Philly duo Writhing Squares (Kevin Nickles [sax, flute, synth] & Daniel Provenzano [bass, vocals]) release new double album Chart for the Solution on March 26th via Trouble in Mind. Opening cut “Rogue Moon” gives you a good idea of what they’re about — an 11-minute jam that incorporates psych, jazz, krautrock, punk, prog and more across one-chord jam. If you’re a fan of Suicide and Hawkwind you’ll dig this. The cover art is pretty sweet too. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the album.
Over the course of “Chart For The Solution”s four sides, Nickles & Provenzano utilize the extended format to stretch out & settle into a groove all their own. From the relentless synth pulse of opener “Rogue Moon”, thru the aggro-throb of “Geisterwaltz” & four-on-the-floor scree of “Ganymede”, The Squares have no mercy for your weary ears. After a brief, (slightly) mellow respite thru three tunes (“The Abyss Is Never Brighter”/”A Chorus of Electrons”/”The Library”), the band ratchets up the intensity with the cacophonous clatter of “NFU” (featuring Philly legend “Harmonica” Dan Balcer Ripping thru runs on his harp) leading right into the album’s centerpiece; all of Side Three’s “The Pillars”, a near-nineteen minute epic suite that launches the listener straight into the maw of a black hole & thru the other side.
Side Four closes out “Chart For The Solution” starting with the slinky stomp of “North Side of The Sky” into “Resurrect Dead On Planet Whatever”s unsettling, cosmic-funeral dirge.
Fittingly, “Epilogue” closes out the album, with Nickles’ sax dive bombing around Provenzano’s bass throb like an alien interpretation of “Funhouse” howling anarchy, augmented by live drums by John Schoemaker & organ by Alex Ward. “Chart For The Solution” really is a Zone, & the perfect auditory cleanser to scrub away the stain of the previous year.
The Writhing Squares are Kevin Nickles and Daniel Provenzano. Two piece psych explorations constructed out of bass, sax, drum machine and a few more things. : Kevin Nickles: Sax, Flute, Clarinet, Synth, Vocals Daniel Provenzano: Bass, Synth, Percussion, Vocals
“Harmonica” Dan Balcer: Harmonica on “NFU” John Schoemaker: Drums on “Epilogue” Alex Ward: Organ on “Epilogue”
releases March 26th, 2021
All songs written by Writhing Squares except for “NFU”
The OSEES – “Levitation Sessions” live album is being pressed on vinyl . We’re donating all proceeds to independent music venues with the band. Back in September, OSEES performed a blistering set out in the desert at Pappy & Harriet’s, which aired on the LEVITATION Sessions streaming series. OSEES and the label are donating 100% of proceeds to independent music venues. Music venues have been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many in danger of closing their doors permanently. Unfortunately some have already.
“During this particularly hard year, it was a pleasure to work with our good friends over at Levitation and Pappy and Harriet’s to reach out to some of our fans, if only for a fleeting hour. This is the proper plastic that came from that evening. We are trying to keep some of our favourite haunts, dives, glorious old venues and bars open through this trial, as it’s obvious the lizards that make up the current administration have no real interest in extending any realistic help to struggling businesses.
Venues have been hit particularly hard by this and without them, there is no us….so this is a small token of appreciation and a grassroots effort to lend a helping hand in their time of need. Take care, be well and keep your eyes on the horizon.” – John Dwyer
The live album is now being pressed on vinyl via The Reverberation Appreciation Society record label. Each edition is limited to 1000 and includes a 7” with the final track from the show, “Block Of Ice” pressed on Desert Sand colored vinyl. These limited vinyl editions will be released March 5th, 2021 and will be available for pre-order on the LEVITATION website at 11am PT, on Friday, Dec 11, 2020:
The NIVA Edition proceeds will be donated to the National Independent Venue Association’s Emergency Relief Fund. The fund has been launched to raise money for the most vulnerable venues, and keep them afloat during these unprecedented times for live music. the second volume from garage-rock heavyweights OSEES and Alex Maas of the Black Angels, performing off the back of his beautiful new solo album,
Special editions for two independent clubs have also been created:
Zebulon Edition – benefitting Zebulon in Los Angeles, California Hotel Vegas Edition – benefitting Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas
The OSEES – “Levitation Sessions” live album is being pressed on vinyl . We’re donating all proceeds to independent music venues with the band. Back in September, OSEES performed a blistering set out in the desert at Pappy & Harriet’s, which aired on the LEVITATION Sessions streaming series. OSEES and the label are donating 100% of proceeds to independent music venues. Music venues have been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many in danger of closing their doors permanently. Unfortunately some have already.
