Stanley Brinks & Freschard - Lion Heart [12"]

Artist: Freschard & Stanley Brinks
Title: Lion Heart
Format: 12" album on yellow vinyl
Cat#: Fika091LP
Release date: 8th July 2022
Bandcamp

Stanley Brinks is renowned for his unique anti-folk style: both playful and suggestive, insightful and entertaining. Brinks was born in Paris, France, in 1973. He studied a bit of biology and worked as a nurse for a while. Half Swedish, half Moroccan, strongly inclined to travel the world, he soon began spending most of his life on the road and developed a strong relationship with New York. By the late 90s he’d become a full time singer-songwriter – André Herman Düne – as part of three piece indie-rock band, Herman Düne. Several albums and Peel sessions  later and after a decade of touring Europe, mostly with American songwriters such as Jeffrey Lewis, Calvin Johnson and early Arcade Fire he settled in Berlin. The early carnival music of Trinidad became a passion, and in the early 21st century he became the unquestioned master of European calypso, changing his name to Stanley Brinks. Under this moniker he has recorded more than 100 albums, collaborated with the New York Antifolk scene on several occasions, recorded and toured with traditional Norwegian musicians, and played a lot with The Wave Pictures.  

Freschard grew up in a farm in French Burgundy. Aged 18 she moved to Paris, where she baked pies and cakes in a cafe. There, a local musician and regular customer called Stanley Brinks wrote a few songs for her to sing. Homeless in Paris, she saved up just enough money to get herself a ticket to New York. There she found an old electric guitar and started writing her own songs. In 2004 she moved to Berlin, where she recorded her first LP, "Alien Duck". Her second album, "Click Click", recorded in 2006, features electric guitar by Stanley Brinks. On her third album, she plays the drums herself. On her fourth “Shh...” she also plays the flute, and she breaks out the washboard on her fifth “Boom Biddy Boom”.

adults - all we've got // all we need [Digital]

Artist: adults
Title: all we’ve got // all we need
Format: Digital single
Cat#: Fika093SG1
Release date: 5th July 2022
Bandcamp | Spotify

“all we’ve got // all we need” is the first single from adults for Fika Recordings, taken from their soon to be announced debut album, due out in the autumn. Scrappy, catchy DIY pop that’s sure to appeal to fans of Los Campesinos, Martha and Johnny Foreigner.

“It’s a song about having a breakdown on the megabus to bristol. About mutual aid, building strong networks of community resistance to the hostile environment, to food insecurity, to the homophobia and transphobia by the state and about trying to look after one another.”

adults are a noisy pop band desperately clinging on to the ghosts of 2009. 

Their songs are a silly, joyful, and occasionally sad, look back at the tail end of their 20s, a way to grapple with breakups, parties, alcohol and loneliness, and looking hopefully into the future.

They’ve released singles with Art Is Hard and For The Sakes Of Tapes, and self released an EP (The Weekend Was Always Almost Over), which was subsequently released on vinyl by Caballito records. They’re based in south London.

adults are
carl (he/they) - bass
joe (he/him) - drums
joely (she/they) - guitar and singing
tom (he/him) - guitar, synth, singing

https://linktr.ee/sclubadults

adults dates:

July 8th - Sebright Arms, London UK - Charmpit album launch w adults and Bitch Hunt
July 21st - Port Mahon, Oxford UK - ME REX, adults, spank hair, jeff
July 22nd - The Victoria, London UK - adults, Spank Hair, DreamPhone
July 23rd - The Exchange, Bristol UK - adults, Spank Hair, Bad Brenda
July 27th - The Amersham Arms, London UK - Cheerbleederz album launch w adults and ME REX (solo)
September 28th - The Victoria, London, UK - Caleb Nichols, Schande, adults

“It’s a song that says yes, it can feel like we’re under a constant barrage from the powers-that-be, but we’ve got the tools to make it better, “let’s pick up all the pieces that they left us, atomised by work and rent and sleep, tell each other when we’re hurt or stressed or broken, protect all of our communities”. They set that message to a cacophony of clattering drums and belt-it-out choruses Los Campesinos! or Martha would be proud of evidence that Adults seem to have stumbled into something rather marvellous” For The Rabbits

“There’s an ample buoyancy from the vocal work, and the guitars are crunchy, though I like how they’re a bit tempered here; think of Martha having to play at your local library…hooks, but just a little more subdued” Austin Town Hall

“Simultaneously oozing a sense of joyous unity whilst shades of despair at the state of the world remain evident, ‘all we’ve got // all we need’ glistens with all the dreamy, indie-pop feels and honey-sweet heartfelt emotion I could ever desire.” Get In Her Ears

Polaroid [Italian]

Crake - Humans’ Worst Habits [12"/CD]

