Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 1797

Skott Shares New Track "Remain."

SKOTT SHARES BROODING, ATMOSPHERIC NEW TRACK, “REMAIN” - OUT TODAY LISTEN
“REMAIN”
Apple Music | iTunes | Spotify | Google Play

Today, Scandinavian songstress Skott shared a brand new track titled “Remain,” the flipside to her current single “Mermaid.”  The track received its worlwide premiere on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 show and is available in the U.S. via RCA Records from today. Listen to “Remain” HERE.

“Remain” was written from a place of heartbreak and acceptance, the singer explains; "I fell madly in love when I was 13, and for five years we were inseparable. But sometimes we’re powerless against change – this song is about the pain of growing apart, and accepting that sometimes we have to leave something behind in order to move forward.  How do you tell that to someone, when it’s already hard enough to accept it yourself?”

Side-by-side, “Mermaid” and “Remain” showcase the scintillating, other-worldly sound of this innovative young Scandinavian musician. Producing her finest work to date, Skott boldly resets the bar for the engrossing leftfield pop that she’s so quickly become renowned for. With each new track, the mystery shrouded in Skott’s initial introduction sheds another layer to welcome one of the most exciting young artists of recent years. Watch the breathtaking Emile Rafael-directed video for “Mermaid” HERE.

“Remain” follows previous releases, including “Mermaid,” “Glitter & Gloss,” “Lack of Emotion,” “Amelia,” “Wolf” and her stunning debut single from last summer, “Porcelain,” which snagged a coveted slot on the official FIFA 17 soundtrack. Watch the Zhang + Knight-directed video for “Glitter & Gloss” HERE.

After dazzling crowds at SXSW in March, and with sold-out shows in both LA and New York already under her belt, the enchanting singer-songwriter Skott recently returned to North America, playing three prestigious summer festivals including Wayhome, Lollapalooza and Osheaga. In addition to these festival dates, the captivating singer/songwriter supported Phantogram for two special US shows. She is slated to hit the road with MØ this fall, playing several European dates. For a full list live dates and further information, please visit www.facebook.com/skottmusic

Across the Atlantic, Skott has been busy working on new material set for release throughout the year, along with a highly anticipated full-length album, expected in 2018.

Since making her debut last year, Skott has been steadily racking up support online, topping HypeMachine’s ‘Most Blogged’ chart numerous times, with her songs popping up on several Spotify ‘New Music Friday’ playlists and massive radio support from the likes of Annie Mac (Radio 1), Zane Lowe (Beats1) and KCRW (Jason Kramer). Described as “mesmerizing” by  The   FADER , “menacing and magical” by  Noisey  and "definitely worth paying attention to” by  Pigeons   &   Planes , Skott has even received high profile endorsements on Twitter from both Katy Perry and Lorde. Most recently VEVO dscvr included the Swedish singer in their ‘Ones to Watch 2017’ list. Check out an exclusive live performance of “Porcelain” HERE. There’s no question that Skott is one to watch in 2017 and beyond.“Remain”
Apple Music | iTunes | Spotify | Google Play


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The Growlers Six Single Day Tickets On Sale Now!

The Growlers Present | October 28 + 29, 2017 | LA Waterfront
SINGLE DAY TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Tickets: TheGrowlersSix.com Buy Now