“During this particularly hard year, it was a pleasure to work with our good friends over at Levitation and Pappy and Harriet’s to reach out to some of our fans, if only for a fleeting hour. This is the proper plastic that came from that evening. We are trying to keep some of our favourite haunts, dives, glorious old venues and bars open through this trial, as it’s obvious the lizards that make up the current administration have no real interest in extending any realistic help to struggling businesses.
Venues have been hit particularly hard by this and without them, there is no us….so this is a small token of appreciation and a grassroots effort to lend a helping hand in their time of need. Take care, be well and keep your eyes on the horizon.” – John Dwyer
The live album is now being pressed on vinyl via The Reverberation Appreciation Society record label. Each edition is limited to 1000 and includes a 7” with the final track from the show, “Block Of Ice” pressed on Desert Sand colored vinyl. These limited vinyl editions will be released March 5th, 2021 and will be available for pre-order on the LEVITATION website at 11am PT, on Friday, Dec 11, 2020:
The NIVA Edition proceeds will be donated to the National Independent Venue Association’s Emergency Relief Fund. The fund has been launched to raise money for the most vulnerable venues, and keep them afloat during these unprecedented times for live music. the second volume from garage-rock heavyweights OSEES and Alex Maas of the Black Angels, performing off the back of his beautiful new solo album,
Special editions for two independent clubs have also been created:
Zebulon Edition – benefitting Zebulon in Los Angeles, California Hotel Vegas Edition – benefitting Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas
The OSEES – “Levitation Sessions” live album is being pressed on vinyl . We’re donating all proceeds to independent music venues with the band. Back in September, OSEES performed a blistering set out in the desert at Pappy & Harriet’s, which aired on the LEVITATION Sessions streaming series. OSEES and the label are donating 100% of proceeds to independent music venues. Music venues have been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many in danger of closing their doors permanently. Unfortunately some have already.
“During this particularly hard year, it was a pleasure to work with our good friends over at Levitation and Pappy and Harriet’s to reach out to some of our fans, if only for a fleeting hour. This is the proper plastic that came from that evening. We are trying to keep some of our favourite haunts, dives, glorious old venues and bars open through this trial, as it’s obvious the lizards that make up the current administration have no real interest in extending any realistic help to struggling businesses.
Venues have been hit particularly hard by this and without them, there is no us….so this is a small token of appreciation and a grassroots effort to lend a helping hand in their time of need. Take care, be well and keep your eyes on the horizon.” – John Dwyer
The live album is now being pressed on vinyl via The Reverberation Appreciation Society record label. Each edition is limited to 1000 and includes a 7” with the final track from the show, “Block Of Ice” pressed on Desert Sand colored vinyl. These limited vinyl editions will be released March 5th, 2021 and will be available for pre-order on the LEVITATION website at 11am PT, on Friday, Dec 11, 2020:
The NIVA Edition proceeds will be donated to the National Independent Venue Association’s Emergency Relief Fund. The fund has been launched to raise money for the most vulnerable venues, and keep them afloat during these unprecedented times for live music. the second volume from garage-rock heavyweights OSEES and Alex Maas of the Black Angels, performing off the back of his beautiful new solo album,
Special editions for two independent clubs have also been created:
Zebulon Edition – benefitting Zebulon in Los Angeles, California Hotel Vegas Edition – benefitting Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas
Zebulon Edition – benefitting Zebulon in Los Angeles, California Hotel Vegas Edition – benefitting Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas
The OSEES – “Levitation Sessions” live album is being pressed on vinyl . We’re donating all proceeds to independent music venues with the band. Back in September, OSEES performed a blistering set out in the desert at Pappy & Harriet’s, which aired on the LEVITATION Sessions streaming series. OSEES and the label are donating 100% of proceeds to independent music venues. Music venues have been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many in danger of closing their doors permanently. Unfortunately some have already.
