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Introducing… Hiva Oa
Scottish based three-piece Hiva Oa released their debut album this year - The Awkward Hello, Handshake, Kiss. Before the band prepare to unleash new material next year, they’re bookending 2012 with the double a-side single release Badger / Urban, taken from the aforementioned debut.
“Badger” has a heart wrenchingly eerie sound that creeps inside your bones. Stephen Houlihan’s ghostly vocals echo and intertwine around beautiful strings whilst percussion slowly builds. Although the band site Tom Waits and Mount Eerie amongst their musical influences, there’s a similarity to experimental hip-hop outfit UNKLE’s “Rabbit In Your Headlights” here, with Hiva Oa’s combination of disjointed beats and haunting vocals. The video for the track matches the song’s mysterious, dream like intricacy.
After “Badger”, “Urban” is a pleasant u-turn, more reflective of the band’s influences. Armed only with a simple acoustic guitar, the song channels an Iron & Wine vibe. The track also features on their album, making this double a-side treat an insight into Hiva Oa’s diverse writing style.
Although the band hail from Edinburgh, each member - Stephen Houlihan, Christian Smallwood and Marco Calderone - came together from Ireland, Belgium and Italy respectively. They’ve have had a busy year with the release of their debut album and their EP Future Nostalgia For Sale. As well as a successful album launch, they have supported a number of their peers on the scene including the acclaimed Adam Stafford, Admiral Fallow and Conquering Animal Sound.
Following the release of “Badger”, Hiva Oa are planning another single late January 2013 an EP in April and finally their second album nearing the end of 2013. This is just the beginning for the band who promise to be one of the most exciting prospects of 2013.
Hiva Oa release double a-side single Badger / Urban via mini50records on 10th December 2012.
Humphrey Milles releases video for ‘Not Enough’
After recently releasing free MP3 "Breathe", Humphrey Milles (pronounced "Mills") presents the brand new video for his forthcoming single release Not Enough, out December 3rd 2012.
"Not Enough" is up now on Humphrey's YouTube channel.
The single is also available as a stream on Humphrey's Soundcloud page.
Humphrey is also currently on tour with The Magic Numbers' Michele Stodart, dates are below, you can also grab tickets from Ents24.
- Friday 23rd November - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
- Saturday 24th November - Monto Water Rats, London
- Wednesday 28th November - The Hope (formerly Polar Bar Central),Brighton
- Thursday 29th November - The Jericho Tavern, Oxford
- Friday 30th November - The Bodega Social Club, Nottingham
The aforementioned free track,"Breathe" was also accompanied by a gorgeous acoustic version on video. You can watch it now on Humphrey's YouTube channel.
"Breathe" is available as a free download on Humphrey's Soundcloud page.
Humphrey has jostled for his place in the UK music scene now for a few years - having previously shared the stage with the late Amy Winehouse, KT Tunstall, The Magic Numbers, Snow Patrol and the talented, Mercury nominated Ed Harcourt - then followed a dark and turbulent period, with a soured record deal and an important relationship break-up, which slowed this climb. But Humphrey is now back, and back with a vengeance. "Breathe" was just a taster of what's to come with the single "Not Enough" showcasing his talent for writing for writing huge, heartfelt songs.
These tough few years, combined with a surfing and writing sabbatical in Costa Rica, have resulted in the birth of an Ed Harcourt produced album of sheer beauty, raw pain and elegance, with poignant, heartfelt and thought provoking lyrics.
Having contributed some characteristically strong and subtle guitar work, Harcourt said "I was really flattered when he asked me to work with him, and I am really happy to see that this album is finished and ready for your ears. Humphrey writes songs that are crammed full of the catchiest melodies, the most infectious hooks and lyrical twists and deserves to be No 1 across the globe, if there is any justice."
Humphrey's album, Tall Stories, will be out early next year. "Breathe" doesn't feature on the album but is available as a free download. The track is akin to English folk duo Turin Brakes or Athlete but combines this with a more introspective vibe that wouldn't be out of place on a Lonely Dear record.
If you would like more information about Humphrey Milles or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com
Me And My Drummer: ‘Don’t Be So Hot’ (Tale Of Us & The/Das remix)
"...an immaculate construction that feels altogether heartfelt..."
- The Line of Best Fit
- The Line of Best Fit
Leftfield alt pop duo Me And My Drummer released their debut album The Hawk, The Beak, The Prey last month via Sinnbus.
The band have been making waves throughout muso circles this year with the build-up to the album having already released three singles - You're A Runner, Heavy Weight and Don't Be So Hot - all of which have received support from XFM's John Kennedy and Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC 6Music's Tom Ravenscroft and Chris Hawkins and BBC Radio 1's Huw Stephens. The videos for the single have received support from Artrocker, NME, Spinner, The 405 and various music websites and blogs online.
Hot on the heels of the release of then single 'Don't Be So Hot', their label present a brilliant new remix of the track by Tale Of Us & The/Das.
If you can't view our Me And My Drummer video playlist below, you can watch My And My Drummer's videos on the Sinnbus Records YouTube channel.
Two remixes of the album track "Phobia" - the bretonLABS remix and La Boum Fatale Euphobia remix - are also available to download via the Sinnbus Records Soundcloud page.