BOB MOULD CAL JAM 17 & HEADLINE DATES THROUGH OCTOBER

BOB MOULDCAL JAM 17 & HEADLINE DATES THROUGH OCTOBER33 1/3: WORKBOOK TO BE PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 7 BY BLOOMSBURYThe ever tireless Bob Mould has added a handful of Pacific Northwest headline dates and an appearance at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival to his October touring calendar.That same weekend will see Bob and band heading to Golden Gate Park for an October 8 set at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2017. Bob will round out October with a trio of solo shows in the Pacific Northwest: October 20 at Doug Fir in Portland, October 21 at The Crocodile in Seattle, and October 22 at the Rickshaw Theater in Vancouver, BC.The newly announced October dates are the last scheduled appearances on a marathon run touched off with the March 2016 release of Patch The Sky on Merge Records. Hailed upon its release as “conjuring the ecstatic rage of his earlier bands for a grim new era” in a four-star ROLLING STONE review and as “tight, sharp musings on aging, fizzled relationships and death that are melodic enough to sound like songs of victory” by THE NEW YORK TIMES, Patch The Skycompleted a trilogy including its 2014 predecessor Beauty & Ruin and 2012’s Silver Age. Bob and the band commemorated Patch The Sky’s release with an April 25 debut performance on Late Show with Stephen Colbert, offering up not only a fiery rendition of “The End Of Things” but also a gratis session of backstage guitar lessons:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH6-hz4WuG8A month to the day before Cal Jam kicks off the October dates, Bob’s classic 1989 solo debut Workbook will be the subject of the latest in the prestigious 33 1/13 book series. Written by Walter Biggins and Daniel Couch, 33 1/3: Workbook will be published September 7 by Bloomsbury and will see Workbook added to the storied 33 1/13 bibliography alongside the likes of The Smiths’ Meat Is Murder, The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Electric Ladyland, The Beatles’ Let It Be, The Velvet Underground & Nico, Radiohead’s OK Computer, Joy Division’sUnknown Pleasures and The Rolling Stones’ Exile On Main Street to name but a few. For further information, go tohttps://333sound.com/2017/07/27/introducing-our-33-13-on-bob-moulds-workbook/Finally, Bob has signed on to produce the new album for Fury Things, the Minneapolis rock trio who supported Bob’s live shows in 2014 and 2016. Sessions have been slated at Tiny Telephone in Oakland and Different Fur in San Francisco in October, marking the first time Bob has served a producer for a fellow artist since his work with Vic Chesnutt and Verbow more than 20 years ago.10/7/17 – San Bernardino, CA – Cal Jam 17
10/8/17 – San Francisco, CA – Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2017
10/20/17 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
10/21/17 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
10/22/17 – Vancouver, BC, Canada – Rickshaw Theatre

NPR FIRST LISTEN STREAMING ANTISOCIALITES NOW

NPR FIRST LISTEN STREAMINGANTISOCIALITES NOW 
OUT SEPTEMBER 8TH ON POLYVINYL  Stream Antisocialites via NPR First Listen
"For all the noisy textures and shimmering sing-alongs onAntisocialites, Alvvays seem intent on masking pain while convincing others, and perhaps themselves, that everything's fine. It's a tricky balancing act, but that's what makes this band so damn endearing."- NPR
Early Acclaim For Antisocialites:
"Alvvays never second-guess their core strength: anthemic, arm-swaying hooks that aim for the stars even when the sky is gray." Pitchfork
"Canadian guitar romantics Alvvays mix pleasant noises and chill dejection, and the result is a perfect indie-rock lullaby." Rolling Stone on "In Undertow"
"Shellacking a tight pop number in feedback is a worn recipe for success, but in the hands of Molly Rankin, Alvvay's noisy rock is an unexpected gift." New York Magazine
"Light, literal dream pop that's almost too pure for this world." SPIN
"The band has kept their rivers of reverb, which sometimes makes them sound as though they're playing to an empty middle-school gymnasium, an image that fittingly blends sweetness with melancholy." Vulture
"Lead single "In Undertow" contains all of the elements that were initially so charming about the Toronto five-piece blown up to fuzzy and dreamy new heights." Stereogum
""In Undertow", "Dreams Tonite", and the as-yet-unheard "Plimsoll Punks" are as bright and charming as everything we've come to expect from the band."Consequence of Sound
"The great thing about Alvvays is that they know what they do well - create objectively good, beautiful indie pop - and they are evidently doing it again with Antisocialites"Uproxx
"Impossibly bright, effects-heavy guitar lines swirl around Molly Rankin's breathy and beautiful vocals, combining to create an intoxicating whole." Paste Magazine
"A very nice dose of their melodic, emotional indie pop, complete with a shoegazy guitar solo." Brooklyn Vegan on "In Undertow"
"The magnificent Alvvays and their absolutely beautiful sound are back with "In Undertow." It's a soulful, melodic masterpiece."  Impose
"More lovelorn sun-spotted jangly jams done in only the charming way the Toronto quartet know how." My Old Kentucky Blog

