tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82484213165849077822024-03-05T22:04:19.864+11:00Connections Radio ShowConnections is all about finding out who is connected with who and how (musically speaking) in the music world. Looking at the "Family Tree" so to speak of bands and artists by playing songs from solo and side projects as well as cameo appearances or covers recorded of other artists tunes.
The show is for lovers of music of all sorts, check your music prejudices at the door and enjoy a mix of toe-tapping, singalong tunes from Blues, Soul, Rock and some things in between.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-84766963397639789972019-03-20T11:59:00.000+11:002019-03-21T21:38:22.726+11:00Album Review: Chelsea Wilson - Chasing Gold<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWo5RpdgatRfU8Eqx1kDPuZ8zIuAseEMPlsK4wxmUb2d9AplY9S2Tw2Q4-oXhM3UyhPdyK_3hgddqh51dihZCRWJ5Rtw7WObFg85jXQYiHhpv5S5HOxS1B9anFDnlI0QBGKN6riJW4z0/s1600/a2844461726_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWo5RpdgatRfU8Eqx1kDPuZ8zIuAseEMPlsK4wxmUb2d9AplY9S2Tw2Q4-oXhM3UyhPdyK_3hgddqh51dihZCRWJ5Rtw7WObFg85jXQYiHhpv5S5HOxS1B9anFDnlI0QBGKN6riJW4z0/s320/a2844461726_10.jpg" width="320" /></a>Roughly 5 years ago <a href="http://chelseawilson.com.au/">Chelsea Wilson</a> released her stellar debut album<a href="https://chelseawilson.bandcamp.com/album/i-hope-youll-be-very-unhappy-without-me"> I Hope You'll Be Very Unhappy Without Me</a>. The release of this album coincided with the beginning of my "career" (and I use this term VERY loosely) as a DJ playing tunes in local bars around Melbourne town. At the time, my collection of Vinyl records that you could dance to was very limited and I Hope You'll Be Very Unhappy Without Me had more than a few danceable tunes on it so I used it A LOT! At the risk of sounding like I am exaggerating, I lost count of the amount of times someone come up to me while spinning this record to ask "who is this?" If that isn't the sign of a quality release/artist I don't know what is.<br />
Fast forward to 2019 and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/chelseawilsonmusic/">Chelsea</a>'s sophomore album <a href="https://chelseawilson.bandcamp.com/album/chasing-gold">Chasing Gold</a> has finally been unleashed onto the world. Chasing Gold is a very different animal to I Hope You'll Be Very Unhappy Without Me which is immediately evident from the moment you hear the (sublime) Golden Age of Hollywood Movies style strings that introduce the album. While both albums are designed to get you shaking your booty on the dance floor Chasing Gold owes more to 70's Disco/Funk/Boogie than it's predecessor which was straight out Melbourne style Soul music. Over the years Disco has had more than it's fair share of critics and while some would say deservedly so, just as many would say the opposite. Listening to this album there's no doubt as to which side of the argument Chelsea is supporting as she unashamedly embraces the genre causing even the hardest Disco critic to reconsider their stance. The biggest compliment however that can be paid to this album is that it contains some of the finest examples of "songcraft" (a term which gets bandied about far too frivolously for my money). The attention paid to the songwriting and arrangements of these 9 songs is evident and the results are there for all to see. I expect this album to garner many more "who is this?" comments from Melbourne pub goers once I finally get my paws on a copy. In the words of one reviewer on the bandcamp.com website "Loving this! More please... a lot more!" <br />
P.S. The addition of the song "Word Is Out" as a bonus track is the perfect homage to one of Chelsea's musical heroes <a href="https://www.kylie.com/">Kylie Minogue</a> and a great way to round out the album<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-64064674634213635642018-12-12T22:14:00.001+11:002018-12-12T22:17:00.633+11:00Top 5 New discoveries of 2018 <a href="http://www.annvriend.com/">Ann Vriend</a> is an artist with one hell of a set of pipes and some seriously catchy tunes. I found out about <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AnnVriend">Ann </a>while listening to the radio and heard her talking about her Australian shows. Her EP <a href="https://www.discogs.com/Ann-Vriend-Anybodys-Different/release/11662517">Anybodys Different</a> was floating around PBS also so I grabbed myself a copy and was hooked.<br />
Her tunes range from Pop to Soul to Gospel to Jazz to Reggae and more and goddam are they catchy!<br />
Here's her song Real Love which I heard on the radio and instantly made me sit up and take notice.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/The-Hypnomen-162999240430297/">The Hypnomen</a> hail from Helsinki in Finland a country whose music scene is well worth looking into! The sound of this band is essentially Psych Rock/Pop but with Latin and Afrobeat elements on occassion. When I stumbled across them I knew I had to play one of their tunes on the radio but which one?! They're all pretty freaking awesome! Is was a tough decision but in the end I went with this one:<br />
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P.S. Even Heather of <a href="https://www.pbsfm.org.au/psychward">The Psych Ward</a> liked them enough to play them on the radio that's how good they are!<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrankSultanaBluesMachine/">Frank Sultana</a> is a Sydney based Blues man but he is no stranger to Melbourne town. He makes the sojourn south of the border at least once a year to make an appearance at the regular <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1805209906384447/">Blues Roulette</a> night at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thecatfishfitzroy/">The Catfish</a> and I finally managed to catch one of him playing this year and I will most certainly be keeping an eye out for his next visit south. Here is a video of him doing his thang:<br />
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<a href="https://www.grainneduffy.com/">Grainne Duffy</a> is a Blues Singer/Guitarist of the highest order. The highest compliment I can pay her is that she has SOUL. The tunes are catchy, her guitar playing is flashy where it needs to be, chugs along nicely when needed and her slide playing is just... wow! Add to all this that her vocals have an almost whisky soaked southern USA drawl to them despite the fact that she hails from a small town in the North of Ireland and you have all the perfect ingredients for a blues player.<br />
Discovered due to the fact that she was touring through Europe with another favourite Blues act <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThorbjornRisagerAndTheBlackTornado/">Thorbjorn Risager And The Black Tornado</a> (a 2017 top 10 inclusion) I figured if she has the tick of approval from these guys she must be good and I was not wrong. If only that double bill would head down to OZ! Song no. 1 from her live album, the 1st song of hers i heard<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreyRiverSmokyMountain/">Grey River & The Smoky Mountain</a> were recommended by good friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Dr-Albert-Flipouts-one-CAN-band-aka-Mickey-Pantelous--226417777428608/">Mickey Pantelous</a> who also happens to be a great bluesman. Bluesgrass, Americana, Sea Shanties is the labels which are probably most fitting labels for this band . They released their first full length album <a href="https://greyriverandthesmokymountain.bandcamp.com/album/captain-death">Captain Death</a> late in 2017 and it is brilliant! If they weren't recommended to me I would likely not have discovered them as I usually am averse to anything labelled Bluesgrass so this was a pleasant surprise. And what a great album cover!<br />
Song no. 1 from their most recent release which is the 1st song of theirs I heard<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-34732192017188474632018-12-12T11:28:00.000+11:002018-12-12T11:28:57.721+11:00Top 4 EP's of 2018<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Child - I</td></tr>
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It's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/childtheband/">Child</a> doing what Child do best and that 's all that really needs to be said. But just in case you are not familiar with what Child do: they bring heavy psychedelic drawn out slow blues jams and have been doing so for a few years now.<br />
Everything they have released to date is awesome and this 3 track EP simply titled <a href="https://childtheband.bandcamp.com/album/i">I </a>is no different. 2 original tunes and one cover of <a href="https://youtu.be/_xN5QzpKKyo">The Other Song</a> from the band <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_(band)">Spirit</a> (yes <i>that </i>Spirit) that, while it doesn't stray too much from the original version still has a distinctly Child spin to it.<br />
As for the remaining 2 songs, <a href="https://childtheband.bandcamp.com/track/going-down-swinging">Going Down Swinging</a> is the obligatory lengthier tune which you could see turning into a 30+ minute jam on stage and <a href="https://childtheband.bandcamp.com/track/age-has-left-me-behind">Age Has Left Me Behind</a> is a surprisingly short and to the point tune that still has those Blues lead lines from Singer/Guitarist Mathias while the rhythm section of Michael and Danny keep the train steady on the tracks. Other quality release from this band as we have come to expect.<br />
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So apparently some of the members of this band <br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/clockworkwolfandco/"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span title="Clockwork Wolf & Co.">Clockwork Wolf & Co. </span></span></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span title="Clockwork Wolf & Co.">are quite well known. Personally though I didn't know the name or work of any of these fellows previous to this. Discovered on the <a href="http://bandcamp.com/">bandcamp.com</a> website while looking for new tunes they're labelled as Blues Rock hailing from Brighton, England. I like Blues Rock and I like British Blues Rock even more... the cover looks kinda cool also so... Well shite goddam these are some tasty tunes! Similar in style to <a href="https://www.childtheband.com/">Child</a> but less on the psych side and more just slower paced Blues Rock tunes in the classic British Blues style this is a band briging much excitement to the ears of this radio show host.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving Jane - Cinematic</td></tr>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span title="Clockwork Wolf & Co."></span></span>4 songs clocking in at a little under 30 minutes composed, produced, performed by Thanos of <a href="https://outoftheearth.bandcamp.com/">Out Of The Earth</a> and <a href="https://hazybluesomething.bandcamp.com/">Hazy Blue Something.</a> <a href="https://lovingjane.bandcamp.com/album/cinematic">Cinematic</a> is the name of this release which is simple and to the point. It's kinda background music but not in a bad way, it's atmospheric but in a <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087884/">Paris, Texas</a> kind of way.<br />
A soundtrack to an imaginary film, this is chill out music in a non Cafe Del Mar kind of way (thank the gods for that!).<br />
A great little release that slipped out with very little fanfare, there is much to be enjoyed in the simplicity of this one.<br />
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Room Six Eleven are a straight ahead feel good soul/funk band with only this one little <a href="https://roomsixeleven.bandcamp.com/album/room-six-eleven-ep">EP</a> to their credit so far. This EP makes it onto this "Best Of" list on the strength of the tune <a href="https://roomsixeleven.bandcamp.com/track/bad-times">Bad Times</a> which cannot get enough of. <br />
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That's not to say the rest of the EP is not any good, far from it in fact (despite the Rap/Hip-Hop vocals on the intro tune <a href="https://roomsixeleven.bandcamp.com/track/big-bad-wolf">Big Bad Wolf</a>) This band is TIGHT with funky Organ, Horns adding colour where needed and distorted guitar riffs which gives these tunes some added rock credibility. As solid a debut as any I have heard. <br />
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OK I'm cheating slightly with this one seeing as this Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-91713043200801315262018-12-09T18:42:00.002+11:002018-12-09T18:43:09.069+11:00Top 10 full length releases of 2018<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/altingunband/">Altin Gun</a> released their first single from the album <a href="https://lesdisquesbongojoe.bandcamp.com/album/on">On</a> back in mid 2017 as a bit a teaser. To say it whetted my appetite and made me eager to hear more from them would be quite the understatement.<br />
In early 2018 the full length album dropped and it was everything I was hoping it would be. Mixing traditional sounds from Turkey together with psych, funk and afrobeat elements (amongst other things) this album is a whole lot of fun.<br />
From the opening Drums beats of the lead track <a href="https://lesdisquesbongojoe.bandcamp.com/track/tatli-dile-guler-yuze">Tatli Dile Guler Yuze</a> which lead into a great psychedelic <a href="https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/VksAAOSw6B5ZdQ07/s-l1600.jpg">Saz</a> riff which repeats throughout the song to the Bass and Cowbell beats of the album closer <a href="https://lesdisquesbongojoe.bandcamp.com/track/seker-oglan">Seker Oglan </a> (the only lengthier tune of the set) this album is designed to get your foot tapping and get you singing along, even if you have no idea what the lyrics are because it's all sung in Turkish, and I would say it succeeds in achieving this goal in spades. Bring on album number 2!<br />
