International prolific psych-rockers The Routes drop reverb-soaked new LP 'Lead-Lined Clouds'

The Routes are back with “Lead Lined Clouds”, their 13th studio album, and their first vocal offering since 2021’s “Mesmerised”.
Picking up where “Mesmelrised” left off (with 4 instrumental albums being released between “Mesmerised” and “Lead Lined Clouds”), “Lead Lined Clouds” consists of ten original songs, tackling subjects such as austerity, old age, corruption, propaganda, social media, and mental health.

Whereas “Mesmerised” saw The Routes very much in reverb-soaked psych territory, “Lead Lined Clouds” is a much more full-on sonic barrage. This album sees The Routes tone down (but not turn down) the guitars to make room for the addition of organ, which is prominent throughout the album. As opposed to just sounding like your typical garage rock or garage punk band, the sound is diverted not only by the dissonant organ, but also the snarly unapologetically “British” vocals (which for this album are mostly spoken or shouted, as opposed to sung).

Listening to “Lead Lined Clouds”, it would be easy to make comparisons to the music of bands like The Seeds, The Standells, and Count V (amongst endless other 60s bands); but listening from afar, the influences are much more eclectic. The tracks “Lead Lined Clouds”, “Inside Out” and “Shrunken Heads” sound like they could have been penned for an early Stranglers, The Fall or Modern Lovers. “Seen Better Days” sounds like Syd Barrett singing with “Alien Lanes” era Guided By Voices. “No Good” nods to UK indie such as My Bloody Valentine, Spectrum and Jesus and Mary Chain.

Refusing to be just another garage band, and refusing to be predictable; The Routes have purposely changed their style for every album, and still managed to un-mistakenly sound like The Routes. “Lead Lined Clouds” is no exception. This is not another straight 60’s revival album. This is not garage-by-numbers. This is music for now that nods to music of the past.

Humanoids with their new EP "Echo Mistakes"

Over the past two years, HUMANOIDS have been diligently working on their music. From a plethora of songs, four were carefully selected and recorded in the summer of 2022 by David Langhard at Dala Studios in Winterthur. The new EP, "Echo Mistakes," marks yet another milestone in the history of these four musicians from Zug, who have been standing by each other's side through thick and thin for years.

The songs on the EP embody the DNA of HUMANOIDS, with an organic, intertwined, and energetic quality that remains in constant flow, even with deliberate breaks and reversals. As a Rock'n'Roll band, HUMANOIDS tell stories of errors echoing errors, they listen to the sun, and they marvel at the world around us.

Their handmade music is both sexy and clever, urgent and powerful. With sheer energy and abundant soul, they groove until the songs take flight. Dynamics and passion fuel the spirit of HUMANOIDS' music, which is filled with beauty, melancholy, and madness.

The songs delve into the daily absurdities that smile from every elegantly draped corner, as neighbors, kindred spirits, and other fools fall from trees, while the global orientation lies whimpering on the street with broken legs. But they also explore themes of love and life.

THOMAS BANGALTER RELEASES FIRST TRACK FROM UPCOMING SOLO ALBUM

Thomas Bangalter, formerly one half of Daft Punk, has released the first track from his upcoming solo album ‘Mythologies’.

‘L’Accouchement’ will be the 10th track from the album. The whole album is performed by the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine and conducted by Romain Dumas.

The 90-minute orchestral score was originally commissioned in 2019, when French choreographer and dancer Angelin Preljocaj asked Bangalter to write music for a collaborative ballet between Preljocaj’s company and the Opéra National de Bordeaux, which premiered to the public last summer.

Using a full symphony orchestra, ‘L’Accouchement’ is a soaring, strings-forward track that runs for five-minute and 43 seconds.

‘Mythologies’ will be fully released worldwide on April 7 via Erato/Warner Classics, and will be available on CD, vinyl and digitally.

It will be the first solo work from Bangalter since he and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo announced that electronic music pioneers Daft Punk were splitting up after 28 years.

They announced the news via an eight minute video clip called ‘Epilogue’. It features a scene from their 2008 film Electroma, which shows the pair in their iconic robot garbs, before cutting to a graphic that reads: “1993-2001”.