Upcoming Tour Dates:09/02 - Larmer Tree Gardens, UK @ End of the Road Festival
09/03 - Birmingham, UK @ Institute 2 $
09/04 - Nottingham, UK @ Rescue Rooms $
09/06 - Oxford, UK @ Bullingdon Arms $
09/07 - Manchester, UK @ Gorilla [SOLD OUT]
09/08 - London, UK @ Koko [SOLD OUT]
09/09 - Bristol, UK @ Thekla [SOLD OUT]
09/11 - Paris, France @ Point Ephemere $
09/12 - Cologne, Germany @ Blue Shell $
09/13 - Hamburg, Germany @ Molotow $
09/14 - Berlin, Germany @ Musik & Frieden $
09/16 - Antwerp, Belgium @ Trix $
09/17 - Utrecht, Netherlands @ Ekko $
09/18 - Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Bitterzoet $
09/30 - Long Beach, CA @ Music Tastes Good Festival
10/03 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
10/05 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel #
10/06 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer #
10/07 - Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel # [SOLD OUT]
10/08 - Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel #  [SOLD OUT]
10/11 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West #
10/12 - Nashville, TN @ Exit/In #
10/13 - Birmingham, AL @ Saturn #
10/14 - New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks #
10/16 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall Downstairs #
10/17 - Austin, TX @ The Mohawk #
10/18 - Dallas, TX @ Trees #
10/20 - Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf #
10/21 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar # [SOLD OUT]
10/24 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore #
10/26 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge $
10/27 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge $ [SOLD OUT]
10/28 - Seattle, WA @ The Showbox $
10/30 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge $
10/31 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater $
11/02 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue $
11/03 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall $
11/04 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick $
12/13 - Toronto, CA @ ModClub [SOLD OUT]
12/14 - Toronto, CA @ ModClub [SOLD OUT]
12/15 - Toronto, CA @ ModClub [SOLD OUT]
12/16 - Toronto, CA @ ModClub [SOLD OUT]
$ w/ ALASKALASKA
# w/ Nap Eyes
$ w/ Jay Som

MARC ALMOND // Shadows And Reflections (release date September 22, 2017)

MARC ALMOND
Shadows And Reflections
BMG
22 September 2017MARC ALMOND ANNOUNCES SHADOWS AND REFLECTIONS - NEW ALBUM OF 1960’SORCHESTRAL BAROQUE POP AND TORCH SONGS OUT SEPTEMBER 22 VIA BMG & AVAILABLE NOW FOR PRE-ORDER
 “Almond continues to be the most multidimensional of artistes” -Mojo 
 Shadows And Reflections is the new album by Marc Almond, set for release September 22 via BMG. It features sumptuous arrangements of iconic torch songs and 1960s orchestral pop for which he is beloved, as well as two new original compositions. The album features songs written and recorded by artists such as Burt Bacharach, The Action, The Yardbirds, Bobby Darin, Julie Driscoll, Billy Fury, and the Young Rascals.

Marc Almond's Shadows And Reflections is the first album of an exclusive recording deal with BMG! An album of original songs will follow in 2019. Songs And Reflections is available now for pre-order, and includes the track "Not For Me," available for download and streaming. You can listen to the song below.
  Marc Almond - "Not For Me" (Official Audio)
 "The Overture," "Interval," and "No One To Say Goodnight To" set and frame the album's mood - composed and orchestrated by long-time collaborator John Harle. "It's a sea of lush strings, lilting guitar, choral harmonies, and full, panoramic sound. I wanted it to have the feel of a very late 1960s Italian cinema soundtrack," says Marc. "Everything stems from and returns back to that final track," with the album thematically beginning and ending in an apartment.

Marc continues, "It's about this guy that's living in a luxury, expansive, glass apartment overlooking the city, filled with sculpture and beautiful things, an empty soulless shell, surrounded by absurd wealth. He is sitting alone and I imagine listening to this music, possibly the songs that make up this album. He's rich in the bank but the poorest person you know."

Shadows And Reflections sees Marc delve into the mood music of orchestral and baroque pop songs with orchestrated arrangements and productions typical of the songs of that time. The album includes covers of the Young Rascals' "How Can I Be Sure" (also made famous by David Cassidy), The Herd's "From The Underworld," The Yardbirds' "Still I'm Sad," and Julie Driscoll's "I Know You Love Me Not." The title track "Shadows And Reflections" is based on the version by mod legends The Action, while also featured is Burt Bacharach’s "Blue On Blue," Bobby Darin's "Not For Me," and the Johnny Mandel standard "The Shadow Of Your Smile."

Marc explains: “I particularly like the strangeness of many of those 60’s records - the oddness about them, sometimes unsettling, out of the mould, that light psychedelia approach from the early Floyd records, Sgt Pepper and Soft Machine.”

Marc Almond’s deep affection for brilliantly arranged 1960s pop has been prevalent throughout his career and has served him well. His versions of "Jacky," "The Days Of Pearly Spencer," "Tainted Love," "Something Gotten Hold Of My Heart," and "What!" have become much treasured recordings from an artist who can take an old song and bring it new life with impeccable style. A look at Marc’s popular 60s Spotify playlists gives insight into the sounds and singers that continue to inspire him.