P.S. Big thanks to Heather of <a href="https://www.pbsfm.org.au/psychward">The Psych Ward</a> for putting me onto them<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Putbacks - The Putbacks</td></tr>
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The funk/soul music scene in Melbourne is thriving and has been for a number of years now. There is no shortage of bands and artists in the scene and while the calibre of most is of the highest order it can be difficult to stand out in the crowd.<br />
<a href="http://theputbacks.com/">The Putbacks</a> however, have no such problem. While they have been around for a number of years now, this is their first full length non-collaborative release.<br />
The thing that makes this band stand out (aside from their musicianship) is the cinematic elements that come through in their music. This album (simply titled <a href="https://theputbacks.bandcamp.com/album/the-putbacks">The Putbacks</a>) could easily be the soundtrack to some kind of 60's James Bond-esque spy thriller. Trying to imagine the storyline to this imaginary movie while listening to this record is half the fun!<br />
P.S. They're also a freaking awesome live band. Check out this rendition of their song <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7fU-dfBhiI">Kung Fu Pyramids</a> from their album launch earlier in the year for proof.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nathan Beretta - Where I Belong</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Nathanberettaband/">Nathan Beretta</a> is a man whose blues guitar stylings are some of best around Melbourne town, and even though at times he sounds a little too Stevie Ray Vaughan-ish it's more a case of wearing his influences unashamedly on his sleeve rather than trying to clone a particular sound. One of the founding members of the award winning <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BLUEEYESCRYBAND/">Blues Eyes Cry</a> Nathan has struck out on his own and released the aptly titled <a href="https://nathanberetta.bandcamp.com/releases">Where I Belong</a>.<br />
This album is simply infectious! It boogies, shuffles and grooves in all the right ways and in all the right places. Unsurprisingly the guitar playing on this release is a big focus is front and centre in the mix, but what is perhaps surprising is the quality of the Vocals. While it's unlikely you will see Nathan on any TV singing competitions in the near future, he has a distinct singing voice which he uses to great effect on this album.<br />
While I have thoroughly enjoyed the 2 releases by Blues Eyes Cry to date with the smoking Vocals of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/iseula/">Isuela</a>, who would probably be in with more than a fighting chance of winning any singing competition she was to enter, if this is what we can expect from Nathan Beretta solo releases I look forward to hearing the next one.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naxatras -III</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/naxatras/">Naxatras</a> hail from Thessaloniki, Greece. They play heavy instrumental rock music inspired by all the classic rock bands of the 70's that rock music aficionados love and they do it very well.<br />
In a similar way to how the soul music scene in Melbourne is going from strength to strength the Stoner/Psych/Desert Rock scene in Greece is perhaps one of the strongest in Europe.<br />
The 7 songs on this Album have a total running time of 60+ minutes meaning you can expect to hear some extended fuzz laden riffs of epic proportions. Simply titled <a href="https://naxatras.bandcamp.com/album/iii">III</a> this release should be used as the measuring stick for all other bands playing this style of music.<br />
P.S. While you're looking into this release check out the <a href="https://naxatras.bandcamp.com/album/live-rituals-at-gagarin-205">live album</a> from their launch gig in Athens. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHz8S-tasJmrv-rBoB3JRuFXdMJUrMybROibcmZndox3IyUyht2BR8jmREOjOKlIqKNa33CuBDEQFfr7LzzyRXx48RM7wPsM0qK_pF6kVTHlawgI4eRifC2PD56F_jt2ebHFaaGvVlIQ0/s1600/29662575_598296103839866_6723039109871550300_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHz8S-tasJmrv-rBoB3JRuFXdMJUrMybROibcmZndox3IyUyht2BR8jmREOjOKlIqKNa33CuBDEQFfr7LzzyRXx48RM7wPsM0qK_pF6kVTHlawgI4eRifC2PD56F_jt2ebHFaaGvVlIQ0/s200/29662575_598296103839866_6723039109871550300_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Universal Hippies - Evolution Of Karma</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Universal-Hippies-455397581463053/">Universal Hippies</a> are another instrumental Psych/Stoner band from Greece, this time from the small city of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kavala">Kavala</a>.<br />
While this band still falls comfortably under the Stoner/Psych banner their music is somewhat more atmospheric than their counterparts. Heavy riffs still abound on the sophomore release <a href="https://universalhippies.bandcamp.com/album/evolution-of-karma">Evolution Of Karma</a> but there are a few more mellower moments which allow the lead guitar work of Stavros Papadopoulos to shine through.<br />
This album will appeal to stalwart fans of the genre but will likely appeal just as much to fans of instrumental lead guitarists such as <a href="http://www.satriani.com/">Joe Satriani</a> and <a href="https://www.vai.com/">Steve Vai</a>. If you are looking for a rock album with plenty of heavy riffs but also fantastic melodic lead guitar work then look no further than this album. P.S. Thanks to Steve of <a href="https://www.pbsfm.org.au/fretnet">Fret Net</a> for introducing me to their music.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Menagerie - The Arrow of Time</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.lanceferguson.com.au/biography/">Lance Ferguson</a> is probably best known for his work with <a href="http://www.thebamboos.com/">The Bamboos</a> that being said he has released music under various others monikers over the years as well.<br />
His latest release <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdOv23-ZFLAVxgNAienbj88vOu5HsbtJm">The Arrow Of Time</a> under the name Menagerie is a somewhat interesting one. It's less in the Soul/Funk vein and much more Jazz oriented which in and of itself is not unusual but what is unusual is that he has decided to revive the Menagerie moniker. There has been one Menagerie release previously, namely <a href="https://www.discogs.com/Menagerie-They-Shall-Inherit/master/524723">They Shall Inherit</a> which my understanding was that it was always supposed to be a one off project. Whatever the reason <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LanceFergusonMusic/">Lance </a>decided to revive the Menagerie moniker, I for one am glad he did.<br />
Yet another album in my Top 10 list made up of lengthier tunes, the word that I feel best sums up the music on this album would be angular. The music on offer here needs your full attention as it can at times be a difficult listen to someone who is not an avid listener of the Jazz genre. But therein lies the beauty of it, it challenges you to really listen. The melodies are great but far from linear and the same goes for the rhythms. The lead lines of Trumpeter and regular collaborator<a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/707658-Ross-Irwin"> Ross Irwin</a> and Pianist <a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/237782-Mark-Fitzgibbon">Mark Fitzgibbon</a> are a thing to behold and make for an album that makes you feel like you've been put through the ringer by the end of it (I guess that's just what Modal Jazz is supposed to do). We can only hope that there will be further Menagerie releases in future.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe Bonamassa - Redemption</td></tr>
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<a href="https://jbonamassa.com/">Joe Bonamassa</a> is a man who needs no introduction. He burst onto the Blues-Rock scene almost 20 years ago with his debut solo release <a href="https://www.discogs.com/Joe-Bonamassa-A-New-Day-Yesterday/master/428483">A New Day Yesterday</a> and has been releasing albums at a rapid clip pace since then.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_maOEkGM_9ETTFpZAOuKGE0EWgqw_vZKRg">Redemption </a>is his 13th studio album (if my calculations are correct) and it is everything we have come to expect from the blues troubadour. It's a tour de force of guitar riffs and solos. It's blues and it rocks. Some might say it's somewhat "paint by numbers" and while they wouldn't necessarily be wrong in saying so, I challenge anyone to find another Blues-Rock artist who releases albums of such consistent quality, even if you know exactly what to expect when you hit the play button.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ry Cooder - The Prodigal Son</td></tr>
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What can you say about <a href="http://rycooder.com/">Ry Cooder</a> that has not already been said throughout his 50-ish year career? While the majority of Blues artists who get attention these days have a healthy dose of Rock in their style Ry's latest album <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBwpNedd8ZY&list=OLAK5uy_lpTavniAVFQ0EMsW048XdI8iR73Yhcmv8&index=1">The Prodigal Son</a> is a much mellower affair. With added Mandolin, Banjo and Violin this album has definite a Americana colour to it which suits Ry perfectly.<br />
Whether you choose to file this under Blues or Americana is up to yourself but one think that is certain is that this album is probably the most enjoyable Ry album in recent years (not that he has released that many).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Minnetonka - Melbouneapolis</td></tr>
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If you are a fan of <a href="https://www.princeestate.com/">Prince</a> you will automatically get the<a href="https://www.facebook.com/lakeminnetonkaband/"> Lake Minnetonka</a> reference. And if you're not a Prince fan the album title and cover should give you an idea of what this band is all about (subtlety has never been bandleader <a href="https://www.facebook.com/adamrudegeairmusic/">Adam Rudegeair's</a> strong suit)<br />
Top to bottom this album is a hell of a lot of fun. Filled with funky 80's inspired Keytar heavy tunes what is there not to like about this one? This is a band that have studied the "Minneapolis Sound" and graduated with a masters degree and while <a href="https://lakeminnetonka.bandcamp.com/album/melbourneapolis">Melbournapolis</a> is a definite throwback/tribute to that sound these guys and gals are not to be dismissed as mere clones. Adding to this bands legitimacy, if you check the album credits you will see the names of no less than 4 regular Prince collaborators making appearances on this release. Essentially: hit the play button and just try to resist the fonk this album is throwing down.<br />
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A purple reference of a different kind <a href="https://www.facebook.com/chrysoulakandpurpura/">Chrysoula K. & Pupura</a> (Púrpura meaning Purple in Spanish) visited Australian shores earlier in 2018 as part of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rebetikamelbourne/">Melbourne Rebetiko Festival</a> which is how I found out about this band.<br />
After hearing them play <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNmW52LiBYw&index=3&t=0s&list=PLVA8pFrPrcWbkL4hpzseGoxxIeQYzcsMr">live </a>I was instantly hooked and had to get my hands on their one and only release to date. Made up of 5 seasoned musician with various musical backgrounds the Purpura sound is a unique mix of Greek Folk, Celtic and Classical. While the album only contains one original song the interpretations contained within this album are a thing of melancholy beauty. If this is what we can expect in future from this band then I hope this is just the first of many more releases to come.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Melbourne VIC, Australia-37.8136276 144.96305759999996-39.415753599999995 142.38127059999997 -36.2115016 147.54484459999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-64920013075232194922018-09-01T22:43:00.001+10:002019-03-20T21:46:38.838+11:00Album Review: Grey River & The Smoky Mountain - Captain Death<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeSvj_rSRbejXwIWxjb3bA_3ztpHRBBt2ltLEGLiedBAKR7SC4Kj1LAayiNtEk1dijB4efW2G6dA2DoYVbKsRv8kR_CQhJG5bMY-8RAPPN5Vqe_gmNxHWN3t8XpZ_uFJA4GHibyJ7CzY/s1600/37671819_1884894868223936_6780054297091506176_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="903" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeSvj_rSRbejXwIWxjb3bA_3ztpHRBBt2ltLEGLiedBAKR7SC4Kj1LAayiNtEk1dijB4efW2G6dA2DoYVbKsRv8kR_CQhJG5bMY-8RAPPN5Vqe_gmNxHWN3t8XpZ_uFJA4GHibyJ7CzY/s200/37671819_1884894868223936_6780054297091506176_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey River & The Smoky Mountain </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9JbXGvNev2Cdve8n-RA9HtvjfkVrDVAsIg97TZW5n1zQ73UkHZ4LQyBpbKn6M7cqIc4WJYiBwc1H3XuAD4rZJ7qHSQKVD3nWcHfOx_D2nkWNbvla62GcRe_p9AZdP0iMdGdAvMG9Ezc/s1600/a3659091468_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="1200" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9JbXGvNev2Cdve8n-RA9HtvjfkVrDVAsIg97TZW5n1zQ73UkHZ4LQyBpbKn6M7cqIc4WJYiBwc1H3XuAD4rZJ7qHSQKVD3nWcHfOx_D2nkWNbvla62GcRe_p9AZdP0iMdGdAvMG9Ezc/s200/a3659091468_10.jpg" width="200" /></a> Well, well, well what do we have here? A bluesgrass/folk band out of Greece? OK I'll bite, let me hit the play button and see what they have to offer. <br />