Artist: Crake
Title: Humans’ Worst Habits
Format: 12” black vinyl | Digifile CD | Digital
Cat#: Fika090
Release date: 17th June 2022
Bandcamp

“A pensive, dejected moment of magic, but magic nonetheless” Gold Flake Paint
"Charming and intimate alt-folk” Dork
"The guitars sizzle like lightning bolts striking against an otherwise clear sky, while Sandle’s distinct, hoarse vocal plays like another instrument” Secret Meeting
"In a world of cynics, [Crake] make you believe anything might still be possible” For The Rabbits

Led by enigmatic songwriter Rowan Sandle, Crake is driven by her endless curiosity. Armed with her gently cracking vocal, and inspiration from writers like Shirley Jackson and Nan Shepherd, she sings of crinoids, slime mould and pussy willow. When they supported Buck Meek at Brudenell Social Club, Buck found himself so beguiled by Sandle and her band that he invited them to support Big Thief on their UK and EU tour in 2019. Crake duly obliged and have been building towards their debut full-length ever since. 

Much of the forthcoming album revolves around the death of Sandle’s friend Anna, who died in Syria after being hit by a Turkish air strike. Anna was working for a woman’s liberation group in the war-stricken country when the tragedy took place. ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’ explores the grief that followed and the lessons learnt from dealing with such a significant loss. 

Sandle does, however, find space to explore more themes alongside this grief, such as cruelty and queer nature. On lead single ‘Winter’s Song’ she acknowledges the cruelty and coldness that exists within us all, and questions how we can continue to grow and love whilst remaining true to that. 

Speaking about the track, she said: “Winter’s Song is about the absolute mundane beauty of being fallible. It's a true story, I saw the moon rise but swore it was the sun setting. I think about this line a lot: “keep a little coldness in you, just wear it soft and gentle” Be soft, be kind, be honest. Being unremarkable has its own beauty.” 

Sandle’s love for queer nature is so fervent that it makes the experience of listening to Crake akin to that of stumbling on an entirely new world. Sandle believes that life isn’t as black and white as we’ve been taught, and thinks nature holds the key to revealing the true nature of human experience. The appearances of things like slime mould - single-celled organisms that form a single body when in search of food  - brittle starfish - a type of starfish whose awareness isn’t concentrated in one place - and other such oddities furnish ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’ with a folklore all of its own. 

‘Humans’ Worst Habits’ will send you down multiple rabbit holes and you’ll emerge from each with a newfound appreciation for the complexities of the world. Perhaps even more important than this though is the humanity that lies at the very heart of this debut full-length. Whether it’s in the sensitivity in how she portrays the loss of her friend, the depiction of our most base instincts - namely cruelty, passion and love - or the sincere, pure quality of the songwriting itself, it’s this that makes ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’ essential, and invaluable listening.

“A remarkable record, Human’s Worst Habits is the sound of a band who don’t sound quite like anyone else, an album both brittle and bold, beautiful and yes, deeply human.” For The Rabbits [review and interview]

“Imagine that Slowdive had melted down their reverb pedals as part of an occult ritual in order to reanimate Karen Dalton as the front woman. Lo and behold, you get an amazingly accurate picture of the Leeds quartet's enigmatic sound” Neølyd

Interview - Yorkshire Evening Post

“Whether it’s the sensitivity in which she sings about grief, the intricacy of human nature, queer ecology and our most base instincts – namely cruelty, passion and love – or the sincere, pure quality of the songwriting itself, this mesmerising debut is essential and invaluable listening” English Folk Expo

“Enigmatic and brooding, Crake are at their most atmospheric in Sargasso Sea and Sisters, with its slowly shuffling beat and weary vocal, while Bobbie lifts the mood with its chiming electric guitar riff. Yorkshire Post

“Delicately beautiful and deeply odd, it’s an album that deserves much more attention than it’s received.” Undrcurrents

“a magnificent example of dreamy, shimmering indie, and there are some soft, easy melodies to be found drifting through this understated set of songs… and the melancholy washes over and hangs, mist-like before it slowly lifts.” Whisperin & Hollerin

“Human’s Worst Habits, is stunning. With Sandle’s unique yet embracing voice, her fabulous songwriting, and a spellbinding indie-folk approach, the Leeds-based quartet delivered a record as poignant and beautiful as anything that Big Thief has done. One day soon, they will be celebrated and adored like the Brooklyn titans.” The Revue

“It’s a subtle album, a grower, so takes a few listens before the pleasures of its meditative indie-folk really start to sink in. You’ll be really glad you gave it your attention. Packed full of great songs, but the hushed, almost slowcore ’Lamb’s Tail’ is a good a place to start as any.” Colour The Cortex

