All Pressure/No Pleasure

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I felt like I was under pressure to do a review of this song because I prefer doing album reviews, and I wasn’t sure I liked this song. Multiple listens later I have developed an appreciation for the music of Hayes & Y in their newest single “All Pressure/No Pleasure” and now it is all pleasure and no pressure to write a glowing review, I really like them now.

They come at you with a tight disco sound upgraded to the current trends in music with shimmering synths and just the right amount of bass. The bass part is important to me because I have noticed a tendency towards new music being bass-heavy and I am glad that Hayes & Y have steered clear of that obstacle.

They have a crafted a timely song that addresses the topic of being under pressure to conform to society’s expectations and finding no pleasure in following that standard. Discussing the inspiration behind their new number, frontman Blagoslav says: “I feel that’s something that has been troubling people for a long time. Conformity comes easy for some people, but others really struggle with it and find it hard to find their place in a society, where it is paramount.”

Who are Hayes & Y? I asked myself that question, and these are my best answers. The drummer is Dennis, and he is from Finland. The guitarist is from the Bulgarian cult band “Ostava”, and his name is Georgi Georgiev. There are two people named Rado and Ivo involved in the band somehow, but I don’t know their roles.

All of this matters little because what they do is the crucial part. They are Hayes & Y, and they make good music. The video is also a low budget gem, kudos to the team that made this, it is brilliant.

With three EP’s under their belt, this four-piece band have already put together and impressive CV. In 2017, they’re single ‘Always So Simple, Always So Cold’ landed the 13th spot on Spotify’s Top 50 UK Viral Chart and received support from the likes of BBC Introducing in Manchester. Last year, they released two tracks’ Safeplace’ and ‘Disaster’, both featured on Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist.

Hayes & Y are no strangers to the live circuit either, having secured a slot at Bulgarian festival Spirit of Burgas, where they supported Kasabian. With their UK audience growing, the band have also performed in some of Britain’s best-loved venues, including London’s Dublin Castle and Manchester’s Night & Day Café. 

‘All Pressure/No Pleasure’ will be available to stream from 17th June 2020. If you are looking for some new music to get you up and moving today, look no further, listen to Hayes & Y, you will not be disappointed.

D I S C O V E R

https://www.hayesandy.com/

https://www.facebook.com/hayesandyband/

https://www.instagram.com/hayes_and_y/

https://www.youtube.com/user/HayesandYprofile

https://spotify.com/artist/2mwysWD4hDBi2riMRaKwVg

Press enquiries please contact jgreen@mysticsons.com

Layla’s Love

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It’s summer, finally, and it’s time to come out of hibernation, roll down the windows and crank up the volume with Kidsmoke blasting out of the speakers. The newest offering from Welsh up and coming band, Kidsmoke, is the single Layla’s Love and it is the perfect song for summer.

Following on the heels of “The Bluest You”, Kidsmoke is making waves in 2020 with their single “Layla’s Love” which will feature on their much-anticipated debut album A Vision In The Dark which will be available on June 19th 2020.

Layla’s Love is deceptively easy music. The truth is a bit more complicated as the bass player, and songwriter James Stickels tells us, “Many songs on the album are not in standard tunings. I like to start with tuning a few of the bottom four strings differently and trying to find a chord that sounds interesting, almost as if I am learning the guitar again and making up chords. Then I tune the top 2 strings to where I think they best sit to handle the various chord progressions. Layla’s Love started in this way. I think there was a Kevin Morby influence, maybe some Seazoo too. Ultimately you could probably play our songs in standard tuning, but I think the chords would miss that certain something which makes them sound a little bit different and interesting.”

A bit different? A bit interesting? That’s like saying the Dead Sea is a bit salty. Kidsmoke makes music that is both fun and complex at the same time. After repeated listening and trying to filter out the details I am impressed by the quality of not just the playing but the production, courtesy of Russ Hayes, and the lyrics add texture to an already heady mix.

Bottom line? I can’t wait to play the whole album when it drops on June 19th via Libertino Records. Time for a road trip with “A Vision In The Dark” blasting the winter doldrums away.

Check them out here and there:

https://www.facebook.com/kidsmokemusic

https://www.youtube.com/c/kidsmoketheband

Debut album A Vision In The Dark will be released 19th of June 2020 and is available to pre-order now on Ltd Edition pink vinyl and CD: https://www.libertinorecords.com/product-page/a-vision-in-the-dark-kidsmoke

For press enquiries, please contact james@mysticsons.com

Bristol Zombies

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Zombie is the third single from the upcoming full-length album from Bristol musicians Groan Dogs.
From their smooth as silk synths to gritty fuzzed guitar sounds, ‘Zombies’ reminisces on happier memories from the past. It only takes a quick look around and seeing the state of affairs the world is in to see how fitting this song is for the times we are living.

