Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 58
July 8, 2025
Lucius releases new music video for recently released song “Joyride”
photo credit: Dana Trippe // Gold Rush Tour admatJuly 8, 2025—Acclaimed indie-pop band Lucius have released the official music video for their recently released track “Joyride.” The track is an infectious summer anthem recorded as part of the sessions for their new self-titled album, which Rolling Stone calls “the best album of their career”. In celebration of the release, the official music video features the band and their fans behind the wheel with the windows down — furry friends included, of course. Watch the video HERE, and stream “Joyride” HERE.Of the track, Lucius’ Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, share, “If our album Lucius is about home, ‘Joyride’ is the lazy Sunday ride around the neighborhood. It was produced by our bandmate and drummer Dan Molad, and written with our friend Oliver Hill (who also wrote on ‘Old Tape’).”Additional critical acclaim for Lucius:“Killer grooves, ear worm melodies, and their voices are just so transfixing”— NPR Music “the vocalists have unlocked a completely new gear on this upcoming self-titled record of theirs”— Paste “sweet harmonies and dark emotions alchemised into heartfelt pop”— MOJO “the silky balm of their close-fitting voices is supported throughout by Pete Lalish‘s warm guitar tones and immaculate production”— UNCUT The EP was produced by Lucius’ Dan Molad and marks a full circle moment for the group (Laessig, Wolfe, Molad and Peter Lalish) as they return to their roots, writing and recording without seeking outside influence—their first time doing so since their debut over a decade ago. Just in time for the official start of the summer season, the track boasts a summery vibe that makes you want to roll your windows down and sing along. If you listen closely, you can hear the giggle of one of the band members’ babies. Known for their captivating live performances, Lucius will continue their “The Gold Rush Tour” next month, which includes stops at Los Angeles’ The Wiltern, Chicago’s The Salt
Artwork: photo by Holly Laessig, coloring by Dan FaughnderShed, Denver’s Ogden Theatre, Seattle’s Showbox (sold out), San Francisco’s The Warfield and more. Additionally, they will join Mumford & Sons for two shows at New York’s Forest Hills Stadium in August and perform at Newport Folk Festival, All Things Go Festival, and Austin City Limits Music Festival this year. See below for complete tour itinerary. Full details can be found at www.ilovelucius.com.Lucius, their fourth studio album, follows the band’s acclaimed 2022 record, Second Nature, which was produced by Brandi Carlile and Dave Cobb. Released to overwhelming acclaim, the Los Angeles Times praised, “dazzling…Second Nature mines an ’80s-pop sound with lush synths and sleek disco grooves under the women’s laser-guided vocals,” while Variety declared, “with Second Nature…they’re no longer 20 feet or even a couple of yards from stardom, but re-claiming the spotlight for themselves” and Relix proclaimed, “stunning…a 10-song, smart-pop masterpiece.” Most recently, Lucius celebrated the 10-year-anniversary of their debut album, Wildewoman, with the release of Wildewoman (The New Recordings)—an expanded version of the record that features new versions of the 12 original tracks, including collaborations with friends Carlile, Marcus Mumford and Devon Gilfillian. 
“Joyride” video stillLUCIUS NEWLY CONFIRMED DATESOctober 3—New Orleans, LA —Tipitina’sOctober 7—Omaha, NE—SlowdownOctober 8—Lawrence, KS—Liberty HallOctober 10—Oklahoma City, OK—Tower TheatreOctober 11—Dallas, TX—Granada TheaterOctober 14—Bentonville, AR—The MomentaryOctober 16—Louisville, KY—HeadlinersNovember 22—San Diego, CA—Belly UpLUCIUS CONFIRMED TOUR DATES July 16—Portsmouth, NH—Prescott Park#July 18—Trumansburg, NY—Finger Lakes GrassRoots FestivalJuly 19—Ottawa, ON—Ottawa BluesfestJuly 20—Guelph, ON—Hillside FestivalJuly 22—Deerfield, MA—Tree House Brewing Company+ (LOW TICKETS)July 23—Portland, ME—The State TheatreJuly 24—Bar Harbor, ME—Criterion Theatre^July 27—Newport, RI—Newport Folk Festival (SOLD OUT)August 3—New Orleans, LA—Woldenburg Park~August 4—Spartanburg, SC—Piedmont Fairgrounds~August 5—Richmond, VA—Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront (SOLD OUT)~August 7—Burlington, VT—Champlain Valley Exposition~August 8—Forest Hills, NY—Forest Hills Stadium*August 9—Forest Hills, NY—Forest Hills Stadium*September 26—Columbia, MD—All Things Go Music FestivalOctober 3—New Orleans, LA—Tipitina’s<October 5—Austin, TX—Austin City Limits Music FestivalOctober 7—Omaha, NE—Slowdown<October 8—Lawrence, KS—Liberty Hall<October 10—Oklahoma City, OK—Tower Theatre<October 11—Dallas, TX—Granada Theater<October 12—Austin, TX—Austin City Limits Music FestivalOctober 14—Bentonville, AR—The MomentaryOctober 16—Louisville, KY—HeadlinersOctober 17—Indianapolis, IN—The VogueOctober 18—Chicago, IL—The Salt ShedNovember 11—Phoenix, AZ—Crescent BallroomNovember 12—Santa Fe, NM—The LensicNovember 14—Denver, CO—Ogden TheatreNovember 15—Salt Lake City, UT—The DepotNovember 17—Seattle, WA—Showbox (SOLD OUT)November 18—Portland, OR—Wonder Ballroom (LOW TICKETS)November 20—San Francisco, CA—The WarfieldNovember 21—Los Angeles, CA—The Wiltern
November 22—San Diego, CA—Belly Up#with Fantastic Cat+with special guest Neal Francis~Wolfe and Laessig on Mumford & Sons’ Railroad Revival Tour
*supporting Mumford & Sons^with special guests Spencer Albee and Zachary Bencewww.ilovelucius.com
Fever Ray Announces New Live Album 'The Year Of The Radical Romantics' || Out 7/25 On Mute
FEVER RAY ANNOUNCES NEW LIVE ALBUM
THE YEAR OF THE RADICAL ROMANTICS
OUT 7/25 ON MUTE
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR
“NOW’S THE ONLY TIME I KNOW (THERAPY SESSION)”
Photo Credit: Nina Andersson
Fever Ray (aka Karin Dreijer) announces their new live album, The Year Of The Radical Romantics, out July 25th via Mute, and the accompanying The Year of the Radical Romantics publication available for pre-order now. In conjunction with today’s announcement, Fever Ray presents the new single/video, “Now's The Only Time I Know (Therapy Session).”
