tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60220182169221902532024-03-19T12:33:05.594+01:00WoNoBloGWoNoBloG
Het officiële blog van het muziekblad WoNo Magazine. Het blad dat verschijnt als het uitkomt..Nohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11373175867600902104noreply@blogger.comBlogger4488125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-33496740386570426002024-03-19T08:30:00.013+01:002024-03-19T08:30:00.145+01:00Almost Hungry. Soft Boy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisssAx8ksMINxtK2XxNEKY51uXggPEXxEAJCWejmdLOdrLuCIBlJwkmSF1U_zsHf-El2iiRxu-3zPRzWWRifkdHS-yFecDNMAmvKwVgsYlB1QAEFfaIr1b-6nD2VWN-Y_61CIhkP1vXizHWkYicZVBHY035IJEFEj5XQ045j3RZN88RFIuw2aAZQO-YHw/s1200/Cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisssAx8ksMINxtK2XxNEKY51uXggPEXxEAJCWejmdLOdrLuCIBlJwkmSF1U_zsHf-El2iiRxu-3zPRzWWRifkdHS-yFecDNMAmvKwVgsYlB1QAEFfaIr1b-6nD2VWN-Y_61CIhkP1vXizHWkYicZVBHY035IJEFEj5XQ045j3RZN88RFIuw2aAZQO-YHw/w200-h200/Cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Label owner Niels Hendrix wrote me that after hearing the first notes of the demo by Soft Boy he knew he wanted to release the band's album. If he heard the same first notes of the first song on Almost Hungry I am hearing, I'm sure a deaf person would have wanted to release it. The title song is a joy to listen to. It is so full of life, exuberance and enthusiasm. <i>'Almost Hungry'</i> simply bounces out of my speakers. Just this song makes buying Almost Hungry worth your while.<p></p><p>Fans of a good alternative pop song and indie rock will find a lot to like on Soft Boy's debut album, as a band. You will find Britpop mixed with a The Doors Farfisa organ in songs that are deliciously free flowing. Soft Boy blends eras in music effortlessly, all the time showing the fun it has to present these songs in the best way it can.</p><p>Soft Boy started as the bedroom project of Xander Hamelton, from Ghent in Belgium. He released two mini albums in this decade, 'This Took A Long Time' and 'This Took An Even Longer Time',that can be found for "name your price" on Bandcamp. Label Fons Records releases the first full length album of the band Soft Boy, with also Stan Antheunis (backing vocals guitar), Marian Coppieters (backing vocals, keys, violin), Jasper Suys (bass), Simon Dewaele (drums) on board. In single 'Gen Z', marking the band's debut on this blog, the full impact of the band is heard for 100%. The tempo is down, the individual instruments come forward in a great way. The mood is more downcast, somewhat like EELS can play its songs. But then listen to how the keyboard comes in, lifting the song up and taking the others along for a short burst of positive energy. Do not forget to notice the extra harmony vocals.<br /></p><p>Soft Boy can rock too. 'Speak From The Heart' really goes for the underbelly of the rock fan. Fuzzed guitar, an effect on the voice, while the rest rocks out. And then that Farfisa organ comes in again, throwing a 60s vibe over it all. The same goes for the vocals in the chorus. Man, somehow it reminds me of The Tremeloes' 'Even The Bad Times Are Good'. And that while the music couldn't be more apart.</p><p>By then it's not hard to conclude that Soft Boy is not caught in one niche genre. It wants to be out there in several niches and in a successful way. Each and every song is attractive in its own way. Even when it moves into a reggae rhythm in 'St. Eve', to move into another direction within the song and come back to where it started.</p><p>Almost Hungry offers something for every ear, I'm prone to write. This can be a weakness, as something for everyone can equal nothing for no one. Soft Boy does not fall into the trap. The obvious quality of nearly all of the ten songs, guarantee a fun time can be had by all. In my case, the band scores big time. Just listen towards the end of the album to 'Willow', an acoustic song. Listen to how it unfolds. Listen to the harmony vocals. I do not need to write more.</p><p>The bio self-assuredly announced that the potential reviewers could contemplate scoring the album 4 or 5 stars. It seems like Fons Records was not boasting. Soft Boy has made an impression alright. One of the better releases of 2024 for sure.</p><p>Wout de Natris</p><p><br /></p><p>You can listen to and order the releases of Fons Records here:</p><p>https://fonsrecords.bandcamp.com/<br /></p><p><br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-46481269002970941572024-03-18T12:22:00.002+01:002024-03-18T12:22:50.990+01:00Steve Harley (1951 - 2024) RIP<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8iqPwQcIIEGsrvykys_TXw2yfNnxpApbDCYfjIvD-HJd_Hp65D5qjSRNVskplaSJ560qMvF-p7xUJedF_Y3vDOhEARycp5M49H5lV-E7AD6n9Gg5-UnGSYdBGF3tmcTAboqPmnfjyBa9MAtZPpoPkrrgPo7GdDp3AZgeuFWrwd5STrDDTlgmrpOqHJg/s225/Make%20me%20smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="224" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8iqPwQcIIEGsrvykys_TXw2yfNnxpApbDCYfjIvD-HJd_Hp65D5qjSRNVskplaSJ560qMvF-p7xUJedF_Y3vDOhEARycp5M49H5lV-E7AD6n9Gg5-UnGSYdBGF3tmcTAboqPmnfjyBa9MAtZPpoPkrrgPo7GdDp3AZgeuFWrwd5STrDDTlgmrpOqHJg/w199-h200/Make%20me%20smile.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>On Sunday 17 March, I heard on the news that Steve Harley had passed away. He died of cancer in his home, after an over 50 year career in music. For me he is the singer and writer of that one hit single from 1975 Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me). I loved it then, I loved it in between and I love it today. In fact my band Sweetwood covers the song at nearly every gig we play and usually we can get the audience to sing along at the end, in tribute to Steve Harley's fantastic song.<p></p><p>Not so long ago there was an item about Make Me Smile in the 'Top 2000 a-go-go' show. Harley explained his side to how the song was written in between two Cockney Rebel iterations, moving from Cockney Rebel to Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel. It is a musical middle finger, so to say. The comment that resonated with me most, was his admission that 'Make Me Smile' was his pension. The money coming in from that one song, made it possible to live comfortably, next to being a radio dj and playing live until a few months before his fatal illness was discovered. People wanted to hear the song right up to his final years, after Covid lockdowns.</p><p>My introduction to Cockney Rebel was two years earlier with that rather weird single called 'Sebastian'. I could not make heads or tails of it at the time. This has changed somewhat in recent years, actually. A second single, 'Judy Teen', I have no recollection of at all. You will not find an album or cd by the band in my collection. Just that one single that I will forever associate with Steve Harley.</p><p>What makes it so good? It has an immediate attraction, starting with that rather strange, out of place intro, while at the same time Harley remains unassociated with his lyrics. It is as if he is just the impassionate storyteller, not attached to his message at all. At the same time everything around him is inviting and warm. The ooh-la-la's simply invite singing along to and the chorus is the cherry on the cake. No one hearing this will step away without singing along. What is also standing out, if not outstanding, are the full stops called tacets in the song. Every single time wondering what is going to happen next. And, of course, there's this beautiful acoustic guitar solo played by Jim Cregan. Underneath the solo the keyboard changes to a Hammond organ, making the song so much warmer and even more special. Everything about Make Me Smile is inviting and attractive.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9sDscOWBWnwVEbKy1rlGfDazOeJCxMMmmFb6FMGrh4IyJbz6eoik0mmPeJAFuyZucTN8S5se50-a9k2h-LzjOBEuUw4GKJbpFL96JkvKYY-g0kruN_PNGoB0V5eN6Xk0Xu-Y_Bl3k3nlqMNrDT0OHsCF_RN-N5erDf3vADEJxMIhT6HPsk8lY3FCgZU/s225/Sebastian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9sDscOWBWnwVEbKy1rlGfDazOeJCxMMmmFb6FMGrh4IyJbz6eoik0mmPeJAFuyZucTN8S5se50-a9k2h-LzjOBEuUw4GKJbpFL96JkvKYY-g0kruN_PNGoB0V5eN6Xk0Xu-Y_Bl3k3nlqMNrDT0OHsCF_RN-N5erDf3vADEJxMIhT6HPsk8lY3FCgZU/w200-h200/Sebastian.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>At the time Harley had a relationship with Dutch singer Yvonne Keeley, real name Paaij, sister of Dutch singer Patricia Paaij. Keeley later scored a number 1 hit with Scott Fitzgerald called 'If I Had Words' and with her sister as 'Stars on 45'. Together with 'Make Me Smile', that is three number 1 hits. Not a bad score. The relationship did not last though. Tina Charles, who scored several solo hits in the mid-70s like 'I Love To Love', is one of the other background singers.<p></p><p>With 'Make Me Smile' Harley has his song for eternity. It's the kind of song that people will always come back to. In future movies and series staged in the 1970s, on oldie stations and in playlists of people from any generation with an interest in great pop classics. It's that kind of song that will have 100 million hits on Spotify soon.</p><p>And I? I get to play that guitar solo every time Sweetwood plays it. When our drummer proposed the song, I thought no way!, I can never learn that. Admittedly, I skip a few notes here and there, but overall it is very recognisable. Come up and see us some day.</p><p>Wout de Natris<br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-61133819875433234342024-03-18T08:30:00.001+01:002024-03-18T08:30:00.195+01:00Kaizers Orchestra live. Paradiso Amsterdam, Saturday 16 March 2024<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOM2RcIZNI_LIkrj5VPkPrQivrO_Yq-QbrqPo21TvjIotDBIJDmfUI11ffzko4B_83VwvUX1ytOLkNEwncRkCygXKALNtALQdtx20hAp03L0hj8JJ9TVsV3aqeQekfLeYahFOqBkVWbtW-vwxSOnmt1GIVmylkIinoAoS03nhHDc6pJz_5arXc_7Abc8/s4080/20240316_204617.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOM2RcIZNI_LIkrj5VPkPrQivrO_Yq-QbrqPo21TvjIotDBIJDmfUI11ffzko4B_83VwvUX1ytOLkNEwncRkCygXKALNtALQdtx20hAp03L0hj8JJ9TVsV3aqeQekfLeYahFOqBkVWbtW-vwxSOnmt1GIVmylkIinoAoS03nhHDc6pJz_5arXc_7Abc8/w150-h200/20240316_204617.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Wout de Natris<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Ompa til du dør alright. Eleven years older and finally, finally we were able to go and see a Kaizers Orchestra show once again. I had missed the last one due to illness. Had I know, I would have elevated myself alright.<p></p><p>In 2024, the podium looked familiar. Two oildrums, the old-fashioned pump organ (shape) with all the draperies and props around it. An old-fashioned garbage bin as part of the drum kit, an old upright bass. It was all there and of course the logo with the gasmask hanging in the back.</p><p>An instrumental track started playing in the typical Kaizers style, like a loop, repeating and repeating. Keyboardist Helge Risa walked on stage, his gasmask on and a suitcase in his hand. A man going to his desk job in the city, sharply dressed in suit and tie. Except that in his theatrical way, his desk job is behind this pump organ, where he sets in motion the Kaizers' set with an atypical rhythm played on his organ.</p><p>What other song should Kaizers Orchestra return to the stage in Amsterdam with than this one: 'Ompa til du dør'. This is the band's declaration of intent. In the second song the signature rhythm section comes across in a fantastic way. Nearly all bandmembers get at it in ''Bøn Fra Helvete, when' they all start ramming on the oil drums with big sticks and car wheels are hit with a crowbar. All are in full swing in the song. All have different accents rhythmically. I honestly do not know how they do it. It sounds fantastic though but is also hard work.</p><p>The band did not tour after a new album. There is a "greatest hits" out, but like singer Janove Ottensen siad, "we are a no-bit wonder", until 2011 when they scored a hit in Norway with 'Hjerteknuser'. It turned the band into a one-hit wonder. Not for us in NL. Paradiso was packed with "Scandis". For them every song was a hit, as all were sung along loudly around me. The weight of the show was on the debut album for certain. 'Umpa Til Du Dør' allows for so much audience participation with all its hallelujahs, umpas, oohs and ahhs, that it only makes sense it did.<br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYSvjkPRKbfVTMqeqDLXFplF6m4EgCycGYexzNGo1bHvRwQ2mNyZGJI8QJtoLFdKfj9MpRaeg_t9YuYRlRqsrYwWTMLt-QXqt9eNLRJ1uPsHuB9t9EexdrAHUT-spKuT82NRAzog77S4fdp7KKO7ZJbvyCE5t9uARD1ZYlzrA4toEb5EpKd4lVq4MEAc/s4080/20240316_212555.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">e<img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYSvjkPRKbfVTMqeqDLXFplF6m4EgCycGYexzNGo1bHvRwQ2mNyZGJI8QJtoLFdKfj9MpRaeg_t9YuYRlRqsrYwWTMLt-QXqt9eNLRJ1uPsHuB9t9EexdrAHUT-spKuT82NRAzog77S4fdp7KKO7ZJbvyCE5t9uARD1ZYlzrA4toEb5EpKd4lVq4MEAc/s320/20240316_212555.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, caught the moment! Wout de Natris<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I don't speak Norwegian, and only understand rudimentary words here and there. It doesn't matter. The music tells it all. The title of the song and the first album of the same name, are the blue print for what this band does. It mixes polka, umpa, (surf)rock, Tom Waits and the Netherlands' own De Kift into music that is totally charged, inimitable. In all ways the most original band I know, with De Kift that is. Despite how complex the music is, the melodies are always superior. Had I known Norwegian, I would be able to sing along to all the songs. They are that kind of songs. Totally pop but not for the average pop fan.<p></p><p>The return to the stage can only be called glorious. The band is so good, the music so exceptional. The big stage antics of singer Janove Ottensen finishes it off. With his greying hair, shaven to the skin, he even looks like Ferry Heijne of De Kift nowadays. The two could be brothers from a distance and certainly totally have the same presence on stage. Ottensen is able to lay down his will on the audience. The fans completely do what he wants them to do. "We would like to sing with you", when we got the encore's encore, not on the setlist. It ended that we sang "Polizei" for the band. It became our song with the band listening to us. And then we were sent off into the dark. In the hope of getting new music by the band in the near future and a new tour in 2025.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiniE-9sCyj0MSwP8QCOrM3UIvbpSj3BAkypSCFUZf14DRYXM0ytvP3qKBqysbXw7eI4S5JmVsAtjgXPjppAc8tECdxaRipWIyMg3pSobXQspoeY7sfcsMmjMZutC7zvQdlXaxWn9CnOUts4Kns_XSOLirTqtAYPorpLArPvSGFJcVRzfG8pxLzcWtUQU/s4080/20240316_213943.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiniE-9sCyj0MSwP8QCOrM3UIvbpSj3BAkypSCFUZf14DRYXM0ytvP3qKBqysbXw7eI4S5JmVsAtjgXPjppAc8tECdxaRipWIyMg3pSobXQspoeY7sfcsMmjMZutC7zvQdlXaxWn9CnOUts4Kns_XSOLirTqtAYPorpLArPvSGFJcVRzfG8pxLzcWtUQU/w200-h150/20240316_213943.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Wout de Natris<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Was there nothing to complain? Yes, a little. I would have expected something like three or four songs more and not playing 'Mr. Kaizer' is near unforgivable. The only song I can sing along to in part in Norwegian, as I have accompanied my son several times during Covid when we performed it for our neighbours in our front and back garden. (And will do again coming Saturday to celebrate the four year lockdown reunion.)</p><p>Kaizers Orchestra is the best band of Norway. Sorry Madrugada, Sivert, Motorpsycho and Soup. Maybe it's a consolation that Kaizers Orchestra is better than most bands from anywhere. There's just no denying here. Man, have I missed this band. 'Live At Vega' is probably the DVD I have watched most over the years and now I'm reminded why. The real thing is back, thank you!<br /></p><p></p><p>Wout de Natris<br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-65277072351171412002024-03-17T08:30:00.001+01:002024-03-17T08:30:00.218+01:00.NoWordsNeedeD, 17-03-2024<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNeX668CvZ4">Ries