“During this particularly hard year, it was a pleasure to work with our good friends over at Levitation and Pappy and Harriet’s to reach out to some of our fans, if only for a fleeting hour. This is the proper plastic that came from that evening. We are trying to keep some of our favourite haunts, dives, glorious old venues and bars open through this trial, as it’s obvious the lizards that make up the current administration have no real interest in extending any realistic help to struggling businesses.
Venues have been hit particularly hard by this and without them, there is no us….so this is a small token of appreciation and a grassroots effort to lend a helping hand in their time of need. Take care, be well and keep your eyes on the horizon.” – John Dwyer
The live album is now being pressed on vinyl via The Reverberation Appreciation Society record label. Each edition is limited to 1000 and includes a 7” with the final track from the show, “Block Of Ice” pressed on Desert Sand colored vinyl. These limited vinyl editions will be released March 5th, 2021 and will be available for pre-order on the LEVITATION website at 11am PT, on Friday, Dec 11, 2020:
The NIVA Edition proceeds will be donated to the National Independent Venue Association’s Emergency Relief Fund. The fund has been launched to raise money for the most vulnerable venues, and keep them afloat during these unprecedented times for live music. the second volume from garage-rock heavyweights OSEES and Alex Maas of the Black Angels, performing off the back of his beautiful new solo album,
Special editions for two independent clubs have also been created:
Zebulon Edition – benefitting Zebulon in Los Angeles, California Hotel Vegas Edition – benefitting Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas
The OSEES – “Levitation Sessions” live album is being pressed on vinyl . We’re donating all proceeds to independent music venues with the band. Back in September, OSEES performed a blistering set out in the desert at Pappy & Harriet’s, which aired on the LEVITATION Sessions streaming series. OSEES and the label are donating 100% of proceeds to independent music venues. Music venues have been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many in danger of closing their doors permanently. Unfortunately some have already.
“During this particularly hard year, it was a pleasure to work with our good friends over at Levitation and Pappy and Harriet’s to reach out to some of our fans, if only for a fleeting hour. This is the proper plastic that came from that evening. We are trying to keep some of our favourite haunts, dives, glorious old venues and bars open through this trial, as it’s obvious the lizards that make up the current administration have no real interest in extending any realistic help to struggling businesses.
Venues have been hit particularly hard by this and without them, there is no us….so this is a small token of appreciation and a grassroots effort to lend a helping hand in their time of need. Take care, be well and keep your eyes on the horizon.” – John Dwyer
The live album is now being pressed on vinyl via The Reverberation Appreciation Society record label. Each edition is limited to 1000 and includes a 7” with the final track from the show, “Block Of Ice” pressed on Desert Sand colored vinyl. These limited vinyl editions will be released March 5th, 2021 and will be available for pre-order on the LEVITATION website at 11am PT, on Friday, Dec 11, 2020:
The NIVA Edition proceeds will be donated to the National Independent Venue Association’s Emergency Relief Fund. The fund has been launched to raise money for the most vulnerable venues, and keep them afloat during these unprecedented times for live music. the second volume from garage-rock heavyweights OSEES and Alex Maas of the Black Angels, performing off the back of his beautiful new solo album,
Special editions for two independent clubs have also been created:
Zebulon Edition – benefitting Zebulon in Los Angeles, California Hotel Vegas Edition – benefitting Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas
West Lothian, band The Snuts, have been shaking up the UK indie scene for over five years now, blending their mastery of sing-along, festival anthems with dissonant guitars and a touch of Laurel Canyon-esque emotion. Their sophomore EP, The Mixtape received widespread acclaim and landed them in the UK Top 20 and at number one on the Scottish charts, whilst also smashing over 30 million streams. Their ability to switch between stadium-slaying choruses and ‘60s style funk in a heartbeat. Now set to release their debut album proper – where they worked with Tony Hoffer of Supergrass, Beck and The Kooks fame – the band are poised to become one of the most prominent guitar bands in the country. Guitarist Joe McGillveray talks about curating their album, the influence of Zappa and just being happy to get out of the house. “It’s been a long time coming, but we’ve always been super aware of how important a debut record can be for a band. We’ve had songs for years, but we wanted to make sure that the finished product felt like a polished piece of work. It definitely feels like what we have now is representative of who we are, and something we can be proud of.”
