A Poole for You & Us

Posted on May 13, 2021 by normanweatheredmusic

If you throw enough music at my brain, some of it will stick, some will leave a smear, and some will fall away, never to grace my turntable a second time.

Some of the exceptional music not only sticks but spins into earworms or, best of all outcomes, form a groove of their own in the wrinkly stuff inside my head.

Pink Floyd did that to me in 1973 when they released Dark Side of the Moon with the standout track Us and Them. More recently, in 2001, 16 Horsepower’s album Hoarse established a home in my head. In 2009 The Avett Brothers did it to me with their album I and Love and You.

Fast-forward to May 14, 2021, and the Swedish duo Fredrik Forell and Arvid Hällagård, collaborating as “Pool”, have released ‘You & Us’ via Something Beautiful, their debut album. Having press privilege, I was able to preview this album and post my impression of it back on May 11 of this year. It quickly ploughed a groove through my auditory cortex into my cerebrum, where it established a home.

The remainder of this post contains some text from the review that I did on April 11.

Arvid Hällagård handles the lead vocals with a voice that sends chills up and down my spine. ‘You & Us‘ see Fredrik Forell and Arvid Hällagård telling it all in a strikingly raw and unadulterated rumination of loss and sorrow. Going through a divorce as the album was taking shape, Arvid’s heartache beautifully translates into something we can all witness and understand. The record follows the painful journey of putting a relationship to rest, recognising its shortcomings and beginning to move on from start to finish. His vocal style has an almost haunted quality which serves him well on tracks such as the opener “Grave“. About the album’s title track, You & Us, Arvid says, “These are some thoughts about how she and I felt during the relationship, how you have to handle yourself, and at the same time an ‘Us’. Mostly it’s about how hard a relationship can be, having a first kid. You expect it to be in a certain way, and the disappointment when those expectations turn out to be unreal.”

Multi-instrumentalist Fredrik Forell adds the music that verges on Americana folk but opens up new sounds that left me wondering what the hell that was.

I love it! If iTunes had grooves, I would have worn out this album by now. The lyrics and music combine to create a portrait of pain. “You and Us” walks us through the journey of love, love lost, love that never was and love that needs room to grow.

A killer track on “You and Us” that caught my ear was “By The Old Noon“. It was an instant earworm for me. Take what sounds like a banjo and then add some samples, mix them all with the remorseful lyrics, and you get a song that keeps hitting the repeat button and keeps me wondering, “What the Hell was that?”.

I could go on and on waxing poetically about this EP and the sheer brilliance of this album, but I will leave it for You & Us, I and Love and You and Us and Them to enjoy for yourselves.

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

D I S C O V E R

https://www.facebook.com/poolstheband

https://www.instagram.com/poolstheband/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4bcbIKU2rCjMoNim9Icn6t

For press enquiries, contact james@mysticsons.com or dan@mysticsons.com

Supernaive Versions

Posted on May 12, 2021 by normanweatheredmusic

After burning cars, driving a Toyota 2000GT (https://bit.ly/3u6Ubnk), partying in Tokyo (https://bit.ly/3xzQmZW), and being on a TV show (https://bit.ly/3e77QVG) for their debut album “Nekomata” (2020), Supernaive decided to turn their most famous tracks into club versions.

« The idea came to us last year during confinement in Paris, not being able to listen to or play music in concert. The composition of “Versions” became for us a way to escape, to dream of more festive days, while waiting to be able to go back on stage. »

This album is also an introduction to their live show, which we hope you will be able to discover soon!

Supernaive consists of two brothers – bound by blood and sound – blending electronic and acoustic music in an inventive and delicate way. Masks, symbols of eternal youth in Japanese Noh theater cover their faces, allowing the music to give life to their poetic doubles.

