Davey Woodward & The Winter Orphans make a day of it, Tami Neilson calls back, Balthazar roll with the changes, Art d’Ecco finds god in the television, Seething Akira knock it out of the park — and there are plenty more great tracks to uncover in your Thursday Roundup. Thursday? Already? How did that happen?
ON REPEAT
1 | Davey Woodward & The Winter Orphans | Bad Day
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Bristol indie legends Davey Woodward & The Winter Orphans presents Bad Day — alt-pop music for grownups, loaded with dark mysteries of desire and loathing, delivered via melody and lyrics that stick in your head. Davey Woodward and the Winter Orphans play intimate songs set in Bristol. Sometimes they get into drainpipes and pointy boots ‘New Wave’ mode. Bad Day is one of those moments. “Imagine a time when putting together the best cassette compilation ever (today it’s called a playlist) was the sole purpose of the day. Getting it right would mean the difference between a good day or bad day. It was also the best way to impress girls and show your mates how hip you were. A time when dreaming, looking cool and disregarding the rules was everything. Decades later and life catches up, poverty, broken relationships, broken families. You could make a playlist but who would you send it too?”
2 | Tami Neilson | Call Your Mama
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Auckland-based, Canadian-born musician Tami Neilson launched her new album Chickaboom! in February, 2020. In a matter of weeks, as COVID-19 took over the world and New Zealand and the rest of the world plunged into lockdown, Tami’s world tour was cancelled, and all that hard-earned momentum ground to a halt. Still hoping to make her NZ dates, she entered Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios to promote those shows and perform with her band (whom she hadn’t seen in four months) and the 12-piece Big Boss Orchestra for Radio New Zealand. These one-take, reimagined selections make up five new tunes on Chickaboom! Deluxe, out Feb. 19. Start the party with a new version of Call Your Mama.”
3 | Balthazar | On A Roll
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Belgian art-poppers Balthazar have shared On A Roll ahead of their album Sand, now slated for release on Feb. 26. Lending some context to the song and video, one half of the Balthazar writing and frontman partnership Jinte Deprez explains: “The song and video is about the repetitive lack of control you have on situations, your life, your own ways. Even for a moment when you think you can escape your own loop, you find yourself right back at the start again, finding out the changes didn’t change the outcome, or you.” Inhabiting new ground following extra-curricular outings with their own solo projects, Sand pushes forward more than ever, no more so than with On A Roll, a revitalized band reveling in glitchy overtones and sumptuous vocals that heralds one of the album’s high points.”
4 | Art d’Ecco | TV God
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Your favourite art rocker is back at it! Art d’Ecco’s latest single TV God is out now, with an accompanying music video. d’Ecco has also announced his next album, In Standard Definition, slated for release on April 23. In Standard Definition sees d’Ecco both unpacking and reflecting on celebrity culture and society’s insatiable hunger for entertainment. TV God is an especially pertinent example of this critique. d’Ecco explains, “Every era, and every culture has their very own TV god. They come and go, and leave us reminiscing — longing for that escape to distract us from our daily lives. When the world is crumbling around us we look to entertainers and load up on celebrity super powers to rock our world and give us hope. It’s all very sad, and all too unavoidable in today’s day and age. I’m guilty of it, and so are you.”
ALSO ON THE PLAYLIST
5 | Seething Akira | Knock Off God
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Knock Off God is a twisted aural assault, eveything you’d expect from Seething Akira and more, and sees them kick off their campaign to a new album release later this year in fine style! Innovators and outstanding performers, Seething Akira are an award-winning U.K. band known for infusing rock, electronic dance music and drum and base with shredding metal guitars and commanding vocals.”
6 | Kisos | He Didn’t Want Me
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Kisos has released the visual for his guitar-driven ballad He Didn’t Want Me. It comes from his sophomore EP Sweet Nothings, where each song corresponds to a different stage of grief. For Kisos, the video is as much cinema as it is real life — a rebirth after a difficult few years dealing with heartbreak, self-hatred, and loneliness. To truly come to the acceptance the song is about, Kisos transforms physically and spiritually right before our eyes in an ethereal ritual of communal love. Cinematographer Adam Ouellette and Kisos filmed 100% by candlelight, staying up all night for the sunrise scenes that close the metamorphosis out.”
7 | Cavern | Grey
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Maryland atmospheric post-rock trio Cavern unveil their video for Grey, from the band’s Powdered full-length. Recorded at GodCity Studio in Salem with the legendary Kurt Ballou (Converge) and Zach Weeks, the stunning offering was released independently last summer. Cavern was forged in 2012 by best friends Zach Harkins and Stephen Schrock. Over the span of eight years, they’ve toured North America and recorded four albums. While the band’s first two offerings — their self-titled 2013 debut and 2014 EP Tales Of Ruin — were a fusion of heavy progressive-leaning instrumentals and abrasive post-hardcore vocals often compared to the early work of Mastodon and Baroness, their third record — 2015’s Outsiders — was the band’s first instrumental effort.”