Pre-order The Year Of The Radical Romantics HERE.Pre-order the publication HERE.
The Year of Radical Romantics is a document of the juicy, throbbing missives used to woo crowds from Sydney to Seattle on the globe-trotting There’s No Place I’d Rather Be Tour in support of 2023’s lauded Radical Romantics . The new album consists of live-to-tape studio versions of tracks from Radical Romantics in addition to highlights from 2017’s Plunge and massive new iterations of early classics performed by the musicians who accompanied Dreijer on tour — Minna Koivisto on keyboards; Romarna Campbell on drums; Maryam Nikandish and Helena Gutarra on keytars and vocals.
Radical Romantics’ riotous, world-building videos introduced an unforgettable cast of characters. Accompanying Fever Ray (aka the white-suited Casanova) are wannabe-womanizer Romance, clockwatcher Main, witchy Snusis, and axe-wielding bombshell Demona Lisa. The Year of Radical Romantics offers a culmination of these character’s arcs with a pair of videos directed by longtime longtime Fever Ray creative visionary Martin Falck. The visuals find the misfits navigating group therapy sessions led by therapist Ebba. These sessions are soundtracked by blistering versions of fan favorites from Fever Ray’s beloved self-titled 2009 debut album: “I’m Not Done (Therapy Session)” and today’s single, “Now’s the Only Time I Know (Therapy Session).”
From therapist and human improvement and performance boosting guru Ebba:
"Hello…?
You left mid session… I really think you’re in big, big need of my services.I want this room to be… a sacred place, for healing,
Fill my own cup like the holy grail.
Your lives seem to be falling apart…it’s like you always want to go back there, drawn to the bottom of the ocean?”
Watch the Video for “Now's The Only Time I Know (Therapy Session)”The Year of the Radical Romantics publication, designed and edited by Fever Ray and Falck, dives deeper into the creative process behind the making of the Radical Romantics universe. The publication showcases initial sketches and the trials and errors that shaped the iconic characters seen on stage, in photographs, and music videos. It also features press photography, cover shoots, editorials, and exclusive behind-the-scenes imagery captured by Fever Ray, the live band, and photographer Nina Andersson.
Falck says of the publication: “Creating the characters for the Radical Romantics era has been a true labor of love. Bringing them to life, watching them experience love, heartbreak, death, and even getting fired, has been an absolute joy. Working on this publication has given us a chance to reflect on our own creative process, and we’re so excited to share it with you.”
The Year Of The Radical Romantics Publication Mockup
Pre-order The Year of the Radical Romantics Publication
The Year Of The Radical Romantics Album Artwork
Track Listing:
1. I'm Not Done (Therapy Session)
2. Now's The Only Time I Know (Therapy Session)
3. What They Call Us (Radical Romantics Session)
4. New Utensils (Radical Romantics Session)
5. When I Grow Up (Radical Romantics Session)
6. Mustn't Hurry (Radical Romantics Session)
7. To The Moon And Back (Radical Romantics Session)
8. Shiver (Radical Romantics Session)
9. Kandy (Radical Romantics Session)
10. Even It Out (Radical Romantics Session)
11. I'm Not Done (Radical Romantics Session)
12. Carbon Dioxide (Radical Romantics Session)
13. Now's The Only Time I Know (Radical Romantics Session)
12. If I Had A Heart (Radical Romantics Session)
Pre-order it HERE.
Purchase or stream Radical Romantics HERE.
CONNECT WITH FEVER RAY:
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | WEB
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BLUESKY | INSTAGRAM | WEB
LA DISPUTE DROP ACT 3 + NEW VIDEO FROM UPCOMING ALBUM
LA DISPUTE DROP ACT 3 OF FORTHCOMING ALBUM CONSISTING OF FIVE NEW SONGS + ANNOUNCE GRAND RAPIDS EXHIBITION
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “SIBLING FISTFIGHT AT MOM’S FIFTIETH / THE UN-SOUND”
NO ONE WAS DRIVING THE CAR WILL ARRIVE SEPT 5TH
Photo Credit: Martin
Conceptual band La Dispute have released five new songs as Act 3 of their forthcoming album No One Was Driving the Car—their first full-length since 2019’s Panorama. Spanning years of the narrator’s life, these songs rewind to the beginning of the journey, as the baroque narrative continues to twist through a sonic landscape that touches every corner of the La Dispute universe: soft and delicate one moment, abrupt and crushing the next. Vocalist Jordan Dreyer explains:
the next act encompasses in more focused detail the narrator’s look backwards down the path, beginning at their shared home in the present day, where the dissociation introduced in act one as almost entirely a self-inclosed thing trickles outward and troubles the comfort outlined in the last section of the song preceding it. he examines his own life through imagined self-portraits, in various sequences of time (fractions of days first, then weeks, months, years), and through multiple specific events. from there, four critically influential events from his earlier life are detailed in four songs:
first, a story from his early teenage years, where he and his brother—up north hunting with their father in the area where he and his own brother (the boys’ uncle, who has long lived far away elsewhere), and their father (who died when they were young)—stumble upon what they believe to be an abandoned paramilitary compound. in the middle of the field beside it they come to a hole dug in the ground full of deer carcasses. the narrator becomes fixated on the bodies below, unable to break his gaze from them, while the brother continues on toward the compound, a metaphor both for their diverging paths and for the obsessions/explanations that motivated them to take which ones they did.
the second song happens a few years later, at their mother’s fiftieth birthday party, where several siblings—drunk and airing internal grievances—fight on the basement staircase while their mother contemplates what role her own actions as a parent played in their arrival at that moment and in the conflicted history that led up to it. in the second half of the song, the siblings are gathered at the parents’ house again, years after the fight, for a quarterly group birthday celebration for several of their own children.
the third song occurs years on from there, with a pitch made to the partner of the narrator—working through undergrad at the time—from purveyors of a multi-level marketing company central to the history of grand rapids, and in some ways inextricably entwined with the christian reformed church mentioned earlier on the record (somewhat importantly, the rapture is invoked at the very end of the song, in a section discussing extraordinary wealth).
the final song centers around the friend whose funeral appeared earlier in act two, and is presented as reflections of their shared experiences together in youth, chiefly a snowy night drifting in a car together across an empty church parking lot, and the crash that occurred when the car spun on ice to slide sidelong into a curb and embankment. the end of the song harkens back heavily to the second section of act two (the song “Environmental Catastrophe Film”) and represents a full-circle consideration of the control dictated to him via exposure to calvinist teachings in childhood.
