Whimsical: Melt

After reforming in 2015 shoegaze duo Whimsical have continued their quest to build towering musical structures. On their latest album Melt guitarist Neil Burkdool leaves it to singer Krissy Vanderwoude to add a bit of light. It is like a chrysalis slowly turning into a butterfly, a slow moving process that deserves undivided attention. Casual listeners will miss the gems and trinkets that are tucked away in the wall-to-wall guitar layers.

Melt is all about introspection, searching for deeper meaning and getting older. The music they love hasn't changed much, but lyrical priorities have changed. The days of youth have long gone and they find themselves in some kind of limbo, not sure where to go next, but adamant that they have keep going and working on it.

Mogwai: tour dates

Scottish post-rock band Mogwai are on the road to promote their latest album, As The Love Continues.

North America:

• 04/05 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
• 04/06 Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
• 04/07 Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn, NY
• 04/08 Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
• 04/09 Théâtre Corona, Montreal, QC, Canada
• 04/11 The Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, ON, Canada
• 04/12 Metro, Chicago, IL
• 04/13 First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
• 04/14 The Waiting Room, Omaha, NE
• 04/15 Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO
• 04/18 Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC, Canada
• 04/19 Showbox at the Market, Seattle, WA
• 04/20 Wonder Ballroom, Portland, OR
• 04/22 The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
• 04/23 Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
• 04/24 The Observatory North Park, San Diego, CA

Milly: Illuminate

photo: Mark Underwood

Los Angeles based band Milly sound like they have been locked in a garage with a huge stack of shoegaze and grunge records. Their new single Illuminate could be mistaken for an early '90s song, with ennui commandeering the spotlight in a fuzz-laden, midtempo rocker. Recommended if you like Dinosaur Jr and the Stone Temple Pilots. The video was made by Mark Cheche.

Billy Rich and the Naked Flames: Side Hustle Biscuits

Billy Rich and the Naked Flames is a Transatlantic collaboration between Richard P Thomas (Cockermouth, England) and Billy L Schaefer (NY, USA), who bonded over a shared love for guitar driven rock.

The two tracks on Side Hustle Biscuits (a pun inspired by the name of Thomas' one-man project Mint Biscuit) are like two sides of the coin lyrically. No Blankets Required is optimistic, feeling cozy with a loved one nearby. North-Easter is rather bleak, named after the wind that is patiently waiting to blow away happiness and safety, just after the protagonist is feeling better and secure.

English Teacher: Mental Maths

photo: Tatiana Pozuelo

Leeds based pop noir quartet English Teacher are singing about having a kind of panic attack while shopping for groceries. Mental Maths deals with the anxiety that originated from having just too many options to choose from. It will be included on their forthcoming debut EP, Polyawkward, due for release on Nice Swan Records on April 22.

Russ Kaplan: Lake Songs

Keyboard player Russ Kaplan combines his love for the jazz era and nature on his new album, Lake Songs, a collection of instrumentals inspired by the wild life of Florida. Putting his experience as a theatrical composer to good use when he created themes for each animal: slow moving ones for the Manatee amd Tortoise, and jumpy upbeat ones for the Tiny Lizards and Leopard Frog.

Kaplan's gentle touch and knack for storytelling without using words - he did a wonderful job with The Ulysses Cycle in 2013 - make Lake Songs the musical equivalent of aural documentary about creatures that never make it to the cover of National Geographics, but are essential for the environment. Recommendeded to listening to it as a whole, using decent headphones.

Spottiswoode & Kenny White: concert in Frederiksberg

Singer-songwriters Spottiswoode and Kenny White will perform @ Bartof Station, Frederiksberg, Denmark on May 8. Expect a night of storytelling and tongue-in-cheek lyrics.

» spottiswoode.com

HCTF review of Lost In The City.

Seablite: "Ink Bleeds" video

Dreamy shoegazers Seablite have unveiled a video for Ink Bleeds, a track from their latest double A-side: "[It] is a showcase for harmonizing and jangling guitars. Imagine the Smiths being fronted by two lead singers who were raised on a diet of The Mamas & the Papas and Cocteau Twins".

The Bye Bye Blackbirds: August Lightning Complex

Californian band The Bye Bye Blackbirds are branching out musically on August Lightning Complex, their latest album. Power pop new sits comfortably next to art rock (Something From The Old World), country rock and the sound of Laurel Canyon '70s singer-songwriters. Band leader and main songsmith Bradley Skaught leads the band on a road trip that visits all the places that made West Coast music such a force: ace melodies, folk-tinged storytelling, and adventurous chord progressions that sound deceptively simple.

