Latest News
Rainbrother’s debut single ‘Break Out’ out now!
“...endearing, touching and memorable...”
- Drowned in Sound
Danish five-piece Rainbrother's vibrant single Break Out is out now via General Bird and is available on iTunes and Spotify. It is the first single to be taken from their upcoming album Tales From The Drought, which you can now pre-order on Bandcamp.
The video for the single premiered on Folk Radio and is also available to watch on their YouTube channel now.
Alternatively, you can stream the audio to the single via the Rainbrother Soundcloud page.
After the success of psychedelic folk outfit The Migrant, frontman Bjarke Bendtsen is ready to transcend furthermore into electronic folk-rock territory with the release of his latest project Rainbrother’s debut album.
Tales From The Drought is all about making your way whilst on the road, dwelling on memories both beautiful and troublesome and coming to terms with the decisions that have been made. Album opener ‘Riverside’ is a stunning piece of songwriting that carries you away into the abyss and as the album continues, so do your thoughts. Each one a little more comforting than the next. Tales From The Drought invites the listener into a speckled dream, filled with steady beats, wistful Pink Floyd inspired guitar slides and a storytelling charm akin to the likes of Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver.
Rainbrother was formed after Bjarke eventually found his way back to Copenhagen. While touring with The Migrant in Europe, he performed with a group of fellow Danish musicians and after moving back to his home turf, Rainbrother was born. The album was produced by Noah Georgeson (The Strokes, Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart) whose flickering elements have been spun into the group’s tight rock sound making Tales From The Drought both an earthy and elevating affair.
Bjarke has already received praise from numerous well-regarded publications including Rolling Stone, Americana UK, Drowned In Sound and Pop Matters to name but a few. He has also been praised by the likes of BBC 6music’s Lauren Laverne and has supported acts such as Kurt Vile, Villagers and Sharon Van Etton. Rainbrother will also be performing at the upcoming SXSW festival in 2017 along with the following live dates:
22nd February 2017 - Paper Dress Vintage - London
23rd February 2017 - Castle Hotel - Manchester
24th February 2017 - The Glad Cafe - Glasgow
Break Out is out now and available on iTunes and Spotify. Tales From The Drought is out on 3rd February 2017 and is available to pre-order on Bandcamp.
Architects Of Grace EP ‘Outsiders’ is out now!
Architects Of Grace return with EP Outsiders, out now via Out Of Nowhere and available on iTunes and Spotify. Headed by Duncan Robert, Architects Of Grace’s return is an invigorated call to arms after the 2011 release of debut album Moments In Time.
The video for the title-track Outsiders premiered on Northern Transmissions and is now available to stream via the Architects Of Grace YouTube channel.
Although Robert prefers listeners to garner meaning from the songs themselves, the basis of Architects Of Grace’s music lies in the minutiae of human emotion - feelings of being an outsider, going against the tide, what it means to trust and spend time with someone you love.
The video for track 'Stay To Say' is also available to stream via the Architects Of Grace YouTube channel.
Taking time out has evolved Robert as a songwriter and each track has more depth, but the layers of Architects Of Grace’s signature dark gothgaze sound remain, which especially felt on track ‘Stay To Stay’. There’s also a filmic quality to the EP and an underlying melancholy that is a step beyond where Duncan left us in 2011. “I was planning a record straight after the first album, but apart from a couple of good songs the material wasn't all there,” explains Robert. “I'm the writer so I had to let it arrive over time. I feel I'm a better songwriter now.”
Previous Architects Of Grace supporters include Classic Rock Magazine, Artrocker, DIY and Rock Sound all noting Duncan’s love for atmospheric, cinematic layered tones while also capturing a memorable energetic chorus. The new EP feels like a new lease of life for Architects of Grace as Duncan Robert treads new ground with his own brand of modern gothgaze, preparing to unleash more music in 2017.
Outsiders is out now via Out Of Nowhere and available on iTunes and Spotify.
Mickey 9s single ‘Superman’ is out now!
“...Mickey 9s know how to make you move."
- Gigslutz
Glaswegian four-piece Mickey 9’s are delighted to bring their eccentric sound and visual style to a UK wide audience with the release of their latest single Superman, out now via Good Guy Records and available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
Taking in elements of 90’s era acid house, german techno, funk, pop, new-wave and indie-pop, the band playfully experiment with both performance and sonic elements of the creative process, producing music that is as much Primal Scream as it is The Rapture. The video for Superman premiered on Gigslutz and is now avaiable to watch via the band's YouTube channel.
The audio premiered on Fame Magazine and can now be streamed on the Mickey 9s Soundcloud page.