Act 3 drops alongside a new video for “Sibling Fistfight at Mom’s Fiftieth / The Unsound.” Directed, shot, edited, and starring Dreyer himself, the video stays true to the DIY spirit of the project. Each act has been arriving with a companion documentary directed by Martin. The release of third doc is forthcoming but check out the first two in the meantime: Chapter I / Chapter II
Listen to Act 3 HERE
Watch the video for “Sibling Fistfight at Mom’s Fiftieth / The Unsound” HERE
Listen to Act 2 HERE
Watch the video for Environmental Catastrophe Film” HERE
Listen to Act 1 HERE
Watch The video for “I Shaved My Head” HERE
The band has collaborated with ten visual artists to craft actualized pieces from the faux painting titles listed in the lyrics of "Self-Portrait Backwards." Alongside an assortment of traditional media pieces created for the album art by bassist Adam Vass, the collection entitled Exhibition: Work In Progress opens Wednesday, Sept 3rd at Morning Ritual in Grand Rapids, Michigan (150 Ottawa Ave NW). The art will remain on display through Grand Rapids' annual Artprize event, ending October 4th. Prints and original work will be available for purchase at the exhibition as well as a limited supply online after close.
Artists involved:
Son Visual https://www.sonvisualco.com/Mitchell Van Dyke www.mitchellvandyke.comGenna Howard https://www.genna-howard.com/Zayna Youssef www.instagram.com/zaynayoussefYewon Kwon https://yewonkwon.com/Dave Watt www.instagram.com/davewattrulesSteph Ellis https://fieldsparrowstudio.com/Kyler Martz https://www.kylermartz.com/Brittany Gabey https://gabeaux.net/Caralyn Jellison https://www.caralynjellison.com/
Out September 5th via Epitaph No One Was Driving the Car was self produced and heavily inspired by the 2017 psychological thriller First Reformed and grapples with malaise in the shadow of the looming apocalypse, which has noticeably been worsened by the advancement of tech. The title comes from a quote from a police officer vocalist Jordan Dreyer read in a news article about a lethal self-driving Tesla crash, an absurd event which raises questions about the amount of control we have in our own lives. Throughout the album, screens and cameras disrupt moments of transcendence. It happens alongside flashes of mundane suffering—frequent daydreams of drowning, flashbacks to eye-contact with dead animals, experiences of decaying relationships and secondhand suicides—while Dreyer yells with a more primal sense and sings in a more refined way, and the guitars have a sharper edge than ever before.
The rest of the album will continue to follow within acts until its conclusion in September.
The band recently announced a North American tour. Kicking off September 5th at Detroit’s St. Andrew’s Hall the 14-date tour will hit Toronto, Brooklyn, DC, Nashville and more. Tickets for the tour are on sale now.
No One Was Driving The Car tracklist
I Shaved My Head
Man with Hands and Ankles Bound
Autofiction Detail
Environmental Catastrophe Film
Self-Portrait Backwards
The Field
Sibling Fistfight at Mom’s Fiftieth / The Un-Sound
Landlord Calls the Sheriff In
Steve
Top-Sellers Banquet
Saturation Diver
I Dreamt of a Room with All My Friends
No One Was Driving the Car
End Times Sermon
EU TOUR DATES
07/10 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club - SOLD OUT
07/11 – Cheltenham, UK – 2000 Trees Festival
07/12 – Cheltenham, UK – 2000 Trees Festival
07/14 – Hannover, DE – MusikZentrum - SOLD OUT
07/15 – Nürnberg, DE – Hirsch - SOLD OUT
07/16 – Karlsruhe, DE – Substage
07/18 – Cologne, DE – Open Stage Suedbruecke (w/ Enter Shikari) - SOLD OUT
07/19 – Herk-de-Stad, BE – Rock Herk Festival
07/20 – Cuxhaven, DE – Deichbrand Festival
US TOUR DATES
09/05 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew's Hall
09/06 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theatre
09/07 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
09/08 – Pittsburgh, PA – Spirit Hall
09/10 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
09/11 – Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw
09/12 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
09/13 – Washington, DC – Howard Theater
09/14 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
09/16 – Orlando, FL – The Beacham
09/17 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
09/18 – Nashville, TN – Basement East
09/19 – Columbus, OH – King of Clubs
09/20 – Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe at Old National Centre
Marissa Nadler Releases New Single/Video, “Hatchet Man”
MarissaNadler Releases New Single/Video, “ HatchetMan ”
NewAlbum, NewRadiations,
OutAugust 15th on Sacred Bones & Bella Union
Photoby Ebru Yildiz
"[MarissaNadler is]...at the peak of her powers right now. I found this one soeerily beautiful and I just can't get enough of it."
-Sheldon Pearce, NPRMusic
MarissaNadler releases“HatchetMan,”the second single/video from her new album, NewRadiations,out August15thon SacredBones.Following the “gorgeously ethereal” (BrooklynVegan)title track, “NewRadiations,”“Hatchet Man” is a cosmic murder ballad that paints a chillingscene. Nadler sings: “The angel made him do it and he made mewatch—he thought no one would notice her gone.”
Commentingon the track, Nadler says: "Hatchet Man’ is about a sinistercharacter bringing a woman home—not for romance, but to murderher—while the narrator, his partner, is made to witness it unfold.Ultimately, the storyteller escapes, adrenaline flooding her veins.The sweet, lilting melody of the chorus offers a stark contrast tothe verses, where much of the tale is told. I enjoy twistingnarratives, subverting tropes, and playing with perspective in mysongs. The rest of the details are all in the song.”