New Music from British duo My Glass World

BRITISH ECLECTIC INDIE POP DUO MY GLASS WORLD RELEASE NEW VIDEO ‘WHAT WE CALL LOVE’ - AN ODE TO DISINFORMATION AND UNINTEDED IRONY

Off the back of their critically acclaimed 2022 album ‘Tree.shadow.piano.’ - British duo My Glass World have today released their striking new music video for single ‘What We Call Love’, depicting scenes from across the globe juxtapositioned with lyrics of disinformation, and the questing of what we call love.

““What we call Love” started life as a repetitive riff on a small string section. I wasn't sure how the track was going to work but sometimes it’s better to start from a place other than the norm. It’s insistent musically and the musical repetition suits the lyrical meaning. The words refer both to the straightforward meaning of the title, and the many disinformation campaigns that subject us daily to Orwellian doublespeak. So when the Russians say for example that the only thing they feel for the Ukrainians is love because they are brothers, the words come with a huge dollop of unintended irony as the Ukrainians and everyone else would beg to disagree.” – Jamie Telford

Their latest offering ‘Tree Shadow Piano’ (2022) was willed into existence from a variety of sources and under the various environmental lockdown constraints of 2020, written in Scotland, refined and polished in Sean’s studio, Famous Times in Clapton.

Jamie himself says, “Plagues tend to promote disruption and change, and without being too ironic - death. In the case of ‘Tree Shadow Piano’ mercifully no one went west. Metaphorically perhaps. This album is a jaundiced, jowly look at what’s going on in the world. We are all subject to the same forces, but sometimes the toothpaste forced out of the tube displays itself in different forms.”

“‘Tree Shadow Piano’ is not a protest album, but many of these heartfelt songs vibrate to an inbuilt rage at the geo-political process. Let it howl, sit back and enjoy.”

Delivering an eclectic meld of rock, pop, jazz and classical, My Glass World offer a catalogue of 6 albums to date, there’s a lot to listen to, a lot to reflect on, and a lot more to come. Find out more: myglassworld.com

Watch, Stream and Share ‘What We Call Love', out now: http://li.sten.to/mgwtsp

Mark Newman’s New Video “At The Border” Shines a Light on the Worldwide Refugee Crisis

“At The Border”, the latest Music Video from acclaimed Singer/Songwriter Mark Newman is now available on his Official YouTube Channel and social media pages. The video was Directed by George Panagakos of 525 Media.

Regarding the genesis of this tune, Mark explained, “At The Border” was originally written about the struggles of the people fleeing the war in Ukraine, but is also inspired by the millions of people all around the world trying to escape oppression and hunger on an ongoing basis”.

In a pre-production meeting, Newman told the director, “This has been going on since the times of Ancient Egypt. People have had to leave their homes to find better lives elsewhere throughout history. It’s a worldwide problem. That’s what this song is about, and what I’d like to see represented in this film.”

No stranger to tackling tough topics, Mark has always worked to bring about political and social change with his songs, including the recent releases “When I Aim My Gun”, and “Tulsa”, which solemnly recounts the Tulsa Massacre of 1921.

The current global estimate is that there are approximately 281 million refugees worldwide, which equates to 3.6 per cent of the global population. Overall, the estimated number of international migrants has increased drastically over the past five decades.

Of the more than 44 million immigrants in the United States as of 2019, one-third (14.8 million) were low income, meaning that their family's income was below 200% percent of the federal poverty level.




Upcoming Mark Newman Showdates:


5/13 Mark Newman & Friends at Natchitoches Jazz/R&B Festival, Natchitoches, LA

5/19 Mark Newman w/ Sailin’ Shoes (Little Feat Tribute) at The Warehouse, Amityville NY

5/20 & 5/21 Mark Newman at Montauk Music Festival, NY

6/24 Mark Newman w/ The Hitmen, Coppell, TX

7/15 Mark Newman w/ Streetfighter at Jones Beach Bandshell, NY

7/16 Mark Newman w/ Sailin’ Shoes (Little Feat Tribute) at Woodbridge Concert Series

7/23 Mark Newman w/ Sailin’ Shoes (Little Feat Tribute) at Great South Bay Music Festival

8/10 Mark Newman w/ Jeff Lake at Jones Beach Bandshell, NY

9/03 Mark Newman w/ Allmost Brothers at Jones Beach Bandshell, NY


Newman has worked with many soul, blues and rock greats including John Oates (Hall & Oates), Jim McCarty (The Yardbirds), Willy DeVille (Mink DeVille), Sam The Sham, Bobby Whitlock (Derek and the Dominos) and Sam Moore (Sam & Dave).