It’s testament to the sheer power of The Snuts that they’ve managed to sell several nights at Glasgow’s iconic Barrowlands before they’ve even released their debut album. But give the band one quick listen and you’ll soon realise that the Scottish lads are already experts at crafting everyman anthems that combine love, loss and the mundanity of everyday life with killer choruses. When that album arrives in early 2021, expect those shows to get even bigger.
“We have truly loved working with The Snuts on their new music video for Somebody Loves You. After a tough year full of traumatic events in our community in Glasgow and across the UK and the world, it was a breath of fresh air to be approached by The Snuts to work on this project. Timescales were tight and there were so many people involved, from us to the band, the record label, the artist behind the graffiti, producers and designers and not to mention the incredible new Scots who have shared their lives and stories with us. This is just the beginning of a new chapter. We will be sharing the stories of those who took part over the coming weeks and working closely with the band on a new fundraising campaign focused on love, self-love and acceptance. This project couldn’t have come at a better time and we are so grateful to have been part of it. We hope it will provide you with as much joy as it has given us. No matter how tough things get, always remember that somebody loves you, and we at Scottish Refugee Council are here fighting for you and with you. We’ll get through this together.”
The Snuts are already beginning to craft an undeniably magnetic following, having captured the imagination of fans across Scotland with their early demos and infamously anthemic, all-encompassing live show.
Our debut record will be released on 19.03.21.
It is a collection of milestones and melodies that time stamp our dream becoming a reality. It’s a lifetimes work and we really hope you love it.
Somebody Loves You by The Snuts was released on February 4th 2021 by Parlophone Records.
A act who’ve played each SXSW since 2018, Austin’s Blushing features four “wives, husbands and friends,” per their Facebook bio. Songwriter Michelle Soto (vocals, guitar) formed the band with her long-time friend Christina Carmona (vocals, bass), and the two eventually brought their spouses, Jacob Soto (drums) and Noe Carmona (guitar), into the mix. The quartet released their self-titled debut in 2019, taking up the torch of prototypical dream-pop acts a la My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins, and we can expect more of the same from their forthcoming follow-up, which, judging by the band’s socials, is complete and coming sometime in 2021. Blushing’s sound is as unified and consistent as you’d expect from such a tight-knit group, and we’re looking forward to cranking the volume on their melodic, yet heavy waves of gleaming guitar rock.
U2 has joined the archive concert streaming party, as the famous Irish rock band will air four concerts performed over the years online for the first time ever, for free. Announced on Monday, the band’s U2: The Virtual Road archive concert series to air exclusively on YouTube will launch this Wednesday (St. Patrick’s Day) with the broadcast of U2 Go Home: Live From Slane Castle, which highlights the band’s September 1st, 2001 concert at the historic castle property in Slane, Ireland. The webcast will begin with a pre-recorded performance from Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy.
The four-part series will continue streaming into the spring months with the band’s June 5th, 1983 show at Colorado’sRed Rocks Amphitheatre (March 25th); their December 3rd, 1997 show at Mexico City’sForo Sol Stadium (April 1st); and finally their December 7th, 2015 show in Paris, France (April 10th). The latter concert, branded as iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE: Live in Paris, took place less than a month following the coordinated terrorist attacks in the French city back on November 13th, 2015.
Fontaines D.C. will open the Red Rocks webcast, while Carla Morrison will open the Mexico City webcast, and Feu! Chatterton will open the Paris webcast.
“Every show is memorable for us but these four particularly so… It’s exciting to be on the road again… Embracing all the wonder of the virtual road,” U2 said of their archive concert video series. “And especially exciting to be joined by such a brilliant line-up of fellow travellers in Dermot Kennedy, Fontaines D.C., Carla Morrison and Feu! Chatterton.”