To celebrate the first birthday of their album “Nekomata” (2020), Supernaive presents “Versions”, containing 8 alternative versions of their most famous songs as well as 2 bonus tracks. With this new record, they offer bangers after bangers, from breakbeat to acid, in their own colorful way. Despite this explosive mixture, they keep their original sensitivity, and create a perfectly balanced composition, making their vintage synthesizers sing dreamlike melodies and spit relentless rhythms. As usual, François Baurin at mixing (Rone) and Alexis Bardinet at mastering (The Blaze), came to bring the last touch to this electronic piece.
You will (re)discover these 10 tracks in their live show, magnified by a tailor-made scenography and cinematographic projections, immersing yourself in their unique universe.
“We took great pleasure in radically transforming our tracks by imagining the crowd on the dance-floor. It was a way for us to escape in these times of confinement. We can’t wait to play them to you in concert!” » Supernaive.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE & SOCIALS

https://ffm.bio/supernaive

For all inquiries including press and licensing, please contact us : hello@himitsu.audio

Ender Bender

Posted on May 4, 2021 by normanweatheredmusic

Charlie, Charlie

Posted on May 4, 2021 by normanweatheredmusic

Charlie Nieland rolled out a new LP, Divisions.

As well as a new video to accompany a track off that album, The Land of Accidents, directed by NYC-based multi-faceted artist Hypnodoll.

Do I like this album?

Charlie, Charlie!!

Vis-a-vis yes, yes!!

Is it available on Apple Music?

Charlie, Charlie

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-land-of-accidents-single/1552866398

What about Spotify?

Charlie, Charlie

https://open.spotify.com/album/4fFYtbeKovv5lvseKETU5v

Can I listen to the album on Bandcamp?

Charlie, Charlie

https://charlienieland.bandcamp.com/album/divisions

Can you tell me more about Charlie Nieland?

Charlie, Charlie

Charlie Nieland’s musical backstory is extensive, having written and produced material with such notable artists as Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Dead Leaf Echo, Blondie and Scissor Sisters. He scored the feature film ‘The Safety of Objects’ (starring Glenn Close), the pilot episode of ‘The L Word’ on Showtime and the VH-1documentary’ NY77: The Coolest Year in Hell’. Charlie was awarded a Gold record (UK) for his production work on Blondie’s ‘Greatest Hits Sight & Sound’ and achieved a Top 10 Billboard Dance Chart Position with Debbie Harry’s single ‘Two Times Blue’, which he co-wrote and produced.

Nieland also played power dream pop with the band Her Vanished Grace for over 20 years before establishing himself as a solo artist with a mix of nuanced songwriting and sonic exploration. He is currently half of the literature-inspired songwriting and performing duo Lusterlit with Susan Hwang.

Wow, Charlie has been a busy man, hasn’t he?

I’ll give a Charlie, Charlie to that.

Can Charlie tell us more about this album?

Charlie, Charlie, yes, yes he can.

“As the pandemic took hold, so did my plan to produce ‘Divisions’, and I began a listening expedition through my inspirations, from The Beatles to Yes, Cocteau Twins to Interpol, Peter Gabriel to Blur, U2 and The Flaming Lips. I wanted these tracks to be mini-epics, where you hear something new every time you listen. I started recording in my apartment this summer and reached out to drummer Brian Geltner and cellist Patricia Santos, who recorded their parts at home and shared them with me,” explains Charlie Nieland.

“As restrictions lifted, I started a marathon tracking process at my studio that included violinist Heather Cole, both Susan Hwang from my band Lusterlit and Billy Loose from Her Vanished Grace on drums and Susan on backup vocals. I called into service all my instruments, from lap steel to 6 and 12 string electric and acoustic guitars; fretless, fretted, and eight-string basses; analog synths, virtual mellotrons, TR-808s and more. This whirlwind journey is heard here in the obsessive and passionate, surreal and visceral, dream-like progressive rock and the dream pop of Divisions”.

Thanks that tells me a lot about both Charlie Nieland and his album Divisions. But did you like it?

Charlie, Charlie.

I most certainly did like it.

Is this album excellent to listen to while puttering about the house or working on a project?

It most certainly is. I listened to it repeatedly while writing this project.

How about whilst working on a hobby? Building diorama’s for example?

Divisions is perfect for that. The dream-pop floats out and envelopes the listener while doing almost any activity. I maybe wouldn’t recommend it for some tasks such as flying aeroplanes or driving a race car. However, for everyday activities, I can’t recommend this album enough.