de Vuyst - Walskoning - YouTube</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">.No</p>.Nohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11373175867600902104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-34156996464443025752024-03-16T08:30:00.000+01:002024-03-16T08:30:00.143+01:00Do You Recall. Dori Freeman<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu00hcgx140SZ32HKES-Q8loNBBWQRk156MZNyGTwj7Y9kjDP-V__OaM7QDuXzcS3ZB0dR4AcbU7jwSIeigs-xW2b4fuUwHhkcKPA_d6BfdEjOGZ0QXfkGdqx7d8SJOiekta1wOkAmairaWz14aQn6YrYfM10qCJaku83H-JXihP7kyyt2bOaeV8D9jHg/s700/Do%20you%20recall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu00hcgx140SZ32HKES-Q8loNBBWQRk156MZNyGTwj7Y9kjDP-V__OaM7QDuXzcS3ZB0dR4AcbU7jwSIeigs-xW2b4fuUwHhkcKPA_d6BfdEjOGZ0QXfkGdqx7d8SJOiekta1wOkAmairaWz14aQn6YrYfM10qCJaku83H-JXihP7kyyt2bOaeV8D9jHg/w200-h200/Do%20you%20recall.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Do You Recall is al het vijfde album van de Amerikaanse singer-songwriter Dori Freeman, die, nog net wat meer dan op haar vorige albums, laat horen dat ze binnen de Amerikaanse rootsmuziek met de besten mee kan.<p></p><p>Ik heb Dori Freeman al een paar keer een grote toekomst voorspeld, maar helaas is de Amerikaanse muzikante nog altijd behoorlijk onbekend. Hopelijk gaat het veranderen met haar vijfde album Do You Recall, dat de lat weer net een stukje hoger legt en niet onder doet voor de betere rootsalbums van 2023. Dori Freeman maakt op haar nieuwe album authentiek klinkende Amerikaanse rootsmuziek, kleurt deze prachtig in en betovert vervolgens met haar bijzonder mooie stem. De oude liefde voor de Appalachen folk is wat verdwenen, maar persoonlijk vind ik de wat eigentijdser klinkende songs op Do You Recall beter dan de songs op haar eerdere albums. <br /></p><p>De Amerikaanse muzikante Dori Freeman debuteerde aan het begin van 2016 en maakte wat mij betreft direct indruk. Het titelloze debuutalbum van de muzikante uit Galax, Virginia, werd in een vloek en een zucht opgenomen met producer Teddy Thompson, maar klonk echt prachtig. Dori Freeman schakelde op haar debuutalbum makkelijk tussen Appalachen folk en Amerikaanse rootsmuziek van recentere datum en maakte vooral indruk met haar mooie en heldere stem, die af en toe aan Alison Krauss deed denken, maar ook herinnerde aan Emmylou Harris. <br /><br />De albums van Dori Freeman worden vooralsnog zeker niet bedolven onder de aandacht, maar ook met Letters Never Read uit 2017, Every Single Star uit 2019 en Ten Thousand Roses uit 2021 leverde de muzikante uit Virginia uitstekende albums af, die een beter lot verdiend hadden. Na drie albums die werden geproduceerd door Teddy Thompson koos Dori Freeman op Ten Thousand Roses voor haar echtgenoot Nicholas Falk, die ook het deze week verschenen Do You Recall produceerde. <br /><br />Op haar vorige album koos de Amerikaanse muzikante voor een net wat moderner en ook wat gevarieerder geluid en dat geluid is ook weer te horen op haar nieuwe album. Do You Recall doet me met enige regelmaat denken aan Loose Future van Courtney Marie Andrews, die ook niet meteen werd omarmd door de liefhebbers van Amerikaanse rootsmuziek, maar met haar vorig jaar verschenen album flink wat jaarlijstjes haalde. Ook Dori Freeman is met vijf uitstekende albums op haar naam klaar voor de doorbraak naar een groter publiek en haar nieuwe album is wat mij betreft haar beste album tot dusver. <br /><br />Do You Recall klinkt wat warmer en moderner dan met name de eerste drie albums van Dori Freeman, maar verwacht geen heftige flirts met pop op het album. Het is een album dat binnen de Amerikaanse rootsmuziek in meerdere hoeken uit de voeten kan, maar Do You Recall blijft de rootsmuziek elf tracks lang trouw. Dori Freeman maakte haar nieuwe album in haar thuisbasis Galax, Virginia, en tekende samen met haar echtgenoot Nicholas Falk voor een groot deel van de instrumenten. <br /><br />Snareninstrumenten domineren in het geluid van Dori Freeman op Do You Recall, maar net als op het eerder genoemde album van Courtney Marie Andrews zijn ook op dit album subtiele elektronische impulsen toegevoegd. In muzikaal opzicht klinkt Do You Recall bijzonder aangenaam en ook de songs van Dori Freeman zijn zeer aansprekend, maar ook dit keer trekt de Amerikaanse singer-songwriter vooral de aandacht met haar stem, die sinds haar debuutalbum uit 2016 alleen maar aan kracht heeft gewonnen. <br /><br />Bij ieder nieuw album van Dori Freeman begrijp ik niet waarom ze niet veel bekender is, maar zo sterk als bij haar nieuwe album heb ik dit nog niet gehad. Do You Recall is zo’n album dat je direct na eerste beluistering wilt koesteren en dat vervolgens zeker niet verzwakt, bijvoorbeeld omdat de persoonlijke teksten de aandacht trekken, prachtig snarenwerk je nog wat meer betovert of je nog wat steviger wordt gegrepen door de prachtige stem van Dori Freeman. Eind november is geen hele handige tijd voor het uitbrengen van een nieuw album, al is het ook een tijd waarin een prachtalbum als dit hopelijk net wat minder makkelijk ondersneeuwt.</p><p>Erwin Zijleman </p><p><br /></p><p>Je kunt Do You Recall hier luisteren en bestellen:</p><p>https://dorifreeman1.bandcamp.com/album/do-you-recall<br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-44148881263245718532024-03-15T08:30:00.073+01:002024-03-15T08:30:00.251+01:002024. Week 11, 10 singles<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgut5Tz9WMOCEOItxPUFnp8n7ATv3D8YwgV67poJ9W6mHvocK7lTNNFn74XlY26T6hVKgF0cRKP54xQNjn7Jn6WSeUd-tp3VkwIqX8ek4QeNlutGJBDuMpxDQ18dKvCFJAS_zuYu1OTJKbUfjTsk5qLOlfu-IWnMss5uA1-jcnaAndAkLVuD5AGB9fK6b0/s225/Brown%20Paper%20Bag.%20DIIV.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgut5Tz9WMOCEOItxPUFnp8n7ATv3D8YwgV67poJ9W6mHvocK7lTNNFn74XlY26T6hVKgF0cRKP54xQNjn7Jn6WSeUd-tp3VkwIqX8ek4QeNlutGJBDuMpxDQ18dKvCFJAS_zuYu1OTJKbUfjTsk5qLOlfu-IWnMss5uA1-jcnaAndAkLVuD5AGB9fK6b0/w200-h200/Brown%20Paper%20Bag.%20DIIV.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This week we see three old favourites return to the blog, of which one for the first time, but also some true newcomers and a few acts that debuted within the last year. Once again it's a very diverse set. This is the fun of the approach I take here. The songs all, very little exceptions permitted, are presented in the order they have been presented to me. The only thing you do not know, is which songs I've decided to skip. This week about half is my guess. I do not want to write on songs I do not like (or worse) or think are not memorable enough. I skipped one that I will mention for once, 'Bored' by Waxahatchee. Into the second listen session I still did not hear what I could focus on as a reviewer. So, out it went. The rest is here, so enjoy.<p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Brown Paper Bag. DIIV</b></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>DIIV
has been more often on this blog than I remember. The one I forgot is the LP I
bought in 2019 'Deceiver'. 'Oshin' in 2012 and 'Is The The Are' from
2016 all came before this single. The music has not changed much from
what I remember. DIIV still plays slow and dark, slightly psychedelic
rock music. Zachary Cole Smith still sings with a soft voice, hovering
above the band. He still takes his time to produce a new album. Four
years, three years, five years. I know the sixties and early 70s are
long over. This is the new normal. Also five years down the road, I dive
into the band's new single with glee. DIIV simply knows how to play
this music right and provides Brown Paper Bag with the little notes and
slow riffs that make it so much fun to listen to. It's time to pull
'Deceiver' from its shelf, until the new album is released. 'Frog In
Boiling Water' is released on 24 May.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuby_mx1sVHi-OZfaWMe-p0ZhxgZxhaaI3eavNgq9Sr8J1a5TgW9Y1J0u5kYJWymUxiddI9lc_Cdvxk6IpNyd3Ys_Qe5DUlwNcYdpDwHIrMjypCmIk9Fe-LLTuuTc48fTfL9yZRwjHdPhUpkqvVImbRpI7lugl98RUUx1vQhveVtYYLFc6q86nPqp6WbI/s299/Stray.%20The%20Mysterines.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuby_mx1sVHi-OZfaWMe-p0ZhxgZxhaaI3eavNgq9Sr8J1a5TgW9Y1J0u5kYJWymUxiddI9lc_Cdvxk6IpNyd3Ys_Qe5DUlwNcYdpDwHIrMjypCmIk9Fe-LLTuuTc48fTfL9yZRwjHdPhUpkqvVImbRpI7lugl98RUUx1vQhveVtYYLFc6q86nPqp6WbI/w200-h112/Stray.%20The%20Mysterines.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Stray. The Mysterines</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>The
Mysterines is a band from the U.K. and active since 2015 but with
'Afraid Of Tomorrows' only releases its second full length album, after
'Reeling' (2022). The name did not ring a bell but it turns out I wrote a
favourable review of the single 'Begin Again' late spring last year.
It's not surprising I did, as Stray is a delightfully sleazy alternative
rock song. The Mysterines do not for one second pretend to be
respectable. Singer Lia Metcalfe's voice receives a treatment making her sound
a bit mechanical. Just like the guitars get a dirty treatment. Just
listen to that little solo and the eruptions. The rhythm is tight
keeping the song confined as it were, with the chorus escaping that
straightjacket in a gloriously convincing way. Sure, poprock aficionados
will recognise enough familiar sounds. Stray is a nice addition to
what's already out there.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3mSZ7fQs51j1n8HacKaPEMr7uhyphenhyphenzNMp-UsDeXKZEh6gFRxKQfXtWLpb_z_zhl6IuCKHRbEHOmpIUBIFRJf1LRY_JWJ8wcD7eLqopGm2Zb5a91PPOcNKtvEAPoANVF8XIrdMpWK-QNIKIyC4Pj4LdBuhkVrhAn_ZLKFjPpWGxZJjz91qf0jDbEAs_amA/s225/Hello.%20Girl%20And%20Girl.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3mSZ7fQs51j1n8HacKaPEMr7uhyphenhyphenzNMp-UsDeXKZEh6gFRxKQfXtWLpb_z_zhl6IuCKHRbEHOmpIUBIFRJf1LRY_JWJ8wcD7eLqopGm2Zb5a91PPOcNKtvEAPoANVF8XIrdMpWK-QNIKIyC4Pj4LdBuhkVrhAn_ZLKFjPpWGxZJjz91qf0jDbEAs_amA/w200-h200/Hello.%20Girl%20And%20Girl.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Hello. Girl And Girl</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>"Hello,
who's that speaking please?", is the opening of my first or second The
Kinks single's B-side called 'Party Line', still one of my favourite The
Kinks songs. Girl And Girl's first single of its upcoming debut album
'Call A Doctor' (24 May) is also about a phone call and also an up tempo
song, somewhere between happiness, the tempo/music, and despair, the lyrics. Hello is a
bouncing song, making it easy to mistake for a happy song instead of the
darkness that shows in the lyrics about a "private hell". Just listen to how the
song begins with two sprightly guitars, the band joins and a third lead
guitar comes in. Better described perhaps as the higher of the two
guitars playing two different riffs. The Australians, Kai James (singer,
guitarist), his Aunty Liss (drums), Jayden Williams (guitar) en Fraser
Bell (bass), may be tormented in the lyrics, in the music they push all
the right buttons to get a crowd moving. Hello is an excellent
introduction, with even a reference to 'The Sound Of Music', if
I'm not mistaken.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QpHlPu3L7GTBzjm8ogE5ryc42EAjaTDqfArd6XzyQdxQIg8JIUVPly6rolJZKmFzP4wYB8eEuufruA-6QqPliUkdK36hl5k7-etukalYSZN8a3Q6S2sNRruN1daoVVliJjODVNsObSa0Unaxw3IvqWUErI56SoJyRmU4C1PDMnjrNmamQnhII_8oYFA/s225/When%20I%20Was%20Younger.%20Bonny%20Light%20Horseman.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QpHlPu3L7GTBzjm8ogE5ryc42EAjaTDqfArd6XzyQdxQIg8JIUVPly6rolJZKmFzP4wYB8eEuufruA-6QqPliUkdK36hl5k7-etukalYSZN8a3Q6S2sNRruN1daoVVliJjODVNsObSa0Unaxw3IvqWUErI56SoJyRmU4C1PDMnjrNmamQnhII_8oYFA/w200-h200/When%20I%20Was%20Younger.%20Bonny%20Light%20Horseman.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>When I Was Younger. Bonny Light Horseman</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Bonny
Light Horseman is trio Anaïs Mitchell, Eric D. Johnson, and Josh
Kaufman. They signed with Jagjaguwar and to celebrate release the single
When I Was Younger. 30 or early 40 somethings looking back on when life
was fun. Lighten up, because they certainly can become fun again when
the brats get a little older. When I Was Younger's mood is exactly as if
the times of being 20 are over forever. They are, but 40 up certainly
has its fun moments. The lyrics between Anaïs Mitchell and Eric D.
Johnson are divided in the way it probably is between a woman and a man.
The former resigned to having children, the latter more desperate,
tearing at the leash, far more in pain of the loss. In the "aah" section
over the harsh guitar solo in the twine they meet. It all contrasts
with the looseness with which the rhythm section and piano play their
parts, with a starring roll for Cameron Ralston, the bassist. He's so
relaxed and has seemingly encountered the 40 up phase fun.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqyzhreT1LN4EhorrqfIE4gttrfmC0FwOquPYO7MJg7xN53FQOfhavrkobWuxLcgS3efYQgKPuO_h3XNs6HP5aHgPhMzCfrRmmpxwn2xStMNppQd4wuC4MBfK0zkRe3VO3kDtF8LZK7mib_HcjdOco0q8LdqlPNpGEFwwfxBiCxtT3bI9w5uqiP1fKyA/s225/After%20The%20After%20Party.%20Gramercy%20Arms.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqyzhreT1LN4EhorrqfIE4gttrfmC0FwOquPYO7MJg7xN53FQOfhavrkobWuxLcgS3efYQgKPuO_h3XNs6HP5aHgPhMzCfrRmmpxwn2xStMNppQd4wuC4MBfK0zkRe3VO3kDtF8LZK7mib_HcjdOco0q8LdqlPNpGEFwwfxBiCxtT3bI9w5uqiP1fKyA/w200-h200/After%20The%20After%20Party.%20Gramercy%20Arms.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>After The After Party. Gramercy Arms</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Gramercy
Arms enters this blog for the third time with a single. Once again the
band around Dave Derby and producer Ray Ketchum manages to blend
glorious pop from the past with a good sense of urgency for the now and
then. The band makes music like it was made in the first half of the 90s
by bands like The Caulfields and The Loud Family. U.S. pop-rock music with a touch
bordering on Beatleslesque. Just listen to the harmonies in After The
After Party and the directness of the music. This is 90s indie rock
alright. With a nice, almost tough guitar solo over a rhythm section
that is definitely rocking. In the approach to making music and
musically Gramercy Arms reminds me of the Canadian - U.S. collective The
New Pornographers. The pop element in both band's music is always
sticking out, while they both know how to rock as well. Late in April
the album will be released, 'The Making Of the Making Of'. Based on this
single, it something worth waiting for.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fCpcFXGmwxifuLAcetlM74BnH2sb9LhpL9rd3u7_FBba_2nBdRIGdNWYUctv8x-RwiuOclCXsyLKnygD0iPnHbME3FdVSxnC99tKq0P0FVYEjKj3a4QBOf0KYTys_OODh5R_Cqt1ZGNjFUJyPcB058X84UkCOUDF5cFBKrF1L_TGV2zUH7nNZQCeviA/s225/Sad%20Sack.%20Faulty%20Cognitions.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fCpcFXGmwxifuLAcetlM74BnH2sb9LhpL9rd3u7_FBba_2nBdRIGdNWYUctv8x-RwiuOclCXsyLKnygD0iPnHbME3FdVSxnC99tKq0P0FVYEjKj3a4QBOf0KYTys_OODh5R_Cqt1ZGNjFUJyPcB058X84UkCOUDF5cFBKrF1L_TGV2zUH7nNZQCeviA/w200-h200/Sad%20Sack.%20Faulty%20Cognitions.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Sad Sack. Faulty Cognitions</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Another
debut band and debut single. Faulty Cognitions is a band from San
Antonio in Texas, formed after singer Chris Mason relocated from
Portland, Oregon to the Lone Star State. He formed a band there with his
long time friend Yole Centeno and others. The result is a melodic
alternative rock song, close to punkrock. The upcoming album's title
'Somehow, Here We Are' may tell it all. Against all odds the four have
formed a band and are playing like they've not only always done so but
also as if they do not have a host of experience in other bands and
everything left to prove. The title Sad Sack should be understood in the context of "another sad sack song" that
the band hopes you will sing along to anyway. Chances are you will. If you are a
fan of the likes of Buffalo Tom there's no escaping even. A faulty
cognition is not be applicable to Sad Sack.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaS6_4_1pnTQogsofauNyVfxP9VNw0ozMyHzj9yVV5iBtioCjM10Fup5_Xr9KaU6HKEblWWjKfARD47gi4zMozORDMIuQR4pKenmwWlZWpvqFWq5LZN1sY5qLlsI0GAwPlnlnhRk8fnvR8IdWEbOZqIIzL4G12X2ok0a6q2i9jTQ9cqrLdg4YfI_9pOE/s225/Perfect%20Day%20(Piano%20Komorebi%20Version).%20Patrick%20Watson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaS6_4_1pnTQogsofauNyVfxP9VNw0ozMyHzj9yVV5iBtioCjM10Fup5_Xr9KaU6HKEblWWjKfARD47gi4zMozORDMIuQR4pKenmwWlZWpvqFWq5LZN1sY5qLlsI0GAwPlnlnhRk8fnvR8IdWEbOZqIIzL4G12X2ok0a6q2i9jTQ9cqrLdg4YfI_9pOE/w200-h200/Perfect%20Day%20(Piano%20Komorebi%20Version).%20Patrick%20Watson.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Perfect Day (Piano Komorebi Version). Patrick Watson</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Perfect
Day was never a single, let alone a hit for Lou Reed. 'Transformer' is
one of Reed's best loved albums, given the push by the Bowie-Ronson
production, Bowie's voice in 'Satellite Of Love' and the hit 'Walk On
The Wild Side'. Through the decades Perfect Day became better and better
known and loved for the fantastic ballad it is. Recognition sometimes
takes time to receive and Perfect Day has received it. Patrick Watson
has released a piano only version of the song. The song is in the style
of, what I disrespectfully call, the modern piano tinklers style. Recorded
with loads of reverb and echo on the piano, while playing slow notes. It
will come as no surprise that Perfect Day remains a beautiful
composition. It may even come across more subtly this way than ever
before. Watson adds melodic notes to the vocal melody enhancing the
power of the melody no little. A perfect rendition this version of
Perfect Day is.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJpg6hl1Jl7hiX95RUtl-hKtJqAb0H4JUDWmvkfON4dc5dQlNXgYZwGBPotWqpfB5O2JDqypGpQAh2gYyBZhQwz_QztcgL65AwKIAEEWNhyO7qQWwMmXuV4FKadHantToiGDo-Y9Nh6VjeTI8erYxBI5dbtw0R2iEkgvxdN0T6h3Agv3bbjWn53Shixw/s225/Gimme%20Some%20Kinda%20Sign.%20UB40.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJpg6hl1Jl7hiX95RUtl-hKtJqAb0H4JUDWmvkfON4dc5dQlNXgYZwGBPotWqpfB5O2JDqypGpQAh2gYyBZhQwz_QztcgL65AwKIAEEWNhyO7qQWwMmXuV4FKadHantToiGDo-Y9Nh6VjeTI8erYxBI5dbtw0R2iEkgvxdN0T6h3Agv3bbjWn53Shixw/w200-h200/Gimme%20Some%20Kinda%20Sign.%20UB40.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Gimme Some Kinda Sign. UB40</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>I
think there are two UB40s today. This is the one with the elder
Campbell brother in it and most of the original members. UB40 came into
my life with the single 'Food For Thought'. Although I did (and have)
not a lot with reggae music, this single resonated with me, as did many
other singles that followed through the years. I even have a few albums
and saw them live in 1983 as support act for David Bowie. After 'Rat In
Me Kitchen' the band sort of drifted from my conscience, into that state
where a single comes by on a radio or something here or there. I was
surprised to find the announcement of a new single on my digital
doorstep. For old times sake, I decided to give it a listen. 44 years
after 'Food For Thought' the band sounds like the veterans they are.
