CD and DVD reviews
A palm-muted acoustic guitar riff slowly claws away at the darkness that precedes the opening verses of “Humming Bird,” one of the songs you’ll find on the new record from Andy Michaels, Incendiary Heart, and as it comes into focus alongside a midrange-heavy vocal from Michaels himself, the haunting harmony that ensues is hard to forget…
The latest single “Hasan” from Schaus’ album Grinding continues exploring how Scott Schaus has expanded his songwriting talents since the release of its predecessor Quite Okay. His idiosyncratic brand of bedroom pop has no clear antecedent in the modern indie music scene but nonetheless proves accessible to any attentive listener. The Pacific Northwest based songwriter/musician oversaw each aspect…
Framing Hanley, a five-piece band from Nashville, TN, share’s little in common with Music City’s country music monopoly. Instead this band plays rock and roll, with a touch of emo. Envy is the act’s fourth album, and it’s an emotionally charged effort. Kenneth Nixon is the group’s lead vocalist, and he’s joined by two guitarists…
DJ NIK:11 delivers a colossal sound on the jubilant “Kickback”. A modern mix of house influences from electro to tech house intermingle with such ease. The groove proves to be absolutely infectious for it demands to be played as loudly as possible. Physical to its very core even the sound conjures up images of sweaty…
A lush late-night swagger runs through Gary Palmer’s “Chicago By Morning Remix”. The blend of jazz, funk, and electro opts for a truly luxurious atmosphere. By going for such a unique approach Palmer’s take feels akin to Telefon Tel Aviv. Layer upon layer of sound is applied in a pitch perfect way. Evolution of the…
You have yourself a real songstress here with a poet’s mindset and high-caliber material! Alpha Cat is her name and “Mockingbird” is her game that she performs flawlessly. The new single is full of colorful and vibrant notes showcasing Alpha Cat as a real-life “Mockingbird”. Alpha Cat is Elizabeth McCullough and her music lies within…
Dirt Track Racer is coming quick out of the gates with their latest release ‘Something’s Gotta Give’. Referred to as “music to feed your mind and move your feet”, I couldn’t agree more with that sentiment. Dirt Track Racer has created music that will make you stop and contemplate while also wanting to get down…
Molly & The Krells is a quartet from Sydney, Australia, and even though the act features seemingly a girl’s name in its moniker, all four members are actually guys. The group plays what can best be described as punk-inspired pop music. (Or is it the other way around?) Whatever, the case, “What Went Wrong” is…
Rev Peter Unger embraces a full-band sound on the lovely country chamber pop of “My Reunion with You”. With an arrangement that recalls Kurt Wagner’s “Lambchop” there is a great sense of beauty imbued within the lyrics. A reflective disposition rests front and center of the entirety of the track. His powerful voice ties it…
Phantom Phunk is bringin’ the Phunky, Fresh noise and living “Day By Day” on their latest single. Phantom Phunk is a creative bunch from Tampa, Florida where they create super original music out of their Harmonic Factory studio. Phantom Phunk is most certainly not your typical band of today as they push musical boundaries and…
She calls Cape Cod, MA home and Kathleen Healy is dubbed the “Saltwater Songwriter” for good reason. Much of her inspiration is drawn from the cool waters of Cape Cod where the salty sea consumes Kathleen’s soul. The music exhibits heavy oceanic elements with a splash of Americana and good ‘ol fashioned folk as Kathleen…
Robert Thies & Damjan Krajacic’s “Blue Landscapes III: Frontiers is presented by a group that calls itself THE “mindfulness music leader” Real Music aka myndstream. This ‘mindfulness’ connection is important because it presents music as something more than mere easy listening stuff. Psychology Today calls mindfulness “a state of active, open attention to the present.…
Rock and metal went through some pretty tumultuous times as the 2010’s came to an end, but despite the chaos in their scene, Kings County are rising from the ashes of that era with blistering sound all their own. Formed in New York and now doing business out of the sunshine state in the shadow…