Where can I find more information?

Keep up with Charlie Nieland

Bandcamp https://charlienieland.bandcamp.com/album/divisions

‘The Land of Accidents’ https://youtu.be/Ydo_QHH5GSU

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/4fFYtbeKovv5lvseKETU5v

Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-land-of-accidents-single/1552866398

‘Tightrope’ https://youtu.be/jRx4Zf2M3UA

‘Divisions’ single https://youtu.be/5ppmzFqLyJM

‘Another Night on Earth’ https://youtu.be/tV97FMQFtE0

‘Pawns’ https://youtu.be/28zWyWOgB9s

Shameless Promotion PR at contact@shamelesspromotionpr.com

p.s. Charlie-Charlie is a fancy substitution for a standard affirmative and accepted non-standard words roger and wilco.

Song of Co-Aklan

Posted on May 3, 2021 by normanweatheredmusic

It would be absurd of me to try and describe Song of Co-Aklan, the just-released album by Cathal Coughlan. But I will let a bit of my sanity slip further away from me and put some words together that will hopefully elucidate the hoi-polloi and entertain those who read it through.

Falling Out North Street, the second from the last song on the album, is an excellent place to start. This standout song comes with the bonus of a short film directed by acclaimed Yorkshire-based musician and artist Marry Waterson. In the absence of live events due to the pandemic, short films and music videos have taken on a new life of their own. They don’t stream on MTV like the music videos of 1981. In 2021 we have fantastic short films such as Falling Out North Street and slick music videos, many of them streaming on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLeGoL-w7F8

Falling Out North Street in the words of Cathal Coughlan. “The song tries to describe the absurdity of trying to keep hold of sanity, dignity or confidence in the face of the remorseless advance of time. From the start of the song, a circular pattern from the bass guitar and a plucked cello advances implacably, as the vocal and some transient instrumental elements try to pick a way through the debris of lives and communities. A broad chorus breaks the deadlock every so often, where exhortations are attempted by a wall of voices. Eventually, the singer has to suggest that he and the person he’s addressing might have been better off and happier all along had they been pavement purveyors of shouted gibberish and box-room detritus. And so the song ends,” says Cathal Coughlan.

Listening to this album, Song of Co-Aklan, was a challenge for me. On the first go-round, the music struck me first. Cathal Coughlan has surrounded himself with talent, and they are a cracker band. On the second spin around the album, I listened to the vocals. I have no idea what Cathal Coughlan is trying to say through many of the songs, but he is a fine storyteller in the tradition of Leonard Cohen or towards the lyrics of Frank Zappa.

For example, in the opening track, Song of Co-Aklan, we have this bit, ‘Raise your hands if you don’t know what this means.’ I have my hands up. I don’t know what this means. Several names dropped, such as Bob Nairac, but I have my hands up. I do not know what his character brings to the song as a whole.

My Child Is Alive is a good bit of writing. Here is a sample;

‘He never knew the mother, they just fell together once

Did what he could to dodge her until after nine full months

The baby didn’t make it, quite a scandal in the town

Daddy joined the civil clergy, gained salvation profound

Now the police for the cover they need

make his lovers believe my child’s alive!’

I will continue listening and unravelling this album bit by bit. I am sure it will grow into something even more beautiful with time and effort. In the meantime, I would encourage you, the reader, to check out the links below. This album can be listened to in many ways and means. Happy listening and play safe.

The ‘Song of Co-Aklan’ LP is now available across online platforms, such as Apple Music and Spotify, as well as physically. It can be ordered at https://ffm.to/songofcoaklanalbum.

