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Releases
Suburban Dirts
Album:Suburban Dirts
Label:Old Jank
Website:http://www.suburbandirts.com
With a hard rockin' sound that verges on the edge of pub rock, Suburban Dirts have got more engergy than two wolverines fighting in a sack and almost as much energy. A seven piece that includes fiddle and keys as well as drummer and percussionist alongside twin guitars and bass, this is a band that hits you fullforce and leaves you climbing to your feet demanding more. It's not all straightforward blues, "Ada" picks up an oldtimey waltz feel, that whilst it retains the attitude, gives you a chance to breath. Spit and sawdust, rough edges and great sound, job done.
Album:Suburban Dirts
Label:Old Jank
Website:http://www.suburbandirts.com
With a hard rockin' sound that verges on the edge of pub rock, Suburban Dirts have got more engergy than two wolverines fighting in a sack and almost as much energy. A seven piece that includes fiddle and keys as well as drummer and percussionist alongside twin guitars and bass, this is a band that hits you fullforce and leaves you climbing to your feet demanding more. It's not all straightforward blues, "Ada" picks up an oldtimey waltz feel, that whilst it retains the attitude, gives you a chance to breath. Spit and sawdust, rough edges and great sound, job done.
Gretchen Peters
Album:Hello Cruel World
Label:Proper
Website:http://www.gretchenpeters.com
From the dramatic string opening to the title track, you just know that "Hello Cruel World" is going to be both a rich and dark album and you are not going to be disappointed, but it also inbues that darkness with a feeling of hope, with a feeling that there is the strength to pull through. Whilst there are many 'big' issues addressed on the album, the song that has the greatest impact is the one that feels the most human "Five Minutes" reflecting the key moments in a waitresses life in the time it takes her to smoke a cigarette, a tour de force of the writer's craft. Stunning!
Album:Hello Cruel World
Label:Proper
Website:http://www.gretchenpeters.com
From the dramatic string opening to the title track, you just know that "Hello Cruel World" is going to be both a rich and dark album and you are not going to be disappointed, but it also inbues that darkness with a feeling of hope, with a feeling that there is the strength to pull through. Whilst there are many 'big' issues addressed on the album, the song that has the greatest impact is the one that feels the most human "Five Minutes" reflecting the key moments in a waitresses life in the time it takes her to smoke a cigarette, a tour de force of the writer's craft. Stunning!
Jon Amor Blues Group
Album:Jon Amor Blues Group
Label:Six Six
Website:http://www.jonamorbluesgroup.co.uk
Solo bluesman, Jon Amor has gone down the time honoured root of morphing into a band bearing his name, Jon Amor Blues Group and have just released their self titled debut. He's worked with the musicians before, but this time they've had more of a creative input into the sound and it's brought a real freshness to the sound, in particularly it gives his guitar a real framework to bounce off, which helps give it a real focus, rather than just highlighting his blistering skills on the instrument. It's an album that really allows the musicians to stand out in solid songs.
Album:Jon Amor Blues Group
Label:Six Six
Website:http://www.jonamorbluesgroup.co.uk
Solo bluesman, Jon Amor has gone down the time honoured root of morphing into a band bearing his name, Jon Amor Blues Group and have just released their self titled debut. He's worked with the musicians before, but this time they've had more of a creative input into the sound and it's brought a real freshness to the sound, in particularly it gives his guitar a real framework to bounce off, which helps give it a real focus, rather than just highlighting his blistering skills on the instrument. It's an album that really allows the musicians to stand out in solid songs.
NavaCross
Album:NavaCross
Label:Hi4Head
Website:http://www.reverbnation.com/navacross
Opening with a hook laden rockabilly track, "Ship Goes Down", NavaCross nail their colours to the mast early on with an album that swings between rockabilly beats and skiffle. Songs about transport abound through the album though trains are abandoned for more contemporary modes such as helicopters. The self titled album is a riff laden masterpiece that relies on harmonies, call and response and choruses to deliver a high octane collection of three and four minute wonders. It's not an album that's going to challenge the intellect, but it's a whole load of fun.
Album:NavaCross
Label:Hi4Head
Website:http://www.reverbnation.com/navacross
Opening with a hook laden rockabilly track, "Ship Goes Down", NavaCross nail their colours to the mast early on with an album that swings between rockabilly beats and skiffle. Songs about transport abound through the album though trains are abandoned for more contemporary modes such as helicopters. The self titled album is a riff laden masterpiece that relies on harmonies, call and response and choruses to deliver a high octane collection of three and four minute wonders. It's not an album that's going to challenge the intellect, but it's a whole load of fun.