Nothing much happens but all is played in (very) good taste. UB40 knows
how to please its fans and most likely does. Robin Campbell and new
singer Matt Doyle come close to Ali's delivery, so the band is alright
here as well. They will not get me back as a distanced fan but I will
certainly not turn of the radio should Gimme Some Kinda Sign come by.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29LllHDLcDThxzN95Jb6NVYT2HVFqitivylwTvoZEov9VOut_CndQwsK5vRGL19-KLBDjBrdMxXy96NAvl2KG1Z-wUzZTJ4xHV5Es5tAQ8nxig3nA62uw-7XZVkpon4Bysa5fJ9-zmKVHVcgr1uDEs1fGI-xDyh8GW9Z4DlGEReEVjFWtENWzm1paIgs/s225/A%20Heart%20Cries.%20Lovelorn%20Dolls.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29LllHDLcDThxzN95Jb6NVYT2HVFqitivylwTvoZEov9VOut_CndQwsK5vRGL19-KLBDjBrdMxXy96NAvl2KG1Z-wUzZTJ4xHV5Es5tAQ8nxig3nA62uw-7XZVkpon4Bysa5fJ9-zmKVHVcgr1uDEs1fGI-xDyh8GW9Z4DlGEReEVjFWtENWzm1paIgs/w200-h200/A%20Heart%20Cries.%20Lovelorn%20Dolls.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>A Heart Cries. Lovelorn Dolls</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Belgian
duo Lovelorn Dolls returns to the blog with this huge song called A
Heart Cries. The song uses dynamic to the max. The verses softer and the
chorus as big as if 'The Final Countdown' is rewritten as an electronic
anthem. Kristell Lowagie's voice gets a metallic, slightly ghostly
treatment matching the long held synth chords underneath the chorus
and intro/interludes. Bernard Daubresse's music shows how he has been
influenced by (Nordic) 1990s bands with a love for Teutonic greatness.
He knows how to pump up musical muscles till the sinews nearly snap. The
music gets a metal feel, yet is far too melodic to be real metal. A
trick Rammstein plays to great success, without wanting to compare the
two acts. Lovelorn Dolls as Rammstein's opening act is totally
imaginable though. A Heart Cries is a big song in several ways.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP0XiVT4jfWrkskcOAOfhnYcjgjAtQ3E1H1J_q28nE8CFZb2OyD3TDXmVl2H1531Oa6nJuNjWf54CbDQkEdBfC8WlSKLUdT5I_uYl3c70B22iGHaU66LBqaRLEIk7M8C-1db73G4eF-NA8Vwyne69N3VyZ98A8N1Z_8YSo238rL5snIFSJP5LBtvgMfQ/s225/Get%20Back%20To%20Myself.%20Slamdinistas.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP0XiVT4jfWrkskcOAOfhnYcjgjAtQ3E1H1J_q28nE8CFZb2OyD3TDXmVl2H1531Oa6nJuNjWf54CbDQkEdBfC8WlSKLUdT5I_uYl3c70B22iGHaU66LBqaRLEIk7M8C-1db73G4eF-NA8Vwyne69N3VyZ98A8N1Z_8YSo238rL5snIFSJP5LBtvgMfQ/w200-h200/Get%20Back%20To%20Myself.%20Slamdinistas.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Get Back To Myself. Slamdinistas</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>We
finish this week with a dose of good old rock and roll from and for the first
quarter of the 21st century from California's Slamdinistas. Like Dirty
Sweet from San Diego around 20 years ago, this band rocks with a nice
raspy edge to the singers voice and a slide guitar to top things off.
Get Back To Myself may not be a song that I play in my living room every
day but is played by a band that I would love to see live one day. A
beer in one hand and the other up in the air, with a mouth that can't
decide between the beer and singing along, with my mind telling me softly in
the back of my head, you better finish up the beer now before it's all spilled thanks to the
enthusiasm around you. Get Back To Myself is that kind of song and
Slamdinistas that kind of band. It's all good, honest and full of rock
and roll quality.</span></span></p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Wout de Natris</span></span>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-82085105473158480832024-03-14T08:30:00.039+01:002024-03-14T08:30:00.126+01:00Compare What's There. Real Farmer<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZZ9IA-l6GhSB3JdQkM-vyXMB2IEIMTKazr08HWHYuNloBjsTxY0MqeTOLUsyU5-neYBRqeVYsbXKBXKe67E0xx5Z0vRQONFBGq_rQthuVLBk1y-rnaE8lUhY5SzSalFWQWBa3iDfb9VJcejFJiLKVUBT4C9caabEhiAP1Lai4rDttToDxVgmGEfuQUo/s700/Cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZZ9IA-l6GhSB3JdQkM-vyXMB2IEIMTKazr08HWHYuNloBjsTxY0MqeTOLUsyU5-neYBRqeVYsbXKBXKe67E0xx5Z0vRQONFBGq_rQthuVLBk1y-rnaE8lUhY5SzSalFWQWBa3iDfb9VJcejFJiLKVUBT4C9caabEhiAP1Lai4rDttToDxVgmGEfuQUo/w200-h200/Cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In 2019 I wrote a post about Real Farmer's eponymous EP. It contained all sort of hints at the band's name and farm(er)s. Little did I know what the world had in store where farmers were concerned in the third decade of the 21st century. The band's name certainly has a different connotation than in 2019.<p></p><p>What has not changed is the punk rock the band plays. One foot firmly in the post punk tradition that is sweeping over the western world since the late 10s and another firmly planted in the dirty, sleazy sound of original punkers of the 1970s. The mix gives Real Farmers an edge over several bands it competes with for attention in the post punk arena.</p><p>Guitarist/singer Peter van der Ploeg, bassist/singer Marrit Meinema, singer Jeroen Klootsema and drummer Leon Harms are simply charged with energy. Klootsema has that punk voice and uses it to great success. Somewhere between singing and spitting out his lines. He is assisted by Marrit Meinema who sings like both Gruppo Sportivo's original singers Meike Touw and José van Iersel in one. Enthusiastic shrieks that still amount very much to singing.</p><p>What I like about the record foremost, is the enthusiasm that jumps out of my speakers. The band is really enjoying itself and shares it with the world. At the same time the level of musicianship is totally in line with the much lauded Tramhaus and Global Charming. The Dutch post punk scene is one that is getting more distinctive by the day, with real top bands that can easily compete with what comes from abroad.</p><p>Five years is a long time and I have no idea whether this is the same line up as then. I'm not even 100% certain it is the same band. I have no clue today how I encountered Real Farmer's music in 2019. At the time the members all also played in other bands. Since the band signed with Pete Doherty's label Strap Originals. The ex-Libertines may mostly be an artist of the past, as a Dutch band it does mean a lot where recognition is concerned.</p><p>Compare What's There delivers on that promise. Things can be that simple. Real Farmers lets there be no mistake. From the very first beat the band throws itself at its listeners with all it has. There may be a short lapse of energy, so we can thankfully all catch out breathe, it is not the quality of the songs that lapse. Loud, musical, dissonant, dirty? This band has it all and proud to show it.</p><p>I'll admit to have forgotten completely about the band, thanks to Compare What's There it is right back where it belongs alright. Postpunk fans ought to know enough.</p><p>Wout de Natris</p><p><br /></p><p>You can listen to and order Compare What's There here:</p><p>https://realfarmer.bandcamp.com/album/compare-whats-there<br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-29394062812974379092024-03-13T08:30:00.103+01:002024-03-13T08:30:00.138+01:00The Girl With No Skin. Ella Ronen<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rQX-fnS2u3_WOrJgdYTc1vNW5lqL75PQFrJvidylZmEIJRk-eBgN350wCMWK9gGQ8dJKgLpMCZ9vwOPBz8cgMuIjfqN9usF_Qa4Rzu7AKfht6fe67BIeHYihqM4SDHBrLSe6EO2SUO5lgdIb_O3VdHXOr5N4-whTlxuRpr1GtRANUD8j3AeJTSA0hCo/s1500/cover%20Ella%20Ronen%20-%20The%20Girl%20With%20No%20Skin.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rQX-fnS2u3_WOrJgdYTc1vNW5lqL75PQFrJvidylZmEIJRk-eBgN350wCMWK9gGQ8dJKgLpMCZ9vwOPBz8cgMuIjfqN9usF_Qa4Rzu7AKfht6fe67BIeHYihqM4SDHBrLSe6EO2SUO5lgdIb_O3VdHXOr5N4-whTlxuRpr1GtRANUD8j3AeJTSA0hCo/w200-h200/cover%20Ella%20Ronen%20-%20The%20Girl%20With%20No%20Skin.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The Girl With No Skin is an album that starts and the attraction is immediate. 'Truth' starts ever so slow. Light percussion, a bass, an acoustic guitar are played before Ella Ronen starts singing. It was totally enough to drag me into the album. The quality of her voice comes next, somewhere between high and deep. She seems to have both all at once.<p></p><p>Ella Ronen presents serious music. The kind that demands listening and receives it, without hesitation. Slowly but surely layers of guitars are added to the arrangement, all playing a different part. My ears keep jumping from one to the other, having a hard time to keep up, while enjoying the beauty of 'Truth' all of the time.</p><p>Ella Ronen lives in Zürich in Switzerland and just released her fourth album. When she was looking for a producer for her new album, she decided she wanted to work with Sam Cohen. When addressing him, according to Cohen, she forgot to send the song with the email. On the basis of her story he decided he wanted to work with her. Sometimes things are this easy, but let's be glad it was in this case. Together they created an album that makes an immediate impression. Music can be serious and highly enjoyable. The Girl With No Skin is such an album.</p><p>In general Ella Ronen is not in a hurry. Her songs take their time. Her stories slowly unfold themself. The surprises come in the music. Little stabs in the arrangement are allowed for, keeping the listener on his toes. Ella Ronen herself is not afraid to command attention to her singing as well. For example, by providing long notes showing her emotions, where she seems to keep them tied within her with her regular voice.</p><p>Things change in the fourth song, 'Fuck Cute'. The song has totally different percussion forms, underscoring her need to express to "fuck cute, pretty and sorry". She has had enough of it. The dark guitars provide an extra layer to her feelings. This combination of musical forms is a big part of the attraction of this album. At heart this could be songs that Ella Ronen could perform solo on a piano. I have no clue whether she is a pianist, and I could be wrong, but these songs do not sound like being composed on an acoustic guitar.</p><p>From that (piano?) basis the songs are totally dislodged to undergo a full treatment in Sam Cohen's studio, to come out as a completely different product. In 'Feel Of Rising' at some point there's no instrument left besides a little percussion. Less is more, is a leading motive on The Girl With No Skin anyway. Not always, yet certainly the thought is always present. This treatment makes it a modern album, containing, at heart, traditional songs.</p><p>The song that alerted me to the album, single 'I Just Want To See You', again stands out. Not only because it is a duet with producer Sam Cohen, but because of its utterly laidback beauty. Again in the background some mysterious sounds blow like the wind and dropping away like the wind can. At the same time, it is the most regular song on The Girl With No Skin. Two people expressing their wish to see each other, against all odds and distances. It is also the softest song.</p><p>What comes next is literally a scare when it starts. 'The Mall' is the rock song Ella Ronen presents. Distorted guitars and all. It is the ugliest song on the album as well. Dissonant by intent and delivery. Even her voice gets a treatment making it sound more electronic. 'The Mall' stands out like a sore thumb. Ella Ronen can rock successfully when she decides to do so.</p><p>In 'Tightrope' the mood goes down again. Only relatively though. The song has a very present drum part coupled with a Michael McDonald style electric piano. The combination makes 'Tightrope' the most poppy and commercial song of the album. Still far from what I associate with the charts today. I can imagine the song becoming a hit in more alternative charts. It sort of slides into my brain to stick there permanently.</p><p>Ella Ronen presents a varied album, mostly very serious but a glorious listening experience. From beginning to end she holds me mesmerised and taking me on her musical ride, showing me her stories and family history as in 'Rearview'. The Girl With No Skin is impressive, this is the right word to use.</p><p>Wout de Natris</p><p>You can listen to and order The Girl with No Skin here:</p><p>https://ellaronen.bandcamp.com/album/the-girl-with-no-skin<br /></p><p><br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-28209828055404046332024-03-12T08:30:00.029+01:002024-03-12T08:30:00.169+01:00Everybody Knows. The Bony King of Nowhere<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLv3F7lg0kiG_wwdZhN3hppqGMs1OqtbJcfo_NcRUWBz2YFlg1ZcrIpAP3g1DS35LuxQqtXe7BvEVemvxIaNmciavjI-ch8FoneOZCxW_MpRMf2ORxODY7qs0EMqcTGOvV4NcCkvLoiJn3GsgwgI7Lf2g3uel6Js342is9Sr5sfEnmGUeyGQqcPN-mytM/s700/Everybody%20Knows.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLv3F7lg0kiG_wwdZhN3hppqGMs1OqtbJcfo_NcRUWBz2YFlg1ZcrIpAP3g1DS35LuxQqtXe7BvEVemvxIaNmciavjI-ch8FoneOZCxW_MpRMf2ORxODY7qs0EMqcTGOvV4NcCkvLoiJn3GsgwgI7Lf2g3uel6Js342is9Sr5sfEnmGUeyGQqcPN-mytM/w200-h200/Everybody%20Knows.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Welcome to the blog Bram Vanparys, better known under his nom de plume The Bony King of Nowhere. The Belgian singer-songwriter has released records for 15 years, Everybody Knows is his sixth album. Five passed me by. Thank to an interview in 'Oor', I decided to listen and the rest is history.<p></p><p>The first impression of the album is that I'm listening to Radiohead light. The way Vanparys uses his voice clearly is inspired by Thom Yorke, the music is more or less what Radiohead or The Smile would release if they decided not to deconstruct their songs first and build them up from the elements lying on the studio's floor. As a result The Bony King of Nowhere's music has a mysterious layer over it that invites to listen again and again. And isn't that what every artist craves?</p><p>As this is a new album by an artist that I never listened to before, in fact making his debut on this blog, I cannot compare to previous work. What I do notice, is that this is The Bony King's first album in five and a half years. That is more than just getting through the Covid period. In fact, it's a long time, so long people can forget you.</p><p>This would be a shame, as Everybody Knows is an album with a very consistent level of quality. The way the album opens with 'Are You Still Alive', is near mesmerising. This is not just any song, this much is clear before Bram Vanparys starts singing. Too much has already happened, without anything exorbitant or laying it on too thick. This is all in very good taste, while my ears are presented with one surprise after the other.</p><p>There is one thing I have to mention. The bio on Bandcamp can reference any name it likes, there's only one band I associate the song with: Radiohead. Fans of that band can buy Everybody Knows earfolded. Quality and taste, decribe 'Are You Still Alive'. The song is so rich and so full of constant surprises musically. An extra ear would not be a bad service, were it to be supplied as a service when buying the album.</p><p>Where the first song has the guitar as a basis, 'Get One Free' starts with a piano. After this the main surprises are over, what remains is the quality and the richness of the songs. What happens on Everybody Knows is all very well thought out. It may have taken years to write and record the album, the time was used extremely well. Experiments were undertaken, probably ditched, changed, added to, all leading to this sonic experience, as that it is. Nothing is what it seems, all the time. Mysterious, like I wrote at the beginning, that is the word describing the album well.</p><p>Wout de Natris</p><p><br /></p><p>You can listen to and order Everybody Knows here:</p><p>https://tbkon.bandcamp.com/album/everybody-knows<br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-6630315899825686022024-03-11T08:30:00.000+01:002024-03-11T08:30:00.139+01:00The Pendulum Swing. Katherine Priddy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyoGlwmYuL_Hn3CkTc6XYf17okPzCjziiy1PKZLv4jBkvsrnX0dE6fNuTe2lMWtCtdmPTSaFFiLYHJSinDifuHQtiDIXhpNF4LTF87Yb6EYPxYx1jTo-xLKBmewN2uXejmngUWty98cTMQ8GuYbdR4gxH46nAow14w1OvLZrHxWp2HbBGcK_Wpbtd1eQ/s700/The%20Pendulum%20Swing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyoGlwmYuL_Hn3CkTc6XYf17okPzCjziiy1PKZLv4jBkvsrnX0dE6fNuTe2lMWtCtdmPTSaFFiLYHJSinDifuHQtiDIXhpNF4LTF87Yb6EYPxYx1jTo-xLKBmewN2uXejmngUWty98cTMQ8GuYbdR4gxH46nAow14w1OvLZrHxWp2HbBGcK_Wpbtd1eQ/w200-h200/The%20Pendulum%20Swing.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>De Britse singer-songwriter Katherine Priddy leverde met haar debuutalbum The Eternal Rocks Beneath een van de mooiste (folk)albums van 2021 af en herhaalt dat kunstje met het misschien nog wel indrukwekkendere The Pendulum Swing.<p></p><p>Katherine Priddy’s debuutalbum The Eternal Rocks Beneath werd bijna drie jaar geleden terecht overladen met superlatieven. De Britse folkmuzikante gaf immers op subtiele wijze een eigen draai aan de traditionele Britse folk en betoverde met een stem die niet onder deed voor de mooiste stemmen in het genre. Ook op haar tweede album The Pendulum Swing maakt de Britse muzikante onmiddellijk een onuitwisbare indruk met haar prachtige stem, maar ze verrast ook met een wat voller geluid, dat nog net wat meer dan op haar debuutalbum de grenzen van de traditionele Britse folk opzoekt. “A rich, thoughtful creation” noemt The Guardian het en dat is het.