The Fat Angel Sings

Milly is a rock band from Los Angeles fronted by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Brendan Dyer. Their sound melds together elements of classic shoegaze, slowcore, and lo-fi indie rock, coalescing into an intense, singular musical impression. Milly began as Dyer’s home recording project in his hometown of Bristol, Connecticut before finally taking its current formation as a live band in Los Angeles.

One year ago today MILLY released their debut album “Eternal Ring”, which Rolling Stone called “a blend of the woozy, guitar-driven vulnerability of Swervedriver and the noise-laden introspection of Nineties post-hardcore trailblazers Hum.” For the album’s one year anniversary, Milly have unveiled six demo versions of songs off “Eternal Ring“

demos recorded in 2019 and 2020

“The debut album from this LA-based duo led by Brendan Dyer is a potent ‘90s-steeped blend of shoegazer psych-rock, emo, slowcore and grunge, combining fuzzy guitars, muscular rhythms and lyrics of anxiety, hope and renewal.”- KEXP “a band that fuses the wall-of-guitar sounds of Hum and Catherine with early emo like Sunny Day Real Estate and minimalist beauty à la Belly, resulting in a warm bath of fuzzed-out indie rock that nonetheless balances the riffing with gentler moments of airy shoegaze”

released September 30th, 2023

The new album from Lauren Denitzio’s ever-evolving project Worriers is the product of much upheaval — from the open-heart surgery they endured at age 25 to a recent move to Los Angeles where they connected up with Atom Willard of Against Me! and Rocket From The Crypt. The music that came out of all of that experience has a defiant edge; deeply emotional in its lyrical explorations of gender identity, unsteady relationships and psychological turmoil, but somehow rousing and flourishing musically. The mood of the album never does seem to drag either Denitizo or their listeners into a mire of bad vibes or morose sounds. With some key assists from Hold Steady keyboardist Franz Nicolay and bassist Allegra Anka, the album pulses with life and the stomp of punk-glam arrangements.

After shifting into singer-songwriter mode earlier this year for their fourth LP “Warm Blanket”, Lauren Denitzio is already back with the follow-up Worriers record “Trust Your Gut”, which announced itself as leaning back into the power-pop territory the project’s come to be known for when the album’s title track was revealed a few months back. Yet the other pre-album singles tell a different story: “Cloudy and 55” is a sparse piano ballad, while “Top 5” is a simmering anthem.

Meanwhile the sound of “Trust Your Gut” remains rooted in the type of rousing pub-rock The Hold Steady have come to define, with that band’s keyboardist Franz Nicolay contributing keys across the record to further differentiate these songs from those penned by previous iterations of the band. It’s no wonder, then, that Denitzio looked to that group for inspiration when crafting this record. 

“Neil Young Archives Vol 1: 1963-1972”, the first in a series of archival box sets encompassing Young’s entire career, originally released in 2009, is being reissued. The collection, out of print for over a decade, will arrive in three formats: a 10-disc deluxe edition in either Blu-ray or DVD and an 8-disc CD box, on November 10th, 2023, via Reprise Records.

The 8-CD box set is being re-issued in its original format – housed in the “Garypak,” a unique package designed by Young’s longtime art director, the late Gary Burden. Each CD has its own custom sleeve.

The start of a musician’s career is not only an intriguing collection of what happened, but maybe even more important is a gaze into what their future might hold. With musical artist “Neil Young, Archives Vol. I: 1963-1972” offers the sounds of his first decade, but just as importantly holds a light on the future of what’s to come. Young’s world of sound and spirit remains a never-ending adventure. It starts here. “Neil Young Archives Vol. I: 1963-1972” is the first in a series of archival box sets encompassing Young’s entire career. Vol. I was originally released on June 2nd, 2009

From the September 29th announcement: The start of a musician’s career is not only an intriguing collection of what happened, but maybe even more important is a gaze into what their future might hold. With musical artist “Neil Young, Archives Vol 1: 1963-1972” offers the sounds of his first decade, but just as importantly holds a light on the future of what’s to come. Young’s world of sound and spirit remains a never-ending adventure. 