“Crake are a band that possess that rare quality - a singer in the shape of Rowan Sandle who has the ability to write gorgeous, fragile melodies that will break your heart in two. Couple this with the band’s restrained playing and lead guitar lines worthy of Neil Young’s most tender electric moments and you have the beautiful ‘Human’s Worst Habits’. They supported Big Thief in 2019, and it would be remiss of me not to point out that if you love Big Thief, you will also love Crake.” Norman Records

“This is one of the most remarkable releases of the year” Guteshoerenistwichtig

Coast Is Clear [German]

Music Won’t Save You [Italian]

Let's Whisper - The Thing That Defines You [Digital]

Artist: Let’s Whisper
Title: The Thing That Defines You
Format: Digital single
Cat#: Fika092SG1
Release date: 14th June 2022
Bandcamp | Spotify

The name “Let’s Whisper” implies secrets—the sorts of things you’d tell friends in a night’s waning hours, as the sun is about to peek over the horizon. Colin Clary and Dana Kaplan have been friends and musical collaborators for years, and the openhearted, detail-rich indiepop they craft together reflects their rich creative relationship and trust in each other. On The In-Between Times, the second Let’s Whisper full-length—the band’s first release in eight years, and first as a five-piece—the Burlington-based band digs deeper into their day-to-day worlds while confronting their individual and collective futures.  

On the first single, The Thing That Defines You, Let’s Whisper say: “We were thinking about the ways in which people get defined, and we were curious about the ways we don’t always get to control our own narrative. Someone can become defined by one thing they did—positive or negative—but how does that get set? How do you imagine you are seen by others? How do you see yourself? What will your obituary say?”

Let’s Whisper are:
Colin Clary - guitar, vocals
Dana Kaplan - guitar, vocals
Brad Searles - drums
Emma Kupa - bass, vocals
Jeff Baron - guitar, keys

LET’S WHISPER started as a home-recording project between the Burlington, Vermont-based duo of Colin Clary and Dana Kaplan (The Smittens) in the mid-2000s. Their home-recording process, which they refer to as “Whispering,” conjures up intimate, heartfelt songs that build off the framework of tweepop and incorporate bits of psychedelia and Americana while staying openhearted and questioning. On their first release in eight years, The In-Between Times, Let’s Whisper—now a five-piece rounded out by drummer Brad Searles, bassist-vocalist Emma Kupa, and guitarist-keyboardist Jeff Baron—expand their sound while detailing the realities of their world in pointillistic lyrics. 

“Let's Whisper make sweet, twee indiepop of the jangliest variety. Check out winsome earworm "The Thing That Defines You.” Brooklyn Vegan

“The group’s first single from The In-Between Times churns and jangles, like a song that dips its toes in the pools of paisley vibes while pressing play on the warmth of classic pop records from Athens. It’s a short gallop with huge backing harmonies that are the best things you can offer your ears this week.” Austin Town Hall

“With the precious, Scottish indie-pop laconic of the U.S. Highball sound, juxtaposed against the sort of chiming, folk-laden jangle that is currently embraced by the likes of The Telephone Numbers and The Umbrellas, this single is one of the best of the year so far.” Janglepop

Crake - Rabbit [Digital]

Artist: Crake
Title: Rabbit
Format: Digital single
Cat#: Fika090SG4
Release date: 28th April 2022
Bandcamp | Spotify

““The best band in Leeds” James Smith of Yard Act"
“A pensive, dejected moment of magic, but magic nonetheless” Gold Flake Paint
"Charming and intimate alt-folk” Dork
"The guitars sizzle like lightning bolts striking against an otherwise clear sky, while Sandle’s distinct, hoarse vocal plays like another instrument” Secret Meeting
"In a world of cynics, [Crake] make you believe anything might still be possible” For The Rabbits

Leeds quartet Crake have shared a compelling new single, ‘Rabbit’. It’s the latest track to come from their upcoming debut album, ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’, which arrives via Fika Recordings on May 27th.

The band’s curious combination of gentle alt-folk and folkloric lyrics have received increasing attention of late. James Smith of Yard Act declared them “the best band in Leeds” after he played out their most recent single ‘Winter’s Song’ on Steve Lamacq’s BBC Radio 6 Music show. They’ve also been receiving plenty of acclaim from tastemaker sites like GoldFlakePaint, Dork, For The Rabbits, Beats Per Minute, Secret Meeting and more.

Today, they follow up ‘Bobbie’ with new single ‘Rabbit. The band’s chief songwriter, Rowan Sandle, expands on the track:

"There are some repeating themes in Rabbit such as coming to terms with cruelty and acting unkindly. But the end is an attempt to understand where this comes - the freezing with anxiety, the defense of it all. It reminds me of a story my mum told me as a child that has stuck with me. We used to go on holiday to these ready made camping sites in the north of Spain. There was a fire and a woman’s husband died. As my mum comforted her, she replied with a simple fret over losing her husband's personal tobacco allowance and how she now had too much duty free tobacco to bring back home on her own. I was really young, probably too young to be told the story, but I never felt anger or surprise over the women's displaced anxiety. I got it completely.