Highlights are the short and sweet instrumental title track - a calling card for the new found musical freedom, the gently swaying We Got Lost, that comes with seamless reprise, and the meandering Marching, a soft-spoken rallying cry for going your own way, a captivating composition with muffled brass that goes on for a little over 9 minutes, but has plenty of room for stretching it out for much longer than that when played live.

Remy van Kesteren: danakil

Dutch harpist Remy van Kesteren has released danakil, the third single from his forthcoming Places I may have visited, people I may have met Pt. 3 EP. It is his most complex track to date. On top of techno-flavoured backbeat he stacked layer upon layer of polyrhythmic harp loops. Inspired by a visit to deepest point on Earth, the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia, the notes are gliding on top of each other, just like the three tectonic plates in that area.

Tracy Shedd: Going Somewhere

photo: Scott Madgett

Singer Tracy Shedd has kept herself busy with other musical projects recently. After the release of her sprawling single Mantra in May 2020, she had turned her attention to helping other artists and contributing a track to the Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors album. But going out on her own is an itch that needs scratching, so now it is time for another single, the light-at-the-end optimistic Going Somewhere.

Words about music (631): Emmylou Harris

When you're just singing a beautiful melody with a story that's true to the heart, you don't need a lot of embellishment.

Emmylou Harris

Steve Earle: "Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother" b/w "Night Rider's Lament" for Record Store Day

Americana singer-songwriter Steve Earle has recorded two Jerry Jeff Walker songs for a 7" single. Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother b/w Night Rider's Lament will be released via New West Records on Record Store Day (April 23). 2500 copies on clear vinyl.

» steveearle.com

Primus: "A Tribute to Kings" European tour

photo: Randy Johnson

Experimental avant-funk metal trio Primus bring their A Tribute to Kings tour to Europe. They will perform the Rush album A Farewell to Kings in its entirety in the first set, followed by a set of their own songs. Thye might even throw in some unreleased material they have been working on.

Moonchy & Tobias: Golem

Avant duo Moonchy & Tobias continue their quest to create adventurous music. Singer Pat Moonchy and multi-instrumentalist Todd Tobias have been working together since 2018. The sharp contrast between Moonchy's high pitched vocals (in Italian, Latin and English) and Tobias's knack for coming up with an amalgam of post-rock soundscapes, riff and power chords, has lessened a bit with each new release, but the intensity is still in full bloom.

On their fourth full-length, Golem, there are elements of psychedelic rock, widescreen motifs of the Ennio Morricone variety, raga, a motorik beat a la Can, and much, much more. It is their darkest sounding collection of songs to date. Imagine enjoying the rides of an entertainment park that has been closed to the public, due to some serious health and safety issues. A thrilling, chilling and ultimately very rewarding listening experience.

Johnny Dowd: more NY State dates

Musical maverick Johnny Dowd has added more shows in his home state New York to promote his latest album Homemade Pie: "Dowd has always been a genre of his own, exploring the alleys connecting blues, country, vaudeville, funk, rock and maybe of dozen more. His songs are populated with losers, disgruntled, lovers, con men, players, and small time crooks. Thankfully they never show any signs of regret or remorse, which makes for far more interesting stories than gratuitous happy ending. Exhibit A the title track Homemade Pie: the story of a sketchy salesman who gets shot and crucified".

He will be on tour in Europe in September.

Anton Barbeau: Power Pop​!​!​!

Psych-pop veteran Anton Barbeau is not a fan of being tied down to a particular genre. If anything, being stuck a particular niche is artistically limiting and it only fans of your music more of the same, basically making the same record all over again. He named his latest Power Pop!!!, a genre that is prone to nitpicking and in-fighting since the late '60s and early '70s. Barbeau does offer the hooks, the melodies and throws the occasional nod to boy-meets-girl storytelling, but he goes out on a limb to show off his impressive palette of influences, whether it is garage rock, New Wave, electro-pop (Free, Running On The Edge Of The Knife) or even Dylan - he goes as far as to mimic his vocals in The Drugs.

Power Pop!!! is filled with twists and turns, offering a cornupia of licks and samples (a very un-power pop thing to do). He is on a roll right now, brimming with ideas and his only fear is that his output will get cut short prematurely. Dying in a car crash would really suck, as he states in American Road, a belated answer to Albert Hammond's I Don't Wanna Die In An Air Disaster.

