To The Wedding #2 - Come On

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Lauren Grubb's To The Wedding released one of 2014's best music moments earlier this year with the stunning "Silver Currents", a track I described as a 'part Chris Isaak, part Hope Sandoval, a stop-you-in-your tracks hymn of heartbreak'... Thus, accordingly I placed great anticipation (and expectation) upon hearing more from the San Francisco artist. Yesterday I got just that and I'm not disappointed either...

"Come On" is equally woozy and intoxicating, a dream-inducing blanket of comforting vocals and softly strummed guitarscapes, verging between drowsy and shimmery beauty, "Come On" is another treasure from a release that looks set to become a firm favourite of those lucky enough to discover it.

The album Silver Currents looks slated for an October digital release (I'd like this on vinyl) - pre-order via Bandcamp now.

Slow Skies #2 - Ice Field

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Are you ready to have your heart melted? Good. Dublin's Slow Skies return with "Ice Field", the first track taken from their forthcoming EP Keepsake and it is a bonafide beaut.

Never hurried, "Ice Field" is an exercise in restraint and emotion, never rising to more than a fleeting moment of prettiness in a rushed existing with the gorgeous murmurs of Karen's soft voice shining amongst equally luxurious instrumentation. There's no heady climax here, no tricks or turn, just beauty and romanticism as you're carried off willingly with thoughts of pure, spine-tingling bliss. Go grab a cup of something warm, sit still and enjoy...

Keepsake is released via Faction Records on September 29th

Rökkurró - Blue Skies

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Well hello Rökkurró, here's a name I'd never heard of until yesterday (with a nod firmly pointed in the direction of the ever brilliant Gold Flake Paint) and after a handful of listens to the tracks I could find by the Icelandic sextet I'm wondering quite why, their new single "Blue Skies", actually the second track to be aired from their forthcoming album (as yet unannounced) gives a wonderful introduction...

The track grows from a plaintive piano ballad with the copy and paste worthy named Hildur Kristín Stefánsdóttir vocals's encapsulated perfectly by the luscious, blossoming instrumentation that sounds as natural (and beautiful) as an Icelandic picture postcard, the resulting feeling is sure to leave you basking in a warm, uplifting glow. You can't ask for more than that on a Wednesday.

I'm loving "The Backbone" too, smooth crystalline guitars, sexy beats and a gorgeous, escalating vocal swoon around my heart whilst sounding like a slowed-down Dirty Projectors before erupting with a soaring, emotive finale as guitars and drums are allowed to loose their constraint. Truly sumptuous stuff. Listen below:

She Keep Bees #9 - Radiance

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It seems new She Keep Bees songs are coming in our ears as often as weeks anew, that's never something to grumble about, "Radiance", the third track to be taken from the Brooklyn duo's forthcoming LP Eight House (available to pre-order now from Rough Trade) is another beauty too...

"Radiance" continues the stark, sparse mood set by earlier tasters "Is What It Is" and "Owl", this time without the backing of Sharon Van Etten's haunting harmonies - that's probably a good thing - we all love Sharon but it should be the case that SKB's can create the wow factor themselves with no need to use a 'name' to create publicity- in an ideal world that is of course and I hope this slow-paced, luxurious wonder draws in fans, new and old alike. It surely should, radiating not with swagger or drive but hard-hitting emotions and grace. This is a special band alright.

Golden Fable #5 - Armour

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Monday morning got off to the best possible start with the very welcome (and long-awaited) return of Golden Fable, now a trio, the North Wales based act have made September their own by announcing not just a new album, their second, but a preceding EP all in one go...

For now we've got "Armour" to sink our teeth into, the first taster of the new album, entitled Ancient Blue and due for release on November 10th, the track gives a hint into an exciting progression, a dynamic and exhilarating rush of bold instrumentation and Rebecca's ever faultless vocal. The jagged guitar patterns and heavy drum beat that runs throughout sees Golden Fable capture their live sound on record for the first time, a collision of haunting and cinematic soundscapes with a dramatic, post-rock edge. It's an impressive, breathless return.

The aforementioned Breathe In EP comes with little information (as yet) other than it contains three additional tracks and is released two weeks earlier than the album on October 27th. Ancient Blue and Breathe In can be pre-ordered now via Bandcamp - I've already done so.

Layla #4 - Fight The Fire

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I adored the emotion that ran through Layla's last track EP Black Mud, taking the London based artist from promising newcomer to a certain star on the horizon, she returns now with "Fight The Fire", the first track taken from her next EP Weightlessness.

The soft guitar shimmers and comforting piano twinkles that introduce "Fight The Fire" lets you know what to expect immediately, a gorgeous torchlight ballad that resonates through its warming melody and luscious string sections as Layla's devastating vocals turns you to mush inside.

More details of Weightlessness are to follow. Layla plays her biggest headline show to date on November 3rd at London's Lexington - details.