It’s abundantly clear on Superman, as well as past releases Ammunition and Psycho Control, that Mickey 9’s are gleefully stretching the limit of what a modern pop band is expected to be. The opening notes to Superman are akin to Daft Punk channeling the 80’s funk-rock stylings of INXS’s Suicidal Blonde; St. Cool’s (vocals) incisive vocals cut through the funkadelic style guitar pieces, snapping synth-like drum beats and grooving bass lines. A refreshing take on modern dance music, Mickey 9’s have concocted a contemporary dance-funk sound in the realms of Chromeo and Dam-Funk, combined seamlessly with grittier electro-rock segments associated with acts such as Two Door Cinema Club.
Comprised of St. Cool, Ants (guitar), Dave ‘One Man Rave’ (bass) and Ross Ross Ross (drums), Mickey 9’s formed in 2007 and have gone onto be a leading member of the Scottish festival circuit making appearances at The Barrowlands as well as supporting prominent bands such as Sugarhill Gang. The release of Superman will be the first track taken from the bands album Galactic Radio which they aim to release in 2017.
Superman by Mickey 9’s is out now via Good Guy Records available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
Chris James releases ‘Space In The Clouds’ EP!
"...a beautifully compelling journey..."
- Gold Flake Paint
"...a bewitching, cinematic offering, that fuses folk tapestries with electronics." - Clash
Singer-songwriter Chris James' debut EP Space In The Clouds is out now via AWAL. It is available to buy on iTunes, Amazon and stream on Spotify.
The EP premiered on Gigslutz where you can listen to it exclusively in its entirety.
Chris shared the title track from his EP Space In The Clouds along with the video, which premiered on Gold Flake Paint, and is available to watch via Chris James' YouTube channel.
Debut single Stairs Up To The Sun premiered on Clash and you can watch the video via his YouTube channel.
The EP is a unique blend of stunning cinematic-folk about overcoming a difficult, dark period in Chris' life. Musically, James combines influences from his days as lead singer songwriter of electro-rock pioneers Stateless with folk and modern electronica.
Space In The Clouds begins with Chris talking to his younger self through a time lapse with DM Stith (Sufjan Stevens) playing the counter voice. Throughout the EP, his compelling vocals take centre stage, complimented by the combination of intricate folk and synth sounds akin to the likes of Björk, with epic atmospheres reminiscent of Sigur Rós.
After living in east London for the past eight years, Chris met Lorna Rose (vocals) and pianist Nick Ramm (Cinematic Orchestra) on the London circuit. Through Lorna, Chris was introduced to the east London folk scene where he met bassist Arista Hawkes (Guillemots), Ben Trigg (cello) and Gillian Wood (cello). While touring with DJ Shadow, Chris met up with producer Suneil Pusari (Michael Kiwanuka), and he was introduced to Barny Barnicott (Arctic Monkeys) through long-time collaborator Jim Abbiss (Adele), and the Space In The Clouds line-up was complete.
As part of Stateless, Chris has received praise from the likes of Uncut, MOJO, Clash and Q Magazine amongst others and their music has also been featured on an array of film and TV shows including Film 4, CSI, The Vampire Dairies and Suits. Chris has performed at various festivals including Secret Garden Party as well as performing on DJ Shadow's world tour. Now emerging as a solo artist, Chris is ready to introduce the world to his subtle electronic soundscapes that will take you, as the EP aptly puts it, to a space in the clouds.
Space In The Clouds is out now via AWAL and available to buy on iTunes,
Amazon and stream on Spotify.
Vigo Thieves share free download track ‘Razorblade’!
"...feel-good pop rock beats..."
- Impose
"...anthemic stadium-sized rock..." - The 405
Having recently released their debut album, Scottish five-piece Vigo Thieves have now shared a free download of their anthemic track, Razorblade.
Razorblade premiered on Impose Magazine and you can also download it for free from the band's Soundcloud page now.
Heartbeats, the debut album from Vigo Thieves, delivers an explosion of sound from the offset. Filled with thumping piano chords, soaring synths and lead singer Stevie Juke’s high flying vocals, this is an album that is unashamedly huge and ready to rock. Vigo Thieves have managed to create a stadium sound that fans of pop rock outfits such as The Killers will feel at home with. Each track is undeniably catchy and will have you singing along to its lighthearted pop beats and infectious melodies.
Having formed in Wishaw in 2008, Vigo Thieves are no strangers to the live circuit. They have played T in the Park multiple times as well as supporting the likes of The Courteeners and The Fratellis amongst others. Vigo Thieves have also received praise from various well-regarded publications including The 405, The Skinny, The Scotsman, NME and Drowned in Sound to name but a few.
Their highly anticipated debut album couldn’t come soon enough, having already received critical acclaim for previous EPs Heart & Soul Pt I and Heart & Soul Pt II in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Fast forward a few years and Vigo Thieves are ready to re-introduce the UK and beyond to their anthemic sound with their debut album Heartbeats.
Heartbeats by Vigo Thieves is out now via Hijacked Recordings. It is available to buy on iTunes or you can purchase a physical copy via Big Cartel.