Ciel: Fine Everything

Brighton based shoegaze trio Ciel go for a rougher, distorted sound on their new single, Fine Everything. As per usual for the band it is a double-edged sword: a damn catchy tune about something that is about to change dramatically. Strong emotions are bubbling just under the surface, now that adulthood and responsibilities can no longer be held off. Casual listeners will be able to ignore all that and dance the night away. The video was made by Jay Bartlett.

Tuff Sunshine: Legwork

Brooklyn based musician Johnny Leitera is back with a new single, Legwork, by his one-man project Tuff Sunshine. With his pulsating acoustic guitar as the main ingredient he delivers a spicy post-punk anthem, celebrating the DIY approach. And although the lyrics invite the listener to believe that his course can be altered, Leitera has his eyes on the ball pretty much all of the time. As the title suggests he has thought the whole process through and through. There may be other paths available, but they all lead to the same destination.

HCTF premiere - Catherine Campbell: Wild and Free

Soft-spoken folk singer Catherine Campbell sings about a no-strings attached life on her new single Wild and Free, a track from her forthcoming EP Leave No Trace. Wrapped in a blanket of old school keyboards and pushed forward by a funky bass, she makes a case for going your own way, knowing fully well that is a dream that will never fully come true, because life has the nasty habit of getting in the way.

The Leave No Trace EP will be released on March 25.

» catcampbellmusic.com

Cover Me: Sleep Together

Watch Italian singer and multi-instrumentalist Luna Achiary deconstruct and reconstruct the Porcupine Tree classic Sleep Together.

» lunachiary.com
» porcupinetree.com

GHXST: "Pls, You Must Be a Dream" video

Brooklyn doom rockers GHXST have made a video for Pls, You Must Be a Dream, a track from their forthcoming first full-length, Admire, due for release on April 22. It is a slow moving track a la Black Sabbath, augmented by a bunch of electronics.

» ghxstmusic.com

Krautrock Posters exhibition in Berlin

The Bröhan-Museum in Berlin has an exhibition of Krautrock Posters, promoting shows by bands like Can and Kraftwerk:

Under the term “Krautrock” the music of the West German subculture of the 1970s rose to international popularity. In the exhibition at the Bröhan-Museum, around 80 concert posters stemming from a private collection paint a vivid picture of the music scene of this turbulent decade.

“Krauts” was a common swearword for Germans during World War II. By the beginning of the 1970s, the record industry used “Krautrock” as a catchword for its advertising campaigns. The events of 1968 had also helped German music to take off in a new direction – everything was called into question, everything was to become new and different. Musicians and bands refused to accept standardized ways of living. The dissociation from established forms and a joyful kind of self-realization led to anarchic sound experiments. Some bands would look for direct confrontation with the political system.

Combo Qazam: tour dates

Dutch post-punk/math band Combo Qazam have a couple of shows lined up in the. They will perform songs from their debut album Flight Music, as well as a bunch of new songs they have been working on.

Words about music (630): Pete Ham

I would like to think of Badfinger's music as mood music. Something with a bit of feeling, whether it's hard or soft.

Peter Ham

1967 Gibson Guitars Factory Tour Documentary

A blast from the past about building guitars. A rediscovered documentary shot in the Gibson factory has been digitized and now is up on YouTube:

In the fall of 2020, Gibson unearthed an unmarked reel while digging through vault archives. Intrigued by the discovery, Gibson TV producers took that reel and had it digitally remastered. The footage you are about to see was shot at Gibson's Factory in 1967. It has never been seen until now.

» gibson.com

Al Garcia: Between Worlds

Al Garcia is a fusion bass and guitar virtuoso, whose dexterity and gift for melody come to the fore on his latest album, Between Worlds. While a lot of his peers can get lost in restless noodling, he is one of those rare musicians who can provide his own intricate bottom end for his six string excursions. He is also his own drummer, keyboard player and can handle a guitar synthesizer, which allowed him to build the tracks from the ground up, with plenty of attention to detail, but also giving himself some leeway to improvise.

Garcia has fully embraced the possibilities of digital technology, which enables him to create a sort of Sci-Fi jazz in All Is Not As It Seems and the Zappaesque rhythm shifts in Double Take. When push comes to shove, Between Worlds is first and foremost a celebration of the bass in fusion. All the other instruments follow its lead and when the foundation is both solid and adventurous, the music can flow and blossom.

Echo & the Bunnymen: "B-Sides and Live (2001 - 2005)" 2LP for Record Store Day

The Echo & the Bunnymen album B-Sides and Live (2001 - 2005) first saw the light of day as a digital only release in 2007. It will be released as a 2LP on 180g clear vinyl for Record Store Day (April 23). As the title suggests, the album collects a bunch of B-sides, a few rarities, and four tracks from their show at the Reading Festival in 2005.

