Kurz und knapp

Wieso wertvolle Zeit verschwenden? Redundante Reprisen und sorglose Soli rauben uns mannigfaltige Minuten. Dabei ließe sich musikalisch in 120 Sekunden alles sagen. Dass der perfekte Popsong eine erstaunlich kompakte Angelegenheit sein kann, wollen wir heute mit 57 Songs in einer Doppelstunde vorführen. Mit dabei: Young Marble Giants, The Legendary Stardust Cowboy und The Smiths.

Kurz und knapp war zu hören am Mittwoch, den 07.02.24 – 17:00-19:00 Uhr. Wdh.: Donnerstag, 08.02. von 7:00-9:00 Uhr und Samstag, 10.02. von 15:00-17:00 Uhr

Stream online here: ByteFM
Hamburg UKW: 91,7 & 104,0 MHz & DAB+
Berlin DAB+: Kanal 7B


ArtistTrackLabel
Shy BoysSomething SweetPolyvinyl
Nick DrakePink MoonIsland Records
Neil YoungThe Needle And The Damage DoneReprise Records
Legendary Stardust CowboyKiss And RunCherry Red
The Yummy FurPlastic CowboyRock Action
Frankie CosmosWayneSub Pop
Rose MelbergOne Of These DaysLost Sound Tapes
Young Marble GiantsColossal YouthRough Trade
JeaninesGotta GoSlumberland
DropkickFeeling Never Goes Awaydropkickmusic.bandcamp.com
The Boys With The Perpetual NervousnessDon't MindBobo Integral
Tony MolinaI Don't Like That HeRun For Cover
Tony MolinaFour Sided CellRun For Cover
The Pistachio KidKilling FieldsViolette Records
Maria RodesSalgamos Juntos Al Jard’nElefant
Eliza NiemiTea on a PlateTin Angel Records
The SmithsPlease, Please, Please...Rough Trade
Primal ScreamVelocity GirlCherry Red
The ParadeShe Sleeps AloneGrapefruit
The SufisMost Peculiar Happening CatAmple Play
The SufisAnother WayBurger Records
LilysA Nanny In ManhattanchŽ
CotsBitter Part of the FruitBoiled Records
Group ListeningCamberwick GreenPRAH Recordings
Leah SeniorThere's No FishFlightless
Betty O'BrianShe'll Be GoneOne Day Music
The Heavy HeavyWhy Don't You CallATO Records
Elvis CostelloWelcome To The Working WeekRykodisc
Sandy SalisburyDealerRev-Ola
RamonesJudy Is A PunkSire
Girls At Our BestGetting Nowhere FastOptic Nerve
PixiesAllison4AD
The LemonheadsAlison's Starting to HappenFire Records
Rolling Blackouts C. F.Open Up Your WindowSub Pop
The Bug ClubLove Letters From JupiterWe Are Busy Bodies
CheekfaceElection DaySelf-released
Maurice LecoeurLe Soleil Qui Rit RougeTransversales Disques
Andy ShaufYou Didn't SeeAnti- Records
John MyrtleJust Can't Seem To Say GoodbyeSad Club Records
The BeatlesFor No OneCapitol
Lazy SmokeThere Was A TimeArf! Arf!
Josephine OdhilWildfireUnexpected Records
Steady HolidayLove Me When I Go To Sleepsteadyholiday.bandcamp.com
Marmalade MountainThis Town Is Fucking InsaneMagic Nothing
Pastry BoysSugar on TopEats It Records
Teenage FanclubWhat You Do to Me Creation
Big StarBlue MoonArdent Music
Apollo GhostsDeodoraYou've Changed Rec.
Apollo GhostsAcid JennyYou've Changed Rec.
Christine FellowsThe GardenVivat Virtute
Travis BretzerWhere's Your Love?Human Sounds
Benoit PioulardTetMorr Music
The Lost DaysGonna Have To Tell YouSpeakeasy Studios SF
2nd GradeAs Long As We Can Talk About ItDouble Double Whammy
Guided By VoicesThe Goldheart Mountaintop Queen DirectoryGuided By Voices
Bella And MeHelp Me Break This HabitAce International
Winter McQuinnGoodbye NowThird Eye Stimuli

Emotional Zeitgeist

Jede Menge Emotional Zeitgeist soll heute bei Golden Glades zu erleben sein. Ganz genau wissen wir zwar nicht, was das bedeuten soll, doch zumindest haben sich Obscura Hail diese Wendung auf die Fahne geschrieben. Das australische Trio musiziert gegen das Vergessen an und zeigt mit einer Doppel-EP genaues Wissen darum, was gut klingt. Wem etwa das letzte Werk von Sufjan Stevens zu deprimierend vorkam, findet bei Obscura Hail jede Menge Trost und sogar Euphorie.