I guess I do have a fundamental belief that most humans are doing their best within the circumstances they find themselves in. It's not that we are not trying hard enough, but that doesn't mean we have to accept that this best couldn't be better wither. Often I think it's about trying differently."

Sandle’s curious worldview is at the heart of much of their forthcoming record. She believes that life isn’t as black and white as we’ve been taught, and that queer nature may hold the key to revealing the true nature of human experience. That’s why things like slime mould - single-celled organisms that form a single body when in search of food - and brittle starfish - a type of starfish whose awareness isn’t concentrated in one place - emerge over and over on ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’ and furnish it with a folklore all of its own.

Alongside the more obscure nature references, there’s also a very human and tragic undercurrent that runs through ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’. Sandle’s friend Anna was working for a women's liberation group in Syria when she was hit by a Turkish airstrike and lost her life. The album directly explores the grief that followed and the lessons Sandle learnt in dealing with such a significant loss.

Both mythical and pragmatic, ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’ is a sumptuous introduction to a world that has plenty to offer to all who pass through.

“Crake will be very high on our list of Favorite Discoveries of this year. Heck, they’re probably one of our favorite bands at the moment after making us go silent with “Winter’s Song” and “Bobbie”. If they lived in Brooklyn, Austin, or LA, they likely would be celebrated and adored in the same manner as Big Thief. Their day will come, where a song like “Rabbit” will become an indie classic.” The Revue

“the track is a classic slice of Crake, Rowan’s prominent vocal meandering through a forest of steady drums, propulsive chords and wiry country-licked guitars, as the lyrics prod and poke at social conventions and the thrill of going against them, “my neighbour’s vines are growing all the time I said that I would water them last weekend, I stayed inside, hoped that they would die I guess it’s me taking the easy way out”. As intriguingly unique as ever, with their own vision of the world Crake are a band to fall in love with, bad habits and all.” For The Rabbits

Crake - Bobbie [Digital]

Artist: Crake
Title: Bobbie
Format: Digital single
Cat#: Fika090SG3
Release date: 10th March 2022
Bandcamp | Spotify

“A pensive, dejected moment of magic, but magic nonetheless” Gold Flake Paint
"Charming and intimate alt-folk” Dork
"The guitars sizzle like lightning bolts striking against an otherwise clear sky, while Sandle’s distinct, hoarse vocal plays like another instrument” Secret Meeting
"In a world of cynics, [Crake] make you believe anything might still be possible” For The Rabbits

Leeds quartet Crake have shared a compelling new single, ‘Bobbie’. It’s the latest track to come from their upcoming debut album, ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’, which arrives via Fika Recordings on May 27th.

The band’s curious combination of gentle alt-folk and folkloric lyrics have received increasing attention of late. James Smith of Yard Act declared them “the best band in Leeds” after he played out their most recent single ‘Winter’s Song’ on Steve Lamacq’s BBC Radio 6 Music show. They’ve also been receiving plenty of acclaim from tastemaker sites like GoldFlakePaint, Dork, For The Rabbits, Beats Per Minute, Secret Meeting and more.

Today, they follow up ‘Winter’s Song’ with new single ‘Bobbie’. The band’s chief songwriter, Rowan Sandle, gets much of her lyrical inspiration from nature writing and the latest single came to her after she read Frank Fraser Darling’s ‘Island Years, Island Farm’ - a book about how he made temporary homes on remote Hebridean Islands whilst researching seabirds and seals. However, rather than focusing on the book’s protagonist, the song provides a largely fictional account of the story of his wife Bobbie Fraser Darling who, despite her constant presence, is reduced to a background figure in the book.

Speaking about the song, Sandle said: “She’s there with him the whole time, helping with his work alongside all the care work to bring up their child in these remote and inhospitable places. Yet we are given very little information about her, so Bobbie is me wanting to know what it was like from her perspective. Some events are factual, directly taken from the book, for example her love of chickweed and the time they had to call a vet as no doctor was near. But other things are more speculative, imagined and questioned. The answers I’ll never know, and maybe she wanted it that way”

Sandle’s curious worldview is at the heart of much of their forthcoming record. She believes that life isn’t as black and white as we’ve been taught, and that queer nature may hold the key to revealing the true nature of human experience. That’s why things like slime mould - single-celled organisms that form a single body when in search of food - and brittle starfish - a type of starfish whose awareness isn’t concentrated in one place - emerge over and over on ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’ and furnish it with a folklore all of its own.

Alongside the more obscure nature references, there’s also a very human and tragic undercurrent that runs through ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’. Sandle’s friend Anna was working for a women's liberation group in Syria when she was hit by a Turkish airstrike and lost her life. The album directly explores the grief that followed and the lessons Sandle learnt in dealing with such a significant loss.