Theaccompanying self-directed video for “Hatchet Man” was made using“cut-out shadow figures, everyday objects, liquid light showtechniques and self-shot footage—much of it projected through thesoft glow of an old overhead projector,” Nadler explains. “Iwanted to create a surreal, crimson space for the song and itscharacters to live in, to tell the story without being tooillustrative.” This builds on the previous video for “NewRadiations” that was also self-directed by Nadler.
Watchthe Video for “Hatchet Man”
OnNewRadiations,Nadler’s tenth official full length record, she returns with a raw,intimate, and breathtaking collection of eleven otherworldly songs.From the first note, her lush voice and intricate fingerpicking arefront and center. She layers Everly Brothers–style harmonies overdreamlike, lonesome soundscapes— fuzzed-out distortion, Hammondorgan, and ominous synthesizers—that elevate her warm vulnerabilitywith texture and atmosphere. Each track unfolds like a vignette of alife lived, delivering emotional weight with the curtain pulled back.Lyrically, she shape-shifts through time and space—inhabitingcharacters in an airborne Cessna, a spaceship, a getaway car, andalternate dimensions. Her storytelling is cinematic in scope anddeeply personal in impact.
Producedby Nadler herself, the album was recorded in Nashville, both atHaptownStudioswith the help of friend RogerMoutenot,and her home studio. Mixed by RandallDunn(Earth, Sunn O))), NewRadiationsfeatures subtle, immersive arrangements from longtime collaboratorMilkyBurgess—woozyslideguitar, hypnagogic synthesizers, and gritty riffs that ebb and flowwith oceanic intensity. In contrast to Nadler’s last two guestheavy records, NewRadiationspresents a more introspective and personal vision. Genre‑bendingyet quintessentially her own, the album freezes the world’s noisein a moment of beauty and solemnity. NewRadiationsis not just another album—it’s a career highlight, a testament toMarissa Nadler’s singular vision and artistry.
MarissaNadler will tour the UK and Europe this fall with North Americandates to be announced soon!
Watch:
MarissaNadler UK/EU Tour Dates:
Thu.Oct. 30 - Coventry, UK @ The Tin Music and Arts
Fri.Oct. 31 - London, UK @ St. Matthias Church
Sat.Nov. 1 - Brighton, UK @ Dust
Sun.Nov. 2 - Cardiff, UK @ Clwb Ifor Bach
Mon.Nov. 3 - Southampton, UK @ Papillon
Wed.Nov. 5 - Brugge, BE @ Cactus Club %
Fri.Nov. 7 - Maastricht, NL @ Muziekgieterij
Sat.Nov. 8 - Kortrijk, BE @ Sonic City
Sun.Nov. 9 - Arnhem, NL @ Luxor Live
Tue.Nov. 11 - Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg @ Ronda #
Wed.Nov. 12 - Groningen, NL @ De Oosterpoort #
Thu.Nov. 13 - Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje #
Sat.Nov. 15 - Istanbul, TR @ Zorlu PSM
Mon.Nov. 17 - Copenhagen, DK @ Studie 3 @ Dr Koncerthuset
Tue.Nov. 18 - Stockholm, SE @ Hus 7
Wed.Nov. 19 - Oslo, NO @ Salt
Thu.Nov. 20 - Gothenburg, SE @ Pustervik
Fri.Nov. 21 - Malmö, SE @ Plan B
%w/ Pothamus
#w/ Amenra
Natalie Bergman Releases "Lonely Road." Forthcoming Album Out July 18
FORTHCOMING ALBUM MY HOME IS NOT IN THIS WORLD
OUT JULY 18 - PRE-ORDER/SAVE
[THIRD MAN RECORDS]
NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED
PLUS DATES WITH RILO KILEY
UK & EUROPEAN TOUR STARTS SEPTEMBER 20
LISTEN
“LONELY ROAD”
PRE-ORDER/SAVE
MY HOME IS NOT IN THIS WORLD
U.S HEADLINE TOUR DATES
07/11 - Hideout - Chicago, IL
07/18 - Public Records - Brooklyn, NY
07/25 - Masonic Lodge - Los Angeles, CA
RILO KILEY SUPPORT DATES
08/30 - Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony
08/31 - The Capitol Theatre - Port Chester, NY
09/01 - The Pines - Florence, MA
09/03 - College Street Music Hall - New Haven, CT
09/04 - The Met - Philadelphia, PA
09/05 - The Rooftop at Pier 17 - New York, NY
09/07 - MGM Music Hall at Fenway - Boston, MA
UK & EUROPEAN HEADLINE TOUR DATES
09/20 - Reeperbahn - Hamburg, DE**
09/23 - Strange Brew - Bristol, UK
09/24 - YES (Pink Room) - Manchester, UK
09/25 - Union Chapel - London, UK
09/26 - Auditorium de Conservatoire de Lille – Lille, FR
09/27 - Tetris - Le Havre, FR
09/28 - Quai M - La Roche Sur Yon, FR
09/30 - La Maroquinerie - Paris, FR
10/01 - Le Marche Gare - Lyon, FR
10/03 - Covo - Bologna, IT
10/04 - sPAZIO 211 - Turin, IT
10/05 - Kaufleuten - Zurich, CH
**Festival Appearance
Chicago-born, Los Angeles-based artist Natalie Bergman unveils her latest single “Lonely Road,” out today via Third Man Records. Infused with throwback sound and vintage textures, the track showcases Bergman’s signature blend of classic influences and luminous vocals. Listen HERE
“Lonely Road” follows singles “Dance” and “Gunslinger”, offering another glimpse of the shimmering songwriting and radiant production on My Home Is Not In This World, her sophomore album set to release on July 18. Pre-order/add/save HERE.
Co-produced by Bergman herself, the album draws on the timeless grooves of the 1960s while layering in soulful basslines. It’s a deeply personal body of work that balances heartbreak and loss against the transformational theme of motherhood.
While Bergman is heading off on a run of headline shows to support the album, she will also be supporting Rilo Kiley on their highly anticipated reunion tour this summer, performing across select dates in major cities throughout North America.