Marc has announced a new UK tour starting on October 3 at London's Royal Festival Hall, and across 18 dates he will perform with a full orchestra playing songs from Shadows And Reflections 

2017 cements the 60th Birthday year for the singer who Observer noted "has never stood still," and comes after great success of the Top 10 album Hits And Pieces, which was followed by a sold-out Spring tour including a triumphant show at London's Roundhouse.

Says Marc: “My audience may not be familiar with a lot of these songs, so I had to bear that in mind. Whereas if you're an afficionado and you know how brilliant you are, you'll see I've not re-invented them an awful lot because I thought the arrangements so good in the first place. These songs just need to be put out there again so people can hear them. Me singing them introduces the songs to a different audience and brings them out to the light."  Marc Almond - Shadows And ReflectionsTracklisting01. Overture02. Shadows And Reflections03. I’m Lost Without You04. How Can I Be Sure05. Something Bad On My Mind06. Blue On Blue07. I Know You Love Me Not08. Interlude09. From The Underworld10. Still I’m Sad11. Embers12. Not For Me13. All Thoughts Of Time14. The Shadow of Your Smile15. No One To Say Good Night To Available Now For Pre-Order 
UK Tour Dates
3 October – London Royal Festival Hall
5 October – Guildford G Live
9 October – Scunthorpe Bath Hall
10 October – Leeds Town Hall
12 October – Portsmouth Guildhall
14 October – Ipswich Regent Theatre
15 October – Oxford New Theatre
17 October – Birmingham Symphony Hall
19 October – Manchester Bridgewater Hall
20 October – Bristol Colston Hall
21 October – Cambridge Corn Exchange
23 October – Southend Cliffs Pavilion
26 October – Poole Lighthouse
30 October – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
31 October – Nottingham Concert Hall
3 November – Bridlington Spa
4 November – Newcastle Tyne Theatre
5 November – Edinburgh Usher Hall

Tickets     
For more information on Marc Almond:
Official Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

SINCERELY, L. COHEN: A LIVE CELEBRATION OF LEONARD COHEN LIVE ALBUM

SINCERELY, L. COHEN: A LIVE CELEBRATION OF LEONARD COHENLIVE ALBUM TO BE RELEASED DIGITALLYON SEPTEMBER 21 (LEONARD COHEN'S BIRTHDAY)AND LIMITED EDITION VINYL FOR THE HOLIDAYS
FIRST SONG, DELICATE STEVE'S "HALLELUJAH," RELEASED TODAY
 SINCERELY, L. COHEN: A LIVE CELEBRATION OF LEONARD COHENwill be released on September 21 via the Royal Potato Family. Legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen died on November 7, 2016, one day before the 2016 Presidential Election, but the world didn't find out for several days after. On January 24, 2017 (shortly after the inauguration of Donald Trump and the succeeding Women's March), New York City finally paid tribute to the Poet Prince of Montréal with a concert at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, featuring dozens of singers, songwriters and musicians, including Richard Thompson, Josh Ritter, Will Sheff (Okkervil River), Amy Helm, Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group), Elvis Perkins, Holly Miranda, Joan As Police Woman, Delicate Steve, and many more. It was an evening the Village Voice called "a loving, thoughtful tribute to Cohen's life in music and poetry." The live album features highlight performances from this nearly three-hour marathon concert, which the Voice also hailed as a "carefully constructed, expertly structured production." Pitchfork premiered Delicate Steve's version of "Hallelujah" today.
LISTEN TO DELICATE STEVE'S "HALLELUJAH" HERE
The concert and subsequent album was produced by Cohen fans Jesse Lauter (Tedeschi Trucks Band), Hannah Gold (City Winery Presents), and Josh Kaufman. Kaufman (Guitar- Bob Weir) led the house band, which featured first-rate New York-based musicians including Ray Rizzo (Drums- Yo Yo Ma), Walt Martin (Keys- The Walkmen), Annie Nero (Bass- Craig Finn), Stuart Bogie (Brass & Woodwinds- Arcade Fire), Nick Kinsey (Percussions- Kevin Morby), and Dave Harrington (Guitar- Darkside), punctuated by a backing vocal trio that Cohen would have been proud of-Jocie Adams, Cassandra Jenkins and Leslie Mendelson.
In the liner notes to this collection, music critic Justin Joffe writes, "Sincerely, L. Cohen: A Live Celebration of Leonard Cohen could have been a solemn affair. But all performers took the celebration part to heart, infusing Cohen's most somber truths with equal parts reverence and reverie. The evening found a mix of New York icons, esteemed singer-songwriters, cult performers, and up-and-comers for a night of Cohen standards, stories and deep cuts." Joffe continues, "Sentimental and scholarly, full of tearful singalongs and heartfelt remembrance, it was an evening Cohen would have appreciated."
The album will be made available on all digital-streaming platforms on Thursday September 21, what would have been Leonard Cohen's 83rd birthday. A limited-edition double vinyl run of 500 units is available for preorder and will hit stores in time for the holidays. All proceeds from album sales will go to the Preemptive Love Coalition, a non-profit organization that aids children and families affected by terrorism and other crises in the Middle East across the globe. For more information, visit: www.preemptivelove.org.


