Wylder - Rain and Laura // LP review

Rain and Laura, the newly released album from indie pop and folk band Wylder has an incredibly optimistic sound with traditional folk instruments such as the mandolin, acoustic guitar and fiddle, combined with the wide sounds of piano, percussion and beautiful harmonies.

I love this album. Everything about it - especially the driven, upbeat instrumentals - is incredibly inspiring. Listening to it in the early morning got me pumped! I was ready to get out and face the world, which probably had something to do with the repeated lyric that I found myself singing along to in the opening track: "The sun came up above the city, I'm awake my heart is in my chest". Today is a good day!

Opening on a super strong track, I was immediately taken by the band's ability to combine lyrical depth and complexity with memorable melody and lines easily sung along to. It is often hard to get the blend just right, but these guys do it well, ensuring a path to success!

The crispness of the vocals, along with his great dynamic range, gives the band a distinct sound and energy, and stands out clear and strong against the multi-layered sound supporting it.

During the song Swells, I had the descriptive 'cute' coming to mind. But for some reason people don't often seem to take that as a compliment, so I'm just gonna leave that thought there and move on with the review. (It is a compliment by the way, the happy-go-lucky vibe is cute). Also, I was totally digging that fiddle solo, and the drop down to the delicate piano melody following that was just perfect!

As the album progresses I'm starting to get Fleet Foxes vibes, maybe a bit of Death Cab for Cutie. I like that Wylder have a really independent sound, and yet take enough influence from the current music scene to make themselves totally radio friendly. This LP could really go places.

In the track Bayhouse, the nice clear electric guitar shares the same melody as the vocal line, building a sound that stands out a little bit from the album, and yet remains of the same style and feel. Done well, this technique really brings a song to life, and with the help of the ever-brilliant backing harmonies it sounds great.


But then Snake in the Grass drops right down and becomes a little more delicate with beautiful interlocking picked patterns on the guitar and mandolin.This is a really moving song with really great instrumentation from the band members.

I like that throughout the album, and within each song, there is a constantly flowing emphasis from one instrument to another. Every now and then there'll be little half-bar breaks that stitch the song together with expert technique.That's what keeps an album fresh and gives a song that little nudge it needs to go from good to great.

I could go on singing praises for this album but I think I've made my point pretty clear. It's a bit good. It's very good.

For an album with mounds of energy, songs that drive forward with constant rhythms, and lyrics that emote and inspire, Rain and Laura is the one you need to listen to.

Find Wylder's music here

Climbing Trees - Borders // Released 8th July

Climbing Trees have been kicking up a storm in their hometown of Wales. Turning heads wherever they go, including the likes of Huw Stephens (BBC Radio 1), and now they're making quite the name for themselves worldwide too! Amy listens to their forthcoming album Borders.


This band really doesn't mess around and as the first track kicks in with an explosive opening, the warm vocals, complimentary guitar licks, interesting bass lines and groovy drum beats had me hooked on first listen. The catchy chorus feels incredibly wide in sound, inviting a full round of voices to belt "it feels like home!" I can just imagine it now: stadium concert, fans going crazy. Yeah?

So as I was listening to the first couple of tracks on this album I thought "cool, so they're a good indie band". Oh how generic and inappropriate that statement was to describe the incredible journey that this album takes you on. Bare with me and I'll explain!

The second track Lost introduces the gospel-like element in their sound. It's quite subtle, which is clever because later on in the album this is gonna become a big deal. I just love how carefully crafted this album is as a whole. While each track works well on its own, they really come together to create a well rounded experience.

Anyway back to the track. Big vocal harmonies in the lead up to the choruses build up the sound from the stripped back verses, which place emphasis on the fuzzy bass lines. And I'm always a fan of fuzzy bass lines! I like how the piano cuts through between vocal lines as and when it's needed. It's little things like this that complete a song.