As you might expect, “Morning Dew,” featuring Negar Nick on Persian Kamanche, is a quiet, gentle piece of music. In addition to Nick’s Kamanche, this piece also prominently features piano. It’s a pretty and meditative recording of music. Dew itself is – as we all know – water that appears as droplets, which are usually…
Rev Peter Unger has released the song “Selah” off the EP of the same name. As described on his ReverbNation profile (https://www.reverbnation.com/revpeterunger), he makes Christian music with the styles of folk and country music. The song is calming, guitar-drive, and Christian-themed. By taking a stripped-down approach to the song, “Selah” comes across as well-produced with…
Sonomaris is a hard-hitting act from Los Angeles, California and they are pushing full steam ahead with their latest single, “Million”. Just as “The Wall of Sound” was created long ago, Sonomaris has their own blast of audio that will blow you away. This band combines elements of hard rock and progressive rock and the…
If you’re assuming that this band is a bunch of pompous, ego-maniacs who think they are beyond brilliant and that there music is superior then THINK again my friends! Just like you should never judge a book by its cover, much of the same applies here with The Brilliance. This NY-based outfit offers a break-out…
The Brilliance has titled its album Suite No 2 World Keeps Spinning: An Antidote to Modern Anxiety, and no song addresses anxiety more squarely than “Just Be.” Built around mainly just a vocal and a piano backing, before strings enter the mix, it’s a little like a modern-day lullaby. In fact, it’s the sort of…
There aren’t many artists in the underground right now that are getting the kind of hype that Ronnue is, and if you’ve heard any of the new mixes for his single “Be Your Freak” (from the acclaimed and award-winning album Introduction 2 Retro-Funk), you know exactly why. Ronnue lets the beats come undone in “The…
Sonomaris, a hard rock band from Los Angeles, CA, points to many grunge-associated acts as influences, and one can pick up on inspirations from Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and the like while listening to Initium. A track like “Fallen,” which begins with melodic bell notes, includes a spoken word counter vocal running through it in…
The 2010s, especially as they drew to a close, proved to be a great time for vocal-driven pop music, and among the brighter stars to emerge from the underground in this aspect is Rob Alexander, whose new single “Friend of Mine (Elton’s Epic)” (the second from the 2019 LP Being Myself) has been raising eyebrows…
Jerf, the song notes tell us means “endless depth.” “Love is an ocean of endless depth,” Art Tawanghar expands upon that definition. “You are not a drop in an ocean, but the entire ocean in a drop,” he continues. Yes, this is heavy stuff. Music, for Tawanghar is just one more way to extend a…
Whether it be the grinding grooves of “Solace Unexpected,” an anxious melody of “The Turnaround,” a relaxed swing in “Caught You in Love” or the patient harmonies of “Mother’s Son,” This Time are always doing something unique to stir up a response from listeners in their latest record, the moderate Two, which was released this year…
The Artist from Down Under is back and better than ever with her latest released titled ‘Nothing Ventured’. I have had the pleasure to work with eM many times over the years and I have yet to be disappointed. eM is a very talented vocalist/producer who seems to know exactly what works every single time…
Love Me In The Dark has released their debut album of the same name. The group consists of two people: Steve McCormick and Heather Donavon, who vocals complement each other excellently. The duo combines elements of Americana, folk, and country music to make a well-produced album full of standout songs. “Old Soul” can best be…
Art Tawanghar’s “Perennial Wisdom 432Hz” begins with just a few piano chords, which almost sound like the intro to The Mamas & the Papa’s “California Dreamin’.” However, only moments into the track, multiple mystical notes step in. Surprisingly, a finger snap rhythm is also added the track. An odd juxtaposition of old-world music and contemporary…
Rachael Sage has a lot of history to call upon. Her career, spanning fifteen album releases over many years, but with this latest release, she is heading all the way back to the beginning, to her very first tour. Putting Sage on tour with Ani DiFranco was a stroke of genius (hats off to whoever…