Matt Andersen
Album:Coal Mining Blues
Label:Busted Flat Records
Website:http://www.stubbyfingers.ca/
We've been following the career of larger than life Canadian bluesman, Matt Andersen, for some years now and can say without contradiction that this is the best album he's put together to date. There is a real maturity about "Coal Mining Blues" that suggest it's the destination the previous albums were working towards. Andersen's principal co-writer and album producer, Colin Linden really wrings the best out him, particularly on the more subtle tracks, where Andersen feels almost one being with his acoustic guitar. There's a real spiritual feel to the album that gives in shine.
Album:Coal Mining Blues
Label:Busted Flat Records
Website:http://www.stubbyfingers.ca/
We've been following the career of larger than life Canadian bluesman, Matt Andersen, for some years now and can say without contradiction that this is the best album he's put together to date. There is a real maturity about "Coal Mining Blues" that suggest it's the destination the previous albums were working towards. Andersen's principal co-writer and album producer, Colin Linden really wrings the best out him, particularly on the more subtle tracks, where Andersen feels almost one being with his acoustic guitar. There's a real spiritual feel to the album that gives in shine.
Hyperpotamus
Album:Delta
Label:El Molino
Website:http://www.hyperpotamus.com
My previous encounters with vocal only artist Jorge Ramirez-Escudero, aka Hyperpotamus, via an odd track from SXSW. I thought it was highly inventive, but wasn't sure I could take a whole album, I'll hold up my hand and admit "Delta" showed me I was wrong, this really is barbershop adapted for the third millennium. Doing absolutely all the vocals on the album, the harmonies, the vocal instrumentation, the leads, the lot, he has produced an album that takes barbershop to a whole new dimension, welding it to r'n'b, latin and even new wave for ten distinctly individual works.
Album:Delta
Label:El Molino
Website:http://www.hyperpotamus.com
My previous encounters with vocal only artist Jorge Ramirez-Escudero, aka Hyperpotamus, via an odd track from SXSW. I thought it was highly inventive, but wasn't sure I could take a whole album, I'll hold up my hand and admit "Delta" showed me I was wrong, this really is barbershop adapted for the third millennium. Doing absolutely all the vocals on the album, the harmonies, the vocal instrumentation, the leads, the lot, he has produced an album that takes barbershop to a whole new dimension, welding it to r'n'b, latin and even new wave for ten distinctly individual works.
Wytchazle
Album:Sunrise
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.myspace.com/wytchazle
When you've got a voice as sirenesque as that of Daisy Windsor it's hard not to be drawn into an album and with a songwriting ability to match you find yourself with no reason to resist. Daisy formed Wytchazle as a duo with guitarist/painist Robert Foster and "Sunrise" is the musical fruit of that union. The album explores relationships, not just between people, but with their environment and their past as well as the here and now. It's simple and enchanting and the musical equivilent of a sunlit grove with some areas ablaze with light and others in shadow. Beautiful.
Album:Sunrise
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.myspace.com/wytchazle
When you've got a voice as sirenesque as that of Daisy Windsor it's hard not to be drawn into an album and with a songwriting ability to match you find yourself with no reason to resist. Daisy formed Wytchazle as a duo with guitarist/painist Robert Foster and "Sunrise" is the musical fruit of that union. The album explores relationships, not just between people, but with their environment and their past as well as the here and now. It's simple and enchanting and the musical equivilent of a sunlit grove with some areas ablaze with light and others in shadow. Beautiful.
The Wiyos
Album:Twist
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.thewiyos.com
The Wiyos come with a street busking heritage honed on the steets of New York, it's an enviroment where you have to catch the attention straight away or your next dollar and dime just walk on past. Consequently "Twist" is a collection of instant fixes based around the Wizard Of Oz delivered in a multitude of styles that roughly aline to vuadeville. Hollers and stompers sit along side spooky ballads and a few political allegories. It's a powerful album that has a few novelty touches to it, the overriding arc uniting the variety of styles incorporated into the album, along with the drama.
Album:Twist
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.thewiyos.com
The Wiyos come with a street busking heritage honed on the steets of New York, it's an enviroment where you have to catch the attention straight away or your next dollar and dime just walk on past. Consequently "Twist" is a collection of instant fixes based around the Wizard Of Oz delivered in a multitude of styles that roughly aline to vuadeville. Hollers and stompers sit along side spooky ballads and a few political allegories. It's a powerful album that has a few novelty touches to it, the overriding arc uniting the variety of styles incorporated into the album, along with the drama.
