CD and DVD reviews
An Illinois native now based out of St. Paul, Minnesota, David Singley’s work as a singer/songwriter has an effortlessly authentic touch. His new album Fools & Mystics continues exploring the same singer/songwriter traditions espoused on his 2021 release The Long, Slow Fuse of Night. Album titles such as these are evocative of Singley’s songwriting approach.…
Lyrical piano playing from the gleeful chords of Argentina Durán’s “Rapsodia Mexicana.” A lovely approach to the scale runs; there’s something delicate about it. He’s engaging in a dance-like procession, and the grandeur of the instrument is shown in full force. Simply a piano for the entirety of the proceedings, and it feels so rich…
An infectious, intimate piece of pop pulls through as P Bailey embraces a confessional quality in “Catching Feelings.” Vocals swim through the sensual din in this hypnotic stance. The multiple layers interact to create a vast tapestry of sound. Rooted in pop, the piece takes on aspects of psychedelic, R&B, and soul into this coherent…
There isn’t a lot of ground in the music world that John Fishell hasn’t covered. An experienced recording engineer, Fishell worked on jazz albums from such luminaries as Jimmy Cobb, Jon Hendricks, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette. His contributions to Dave Liebman’s 2002 Big Band album Beyond the Line helped it score a Grammy nomination…
It is perhaps when faced with a Congolese guitarist now resident in Stockholm playing music which feels infused with the same Celtic-soul magic that made Van Morrison’s Irish Odyssey such a scintillating sonic experience that you realise just how small a place the world is. There was a time when you could assign sounds and…
Pure flirtatious joy runs through Amber Weekes’ “A Lady With A Song – Amber Weekes Celebrates Nancy Wilson.” The popcraft here celebrates the classic, using an urbane sophistication within the restrained arrangements. She never lets things go on for too long. The songs have a sun-drenched quality by allowing a degree of editing and brevity…
Beautiful, blissful compositions come together with Carl Clements taking on a series of unexpected twists and turns with “A Different Light.” The instrumental richness feels genuinely inspired. He lets the tempos serve a simultaneous time-keeping and emotional cadence. Hyperactive rhythms roll through with a playful disposition within the arrangements, adding to the inherent graciousness. Everything…
Mama B.’s first album release Imaginology is an auspicious beginning. Our first taste from the collection, the single “Puffer Fish,” is a bit of musical sleight of hand. Children intuitively understand Mama B.’s description of the puffer fish as often dwarfed by others and its surroundings. They will connect with its survival tactics. Of course, those children…
Alex Wellkers’ musical journey began early. He started playing accordion at six years old before transitioning to keyboard, classical guitar, and harmonica. Wellkers later discovered a passion for blues guitar and developed a fast aptitude for the instrument. However, he has never limited himself. Wellkers fostered a love for rap music and began playing grunge…
Experience a captivating musical voyage with Cadosia Street, a band that recently released their brand-new album, The River Inside Of Me, which consists of eighteen tracks. The dynamic group with a wide range of diverse artists ensemble to create some of the greatest music projects via their combined creative effort. The River Inside Of Me,…
A dark, brooding beauty bares all as the Quivering Palm sculpts a mysterious realm in “Back Around Again for the First Time.” The stylistic variation adds to the album’s diversity, ranging from 90s ambient pop to shoegaze to industrial-edged beats with a grungy disposition. Vocals tie the wild experience together, giving the album an animalistic…
B.D. Gottfried has finally released his first new project in three years called “Ghosts & Girls,” and let me tell you, it’s been quite the unexpected journey to tackle. I’ll be honest, I’m not usually one to dive into the world of modern rock music, but there was something about the allure of this album…
SHIV is a very creative bunch and you can sense the passion coming forth as a whole unit. The new single is titled “Wishing” and the listener will be engaged from the moment he or she hits play. With thoughtful lyrics, meaningful music and proud musicianship, SHIV packs a big punch with the new release.…