At the time of release in 2009, 13 of the songs had never been released before. A further 34 tracks were previously unreleased live or alternate versions. The repertoire covers the first decade of Neil Young’s career, including material from the Squires, Buffalo Springfield, Crazy Horse, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and his early solo albums.

Step into a musical time capsule with the re-issue of ‘Archives Vol 1: 1963-1972’ CD Box Set. originally Released 17th November, this collection encapsulates the pivotal moments of Neil Young’s early career, from his days with the Squires to his collaborations with CSNY. Experience a decade of musical evolution, with 13 songs that had never been released before 2009. The 8 CD Collection is meticulously housed in the iconic “Garypak”, designed by the late Gary Burden. Along with the music, you’ll receive a 24-page booklet and a special Archives poster. Secure your piece of musical history and immerse yourself in the legacy of Neil Young.

The box set comes with a 24-page booklet and a large fold-out Archives poster.

Curve were an English alternative rock and electronic music duo from London, formed in 1990 and split in 2005. The band consisted of Toni Halliday (vocals, occasionally guitar) and Dean Garcia (bass, guitar, drums, programming). Halliday wrote the lyrics of their songs and they both contributed to songwriting. Producer Alan Moulder was a prominent collaborator who helped shape their blend of heavy beats and densely layered guitar tracks set against Halliday’s vocals.

“Doppelgänger” was their debut studio album from 1992 and is a continuation of the musical idiom established by the group on its three earlier EPs. “Doppelgänger” combines elements of dance music and alternative rock with the reverb-laden and distortion-heavy stylings of shoegaze. The album reached No. 11 in the UK Albums Chart and spawned the two singles “Faît Accompli” and “Horror Head”.

One can make the argument that Garbage wouldn’t have existed without Curve’s influence. The British duo merged shoegaze guitars with dance beats and featured the soothing, siren song vocals of Toni Halliday.

While the band debuted to acclaim, internal band pressures caused the group to implode on multiple occasions, effectively short circuiting their career path. But one listen to songs like ‘Faît Accompli’ or ‘Chinese Burn’ shows a band deserving of a better legacy.

The band were an ideal mix of groove and noise, Curve’s sexy, sinister sound still sounds quite contemporary.

SIDE A
1. ALREADY YOURS
2. HORROR HEAD
3. WISH YOU DEAD
4. DOPPELGÄNGER
5. LILLIES DYING
SIDE B
1. ICE THAT MELTS THE TIPS
2. SPLIT INTO FRACTIONS
3. THINK AND ACT
4. FAÎT ACCOMPLI
5. SANDPIT

Essential tracks: ‘Faît Accompli’, ‘Superblaster’, ‘Chinese Burn’, ‘Blindfold’, ‘Horror Head’

Essential albums: ‘Doppelganger’, ‘Cuckoo’, ‘Come Clean’

As of 2015: after a brief reunion in 2004 they look to be defunct permanently. A shame.

Modern Nature band leader Jack Cooper says with the group’s fourth album he “wanted the music to reflect nature: beginnings and endings, arrivals and departures, process and chance. I wanted the music and the words to feel like roots, branches, mycelium, the intricacies of a dawn chorus, neurons firing, the unknown.” I would say that was Modern Nature’s whole ethos right from the start, with a gentle sound that feels born of improvisation — they are a jazz group as much as anything — but is also clearly studied and considered, a musical representation of nature in the wild with no humans in sight.

Songs sound like vegetation pushing up through the soil to catch the light as the dew clings to the forest floor. Like on 2021’s Island of Noise, “No Fixed Point in Space” manages to capture the beauty, wonder and mystery of the natural world, observing and refracting it all through equally beautiful sounds.

released September 29th, 2023

Seablite is a four-piece pop band from San Francisco inspired by 80s/90s indie and shoegaze. 