Irgendwie zeitgeisty kommt auch das neue Projekt Ezrat des New Yorkers Ezra Tenenbaum daher. Vor wenigen Jahren war er mit seiner Band EZTV den Gitarrenpoppern Real Estate dicht auf den Fersen; nun kehrt er solo zurück mit einem tollen Album voll harmonischer Visionen.

Besondere Erwähnung soll auch Jenny O finden, eine Songschreiberin, die sich im Retro-Zeitgeist der Sixties wohl fühlt. Sie kommt eigentlich aus dem Jazz und studierte Komposition. Ihr drittes Album «New Truth» wirkt lässig und cool, obwohl die Musikerin kurz zuvor ihr Gehör halbseitig verlor.

Emotional Zeitgeist war zu hören am Mittwoch, den 07.10.20 – 19:00-21:00 Uhr.
Wdh.: Samstag, 10.10. von 15:00-17:00 Uhr

Stream online here: ByteFM
Berlin: 91.0 MHz // Hamburg: 91.7 MHz

PlaylistGG_KW41


ArtistTrackLabel
MnevisMoviestarRed Brick Chapel
Sing LeafForever GreenTin Angel Records
Jenny O.God Knows WhyMama Bird Recording
Jenny O.Psychedelic LoveMama Bird Recording
TunngA Million ColoursFull Time Hobby
SisyphesNos RegretsA Certain Kind Records
Erregung …ffentlicher ErregungLangeweileSchlappvogel Records
Ariel Sharratt & Mathias KomRise up AlexaBB*Island
The Cool GreenhouseAlexa!Melodic
Obscura HailPenumbraDot Dash/Remote Control
Obscura HailThe Thin ManDot Dash/Remote Control
Boy H. WernerWho`s Gonna Tell You A Story?Hand 11
AnjimileIn Your EyesFather/Daughter
Chloe Alison EscottI Know The Soul By Its PresenceÉChapter Music
Joe PerniceRichardAshmont
Luka KuplowskyStardustMama Bird Recordings/Membran
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CesariansAnything, EverythingGlass Modern
Gal GracenArcadiaJAZ Records
EZTVRacing CountryCaptured Tracks
EzratVisionsBobo Integral
EzratHeavenly HighwayBobo Integral
Laura VeirsTurquoise WallsBella Union
tucumcariGet Drownedself-released
ThibaultChatty CathyChapter Music
Dent MayEasier Said Than DoneCarpark
Shy BoysView From the SkyPolyvinyl
Shy BoysFraid I Might DiePolyvinyl
Theatre RoyalTomorrow NowVacilando '68 Recordings
Jealous of the BirdsSomething HolyAtlantic
Seamus FogartyJohnny KDomino
Kate BollingerA Word Becomes A SoundFat Possum
Dirty ProjectorsHoly MackerelDomino

Pop Filter

Golden Glades hat nicht nur einen strengen Pop Filter eingebaut, sondern bringt heute sogar eine gleichnamige Band aus Melbourne ins Spiel. Pop Filter spielen lässig-leichte Songs, die sich schwer einordnen lassen, denn an ihrem Debüt «Banksia» waren gleich sechs Songwriter beteiligt. Es handelt sich eigentlich um kein neues Projekt, vielmehr sind Pop Filter die Band Ocean Party, die nach dem plötzlichen Tod ihres Sängers und Schlagzeugers Zac Denton nicht wie gewohnt weitermachen wollte.

Melbourne ist inzwischen so etwas wie das neue Glasgow, jedenfalls in der Art und Weise, wie Musikschaffende hier generationenübergreifend gemeinsame Sache machen. So gibt es eine personelle Überschneidung zwischen Pop Filter und einem weiteren Debüt-Highlight: «Or Not Thibault». Die Musikerin Nicole Thibault sorgte schon in den 90er Jahren als Mitglied der Minimum Chips für verhuschte Casio-Gefühle. Mit ihrem Solowerk geht sie nun einen artverwandten Weg und setzt auf motorischen Pop, in dem alte Moogs und Keyboards die Hauptrolle spielen.