Now let me say that when I hear a bands sound described as Bluesgrass or Country I will usually run away screaming but this band was recommended by a friend whose taste in music I trust.<br />
Captain Death is the first full length release by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreyRiverSmokyMountain/">Grey River & The Smoky Mountain</a> and it's a doozy! The album starts off with the sea shanty/Rum Swilling stylings of the title track <a href="https://greyriverandthesmokymountain.bandcamp.com/album/captain-death">Captain Death</a> which will instantly have you swaying to it's rhythm just as if you were walking the deck of a pirate ship on the high seas. The song perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the album which is made up of 10 infectious bluegrass/americana tunes with choruses that you will be singing long after the 10 songs have finished and which may even inspire you to take up line dancing (you have been warned!). <br />
While the album certainly doesn't have any low points the highlights for this listener are most definitely the songs which lean more towards the Sea Shanty style as opposed to the more straight forward country/bluesgrass style. <br />
The Vocals of Rena Papageorgiou are nothing short of sweet nectar, while the contrasting voice of Sarantos Goumakos will at times bring to mind Nick Cave (especially on<a href="https://greyriverandthesmokymountain.bandcamp.com/track/the-king-and-the-crow"> The King And The Crow </a>which has a distinct <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDpnjE1LUvE">Where the Wild Roses Grow</a> feel to it).<br />
Tasos Gousetis and Thanasis Giouleas round out the band line up on Fiddle & Double Bass to bring a sound that you you would swear has been created somewhere in America's deep south it sounds so authentic. <br />
If you are a fan of the Bluesgrass/Americana genre you could most certainly do a lot worse than checking out this band and if (like me) you are not necessarily a fan of the genre... well... check out this band anyway, you may just be pleasantly surprised.<br />
P.S. Credit also has to be given to the guest musicians on this recording who add some colour not heard on the <a href="https://greyriverandthesmokymountain.bandcamp.com/album/somethings-wrong-ep">debut EP</a> and also the fantastic artwork of <a href="https://www.behance.net/GraphicnoJutsu">Jon Toussas</a> which makes this record stand out on a record store shelf.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-67925818793106591152017-12-31T13:01:00.000+11:002018-11-23T13:35:01.021+11:00Top 5 new discoveries of 2017<div style="text-align: center;">
I've already listed my top 10 releases for the year here but now it's time to mention those Artists who either didn't release anything in 2017 or their releases didn't quite make my top 10 list but who still impressed me.<br />
Without further ado and in no particular order here are my Top 5 new discoveries for 2017.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ibrahimmaalouf.com/">Ibrahim Maalouf</a> is a trumpeter born in Beirut, Lebanon and living in France. He has been recording for other artists since the early naughties but released his 1st solo album in the mid naughties. His name is very well known in France and somewhat well known outside of France. Playing primarily Jazz and Funk his music will transport you or make you want to get up and shake your money maker.</div>
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This collaboration with Rapper <a href="http://www.oxmo.net/">Oxmo Puccino</a> is the song that introduced me to his music. Thanks to my good friend Alex P. for putting it on in class earlier in the year. </div>
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<a href="http://www.electrodeluxe.com/">Electro Deluxe</a> are another French band who were once again introduced to me by friend Alex P. (thanks for sending the link through buddy) Funk, Soul, Big Band, Nu Jazz call their music what you want but personally I call it happy music made for dancing, I'm sure you'll agree. Here's the song that introduced me to them:</div>
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<a href="http://www.kellyauty.com.au/">Kelly Auty </a> is a name many Australian music fans will already be familiar with and while I had heard her name been mentioned by many people in the past it wasn't until a few months ago when I got my hands on her latest release simply titled <a href="http://www.kellyauty.com.au/store1/kelly_auty_live_2016/">Live 2016</a> that I heard her sing and what a voice she has been gifted with! Not only can she sing but her delivery has a swagger to it that is infectious. I have yet to see her perform live but I am hoping to remedy that in the not too distant future. Here is the lead song from her Live 2016 album which introduced me to her. </div>
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With a name like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AfrodysseyOrchestra/">Afrodyssey Orchestra</a> it's not difficult to guess the style of music these guys play. This being said, while the Afrobeat elements are most certainly there this music is not straight out Afrobeat and incorporates various elements from the Jazz and World genres also which is perhaps what makes me like it so much. Hailing from Athens, Greece these guys are further evidence of the thriving music scene in Greece that is only getting better. Here is an interpretation of a well known traditional folk tune from Greece which is how I came to know of this band.</div>
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<a href="http://www.lospetitfellas.com/">Los Petit Fellas</a> hail from <span style="text-align: center;">Bogotá, Colombia and are very </span>similar in style to Electro Deluxe who I mentioned earlier. T<span style="text-align: center;">he Rap elements of the music for my personal tastes can sometimes be a bit much (just like with Electro Deluxe) but the instrumentation is drawing on classic funk which is right up my alley. Once again this is happy music made for dancing and I need to thank another friend of mine Mariana for putting me onto these guys. Here is the song that lead me to discovering this band:</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-85957996338925115222017-12-30T21:03:00.000+11:002018-11-23T13:38:38.842+11:00Top 10 full length releases of 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpv9xwCI95VyJwQ2rekDbvyaj99OHaLFM6XaASHuKDgjiUfbt-XlJqbLDnav16LRIG4Nfms5BfZKMBCMEgBCtdstDNjHLL5uHS0e-wywhyphenhyphenZpHYFWAe9iC_rSjqOKdtoEXRr-pWu_jylGY/s1600/8275935.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpv9xwCI95VyJwQ2rekDbvyaj99OHaLFM6XaASHuKDgjiUfbt-XlJqbLDnav16LRIG4Nfms5BfZKMBCMEgBCtdstDNjHLL5uHS0e-wywhyphenhyphenZpHYFWAe9iC_rSjqOKdtoEXRr-pWu_jylGY/s200/8275935.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado <br />
Change My Game</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Released in early 2017 <a href="http://risager.info/">Thorbjorn Risager</a> & Co. are one of the best Blues/Rock bands going around at the moment & are finally starting to get the recognition they're due. This album is the perfect mix of Guitar driven Blues Rock, Soul and Country. If you do not know this band track them down and everything they have released to date you will not be disappointed. They even won a Best Band award in this year's European Blues Awards<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuber - Out Of The Blue</td></tr>
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The band that introduced me to the "Stoner" genre <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tuberband/">Tuber</a> released their 3rd full length album this year <a href="https://tuber.bandcamp.com/album/out-of-the-blue">Out Of The Blue </a>and it's everything I could have hoped it would be and more. For this album they have added some electronic elements and also stepped up their songwriting. It's a step up and beyond from where they were at with their last release <a href="https://tuber.bandcamp.com/album/desert-overcrowded">Desert Overcrowded</a>. Quite possibly my favourite instrumental band ever.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCiMZOfxnsoaMmitLMvo1-ZhDRFQ9QzQDLyn2adDjzKocSw9ayI64TfCD45MzJmMgXekfEYyyXTMkc0Kf660F61Led8XX5AGzy_vw_b9wMP0fNWQh2Huq3zxMqftJUif8csYQo5-xtwg/s1600/886446335834-cover-zoom.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCiMZOfxnsoaMmitLMvo1-ZhDRFQ9QzQDLyn2adDjzKocSw9ayI64TfCD45MzJmMgXekfEYyyXTMkc0Kf660F61Led8XX5AGzy_vw_b9wMP0fNWQh2Huq3zxMqftJUif8csYQo5-xtwg/s200/886446335834-cover-zoom.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petros Klampanis - Chroma</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.petrosklampanis.com/">Petros Klampanis</a> has come a long way since his 1st solo outing in 2011 <a href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/petrosklampanis">Contextual</a>. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpwxysgF80s&list=PLxS3NC9ig2xkGNuZynXWloU0xfT7ms2WH">Chroma</a> (meaning colour in Greek) further expands on the cinematic style of composition that Petros has been developing. The music on this release could be the Soundtrack to a movie that includes chases, nature and romance elements. The players that Petros has surrounded himself with on this release also deserve high praise as they are fantastic composers in their own right.<br />
If this is what we can expect from Petros in the future then I am very much looking forward to what he comes up with next. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiG2opjHn-ndigTSaG9vd24bVOOG0LlJpXlNZkFpzBDc-pKXg8mMvwSmxW6VGYptzVGfQJ8iWeXrzTz7VAc6zOJjYmmwf6qcAaNa-7Wh0oUtFfeAH37gS_t47Sa1nPjwo4pIhESGB8DDo/s1600/a0490480575_10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiG2opjHn-ndigTSaG9vd24bVOOG0LlJpXlNZkFpzBDc-pKXg8mMvwSmxW6VGYptzVGfQJ8iWeXrzTz7VAc6zOJjYmmwf6qcAaNa-7Wh0oUtFfeAH37gS_t47Sa1nPjwo4pIhESGB8DDo/s200/a0490480575_10.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ivory Elephant - Number 1 Pop Hit</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/theivoryelephant/">The Ivory Elephant</a> are the "other" band of band leader Trent Sterling who is also the brainchild and driving force behind one of Melbourne's favourite afrobeat bands <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thesevenups/">The Seven Ups</a>.<br />
A 3 piece Psych/Blues/Rock outfit that should be getting a lot more attention than what they currently are in my oh so humble opinion. This is their 1st full length release and is being distributed worldwide by the <a href="http://kozmik-artifactz.com/">Kozmik Artifactz</a> label who have also released albums by another Melbourne Psych Blues outfit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/childtheband/">Child</a> if you are a fan of heavy blues psychedelia and are not familiar with this band then you should remedy this immediately. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSX2e8HyKa53ek6kdCeEOr0m91Pf_F4ROSvhJrSJzA3mY8HpZRsiazf2Czn7_QB3wprP0q-dCZZy9C8uWwJuvYitDGwjPPZBB6rSa3wrkdm4ocN6iYBV_13EjDEV5QeBZ2veD1iP_k7s/s1600/a1880051983_10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSX2e8HyKa53ek6kdCeEOr0m91Pf_F4ROSvhJrSJzA3mY8HpZRsiazf2Czn7_QB3wprP0q-dCZZy9C8uWwJuvYitDGwjPPZBB6rSa3wrkdm4ocN6iYBV_13EjDEV5QeBZ2veD1iP_k7s/s200/a1880051983_10.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OOLLUU - Deep Six</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/oolluu/">OOLLOU</a>'s music is very hard to pigeonhole/label. It has elements of Rock, Electronic, Prog and Retro Dance. Whatever label you choose to hang onto their music the one thing that is certain is that it will make you sit up and take notice as soon as you hear it.<br />
Do not miss the chance to catch these guys live, their performances are a sight to behold<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Electric Moon - Stardust Rituals</td></tr>
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More overly long, self indulgent, psychedelic choonage here by a band who does it <i>extremely </i>well. <a href="http://www.electricmoon.de/">Electric Moon</a> are a band I only discovered this year thanks to fellow PBS-ian Chris Pearson who hosts <a href="http://pbsfm.org.au/PojamaPeople">Pojama People</a> and who has been pushing their music onto an unsuspecting radio audience since he 1st started.<br />
I may be slightly late to catch on but I have now caught on and am loving this band. The music presented on their latest release <a href="https://electric-moon.bandcamp.com/album/stardust-rituals">Startdust Rituals</a> (and in fact on every other release of theirs) is about as far removed from your usual FM radio friendly pop music as you can possibly get and is probably best listened to in an altered state of mind<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKcVXV4HhF2i_7uRpu6Y-CKKpV-bbI_GeHR5hrew6QS6ciuLK_9jJ2bl5FK0ArJ-VzfZFnQBjADgYv_fk7Kimv4ZdITeF4QGsYYiQYFNwMnL7l0CaXX_DWk-KX82tFr481xt4eJ_l11Q/s1600/Banda+Magda+Album+Cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKcVXV4HhF2i_7uRpu6Y-CKKpV-bbI_GeHR5hrew6QS6ciuLK_9jJ2bl5FK0ArJ-VzfZFnQBjADgYv_fk7Kimv4ZdITeF4QGsYYiQYFNwMnL7l0CaXX_DWk-KX82tFr481xt4eJ_l11Q/s200/Banda+Magda+Album+Cover.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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I absolutely love everything about this album. Clocking in at only around 35 minutes <a href="https://www.bandamagda.com/">Banda Magda</a> have released an album full of lush orchestration with Latin rhythms and Classic 60's era movie soundtrack like qualities.<br />