Wish Lush were still together? San Francisco’s Seablite are carrying that shimmering, ethereal torch, mixing shoegaze with jangly C-86-style indie. It’s an appealing combination that isn’t exactly new, but this band — which includes Chime School’s Andy Pastalaniec
and former Wax Idols member Jen Mundy — do it very well. “Lemon Lights” is Seablite’s second album and it’s one jangly, hazy pop gem after another. Singer-guitarist Lauren Matsui and singer-bassist Galine Tumasyan nail the gossamer harmony style that really makes songs like “Melancholy Molly” and “Hit the Wall” soar, while the whole band take turns caressing and pummeling their instruments.

One may hear Manchester undertones on “Hit the Wall” and “Melancholy Molly”, or the feminine noise-pop of Lush on “Pot of Boiling Water” but Seablite are not to be mistaken for anglophile copycats. Seablite incorporates the jangle of their San Francisco “Fog Pop” contemporaries on tracks like “Hold My Kite” and a relentless and driving guitar on “Blink Each Day”, while the wonderfully dark elements on “Monochrome Rainbow” and the wistful closer, “Orbiting My Sleep” give them a wide range of sounds and vibes.

The band is among San Francisco’s current indie pop renaissance and have opened for the likes of Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Charlatans and Ladytron upon their recent Bay Area visits.

The noisy songs are appropriately swirling in feedback, while the janglier numbers have real snap. Adding to the bona-fides: Ride’s Mark Gardner mastered this terrific record.

released September 29, 2023

Featuring vocalist Roger Chapman, guitarist John ‘Charlie’ Whitney, drummer Rob Townsend, bassist and vocalist John Wetton and multi-instrumentalist John ‘Poli’ Palmer on vibes, keyboards and flute, “Fearless” was released in October 1971 and was the first album to feature their new then member John Wetton following the departure of John Weider following the band’s second US tour in 1971 and the UK Top Ten hit single ‘In My Own Time’.

The album was one of Family’s finest and reached the UK Top 20 upon its release; featuring such strong material as ‘Spanish Tide’, Burning Bridges’ and ‘Between Blue And Me’.

The Leicester band Family arrived in the late ’60s, and didn’t stay around much after the delivery of six albums, most with Reprise Records. But they left a mark on the fans that resonate to this day. For three years, they released a furious slate of music, one being their 1971 classic – “Fearless“. 

“Fearless” featured the arrival of bass player vocalist John Wetton, who would go on to enjoy extraordinary success as bassist and lyricist with many bands including Wishbone Ash, UK, King Crimson, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, and Asia. 

“Fearless” will celebrate its 50th Anniversary with the release of a 3CD Box that will provide access to the newly remastered original album, two bonus tracks, and a collection of live tracks across two more CDs.

This new three-disc edition of this classic album has been newly remastered from the master tapes and also includes 24 bonus tracks drawn from the ‘In My Own Time’ single, BBC Radio sessions and a fine performance for BBC Radio One In Concert in December 1971. This new expanded remastered release also features an illustrated booklet with a new essay.

Including BBC Bob Harris Session – January 3rd,1971, BBC Top Gear Session – July 2nd, 1971, BBC Bob Harris Session November 8th, 1971 and BBC Radio One In Concert – December 28th, 1971 The boxed set will add in a booklet, and a repro poster for the celebration of the 1971 album. The 3CD Box will be reissued via Esoteric Recordings and Cherry Red UK.

The “Fearless” Extended package is brilliant! Esoteric Recordings and Cherry Red Records have done another excellent job to keep the Family flame burning. “Fearless” is still my favourite album of all time so this is a must-have addition to my music collection, it really is an album that every fan of exceptional unique music at it’s best 

Family dissolved in 1973.

Yesterday afternoon, Bruce Springsteen shared, to social media, a 29-second preview of “Addicted to Romance,” a new song he has written for the movie “She Came to Me.” And at midnight, the entire song was posted to YouTube.

It’s a world-weary, bar-set love song, featuring Patti Scialfa on backing vocals, and is somewhat reminiscent of “Tougher Than the Rest,” with lines such as “if this isn’t love, my dear, it’s more than what we planned.”

