CD and DVD reviews
Nick Phoenix doesn’t have anything to prove. His ongoing work as one half of film music outfit Two Steps from Hell more than occupies his time, especially considering their pending European tour and status as the #1 streaming film music artist working today. Such lofty heights, however, haven’t dampened Phoenix’s desire to write and play…
Arun O’Connor’s debut album Songs from the Reading Room corners the market on “Kiwi County”, the unlikely marriage of New Zealand sensibilities with country music trappings and establishes the young man’s bonafides as a notable songwriter. Each of the album’s dozen songs illustrate O’Connor’s thorough understanding of the style without ever sounding like a shallow imitation. URL:…
Nick Phoenix doesn’t have anything to prove. His ongoing work as one half of film music outfit Two Steps from Hell more than occupies his time, especially considering their pending European tour and status as the #1 streaming film music artist working today. Such lofty heights, however, haven’t dampened Phoenix’s desire to write and play…
Beaux Atkins has perhaps the most interesting history of any artist I’ve had the treat of reviewing. Its’ title, ‘Redfearn’ is a tribute to Beaux Atkins’ grandfather. The name Frankie Redfearn brought fear and respect when it was whispered around the jungles of Southeast Asia, the French Quarter of New Orleans, or the swamps of…
In the gap between country and indie genres, there’s a certain sweet spot. In that sweet spot, sits Slide Milligan. Whilst his musical journey may have been half a life in the making, his music feels like a new wave of country classics. He somehow fuses the fundamentals of country, psychedelia and alt-rock into one…
On your first to Mimo’s debut album ‘Mars Took Over’, it’s impossible not to get swept in the slick lyrics and flawless flows that dominate every track. This Montreal-born and New York-based artist has proved exactly why she’s such an exciting act rising the ranks in the New York scene, as each track is laced…
Gar & Myke explore their wild side with “Intentional Chaos”. They keep things straightforward yet straight from the heart at the same time. With a nice angular groove that anchors the whole thing the few elements are delivered with such soul to them. Joy races through on J. Howard Duff’s defiant “On That Morning of…
Meresha delivers a wild, drunken groove on the fractured beats of “Trouble”. From the broken acid fragments to the hip-hop rhythms, there is an uncanniness to it. Her voice rests in the center for she sings with the right degree of decadence keeping the approach stripped down and raw. Gigantic, truly gigantic guitars underpin Studeo’s…
Vanilla Bloom’s recent debut is an absolute treat to the senses. This psychic pop project has burst out of the gate with a debut album adorned with luscious layers of sound and mesmerising melodic lines. With plenty of intricate ear candy thrown in for good measure. Vanilla Bloom has sculpted a completely unique atmosphere in…
Patricia Lazzara’s skill and dedication to her concert flute playing has garnered her critical praise, awards at a variety of competitions, and the recognition of her peers. Her work as a music educator proved fortuitous for one reason, if no other, thanks to her meeting Steve Markoff. The alto flutist originally came to her looking…
Airee has proved time and time again that she can offer up an utter banger. With her unique blend of R&B, pop and hip-hop, her discography is dripping with sultry singles and hypnotic hooks. Her latest EP ‘Fiya’ is an effortless evolution for Airee as each of the six tracks could easily be stand-alone singles.…
Carla Ulbrich is a talented singer/songwriter from New Jersey with a sweet ‘n’ sassy, Southern spirit! Carla has been performing since the 90s and her music has been featured on: BBC, Dr. Demento, Sirius XM Comedy Radio, Pandora and NPR’s Morning Edition. Carla has also appeared as a musical guests on the television shows “The…
With impeccable vocals and a performance prowess to match, Ariee is back with another single bursting at the seams with her signature sultry style. ‘Sugar Daddy’ is the most recent release off of her upcoming EP ‘Fiya’ — an EP where all six of the tracks could be standalone singles in their own right. With…
You don’t have to love jazz or fusion to appreciate what Project Grand Slam has come to mean to their scene, and in the live version of their song “I’m Falling off of the World” as it’s presented in the new album The Shakespeare Concert, I think we get a really incredible demonstration of just…
Inspired by the airiness of alternative rock and the clandestine charms of indie pop, there are definitely some familiar elements in the new self-titled album from rockers Jonah Leatherman that will resonate with college radio fans everywhere this spring. Although stylized with a bit of panache where it matters, the vocal in songs like “Couldn’t…
Twelve Days Of June is the kind of artist that only comes along once every so often. Armed with his acoustic guitar and powerful performance prowess, Dave Hulegaard — known to us as Twelve Days Of June — sews together the striking sounds of pop, rock and orchestral music that creates sound worlds unique to…
Twelve Days Of June may be known for their soft rock roots, yet in their latest single ‘Hoped You Couldn’t Tell’, they let us into the more country-pop corners of their artistry. Coming off their recent full-length album ‘Anhedonia’, ‘Hoped You Couldn’t Tell’ is a completely relatable, instinctively emotive and beautifully crafted testament to The…
“A sonic spa of love, loss and inner peace”. These are the words used to describe Jarad Miles’ first upcoming full-length studio album ‘Standing Upon This Array’ — and from my first listen through the beautifully crafted body of work, I can attest to it being just that. Jarad Miles has a way of evoking…
Kenny Fame is back this month with another infectious sunny single. ‘Feels Better’ is another edition of Kenny Fames ever-evolving discography and this time the New York based singer-songwriter has sunk into the sunny reggae realms of his sound with one of his most vibrant tracks yet. It’s safe to say from his track record that…
With a musical career spanning over ten years, we’ve got accustomed to Blue Soul Ten scoring our daily soundtracks with anthem after absolute anthem. His unique blend of jazz, soul, hip hop and EDM has resulted in some seriously captivating tracks. Seriously, just check his past albums The Incredible Sound Of Blue and Sounds About…