Maple Glider’s aka Tori Zietsch striking emotionality is at the centre of her performances, leaning into an intimacy that is achieved by way of deeply personal reflections and velvety melodic compositions. Her vocals melt into layers of plucked acoustic guitar and lulling piano, drawing on the sombre styles of folk contemporaries with a stark tenderness and introspection that assumes the listener is inside her bedroom as she plays for herself. After experiencing falling in and out of love, traveling extensively, writing non-stop, and basking in the lengthy European summer hours, Tori returned to Melbourne late 2019 with a soundcloud account full to capacity of demos. Maple Glider was officially set to take flight.
Tori enlisted Tom Iansek (Big Scary, #1 Dads, The Paper Kites, Lisa Mitchell, Hockey Dad, ) to produce and record some of the many, many songs she was ready to get down. During the shared time spent at our studio BellBird, the wider team (Jo & Tom F. lol) got to fully appreciate the wonderful artistry and beauty of Maple Glider, and welcomed her to the family. To date Maple Glider has released two gorgeous singles – “As Tradition” and “Good Thing”.
Both songs’ music videos were made with creative collaborator and housemate Bridgette Winten, in the 5km radius around their Brunswick home (a limit due to COVID lockdown measures). Working with colour and contrast, and shot on Super 8, Maple Glider plays off her surroundings, whether it’s lush creek-beds, neighbourhood rose gardens, or a party for One at home.
We’re also very happy to announce we’ve teamed up with the very passionate Partisan Records (Laura Marling / Fela Kuti / Cigarettes After Sex / John Grant) to release Tori’s music all over the world!
Great songwriting, wonderful arranging and a great voice. electric first moment when you hear a song for the first time that sounds like a classic that’s been part of your soundtrack for years but you know you haven’t it’s just perfectly constructed. a restorative for the soul.
One of those special occasions when a new song becomes an instant classic in the blink of an eye – Triple J Unearthed
Beautiful and devastating… ‘Good Thing’ is a gorgeous indie folk number and a perfect example of that uninhibited, vulnerable quality. – American Songwriter
A series of hairs-on-the-back-of-your-arm moments – For The Rabbits
‘Good Thing’ is a delicate ballad, but with all the emotional resonance of a greek tragedy – The Rodeo
Channelling a rich and supple aesthetic throughout, her bold yet tortured voice reigns supreme on this light and airy composition – Mystic Sons
Among the crop of Creation Records bands in the mid-1980s, THE LOFT seemed the most likely to break through. Following the success of The Smiths, guitar-based independent pop was in vogue, Alan McGee’s Creation label was turning heads – its bands blending 60s psychedelia, the melodic end of punk and a new sound which would soon be immortalised on NME’s C86 cassette. And in this London quartet, Creation had their answer to bands like Television, The Only Ones or early Modern Lovers, offering taut, off-kilter songs with an irresistibly deadpan cool.
Sadly, after just two singles, 1984’s downbeat debut ‘Why Does The Rain’ and the punchier sequel, ‘Up The Hill And Down The Slope’ – an indie hit which the band performed live on TV show The Oxford Road Show, The Loft dissolved, with various members founding new bands The Weather Prophets, The Caretaker Race and The Wishing Stones. They left behind seven studio tracks, a BBC Radio 1 session for Janice Long and one track from a Creation LP documenting the scene’s roots in small club The Living Room.
However, The Loft’s legend endured, eventually prompting a reunion in the early 2000s with all four original members – singer/songwriter/guitarist Pete Astor, guitarist Andy Strickland, bassist Bill Prince and drummer Dave Morgan. Alongside various well-received live shows, that led to a new single, ‘Model Village’ (2006) and more recently a session for Gideon Coe on BBC 6 Music (2015). The Loft’s reputation as founding fathers of a new breed of mid-80s indie pop continues to grow to this day, with the band often cited as an influence.
Compiled and coordinated by the band, “Ghost Trains & Country Lanes” expands on previous retrospectives of The Loft, adding those reunion recordings (including three previously unissued tracks), the Gideon Coe session and several live recordings from that historic performance at The Living Room back in 1984. (including many exclusive songs which were never recorded in the studio).
• With new sleeve-notes by Danny Kelly, this is the definite tribute to The Loft. And with the release on 20th March of Creation Stories, the film adaptation of Alan McGee’s autobiography, the timing couldn’t be better.
Released 23rd April on Cherry Red Records. 2 CD, 8 new songs, 17 previously unreleased recordings, 30 tracks including a Living Room club set from ‘84.
