Hollie Cook "Happy Hour In Dub"
A heavenly set of dub versions to pair with Hollie Cook’s critically acclaimed 2022 album Happy Hour. Hollie’s first full dub record since 2012, Happy Hour in Dub was coaxed into being by close listening of the original album’s modern lover’s rock.
Hollie and Happy Hour producer Ben Mckone explain:
The reason and inspiration for wanting to make the dub record is because Happy Hour, in its original form, has so many intricate musical details running throughout the songs—from the backing vocal and string arrangements to some far more subtle details. And during the mixing process, hearing some of these parts on their own over the drum and bass foundation, we felt there was so much left to explore and expose in the songs and take them to outer space.
At the controls rejoining Hollie in exploring the space, Mckone takes her soulful creations and stretches them to their sonic limits, with new vocal features by Josh Skints and Kiko Bun.
PWNT "Play What’s Not There"
Get ready to be transported to a world of mesmerizing music with PWNT’s latest project, ‘Play What’s Not There.’ It all started with the release of PWNT’s debut album, ‘Days in the Summer,’ in the midst of the most trying times for the music industry. While most artists would have gone on a support tour to promote their album, Kosta Galanopoulos, the mastermind behind PWNT, found himself creatively invigorated during the pandemic.
With newfound free time, Kosta poured all his energy into creating a new album, and ‘Play What’s Not There’ was born. This collection of tracks feels so timeless and captivating that you’ll find yourself coming back to it again and again. Kosta brought on board an exceptional team of artists, musicians, and producers to help him pull off this masterpiece.
From the haunting vocals of Will Fox to the unforgettable woodwinds from Steven Frieder and the masterful textures crafted by David Davis, the album takes you on a musical journey like no other. ‘Play What’s Not There’ is an expanded acronym for PWNT’s artist name, inspired by Miles Davis, and it perfectly epitomizes Kosta’s vision.
This album is a testament to Kosta’s ability to make music that feels both brand new and timeless, and it’s destined to hold a space all its own in the world of music. So sit back, relax, and let PWNT’s ‘Play What’s Not There’ take you on a journey you’ll never forget.
Mutoid Man "Mutants"
When Mutoid Man came crashing out of the gate back in 2013, the Brooklyn trio’s combination
of basement punk’s zero-fucks-given energy, classic metal’s over-the-top showmanship, and
prog rock’s musical gymnastics had a seemingly unstoppable momentum. Riding on the success
of their debut EP Helium Head (2013), the band took on a manic work ethic over the next four
years, cranking out two full-lengths, Bleeder (2015) and War Moans (2017), touring relentlessly
across the US and Europe, and becoming something of a de facto house band for esteemed
New York metal venue Saint Vitus along the way. With tour dates supporting acts like
Mastodon and Danzig, it appeared that Mutoid Man’s entry into the upper echelon of heavy
metal heroes was inevitable. However, life has a way of complicating things, and between line-
up changes, an exodus from Brooklyn, a slew of other musical projects, and, ya know, a
pandemic, the band was put on hold in the midst of their ascendancy. But after a six-year
recording hiatus, Mutoid Man are back to reclaim their throne with their third full-length album
and most mindboggling effort yet, Mutants.
Guitarist/vocalist Stephen Brodsky (Cave In, Old Man Gloom) and drummer Ben Koller
(Converge, Killer Be Killed) have always excelled at crafting their own unique brand of frenzied,
hyper-focused, dynamic, and deliciously excessive fretboard-savvy metal. Take two players who
were raised in the hardcore world and who quickly surpassed the technical requirements for
playing even the more sophisticated spins on that sound, and then make them playfully push
each other into more outrageous and catchy territories, and you have a rough approximation of
the Mutoid Man sound. But with new bassist Jeff Matz (High on Fire, Zeke) in tow, you now
have a trifecta of prog-level players approaching metal with punk irreverence on Mutants.
