DATE ARCHIVES : April 2020

Jthurston – ‘Black Sheep’

Jthurston or Jared Thurston is a hip hop artist and rapper from Oakland, CA.

Jthurston has made a name for himself locally as part of the NFK Music Collective (NewFound Kingdom) and in his own right with a recognizable style that switches from all around lyrical rapping to a more harmonizing flavour – a hallmark stamped all over soulful and timeless new single ‘Black Sheep’. It is lush and a super seductive groover that flows majestically along a bubbling bassline head-nodding, shuffling percussion with subtle and melodic instrumental touches. ‘Black Sheep’ oozes all the smooth, soulful and timeless vibes while Jthurston gently reveals his greatest attribute; his voice and melodic delivery.

Such a wonderful & easy on the ear tune – listen to ‘Black Sheep’ below:


Mazoulew – ‘Retrospective’

UK-based producer Mazoulew has been crafting captivating electronic sounds since 2004. Drawing from a deep well of inspiration from trip-hop, jazz, downtempo, drum&bass and more, his sound has mutated, evolved and refined over time.

More recently he’s joined forces with the eclectic Stereofox Records for a series of releases, the fifth, and latest is ‘Retrospective’. Heavy on mood, texture and atmosphere, carefully coaxed out, this trifecta create a hypnotic, transfixing and nocturnal, techno infused sound. Fluctuating oscillations and seductive grooves coalesce with crunchy beats and floating, flutters of synths to whisk you far away, transfixed and bewitched, with you left powerless to resist the tempting allure of ‘Retrospective’. It is elegant, melodic and emotive, it is the perfect companion to zone out with as distant vocal chants whisper amid the instrumental flourishes and grainy, dusty atmospheric aura.

Another captivating slice of escapism – check ‘Retrospective’ below.

Ex Norwegian – ‘Jove Was At Home’

Miami Beach psych-rockers Ex Norwegian are spending their 2020 releasing new music almost every Friday, mostly obscure covers of favourites, like this one from Irish psych-folk troupe Dr. Strangely Strange’s 1971 track ‘Jove Was At Home’. 

The original, a gentle, playful and pristine psych-folk jaunt is afforded an electric make-over into a psych stomper. While retaining the sweetness and melody of the original, this re-imagining it saunters along a swaggering groove and stomping beat amid a heady haze of warm fuzz and distortion as guitars buzz, riffs fizz and fuzz with hazy, nonchalant vocals loom large in the background. A superb and very easy on the ear tune, this is one of the more unusual things to cross my path recently but a welcome one at that. I had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Strangely Strange live a few years back (on my Dad’s recommendation who is a big fan) and they were really enjoyable. 

Listen to Ex Norwegian do Dr. Strangely Strange and ‘Jove Was At Home’ below:



ADAMA – ‘Light’

Hailing from Östersund in Northern Sweden, psych-outfit ADAMA come bearing a lavish array of psych sounds, cosmic escapism, and all resplendent with colour and imagination.

Their latest offering is GANGA! – a seven-track kaleidoscopic adventure that is simultaneously spaced-out, intense and ethereal – which is accompanied with the epic cosmic escapism that is ‘Light’. Ushered along a deep propulsive groove as guitars shimmer amid a haze of warm fuzz and distortion as a lush organ hum illuminates a path for the the hushed, hazy vocals stretching for heaven. ‘Light’ is an epic aural adventure, a hypnotic hymn setting spaced-out psych-rock side-by-side with lavish gospel – it is utterly divine.

Get transfixed below, listen to ‘Light’, and if that is to your liking, why not try GANGA! here.


Freedom Fry – ‘Tell Me It’ll Be Alright’

The ever prolific LA duo, Freedom Fry will follow up their delightful 2018 debut LP, Classic, with Songs from the West Coast on May 29th.

Ahead of the album’s release, we had ‘West Coast’ back in January and now they have shared a new single ‘Tell Me It’ll Be Alright’.

The duo, Marie Seyrat and Bruce Driscoll, have regularly brightened up our lives with charming, catchy and bright indie-pop songs, and ‘Tell Me It’ll Be Alright’ being no different – it could not have come at a more opportune time. It is lush blend of warm sunny tones, gently undulating grooves, sweet acoustic strum and twinkle of xylophone, all whisked together into a beautiful confection melodic, dreamy and hazy allure. As is so often the case, the pièce de résistance of Freedom Fry’s sound is the wonderful harmonies and beautiful vocal interplay from the pair. A simply beautiful song and one that will leave you all the better for letting it into your life.

Listen to ‘Tell Me It’ll Be Alright’ below now:


Drens – ‘Saditsfiction’

Dortmund/Cologne fuzz loving garage rock / surf punk foursome Drens are back with their new single ‘Saditsfiction’.