Set in Stone comes straight in with a quick "bam bam!" (that's the technical term). Really nice sounding acoustic guitar fills out the space in the background and it sounds proper good - none of that plugged in acoustic crap. (I have somewhat strong feelings towards how well an acoustic guitar is recorded, so good job lads)

Though lyrics sometimes find themselves straying into cliché areas (which crops up across the album) they're super singalongable, granting easy popularity. I look forward to seeing the albums reception following it's release!

But then we have got some really nice lyrical work in the chilled out song Amber, with a lovely guitar line and touching melody on the piano. "There was amber in the dusty earth" I like it. This is a particular stand out track for the album - at least for me anyway.

The next track Caesar opens with a really atmospheric drone. This is already another stand out track and it hasn't even started yet. Then when it all kicks in it gets super intense and super dramatic. This five and a half minute instrumental track features strings, awesome guitar work and earth shattering vocals from the band members. Epic. This is where the album starts to get really good.

Coda is another instrumental that speaks volumes, with beautiful interlocking melodies between the keys and guitar. I love the harmony in the voices as they build up until they start singing that single repeated vocal line that comes in towards the end: "Pick up the pieces and go". This is where that gospel element I mentioned earlier becomes a big centre focus. And I absolutely love it! Also, cool Morse Code effects, that's a nice touch.

I love voices. I love the sound they make when you get a load of passionate singers in one room to just go for it. I love the sound they make in big reverberant halls. These guys harness that in a more controlled and well produced, well crafted manor. And it sounds bloody brilliant. I also like music when people mean it, you know? And these guys mean it. I like it.

The album strips right back for Heading South with a simple combination of vocals and piano. I like the rawness, I like the understated piano playing and the fact that it's very lyrically driven. I also like the subtle strings that fill out the sound and the introduction of harmonies on stand out lines. They really complete the song. And then those big vocals that have become the signature sound for Climbing Trees come in. Drums and guitar build it right up to an epic wide sound. It gets pretty intense. Incredibly moving.

So after that crazy experience, the final track, Borders, fades in with slow drum roles and chilled guitar. As a listener, it's a well deserved relaxing moment. But then there's driving piano and a build up to a full brass and strings sound that just totally completes the album.

It's an incredible ending to a well-formed LP that really takes you places, keeps you on the edge of your seat and yet also somehow feels appropriate for simple, easy listening. These guys have done well to find the right balance here and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Visit the website to pre-order the album!

Paragraphs - Music by a man who can't stick to one genre

Paragraphs is a new up and coming recording artist based on the east coast of England. With each album released taking a completely different direction it is almost impossible to know what's coming next, but each time it just gets better and better.

Kicking off 2016 with his first ever release - a name-your-own-price full length LP - Paragraphs proved himself to be an incredibly talented IDM artist. With long ambient breaks of beautiful analogue sounding synth tones - very much inspired by those of artists like Boards of Canada - and interesting and full downtempo beats, the album Nocturnal takes many directions. The tracks featured on the album were produced over a number of years and handpicked from a larger batch to ensure the best content for the artist's first release.


Following the positive reception of his first release, the second album to find its way onto the Paragraphs Bandcamp page takes a completely different turn. Dying Alone is a dark ambient LP inspired by interviews with serial killers. The album uses many noise-based influences to create constantly moving soundscapes that remain interesting despite their drone-like nature. The same tracks can also be found elsewhere on the internet, with the specific interviews that inspired each piece mixed into the tracks. Do enough digging and you might be able to find them. It's certainly worth it!



But this album turned out to be a stepping stone towards the next project that Paragraphs released just last month. I Hope You Die in a Fire is the first purely noise based album to be released by the producer and is somewhat reminiscent of its neighbouring genre power-electronics. With harsh distorted drum beats and clever techniques that change up the sound from track to track, this LP never threatens to become 'samey' and always proves to be energetic, interesting and fun.