Mark has also shared the stage with stars such as Sting, Elvis Costello, Travis Tritt and Carla Thomas as well. As an opening act, Mark and his original band have played many dates with acts like Delbert McClinton, Les Dudek, The Doobie Brothers, Don Felder of The Eagles, David Bromberg and many others. A multi stringsman, Mark has mastered electric/acoustic/lap steel guitar as well as the mandolin and dobro.

Past releases include the singles “Tulsa”, a song and video created in remembrance of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, and “From Me To You”, a cover of the Janis Ian song for her Better Times Project of 2020. His most recent album, “Empirical Truth” was the 2019 Winner of The Long Island Blues Society Best Album Category, and represented the NY area in competition at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Earlier records include 2006’s “Must Be a Pony”, 2010’s “Walls of Jericho”, and 2015’s “Brussels” - a live acoustic-driven EP.

Dutch Punks THE COVIDS Prep Debut Album 'Bust To Bits'

The Amsterdam-based band THE COVIDS were created out of boredom during the first lockdown and after numerous cancellations, they could finally play their first live concert during the fall of 2021. Since then the band has relentlessly played the Dutch club circuit and already made its mark in the UK and Germany. This coming spring they will do their first tours in the USA, Mexico, France and Spain. Needless to say: THE COVIDS are spreading fast!

After releasing their first single in 2022, they are ready to launch their debut album "BUST TO BITS" containing 11 energetic, raw, and melodic tracks that are extremely contagious. The album's title track is a good example of what the band is all about lyrically, namely trying to have fun in a day and age that can sometimes feel apocalyptic. Musically THE COVIDS takes inspiration from such groups as BUZZCOCKS, THE DAMNED and THE WIPERS.

DEBUT ALBUM BY THE COVIDS RELEASES MARCH 9 ON WAP SHOO WAP RECORDS - PRE-ORDER NOW!

Freddie Bailey Drops Dreamy Track 'Want You To Want Me'

Fresh from the top 24 of The Voice 2022, Freddie Bailey captivated the nation and Keith Urban himself. Performing Urban’s hit ‘Wild Hearts’ with the man himself, Bailey is smashing goals at the age of 18. Now the Kamilaroi/Tamworth singer-songwriter is releasing his latest dreamy pop single ‘Want You To Want Me’ on February 23.

Working as a guitar teacher and session musician, Bailey is an in-demand artist. The dynamite artist has opened for Aria Award winner, Fanny Lumsden and Golden Guitar Winners Andrew Swift, and Amber Lawrence. He has also played lead guitar and opened for The Bush Whackers.

Tugging at heartstrings, Bailey taps into the double-edged sword of love with ‘Want You To Want Me’. The warm timbre of Bailey’s vocals is what makes this track. Paired with the aching lyrics “You’ve got something I need, you’re all that I wanted”, burning desire and passion flow through the single.

Known for his moving lyricism, ‘Want You To Want Me’ projects the raw reality of loving someone and the hope that they feel the same. Bailey states:

“I feel like this song can be seen from two different perspectives. One of them being from the perspective of a person who’s been in love with someone for the longest time, hoping they might feel that same longing for them to be a part of their life. The other perspective being from a person who’s experienced that relationship. Left wondering if who they were with ever reminisces on the past and wants it back.”

Allowing the lyrics to engross listeners, the ethereal pop instrumental is delicate and sounds like what a daydream feels like. Flourished with twinkling synth, the suspense of each verse keeps you waiting for the chorus.

Propelling you into a wall of sound, pattering drums and rich, winding guitar puts heavy emotion into the chorus. Weaving guitar solos that release a built-up flurry of emotion and adoration, the single encapsulates the highs and lows of pining for missing tenderness.