Phish: new archival release Memphis '99

Another archival Phish release is available for streaming and download: 09/29/99 Pyramid Arena, Memphis, TN:

On September 29, 1999, Phish played their only show at The Pyramid Arena in Memphis, TN. The Memphis Pyramid aka The Great American Pyramid is a unique and mysterious 32-story venue modeled after Giza in Egypt, opened in 1991 and used for sports and entertainment until 2004. It now houses a megastore that includes America’s tallest free standing elevator to the apex. Memphis ’99 was the 16th show on a 24-show fall tour that stretched from Vancouver to Albany. Tickets cost $25 and were still available at showtime on a Wednesday night.

Cover Me: This Charming Man

Watch The Killers tackle The Smiths classic This Charming Man, with Johnny Marr on guitar. Recorded live at the Glastonbury Festival on June 30, 2019.

» thekillersmusic.com
» johnnymarr.com

Time Cops: End Of History EP

photo: Guillem Bonet

Shoegaze, post-punk, and a short & sweet outburst of hardcore are crammed unto End Of History, the debut EP by Time Cops, a trio with lots of respect for the alternative music that was all the rage in the '80s and '90s. The vocals are a bit distant - the breakneck speed they applied to Dreaming Off The End Of The World is the sole exception. Ennui and anger are trying to commandeer the spotlight, with All I Wanted, about an armchair revolutionary who finds himself in a queue in the supermarket, as the stand-out track.

They have the hooks, the witty lyrics and the chops - note the double time in the EP's closer Never Going Home - to become an underground favourite. Time Cops is a good name for a band that looks to the past while trying to move forward. Future fame may lay ahead, but right now they painted themselves in a niche that is only frequented by connoisseurs and music geeks. Lucky for them, both groups tend to be pretty vocal about their tastes and discoveries, so playing the long game might be the way to go.

Custard Flux: new album "Phosphorus"; stream "Station" & "The Man In Blue Wants Out Of His Suit"

Gregory Curvey has finished recording Phosphorus, the new album by acoustic psychedelic prog project Custard Flux. Melody and rhythm are always treated as equal forces, even when the number of used tracks is pretty damn high.

Two tracks can be streamed on Soundcloud. Station is a bustling and upbeat, with a hectic guitar excursion that sounds like Genesis performing live in 1973. The Man In Blue Wants Out Of His Suit is a bit more laidback poppy, with a recurrring motif to support the lyrics about a guy who can't get from himself, not matter how hard he tries.

The Last of The Fallen Angels: "Edge of the World" video

English synth band The Last of The Fallen Angels travelled to another planet for the video shoot for their new single Edge of the World", thanks to some green screen magic. As per usual Victoria Owsnett in on point with her vocals, with Conrad McQueen having her back every now and then. Simon Ellis and McQueen created gently pulsating backing track, that has earworm quality (but in a good way).

The single will be released on all the usual digital outlets on March 31.

Live date:

• 05/07 Newcastle, Uk @ HMV (in-store)

» The Last of The Fallen Angels on Facebook

The Gun Club: "Live At The Hacienda '83" for Record Store Day

Yet another live show by American post-punk band The Gun Club will be released on LP for Record Store Day (April 23). Live At The Hacienda '83 was part of the Live At The Haçienda 1983/84 DVD that came out in 1983. Odds are that they are saving the 1984 part for Black Friday.

2000 copies on double split crystal clear and black vinyl in a gatefold sleeve.

Remy van Kesteren: memphis

Dutch harpist Remy van Kesteren has released memphis, the second single from his forthcoming Places I may have visited, people I may have met Pt. 3 EP. He has set his fond memories of driving on the highways in the States to music, channeling the sounds of the tarmac and the wind and using a Buchla Music Easel as a percussion instrument.

Mint Biscuit: Sweat Baby Sweat

Guitarist Richard Thomas is a rock mode on Sweat Baby Sweat, the latest release of his one-man project Mint Biscuit. He pushed the sound his Gretsch through a bunch of amp effects and distortion, going for a raw and punchy vibe that will strike a chord with fans of garage rock and grunge.

Whether he goes for aggressive simplicity in Electromatic Breakdown or delivers a power pop excursion with Froggyhopping, Thomas throws in a couple of notes that don't seem to fit, but in fact they actually spice things up. No Guitar Playing In The Library could be mistaken for a Mike Oldfield demo.