A year after the release of their critically-acclaimed third album “Printer’s Devil”, Chicago’s Ratboys would normally be worn out from lots of time spent on the road. Instead, just two weeks after the album’s release last February, the COVID-19 pandemic forced all touring to a halt mere days before the start of their first headline tour. Now, itching to get back out there, Ratboys return with the new single, “Go Outside,” which, although written in 2019, takes on a special sense of relevance and yearning today more than ever.
“We wrote this song on a whim when we were home in between tours in April 2019. It’s this carefree and wistful, totally innocent song about wanting to travel and spend time with loved ones. We didn’t realize that we wouldn’t be able to do either of those things before long,” says songwriter Julia Steiner.
Despite not being able to play in-person shows for the past year, Ratboys have managed to stay busy by performing on a variety of digital livestreams, including the Audiotree Staged series live from Lincoln Hall and their very own Virtual Tour series, which, with 37 episodes and counting, features the band streaming live from their basement practice space via Twitch. Part musical performance and part Wayne’s-World-style public access variety show, the Virtual Tour has provided Ratboys with an outlet to share their songs, to connect directly with fans, and to blow off some steam in this COVID world.
“Right now, we want nothing more than to get outside and roam around and play shows again without fear… to be close to people again,” songwriter Julia Steiner shares. “Hopefully this song will provide a light in someone’s day and help us all wait out this weird ride a little bit longer.”
The Band: Guitar, vocals – Julia Steiner Guitar, bass – Dave Sagan Drums, percussion – Marcus Nuccio Pedal Steel – Pat Lyons
Hit Like A Girl is a project by Nicolle Maroulis, A few weeks back we announced the new album from Hit Like A Girl! “Heart Racer” was written following a life-altering panic attack that songwriter Nicolle Maroulis experienced in 2019. This album was a perfect fit for Refresh’s post hiatus spring. Heart Racer is Hit Like A Girl’s 3rd album and features a ton of awesome cameos and performances from artists like Bartees Strange, Kiley Lotz from Petal, Jer Berkin from The Sonder Bombs, and Jacob Blizard from Lucy Dacus‘ band.
“Boardwalk” is the first single and is streaming everywhere now. Catch the animated music video by Jez Pennington, or play the mobile game inspired by the music video on HLAG’s website!
“Chiming and catchy, sunny guitars peeking through a cloudy exterior” – Stereogum
Official music video for “Boardwalk” by Hit Like A Girl from “Heart Racer”. Album out on April 2nd on Refresh Records.
Empowering Australian indie punk trio Camp Cope have announced an 11-date UK tour this September. Last September saw them play a sold out Tufnell Park Dome at their first ever London show, having upgraded from the smaller room after they sold it out in a matter of hours.
Camp Cope have become somewhat of a force in music since forming in a Melbourne backyard over home job tattoos a few years ago. They’re a band whose work far extends that which happens on stage, or in the recording studio. They use their resilience and strength to fight for the betterment for the music industry and related communities, and have proven that they aren’t afraid to put their heads on the chopping block to do so.
They share this experience on their acclaimed second album ‘How to Socialise & Make Friends”, which was released in 2018. It features the standout opener ‘The Opener’, a rally cry which called the music industry to task on its sexist and inequitable structures, and ‘The Face of God’, a harrowing account of sexual assault at the hands of someone whose art you admire.
On ‘How To Socialise…’, Sarah Thompson lays powerful drumlines that rise steady, laying a foundation for Kelly Hellmrich’s driving, winding bass riffs (that exclusively centre around the G and D strings – much to the dismay of men in basements around the world). Their watertight rhythm provides the platform from which singer and guitarist Georgia McDonald stands with strength and ferocity, taking listeners on a trip through the pages of a personal diary, thriving in the uncomfortable and the unspoken.
The energy at a Camp Cope show is rare. Not just because they write good songs that have the audience on their feet. They’re a band that takes action – they say no, they stand their ground, they take up space, and the audience can feel the power from those words. They unite in a space that is truly equal as they scream back every word, arms in the air, veins pulsating. You can feel it in the air. It doesn’t just feel a show – it feels like an uprising.
The Fat Angel Sings 