Both mythical and pragmatic, ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’ is a sumptuous introduction to a world that has plenty to offer to all who pass through.

Press for Bobbie:

“A band that will rate very high on our list of Favorite Discoveries of this year will be Crake. Their previous single, “Winter’s Song”, was so good it had us comparing the English band to Big Thief. That single track set the standard for indie-folk and Gothic-folk music this year and probably years to come. What separates them and Big Thief from the pack is the songwriting of their front-people. For Big Thief, Adrianne Lenker is considered one of the great singer-songwriters of the century. Such accolades will soon be showered upon Rowan Sandle, whose storytelling stands at the fore on “Bobbie”.
Whereas “Winter’s Song” was soul-crushing in its approach, “Bobbie” is a vibrant and chest-swelling folk-rocker. There are moments where the song touches the edges of breathtaking, but then the band cleverly pull it back and shift the atmosphere to one of quiet desperation. The orchestration is brilliant, providing the perfect canvas for Sandle’s terrific story of a woman who hid in the shadows – or more like was put in the shadows.” The Revue

“Another Leeds act making a big noise, Crake's combination of alt.folk and indie is winning fans all over - especially with this fictional account about a real-life Hebridean seabird and seal researcher. It's a suitably curious track that showcases their unique perspective on life, and song-writing.” PRS For Music

“The track is set to a suitably bruising soundtrack, the drums crashing like waves against a Hebridean cliff-face, as the soaring guitars meander like gulls in the wind, and Rowan’s voice sings out as if she’s standing amidst all the chaos of nature quietly screaming into the void. As fascinating, unique and exciting as ever, there simply isn’t another band like Crake, and they’re all the better for that fact.” For The Rabbits

“Crake support this love letter with a knotty dream-folk sound, which bounds along with more energy and heat than most of their songs, perhaps reflecting Sandle’s slight annoyance that “Bobbie” doesn’t get enough credit. Well, with “Bobbie”, Crake have done what they can to redress the history books, and it’s a marvellous little snapshot of not just one woman, but the kinds of women that have been behind great men throughout history.” Beats Per Minute

“it’s beautifully dizzying. This song really hits home when it hits the 48 second mark, turning into this beautiful stretch of understated melody, riding back into the next verse ever so casually. I dare you to listen through this whole song and not be charmed” Austin Town Hall

“a gentle folk opening with sublime yet jangly guitar hooks” Spectral Nights

Tigercats - New Works [10"]

Artist: Tigercats
Title: New Works
Format: 10” vinyl | Digital
Cat#: Fika081
Release date: 14th January 2022
Bandcamp | Spotify

It’s been four years since we last heard from Tigercats, with the 2018 album Pig City marking the expansion of their sonic palette from indie-pop and alt-rock, to include highlife, afrobeat, and scuzzy West African psych.

The New Works EP is another step into the new for Tigercats, the sound of an increasingly political band, unbound by the records they’ve made previously, and enjoying the freedom of exploring and experimenting for these 5 new tracks.

“We’ve been a band over 10 years and it felt like all of our previous recordings have been leading up to this one. After Duncan switched from guitar to kalimba a few years back, and we welcomed a horn section into the line-up, the sound has been getting denser and grittier, particularly live. With this recording we’ve finally managed to capture some of that energy on record.”

The opening track New Work, a song about the relentless tyranny of labour in the 21st century, grows from the synth bass riffs and riotous brass lines with production inspired by industrial techno like JK Flesh, to display lyrical ferocity not often heard.
The Space came together completely improvised in the studio, and reflects on the fight for space to create art - in a world fighting for your attention 24-7, and the depletion of available arts spaces.
The intensity subsides for The Picture, a track whose origins date back to the writing of the band’s second record. More reminiscent of Tigercats’ indie credentials, drawing on the textures of Low or Yo La Tengo, it is developed here by a band confidently hitting their stride.

New Works was written in 2019 and recorded at Lightship 95 on the Thames, and at Big Jelly in Ramsgate. Originally scheduled for a spring 2020 release, we’re excited to finally bring you these 5 tracks and the promise of a return to blistering live shows from Tigercats.

Tigercats are a kalimba-led psychedelic pop band from East London.
Having honed his songwriting craft in the short-lived but much much-missed Esiotrot, in 2010, Duncan Barrett went about forming a new band and recruited sibling/long-time producer Giles Barrett (bass), talented songstress Laura Kovic (keys), as well as Paul Rains (guitar, of Allo Darlin’).

The band have performed throughout the UK and Europe and have supported The Wave Pictures, Allo Darlin and Darren Hayman among others. They have also performed at the End of the Road and Primavera Festivals and have appeared on Spanish TV (RTVE Radio3) and Indietracks. A tour of the USA and Canada included a headline appearance at NYC Popfest.