My Home Is Not In This World follows Bergman’s celebrated debut solo record Mercy and further cements her reputation as a songwriter unafraid to mine her own story for universal truths while staying true to her unmistakable sonic palette. As she continues to evolve, Natalie Bergman is ready to move hearts, shake spirits, and remind us all where home truly lies.
“Lonely Road” is available everywhere now.
My Home Is Not In This World is out July 18, Pre-order/add/save HERE.
TRACKLISTING:
Lonely Road
Gunslinger
Dance
Stop, Please Don’t Go
You Can Have Me
My Home Is Not In This World
Looking For You
Didn’t Get To Say Goodbye
Changes
I’ll Be Your Number One
Song For Arthur
California
Crass Records to release The Mob & The Snipers as part of vinyl reissue series
Crass Records 12” vinyl reissue series #10 out August 8th
The Snipers – ‘Three Peace Suite’ EP (1981)
The Mob – ‘No Doves Fly Here’ single (1982)
Stream ‘Parents Of God’
Stream ‘No Doves Fly Here’
“No Doves Fly Here is one of the most powerful musical statements to come out of what we’re calling anarcho punk and if you didn’t know any better you would have it all wrong.” – Let the Tribe Increase
“One of the better single releases on Crass Records was by the mysterious Snipers from Oxford (Snipers are usually mysterious are they not?)… probably the official Oxford University Anarcho-Punk band knowing the average profile of yer average Crass associated combo” – DIY or Die?
Punk pioneers Crass continue their vinyl reissue series, re-pressing their limited releases by adjacent artists through Crass Records, in association with One Little Independent. The series, including over twenty bands and solo artists recorded at the legendary Southern Studios and produced by Penny Rimbaud, continues with two more historic pieces from the Crass Records catalogue; The Mob’s haunting anti-war anthem ‘No Doves Fly Here’ and The Snipers’ brooding post-punk epic ‘Three Peace Suite’.
They follow records from the likes of Captain Sensible, Omega Tribe, Honey Bane, Jane Gregory, Lack of Knowledge, Sleeping Dogs, Rudimentary Peni, Zounds, Flux Of Pink Indians, Annie Anxiety, D&V, Alternative, The Cravats, Rubella Ballet, MDC, Anthrax and Andy T. First released on 7” vinyl, limiting the sound, the new series has been remastered for 12” by Alex Gordon at Abbey Road Studios, allowing them to be heard as never before. This, plus enlarged replicas of the original covers, brings new gusto to their already radical sound.
‘No Doves Fly Here’ is one of Crass Record’s most enduring songs; stark, atmospheric, and unsparing in its critique of militarism and the brutalities of war. With its mournful orchestration, ominous guitar work, and spoken word delivery, The Mob’s 1982 release stands as a protest song as impactful and poignant now as it was then. Formed in Yeovil in the late ‘70s, The Mob were closely connected to Crass, the free festival scene, and their own DIY imprint All the Madmen Records. Mark, frontman of The Mob, founded Rockaway Park, which also houses The Chapel of Unrest - the art and activism collective whose grassroots ethos mirrors the intent behind these recordings. Known for hosting radical film screenings, gigs, public assemblies, and installations, Rockaway Park has become a sanctuary for oppositional culture and creative resistance.
Recorded over two intense days in September 1981 at Southern Studios, ‘No Doves Fly Here’ was produced by Penny Rimbaud and engineered alongside John Loder. The session saw Crass members and others pitch in - brewing endless pots of strong tea and occasionally manning a four-foot gong hired specially for the track. Mark, recalls recording vocals word-by-word, a painstaking shift from the live takes of their previous releases. The result is a dynamic, deliberate performance unlike anything else on the Crass label. Paired with ‘I Hear You Laughing’, a live favourite, the single is a testament to the spirit of experimentation, DIY collaboration, and creative trust that defined the era.
The Mob are donating their proceeds to international humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).
Penny Rimbaud tells us “Mirroring John and Yoko’s ‘peace not war’ profundities, The Mob’s ‘No Doves Fly Here’ stands out as one of the great classic tracks of the punk era. Profound in its poetics, and poignantly atmospheric in its arrangement, it expresses so much of the hopes and aspirations that later became known as ‘anarcho-punk’ (hitherto the ‘peace movement’). ‘War is over if you want it’, the dream is not over.”
The Snipers’ ‘Three Peace Suite’ is a Crass Records deep-cut and vital artifact; a minimalist, post-punk 3-track that channels paranoia, alienation, and the contradictions of peacekeeping through coercion and military force. Originally released in 1981, the collection blends jagged guitar work, rhythmic experimentation, and spoken word, that reflect the dissonant landscape of Thatcherite Britain. Formed in Oxford and active across squats, benefit gigs, and cassette compilations, The Snipers forged a sound that connected post-punk’s angular edges with the urgency of street-level resistance.
Penny continues, “Before punk adopted wholesale the clichéd growls of gritty hardcore, the options somehow seemed so much more open. Early on, The Snipers approached the genre with an almost folksy angle; clear articulation giving power to the lyrics with no sign of a deafening scream to blur the edges. There are times when controlled anger can give added gravitas to a critique, and The Snipers proved the point with consummate ease. But was it ‘real’ punk? Who cares?”
He finally notes that “Our (Crass’) interest was never in personalities, profits or power, and neither did we have time for reformist liberals. Our position was solidly revolutionary; we took no prisoners. Ours wasn’t a show, it was a battle, not a living, but a lifestyle, a lifestyle with a difference – rather than looking only to ourselves, we sought to share our gains. I feel that this willingness added great strength to the form of anarchism that we practiced both on stage and out on the street.”
In giving a platform to an impressive array of other bands, Crass Records broadened the front of what popularly became known as anarcho-punk. Not, it must be said, a moniker that Crass themselves much favoured. In this respect, Crass’ classic line, “There is no authority but yourself”, makes its point. Crass sought to empower others, and the output of Crass Records does much to confirm this, while ‘2 By 2 And Back Again’ seems to nail it – “get out of your own way, we’re all in this together”.
Tracklist
The Snipers – ‘Three Peace Suite’ EP
The Parents of GodPieceNothing New
The Mob – ‘No Doves Fly Here’ single
No Doves Fly HereI Hear You Laughing
Follow Crass
Website
Bandcamp
Spotify
Follow OLI
Website
INDIGO DE SOUZA Shares "Be Like The Water" + Headline Tour Kicks Off Friday!
