Video: Marika Hackman - 'Cinnamon' (acoustic).

 

In the lead up to her new EP 'Sugar Blind', Marika Hackman has revealed an intimate performance video of the EP's lead track, 'Cinnamon'. Performed under a bridge next to a canal, Marika's vocals are intoxicatingly exposed, only supported by dark and grungy acoustic guitar notes that Nirvana would be proud of.

Ethereal and alluring, we're not quite sure if Marika is aware of the pull of her music, but either way, we are loving what she is doing, how she's doing it and hope you are too.




Live dates

December
Tuesday 10th – The Hope, Brighton
Wednesday 11th – Lexington, London
Thursday 12th – Portland Arms, Cambridge
Friday 13th – Gullivers, Manchester
Saturday 14th – The Birdcage, Bristol


Pre-order 'Sugar Blind' iTunes
Marika Hackman || Website || Facebook || Twitter      

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Video: Smallpools perform 'Dreaming' on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Recently signed to RCA Records (also home to the likes of, Kings Of Leon, Everything Everything, Cage The Elephant, Kodaline and Imogen Heap to name but a few) Smallpools are an Indie Rock four-piece, based in LA whose dynamite debut single 'Dreaming' exploded its way to the top of the Hype Machine chart within a matter of hours. A track which may be familiar to you having featured on the FIFA 2014 soundtrack.



Check out the vid below that captures Smallpools making their TV debut performing 'Dreaming' on the Sony Indoor Stage on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'.

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Smallpools || Website || Facebook || Twitter || Soundcloud

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Video: Falling Off Maps - 'The Redeemer'

 'The Redeemer' is the second single to be taken from Falling Off Maps' forthcoming debut album 'A Seaside Town In Winter' due for release in January 2014. With a single release date of  November 4th, the guys have unveiled an official video to support 'The Redeemer' which makes up the second part of the storyline in Falling Off Maps' reverse chronology video trilogy. 

Picking up before the events of 'Honest', the intriguing video for 'The Redeemer' again tells its story backwards, asserting questions and culminating interest as the narrative begins to unfold yet leaving you anticipating the next instalment of the story. The video is at once as raw, fragile and as desolate as Dave Wright's vocal performance but in this vulnerability is a real strength.

Falling Off Maps have a coarse, organic, likeable sound whose frailty doesn't mean they will be easily quashed amongst other artists; instead it serves as a sharpness that should cut them a nice clean path through to an ever strengthening fan base. 

Falling Off Maps || Website || Facebook || Twitter

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Video: Beautiful Boy 'Begging The Moon' (The Clockwork Owl Sessions)

We decided we liked what Beautiful Boy were all about the second we heard their debut single 'Home' back in August. Our respect for these guys has sky rocketed towards a borderline obsession since we were given a gentle, but more than welcome nudge in the direction of the live recording of their single 'Begging The Moon' filmed for The Clockwork Owl Sessions that you can catch below.

With melt-worthy harmonies, powerfully emotive lyricism, spell binding strings, unobtrusive drum dusting and a strong piano melody, this is the perfect autumn track you should listen to curled up in a blanket, in front of a roaring fire, pondering the strange ways of the human heart. Although there's a lot out there at the moment that is similar in sound; Beautiful Boy are so much more than a bog standard, replica folk/acoustic five piece and if this live session isn't evidence enough in itself; what more could you people possibly want?!

           

Beautiful Boy || Website || Facebook || Twitter

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Single Review: The Intermission Project - 'Come Away With Me'

The Intermission Project are one of those immediate bands you can't help but have a soft spot for. Not only because they are a hugely talented, young, fresh trio; but because of the initial way we were introduced to them. There is nothing big, brash or boisterous about these guys, whose DIY aproach saw them reaching our radar just before they were due to join forces with The Youth Hostels Association to perform, free, live sessions in youth hostels around England and Wales

Just last month they released their 3-track, debut EP 'Sorry' after having shared two of the three songs ('I've Been Waiting' and 'Sorry') via their Soundcloud page. 11 days ago, The Intermission Project revealed the EPs remaining single, 'Come Away With Me' which might just be a fine example of having saved the best track for last.

Off the back of the EP release I've seen reviewers comparing their sound with that of the likes of Mumford and Sons - some comparisons meant as praise of the standard of their music, whilst others have been describing it as a drawback to the bands individuality. Whilst I'm sure it's very flattering for the band to hear; there's no need for it. The Intermission Project are their own breed of folk pop with a soulful edge and  'Come Away With Me' only serves to highight this.