New Works harks a return to Fika Recordings, having released the debut Tigercats album Isle of Dogs back in 2012, bookending albums with Fortuna Pop! (2014’s Mysteries) and El Segell Del Primavera (2018’s Pig City).

Tigercats are:
Duncan Barrett - Vocals, Kalimba
Giles Barrett - Bass, Production
Laura Kovic - Keys, Vocals
Paul Rains - Guitar, Vocals
Will  Connor - Drums, percussion
Seb Silas - Baritone saxophone
Meridyth Dickson - Alto saxophone
Thom Punton - Trumpet

Crake - Winter's Song [Digital]

Artist: Crake
Title: Winter’s Song
Format: Digital single
Cat#: Fika090SG2
Release date: 11th January 2022
Bandcamp | Spotify

“A pensive, dejected moment of magic, but magic nonetheless” Gold Flake Paint

"Charming and intimate alt-folk” Dork

"The guitars sizzle like lightning bolts striking against an otherwise clear sky, while Sandle’s distinct, hoarse vocal plays like another instrument” Secret Meeting

"In a world of cynics, [Crake] make you believe anything might still be possible” For The Rabbits

Leeds quartet Crake have today announced their debut album, ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’. It arrives via Fika Recordings on April 8th. The band have also shared the album’s lead single, ‘Winter’s Song’.

Led by enigmatic songwriter Rowan Sandle, Crake is driven by her endless curiosity. Armed with her gently cracking vocal, and inspiration from writers like Shirley Jackson and Nan Shepherd, she sings of crinoids, slime mould and pussy willow. When they supported Buck Meek at Brudenell Social Club, Buck found himself so beguiled by Sandle and her band that he invited them to support Big Thief on their UK and EU tour in 2019. Crake duly obliged and have been building towards their debut full-length ever since.

Much of the forthcoming album revolves around the death of Sandle’s friend Anna, who died in Syria after being hit by a Turkish air strike. Anna was working for a woman’s liberation group in the war-stricken country when the tragedy took place. ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’ explores the grief that followed and the lessons learnt from dealing with such a significant loss.

Sandle does, however, find space to explore more themes alongside this grief, such as cruelty and queer nature. On lead single ‘Winter’s Song’ she acknowledges the cruelty and coldness that exists within us all, and questions how we can continue to grow and love whilst remaining true to that.

Speaking about the track, she said: “Winter’s Song is about the absolute mundane beauty of being fallible. It's a true story, I saw the moon rise but swore it was the sun setting. I think about this line a lot: “keep a little coldness in you, just wear it soft and gentle” Be soft, be kind, be honest. Being unremarkable has its own beauty.”

Sandle’s love for queer nature is so fervent that it makes the experience of listening to Crake akin to that of stumbling on an entirely new world. Sandle believes that life isn’t as black and white as we’ve been taught, and thinks nature holds the key to revealing the true nature of human experience. The appearances of things like slime mould - single-celled organisms that form a single body when in search of food - brittle starfish - a type of starfish whose awareness isn’t concentrated in one place - and other such oddities furnish ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’ with a folklore all of its own.

‘Humans’ Worst Habits’ will send you down multiple rabbit holes and you’ll emerge from each with a newfound appreciation for the complexities of the world. Perhaps even more important than this though is the humanity that lies at the very heart of this debut full-length. Whether it’s in the sensitivity in how she portrays the loss of her friend, the depiction of our most base instincts - namely cruelty, passion and love - or the sincere, pure quality of the songwriting itself, it’s this that makes ‘Humans’ Worst Habits’ essential, and invaluable listening.

Press for Winter’s Song:

“There’s an alchemy to the music Crake make, spinning humble parts into a magical whole, music that glistens with humanity and bristles with the deeper sigh of the natural world, Human’s Worst Habits is shaping up to be a triumph.” For The Rabbits

“Darkness and light collide on this stunning affair, which commences with a fleeting melody. It slowly builds into a beautiful, fantasy moment, which then gives way to the growl of a quietly rumbling guitar that occasionally shrieks. The orchestration is superb, drawing the listener in with each note. Front-person Rowan Sandle’s voice, meanwhile, possesses a mysterious allure, as it cracks occasionally to reveal the vulnerability in her soul. She sings about how our hearts are often cold, seeking to satisfy our own insatiable thirst for power and attention. There are, however, occasions where a gentler side emerges, which is what she encourages to hold on to.” The Revue

“A song that trudges like walking through piles of sodden leaves and rings with the quiet beauty of being amidst an unknown wilderness, “Winter’s Song” is Crake at their absolute finest, tapping into a lesser heralded part of our natures.” Beats Per Minute

“It’s a song suffused with an understated sense of iridescent wistful beauty and poetic lyrics that connect on a deep level. You certainly get a sense of why Big Thief’s Buck Meek was so entranced by the band that he invited them to support Big Thief on their UK and EU tour in 2019.” The VPME

“A collision of the organic and metaphysical which sees lead Rowan Sandle conjure a world both alien and very much our own. Such a paradox is just one of the complexities at work on the record, and is nicely captured by latest single, ‘Winter’s Song’. “That time I saw the moon rise / And I swore it was a sun set,” Sandle sings. An image remarkable or ominous, or perhaps both simultaneously.” Various Small Flames

Jessica's Brother - Just Rain [12"/CD]

Artist: Jessica's Brother
Title: Just Rain
Format: Vinyl LP | CD | Digital
Cat#: Fika088
Release date: 26th November 2021
Bandcamp | Spotify

‘Just Rain’ is the second album from London three piece Jessica’s Brother, comprising songwriter Tom Charleston, The Wave Pictures’ Jonny Helm on drums and Charlie Higgs on bass.

Stitching together a variety of influences, from crunching indie-rock, to gothic country and contemplative psych folk, Jessica’s Brother create the sound of a band coming together and getting caught up in the rush of starting afresh. 

The disintegration of a long-term relationship, coinciding with a global fracturing, provided a catalyst for ‘Just Rain’. The songs explore a relentless collision of melancholy and resilience alongside themes of comedy, agency, and hope

The title track lays this out with an opening burst of slacker rock as Tom reflects back over a passage of time that feels like persistent unrelenting rain. Vacillating between despair and defiance, we uncover the strength to shrug it off as “just rain”; after all, as the track draws to its conclusion “losing sight can be relieving”. Interestingly, the lyric, “open up your heart, it can help to wear a mask”, was written before the pandemic had properly struck in the UK.

‘Finding Snowdrop’ is a spiritual rebirth gone wrong, influenced by the rambling poetry and hooks found in Yoni Wolf’s Why? and Bill Callahan. In spite of failure, the potential for growth remains. This budding, on an ageing tree, is celebrated in the joyous rhythms, off-kilter harmonies and a fizzing guitar solo.

On 'Full Swing’ both the baritone of Tom’s delivery and lyrics conjure the darkness of the everyday: ”cut my own brakes, living in hiding of late” are reminiscent of The Handsome Family’s wonderful way of transposing the tradition of murder ballads and the bleakest tales to the modern.

A more expansive and luxuriant sound runs through ‘Just Rain’, than the sparser Silver Jews / Jason Molina atmosphere of their 2018 debut, from the gutsy alt-rock of the title track to the off kilter pop of ‘Little One', reminiscent of Sparklehorse, a tale of young love and youthful exuberance.

Jessica’s Brother formed in October 2016. Jonny and Charlie worked together in a framing business and had often talked about collaborating in a band together. Fate intervened when Jonny’s girlfriend Jessica introduced him to her brother Tom, and they found a songwriter in waiting. Their debut, eponymous, album released in 2018 was warmly received.

‘Just Rain’ was produced and engineered by Shuta Shinoda (Hot Chip, Ghost Poet, Anna Meredith) at Hackney Road Studios during the summer of 2020. The album features Dan Mayfield’s elegant touch on violin (he has performed with artists from Daniel Johnston to Allo Darlin’), and new female voices from Polimana (a jazz vocalist from the SoCal suburbia) and Shantha Roberts (whose voice has graced Glasgow’s reggae sound system Argonaut Sounds).

The eponymous Jessica Jane Charleston, a painter and printmaker, provides the meteorological juxtaposition to the album in the visuals, the warmth of a giant sun looming over the contorted figure, rising up to fight another day. Tom was drawn to the hotter colours this time round as opposed to the moodier blue palette of the debut. The colours and figures convey a sense of revival after a period of hibernation. It fits well alongside the band’s hiatus throughout the pandemic and their much awaited return. 

With an at times folkloric narrative, ‘Just Rain’ is both poetic and playful retaining throughout a thread of darkness. 

The record takes a step forward in terms of production while maintaining the band’s rough around the edges charm. It is an intimate affair punctuated with louder and more unwieldy moments. A true story revolving around a relationship and a world falling apart.

“the second album by this London trio might be an example of what Douglas Coupland described as ‘decade blending’, stylistically flitting through rock history from one song to the next… Singer Tom Charleston is also a decent storyteller - ‘Darling I Wanted To Know’ is a darkly amusing boy/girl conversation in the style of ‘Something Stupid’” Uncut [7/10]

“Like all the best fairy tales the songs on ‘Just Rain’ may superficially appear to be upbeat and joyful but scratch beneath the surface and dark psychological verities emerge, reality becomes distorted and all is not what it seems. It is a credit to Jessica’s Brother that they have, in their idiosyncratic way, captured these qualities and shared them with us in such an engaging way” Americana UK [7/10]

“There’s a sense of bravery to Jessica’s Brother on Just Rain. Not the kind of bravery that we see in heroes, but the kind we find in the ordinary person who fights on because that’s all we can do. Keep fighting.” Folk Radio

“the record is an eclectic affair throughout, from the Sweet Baboo like strut of Caroline to the gothic Americana of the closing track, Big Boy Now, with its distorted vocals and lo-fi guitars it wouldn’t sound out of place on a record by Timber Timbre or Sparklehorse. Elsewhere, recent single Finding Snowdrop is a definite stand-out, the rambling sing-speak vocals conjuring up Bill Callahan or Odelay-era Beck” For The Rabbits

“full of charm” Benzine Mag [in French]

Crake - Lamb's Tail [Digital]

Artist: Crake
Title: Lamb’s Tail
Format: Digital single
Cat#: Fika090SG1
Release date: 2nd November 2021
Bandcamp | Spotify

“A pensive, dejected moment of magic, but magic nonetheless” Gold Flake Paint
"Charming and intimate alt-folk” Dork
"The guitars sizzle like lightning bolts striking against an otherwise clear sky, while Sandle’s distinct, hoarse vocal plays like another instrument” Secret Meeting
"In a world of cynics, [Crake] make you believe anything might still be possible” For The Rabbits

Contemplative Leeds quartet Crake have today shared a new single, ‘Lamb’s Tail’.

A set supporting Buck Meek in their native Brudenell Social Club led to the four-piece supporting Big Thief across the UK and the EU in 2019 at Meek’s behest. Last August, this culminated in a one off 7” with Big Thief’s former label, Saddle Creek. Heralding a new relationship with Fika Recordings, ‘Lamb’s Tail’ is the first material since from the band made up of Rowan Sandle, Russel Searle, Rob Slater and Sarah Statham.

Led by the enigmatic Sandle, Crake is driven by her endless curiosity. Armed with her distinctive, hoarse vocals and inspiration from travel writers like Shirley Jackson and Nan Shepherd, she sings of crinoids, slime mould and Pussy Willow, sending you down newly unearthed rabbit holes. Inspired by childhood superstitions, ‘Lamb’s Tail’ makes for a perfect showcase of how Crake knit the patchwork for these observations to flourish, blending drummer/producer Slater’s rolling percussion with the band’s unifying desire to create ear-catching melodies that are ‘sincere, pure and from the heart’.

Speaking of the track, Sandle said: “When I was a kid and I was worried or anxious, I would leave it to the fates to tell me the outcome of whatever issue I was currently stuck on. I would ask my question to the ether and make up some rule to reveal to me my answer. For example, if whilst walking I land at a lamppost with my left foot, the answer is no, but if I land with my right, then yes.

“Lamb’s Tail deals with a major question pertinent to me now – in my early 30s, without children but knowing I want them, I worry when. And at the opposite end of life’s flight, I’ve recently got to know grief. And it’s a lot. So sometimes we revert to silly rituals that comforted us as a child, noticing the pushing onwards of Spring, or laughing at the fact that Rob once met a cat he could have sworn he taught drums to”.

Accompanied with a video directed by Ash Scott, ‘Lamb’s Tail’ inspires you to claw at the soil and unearth a meaning all of your own.

Press for Lamb’s Tail:

“The Leeds four-piece never fail to produce immortally thought-provoking and chilling songs, and Lamb’s Tail is just the latest testament to this increasingly assured truth. Consider it a maxim: when Crake releases music, listeners will be entranced by it.” Secret Meeting

“It’s a revelation delivered in little more than a silvery whisper, but in Crake’s careworn sound, it washes over like a perfectly-timed warm blanket to block out the cold world and insulate the love.” Beats Per Minute

“It’s got a transatlantic feel that’s part Fairport, part Edith Frost and others; and a natural, instinctive flow that indicates that Rowan and band live and breathe this. It’s no affectation. There’s a grace and a tranquillity at play; they’re at ease in this land.” Backseat Mafia

“What a beautifully intimate vocal performance. Always flickering, on the cusp of breaking almost, Rowan Sandle gives us a glimpse inside his soul. With understated and considered backing from Russel Searle, Rob Slater and Sarah Statham, this is a subtle but stunning tune.” The Rodeo

“As you get older it’s often tempting to wonder if you’ve already heard everything you’re going to love, to question whether there’s anything new or exciting out there left to discover. Then along comes a band like Crake and you realise just how naïve that thought truly is, you have to believe the best is always yet to come, you’ll only ever be proven wrong if you don’t.” For The Rabbits

“Crake turn a basic folk melody into a moving examination of an emotional journey to healing” Nothing But Hope and Passion

“a charcoal-hued carol” The Autumn Roses