COMPLETE TRACKLISTING:
Hallelujah- Delicate SteveSisters of Mercy- Leslie MendelsonDiamonds In The Mine- Osei EssedI'm Your Man- Holly Miranda, Joan As Police Woman & Invisible FamiliarsChelsea Hotel #2- Josh RitterHey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye- Amy HelmIs This What You Wanted- Elvis PerkinsBird On The Wire- Richard ThompsonStory Of Isaac- Richard ThompsonBeautiful Losers- Lenny KayeMemories- Ian O'Neil (Deer Tick)In My Secret Life- Cassandra JenkinsBallad of The Absent Mare- Teddy ThompsonSuzanne- Alana AmramFamous Blue Raincoat- Lee RanaldoSo Long, Marianne- Will Sheff & Friends

Hurray for the Riff Raff Unveils Music Video for "Living in the City"

Hurray for the Riff Raff Unveils Music Video for "Living in the City"'THE NAVIGATOR' NOMINATED FOR AMERICANA MUSIC AWARDS "ALBUM OF THE YEAR," HURRY FOR THE RIFF RAFF TO PERFORM AT AWARDS CEREMONY
Hurray for the Riff Raff has unveiled the music video for “Living in the City” today, via Pitchfork. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8k6msNLoQwThe song is from the recently released full-length ‘The Navigator’ (ATO Records) which received career-best reviews and landed Alynda Segarra performances on The Daily Show, CONAN, a NY Times feature, NPR’s Morning Edition and more. The album has appeared on several “Best Of 2017 So Far” lists including Billboard, Rolling Stone, Spin, Mojo and Stereogum. ‘The Navigator’ has also been nominated for “Album of the Year” at the 2017 Americana Music Awards, and Hurray for the Riff Raff will perform at the awards ceremony in Nashville on September 13.  The vibrant video was filmed in New York City and brings to life the story of ‘The Navigator,’ which Alynda Segarra crafted around a character named Navita, a wandering soul and street kid at a crossroads of identity and ancestral weight. In the video, Navita (played by Segarra), is joined by her crew The Mariposas, a tight unit that weave through the streets and dance on a rooftop as the sun sets behind them.“I wanted Giselle Bailey to direct ‘Living in the City’ because I am a fan of her work and I knew she understood that I wanted to represent the New York City I grew up with. Women taking over public space and making room for ourselves in a society where we are so often threatened into hiding. I learned at a young age that survival in the city for me meant having a crew. Together we could move through the concrete maze and create some sense of freedom.” – Alynda SegarraWatch Segarra perform “Living In The City” live on The Daily Show from earlier this year:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM17KT5bDBsThe track was included as one of Spin’s “SONGS OF THE SUMMER”:https://www.spin.com/2017/08/our-songs-of-the-summer/ 
PRAISE FOR ‘THE NAVIGATOR’“This is the essence of roots music...a rich, courageous new album” – NPR “A major leap forward for an artist whose previous work now seems like a warm-up...” – AMERICAN SONGWRITER“The result is a style of eclectic Americana that re ects the country in all its multitudes” – THE WASHINGTON POST“A coming of age concept LP about a young woman that suggests Patti Smith as a barrio poet...” – ROLLING STONE“Masterful... bursts with anthems” – ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY"The Navigator is top contender in my heart for album of the year” - No Depression “This narrative is rare, yet so vital” – BROOKLYN VEGAN
UPCOMING HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF TOUR DATES:
Sept 8 - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC *
Sept 9 - Hopscotch Music Festival - Raleigh, NC
Sept 10 - The National - Richmond, VA *
Sept 11 - Rams Head Live - Baltimore, MD *Sept 13 - Americana Awards Show @ Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN
Sept 15 - Swyer Theatre @ The Egg - Albany, NY *
Sept 16 - Grand Point North - Burlington, VT
Sept 17 - POP Montreal - Montreal, Canada
Sept 28-30 - Trans-Pecos Festival - Marfa, TX
Oct 10 - Lampedusa: Concert for Refugees @ The Wiltern - Los Angeles, CA (featuring Joan Baez, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Alynda Segarra and special guests)
Oct 17 - Koko - London, United Kingdom #
Oct 18 - Arts Club - Liverpool, United Kingdom #
Oct 19 - Whelans - Dublin, Ireland #
Oct 21 - Saint Luke's - Glasgow, United Kingdom #
Oct 22 - Rescue Rooms - Nottingham, United Kingdom
Oct 23 - Trinity Centre - Bristol, United Kingdom #
Oct 25 - Wedgewood Rooms - Southsea, United Kingdom #
Oct 26 - Point Ephémère - Paris, France #
Oct 27 - Doornroosje - Nijmegen, Netherlands #
Oct 28 - Paradiso - Amsterdam, Netherlands #
Oct 30 - PostenOdense C, Denmark #
Oct 31 - Lille Vega - København V, Denmark #
Nov 02 - Privatclub - Berlin, Germany #
Nov 03 - Rolling Stone Weekender - Weissenhäuser Strand, Germany
Nov 04 - Take Root Festival - Hoorn, Netherlands
Mar 02, 2018 - My Morning Jacket's  One Big Holiday - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic * Xenia Rubinos opens# Slow Dancer opens