INDIGO DE SOUZA
2025 HEADLINE TOUR DATES KICK OFF THIS FRIDAY
PRECIPICE OUT JULY 25TH ON LOMA VISTA RECORDINGS
Photo Credit: Lea Garn
Early Praise for Precipice:
"Indigo De Souza brings unbridled enthusiasm even to situations she comes to regret. For ‘Heartthrob,’ De Souza kicks up the tempo and piles on the guitars.”
-The New York Times
"Indigo De Souza doesn’t miss.”
-Stereogum
"Jubilant and effervescent"
-Paste
“She's maintaining that heart wrenching passion that makes her intriguing as a singer, as a voice"
-The Needle Drop
“Powerful"
-UPROXX
Today, Indigo De Souza shares the single “Be Like The Water” from her forthcoming album, Precipice. The song, full of percussion and dazzling production, is a cathartic self-dialogue. “Be like the water is about being brave and protecting your energy,” says De Souza. “It’s about listening to your inner self and respecting your gut instinct. My favorite lyric in the song is ‘you can leave if you want to, and you don’t have to say why.’ Whether it’s leaving the room, leaving the conversation, or leaving a toxic relationship, you have the power to make a change and life is too precious to waste your spirit.” Watch the lyric video HERE.
Precipice, which has been named one of the most anticipated albums of the summer by Pitchfork, NPR, Vulture and The AV Club. The album was announced recently with its propulsive singles “Heartthrob” and “Crying Over Nothing.” The album, due July 25th on Loma Vista Recordings, was made with Elliott Kozel, a musician who has produced and collaborated with the likes of SZA, Yves Tumor and FINNEAS. It finds the prolific and poetic singer-songwriter looking over the edge of a creative and spiritual cliff and leaping forward—taking control of difficult memories and charged emotions via pop bombast and diaristic clarity, and finding a stronger self.
This Friday, De Souza will kick off a brief run of US headline dates plus three nights with Lord Huron. Major North America touring in support of Precipice is plotted for the fall, plus festival appearances at Bumbershoot and Pitchfork Paris and London – tickets HERE. De Souza is partnering with PLUS1 and The Trevor Project on the upcoming fall tour. A dollar of each ticket sold will directly support The Trevor Project’s mission to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth by providing life-saving and life-affirming resources, including 24/7 crisis intervention services, peer support, and advocacy for inclusive policies. All dates below.
WATCH THE “BE LIKE THE WATER” LYRIC VIDEO
With her arresting voice and profound honesty, De Souza’s music has always resonated deeply with fans and critics alike. But on Precipice she’s parlayed her secret skill for pop writing into something extraordinary - all of her idiosyncrasies combined with her melodic sensibilities offer up something new - mass appeal.
Indigo De Souza first gained notoriety on her sophomore album Any Shape You Take, which received Pitchfork’s Best New Album distinction, saying “De Souza commits herself to being undone, to experiencing the terrible feelings and the beautiful ones. Even when she’s fucked-up, there is something ecstatic in her attempts at loving, her hunger to absorb all she can from life.” The success of the album propelled then-label Saddle Creek to re-release her debut album, I Love My Mom. In 2023 she released the Alex Farrar-produced follow-up, All of This Will End featuring the stand-out single “Younger And Dumber,” which The New York Times called “a slow-burning tear-jerker, a gradual accumulation of heartbreaking lines that takes flight in a soaring climax,” and earned her Best New Track from Pitchfork, showcasing what was always hiding in plain sight - her powerful pop writing capabilities. Music critic Ryan Dombal said of the song, its “honest-to-goodness power balladry. Think ’90s country-pop queen Faith Hill, but with a smaller budget and a bigger sense of inner turmoil. Soul-baring catharsis has its costs, and De Souza is unafraid, launching a flaming missile at the heart.”
There are points in life where the precipice feels furthest from our control—something De Souza faced in late 2024, as Hurricane Helene ravaged the East Coast of the United States. Though her recently finished album showed the buoyant joy of change, De Souza’s flooded home and destroyed belongings represent its potential tragic side. When not in the thick of clearing the mess and helping her community recover, she continued to return to music as a comfort, already having written another album worth of breathtaking songs. Even when the void seems darkest, De Souza leaps boldly—and on Precipice she soars through wild, uncharted territory with open eyes, a full heart, and gritted teeth, finding new beauty even further beyond.
WATCH THE PREVIOUSLY RELEASED VIDEOS FOR
“HEARTTHROB” & “CRYING OVER NOTHING”
Tour Dates
07/11 - Cincinnati, OH - Woodward Theater #
07/12 - Lexington, KY - The Burl (Indoors) #
07/14 - Columbia, MO - Blue Note #
07/15 - Des Moines, IA - Wooly's #
07/16 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall #
07/18 - Indianapolis, IN - Everwise Amphitheater *
07/19 - Chicago, IL - Fairgrounds at The Salt Shed *
07/20 - Chicago, IL - Fairgrounds at The Salt Shed *
08/30 - Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot Festival
10/18 - Columbus, OH - Athenaeum Theatre ^
10/19 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall ^
10/20 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall ^
10/22 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer ^
10/23 - Washington DC - 9:30 Club ^
10/25 - Norwalk, CT - District Music Hall ^
10/26 - Boston, MA - The Royale ^
10/27 - New York, NY - Webster Hall ^
10/30 - Charlottesville, VA - The Jefferson ^
11/02 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel ^
11/05 - Paris, FR - Pitchfork Festival
11/08 - London, UK - Pitchfork Festival
# w/ support from Primer
* w/ Lord Huron
^ w/ support from mothé
A Certain Ratio Announce Reissue Of 'Live in America' || Out 8/8 On Mute
A CERTAIN RATIO
LIVE IN AMERICA
MANCHESTER THREE-PIECE SHARE DETAILS OF 40TH ANNIVERSARY REISSUE OF THE LIVE ALBUM THAT CAPTURES THEIR 1985 TOUR OF AMERICA WITH NEW ORDER
OUT 8/8 ON MUTE
LISTEN TO “SHACK UP (LIVE IN AMERICA)”
A CERTAIN RATIO have announced details of the latest release in their reissue campaign, Live in America, 10-tracks that capture the exuberance of their 1985 tour of America. It will be out on vinyl, CD and digitally on August 8, 2025 via Mute.
