London’s heavy-afro-psych-soul trio Vodun have released ‘Bloodstones’, the third video from their breakthrough debut album, Possession, along with a UK tour with Church of the Cosmic Skull and Desert Storm, including a performance at London’s Desertfest.

‘Bloodstones’ covers themes of oppression and slavery during the colonial era and how its effects are still being felt today. Coupling imagery from the Vodun religion with moving footage from the civil rights era, the video resonates deeply with the current political climate, both in the UK and the US.

Speaking of the inspiration surrounding ‘Bloodstones’, frontwoman Oya (Chantal Brown, ex-Do Me Bad Things) explains, "The unbreakable bond between people and their spirit is never more evident than in the attempted removal of the cultural identity from the kin of the Western Coast of Africa. Even today, our eyes bear witness to the Native Americans at Standing Rock, hands still firmly clutching what's left of their culture and sacred land – even after the undeniable genocide that was brutally cast upon them, giving birth to the most powerful country on Earth. Slavery and genocide made its deep and torrid mark on the psyche of many, however the spirit and essence lives on in all of the corners of where these peoples were forced. Yes, blood runs deep... but spirits are made of stone."

Fronted by the powerful soul vocals of Oya aside fierce drumming from Ogoun (Zel Kaute, ex-Pettybone) and the white-hot riffing of The Marassa (Lindsay Hamilton) on guitar, Possession is a journey into the history of the ancient West African religion from which the band takes their name. Maligned and derided since colonial times by slavers, the vodoun religion still exists as a powerful, feminist, and positive force in the lives of many people around the world.

Catch Vodun live in the UK on the dates below.

April

12 The Phoenix, Coventry *

13 Trinity Centre, Bristol *

15 The Ruby Lounge, Manchester *

16 Rescue Rooms, Nottingham *

17 Trillians, Newcastle ** (FREE)

18 The Parish, Huddersfield **

19 The Wheatsheaf, Oxford **

20 The Anvil, Bournemouth **

28 Desertfest, London

* = With Church of the Cosmic Skull       ** = With Desert Storm

Stoat’s new single ‘Talk Radio Makes Me Feel Alone’ is taken from their upcoming album Try Not To Think About It. Following a long time out of the public eye, Stoat are back with a new single, and an album due in early summer.

‘Talk Radio Makes Me Feel Alone’ is a high-energy, danceable tune over a stomping rant against talk radio. It’s got shades of Two Door Cinema Club and Metronomy, and the kind of comic bite like you might find in Scroobius Pip or even Sleaford Mods.

This is their first release since the single ‘Nobody in Heaven’ all the way back in 2007. That was taken from our previous and first album, Future Come and Get Me. That album is widely regarded as one of the best to come out of Ireland. Back in the day they played with National Prayer Breakfast, Mumblin Deaf Ro, The Redneck Manifesto, Calexico and Explosions in the Sky (when the latter were playing grimy punk venues rather than huge festival stages).

‘Talk Radio Makes Me Feel Alone’ is all about the horror of being forced to listen to the inane babble of talk radio at work. It’s danceable, high-energy and guitar-based, with some electronica cut through it.