & (C) 2026 Sweet Police LLC under exclusive licence to Reveal Records
Joan As Police Woman photos by Judi Rosen
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

NEW YORK LIVE DATES
JUNE 20 New York, NY, USA, 7pm - Joe's Pub (SOLD OUT)
JUNE 20 New York, NY, USA, 9pm - Joe's Pub (SOLD OUT)
JUNE 21 New York, NY, USA, 6pm - Joe's Pub

Modesty Blaise releases "Melancholia - Remaster" 25th Anniversary Edition on April 24th

April 24, 2026

Bristol-based indiepop collective Modesty Blaise presents the remastered 25th Anniversary edition of their seminal album "Melancholia", released via From Lo-Fi to Disco! Breathing new life into this cult-classic, its new polished, high-fidelity presence demands a place in the modern pop canon.

Featuring newly-restored audio, many outtakes from the original sessions and updated artwork in a fantastic new 3 Disc version, this release reflects on the album’s legacy and continued resonance. The 2026 remaster has been completed with a light-touch approach, focused on clarity and depth rather than reinvention. Greater dynamic range and enhanced detail bring new presence to the recording, revealing subtle textures and spatial nuance while preserving the character of the original mix.

Originally on CD and vinyl, "Melancholia" remains a quietly influential work more than two decades after its release — defined by emotional precision, sonic restraint, and a timeless sense of atmosphere.
At that time, the band was made up of Jonny Collins, David W Brown, Gregory Jones, Clem Courtney and Julien Clapperton.

Formed in 1993 by Jonny Collins, Modesty Blaise recorded their debut single 'Christina Terrace' with Edwyn Collins at the helm, leading to immediate success with a live appearance on ITV and inclusion among many end-of-year top music rankings. Other highlights include supporting Robbie Williams at London's O2 Arena, inclusion in a Rough Trade compilation, an ITV company documentary on Jonny Collins, and a BBC Radio session involving seventeen people.

“For quite a while, people have been asking us why our biggest album wasn’t available to stream. We decided that, if we were going to do it, we’d do it properly. The remastering process was really interesting. The point was to reveal extra detail within the songs," says Jonny Collins.

"We already knew it was dense, it’s been a longstanding thing within MB that, not only do we throw the kitchen sink in, we break in next door, rip out their sink and throw that in too. But modern mastering has brought more clarity; we’re really happy with it".

Gregory Jones adds, “The goal wasn’t to change the music - only to let it breathe the way it was always meant to.”

Earlier, the band released the remastered version of "Carol Mountain" and "The Little Things You Do", a lost masterpiece of baroque-pop with lush, orchestral depth, originally intended for its aborted 7-inch release. The respective videos were filmed in New York and Germany during the band's respective Melancholia tours so many years ago.

On April 24th, the "Melancholia - Remaster" album is available across digital platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music.

CREDITS
Written by Jonny Collins
Mixed & produced by Jonny Collins
Remastering at White House Studio by original engineer Martin Nichols
Jonny Collins - vocals & guitar
David W Brown - bass guitar
Gregory Jones - guitar & vocals
Clem Courtney - organ &vocals
Julien Clapperton - drums & cymbals

Video created by Jonny Collins

Germany tour footage filmed by Bernd Kabs

Cover artwork by Gregory Jones
Released via From Lo-Fi to Disco!

Austin dreampop outfit XANIMAL collaborate with Nagavalli on new single “The Awakening”

April 24, 2026

Electronic collective XANIMAL presents 'The Awakening', a high vibration track that reflects our shifting consciousness, weaving dreampop atmospherics and trip-hop rhythms with evocative world music elements across a downtempo landscape. This is a call to awareness, a reminder that we are all part of something greater and that, as the world evolves, so do we. The video was created by Fumihito Sugawara for Fumanstudios, who also designed the cover artwork.

Based in Austin, XANIMAL is made up of Claude McCan (Claude9, 35MM, Supercreeps), Noëlle Hampton (The Belle Sounds) and Ken Christensen (Love Athletics, East Coast Boogiemen). But on this single, East and West co-mingle harmoniously thanks to a collaboration with fellow Austin musician Nagavalli that infuses this track with meditative tranquility. An Indian-American artist, her brand of “Eastern Soul” blends pop, rock and trance with east-Indian overtones and melodies.