A Place To Bury Strangers: "My Head Is Bleeding" video

NYC noise rock trio A Place To Bury Strangers have unveiled a video for Love Reaches Out, a track from new album See Through You: "Ackermann's dark thoughts work best when there is an infectious melody trying to come up for air, with subsequent tension garanteeing an intense listening experience. Sonic Youth and The Jesus and Mary Chain are obvious reference points, but APTBS are first and foremost about creating a Wall of Sound that would have scared the shit out of Phil Spector. The psychedelic touches are by no means candy-coloured. See Through You is a journey into darkness and a cry for help rolled into one".

The band have invited renowned horror movie directors to take care of the visuals. This one was directed by Travis Stevens (Jakob’s Wife, Girl On The Third Floor).

HCTF premiere - Paul Andrews: "Borrowed Time" video

Synth-pop artist Paul Andrews knows how to make things sound good. He is one of those rare musicians who is blessed with perfect pitch, a gift he put to good use doing remixes and engineering for quite a few big names (Robyn, Gloria Estefan, and Dolly Parton). His coming out as an artist in his own right took some time. He released his first album Light and Dust in 2019 and it gave him to confidence to record a follow-up record, From the Distance, that came out last January.

Nell Davies: Happy Birthday

British singer-songwriter Nell Davies has a knack for coming up with catchy, sunny side up songs. Her latest Happy Birthday is no exception, wishing the unnamed birthday boy to come across a nice cat to pat and that pigeons will drop their load on his enemy. There are traces of Tracey Ullman in her vocals, which fit the tongue-in-cheek lyrics perfectly. With a nice janggling guitar hook as an added bonus, this DIY effort is utterly charming. Comes with a homemade video with a rainbow, balloons, and a small airplane.

» Nell Davies on Facebook

Words about music (629): Eddie Kramer

Jimi's music is so universal. And kids who are getting into rock 'n' roll guitar, who's the go-to guy? It's Jimi. That's the first place you start and everything else comes from that.

Eddie Kramer

Two-Man Giant Squid: Abyssal Gigantism

Post-punk meets psychedelic post-rock on Abyssal Gigantism, the new album by Two-Man Giant Squid, the one-man project by Brooklyn based multi-instrumentalist Mitchell Vinokur. It is an eclectic collection of songs, tackling subjects like loneliness, snobbery and whether it is cool to wear Bowling Shoes (it's not, but who cares - bowling can be fun). Junkies of Despair is a prime example of Big Apple sarcasm, poking fun at well-off people who just love to talk about miserable they are.

Vinokur is an ace guitarist, who can weave basic power chords into a complex fabric that might cross-over to prog lovers, but first and foremost he has set out to break out of the "indie rock" niche. That genre has been degraded to a faded flag weaved by major label PR honchos. If anything they would have tried to talk him out of letting his grandmother explaining her Borscht recipe in the intro of the title track. Brian Speaker was enlisted to take care of the bass and Bostonian singer Josh Rathbun (Crash Cadet) stepped up to the mike as an extra vocalist. Abyssal Gigantism is an album where is it OK to be bombastic, giving a one-fingered salute to pigeonholing in the process. It's an abandoned skyscraper that will stand the test of time against all odds.

Donna Blue: Solitaire

Dutch retro-pop duo Donna Blue always had a soft spot for the early Sixties French yé-yé pop, which they channeled succesfully on their 1 2 3 single in 2018. It is a genre that sounds deceptively sunny, but there is always trouble brewing in the distance. On their new track Solitaire two lovers find themselves at sea in a small boat that isn't designed to handle the storm that is coming straight at them. Danique van Kesteren and Bart van Dalen have created yet another time capsule, who contents sounds colourful and dark simultaneously.

Motörhead: "The Löst Tapes Vol. 2 (Live In Norwich 1998)" for Record Store Day

A Motörhead show from the Snake Bite Love tour will be released as 2LP (2250 copies) for Record Store Day (April 23). The Löst Tapes Vol. 2 (Live In Norwich 1998) was recorded at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, on October 18th, 1998. The show became available last year as a digital release.

Amy Correia: "The Beggar" video

Watch the new Amy Correia video for The Beggar, a track from her As We Are EP: "(She) has been lying low mostly, since the release of her You Go Your Way album in 2012. She wrote the music for The Tiger Hunter with guitarist Paul Masvidal and she played one-off shows every now and then. It seemed her days as a recording artist were a thing of the past, but fast forward to 2022 and there she is with a brand new EP, As We Are. She mixes blues (Bow to the Fire) and country (Sunday Driver, The Beggar), but it all comes together in the late night crooning with a jazz twist With All of Us. If they had had rock 'n'roll in the days of the Weimar Republic, it would have sounded like this."