<br /></p><p>Het gaat te ver om te zeggen dat ik niet zo heel veel heb met de wat traditionelere Britse folk, want er zijn absoluut albums in het genre die me zeer dierbaar zijn, maar het is zeker niet mijn favoriete genre, waardoor ik nieuwe albums in het genre vaak laat liggen. Er zijn echter uitzonderingen en het in 2021 verschenen The Eternal Rocks Beneath van Katherine Priddy was zo’n uitzondering. Het debuutalbum van de Britse muzikante maakte direct bij de eerste keer horen een onuitwisbare indruk en schopte het uiteindelijk tot de top 10 van mijn jaarlijstje over 2021. <br /><br />Nu liet Katherine Priddy zich op haar debuutalbum weliswaar stevig beïnvloeden door de traditionele Britse folk, maar ze zocht ook zeker de grenzen van het genre op, zij het op subtiele wijze. The Eternal Rocks Beneath was in alle opzichten een mooi en indrukwekkend album, maar het was vooral de stem van Katherine Priddy die er uit sprong. De Britse muzikante, die terecht werd bejubeld door de folk minnende muziekpers, herinnerde met haar stem aan de groten uit de Britse folk en betoverde een album lang met haar zang. <br /><br />Deze week keert Katherine Priddy terug met haar tweede album en daar zit door het succes van The Eternal Rocks Beneath wel wat druk op. Katherine Priddy laat op The Pendulum Swing horen dat ze goed om kan gaan met deze druk. Het tweede album van de muzikante uit Birmingham gaat op zich verder waar haar debuutalbum bijna drie jaar geleden ophield, maar meer van hetzelfde is The Pendulum Swing niet. <br /><br />Ook op haar tweede album maakt Katherine Priddy geen geheim van haar liefde voor de traditionele Britse folk en ook dit keer imponeert de Britse muzikante met haar stem, die absoluut behoort tot de mooiste (folk)stemmen van het moment. Ook voor The Pendulum Swing deed de Britse muzikante een beroep op producer Simon Weever, maar hij heeft het tweede album van Katherine Priddy voorzien van een wat voller geluid. <br /><br />Op haar debuutalbum beperkte Katherine Priddy zich zeker niet tot de akoestische folk, maar The Pendulum Spring is nog veel rijker ingekleurd met akoestische en elektrische gitaren, synths en strijkers en blazers. The Pendulum Swing klinkt voller dan het debuutalbum, maar de instrumentatie staat nog altijd in dienst van de prachtige stem van Katherine Priddy, die me direct bij de eerste vocale noten van haar nieuwe album te pakken had. Het is een stem die ook zonder muzikale begeleiding waarschijnlijk makkelijk overeind blijft, maar die het ook opvallend goed doet in de fraai ingekleurde klanken op The Pendulum Swing. <br /><br />Vergeleken met haar debuutalbum doet Katherine Priddy op album nummer twee alles nog net wat beter dan op haar debuutalbum, maar de meeste progressie hoor ik in haar songs, die een stuk veelzijdiger zijn dan op haar debuutalbum en die stuk voor stuk diepe indruk maken dankzij de gelaagdheid en veelzijdigheid. Die indruk maakt Katherine Priddy overigens ook weer met haar geletterde teksten, die deels zeer persoonlijk van aard zijn.<br /><br />Het tweede album van Katherine Priddy blijft de Britse folk grotendeels deels trouw, maar zoekt nog iets nadrukkelijker de grenzen van het genre op, zonder al te zeer te verdwalen overigens en met een vleugje country en een snufje Ennio Morricone als uitersten. Voor folkpuristen kleurt Katherine Priddy misschien net wat te vaak buiten de lijntjes, maar ik vind The Pendulum Swing een fantastisch album, dat uiteindelijk haar zo indrukwekkende debuutalbum wel eens kan gaan overtreffen.</p><p>Erwin Zijleman</p><p><br /></p><p>Je kunt The Pendulum Swing hier luisteren en bestellen:</p><p>https://katherinepriddy.bandcamp.com/album/the-pendulum-swing<br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-82289238923298553202024-03-10T08:30:00.002+01:002024-03-10T08:30:00.139+01:00.NoWordsNeedeD, 10 March 2024<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MimVRMwusE"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Walk Away (youtube.com)</span></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">.No</p>.Nohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11373175867600902104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-42070308553285963652024-03-09T08:30:00.024+01:002024-03-09T08:30:00.240+01:00Into The Realm Of Love. Donna Blue<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhgaCaE_r-8gRZ5Srcud1pgNBl6h58JDM1-4KJ7y4jZ3guld1folxcHYX3BgVQHVspY1PodYKlCuFmZi6ccqRwMsAk3Y639wguxlSVz8ZBBj6GVJ8QU7Rf_akW__tmwKfIKdKsa_WsaIAhPaY2VIZHz1n27DAmuVUjxixPsHozB5Kf-sSRfYNUtps6Pw/s700/Into%20The%20Realm%20Of%20Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhgaCaE_r-8gRZ5Srcud1pgNBl6h58JDM1-4KJ7y4jZ3guld1folxcHYX3BgVQHVspY1PodYKlCuFmZi6ccqRwMsAk3Y639wguxlSVz8ZBBj6GVJ8QU7Rf_akW__tmwKfIKdKsa_WsaIAhPaY2VIZHz1n27DAmuVUjxixPsHozB5Kf-sSRfYNUtps6Pw/w200-h200/Into%20The%20Realm%20Of%20Love.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Donna Blue is on this blog from its very first single, although admittedly it took me a few months, over the summer holiday, for it to sink in. The date was 23 August 2018. Five and a half years down life's line the band is ready to release its second full length album. The singles preceding it all went down very well on this blog. So, how does Into The Realm If Love fare?<p></p><p>That answer is easy to provide. Fans of Donna Blue, like I am, will be extremely happy with Into The Realm Of Love. It is everything and more I hoped for, showing an incredible growth in suaveness and a positive form of decadence. When I hear Danique van Kesteren sing, it's like the warm-beating, red-glowing heart of an ice queen with all the promises that brings.</p><p>With Into The Realm Of Love Donna Blue has reached its peak, I would say. Where possibly to go next when this mix of the sixties, slow surf, film music and 1960s French sigh girls, including Nancy Sinatra is presented in such a convincing way? That next step is actually beyond my imagination. But, who am I? I am only the one who likes to be surprised. And that is what Donna Blue has done so far, time and again.</p><p>Like I already wrote, the duo's new album is at a high point, if not a lonely top, in its sort. I even have images of Marlène Dietrich in a (Berlin) cabaret in the 1930s. This kind of music could not be made at the time, but it certainly would have landed well. Donna Blue has found inspiration at many places over several decades and employs them extremely well. It results in a beautiful album. An album to listen to, dream away with, slow dance to, to submerge into. Into The Realm Of Love has it all.</p><p>The growth from record one to number two is considerable. There is almost no comparison. Child's play versus very grown up and serious. That is where the two stand relatively. Donna Blue has not left its basis. Far from even. What the duo did, is skip all the levels between the ground floor and reached for the top penthouse with ease. Musically the album is so much further and richer. The options Donna Blue could use seem to be so much larger and that shows in the rich details of the music. The arrangements are simply extremely well thought out.<br /></p><p>The mood on the album is a cold, dreamy one. The music keeps its distance, except that I'm not allowing it to. It's me that decides to submerge in it. No matter the distanced way in which Danique sings. In this the reverb laden guitar of Bart van Dalen matches her voice perfectly. But then start listening to that glorious bass that adorns many of the songs, the subtle drumming and all, all else. That is where you find that glowing, red heart in Donna Blue's music. (And then Danique sings 'White Horses' with her most seductive voice.)<br /></p><p>In short, I had expected a good album but certainly not one at this level of musicianship. Donna Blue has made huge strides and deserves a wider audience. It is ready for it. Into The Realm Of Love is a fantastic album.</p><p>Wout de Natris</p><p><br /></p><p>You can listen to and order Into The Realm Of Love here:</p><p>https://snowstar.bandcamp.com/album/into-the-realm-of-love<br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-16791731826335884262024-03-08T08:30:00.024+01:002024-03-08T08:30:00.253+01:00Black Sheep. WiMP!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8K4owFmgrk8Di_TJmrhoVrq0AROYUoKWzZDtjGNVCsNvGtqi3OQfHDyWdRqwRkQsgXRbs0b0wJj9AMgxoqCLOgU2Oj8Di8sG1T2a_SJUIcYszjpOAYSCUnXJ12EMkTjiRLtx1yeii8AVLvbee5w-pUhT6WQE9-e3VNztwwIfAfR4NDPPcjh0AaLLJgsQ/s1532/WiMP!_Black%20Sheep_Rum%20Bar%20Records%202024.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="1496" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8K4owFmgrk8Di_TJmrhoVrq0AROYUoKWzZDtjGNVCsNvGtqi3OQfHDyWdRqwRkQsgXRbs0b0wJj9AMgxoqCLOgU2Oj8Di8sG1T2a_SJUIcYszjpOAYSCUnXJ12EMkTjiRLtx1yeii8AVLvbee5w-pUhT6WQE9-e3VNztwwIfAfR4NDPPcjh0AaLLJgsQ/w195-h200/WiMP!_Black%20Sheep_Rum%20Bar%20Records%202024.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>Thanks to the single 'Suitcase' I was alerted to an album I should not have missed. Black Sheep is an album so full of energy and melody that every lover of rock and roll and punk should hear it. The band, Jordan Acosta - Guitar & Vocals, Cheyenne Dean - Bass & Vocals, Kevin Kalen - Guitar & Vocals, Joe Salamone - Drums & Vocals, literally do everything right on Black Sheep.<p></p><p>Punkrock fans will recognise influences ranging from The Ramones to The Offspring and back. For me punk stops when there's just anger and frustration. Often here after enter weak melodies and a lot of screaming and shouting. WiMP! however translates these emotions into golden melodies played with the pedal surely but safely pushed in hard.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-VJzOMzRNh-FwC98I1KKJAVFEFje3BDxjQQyUpoo_OtWvs0pjyUzZtAhEEMMTeVH_yTyfN_7qHPIvJ67LPHrFxjX5eXJEIAmfykqapxPkMM7FBmk9iAc4Py-kBu5UR-z3NUTky6nsbvkj_B5rxfOIFK00EPRbkQW97ZpQ23U37pUWHEXgHlo3PwykxU/s2086/WiMP!.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1687" data-original-width="2086" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-VJzOMzRNh-FwC98I1KKJAVFEFje3BDxjQQyUpoo_OtWvs0pjyUzZtAhEEMMTeVH_yTyfN_7qHPIvJ67LPHrFxjX5eXJEIAmfykqapxPkMM7FBmk9iAc4Py-kBu5UR-z3NUTky6nsbvkj_B5rxfOIFK00EPRbkQW97ZpQ23U37pUWHEXgHlo3PwykxU/w200-h162/WiMP!.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Suitcase turned out to be the outlier on Black Sheep. The song is sung by bass player Cheyenne Dean, where all the others are sung by Jordan Acosta. This surprised me when I put on the album, but not for long. Acosta's voice is great for these songs and I'm certain that Dean's background vocals enrich Black Sheep more than if it had been the other way around. The harmony vocals certainly are another strong selling point for the album. The two really sing well together, sometimes assisted by guitarist Kalen and drummer Salamone. More importantly, the songs invite singing along to and as loud as possible.<br /><p></p><p>What keeps hitting me, as it were, is the energy contained on Black Sheep. The songs are to the point. If there's a solo it is to the point. Additional melodies within a song are always found. The power of the band comes fully across. So does an album like Black Sheep need more words? No, it doesn't. The music tells the story and my impression of it can be contained in just three words: I love it!</p><p>Wout de Natris</p><p><br /></p><p>You can listen to and order Black Sheep here:</p><p>https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/black-sheep<br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-38478150638178998462024-03-07T08:30:00.000+01:002024-03-07T08:30:00.157+01:002024. Week 10, 10 singles<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_skX3aRHJBcv7Wx2RwHlpkuRahyphenhypheno43rCtKyrluODexV2J11kJ8I7k77wSQpY7cmReZ9O8zGVuTRjcSNXvXC6CxI9i6COHBvLaaDleAF3yNbi8ZXdZ7-o6imKjZrN-bkQrU-8DesHQdMFDpL6TPKAQ5OoHFUSsdzkL8LJwUxASGO6nOHVhoz2A3VwIEs/s225/Mindcave.%20Dreamwave.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_skX3aRHJBcv7Wx2RwHlpkuRahyphenhypheno43rCtKyrluODexV2J11kJ8I7k77wSQpY7cmReZ9O8zGVuTRjcSNXvXC6CxI9i6COHBvLaaDleAF3yNbi8ZXdZ7-o6imKjZrN-bkQrU-8DesHQdMFDpL6TPKAQ5OoHFUSsdzkL8LJwUxASGO6nOHVhoz2A3VwIEs/w200-h200/Mindcave.%20Dreamwave.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>Had I had a blog a long time ago, the singles section would contain mostly, now, very famous songs. Today only songs are presented that I will not once hear on the radio, exceptions permitted. One reason is that I am not alerted to new singles from famous bands. I am alerted to a whole host of bands that make music on the side of the band members' lives or young aspiring artists still dreaming of a long and successful career. This makes this selection all the more interesting of course. There's truly new music to discover and like. So, feel invited to open your ears and explore.</i><br /><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Mindcave. Dreamwave</b></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Here
we go, with a fierce uptempo psychedelic outing called Mindcave.
Inspired by a scene with a cave and a spider in 'The Lord of the Rings',
I can imagine Mindcave being the imaginary soundtrack to Frodo Baggins'
escape from the cave. Dreamwave really gets things cracking,
referencing 1960s psych rock as well as a more modern band like The
Black Angels in its rocking mode. The U.K. band knows what it likes and
loves to share it with its audience. Not without a whole lot of
enthusiasm thrown into the mix and the ability play. The sound of
Mindcave is totally muddy, thanks to the psychedelics in there and the
effects that come with it. What I wind up with thinking is that this
single with right could have been called Mindrave as well. This song is
serious and fun time in one.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjZVn0IE4Pt9yzofp9z3OBrPuyL5AVdlUYT9TgjGeaQgYUb-GoY6NVGCNql7YWH4m7rXg36BWSomX8kgRZwNMoZ8SST8_hgky_z7Hc-t0W8-jIpjGWlFvQvvURZ5UQlVHJ0FRHZGyQ-5euIVw-alaJucVTK4tdOBQYukkXu_ZW8n72PJrp5BOTnpte8M/s225/A%20Cure%20for%20My%20Feels.%20Simpleton.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjZVn0IE4Pt9yzofp9z3OBrPuyL5AVdlUYT9TgjGeaQgYUb-GoY6NVGCNql7YWH4m7rXg36BWSomX8kgRZwNMoZ8SST8_hgky_z7Hc-t0W8-jIpjGWlFvQvvURZ5UQlVHJ0FRHZGyQ-5euIVw-alaJucVTK4tdOBQYukkXu_ZW8n72PJrp5BOTnpte8M/w200-h200/A%20Cure%20for%20My%20Feels.%20Simpleton.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>A Cure for My Feels. Simpleton</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Nervousness and tight pop is what describes A Cure
For My Feels while listening to the song for the first time. In fact, I
am almost convinced half way that I'm listening to a great alternative
rock song. By the time the solo starts I'm sold. Simpleton is the
moniker under which Chris Berendsen works. If ever a band name was
chosen wrongly! This song has the energy an alternative rocksong needs,
the arrangement is clever, the melody simply golden. A quick search told
me that this is Simpleton's second single on this blog. At the start of
the last summer his single 'Light The Fuse' made it to these pages and
received a warm welcome. That makes two out of two. It seems like it's
justified to call Simpleton a talent. In June 2023 an EP was announced
already. We had to be patient. We are still tested, as 'The Simpleton
Show: Pt 1' is only released on 19 April.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLrlWoddAyMjJuPZyxaMAJt-ThVviPno4CBU1mmxefQMebZkGHlRR5CanBhFqi9OgUdjCDjV7AtsvUNt1uTLm5CwiOS-hhv1NFSEqnlD2Vcf88_BXRQeqRZ-NlFwmeT74Fq-kYCB4UQGdpZAwZ5iplSut9XOouPNNSanf1qT9g_QrRG-u0GnaadDYIiM/s225/Sidelines.%20The%20Day.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLrlWoddAyMjJuPZyxaMAJt-ThVviPno4CBU1mmxefQMebZkGHlRR5CanBhFqi9OgUdjCDjV7AtsvUNt1uTLm5CwiOS-hhv1NFSEqnlD2Vcf88_BXRQeqRZ-NlFwmeT74Fq-kYCB4UQGdpZAwZ5iplSut9XOouPNNSanf1qT9g_QrRG-u0GnaadDYIiM/w200-h200/Sidelines.%20The%20Day.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Sidelines. The Day</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Dutch
- German duo The Day is described as playing dreampop. I beg to differ
for at least 50%. Although the duo surely has that dreamy quality in
it, the music is far too tough in two ways. The first is that 80s
synthpop vibe meandering around Sidelines. Secondly, Sidelines rocks.
Just listen how that The Cure bass sound opens the single and the tough
drums playing behind it. When the electric guitars come in the dream is
exchanged for wide-awake-pop in my opinion. In fact, if the duo is able to
play live with a band, this song will get people dancing alright. In my
opinion there's no way people will stand still the moment the guitar
comes in.</span></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span> The most dreamy quality of The Day is
in the voice of singer Laura Loeters.</span></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span> The duo is about to release its second album, 'The Kids Are
Alright' on 10 May. Sidelines in the meantime is a very pleasant
introduction to The Day as far as I'm concerned.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMnC_ZMqzlncAWZZ0Kxp7OOh5SObyet_8ED_DM1axRQPGu7YA_y4KCMy18AY8N5Sy7fmTsRoI8KzueHFUOTHbZRRhUWUwgLO5fGSl6IR9YRE4D9874XfEJ5qC3LxKdpBav6vRZcs_YemDe4aDp2S16Xk8hlbeZRmkNNYFsBNgAVYwEPJ45wDFC55Bb6E/s225/Glass%20Bowl%20Dance.%20Boskat.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMnC_ZMqzlncAWZZ0Kxp7OOh5SObyet_8ED_DM1axRQPGu7YA_y4KCMy18AY8N5Sy7fmTsRoI8KzueHFUOTHbZRRhUWUwgLO5fGSl6IR9YRE4D9874XfEJ5qC3LxKdpBav6vRZcs_YemDe4aDp2S16Xk8hlbeZRmkNNYFsBNgAVYwEPJ45wDFC55Bb6E/w200-h200/Glass%20Bowl%20Dance.%20Boskat.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Glass Bowl Dance. Boskat</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Four
weeks before Simpleton, see above, Boskat made its debut on this blog with single
'Stick To Your Guns'. On the 15th the Belgian duo releases its first
album 'Welcome to Planet Urmit'. Drummer Tibo Polleunis and guitarist
Vincent Van Santfoort play a lot more than they can ever reproduce on
stage as a duo. Glass Bowl Dance is a song in the style of Nirvana, as
in the light and the shade are present in abundance in this song. It really rocks and has a great melody. I think singer Vincent would
have loved to have that little extra edge to his voice, which he hasn't.