Originally available as a self-released cassette the band sold on tour the following year, the album compiles performances from ACR’s summer 1985 tour of North America with then (and current!) labelmates New Order when both artists were on Factory Records.
Listen to the band perform one of their most loved and best-known singles, “Shack Up” HERE.
The line-up documented on the album consists of Andrew Connell - Keyboards, Donald Johnson – Drums and Vocals, Jez Kerr - Bass and Vocals, Martin Moscrop - Guitar and Trumpet and Anthony Quigley - Sax. That same line up went on to release Force the following year, shortly before Connell left to concentrate on Swing Out Sister.
The band’s sheer joy in their performance is evidenced across the release, charting what sounded like an intense tour across North America only a few years into their career. They explain: “The tour was fun and we were very well looked after by New Order and especially Rob Gretton, New Order’s manager. Rob always made sure that we were well fed and watered and would fulfill any request we had. Sometimes the promoters wouldn’t want us to eat in the same swanky restaurants as New Order due to costs and because we were the ‘warm up’ act. When this happened Rob would just tell them that he would pay for ACR. He watched our performances every night and gave us his opinion on how he thought it went. He was one of our biggest fans and we miss him dearly.”
Live in America was recorded at: Felt Forum, NYC; Opera House, Boston; Agora Theatre, Akron; Bismarck Theater, Chicago and Warner Theatre, Washington DC.
A Certain Ratio Live in America is available on August 8, 2025 on vinyl, CD and limited cassette. Pre-order HERE.
Live in America art:
Track listing:
1. Sounds Like Something Dirty2. The Fox
3. Shack Up
4. Life’s a Scream
5. Wild Party
6. Flight
7. And Then Again
8. Touch
9. Knife Slits Water
10. Si Firmir O Grido
Pre-order Live in America HERE.
RECENT PRAISE FOR A CERTAIN RATIO:
"I still think ACR are one of the country's most underrated bands." - Andrew Weatherall, JOCKEY SLUT
“Although New Order played an important role in bringing electronic music to Manchester, it was factory label-mates ACR who were the first of the city’s post punk acts to be influenced by American black music. An important part of the city’s underground jazz scene, ACR helped to bring together the different club tribes of Manchester.” - 7 Dance Music Weekly
“We used to play to annoy people but now people don’t get annoyed anymore. We were trying to annoy people into thinking about other things, instead of just accepting the same old things.”
ACR Interview with Paul Morley - NME 1980
“[ACR] were going through a transitional phase that would later be satirised in 24hr party people film - but did in fact see the band operating way ahead of the curve" – Peter Hook, The Hacienda: How Not to Run a Club
“One could forgive Martin Moscrop if he had issues with the current crop of dance-orientated rock bands. After all, they’re making bank largely by following the sonic formula that ACR developed a quarter of a century ago. Take a dash of disco and a chunk of funk, infuse the mix with arty-punk attitude and presto! Instant coolness”. - Bruce Tantum – TIME OUT NEW YORK 2004
“…pioneering groove alchemists” – THE QUIETUS
“… mould-breakers” – MOJO
“… pioneering…” – ELECTRONIC SOUND
CONNECT WITH A CERTAIN RATIO
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | WEB
July 7, 2025
Swimming Bell shares music video for "95 At Night," directed by Christopher Goode
LA's Swimming Bell shares music video for "95 At Night," directed by Christopher Good
VIDEO: "95 At Night" -
YouTube
Today Swimming Bell shares a new music video for their single "95 At Night," directed by Christopher Good who has also directed videos for Mitski, Grizzly Bear, Waxahatchee, etc. - you can watch it HERE - or check out the premiere over at MAGNET.
"I thought the song was really dreamy, so I thought a dreamy video would be good to make. It was primarily influenced by Maya Deren’s Meshes of the Afternoon, which is one of the most influential anythings, ever. You could probably watch Meshes of the Afternoon and then make a killer tiramisu, it’s just generally inspirational. Katie came out to Kansas to make the video and she bought me my first-ever coffee. I didn’t get hooked but I appreciated the attempt!" -Christopher Good
"I hadn't met Christopher until I arrived in Kansas, but it felt like we had known each other forever. He, Bella (AD) and I were laughing the whole time. It was a dream and a delight. I was also glad to give him complete control to come up with the concept knowing that we both like absurdity." -Swimming Bell
***
Swimming Bell, the project of Katie Schottland, returns with Somnia, a mesmerizing five-song EP produced by Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Kurt Vile, Cat Power). Released via Perpetual Doom, Somnia invites listeners into an ethereal sonic realm - an underwater dreamworld where melodies drift effortlessly and rhythms pulse like ocean currents.
Schottland, now based in LA, envisioned Somnia as an escape from the weight of reality. Against the backdrop of an increasingly tense world, she sought to create a space where listeners could feel suspended - floating between wakefulness and dreams. Collaborating with Schnapf, she embraced a more percussive approach, allowing textures and rhythms to guide the listener through shimmering soundscapes. Each track unfolds like a dream - buoyant, weightless, yet deeply immersive.
"I wanted this EP to feel like sinking into water, where everything is softened and suspended," says Schottland. "Given all the stress and tension in the world, I wanted to make a feeling of escape - something hypnotic and transportive. Rob and I explored percussive layers in a way that felt both grounding and dreamy, creating movement within."
With its captivating blend of organic instrumentation and airy production, Somnia marks a new chapter for Swimming Bell, further establishing Schottland as a singular voice in modern indie-folk.
Schottland offers some additional context for the EP's second single, "95 At Night":
"‘'95 at Night' ’is a memory of life before I moved to California—a song that carries the people and places from that time with me, even as my world has changed."
