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Constant Follower

Constant Follower | The Smile You Send Out Returns To You | 3hive.com
Constant Follower is the recording moniker of Stephen McAll (and a revolving group of friends) from Glasgow, Scotland.

McCall barely survived a violent attack in his late teens and struggled with addiction in his path to recovery. His melancholic, understated ambient folk has mirrored this journey, as his body and mind relearned to play guitar and observe the small, intimate details of life.

His third album, The Smile You Send Out Returns To You, delivers more of the same, only now he is a father, partner, and further along in his recovery. You can hear hope and optimism amidst the minor keys – and it’s an utterly gorgeous and cathartic listen.

The Smile You Send Out Returns To You was released by Last Night From Glasgow.

You can buy Constant Follower vinyl at 3hive’s online shop.

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Seasonal Falls

Saesonal Falls | Happy Days | 3hive.com

Seasonal Falls is the new project from Switzerland-based songwriter Roman Gabriel, with vocal and production help from Andrew Pelletier (Fur Trader).

Their debut album, Happy Days, is nine tracks of warm, sometimes jangly, sometimes twangy guitar work behind Pelletier’s hushed vocals. Joe says they sound a bit like Ultimate Painting, and I agree.

Happy Days is self-released and out now via their Bandcamp page. I highly recommend checking out “Used To Be Fun” and “Girlfriend” below.

Happy Days is a great album to soundtrack your spring and summer evenings while chilling outside with a beverage and watching the sky get dark. Enjoy.

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Uncle Bengine and the Restraining Orders

Uncle Bengine | Write Home | 3hive.com
Uncle Bengine | Write Home | 3hive.com

Harrisonburg VA’s Uncle Bengine and the Restraining Orders have been recording their new album Write Home in basements, bedrooms and warehouses for the past 7 years and what they’ve created is 10 fantastic tracks of twangy, garage-country goodness. Check out “Bleeding Out” and “Night Bangin’” below for a taste.

Write Home is out now via Funny / Not Funny Records and is available on vinyl or digitally from Uncle Bengine’s Bandcamp page or from Funny / Not Funny. Enjoy.

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Landscaping

Landscaping | Picturesque | 3hive.com
Landscaping | Picturesque | 3hive.com

I am a sucker for a solid groove and Landscaping’s (new solo project of Andrew Petersen) new album, Picturesque, is packed full it. From the Schroeder-like piano and programmed beats and clicks on “Woke Up On The Shore”, to the almost hidden (but way groovy) bass line on “Vacation”, to the full on 80’s vibe of album standout “Full Moon Lovers”, Picturesque is 26 minutes of wall to wall groove.

Give “Full Moon Lovers” (below) a spin, you’ll be glad that you did.

Picturesque is out now and available on CD or digitally via new label UPHERE! Records’ Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

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Monster Rally

Monster Rally | Escape To The Cloud Forest | 3hive.com
Monster Rally | Escape To The Cloud Forest | 3hive.com

Take a trip through the tropical beats of South America and Japan with Monster Rally’s new two-part digital 45, Escape To The Cloud Forest. As usual, like everything MR releases, it’s really good.

Escape To The Cloud Forest is available now via MR’s Bandcamp page and you can sample its goodness below. Enjoy.

You can also pick up some other Monster Rally releases on vinyl at the 3hive Record Lounge. MR on vinyl is a treat, you won’t regret it.

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Josaleigh Pollett

Josaleigh Pollett | No Woman Is The Sea | 3hive.com
Josaleigh Pollett | No Woman Is The Sea | 3hive.com

Josaleigh Pollett’s incredible new album, No Woman Is The Sea, is a powerful twelve songs about heartbreak and loss but delivered in a way that the listener can’t help but feel good about the future (even in the COVID-19 world we are all living in now).

Pollett’s vocals, guitar work, songwriting skills and band (they kill it!) are stronger than ever which can be heard on standout “Miles of Aisles” below.

No Woman Is The Sea is available digitally via her Bandcamp page and will be available on vinyl via Lavender Vinyl soon. We will also have this on our 3hive Record Lounge shelves as soon as it’s released. I highly recommend this album. It climbs up my favorites of the year each time I listen to it. Enjoy.

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Modern Nature

Modern Nature | How To Live | 3hive.com
Modern Nature | How To Live | 3hive.com

I am a big Jack Cooper fan. Mazes, Ultimate Painting and of course, his incredible solo album. I was stoked to hear about Cooper’s new project, Modern Nature, with Will Young (Beak>), Aaron Neveu (Woods) and Jeff Tobias (Sunwatchers).

On their debut album, How To Live, they combine their vast musical abilities to create 10 tracks of jazz-tinged, psychedelic rock that’s packed with layers and full of depth, which is heard throughout the entire album Check out the killer groove of “Footsteps” (below) for an example.

How To Live is available now via Bella Union. I highly recommend it.

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Sam’s Faves of 2018

It’s time for my annual blog post…

Without further ado, my favorite albums of 2018:

Khruangbin Con Todo El Mundo (Dead Oceans)
Durand Jones & the Indications self-titled (Dead Oceans)
Bodega Endless Scroll (What’s Your Rupture?)
Jean Grae & Quelle Chris Everything’s Fine (Mello Music Group)
Janelle Monae Dirty Computer (Bad Boy)
Altin Gun On (Bongo Joe)
Smokescreens Used to Yesterday (Slumberland)
Idles Joy As an Act of Resistance (Partisan)
Low Double Negative (Sub Pop)
Cut Chemist Die Cut (A Stable Sound)

I encourage you to enjoy these on vinyl (link will go here as soon as I get off my butt and update the online store).

And because 2018 offered so much more music than can fit neatly in a Top 10 list, here are my 23 favorite songs of the past year…

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Josaleigh Pollett

Josaleigh Pollett | Strangers | 3hive.com

Josaleigh Pollett | Strangers | 3hive.com

There are several albums from 2017 that have been on my list to get on the site for quite some time. Towards the top of that list is Ogden, Utah’s Josaleigh Pollett. Her latest, Strangers, is a top-notch country/folk album that showcases Pollett’s excellent songwriting, killer guitar picking and powerful vocals. Her backing band is pretty damn awesome too. Check out “Ghost” below for a taste.

Strangers is available now on vinyl or digital via Josaleigh Pollett’s Bandcamp page.