SML - "Chicago Four"

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Photo by Charlie Weinmann

For their latest single, Los Angeles' SML took a live recording from The Empty Bottle in Chicago to start with. As with much of SML's releases, "Chicago Four" stretches the boundaries of what is considered jazz to the point that it could be argued that the song isn't actually jazz. It's a synth heavy soundscape that is going to push the limits of what many experimental music fans can accept. "Chicago Four" swirls around itself in a unique way, and the song ends before you're even quite sure what you just listened to. The song is three and a half minutes long, but seems to be much shorter than that, which is exceedingly rare in experimental music. Approach "Chicago Four" with an open mind, and you may just be rewarded.

You can watch the video for "Chicago Four" below. How You Been is due out November 7 on International Anthem, and is available to pre-order here. For more on SML, check out the artist's website. Upcoming live dates are below the video.


Live Oak FL - Friday October 31st - Hulaween 
London UK - Thursday November 20th - Church of Sound
Los Angeles CA - Monday December 1st - Zebulon 
Los Angeles CA - Tuesday December 2nd - Zebulon 
Philadelphia PA - Thursday December 11th - Solar Myth 
Brooklyn NY - Friday December 12th - The Sultan Room 
Brooklyn NY - Saturday December 13th - The Sultan Room 
Chicago IL - Sunday December 14th - Thalia Hall 
San Diego CA - Wednesday February 25th - The Loft @ UCSD 
San Francisco CA - Thursday February 26th - SF JAZZ Joe Henderson Lab 
San Francisco CA - Friday February 27th - SF JAZZ Joe Henderson Lab 
Knoxville TN - Thursday March 26th - Big Ears Festival (3 night residency) 
Knoxville TN - Friday March 27th - Big Ears Festival (3 night residency) 
Knoxville TN - Saturday March 28th - Big Ears Festival (3 night residency) 

On Repeat...

The New Limits - "Normal Day"

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Photo by Lyza Renee Brennen Leigh has quickly become a favorite of ours, with her take on a classic country sound with a slight sense of humor. Her latest single, "Dumpster Diving," which she describes as a "trashy little tune," is everything we love about the musician. It's a vintage style country song that comes in at a punk like one minute, forty-eight seconds. With a chorus of "Dumpster diving, this ain't gonna last / Dumpster diving, 'cause baby you like trash..." how can you possibly resist. Leigh's latest gives us a decades old sound with modern sensibilities and her fantastic voice that's tailor made for this genre of music. It's almost like a collaboration between Loretta Lynn and Shel Silverstein, and who doesn't want to hear that? You can hear "Dumpster Diving" below. Don't You Ever Give Up On Love  is due out October 3 on Signature Sounds, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Brennen Leigh,...
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The Beths - "Mother, Pray for Me"

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Photo by Annabel Kean For their latest single, New Zealand's The Beths have released "Mother, Pray for Me." This is a heartbreaking ballad consisting of Elizabeth Stokes' vocals and guitar with just the slightest hint of organ. It's a deeply personal song for Stokes, made obvious with how intimately the song comes across. It truly feels almost confessional, and it's quite simply beautiful. The Beths are most known for huge little indie rock gems perfect for bopping along to, but "Mother, Pray for Me" is quite the opposite. Stokes' vocals and lyrics are right up front on this one, and I can't imagine it any other way. Elizabeth Stokes says of her latest single: “I cried the whole time writing it. It's not really about my mother, it's about me — what I hope our relationship is, what I think it is, what it maybe actually is, and what I can or can't expect out of it.   “My mother is a first gen Indonesian immigrant, and very Catholic....
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