TOUR DATES
July 24 - Los Angeles, CA - The Goldfish
Swimming Bell
Somnia EP
(Perpetual Doom)
Street Date: May 16, 2025
Purchase / Stream it HERE
Track List:
Meet My Shadow
95 at Night
I'm Always Down
Found it at the Bottom of the Ocean
Mushrooms in July
RELATED LINKS:
MTV “London Calling” VJ STEVE BLACKNELL Recounts Colorful Life in New Book, “Tales From The Bedroom Wall,” Out July 9
STEVE BLACKNELL
“TALES FROM THE BEDROOM WALL--
THE LIFE & TIMES OF A SERIAL THRILL SEEKER”
SET FOR JULY 9 RELEASE
MTV “LONDON CALLING” VJ RECOUNTS HIS COLORFUL LIFE IN BOOK THAT FEATURES FOREWORD BY
LONGTIME FRIEND BILL WYMAN
“I met this young man a good forty years ago and we have remained close friends to the present day. From the start we were brothers-in-arms, sharing a love for the British humour of Tommy Cooper. We continue to meet as friends, and our e-mails always leave something to be desired, with Steve writing to me as Algernon or Clive and signing off as Fred. My replies would be addressed to Bert, and I would sign off as Tarquin, or the likes.”
--BILL WYMAN (The Rolling Stones)
Enigmatic TV host, radio presenter, record company executive, and friend to the rich and famous—there is nothing that STEVE BLACKNELL hasn’t done. Except write his memoir, which he has finally done in TALES FROM THE BEDROOM WALL - THE LIFE & TIMES OF A SERIAL THRILL SEEKER (Old Treacle Press). Due out July 9 through Amazon - the book takes readers on a journey throughout his colorful life—the ups the downs, near death experiences, losing millions, taking Concorde to Live Aid with Phil Collins and dating Kate Bush, to his battle with bulimia and other addictions. This is the book that has it all and more.
In America, STEVE BLACKNELL is mainly known for hosting the award-winning MTV USA music fashion show “London Calling” which pulled 23 million viewers. He interviewed over 100 pop stars that included a snarly Alice Cooper, heartthrob David Cassidy in a hotel Jacuzzi, a 40-minute chat with Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister who consumed an entire bottle of Jack Daniels and a table tennis game with Bill Wyman who discussed his career in the Rolling Stones.
Growing up, STEVE adorned his bedroom wall with pictures of his musical heroes, blissfully unaware he would meet so many of them in future days. His bizarre adventures both in the UK and Hollywood, his ridiculous forays into drugs and food addictions and an inability to take other people’s advice saw him go from millionaire to near poverty. The book is about failure, ignorance, arrogance, and an innate desire to push boundaries until they explode.
"There's an old joke that goes 'Everybody has a book in them’ which explains the lump in my throat. Indeed, I do believe there are so many of us who aren't necessarily household names that have lived life to 'the max!” STEVE says. “With me it hasn't been deliberate—I've just tried to pack in as many adventures as possible in my allotted time. At 72 I still have a few tricks up my sleeve—for as the Buddhists say 'You're only here three billion times so you'd better enjoy yourself.’”
###
Steve Blacknell was born in Peckham, UK and moved to Dartford, Kent in his early years eventually attending one of his heroes Mick Jagger’s old school, Dartford Grammar—where he even got his second-hand geography book! An obsessive pop fan since the early 60’s, he decided early on that he wanted to be a Radio DJ and so wrote to many key industry figures with only one reply—from John Peel who advised him to try hospital radio. He became the breakfast DJ at St Thomas’s Hospital in London for a year, supported by a certain ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris.
His first love was Kate Bush, who he met in Dartford on the arm of another man however they got together soon after. The budding songwriter and wannabee DJ would plot world domination; her the pop star and Steve introducing her on ‘Top of the Pops’! He, however, had no idea that he was dealing with a real musical genius.
The early 70s saw a move to Worcestershire where he worked at a Special Needs Home, and he started taking drugs. He eventually got his big break into music at Decca Records in the PR department and later at ABC working with artists from Steely Dan to Don Williams, during which time he began a dangerous dance with Anorexic Bulimia. He also met the future love of his life, Maggie. He moved to Chrysalis Records in the late 70s working with acts like Leo Sayer, Jethro Tull and Split Enz, finally joining Jive Records where he signed A Flock Of Seagulls after seeing them perform “I Ran.”
By the 1980s he was hanging out with the right people and was spotted by the BBC who asked him to host BBC 2’s “hip” new pop fashion show “Riverside” where he introduced a brand-new band—New Order! After calling the Deputy Editor of BBC Breakfast Time most days for about six weeks, he was drafted in to do the pop news when the late Mike Smith became ill. He stayed for three years and learned his trade from Frank Bough. By this point, he was also a regular host on Radio One’s “In Concert,” also the simulcast with BBC2 – “Sight and Sound in Concert.”
He was the BBC presenter covering Live Aid, the most important music event in the thirty-year history of rock & roll, flying in Concorde with Phil Collins--the only performer onstage at both Wembley and later the same day, Philadelphia.
After a 5-year stint as Peter Stringfellow’s PR and as Europe’s first “Video Jockey,’’ he hosted the award-winning MTV USA music fashion show “London Calling” which pulled 23 million viewers.
He became super rich and bought a mansion flat in the super trendy Holland Park Avenue--complete with chauffeur. He then had a dramatic sinus operation that left him stranded indoors for three months where he saw “God,” and on the flip of a coin while listening to Paul Young singing “Everything Must Change’’ he decided to try and crack the U.S.A and moved to Los Angeles.
While in the U.S., he met and married ex-groupie and 60’s legend Catherine James—the former wife of Moody Blues/Wings star Denny Laine. She was Diane Keaton's movie double for many years and was also best mates with mega-stars Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. He soon found out that Catherine had lived with Mick Jagger in London and dated the A-Z of rock heroes. She’d been at the piano with Clapton when he wrote “Layla,” and knew Hendrix, Morrison and others.
After several TV hosting jobs--including a stint as the Hollywood anchor of the UK-based TV channel BSKYB and as an actor making five movies, he avoided death when a speed boat exploded in Marina Del Rey and spent six months in a wheelchair addicted to the powerful opiate Vicodin. After only six years in the States, he left Hollywood and his wife for the UK once more--now penniless.
Once back in the UK he reunited with Maggie--the love of his life--and eventually moved to Hythe, Kent with her. They have had a 50-year romance that survived the gaps! After 18 years, he still runs London’s premiere “media networking” club The Waffle. He is also the most qualified TV teacher in the UK and is CEO of The Central London School of TV and Media Training.