8 | Janet Simpson | Nashville Girls
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “There are few things that are more healing than getting the hell out of town. Maybe it’s a solo trip. Maybe you bring a friend. Definitely a lot of music. Don’t say a thing to anybody. Just get in the car and go. Work it out on the road. Safe Distance, the new album from singer, songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Janet Simpson, isn’t a concept record, but it does take a journey. From Nashville to Reno (well, almost), to running away from demons, retreating from your troubles, hiding in plain sight, and returning liberated — ready to skip away again while your past looks on with a dropped jaw. Nashville Girls, the album’s first single, kicks everything off with plenty of swagger and style — less an indictment of artists but those who are attracted to the noise art makes.”
9 | Mud Factory | You All Will Suffer (ft. Vojislav Višić of Stvor)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Serbian death-metal tanks Mud Factory unleash the lyric video to You All Will Suffer, featuring Vojislav Višić of Stvor! The track is taken from their acclaimed album The Sins of Our Fathers.”
10 | Kollapse | Byrd
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Danish sludgy post-metal trio Kollapse have just revealed a music video for Byrd, a new song off their forthcoming second album Sult, to be released on April 9. The last couple of years have been particularly difficult for the band — after a string of shows in support of their debut album, they ended up losing two of its members in the process. Regrouped as power trio, Kollapse recorded Sult at The Hideout Studio along with Lucas Illanes, who also produced and mixed the album. The followup to 2018’s Angst sees the Danish trio incorporating influences of ’90s noise rock and post-hardcore into their dissonant and sludgy post-metal.”
11 | Raf Rundell | More U Know
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Raf Rundell has shared new track More U Know, taken from his forthcoming second album O.M. Days, due out April 9. Raf says: “Dawson and I put our hands on the ground in Bushwick. NY. It was the beginning of March, 2019. The snow was melting. We were shown kindness by complete strangers. There’s no way of knowing which way this could go … ” Featuring guest appearances from Chas Jankel, Lias Saoudi, Teri Walker, Andy Jenkins and Man & The Echo, the self-produced 10-track album was recorded in his Forest Hill bunker.”
12 | Badlands | Southbound Call
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Swedish producer/composer/sound designer Catharina Jaunviksna (aka Badlands) shares Southbound Call, off her just-announced album Djinn (out March 5). The track is about finding sanctuary in hard times. Taking its name from the Eastern concept of a supernatural spirit, Djinn is not only a record, but a memorial to Catharina’s mother who passed under unclear circumstances — combining themes of love and loss with a palette of electro, post-punk and new wave reminiscent of Boards of Canada to My Bloody Valentine.”
13 | 44phantom | Sound Off
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Emerging alternative artist 44phantom, named an “artist to watch” for 2021, has released his new single Sound Off and announced his new EP Die Sometime, It’s Good For U, will be released Feb. 19. Showcasing the 19-year-old Oklahoma-born and Seattle-based musician’s grunge-pop style, “Sound Off is about consistently making the wrong decision to contact someone you know you shouldn’t because you’re both bad for each other.”
14 | StormSons | The Heaven’s Envy
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Brazilian stoner-metal band StormSons release their video for The Heaven’s Envy. It was produced by vocalist Kadu Pelegrini and is part of a series of videos that the band is producing to promote the work in several countries. The last release Black and Gray had great repercussions in the international media and has been conquering a legion of fans. The band is in the studio preparing their second album, which will be released this year and has special guest appearances.”
15 | New Bleach | Live From Le Massif De Charlevoix
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In anticipation of the release of their debut album this spring, New Bleach unveil a captivating Live Session at the summit of Le Massif de Charlevoix, Quebec. The result is a breathtaking video in which the bewitching music of the duo, formed by Dominic Pelletier and Raphaël Potvin (Caravane), blends with the grandiose beauty of Charlevoix’s landscapes. “We wanted to bring our songs to life in a setting that would do justice to the beauty of the landscapes of our native Quebec. We thank Le Massif de Charlevoix from the bottom of our hearts for allowing us to fulfill our slightly crazy dreams.”