Pop Filter war zu hören am Mittwoch, den 09.09.20 – 19:00-21:00 Uhr.
Wdh.: Samstag, 12.09. von 15:00-17:00 Uhr

Stream online here: ByteFM
Berlin: 91.0 MHz // Hamburg: 91.7 MHz

PlaylistGG_KW37


ArtistTrackLabel
I Like TrainsDig InAtlantic Curve
Shy BoysTrashPolyvinyl
Hen OgleddCrimson StarWeird World
Tomorrow SyndicatePopulousPolytechnic Youth
ThibaultWanting To Be AloneChapter Music
ThibaultContinuerChapter Music
StereolabPop QuizDuophonic
HaHa Sounds CollectiveSilk RockTin Angel Records
Slark MoanThe ShoreBalloon Tree Records
Jealous of the BirdsMrs Dallowayjealousofthebirds.bandcamp.com
Pop FilterRomance At The Petrol StationBobo Integral
Pop FilterNot Listening To The Same ThingBobo Integral
Leah SeniorTime TravellerFlightless
Aidan KnightMary Turns The PillowFull Time Hobby
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Luka KuplowskyPositive PushMama Bird Recordings / Membran
Mo TroperLucky DevilsTender Loving Empire
Theatre RoyalTogether We're AloneVacilando '68 Recordings
Even As We SpeakChildShelflife
Dent MayDidn't Get The InviteCarpark
Easy LoveForget About LoveLoantaka Records
Human BarbieGet a Lifetherealhumanbarbie.bandcamp.com
LomeldaWonderDouble Double Whammy
LomeldaHannah SunDouble Double Whammy
Tom SandersLittle HumanMoshi Moshi
Pop FilterLaughing FallingBobo Integral
David Newton & Thee Mighty AngelsThe Songs That Changed Our LivesParkfield Records
The Mighty Lemon DropsLike An AngelCherry Red
Pop Co-OpKeen to be Near YouFutureman Records
Hologram TeenSam Samy SamRansom Note
Fenne LilySolipsismDead Oceans
Bill Callahan35Drag City

Like Yesterday

Like Yesterday klingen viele Songs von heute. Dieser Rückgriff auf althergebrachte Strukturen und Sounds: ist das nun als zeitlos zu bewerten? Oder als hoffnungslos nostalgisch? Oder gar als reaktionär? Oft genug kommt es vor, dass das Klangmaterial allein keine zuverlässige Aussage mehr darüber zulässt, ob ein Song nun alt oder neu ist, denn manch heutige Musikschaffende sind historisch so gut informiert, dass das popmusikalische Zeitkolorit bis ins kleinste Detail rekonstruiert wird. Mit Like Yesterday wollen wir uns heute diesem Phänomen widmen und hören aktuelle Sounds, die sich aus vergangenen Tagen speisen, zwischen Sixties Beat, Krautrock und Power Pop.

Diese Sendung war zu hören am Mittwoch, den 27.03.19 – 20:00-22:00 Uhr.
Wdh.: Samstag, 30.03. von 15:00-17:00 Uhr & Montag, 01.04. von 08:00-10:00 Uhr