I doesn't matter, as his voice convinces in the harder sequences of
Glass Bowl Dance, that musically is somewhere between Nirvana and Pearl
Jam. That is actually a great spot to be in and certainly when your song
has the quality this single has. Add that Van Santfoort can play a great
guitar solo as well and you know enough. Grunge fans old and new, check
out Boskat soon.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunpAZVdVgQMpSRQ3gKuLvpUdG1Lz0ili9XuyEfavGd52PYAD6xKmsn_s7_1Dvku3aNlw9OOxc_PuK-x0ekM0Ji2ZEdFwVN9r2olMWagX0qv1XOvMjMTAhdJEU_ddjA4zy_lNx05f-0_W_J9eq-RTB3p6CeETjUpJ-xczVserMPueePqWxt0o0En2GxJg/s225/By%20A%20Threat.%20Jade%20Dust.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunpAZVdVgQMpSRQ3gKuLvpUdG1Lz0ili9XuyEfavGd52PYAD6xKmsn_s7_1Dvku3aNlw9OOxc_PuK-x0ekM0Ji2ZEdFwVN9r2olMWagX0qv1XOvMjMTAhdJEU_ddjA4zy_lNx05f-0_W_J9eq-RTB3p6CeETjUpJ-xczVserMPueePqWxt0o0En2GxJg/w200-h200/By%20A%20Threat.%20Jade%20Dust.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>By A Threat. Jade Dust</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>More
punkrock from Portland, Oregon. By now I know that there's a whole
scene of punk bands of which I would never have heard were it not that
someone started sending me links to new singles and albums. Jade Dust is
another band in that basket. Formed in the year before the lockdown,
Jade Dust released a first EP in 2021 and now is ready for its first full
length album called 'Grey Skies', out for a week. By A Threat is a song
that does not contain more than strictly necessary. 1 minute 57 seconds
and Jade Dust has said it all and this includes a spacey, not strictly
necessary ending. Don't expect any subtlety. This band goes for it
in a direct way. The chorus opens the song and invites everyone to yell along
immediately. What follows is a storm cooked up by drums, bass and two
guitars. Singer Rudi Jung spits out his lyrics. Yes, I call it
singing, as there is clearly a melody, but it's more attitude than
singing I think. As a whole By A Threat stands like a house as we say
over here. Time to singalong, folks: "By a, by a threat".<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdn8UEPxXH1t6HHyIXGMfgViazhVDckJU0SKq_iBpGig4RxkzRT9t7bRIgIN4EwIFG-yItN2fDSlJzwVcYAfM4bviznaFmM5prMwCADpOIZFOJhcDBALNofGW0IgknpiIMjH1m-rRtsxZuxBuypR-GlS3HamD0EY160yHga6ibOS8y1P1MzSH8bWPACXo/s225/Suitcase.%20WiMP!.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdn8UEPxXH1t6HHyIXGMfgViazhVDckJU0SKq_iBpGig4RxkzRT9t7bRIgIN4EwIFG-yItN2fDSlJzwVcYAfM4bviznaFmM5prMwCADpOIZFOJhcDBALNofGW0IgknpiIMjH1m-rRtsxZuxBuypR-GlS3HamD0EY160yHga6ibOS8y1P1MzSH8bWPACXo/w200-h200/Suitcase.%20WiMP!.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Suitcase. WiMP!</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>More
punkrock and this time from Rockford, Illinois. Unfortunately it is
impossible to keep up with everything released. 'Black Sheep', WiMP!'s
album, is already out for a month and passed me by, I have to admit.
Enter single Suitcase that was still hidden in this list of recently
released singles. I was playing it only for a few seconds and it jumped
at me as if the black sheep stood in for the killer rabbit in 'The Holy
Grail'. Just listen how the band kicks this song off. All the energy and
the fun of playing together is unleashed on this unsuspecting listener.
Singer and bassist Cheyenne Dean sings like the best of them 40some
years ago. Suitcase is the kind of song that combines loud punkrock with
a great and urgent melody. A person is sent off here without any doubts
left. The "narcissistic fuck" is told to pack his suitcase. At the same
time WiMP! packed this message in a golden song, while managing to
present the sound totally clear. 'Black Sheep', was it? Time to listen
anyway.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissulwVqYy6X2dRh9WCSyF3j6dOh-ucnrsMWQTGHPnqcx7HAc5-zO5Wq0AouVFB897MMslE7ik6y-_o8CC3eEdHC08jECVR4OeGuNoUVdIeUgBlDZGa0GzFJHDIs0WCz_0eboCV01arHP2g44WsvR5kcw8JrNJKO9sGC0TVJQalJh7o_NeomocXxl-RUo/s225/A%20Series%20Of%20Chemicals.%20The%20Magic%20City.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissulwVqYy6X2dRh9WCSyF3j6dOh-ucnrsMWQTGHPnqcx7HAc5-zO5Wq0AouVFB897MMslE7ik6y-_o8CC3eEdHC08jECVR4OeGuNoUVdIeUgBlDZGa0GzFJHDIs0WCz_0eboCV01arHP2g44WsvR5kcw8JrNJKO9sGC0TVJQalJh7o_NeomocXxl-RUo/w200-h200/A%20Series%20Of%20Chemicals.%20The%20Magic%20City.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>A Series Of Chemicals. The Magic City</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Very
good observers will recall The Magic City was on the blog in the fall
of last year with a single reminding me of Bowie and U.K. music from the
70s and 90s. Not so the band's latest, A Series Of Chemicals. This song is
U.S. the whole of the way. While listening, a song that was only a minor hit here in the
1980s but still comes by regularly on the radio, was the first song I
thought of, 'Your Love' by The Outfield. One of these one hit wonders.
The Magic City presents a mix of pure pop and power pop, the music that
goes for the heart and the mind. But when all is said and done, I
certainly hear a little The Kinks from around 1980, when they released
albums aimed at the U.S. market, having been all but forgotten in
Europe. Summing up A Series Of Chemicals is a completely honest song, the kind more should be made of in 2024.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2dOT5fPS2Hl9tXmg7P1UtNlSUNLFCGObamSerPvgfkNyZoN3ZkHCkgz98QFbTCR8eyPCWLPSjhbMt5HMH-uYTeterAfNgJIurBRqQd-DecheWFjamtR5YrLex4bCDxDgSzaLN2TdeBgX1umTa2C3jHfs90dkqVYO56_jfiBb9hNJxcaCvXyeq37MOe8/s225/Bull%20Of%20A%20Man.%20Shaggahs.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2dOT5fPS2Hl9tXmg7P1UtNlSUNLFCGObamSerPvgfkNyZoN3ZkHCkgz98QFbTCR8eyPCWLPSjhbMt5HMH-uYTeterAfNgJIurBRqQd-DecheWFjamtR5YrLex4bCDxDgSzaLN2TdeBgX1umTa2C3jHfs90dkqVYO56_jfiBb9hNJxcaCvXyeq37MOe8/w200-h200/Bull%20Of%20A%20Man.%20Shaggahs.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Bull Of A Man. Shaggahs</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>A
long lost album resurfaces and where else then on Rum Bar Records from
Boston. 'Extra Stout' originally saw the light of day in 1993, when I
certainly did not hear it. On the basis of the single Bull Of A Man it
certainly will be worthwhile to listen to Shaggahs, and yes, it means
what you are thinking right now. What I did not know that the word shagg is Celtic (if
true of course). In 1993 the band was already looking into the rearview
mirror where the music it played was concerned. Singer Lennie Donohoe
has a bit of Lou Reed in his phrasing, not Reed's depth. This makes his
voice in an more uptempo song like Bull Of A Man more pleasant to listen
to. The music was influenced by the alternative rock of the 1960s and
70s as well. The postpunk music in the U.S. is the last element and you
will understand what Bull Of A Man sounds like. Pretty cool that this
song was saved from obscurity. It deserves to be.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRDHXN7UqjuRidDQIjoqXIHtrwrNQXrIM_k5FoXO9bwpsimFQ-4Pddzs0NkWEnL1D10g4KE-QZxYZakxzScZqzWwBTfOT1OnKddItIEQP7QXXXPGPgCHxdXmi6ml_klXAY0amWj7B7nbYWk7RKzmaFVxYrBbTCm5XqbBTUt1ZC2jpTZ7nOqactujCWz8/s225/Rock-n-Roll%20Is%20My%20Business%20%20Son%20of%20a%20Gun.%20Dmitry%20Wild.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRDHXN7UqjuRidDQIjoqXIHtrwrNQXrIM_k5FoXO9bwpsimFQ-4Pddzs0NkWEnL1D10g4KE-QZxYZakxzScZqzWwBTfOT1OnKddItIEQP7QXXXPGPgCHxdXmi6ml_klXAY0amWj7B7nbYWk7RKzmaFVxYrBbTCm5XqbBTUt1ZC2jpTZ7nOqactujCWz8/w200-h200/Rock-n-Roll%20Is%20My%20Business%20%20Son%20of%20a%20Gun.%20Dmitry%20Wild.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Rock-n-Roll Is My Business / Son of a Gun. Dmitry Wild</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Wild
finds himself on the blog for the third time. On this single's A-side
he takes a deep dive into rock and roll's history. The tempo is that
stuttering going on in Screaming Jay Hawkins' 'I Put A Spell On You'. It
includes a saxophone as well. The sound is totally modern though. There's no
comparison in that sense. The atmosphere is the same. It sounds as if
the devil is sharing that rock and roll is his business, and it was of
course according to a host of parents and clergymen in the 1950s. In
2024 people may not like rock and roll, the devil is out of sight for
decades already. Whole generations can enjoy Dmitry Wild's single, that
totally goes out of control at the end. The rock and the roll are fully
unleashed and the party starts. B-side Son Of A Gun is just as strong.
It reminds me of that great single 'Dracula' by ZZ and the Maskers from
the mid-60s. Until, again, a modern sounds defies all comparison with
old recordings. Wild on this duo single is wallowing in nostalgia, while
not forgetting that he's an artist in the 2020s. The combination truly
works. Rock and roll for this decade this single is.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZsvfV-n2T8np7LvtUI3IGwJyHI5z_BKt-3IlnkMBFcLlk1IA4CAxwvHyOCJS8LR79iyQcAZRDq5ojJGPd_QncTdJg5J_Ef-BHhFYF_HGHYdSbJUJj0PozdQH_u57_7PYXZkUrxDfbovsuS7JrcwbxreSqquZqaX-XNyoK2ntcYPA87sIrM-KQTD37S0/s225/Gen%20Z.%20Soft%20Boy.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZsvfV-n2T8np7LvtUI3IGwJyHI5z_BKt-3IlnkMBFcLlk1IA4CAxwvHyOCJS8LR79iyQcAZRDq5ojJGPd_QncTdJg5J_Ef-BHhFYF_HGHYdSbJUJj0PozdQH_u57_7PYXZkUrxDfbovsuS7JrcwbxreSqquZqaX-XNyoK2ntcYPA87sIrM-KQTD37S0/w200-h200/Gen%20Z.%20Soft%20Boy.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Gen Z. Soft Boy</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Thanks to the last band, from Belgium, the mood finally goes down again. Combo Soft
Boy takes its time to present a single from its upcoming album 'Almost
Hungry' (15 March). Gen Z is the most lonely generation, so I learned from
today's newspaper, thanks to being continuously online on the
not-so-social media. Soft Boy obviously wraps a warm arm around the
shoulders of all these lonely, emotionally depraved youngsters. The tempo
is slow. Automatically a listener is invited to listen, as in truly listen and
relax. To the slow soft but present drums, the slow played notes on
guitar and bass and the warm keys, oops violin seeing the video, coming
in here and there. Singer Xander Hamelton takes the listeners all
through the modern age, assisted by some magical backing vocals. Gen Z
is a great pop single that puts Soft Boy firmly on the map. I am left
with only one question: What can possibly come after Gen Z? (The
generation not the song.)</span></span></p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Wout de Natris</span></span><p></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-68259607201547620592024-03-06T08:30:00.013+01:002024-03-06T08:30:00.132+01:00Daniel. Real Estate<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo14Hi6YbJODTMKGYADQQjDt9RUH_-yHAyjph55y0m-6Ioe4rP3SJWf8COLmrONIA9flICXJKRU5BPP6jRTLGS4OloEgnTekjuQ9WAsyr5MH0eGBr0WjyEFMEPpQnJane49e7mkSSvksmWrC11qHZJFE_qqCLM-P5iBLLWwu3o0Ud1N8zxUbcSqrXjRrE/s700/Daniel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo14Hi6YbJODTMKGYADQQjDt9RUH_-yHAyjph55y0m-6Ioe4rP3SJWf8COLmrONIA9flICXJKRU5BPP6jRTLGS4OloEgnTekjuQ9WAsyr5MH0eGBr0WjyEFMEPpQnJane49e7mkSSvksmWrC11qHZJFE_qqCLM-P5iBLLWwu3o0Ud1N8zxUbcSqrXjRrE/w200-h200/Daniel.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The softest of soft alternative pop music. This is what Real Estate presents to the world. The band's music seems so delicate that it could break at the touch. Handle with care indeed.<p></p><p>Except for the recent singles, Real Estate can only be found on this blog, nearly ten years ago. "As a whole 'Atlas' is just a little to neat for me, but when I'm in the right mood the beauty of this album reaches me and is truly appreciated", I concluded then and things have not changed, really.</p><p>Daniel is the kind of album that when I'm not paying attention, the album is over without having truly registered the music. Of course there are more bands playing this soft kind of indie music. My favourite is Half Moon Run from Canada. The major difference is, that this band does have a bite every once in a while. Real Estate is modest from beginning to end. As a listener one has to pay attention to recognise the subtleties woven into the songs. Do, and Real Estate's world opens itself for you.</p><p>Real Estate originally is from Ridgewood, New Jersey, where core members Martin Courtney and Alex Bleeker already met in third grade. A few members came and went since, the sound has not really changed. I remember not getting into the band's second album 'Days', despite it getting very favourable reviews at the time. This never really changed, yet I'm writing on album number six.</p><p>What attracts me, is the delicate arrangements each and every song has. Don't ask me why one album winds up on my writing side and others on the discard one. In the end it must be because the songs on it speak to me more. It's the only explanation I can offer.<br /></p><p>Most on Daniel do. This already showed in my reviews of two singles, 'Water Underground' and 'Haunted World'. Both are warm songs that attached themselves easily to my brain, while simultaneously wanting me to hear the album. Although at first listen, I was not convinced, see my review of 'Atlas' also, the album came closer and closer. I even got to hear a modest bite here and there after I got more acquainted with Daniel.</p><p>What in the end got to me most are the arrangements of the songs. Martin Courtney's voice is the same, soft entity occupying the centre position the whole of the album. The details in the songs are simply great. A bass coming forward, little bells, synths, an acoustic guitar popping up, a pedal steel, just to name some of the surprising sounds that pop up in a song, to disappear again a little later. Nothing is what it seems in Real Estate's songs, despite that delicacy that I perceive the whole of the time. The basis is far more solid than it seems it turns out.</p><p>When all is said and done, Daniel, comes close to Half Moon Run's latest effort 'Salt'. The two albums before that are still out of reach, but who knows? A gap was bridged. Music is not a competition. Comparisons are inevitable though. Daniel has the potential to grow further, as it already has done so.</p><p>Wout de Natris</p><p><br /></p><p>You can listen to and order Daniel here:</p><p>https://realestate.bandcamp.com/album/daniel<br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-17402711890342217992024-03-05T08:30:00.004+01:002024-03-05T08:30:00.255+01:00i/o. Peter Gabriel<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnb-ZurS_fmujZs21_iohtLt_eStYlcF2FQVvENQnK_r8K7KEpowPIWBIe341JBMxkl71ucg-nHxmZkHVDmst61ooS_1wFvbEhCGG2IyNygYoOcpHXpa5dia1j-aQqsncePi3b25q2wW5u0UgBN3ZK88eEK2YlDfkGpqDb87mO1V2nnJ_l2RPBGBYczMs/s700/i%20o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnb-ZurS_fmujZs21_iohtLt_eStYlcF2FQVvENQnK_r8K7KEpowPIWBIe341JBMxkl71ucg-nHxmZkHVDmst61ooS_1wFvbEhCGG2IyNygYoOcpHXpa5dia1j-aQqsncePi3b25q2wW5u0UgBN3ZK88eEK2YlDfkGpqDb87mO1V2nnJ_l2RPBGBYczMs/w200-h200/i%20o.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Met i/o levert Peter Gabriel eindelijk weer eens een album met nieuw materiaal af en het is er een vol echo’s uit het verleden, maar de Britse muzikant laat ook horen dat hij er in 2023 nog steeds toe doet.<p></p><p>Fans van de muziek van Peter Gabriel hebben de songs op het nieuwe album van de invloedrijke Britse muzikant het afgelopen jaar al leren kennen, maar na een jaar wachten zijn ze dan ook eindelijk verzameld op een album en dat heeft meerwaarde. Op i/o citeert Peter Gabriel zowel uit zijn werk van de late jaren 70 en vroege jaren 80 als uit zijn zo succesvolle werk uit de tweede helft van de jaren 80, waardoor i/o eigenlijk direct vertrouwd klinkt. Op hetzelfde moment klinkt het nieuwe album van Peter Gabriel, waaraan hij heel lang werkte, absoluut eigentijds. Zijn eerste vier soloalbums blijven onovertroffen, maar i/o laat horen dat het doodzonde is dat we de afgelopen twintig jaar zo weinig hoorden van de Britse muzikant.