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CRAFT RECORDINGS Relaunches HIGHTONE RECORDS with Historic Vinyl Release of ‘Tulare Dust: A Songwriter’s Tribute to Merle Haggard’

Eric Alper
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CRAFT RECORDINGS Relaunches HIGHTONE RECORDS with Historic Vinyl Release of ‘Tulare Dust: A Songwriter’s Tribute to Merle Haggard’

Craft Recordings has officially relaunched HighTone Records, the influential label that helped define the American roots landscape throughout the 1980s and 90s. Reimagined as a curated home for blues, country, rockabilly, and gospel, the imprint returns with a mission to bring foundational artists and timeless recordings back into focus for a new generation. The first wave of activity is led by the first-ever vinyl pressing of the acclaimed tribute album ‘Tulare Dust: A Songwriter’s Tribute to Merle Haggard’, out now. Originally released in 1994, the collection was executive produced by Americana icons Tom Russell and Dave Alvin, who sought to honor Haggard’s immense songwriting legacy during a time when his lyrical depth was often overlooked by the mainstream.

‘Tulare Dust: A Songwriter’s Tribute to Merle Haggard’ features a staggering lineup of roots royalty delivering 15 inspired performances of Haggard’s vast catalog. Standout moments include Lucinda Williams’ world-weary take on “You Don’t Have Very Far to Go” and Iris DeMent’s stunning rendition of “Big City”—a performance Haggard himself claimed reached depths of sincerity he hadn’t even reached as the writer. The record spans genres to reflect the breadth of Americana, from the outlaw grit of Billy Joe Shaver and Robert Earl Keen to the soulful R&B of Barrence Whitfield and the power-pop sensibilities of Marshall Crenshaw. By pulling from the deep archives of HighTone, Rounder, and Vanguard, the relaunch of HighTone Records promises to be a vital heartbeat for the preservation and celebration of American musical history.

Track Listing:

A1. Tom Russell – Tulare Dust/They’re Tearin’ the Labor Camps Down
A2. Iris DeMent – Big City
A3. Peter Case – A Working Man Can’t Get Nowhere Today
A4. Dwight Yoakam – Holding Things Together
A5. Robert Earl Keen and The Sunshine Boys – Daddy Frank
A6. Joe Ely – White Line Fever
A7. Rosie Flores – My Own Kind of Hat
A8. Steve Young – Shopping for Dresses
B1. Marshall Crenshaw – Silver Wings
B2. Barrence Whitfield – Irma Jackson
B3. Lucinda Williams – You Don’t Have Very Far to Go
B4. Billy Joe Shaver – Ramblin’ Fever
B5. Katy Moffatt – I Can’t Be Myself
B6. John Doe – I Can’t Hold Myself in Line
B7. Dave Alvin – Kern River

LARKIN POE Celebrates Creative Rebirth with ‘An Acoustic Companion Volume II’

Eric Alper
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LARKIN POE Celebrates Creative Rebirth with ‘An Acoustic Companion Volume II’

Grammy-winning sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell, better known as Larkin Poe, have released ‘An Acoustic Companion Volume II’, a stripped-down extension of their chart-topping 2025 album ‘Bloom’. Out now via Tricki-Woo Records, the five-track collection reimagines key songs from the LP in a vulnerable, intimate setting. Recorded at the duo’s new Crosstie Recordings studio in Nashville, the project is led by a raw, unplugged rendition of the contemplative track “Mockingbird.” The sisters describe the process as a “re-blooming” of their recent work, allowing the lyrics to take center stage against a backdrop of acoustic instrumentation. The release is available on all streaming platforms and as a limited-edition picture disc vinyl exclusive to their webstore and tour dates.

The arrival of the acoustic volume comes as Larkin Poe continues their massive ‘Bloom’ world tour, which has seen the duo perform for sold-out crowds across the United States and Europe. Produced alongside Tyler Bryant, ‘Bloom’ solidified the Lovell sisters as modern torchbearers of American roots music, spending weeks at the top of the Americana charts with hits like “Easy Love Pt. 1” and the gritty anthem “Pearls.” Currently nominated for Duo/Group of the Year at the Americana Music Awards, Larkin Poe remains one of the hardest-working acts in the industry. As they transition into a heavy fall touring schedule across the UK and Europe with special guest Son Little, this acoustic companion offers fans a deeply personal look at the storytelling and soulful harmonies that define their evolving musical journey.