We're sitting on the edge of our seats waiting to hear what might come next. With the run of uploads seeming to be regular since the beginning of this year we're due to hear a new album soon. What will it be? Ambient? Glitch? Keep an eye on his Bandcamp page to stay up to date.

The Minerals // Album Review

The Minerals beautifully marry two genres that you didn't think worked together.

Using lo-fi acoustic vibes alongside prog rock riffs and topping it off with some great lyrics and tight harmonies, these guys rock!

Treyverb - A Year Without Words // Review

A very moving ambient / post rock album that envisions an emotional journey pretty damn well.

Also, we talk about pizza in this review...

Isaku Kageyama - Taiko // Album Review

Isaku Kageyama is bringing an ace new perspective on taiko drumming with high quality recording techniques, interesting soundscapes and inspiration taken not only from Japanese culture but from around the world. 

This album is very different, and very intriguing.

Adam Stafford - Taser Revelations // Album Review

Adam Stafford is an incredibly talented artist with a real ear for rhythm and melody. He builds his songs with interlocking layers and exciting tones to create a completely original sound.

Awesome stuff.

Venkman - Kakorrhaphiophobia // EP review

Fancy a bit of super groovy, incredibly well produced, catchy and uplifting music? Listen to this!

Ted Z and the Wranglers - Like a King, EP Review

Proper feel-good, rustic Americana. This EP will cheer you to no end. 



Ted Z and the Wranglers is a music collective based in Southern California and with an LP, two EPs and a whole host of successful shows around the US under their belts, they've got the experience, talent and brilliance to really pack a punch. 

Not only are the songs in this EP catchy and dance provoking, they also offer some really smart and genuine songwriting. Mixing your typical, relatable love themes with commentary on current affairs to give the perfect blend of easy listening and genuine awareness, the album sells itself to an incredibly wide audience.

On the first listen, it was fun. The smooth production shined through and the warm vocals of Ted Zakka, mixed with the complimentary harmonies and tight guitar work really made the album stand out. But on the second listen, it proved to be a work of art. 

As an entity in itself the entire EP is incredibly well structured, taking you on a journey of travel and love, spirituality and comedy. But the songs themselves make great standalone singles, which is why I can't wait to feature the EP's second song Heaven's Rent on a future podcast. 

And it's not just your safe, typical country either. Even though there are only five tracks to play with, the EP ventures outside the box to dabble in some good ol' rock n roll. It's a real party piece. 

Judging by this record, I imagine Ted Z and the Wranglers have a great time on stage together and put on a storming show. If you're local to California, be sure to keep an eye out.

Rounding off with the beautifully delicate song Tomorrow, the EP feels truly complete, which is a difficult feat in EPs as something so short can usually feel cut off. Not here. Here it feels full enough to work as it's own piece, but also leaves you needing more. 

So, please excuse me while I go and find some more of their music to enjoy!

Website 

Tommy Mora - Let It Shine, review

If you're looking for some real feel good music, look no further. Tommy Mora is your man!
Tommy's second album Let It Shine was released in the summer of last year and it's got that good old rock and roll feel, a perfect CD for those long road trips.

Just imagine it: window rolled down, sunglasses on, one hand on the wheel, the company of friends, and Tommy Mora on the radio. That's the vibe I'm getting from this album. Seriously, hit play as you read this and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of this not so subtle music video, but if you just scroll down and enjoy the song you'll hear that it's top notch!

And the same can be said for the rest of the album. Track number three is the down to earth 'Simple Man' that offers more of that enthusiastic sound. Track number ten is my personal favourite, 
'Radioactive' is proper rocked up, it's super baddass, super singalongable, and super catching.

