2025, week 19. 10 singles

After two weeks of a well-deserved holiday on the beautiful island of Sicily, in full bloom, with the heady scent of orange blossom as the most apparent manifestation of that bloom, WoNoBlog returns with its overview of 10 recent singles and EPS. You'll find totally new names, recent, older and two very old names in this list, including the contender for the oldest band in the world. I'm sure you can guess which one. Anyway, we're back, so it's time for you to explore some new music, enjoy!

Easter Lily EP. U2

Only a few weeks after U2's previous surprise EP there already is another one, Easter Lily. And I have to say, I like it. I don't think I've ever heard the Dublin band, now active for well over 40 years play so relaxed and down to earth. There's is no effect that makes the sound bigger than needs be. Of course, at heart there's Bono's voice and The Edge's guitar that are recognisable out of thousands. What the band avoids, is the stadium grandstanding, where it often hid behind. Easter Lily contains songs that, for U2, are simply naked. Opening song 'Song For Hal', may contain several guitar overdubs, it is a song, that somehow gives me the idea that it could have been sung by Frank Sinatra. It has that kind of quality. What Easter Lily shows, is that U2 is able to avoid being U2 too much. In a way it is like The Rollin Stones' blues album from 2016, 'Blue & Lonesome', but filled with original U2 songs. This EP shows that U2 can write interesting songs without the endless effects. It is a U2 I like far better I notice. Of course, the band has scored huge hits and they are fantastic, but still I got bored with them, even at a live show in 2005. With Easter Lily U2 keeps me attentive and appreciative for six songs. It may well be be a record.

Gold Things. Office Dog

Office Dog from New Zealand is on route to the release of its first album after releasing its EP 'Doggerland' in 2024. 'Prime Corner' will be released at the start of New Zealand's winter and our summer. With Gold Things the band makes a statement with a song that has some ragged edges. Gold Things is not a song that will please the masses but may make fans of alternative rock with a dirty edge quite content. Here's a first one for starters. Kane Strang sings in part with a deeper register, which restrains his range. As soon as he lets his voice go, the song is kicked in the proverbial butt and starts to bloom because of that kick. Just listen to that instrumental part as well. The trio really makes the most of Gold Things.

If You Change. Widowspeak

The last three Widowspeak albums have all found their way to this blog and listening to If You Change, the band's recent single, it will not come as a surprise when around 5 June new album 'Roses' will receive a warm welcome here. For me, Widowspeak entered my life actively with its 2020 album 'Plum'. 2018's 'Expect The Best' was reviewed by Erwin Zijleman. If You Change is a relaxed kind of song, with a The Byrds/Roger McGuinn/Gene Clark vibe around it that makes it almost anachronistic in 2026. Next to this Rickenbacker sound comes the dreamy quality of singer Molly Hamilton's voice. I'm certain Erwin will come up with the Mazzy Star comparison, as he often does, but that is a band I've missed at the time. If You Change is beauty caught in music but beware, like in the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty, in Dutch 'Doornroosje', there are a few thorns involved in the music.

Rough And Twisted. The Rolling Stones

For some weeks it was clear that something was up. No Hackney Diamond adds this time but something with The Cockroaches. All speculation can be tossed by the wayside, the band has announced its 25th studio album in 64 years (!). It's called 'Foreign Tongues' and will be released on 10 July. Although it looks like its touring days are over, in the studio The Stones can sound as dirty as ever. With this bluesy track the ball is opened and it is dirty, greasy and rocks like there is no end of the line even at 80+. Riffs fly and Ronnie Wood plays a very mean slide guitar. Jagger seems not to age where his voice is concerned. Compared to all his contemporaries he's simply amazing. There's no ware and tear there in any way. Producer Andrew Watt again makes the band sound so urgent, so direct, so in your face. Just like 'Angry' in 2023, Rough And Twisted is a great introduction to what is to come in 2026.

Is This All There Is? EP Anna Calvi

Anna Calvi returns to the blog with a new four song EP. The single 'God's Lonely Man' was already reviewed a while back. Iggy Pop sings with Calvi and more or less takes the lead, with Calvi vocally circling around him like a dervish. The song has a deep and dark organic beat, that fits Iggy really well. Like I wrote then, the song could have been on 'The Idiot' and 'Lust For Life'. It makes for an ideal opening song for Is This All There Is? 'I See A Darkness', a cover of the Bonnie 'Prince' Billy' song, is an extremely dark song in a duet with Perfume Genius. In that darkness Calvi manages to create some great musical moments that sound like a volcano erupting over which Perfume Genius hovers while Calvi at times sounds like a ship's horn in the fog. 'Computer Love' is a collaboration with Laurie Anderson, that in part sounds just like I would expect a Lauri Anderson track to sound, just somewhat less electronic. The way the song moves towards its end, sounds almost like opera, bringing the digital and human together. I may actually start to like the track. The final song is a collaboration with The National's Matt Berninger. Berninger grumbles himself through the title song in a very natural way. The contrast with Anna Calvi is just nice, not unlike Phoebe Bridger's contributions to The National's last two albums. The two make 'Is This All There Is?' come totally alive. I understand this is the first of three EPs, so lay it on me, please.

Screams. Blood Red Shoes

When did Blood Red Shoes enter my life?, I mused while listening to Screams for the first time. It may well be 18 to 20 years ago. Time flies when you're having fun and the fun continues. Just like U2 at the top of this singles post, Blood Red Shoes goes back to the bare essence of being a duo band. Gone are the electronics and extra hands found on the previous two records. Screams is a good old honest song but with a load of quality. Steven Ansell may be drumming in the video like a clown would in the circus making it seem like we all cold do his part. In the meantime the drum part is extremely effective, while Screams has a great melody making it a joy to listen to. The harmonies Laura Mary Carter sings are spot on, just like her elementary sounding guitar part and solo is. So, no excitement, all quality. And en passant, my question whether Ms Carter's solo album brought the end to Blood Red Shoes was answered in the way I hoped. Screams!