None of the songs are sung in English but far from making the listening experience difficult I would say this just endears the music to the listener even further. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52RKVKBFM31HcKEhUci4eAuH-OJqSGP0">Tigre</a> is quite possibly the best world music release of 2017. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Dynamite - Otherside</td></tr>
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Melbourne's very own version of <a href="http://www.blackcrowes.com/">The Black Crowes</a> <a href="https://www.mydynamite.net/">My Dynamite </a>released their 2nd full length release this year roughly 5 years after they released their debut and it is everything you can expect. Catchy melodies, strutting choruses and more.<br />
Immediately after the release of the album and the big launch show at Melbourne's Rock N Roll institution <a href="http://cherrybar.com.au/">The Cherry Bar</a> the band went on hiatus! Here's hoping the hiatus does not last too much longer and that they start playing shows again in the not too distant future. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Teskey Brothers - Half Mile Harvest</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.theteskeybrothers.com/">The Teskey Brothers</a> debut release <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvzXJz9hqSU&list=PLVhskaf7D5bg3QLggmFzjyPPgynCThc8B">Half Mile Harvest </a>has been earning the band kudos from all over the country and with good reason. This album is a perfectly crafted Soul, Country, Blues record that is an absolute delight to listen to. They have been playing sold out shows all over the country in venues that international artists who visit our shores have struggled to half fill and their popularity shows no signs of slowing down. <br />
Now that they have conquered Australia it's time for them to take on the rest of the world. UP THE TESKEY'S! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samantha Fish - Belle Of The West & Chills and Fever</td></tr>
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OK so I'm cheating somewhat with this one. <a href="http://www.samanthafish.com/">Samantha Fish</a> released 2 albums this year and each one is brilliant and unique. While <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqyNBImwq7I&list=PLkBdnSH4mczq_MDyVeaCCm3B9dK-Qwrrl">Chills & Fever</a> is essentially a feel good soul record <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMbD3eUGTPw&list=PL_6xHbNF8hJ8_usioOjR3cYgFOJCpYkVR">Belle Of The West</a> sees Samantha collaborating with <a href="http://www.lutherdickinson.com/">Luther Dickinson</a> of <a href="http://www.nmallstars.com/">North Mississippi Allstars</a> fame and has a definite hill country blues feel to it and she sounds right at home in both styles. See what all the buzz is about and track down either one or both of these releases and you will see that the praise that everyone has been heaping on Samantha is extremely well deserved. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-16746919676761940192017-11-06T14:30:00.001+11:002017-11-17T10:27:33.848+11:00OOLLUU live @ Bar Open 4th Nov 2017 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47_mAa8wQayN8p2Ok7YORthyefL57MXY6ieTxRsLgdjD8MyGOD1rT6Mz5uDzZZROTvaQrM3EjqBiOHsLq3JJfiSXQJg6akOPojSiuDkpm32_8GlLtJsPiYWAwIX9MoPzuokMJWiG1qwk/s1600/20171104_223449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47_mAa8wQayN8p2Ok7YORthyefL57MXY6ieTxRsLgdjD8MyGOD1rT6Mz5uDzZZROTvaQrM3EjqBiOHsLq3JJfiSXQJg6akOPojSiuDkpm32_8GlLtJsPiYWAwIX9MoPzuokMJWiG1qwk/s200/20171104_223449.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk6_5uGCRKxC_jyZb_YyXxVh7VY7Om_QXXhnB6UFNMNHevSGiBEzoxTtWY5dSfd89WoCF-unnZXPEvrmhnfdd0YuyCFJGDp6BLsKbg_Vg04R_CRtxhWbi9V-5Bdtr4wmWO6hyphenhyphenk0i_8ko/s1600/20171104_223456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk6_5uGCRKxC_jyZb_YyXxVh7VY7Om_QXXhnB6UFNMNHevSGiBEzoxTtWY5dSfd89WoCF-unnZXPEvrmhnfdd0YuyCFJGDp6BLsKbg_Vg04R_CRtxhWbi9V-5Bdtr4wmWO6hyphenhyphenk0i_8ko/s200/20171104_223456.jpg" width="200" /></a>I’ve seen many a live show since my last live review many moons ago and while there have been some great shows none have inspired me to put pen to paper (metaphorically speaking) so I can tell the everyone willing to listen about what I witnessed. <br />
There were 4 acts in total on the bill this night but I was there to see one & one only and that was <a href="https://www.facebook.com/oolluu/">OOLLUU</a>. I had seen these guys once before opening for another great act <a href="http://music.glasfrosch.com/">Glasfrosch</a> and was thoroughly impressed but that was a mighty long tome ago. Were they really as good as I remember…? Would they live up to my expectations…? Well to say that my memory served me correct and that they lived up to my expectations would be an understatement. They were ginormagantuanly, fantasmagorically amaze balls! <br />
<a href="https://oolluu.bandcamp.com/">OOLLUU</a> play a style of music that I really don’t know how to describe. It’s electronic, but it’s heavy. It’s rock music, but there’s no guitar. It’s intense, but it’s poppy and danceable. There’s many contradictory elements in their music and things that probably shouldn’t fit together that somehow seem to blend wonderfully well and create a soundscape that will leave you on a euphoric high once it’s over. <br />
Playing to a crowd of roughly 50 people on a “stage” that barely fit the band on it the performance these guys put on was a thing to behold. Stage right was Bassist Davarj who in his mind I’m sure was playing to a sold out crowd at Wembley Stadium or Madison Square Garden. Stage left you have Ehsan on Synths (“fluent in 3 languages… Linux, IOS and Windows”) who while is somewhat restricted in movement was no less a giving it his all. The interaction between these 2 “frontmen” of the band was fantastic and a joy to watch. The smiles on their faces as they were playing evidence of just how much they were enjoying themselves. Lastly, hidden from view slightly was Drummer Ben Crook who was driving the band like his life depended on it. <br />
Sure there were a couple of little mistakes, but the crowd most certainly didn’t mind (or probably even notice) and I’m sure these guys gained a few more fans on the night. </div>
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There were 2 more bands on after OOLLUU and while I’m sure they put on admirable performances I didn’t stick around.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-64209251665427792092017-09-16T22:44:00.000+10:002018-04-02T10:52:01.523+10:00Album Review: Banda Magda - Tigre<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWF6xAN-x7jNTEIio-DjFcbmH4WLLXoVRXfqCznJ3tn3dF6e-ee46rRaMGL9WI5o09Fn2AEcsfA_1s6dNJWKNf1ufqbmcavZy7iexf0LV2F1F6iScZImgy_t2EmqvgPf-U3JkxmnzPIQ/s1600/713kzXLN1CL._SL1200_.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWF6xAN-x7jNTEIio-DjFcbmH4WLLXoVRXfqCznJ3tn3dF6e-ee46rRaMGL9WI5o09Fn2AEcsfA_1s6dNJWKNf1ufqbmcavZy7iexf0LV2F1F6iScZImgy_t2EmqvgPf-U3JkxmnzPIQ/s320/713kzXLN1CL._SL1200_.jpeg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://www.bandamagda.com/">Banda Magda</a> are a band whose sound is very hard to pigeonhole. The band is made up of musicians from the world over and their music ranges from sounding a little bit Jazz, a little bit Psych, a little bit Chanson Pop, a little bit Latin and many other things besides. However, perhaps the best word to describe their music is simply this: Brilliant!<br />
They have just released their 3rd album called <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/tigre/id1246944101">Tigre</a> which has been 3 years in the making. Tigre is an eclectic release full of worldly sounds and rhythms which is pure ear candy and an absolute delight to listen to. <br />
The lyrics are mostly in French & Greek (none are in English but don’t let that deter you) the songs are catchy, the orchestration throughout the album is sublime and the production is fantastic also. At times the sound is like something from a 60’s romance movie soundtrack, while at other times you'll want to get up and dance to the Tango & Bossa-Nova rhythms while the final song on the album Diamandi (meaning Diamond in Greek) even has a slight Massive Attack type of feel to it. This band seems to be going from strength to strength with each release. If you want to hear something slightly different to what you hear on mainstream radio and perhaps challenge your ears somewhat, then this album comes highly recommended. Without a doubt one of the best releases of 2017 so far.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-19874374633745997532017-08-27T21:25:00.003+10:002017-08-28T03:05:03.021+10:00Single Review: Altin Gün - Goca Dünya/Kırşehir'in Gülleri<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WXTIJzPg1H4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WXTIJzPg1H4?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: left; float: left;" width="320"></iframe></div>
Oh hells yes, these 2 songs are the definition of psychedelic pop bliss!<br />
Sung in Turkish I couldn’t tell you what the lyrics are saying but it really doesn’t matter.<br />
The A Side of this Single Goca Dünya starts off with a very Pink Floyd sounding bassline before bringing in the sounds of shakers shortly after. The staccato guitar riff with the drums (and added handclaps) kick in next and we’re off on one hell of a rollicking ride.<br />
This is a song designed to get you out of your seat and dancing and it achieves it’s intended outcome perfectly. This is the 1st single by this band hailing from Amsterdam, Netherlands and if this is any indication of what the output from this band is going to be like in future you can bet your bottom dollar I’ll be amongst the 1st people to be reaching for my wallet. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hnx3Ill6mZc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hnx3Ill6mZc?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="320"></iframe>The B-Side to this tune is the equally brilliant Kırşehir'in Gülleri which has kicks things off with a great saz riff before pausing to allow for some dreamy psych vocal riffage. The song the snakes it’s way slowly back into the main surf psych saz riff again and so it goes for the rest of the song. While some of these sounds may be somewhat new or unfamiliar to some people these 2 songs are far from a difficult listen, quite the opposite in fact this is easily accessible ear candy for anybody who willing to listen. <br />
The 500 Vinyl copies which were available on bandcamp.com have already sold out and these guys seem to be getting some well deserved attention on Amsterdam radio. Now if only I could find a reasonable priced copy of the 7 inch vinyl single!<br />
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Bandcamp link avaiable <a href="https://lesdisquesbongojoe.bandcamp.com/album/goca-du-nya-7-single">here</a><br />
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Big thanks to fellow PBS-ian Heather for introducing me to them via her (somewhat regular) show <a href="http://pbsfm.org.au/node/67471">The Psych Ward </a>and expect to hear another fellow PBS-ian <a href="https://www.facebook.com/opalakia/">Adriana </a>either play it on her show or when she is DJ-ing around town in the not too distant future<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-70539100220033003892017-06-05T20:28:00.001+10:002018-09-20T09:15:45.351+10:00Album Review: El Colosso - Pathways<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ44BzBouulgF0T5_JnFEhPxxqDncRfqo5FRoohoQ9AF0KSr-uGK273SbQCUDFZ7CNIBzsvkR_JKpZsSKy7BB5aV5Btn6DTeNhUg5Hloz5XLw0xaREc60nFQp23KHlTSKrJK254qahAG4/s1600/17353093_1386436828080348_368100171780473558_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ44BzBouulgF0T5_JnFEhPxxqDncRfqo5FRoohoQ9AF0KSr-uGK273SbQCUDFZ7CNIBzsvkR_JKpZsSKy7BB5aV5Btn6DTeNhUg5Hloz5XLw0xaREc60nFQp23KHlTSKrJK254qahAG4/s320/17353093_1386436828080348_368100171780473558_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a>I’ve re-connected with the Heavy Rock scene in recent times after being absent for a little bit and am loving what I’m hearing. The latest band to catch my attention are <a href="https://www.facebook.com/elcolossoband/">El Colosso</a>. Having caught them playing around Melbourne town a few times recently I was eager to get my hands on a copy of the bands debut full length release <a href="https://elcolosso.bandcamp.com/album/pathways">Pathways</a> and they have not disappointed. The riffs are heavy with crunchy distortion, the guitar solos are jaw droppingly flashy while still keeping to the adage of “The Song Is King” and the Bass is front and centre in the mix and once again as heavy as fuck. As soon as you press the play button on your CD player or drop the needle on your Vinyl copy you will be blown across the room and through the wall behind you. <br />
While each and every song on this album is killer, at times I think some of the lighter songs on the album such as <a href="https://elcolosso.bandcamp.com/track/pathways">Pathways </a>and <a href="https://elcolosso.bandcamp.com/track/king-ink">King Ink</a> don’t quite fit in with the rest of the tunes. The songs most certainly don’t suck, in fact if you heard them come on the radio they would most certainly make your ears stand to attention, but the flow of the album perhaps would have been better served by keeping the balls to the wall sound throughout. <br />