The clip is a mini road movie made by Jessie Carter Clavin.

» amycorreia.com

HCTF review of As We Are.

Gov't Mule: European Summer tour dates

Blues rock quartet Gov't Mule have announced a European Summer, making the rounds on the club circuit and a couple of festivals.

Live dates:

• 07/09 Pistoia, Italy @ Pistoia Blues Festival
• 07/10 Chiari (Brescia), Italy @ Chiari Blues Festival
• 07/11 Tuttlingen, Germany @ Honbergsommer Festival
• 07/12 Zurich, Switzerland @ Kaufleuten
• 07/16 Uppsala, Sweden @ Parksnäckan
• 07/17 Oslo, Norway @ Rockefeller Music Hall
• 07/18 Molde, Norway @ Molde International Jazz Festival
• 07/20 Frankfurt am Main, Germany @ Batschkapp
• 07/21 Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
• 07/22 Torgau, Germany @ Kulturbastion

» mule.net

William William Rodgers: Are We Still On?

Anyone who is craving for a modern day folk troubadour should look into William William Rodgers, a singer and guitarist living in the Birmingham suburb Kings Heath. Are We Still On? is his fifth single, wherein a girl urges her lover to look away, when she is in tatters at her birthday, with smudged mascara and smelling of factor 50. Backed by Pete Churchill (accordion, backing vocals), Beth Bellis (viola) and Ben Muirhead (string bass) he has created a full kitchen sink drama within the space of a little under 4 minutes.

He has been told that he sounds a bit like Robert Wyatt in the past, which is kind of accurate. There is also a hint of Nick Drake and T.E. Yates in there. He is working on an album, William William Rodgers Sings the Yellow Pages, but he isn't rushing things, releasing one song at the time. It will be worth the wait.

Anton Barbeau: "Rain, Rain" video

Psych-pop veteran Anton Barbeau embraces the synth sound of the early 80s on his new single, Rain, Rain, making good use of his Roland XP-10, an instrument with a signature tone that is tailor-made for his nasal delivery.

Tons of sad love songs have written on this vintage instrument since it came on the market, but Barbeau always finds something new to make it fresh and interesting. It is the lead single from his forthcoming new album, Power Pop!!!, due for release on March 25 via Big Stir Records.

» antonbarbeau.com

HCTF review of Oh The Joys We Live For.

I Am Snow Angel: Lost World

photo: Carl Timpone

On the new I Am Snow Angel single Lost World, the project by musician and sound designer Julie Kathryn, the anxiety is almost palpable, but it also serves as means of escape from the horrors outside. It is slow moving experimental pop song, with both harsh and gentle electronics, with her crystal clear vocals hovering on top. It is the title track from her new album, out on May 6.

Trey Anastasio Band: Salt Lake City added to May mini tour

The Trey Anastasio Band have added a show to their May mini tour. They will play in Salt Lake City @ Red Butte Garden on May 20.

Live dates:

• 05/07 Roadrunner – Boston, MA
• 05/08 Roadrunner – Boston, MA
• 05/20 Red Butte Garden - Salt Lake City, UT
• 05/21 Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater – Vail, CO
• 05/22 Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO

Lou Reed & Kris Kristofferson: "The Bottom Line Archive: Lou Reed & Kris Kristofferson In Their Own Words With Vin Scelsa" for Record Store Day

Lou Reed & Kris Kristofferson appeared @ The Bottom Line in New York on February 2, 1994, talking and playing for the long running In Their Own Words With Vin Scelsa radio show. It was first released in 2017 as 2CD and a single LP without all the banter. And now The Bottom Line Archive: Lou Reed & Kris Kristofferson In Their Own Words With Vin Scelsa gets the full vinyl (3LP) treatment for Record Story Day (23 april). 1500 copies worldwide.

Nick Cave & Warren Ellis: two shows @ Hanging Rock in Macedon Ranges, Australia

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis will be playing two shows @ at Hanging Rock in Macedon Ranges, Australia (November 25 & 26). Courtney Barnett will be the support act, with more special guests to be added. Tickets go on sale on 17 March at 12pm (local time) here. More Australian shows TBA.

» nickcave.com

Penblwyddyn hapus i chi! Happy Birthday, John Cale!

Penblwyddyn hapus i chi!
Happy Birthday, John Cale!