YELLOW SOUND LABEL Releases All-Star Studio Recording of ‘Winchell: The Musical’

Eric Alper
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YELLOW SOUND LABEL Releases All-Star Studio Recording of ‘Winchell: The Musical’

Yellow Sound Label has released the premiere NYC studio recording of ‘Winchell: The Musical’, a long-lost theatrical work centered on the life of legendary gossip columnist Walter Winchell. Originally slated for a Broadway debut in 1991 before being derailed by a production scandal, the score finally arrives on streaming and digital formats. The project features music by Keith Levenson and lyrics by the legendary Martin Charnin alongside Levenson. This release serves a significant philanthropic purpose, with album proceeds benefiting the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, an organization that has supported Levenson in his personal battle with Parkinson’s disease.

The recording boasts an extraordinary crossover cast that bridges the worlds of Broadway and classic rock. Jason Robert Brown stars as the staccato-voiced media icon, joined by an eclectic ensemble including Roger Daltrey, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper, Darlene Love, and Sally Struthers. From its vaudeville roots to its Jazz Age slang, the musical explores Winchell’s legacy as the man who transformed journalism into entertainment and practically invented modern celebrity culture. After more than thirty years in the shadows, this melodic and delightful score is out now, offering theater fans a rare opportunity to hear a piece of Broadway history while supporting a vital cause in medical research and patient care.

THE BETHS Unveil Intimate New Single “Mother, Pray For Me” from ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’

Eric Alper
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The Beths have shared their third single and video, “Mother, Pray For Me,” a profoundly personal and stripped-down track that highlights the emotional core of their new album ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’. Moving away from the band’s signature power-pop energy, the song features Elizabeth Stokes alone with a finger-picked guitar and a subtle organ, delivering a wistful plea for connection and understanding. Stokes wrote the track as she grappled with her relationship with her mother, an Indonesian immigrant, and the complexities of faith, mortality, and family history. This vulnerable approach follows the punchy lead singles “No Joy” and “Everything is Burning,” showcasing the startling new depths of insight that define the band’s latest era.

Out now via ANTI- Records, ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’ arrived on August 29, 2025, as the highly anticipated follow-up to their 2022 breakout ‘Expert In A Dying Field’. The album’s creation marked a significant shift in process for the New Zealand quartet, born from a period where Stokes intentionally deconstructed her songwriting routines to achieve a more therapeutic and free-flowing creative output. Recorded with guitarist and longtime producer Jonathan Pearce, the record has been hailed as the band’s most poetic and sharply observant work to date. To celebrate the release, The Beths have announced a series of intimate album release shows across New Zealand and Australia, alongside a massive 2026 world tour that kicks off in North America this January.

RAFIQ BHATIA Evokes an Ephemeral Summer Night on “Clearing, Crickets”

Eric Alper
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RAFIQ BHATIA Evokes an Ephemeral Summer Night on “Clearing, Crickets”

Composer and guitarist Rafiq Bhatia has shared “Clearing, Crickets,” a four-minute sonic meditation that serves as a cornerstone of his new album ‘Environments’. The track immerses listeners in the thick humidity of an August night, utilizing chirps, skitters, and languid horns to create a texture that feels more like the Earth left to its own devices than a traditional composition. Drawing inspiration from the monolithic sculptures of Richard Serra and the dreamlike cinema of Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Bhatia meticulously builds a world where acoustic instruments mimic studio-engineered soundscapes. The single follows his recent work on the ‘Each Dream, a Melting Door’ collaborative EP, further pushing the boundaries of what modern ambient jazz can encompass.

Out now via ANTI- Records, ‘Environments’ features a trio of close collaborators, including Son Lux bandmate Ian Chang on percussion and trumpeter Riley Mulherkar. The album marks a significant evolution from the “science fiction” scale of his 2018 record ‘Breaking English’, leaning into a breath-driven, intentional approach to sound-shaping. A member of the Oscar-nominated trio Son Lux, Bhatia’s recent schedule has been prolific, from scoring Marvel Studios’ ‘Thunderbolts*’ to debuting site-specific arrangements at the Aspen Art Museum. By focusing on expressive gestures and “world-building” through sound, ‘Environments’ offers a deeply focused listening experience that captures the complexities of the natural world through a high-fidelity lens.

