ALBUMs
- Album Reviews
Kat Healy is a singer-songwriter from Edinburgh and for all our listening pleasure, she has released a new ep entitled ‘Wolf’.
A beautiful voice that envelopes the listener in aural honey. Five songs that glide by blissfully with the piano, and cello as the layer on which Kat’s voice rests and soars in equal measure.
Created in the quiet solitude of Schwarzwald in Germany, under the wintery sky of it’s mountain range, the songs were carefully constructed and then brought home to be recorded live over two days, with long time friend and collaborator Garry Boyle at Slate Room Studio in Pencaitland.
Have suffered the lost of her father in 2015, this is Kat’s first recording since. It’s stripped back, emotionally charged and so gentle, that it’s easy to fall in love with this record after the first listen.
Vocals & Acoustic Guitar - Kat Healy
Piano - Thilo Pfander
Harmonium - Thilo Pfander
Cello - Graham Coe
Pete
9/11
- Album Reviews
Following the release of 2 successful EPs during 2015, Oxfordshire 5 piece Little Brother Eli release their debut album Cold Tales kicking and screaming into the world.
I’m not sure of the musical heritage of Oxfordshire outside of Radiohead, but I suggest the amount of bluesy, garage rock bands can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Little Brother Eli make a great place to start. Think of a melding of Zeppelin riffs, Black Keys energy and chuck in a bit of Biffy, and you’ve got LBE sussed out. Oh, and do yourself a favour, listen with the sound turned up on a stereo rather than headphones, and open the windows for that authentic festival experience because that’s surely where this band are destined to belong.
Anthem opening track Oceans and the equally sing along Dreams are surely destined to be live favourites with the sweat soaked front rows singing back the lyrics to the band while they get on with the business of the downright dirty, filthy riffing.
Roll Away changes pace (slightly) with its lovely verse and chorus before again descending into damn heavy riffage, whilst keeping the mood laid back.
Gold starts with acoustic guitar and wouldn’t be out of place if you heard this on the back porch of a Louisiana homestead backing onto the Mississippi. Southern boogie, courtesy of the home counties.
Title track, and album closer Cold Tales showcases the fabulous vocal skills of Alex Grew. At just over 5 minutes, its the longest track on the album and seems to nicely sum up the collective 9 tracks that have passed previously. It acts as a Sunday morning hangover track, counterpointing the Saturday night adrenaline soaked previous cuts.
Where on earth the band get their inspiration from is irrelevant if they are making music this good. Who cares that they are from middle England, and not the Southern States. These guys already stand alongside much more experienced and established acts as those previously mentioned. They’ve got riffs, they’ve got balls, they’ve got attitude and most importantly, they have got some damn fine tunes. This is a band going places.
9/11
Keith @kjsmith4082
- Album Reviews
What do you get when you cross Tuung with Diagrams ? Or more specifically, Mike Lindsay from Tuung and Sam Genders from Diagrams ? The result is Throws which happens to be the output of a planned meeting and get together to chew the fat.
Now based in Reykjavik, Lindsay invited his old mate Genders over to catch up on life, and they decided the opportunity was too good to pass up and the result was the self titled debut album, released in the UK on the ever reliable Full Time Hobby.
So what does it sound like ? Well, obviously, there are Tuung influences of persuasive pulsing lo fi, and quirky upbeat electronica a la Diagrams, yet the sum of the parts is lively, fresh and appealing.....just like that Icelandic air.
The 2 voices harmonise perfectly - Lindsay with his earthy flat style, and Genders with his falsetto top end, over a mainly acoustic heart to the record. Iceland seemingly has influenced the recording extensively - check out the ethereal and downright beautiful Sun Gun which utilises the sting backing section of Sigur Ros who themselves go by the name Amiina. It’s difficult to not get the influence of Sigur Ros out of your head once you know when the recording took place, and indeed what you might imagine a meeting of Tuung and Diagrams might sound like, and that is certainly no bad thing.
Opening track The Harbour, starts rather unexpectedly with thumping bass drum and electric guitar set to echo mode, before the almost Floyd-like harmonies implore us to “please, won’t you stay, in the harbour”, then moving onto Bon Iver territory....This has been an ear worm for a couple of days now.
Punch Drunk Sober - the second track released ahead of the album, is a synth driven electronic vibe - think John Grant from his Pale Green Ghosts album, rather than Queen of Denmark.
Silence in Between changes direction again, with a simple acoustic guitar opening, and again some soaring string backing - a gorgeous 2 1/2 minutes.
The quite bonkers album closer is the 6 minute Under The Ice, which is partly narrated, and partly sung - seemingly about some sub aquatic encounter with a woman who then turns into an albatross.....maybe Lindsay distills his own Icelandic moonshine ?