16 | Seas | In The End
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Post-punk five-piece Seas share a single titled In The End. Played, recorded, and mixed by Chris Hughes, the track is accompanied by a visualizer. Featuring three members of Moneen (Chris Hughes, Peter Krpan and Erik Hughes), alongside Michael Bolt and Adrian Mottram, the Toronto outfit have released it as part of a two-track 7″ with a cover of BR/DGES’ Save the Best (Kenny Bridges of Moneen). Chris Hughes began writing In The End from home at the beginning of April, pouring the weird tension into the creative outlet. “Our household was busy trying to figure it all out, alongside attempting to be an elementary teacher. I would eke out time when I could during the day to record louder elements and during the nights while everyone slept I could record the quieter parts. It felt good to escape for a while.”
17 | Low Island | Feel Young Again
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Oxford quartet Low Island have released the single Feel Young Again, and announced their debut album If You Could Have It All Again for April 16. Feel Young Again is a quintessential example of the sophisticated indie-pop with which Low Island have started turning heads across the board, taking cues equally from Radiohead, Glass Animals, Caribou, Talking Heads and TV on the Radio. Carlos Posada elaborates on the specific themes: “Feel Young Again is about a toxic relationship; not with a person, but with a part of yourself that you need to let go of. A part of yourself that is doing you harm but because of familiarity and a fear of change, you can’t give it up. It’s about taking that thing, feeling or frame of mind for one last dance before finally letting it go.”
18 | Evripidis and His Tragedies | Melancholia
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Evripidis and His Tragedies is the alter-ego of Evripidis Sabatis. The Tragedies are the devastating, confessional, self-sarcastic and often darkly humorous pop songs that draw on his classical piano training, queer sensibility and storytelling skills to examine and ultimately own up to the vicissitudes of life. Melancholia was written as a piano piece in 2014, a few weeks after Evripidis suffered a homophobic attack in his hometown Athens. It parallels the story of Lars Von Tiers’ movie Melancholia with the singer’s own personal reality after the incident. It was reworked as a synth anthem, complete with a choir-driven bridge and a final chorus that connects it with Evripidis’ earlier work.”
19 | Anna Larson | American Dream
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Cocoon, the second solo release from rising singer-songwriter Anna Larson, is a visual EP time capsule — a collection of seven original songs with accompanying short film, found sound and archival footage. All music and visuals were created by Larson at home during 2020, with remote collaborations by Ramblecreek Recording’s Britton Beisenherz (mixing, additional production) and drummer Mikey Best. “Writing a new song always feels like making a new best friend. These songs are unlike any friends I’ve ever had- but then, this past year was unlike any year I’ve ever lived.“ Cocoon arrives on Jan. 29. Anna Larson is an emerging Americana artist fusing diverse musical Texas roots with piano-driven originality.”
20 | Curtis Waters | Doodoodoo
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Curtis Waters releases Doodoodoo, offering fans the first taste of new music in 2021. Speaking about the track which he wrote and produced, Curtis humorously quips “Doodoodoo is a song about taking a bath :).” Doodoodoo is the first offering from Curtis following the releases of videos for Better and Shoe Laces, both taken from his genre-defying debut album Pity Party. It further cements the talented 21-year-old as one to watch in 2021.”
21 | Justin Courtney Pierre | Dying To Know
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “After many failed attempts of trying to craft the perfect press release to announce the upcoming EP from Justin Courtney Pierre, there comes a time when one must admit defeat. Instead, I have a memo directly from the desk of Justin Courtney Pierre himself that surpasses any cool or jargony things I could’ve written: My obsession with Debbie Reynolds started at a young age. As I grew up, I watched every movie of hers I could get my hands on. Albert Brooks’ Mother is perhaps my favorite performance of hers because she reminds me so much of the grandmother who was responsible for inadvertently sending me on this lifelong obsession I still don’t fully comprehend. I feel like I somehow used Debbie Reynolds as a substitute for my own mother (her name is Debbie as well) … Or maybe it was Debra Winger.”
22 | Femi Kuti | As We Struggle Everyday
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Femi Kuti has shared a new song and accompanying video from his upcoming album Stop The Hate, out Feb. 5. As We Struggle Everyday speaks truth to power behind an infectious and driving groove. Femi says of the track: “As we struggle everyday is to do with how hard people work everyday to make ends meet and still go to vote corrupt politicians into power who are meant to be in jail.”
23 | Calmos & Berzingue | Piat
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “After being operating for the past few years under the name Alva, the Parisian duo Calmos & Berzingue, composed of Raphaël Bureau-Mirat and Alexandre Guerin, are back with a new EP. Piat, the first taken single available and taken from their first maxi, that takes us to house tones, mixing aerial layers with FM synths and acoustic samples.”
