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In the meantime, I forgot to mention that my previous band, Flopsband, is around for 50 years this week, with one original and one near original member in the line up. They celebrated with a great party, where several ex-members, including yours truly, played a set. From 'Sultans of Swing, to Bird Dog and 'Tell Me', it was great fun for, I assume, I final time. Let's return to the catch of this week. Enjoy!
Breakfast. Special Friend
Special Friend is a band from Paris, but the erratic song called Breakfast could have fooled me into thinking this is the effort of a post punk band from the U.K. that loves the nervous sound of the likes of Lene Lovich circa 1979. Breakfast is the kind of track where the notes and instruments seem to bounce over each other all in the desire to make an impression on the listener. The verses are drums and especially the hi-hat that comes forward, a soft and rather modest bass and a hectic rhythm guitar. In the chorus, an instrumental one, everything is let go of. Without any restraints a distorted, heavy sounding guitar comes in and a Farfisa (like) organ with its high sound. Over it all singer (and drummer) Erica keeps her cool. Guitarist, Special Friend is a French/American duo, Guillaume answers her vocals with his own vocals. The result is a top single, that is over before you know it and quite unexpected at that. An album is underway. 'Clicking' is released on 20 March.
Last Friday I reviewed the
album 'To Be Continued' by ER Jurken. Listening to Honey, the single to
Ora Corgan's upcoming album 'Hard Hearted Woman' (13 March), the song
could have fitted right in. It has that same combination of pop, ballad,
light rock and those floating, multitracked vocals. It gives Honey
something mysterious, as if the music comes to you through the fog. Just
listen to the strings in the intro. It is as if they come from an
unknown and unseen place. All of a sudden Ora Corgan is in the middle of
your ears and head. The drums are softly played but very solid, giving
the song the foundation it needs. Finally, the same Midlake connotation
comes to me as with ER Jurken. Honey, providing the title to the album
in its lyrics, is a song that makes me curious to hear more and that
more will be there in just two months.
A new name on the blog? No, not exactly, as Erwin Zijleman reported on Charlotte Cornfield's previous album 'Could Have Done Anything' in 2023. Since then, she became a mother and this is her first outing in music since then. Buck Meek sings the harmony vocal on Hurts Like Hell and that points in the direction where I would place Charlotte Cornfield. The song is an alternative, modern country style song that bands like Big Thief/Adrianne Lenker and Wednesday also play. The relaxed vibe of the music contradicts the lyrics, where it "hurts like hell when you're in it". The music more represents a lazy Sunday afternoon in the shade on the porch with cool, long, iced drink beside you and a book in your hand. The long helded notes of the pedal steel guitar underscoring that feeling. Give me one of these days anytime, especially now it is winter. The same titled album is there on 27 March.
Los Angeles band The Sophs returns to the blog with a fourth single from its upcoming debut album 'Goldstar' (13 March). The song's rhythm is not your every day's. The contrast between the more acoustic verse and the more electric chorus, if they are that, are clear and gives the song two distinct faces. That rhythm is Spanish, flamenco influenced. The intro is fully acoustic, almost classical. It sets Goldstar apart from many other songs in the alternative rock section. The hard guitar parts do sound familiar in the way they are played but that Spanish rhythm beneath it remains in place, making the song different. I'll be honest, after 'I'm Your Fiend' and now Goldstar, I still do not know really what to make of The Sophs, but the beginning is there. I'm writing, again, ain't I?
With drums sounding as a dry and high strung as Therapy? at the time of 'Screamager', Melonball immediately attracted my ears. The German punk band sounds as tough as a punk band should, knows how to channel anger and/or over excitement and create a melody that makes Ally Or Alibi so good to listen to. In the first 30 seconds I thought, okay been their done that. It was the drum sound that pulled me in and then I started to notice the melodies Melonball throws into the single, the enthusiastic vocal of singer Oli and the harmony vocals of Basti and Vik. Their guitars do a lot of things that lift the songs as well and then there are that drums of Tommy again. Second album 'Take Care' will be released on 27 February.
Is Opening Night a left over from a recording session from the 'AM' or older era or an indication that in the near future we can expect a more guitar oriented album from Arctic Monkeys? I do not have the answer but when I heard the song on the radio recently, my ears pricked themselves up immediately. "Ten years later, it's been a decade" Alex Turner sings and that will be about correct. The band took a totally different turn from its origins. Not that Opening Night is a 'Dance Floor' but it has a more rock vibe worked into the latter Arctic Monkeys. The 70s West Coast influences are still there, don't worry fans of the more modern version of the band. I find I like this combination. Opening Night is on an album called 'Help' with many other contemporary artists for the benefit of War Child.
Celeste Corsano returns to the blog with her sixth consecutive single, the fifth on the blog. Again, she shows that she not here for the quick win. Do not expect a hip pop song. Ms Corsano presents serious pop that demands serious listening. Again, I can't help to refer to Kate Bush's earlier albums, where pop met a unique entity, turning all I once knew about music upside down. That effect is unobtainable for Celeste Corsano. Kate Bush already did that before her. A song like Space falls unto fertile ground though. Again, I am forced to truly listen. A lot is going on. In the song and in the chord changes. Celeste Corsano plays with the structure of the song with her vocal melody. The music is rich and lavish. It may well be that she is able to fill the void, now that Kate Bush seems have gone into full retirement.
With bar, a.gris returns to the blog. bar is not an easy song to digest. The rhythm is not your every day's. It is almost stop-start and its vocal melody not one to sing-along to straight away. The way it starts, just Alex Delamard, who is a.gris, with his acoustic guitar, does not really give away what is to follow. When the whole band kicks in, there is a lot of sound to digest and the first time that rhythm becomes really apparent. The two things that stand out are the beautiful riff on the acoustic guitar and the synth melody later on. Both have that stop-start effect through a short silence moment before it is repeated. Together with the previous single, 'Oblivion 2025' it does make me curious to hear the whole EP slated for March.
Cape Crush's singer Ali Lipman may not be able "to stop bleeding" as she sings in Calm & Delivered, the song bounces as if the members are at home just before they are allowed to go to the local country fair with all its attractions waiting for them. The song has an emo feel to it, but also one of the sheer joy of playing this song. Cape Crush is from Massachusetts and on route to release its album 'Place Memory' (1 May). With Calm & Delivered it released a song that ought to prick up some ears. I am faintly remembered of The Beths and its singer Elizabeth Stokes. The music is far tougher though. The rhythm guitar is far louder and the lead guitar far more present. All together it makes this single a very nice introduction to Cape Crush.
If I'm correct it is ten years ago that I reviewed Daughter for the first and last time on WoNoBlog. Album 'Not to Disappear' fell on approving ears. I have no idea if the trio, Elena Tonra, Igor Haefeli and Remi Aguilella, made music since that album. Having listened to Not Enough, I knew that this is a song I wanted to write on. To my surprise I find it is released to underscore the 10 year celebration on 'Not To Disappear'. Not Enough was originally recorded in that session, but remained a demo. In November of 2025 it was finally turned into a full-fledged song and the world is a little better because of it. Reading my 2016 review, Not Enough would have fitted in nicely. The song has this sheen of a melancholy darkness over a pop feel that is quite apparent. The light and the shade, it seldom fails to work.
Wout de Natris - van der Borght