The highlights of this release I would most definitely have to say is the relentless pace of the song <a href="http://leatherhead/">Leatherhead</a> and the nearly 10 minute epic closer <a href="https://elcolosso.bandcamp.com/track/moving-mountains">Moving Mountains</a> with it’s slow groove, added Hammond organ and the brilliant dual lead guitar work of Benny James and guest Dave Ferguson of <a href="http://fuckthefitzroydoomscene.com/">Fuck the Fitzroy Doom Scene</a>. <br />
This album has all the ingredients you can expect from the Stoner Rock genre and while most of the influences the band lists I am not familiar with, I suspect that they listened to the album <a href="https://youtu.be/M2jCv95R_9U">Carnival Of Souls</a> by <a href="http://www.kissonline.com/">Kiss</a> at least a couple of times during the recording of this album. While Pathways doesn't necessarily contain any surprises that’s not to say that this is a bad thing. This band has delivered an awesome heavy rock album of a caliber many others could only hope to achieve. Don’t miss seeing them play live and while you're in the process of grabbing a copy of their album grab yourself a copy of the <a href="https://elcolosso.bandcamp.com/album/cannonball-ep">Cannonball</a> EP also.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-41470935641427260732017-03-28T22:54:00.001+11:002017-03-29T23:40:32.483+11:00Album Review: Samantha Fish - Chills and Fever<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE7vDdVGNcurm7XlszmiycG0fDo9G09g7yMKtaMRNkD7hEt0sjVnInCNYntsKC7JWBvGnvk7QL-2XtcS6D1YzLnYoOYmafkrB2gkxbTrlD3Bln51iSdYEB0e85cyjsvK7-Pk0yVBo_LE/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE7vDdVGNcurm7XlszmiycG0fDo9G09g7yMKtaMRNkD7hEt0sjVnInCNYntsKC7JWBvGnvk7QL-2XtcS6D1YzLnYoOYmafkrB2gkxbTrlD3Bln51iSdYEB0e85cyjsvK7-Pk0yVBo_LE/s320/cover.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://www.rufrecords.de/index.php?lang=en">Ruf records</a> are one of my favourite labels at the moment releasing quality blues of all flavours from soulful blues to blues rock to acoustic blues and are one of the champions of women in the blues.<br />
<a href="http://www.samanthafish.com/">Samantha Fish</a> is one of the many female blues artists that got her break on Ruf and she has just released her 5th Album on the label which sees her breaking from her well established Blues Rock sound. This album has one foot firmly planted in the 60’s Soul/Motown era while the other is at different times planted in Rock, Garage and Country. Chills and Fever sees the addition of a horn section and the usual blistering Guitar work which Samantha is usually known for is replaced by playing of a much more subdued nature which is more suited to the Soul sounds being delivered on this album. The sound channels the retro/modern feel previously championed by the likes of Duffy, Amy Winehouse and to a lesser extent Vintage Trouble and while it can be a fine balancing act trying to tap into the retro feel without sounding kitsch Samantha Fish most definitely manages to pull it off in fine style. The lyrical content of the 14 songs over 54 minutes doesn't stray from the well worn path of relationships which can be wear slightly thin over this length but despite this minor bump in the road start to finish this album is simply a delight to listen to.<br />
And while some small amount of people may initially scratch their heads at this new direction it is unlikely Samantha will be losing any fans and if anything will see her gaining more than a few new ones. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-54289253920020215242017-03-08T00:21:00.000+11:002017-03-16T00:51:45.845+11:00Album Review: My Dynamite - Otherside<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhOnAuk81TX4hntqMjZOQgnUpTUSZpetCL8cp7kvteMVF0uKJIfKRIc0NTiLR5mKKqQQtZdo8tz-7pwOJVzhtjdxp6fav7L8GmFCPqcpR7cBOsCTcpm2uNlTHZG-mh6DAiWA27vJ7czA/s1600/1000x1000.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhOnAuk81TX4hntqMjZOQgnUpTUSZpetCL8cp7kvteMVF0uKJIfKRIc0NTiLR5mKKqQQtZdo8tz-7pwOJVzhtjdxp6fav7L8GmFCPqcpR7cBOsCTcpm2uNlTHZG-mh6DAiWA27vJ7czA/s320/1000x1000.jpeg" width="320" /></a>Australia’s very own version The Black Crowes are back and they mean business. With 9 tracks of country blues rock Otherside is an album that has been in the pipeline for a while now and boy oh boy am I glad it has finally been released. If you own any album by The Black Crowes then this album has to be added to your collection. <br />
<a href="https://www.mydynamite.net/">My Dynamite</a> wear their Black Crowes influences clearly on their sleeves for all to see and make to apologies about it. While it may be easy to dismiss this band as simply being clones, I dare anyone to put this album on and not sing along to the infectious choruses of songs like the lead single <a href="https://youtu.be/VWjvqZCmV1E">Witch Hat</a>, <a href="https://youtu.be/0X9Uzk07MGA">State We’re In</a> etc. Even though the Black Crowes influences are clearly there for all to see, this is an album that will also sit comfortably next to releases by The
Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and their ilk. If you already own music
by the aforementioned bands then grab yourself a copy of this album and
if you don’t and don’t intend on adding anything by these bands to your
collection in the foreseeable future then quite obviously this album is
not for you. <br />
My Dynamite have found their winning formula and are sticking to it. You will find all the usual ingredients that a band playing this style
of music throws into the mix. Slide Guitar, Lap Steel, Harmonica,
warbling Organ lines filling in the gaps in the background and Gospel
style backing Vocals provided by the awesomely talented Eliza and Talei
Worgramm (check out the <a href="https://www.discogs.com/Wolfgramm-Sisters-The-The-Wolfgramm-Sisters/release/2638854">Wolfgram Sisters Album</a> you won’t regret it!). <br />
Otherside is 45 minutes of pure unadulterated safe southern blues rock bliss that colours well within the lines and there nothing wrong with that. My Dynamite know their audience and deliver for them exactly what they want to hear. Now if only mainstream radio would pick up on this album and start playing it you’d no doubt see this band scoring opening slots for stadium acts and headlining much bigger shows on their own.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-86660759098501816802017-01-31T21:12:00.000+11:002017-02-01T21:40:35.173+11:00Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado - Change My Game<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZg1ZLVa_effF4Ur47IXnNaUckevbKKs7la8o2LIWcwI6pbM2rTzgpUGpql2XddjOO3rNZR2FxFvOJ-vbeBvEk5VC7NsZLIqInjzx-VgrSDqDdkxlK0mqqOqjPeaPpQlmC4hsyYttalg/s1600/changemygame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZg1ZLVa_effF4Ur47IXnNaUckevbKKs7la8o2LIWcwI6pbM2rTzgpUGpql2XddjOO3rNZR2FxFvOJ-vbeBvEk5VC7NsZLIqInjzx-VgrSDqDdkxlK0mqqOqjPeaPpQlmC4hsyYttalg/s320/changemygame.jpg" width="320" /></a>Giggidy! It's HERE! To say I have been anticipating this release with baited breath would be a major understatement and it is everything I hoped it would be.<br />
Picking up where they left off with their previous studio release <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LirgXyOmHac&list=RDLirgXyOmHac">Too Many Roads</a> <a href="http://risager.info/">Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado</a> is a band that only recently has been getting the worldwide attention they deserve for the music they have been playing for the last 10+ years throughout stages in Europe. With a sound that is equal parts Blues, Soul & New Orleans Jazz what is there not to love? Hailing from Denmark it's a wonder how this band has gone unnoticed outside of Europe for so long given the quality of their releases.<br />
Given that this band are known for their high energy driving blues sound it's interesting that the opening track "I Used To Love You" of the newly released Change My Game album is a ballad. A great brooding song with low key trumpets, keys and a muted guitar riff that will have you swaying to it's rhythm it still feels somewhat out of place as an opening track.<br />
Track 2 "Dreamland" is where things kick into high gear with the signature Black Tornado sound. While Thorbjorn and co. are mostly sticking to their well known winning formula there are still some other influences/sounds creeping in on this album. The title track "Change My Game" has definite funk elements coming through on it with the use of Wah laden guitar and an almost 70's disco sounding Drum beat and keyboard sound, while "Hard Time" has a distinct Country twang to its chorus. <br />
"Hold My Lover" is almost like Deep Purple with horns while songs like "Train" "Hollar N Moan" and the closer "City Of Love" stick to the more straightforward driving blues sound that we have come to know and love from this band.<br />
Overall Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado have delivered an outstanding release that lives up to the high standard this band has become known for and which will most definitely leave you wanting more. This is an album that will surely be on heavy rotation for the next couple of months at least and while we are only one month into the year I don't think it's a stretch to say that this release is going to be one of the highlights of 2017.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-281795209794915802017-01-01T20:52:00.001+11:002017-02-19T02:19:17.484+11:00Top 5 new discoveries of 2016I listed my top 10 new releases of 2016 but of course there was older releases which I only discovered in 2016 which made me sit up and take notice or non full length album releases which made me do the same. Here's some of them:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjes46bMwSCs2VfItsiZ-1WR-g3RW3UqzsPtP7jKfnhixeVVoeDGhXSOPqf-8hKwb2ugJLbAbLTmfb9Ri_bfwTIBcodsbA9TMnAt9-k0ObZcnhQohkGdwCIY-GmlQSe2ye7LRchIcNGN9c/s1600/Too-Many-Roads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjes46bMwSCs2VfItsiZ-1WR-g3RW3UqzsPtP7jKfnhixeVVoeDGhXSOPqf-8hKwb2ugJLbAbLTmfb9Ri_bfwTIBcodsbA9TMnAt9-k0ObZcnhQohkGdwCIY-GmlQSe2ye7LRchIcNGN9c/s200/Too-Many-Roads.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://risager.info/">Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado</a> - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LirgXyOmHac">Too Many Roads</a><br />
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Another brilliant release from <a href="http://www.rufrecords.de/index.php?lang=en">Ruf Records</a> this label can do no wrong in my eyes (or should that be ears?) Horns, Hammond, Blues shuffles and gravelly lead vocals with with Soul style backing vocals. Bring on the 20th of Jan & the release of the new Album <br />
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<a href="http://www.legselectric.com/">Legs Electric</a> - <a href="https://legselectric.bandcamp.com/releases">Maximum Rock N Roll</a><br />
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This band rocks! that's all that need be said get their EP & play it loud. Full review <a href="http://connectionsradioshow.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/album-review-legs-electric-legs-electric.html">here</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Prettycityband/">Pretty City</a> - <a href="https://prettycity.bandcamp.com/album/colorize-2">Colorize</a></div>
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I walked into the <a href="http://spottedmallard.com/">Spotted Mallard</a> to catch a T Rex tribute show thinking to myself "this should be cool". While there were a small handful of T Rex tunes played by the band on stage the majority of the tunes were originals. After the band had finished up I practically ran up to the stage at the end of the set to buy the bands album. These were the guys. Blown away I was!</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GLbeat/"><br /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4afsE67bQCc3v_uhlZUNLmcRHse5J3CHZ5OtlHsykNPg48MB4W-_OGjJMr4f-bT1QRMmdKRFAATsUUgZGE2Dst9PigcZCL9Q4YHmaiIVL5OBlj5s72PjCW32pNKrd4DOMFqZYFS3Eams/s1600/a2716789746_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4afsE67bQCc3v_uhlZUNLmcRHse5J3CHZ5OtlHsykNPg48MB4W-_OGjJMr4f-bT1QRMmdKRFAATsUUgZGE2Dst9PigcZCL9Q4YHmaiIVL5OBlj5s72PjCW32pNKrd4DOMFqZYFS3Eams/s200/a2716789746_10.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/GLbeat/">GL</a> - <a href="https://glgl.bandcamp.com/album/love-hexagon">Love Hexagon</a></div>
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I was aware of these guys already but had never sat down to listen to what they had released until earlier this year. With <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EllaThompsonMusic/">Ella Thompson</a> on Vocals and Graeme Pogson of <a href="http://thebamboos.com/">The Bamboos</a> on Drums, Programming etc their sound hearkens back to the synthpop acts that were all over the radio in the 80's. These guys are just brilliant, I know finally know what everyone else was raving on about. Now I just have to get my hands on a copy of their full length release <a href="https://midnightfeature.bandcamp.com/album/touch">Touch</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MrBlackandBlues/">Mr Black and Blues</a> - <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mrblackblues2">Blow These Tracks</a></div>
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Longtime organiser of the Cotton Club blues nights at the <a href="http://spottedmallard.com/">Spotted Mallard</a> I had seen him play there previously and thought he was great I was reminded again of this when I caught him playing for the last Cotton Club session of 2016 and had to buy his albums.</div>