Meet Sabrina Monique, a rising talent whose latest single, “Run Back,” is a refreshing addition to the constellation of up-and-coming artists. With a blend of pop energy and personal lyrics, Sabrina Monique stakes her claim as a contender in the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary music. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thesabrinamonique/ “Run Back” pulses with a vibrant synth-pop energy that…
Few phenomena captivate the imagination quite like the dynamic energy of family acts. From the infectious harmonies of The Jackson 5 to the sun-drenched melodies of The Beach Boys, the familial bond has yielded some of the most enduring and beloved music of our time. Yet, amidst this illustrious lineage, a new chapter unfolds—one that…
The MC Type is a boundary-pushing musician who blends a strong sense of rhyming with a certain style of caustic humour. He is well-known for his inventive approach to music. Since he is so skilled in both, it would be incorrect to classify his music as humorous rap. He does a great job of satirising…
Punk fans, take note! The garage punk rock group Electric Peace’s most recent album, “Shoot Me!!!” is the kind of album that gets stuck in your brain. You know, the kind where you start playing the album again before it really ends? This is what we currently own. Carving out a reputation as one of…
Eric Ezra is based in Chicago and has a knack for creating instrumental synth rock with a twist. Ezra’s latest release is slithering its way into your speaker box as ‘Amphibian’ is on the loose and on the hunt for new listeners. If you’re in the mood for something completely different music-wise, then I highly…
Hass Company delves into wild, feral energy with “Galactic Tide, Featuring Andy Timmons Vol. 1.” The interplay on the album has an inherent fierceness cutting to the absolute bone. Unhinged power flows through the guitar as a screaming classic rock psychedelic romp smashes its way through everything. An array of different genres are woven together.…
A postmodern pop blended with chamber classical gives the Bruce Lofgren Group a unique cadence on the leisurely “Earthly and Cosmic Tales.” The arrangements in the right light touch upon the sheer brilliance of Stereolab’s introspective style. Further along, they go for an approach that recalls the Penguin Café Orchestra. Lots of different layers are…
I guess, even this far down the line, if you are a rock band from Ireland and following in the blues-infused, kick-arse rock tradition, then two names are still going to loom large above you. Thin Lizzy and Rory Gallagher. Even in the more traditional folk-lands of Kerry, those two names will resonate like Celtic…
Beginning as a remote band during the global pandemic of Covid, The Heard Eye, consisting of Paul Schneider (vocalist/trumpeter), Atma Anur (drummer/producer), and Hannes De Kassian (guitarist), have dropped their debut album, Funkalypse. The Heard Eye, who has been teasing songs for the past several years, has released a gripping musical album with a lovely…
Benji Kaplan proves to be an exceptional guitarist with the gleeful “Untold Stories.” His work feels vibrant, tapping into a long tradition of gorgeous expressiveness. The nods to Antonio Carlos Jobim’s mixture of jazz and folk feel just right. Rhythms form out of these explorations. A focus on melodic expressiveness endears the sound to the…
Chilled out and laid-back, Dave Schumacher and Cubeye create an elegantly executed atmosphere with “Smoke In The Sky.” The horn work gives the album a robust flavor. Due to the tactile percussion, the rhythms feature a Latin flavor, going a little outside the usual. The production adds to the majesty, for a crystal clarity feels…
Are you ready to embark on a musical journey through time? In the realm of music talents, California ™ is a force to be reckoned with. California ™ is a former recording artist of Laurie Records who is currently signed to RRO Entertainment. With high achievements in the ‘70s and ‘80s of four chart hits,…
With a lyrical approach to the saxophone, Gary Palmer embodies a crystal cool on the excellent “Movin On.” Funk, rock, jazz, and pop merge. The song has a laid-back, reflective stance that continues throughout the track. By allowing so many different elements to interact, what happens is a layered, nearly psychedelic approach. Vocalizations on the…
