The Delvon Lamarr Organ trio play it cold, Gong Gong Gong keep it all in the family, Sophia Bel is doubly haunted, Las Flores del Changüí watch their words — but you are welcome to speak freely online about the manifold joys of today’s Midweek Roundup. See you tomorrow.
45 | Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio | Cold As Weiss
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The DLO3’s latest single Cold As Weiss is the first studio recording with the group’s new and permanent drummer Dan Weiss. It was recorded at Colemine Records HQ with Leroi Conroy!”
46 | Gong Gong Gong | Moonshadows 月後殘影 (Simon Frank Remix)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Beijing producer (and brother of Gong Gong Gong bassist Josh Frank) Simon Frank shares his take on Moonshadows月後殘影, the second single from Gong Gong Gong’s Phantom Rhythm Remixed. In Franks’ words: “Moonshadows was actually my first remix. I think I have a unique perspective, because I’ve actually played a lot of music together before with Josh and Tom. So I almost tried to treat it like the three of us were playing together, even though we can’t do that altogether in a room right now. I had Tom’s vocals, and I cut up Josh’s bass into loops: these were their contributions to the song, and I tried to imagine what I would add if we were writing together, by programming a beat, adding synth lines, thinking about the rhythmic progression of the song.”
47+48 | Sophia Bel | You’re Not Real You’re Just A Ghost (TDJ + Casey MQ Remixes)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Sophia Bel returns with You’re Not Real You’re Just A Ghost Ethereal Plane Mix, a second EP of remixes. This new release comes as a follow up to last month’s explosive remixes for the track No More and Princess Of the Dead, Vol. II. Unveiled in November 2020, the latter allowed the Montreal singer and producer to assert herself and explore an even wider range of styles and genres through a nostalgic lens. This time around, her catchy ghosting anthem is reinterpreted by Casey MQ and TDJ (aka Ryan Playground) in a soaring way. “In the aftermath of a lost fantasy, disillusionment brings great inspiration,” offers Bel. “Within this process of healing, beautiful and colourful imagery comes into play. Magic can occur from our sufferings when channeled properly.”
49 | Las Flores del Changüí | Cuidao con la Lengua
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The upcoming compilation Changüí: The Sound of Guantánamo originated from the work of music journalist Gianluca Tramontana, who immersed himself in a 150-plus year-old tradition of Changüí while in Cuba between 2017 and 2019. Through his journey he recorded the musicians in their homes, backyards and porches, from the mountainous areas of Yateras, where Changüí is said to have been born, to Guantánamo City, where it drifted in from the mountains in the early 1900s. The 50 track, three-CD box set out July 9 is the first comprehensive collection of Changüí music, the rural, riff-based, mostly improvised music from Cuba’s Guantánamo region. Here’s a sample.”
50 | L.A.Guns | Malaria
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “L.A. Guns, featuring Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns, have announced they will release Cocked & Loaded Live on July 9. As the title implies, the performance celebrates the band’s treasured second album, Cocked & Loaded. In November, L.A. Guns played a special gig in Las Vegas, to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the beloved album. The band performed a one-of-a-kind show which was streamed worldwide to fans in the comfort of their own homes. Fans can get their first taste of the performance with Malaria.”
51 | Peter Wise | Window Dressing
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Peter Wise is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer based out of Brooklyn. His sound marries introspective lyricism with bluesy guitar lines, laid back rhythms, catchy hooks, and soulful vocals. His latest single Window Dressing is about staying true to who you are and not conforming to who others want you to be. Wise shares: “I wrote this song two months ago after getting a stream of feedback and opinions regarding my career and how I should sound in order to be a successful artist. In response to a lot of this feedback, I was motivated to write an anti-pop song: something very long with a lot of chord changes, a low melody and a guitar solo, more or less the antithesis of the modern pop song. Go figure, when I turned the idea in my head into a voice memo, the song sounded pretty anthemic and poppy! I self-produced and mixed Window Dressing as well, so the entire concept came together as a statement of holding onto my identity regardless of the opinions of others.”
52 | Sabriel | Fox In The Henhouse
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Sabriel is a Las Vegas singer, songwriter and producer whose goal is to explore vulnerability through her music. Her seductive neo-soul soaked sounds and unique, whimsical image are like nothing you’ve seen or heard before. Her latest single Fox in the Henhouse narrates the feeling of betrayal caused by a seemingly trustworthy person. Sabriel confides, “I remember what I was feeling in my physical body when I wrote it. I was experiencing the sensation of butterflies in my stomach and it wouldn’t go away. My mind and heart were unaware, but my body was working to protect me from an emotionally harmful situation.”
