Dutch dream pop duo ISLE go for a fuller and upbeat sound on their new single. As a first, multi-instrumentalist Arjan de Wit shares the lead vocals with Lise Low. Robbert Deurloo (drums) and Ardie van der Knijff (cello) are on board again to help them out, this time in a more prominent role, giving the track an extra boost of energy.
French-American dark wave band Deleyaman have made a video for Moment of Peace, a track from their The Sudbury Inn album: "By cherry-picking from the classic texts Deleyaman has given them as new lease on life. If only a small percentage of the listeners will hit the bookshops after hearing the album, it is mission accomplished for a band that is not afraid to offer a challenge as a means of showing the beauty of literature by means of carefully crafted music".
Johnny Dowd pays tribute to his heroes Ernest Tubbs and Patsy Cline and pop group The Chiffons on his new single Honky Tonk, a rollicking old school excursion he recorded with like-minded musicians Mike Stark and Park Doing. He might proclaim that his "honky tonking days are done", but that is clearly not true. He is very much on top of his game right now.
An "in concert" version is due for release on a new live album, a very welcome addition to his discography.
Carley's Wreck and Ruin, a side project from English old school vaudeville blues trio Jo Carley And The Old Dry Skulls members Jo Carley (vocals, mandolin, washboard, percussion, keys) and Tim Carley (battered archtop guitar, rattlin' shoe, kick drum, distorted vintage amps, backing vocals), serves as an outlet for playing the tunes that inspired them to become musicians.
Lead single In My Time of Dying, originally a gospel song by blues artist Blind Willie Johnson, is a succint summation of their craft, getting the job done in two-and-a-half minutes, a far cry from the Led Zeppelin live versions, which tended to stretch it to ten minutes plus most of the time. The duo goes for an upbeat, almost joyous approach, that will be embraced by the dance types at their live shows.
Chicago based singer-songwriter Lillian King circles around the notes on her new single Echo, making it a harder sell for her upcoming album In Your Long Shadow. It is basically a mish mash of tidbits she created over a prolonged time and then capture as a whole in one studio session. It is a bit uneven, but that adds to the charm. with Nick DePrey (organ) and Robert Salazar (drums) trying to figure out what she was aiming for with this leftfield folk song.