Stream online here: ByteFM
Berlin: 91.0 MHz // Hamburg: 91.7 MHz

PlaylistGG_KW13


ArtistTrackLabel
Violet SwellsHere Comes YesterdayStrong Island Recordings
AnemoneOn Your OwnLuminelle Recordings
BeachtapeFix It UpPNKSLM
Justus ProffitLaughing On the InsideBar/None Records
Masha QrellaDay After DayStaatsakt
Ex HexTough EnoughMerge
The StroppiesPresent TenseTough Love
The StroppiesNothing At AllTough Love
Michael ParadiseGoldPowell Productions
YushiInterimyushi.bandcamp.com
Shy BoysDim The LightPolyvinyl
Faye WebsterRoom TemperatureSecretly Canadian
Salami Rose Joe LouisNostalgic MontageBrainfeeder
Gretchen's WheelAlways LoveFutureman Records
ElvaTailwindTapete Records
The DatesAny Other NiteBurger Records
William TylerFail SafeMerge
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American FootballSilhouettesPolyvinyl
The Proper OrnamentsCrepuscular ChildTapete Records
Green SeagullSimeon BrownMega Dodo
The FernwehSunriseSkeleton Key
Lucille FursAnother LandRequiem Pour Un Twister
Lucille FursPaint Euphrosyne BlueRequiem Pour Un Twister
Ex OkaysInvolvementexokays.bandcamp.com
Paul CherryLike YesterdayFeeltrip
I Was a KingBubbleself-released
I Was a KingHatchetself-released
Von SparExtend The Song (w/ L¾titia Sadier)Tapete Records
Stephen MalkmusViktor BorgiaDomino
Tim Presley's White FenceFog CityDrag City
Dana GavanskiOne By OneFull Time Hobby
Bobby JamesonDo You Believe In YesterdayVerve
Chris CohenTwice in a LifetimeCaptured Tracks

Best of 2018

I listen to an awful lot of music every day, it’s my job and responsibility as a radio presenter. But most of all, it’s a labour of love digging out interesting stuff, making new discoveries in all directions. The end of the year makes me think of my ultimate favourite tunes, which is never an easy thing to do. However, here’s some kind of a Best Of list with some records and artists I especially enjoyed in 2018.

Adrianne Lenker – “Abysskiss” (Saddle Creek)

Some of you are probably familiar with Lenker as a guitarist and vocalist in Brooklyn-based indie rock band Big Thief. Her full-length solo record is a stripped-down singer-/songwriter approach and with this, she’s covering intimate emotions on her stroll along the abyss. In a way it’s hauntingly intense, but nevertheless comfort for your soul. Adrianne Lenker shows a subtle, otherworldly brilliance with her light fingerpicking on acoustic guitar while her songs are thoughtful, deep and poignant. And with this combination, there’s a true affinity to other outstanding artists like Judee Sill or Connie Converse.

 

Ari Roar – “Calm Down” (Bella Union)

Sometimes it’s true: great art comes from great pain. Adrianne Lenker has quite a history with being born into a religious cult and she almost died, when a railroad spike crashed her skull as a kid. And she managed to create something special in the wake of the tragedy, just like Caleb Campbell alias Ari Roar. The Texan singer-songwriter struggled with panic attacks from early on. As a late teenager, he had an operation on the spine, which left him bed-bound for months. Of course, these experiences have an impact. And in this case, he’s doing the best by channelling it into beautiful melodic lo-fi pop. The sweet miniatures on Calm Down might sound effortlessly in the first place, but there’s something else underneath the surface, with traces of doubts and fear. It’s a glorious debut for repeat listens.

 

Clearance – “At Your Leisure” (Topshelf)

This band provides a compelling sound by picking up familiar indie rock in a modern way. They create something fresh and interesting and already got a lot of praise here in my blog. If you like passionate, bright guitar music from the 80ties and 90ties, you should listen to this one.

 

Field Music – “Open Here” (Memphis Industries)

Whenever there’s a new Field Music record, it always ends up in my top ten of the year. Again, the spacious production on Open Here is exquisite, the compositions are intricate and classy. Field Music are ambitious, but they have all the knowledge and the talent to follow their visions. It’s a beautiful and well-crafted record that needs to be heard, because it has something to say. Maybe it’s all a bit too smart to reach the big crowd – but I’m sure the time will eventually come and Field Music get all the praise they deserve.

 

Lake Ruth – “Birds of America” (Feral Child Records)

They like to go under the banner “baroque pop”, but there’s so much more to discover in the music of Lake Ruth: from folk to jazz to avant-pop. I’m a fan of Matt Schulz since his days with Enon – he’s an excellent, versatile drummer. And singer Allison Brice, she has a way of phrasing her poetic lyrics in meandering harmonies like no other. All backed-up by a multi-layered smooth texture with a slight vintage touch. Lake Ruth are quite unique doing their own thing, and Birds of America is nothing less but an awe-inspiring masterpiece.

 

Shy Boys – “Bell House” (Polyvinyl)

Undeniably, these guys know how to sing! And the harmonies all perfectly meld together. It’s a special quality that only happens, when siblings start a band. The family sound is so intriguing because the harmonies are amazingly organic. Music history is filled with such examples and just like Field Music, the Shy Boys are band of brothers, supported by a couple of best friends. I summoned up a rave review earlier this year in my little blog here.