Falling Out North Street’ https://youtu.be/JLeGoL-w7F8
‘The Knockout Artist’ https://youtu.be/lPr9f0l96pA
‘Song Of Co-Aklan’ https://youtu.be/e6YL06Za4rc
‘Owl In The Parlour’ https://youtu.be/7KKri0pTmkI
Cathal introduces his album https://youtu.be/f3MsD3NR-6M Bandcamp https://cathalc.bandcamp.com
Spotify https://spoti.fi/3fcB7iY
Digital Order https://orcd.co/songofcoaklan
CD / Vinyl order (USA/Canada) https://ffm.to/soca_us
CD / Vinyl order (UK/Ireland) https://ffm.to/songofcoaklanalbum

Shameless Promotion PR at contact@shamelesspromotionpr.com

‘My Heartbeat Keeps Me Awake’ by The Casual Sexists

Posted on May 2, 2021 by normanweatheredmusic

On March 7 of 2021, I did a favourable review of the song ‘My Heartbeat Keeps Me Awake’ by The Casual Sexists. I commented that I was hooked by the lyrics:

“My heartbeat keeps me awake

Repeating information that I already know.”

Putting our brains on an endless loop as we fight to get some sleep.”

Yeah, I’ve been there and done that—more than once.

“I dance, although I feel like I could die.”

The music lifts my spirits when my brain wants to curl up in a corner and make the world go away. The music compelled me to get up and dance, and those moments, those three-minute songs, keep me going. They give me life instead of dying. And “I dance although I feel like I could die.”

I call the lyrics on ‘My Heartbeat Keeps Me Awake’ anthems to the aging. Aging is a constant reality from the moment we are born till the day we die. It is happening to every one of us, every minute. And The Casual Sexists have fun with it.

I give them a hearty thumbs up for the single ‘My Heartbeat Keeps Me Awake’.

Fast forward to Thursday, April 29, 2021, and I am listening to the debut album from The Casual Sexists, Your Prescription Is Ready. If you thought ‘My Heartbeat Keeps Me Awake’ was good, get ready to have your mind blown. Londoner Ed Zed and New Yorker Varrick have crafted a worldwide favourite with their new full-length album.

Your Prescription Is Ready keeps me awake, never mind the heartbeats that do the same. As an aging rock and roller, Your Prescription Is Ready struck a chord with me. I hear ‘Your Prescription Is Ready, from the pharmacist far more times than I did when I was a young whippersnapper. However, when it comes to the album, Your Prescription Is Ready, I haven’t reached the point of hearing it far more times than I can deal with. I need to start counting how many times I listen to an album before I post it. For this timeless piece of music, I will take a shot at it being around 20 listens.

I say timeless because I can hear influences, zephyr-like at times but none the less significant enough to trigger my reminiscence bump. The one that immediately jumped out at me was The B-52’s, a band that played some very sophisticated music and had fun doing it. Other tips of the hat go to Gary Numan and The Friends of Mr Cairo by Jon and Vangelis.

Enough of the flashback’s, The Casual Sexists have crafted an excellent bit of music. It that will undoubtedly generate new reminiscence bumps for those who take the time to put this album on at the roller rink and seer it into fresh brain matter. Seriously, you don’t have to be at a roller rink to enjoy this album. You can listen on the commute through your earbuds. You can listen at home dancing while you do cleaning, it makes the dreary fun. You can listen anywhere it strikes your fancy, the joy of living in the digital age. It doesn’t matter where you listen; just listen. The Casual Sexists, Your Prescription Is Ready is an excellent bit of music and deserves repeated hits of the repeat button. The album will follow dancehall the singles ‘My Heartbeat Keeps Me Awake’, ‘Fresh Legs’ and The Casual Sexists glitch-pop rendition of ‘Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’’.

Your Prescription Is Ready will be out on May 7 2021, via It’s Hurting My

Feelings. I would be amiss to not mention the album artwork. I love it.

www.thecasualsexists.com

https://www.instagram.com/thecasualsexists/

https://twitter.com/casualsexists

https://www.facebook.com/TheCasualSexists

For all press enquiries, please contact megan@mysticsons.com

Distant Voices/Long Road To Home

Posted on April 29, 2021 by normanweatheredmusic

The album cover shown above is from the recording Long Road To Home by Distant Voices. The reason that I am cutting and pasting, instead of gushing superlatives over this magnificent recording. It is the fact that Valdis Stekelis, the creator of this record, can add background and filler that I could not do.

Begin the paste.