This is an album that wears its influences very clearly, none more so than the country of Iceland itself. For me, a little more Tuung and a little less Diagrams influence would have been perfect, but you can’t argue this is a worthy addition to both artists' output. Quirky, energetic, at times sublime, and always interesting. Looking forward to catching up with them at End of the Road later in the year.
8/11
Keith @kjsmith4082
- Album Reviews
An album with a fire burning bright in it’s very soul is how best to describe the latest album fromToronto three piece Odonis Odonis called 'Post Plague' on the Felte record label.
Opening track ‘Fearless’ jumps out of the record, electronics blasting, and a Kasabain style vocal from across the water. ‘Needs’ the second track takes a different approach vocals wise, more urgent and menacing. This is NIN territory with no electric guitar in sight, played loud is the only option by the way! Each song is original, varied in style and powerful in presentation.
An underground staple in Toronto, the band broke out in 2011 with their debut, Hollandaze. They then began turning heads with their live shows and their follow up LP,' Hard Boiled Soft Boiled' was Polaris Prize nominated.
Now it’s time for the global step with, 'Post Plague' with it’s industrial, electronica and ear shattering stance. Dean Tzenos' vocals sit upfront, delivered with a intensity that is admirable, Denholm Whale's bass lays groundwork and Jarod Gibson delivers the core rhythms. I have always reckoned a 3 piece is the most powerful combination, here is another band to prove that point.
Speaking about the 'Vanta Black' track, lead singer Dean Tzenos said "The time for half measures has passed. We need to be bold to make the changes needed to ward off an impending doom. Enough of constant overanalysing and overthinking that has stopped progress. We need to look deep into the abyss and jump head first into the darkest substance ever known, vanta black."
It's time to check this band out
Pete
9/11
July Euro tour
15 Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg
16 Haarlem, NL @ Kliko Festival
17 The Hague, NL @ Grauzone Summer Festival
18 Antwerp BE @ Het Bos
19 Gent, BE @ Kinky Star (Gentse Feesten Festival)
20 London, UK @ The Waiting Room
22 Paris, FR @ Supersonic (free show)
23 Stuttgart DE @ Secret venue
{https://soundcloud.com/felte/odonis-odonis-vanta-black-1}
- Album Reviews
In the congested world of singer songwriters, it takes something special to stand out and particularly to tread that careful fine line between genuinely heartstring tugging and James Blunt style foppishness.
The ever excellent Secretly Canadian label may just have found their man in Australian Ben Abraham.
The Melbourne based artist releases debut album Sirens and is the result of a 8 year process from writing his first song for a sick kid while working in a local hospital to touring with Emmylou Harris and finally getting quite some exposure from the likes of Zane Lowe.
The 13 track album is a ode to love, loss and growth, the usual singer songwriter tropes, but this is an enchanting listen and is a much more complex listen that other artists in this category. It’s not a case of one man and his acoustic guitar, but a much more coloured in album.
Lead single from the album You and Me, was debuted on Beats 1 radio, and is a perfect taster of what the album holds, ending as it does with some lush orchestration.
This is On Me is a track that starts with some simple piano, before Abraham goes on to describe a failed relationship where both parties are taking the blame for the breakup. Sara Bareilles plays the female part to gorgeous effect as the voices complement and intertwine with each other.
The album has many highlights so will be unfair to pick any out in particular, but again its a record to listen to as an entire piece of work on a good pair of headphones or speakers whilst not being distracted by anything else.
Abraham’s voice is beguiling and seductive, think somewhere between Peter Gabriel and Guy Garvey, and you won’t go far wrong. At it’s heart is an English folk album, but it’s much more than that which results is a gorgeous, calming listen. This guy should have a decent 2016.
8/11
Keith @kjsmith4082
- Album Reviews
Barry Hyde is the lead singer and guitarist of The Futureheads, and his debut solo album ‘Malody’ will be released on the 3rd June 2016 via Sirenspire Records.
Having lived with the album for a few days, it has really become something to admire. This is not a record that will fall into your lap in terms of appreciation, that is something that grows stronger with each listen.
Says Barry: “Those of you familiar with my work with The Futureheads may be expecting an album of new wave inspired, four-part harmony, guitar music. ‘Malody’couldn’t be further away from that. The album is based around my first instrument, the piano, and also features violin, cello, double bass, tenor and baritone sax, pedal steel and trumpet.”
Discussing the album’s themes, Barry explains: “What is ‘malody’? Malody is a word I have invented, derived from the words, melody and malady. A malody is a melody that expresses mental malaise, mental illness and deep sadness or its opposite, mania. I know about these things, as I am bipolar. This album is a musical representation of what it feels like to experience the extreme states of mind that characterise bipolar existence. Like many bipolar people, creativity is central to my life, central even, to my illness. This album is a bipolar album, it was written in the rare and exquisite moments of intense creativity that comes in an almost complimentary way with the highs and lows. It’s a deep, highly personal catharsis, a document of my experience.”