G.O.D. And The Broken Ribs. Jack White

Jack White and I go back even further than the previous entry. That came with the 'Fell In Love With A Girl' song by The White Stripes. Of course 2002 does not match U2, let alone The Rolling Stones. I have to admit that I sort of skipped all White has released after the rather disappointing 'Blunderbuss' album. I never play the older stuff any more, so perhaps it's best to leave things be. Then I read about two new songs being released simultaneously and decided to try one anyway. G.O.D. And The Broken Ribs was the song of choice. It sounds instantly recognisable. Jack White is back in a The White Stripes mode and it fits him very well. The excitement is there, just like his panache. I notice the fun I have listening to this song. So, who knows, I may want to hear more anyway. 

Ready To Run. Samantha Harlow

Time for a new name on this blog. Samantha Harlow is a name I've never encountered before. With Ready To Run she presents a song that is total disagreement with the cover art, where she presents herself as a female Frankenstein from a 1920s silent movie. A role that could have been played by her namesake Jean Harlow, a movie star from the late 20s and 30s, who tragically died from kidney failure at the age of 26. The music is all but scary. Samantha Harlow is not in a hurry. On a slow Latin rhythm she sings her song like Emmylou Harris once did in a song called 'Mr. Sandman'. There is another link with a world long gone, The Andrew Sisters. The music itself sounds very modern because of the way it was recorded, full and majestic. The combination may not be my daily cup of tea, but every once in a while a cup of Assem or Darjeeling tea goes down well, just like Ready To Run does.

Tied. Caitlin

Due to personal circumstances I'm running rather behind on music and the relentless releases do not allow for a lot of options to catch up. Caitlin's EP 'Guardrail' is already out for a month and here I am reviewing one of its singles. Like Samantha Harlow above, Tied is a very quiet affair. Caitlin's driving force is her dreamy sounding voice that seems to hover over the music, that absolutely is in 100% support of her singing. The result is an indie track that does have an exotic flavour. At heart Tied is an acoustic track with a drummer who is not afraid to give an unexpected accent here and there, making me prick up my ears some more. The electric guitar solo is mixed somewhat into the background, for a second one mixed in nearer towards the end and ending the song. After 'You’re Only Good To Calm Me Down', Tied is the second song coming of 'Guardrail' that goes down pretty well with me.

Cigarette. Berm

Listening to Cigarette, I can't shake the idea that the singer is overdoing his voice to give it an Eddie Vedder kind of sound. Listening to Cigarette, the song is so serious that this simply cannot be. What to call it the genre? Alt-folk? Something like that I guess. Berm, Dutch for the soft shoulder of a road, makes its debut on the blog. The band is from Worcester, Massachussetts and has released its debut album 'highway through the trees' on 24 April. The band's approach to its music is extremely down to earth. Don't expect anything frivolous on Cigarette. If anything is, it's in the few keyboard notes played throughout the song. The song works its way slowly towards the end, without any significant changes and yet. It keeps me listening to it almost mesmerised by the repeated note progression.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght 

2026, week 10. 10 singles

Late winter with unlikely temperatures? Trees ready to bud and bulbs shooting out of the ground all at the same time. Some too late, others too early. Welcome to the too early spring of 2026 in a time in which we seem to be living 'Wag The Dog' for real. An important lesson from the past is that messianic dictators rather go down leaving no stone unturned. Unfortunately we have a few of them at the same time. Good luck to us all! In the meantime, here's another selection of 10 recent singles for you to enjoy.

Queen-Size Life. Mountaineer

On route to the new album Mountaineer releases a new single. What the previous single already suggested, is shown here even more: this album came with a bigger budget. The regular band setting is more in the background, while up front a trumpet tries to steal away all your attention. Don't fall for that trap! Queen-Size Life is a ballad, slow but extremely beautiful. It is a song like Marcel Hulst already has a few to his name. This one is just bigger, because of the trumpet(s), the strings and the angelic background vocals that weave themselves around Hulst's voice full of melancholy observations and more than just a hint of sadness. The cherry on the cake are the few sparse and oh so slow piano notes closer to the end. As I already wrote, I have heard a song like this from Mountaineer before but never at this level. Two songs into the album, I can't wait to hear more. A little more patience is called for before 'Country Dragon' sees the light of day on 3 April.

The Best Is Yet To Come. Lise Catherine

Lise Catharine is releasing her singles faster than I can keep up with. In between my review of two weeks ago, there is also the single 'Ticket To The Moon'. The Best Is Yet To Come is also a slow ballad with the clear sheen of melancholy longing hanging over it. You can find the song in a bare version on You Tube from 2022. In 2026 that guitar is still there, but around it Lise Catherine not only plays with your mood and but also with your ears. All sorts of atmospherics and treated vocals come by, turning the song into something far more mysterious than just a woman's voice and an acoustic guitar. What I arrive at, is that Kate Bush is all over The Best Is Yet To Come, without it becoming a typical Kate Bush song from say 1981 to 1985. For that it is far too itself. The best description is, The Best Is Yet To Come is intriguing song, while pleasing at the same time. 

Days Of Ash. U2 

"You have the right to remain silent, or not" opens the EP that U2 dropped unexpectedly recently in the song 'American Obituary'. Let's face it, this is no 'Vertigo', the last U2 song that truly shook me. It is a song that breathes life and that is more than I can say from any U2 song since 2005. I can be mistaken but I don't think I own a single U2 song since the album holding 'Vertigo'. Now U2 albums and me is not, never has been a successful combination. Even the two best of albums are too much of a good thing for me. Listening to Days Of Ash, six songs short, I am not held back by the length of the album and not by the quality of the songs. The EP is not earth shattering but it is good and I'm glad to be able to say so. With drummer Larry Mullen jr. back behind his drumkit the band is complete again also. In 'The Tears Of Things' U2 does a Bowie. In general, I notice that the band does not try to be bigger than itself. The band lets the songs do the work and not the band work the songs. Because of it, U2 comes down to earth and shows itself as a sort of naked truth version of itself, unplugged without plugging out. I have to say that this is a U2 I rather like. Until very recently, I expected never to want to buy a U2 record again. It looks like I have to change my mind.