<br /></p><p>Peter Gabriel beschouw ik absoluut als een van mijn jeugdhelden. De albums die hij maakte met Genesis vind ik nog altijd de beste albums van de band (met Selling England By The Pound en The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway als uitschieters), terwijl de vier titelloze soloalbums die hij tussen 1977 en 1982 maakte en vooral het derde en het vierde album uit deze serie voor mij horen bij het beste dat in deze periode werd gemaakt. Halverwege de jaren 80 was Peter Gabriel bovendien verantwoordelijk voor een aantal van de beste concerten die ik tot op dat moment had gezien. Ik was wat minder gecharmeerd van So, waarmee hij doorbrak naar een groot publiek, maar ook dat album stak nog altijd ruimschoots boven de middelmaat uit. <br /><br />De afgelopen twee decennia was het helaas behoorlijk stil ronde de Britse muzikant. Feitelijk gezien was het in 2002 verschenen en wat mij betreft wat tegenvallende Up tot deze week het laatste album van Peter Gabriel met nieuw eigen materiaal, want op het in 2010 verschenen Scratch My Back coverde de Britse muzikant (verdienstelijk) songs van anderen, terwijl op het in 2012 uitgebrachte New Blood herbewerkingen van zijn eigen werk waren te vinden. Ongeveer een jaar geleden doorbrak de legendarische Britse muzikant eindelijk de stilte en kondigde hij een nieuw album aan, waarvan bij iedere volle maan een nieuwe track beschikbaar zou worden gemaakt en waaraan naar verluidt decennia lang is gewerkt. <br /><br />Ik heb de individuele tracks zelfs slechts voor een zeer klein deel beluisterd, maar iedereen die Peter Gabriel het afgelopen jaar intensief heeft gevolgd, hoort niet veel nieuws op het deze week verschenen i/o. Zelf heb ik veel meer met albums dan met losse tracks, waardoor ik nu eigenlijk pas goed luister naar het nieuwe album van een van mijn jeugdhelden. Het is een album waarop de individuele tracks in een context worden geplaatst en dat heeft wat mij betreft absoluut meerwaarde. <br /><br />Het is een album dat komt in twee gedaantes, want i/o is uitgebracht met twee verschillende mixen, de Bright Side Mix van Mark ‘Spike’ Stent en de Dark Side Mix van de zeer ervaren Tchad Blake. Er zit wel wat verschil tussen beide versies van i/o, maar het gaat uiteindelijk om dezelfde serie songs, zodat de verschillen ook niet overdreven moeten worden. Zelf heb ik overigens een lichte voorkeur voor de mix van Tchad Blake die wat warmer en organischer klinkt.<br /><br />Beluistering van i/o voelde voor mij direct als het spreekwoordelijke warme bad, want het album laat onmiskenbaar het geluid van Peter Gabriel horen. Dat ligt voor een belangrijk deel aan zijn zeer karakteristieke stem, die overigens nog net zo mooi klinkt als in de jaren 70 en 80, maar ook in muzikaal opzicht hoor ik flink wat echo’s uit het roemruchte verleden van de Britse muzikant. <br /><br />Het nieuwe album werd gemaakt met oudgedienden als Tony Levin, David Rhodes en Manu Katché, maar ook Brian Eno is te horen op het album en dat geldt ook voor een flinke lijst aan andere muzikanten. Het is een album met een aantal wat meer ingetogen en stemmige of zelfs melancholische tracks waarin de nog altijd fraaie stem van Peter Gabriel wordt gecombineerd met piano en strijkers. Het zijn mijn favoriete tracks op het album, al is het maar omdat ze herinneren aan zijn vroege solowerk, maar i/o bevat ook een aantal uitbundiger ingekleurde songs, die juist weer dichter tegen zijn zo succesvolle werk uit de tweede helft van de jaren 80 aan zitten. <br /><br />Omdat de meer ingetogen tracks duidelijk in de meerderheid zijn vind ik i/o een erg sterk album, dat een prachtige aanvulling vormt op het bijzondere oeuvre van Peter Gabriel. De Bright Side Mix bewaar ik voor overdag, terwijl de Dark Side mix vooral in de avond aan bod komt en beide versies van het album winnen vooralsnog aan kracht. Al met al een mooie en wat mij betreft verrassend sterke comeback van de invloedrijke muzikant.</p><p>Erwin Zijleman</p><p><br /></p><p>Je kunt i/o hier luisteren en bestellen:</p><p>https://petergabriel.bandcamp.com/album/i-o <br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-75750949658227770202024-03-04T08:30:00.105+01:002024-03-04T08:30:00.145+01:00Wild Rice. Leon Frear<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfMBM95KGHDya76tJeAj9PWZTY7SBLqGxhrv5EbvRTdLbrXRkG99zXnIidlbbMyOliqjm8ePsbsicUNrcbb9xzc1z-_8E18RkdbrmrRFdTv8D6ijdtrysqLUu9X_v0vOoLOfh7O0PnVR1Y5Ax6_4lET0Uj-M_TyNaoIi0e8BEqJAo73stefQ1Qg43_5w/s1200/Leon%20Frear%20-%20Wild%20Rice%20(album%20cover).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfMBM95KGHDya76tJeAj9PWZTY7SBLqGxhrv5EbvRTdLbrXRkG99zXnIidlbbMyOliqjm8ePsbsicUNrcbb9xzc1z-_8E18RkdbrmrRFdTv8D6ijdtrysqLUu9X_v0vOoLOfh7O0PnVR1Y5Ax6_4lET0Uj-M_TyNaoIi0e8BEqJAo73stefQ1Qg43_5w/w200-h200/Leon%20Frear%20-%20Wild%20Rice%20(album%20cover).jpg" width="200" /></a></div>It was in the late fall of 2023 that Leon Frear debuted on this blog with an excellent single, 'Secret Second Moon', followed a few weeks later by 'A Town Called Chapel'. This blog week, which runs from Friday to Friday, his album Wild Rice saw the light of day. On the basis of the two singles it was much anticipated. With right it turns out.<p></p><p>Who Leon Frear is, seems to be a bit of a mystery, created by the man himself. Whatever, I think after having listened to the music several times. Whoever he was before, his new incarnation has delivered a quality album, that works from a rock foundation. From there he delivers an alternative kind of balladry. Don't think 1980s big hair ballads. Frear presents a big drums, almost as loud as Germany's Para Lia, and a firm bass. This basis is a rocksolid groundwork for his songs that have acoustic guitars and keyboards and atmospherics using the studio ambiance, unless this is a feature in the software of course.</p><p>Leon Frear's voice may be a hindrance for some. He sings with a whisper, half speaking, half singing. For some time he had me puzzled who he made me think of. Coincidentally I ran into the answer yesterday in my stack of "recent" cds that still need shelving, Chris Eckman, the male half of The Walkabouts singing duo and for over a decade solo artist and part in collaborations. Eckman's voice is deeper and stronger but the similarity is certainly there.</p><p>Because of his way of singing, up tempo is not an option. Most songs are slow(ish). The consequence is that I have to be in the mood for Leon Frear's music. It turns out that I regularly am. When the tempo goes up, his voice changes. Also literally to another voice, when Faye Whitts sings, at times, prominent backing vocals. All the instruments were played and arranged by Frear, making Wild Rice a near solo album in the true sense.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju44tkkebaq6hJ5_ADUOg8WuPqlcyBo3ngI7dldAyGCwHHx6jcJYP_Tk48rGKLgVgI5YgxGsd-IxsoqoFZT8ZNnFvBvYjlWDXhyphenhyphenC-htIWgPaFtMHj54lo1Jae_4ghYWATIWygdsCisiX0AK8F8zqX8rI4NiSYRIKUaXQ0luY-R3zsMY_beyaNJ4SgKDnI/s1600/Leon%20Frear%2013%20-%20photo%20by%20Jeremy%20Glickstein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju44tkkebaq6hJ5_ADUOg8WuPqlcyBo3ngI7dldAyGCwHHx6jcJYP_Tk48rGKLgVgI5YgxGsd-IxsoqoFZT8ZNnFvBvYjlWDXhyphenhyphenC-htIWgPaFtMHj54lo1Jae_4ghYWATIWygdsCisiX0AK8F8zqX8rI4NiSYRIKUaXQ0luY-R3zsMY_beyaNJ4SgKDnI/w200-h133/Leon%20Frear%2013%20-%20photo%20by%20Jeremy%20Glickstein.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Promo photo: Jeremy Glickstein<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>One of the surprising things to me is, that by the time I was six songs into Wild Rice, I expected to have heard enough. I did not. The album stays of interest. My relationship with Leon Frear's whispering voice somehow deepened. Allowing me to keep listening to the music and the surprises in the instrumentation that pop up in the different songs. What I also found, and this is the second surprise, is that my overall impression from the first listening session was wrong. Wild Rice has a much tougher sound than I seemed to have caught in my first impression. Admittedly, my first session is always superficial, while busy doing other things.</p><p>Wild Rice opens with the single 'A Town Called Chapel'. A good choice as it sets a good mood straight away. The song opens the album up and makes me want to listen to more. Wild Rice pays in full. Take the dark song 'A Murder Of Crows'. I had already mentioned The Walkabouts. Well, if I have to compare Leon Frear's music to someone else, it's here that I arrive. There are differences, of course, but for me this is closest. His way of singing brings the lyrics so much more up close. They arrive as it were right in front of me, just like when Chris Eckman sings.</p><p>As a final observation. I really like how Leon Frear changes the perspective in the lyrics of 'She Fed Me Water' from she to I. So what is the story, really? Frear really plays with my observations and expectations here.</p><p>Summing up, yes, I have to be in the mood for some of the songs, that are really, really slow but overall Wild Rice is a far tougher album that I thought it to be. Listening with more attention paid off, as a host of details and a level of toughness is revealed that I somehow missed at first. A surprisingly good album Wild Rice is.</p><p>Wout de Natris</p><p><br /></p><p>You can listen to and order Wild Rice here:</p><p>https://leonfrear.bandcamp.com/album/wild-rice<br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-6326478752363974572024-03-03T08:30:00.097+01:002024-03-03T08:30:00.143+01:002024. Week 9, 10 singles<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYt_y-Cov_7-MMrtqg0ND5dZYz7isD8YtyfC53y_RzBpsnNlB8etFdrOhbi_CWZwMvG4cprcJ3B1yH2k5pgxWUOInMIfQ6bQMRIa9adUl9bnPRKcmJMq1k3bvPnmOBnA5FoTpM9V0iv03rewiR4HvxM_8o37M6b5N0_QHncnrpj5r0YsfDHMRBW52J2S0/s1425/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="1425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYt_y-Cov_7-MMrtqg0ND5dZYz7isD8YtyfC53y_RzBpsnNlB8etFdrOhbi_CWZwMvG4cprcJ3B1yH2k5pgxWUOInMIfQ6bQMRIa9adUl9bnPRKcmJMq1k3bvPnmOBnA5FoTpM9V0iv03rewiR4HvxM_8o37M6b5N0_QHncnrpj5r0YsfDHMRBW52J2S0/w200-h200/cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>After a week of work in a country I had never expected to go, it's back to music for my and your pleasure. With the exception of the Norwegian band, all names are (near) new to this blog. If something stands out, it is how many of these artists have their feet deeply and strongly in things from the past. I don't mind, as long as their songs bring quality and music worth spending time with. All do in their own way. Never judge a book by its cover, I write somewhere and that goes for the country I visited this week as well. I think I saw change, radical change first hand. The same goes for music, always listen first and then judge.<br /><br /><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Sleepwalker EP. Tony Marsico</b></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Tony
Marsico debuted on this blog late in 2023. In my review of 'Guilty Of
That' I pointed to the 1964-1966 pop period. And pointed to The Byrds
and 'Needles And Pins', the the Searchers hit. I could not know how
prophetic these words would be. The title song of this five song EP
starts with an ever so slight rework of the famous 'Needles And Pins'
opening riff. What happens next is even more astonishing. <i>'Sleepwalker'</i> could have been on
that great solo album of Roger McGuinn, 'Back From Rio', mixing the two perfectly. Marsico really
hits the jackpot with <i>'Sleepwalker'</i>. Anyone loving this kind of music
will find his way into the EP. Don't expect anything new in the sound. The songs are and that is more than enough. Excepting one cover, 'Starry Eyes'. Tony Marsico reached for pop
heaven, where many of the original artists of this era are celebrating
their reunion shows already, and found it. Sleepwalker is an oh so sweet
pop EP. As if 1966 never ended. Marsico has been active for decades in bands and as session/live bass player for numerous artists. Sleepwalker is his debut solo album on which he brought everything he learned along the way in a successful way.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCIEKdU_kMHNwEBJs4FJOfgHzlBxR50tnvGB3Lx_UDb1gTfCDbeJn0JDUetk2F6O_twzVJabdXuN0AHA7GoUxYIy6dgDVFiI-6InxDl-6e4lz4O192eINeplTNTEMyitvqDZTxXNarH0EjPR6vowq7eAd-xWGC7B0kAzoHs6pYgZv_rL7RMdiAwKIFo8/s250/Ride%20Or%20Die.%20Then%20Comes%20Silence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="201" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCIEKdU_kMHNwEBJs4FJOfgHzlBxR50tnvGB3Lx_UDb1gTfCDbeJn0JDUetk2F6O_twzVJabdXuN0AHA7GoUxYIy6dgDVFiI-6InxDl-6e4lz4O192eINeplTNTEMyitvqDZTxXNarH0EjPR6vowq7eAd-xWGC7B0kAzoHs6pYgZv_rL7RMdiAwKIFo8/w161-h200/Ride%20Or%20Die.%20Then%20Comes%20Silence.jpg" width="161" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Ride Or Die. Then Comes Silence</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Formed
in 2012, Sweden's Then Comes Silence plays as if the first 6. 7
years of the 1980s never ended. I lived through the decade, partying a
lot, but never truly warmed to the music of nearly all bands of the
time. Along comes Ride Or Die in which Then Comes Silence simply mixes
elements of so many bands of the time and adds a dark and brooding, but
great chorus. Ride Or Die is almost a pub quiz question: Who recognises
the most references to 1980 bands? I suggest you play it someday. In the
song the synth bands, the doom bands, the pop synth acts and the
biggest bands are all referenced. And from these elements the Swedes
manage to share a convincing single. In the 1980s I would have passed
the song by, as most likely that extra factor would not have been
present. In 2024 it is there alright. I'm getting into the car, just to ride.<br /></span></span></p><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdzObVK4MNcff4lVvjKmNyyAR52G5c2fxRn-s8y7w_JInMs-LkmWShuMyF56S1pd3HrOeoInH2WvqLwS2isDQ7t1suHI5SUO7usKY5NVvqxKL-8nToaOyzCmUU1FYEzZ-GLTEfCZUrqRHeBrCh-m5GqFDeAh9go_oVi5wCE4UQoqivazK4TkiIFJzhLY/s225/Paradigm%20EP.%20Nina%20June.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdzObVK4MNcff4lVvjKmNyyAR52G5c2fxRn-s8y7w_JInMs-LkmWShuMyF56S1pd3HrOeoInH2WvqLwS2isDQ7t1suHI5SUO7usKY5NVvqxKL-8nToaOyzCmUU1FYEzZ-GLTEfCZUrqRHeBrCh-m5GqFDeAh9go_oVi5wCE4UQoqivazK4TkiIFJzhLY/w200-h200/Paradigm%20EP.%20Nina%20June.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Paradigm EP. Nina June</b> <br /></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Nina
June debuted here in 2021 with two singles but it was Erwin Zijleman
who wrote on her album from 2023, 'Meet Me On The Edge Of Our Ruin'. In
the winter of 2024 she has released her new album. The songs are
serious. This is the best word I can provide you with to describe them.
Nina June has made a lot of effort to make them sound serious, as in
mature and well thought out. To make them sound as beautiful as she was
able to do. She sounds like a whole host of female singer-songwriters do
in the last years. What makes her stand out is the quality of her songs
and that voice. Again, serious and mature. This singer isn't playing
around. The songs are in the mid-tempo range. Songs to listen to and to disappear
in. Like 'Wish You Well'. The song is so warm, that it wraps itself
around me until there's nothing left but 'Wish You Well' and me. The
whole EP does actually. It's the title song that sets itself apart a
little with its electronic beat and electric guitar. Again that mix of
American singer-songwriters of the past 50 years and that U.K. tinged
and more recent pop. There's a word for Nina June's music on Paradigm:
beautiful.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1qAtKfmblqzOskiyGmEipy5WS2Tz5rG8Zu1qNhKLvl8CgsSi5HhRLavcK-eXl01IIeRjcKiBemSE4o02qZOygpnBBOrNz1jcifri49u9JPes2-dhYdePrldFX3550evjz0gbbQrJvt3IO76WTwOL0ifRAyoa8UFRRS3zDVtvzTOKHLb1O8Qu-UT2SiU/s225/Dine%20Gamle%20Dager%20Er%20Na.%20Kaizers%20Orchestra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1qAtKfmblqzOskiyGmEipy5WS2Tz5rG8Zu1qNhKLvl8CgsSi5HhRLavcK-eXl01IIeRjcKiBemSE4o02qZOygpnBBOrNz1jcifri49u9JPes2-dhYdePrldFX3550evjz0gbbQrJvt3IO76WTwOL0ifRAyoa8UFRRS3zDVtvzTOKHLb1O8Qu-UT2SiU/w200-h200/Dine%20Gamle%20Dager%20Er%20Na.%20Kaizers%20Orchestra.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Dine Gamle Dager Er Na. Kaizers Orchestra</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Only
two weeks to go and I'm going to the band that I missed when they were
here just before they broke up. How many times I've watch the 'Vega' DVD
in the past years I can't tell but often and enjoyed it each and every
time. Kaizers Orchestra was and hopefully still is one of the most
exciting live bands out there. I'll forgive the guitarist if they won't
jump the oil drums anymore. Dine Gamle Dager Er Na is not a new single,
It looks more like the announcement saying "look, we will be back soon". It is an
instrumental track with a lot of drama and pathos in it. The typical guitar sound, the
bombastic everything in the song and a choir from a very serious 1950s
movie or Pink Floyd's 'Atom Heart Mother'. Two weeks to go. I can't wait and it will be good. Watch this
space, folks.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TTbG_M2jMHgggKLhUGgSWlfP5tJTxitGU9K6FImukwWjI63FuYG9kmLkCEYcnP_QXdBYccvHjRJIC4QU32RyQErKvIbfyRstLYiKFXspK4p1Q-59L-8vkLpqRIGIKm2_2RJNMCO7zNIz8D4ssCM2D5eGynICWyJvtCoji6FW3_F47F9gJUg54PW5wTo/s225/Caffeine.%20Jennifer%20Tefft%20&%20The%20Strange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TTbG_M2jMHgggKLhUGgSWlfP5tJTxitGU9K6FImukwWjI63FuYG9kmLkCEYcnP_QXdBYccvHjRJIC4QU32RyQErKvIbfyRstLYiKFXspK4p1Q-59L-8vkLpqRIGIKm2_2RJNMCO7zNIz8D4ssCM2D5eGynICWyJvtCoji6FW3_F47F9gJUg54PW5wTo/w200-h200/Caffeine.%20Jennifer%20Tefft%20&%20The%20Strange.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Caffeine. Jennifer Tefft & The Strange</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>A
lot of music this week reminds me of things past. Caffeine is no
different. Jennifer Tefft & the Strange manage to bring back The
Pretenders from the beginning of its career and joining it with a far
tougher sound. Again the 1980s are all over this single but not in the
U.K. synth/pop/doom form. Tefft and band play rock with a sweet pop
tooth in the singing and the hooks. The guitars are so nicely layered.