'The Awakening' is XANIMAL's second single, here lush atmospheric synths and hypnotic tablas unfold into funky breakbeats, creating a dynamic sonic landscape. Vocalist Noëlle Hampton delivers a haunting narrative of disillusionment and loss, reflecting the uncertainty and shadows of the modern world. In contrast, Nagavalli's ethereal vocalizations elevate the track, infusing it with a sense of hope and transcendence.

"We decided early on that XANIMAL was going to be a collaborative project and we knew we wanted to join forces with our friend Nagavalli at some point. She is truly magical and brings so much emotion and expression with her singing. I asked Claude if he could create something with a trance like world vibe, and he absolutely delivered. With Nagavalli’s vocals, our vision was complete," says Noëlle Hampton.

"We are having a massive awakening right now. Some of us are realizing our complicity through the inaction that led us here. Some are waking up from being in a gigantic cult of misinformation, misogyny, racism and fear. And some remain there, unfortunately. It certainly feels like we are right up against something massive in our consciousness, something that will hopefully lead to a better world. We will need to make our way through a dark time for a while but I believe a better life will prevail."

Not confined to a single genre, sound, or perspective, XANIMAL's music is a journey across sonic worlds -- ever-changing and ever-exploring. For instance, their debut single 'Love Axis', was remarkably different, a dance track that is more rooted in the bright pulse of 80s synth-pop. Hampton shares, "Our first release leaned into the dance track genre, lighter in mood and sexy. The world has changed a lot since then and I thought it would be appropriate to create something that mirrored the emotional turmoil we are all facing right now as our second track."

XANIMAL's creative vision grows from the understanding that their music doesn’t have to live within predictable confines, but instead should push genre boundaries and exist in its own space. Anchored by Hampton’s ethereal yet soulful vocals, they are emerging as a trio open to collaboration with other artists of a similar mind -- at home or around the globe.

"When we began working on new music after our first single, we initially built a groovy disco track and laid down some vocals. But then the presidential election happened, and suddenly that disco energy didn’t feel right. It no longer matched what we needed to express. I’ve always been drawn to darker, trip-hop–influenced grooves, so when Noëlle suggested shifting in that direction, it felt like the perfect move," says Claude McCan.

"When Noëlle delivered the lyrics and vocals, everything clicked—they fit the music so naturally. I knew we had something special. This track pulls together so much of my musical history while reflecting the emotional weight of the world right now. We wanted to reach beyond ourselves and connect with our Austin community. Nagavalli was someone we’d long hoped to collaborate with, and bringing her into the project opened the door to a more global sound. Her Eastern Soul vocals completely blew us away."

Released via New Human Music, 'The Awakening' is available from fine digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.

90s college rockers The Dambuilders return with fantastic video for "Shrine 2026" single

April 22, 2026

US indie radio faves The Dambuilders are back with “Shrine 2026” -- their first release in decades -- with their signature blend of emotional immediacy and sonic invention.. The new video portrays an underground society of alien rockers resurfacing for a mystical ritual after decades in hiding. Parts of the original 1994 video are blended with new footage to highlight the vast passage of time within the story's timeline.

Released via Magic Door Record Label, the B-side companion “I Hope We’re Not Too Late” was recorded and produced by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording in Montclair, NJ and mastered by award-winning engineer Greg Calbi (Lennon, Bowie, Springsteen, Talking Heads, Patti Smith).

2025 saw the band's reformation with reunion shows at Dromfest and NYC Berlin, where they performed their 1989 debut album in its entirety. In late April, they once again perform in New York City and Providence, Rhode Island. Involving a host of special guests, these are the band's first performances in either city in 30 years, offering a rare opportunity to experience the band’s dynamic live presence.