Discussing the track, Goan Dogs tells us: “Now that the whole world is ill, we all do the same things day in, day out. Stuck on a loop. Remember the good old days?
When we were free to wake up, eat food, drink, get bored, get anxious, sleep and repeat. Everyday. Without thinking. Like Zombies.”
From the booming drum of the opening, we are soon pulled in by the smooth singing of Groan Dogs frontman Luke.
They went on to say: “Zombies is the band’s catchiest tune yet. An infectious ear-worm waiting to nibble
your brains.”
‘Zombies’ will be available to stream everywhere on June 5, 2020.

S T R E A M
https://soundcloud.com/goandogs/zombies/s-U6x9mepNo7m

D I S C O V E R
https://www.instagram.com/goandogs/
https://www.facebook.com/GOANDOGS
https://twitter.com/GOANDOGS
https://www.goandogs.com

Press enquiries please contact james@mysticsons.com

Swedish Music

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Spunsugar

I have an affinity for anything Swedish since that is the land of my maternal family. I was pleased then to review new releases from two Swedish groups and their music.

Following on from the release of their breakthrough debut EP ‘Mouth Full Of You’ last year, a collection that cemented them as one of the finest emerging shoegaze outfits of the moment as well as garnering support from Steve Lamacq at BBC 6Music, Swedish trio Spunsugar now return with their latest dose of forlorn industrial electronics on ‘Happier Happyless’ through Adrian Recordings.

With a strong affinity for post-punk, noise-rock and dream-pop, this genre-bending new offering sees the group deliver one of their hardest and most impactful releases to date. With a Robyn-Esque direction, filled with the atmospheric vocals of frontwoman Elin Ramsted, the group look to emulate the warm and driven sound of acts like Cocteau Twins and Slowdive with their pulsing aesthetic.

Speaking about their new single, the band said, “‘Happier Happyless’ is a sour and sweet song, tackling subjects of pining, happiness and revenge. Having a fittingly slower pace than former Spunsugar singles, this song is also a homage to the shunned 2001 slasher movie Valentine, released a little too late in the post-Scream era. Written to have “a memorable hook, a thumping synth bassline and a shoegazer chorus” this is an excellent introduction to the band’s debut album, because of the constant switching of emotional tonality.”

‘Happier Happyless’ is set to become the band’s first taste of their long-awaited debut album ‘Drive-Through Chapel’, set to later this fall via Adrian Recordings.

Bottom line. I really liked the blend of styles and the vocals are mesmerizing.

https://www.facebook.com/Spunsugar-1954664354594177/

https://www.instagram.com/spunsugarmusic/?hl=en

Press enquiries please contact james@mysticsons.com

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Swedish synth act Kite is made up of singer Nicklas Stenemo and keyboard player Christian Berg. The pair combine an adventurous nature with pop sensibilities, throbbing beats and an early nineties aesthetic. Their lean approach to songwriting – a methodology of ‘cut the fat’ results in tight, focussed songs that never outstay their welcome. Produced together with Blanck Mass (Benjamin John Power), new single ‘Teenage Bliss’ has shades of New Order, Chairlift and Superorganism. It conjures up mental images of half-remembered nights out, sweat-soaked gigs with friends and the naivety of first experiences.

The pair tell us that “When we started Kite the band F*** Buttons were a big source of inspiration to us. Since then we have been following Benjamin John Powers brilliant music as Blanck Mass. We are now extremely excited to announce that we are working on the production of two new Kite tracks with him.” The band have brought their projection filled, brain-melting visual live show to audiences in Scandinavia, Germany, the US, Canada and China.

If Kite ever comes to Canada again, I will be there. The driving bass and the lush arrangement grab me by the seat of my pants and didn’t let go.

https://www.facebook.com/KiteHQ

https://www.instagram.com/kitehq/

Press enquiries please contact jgreen@mysticsons.com

Rocking to the 9’s

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Oliver Marson is dropping a new video, ‘To The Nine’ s’, following on the heels of his previous singles’ Cocaine Romance’ and ‘Time for Love’.

With his unique musical styling of sound and sights, Oliver has created a video that channels the flashback machine to honour his musical inspirations, Bryan Ferry, David Bowie and Serge Gainsbourg. The music itself takes us back to the tunes of his hero’s and the video continues that theme.

With extravagant costumes and featuring himself in various characters, Oliver has crafted video that that looks behind for inspiration and forward with current musical tastes that features retro sounds that evoke modern music.

