The Fat Angel Sings

Another legend from the past is being celebrated. Singer songwriter band leader Leon Russell  the brilliant songwriter and musician who played, wrote or produced over 400 recordings with artists including Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and Elton John is celebrated on a new album called “A Song For Leon”. Artists covering Leon’s songs on this new record include Bootsy Collins, Pixies, Orville Peck, Nathaniel Rateliff and Margo Price. Here is the latter’s version of Leon Russell’s “Strangers in a Strange Land” along with the original

Among those contributing covers of Leon Russell songs are Margo Price, Pixies, Orville Peck, Hiss Golden Messenger and US Girls . Hear Price’s take on “Stranger In A Strange Land”

“I’ve always loved Leon Russell’s vibe and approach to music and life in general,” says Price. “I had the pleasure of briefly meeting him at a show many years ago in the hallway. I always remember what he said during the live interview that day, which was that ‘It was his job to misinform the press.’ He was an old man at the time, but I’ll never forget how mischievous he seemed.

“After my band and I cut “Stranger In A Strange Land”, we decided to perform it live at many shows. The monologue in the middle is my favourite. It still seems absolutely pertinent, and its subject still matters today. He’s talking about the afterlife and equality and goes off about starting a new race where we all just learn to love each other. We can all learn a thing of two from Leon Russell.”

 Leon Russell tribute album, “A Song For Leon“, will be released by Primary Wave Music on September 8th.

“Reverberations (Travelling In Time)” is the debut Primal Scream album that never was: 16 perfectly formed pop nuggets weighing in at just under 35 minutes. Boasting eleven previously unreleased BBC session recordings plus all five songs from the band’s first two Creation Records singles.

The Primal Scream debut that never got released with bonus never-before heard BBC live sessions. A gem amongst the great treasure chest of indie.

“Reverberations (Travelling In Time) – BBC Sessions & Creation Singles 1985-1986” is being released a week today on Friday 28th July.

The album gathers 11 previously unreleased John Peel and Janice Long session recordings, plus all five tracks from the band’s first two Creation singles – with sleeve notes by Bobby Gillespie, Bob Stanley, and the original guitarist / co-songwriter Jim Beattie.

“This music proves we really had something special going on back then. I’m really proud of this album, I’m glad these sessions are finally being released.” – Bobby Gillespie.

The LP is beautifully packaged in a gatefold sleeve with specially commissioned artwork by by renowned British illustrator and designer Julie Verhoeven. The record also includes a printed inner sleeve plus a large format 8 page booklet with essays by Bob Stanley, Jim Beattie and Bobby Gillespie and 28 period photographs of the band.

Limited clear and black vinyl editions, as well as a CD, are available for pre-order now exclusively from the official Primal Scream store here: primalscream.lnk.to/reverberations

Los Angeles art rock band Mamalarky makes music for sunny summer days spent in swimming holes participating in nature’s aquatic ballet. When the band broke out with their debut EP ‘Fundamental Thrive Hive,’ in 2018, the indie quartet’s dynamic fusion of quirk and melody fit right in alongside peers like Wombo, Floatie, and Cherry Glazerr. With the release of their 2022 album ‘Pocket Fantasy,’ Mamalarky made it clear they’re a band defining its era in real time.

The band’s powerful sound is a diamond-like refraction of dream pop, post-2000s psychedelia, Nintendocore, math rock, jazz fusion, and freak folk. Check out Mamalarky on Audiotree Live! Recorded on March 9th, 2023 in Chicago, IL.

Kristin Hersh’s new album ‘Clear Pond Road’ (out 8th September) is a cinematic road trip; a series of personal vignettes from a fiercely independent auteur, sitting plush with layers of all-consuming strings and mellotron. It’s a watershed moment in a career overflowing with creative firsts and inspirational thinking; an elegant piece of personal reportage, a home movie caught in time.

Previously, the juxtaposition of light and dark has been essential to the drama of Throwing Muses and 50FOOTWAVE, but this solo set is something of a departure; more inward looking, quieter but outspoken, underpinned by background noise for ambience and awkwardness.

“Clear Pond Road” continues the juxtaposition of dark and light –dark sunshine, as Hersh puts it– that characterizes Hersh’s legendary work with Throwing Muses and 50 Foot Wave but goes even further inward as it explores the intimacy and complexity that sits alongside Hersh’s fierce independence. A cinematic road trip; “Clear Pond Road” is a series of personal vignettes from a fiercely independent auteur, plush with layers of atonal, edgy-dreamy strings and mellotron. It’s a watershed moment in a career overflowing with creative firsts and inspirational thinking, an elegant piece of personal reportage: a home movie caught in time.