‘Saditsfiction’ is the second single lifted from the German outfit’s forthcoming debut EP‚ Pet Peeves‘, and in case you’re wondering, it is a doozy! Less frenzied and spiky than previous singles – ‘No’ & ‘Yellow Teeth’ – ‘Saditsfiction’ opens with a reverb drenched, new wavey guitar hook and met by dreamy guitar underpinned by a bubbling bassline groove as it shifts through the gears of catchy, power-pop addiction. It is an undeniable earworm; fuzzed up and catchy as hell, it’s got swagger, danceability and hooks you could hang your hat on while vocally, it slides from nonchalant to passionate with an ease and breeze. A more nuanced side of their talents, this might be the best we heard yet from Drens.

Listen to ‘Saditsfiction’ below while we await the new EP, due on May 15th.

Jacqueline Tucci – ‘Fear’

Jacqueline Tucci is a Toronto-based musician readying the release of her debut EP, Jungle Sounds later this year.

Having spent time honing her songwriting abilities as a solo acoustic act, Tucci has heralded a transition to full-band dynamics with lead single ‘Fear’. Opening with a raw bass line, it is a bustling, fuzzed-up jam tempered by a meandering guitar riff and lavish layers of fuzz. It is a powerful and thrilling anthem that snakes its way through the warm fuzz and distortion showcasing Tucci’s brilliant ear for melody and lyricism. Tucci’s warm vocals are filled with emotion and rousing sense of defiance – albeit with a lingering sense of melancholy.

A superb tune and intro to Jacqueline Tucc – tune in below:

Clear Soul Forces – ‘Nine Five’

Detroit hip hop collective, Clear Soul Forces released their fifth and unfortunately final album Forceswithyou on March 13.

Formed in 2009, the hip-hop quartet made their name with a classic combo of head-nodding, shuffling percussion with subtle and melodic instrumental touches – a hallmark stamped all over their final hurrah as they continue to charm us with their swansong ‘Nine Five’. It is melodic, playful and bouncy as hell as as each rapper takes their turn to unleash their own style and cadence, attacking the beat with slick wordplay crammed tight with colourful pop-culture references. The silky wordplay is matched in the hypnotic stakes by seductive, flawless beatwork, colourful bright and glitchy synth sounds, and  bubbling electro -groove, ‘Nine Five’ is an absolute joy, and finding a balance between contemporary creativity and nostalgia.

Tune into ‘Nine Five’ below and if you like what your hear, check out Forceswithyou here.

Jinx Lennon Shares ‘North Louth’; New Album Out Now

Jinx Lennon is a unique talent – a national treasure to be exact – and one of Ireland’s most insightful songwriters who is influenced as much by hip hop and post-punk, Jinx is the embodiment of a modern folk singer. 

Whether it is an acoustic guitar or sampled disco beat, raw garage noise or breakbeats his are songs of raw truth that push us to confront uncomfortable home truths in our society while kicking back against the humdrum bullshit of the modern world. Jinx’s new album Border Schizo Fffolk Songs for the Fuc**d was released on Friday last, and came accompanied by single ‘North Louth’. The tune, and the video, are immense. ‘North Louth’ is a hard-edged tune but one that has more than modicum of infectious allure, not to mention extremely danceable. While bristling with rawness as Jinx delivers his powerful lyrics in his distinct and brilliant manner, fizzing synths, frazzled electronics and break-beat add the dancey grooves.  Jinx Lennon’s music isn’t for everyone, sure but there is no one else quite like him and it hard to be unique nowadays but Jinx does it with ease and is searingly brilliant as always.

Border Schizo FFFolk Songs For The Fuc**d is out now – watch the superb video for ‘North Louth’ below:

BAILE – ‘Cyclical’ feat. Lukas Oppenheimer

BAILE, the project of New York producer Reed Kackley, specializes in bouts of lavish, downtempo escapism.  

If you were (like I) looking for an intro to BAILE’s work, the Brooklyn-based producer has shared new single ‘Cyclical’, which is lifted from the recently released EP,  Winte and featuring Lukas Oppenheimer. ‘Cyclical’ introduces itself with a lullaby vibe as gentle chimes with a music box feel before the dreamy tranquility is swept to one side as breakbeats and murmuring bass up the tempo and add a meaty edge. It is the coming together of these two vibes, dreamy and dancey, and its the ability to present them simultaneously amid a haze of  psychedelic brush strokes and wonky synths, that its true allure is to be found.’Cyclical’ is an intricate and delicately constructed, beat-driven cut of gorgeous, glitchy and otherworldly electronic music.

You can sample’Cyclical’ below now and if if that is to your liking, why not try the new EP,  Winte here.