Something Blue
Album:Grass Roots
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.somethingblueduo.com
English, bluegrass/Americana/old timey, duo "Something Blue", consists of saxophonist/harmonica player, Sarah Rayner and multi-stringed instrumentalist drummer Rob Skinner, with both artists taking vocal duties, both apart and together. Whilst "Grass Roots" thrives well enough when one of the duo is providing a vocal lead, it's when they come together that the album really begins to shine and for me they don'r do it often enough during the course of the album. What you do get is lots of sweet sweet sax infusing a richness into the sound and giving the album a real swing.
Album:Grass Roots
Label:Self Released
Website:http://www.somethingblueduo.com
English, bluegrass/Americana/old timey, duo "Something Blue", consists of saxophonist/harmonica player, Sarah Rayner and multi-stringed instrumentalist drummer Rob Skinner, with both artists taking vocal duties, both apart and together. Whilst "Grass Roots" thrives well enough when one of the duo is providing a vocal lead, it's when they come together that the album really begins to shine and for me they don'r do it often enough during the course of the album. What you do get is lots of sweet sweet sax infusing a richness into the sound and giving the album a real swing.
Eta Carinae
Album:Don't Stop Singing
Label:Island
Website:http://www.myspace.com/bandaetacarinae
Bringing a very latin rock vibe to the party, Brazillian combo, Eta Carinae, have the feel of a band that are very comfortable in their own skin. "Don't Stop Singing" is latin fusion with a hard edge and some great instrumentation and indeed, instrumentals. There is an effortless feel, that gives the impression on a band that could keep the music going long after the last dancer has collapsed on the floor. Imagine Salsa Celtica with attitude and you're not going to be too far off the mark, just try not to catch the eye or spill their pint.
Album:Don't Stop Singing
Label:Island
Website:http://www.myspace.com/bandaetacarinae
Bringing a very latin rock vibe to the party, Brazillian combo, Eta Carinae, have the feel of a band that are very comfortable in their own skin. "Don't Stop Singing" is latin fusion with a hard edge and some great instrumentation and indeed, instrumentals. There is an effortless feel, that gives the impression on a band that could keep the music going long after the last dancer has collapsed on the floor. Imagine Salsa Celtica with attitude and you're not going to be too far off the mark, just try not to catch the eye or spill their pint.
Mark Gamon
Album:Layer
Label:Clunk & Rattle
Website:http://www.markgamon.com
Mark Gamon likes to write songs about characters, plucked seemingly at random from history and encapsulated into a compressed lifespan of three to six minutes. "Layer" is an album of eleven songs, all penned by Gamon, who as well as singing occasionally plays on some tracks, but leaves the bulk of those duties to an accompanying cast of musicians. There is something almost cabaret about the album, it's genuinely witty in places running almost contradictory to a blues undertone that reaches through the album. It's a bit of a curates egg, but it definitely grows on you.
Album:Layer
Label:Clunk & Rattle
Website:http://www.markgamon.com
Mark Gamon likes to write songs about characters, plucked seemingly at random from history and encapsulated into a compressed lifespan of three to six minutes. "Layer" is an album of eleven songs, all penned by Gamon, who as well as singing occasionally plays on some tracks, but leaves the bulk of those duties to an accompanying cast of musicians. There is something almost cabaret about the album, it's genuinely witty in places running almost contradictory to a blues undertone that reaches through the album. It's a bit of a curates egg, but it definitely grows on you.
Phillipp Fankhauser
Album:Try My Love
Label:Membran
Website:http://www.philippfankhauser.com
Swiss bluesman, Phillip Fankhauser will be touring later in this year in support of "Try My Love", which is a good thing because, for me, the album really comes alive on the bonus tracks for the UK version of the album, all of which were recorded live. Up until that point the album was a little too Chris Rea for my liking. Can't fault the musicianship or indeed the actual songwriting, but it gets too much polish in the arrangement and production and somewhere along the line the personality isn't there, just well performed light blues by the numbers and he's better than that.
Album:Try My Love
Label:Membran
Website:http://www.philippfankhauser.com
Swiss bluesman, Phillip Fankhauser will be touring later in this year in support of "Try My Love", which is a good thing because, for me, the album really comes alive on the bonus tracks for the UK version of the album, all of which were recorded live. Up until that point the album was a little too Chris Rea for my liking. Can't fault the musicianship or indeed the actual songwriting, but it gets too much polish in the arrangement and production and somewhere along the line the personality isn't there, just well performed light blues by the numbers and he's better than that.
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