in 2015 Nadine Khouri played at a festival local to me called The End. I wrote: “Khouri’s compositions are beautifully crafted, sophisticated and precise, overlaid with her soft, smokey vocals.” Those vocals and her ability to create haunting compositions can be heard on new single “Song of A Caged Bird”, out now. Nadine’s steady and…
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Pale Blue Eyes are about to launch their second album, release date is set for 1st September. Called ‘This House”, on Full Time Hobby, it alludes to the one you’ll spot on the album’s front cover, the childhood home of the trio’s vocalist and guitarist, Matt Board. Defined by closure and moving on, This House…
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London based band Firestations have just released their latest single called ‘Undercover’. It is released on Lost Map Records on 25th April. It’s the first single taken from their forthcoming album ‘Thick Terrain’, out 14th July, and is, the band say, “an effervescent pop song about depression and self-discovery”. The band consists of Michael Cranny, Laura Copsey, Martin Thompson,…
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Dark Tropics (Rio McGuinness and Gerard Sands) have just released a sultry single called I Bet You Can, release date 28th April. There’s a lot going on for the duo right now too, there’s just been a Belfast headline show plus they’re supporting Belle & Sebastian later in the year on their Irish tour. I Bet…
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Singer and actress Anna Demetriou launches her debut album More To This on 12th May. A handful of singles are out already, highlighting the distinctive and expressive voice behind the compositions. Anna unveiled I Can’t Wait in 2021 followed by Twice The Breath, with accompanying video. She followed with the album’s title track More To…
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Northumberland singer-songwriter The Early Purple (Matt Saxon) has just released new single Summer Hide, taken from his debut EP out 12 May. To celebrate there’s a hometown show in Newcastle in May and hopefully more to follow around the country. The song opens beautifully: shimmering, plucked guitar strings leading into Matt’s wistful vocals. It’s reminiscent…
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Who better to highlight the mess humankind are making of our earthly home than those interplanetary ravers known as HENGE. The multi-genre band (let’s call it a mix of psychedelic-prog-rock-electronica) has a new single out called Get A Wriggle On, and it’s an absolute joy. It comes with a strong eco message, beautifully portrayed in…
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This is an enigmatic work from the Cornish synth master, from HOLD. STAR. RETURN, his up and coming album. White Tea from a Vending Machine is the second single; it opens with a woozy gentleness that envelops you and sinks you into a comforting space with its simple retro-synth sound and layered soft vocals. White…
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The Calder Valley has built up an extraordinary reputation of being a cradle of musical talent with The Orielles, Working Men’s Club, The Lounge Society and many more emerging from its atmospheric, intense and brooding landscape. And recently the unique folk music of Trevor Beale was discovered, testament to local creative talent harking back to…
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“You Shine On” is the dreamily anthemic new single from London outfit Magnetic Skies, release date 17th February, with accompanying video. The popping synth opening notes immediately transport you back to the 80s, evoking shades of Depeche Mode. The vocals are ethereal and shimmering, opening into a rapturous chorus. There’s a overriding sense of drama…
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