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale tour dates

Porcupine Tree: new single "Of The New Day" + shows in North America, Mexico & Chile

photo: Alex Lake

Prog legends Porcupine Tree have released Of The New Day, the second single from their forthcoming comeback album, Closure / Continuation. It may sound like a ballad to unitiated, but goes without saying that it is not a straightforward song. Steven Wilson explains:

It sounds deceptively simple, a recognisably atypical Porcupine Tree ballad. That is until you realise that the length of the bars is constantly changing, flipping between bars of regular 4/4 time to 3/4, to 5/4 to 6/4, 11/4, so that the track never settles into any steady time.

Finely Tuned Elephant: The Fast Life

Canadian instrumental jazz/rock fusion act Finely Tuned Elephant have been quite a few line-up changes since they formed in 2019. It all started as a solo project from guitarist Jordan Robinson, who connected with drummer Kyle Iveglia before being joined by bassist Felix Labrosse. They made one album, Perfect Coincidence, that made some waves in their hometown Ottawa. Things were growing nicely through woird-of-mouth and critical acclaimand they started composing the material for what become The Fast Life, with new bassist Cyrus Robertson Orkish and keyboard player Nawfel Djari, and began road testing the material. What happened next is not exactly clear, but it was decided that core members Robinson and Iveglia would be finishing recording the new music as duo.

The Fast Life has written muso favourite all over it. It is both accessible and smart - think The Aristocrats without the weirdness and shredding. Even as a duo they manage to sound like a full band, with Robinson regularly setting up a guitar-bass dialogue with himself and Iveglia acting as an extra soloist, besides laying down the rhythm. Finely Tuned Elephant can rock and swing, and there is no sign of the self-indulgent navel-gazing and "look-mom-no-hands" tomfoolery that gave fusion a bad rep in the past. Now all that is left for them to do right now is get all four of them on stage to replicate this new material and take it to the next level with some free-flowing improvisation.

Cover Me: Ring of Fire

Watch Californian punk band Social Distortion tackle the Johnny Cash classic Ring of Fire. It can be found on their Live In Orange County DVD, filmed @ House of Blues in Anaheim, CA in January 2003.

» socialdistortion.com

The Bullfight: new "spoken word" album in the Fall + our dates

Rotterdam based folk noir band The Bullfight have nearly finished recording their new spoken word album, Some Divine Gift, with contributions by Barry Hay (Golden Earring), Spinvis, David Boulter (Tindersticks), Alex Roeka, Daisy Cools, Mark Ritsema, and Nick Verhoeven.

Like they did for their previous studio album Eggs & Marrowbone they invited visual artists to provide the artwork for the songs. Confirmed so far: James Johnston, Henk Schiffmacher, Bianca van der Werf, Jaco Putker, and Bastiaan Mol. The art will be displayed in Rotterdam.

Euphemia Rise: "Matthew 16:26" video

Belgian multi-instrumentalist Wim Lankriet has unveiled a stylish lyrics video for Matthew 16:26, a track from Born a Cow, the debut album by his Euphemia Rise project: "He never judges, telling tales about rent boys, drugs, prostitution, sadomasochism, and rape. Most people look away from those subjects, but Lankriet exposes them, using a mix of metal, psychedelic and gothic rock".

The clip uses photos made by Lankriet and Kamila Bartkó.

» euphemiarise.net

HCTF review of Born a Cow.

Good Grief: "High To Low" video

Watch the new Good Grief video for High To Low, a track from their new album Shake Your Faith: "Tackling such diverse subjects as mental health, the Seinfeld episode the The Pony Remark episode, wherein the uttering of a few words evokes all kinds of havoc, the ending of The Empire Strikes Back and much, much more, the trio's main theme is the inability of people to fully understand each other. Miscommunication, false interpretations of body language or just plain ignoring the obvious signals, can lead to anguish, anger and anxiety. So, it is all pretty serious and heavy-handed? Yes and no. They made the wise decision to serve it with a wealth of catchy hooks and a rollicking back beat that takes the edge off a bit".

Colin Robinson: Mixcloud of his second "Answers On A Postcard" show on Otto Radio

English avant-garde musician Colin Robinson (Jumble Hole Clough, Churn Milk Joan, Big Block 454) broadcasted the second episode of his monthly Answers On A Postcard show on Otto Radio on March 6th. Missed it? It is now on Mixcloud.

Set aside for an hour of music by King Crimson, Faust, Van der Graaf Generator, Henry Cow, Parliament, and much, much more.