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This one in particular recorded with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cwilsonmusic/">Chris Wilson</a> live on the Queenscliff <a href="http://www.thebluestrain.com.au/">Blues Train</a> is especially brilliant </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-19196413047869542132016-12-26T14:26:00.000+11:002017-02-19T02:21:32.099+11:00Top 10 Full length releases of 2016 It's that time again where we look back on the year that was and try to sift through the countless releases to try work out what we enjoyed most. This year was a little more difficult than others seeing as they were countless good releases which I enjoyed but I wanted to find the stuff that more than just good but a classic that will live up to repeated listening and at the end of next year I will still be listening to. So here it is the top 10 full length releases as chosen by one half of the <a href="http://pbsfm.org.au/connections">Connections</a> team:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe Bonamassa - Blues of Desperation</td></tr>
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<a href="https://jbonamassa.com/">Joe Bonamassa</a> - <a href="http://Blues of Desperation">Blues of Desperation</a><br />
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It’s Joe Bonamassa doing what he does best. One of the many keepers of the flame of so called modern blues he keeps championing the genre pushing boundaries and paying tribute to the masters and does it all effortlessly<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.leonardcohen.com/">Leonard Cohen</a> - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4SnPCOcKRxZzfa0Mn8y32mr2AR6hOqMx">You Want It Darker</a><br />
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He gifted us with one last album just weeks before his death. Admittedly I have never been his biggest fan but this album is flawless from start to finish.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kylie Auldist - Family Tree</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBAtkahITn5sj-8JWj33nF8xyYeOVocevwlaO9EJ3rGZ9nC5ujHGp1MsK-AVlZ6ttldPXsEssHvVf42zRKBBFhnSpF-LYjGWopc8lXTEAFt8JkjXOueL1KnoU00De76vhB-KiFRCrhKs/s1600/Oz-WhoGivesAFink-CDCover-LowRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> <a href="http://www.kylieauldist.com/">Kylie Auldist</a> - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFFfOlmiUjQ&list=PL6PclDc29DZdULvRvYIt3LbxrydYK8HtA">Family Tree</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBAtkahITn5sj-8JWj33nF8xyYeOVocevwlaO9EJ3rGZ9nC5ujHGp1MsK-AVlZ6ttldPXsEssHvVf42zRKBBFhnSpF-LYjGWopc8lXTEAFt8JkjXOueL1KnoU00De76vhB-KiFRCrhKs/s1600/Oz-WhoGivesAFink-CDCover-LowRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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Everyone’s favourite funk/soul songstress goes 80’s pop on this release. What’s there not to like about this…? released just as This Girl (which is actually a Cooking on 3 Burners tune, let’s not forget that) was becoming a mega hit the timing could not have been more perfect</div>
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<a href="http://www.justinyapband.com/">Justin Yap Band</a> - <a href="https://justinyapband.bandcamp.com/releases">Let Love</a></div>
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Soulful blues from local Melbourne band this album is an absolute pleasure to listen to and has been getting regular spins ever since I got my hands on it. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matty T Wall - Blues Skies</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.mattytwall.com/">Matty T Wall</a> - <a href="https://soundcloud.com/mattytwall/sets/mattytwall-blue-skies-album">Blue Skies</a></div>
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While many of todays blues artists leanings are much more towards the the rock side of the blues, Matty’s are slightly more geared towards the funkier side of the blues. A very strong debut release which has been getting noticed the world overfor good reason</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Albert Flipout's one CAN band -<br />
Don't you call my name</td></tr>
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<a href="http://mickeypantelous.com/Dr-Albert-Flipout">Dr Albert Flipout's one CAN band</a> -<br />
<a href="https://mickeypantelous.bandcamp.com/releases">Don't you call my name</a></div>
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My favourite one man band does it again. Look past the initial novelty factor and you will quickly realise that this is a great songwriter who knows his craft & can write some serious choons </div>
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Full review <a href="http://connectionsradioshow.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/album-review-albert-flipouts-one-can.html">here</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MartaRenTheGroovelvets/">Marta Ren & the Groovelvets</a> - <a href="https://martarengroovelvets.bandcamp.com/">Stop Look Listen </a></div>
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A funky soul release that sounds like it could have been released n the STAX label sometime in the mid 60’s. The Italy based Record Kicks label continue to release fantastic records that will fill the floor with people doing their best Northern Soul dance moves</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oz Noy - Who Gives A Funk</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.oznoy.com/">Oz Noy</a> - <a href="https://oznoy.bandcamp.com/album/who-gives-a-funk">Who Gives A Funk</a></div>
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Collaborations abound on this release by Oz Noy who’s guitar virtuosity is up there with the best of them but he still knows the golden rule of “The Song Is King” Oz is a jack of all genres & a master of all of them. The title of this release says it all</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Child - Blueside</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/childtheband/">Child</a> - <a href="https://childtheband.bandcamp.com/album/blueside">Blueside</a></div>
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Psych blues rockers Child pick up where they left off with their debut release & it’s everything you could expect it to be. If they continue releasing music of this calibre it won’t be long before they start getting noticed in a big way outside the land of OZ</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back In Blue - A Blues Tribute to AC/DC</td></tr>
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Various Artists - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/back-in-blue-blues-tribute/id1133623077">Back In Blue - A Blues Tribute to AC/DC</a></div>
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A who's who of somewhat lesser know Australian artists (i.e. you won't find them being played on mainstream radio or on Sunday morning music TV programs) come together to pay tribute to perhaps the best known & best selling Australian album & all for a good cause.</div>
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Full review <a href="http://connectionsradioshow.blogspot.com.au/2016/08/album-review-back-in-blue-blues-tribute.html">here</a> </div>
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Well that's my list as it stands today, ask me tomorrow and it may be completely different. There's more than a few "honorable mentions" I could list but that may be a list for another time. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-84940676125052088612016-11-12T21:01:00.000+11:002019-10-10T13:16:43.324+11:00Album Review: Albert Flipout's One Can Band - Don't You Call My Name<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodOs4PJ3irDWhc5kUhJrfq2uaXZ9XCOXZ6He-8jW6j68pRd2UbpDQsBZQhm6PBQaDlem7P-poFnpEycR8EYA5sq3uoOZ2fc_03Nf41nvDPnZeZeFg8419treq7Y-6X1rXn2PWq9Wi_2c/s1600/a3297170376_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodOs4PJ3irDWhc5kUhJrfq2uaXZ9XCOXZ6He-8jW6j68pRd2UbpDQsBZQhm6PBQaDlem7P-poFnpEycR8EYA5sq3uoOZ2fc_03Nf41nvDPnZeZeFg8419treq7Y-6X1rXn2PWq9Wi_2c/s200/a3297170376_10.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albert Flipout's One Can Band - <br />
Don't You Call My Name</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Dr-Albert-Flipouts-one-CAN-band-aka-Mickey-Pantelous--226417777428608/?fref=ts">Albert Flipout’s One CAN band</a> (aka <a href="http://mickeypantelous.com/">Mickey Pantelous</a>) has just released a new album and it is everything we have come to expect from an Albert Flipout release. Don’t You Call My Name is album 3 released under the Albert Flipout moniker and is perhaps the most accessible of all Albert Flipout releases to date with catchy melodies which at times hide some slightly darker lyrical content. <br />
A one man blues band of the highest order these songs have an infectious groove that you just can’t help but want to get up and dance to. <a href="http://mickeypantelous.bandcamp.com/releases">Don’t You Call My Name </a>is an album intended to both make you think about the state of the world we are living in while at the same time give you a pick me up if you are feeling down. Mickey has managed to find a sound uniquely his own with a distinct country blues twang, with added harmonica and kazoo, which will have you thinking "this kinda reminds me of…” before you realise that there’s no one else going around that quite has the same sound. <br />
Kicking off proceedings with a song that proclaims “See me hanging from the ceiling, Take my body down” which perhaps references the suicides caused by the ongoing financial crisis in Europe, the lyrical content runs the gamut of topics from falling in love with a prostitute, to failed relationships and many other topics besides. Despite the varied subject matter Mickey has still managed to put together perhaps his most cohesive album. <br />
Independently released you can hear why Mickey has been invited to play festivals throughout Europe and even in America (even though this one didn’t quite work out in the end). An artist that should be getting much more attention than what he is, if you like your blues with a healthy dose of country and a dash of cabaret this is an album that is worthy of your attention and one which you will almost certainly have on repeat for long after it’s initial release. <br />
Look out for the Vinyl release in the coming months<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-49901868278439653932016-08-11T10:55:00.001+10:002016-08-11T21:58:14.129+10:00Album Review: Back In Blue - A Blues Tribute to AC/DC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNG5cf8Ql_SfVVBXaUXyQyDILiMl2jBTQwHUwCFmld40LNRbiAVg2obI6duaobehzsi3Wc9hKeEHaLzYT0IVG_f9-Fmt5_GNZqV0_V7IQpPAEJ16KWPPoP3-7Cjq5RhQA4MNDmemNOSEs/s1600/Back+In+Blue+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNG5cf8Ql_SfVVBXaUXyQyDILiMl2jBTQwHUwCFmld40LNRbiAVg2obI6duaobehzsi3Wc9hKeEHaLzYT0IVG_f9-Fmt5_GNZqV0_V7IQpPAEJ16KWPPoP3-7Cjq5RhQA4MNDmemNOSEs/s320/Back+In+Blue+Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A blues tribute to a classic Australian Rock album... an interesting idea? I certainly thought so.<br />
With a list of players of this caliber this album was guaranteed to be good, but this is beyond just good it’s great. Of course, when listening to these reinterpretations of AC/DC’s classic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_in_Black">Back In Black</a> album you will almost certainly be comparing them to the original recordings released all those years ago and which have now surpassed the 20
Million mark in sales which begs the obvious question of "do these reinvented recordings live up to the
originals?" Truth be told, I couldn’t tell you as I don’t think I have
ever listened to Back In Black in full! (yes you read that right) What I
do know, is that there are some absolute gems on this release. <br />
Here’s is my track by track musings of the release, read on if you choose or base your to buy to not to buy verdict on my above paragraph. <br />
Kicking off proceeding is local blues guitar hero <a href="http://www.geoffachison.com/">Geoff Achison</a> with Jane Michelle on Vocals playing a bluesy ballady version of the rocker Hells Bells. The song starts off with snippets of news stories regarding the death of Bon Scott which automatically gives you a feel for just how big a story this was back in the day. Geoff’s slide playing is of course great and Jane’s Voice is a hell of a powerful weapon but somehow this version seems to fall ever so slightly flat somehow. <br />
Things pick up from here with the Blues swagger of Shoot to Thrill, then it’s onto track 3 What You Do For Money Honey featuring the Vocal styling of Janis Joplin clone <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gailpagemusic/">Gail Page</a> with Jan Rynsaardt of <a href="http://www.thearcriders.com/">The Arc Riders </a>on Guitar. One of the highlights of the album the overdriven slide guitar together with Gail’s scratchy Vocals prove yet again that while "super producers" slave over layer upon layer of overdubs and trying to make everything sound as polished as possible sometimes all you need is one Guitar and a Singer and a stomping Blues tune to make people sit up and take notice.<br />
Given The Dog a Bone gets a ZZ Top - <a href="https://youtu.be/Vppbdf-qtGU">La Grange</a> style treatment with a somewhat strange Rap breakdown, Let Me Put My Love In You as performed by <a href="http://shaunkirk.com/">Shaun Kirk</a> becomes a broody pine with a somewhat <a href="https://youtu.be/unHzLEA6gvI">Love Ain’t No Stranger</a> by <a href="http://whitesnake.com/">Whitesnake</a> feel to it.<br />