Track number two is incredibly produced and features more of the uplifting jazz and stylistic electric organ that we loved from 'Let it Shine', the title track. I can also happily announce that the music video is much cooler, lot's of impressive dancing going on. In fact, here... take a look: 

I honestly find it hard to understand how an album can be so happy and energetic throughout an entire 14 tracks. I mean, 14 tracks... that's pretty lengthy, and it holds up! There are some more easy listening tunes in there, giving it a bit of dynamic, but it's an all round optimistic record. And yeah, that can get a bit samey, but you could say that about anything that has its own defined style. It plays safe. It sticks to the codes and conventions of its genre and it does it very well. 

Listening to the album first time I can hear a bit of a theme developing... I think Tommy here finds his inspiration from the ladies!

A great record, incredibly uplifting, and it's certainly put a smile on my face.

If you're liking the look of this guy, his album is available on iTunes for just under $10 and he's also got a load of stuff uploaded to YouTube if you'd prefer to try before you buy.  

Four stars from us!

Nyms and Kayne - Catch Me if You Can, EP review

Urban Pop at it's best.



I'm pretty damn impressed with this EP from Nyms and Kayne. 

The production is fantastic, the layers drop and build in all the right places, keeping the listener on their toes and making the perfect accompaniment to two brilliant performers.

There are also some beautiful vocal harmonies and truly emotional lyrics to go with the brilliant sound.

It's very easy in this genre for a musician to make a four beat loop and sing over it for three minutes, claiming to have created the next masterpiece. And it's very easy for a listener to assume that it really is as easy as that. But that is not what is happening here. This is true musicianship, clever musicianship, and the hard work has paid off. 

I really love the style of this record, I love the collaboration between the pair and I love how it all flows and holds together perfectly as a piece. 

The simple catchy melodies keep you hooked and the passion in the lyrics and performance ring true.

And if that wasn't enough, as an added bonus, there's a couple of really great remixes to some of the songs that feature on the EP. I'm especially enjoying the lengthy D'LuxeDJ Quiet Storm remix of the track Save Me.

Discover more

The Sherpas - New EP coming soon

Bringing back the day of 80s funk is young band The Sherpas. With a new independent spin on a classic sound, this band has got it down! And the best bit? They're releasing a brand new EP very soon!



This record is gonna be a lot of fun and I can't wait to hear it for a full review. 

If their past releases are anything to go by, it could launch a huge bout of success for The Sherpas. 

Last month the band offered us a track from the EP which you can listen to here      -->
It's driven by such energetic groove, full of clever turns and is fully charged with catching dynamic. It's got me bopping and singing along in my seat. 

This is a song to be blasted loud. But at the same time, it's actually kind of chill.

While you wait for the release though, they have a selection of music videos on YouTube to keep you going as well as a solid playlist on SoundCloud. 

Check 'em out, and if you enjoy what you hear make sure to stick around for the release!

Facebook

YouTube

SoundCloud

Vendettas - Single, review

Lively, 60s style rock n roll band Vendettas have a new single to flaunt, and it's a good one!

There's a reason this three-piece band have a huge following in and around Leeds, UK. The reason? They have so much energy, so much enthusiasm and a fresh and brilliant attitude to bring to the scene.

They're just having fun and it shows. This single is exactly that. Just a lot of fun.

You can listen to this record once and you'll already know enough words to sing along. You can listen to this record on repeat and it'll still feel as fresh as the first time. You can listen to this record. That's what you should do. Go listen to it!

These guys have been going for a couple of years now and they've got loads of material online to check out. But that's not the only way to do it. This band NEEDS to be seen live. So, listen to the single, like what you hear, head out to see their show and you won't regret a single second.

Luckily, the production and performance on this release is so good that it still contains that live energy you get from the shows which is impressive cause not a lot of bands manage to pull that off.

Check 'em out

The Creep Void - The Elevation of Idiocy EP, review

Remember the grunge vibe of the nineties? This band does. If Queens of the Stone age, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden all had a music baby, it would sound like this. The Elevation of Idiocy EP ROCKS! 

The Creep Void is a band that's been going since 2011, and it shows. They've already got an EP, a single and an album under their belt and it just keeps getting better.