Javelin. Kevin Morby

Okay, does anything really, really happen in Javelin? If I'm honest, no there isn't. My ears tell me the same chords go over and over. Then why am I so attracted to Javelin? I can't tell you from a technical, rational level. Where the feeling side of things is concerned, the song makes me feel warm inside. The way it slowly but surely becomes bigger, the way more instruments and voices come in that change not so much the atmosphere of the single as expand it, simply touches me. To find Kevin Morby on this blog, you have to go back ten years to find a review by Erwin Zijleman. I have encountered the name Kevin Morby for sure but never got into his music. If you ask me to compare this song, then I arrive at The War on Drugs. Luckily, Kevin Morby does not draw Javelin out to seven or more minutes. This single pleases me no little. Album 'Little Wide Open' arrives in stores and online on 15 May.

Koneko featuring Liana Flores. Mei Semones

In 2025 Mei Semones stayed in London with Liana Flores and her impressions of that visit were turned into Koneko, where the two harmonise together. Those who have read my reviews of the Japanese-American singer-songwriter Mei Semones know what to expect. Koneko, her latest single, does not make any move towards not meeting expectations. The bossa nova and jazz is all over Koneko. If you ask the average person where this song comes, 99.99% will answer Brazil. What is missing here is the indie twist Mei Semones usually throws into a song, making things far more confusing. This is a perfectly relaxed bossa nova tune that is released to announce an extensive tour of North America. 

Window Loop. Postman

Postman? What is this rapper who has gone out of style over twenty years ago doing on a French label?, I wondered when I read the announcement in an email. Luckily for Ukranian singer-songwriter Kostiantyn Pochtar ('Postman' in English) I read beyond the title, because what I am listening to is an interesting singer-songwriter song. Postman worked on his new record in the Polish mountains. Window Loop is on the one hand a song that has a traditional build up. Kostiantyn Pochtar sings and is accompanied by an acoustic guitar played in a muted way. Slowly more enters, an electronic beat, a bass, some kind of synth and an electric guitar playing one chord stroke, leaving space and time before the next chord. Later on crackling enters giving the impression of an old 45 that has been abused a few times too many. Postman always keeps the lid on things. Window Loop is not exploding, things move underneath the surface here. More is underway. EP 'Phantasma' is set for release on 17 April.

Gayfever. Vera Ellen

New Zealand singer-songwriter Vera Ellen is back. Her album 'Ideal Home Noises' still comes by regularly in my home and car. It is one of the better albums coming out of New Zealand this decade and one of the best subtoppers all over. With Gayfever Vera Ellen is delivering once again. She manages to attract with her way of singing and talking and everything in between the two. The music both supports and decides to go its own way in the right moments, creating two interesting moments at once. Yes, I can multitask as I am able to follow both paths at the same time. Gayfever is reassuringly Vera Ellen and yet is more exultant. The extras in the song are almost overdone for a Vera Ellen song (as I know them). They are not, this is what musical richness sounds like. The video though is quite weird but no less surprising. Her new album, ‘Heaven Knows What Time’, is released on Flying Nun on 1 May. 

Me And My Shadow. Fini Tribe

Fini Tribe formed in 1980 in Edinburgh during the postpunk era. The six piece band recorded during the years 1982 - 1987 and is re-releasing its output forty plus years down the line. The single Me And My Shadow is typical for the time. There's little light let into the music, if any. The singer puts on the deadest voice he is capable of (not very, I'm afraid). The rhythm is almost machine like. Forty years before AI could be asked to produce such a mechanic beat. The two guitars and the keyboard take care of the melody, of course stocky and in a straightjacket with an extra pull on the wraps. The song works though, exactly because of how the guitars and keyboard play off each other. The single was recorded in a session when most of the boys were still in secondary school. Taking this fact into account, the single is quite alright. Album 'The Sheer Action of Fini Tribe: 1982-1987' was released on 11 February.

Sweetiepie. The Sophs

It has been a while since I listen to a Violent Femmes song. Even my favourite album 'Hallowed Ground' has not been put on for quite some time. The Sophs could have fooled me, if Sweetiepie had been released as a long lost Violent Femmes song. The only thing that would have put a little doubt in my mind perhaps, is the fact that the song does get a poppy feel, where the band of old always had some darkness around it at the time. Sweetiepie is an uptempo country-rockabilly song with a moutharp and all. The Sophs play with the rockabilly sound like it should, with the little moments where only the drums keep up the song and rhythm before everybody joins in again. This song is just big time fun, let's not mince any further words on it.

Carved Skull. Abrasive Trees 

We have to go back to the Covid years to find Abrasive Trees on this blog. With a new album under way, as yet unnamed but slated for May, the band around Matthew Rochford releases a new single called Carved Skull. Yes, the music is almost as dark as the title suggests. No, this is not death metal, not even close. I would put the music somewhere between symphonic rock and 1980s doom and gloom without moving into postpunk. So, expect a deep bass and a drums that pounds the skins and layers upon layers of guitars that all together take their time to play the song home. The mood is created and drawn out. Listening to the intro I'm even remembered of the way Sadeness integrated Gregorian singing into pop somewhere around 1990. Monks have gone mostly out of fashion, but their ghosts hover in Carved Skull. Jay Newton (guitars, backing vocals), Matthew Rochford (vocals, guitars, synth) and Will Tyler (drums, bass, backing vocals), assisted by Ben Roberts (electric cello) and Yunala Songweaver (backing vocals) create a mood that is somehow befittingly sacred for the second quarter of the 21st century.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght 

2025, week 44. 10 singles

At times things are so busy writing about new music is not an option. This weekend it is and you will find some known and new names in the process. So, off you go. Enjoy!