The drumming is very prominent. Chris Georgenes plays as if he's in a
duo instead of a full band. He really drives the Strange. Over it all
lies the voice of Jennifer Tefft and I have to say I like it. The way
of singing is extremely nostalgia inducing. I'm back a long time ago
with her. More importantly, Caffeine is a strong song. Very powerful and good.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnlaDIYySN3c9zQUOyyLN_HLngdswofcLRwaFD9COolXQQbHcOeEi4gdYzrsAi1AmInDUzv3hUPns41bxyIQ0tCzmdiZenkYGx36QyyoI_ftmwT4rAjV9T9EK6Sn0Kp4OgbT9-QlnWn_Y7NrLWI88kRMU3H6KFdFuOHAGCN3L-QxiSH87_XProi6TqxY/s275/Life%20Is.%20Jessica%20Pratt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnlaDIYySN3c9zQUOyyLN_HLngdswofcLRwaFD9COolXQQbHcOeEi4gdYzrsAi1AmInDUzv3hUPns41bxyIQ0tCzmdiZenkYGx36QyyoI_ftmwT4rAjV9T9EK6Sn0Kp4OgbT9-QlnWn_Y7NrLWI88kRMU3H6KFdFuOHAGCN3L-QxiSH87_XProi6TqxY/w133-h200/Life%20Is.%20Jessica%20Pratt.jpg" width="133" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Life Is. Jessica Pratt</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>"De
afgelopen twaalf jaar is de gerespecteerde artiest uit Los Angeles
uitgegroeid tot een van de meest bijzondere songwriters van haar
generatie", says the Dutch bio of Jessica Pratt's upcoming, fourth,
album 'Here in the Pitch'. And, yes, you can find her on the blog in
2013 thanks to Erwin Zijleman. For me, she a totally new name. Is Life
Is super special? No, but what it does have, is a Nancy Sinatra vibe.
That sense of mystery Lee Hazelwood created for Nancy. Life Is has that
same vibe. Somewhere between suspense and relaxation. This is 2024 but
believe me, this song could have been placed in 1966 with ease. Had this been the
b-side of 'These Boots Are Made For Walking' it would have been totally
convincing. That brings me back to the opening sentence in Dutch, Google
translate will do the trick for you. Reflecting on it, this text does not rhyme with 1966, the year this song brings me to. That said, intriguing Life Is is.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovdtzguTxfhXQJo8GJfGZfCqaS6BCIaOqJF_lzVDjVBljm0sCTQNvvVGvj5cUfmGlPr4yBmszb4k5wAvDbFTvGf_uCV4ygKeZJzj_wAIh7euKgS0zYrvJxsOFd36aVJ9JEzcYHZ-GWhbaVVxF6SGK8iNGZeeLh6n-ryHb0cg74yw9w1mJlYaofHOrWzU/s225/Inaka.%20Mei%20Semones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovdtzguTxfhXQJo8GJfGZfCqaS6BCIaOqJF_lzVDjVBljm0sCTQNvvVGvj5cUfmGlPr4yBmszb4k5wAvDbFTvGf_uCV4ygKeZJzj_wAIh7euKgS0zYrvJxsOFd36aVJ9JEzcYHZ-GWhbaVVxF6SGK8iNGZeeLh6n-ryHb0cg74yw9w1mJlYaofHOrWzU/w200-h200/Inaka.%20Mei%20Semones.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Inaka. Mei Semones</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Inaka,
sung in English and Japanese, is a tour de force. The artwork
accompanying Mei Semones' music is very contemporary, but the cute Japanese
anime style does not prepare you in anyway for the music hidden under
it. The changes of playing and mood is more high art in music and not
the cute, big eyed animals. An abstract painting would be more in place. Mei Semones is playing with the imagination
and the absorption faculties of her listener, pushing away all boundaries, doing away with all expectations. The jazzy guitar at the
heart of Inaka changes into a band and orchestra when she wants to, while the mood and inner tempo of Inaka all change as well.
Somewhere on route she dares to rock out, only to fall back on where she started. There was no chipping
away at sounds and instruments here while creating this song. I can't tell yet whether Inaka is
really good, This takes far more listening sessions. Mei Semones
certainly has invited me to listen more often and to look forward to the
release of her EP 'Kabutomushi' on 5 April.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2xkl05iLM0UOFHn2fnDz6M7Sgqlb9mm4hQ82kS1GUEkTN7WQh6r5l_tx66Z31IvCUoofKk3RxXbC6qqS9iqFAq54keKJWTh5I5LSPCFOkT8zESEu70zR7SIE0zdD2lomweOd5Bb70ISfEjJnan4p05rcSWB5pawxaEsVwQ-HyUrDbH8YpfRysHA9OXI/s276/Care.%20Hana%20Vu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="276" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2xkl05iLM0UOFHn2fnDz6M7Sgqlb9mm4hQ82kS1GUEkTN7WQh6r5l_tx66Z31IvCUoofKk3RxXbC6qqS9iqFAq54keKJWTh5I5LSPCFOkT8zESEu70zR7SIE0zdD2lomweOd5Bb70ISfEjJnan4p05rcSWB5pawxaEsVwQ-HyUrDbH8YpfRysHA9OXI/w200-h133/Care.%20Hana%20Vu.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Care. Hana Vu</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Let's
face it. Looking at Hana Vu's video for Care is not a pleasant
experience. In fact, it's extremely confronting. Luckily we have the
music. This is as laidback as many female artists in the
alternative/indie rock section of modern music are producing. Care is a
mid tempo song where the instrumentation is recognisable. The fun is in
the details as you will find. Care is far from a one dimensional song.
With it's carefully layered guitars and other instruments, Care is a
rich song. Hana Vu has an extremely pleasant voice to listen to, with
softness and strength in one. Multi-tracked both sides receive the
attention they deserve, simultaneously. The song starts with an acoustic
guitar, while in the background the start of the richer arrangement can
already be discerned. Imagine, my mind turns on a churchorgan sound in
some parts of the song. The only element missing? Hana Vu is a new name
for me. The introduction is a great one actually. More in May with album
'Romanticism'? "I'm just a book you throw away, here I go", Hana Vu
sings. With Care she does not need to fear. This one will stay.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwj1gs7SVmtM7s1V8HCi_-4XGQBxHk_pRrt9OCWzFQ_ix40O2PMVN0CYQsujNKR6UT_Vv17rnkULG282LT9JmmWe_MLF9CvzMlfLldkSpm-ubHmAuGlp3qJ_kiBP9cB_8p3tjPXy6ShCveZh4GmQk913vVse_MfxBLnSUgvm27djGBfjJRSOhzm5yumA/s225/Let%20It%20Flow.%20Al%C3%B3wan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwj1gs7SVmtM7s1V8HCi_-4XGQBxHk_pRrt9OCWzFQ_ix40O2PMVN0CYQsujNKR6UT_Vv17rnkULG282LT9JmmWe_MLF9CvzMlfLldkSpm-ubHmAuGlp3qJ_kiBP9cB_8p3tjPXy6ShCveZh4GmQk913vVse_MfxBLnSUgvm27djGBfjJRSOhzm5yumA/w200-h200/Let%20It%20Flow.%20Al%C3%B3wan.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Let It Flow. Alówan</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>16
Horsepower disbanded a long, long time ago, 20 years? In 2024 Jean Yves
Tola returns with a solo album called 'Feathers', to be released on 19
April. 16 Horsepower was the human incarnation of Dave Eugene Edwards '
inner demons. Tola facilitated the manifestation of these demons. So what does a solo album by one of the former band
members sound like? On the basis of Let It Flow, the answer is the
following. The tempo is sort of the same but with a far more mellow
mood. The notes are held just as long without the devil on their tale.
The nervousness, the existential fear of the punishments in the
afterlife.is totally missing. Let It Flow is a far more pleasant listening experience. I recognise the singer immediately.
Chantal Acda releases her records on Glitterhouse as well, as well as
collaborates with other label mates. Tola created the ideal
circumstances for her voice to shine, while being present himself with
the piano and backing vocals. The cello or violin gives the song that little extra, making
the mood even more serious. Let it Flow is a beautiful song.<br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVZ-zlgHIGiDntwXig46F1a5_mVsmcuBlLZcFONaPp88OtCu1iSOOCGmHG9_Vl3NjDG_kkUPo0Ry9VyRnSwKae66D5ma7ZiOUEGeAAoNfd0Z-18aBJ4EhWzWSWoENWyRWh6_3LwMBEugZnPVrS66dIEosAmR1mDWtydBwq9ghffxuUdRgx6j6VpabPBM/s225/Just%20How%20It%20Goes.%20Broken%20Hearts%20Are%20Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVZ-zlgHIGiDntwXig46F1a5_mVsmcuBlLZcFONaPp88OtCu1iSOOCGmHG9_Vl3NjDG_kkUPo0Ry9VyRnSwKae66D5ma7ZiOUEGeAAoNfd0Z-18aBJ4EhWzWSWoENWyRWh6_3LwMBEugZnPVrS66dIEosAmR1mDWtydBwq9ghffxuUdRgx6j6VpabPBM/w200-h200/Just%20How%20It%20Goes.%20Broken%20Hearts%20Are%20Blue.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span><b>Just How It Goes. Broken Hearts Are Blue</b></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>It's
only a few weeks ago Broken Hearts Are Blue debuted on this blog with a
single announcing its album 'Meeting Themselves', released on 1 March.
Already a second single makes it to the blog. The following stands out for me. The music and the band's picture could not be more
different. The whole song comes across as if a young band is playing and
what I see is a picture of dads of teen kids or most likely older, with
an academic background. Never judge a book by its cover, as they say.
Broken Hearts Are Blue is back on the front and that is a good thing for
the world. Perhaps nothing new, you could justly say, but do listen how good
the song is that Broken Hearts Are Blue serves us. Fans of alternative rock from the 1990s, like e.g. The Lemonheads or Buffalo Tom should check it out, as a single like Just How It Goes slides through me like a knife through soft butter.</span></span></p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span>Wout de Natris</span></span>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-84502979432727866042024-03-02T08:30:00.007+01:002024-03-02T08:30:00.141+01:00Strange Discipline. Nation of Language<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiGjS8ymjV2KJTwg8mDTo-NxXaxfUXvOHmDxhbMTil_7SVjokKxBtT139LdMnA5qHnZ4W91-_fX9fkzQt2_tUwuc_UZJ9toPtaoTHfaGqdVY9U-su59y3E-AOT6Y4w3u6YvTJjaUt-Mwx1ts0gDvz-N4EhWa-iLw1aQ2zVqn4L-8mj3rrMLwxHauLloA/s700/Strange%20discipline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiGjS8ymjV2KJTwg8mDTo-NxXaxfUXvOHmDxhbMTil_7SVjokKxBtT139LdMnA5qHnZ4W91-_fX9fkzQt2_tUwuc_UZJ9toPtaoTHfaGqdVY9U-su59y3E-AOT6Y4w3u6YvTJjaUt-Mwx1ts0gDvz-N4EhWa-iLw1aQ2zVqn4L-8mj3rrMLwxHauLloA/w200-h200/Strange%20discipline.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Er verschenen in 2023 flink wat synthpop albums, maar Strange Disciple van het Amerikaanse drietal Nation Of Language springt er voor mij uit vanwege het aangename retro geluid uit de jaren 80 en vooral de prima songs.<p></p><p>Strange Disciple, het derde album van de uit Brooklyn afkomstige band Nation Of Language, kwam ik tegen in meerdere jaarlijstjes. Ik begrijp inmiddels waarom, want betere vintage synthpop werd er in 2023 niet gemaakt. Luister naar Strange Disciple en je bent terug in de jaren 80, met het beste werk van Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark als ijkpunt. Nation Of Language is gek op kille elektronische klanken met zowel invloeden van Kraftwerk als uit de 80s synthpop en postpunk, maar de songs van de band klinken op een of andere manier ook warm. Het zijn uitstekende songs, waarmee het drietal uit New York zich makkelijk weet te onderscheiden van de concurrentie.<br /></p><p>Ik luister niet heel veel naar synthpop, maar de synthpop albums die ik het afgelopen jaar wel heb beluisterd vielen me vrijwel zonder uitzondering wat tegen, ook als ze afkomstig waren van oude helden uit het genre. Grote uitzondering is Memento Mori van Depeche Mode, al vind ik dat persoonlijk veel meer dan een synthpop album. <br /><br />Wanneer ik kijk naar de jaarlijstjes lijkt het er op dat ik het beste echte synthpop album van het jaar heb gemist, want ik heb afgelopen herfst niet geluisterd naar Strange Disciple van Nation Of Language. Het is het derde album van het drietal uit Brooklyn, New York, maar mijn eerste kennismaking met de muziek van Nation Of Language. <br /><br />Het is muziek die het etiket synthpop absoluut verdiend, want wanneer Strange Disciple uit de speakers komt ben je direct terug in de eerste helft van de jaren 80. Nation Of Language maakt op haar derde album geen geheim van haar bewondering voor de muziek die aan het begin van de jaren 80 werd gemaakt door onder andere Depeche Mode, Human League, Yazoo, New Order en vooral Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark. <br /><br />Het is de laatste band die Nation Of Language voorman Ian Devaney inspireerde tot een bestaan als muzikant en hij is zijn jeugdhelden absoluut trouw gebleven. Strange Disciple klinkt zelfs meer als O.M.D. dan het recent verschenen nieuwe album van het Britse duo, dat ik een stuk minder vind dan het album van het Amerikaanse drietal. <br /><br />Net als O.M.D. in haar beginjaren laat Nation Of Language zich op Strange Disciple stevig beïnvloeden door het pionierswerk van Kraftwerk uit de jaren 70, maar verwerkt het de wat kille elektronische klanken in warmbloedige popsongs. Alles op het album doet denken aan de synthpop uit de jaren 80, want zowel de batterij synths als de zang hebben een aangenaam vintage 80s karakter. Het is synthpop van het donkere en onderkoelde soort, met hier en daar een vleugje postpunk, maar dat vind ik persoonlijk de meest interessante en aangename synthpop variant. <br /><br />Ian Devaney, Alex MacKay en Aidan Noell vertrouwen op het derde album van Nation Of Language vrijwel volledig op een batterij synths, maar hier en daar werd wel een echte ritmesectie toegevoegd. Het synthesizer geluid van het drietal uit New York klinkt heerlijk vintage, maar is wel een stuk gevarieerder dan op het gemiddelde synthpop album, waardoor ik de songs op Strange Disciple zeker niet eenvormig vind. <br /><br />Het is een fraai klinkend album dat mijn aandacht in ieder geval makkelijk weet vast te houden, wat bij synthpop albums wel eens anders is. Het heeft deels te maken met het nostalgische jaren 80 tintje, dat goed is voor veel mooie herinneringen, maar Nation Of Language maakt misschien nog wel meer indruk met haar songs. Het zijn met name die songs die me tegen vielen op veel synthpop albums uit 2023, maar de songs van de band uit Brooklyn zijn verrassend sterk. <br /><br />Nation Of Language is niet vies van lekker in het gehoor liggende popsongs, maar verstopt ook altijd wel wat muzikaal avontuur in de tracks op Strange Disciple. Het derde album van de band uit New York had ook best in de jaren 80 gemaakt kunnen worden en was dan absoluut uitgegroeid tot een van mijn favoriete albums van het decennium. Mijn muzieksmaak is sindsdien wel flink veranderd, maar Strange Disciple gaat er bij mij echt in als koek</p><p> Erwin Zijleman</p><p><br /></p><p>Je kunt Strange Discipline hier luisteren en bestellen:</p><p>https://nationoflanguage.bandcamp.com/album/strange-disciple<br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-44893719775321567912024-03-01T08:30:00.001+01:002024-03-01T08:30:00.128+01:00.NoWordsNeedeD, 1 March 2024<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNiRNiqzRsc"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">O Ignis Spiritus - A chant of St.