DRESSY BESSY @ Teragram 8/30

FILTHY FRIENDS @ Teragam 8/30

MIRANDA LEE RICHARDS CONFIRMS NEW YORK CITY SHOW AND PERFORMANCE AT DESERT DAZE 2017 FESTIVAL

MIRANDA LEE RICHARDS CONFIRMS NEW YORK CITY SHOW AND PERFORMANCE AT DESERT DAZE 2017 FESTIVAL Following Sold-Out European Performances New Album 'EXISTENTIAL BEAST' Out Now  ( HERE ) 
Miranda Lee Richards, photo credit: Graham John Bell
"Existential Beast  is a big, absorbing and sonically wonderful album. Miranda Lee Richards has created an image of perfection to strive for, and it is in itself perfect ." --Jonathan Aird,  AMERICANA UK(10/10 album review, August 2017) "Richard's ambitious 'Existential Beast' finds solace in flowing melodies, lush arrangements and instrumentation, and soft harmonies aglow with a pearly luminescence ." --Peter Lindblad, ELMORE MAGAZINE (94 rating album review, July 2017)
"...edging deeper into psychedelic folk-rock while hanging onto a country influence and her distinctly Laurel Canyon-esque sound. "
--Marcy Donelson,  ALL MUSIC (4/5 star album review, July 2017)   Following numerous sold-out shows in Europe, singer-songwriter musicianMIRANDA LEE RICHARDS returns stateside for a performance in New York City on Wednesday, September 13 at Pianos. She'll then join Spiritualized, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions and more at the Desert Daze Festival 2017 on Sunday, October 15 in Joshua Tree, CA (full line-up below).Praise continues to pour infor MIRANDA's new album, EXISTENTIAL BEAST(see critical quotes below), which is available now via Invisible Hands Music (HERE), CD IHCD74. Beautifully constructed with her signature '1970s-influenced, country-tinged psychedelia, EXISTENTIAL BEAST was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Rick Parker (BRMC). Listen to her first single "Lucid I Would Dream"on YAHOO ( HERE ) and via YouTube ( HERE ).The new album follows a busy year for MIRANDA which included the release Echoes of the Dreamtime (LP, 2016), U.S. and European tours and creating songs for the new Viceland series "Jungletown." EXISTENTIAL BEAST is a political album, examining the current issues of our time, with the intent of tackling tough and taboo subjects in a poetic and heartfelt manner. The title EXISTENTIAL BEAST, is a mash-up of terms, referencing the existential crisis that has risen in this pivotal moment in time.  
Miranda Lee Richards performs a sold-out show at Haakonshallen during Bergenfest in Bergen, Norway.