53 | Blue Fish Diamond | Free
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dublin band Blue Fish Diamond have released their new single Free, an indie-folk song that incorporates blues, folk and rock to create an unremitting rhythmic ode to life pre-COVID and a longing for its return. With influences including Tom Petty, R.E.M. and Neil Young, Blue Fish Diamond bring a new delicately harmonic and refreshing take to a staple genre. Jim Murphy says: “This last year has been a very challenging time for all of us. Thankfully there is hope on the horizon with the roll-out of vaccines, but we are still some months away from enjoying the freedoms of what was once everyday life. Our song Free looks forward to that time, when we can embrace sweet life once again.”
54 | WeirdWolves | Overdrive
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Founded by Raphael Colantonio and Ava Gore, WeirdWolves deliver their most deft song to date Overdrive. The song delves into one of the tragedies of the human condition, mortality. As being that are trapped in our bodies, we do our best in every way we can, we achieve, we run, but no matter what it all ends. Colantonio is a former founder and creative director of a video game company. Ava is an accomplished guitarist and vocalist who has supplied vocals to video game soundtracks. Her family comes from music royalty, as her father is Martin Gore of the legendary Depeche Mode.”
55 | Orphan Donor | My Friend, The Hornet
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Pennsylvania’s Orphan Donor — the project of Secret Cutter drummer Jared Stimpfl — will release their gnarled LP Unraveled in June. Its lead single My Friend, The Hornet has just been issued. Orphan Donor’s sound is influenced by early-2000s screamo and metalcore, mangled with elements of grindcore and math metal, and more. They their scathing Old Patterns album in spring 2020, while Stimpfl was already leaning heavily into the creation of new material which delves even further into the realms of psychosis.”
56 | Honey | Dancing With Death
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “It’s time to introduce Honey to the world. The Philadelphia thrash-metal group fronted by Jay Laughlin play it fast and heavy in the vein of early Sepultura and the beloved Powertrip. Honey will release their new album Forever Fire on May 28. You can stream Dancing With Death now.”
57 | Izzy Day | Silence
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Emerging artist Izzy Day has unveiled her latest dreamy single Silence, a blend of alternative soul and hip-hop. Izzy’s endearing and honest nature echoes throughout, with lyrics that reflect her own journey in the moment it unfolds, transporting listeners into an endless dreamscape. The songstress weaves retrospective stories of life in all of its complexities against a backdrop of ambient alternative soul. Silence relays vulnerable challenging moments along the journey of love. Its melodic vibe carries you through, unmasking a paradox of emotions, between feelings of disconnection and deep longing.”
58 | Roy Montgomery | Pranged
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Pranged, the first listen from Roy Montgomery’s new LP That Best Forgotten Work, is the closest the longtime New Zealand experimentalist comes to pop music. The second installation of his 40th anniversary LP series that will stretch itself over 2021, That Best Forgotten Work distinguishes is driven by Montgomery’s voice and lyrics. It even has covers of The Carpenters’ Superstar and Tim Buckley’s Song To The Siren. Montgomery’s albums are unmistakable from first plunge into his signature swell of guitars, but from there he refuses to be pinned down. Weaving a narrative around witnessing a car crash, Montgomery’s lyrics may be the true center of Pranged: “I’ve had this car for 30 years / and it never let me down / now it’s dead because of me / it’s the only thing I loved / there’s nothing wrong with loneliness / nothing’s written from above.” Imagined differently, it might have been an ’80s hit.”
59 | Hollie Gautiér | Little Men
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Bursting back onto the scene in 2021 with an exquisitely addictive new single that expertly combines her empowered attitude, bold lyricism, and stunning vocals with an immaculately bright, catchy sound, Hollie Gautiér shares her latest female empowerment anthem Little Men. Hollie explains: “I wrote this song in complete frustration straight after getting home from a music industry networking event. I showed an A&R man my songs and he gaslit me into thinking I didn’t know who I am as an artist, or what I wanted to say in my lyrics and that I needed him or “another male mentor” to guide me so I’d have a chance of being successful in this industry. He also didn’t believe me when I told him I waitressed full time to pay for promo, music videos etc myself and said that my parents must have helped me because I wouldn’t have been able to balance everything on my own. Little Men is an alternative pop track that empowers females and exposes this sexist ‘little men’ mentality that is often used to make women feel inadequate in comparison.”
60 | Zach James Douglas | Something / Anything
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Zach James Douglas is an indie/alternative producer and songwriter hailing from the South Dublin suburb of Tallaght, but brought up by a pint of Guinness and a packet of crisps in any number of city centre dive bars. Having previously had the pleasure of playing festivals such as Glastonbury and Electric Picnic with former band Little One, Douglas now steps out alone for the first time, with his debut single Something / Anything. With musical elements reminiscent of Sylvan Esso, Grimes, Maribou State and The Knife, Something / Anything is a blistering track featuring guest vocalist Kintsuku. Douglas says: “Something / Anything deals with the bitterness and the anger that began to engulf mine and my ex’s relationship, as she struggled to come to terms with her own personal demons and issues at home. It documents how my role in her life began to change from one of positivity, comfort and reliability, to the new position of the perpetual scapegoat.”