The Intermission Project || Website || Facebook || Soundcloud

Buy  ||'Sorry' EP

 

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Funeral For A Friend announce re-mastered, remixed & expanded edition of first EP 'Between Order and Motel'

Welsh Post Hardcore five-piece Funeral For A Friend released their debut EP 'Between Order and Model' in 2002 through Mighty Atom Records, probably very unaware of the international mark their music would go on to leave on their fans, and how their music would take on a huge amount of responsibility in reuniting hardcore kids, punks and metalheads ( a scene I personally spent many happy teenage years flittering around).

11 years on, they band have gone full circle and have announced the reissue of the aforementioned debut EP, through End Hits Records / Mighty Atom on 18th November, 2013. The re-release will feature enhanced versions all four original songs, with three rare/unreleased tracks from the same recording session and live versions recorded by the current line-up. It also comes with s 12 page booklet featuring never before seen pictures from the band's archives and liner notes from singer Matt Davies, Josh Latshaw (Boysetsfire) and Oli Sykes (Bring Me The Horizon).

‘Between Order And Model’ will be available as Digi-Pack CD and for the first time ever on vinyl (limited to 1000 coloured copies) and if you pre-order a copy of the EP through THIS link you'll immediately receive an acoustic version of 'Red Is The New Black' in MP3 download format.

Check out the tracklisting, stream rarity ‘Grand Central Station’ and catch the October UK tour dates below.

Tracklisting

1. 10:45 Amsterdam Conversations

2. Juno

3. The Art Of American Football

4. Red Is The New Black

5. Storytelling Pt 2

6. Grand Central Station

7. The Getaway Plan

8. 10:45 Amsterdam Conversations (Live)

9. Juneau/Juno (Live)

10. The Art Of American Football (Live)

11. Red Is The New Black (Live)

Funeral For A Friend || Website

End Hit Records || Website

UK Headline Tour

www.gigsandtours.com | www.seetickets.com

2nd Oct Cardiff University, The Great Hall 2

3rd Oct London Electric Ballroom

4th Oct Glasgow Garage

5th Oct Manchester Academy 2

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Video: LVLS - 'Photographs'

Meet Manchester based guitar-pop quintet LVLS (pronounced 'Loveless') consisting of Jay Gibb (vocals/guitar), Paul James (guitar), Emily Jane Conlon (guitar/vocals), Charlotte Hughes (bass/vocals) and Gaylord Knott (drums).

With a sound strongly influenced by 80's melancholic electro - pop their track 'Photographs' is very Depeche Mode, with a pinch of The Smiths, and a little bit of The Cure thrown into the mix. They've got the image, the breathy, moody lead vocals, angelic female harmonies, classic hooky 80's guitar riffs, and the catchy easy listening lyricism down to a tee on this track. We're digging LVLS a whole lot, how about you?

LVLS || Facebook || Twitter || Soundcloud

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Jagga reveals Oxossi remix and Jagga Bad Brains remix of 'Out Of Control'

Good old Jagga seems to be sonically dominating cybersphere as of late and if one version of his babe of a single 'Out Of Control' wasn't enough, the track has now been played around with a fair bit to give us two strong and engaging remixes, one by Oxossi and the other, Jagga himself.

Each remix is completely contradictory to the original and holds stark contrast to one another. Listen to Oxossi's version when you want to re-enact a search for the holy grain in an Indiana Jones setting and then go a bit mental with the joy of successfully obtaining said grail, or Jagga's remix, away from your Mum (as mine just eloquently said, "I don't like that noise it's noisy") and perhaps listen during a spot of lazer quazer. Enjoy!

Oxossi || Facebook || Twitter || Soundcloud

Jagga || Facebook || Twitter || Soundcloud

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Video: Dog In The Snow - 'Fire In The Sky'

Brighton experimental, art pop act Dog In The Snow is the startling project of Helen Ganya Brown with support from Marie-Eve de Gaultie. New single 'Fire In The Sky' is an immediate, illusory track that gently tingles its way up your spine and shivers you into existence. The track pulsates, dominates and could quite possibly awaken supernatural life forms.

'Fire In The Snow' is accompanied by a penetratingly memorable, ghostly, video directed and shot by Helen and close friend Esther Springett; the visuals of which add a slightly unnerving element to a captivating, unique song. We're very excited to see what the future will bring for Dog In The Snow and hope you are too.

Dog In The Snow || Facebook || Twitter |||Soundcloud

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