With harmonies that are bigger than the verses they frame, you know you’re in for a melodic tidal wave not long after pressing the play button on “Nothin’ You Can Do About That.” In this song, as well as the other three that join it on The Act Americana Trio’s The True North EP, is driven…
Stephen Jacques’ “Send Them Love” begins with a guitar and strings arrangement. He sings about a love that came quickly – perhaps, a love at first sight. Yes, this is an extremely romantic song lyric, but it’s also sincere, which gives it validity. Vocally, Jacques sounds a bit like a grizzled Irishman. There’s a roughness…
Madeline Rosene’s “Everyday Existential Crisis” begins with a simple acoustic guitar part, and then her lovely high singing voice kicks in. It amounts to the unusual combination of big, philosophical questions, set to soft music. The first line gets right to the point: “Is it too much to bear when I over share?” If that’s…
A metallic gleam defines the intense rush of Bramses Xalyxys’ powerful fury of “Mysterious Warrior.” Volume is a must for his is a sound to fully surrender to. The artist makes sure that the journey the listeners embark upon has an ancient aspect to it, for the storytelling proves to be truly profound. Within each…
I expected Alex Wellkers’ famous now to be his debut offering for the music world, not his tenth release overall. His prolific rate of creativity hasn’t come at the expense of quality; the nine tracks included on the new album are every bit as forceful and attention-grabbing as anything that’s come before. Music and songs flock to…
A nice swinging country rock, Steve Dunn delivers a story straight from the heart with “Mixtape”. Volume reigns supreme for the rest of the song has a tremendous power to it. The buildup has a majesty to it. Guitars further the sound along, for they play confidently. Everything about the atmosphere has a warmth to…
Performing as Webster’s Wheel, Daniel Lee Webster and Marie Robertson write songs that recall simpler times without ever being simple. The straightforward nature of the ten songs included on their latest release Tenderly So lightly disguises the emotional depths explored by the duo and there’s more to the arrangements than meets the ear. Some may go into…
Edwrd delivers a truly defiant anthem with “Dgaf No Mo.” Pop, country, and dance blend into this infinitely catchy sound. Things get balanced in a delicate way, making sure every flourish matters completely. The production here keeps things crisp. Making sure every single element receives the right amount of space, the song has an expansive…
The best records in the history of hip-hop have been those built on duality; through a juxtaposition of themes and symmetrical grooves, the legacy of an entire genre has been well-defined over the past four decades. In their official debut, 148 are looking to join this legacy with a multifaceted wonder in Sampati, and although…
It isn’t always the case that the last song on a record represents the ultimate climax of the tracklist, but in Del Vertigo’s On the Day That You Come To, this just might be true. The titular track in this all-new EP feels like a completion of a journey, better said an odyssey that starts some…
Matthew Stephen brings a symphonic grace to pop on “The Fire” and “Blue & Gold”. Nicely fitting into the very moment, these two tracks nicely embody the determination that seems to have run through the whole of the world. By far the highlight of the sound comes from the thoughtful way that he sculpts the…
Robin Trower has been a major force in rock guitar since joining Procul Harum in the late 60’s. Since the early 1970’s he has been touring and recording with his Robin Trower Band. On this album RT handles the guitar and bass, along with Richard Watts on vocals, and Chris Taggart on drums. Additional bass…
Vineet’s latest single “Nine” also leads his short story collection of the same title. Nine features nine songs from Vineet’s 2021 and beyond with short stories for each track. It isn’t what you might expect from someone who scored several number 1 hits on the Euro Top 100, placed high on assorted other charts, and produce lively…
MADELEINE’s upcoming album ‘Stoned And Bored’ manages to blur the best of pop, indie and rock realms. There’s a nostalgia that flows through the tirade of tracks, bringing to mind the old school pop-punk powerhouses that pushed their boats out and made the music landscape what it is today. As these influences ripple in the…
Hard rock, psychedelic and funk. Three genres you wouldn’t necessarily think would melt together. Yet, Lurid Purple Flowers have sculpted a sound that sews together the most interesting elements of all three. Their recent single ‘Darkness,’ off their latest EP Mania, plunges into the depths of their rockier sound whilst their other tracks like ‘On…
Throughout the whole of Brunette’s discography there’s one common theme; stunning storytelling and interesting narratives laid over delicately designed soundscapes that seem to reflect them. Brunette’s latest single ‘Fight Night’ is another example of their stunning ability to encapsulate a scenario with colourful and captivating imagery. Having been released with their other latest track ‘Pall…
Age Of Ore is a serious one of a kind type of band. Not just because of their hard-hitting hooks, intricate drum fills that cut to your core or their riotous riffs that seem to slice through your speakers more and more with each listen. But also because each member of this Philadelphia based trio…
Get ready for instrumental music at its finest on the new album titled ‘Full Circle’ by The Still Point. With bright elements of: Jazz, Rock and Americana, The Still Point gives you 10 original songs that will entice your ears. The Still Point features five talented players where each member brings the A game on…
Isyla sculpts a truly magnificent journey with “Of Blood and Star”. Ambience, shoegaze, indie rock and more filter into the work. Every song plays off the last. Her style brings to mind the lullaby-like bliss of Beach House. Much like their work, Isyla makes sure that there is a dreaminess to the way it all…
A gigantic beast of a track “Union Divine” revels in its sheer power proving Templemind to be exceptional storytellers. The mixture of the new and old help to imbue the song with purpose. Industrial, Gregorian chant, classical, and shoegaze get filtered into the overall spirit of the piece. Layer upon layer intermingles to create something…
