AURSJOEN – Strand EP

Ria Aursjoen will be familiar to some people via her work with Octavian Winters, a band whose recordings offer a more accessible take on gothic and symphonic rock sounds. Musically, the band’s love of an 80s sound is offset by a more contemporary darkness, but whatever route their arrangements take, its often Ria’s voice that’s the big musical draw. With that in mind, this solo EP comes as a very welcome addition to her catalogue. The first release under the Aursjoen name retains a haunting and sometimes gothic atmosphere in places, but much of the material conveys a different mood, often leaning further towards influences from folk and alternative pop, allowing Ria more space to share a dark beauty.

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Listen: SoftSun share new track ‘Daylight In The Dark’

Here’s a real treat from the Ripple Music label. SoftSun are a doom-laden shoegaze/desert rock trio featuring a few familiar faces. Guitarist Gary Arce will be familiar to some as a member of both Yawning Man and Yawning Balch; vocalist Pia Isaksen is a member of Superlynx, and drummer Dan Joeright is a member of Earth Moon Earth. Between them, they’ve created something that sounds almost nothing like their parent acts, immediately making SoftSun an effective side hustle.

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THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #71

Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the individual tracks that have landed in our inbox over the previous few weeks. This time out we bring you a synth based banger, a strange and trippy singer songwriter, a cheeky 60s throwback, some big rock sounds from a rising band and more besides. Hopefully, there’s something here that will entertain, and encourage you to dig just a little further.

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THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #70

Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the individual tracks that have landed in our inbox over the past few weeks. It’s a proper mixed bag this week, with the return of a multi-million selling singer songwriter, who is contrasted by a sharp edged alternative metal track; something that leans towards country rock, the return of a favourite pop vocalist and more besides…

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Watch: ‘Mirror Midnight’ previews new album from The Awakening in classic style

Ashton Nyte is busy. Not only is he featured on a recent track from musical collective Beauty In Chaos (whose recent single featuring The Mission’s Wayne Hussey is a must hear), but he’s also promoting new material from his own band The Awakening, who are set to release a self titled album in October.

Before the release of ‘The Awakening’, Nyte has given fans a classic sounding preview via the single ‘Mirror Midnight’.

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