Produced and mixed by producer Ben Horsley, and mastered by Joe LaPorta (Sterling Sound), ‘Want You To Want Me’ is an intoxicating indie-pop tune that takes you on a ride that you wish would last forever.

Gigging at many popular venues in his hometown at 14 to busking at the Tamworth Country Music Festival 2018, Bailey has paved the way into the hearts of many. The soulful singer was selected for the Talent Development Project in 2020 operated by the NSW Government Art Unit, graduating in 2022.

Awarded a Variety Heart Scholarship for Music in 2022, he is a two-time graduate of CMAA Junior Academy of Country Music. Completing the Singer-Songwriter and Instrumental courses, this dynamic artist is a force to be reckoned with.

To add to the growing list of achievements for the sky-rocketing up-comer, Bailey’s guitar skills landed him an endorsement with Tokai guitars. Serenading Liam Gallagher's VIP guests at the ICC to performing the opening song for Rebel NSW Champions of Sports Awards at the same venue, Bailey is already taking the Australian music industry by storm.

Fall into the depths of emotion with Freddie Bailey’s ‘Want You To Want Me’, out Friday, February 23.

Hunting Lions Release New EP "Light" And Song "Nothing Wrong"

HUNTING LIONS, the Bay Area’s fast-rising punk band, has released a new song called “Nothing Wrong.” The song comes from the band’s brand new EP “Light” which is now available on the Pirates Press Records webstore.

“Light” is the second EP from Hunting Lions to complement the “Dark” EP. These two EPs play off of each other musically and through the physical release. Whereas “Dark” was more introspective with social commentary, “Light” focuses more on interpersonal relationships.

What you’ll also notice is how the artwork and vinyl contrasts that of “Dark.” With “Light",” the limited press of 12” white vinyl features a black silkscreened B-side and is packaged in a special white foldover cover. It’s limited to 250 pieces.

“We wanted the cover and album art to reflect the light and darkness that exists in every new day. That loss and renewal are equal parts of life. A lesson the pandemic taught us everyday,” said frontman Ben Coleman.

“Nothing Wrong is about being a teenage outsider. Like so many young Punks and Skins, I was an angry kid who embodied the stereotype and got into a lot of trouble. The chorus “I never did nothing wrong” is exactly right, because I always seemed to do something wrong. Specifically, the song is about a particular night out front of a show in Guernville, California. I’d had a few and was stomping up and down on top of a telephone booth singing “Skinheads Smoke Dope” by Fang at the top of my lungs. The police came and after a crappy attempt to avoid arrest, they grabbed me and I managed to catch an assaulting an officer case. Lucky I was a minor. I remember sitting in the back of the squad car and banging my head against the window because I was missing the show!” explains Coleman.

This track showcases Hunting Lions’ ability to embrace punk while incorporating more traditional aspects of rock ‘n roll. Listeners will instantly pick up hints of Swingin’ Utters, Cock Sparrer, Ramones, and Thin Lizzy in their tunes.

Other songs on “Light” dive into deeper and more personal topics. “Little Girl is a love song I wrote for my daughter. I had a moment of clarity surrounding relationships during the pandemic. With the specter of death looming and relationships ending with the social circumstances that fostered them, what matters became more and more obvious everyday. Family is the only thing. Blood or otherwise, family is everything,” says Coleman.

This is only the beginning for what Hunting Lions have in store. Get in on the ground floor with these EPs before Hunting Lions become the talk of the town throughout the punk community!

FRENZY Releases Last Advance Single "Betrayal in Cold Blood" Before Album Launch

Spanish heavy metal band FRENZY has released the fifth and final advance single from their upcoming album "Of Hoods and Masks", titled "Betrayal in Cold Blood". The album, which is set to be released on April 20th, 2023, will include a conceptual story in seven songs inspired by the "Watchmen" graphic novel.

The band's new lyric video is a continuation of the story and is now available on their YouTube channel. "Of Hoods and Masks" will feature nine tracks, including a cover of Rick Springfield's "Living in Oz" and an original song "Give Me Shred (Or Give Me Death)".

Chapter 5: Betrayal in Cold Blood

Why?