This EP is full of energy, full of dynamic, and full of catchy hooks. 

'Persona of Many' is a track that has everything you could ask for in an alternative rock band. It picks up with an awesome little riff on both the bass and guitar that makes you go 'yeeaahh'. It's got the vibrant vocals of Barry Appleton with eerie harmonies to back it up. And it's non stop. It leaves you out of breath and begging for more.

We then slow down a little with the track 'Needless to Say' which has got a lovely chilled vibe, and it's heartfelt too, throughout the first verse. But of course, it soon builds up and the energy of the previous track returns in full motion. The bassy riffs towards the end of the song are so badass and the breakdown is a work of absolute genius. 

I'm struggling to write this review cause I'm just diggin' it so much. I must have listened to the EP five times on repeat (which is fairly normal when you're writing a review) but what isn't normal, is that I'm not even fed up with it yet.

The production on this EP is fantastic as well, but the performance from the band is just fantastic. There isn't a dull track on the record, there isn't a dip in the energy, there isn't a single bad thing I can say. This thing is quality.

I love this record. Can you tell yet?

These guys aren't too far from me either, I might have to catch them for a live review some time. I'm always a big supporter of fellow Northerners. 
If you're local to the UK, keep an eye out for The Creep Void, it's not a show to be missed!


Here's to more! 

Check them out on the web.

Cats Park - A Taste of Heaven, album review

Eric Lunn explores the wonder that is the multi-talented, genre-enfused Cats Park with their downtempo-rock album A Taste of Heaven.

Surprise would be understating how I felt the first time I listened to A Taste of Heaven. From the first chord to the last resonation, I was hooked. Honestly, it didn’t sound anything like other music from Russia I had heard before. Then again, I’m definitely not what one would call an expert on the subject.

The genre of this music is very tough to nail down, mostly because each successive track plays out differently than the last. Space, progressive, and traditional rock values are expertly mixed with drone, and maybe even shoe-gaze to create a whole new monster. While I contend that the two genres closest to it are post-rock and jazz, I can feel myself trying to attach even more labels to it. Funk is the first one that comes to mind, if only for the groove factor.

https://www.facebook.com/catsparkofficial

And the groove is important. Magnetic, hypnotic groove that is deep and fathomless like a chasm at the bottom of the sea. Something that could drag you in; someplace to get lost. I can’t gush about it enough.

The part that truly caught me off guard was the beautiful voice of the prodigious jazz vocalist Faijee. The unexpected, though very welcome addition to the ensemble brings a whole new feeling to the overall sound of the music. Equal parts ethereal and earthy, the effects added to her vocals tracks are there only to add certain qualities to the music.

While supremely important to the music, the magical vocal stylings of Faijee are not the only thing going for this band. It is apparent very early on that each of the musicians is quite talented in their own right. The guitar is almost whimsical at times, floating above the rest of the music like a warm blanket. The bass is the next level down, and trades often with the guitar for the lead stringed instrument. Some songs it sounds like the bass is driving the whole song, or at least guiding it to the destination. And behind it all is the drums, weaving expertly between the bass, guitar, and vocals, punctuating the stylistic tone of each song.

In my humble opinion, A Taste of Heaven is indeed just that. Solid production, multi-instrumentation and heavy layering, infectious riffs and ethereal vocals make for an unexpected and triumphant debut. It’s apparent to me that these musicians care about their craft and put a lot of work into this piece of art. On top of their work ethic, they are amazingly talented, with an original take on music and what one can do with it.

cats-park.com

Review by Eric Lunn

@eric_lunn

Phil Cooper - Half Live, album review

It's a two-disc release. There're 18 tracks in total. So I'll tell you one thing: it's certainly value for money!
Phil Cooper's songs have an honest and raw feel to them. They're lively yet easy listening, and without fail, every song has a super catchy hook.
I like Cooper's sound. It's folky but it's modern and his subject matter and fantastic melodies can be enjoyed by a large range of audiences.