MADI DIAZ Embraces Stark Vulnerability on New Album ‘Fatal Optimist’

Eric Alper
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MADI DIAZ Embraces Stark Vulnerability on New Album ‘Fatal Optimist’

Grammy-nominated songwriter Madi Diaz has released her seventh studio album, ‘Fatal Optimist’, a project that strips away production layers to reveal the rawest emotional core of her career. Out now via ANTI- Records, the album was recorded with co-producer Gabe Wax at his Infinite Family Studio and marks the final chapter in a trilogy of heartache that began with 2021’s breakthrough ‘History of a Feeling’. Following the end of a long-term relationship, Diaz retreated to an island for a period of deep introspection, emerging with a collection of songs that find her alone in a room with her acoustic guitar. This minimalist approach allows her brutal lyrical observations and finely crafted melodies to take center stage, creating a hauntingly intimate listening experience that explores the risk and “weird faith” required to keep a heart open.

The album’s release was preceded by the quietly anthemic single “Ambivalence,” which dissects the unsettling feeling of being caught in romantic indecision. It follows the lead track “Feel Something,” an urgent acoustic number exploring the desperate need for connection. Since the record’s debut, Diaz has taken these songs on the road, including a major North American fall tour and high-profile festival appearances. Looking ahead, she is set to bring the ‘Fatal Optimist’ tour to the UK and Europe in early 2026, starting with dates in London, Paris, and Berlin. By leaning into the starkness of her own isolation, Diaz has created a body of work that celebrates inner wholeness and the resilience found in being a “fatal optimist.”

Madi Diaz 2026 European Tour Dates:

  • Jan 19 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake Underground
  • Feb 4 – Edinburgh, UK @ Cabaret Voltaire
  • Feb 5 – Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institute
  • Feb 7 – Nottingham, UK @ Rough Trade
  • Feb 9 – Bristol, UK @ Exchange
  • Feb 10 – Brighton, UK @ Green Door Store
  • Feb 11 – London, UK @ Oslo Hackney
  • Feb 14 – Paris, FR @ Les Etoiles
  • Feb 18 – Berlin, DE @ Mikropol
  • Feb 19 – Cologne, DE @ Blue Shell

CURTIS HARDING Commands the Groove with New Single “The Power” from ‘Departures & Arrivals’

Eric Alper
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CURTIS HARDING Commands the Groove with New Single “The Power” from ‘Departures & Arrivals’

Visionary soul artist Curtis Harding has released his latest single, “The Power,” a vibrant disco anthem that pairs shimmering strings with an infectious, roller-disco-ready groove. The track serves as a high-energy preview of his expansive new album, ‘Departures & Arrivals: Adventures of Captain Curt’, which is out now. Conceptually framed as a soul-stirring space opera, the project follows the journey of Captain Curt as he navigates distant galaxies in a quest to find his way home. Harding explains that while the song fits this celestial narrative, it also serves as a timely reminder for people to reclaim their joy and live life fully, even amidst political and social turbulence.

Self-produced at Adrian Quesada’s Electric Deluxe Recorders in Austin, ‘Departures & Arrivals’ marks a confident return to the director’s chair for Harding. The album moves fluidly between moody space-funk, baroque-pop, and psychedelic rock, all anchored by his signature captivating vocals. This latest body of work follows his acclaimed 2021 release, ‘If Words Were Flowers’, and emphasizes the importance of the journey itself when one feels adrift. By handling the production personally, Harding has created a sonic world that is both uncompromising and deeply human, featuring live full-band recordings that capture the raw essence of his “slop ‘n’ soul” style.