Distant Voices is the solo project of Valdis Stekelis, who wrote and began writing these tracks in 2019, finally finishing a year later due to the delayed realities of the UK lockdown. The band name itself was chosen during that period to reflect these unusual times, where live music (as we have previously experienced it) is a scarce occurrence and where we consume music with a less personal connection to the people making it. ‘Stranger Among Friends’ is one of nine tracks released on Distant Voices’ debut album ‘Long Road To Home’, all inspired by Stekelis’ travels in the pre-Covid era. Earlier, he previewed the high-velocity rock n’ roll lead single ‘Lights of The City’ with an accompanying video by Alit Gonzalez. “Stranger Among Friends emerged from the feeling of being homesick and just general events that happened while I was visiting Berlin. Certain themes crop up throughout the album, like meeting people for a while and then saying goodbye and never seeing them again. Brexit was on my mind when I took this trip. I went to see the European Parliament and the UN in Geneva for this reason,” says Valdis Stekelis. “At the end of the trip, I had a strong sense that this travel would not happen again in the way it did due to the point I was at in life, but I did not realise that everything would be restricted in the way we are now with Covid (and) lockdowns. I am very pleased retrospectively that I chose to do it when I did, and it seems more significant than before to me in light of where we are now”. The ‘Long Road To Home’ LP was recorded at EAS Studios near London in collaboration with producer-engineer Ed Sokolowski, known for his work on albums by Melanie C, Fleur East, Hugel, David Archuleta and Lukas Rieger. Sokolowki mixed and mastered this album, as well as co-producing it with Stekelis. Joe Montague also contributes drums on multiple tracks.

“This is the first body of work completed under the Distant Voices name, which I am very keen for people to hear and hope that they will enjoy it. The album was inspired by events that happened during my journey around Europe in 2019, and, in fact, they appear chronologically in the tracklisting,” says Valdis Stekelis. “There is a range of different feeling tracks on the album – from lively to melancholy and also psychedelic. They are tied together – both in terms of the subject matter and also due to the underlying elements of a retro feel with electronic flavour. It was a lot of fun to make and is truly inspired by events that really affected me at the time”.

See, I told you so. Valdis Stekelis did such an excellent job of summing the recording up that there is little that I could add. I will, however, attempt to add something. I feel an affinity for this recording from the first guitar strums at the lead-in at track one side one, Lights Of The City. The jangling guitar lulled me in, and then Distant Voices kicked the volume up a notch and started the rock and roll show. The music sounds familiar and fresh at the same time. It’s like buying a new cardigan. I know what a cardigan is, how it feels, how it fits, but the new one is different, and I like it. The Long Road To Home is something like that. Familiar and fresh and I like it.

I appreciate the inclusion of the travelogue itinerary for my next European vacation. Each track has a story to tell, and each track retains its own musical DNA, unique but a part of the whole.

ALBUM TRACKLISTING 01. Lights Of The City 02. Stranger Among Friends 03. Walk Along The Cobblestones 04. I Need A Friend 05. Nothing Really Happened In Vienna 06. Halfway To Rome 07. View From Lake Geneva 08. Last Night In Amsterdam 09. I’m Coming Home Keep up with Distant Voices

‘Stranger Among Friends’ https://youtu.be/EI4Ds7EG4QI

Bandcamp https://distantvoices1.bandcamp.com/album/long-road-to-home

‘Lights of The City’ single https://youtu.be/iocT4eqi90U

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/2NHL30cx1DRGEGJ71PyKKs

Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/lights-of-the-city-single/1552049295

Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/distantvoicesuk/lights-of-the-city

If you have any questions, contact Shauna from Shameless Promotion PR at contact@shamelesspromotionpr.com

The Modesty Blaise

Posted on April 29, 2021 by normanweatheredmusic

Spring has sprung
The Modesty Blaise
Have played and sung

And I have listened, now I want to go driving in the sunshine with the window down and The Modesty Blaise providing the soundtrack for the summer.

The companions for this road trip are Jonny Collins doing vocals, David W Brown with the driving bass, Gregory Jones is playing tasteful guitars, Mark Bradley keeping everyone on time with his drum kit, Alastair Jenkins playing more guitars, and Roger MacDuff stringing us along on violins.