XS. Celeste Corsano

Celeste Corsano returns to the blog with her latest single XS. It took me two spins before the song started to land a little with me. Now bio's often describe a lot and I usually take them with a pinch of salt, meaning no disrespect, as quite often I just do not hear what is written in them. Here though I wholeheartedly agree. If anything, I do hear The Cars in the choppy guitars and Kate Bush in Ms. Corsano's voice. That does not mean XS is an easy song to digest. Just like Kate Bush's songs are not exactly ones that went down in one go. Some still haven't really. Celeste Corsano makes the most of this single though. Where the guitar grounds us, the keyboard exults the euphoria she is singing about. The combination makes the listener work for his/her pleasure and that is often a gratifying experience.

Itsumo. Mei Semones

For whatever reason, Japanese cd buyers get a song or more extra that the rest of the world does not. Itsumo is that song on Mei Semones's debut album 'Animaru', reviewed earlier this year on this blog. It is the first song she ever recorded. Besides showing her virtuoso playing on an acoustic, nylon-stringed guitar, she shows the two sides to her music in abundance. She switches between her two main languages, Japanese and English, between bossa nova with classical music influences and grunge rock and finally between acoustic and electric. The contrast in the music in Itsumo is more black and white than on some of the songs on 'Animaru', where the differences at times are blended in such a way that my ears at times struggle to keep up. But whatever else they tell me, dazzling is one of the words.

Betchu Won't. Dirt Buyer

A true point of rest in what is often a busy affair this weekly blogpost on recent singles. Dirt Buyer is Joe Sutkowski from Brooklyn, New York. In Betchu Won't he is in an ultra relaxed mode and manages to say everything in a time frame that even the best mid-60s pop hits struggled to manage, 2.06 minutes. This song is a singer-songwriter song in the hey-ho or ho-hey folk way, with not allowing the famous words of the previous decade into his song. Two acoustic guitars, a soft bass and drums and Sutkowski harmonising with himself is all you will hear. Just a man, anticipating that "we'll get it right", musing on how to achieve that. Soft and modest beauty is what describes Betchu Won't best.

Running Down Pylons. N.E. Vains

Things down stay quiet for long, as Running Down Pylons is the next song presenting itself this week. And if you think 2.06 minutes is short, listen to this single. It clocks in at 1.26 minutes. Yes, I go with the description of garage punk. Running Down Pylons is an energetic affair without overdoing it. N.E. Vains, which stands either for New England or North Eastern, depending on which band member you ask, American of Canadian, is not in an extreme hurry to run over the pylons. It's more like it is savouring the moments of running them down. Celebrating each single moment. Don't worry, the band has the speed. The lead guitar rages throughout the song. The singer announcing each single pylon hit. It's just that the band has control over the song. Running Down Pylons is not running amok with it. Just a great, very short song.

Cross Your Heart. Momma

On 10 april this year I wrote on Momma's album 'Welcome To My Blue Sky'. Believe it or not, the band is already close to releasing a Deluxe Edition. What will be left for that 10 and 50 year edition, if the goods are already delivered? The current release is announced by the new single Cross Your Heart, one of the five new songs that the band will release as deluxe. The song itself has that grungy sound mixed with a good wallop of pop thanks to the lead guitar that has a near synth quality. Over it,  Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten sing with their pleasant, innocent sounding voices. Yes, I get that 'Eight Arms To Hold You' vibe and bring out the measuring tape that comes with it. Cross Your Heart does really well on that tape. It rocks, it grunges, it pops and all in the right measures, Sometimes I just have to be grateful for not having to wait for 10 or more years to hear a song.

Dozer. Plantoid

Ohmme, Finom, that were the names that popped into my head listening to the singing on Dozer, but also in that tight sort of music that duo produces. Plantoid is a new name on this blog though. Although it has released one album before, 'Terrapath, to me it is a new name. On 30 January the band's second album will be released, 'FLARE'. Dozer is a six minute long introduction, that takes the listener on a musical adventure where anything seems to go. It may consist for a larger part of the music, and the way Chloe Spence sings, that reminds me of Ohmme and Finom, two names for the same duo, that is only the starting point of Dozer. The best thing that I can point you to is the song itself. Just put it on and let all the elements wash over you. It will be more than worth your while.

Why. Radioactivity

If songs are as nice as Why, another uptempo punkrock song this week, it does not matter that the previous single was on here just three weeks ago. The song is so short it is already over before I could finish this sentence. Why is to the point and as catchy as the place where the horned and cloven-footed one dwells for a living. It may have taken Radioactivity a decade to write and record its new album 'Time Won't Bring Me down', you cannot tell from the urgency of this latest single. Like a 100 meter sprinter Why takes of and holds its breath until the finish line. Yes, Why sounds like a million songs that preceded it, believe you me, it does not matter. For that it is simply too good. Damn, it's over again already.

Under Dark Skies. Tombstones In Their Eyes

Just under a year ago Tombstone In Their Eyes debuted on this blog with its album 'Asylum Harbour' and already a new album is announced for early December. Under Dark Skies is the single announcing it and it is a delicious piece of psychedelic rock. It contains an exact right mix of 1960s psych and what has been happening in the past two decades. For years I'm asking myself the question does the world need another psych (rock) band? and the answer quite often is yes. To its credit Tombstones In Their Eyes is around far longer than I know. I caught on a bit late but not without enthusiasm for what I'm hearing. Under Dark Skies makes me feel like wading through dark muck in a swamp is the most pleasant activity on earth. The sound of this song is like a thick soup with a delicious taste. What more can a person ask for from a psych rock band?