<a href="http://www.lachydoley.com/">Lachy Doley</a> is up next once again using his croaky drawl to full effect on Back In Black on a stomping pedal to the metal version which is less blues and more rock minus the guitars but with some great Deep Purple-esque sounding fuzzed up Hammond Organ grooves and even an Organ solo. (Check out his live shows if you haven’t already people you won’t be disappointed). <br />
If you have ever heard <a href="http://www.sarahmcleod.com.au/">Sarah McLeod</a> of <a href="http://thesuperjesus.com/">The Superjesus</a> perform her acoustic ballady version of You Shook Me All Night Long you might know roughly what to expect of <a href="http://www.8ballaitken.com/">8 Ball Aitken</a>’s interpretation of the song also. But while there are certain similarities between the 2 interpretations 8 Ball most definitely cranks the Blues factor up to 11 with another yearning type vocal delivery (with added ooh’s and ahh’s for effect) and some great reverb laden slide guitar playing. <a href="http://www.lachydoley.com/">Lachy Doley</a> once again makes an appearance on keys while <a href="http://vikaandlindabull.com/">Vika Bull</a>’s backing vocals lift the tune into the stratosphere.<br />
With only 3 songs to go you find yourself thinking this is too cool I can’t wait to hear what’s next. <br />
Have A Drink On Me is performed brilliantly by <a href="http://www.genevievechadwick.com/">Genevieve Chadwick</a> on acoustic guitar, no real re-interpretation here but there’s no need when the riffs work just as well on Acoustic as they do on a Cherry Red Gibson SG. <br />
The rhythm section is where it’s at with Shake A Leg. The only thing to say about this tune is hot damn has it got a groove to it! Complete with Harmonica & Sax solos and outros which I’m still trying to figure out if I like or not (not that they’re badly performed or don’t fit the song per se it’s just that I think I might have preferred to hear that groove run straight through uninterrupted).<br />
Last but most certainly not least (and according to some, leaving the best until last) comes Australian blues royalty with <a href="http://www.lloydspiegel.com/">Lloyd Spiegel</a>… It’s Lloyd Spiegel doing AC/DC, that’s all that need be said about this one! <br />
Once again this is a great idea executed very well. Add to this that all profits from this release will be donated to the <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/">Beyond Blue</a> charity who do some great work for helping people suffering from depression as well as providing a better understanding of what depression is for people who perhaps have a “just snap out of it” mentality towards depression and you can’t go wrong.<br />
Find it on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/back-in-blue-blues-tribute/id1133623077">Itunes</a> or <a href="https://www.jbhifi.com.au/music/browse/blues-rock/back-in-blue-a-blues-tribute-to-ac-dc/977687/">JB Hi-Fi </a>online Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-52679907923007507822016-07-23T10:00:00.000+10:002016-07-24T02:03:56.194+10:00Album Review: The Dead Daisies - Make Some Noise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2X8fVbWrP9MyrX_OVg6fr8JsJpokeUIkQ9KeAJ0klLoOn8gjwMubwdKAdG09xGwpW0YykDygfycyhABNR875qG5IeIigV3eLaMgVoaNKMaZWz-v28kA7QG0NQKcQ_rJxkL6Gy2hJ8Zg/s1600/DEAD+DAISIES-MAKE+SOME+NOISE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2X8fVbWrP9MyrX_OVg6fr8JsJpokeUIkQ9KeAJ0klLoOn8gjwMubwdKAdG09xGwpW0YykDygfycyhABNR875qG5IeIigV3eLaMgVoaNKMaZWz-v28kA7QG0NQKcQ_rJxkL6Gy2hJ8Zg/s320/DEAD+DAISIES-MAKE+SOME+NOISE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Relative newcomers on the heavy melodic rock scene <a href="http://thedeaddaisies.com/">The Dead Daisies</a> are just one of the many bands flying the flag for this style of music and they do it very well. Anthemic, fist pumping, head banging arena rock tunes this is a band that knows their audience and delivers exactly what their fans want. Now this might sound to some people like something to be avoided at all costs but in the immortal words of the <a href="http://www.rollingstones.com/">Rolling Stones </a>"It's only Rock N Roll but I like it". <br />
I have been following <a href="http://www.johncorabimusic.com/">John Corabi</a>'s career since his days in the band Union which was formed in partnership with ex-Kiss guitarist <a href="http://www.kulick.net/">Bruce Kulick </a>and for my money he is one of the best singers and songwriters in the Hard Rock scene. <br />
Together with songwriting partner <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lowy">David Lowy </a>and the rest of his band mates in The Dead Daisies he has delivered one of the best (if not THE best) rock records of 2016. This album is pedal to the metal driving rock music with choruses that you can't help but sing along to. <br />
The stunt guitar work provided by monster guitarist <a href="http://dougaldrich.com/">Doug Aldrich</a> will have you reaching for your air guitar and dusting off your long neglected heavy rock records of yester-year to give them another spin and dream of playing to stadiums full of people singing every word of the songs your playing. <br />
Add to this the rhythm section of <a href="http://www.marcomendoza.com/">Marco Mendoza</a> and <a href="http://www.briantichy.com/">Brian Tichy</a> who drive these tunes like an unstoppable freight train or rollercoaster which makes you feel like holding onto your seat for dear life and you have an album that is guaranteed to appeal to rock music fans the world over.<br />
Feel good, middle finger in the air, FTW tunes with a couple of "topical" tunes thrown into the mix (ie. Long Way To Go and Song & A Prayer - which is probably the highlight of the disc for me), sure you could probably nit pick and say it's been done before or the lyrics could have used slightly more polishing but really what will that achieve?<br />
Put this album on turn it up to 11 & rock the hell out!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-55312646961143086832016-05-30T00:12:00.002+10:002016-06-05T15:36:27.726+10:00Album Review: Tequila Mockingbyrd - Fight And Flight<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISBJreUBz1D1puCAunldJc1GqiJ1uRCQutNjDqOyX9CZeQei4qw2Q7y5_pd_EYM1Lww0pPceri890oymGP0-lR_GMTklJ6wlqDEYit1ku5aCZ8ZwI64IQBdbxd7KPiIcGptDII-nnihs/s1600/tequila.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISBJreUBz1D1puCAunldJc1GqiJ1uRCQutNjDqOyX9CZeQei4qw2Q7y5_pd_EYM1Lww0pPceri890oymGP0-lR_GMTklJ6wlqDEYit1ku5aCZ8ZwI64IQBdbxd7KPiIcGptDII-nnihs/s320/tequila.jpg" width="320" /></a>Phwoah, does this album pack a punch or what??!! Having seen this band play a few times in the past I had purchased their debut EP the 1st time I saw them play, so I was very much looking forward to this release. <br />
From the opening riff of the anthemic "I smell rock n roll” to the closing notes of “Good Time” this is feel good boozy rock music as it’s supposed to be played. Rose Tattoo meets The Screaming Jets meets The Baby Animals meets The Superjesus this band has all the right ingredients needed to bring back heavy distorted guitar riffage to the mainstream charts again (and I hope they do!). Full of piss and vinegar this is perfect getting ready for a big Saturday night music designed to be played at maximum volume.<br />
<br />
The songs on the aptly titled Fight And Flight are primarily a celebration of the good things in life such as enjoying the weekend with friends but also send out the empowering message of grabbing life by the throat, which we all know but at times forget. The most telling sign of the quality of these tunes is that you will almost certainly be singing each and every chorus of each and every song after only one listen. Slick without being overproduced this is a brilliant debut guaranteed to get this band noticed and will almost certainly put them on the world stage.<br />
<br />
If you’re of an age with the ladies delivering these tunes this album will most certainly strike a chord and if you happen to be past the age of regular Saturday night booze ups this will transport you back to that age. <br />
<br />
“Clear the street because we’re coming through, side by side and two by two" <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-12607091587454710732016-05-02T23:13:00.000+10:002018-09-20T09:19:49.578+10:00Some April gig highlightsWell as always it's been a great month of gig going in Melbourne town and there's been some doozys! (yes I did just use the word doozys) where to start, where to end, who to include and who to leave out? I am without a doubt going to forget something/someone but here's a short list of the stuff I can remember off the top of my head.<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/zstardelta/"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/zstardelta/">Z-Star Delta</a><br />
Style: Psychedelic-Acoustic-Blues-Rock<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStJZFlRaE2QzmpmeLosVwrwiZCM6TZqa-yilrCvj21vzXsb_nYYPwI6nhhAm3Ea4ugM5rLRWEh47cClqjTYvaLN53EyDGKkscZtHCX7i9ShrB8O7kWzHVsd24xFsX8R6zFW_Rqgd7J3A/s1600/ZStar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStJZFlRaE2QzmpmeLosVwrwiZCM6TZqa-yilrCvj21vzXsb_nYYPwI6nhhAm3Ea4ugM5rLRWEh47cClqjTYvaLN53EyDGKkscZtHCX7i9ShrB8O7kWzHVsd24xFsX8R6zFW_Rqgd7J3A/s200/ZStar.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Hailing from the UK this duo know how to paint a picture with and take to you on a journey with their storytelling style lyrics. Using loops and effects to build layers of interweaving sounds which help you visualize the images the songs convey this was their 2nd tour of OZ in as many years and I was stoked to finally catch them as I had only seen the flyers for their last tour after the fact. Think of what The Doors might sound like if Jim had a drum kit in front of him while Robby played his bottleneck style blues licks and you might get an idea of what they sound like. Hopefully they will be back sooner rather than later and they will get noticed by much larger audience. Miss them at your peril!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lachydoley.com/">Lachy Doley</a><br />
Style: Progressive Blues, Rock and Soul<br />
<br />
I've lost count of how many times I've seen Lachy doing his thing at Bar 303 in Northcote. There was a bit of a question mark hanging over this show as although Lachy has been doing shows at 303 for around five years or so the last few<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1vZ2fzm0eWZF-XW1hAO_We4eCf-3EGp0iWpnatjxHTKk0dnCgdYcTx-fproa5tbxj3aR12y4CPiBH8NoIU3eBKCJfny8Zlg52MOVhwqJzYwjamf-7SURqTNeWKXi4c958EOrBUnaiqY/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1vZ2fzm0eWZF-XW1hAO_We4eCf-3EGp0iWpnatjxHTKk0dnCgdYcTx-fproa5tbxj3aR12y4CPiBH8NoIU3eBKCJfny8Zlg52MOVhwqJzYwjamf-7SURqTNeWKXi4c958EOrBUnaiqY/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a> shows have been slightly down in attendance so he was pre-selling tickets this time around and had to sell at least 50 of them for the show to go ahead. Thankfully he did and the show did go ahead. He's played with the likes of Jimmy Barnes, Mahalia Barnes, Powderfinger, The Dead Daisies and even former Deep Purple bassist Glenn Hughes has specifically asked for his services. Playing the only whammy clavinet known to exist in Australia his croaky vocal drawl was used to full effect as always. As many times as I have seen him play he always gives his all and always wins over new fans at the night and this time around was no different. People were lining up at the end of the gig to buy his CD's and to say how much they enjoyed his show. Why he is not playing sold out shows to rooms of a much larger capacity stills boggles the mind.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.backwoodcreatures.com/">Backwood Creatures</a><br />
Style: Jamming Swamp Blues<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzR0iwIkH4LUjb_gx39D2EhTdEa3AIGqt8bVgAP-YprK8D-OdMcyXxHXPF9cY9Pzp74fKwcgI14pQxa8LuPcUWsbEo2kmRDsy9LkmpZWUm1xOlXj_ASR3NM-uIDLoBLzZS0H_zvRNIZy8/s1600/BC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzR0iwIkH4LUjb_gx39D2EhTdEa3AIGqt8bVgAP-YprK8D-OdMcyXxHXPF9cY9Pzp74fKwcgI14pQxa8LuPcUWsbEo2kmRDsy9LkmpZWUm1xOlXj_ASR3NM-uIDLoBLzZS0H_zvRNIZy8/s200/BC.JPG" width="200" /></a>Wahooooooo what a ride that was! You know a band is good when they are jamming on stage and it all sounds pre-planned. Although all 3 members of the band are smoking hot musicians the highlight for me was Grant Cummerford playing is Bass as if he was the lead guitarist. While it's not unheard of for the bass to be used as a lead instrument I've never seen it played in quite this way before. This may have been my 1st time seeing these guys play but it most certainly won't be the last.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Kumar-Shome-Music-266501926701276/?fref=ts">Kumar Shome</a><br />