Critical acclaim continues to pour in for Miranda Lee Richards' EXISTENTIAL BEAST:
"San Francisco native Richards is renowned for the uncanny authenticity of her throwback sound. But on Existential Beast, her fourth LP, this second-gen bohemian ingeniously employs recreations of baroque folk and psychedelia to bring context to the songs that intimate striking parallels between the political upheavals of 1968 and 2017. The intricate 'Golden Gate', with its radical tonal and tempo shifts, comes off like Love's Forever Changes with Judy Collins signing lead, while the blistering 'On The Outside Of Heaven' charges along like a modern-day 'All Along The Watchtower'. 'Another World' a lavishly orchestrated 12-minute outpouring contrasting the American dream with post-election reality, provides a mind-bending climax."--Bud Scoppa, UNCUT (8/10 album review, August 2017)"A protest album free of blind, impotent rage, but one that uncomfortably-and intimately-questions just about everything, the singer-songwriter's fourth album doesn't shy away from racism, the environment or gender equality, to name a few. ...Richard's ambitious 'Existential Beast' finds solace in flowing melodies, lush arrangements and instrumentation, and soft harmonies aglow with a pearly luminescence. Used to chaos and confrontation, having survived the bedlam of Brian Jonestown Massacre early in her career, Richards doesn't mind getting lost in a laid-back 70s Laurel Canyon reverie in 'Ashes and Seeds.' She emerges from the mists of lovely English folk traditions in 'Oh Raven' as a spectral presence, arranges a stunning vocal flight of fancy in 'Back To The Source' that would render Fleet Foxes speechless, and, just to show that not everything revolves around politics, Richards wanders the desert in a nocturnal 'Lucid I Would Dream' before stumbling upon a secret, peyote-fueled jambetween the Grateful Dead and Hawkwind. ...'On The Outside Of Heaven' offers subdued, relaxed hooks and crisp pacing and 'Autumn Sun' features deft finger-picking, whereas the deep, folk sprawl of the epic 12-minute closer 'Another World'-practically a study of current affairs-seems to go on forever, like an Appalachian forest. 'Existential Beast' roams freely and never stays in one place too long."--Peter Lindblad, ELMORE MAGAZINE (Album review, 94 rating, July 2017)"Miranda Lee Richards has created in  Existential Beast an album of some astonishing beauty. Profound of lyrics, gorgeous in the playing, sung with a voice which embodies an unearthly allure. Every song has an emotional resonance, a soul satisfying lyrical depth, even as Miranda Lee Richards dances elegantly and effortlessly across styles, claiming each one as representing her own special musical affinity, before pirouetting to another with which she sounds as equally at home. Existential Beast is a big, absorbing and sonically wonderful album. Miranda Lee Richards has created an image of perfection to strive for, and it is in itself perfect."--Jonathan Aird, AMERICANA UK(10/10 album review, August 2017)"70s L.A. studio mafia in her employ, this music sounds more organic. Plus the production has a strong modern psychedelia flavor: bashy drums, excessive reverb, the whole nine yards. Richards is at her best when she unleashes her inner Marianne Faithfull circa 'Tears Go By,' as on 'Oh Raven' or the closing acoustic waltz 'Another World.' Then her voice's purity shines."--Tim Stegall, MAGNET (July 2017)
"...edging deeper into psychedelic folk-rock while hanging onto a country influence and her distinctly Laurel Canyon-esque sound. The closer, 'Another World,' returns to protest in an epic way; it's a 12-minute acoustic folk song that pays tribute to her home state of California while addressing a myriad of American political issues with all of the peace-loving presence of a Judy Collins or Joan Baez.  Existential Beast  proves to be a fitting title for an album that is very much of its time while sometimes eerily evoking the music and, sadly, topics of a half-century prior."--Marcy Donelson, ALL MUSIC (4/5 star album review, July 2017)     "Country music heard through psychedelic headphones..." --Danny McCloskey, THE ALTERNATE ROOT (3/31/17)"On her fourth album,  Existential Beast , Richards enchants with a distinctive blend of spacey, harmony-laden pop ('Back to the Source') and intimate folk balladry ('Autumn Sun'). But she also trips out amid the swirling psychedelic guitars and jazzy dynamic shifts of the hard-rocking epic 'Golden Gate.'"--James Moreland, LA WEEKLY (May 23, 2017)  
"If you're a fan of songs like 'Tam Lin' by Fairport Convention, then you'll love   Miranda Lee Richards ' 'Another World' a 12-minute politically driven epic from her new album 'Existential Beast'.
-John Diliberto,  ECHOES , (6/15/17)"Take one listen to chamber-folk singer-songwriter Miranda Lee Richards'swistful, winsome fourth solo album, Existential Beast, and some of her influences are evident: classic English folk troubadours like Nike Drake,Pentangle, Fairport Convention, and protest singer Shirley Collins;cosmic psych collective the Brian Jonestown Massacre, with whom Richards has performed off and on since the late '90s; Buffalo Springfield and other '60s California country-rockers; and dreamy alterna-poppers Mazzy Star."
--Lyndsey Parker, YAHOO (6/13/17)