Winding. Eric Barlow

Three singles into his recently released album, 'Still Moving Parts' and Eric Barlow still holds a prefect score. Winding is a lively, uptempo rocker, that injects a 1960s psychedelic dose into the song not unlike the Small Faces were able to do. There all comparisons stop, as Winding rocks and then some. Based around a strong riff in the verses, the song simply rushes on. There's no stopping it. Eric Barlow has no patience for resting today. Winding holds so much energy that it's near impossible to keep up with it. Like sprinting a marathon. Add a blistering guitar solo and Winding has the point on its i that almost blots the letter out. Wow, is the word that could have sufficed but would not have done the song right. "Round and around and around" it goes and goes. What power!

Hot Hot (ft. Lara Chedraoui). Sekushi 

The name Sekushi did not ring a bell, but lucky for me the blog has a search function and so I found the singles "Moan' and  'Beef' from 2023. The name Lara Chedraoui did ring a bell, but where has Drive Like Maria gone. It's drummer since even played for U2 in Las Vegas (and returned to Krezip before that)..With Hot Hot Belgian band Sekushi is ready for a new round of music and with a two word song no less. Of course the song rocks but clearly aims for the dance floor as well. The tempo and rhythm invite dancing no little. The singing reminds me a little of the way Tramhaus sings, except this song is far more alternatively rocking. Far removed from postpunk. There's a compromise here between the alternative and a pop feel that works really well. Hot Hot is a fun/party song and so good to listen to as well.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght 

Uh Oh. Patrick Watson

With Patrick Watson I had a very slow growing relationship. I distinctly remember lending a cd around 2010, maybe a little earlier, that I did not like at all. And then came 2015. I had just started to buy LPs once again and Patrick Watson released 'Love Songs For Robots', followed by 'Wave' in 2019. Two albums that made a big impression on me. His voice and the mysterious, dreamy ambiance of the records sort of had me spellbound.

After that I slowly forgot about Watson and found out too late that he had a show in NL; sold out. Come 2025 and after having heard a few singles, here's Uh Oh. Several of the songs are collaborations. There are more differences though, as Patrick Watson is diving off the highest board, as on the one hand all sort of estranging and weird effects enter his music, while on the other more traditional elements enter, but not primarily in the form I'm used to. It's quite upsetting his and my tranquil mind of the past.

Let's be honest, I'm still not certain what to think of this development. Currently I'm listening with a headphone on and not playing the album softly. It makes the music come totally alive, where so far this was not the case. At best I was intrigued. At this moment I'm feeling alive because of what I'm hearing.

Of course, at the heart of it all is Patrick Watson's voice. Soft spoken and in a higher region. The novelty lies in the voices around Watson's. Different singers accompany him, some as background, some as duet partners or both. It started from necessity, so I read. Patrick Watson lost his voice and did not know if he could ever sing again, while songs kept coming to him. Together with his band mates, Patrick Watson is also the name of the band, confusing, yes, he collaborated with a host of singers and instrumentalists. Some known, some only in local Montreal venues. There's the explanation why the album sounds so different from the ones I know from the past.

In a way it is exhilarating. Songs can be so different, so strange and so traditional. Take 'Ami Imaginaire'. At some points it sounds like the musical equivalent of a fractured mirror still caught in its frame. It's making all the sounds that individual pieces squeezed together make, while promising to fall apart, but not just yet. While in 'The Wandering' you hear a bossa nova rhythm over which the most estranging music and spooky background vocals are deposited, supported by a strict sounding string section. You will also hear Maro singing in Portuguese. 'Choir In The Wires' combines a chamber orchestra with a moody, slow mariachi. And I could go with a few more examples, but expect you have gotten the drift.

Having lost his voice led to Patrick Watson and band members opening all the windows and catch everything that came in with the breeze. I think it may take a few more listening sessions, to truly get to the deeper levels of Uh Oh. Believe me, I want to get to these levels alright.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Uh Oh here:

https://patrickwatson.bandcamp.com/album/uh-oh 

 

Animaru. Mei Semones

In December 2023 Brooklyn, NY singer Mei Semones debuted on this blog with her single 'Wakare No Kotoba'. Other singles and an EP followed, in which the singer-songwriter scaled every corner that her imagination allowed her to go,with no one stopping her flow of consciousness when creating music. It led me to follow her down the most surprising, exhilarating and at times mind boggling musical paths, where I was afraid to fall off the cliff half of the time but always made it to the other or landed miraculously on my two feet.

So, is it me getting used to the musical miracles or has Mei Semones held back on her debut album? Right now I opt for the second option, that she played it a little safer. That is different from opting out of delivering quality. Anyone listening to Animaru hears her playing as if she was born in Brazil. Relaxed bossa nova comes out of my earphones and speakers.

The first thing a new listener to Mei Semones' music is confronted with on the singer-songwriter's first single from Animaru (the Japanese pronunciation of the word “animal”) is 'Dumb Feeling'. The first you hear is the ease and expertise with which she plays her acoustic guitar. However, do brace yourself as within seconds you are taken on an adventure. 'Dumb Feeling' is a song that is so rich in its musical changes and arrangement that a novice to her music may easily get quite lost. Paying close attention helps, as that assists the listener to take each curve, bend and u-turn she presents with ever growing ease and pleasure.

Yes, my ears and brains have adapted to the musical challenges Mei Semones poses me. I find myself in a relaxed listening mood taking in all the surprises as if I'm listening to a regular bossa nova album. Despite all the changes in the music's intensity or the instruments that are added and dropped, it has become a pleasure to take it all in and still have the idea to be on a steady course.

I am convinced that the 24 year old Brooklyn musician knew exactly what she wanted to achieve with her debut album and charted it all out in advance. After a few listening sessions more, it is not difficult to state that Mei Semones has not made any concessions in recording her debut album. At least not where the complexity of her music is concerned. It is all there alright. One surprise after the other is presented by her. How many artists can claim this?

The final challenge she poses her listeners, is that she partly sings in Japanese. Unless you want to understand it all, it is an easy challenge, as the music takes you along its adventurous path.