Kristin Hersh announces new album ‘Clear Pond Road’. Watch the video for ‘Ms Haha’ now

About the song Kristin Hersh says: “Mr Bones is my man and Ms Haha is me, ripped off from a Truman Capote story. So heavy. Love is goofy gravity”. Manipulated and distorted visuals feature throughout the music video directed by Jonny Sanders. It compliments Hersh’s performance of the song that shifts with different and varying elements.

Available on Rough Trade LTD Ed. Transparent Blue Vinyl with Lyric Book,

“A fearless rock innovator” The New York Times

09th Oct: Metronome, Nottingham, UK

Following a series of line-up changes, Vanishing Twin is now the tightly honed collective of singer and multi-instrumentalist Cathy Lucas, drummer Valentina Magaletti (Holy Tongue, Tomaga, Moin) and bassist Susumu Mukai (Zongamin). Harnessing the diverse touchstones of its members; Lucas’ left-field song-craft, Magaletti’s singular approaches to experimental percussion, and Mukai’s long history in the production of electronic music, the band has refined a hypnotic sound at the juncture of minimalism, kosmische, post-punk, and dream-laden, psychedelic pop. Vanishing Twin embark upon a new multifaceted journey that collectively culminates as the bands most forward-thinking and groundbreaking release to date.

Vanishing Twin further their exploration of decidedly experimental territories with new album ‘Afternoon X’ (Out 6th October). Available in Limited Edition White Vinyl + Risograph Print Booklet (Rough Trade Exclusive), Black Vinyl 

“A band that fearlessly floats in the hazy space between the real world &
 an imagined one” Pitchfork

Fleetwood Mac was at the top of its game in August 1977 when the band returned to its adopted home in Southern California to play three shows at The Forum in Los Angeles. 

“Rumours Live” captures the energy and excitement of the band’s opening night at The Forum on August 29th, 1977. The nearly 90-minute performance includes live versions of most of the songs from “Rumours” and “Fleetwood Mac”, the group’s first multi-platinum #1 album, which came out in 1975.

Over the course of four legs between February 24th, 1977 and August 30th, 1978, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood travelled across North America, Europe, Oceania, and Japan touring the album “Rumours”.  Fleetwood Mac released their seminal classic album on February 4th and would perform most of it on the road. Now, a full concert performance recorded on August 29th, 1977 at The “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, California is coming to CD, vinyl and digital platforms.

On September 8th, “Rumours Live” will arrive on two discs from Warner Records and Rhino – in stores justs a couple of months before the recently-announced pair of solo reissues from the late, much-missed Christine McVie. Fans can look forward to spectacular performances of hits like “Landslide,” “Songbird,” “The Chain” and “Rhiannon.”

The Forum concert remained hidden for several decades until 2021 when “Gold Dust Woman,” performed during the show, was included as a bonus track on Rhino’s extended version of Fleetwood Mac’s 1980 concert album, “Live: Deluxe Edition”. The remaining 17 songs on the collection have never been heard before.

Since their formation in 1967, Fleetwood Mac had endured radical personnel changes, a stylistic shift from blues to rock, and even a challenge from a “fake Mac” claiming to be the band in concert. When guitarist-songwriter-vocalist Bob Welch became the latest member to pass through the Fleetwood Mac revolving door, drummer Mick Fleetwood and husband-and-wife duo John McVie (on bass) and Christine McVie (on vocals and keyboards) invited two young Californians to bolster the line-up. Guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and his then-girlfriend Stevie Nicks first appeared on 1975’s self-titled album, which signified a new start for the identity crisis-stricken band. With “Rhiannon,” “Landslide,” “Over My Head,” and “Say You Love Me,” the all-new Fleetwood Mac launched the group into the stratosphere.

Its slow ascent up the charts culminated in a No.1 berth on the Billboard 200 over one year after entering the chart. The stage was set for “Rumours”, which would handily surpass its predecessor’s great success.

The relationship between Buckingham and Nicks was coming apart at the seams, while the threads of Christine and John McVie’s marriage were also fraying. Not long after the album’s release, Nicks found herself in the arms of Fleetwood, his own marriage having recently crumbled. In other words, all five members of the band were involved in break-ups and other torrid affairs of the heart while crafting one of the best-selling albums of all time. They brought all of the attendant emotions into their songwriting and performances on “Rumours”. The seeds for dissension were there, especially once the culture of music biz hedonism took its toll, but so were the seeds of great strength. The two-woman, three-man band boasted three strong songwriters, who also happened to be its three vocalists. Buckingham and Nicks were from California; the other three members were from the United Kingdom. Each member’s sensibilities were singular, but when they marshaled their powers, it was clear that the sum of their parts was greater than any one individual’s. The power of “Rumours” would translate well to the road, in effect transforming Fleetwood Mac into the concert powerhouse it remains today even with further changes to the group’s makeup.