"Bruno Corbo directed this video as an homage to the original video directed by Tryan George. Bruno and I are collaborating on the Dambuilders documentary “I Used to Be Different,” which chronicles the band from our origins in Honolulu to Boston, Berlin, and back. He created an elaborate backstory that connects the video to the original video. In the years following the initial video, where we played a rocking band of aliens who were brutally attacked by a paramilitary force, we have spent decades living underground. We are magically reconnected through the ritual of buying candles to light the shrine of rock and roll," explains Dave Derby.

"The video features performances by current band members (Dave Derby, Kevin March, Claudia Chopek, and Sean Eden) as well as cameos by original violinist Joan Wasser, original drummer Daniel Glass, Colin Burns, who created artwork for the band, and Alex Emanuel, who plays an agent in the original video. The video was a wonderful collaboration between the band, Bruno, cinematographer Sophia Williams, and art director Shelly Chung."

While The Dambuilders are most associated with the 1990s Boston rock scene, the band originated in Honolului, formed by Dave Derby, Tryan George and Eric Masunaga—veterans of Honolulu acts like the Exactones—and joined byelectric violinist Debbie Fox. After relocating to Boston in 1990, the group solidified into its definitive "classic" lineup by 1992, with Derby on vocals and bass, Masunaga on guitar, Kevin March on drums, and Joan Wasser on violin.

Now The Dambuilders re-emerge with a renewed sense of purpose with Dave Derbyand Kevin March joined by guitarist Sean Eden (Luna) and violinist Claudia Chopek (Dexys, Father John Misty, The Little River Band). Their performance of the B-side “I Hope We’re Not Too Late” uphold the bend's core elements and original identity while embracing an evolving sound.

The Dambuilders built a devoted following throughout the 1990s, touring North America, Europe and Australia alongside artists such as Lush, Luna, Jeff Buckley, Weezer and Better Than Ezra. They would release 3 records via the !Cuacha! Label and 3 albums for Elektra Records, along with a song cycle that dedicated a number of tracks to the 50 states (most notably,“Idaho” and “Delaware”).

“Shrine 2026” revisits one of The Dambuilders' most beloved songs, from their 1994 album "Encendedor", which became a cornerstone of their catalog, with “Shrine”ranked at No. 17 in MTV’s 100 Greatest Songs of the ‘90s: Lollapalooza edition. Following their "Against the Stars" album in 1997, the band stepped away from recording and touring, its members pursuing a wide range of acclaimed musical projects in the years that followed.

"Shrine 2006" is available on digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. Tickets for their East coast shows are also available now.

CREDITS
"Shrine 2026” written by Kevin March, Dave Derby, Eric Masunaga & Joan Wasser
"I Hope We’re Not Too Late” written by Dave Derby, Kevin March, Sean Eden & Claudia Chopek
Dave Derby - bass, vocals
Kevin March - drums, vocals
Sean Eden - guitar, vocals
Claudia Chopek - violin, vocals
Doug Gillard - additional guitars on “Shrine 2026”
Renée Lo Bue - backing vocals on “I Hope We’re Not Too Late”
Produced by Ray Ketchem
Recorded at Magic Door Recording, Montclair, NY
Mastered by Greg Calbi
Cover artwork by Colin Burns
Released via Magic Door Recording Label
'Shrine 2006' video directed by Bruno Corbo (2026) & Tryan George (1994)
Cinematography by Sophia Williams
Featuring Kevin March, Dave Derby, Claudia Chopek, Joan Wasser, Sean Eden, Daniel Glass, Alex Emanuel & Colin Burns
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

LIVE DATES
April 24 - NYC, Mercury Lounge (with Sleepyhead)
April 25 - Providence, RI - Myrtle (with Sleepyhead)

Keep up with The Dambuilders
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Joan As Police Woman releases intimate 'Flushed Chest' & 'The Ride', previewing new 'Real Life Evolution' album ft. Iggy Pop & Krystle Warren

April 16, 2026

Renowned NYC artist Joan As Police Woman presents two new singles 'Flushed Chest' and 'The Ride' - both are new versions of classic tracks, previewing her new album “Real Life Evolution”, which will be released on June 12 via UK independent Reveal Records -- on CD, Limited Edition exclusive red marble vinyl and digitally.