Animaru is a very important release this year by a very talented artist. Time will tell whether it is also a truly fantastic release. The album is jotted down for the end of year list alright.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Animaru here:

https://meisemones.bandcamp.com/album/animaru 

2025, week 9. 10 singles

The meteorological spring started yesterday and the days are slowly getting warmer as the sun is getting stronger by the day and the light is there already for hours longer. Some songs this week reflect that optimistic feeling coming with warmth and light, so enjoy our selection.

Yummy Yummy Yummy. Gene Champagne

Yummy Yummy Yummy, that spells a cover to me. When I was a very young boy a band called Ohio Express scored two hits over here of which this one was the first, the second 'Chewy Chewy'. (On checking, I found a third top 40 hitsingle, 'Pinch Me'). It turns out Ohio Express was a producers' vehicle (Kasenetz - Katz) and a live band, that still tours, believe it or not, with the original drummer still behind his kit. Gene Champagne returns to this blog with a cover version of 'Yummu x3'. It gives some oomph to the original with a tougher guitar sound and drums. While still allowing for the bubblegum poprock original to shine through. As that is what the song was at the time. Gene Champagne captures this nicely, tipping his hat to the 1968 original with respect.

Dumb Feeling. Mei Semones

You have found Mei Semones on this blog before and just like you are about to read, she surprises with her song by the second almost. Last week I reviewed a song by Black Road New Country that drove me crazy as I couldn't find my hold on the song. It kept changing. So does Dumb Feeling but if BRNC wants to learn how to convince me, it better starts listening to Dumb Feeling. You have to pay attention for the whole time, because this single is in another place if you kept your mind somewhere else for even a few seconds. The bossa nova morphs into a rock piece for about three seconds, to change into a 1950s Doris Day style string part and so on. For now I think Dumb Feeling is more surprising than utterly good. The comment after that has to be that Mei Semones' imagination and arrangement skills border on the unbelievable and is well deserved. Dumb Feeling is almost beyond comprehension and yet fully registers.

Sit Down. Chris Church

What an upbeat, clear sounding song Sit Down is. North Carolina indie-rocker Chris Church returns to the blog with his latest single announcing his upcoming album 'Obsolete Path' (28 March). It is a song that I can place in the rock side of R.E.M. with some hints at (Brit)pop for good measure. The clear guitar notes are what set Sit Down apart. They are sprinkled all over the song. In fact there are layers of guitars that Church recorded for us to enjoy. Supported by drummer Brian Beaver he plays everything else himself. As an extra is the voice of Lindsay Murray, who is sitting down constantly in the video. As an aside, my wife would so much enjoy the number of records shown in the video. Unfortunately for her I have a few (ahem) more than that. Sit Down is an extremely pleasant rock song. It doesn't alter my world but I can easily listen to it quite often. Sit Down is well made, in other words.

Te Echt. Nieuwe Gezichten

In september vorig jaar, 22 om precies te zijn, debuteerde Nieuwe Gezichten op dit blog. Zie daar voor de uitleg over dit muzikale project. De zanger van dienst is ditmaal Bo Menning. Het gejaagde van 'Ter Aarde' is heel ver naar de achtergrond geduwd. Je kunt het er bij denken als het ware. Te Echt is dromerig, met veel uitwaaierende geluiden, maar ook een banjo. Dit is een uitzonderlijk gelaagde single. Van overal en nergens komen geluiden, die het nummer een onderhuidse spanning geven, die uiteindelijk op de luisteraar wordt los gelaten. Het een solo noemen voert te ver. Een instrumentaal intermezzo is beter, ware het niet dat het uiteindelijk ook naar het einde van het nummer voert. Onderweg verliest Nieuwe Gezichten wat instrumenten hier en daar, instrumenten die er overigens ook aan het begin van het nummer niet zijn. Kortom, er valt muzikaal veel te ontdekken in dit nummer.

Haunting. The Awakening

There are more South Africans who moved to the U.S.A. then the one who is constantly in the news in the past months. Luckily we also have Ashton Nyte, once dubbed "the Johannesburg Bowie". The singer can be found a while back on this blog both as a contributor to the Beauty in Chaos project as with The Awakening. Here he lends his deep voice to his own band, The Awakening, operating from the U.S. these days. Dark wave melts with heavy guitars and goth rock, this describes Haunting quite well. The single actually combines several subgenres within it, making it almost a musical pubquiz. Upfront it is the dark rock sound that paves the way, with Nyte singing not like Bowie but more like 80s singers from bands like Killing Joke and The Sister of Mercy. Darkness envelopes the listener, as undoubtedly other songs on the album, 'The Awakening', will. It is out there already for you to check out.

Whole Lotta Stars. Shane Alexander

On route to the release of his new album, 'Forever Songs' on 4 April, Los Angeles singer-songwriter-producer Shane Alexander releases a new single. Expect to hear his beautiful voice, but less so his familiar sounding singer-songwriter/folk/americana. Whole Lotta Stars may have a country tinge with the pedal steel guitar in the background, the flavour of the song is more pop oriented than ever before. The rhythm is very prominent and that makes this single different, for Shane Alexander. It is in the accents of the production. It may well be the result of writing with Clayton Joseph Scott, who he recently produced. Writing with someone else gives a different perspective. In the previous song he worked with Dutch singer-songwriter Judy Blank. What will the album bring? If more collaborations, we may actually be very surprised. 4 April is getting closer luckily.

Drunk In Ojai.  Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters

Ojai is pronounced as o-high. I would never have guessed as Dutchman. To be certain, Ashleigh Flynn is not singing about me :-). Drunk In Ojai is a country rocker that kicks off with a great guitar lick, played by Nancy Luca, who also produced the song. Ms Flynn says that the song wrote itself and is based on an experience she's had. Well, she's not telling all, but in the meantime, the song is quite nice. Yes, it all sounds very familiar but isn't that the charme of a good country rocker? The Riverters play nice and tight, to allow for the lead guitar to escape with a great lick or accent here and there and then a great solo, just like it should be. Ashleigh Flynn has a nice edge to her voice, finishing off Drunk In Ojai just nicely.