"Richards brings her substantive, poetic lyrics together with a psychedelic, folk-tinged country sound (reminiscent of Los Angeles-based, early 1970s band Spirit) to deliver a powerful look at today's post-election political climate....think of Richards' latest as a fairy tale for adults.'Ashes And Seeds' serves as a thoughtful reminder that history is constantly repeating and that conflict is essential to positive change. The smooth sounds of pedal steel highlight Richards' laid back, fluid vocals. 'Lucid I Would Dream' evokes the dream-like state with the effective use of strings and Mellotron while lyrically imagining that with clarity, fears would diminish.
Existential Beast closes, as it begins, with hope in the ethereal, string-laden and aptly- titled 'Another World'. It is epic in length (over 12 minutes) and in breadth with its uplifting call to contribute to solutions.. There is much to discover in the beauty of the vocals, the poetry in the lyrics and the uniqueness of the production found in Existential Beast."--Harriet Watkins, THE DAILY COUNTRY (5/1/17) "warm and precise, ethereal..."  --Kevin Bronson, BUZZBANDS.LA (3/31/17)

"Richards' latest, 'Existential Beast,' offers a beguiling hybrid of the dulcet sounds she dubs 'dusty country' and 'fairy folk.' It's also an overtly political album (there's even an 11-minute protest song) that embodies its times."
--Susan Moll, STOMP AND STAMMER (3/31/17)

"Musically the album draws from several '70s sources--Laurel Canyoncountry-rock royalty ('Ashes And Seeds'), Joe Boyd's Witchseason productions for Island Records ('Autumn Sun', 'Oh Raven'), through to the spoken word sections of David Axelrod's Earth Rot (the end section of 'Lucid I Dream'). Subtle use of echo throughout the album adds to the continuity of sound and aids its woozy intoxicating power. The album's tour de forceis saved till the end. Clocking in at 12 minutes, 'Another World' is the most overtly political song, calling out those in power and offering a vision of how things could be. Clever stuff." 
--Duncan Fletcher, SHINDIG! MAGAZINE(four-out-of-four star album review, U.K., MAY 2017)
   Cover artwork for Miranda Lee Richards' EXISTENTIAL BEAST  CD IHCD74 
About MIRANDA LEE RICHARDS :

Born in San Francisco after the summer of love and before the dawn of disco, MIRANDA LEE RICHARDS grew up in an artistic and bohemian environment that has informed her adult life and work. After graduating from San Francisco School Of The Arts, she began to pursue a musical career. She met Kirk Hammett from Metallica who taught her to play Mazzy Star songs on guitar. Her early demos reached Anton Newcombe and she joined his band, theBrian Jonestown Massacre. MIRANDA then signed to Virgin Records and released her debut album The Herethereafter, a mix of folk, psychedelia, country and indie pop, and found fans worldwide. The critically acclaimed follow-up album Light Of X--the title of which comes from a dream about harnessing beams of light to travel in time--followed in 2009 via Nettwerk Records. In 2016, MIRANDA unveiled Echoes Of The Dreamtime onInvisible Hands Music, which received rave reviews across in the U.K. andU.S., as well as national airplay with MOJO giving the album 4 stars and hailing the first single, "The sublime 'First Light Of Winter' is the moment it all comes together, Richards transcending her influences and, no longer constrained, arriving at psychedelia's higher plane" (1/2016).  EXISTENTIAL BEAST is yet another confident and inspiring piece of work from MIRANDA, sure to excite her ever growing fan base. Known for her enchanting live performances, look for MIRANDA LEE RICHARDS to perform the new album in venues across the U.S. and U.K. throughout the year.www.mirandaleerichards.com https://www.instagram.com/mirandaleerichards https://www.youtube.com/user/MirandaLeeRichards1 https://www.facebook.com/mirandaleerichards https://soundcloud.com/mirandaleerichards https://twitter.com/mirandarichards Catch MIRANDA LEE RICHARDS on tour in the following cities (HERE):DATECITYVENUETUE8/29Oslo, NorwayCafe MonoTHU8/31Malmö, SwedenFolk Å RockFRI9/1Göteborg, SwedenPustervikSAT9/2Stockholm, SwedenSthlm Americana at Mosebacke & Södra TeaternWED9/13New York, NYPIANOSSUN10/15Joshua Tree, CADesert Daze 2017 (w/Spiritualized and more)
  Desert Daze 2017 poster.