Gwenno

A couple of years ago at SXSW, one of my must-sees was the amazing Welsh singer and musician Gwenno performing her solo work away from The Pipettes.  True to form, she was amazing, as was her album "Y Dydd Olaf," and i've been waiting for new music ever since.  Well, today's the day.  In March, Gwenno will release "Le Kov," another album sung entirely in her native Cornish in March on Heavenly.  Color me stoked.  Watch the video for first single "Tir Ha Mor" below and pre-order the record here.

Mark Lanegan Band

April is bringing us "Gargoyle," a new album of tunes by the Mark Lanegan Band.  New Mark Lanegan is always welcome news around here, and listening to "Nocturne," the first single from the new record, this emerging blend of dark synth sound paired with the artist's gravelly, smokey grunge rock has me stoked for all the imminent romantic gloom.  Listen below and grab the record April 28th on Heavenly Recordings.

The Wytches

I heard The Wytches for the first time earlier this year with some crusty, lo-fi recordings the band had made at home...and they were fucking great.  The noisy punk trio now has a new proper full-length out on Heavenly called "All Your Happy Life," and the first taste is scuzzy wonder.  Listen to "Crest of Death" below.

Mark Lanegan and Beth Orton cover Marc Almond and Nico

Heavenly Recordings is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year and are releasing a slew of singles for the event.  One of those singles is an excellent and faithful cover of Marc Almond's and Nico's "Your Kisses Burn" performed by Mark Lanegan and Beth Orton.  The song is gorgeous and lush, Lanegan's dusty old vocals pairing nicely Orton's ghostly swoon and the orchestral accompaniment.  Listen below.

Temples & Jagwar Ma

Two of the hipper psych rock acts to emerge in the last year are teaming up for a split single release for Record Store Day from Heavenly Recordings.  The UK's Temples will remix Australian act Jagwar Ma's "Man I Need," while Jagwar Ma provide a remix of Temples' "Shelter Song."  You can listen to both below, but you'll only be able to grab the record in the UK (booooo).

Temples

Here's some great modern psyche rock from the UK's Temples, in the vein of Dungen or Tame Impala.  Listen to "Shelter Song" below and look for the 7" from Heavenly Records.

Toy

One of the things i love most about living in Austin during SXSW is that i seem to come across new bands and artists at an almost hourly rate.  There is so much to discover.  And so, hailing from London, i heard the band Toy today, and they're marvelous (now attempting to find a show they're playing at).  The 5-piece incorporates elements of psych, prog, post-punk, and krautrock to create a really full sound.  The songs are arena ready, yet also sound like they could be jamming away in the garage just as easily.  Listen to the epic, 10-minute album closer "Kopter" below and look for their self-titled album on Heavenly Records.