How could we…?

He just wanted to defend what was right, put criminals behind bars… or under the ground.

He could be kind of extreme sometimes; I agree. But he was my partner all those nights on the hunt.

And he was right about this, and we just killed him cowardly, a betrayal in cold blood.

A calculated casualty, we just measured the odds and preferred this option instead of facing the truth.

I don’t think I can ever forgive myself for this…

The End?

The album will be released on 12" LP, CD, and digital formats through Fighter Records

David Cunningham's Grey Scale

David Cunningham was born in Ireland in 1954. While his work ranges from pop music to gallery installations, his first commercial success came with The Flying Lizards' electro-punk single "Money," an international hit.

Originally released in 1976, Cunningham's first solo album Grey Scale has become a landmark statement of DIY minimalist composition – continuing in the vein of the wild explosion of arthouse experimentation from the early '70s. Cunningham, then a student at the Maidstone College of Art in Kent, drafted fellow student non-musicians and crafted an endlessly shifting sonic palette with an improvisor's keen sensitivity to space, texture and tone.

Grey Scale was the inaugural release on Cunningham's own Piano label. The artist quickly integrated his experimental sensibilities to produce art-rock pioneers This Heat, whose debut appeared on Piano in 1979.

This first-time reissue is recommended for fans of Dome, This Heat and Pascal Comelade.

Pre-order here

The National and Phoebe Bridgers Share Video for New Song “Your Mind Is Not Your Friend”

The National are back with another new song from First Two Pages of Frankenstein. “Your Mind Is Not Your Friend” features Phoebe Bridgers, and it arrives with a new psychedelic music video, directed by Bridgers’ brother, Jackson, and starring Matt Berninger’s brother, Tom. The Berninger brothers frolic in the woods and on a playground, both wearing black suits. (Matt’s is accented with plumes of fresh flowers.) Bridgers makes a brief cameo, picking up a baby sitting on the playground. Watch it below.

According to a press release, “Your Mind Is Not Your Friend” was born after Matt Berninger broke through some writer’s block. “When I feel stuck, I’ll often grab a book off the shelf just to get some words in my head, and the first two pages of Frankenstein ended up triggering ‘Your Mind Is Not Your Friend,’” he said. “The book starts off with the narrator on a voyage near the Arctic Circle, and that image of being adrift helped me to write about feeling disconnected and lost and lacking in purpose. Once I started confronting that strange, blurry panic of not having ideas, everything began to crack open a bit.”

First Two Pages of Frankenstein is out April 28. The new song follows the band’s previously released tracks “Eucalyptus,” “New Order T-Shirt” and “Tropic Morning News.” The new album features contributions from Sufjan Stevens and Taylor Swift.

Bridgers and the National’s Matt Berninger previously collaborated on the song “Walking on a String,” their contribution to Zach Galifianakis’ Between Two Ferns: The Movie.

Le Sonic - New Single/Video: Riverside Drive

Blending artistic creativity and modern technology into smooth instrumental moods*, LE SONIC, the music production duo of Mike Rogers & Gary Lefkowith, present their brand new single and video “RIVERSIDE DRIVE” (featuring Jim Hynes on Trumpet and Scott Kreitzer on Saxophone) available now on Spotify, YouTube and all the major music services.

Built on a foundation of musical creativity and modern technology, LE SONIC reached the pinnacle of success in 2022 when their first single, "Any Moment" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart! In fact, Le Sonic had two #1 Billboard Records in 2022, with “I’ll Be The One”, and was the #1 Smooth Jazz Group of the Year.



Mike Rogers’ first hit was the groundbreaking record “Groove is in the Heart” by Deeelite“ which sold 6 million copies worldwide. Mike has been behind the board for Sinead O’Connor, Graham Nash, Erasure, The Fat Boys, Randy Brecker, and Omar Hakim.

Gary Lefkowith has promoted records for Elvis, Mick Jagger, and Prince. As an artist, he was a finalist in the USA Songwriting Competition. Gary’s band HiFi had a Top 20 record on the CMJ College Music Chartas well as a Top 30 on Billboard’s Top 40 chart with “She’s My Girl”. (From TheStaticDive.com review)