Diving Station (Credit: Oliver Pringle, artist’s Facebook page)
Dream pop and jazz sandwich international riddims as Getintothis’ Josh French provides the insight to three new artists.
Diving Station
Since releasing their debut EP in January of last year, Diving Station have enjoyed airplay from BBC broadcaster Bob Harris and Elbow frontman Guy Garvey, as well as making numerous festival appearances and a welcome return to the studio, crafting the four songs that comprise their forthcoming sophomore effort, Feather Mouth.
Dream pop is an apt term to describe their sound, given guitarist Sean Rogan’s penchant for atmospheric guitar swells and the ethereal tone of lead vocalist Anna McLuckie’s Celtic harp. That said, the Manchester-based outfit are equipped to explore everything from angular art rock to indie folk and pop minimalism, thanks to their musical command and wealth of experience with other musical projects.
Their daring songwriting and dynamic arrangements reveal their maturity as artists, reinforced by their close working relationship with producer and recording engineer Hugo Meredith-Hardy, whose own expertise have helped elevate the band’s studio work to date.
Stream the band’s new single You’re Not Listening, inspired by Dada poetry techniques and the
cyclical nature of arguments, below and catch the band on tour in the UK this month and next.
Cykada
A London-based ensemble featuring members of Ezra Collective, Maisha and Where Pathways Meet – Cykada have the chemistry and artistic vision necessary to make an impact beyond their immediate scene.
Drawing influence from Sound system culture alongside the musics of West Africa, Eastern Europe and contemporary London, this band of skilled improvisers and producers harness the spontaneity of contemporary jazz, the immediacy of bass music and the spectral glides of psychedelia, to create an enthralling fusion sound. Their debut album isn’t due until Spring of next year; their current reputation built solely on their intense live performance and brilliant video from the jazz re:freshed residency at Mau Mau Bar last year.
The band hit the road next week playing their renditions of the Beats of L.A. alongside original
material in Manchester, Nottingham and Leeds. If you dig the music of Josef Leimberg, Melt
Yourself Down and Sons of Kemet, you’ll want to keep your eyes on these guys!
Pete Beardsworth
Nottingham-based multi-instrumentalist Pete Beardsworth has produced both of the EPs by one time Future Bubbler and present day jazz/RnB trendsetter Yazmin Lacey. But he’s also an accomplished leader in his own right, having recently produced a blissful five track EP of his own material, pairing the breathtaking sound of Ling Peng’s Erhu with his various woodwind and keyboard instruments, vocals and production.
A personal reflection upon music as a force for healing, the EP charts the period of seclusion and recovery following, ‘a traumatic accident that left Pete without the bottom parts of his legs.’ The EP is an uplifting listen, proving Pete to be the consummate contemporary music maker.
Aside from his solo work, he’s a member of Nottingham’s Running Circle collective and plays in The Invisible Orchestra. Pete supports Jean Toussaint at London’s Jazz Cafe in December and heads up North for a free entry show in Manchester, shortly after Christmas.
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