I love to hear acoustic music like this. When a song is good, it shouldn't need masses amount of production over the top of it. I mean, sure, a few fancy twiddles and a bit of cowbell never hurt anyone, but why don't people ever dare to leave their music bare?

Well, Cooper manages it. His songs carry themselves so well that they don't need all the glamour. The rough edges add to the vibe of the subject matter and it just rings true. This is proper music.

To get this effect, Cooper recorded his album from live shows. Now I know what you're thinking but don't turn away now! Live show recordings can be good, okay? And I assure you, this guy pulls it off. No he doesn't. He carries it. He does it really friggin well!

Here's what he had to say about the creation of this album:

'I wanted to capture the feel of a live show on a studio recording, so I recorded two live shows and took them in to the studio to add a few little extras. The result is an album which revels in the rawness of a live concert, but still presents the songs the way I hear them in my head!'

And it works so fantastically well! 

Not only do we get the genuine live vibe from the show, but we also get the full band effect what with all the extra add ons from the studio. He's added some vocal harmonies, a bit of bass, percussion and all the jazz just to give it that extra album umph. 

This album is great for someone like me who absolutely loves heading out to the local pub for a bit of local music but either can't make it to the show, or wants to bring that vibe home with them.
And it sounds like he puts on a good show too:

'I'm an energetic singer-songwriter with a knack for earworms, entertaining and including the audience in the show. I often start shows completely unplugged and standing in amongst the audience, to break down the performer/viewer barrier and make the show special for everyone there.'

How ace is that?

Obviously, the album isn't perfect. How can it be? It's a recording of a live show. But I applaud the honesty and integrity in that. This is exactly what a good independent musician should sound like.

I'd recommend it to anyone.

Oh, and did I mention? The guy's got a great voice!

Check out his website for more

Laflamme - Laflamme EP review

Laflamme's self titled EP has kicked up a storm in social media. People are loving their classic punk rock sound, it's something we just don't get enough of in today's music scene, but these guys are rockin' it!



The band itself is just over a year old, still quite young in the grand scheme of things, but you wouldn't think it to hear their music. Plus, they've already got a huge list of massively successful performances behind them and more coming up in the south of the UK.

To sum it up nicely, if you liked The Ramones, you'll like these guys. And that's pretty much all there is to it!

But it's not just The classic Ramones sound that the band are channeling. In their third track of the EP, Streatham Strip, there's a bit of Angus Young coming through in their simple yet enticing riffs that reflect that ACDC sound and the short jabs of yelling vocals just add to that more.

This record brings a real party atmosphere to your room, I can imagine these guys must be fantastic live. The EP is full of energy, the lyrics are sing-along-able from the first listen, and the band themselves not only have the right sound, but the right image to put on a proper good show.

Their brilliant bass lines, catchy guitar riffs and ace vocal hooks, all held tightly together by some real good beats make Laflamme a band to catch.

I can guarantee that if you listen to the first track, you'll be hooked. I mean, that opening bass... It's just a fantastic build up and when everything comes in it's really quite grungy. It sounds like real life, in-your-garage punk. The riff itself reminds me of the Scott Pilgrim soundtrack. Don't hate me for that, but you know what I mean when I say it's that raw sound of a young band finding it's feet. That's the best stage of a band. Sometimes a band can lose that real gritty energy as they grow. I hope the same doesn't happen with Laflamme because I am loving this EP!

Not only is it musically spot on, but the lyric writing from lead singer Richie Lambert are absolute genius. Give it a listen on the above widget, I dare ya.

Doorstep Rebellion - Cessation, album review

Doorstep Rebellion is a music project started by Abraham Holsinger. His latest 2014 album is a fantastic mix of electro-house to progressive ambience to a more anthemic sound and has seen great success since its free release on SoundCloud back in August this year.



