Loud Life: Been Wondering

What if hiphop vccals would be combined with a bunch of kick-ass classically trained musicians who love jazz and fusion? Been Wondering, the debut single by Amsterdam based collective Loud Life, is a far cry from thin, beats driven sound that is all the rage. The band with members from the USA, Russia, and Lithuania, was founded at the renowned Conservatorium Music School.

With a vocalist channeling the phrasing of Ike Willis and a jubliant clarinet as an extra treat this mash-up of genres can be their ticket to the festival cirsuit, once the pandemic is a distant memory and people will be able to dance again.

Steven Wilson: 12 Things I Forgot

photo: Miles Skarin

Steven Wilson has released 12 Things I Forgot, the fourth single from his forthcoming new album The Future Bites. Melancholic yet deviant, with plebty of layered guitars and synths it is continuation of his love for the ssund of the Eighties. Not everyone is a fan of this turn to the mainstream, but it's actually nothing new for him. He cut his teeth writing music for commercials in the Nineties, long before he became a Prog God with Porcupine Tree and his early solo albums.

"Forgot what it was that I’m not
You can protest that I can’t make commitments
But it don’t seem to make any difference"

Johnny Dowd: My Special Place Rooty Toot Toot

Johnny Dowd a video of him playing My Special Place Rooty Toot Toot, a song he wrote for the paintings by his sister Jif for the online art show by The Cosmic Joke Collective.

» johnnydowd.com

NicK Cave / Peaches: "AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan and T.Rex" 7" Black Friday release

Two songs from the (disappointing) tribute album AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan and T.Rex will be releaed on a 7" single on Black Friday (November 27): NicK Cave's rather good interpretation of Cosmic Dancer and Peaches's clueless version of Solid Gold, Easy Action being relegated to the B-side. A curio release aimed at completists. 2500 copies.

HCTF review of AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan and T.Rex.

The McKenzie FIX: "Martin & The Artist" video

Ewan McKenzie,has made video for Martin & The Artist, a song by his new outlet, the baroque pop project The McKenzie FIX. It is a track from the Pandora's Box album: "McKenzie doesn't shun grand gestures with his music, but his vocals ara always a bit restraint. He is the outsider looking in, wondering what all the fuzz is about. His perspective is devoid of any arrogance".

» The McKenzie FIX on Facebook

HCTF review of Pandora's Box.