24 | 1782 | Priestess of Death
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Italian occult doom merchants 1782 will release their sophomore full-length From The Graveyard on March 26, but you can hear the creepy first track Priestess of Death now! 1782 about the new song: Accabadora is a figure that existed in Sardinia. She was a woman dressed in black who put an end to people’s suffering. The last testimony of her intervention dates back to 1952. She wandered around the village at night in search of open doors, if she found one it meant that inside that house a life was about to extinguish. She had her wooden hammer and with it, gave a strong blow to the back of the head, putting an end to the person’s suffering. She was also called the Priestess of Death. This song wants to convey the feeling you could have while waiting for this woman — anxiety, torment and perhaps peace.”
25 | NTHNL | Duality
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “NTHNL is the New York project of Jake Rudin. The project’s new album Tranquility Studies (Vol. 1) provides a meditative, hypnotic experience that helps achieve accessing expansive states of mind. Diverse soundscapes range from the lush nature setting of Surface to the brassy energy of Duality.”
26 | Cherry Dragon | Altar
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Rising Nigerian-Irish London singer-songwriter Cherry Dragon has release Altar, an introspective soul-pop offering showcasing her haunting vocal delivery. She says: “Altar is a song about facing oneself. The inner demons we run from. We try to distract ourselves with so much: TV, food, relationships, Instagram, anything but to sit with that unsettled side of ourselves. It’s about that moment when you own all of who you are, who you have been and make a choice: Do I keep carrying this load or do I let go now? Ultimately it’s about finding freedom from the prison we create within. When you know you can’t keep walking the path you’re on, you know it’s time to choose a new one.”
27 | Lew McKenzie | Masterpiece
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Lew McKenzie is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer in New York City. Masterpiece is his new song. In addition to McKenzie’s entrancing vocals throughout, Carmine Mattia contributes a consuming rap section around the mid-point, the heavy bass line and clanging keys providing an ideal backdrop. The synth-laden shimmer around 03:20 also exudes a tender satisfaction, followed by a burst of vibrant energy that recalls classic soul.”
28 | Socioclast | Eden’s Tongue
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “San Jose grindcore trio Socioclast, featuring current and former members of Deadpressure, In Disgust and Mortuous, will unleash their self-titled debut Feb. 19. In advance of the record’s release, the band today unleashes first single Eden’s Tongue, noting of the ravenous hymn, “Eden’s Tongue is about the modern media landscape and the proliferation of the idea that anyone can choose their own set of conforming narratives to essentially create an alternate reality, vilifying and demonizing anyone who opposes it.”
29 | Matthew E. White & Lonnie Holley | This Here Jungle of Moderness / Composition 14
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Matthew E. White & Lonnie Holley’s Broken Mirror: A Selfie Reflection is a timely callout to the power of collaboration, of kindred spirits connecting in crowded rooms. More important, though, is this collision of two profoundly Southern artists, meeting to shed expectations of generation and genre, scene and situation, and exchange truth, wisdom, and energy. The real world is more complicated than a pretty digital picture, bowdlerized of blemishes. As Broken Mirror: A Selfie Reflection reminds us, it can be more revelatory and transformative, too.”
30 | Aryokal | Vexilla
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Aryokal is a Finnish band that create esoteric electronic music. Antti Ruokola is responsible for the band’s compositions and soundscapes while Pekka Loponen handles the vocals. The band’s influences come on a large scale from bands / artists with a darker atmosphere. You can hear influences on the new single Vexilla from artists like Ulver, Nick Cave, etc.”
31 | Dirty Snowman Society | Too Much is Never Enough
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dirty Snowman Society are back at it again in 2021 with their brilliant new single Too Much is Never Enough, which will delight your ears. The quartet, however, further the continuum with modern touches of grunge and alt-rock, and a rural bravado informed by a vigorous high-altitude lifestyle in an environment where it snows 350 inches a year. The song is filled to the brim with catchy hooks, glorious melodies and vocals that will linger in your head for days.”
32 | Chey Rose | Blush
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Guys: I have been absolutely blown away by your support of Blush from my TikTok videos! I wanted to contact u personally to make sure u were among the FIRST to know that Blush is out everywhere now, on all streaming platforms! So excited to finally have this song out & so glad u guys connect with it.”
33 | Ulthima | Tears Of Fire
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In early 2016, Ricardo Escobar (lead guitar) and Antonio Valdés (bass) finally realised their dream of moving to Finland to make metal music. By this point they had been working on the band that would become Ulthima for six years, first in Mexico and then a couple years in France. Last year, Ulthima finally recorded their debut album. Ricardo says: “Tears of Fire marked the beginning of Ulthima as one of the first songs made for the band while we still performed in Mexico. In my mind it’s perhaps the most iconic song of the band, combining epic melodies with some more aggressive riffing.”
