Burr Island
English Roses
West Country
 
Since their recent high-flying release Nunney Town, West Country duo Burr Island return with English Roses. A rock n roll staple with a classic feel already, their previous track was snapped up by BBC Radio 2. Recorded at Devon’s Kundalini Studio and produced by Steve Cradock, the same from Ocean Colour Scene Paul Weller, and The Specials credit, this new offering takes a more political edge. The band delve into the xenophobia that they found while growing up in small towns. Other cultures lead to other behaviours, and these can be signals for our subconscious mind to be aware. This is natural and probably useful but treating people differently because of where they’re from is how tensions are fostered. When stranger danger becomes stranger degradation then the scene is set for disaster. If people are genuinely anxious of new faces, they need to be comforted and given time. Let’s see what Burr Island have to say about it with English Roses.
 
Beautiful picked acoustic guitar tones spill out from the intro. A duet of vocals breaks forward to design a melancholy nostalgia in lyrical form. Silken tones harmonise over the story about the past. The tale turns to the sharing of time with a neighbour who only grows English Roses. Refusing to see the beauty in the other breeds, the neighbour is filled with hate. A statement about the moral stance of being welcoming to other cultures, sometimes the weeds in our garden are what the natural economy is begging for.

​Find out more on the Burr Island website 

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TOUR DATES:

Supporting Ocean Colour Scene

18/8/23- Margate- Dreamland

20/8/23- Bexhill- De la Warr Pavilion

24/8/23- Halifax- New Victoria Theatre

03/12/23- Bournemouth- o2 Academy

04/12/23- Bristol- Beacon

07/12/23- Belfast- Telegraph

08/12/23- Dublin- Olympia

09/12/23- Dublin- Olympia

11/12/23- Liverpool- University (Mountford Hall)

12/12/23- Sheffield- o2 Academy

14/12/23- Norwich- UEA

15/12/23- Wolverhampton- The Halls

16/12/23- London- Eventim Apollo

18/12/23- Glasgow- o2 Academy

19/12/23- Glasgow- o2 Academy

20/12/23- Glasgow- o2 Academy

Konerytmi
Avanto
Science Cult Records
 
A brand-new heavy-weight debut EP smashes onto the airwaves with Avanta from Konerytmi. This intelligent dance music production sees choppy techno electronica blast with dark and funky undertones. An EP release was established on the 4th of August, available from Science Cult. The indie label with an impressive roster of underground producers can sit back with their feet up for a while now they’ve acquired this inventive and invigorating record. The first track from the EP is almost the same as the title, only a different gender.
 
The track opens with a scattered bass drum and throbbing synthesisers that add to the pulse. A dancing energy immediately takes effect as the rhythms escalate with layers and mixing. Bass joins the flow in a beat driven surge of electronic sound sculpture. Fluid drifting follows the neat packages of percussion and tone that take simultaneous turns in their expression. A rhythmic motion continues as repeating loops gather peripheral sounds and vibrant energies. Dance music for high-intensity movement, Avanto from Konerytmi is as impressive as it is rooted in classic sounds. 

Find out more on the Science Cult website

You can follow Science Cult on Facebook

and Instagram
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Support the artist and buy the music from Bandcamp

MP Grey
A Nice Retreat
Featuring Rudiger
 
Having been releasing consistently top-drawer material over the past few years, Germany’s Martin Polle AKA MP Grey is speedily ascending the ranks of the scene. An acclaimed producer and songwriter, MP Grey is quickly gathering fans across Europe and the United States. His cross-over style makes use of the best ingredients and the passionately practised skills of professional musicianship. Featuring Rudiger, an equally as lauded vocalist, this latest track is A Nice Retreat.
 
It breaks open with a snapping rhythm and immediate vocals. Melodic lines begin to describe holiday experiences with tangible quality. Keyboards begin to enchant with tuneful bursts that progress into harmonies and rhythmic waves. The lyrics continue to create the image of being in a warm shady place with sunshine radiating all around us. A place where we can disappear from the stresses of the world and the extra responsibilities we put upon ourselves is created in our minds as the music bobs along like a relaxing inflatable raft.
 
You can follow MP Grey on Facebook

and Instagram
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Harry Stafford and Marco Butcher
Walk Among The Spectres
Black Lagoon Records
 
Combining their creativity across transatlantic collaboration, Manchester’s Harry Stafford has aligned with USA guitarist Marco Butcher to bring us this new single. This first snippet from the new album, We Are The Perilous Men due out in the Autumn, takes the Inca Babies founder and former frontman to the trash-blues sounds of North Carolina. Filmed at a local 16th Century cemetery in Manchester’s suburbs, the music video gives the duo a sense of the traditional to match the cutting-edge compositions and style. From the days of 2021, when the pair made history with Bone Architecture, this latest record continues the theme of passing ideas back and forth between the two English speaking nations.
 
Background ambience rises into a groovy drumbeat that’s dressed in classy chords. The melodic progression forms a marching beat as the lyrics begin with punctual style. Elaborate reverb spaces out the delivery as a chunky rhythm section plods with surging blues and rock n roll vibes. Elements of the classic Doors keyboard sound build in the inflections as the chorus rises with a graceful incline. Chugging riffs lay down the tundra that escapes out of view as we trudge through a breezy and inventive score.

You can follow Harry Stafford on Facebook

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and Instagram

Buy the music from Harry Stafford on Bandcamp

You can follow Marco Butcher on Twitter
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Soda Blonde
Bad Machine
Ireland
 
Yesterday saw the video release of Bad Machine from Ireland’s Soda Blonde. The new album is on its way and is expected to be on your playlist at the beginning of September. With a muse on modern malfunction running through the video’s theme, the warm and inviting style of the band draw us in to gaze on the ideas. Building from the initial outlay from their debut in 2021, this new collection of recordings takes the angsty and unstable youth to initiated adults with a greater depth and sturdy subject matters.
 
A fiery riff opens the tune with a sense of punk and modern electronica. The pulsing distortion rises as dancing snare-driven rhythms beat from the centre. A lush vocal builds in poignant lines as the percussion drives the progression. The melodic guitar chords continue to push out their rhythmic surges as the song spirals into spires of feeling and vocal melody. Catchy and snappy beats jostle with highly motivating chord progressions and synthesised sounds that scatter and focus the energies in turn.
 
Find out more on the Soda Blonde website

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Christopher Hawkins and North Machine
I See You
Featuring James Bacon and Jody Davies
 
The new record released on Friday has hit the streaming sites and beyond. It’s been a while since the secretive Sheffield resident made a musical move and he’s done it with force. The recent recording was made with his new band North Machine. The album is based on the Park Hill estate, where I once lived, and is about the social issues that are known to arise. Delving into the “compassion and humanity” of those who did and still do live there, the album called No One Talks features several local names. No One Talks gives North Machine and Christopher Hawkins the foundation stone they need for building their opus to last the years like this latest subject.
 
The track begins with a volley of piano that cascades in arpeggio style gallops into rhythm. A wailing distorted guitar focuses the intent as the drums and vocals begin to tell the story. A tale of people-watching and presuming on the activities around us carries us into a rock and roll sensation of thrust. A pulsing guitar hits the bass as the piano phrase continues to rain down outside. The vocals grow into the heavy shoes as each passing verse takes the energy a little further. An evocative and passionate delivery sits on top of bluesy electric guitars and stylish runs of fancy finger-work.
 
You can follow Christopher Hawkins on Instagram
 
Find out more on the Christopher Hawkins linktree.