Rio Trio is, much like its name suggests, a group of three that creates jazz music with Brazilian flavor. Drawn from the Straight to the Top album, this instrumental track is driven by a soulful flute part. The groove is a swaying, insistent one that grabs your attention and won’t let go. Unlike too much…
David Allen’s music is described as “No bullshit, just straight up good music out of the heart and through a glass of whiskey and a cigarette.” Such a description may not exactly be politically correct, but it’s likely music to the ears of real country music fans. He sings roots music, and unlike Bruce Springsteen…
“Forgiveness” DeepC Divers begins with a gentle piano intro, followed by an equally gentle lead vocal. It all has many earmarks from 70s soft-rock. It’s sensitive and melodic, like much of the popular adult contemporary music from that era. Sonically, the track’s piano-backed arrangement is later joined by violin. The sound is pop; albeit with…
It’s hard to try and describe the effect this group has had on music for over 60 years, but Don Wilson’s writer/producer/director daughter Staci Layne Wilson has done a great job of successfully pulling it all together. In 1959 Don Wilson met Bob Bogle while working at his dad’s used car lot. After Bob convinced…
A harmonica adorns the soft waves of an acoustic guitar melody. The strings play on as the harmonica fades away, but they aren’t alone in their strut for very long. A prideful voice belonging to none other than Jonathan Emile joins the guitar only moments later, exuding a gorgeous harmony against the backdrop of the…
Big Bone Daddy goes for a southern fried swagger on the effortlessly cool “Got It”. A playful sensibility informs the entirety of the album. The exploration of an entire way of life comes to define the work. Group play dominates the whole of the album for every instrument bounces off each other resulting a communal…
The gnaw of a simple melody awakens chill-inducing textures as we sift through the sonic soil of “Wrinkle.” In “Improvisation,” this same melody has been modified to resemble the swell of an ocean wave, while in “Ad-Lib,” it’s a ghost in the night, almost translucent to the average onlooker. There is no escaping the effervescent…
The Dutch rock/jazz guitarist is probably best known for his being a founder of the prog rock group Focus. The European Guitar Award winner has gone on to do session work with numerous top artists in addition to releasing solo recordings. On this release he is accompanied by Marijin van der Berg on drums, David…
I’m thrilled to get a chance to listen to and review this recent album titled ‘The Bending of Light’ by Belle of the Fall. I have had the opportunity to interview Belle of the Fall, (https://skopemag.com/2019/01/03/jimmy-rae-ringing-in-2019-with-belle-of-the-fall), and review a classic cover by the Connecticut-based duo, (https://skopemag.com/2018/11/21/belle-of-the-fall-release-scarborough-fair). If brilliant harmonies and acoustic folk are your thing,…
The Pink Dust’s new EP “Fathom”, with a release date of January 10th, 2020, is a four-song effort that showcases the versatility of the band. Alongside the title track, it contains the songs “I’m Gone”, “Things That Matter Most”, and “Lonely Still”. Fans of alternative rock should be pleased. The EP is best listened to…
Self taught Kenyan born musician, songwriter and performer Vonj relocated to the United Kingdom long ago and has made a mark with previous independent releases but his latest release, an EP entitled Unity is Power, illustrates the success Vonj has experienced developing his performing and songwriting talents in recent years. He works with a first class…
I had the pleasure to review Sophie Dorsten’s single, “Roses”, last year and knew that I had come across a one-of-a-kind artist, (http://mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=207319). This Phoenix-based singer/songwriter may be a teenager still in high school, but Sophie sings and performs like a seasoned pro. Sophie Dorsten is a true talent with star potential and you will…
Charles Daza and The Revenants virtually blow out their amps on the insane guitar athletics of “Old Camaro”. Done with a classic cool, the gnarled guitar riffs work wonders. Vocals have an unhinged quality as the rhythm rushes through. A swinging sound ties together the Jersey Swamp Cats’ playful “Dance All Night”. Instrumentally vibrant the…