Exactly 20 years since releasing her much-loved debut album "Real Life", Joan has re-recorded and imagined the album in full with guests including Iggy Pop and Krystle Warren. Twenty years in the making, this record was developed through countless nights on stage, these new arrangements brought to life by the musical brilliance of the players who helped define their sound. Other contributors include Will Graefe, Jeremy Gustin, Tony Scherr, Parker Kindred, Danny Blume, Oren Bloedow and Thomas Bartlett.

Joan Wasser, known professionally as Joan As Police Woman since 2004, is a critically acclaimed musician and producer, dubbed “the coolest woman in pop” (The Times) and “one of the 21st century’s best musicians” (The Economist). As a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, her music defies easy categorization, crafting her own sound that blends various genres. She has released ten albums of original material, two cover albums, and an anthology.

While 'Flushed Chest (Real Life Evolution version)' was recorded at Hayyam Studios in Istanbul by Ceylan Akcar and Sinan Sakizli, the video was recorded at The Owl Music Parlor in Brooklyn by Adam Sachs and filmed by Ehud Lazin. Accompanied by Will Graefe and Jeremy Gustin, this is the third video in the 'The Real Life Anniversary Sessions', following her powerful, stripped-down performances of 'Anyone' and 'The Ride'.

"I wrote 'Flushed Chest' shortly after I read “Time’s Arrow” by Martin Amis. It’s the story of a life, Jeff’s life, told in backwards chronological order. I wrote this one when I was in a period of intense listening to The Wailers; Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh and Bob Marley, one of the greatest bands of all time. This song works well with the trio so we didn’t stray far from the original recording. Singing the 3-part harmonies with Will and Jeremy is a delight." says Joan Wasser.

"'Real Life Evolution' is ten reimagined versions of every song from the original 'Real Life' album. Some transformations are subtle. Others are seismic. All of them were made with an entirely new cast of collaborators.”

Joan As Police Woman is a sought-after collaborator who has recorded and/ or performed with hundreds of artists, including Afrobeat legend Tony Allen, Lou Reed, Anohni & The Johnsons, Meshell Ndegeocello, Rufus Wainwright, John Cale, David Byrne, Dave Okumu, Chris Dowd, Lau, Scissor Sisters, Sparklehorse, Beck, Laurie Anderson, Lloyd Cole, Afel Bocoum, Dave Gahan, Tanya Donelly, David Sylvian, Steve Jansen and Damon Albarn (who duetted with Joan on her song 'Get My Bearings' and invited her to feature on the Gorillaz album 'Song Machine'). She also a member of Iggy Pop's touring band (on keys and vocals).

“Music has saved my life. I am a devotee. It’s not something I can even choose or not choose, it’s just what it is. The album Real Life holds the key to my whole life. At the time I felt compelled to get it all into one record because I couldn’t imagine a world where I’d make another," says Joan Wasser.

"Now, twenty years later (and twelve albums into my career), the dream continues to unfold. I still live to play music. The shared experience of a concert is a constant reminder of our common humanity. 'Real Life; was the spark that lit my calling as a solo artist and I’m truly excited to revisit all the songs that mean so much to me and lovers of 'Real Life'.”

'Flushed Chest' and 'The Ride' are now available digitally everywhere. The 'Real Life Evolution' album is out on June 12th on vinyl, CD and digitally. It can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp.

With the coming Real Life 20th Anniversary Tour, Joan brings exclusive trio shows, performing the 'Real Life' album in full, along with key singles from across her catalogue, fan favourites, deep cuts, reworked covers and a few surprises! She next performs a small handful of shows in New York City at Joe's Pub. All tickets can be ordered at www.joanaspolicewoman.com/tour or https://linktr.ee/japw.