Hildegard of Bingen to the Holy Spirit - YouTube</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">.No</p>.Nohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11373175867600902104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-39025437468038911402024-02-29T08:30:00.000+01:002024-02-29T08:30:00.138+01:00Feel Good. Jaime Wyatt<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DoEXhyp4-4k8Nlu_54mNgDrYbcZsYLj5BJcVQGZGe6IM4wt2izOmV0HtSFxF7hz4y0XguaVZYLa7NR7ITJQHyrkHcAt-dhEVW0VhxBobWyTn9CyZckuykurQcRe56TghKJerV6rWOXulyTfEmmdowEKRHhrYNBFoG3WFu_cdgwLX4Cbifh51wFeqIdk/s700/Feel%20Good.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DoEXhyp4-4k8Nlu_54mNgDrYbcZsYLj5BJcVQGZGe6IM4wt2izOmV0HtSFxF7hz4y0XguaVZYLa7NR7ITJQHyrkHcAt-dhEVW0VhxBobWyTn9CyZckuykurQcRe56TghKJerV6rWOXulyTfEmmdowEKRHhrYNBFoG3WFu_cdgwLX4Cbifh51wFeqIdk/w200-h200/Feel%20Good.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Jaime Wyatt verrijkt haar countrysongs op haar derde album Feel Good met een flinke dosis soul en Southern Rock, wat haar geweldige stem en haar doorleefde songs nog een stukje verder optilt.<p></p><p>Na jaren van verslaving en een verblijf in de gevangenis maakte Jaime Wyatt in 2017 met het fraaie Felony Blues dan eindelijk haar debuut als muzikante. Het rauwe countryalbum kreeg in 2020 een prachtig vervolg met het nog sterkere Neon Cross, waarop Jaime Wyatt samenwerkte met producer Shooter Jennings. Voor Feel Good heeft de Amerikaanse muzikante gekozen voor de van Black Pumas bekende Adrian Quesada, die de muziek van Jaime Wyatt een stevige soulinjectie heeft gegeven. De geweldig klinkende mix van country, Southern rock en heel veel soul eert de muzikale tradities van het diepe zuiden van de Verenigde Staten en past prachtig bij de stem van Jaime Wyatt, die met Feel Good een van de beste rootsalbums van 2023 aflevert.<br /></p><p>Jaime Wyatt groeide op in Tacoma, Washington, en kreeg de muziek thuis met de paplepel ingegoten. Ze stond al op haar twaalfde op het podium en leek gemaakt voor een glansrijke carrière in de muziek. Op haar zeventiende verruilde ze Tacoma voor Los Angeles, waar ze vrijwel onmiddellijk een platencontract in de wacht wist te slepen. Dat contract werd door de malaise in de muziekindustrie echter al snel ontbonden, waarna Jaime Wyatt aan lager wal raakte. Ze greep naar de drugs en verdween na het beroven van haar dealer zelfs acht maanden achter de tralies. <br /><br />De muzikale carrière van Jaime Wyatt leek ten einde voor hij goed en wel begonnen was, maar in 2017 keerde de Amerikaanse muzikante op 32-jarige leeftijd terug met het countryalbum Felony Blues, waarop de zwarte periode die aan het album vooraf ging centraal stond. Felony Blues stond bol van de belofte en die belofte maakte Jaime Wyatt meer dan waar met het in het voorjaar van 2020 verschenen Neon Cross. Het door Shooter Jennings geproduceerde album kreeg door de oprukkende coronapandemie misschien niet de aandacht die het album verdiende, maar iedereen die het album wel oppikte had er een favoriete countryzangeres bij. <br /><br />Jaime Wyatt imponeerde op Neon Cross met haar krachtige en doorleefde stem, die prachtig kleurde bij de wonderschone pedal steel klanken op het album en bij de laatste verrichtingen van gitarist Neal Casal, die niet veel later een einde maakte aan zijn leven. Met Neon Cross maakte de tijdelijk naar Nashville uitgeweken Jaime Wyatt een prachtig countryalbum met zowel authentieke als moderne ingrediënten, wat absoluut naar meer smaakte. <br /><br />Deze week keert Jaime Wyatt terug met haar derde album, Feel Good. Het is een album waarop wederom de imposante stem van de muzikante uit Los Angeles centraal staat, maar Feel Good klinkt anders dan Neon Cross en Felony Blues. Het is voor een belangrijk deel de verdienste van producer en Black Pumas lid Adrian Quesada, die Jaime Wyatt naar een studio in Austin, Texas, haalde. De man achter het geluid van Black Pumas, dat vorige jaar haar tweede album uitbracht, heeft flink wat invloed gehad op het geluid van Jaime Wyatt, die op Feel Good vooral een stuk soulvoller klinkt dan op Neon Cross. <br /><br />Feel Good is voorzien van een mooie en aangenaam broeierig klinkende mix van country, Southern rock en vooral heel veel soul. In muzikaal opzicht klinkt het allemaal prachtig met een swingende ritmesectie, prachtige gitaarakkoorden en orgel dat uit de speakers knalt, maar de geweldige stem van Jaime Wyatt maakt nog net wat meer indruk en maakt van Feel Good een fantastisch album. <br /><br />Het is een album dat na zijn twee behoorlijk donkere voorgangers een stuk opgewekter klinkt, wat Feel Good nog wat aantrekkelijker maakt. Ik was zeer gesteld op het countrygeluid van Jaime Wyatt en van mij had ze nog stapels countryalbums mogen maken, maar met de soulinjectie op haar derde album is helemaal niets mis en ik denk dat ik de stem van Jaime Wyatt in het soulvollere geluid zelfs nog wat beter tot zijn recht vind komen. Het is het derde geweldige album van de Amerikaanse muzikante, die zich na de valse start alsnog heeft geschaard onder het allerbeste dat de Amerikaanse rootsmuziek op het moment te bieden heeft.</p><p>Erwin Zijleman</p><p><br /></p><p>Je kunt Feel Good hier luistren en bestellen:</p><p>https://jaimewyattmusic.bandcamp.com/album/feel-good<br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-57440830081796210542024-02-28T08:30:00.001+01:002024-02-28T08:30:00.144+01:00.NoWordsNeedeD, 28-02-2024<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWG2dsXV5HI"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">My Favorite Things - John Coltrane
[FULL VERSION] HQ (youtube.com)</span></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">.No</p>.Nohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11373175867600902104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-79120767385427239492024-02-27T08:30:00.007+01:002024-02-27T08:30:00.278+01:00Lone Rider. D.C. Maxwell<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl5TB9cJtPHfzTNWQNi6P9Px04jLdZQDe3gm8kiooqdoE81WD8PoRSxxf7DyWPkhyphenhyphenSKrBesHsk_Kiaita2d0kCQOQdD21w7wqtLJ_E9ipNuowpUevRJx3kcE6PjNFTcw84WNrJDOLs-rfBebYgr-KjbAYu7H8AXDmkMKX6o2-5gEZR8_uwpsmKoKUYz8/s700/Lone%20Rider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl5TB9cJtPHfzTNWQNi6P9Px04jLdZQDe3gm8kiooqdoE81WD8PoRSxxf7DyWPkhyphenhyphenSKrBesHsk_Kiaita2d0kCQOQdD21w7wqtLJ_E9ipNuowpUevRJx3kcE6PjNFTcw84WNrJDOLs-rfBebYgr-KjbAYu7H8AXDmkMKX6o2-5gEZR8_uwpsmKoKUYz8/w200-h200/Lone%20Rider.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>De Nieuw-Zeelandse muzikant D.C. Maxwell debuteerde afgelopen zomer met Lone Rider, dat direct bij eerste beluistering een onuitwisbare indruk maakt en vervolgens alleen maar indrukwekkender en memorabeler wordt.<p></p><p>D.C. Maxwell uit het Nieuw-Zeelandse Auckland zat een paar jaar geleden nog in een punkband, maar daar is niets meer van te horen op zijn solodebuut Lone Rider. Het album is bij vlagen zeer vol en wat theatraal ingekleurd met flink wat strijkers, maar bevat ook een aantal meer ingetogen momenten, waarin een bijzondere twist nooit ver weg is. Ook de zang van D.C. Maxwell bevat hier en daar het nodige drama, maar de stem van de muzikant uit Auckland tilt het album ook mijlenver op. Dan doen ook de songs op Lone Rider, want wat zit hier veel in en wat beschikken ze over veel groeipotentie. Absoluut een album met jaarlijstjespotentie deze parel van de andere kant van de wereld.<br /></p><p>Sinds enkele jaren volg ik ook de Nieuw-Zeelandse muziekscene op de voet en dat levert af en toe geweldige albums op en meestal gaat het om albums die aan deze kant van de wereld maar weinig aandacht krijgen. De laatste maanden viel de oogst uit Nieuw-Zeeland wat tegen, maar deze week verscheen er eindelijk weer een album dat een hele goede kans gaat maken om hoog te eindigen in mijn jaarlijstje over een maand of vier. <br /><br />Het gaat om Lone Rider van de Nieuw-Zeelandse muzikant D.C. Maxwell. De muzikant uit Auckland maakte in het verleden deel uit van de emopunkband Roidz, die ook in de Verenigde Staten succesvol was, maar met Lone Rider slaat D.C. Maxwell een totaal andere weg in. De Nieuw-Zeelandse muzikant noemt zelf onder andere Scott Walker, Lee Hazlewood en Nick Cave als inspiratiebronnen, maar als ik luister naar Lone Rider dringt vooral de naam van Marc Almond zich op. <br /><br />Vergeleken met Marc Almond zingt D.C. Maxwell met net wat minder pathos, maar ook de zang van de Nieuw-Zeelandse muzikant is zeer expressief en hier en daar voorzien van het nodige drama. Ik vind Marc Almond een groot zanger en ook van de stem van D.C. Maxwell ben ik zeer onder de indruk. De Nieuw-Zeelandse muzikant vertelt op zijn debuutalbum een aantal aardedonkere verhalen, waarvan er een aantal zeer persoonlijk zijn, en hij doet dit met veel gevoel en expressie. <br /><br />Alleen door de zang, die ook nog raakt aan die van de briljante Gavin Friday, vind ik Lone Rider al een geweldig album, maar het debuutalbum van de muzikant uit Auckland heeft veel meer te bieden. In vocaal opzicht heb ik zoals gezegd vooral associaties met het rijke oeuvre van Marc Almond en ook in muzikaal opzicht draagt de Britse muzikant relevant vergelijkingsmateriaal aan. Veel songs op Lone Rider zijn immers behoorlijk uitbundig en soms wat theatraal ingekleurd met flink wat strijkers. <br /><br />Nu vind ik dit soort muziek al snel over the top, maar dat is het debuutalbum van D.C. Maxwell zeker niet. Hier en daar zwellen de strijkers stevig aan en doen ook de blazers een flinke duit in het zakje, maar tegenover de wat steviger aangezette klanken staan ook voldoende ingetogen tot zeer ingetogen passages. Zeker wanneer de songs van D.C. Maxwell wat minder uitbundig zijn ingekleurd en hij ook wat minder expressief zingt, klinkt Lone Ride opeens als een vergeten singer-songwriter klassieker uit de jaren 70 en ook in dit genre weet de Nieuw-Zeelandse singer-songwriter zich makkelijk te onderscheiden. <br /><br />Dat doet D.C. Maxwell ook zeker met de songs op Lone Rider, want de tien songs op het album zijn van een opvallend hoog niveau. D.C. Maxwell is op zijn eerste album goed voor songs die je onmiddellijk nieuwsgierig maken, die zich vervolgens snel opdringen en die ook nog eens interessanter worden wanneer je ze vaker hoort. In muzikaal opzicht zijn er steeds weer interessante wendingen en fraaie echo’s uit het verleden, maar ook in tekstueel opzicht is Lone Rider een fascinerend album, dat vaak goed is voor een traan, maar soms ook voor een lach. <br /><br />Muziek uit Nieuw-Zeeland trekt in Nederland zeker niet vanzelfsprekend de aandacht, maar Lone Rider van D.C. Maxwell is een ontstellend goed album, dat ook hier moet worden bedolven onder de positieve woorden. Ik ben na een paar dagen zelf compleet verslingerd aan dit fascinerende album, maar Lone Rider groeit ook nog wel even door de komende tijd.</p><p>Erwin Zijleman</p><p><br /></p><p>Je kun Lone Rider hier luisteren en bestellen:</p><p>https://dcmaxwell.bandcamp.com/album/lone-rider<br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-37004236858706180862024-02-26T08:30:00.019+01:002024-02-26T08:30:00.276+01:00SPRINTS live with English Teacher. Saturday 24 February 2024 Paradiso Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3t1C2eNWy-8R0yTNmoN1i76IlgnoUTwsTovmfv4aDmd-pGMNQkMl85ej95D6zvTPDYrJxokOz6CHYGEPR0OMJmcKeQAh1F4cKpta-ZPp9YqKFCTlbJJeS8v-BGm_lvfOYgJn3z7-FmDqx5HghAE9QR1yqaEPvC7kcdgSu7ipASKc0_Jv8eVGNby75rg/s4080/20240224_211846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3t1C2eNWy-8R0yTNmoN1i76IlgnoUTwsTovmfv4aDmd-pGMNQkMl85ej95D6zvTPDYrJxokOz6CHYGEPR0OMJmcKeQAh1F4cKpta-ZPp9YqKFCTlbJJeS8v-BGm_lvfOYgJn3z7-FmDqx5HghAE9QR1yqaEPvC7kcdgSu7ipASKc0_Jv8eVGNby75rg/w200-h150/20240224_211846.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Wout de Natris<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>With an album like 'Letter To Self' in the pocket what could go wrong for Dublin's SPRINTS? Of course a lot could, but not with the attitude the band brings to its audience. This band is out to conquer the world and has set its mark on Amsterdam, I'm sure. Everyone present will tell their friends and friends' friends about this band, so they fill Paradiso straight next time.</p><p>From literally the very first note the band went for it and song after song set Tolhuistuin on fire. The energy clearly went both ways, with the band totally proud to have sold out its first European show, as if Ireland and the U.K. are not Europe, but o.k. I was part of this experience of SPRINTS.</p><p>The music of SPRINTS is called postpunk, most likely just like English Teacher's. I think it's time to stop using it. SPRINTS live is punk. In attitude in, the attack with which they play, the agitation of the singer, the storm coming from her lungs and throat. This girl has opinions and not afraid to share them with her audience. Anger and frustration is shared while at the same time the band has so much fun. The two girls, English Teacher's and SPRINT's singers, went stagediving at the end of the show, while the two bands, who had become great friends on their tour, were both on stage.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWSfS2lboMpVvFWAObSp3DDt5PTiMpnSZ6i6kMugqC4ff_FAeFKGsdpESlvYfnw4rvDYFYY6m_b-95iE-XF8Hr7w0rngITF893BxFUV6F7PiW7FFXN1HQQxn3X-5pxIzEgckD7AZNZWh4uQBxZfsWO6D0m-tVT30mi-jVgDSqCPGYm01QN5C1ZqHmRxw/s4080/20240224_195926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWSfS2lboMpVvFWAObSp3DDt5PTiMpnSZ6i6kMugqC4ff_FAeFKGsdpESlvYfnw4rvDYFYY6m_b-95iE-XF8Hr7w0rngITF893BxFUV6F7PiW7FFXN1HQQxn3X-5pxIzEgckD7AZNZWh4uQBxZfsWO6D0m-tVT30mi-jVgDSqCPGYm01QN5C1ZqHmRxw/w200-h150/20240224_195926.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Wout de Natris<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>English Teacher certainly entertained as well but is not as far as SPRINTS is. I had not heard of the band before, nor its music but I certainly will want to hear its upcoming album, 'This Could Be Texas'. Around me I noticed that many people did know some songs and on average the music was welcomed by the audience. I certainly ended on the positive side. Singer Lily Fontaine is charming with her Afro. I hadn't seen hair like this since the 1970s I think. She can sing and sings with ease. Musically, I went from paying a lot of attention, to somewhat distracted and back. The choice of music the band plays is very varied. One song could have been a Barbra Streisand one! This made the contrast later with SPRINTS a big one. Overall though the band scored on my good side, something not all unknown support acts do.</p><p>"I've seen the future of rock and roll", Jon Landau wrote about 50 years ago. I'm not sure about that but with SPRINTS it might be true. With Wolf Alice this band live is one of two best new live acts I've seen in recent years. A closing song like 'Literary Mind' ought to conquer the world all by itself and comes across live even stronger than on record. They simply do not come much better in this genre. Wow!, is the right word.</p><p>Wout de Natris</p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022018216922190253.post-36233705674385953942024-02-25T08:30:00.042+01:002024-02-25T08:30:00.159+01:00Back Into The Dream. Elephant Stone<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5YlUVfCK7met_KEfGkFU_9g1MCqjoeh-twovV0Jh1mnQaj_XzPvyUA1EjIc8ki-koBezBD36Js7ze2J8ns-AlraNF38rjwu4hOrFdfsYGu42P6tEqBoYeCmpDcAajO8htvYWmHmCEs7IOc2mXbFstlau8DWBuXstX_kpULqrLEYQ8EsCT5wF03KZP84/s225/Cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5YlUVfCK7met_KEfGkFU_9g1MCqjoeh-twovV0Jh1mnQaj_XzPvyUA1EjIc8ki-koBezBD36Js7ze2J8ns-AlraNF38rjwu4hOrFdfsYGu42P6tEqBoYeCmpDcAajO8htvYWmHmCEs7IOc2mXbFstlau8DWBuXstX_kpULqrLEYQ8EsCT5wF03KZP84/w200-h200/Cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Wow, that is the right word to start this review with. I did not see this one coming. On the basis of the past, what is it now, 11, 12 years, that Elephant Stone is on this blog, I had certainly expected a good album. Not Back Into The Dream though. This album is truly next level.<p></p><p>It is full of influences that anyone with a even a little pop knowledge will recognise. There's nothing new here where Elephant Stone is concerned. What happens next is the surprise. The Canadians come up with golden melodies that can compete with the best that came before.</p><p>Elephant Stone came into my life as one of the earlier bands that surfed high on the wave of modern psychedelia. At some point I truly wondered whether I could manage to digest another one and so often I found I could. With Indian elements the Canadians set itself somewhat apart from other bands in the genre.</p><p>What makes Back Into The Dream special is that Elephant Stone manages to successfully combine The Shins with the most glorious 1960s pop songs with a hint of psychedelia of course. A host of instruments come by giving the music the authentic sounds it needs and harmonies that seem to want to topple 'Saint Simon' from its throne as the pop song with the best vocal harmony since the 1960s. Enter The Beatles and The Beach Boys into this album. It is as if Elephant Stone gave up all the limits and inhibitions it ever set for itself to go truly all the way to create the best music it was capable of.</p><p>Over the past months, well into last year, several singles have come by on this blog but none of them individually gave away the experience I'm having listening to the whole. If proof is needed whether a whole album can work better than a single song, Back Into The Dream provides it. From beginning to end I'm riding that proverbial high Elephant Stone provides me with.</p><p>Rishi Diir (vocals, bass and sitar) and his band mates Miles Dupire on drums, Jason Kent keys and guitar, and Robbie MacArthur on guitar have struck true gold for the first time. The Montreal based foursome have produced an album so rich in sounds and melodies it can be really, truly proud of. The richness of the album shows primarily in the different sides to the album. You will hear elements honouring Yes' Steve Howe, the singing of The Beatles (and The Shins), the softer psychedelic pop songs of the 60s and a lot, lot more. It is all done in such good taste, honouring the heroes of old while presenting extremely strong Elephant Stone songs.</p><p>Sometimes an album comes along that makes my mouth drop. Back In The Dream is one of them. Time will tell how good it really is. Am I dreaming or is it real? We are certainly off to a very good start. Another strong album in 2024 and we are not even two months in.</p><p>Wout de Natris</p><p><br /></p><p>You can listen to and order Back Into The Dream here:</p><p>https://elephantstonemusic.bandcamp.com/album/back-into-the-dream<br /></p>Wo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04077342908097659671noreply@blogger.com0