Eddy Derecho.  Evidence of a Struggle

With 'Alan's Song' Evidence of a Struggle debuted on this blog about two years ago, an instrumental track. Eddy Derecho isn't. The Rev. Billy Simmons is taking us for a sermon with this rough, a little dirty sounding voice. The single rocks, not unlike a Smashing Pumpkins alternative rock song from the 1990s. Matt Walker who joins Simmons on drums, bass and synths has played with the Pumpkins somewhere after the band's heyday. Eddy Derecho moves around a riff that is repeated over and offer. Distorted, dirty, loud and in your face. It's the mainstay of the song and the sound from which all else grows. Don't expect much subtlety here. Evidence of a Struggle rocks and keeps doing it until the almost unpleasant alarm sound at the end. Before that end, anyone who took and takes a liking to 90s rock, check it out.

Daria Featuring Kenny Beats. Toro Y Moi

Toro Y Moi is Chaz Bear and has eight albums to his name but you won't find the name here. Whether from not knowing or not liking, I can't tell. There are too many artists and bands to recollect all. Daria reminds me of a genre that was popular for just one or two years in the early 90s before Britpop broke big and wiped out bands like EMF and Jesus Jones. I certainly liked a single like 'Unbelievable' but never bought an album. Daria has that kind of upbeat rhythm, yet so undercooled in the way Toro Y Moi presents it that it is not unlike The Stone Roses' debut singles and album as well. Sure, I can dance to it but I'm not sure whether I'm allowed, it all sounds so cool and strict. But who is Chaz Bear to tell what to do to his song? In the background there are some rap elements, see EMF shouting "unbelievable" the whole time. If that is Kenny Beats' contribution, I don't know, then it is all far more restrained. In fact, the singing is an undercooled version of Fontaines DC's Grian Chatten. Daria ties together about 35 five years of music this way.

Nirvana. Glazyhaze

We end the week with a dreamy indierock track from Venice, Italy.  Irene (vocals and guitar), Lorenzo (lead guitar), Francesco (drums) and Vsevolod (bass) form the band Glazyhaze that is working towards the release of its second album, Sonic (21 March). Part of the attraction is the differences between the double tracked male voice and the female voice, creating a beauty and the beast vibe. The music is more bare when you hear the male voice. The pop side of Glazyhaze comes forth when Irene starts singing. It immediately drops away for the more indie rock side of the band when Seva takes over again. There are worse ways to make your debut on this blog than with Nirvana.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

2024, week 46. 10 singles

In front of my window it is again greyish, dry and little wind. The remaining leaves are slowly falling from the tress by their own accord as autumn storms are not here so far this year. A few more days and they will be gone and lay on the pavements and in the gardens. With all the other stuff going on in this world, the weather's greyness matches all else. It is hard to see some light these days it seems. Things are changing extremely fast and masks and gloves come of. Luckily, we still have music. It is becoming less and less a consolation or distraction though.

The Back Of The Beyond. JC Miller

To me JC Miller came out of nowhere. Yet since a couple of months he's cranking out one nice country/folk rock songs after the other and all are pretty nice and good. The Back Of The Beyond is no different. Having made a career out of writing music for commercials, he now produces music that makes more of an impression on me. Expect an acoustic guitar/dobro, a banjo, a lap or pedal steel and an easy going rhythm that does not go fast but gets rider and horse through the desert. This song is like the chugging freight train in the video, with JC Miller sounding like he's ready for a drink after a long, thirsty day. It is surprising how a song that sounds like as if there are another thousands to replace it, makes an instant impression based on that rhythm and little solo notes coming from the three, very different kind of guitars. When is the album coming? Not much more and we'll have enough singles for one.

Closing Time. Remy van Kesteren feat. Cape Sleep

Remy van Kasteren in the past years found his way into my inbox with instrumental harp, modern classical music. In other words, not exactly my cup of tea. Today you do find him on the blog, in a collaboration with Kim Janssen, a.k.a. Cape Sleep since this year. Together they work on an old track Van Kesteren was unable to finish himself. There was always something missing and that something was a lot it seems. Together they created a song in the style of Patrick Watson, where the harp is one of the instruments. Present but not overly so. Strings and percussion play a role and not to forget Kim Janssen's voice. The result is a nice alternative ballad that touches the right strings with me.

Nothing Would Change. The Linda Lindas

The Linda Linda's is a punk band from L.A. and with Nothing Would Change announced the release of its sophomore album 'No Problem', which released on 11 October. Nothing Would Change is a perfect punk pop single. The song has a golden melody and all the strength it needs. In Lucia del Garza the band has a singer that has that female innocence in her voice while not giving an inch on the punk front. The result is a song that fits in a long line of songs from The Go-Go's, The Bangles and 'Walking On Sunshine'. While at the same time running with the big boys as well. The list of the band's support slots is endless. If the other songs on 'No Problem' are as nice as Nothing Would Change, the support slots will be replaced by headlining shows pretty soon. This is good, period.

Lowdown, parts i and ii. Michael Kiwanuga

Michael Kiwanuga entered my life when I had to find a third album in those buy three for two offers. I had heard the name and read about his reputation. That was it. It turned out to be the best buy of the three. That was quite some time ago when 'Kiwanuga' entered my home. Finally, there's a new song and one that resonates immediately. Lowdown has this ultra relaxed atmosphere. Filled with a warm sound all over and that soulful voice. Lowdown has the mood that fits the title. But then, just start listening to that warm Hammond, that weird guitar solo. The song moves fairly predictably, beautiful but not surprising. That is kept for part ii, when the sound, not the mood, changes. This is pure Pink Floyd, with a guitar solo that could have been played by David Gilmour. If this is the quality of the new album, 'Small Changes', count me in, game on.