CREDITS
Lyrics & Music written by Joan Wasser
Published by Fists of Fury (BMI / Domino Publishing)
Produced by Joan Wasser
Mixed by Patrick Dillett at Reservoir Studios
Mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound
Joan Wasser - vocals, piano on 'The Ride' & 'Flushed Chest'
Will Graefe - guitar & vocals on 'The Ride'; guitars & vocals on 'Flushed Chest'
Jeremy Gustin - drums & vocals on 'The Ride'; vocals on 'Flushed Chest'
Parker Kindred - drums & vocals on 'Flushed Chest'
'The Ride' recorded by Adam Sachs live at The Owl Music Parlor, Brooklyn, NYC
Ehud Lazin - videographer for 'The Ride'
'Flushed Chest' recorded by Ceylan Akcar & Sinan Sakizli at Hayyam Studios, Istanbul
Assisted by Ilker Cicek and Tolga Kurt
Album cover photo by Judi Rosen
P & (C) 2026 Sweet Police LLC under exclusive licence to Reveal Records
Joan As Police Woman photos by Judi Rosen
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

NEW YORK LIVE DATES
JUNE 20 New York, NY, USA, 7pm - Joe's Pub (SOLD OUT)
JUNE 20 New York, NY, USA, 9pm - Joe's Pub (SOLD OUT)
JUNE 21 New York, NY, USA, 6pm - Joe's Pub

NYC's ECCE SHNAK announces North American & UK tour dates with Britpop icons EMF

April 15, 2026

Genre-bending New York City outfit Ecce Shnak will join platinum-selling legends EMF for their North American tour, bringing them up and down the East Coast and even further into Canada. The two bands are also teaming up for a series of UK shows in June.

Forged in NYC's experimental scene, Ecce Shnak has a reputation for "high-wire" performances, their music a volatile yet meticulously crafted ecosystem, where technical precision meets a sense of inspired mayhem. Pronounced Eh-kay sh-knock, the band is made up of David Roush (composer, bassist and one of two singers), Bella Komodromos (vocals), Chris Krasnow (guitar), Gannon Ferrell (guitar), and Henry Buchanan-Vaughn (drums).

2025 set the stage for these developments when the bands toured the US West Coast, along with Spacehog. More recently, Ecce Shnak featured on EMF's stellar indie dance track 'LGBTQ+ Lover' with both Davey and Bella contributing vocals. The video footage was filmed during the 2025 tour.

"'LGBTQ+ Lover' is a friqq’n collaboration between EMF and Ecce Shnak! It's a loving homage to the LGBTQ+ community worldwide, and we will be bumping it as hard as possible on all nights," says frontman David Roush.

"We - EMF and Ecce Shnak - are absolutely ecstatic mofos to announce our East Coast US tour this May (with two dates in Canada as well). We’ll be rockin & shnakin’ on 10 stages over 11 days. EMF have also invited us to be the opening act for 6 joyful days in the UK early this June! So trampuce along with us. To quote EMF, “You deserve more than this world could ever give!”"

Ecce Shnak's music can be found on digital music platforms, including Bandcamp, Spotify and Apple Music. Tickets for Ecce Shnak and EMF live dates are now available.

CREDITS
All Ecce Shnak music written by David Roush
Released by Records Man, Records
David Roush - bass & vocals
Bella Komodromos - vocals
Chris Krasnow - guitar
Gannon Ferrell - guitar
Henry Buchanan-Vaughn - drums
Artist photos by Tommy Krause
A&R: Beth Narducci for You + Me Entertainment
Publicity by Shauna McLarnon for Shameless Promotion PR

TOUR DATES
MAY 07 Philadelphia, PA, USA - Nikki Lopez
MAY 08 Buffalo, NY, USA - Town Ballroom
MAY 09 Toronto, ON, Canada - Dance Cave
MAY 10 Montreal, QC, Canada - Bar Le Ritz
MAY 11 Boston, MA, USA - City Winery
MAY 13 New York, NY, USA - Sony Hall
MAY 14 Millersville, PA, USA - Phantom Power
MAY 15 Baltimore, MD, USA - Metro Gallery
MAY 16 Hamden, CT, USA - Space Ballroom
JUN 02 Manchester, UK - Gorilla
JUN 03 Worthing, UK - The Factory Live
JUN 04 Portsmouth, UK - Kola
JUN 05 Southend, UK - Chinnerys
JUN 06 London, UK - The Garage
JUN 07 Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club

Keep up with Ecce Shnak
Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music | Songkick | Booking | Press contact

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