Side one of the album opens with the ‘Malody Suite’, which is sharply paced at some points, then deliver’s exquisite melodies at other points. ‘Theme’ is the opening segment and the opening lyrics; “How can I expect this madness to end, by staring at myself and tearing myself apart” aptly shows that this is someone letting you into his life, via his music.
Gentle and loud music, poignant and sad words, this is a sparkling solo debut and the fact that it’s the piano at the fore rather than, keyboards or electronics, this really gives the album the grandeur it deserves.
10/11
Pete
Barry Hyde ‘Malody’
01 Theme
02 Blixer
03 Malody
04 Monster Again
05 Crazy Love
06 Sugar
07 Lonely
08 Loneliness
09 While We Were Sleeping
10 Sometimes It Snows In April
11 Thunder Song
‘Malody’ is available now on CD, vinyl and download
- Album Reviews
The thing about a single or EP from a new band is that, after hearing it, you should be left wanting to hear more and that is precisely what Manchester band The Cupids have achieved on their single ‘Kickin’ in’ and the two other tracks thereon.
The band; vocals & guitar, Sid Cooper and Jake Fletcher, drums, James Cardus and bass, Ryan Cormac have released 3 solid, sharp and after a couple of listens very catchy songs.
Cupids are a new band having only formed in September 2015. A slot on last Autumn’s Blossoms tour honed the band and got them some attention. They have an ever-growing fan base and even Donovan recently offered them one of his unrecorded songs.
‘Kicking’ In’ is a catchy song with a Squeeze / Artic Monkeys like vibe. Second track, ‘Adult Terrors’ is the class of the three songs, a widescreen toe tapper with sharp guitar riffs. Final song of the set is ‘Confession Box’ which takes the pace down and shows the band’s adaptability to different styles.
Following a string of dates around an appearance at The Great Escape, tTe band will be playing some festivals later in the year including Isle of Wight (June), Kendall Calling (July) and Neighbourhood Manchester (October). Let’s hope there is an album to follow soon
Pete
New Single ‘Kickin’ In' has a digital release on 3rd June 2016
- Album Reviews
Mention the statement Folk Opera and I expect you do 1 of 2 things ; run for the hills, or warmly recall Anais Mitchell’s Hadestown and hope and pray that The Butcher is half as good as that release. Well, you’re in luck...
The Butcher is a 20 song double album’s worth of storytelling which may have been called a concept album once upon a time. It’s an epic ghost story, with a folklore style message of The Butcher who is often knuckle deep in blood, but has seen no evidence of a soul. I guess the one downside of reviewing a digital release is lack of access to the lyrics which would surely enhance this listening experience.
Mosley has a golden beautiful voice up there with all his folk contemporaries, especially Nick Drake, and he has a cast of (almost) thousands helping him out of the record :Jamie Lawson, Esther Dee, Moses (Mosley’s old band), Carolyn Mark (Canadian Juno award winner), Josienne Clarke (BBC Folk Awards 2015 winner, just signed to Rough Trade) and musicians from Florence & The Machine, Feist, Benjamin Clementine and Patrick Wolf's bands.
In these days of Spotify and playlists, this is an album that totally bucks the trend and demands to be listened to from start to finish, and even seen as a live stage play or performance. As such, I will avoid mentioning specific tracks as the overall result is more than just a sum of its parts.
This is epic, daunting, dark, mysterious, nostalgic, contemporary, light, dark and most importantly wonderful. How refreshing to have releases like this in today’s climate of quick fixes and instant gratification. Take some time to listen and absorb this record and you will be richly rewarded.
9/11
Keith @kjsmith4082
- Album Reviews
Hands up who can remember back to 2004? and even more points if you remember the gorgeous debut by Marjorie Fair called Self Help Serenade? If I remember correctly, this featured in my top 10 of that year, and such was my love of the album, I couldn’t wait for the follow up...
Well, its been a long 12 years wait, but finally I Am My Own Rainbow drops digitally via Psychic Bully Records, and the burning question is, has time been kind to Marjorie Fair...?
Marjorie Fair is the New Jersey native multi talented and multi instrumental Evan Slamka, aided on this release by several friends and associates and produced by Joey Waronker who has worked with Beck, REM and ahem, Atoms For Peace. Following the debut, and extensive touring and promotion, the band were suddenly dropped by Capitol despite nearing completion of the follow up and subsequently Slamka put his energies into differing projects with little success.
The enigmatically titled I Am My Own Rainbow sounds unmistakably like Marjorie Fair, which seems most comfortably described as chamber folk pop - think maybe somewhere between Midlake and Blitzen Trapper.
The lovely atmospheric Brothers and Sisters kicks off the record in a typically dreamy manner, with lazy lyrics and gorgeous instrumentation - perhaps Slamka’s residence in LA has an influence on these sun drenched tracks.