 

Stephen Steinbrink – “Utopia Teased” (Melodic / Western Vinyl)

This singer-/songwriter is a terrific talent. And again, we have an artist here, who knows a lot about the dark stuff in life. Stephen Steinbrink was left devastated after a fateful fire during a warehouse party in Oakland, California that killed 36 people in December 2016. After a couple of months stunned with grief, Steinbrink quit a minimum wage job, locked himself up in a shipping container with all sorts of music equipment, stimulated by a daily diet of LSD. And the songs started pouring out of him. Utopia Teased sounds a bit different, less perfect than his previous records. It’s a bit more daring with field recordings and synthesizers, but again it’s a collection of beautiful songs with substance and a hidden treasure for eternity.

 

Still Parade – “Soon Enough” (Feel Flows)

This is a very fine piece of work from Berlin, but made with love in LA. It feels like Niklas Kramer had a very clear vision for his new Still Parade album and he obviously put a lot of effort and thought into it. It sounds warm like a cozy blanket and puts the listener at ease. Of course, the Beach Boys influence is evident, but in a clever way. Smart harmonies combined with a startling sense of intimacy, and the formidable production brings out a nice vintage flair. It’s the kind of music that makes the world a better place. Sometimes, that’s just what you need.

 

The Fernweh – “The Fernweh” (Skeleton Key)

Yes, I am repeating myself here – I already picked this album for my Best Of list two years ago! Back then, I received a promotional copy from the band directly. Thankfully, it just got a proper release via Skeleton Key because this sublime debut is really exceptional. It’s a beautiful collection of hazy late 60s, early 70s inspired folk and pop, combined with a gentle nod to British psychedelia. Treat yourself & give it a listen, if you’re not already familiar with this. The Fernweh demonstrate an exceptional level of song craft and the record deepens with every listen.

 

Tony Molina – “Kill The Lights” (Slumberland)

Tony Molina is deeply rooted in 60s songwriting and DIY aesthetics. With Kill The Lights, he created a truly glorious pop record by offering 10 tracks in under 15 minutes. His sensitive songs are infectious and short to the point. Just like Ari Roar, Tony Molina is able to put it all into a 60-second song and I never get tired of listening – again and again. This really is a lovely, but as well soul-baring record.

 

Teenage Fanclub – Vinyl-Reissues (Sony)

Why should I be interested into these reissues when I already have all the vinyl of Teenage Fanclub in my collection? Well, guitarist and singer Raymond McGinley of the band explained to me: back in the 90s, the vinyl was just a copy of the CD. But if you want the best vinyl sound, you need a special mastering. That’s basically, what Teenage Fanclub did: they took the original master tapes, worked through all of them at Abbey Road Studios and improved the mastering for this new vinyl edition. And it really does make a difference, especially the new pressing of 1993s Thirteen is now more immediate and has a much better dynamic. Also, each essential album includes a bonus seven-inch single, mostly of tracks which originally appeared only on CD singles and EPs. To promote all these reissues from the Creation era, Teenage Fanclub played a very special concert series in Great Britain. Here’s my review of the nights in Birmingham and London, which also marks my concert highlight of 2018.

 

SUPER 8 – T-T-T-Technicolour Melodies/Turn Around Or…/HI LO (Futureman Rec)

Frequent listeners of my radio show already know about SUPER 8 – Paul Ryan a.k.a. Trip got a lot of airplay in 2018. Not only, because he put out a lovely mix of guitar pop as a one-man-band with all sorts of instruments like cello and trumpet. He also managed to surprise again and again with new top material. Three homemade full lengths were released this year on Futureman Records and it’s hard to pick a favourite album really. Each release is kind of special and filled with a laid-back and sunny charm. Backed up now and again with some thoughtful songs and well-curated cover versions. It looks like SUPER 8 will be back in 2019 with a more acoustic-based album – a thing looking forward to!

23th December 2018

The Power Of Pop

Gute Popmusik hat zahlreiche Stärken: mal ist es eine dynamische Hookline, die uns mitnimmt, dann die Verletzlichkeit eines Gesangs, welche uns beim Hören aufhorchen lässt. Dies gilt auch und in besonderer Weise für das Subgenre Power-Pop, das gemeinhin melodienreiche, dreieinhalb Minuten lange Uptempo-Nummern bezeichnet.