The album opens with a collaboration with songwriter and vocalist Leah Jordan. The song very much resembles many of the recent collaborations with electronic artists such as Zedd and Deadmau5 but it doesn't much speak for the rest of the album.

I've got to say, I think it's a little weak as an opening track. I would much have preferred to hear Monuments first because THAT sets the tone for the album. It's an absolutely phenomenal track. Really well structured, really well produced, a really great and catchy hook, really well pulled off string sounds (because sometimes that can ruin it for me). It's just a fantastic eight and a half minutes that just keeps growing and growing, before it finally mixes into the next track, Incorrect Function. Which is another corker. (Apologies for the British slang)

But this album isn't just a selection of great tracks. It quickly turns from a lot of fun to a lot of sincerity and while it slows right down it keeps the listener captured just long enough before it picks back up again. And it is just beautiful to listen to. To be able to get that balance shows great musicianship. And that's just what Holsinger has.

With a lot of this type of music, it can sometimes be quite easy to make the distinction between the 'proper' stuff - for want of a better phrase - and the more independent made-in-your-bedroom stuff. But not here. The amount of plays that this album has received would suggest it's small town and not that great. But when you listen to it... MAN is it good! This guy deserves a lot more recognition than he's getting.

I'm completely entranced by the tracks on this record. It's got quite a minimalist approach and offers a very relaxed (and sometimes a bit safe) sound but at the same time it gets your head bopping and your feet tapping in places and if I were to be in a concert hall full of people listening to this, we'd be going pretty wild.

I really love the diversity of the album, and I love the structure too. It builds up and livens up before dropping back down to serene soundscapes that leave you floating. It's got just the right blend. Morpheme in particular is an incredibly moving piece of music, never has a track of this electronic genre pulled such strong emotions out of me but it is so sad and so touching. Listen to it. Just listen to it now.

What's also great about the record is that while it's all mixed together, each track segueing into the next, they also work well as individual pieces. But again, the first track just kind of sticks out on it's own and I'm not sure that I like it.

The album as a whole tells a story. I won't ruin it for you and tell you what that story is, you as a listener can make of that what you will, that's part of the joy of it. But I will tell you this. If you listen to one track and enjoy it, please don't just leave it at that. This album deserves to be listened to from start to finish, in that order, because it is just so brilliantly crafted.

But if I did have to pick three stand out tracks for this record, those tracks would be: Monuments, Morpheme, and Where I've Been. So if you're thinking about maybe getting this album for yourself, have a listen to those three songs and let them sway your decision.

Buy the album now!

You could download your favourite track for free from SoundCloud, but the full album is only $7 on Bandcamp. It's well worth the money. Plus, if you offer that support who knows, he might make another fantastic record for us!

Broken Chakra - The Fractured EP, review

The next Rage Against The Machine? Well,  maybe not quite, but they're certainly getting there and I wanna see these guys live! So much energy!


It's refreshing to hear some music that's actually about something you know? Broken Chakra are badass, but they're not all wrapped up in themselves. They're singing about real life, proper issues. They're paying tribute to cultures of the past. And more importantly, they look friggin cool doing it!

And if you were ever wondering what heavy / hardcore reggae sounds like, there's an ace little break down in the middle of their track Fractured that will enlighten you. Bloody brilliant!

The EP was released last year but the band recently brought out a new video of the opening track, Survival of the Fittest. It features female street fighters and plays homage to 80s cult movies.

The band states:

"A mash up of 80s cult movies and Hip Hop aesthetics, is in essence the video for Broken Chakra's Survival of the Fittest. The Warriors meets Mad Max to cause some serious Van Dammage. Led by director Will Wright, this homage drew on the talent of fight choreographer Leon Sui and endurance of cast and crew to get through a thoroughly cold and miserable night shoot in winter. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, and delays due to a training injury to a cast members, and last minute location change is testament to that."

Cool right?

I could just imagine them featuring on the soundtrack to some Tony Hawks game. 