Golden Alphabet: Ring Every Bell

Roots band Golden Alphabet are in full-on psychedelic pop mode on their new single, Ring Every Bell, a Technicolor tune with a bleak message. The world is a mess, and some parts of it are actually on fire, with armies closing in under the protection of long range missiles. The belief in unlimited growth and expansion turns a blind eye at the consequences.

Words about music( 628): Richard Barbieri

Music to me has a monetary value and there should be no shame in wanting to be paid for your work and talent. It means more to me if 10 people bought a cd as opposed to 1000 people giving it a listen for free.

Richard Barbieri

Beachdog: Good Morning (ft. Robin Piso)

Dutch hardcore/grunge band Beachdog take it a down a notch on their new single, Good Morning. Singer David Achter de Molen sings about his loved one and tries to get back on his feet again: "I’m getting used to this life // I swallow the pieces // Of the things I cannot change // And it’s fastened // You will resign, you won’t come back again // To live your second live in a cloud somewhere". The hurt is still fresh and the an edge of panic in his voice. He is fully aware that he will have to move on someday, but he doesn't know how. Robin Piso (DeWolff) weighs in with a great organ part. The video was made by Jop van de Kam.

Doctor Who: "Dead Air" for Record Store Day

Doctor Who fans rejoice: Demon Records will release Dead Air for Record Store Day (April 23) as 2LP on 140g soundwave green vinyl (2000 copies). It was first released on CD in 2010. From tardis.fandom.com:

Dead Air was the seventh and final exclusive-to-audio adventure to feature the Tenth Doctor. It was written by James Goss and performed by David Tennant. Released by BBC Audio as a part of their ongoing line of original, single-actor plays, it went on sale on 4 March 2010.

Dogzen Zendog: Laura (In The Rainstorm)

photo: Astrid Bärndal

Dogzen Zendog has released Laura (In The Rainstorm), the lead single from the forthcoming album Petals Nails. The project is the brainchild of English musician Glenn O'Halloran, who has put his avant-garde post-rock leanings on the back-burner for this track, going for a more subdued early Roxy Music vibe. Take note “Big Tenor" Joe O’Halloran channeling Andy Mackay. It is the perfect soundtrack for a gloomy day, with the clouds gathering in the distance.

The album version will be nearly twice as long, giving it more room for the ominousity that appears to be lurking in the shadows. The video was made by Astrid Bärndal.

Johnny Dowd: Rhumba in the Park

Johnny Dowd has dug out an early version of Rhumba in the Park, a track from his Execute American Folklore album. This autobiographical plea about trying to connect with a girl and failing, even though he owns his own truck, is terribly sad. The vocals are a bit distant, but the electronics and chugging back beat are pretty much in place already.

"The Gift: A Celebration of John Cale" on BBC Wales

To tie in with John Cale's upcoming 80th birthday on March 9 BBC Radio Wales has broadcasted The Gift: A Celebration of John Cale. He is interviewed by Elis James, discussing his career, influences and his unrelenting need to reinvent and reconstruct. "An amplified viola will clear a room faster than a stink bomb." Also a wealth quotes by Brian Eno, Lou Reed, Gruff Rhys, James Dean Bradfield, David Bowie and more. Missed it? It can be streamed here until April 2.

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale tour dates

The Slow Clock: The Origin of Air Quotes

Singer and guitarist Harmen Kuiper was found hurt and bleeding in Amsterdam last Spring and was rushed to hospital. He woke up with a headache from Hell and for some reason also a bunch of melodies that he managed to capture on his phone. He revived his one-man outlet The Slow Clock for a new album, The Origin of Air Quotes, to share what he heard that night. It is a collection of catchy, off-kilter guitar songs He reinvents as a man who is hunting down an unnamed adversary in This Is Not A Good Time, comes clean about Janet Jackson, his high school crush, in Win some win some more, and goes for low budget Pixies-alike noise rock in Romanticized in Hindsight.

The title track, The Origin of Air Quotes, cuts to the chase by calling that phenomenon as an excuse to tell lies. He saved the best for last. Sky High is a pastoral song with multi-layered vocals about a man who hopes to escape from his troubles by making a trip in a hot air balloon. And for less than two minutes his dreams are fulfilled, with the journey living up to his expectations.

Steve Vai: "Inviolate" European tour dates

Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai has announced the dates for the European leg of a world tour, promoting his latest album Inviolate. North America is next, starting on 8 September in El Cajon, CA @ The Magnolia through 3 December in Los Angeles, CA @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel.