With less than two weeks before the release of the new double album Man On The Sea from Canterbury, England's SPYGENIUS, BIG STIR RECORDS offers an appetizer in the form of the delectable new single, “Café Emery Hill” paired with the vintage offering “13 Years (May Song)” served up Friday 3 July and up for pre-order reservations at www.bigstirrecords.com/big-stir-digital-singles now! And they're garnished with brand new sleeve art from CHAMPNISS that not only previews the song's forthcoming video, but may leave you longing for an English brekkie at the titular eatery.

The sprightly, inventively-arranged “Café Emery Hill” is one of the many instantly-hummable pop delights that season the sweeping Man On The Sea, filled with delightful counterpoint vocals, surprise key changes, and clever carnival flourishes complementing its slightly off-kilter bounce. One of the last tunes recorded for MOTS, it's an uncharacteristically studio-constructed piece for a band so renowned for their live shows. “The consequence of this is that it is as yet impossible to play live,” says single-singwriter-guitarist PETER WATTS. “That’s one of the challenges for us for when we're able to play gigs again! I have no idea how we’re going to do the fairground bit – kazoos, maybe?” We have no doubt they'll manage it, but on this recording, the adornment suits the band to perfection.

Our B-side is both a throwback to the very first Spygenius record, 2008's SONGS FROM THE DEVIL'S TYPIST, and a complement to the more existential and melancholy songs that shape the new record. “Some songs come from the heart... some songs come from the brain, they take a little longer to explain” sings Watts over a ticking acoustic groove, between idylls of harmony, tossing in references to entropy and Stravinsky, with a “thank you” to Brian Wilson on the side. It shows that, then as now, he's adroit with both kinds of tunes, and song allows us to point out that the band's entire back catalog awaits discovery on CD and download at www.bigstirrecords.com/spygenius while you wait for Man On The Sea... or indeed as a fine desert following the buffet feast of the new record!

BIG STIR RECORDS in conjunction with FUTUREMAN RECORDS is proud to celebrate the release of the new album GOLDEN SUNSHINE from Scotland's THE VAPOUR TRAILS with the release of the first official single from the record, “Strange”, backed with the brand new and exclusive non-album B-side “A Bit More Fire”! Both sides are out Friday, June 26 and up for pre-order at https://bigstirrecords.com/big-stir-digital-singles now!

The Vapour Trails have wasted no time in following up their acclaimed 2019 debut album See You In the Next World, which has long since sold out its CD release and adorned many a Year's Best list across the global guitar pop landscape. Heirs to the classic chiming sounds of The Byrds and Big Stir and the Britpop-era resurgence of hooks and harmony exemplified by Ride (from whom they borrowed their name) and their countrymen Teenage Fanclub, the Trails have delivered, in Golden Sunshine, another record that stands with those greats and is already receiving the same warm reception and critical praise. The new album is available from Futureman on CD and as a download at https://futuremanrecords.bandcamp.com/ now.

“Strange”, one highlight of many on Sunshine, rides a neo-psych groove that straddles the line between the Velvets and Donovan. The exclusive B-side “A Bit More Fire” is a jangle-pop gem completed after the Sunshine sessions but cut from the same cloth, boasting deceptively dark lyrics and a thrilling backwards 12-string guitar break. Both tunes were produced, mixed and mastered by Nick Bertling and show the band – Kevin Robertson (vocals, rhythm guitar, keys, harmonica); his son Scott Robertson (lead guitar, vocals, keys, bass), Nicholas Mackie (vocals, rhythm guitar), Kenny Munro (drums) and Andy Crossan (bass) – in full command of their idiom, but, as always, offering something fresh and delightful. "Sometimes some things last forever, a beautiful vision of life", as the band say. These tracks, adorned with appropriately evocative sleeve art from RIDLEY BROOME – and the brilliant new album – show that they mean it.

The 78th Big Stir Digital Single marks the return of KAI DANZBERG, the Hanover, Germany musical mastermind who twice enthralled the pop world in 2019 with his NOT ONLY SUNSHINE album and his EUPHORIA EP, both on our humble label. “Let Him Go” featuring Kai and DEAR STELLA – and backed perhaps uniquely with a gender-swapped version of the A-side, “Let Her Go (Demo)” featuring Kai solo – is out Friday, June 19 and up for pre-order at www.bigstirrecords.com/big-stir-digital-singles now.

Since NOT ONLY SUNSHINE adorned many a Best of 2019 list at the end of the past year, including a Song of the Year honor from Mike Lidskin's Twirlie Awards for the title track, Danzberg – one of the youngest leading lights of the global pop scene – has maintained a relentless and ambitious work schedule despite the difficultis of the pandemic era. In addition to the Euphoria EP, he's released a surprise single in collaboration with former Nickelodeon superstar and Kai's own formative influence Drake Bell, and completed most of a followup album entitled ROCKSHOW, for release later this year. "Let Him Go" was written and recorded in November 2019 and is is a duet between "Dear Stella”, AKA Stefanie Drexler, and Danzberg. The B-side is the original demo.

Together, these sides are the first preview of what to expect on Rockshow as Kai puts the finishing touches on the new record. “The album is a collection of new songs from 2019 and 2020”, says Kai. “It includes a jazz version of 'Diva Eyes AKA Oh, Girl', the single with Drake Bell, and also includes a song written by Drake and Scott Bennett where I had the chance to rewrite the last chorus. Most of the songs are upbeat with a lot of harmonies as you expect from me, but there are serious moments as well.” Stand by for more information on the release of the new record, and check out Kai Danzberg's previous releases on his Artist Page on the Big Stir Records website, as the year will doubtless yield more surprises from one of Europe's brightest young talents!

It's another completely unique Surprise Saturday Single benefiting an eminently worthy cause as two of the Bay Area's finest singer-songwriter-bandleaders -- JEFF SHELTON of THE WELL WISHERS and BRADLEY SKAUGHT of THE BYE BYE BLACKBIRDS – offer up exclusive new recordings of each other's compositions, with all sales going directly to COLOR OF CHANGE. The new single “All Our Friends” (performed by Shelton) b/w “In Another Life” (performed by Skaught) is available for download at www.bigstirrecords.com/big-stir-digital-singles now.

“I think it's rare that songwriters of the same generation cover each other and I like the idea. Jeff and I have been mutual fans for a long time, so it just seemed like a fun and overdue thing. Plus a good use of quarantine time,” says Skaught. Shelton concurs: “It was actually Bradley's idea to cover one of each other's songs. We each picked a specific song for the other to do. I think each song works with our individual styles and vocal ranges. I'd say we each took a little creative license with the arrangements while still keeping true to the original style and spirit of each song.”

"All Our Friends", recorded and performed entirely by Shelton, is a cover of a tune from the current (and widely acclaimed) album from The Bye Bye Blackbirds, BOXER AT REST. “In Another Life” originally appeared on 2018's A VIEW FROM ABOVE from The Well Wishers, Shelton's primary songwriting vehicle, although he's also a key player in the San Francisco four-piece TRIP WIRE and records as HOT NUN. Skaught's version of the tune includes harmonies from JOHN ASHFIELD of San Francisco guitar-pop heroes THE BOBBLEHEADS and bass from The Bye Bye Blackbirds' own AARON RUBIN. Both tracks were mastered by KC BOWMAN, who's a member of both the Blackbirds and The Corner Laughers and also records under the name Fireproof Sam; the cover portraits are by Oakland artist/musician JESSE RIMLER.

If that list of contributors reads like “family”, Shelton agrees. “I think this endeavor speaks to the cohesive and collaborative unit that is the tight-knit Bay Area 'pop music' scene. Not too many bands here doing what we do....so it's cool how we all support and promote one another. At least that's my takeaway.” We at LA-based Big Stir Records, with our ties to (and deeply-rooted fandom for) these Northern California artists, agree and are proud to highlight such a vibrant musical community. We're proud also that Skaught and Shelton have directed all funds from this release to COLOR OF CHANGE, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization, dedicated to helping people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. A national online force driven by 1.7 million members, the organization moves decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America.

Our “pay what you want” setting for the single provides an opportunity for fans to contribute to Color Of Change beyond the $1 price for the download. Donations can also be made directly to:

https://www.colorofchange.org/

Side A: Jeff Shelton "All Our Friends" (Skaught) Produced & performed by JEFF SHELTON Recorded at Montserrat Studios - Redwood City, CA Original version by THE BYE BYE BLACKBIRDS and available on the album BOXER AT REST: www.thebyebyeblackbirds.bandcamp.com/album/boxer-at-rest

Side B: Bradley Skaught "In Another Life" (Shelton) Aaron Rubin: Bass John Ashfield: Harmonies and background vocals Everything else performed and recorded by Bradley Skaught at Senator Sound - Oakland, CA Original version by THE WELL WISHERS and available on the album A VIEW FROM ABOVE: www.thewellwishers.bandcamp.com/album/a-view-from-above

Mastered by KC Bowman at Timber Trout

Drawing by Jesse Rimler