Oliver tells us:

The new video is “inspired by meme culture, the kind of aesthetic pop stars like Miss World and Charli XCX have perfected. I am dressed as all sorts of characters (a cardinal, in drag, as a french legionnaire) against a green screen in keeping with the song subject of being ‘dressed to the nines. It’s all improvised, as we wanted to make something quite lo-fi and spontaneous”.

The new track explores the argument used by misogynists and their belief that women who have been assaulted are to blame because of their choice of clothing.  “I wanted to write from the perspective of a bitter misogynist and ‘To the Nines’ is an exposition of toxic male thinking. ‘To the Nines’ being an old English expression, which means ‘to dress flamboyantly or buoyantly”.

‘The nature of the recording was very spontaneous; I came into a studio with just a couple of chords and a vague idea of what I wanted the song to be. In the end, it was very natural, and the song seemed to flow from one idea to another, which culminated in quite a flamboyant sound, mirroring the song’s title. The way I see it, what better way is there to tackle this subject than a bit of flamboyance.”

This video is far more than a vehicle to present Oliver’s music. It explores a problematic and often jarring reality and brings it to us a teaching tool. I enjoyed this video, and I suggest it as a great track to dance along with. Enjoy your summer and live safely.

https://open.spotify.com/track/48IYKF90FUpcapN8a7wwnv?si=ikUg4UkKTcizoBa0EQ0xlA

https://twitter.com/oliver_marson

https://soundcloud.com/olivermarson

https://www.instagram.com/oliver.marson

https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/oliver-marson/1463994395

https://www.facebook.com/oliver.marsonhttps://twitter.com/oliver_marson

Press enquiries please contact jgreen@mysticsons.com

Warrior

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French producers and brothers Supernaive are releasing new single ‘Warriors, taken from their debut album Nekomata. Mixing electronica with R&B they present a palate for the vocals of Carmeline, who also stars in the video:

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ1pvnD1yGo&feature=emb_title

Recorded between Paris and Tokyo, the record features elements of electronica and RnB while drawing on Japanese cultural reference points, most obviously in the masks, they wear which are a symbol of eternal youth in Japanese Noh theatre.

The soundtrack provides the backdrop for the narrative of the song – Carmeline is a warrior running from something or someone through terrain that varies from the stark almost Matian rocky outcrops to fields of plenty. There are two scenes of Carmiline setting a car on fire and walking away.

The first fire could be the start of her conflict. The second opens the door to the end of the battle, where we see the Japanese masks.

Inspired by early Tomb Raider games along with the tension found in 1970s thrillers such as Spielberg’s Duel, the video plays out Carmeline’s lyrical story, depicting her being hunted in a high-speed pursuit across an unforgiving wasteland.

‘Warriors’ will be available everywhere from May 22nd 2020. 

D I S C O V E R

https://www.facebook.com/supernaivemusic
https://www.instagram.com/s.u.p.e.r.n.a.i.v.e
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYeDyyEJ51ov6eps7cniNCA

For press enquiries contact jgreen@mysticsons.com

I ‘don’t know (what to do)’

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Coverart copy (1)

Mia Berg has graced my listening with a song about being vulnerable and not having the slightest idea about how to move forward. However she does not allow that emotion dull her need to express herself and she deftly weaves that story with music that supports the story without weighing it down.

Mia’s lyrics touch on more than one life moment.

I don’t know what to do after school.

I don’t know what to do when I retire.

I don’t know what to do on my day off

I don’t know what to do after a complicated relationship ended.

I don’t know what to do about a lot of things in life, and this song captures that particular moment and gives it a voice.

In Mia’s own words she tells us, “The song is really just about being vulnerable, and about letting go and the fear of someone leading you on or letting you down if you decide to let them in.”.

Without a lot of flash, but with a lot of integrity, Mia has crafted a soundscape that captures the feeling of not knowing what to do. 

A feeling of anxiety, helplessness and confusion winds it way through the music that supports the song without getting in the way of the words. 

Intentionally or not, Mia has voiced what many of us may be feeling through the Covid-19 experience.

While It’s not easy to admit that we have no idea what to do, Mia has brought that courage to the forefront and given voice to what many have felt but did’t know how to say.

This single is from the EP coming out later in the year through Tik Records.