On the album The Hawk, The Beak, The Prey, there's a real feeling that you're taking an intimate journey with the band from start to finish. Starting introspectively with "Phobia" the track builds and crescendos into a gloriously epic finish. Single "You're A Runner" follows suit starting quietly, climbing to a glorious cacophonous end and before you know it, it's over - a beautiful little slice of intelligent pop. With "The Wings" however, there's a change of pace. There's something slightly triphop about the simple, off-kilter beats and Charlotte's delicate, harrowing vocals sliding seductively over the music, akin to bands like Portishead and Lamb. It's after this track that the album starts to change direction with "Down My Couch" and "Heavy Weight". The latter's summery dance pop beats and interesting breakdowns could easily contend with the best of what the alternative side of the pop has to offer - imagine if Florence Welch fronted Friendly Fires. Me And My Drummer' journey reaches its completion on a quiet note - "Runner (Reprise)". But as the last track comes to a close, you'll find yourself hitting the play button all over again as each track reveals something new upon each listen.
With brilliant press already received in their native Germany from Rolling Stone, MTV, Musikexpress and Radio 1, Me And My Drummer prove they are one of the most exciting bands to emerge from Germany in a long while as they blend their collective influences to create music that is beguiling and sublime.
If you'd like to speak to the band, would like a copy of the album for review or if you'd like any more information about Me And My Drummer or our PR services please contact info@abadgeoffriendship.com.
Daniel Inouwa: Firelight EP out now!
Daniel Inouwa's debut EP Firelight is out now!
The EP is based around the concept of a relationship being torn apart by secrets. Each song delicately tracks this intimate journey of secrets ("Locked Down In You"), distance ("The Fall"), time ("Lay Now"), a tragic event which Daniel doesn't discuss ("Firelight") and the couples attempt to hold it together. Daniel eloquently channels delicate songwriting skills akin to Damien Rice and Ryan Adams but injects them with beautiful, raw emotion not dissimilar to Bon Iver (especially felt on "Lay Now").
The free download track "Lay Now" from Inouwa's Firelight EP is available to download via the A Badge of Friendship Soundcloud page. You can also download the full EP for free from Daniel's Bandcamp.
The son of an Indonesian princess and a working class northerner, Daniel grew up between Jakarta and London but now resides in the latter. He was inspired to make music after a chance session with Newton Faulkner and Sea Sick Steve. He listened to them trade stories about where they've come from as artists and how they've developed since releasing albums and touring. However, the most inspiring moment was finding himself sitting in front of the legendary pair as they began to jam. That's when the inspiration became a reality. "This is the dream, making great music", Daniel remembers. And he's not looked back since.
It's hard to tell that Daniel only started playing guitar in 2008 - he's already carved a sound for himself that’s honest and pure. Despite his acoustic driven sound, he's a big fan of the electro indie scene that's popular at the moment but with his own music he likes to focus on vocal harmonies and simple melodies. Daniel notes that "a simple guitar and vocal can elicit the biggest emotions." Very true and evident from the musical greats that inspired him, like Elliott Smith.
After building a very respectable fan base online, his fans are excited to hear what he has to offer and Daniel is finally ready to present his music to the scene. Shortly after Firelight, his second EP - A Little Piece of Home - will be released, also on RABB with more singles and an album to follow in 2013. For Daniel Inouwa, this promises to be the beginning of a wonderful musical journey.
Out Today: The Murder Barn’s ‘Gotta Good Man’ EP
The Murder Barn release their debut EP, Gotta Good Man, today.
The video for the EP track 'Gotta Good Man' has already been feature on NME, Contactmusic.com, Artrocker and The Quietus. The Murder Barn's Matt also recently chatted to Q Magazine about his experiences playing at the Olympics closing ceremony with Beady Eye plus the band have also been praised by Classic Rock, Emerald Street, Shout4Music and Gold Flake Paint.
The video for 'Gotta Good Man' is available to watch via The Murder Barn's YouTube channel now..
They also recently released the free MP3 "In Every Sea We Drown". The track does not feature on the forthcoming EP but you can download it from The Murder Barn's Bandcamp page. You can also stream it via the A Badge of Friendship Soundcloud page.
The video for the track is also available to watch via The Murder Barn's YouTube channel.
Gotta Good Man EP is a cinematic trawl through dusty tracks, scorched corn fields and into dark taverns - taking musical lineage from The Band, Scott Walker, Ennio Morricone, Elton John, Wilco, 16 Horsepower, Black Mountain and The Bad Seeds. The Murder Barn weave mesmerising and bombastic creations, each song telling tall tales. Singer Chesca Dolecka's songs bare boned, are laconic, romantic, funny, and horrifying, but are fleshed out into full landscapes by the band. Their epic, filmic arrangements feature laviscious string and horn sections, Ronson-esque guitars and melotrons.
Anglo Polish / Lebanese Sisters Chesca Dolecka and Becca Grover Jones have been making music together since they were children, drawing on a rich family heritage of classical violinists, big band trumpeters, drummers and storytellers. In 2011 they were joined by Matt Jones (Minuteman, Ultrasound, Jamie T and Beady Eye), producer Kevin Feazey (The Fierce and the Dead, The Kills, Lydia Lunch, The Duke Spirit), childhood friend Ryan Wilson and Serbian drummer Velibor Krstic to begin work on The Murder Barn. The band have a fierce work ethic and desire to create their own world, a whirlwind of creativity and excitement, a self contained art house of ideas.
The six members of The Murder Barn have spent a year locked in their studio - a homegrown, home-built, Warhol-esque (also called 'The Murder Barn'), secretly amassing an arsenal of material, recording an album, singles, artwork and films. All films are created in house by Becca Grover Jones, record sleeves by Chesca Dolecka and additional artwork by members of the band.
If you would like more information about The Murder Barn or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com