Avalanche, half way through the album is an acoustic gem the likes of which Bright Eyes used to write. The theme is one of lost love and heartbreak “and now, the love you had for me is dead”...
Next up Save Time picks us up off the floor with its twinkling layers and subdued lyrics, and almost lulls the listener into a blissful haze of being.
Closing track Songbird is again a simple, gorgeous acoustic lead track, and offers the advice to “don’t make the mistakes I made”
So has time been kind to the band ? Well, to be honest, time has stood still for Marjorie Fair, which is no bad thing, With a sound rooted in the past, but somehow still sounding contemporary, Marjorie Fair sits comfortably alongside the aforementioned bands with the classic dreamy Laurel canyon vibe and aspirations. Just don’t leave us waiting another 12 years for album number 3.
8/11
Keith @kjsmith4082
- Album Reviews
The 5th album from Ceri James is a solid piece of work, real class in its presentation and execution. Eleven songs in all that rock, roll, and seep through your senses leaving a big smile on your face. Musicianship is first class from the six piece, Three Fifths.
There is nothing new, from a new music point of view but, that not what the record is about, indeed this record fits nicely in the UK Country Rock market alongside bands such as, The Low Ryders, Treetop Flyers and Danny & The Champions of the World.
The album contains more than a nod to the blues as well. ‘Wishing Moon’ and ‘Austere Crimes and Hard Times’ are prime example of how the band extends themselves throughout the record.
A Welshman domiciled in London, between 2004-6 Ceri was a licensed busker on The London Underground, so he breathes the city and this band should be welcome in many venues throughout the streets of our fair capital.
A great record for a road trip or a smoky bar (is there such a thing anymore?) and a pint.
Pete
9/11
- Album Reviews
As part 3 of a trilogy, new album Memory is described as the widescreen movie, with the previous releases of Blindspot and Distance being described as the script and play respectively.
With his lugubrious vocal style, Michaelson may just be the closest we have to a British Leonard Cohen, and Memory’s 7 songs explore how we remember and the influence of the world and the people around us causing us to rewrite our own histories.
Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards are Dan Michaelson (vocals, guitar, piano), Henry Spenner (drums), Laurie Earle (guitar, piano) and Horse (guitar). Joining them on ‘Memory are Romeo Stodart of The Magic Numbers (bass), Ali Friend (double bass), Gabriel Stebbing (cello), Johnny Flynn (violin and flugelhorn), Jin Theriault (baritone sax), Yusuf Narcin (trombone) and Christo Squire (alto sax).
Full of sparse, yet lush instrumentation, Memory takes the listener on a journey of discovery almost like a movie soundtrack playing in a smokey late night jazz club.
Tides opens the album, with just vocals and piano, before the gorgeous instrumentation washes over the album like the tide from the title. Think Tindersticks or even The Red House Painters if you want a comparison.
Title track Memory is clearly something important to Michaelson as he himself admits to having “almost zero memory”. This is a beautifully simple piano led track, which again builds with the rest of the band but this time taking a more restrained approach.
First track released off the new album is Undo, which is a tale revolving around the regret at not being able to undo words said during the heat of the moment....”if I could take it back, I would take it back, I’d wouldn’t take it out on you.....but you can’t undo”. Gorgeous cello and percussion are all over this track creating an album highlight.
Half The Reason closes the album, comprised almost exclusively of horns and strings, creating one long, last undulating pulse and leaving the listener in a contemplative mood.
This is best listened to as a late night album, accompanied with a good malt whisky and a roaring fire going. It gorgeous, sparse and melancholy - just like some of my favourite albums. An addition of a female vocalist from time to time could soften Michaelsons delivery, but its a small thing, and not a distraction.
8/11
Keith
@kjsmith4082
- Album Reviews
My first impression was that Foy Vance was American, having been listening to 'Joy of Nothing' since 2013, I was drawn with interest to the new record ‘Wild Swan’. Foy is actually from Bangor in Northern Ireland and it’s not till mid album track ‘Bangor Town’ and ‘Fired up’ the penultimate track, that this becomes clear.
So the guy is one of our own, even more good news but, the best news is that ‘Wild Swan’ is a superb record. Great songs, varying styles from the rock n’ roll opener ‘Noam Chomsky is a Soft Revolution’ , followed by the gospel flowered ‘Upbeat Feelgood’ which is followed by the Jack Johnson esqe ‘Coco’ and then a Van Morrison tinged “Casanova’.
Foy has a brilliant voice that can take on any style with ease it seems. The aforementioned ‘Bangor Town’ is a heart shaking wonder.
Songkick lists 103 coming dates, including support on the Elton John summer tour, which must be a good place to learn for an upcoming musician.
A truly great feel good record and certainly, one for your collection.
Pete
10/11