The song’s credits, in addition to Springsteen and Scialfa, include Ron Aniello on keyboards and production, Benjamin Lanz on trombone, Kyle Resnick on trumpet, with Bryce Dessner producing the orchestra, and André De Ridder conducting the orchestra.

“She Came to Me” is a romantic comedy co-starring Peter Dinklage, Marisa Tomei and Anne Hathaway. According to publicity material, it “tells the story of composer Steven Lauddem (Peter Dinklage), who is creatively blocked and unable to finish the score for his highly anticipated comeback opera. At the behest of his wife Patricia (Anne Hathaway), formerly his therapist, he sets out in search of inspiration. What he discovers is much more than he bargained for or ever imagined.”

The movie will be released on October 6th

Originally released through BMG Records on 26th January 2015. After the release of the band’s 11th studio album “Who We Touch” (2010), The bands drummer Jon Brookes was diagnosed with brain cancer, and subsequently died in mid-2013. In early 2014, the band met up at their studio Big Mushroom with Jim Spencer, and began working on a new album in the words of Tim Burgess, “songs that made us happy”. Replacing Brookes on percussion were Pete Salisbury of the Verve, plus New Order’s Stephen Morris and Gabriel Gurnsey of Factory Floor, a duo known more for metronomic precision that smile-inducing numbers. . The sessions lasted seven months, and featured recordings from the drummers of the Verve, New Order, and Factory Floor. Described as a pop album, “Modern Nature” featured contributions from the High Llamas frontman Sean O’Hagan, as well as gospel vocals from Melanie Marshall and Sandra Marvin.

Preceded by the release of the singles “Talking in Tones” and “So Oh” in September and December 2014, respectively, “Modern Nature” was released with varying bonus tracks. The band promoted it with radio appearances, and in-store performances. To coincide with the release of the single “Come Home Baby” in February 2015, the band embarked on a UK headlining tour, their first since 2010.

Opener “Talking in Tones” has a Higher Than the Sun comedown vibe that feels more about the price paid for happiness than hedonism itself, but by the second track, So Oh, they start to come good on their upbeat promise. Backed by a bouncing bassline and Hammond organ, The warmth continues throughout. Rhodes piano tones and more organs accompany “Come Home Baby”, which is followed by “Keep Enough“, a glorious lament for an absent friend. “Let the Good Times Be Never Ending“, perhaps the strongest track, mixes slow-building Doorsian exposition with 5th Dimension-style wig outs and backing vocals. From the saddest of starting points, the Charlatans have made a joyful eulogy – and possibly the best album of their career.

Produced by the Charlatans and Jim Spencer, and mixed by Craig Silvey (Arcade Fire, Portishead), ‘Modern Nature’ is the band’s 12th studio album.

“Modern Nature” received generally positive reviews from music critics, some of whom commented on the album’s throwback sound. 

“The Jam Eater Blues” plus two 7″ consists of a song from one of the YoYo 12″ sessions in Olympia — probably Devil in the Shortwave though I’m not sure — and two from the cassettes I was always still working on at the time. “Store” and “Straight Six” were EQ’d and transferred to reels at the original Tiny Telephone during the same assembly session that finalized “All Hail West Texas.” This single, therefore, represented the last time the Panasonic would make its sympathetic drone heard before a long but not terminal silence. All hail the moment before the big change!.

“Life is too short to refrain from eating jam out of the jar” goes the opening refrain of this Sub Pop Singles Club entry — courtesy of eternally beloved songwriter John Darnielle — a relatively quiet (at least by Mountain Goats standards in this period), somewhat lovelorn ballad about the life not lived when you’re wasting time spreading toast, living in Tampa, and waiting for an old lover to come back home. On the flipside is “Straight Six,” which references the same Jenny character from the immortal “All Hail West Texas”, preceeded the classic “Store,” a song about a vision of seeing a departed friend while being concussed or dead (depending on who you ask) in the middle of a grocery, fingertips wet with blood from touching their head wound.

“Jam Eater Blues” + “Store” + “Straight Six” are now available on all digital stream providers,