In der heutigen Ausgabe von Golden Glades liegt der Fokus auf solch lebensbejahenden Songs glorreicher Bands: Teenage Fanclub haben ihre alten Klassiker neu überarbeiten lassen, Shy Boys präsentieren ein sensationelles zweites Album und das Damen-Duo Ohmme zeigt auf seinem Debüt eine so enorme Musikalität und Spannbreite, dass einem die Ohren schlackern.

Diese Sendung war zu hören am Mittwoch, den 29.08.18 – 20:00-22:00 Uhr.

Stream online here: ByteFM
Berlin: 91.0 MHz // Hamburg: 91.7 MHz

PlaylistGG_KW35


ArtistTrackLabel
The BethsHappy UnhappyCarpark
The MolochsI Wanna Say To YouInnovative Leisure
77:78PapersHeavenly
Roger Nichols & Small Circle Of FriendsDon't Take Your TimeTapete
The OpheliasGeneral ElectricJoyful Noise
Stephen SteinbrinkI Don't Know How To Deal With ItMelodic
Shy BoysEvil SinPolyvinyl
Shy BoysTragic LossPolyvinyl
The SpiresStereo ImagesFop Music
Dot DashWorld's Last PayphoneBeautiful Music
The CondorsMatter of FactBig Stir
The ArmoiresFort AshbyBig Stir
Davey Woodward & Winter OrphansBuild A BoatTapete
SummeroomsSummerooms Pop Songsummerooms.bandcamp.com
Michael RaultOh, Clever BoyWick Records
ShadowgraphsHit of the TruthGolden Brown
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Teenage FanclubAlcoholidaySony
Teenage FanclubDiscoliteSony
Teenage FanclubStart AgainSony
Grand PrixNada En Este MundoRock Indiana
The Love-BirdsWeak RiffTrouble In Mind
Gretchen's WheelPlansFutureman Records
Gretchen's WheelLucidFutureman Records
OvlovBaby AlligatorExploding in Sound
The Lemon TwigsSmall Victories4AD
Sam EvianIDGAFSaddle Creek
Free Cake For Every CreatureAround YouDouble Double Whammy
OhmmeIconJoyful Noise
OhmmeLiquor CabinetJoyful Noise
PoppelHow Many DaysMeritorio Records
Regular SpreadPipe Dreamsregularspread.bandcamp.com

Shy Boys

Shy Boys Album Review Bell House (2018)

Oh well, I’ve been caught up by too many things and completely neglected my blog – sorry for that! It’s not dead yet. All I needed was a good reason for getting back into the writing business again and here it is, thanks to Shy Boys and their outstanding new album Bell House.

 

My colleagues at ByteFM already described its brilliance in a top-notch review in German. But I have to express my own excitement about this record here for you and for the music geek in all of us. So here we go: Shy Boys are a quintet from Kansas City and I know there are some very fine bands hailing from this area like The ACBs or Ghosty and also The Coctails were once founded at the Kansas City Art Institute before moving to Chicago.

And now we have Shy Boys, five guys singing sweet little, affirmative songs in perfect harmonies and I’m not at all surprised to see, that two bandmembers also play with The ACBs: there’s a similar feel to it in terms of sound and shape. But here on their second album, Shy Boys are taking the notorious indie-pop to a higher level and created nothing but a little masterpiece. It’s all good, from start to finish filled with musically nimble songs.

Of course, it’s easy to pin down some glorious influences: The Beach Boys moments, the sense of harmonic structures from singing in the church – but all this put together in a very gentle, upright and beautiful intimate way – it’s simply hard not to fall for this. While lead songwriter Collin Rausch sings about childhood memories and reflects on mundane things in life, the band creates an atmosphere of creativity and faithfulness, all in the sake of the unspoiled pop experience. I’d say you can hear there’s a quality in all this which only evolves over time when there’s a special connection between all band members. And indeed: Shy Boys is the product of five best friends (two of them brothers) who manage to combine all the soul-feeding harmonies and strong songwriting with an almost natural, effortless touch. It’s a very special thing, please check it out!

23th August 2018

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