Discover Mia Berg

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tik-music/tik56-mia-berg-dont-know-what-to-do/s-CAZdCv54hxu

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6zTIHIKMneCUV3Qb2yULkx?si=-oX48uBYTeOM6jLrLEc9IA

Popmani: http://popmani.se/upptack-mia-berg-you-decided/

Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/10496043

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/no/artist/mia-berg/1044830483?l=nb

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miamiaberg/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miabeerg/

don’t know (what to do: written by Mia Berg Rønning

Producer: Henrik Lillehaug

Label: Tik Records

Coverart/photo: Guro Sommer

contact: miabergproduction@gmail.com

label/promo Norway: sverre@tikmusic.no

promo UK: james@mysticsons.com

Kidsmoke – The Bluest You

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‘

Wrexham’s Kidsmoke have just dropped new video ‘The Bluest You’ to announce their debut album, described by The Line Of Best Fit as ‘hazy and euphoric’. The band has just signed for 2020 to Libertino Records, and have just announced their long-awaited debut album coming 19th June 2020.

Kidsmoke – ‘”The Bluest You” Debut album coming 19th June, 2020 Via Libertino Records

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Quote:

“This song is a favourite of ours and takes up that all-important position of the last track on A Vision In The Dark. To us it’s full of intricacies, layers, textures and swirling vocals, so when Edwin (Burdis) shared his initial ideas about the direction of the video we knew immediately that he’d hit the nail on the head. We loved the idea of constant movement and of abstract shapes and colours – you never quite work out what / who you’re looking at before it moves onto something else.

We filmed the video in just under 3 hours (that’s got to be some kind of record…?) at Roc2 Studios in Wrexham. It wasn’t really like any other video shoot we’ve done before, but Edwin seemed to have everything mapped out perfectly in his mind so we knew we were in safe hands.”

Goldzbrough – Like It Was

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Ahh, the memories of summers gone past. I was cruising in my ’58 Pontiac with the windows down and the stereo up. Drive-in movies, bush parties, laughs, love, love lost and remember it like it was.
These memories were sparked by a listen to a song, ‘Like It Was’ by Goldzbrough. The London based producer with an impressive CV that includes stints with Ed Sheeran and James Bay, among others. Crisscrossing the Atlantic Ocean between Los Angeles and London has sharpened his craft of creating music. Goldzbrough’s love of rock/pop classics, like Simon and Garfunkel and the Who, is given a twist that sounds new and fresh.
His lyrics explore love and good times that are relatable and creates a springboard to happy memories of days that make me say that is ‘Like It Was’.

‘Like it was’ reminisces over happy recollections and stories from the past and having the desire to go back and relive them one last time. Possessing a euphoric quality, the feel-good track is a sleek breezy Pop production, whilst hints of Hip-Hop rhythms glimmer through his hazy vocal.
‘Like It Was’ is out now, via Inspirit Music Productions.

https://www.instagram.com/GOLDZBROUGH/

https://www.facebook.com/goldzbrough/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt4bRkbeN23pYOuF3BTxNgQ

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/globalnetwork-music/sets/cool-moments-1
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2aarv53NAJNUeAAzv4BzNk?si=lh8yVmcOQuG7oHJKryCR-Q

Press enquiries please contact johan@mysticsons.com

Global Network

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From the suburbs of Paris, Global Network has set their sights on exporting their music around the world through global networks. 

Global Network is Loris Sasso and Nils Peschanski. Although they both grew up in the suburbs of Paris, it took a few years for them to connect the dots and make music together.

“We complement each other pretty well”, says Loris. “Nils has the grounding in musical theory, so when it comes to finding chords, it’s like going to the supermarket, there’s plenty of choice. He throws out loads of ideas and easily finds beautiful sounds with his synth. Then I take care of the beats and vocal melodies. But we’re always guiding each other to get the best result for the track.

Their first ever show happened in 2019, in the suburb of Essonne (aka ‘le 91’), where Nils grew up, but since then they’ve toured Slovenia and played in the UK, at festivals, in a high school, even in a prison. We like new and different experiences,” they say, a point reflected in the name Global Network.

Touching on universal themes such as the relentless pursuit of love on the song ‘Want You’ to their paean to lost love on ‘Let Me Go’, Global Network make accessible music.“We were looking for something fun with a touch of naïve ambition, like an import-export business planning to take on the world from its base in the Gare du Nord. It doesn’t bracket us in any particular style. But also, over time, it’s also become about our desire to connect with people through our music, and to live new experiences.”

Global Network looks forward to doing live shows where they can explore their sound and adapt in on the fly. Live they leave themselves the freedom to adapt tracks, extend them, feeding into and feeding off the energy of crowds. Loris can croon sensitively on the slower jams or ride, the faster rhythms as the energy builds. For their shows, they’ve made a conscious decision to steer clear of laptops and focus on the immediacy of drum machines (two Elektrons) and a Korg for the warm washes of synth. “It took quite a while to get the set up right,” they say, “but it really enriches our sound in terms of the precision and its personal, raw feel.”

Global Networks EP, Cool Moments is being released May 22, 2020

For press enquiries contact jgreen@mysticsons.com