The first single “Curse” from Universal Dice’s new album Misfit Memoirs throws down a gauntlet challenging the idea that classic rock is passe. Gerry Dantone’s creative stewardship over Universal Dice has produced several memorable moments already, but “Curse” ranks among the finest work yet from this unit. It harbingers a brilliant release with Misfits Memoirs while standing…
Alert, punk enthusiasts! “Shoot Me,” the most recent song from Electric Peace, is the sort of song that gets stuck in your head. You know, the sort where you find yourself listening to the music on repeat even before it ends? This is what we have at hand. “Shoot Me” begins with a harsh electric…
The MC Type is a native of Seattle, currently residing in New Zealand, who combines a strong sense of rhyming with a particular brand of caustic humour. His skills in both genres are so diverse that it would be inaccurate to categorise his music as comedic rap. His satirical portrayals of extreme backpacking and emo…
Its gilded climb into impenetrable melodic catharsis is undeniably a short and sweet one, but make no mistake about it; “My Sweetheart” is not a post-pop track sporting some added lyrical depth. On the contrary, much like its four counterparts in Dorsten’s new EP To the River, this is a work of duality, blending the best elements…
The death of punk rock, like rock in general, has long been predicted to be imminent. It’s only a matter of time, they’ve told us for a long, long time, when punk will breathe its final breath. That spikey hairdo will lose its spikiness and fall at the sides of the head. Thus when Spike…
A playful take on pop’s 70s Golden Era, Eric Frazier proves an exceptional storyteller on the glimmering gleeful “That Place.” The songs feel highly sophisticated, with a hint of Steely Dan’s jazz-rock fusion alongside a sly sense of humor. Within the sound, a wide swath of instrumentation filters into the fray, from a myriad number…
Chilled-out jazz noir licks roll through Shawn Maxwell’s spaced-out psychedelic chords of “J Town Suite.” With nods towards the jazz-rock fusion of Miles Davis’s “Bitches Brew.” The band’s interplay ties the experience together, as various instruments bounce off each other, resulting in a rich dialogue. A textural approach to the rhythm and melody results in…
SCHOENBERG: Drei Klavierstücke, Op. 11” has been described as a set of compositions for solo piano, written by Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg way back in 1909. Aaron Wyanski’s take on Schoenberg’s music, however, is far different from their original piano-only presentations. Wyanski’s interpretations reflect some of the sounds of early stereo music creators, like Martin…
The title of Eric Ezra’s album is Amphibian. One can’t be sure why he called it that. When we think of amphibians, we most likely picture frogs and such. Of these ten tracks, not one is about any of those hoppers. In fact, only one song is about a creature, which is a “Mosquito.” There…
Derwin Daniels embraces a funky jazz sound in the joyful “Brighter Than This.” A powerful, muscular take on the classic saxophone-led sound helps to give the piece a strong sense of purpose. His ability to play the sax feels liberating. There is a lyrical quality to the way he approaches the sound. Without needing to…
Canadian country singer, Lynne Taylor Donovan, has just released a new album titled Movin’ On. And no, this 10-song set does not contain that old Hank Snow country hit of the same name. It does include a set of strong country tracks, though. Some of these songs lean closer to pop-country. Not so with “The…
Jazz at the Ballroom reimagines the classics gracefully with “Flying High.” The songs sway back and forth. The interplay among the band adds to the communal quality the songs possess. Vocals feel gracious. She has a stately presence with the tenderness of her lyrics feeling joyous. Layers are woven together, creating a vast tapestry. Colors…
Chilled-out jazzy licks adorn Russ Spiegel’s spry, mid-century-leaning sounds of “Caribbean Blue.” Bossa Nova, Hard Bop, and everything in between they go for this gorgeous setting. The grooves are immaculate. Lyrical instrumentation adds to the lush, serene environment of the work. Never rushing themselves, the songs have this superb, languid pacing. Atmosphere matters as it…
Wabi Sabi is an inventive collection of musicians. Its album, The Love Insane, brings together eleven memorable rock/pop songs. The album’s title track is a slow-tempo-d song that sounds like a love song from the early days of rock and roll. It prominently features steel guitar, but it’s not a country tune. Instead, this instrumentation…