NEKO CASE Shares Poignant Single “Winchester Mansion of Sound” from New Album ‘Neon Grey Midnight Green’

Eric Alper
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NEKO CASE Shares Poignant Single “Winchester Mansion of Sound” from New Album ‘Neon Grey Midnight Green’

Grammy-nominated songwriter Neko Case has unveiled her latest single, “Winchester Mansion of Sound,” a sprawling piano epic that serves as a central pillar of her new album ‘Neon Grey Midnight Green’. The track is a heartfelt tribute to her late friend and psychobilly pioneer Dexter Romweber of the Flat Duo Jets, written two years before his 2024 passing. Musically, Case draws on the melancholic depth of Robbie Basho and the bittersweet rhythm of nursery rhymes to capture a sense of “all-consuming love.” The song arrived alongside a visualizer and follows the lead single “Wreck,” providing a glimpse into an album that explores human nature, the natural world, and the volatile beauty of connection.

Out now via ANTI- Records, ‘Neon Grey Midnight Green’ marks Case’s first studio album in seven years. The record is a significant milestone for the artist as her first entirely self-produced effort, recorded live with a full band at her Vermont studio, Carnassial Sound. Case, who identifies as gender fluid, has expressed immense pride in the self-produced nature of the project, emphasizing her vision and creative control. The album’s release follows a prolific year for Case, which saw her memoir, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You, hit the New York Times best sellers list in January. As she prepares to embark on a massive 2026 North American tour starting January 8 in Montreal, Case continues to cement her legacy as one of music’s most evocative and uncompromising storytellers.

BEN QUAD Embraces Growth and Optimism with Sophomore LP ‘Wisher’

Eric Alper
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BEN QUAD Embraces Growth and Optimism with Sophomore LP ‘Wisher’

Oklahoma post-emo outfit Ben Quad has officially entered a more hopeful chapter with the release of their highly anticipated sophomore album, Wisher, out now via Pure Noise Records. A significant evolution from the existential dread of their 2022 debut, the album captures the band leaning into bright synths, pop-infused melodies, and a more expansive sound. Recorded in the peaceful countryside of New Jersey with producer Jon Markson (The Story So Far, Drug Church), the 10-track collection features high-energy standouts like “It’s Just A Title” and “Painless.” Guitarist Edgar Viveros notes that the project allowed the band to break away from strict Midwest emo structures, resulting in a record that feels like a defiant response to their earlier work—replacing uncertainty with a deliberate gaze toward a better future.

Following the album’s successful November 14 release, Ben Quad spent the remainder of 2025 dominating the road, including a massive autumn run supporting labelmates Koyo and Arm’s Length. The momentum shows no signs of slowing down, as the band has already announced a sprawling 2026 world tour. Kicking off in February across the UK and Europe with Arm’s Length, the “Wisher North American Headline Tour” will follow in March, featuring special guests Riley!, Aren’t We Amphibians, and Footballhead. From its tongue-in-cheek “suffering from success” music videos to its emotionally resonant lyrics, Wisher has solidified Ben Quad as one of the most exciting and optimistic voices in the modern punk landscape.

AITIS BAND Explores the Surreal Side of Adolescent Obsession in “He’s Great”

Eric Alper
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Aitis Band has unveiled their latest single, “He’s Great,” a playful yet eerie track that dissects the intensity of an adolescent crush through a lens of deadpan humor. Accompanying the release is a music video directed by experimental animator Exyl Space, filmed during a residency at the Oxbow Artist Residency, which depicts a feverish, flashlight-lit gathering in the woods. The song serves as a standout preview of the trio’s fourth full-length album, Aitis Band – IV, out now, via Ernest Jenning Record Co. Produced by longtime collaborator Nate Kinsella (Birthmark, Joan of Arc), the album continues the band’s signature fusion of haunted-house atmospherics, ’80s-night synth-pop, and theatrical noise.

The road to IV was paved by the equally cinematic lead single “Screenplay,” paired with a blood-drenched, horror-inspired short film by director Jennifer Reeder. Formed in 2019 by former Joan of Arc members Bobby Burg and Melina Ausikaitis alongside visual artist Ray Borchers, Aitis Band has built a reputation for shifting fluidly between tender ballads and chaotic anthems. Throughout 2025, the band expanded their cult following by joining Black Moth Super Rainbow for high-profile shows at (Le) Poisson Rouge in NYC and The Sinclair in Boston, as well as celebrating their album release with a headline performance at Pianos in NYC. With IV, the group solidifies their place in the art-rock underground, reporting on the absurd and the terrifying with their unique blend of “art school” sensibilities and club culture grit.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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