Ultra. Neànder

And another instrumental guitar band from Germany finds its way to this blog (and one without Nick DiSalvo in it). It does feature Jan Korbach, see 'Concrete Adem' on this blog in 2022. Ultra knows a few moods Neànder share with the listener. Underneath it all is a very firm rhythm section as tough as a hardrock, metal band should have. The intro doesn't give anything away though. A piano intro with keyboard (effect) underneath, giving the piano a lot of sustain. Then the band kicks in, full force with a tough chord progression. From there melody and power combat for the first position. This ends in a draw, I'd say, making the song far more interesting to listen to. The loud riff is replaced by melodic playing and shredding. No matter how tough Ultra is, there's enough going on to keep the song interesting and good. If anything, I'm interested in hearing more and that more is there already. Album 'III' was released on 9 November.

The Line (Redux) feat. Marissa Nadler. Vera Sola

Vera Sola, Dan Aykroyd's daughter, debuted on this blog this spring with thanks to Erwin Zijleman. She already is releasing a new EP called 'Ghostmaker'. The Line (Redux) is the single. The word redux made me want to check and yes, 'The Line' is a tough alternative rocker on her album 'Peacemaker'. Here it isn't. As it were, The Line (Redux) is a ghost version of the original. This version is acoustic and thanks to the singing with Marissa Nadler a modern version of The Andrew Sisters. Although it is a more serious song and the orchestra is missing, the harmony singing matches. I liked 'The Line' as it is an interesting rock song. I like the redux version better. It has more mystery and stands out far more. Vera Sola's voice stands out more as well. It is always a bit weird to hear a totally different version of a song, so soon after the original and not on the 10, 25, 50 year anniversary edition. In this case it is a good decision, as it adds to what already is. The strangest thing is, that, so I found in an old email, had I not have to rehearse with my own band due to an unexpected gig, I would have seen Vera Sola play live in 2019 together with a Dutch band. Without ever having heard of her at the time.

Dangomushi. Mei Semones

Mei Semones debuted on this blog with (the singles of) her EP 'Kabatomushi EP'. This EP now knows a vinyl release with on the b-side her previous EP 'Tsukino'. With her new single she, again, does everything different from what the average singer-songwriter around the world does. Were it not that I recently had the pleasure of having a Japanese singer-songwriter playing in my own living room in October. It sounded different than usual as well, despite it being a girl with a guitar. Mei Semones, a Brooklyn based artist from Japanese descent, sets herself apart through on the one side the arrangement of her songs and on the other the way she uses these instruments. It sounds different. Yes, there is bossa nova in the rhythm of her song(s) but there is so much more. It's just where the story starts. Also Dangomushi holds all this adventure in the way notes glide, smooth playing ends abruptly in stop-start notes before it all starts flowing again. Next, the way instruments are played changes and so the song changes a little at the time. In my EP review I compared Semones to Steely Dan. Not the music as such but the approach to and effect of both artist's music. Dangomushi shows that I was not far of the mark.

Strand EP. Aursjoen

Ria Aursjoen made her debut on this blog as a solo artist with her single 'Nytár' in early October. Today the member of San Francisco band Octavian Winters returns with her debut EP Strand. She takes the mood of her single to greater depths. She creates atmospheric moods with the help of synthesizers making me think of the music of Clannad and Enya around 1990. Celtic in other words. Her voice is not. I place that more in a gothic sort of music. Aursjoen's music is electronic in nature and that gives it its own vibe. Everything else has to subject itself to the electronic source of the instruments. To create this sound, she worked with producer William Faith (The Bellwether Syndicate, Faith and the Muse). The result is that all songs hover somewhere between direct and mystery. From the tough guitar opening of 'Apollo' to the soft floating of 'Lilypad'. The influences here go right back to the 1980s synth bands that scored a few hits at the time, like A Flock of Seagulls, Nik Kershaw or Thomas Dolby. Ria Aursjoen has picked up what she needs to create her own musical universe that fits her voice and gives the listener an experience to slowly undergo and submerge in.

Sister. Arthur Ahbez & The Flaming Ahbez

More music from New Zealand. I had never heard of Arthur Ahbez & The Flaming Ahbez. I read that Ahbez is around musically since 1987. INXS' big year in music to name one. With Sister I get a strong Love vibe. This is very, very 60s and eclectic. Just like Arthur Lee's band from the 60s. Combine this with a Rickenbacker (then) Jim McGuinn style and you come close to what Sister sounds like. Ahbez c.s. throw in a dozen moods changes into a few minutes. It is almost too hard to follow rationally. It's best to just go with the flow and let the band take you where it wants to go. I promise you, you will get there as well. Sister has nothing to do with 2024 and everything with the second half of the 60s. There's even a little The Monkees thrown in for good measure. People used to take trips at the time that were far out and groovy, a description that does right to Sister. Album 'Arthur Ahbez & The Flaming Ahbez' is out since last week.

Big D*** Energy. Lambrini Girls

Lambrini Girls, the Brighton duo (and a mighty drummer I suppose), returns to WoNoBlog with an aggressive punk song. I'd almost say Amyl and The Sniffers on steroids. The D*** in D***Energy as the label advertises it, most likely to avoid conservative filters, stands for dick of course. Phoebe Lunny (vocals/guitar) and Lilly Macieira (bass) have a message to share and do not hesitate to do so. What an energy is unleashed in this song. I have a hard time to conceive how they cope live should all Lambini Girls' songs be like this. They do build in a musical breather into the second half of the song before it all stops. And then things go at it full force once again. There's no way this song gets played on a radio anywhere in the world is my guess. It should be played in the home of every punk rock lover though. Things do not get much closer to the real thing of nearly 50 years ago. What a storm!

Wout de Natris - van der Borght