The set, recorded by original album engineer Ken Caillat, is comprised primarily of tracks from the “Fleetwood Mac” and “Rumours” albums (with the addition of Peter Green-era favorite “Oh Well”). Only one of the tracks was released before on the expansion of the group’s “Live” album from 2021. It’ll be available on two CDs and two 180-gram LPs cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering; in America, Walmart will carry a crystal clear vinyl variant as well. Sam Graham has penned liner notes for the package.

Look for “Rumours Live” on September 8th 

The Menzingers have released a new single, “There’s No Place In This World For Me,” and confirmed that it’s from a new album which they say is “coming soon!” They also announced a tour with Microwave, Cloud Nothings, and Rodeo Boys.

Very excited to share our new single, “There’s No Place In This World For Me” from our upcoming album that… well we can’t go into details just yet but trust us, it’s coming soon! This song is an anthem for anyone stuck between where they are and where they want to be. Recorded at Sonic Ranch in April 2023, produced by Brad Cook, mixed by Jon Low, and mastered by Ryan Smith.

Epitaph Records is an artist-first indie label founded in Los Angeles by Bad Religion guitarist, Brett Gurewitz. Early releases from a variety of punk heavyweights helped launch the 90s punk explosion. Along the way, Epitaph has grown and evolved creatively while sticking to its mission of helping real artists make great recordings on their own terms.

A big return and an all-new LP from the iconic shoegazers. Slowdive have shared a second single from their upcoming fifth album, “everything is alive”. Sung primarily by Neil Halstead, the especially dreamy “skin in the game” really comes alive when Rachel Goswell adds backing vocals on the chorus.

“everything is alive”, Slowdive’s 5th record, is exactly what the title suggests: an exploration into the shimmering nature of life and the universal touch points within it.

While there are parts of this record that could sit neatly next to the atmospheric quality of 1995’s “Pygmalion” “everything is alive” also manages to break down the boundaries of what’s come before it. Spanning psychedelic soundscapes, pulsating 80’s electronic elements and John Cale inspired journeys, the album lands immediately as something made for 2023 and beyond.

For a genre that is often thought of as divisive, and often warrants introspection, here Slowdive show their craft as the masters of it by pushing it outwards, beyond the singular; the end result being a record which feels as emotional and cathartic as it is hopeful.

from the forthcoming album ‘everything is alive’, out September 1st on Dead Oceans.

Seattle’s Natalie Lew will release her new EP as “Sea Lemon” on August 25 via Luminelle Recordings. Lead single “Vaporized” is instantly likable jangly dreampop and comes with a very striking video directed by Otium and Lew. ““Vaporized” was the first song I wrote that I knew specifically would be for the new EP,” Lew says. “The song is all about my personal health anxieties and fear of death, which is something I’ve dealt with since I was little. The chorus’ ‘I thought he was buried alive/out of my mind/I thought she was vaporized/out of my mind’ is playing on the most unlikely, almost impossible ways to die because I think making light of my personal anxieties can help me from spiraling. I have insomnia a lot and wake up in the middle of the night, and used to have this tendency to read headlines while I was awake (a terrible idea), wondering if some horrible accident might happen to me too. The song instrumentally gets a little heavier and more intense each chorus, which implies this impending doom feeling that gets worse and worse as I worry.”

All her life, Natalie Lew had been a music fan, but she never envisioned herself gracing the stage as a musician. Growing up in Seattle, Lew was raised on local cultural touchstones like the Capitol Hill Block Party, KEXP, and the Museum of Pop Culture’s annual Sound Off (Battle of the Bands), which led her to believe she’d pursue a career working for a label, maybe as an A&R rep, anything to keep in close proximity with the thing she loved most. Though Lew grew up playing the piano, that was the extent of her musical prowess, at least until she moved to New York and started playing a roommate’s guitars, which led to playing rhythm guitar in a friend’s band. The experience opened up a new future for Lew who returned to the Pacific Northwest in the early days of the pandemic and, in isolation, wrote her very first songs which were released as an EP, “Close Up”, in 2022 under the moniker Sea Lemon in homage to the acid-yellow sea slugs who populate the waters of the Puget Sound. Now signed to Luminelle

Sea Lemon’s new single “Vaporized” is out now off of her upcoming EP “Stop at Nothing”, due out August 25th on Luminelle Recordings.