That's a compliment by the way.

The Fractured EP is only 20 minutes long. It does kind of just end very suddenly. And if you're anything like me you'll be left wanting more... No worries... You can find out more about them on their website.
http://www.brokenchakra.com/

This record is mental. It's like they're never gonna stop. Let's hope not!

Andrew Reddy - The Other Master, album review

Andrew Reddy. The Soundscape expert! 

That's my new title for him now. It's taken me so long to write this review because I found myself lost in his music.


Before I do go onto the review, I just want to give you a few words from Andrew himself because I think it's important that you read what he has to say about his music.

    'I am an independent artist and producer from Kildare, Ireland. Taking inspiration from a diverse spectrum of music from bulgarian folk through mainstream rock all the way to avant-garde, I am releasing my debut solo album which is a collection of dark ambient and minimalist instrumental tracks.
    The Other Master was created with the intention of capturing the serene moment just before sleep and twisting it, immersing the listener in an almost dream like state infused with tension and unsettling uncertainties. The music is mostly improvised, capturing a stream of consciousness that allows the listener to explore anguish, doubt ,frustration and regret, all experienced against a backdrop of somnolent drones and unsettling textures. The album is a collection of conflicting emotions and moods, balancing serenity and dissonance in order to create broken lullabies that reflect an introspective meditation into a troubled mind.
    When composing the album I sought to take myself out of my comfort zone; I worked in styles which I had not previously listened to extensively and avoided listening to during the creation of the album in order to create an album that free from any direct influences of other artists or any preconceived ideas of what the album should sound like. I restricted myself to centering the songs around keyboard instruments which I had not played before and I also used 24TET tuning on 'The Other Master-Despised', a tunings system which had not written in before.'

Okay. So now you know what the album's all about, let's get on with this shall we?

As an acoustic musician and an acoustic music consumer, I've never really bonded with an electronic track before. I've usually relied on the combination of melody with lyrics to really connect with a song. But this entire album completely captured me. As I lay with eyes closed, headphones on and distractions forgotten I have become completely immersed in the sounds that surround me.

If you've ever seen Spike Jonze's 2013 film Her you may be familiar with its incredible soundtrack. Well some of the piano here in Reddy's record brings me back to the tracks in Her. I wouldn't say it bares much similarity, Reddy's music is like nothing I've heard before, but there's something about the melancholy and yet at-peace atmosphere that is created that makes me compare the two.

The record itself is only seven tracks long. But it all adds together to make up the best part of an hour. That's the perfect amount of time to take a step back from the world and just absorb the sounds.

It's with thanks to Ossuary, the almost 20 minute long track, that the album reaches its length. The first two minutes or so bring memories of that terrifying indie game Amnesia The Dark Descent. Remember that? It's a really haunting track that ebbs and flows like the wind and I have to admit that sometimes as the bass sweeps in and the high end sounds become more erratic I'm getting a little creeped out. But I love it!

Now, we have played the opening track to The Other Master on our podcast before so you may be familiar with it. However, without listening to it in the context of the rest of the album you really can't get a true sense of its overwhelming fullness.

This album fills the whole spectrum. It fills your whole headspace when you listen to it. It leaves you with no blanks. And even though it has a very horror feel to it (especially the 35 second track 'A Breath'), there's something quite meditative about the album. And the slightly off-tune The Other Master - Despised.  Damn that track is spooky. It's the music equivalent of old porcelain dolls in an abandoned house. Seriously man. Woah.

I could go on and on. But quite frankly, I don't want to. Because the longer you're reading, the less time you're giving yourself to experience Andrew Reddy's genius.

The whole thing is available to stream, just click play on the widget above, and it's only cheap to download so you really can't go wrong. Just do it. You won't regret it.

Man I'm creeped out right now.
This is so good.

www.andrewreddy.bandcamp.com

www.soundlcoud.com/andrew-reddy