Style: Stunt Guitar Instrumentals<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CCnzplYhtHfBBwWht8_juu9MCnSs4EGwlfvX4Fjs750_EIdRpnfflqrs8UBch4TtnU73EjjUbMwo9T5g5XJ3KuD7HlqAsRkqitQThgtq_pknplCmfkjIaLJ0yk70gSUaoEfhxbhcdI0/s1600/Khumar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CCnzplYhtHfBBwWht8_juu9MCnSs4EGwlfvX4Fjs750_EIdRpnfflqrs8UBch4TtnU73EjjUbMwo9T5g5XJ3KuD7HlqAsRkqitQThgtq_pknplCmfkjIaLJ0yk70gSUaoEfhxbhcdI0/s200/Khumar.jpg" width="200" /></a>Not the 1st time I've seen Kumar play but the 1st time I've caught him playing his own tunes. I'm guessing that Kumar has not heard the saying "the notes you don't play are just as important as the ones you do" because I think he played every note known to man in every combination possible during the 60 or so minutes he was on stage. Now this may sound horrible to some people but as a kid who grew up worshiping the playing of people like Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen and their like this was like being transported back 20 years and watching the fingers of these guitar heroes in wide eyed wonder. All this being said make no mistake, even though the guitar wankery factor was turned up to 11 Kumar still knows how to play with feel and know which notes to play and which notes not to. This was by no means a free for all and composition was/is still king in his musical ethos. Special mention also to the 2nd guitarist in the band Mickey Chan who also got to show off his shredding skills.<br />
<br />
Well there's just 4 of the many shows I did attend and while I have been on a bit of a blues rock kick as of late I still subscribe to the theory of there are only 2 types of music, good and bad, regardless of what genre label you choose to attach to them. With the <a href="http://melbournejazz.com/">Melbourne International Jazz Festival</a> and the <a href="http://www.stonningtonjazz.com.au/">Stonnington Jazz Festival</a> just around the corner I imagine the shows I will be talking about in the coming months will be of a different style.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Melbourne VIC, Australia-37.814107 144.96327999999994-38.6164245 143.67238649999993 -37.0117895 146.25417349999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-55962648248380352232016-03-15T18:57:00.001+11:002016-03-15T19:04:01.115+11:00Interview: Ty Taylor of Vintage Trouble<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qeqrz5-t2-7-3ZUtW_iq-TMHPMNsUTzoo8oQf5WugIGOZ3VG_5_2_Ujk75M1bUGScvxP9EvptM-S-w-PSjRergqnmFMl0iytJZRSakirB0n5cUWuvFAgQ3F39i9OhK8cU4b7RXS-7iQ/s1600/89530057-4473-4133-9c48-697544804e65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qeqrz5-t2-7-3ZUtW_iq-TMHPMNsUTzoo8oQf5WugIGOZ3VG_5_2_Ujk75M1bUGScvxP9EvptM-S-w-PSjRergqnmFMl0iytJZRSakirB0n5cUWuvFAgQ3F39i9OhK8cU4b7RXS-7iQ/s1600/89530057-4473-4133-9c48-697544804e65.jpg" /></a></div>
Ty Taylor of Vintage Trouble took some time to speak about the upcoming shows in Australia and you can listen to the interview <b><a href="https://www.mixcloud.com/Connections_Radio/ty-taylor-of-vintage-trouble-interview/">here</a></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-31861583172731960152016-03-13T18:09:00.000+11:002016-03-15T19:07:46.957+11:00Live review: Vampillia live @ The Evelyn Hotel - 11 March 2016"What on earth did I just witness? That didn't really happen, did it? Such a thing couldn't possibly exist in this world can it?!"<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2oVc9NAFtl-EXGXPFCV_8N41ixnfDjW-V38uXv-YUdX39eVaqZZtBMmGLyJnVihiFF0fiD6FWwuOtnxCgwNqFlEvCWcv6gmhbfjXA2KnGZOkdmeJ3FXEXShF1e-DPmnfFl8OOkqnkn8/s1600/20160312_003756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2oVc9NAFtl-EXGXPFCV_8N41ixnfDjW-V38uXv-YUdX39eVaqZZtBMmGLyJnVihiFF0fiD6FWwuOtnxCgwNqFlEvCWcv6gmhbfjXA2KnGZOkdmeJ3FXEXShF1e-DPmnfFl8OOkqnkn8/s320/20160312_003756.jpg" width="320" /></a>This is what I was was asking myself after walking out of the <a href="http://evelynhotel.com.au/">Evelyn Hotel</a> the other day at the end of the show put on by the 10 piece band <a href="http://vampillia.com/">Vampillia</a> who were visiting our shores from the land of the rising sun. No matter what words I use I doubt there's any way to accurately describe what these guys are all about, I will however do my best.<br />
Describing themselves as a "Brutal Orchestra" this only touches on one facet of what this band does. The music they play has elements of brutal Thrash Metal (never something I've gone out of my way to listen to), Classical, Funk, Opera and many other things besides (including a comedy act to kick off proceedings). I'm not sure how it's possible to effortlessly shift from one of these genres to the other and have it not sound out of place but also perfectly natural yet somehow Vampillia are able to do it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLB87u5w764MySPYa4bMpw20QkIMiODJjq4F4B9gltiMs5j4P1evzjDqGzBoEja-mnAZUke6Ouz0HE47TeLjUjwXmaNIMORDa-aGRz3smbIfrQCMSS8osxTA04_y-IXydY5a1np3IwdmU/s1600/20160312_003803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLB87u5w764MySPYa4bMpw20QkIMiODJjq4F4B9gltiMs5j4P1evzjDqGzBoEja-mnAZUke6Ouz0HE47TeLjUjwXmaNIMORDa-aGRz3smbIfrQCMSS8osxTA04_y-IXydY5a1np3IwdmU/s200/20160312_003803.jpg" width="200" /></a>They only way I can think to describe the unique experience that is listening to music by Vampillia is something like this: Image you're taking a nice little boat ride on calm crystal blue ocean waters, enjoying the sun on your face, the cloudless blue skies and the soft bobbing of your little boat on the tiny little waves as said waves lap against the bow. You suddenly hear the boom of thunder not too far off so look up to the sky and see black storm clouds rolling in at a rapid pace. Frantically you try to turn your boat around to try head back to shore knowing full well that you'll never make it in time but damned if your not gonna try! the waves slowly get bigger and bigger and before long the storm is upon you tossing you around like a rag doll. You hang on for dear life hoping the storm will pass over soon (is that a patch of blue sky you spot just behind the black clouds?) thankfully the storm does quickly pass and your boat is left bobbing on the water again (albeit at a much funkier pace) and your heart rate has gone up by something like 100 BPM. "Well that wasn't so bad after all" you think to yourself, so you check the what the weather is supposed to be like for the rest the day and see the forecast is for clear skies and only a slight breeze "Might as well head back out" you think to yourself "Maybe I'll even drop a line into the water and see if I can catch my dinner". So back out into the water you head to do exactly that. You find what looks like the perfect spot amidst a school of fish, drop anchor, cast your line and all is well with the world again. "Huh...? That wasn't thunder I just heard was it...?" You look up to the sky... "Ah shit!"<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HloZKFRbQgdzGRM2QQ8yn9JWZD2s1saIoBnpi2UIb4vn9It-GGctp9u38rdn-ufXVuH6_cvtJ3jaRnUaypF2wmdIu8My0Qi0S8cuyQCrCSeTV0yuQcvIomQS3vsCplXUa8aYNg3mt6Y/s1600/20160312_005318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HloZKFRbQgdzGRM2QQ8yn9JWZD2s1saIoBnpi2UIb4vn9It-GGctp9u38rdn-ufXVuH6_cvtJ3jaRnUaypF2wmdIu8My0Qi0S8cuyQCrCSeTV0yuQcvIomQS3vsCplXUa8aYNg3mt6Y/s320/20160312_005318.jpg" width="320" /></a>When the ordeal is finally all over and you have both feet back on solid ground you start to head back home thinking "I never want to go through anything like that <i>ever</i> again" straight after which you say to yourself "I wonder what the weather is going to be like tomorrow?"<br />
If this description sheds no light for you well then you can simply click <a href="http://www.pbsfm.org.au/node/53166"><b>here</b> </a>to listen back to Vampillia's live performance on PBS FM here in Melbourne. <br />
Thanks to Chris Pearson host of <a href="http://pbsfm.org.au/pojamapeople">Pojama People</a> for putting me onto this band. And while I doubt you will hear <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vampilliaofficial/timeline">Vampillia</a> played on the <a href="http://www.pbsfm.org.au/connection">Connections</a> show anytime soon I still highly recommend catching them next time they are in the magical land of OZ just to see what they are all about. Credit also to all the opening acts <br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hotelwreckingcitytraders/timeline">Hotel Wrecking City Traders</a>, Ruins Alone and co-headliners <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lauranoise/timeline">Laura</a> </span>who also put on a great show. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-21994803780589996112016-02-28T20:14:00.000+11:002016-12-26T14:49:01.391+11:00Album Review: Legs Electric - Legs Electric Wow... just... wow... When I was in my teens it seemed there was a plethora of melodic heavy rock bands on the radio but as the years moved on, grunge took over and then (mainstream) radio decided that rock music was no longer cool and stopped playing it. Well, just because this style of music has stopped being played on the radio that doesn't mean that there aren't great bands around playing this style of music, you just have to dig a little deeper than what you used to. <a href="http://www.legselectric.com/">Legs Electric</a> are just one of the many Australian bands keeping the rock alive.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9-CNrqnS4mhMTK5Qc7q7fej3hdjWdAQbb3h-KwcqK4Q0fkO3-uFObtMcEVlUc-Zzjhuum0quK4kFQb28Wc6QoKnDJ8nWoubIElZ4SuBo-K9ZfWxnGmn-CdH4rG1j37IUiYqufBvhYPs/s1600/a3001989397_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9-CNrqnS4mhMTK5Qc7q7fej3hdjWdAQbb3h-KwcqK4Q0fkO3-uFObtMcEVlUc-Zzjhuum0quK4kFQb28Wc6QoKnDJ8nWoubIElZ4SuBo-K9ZfWxnGmn-CdH4rG1j37IUiYqufBvhYPs/s320/a3001989397_10.jpg" width="320" /></a>Hailing from Perth, prepare to be blown away by the sheer power these ladies deliver. Heavy riffs abound on their debut 5 track EP fittingly titled <a href="http://legselectric.bandcamp.com/album/legs-electric">Maximum Rock n Roll</a> but while you can expect to hear heavy riffs, distorted guitars and big guitar solos, make no mistake, the emphasis is most definitely on melody! Names like KISS, Pat Benatar, Vixen, Harem Scarem and others come to mind. From start to finish this EP is a rollicking ride with catchy anthemic choruses just like you used to hear coming through your radio speakers all those years ago. The highest compliment I can pay this band is that as soon as I finished listening to the 5 songs they have to offer, I automatically wanted to listed to them again... so I happily did exactly that, and was even about to hit the play button a 3rd time.<br />
If this is any indication of what we can expect to hear from these ladies in the future, then I am very much looking forward to seeing what they come up with next. If only I hadn't discovered them on the last day of their east coast visit. Please hurry back girls, if the songs sound this powerful on record I can't wait to hear what they sound like live!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248421316584907782.post-5105111108883505942016-01-26T23:55:00.000+11:002016-08-18T10:06:57.226+10:00Album Reviw: Dana Fuchs - Broken Down Acoustic SessionsSo I just discovered this awesome singer that's new on the scene and I just had to tell the world how awesome she is. Her name is <a href="http://danafuchs.com/">Dana Fuchs</a>... what's that...? she's not new...? OK, well she's kinda new... What's that you say...? She released her 1st album in 2003? Well why didn't somebody tell me about her before dammit?!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTm9vXMR-Uumnr2uhRLzyEGnMB2xa7UgNJAxxl34nje7GSmSqsv8UxlKbpnzQK8ZrYoB8txvXs0qaOj4816ICbDqp0c4U2kAjwC5IRwZRKAsMKxZOtjpMu1N3bJXC5EADwfbJ7tptdZjQ/s1600/Folder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTm9vXMR-Uumnr2uhRLzyEGnMB2xa7UgNJAxxl34nje7GSmSqsv8UxlKbpnzQK8ZrYoB8txvXs0qaOj4816ICbDqp0c4U2kAjwC5IRwZRKAsMKxZOtjpMu1N3bJXC5EADwfbJ7tptdZjQ/s320/Folder.jpg" width="320" /></a>OK I admit it, I dropped the ball on this one. Dana has been around for a while now and her name will probably be familiar to many but once again for me it was a case of, "I'll get around to it when I have the time" and then never did. Just recently her name popped up again with the release of her latest album <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Down-Acoustic-Sessions-Fuchs/dp/B015YPSD7W">Broken Down Acoustic Sessions </a>so I figured I'd finally see what she was all about. As the title of the album suggests these songs are acoustic interpretations of songs which appear on some of her previous releases plus some extra's.<br />
Dana has a voice that is instantly recognisable, a gravelly rasp that will almost immediately draw comparisons to <a href="http://www.janisjoplin.com/">Janis Joplin</a>. In fact, Dana has actually played Janis in a stage production <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love,_Janis_%28musical%29">Love, Janis</a> and you can see why she would have been chosen do to so, given that at times you can almost be mistaken that you are listening to Janis herself. While the comparisons are justified, make no mistake, Dana is not to be simply dismissed as just another Janis clone. She owns these songs and sings with feel and emotion that draws you in and makes you listen intently to what she is delivering. Mixing blues, soul and pop with a slight hint of country this album is perfect lazy, rainy day listening. Primarily made up of ballads and mid-tempo tunes this is not an album that you will be turning up to 11 so as to piss off the neighbours, but damned if it isn't a toe tapper, a tear jerker and well, just an awesome album all round.<br />
Having released her last 4 albums on the German label <a href="http://www.rufrecords.de/">Ruf</a> who also have/had Samantha Fish, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Devon Allman and many other modern blues artists on their roster, this should give you an idea what to expect. In short this yet another quality blues release from a brilliant artist that should be getting a hell of a lot more attention than what she is.<br />
If you have not heard Dana Fuchs before, this is a damn good place to start.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0