Jörn Elling Wuttke mixed the album at Klangfabrik Frankfurt. Thank you, Jörn; you have captured the essence of Modesty Blaise. This long-awaited third album comes to us via the German label
From Lo-Fi to Disco!

It is hard to believe that this is the first album from Modesty Blaise in twenty years. Yes, twenty, I know! It has been worth the wait, though, because they have filtered those twenty years into a beautiful slab of music.

The music is catchy and infectious. In a good way! I dare you to listen to this music without tapping your foot, nodding your head or having an insane desire to go driving. All six of the players came to the studio with their best, and I can easily hear it. This record is good stuff.

One of the highlight tracks for me is Rollerdisco. If you want to talk about flashback songs, this is a hit. It takes me back about 40 years to the roller rink; I would have loved to skate to this. It would fit in just lovely with Rock Lobster and Saturday Night by the Bay City Rollers. r.i.p. Les McKeown.
I would encourage listeners to listen to this album, not just casual background noise listening. Intentional listening. Listen for the lyrics; they are right smart and provide an excellent counterpoint to the happy music. Please pay attention to the different instruments and how they convey the message of the lyrics. This album deserves more than a casual listen and then moving on to the next album suggested by the streaming platform of your choice. Hit repeat and listen to The Modesty Blais again. And again. And then buy they album. And listen again.

It is available on vinyl from one of my favourite record shops in the UK, Rough Trade. https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/the-modesty-blaise/the-modesty-blaise
In Japan, you can purchase the album from Disk Union.
https://diskunion.net/indiealt/ct/detail/1008277960
In Germany, hhv take care of it. https://www.hhv.de/shop/de/artikel/modesty-blaise-the-the-modesty-blaise- 804627
‘The Modesty Blaise’ LP is out now, available digitally everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon.
Keep up with Modesty Blaise:
http://www.modestyblaise.net
https://modestyblaiseuk.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/themodestyblaise
http://www.instagram.com/modestyblaiseuk
http://twitter.com/modestyblaiseuk
https://soundcloud.com/modesty-blaise-8 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4lnNm8g0IYG9H90ZIzsOZw/videos https://www.amazon.com/Modesty-Blaise/e/B000APKJ5Q/digital/ref=ntt_mp3_rdr https://music.apple.com/us/artist/modesty-blaise/202798092 https://open.spotify.com/artist/43AImLU4e6BbljTmC2bFu5
If you have any questions, contact Shauna from Shameless Promotion PR at contact@shamelesspromotionpr.com

Nick Hudson/Font Of Human Fractures

Posted on April 29, 2021 by normanweatheredmusic

“Voyeurs Who Offer Nothing” is the opening track from the new album Font Of Human Fractures by Nick Hudson. I don’t know a lot about Nick Hudson, but I know that he has something to offer. What he is offering is the first solo album from him in five years. It’s not like he has been sitting on his hands for the last five years. Nick Hudson is a busy person, recording with The Academy of Sun, painting, doing film work, and if that isn’t enough, he just finished writing a novel. Hudson has also collaborated with Wayne Hussey of The Mission, and Matthew Seligman (Bowie, Tori Amos, Morrissey) and members of NYC’s Kayo Dot, David Tibet (Current 93), Asva and Canadian queercore icon GB Jones. As part of the band, The Academy Of Sun, he collaborated with Massive Attack’s Shara Nelson. Whew, I get tired just writing his bio.

Font Of Human Fractures is an interesting name for an album or anything when I stop thinking about it. Font, a source of a desirable quality or commodity. That part makes sense to me; Nick Hudson’s music is undoubtedly a desirable commodity. It was recorded and mastered at Church Road Studios by Paul Pascoe (Barry Adamson, Beat Hotel); this 10-track offering is Hudson’s first solo studio LP since ‘Ganymede In A State Of War’ (2016).

Font Of Human Fractures is a mesmerizing album. From the opening moments of the first song, Voyeurs Who Offer Nothing, the music that Nick Hudson has created kept me glued to my speakers. Forty minutes later, I was listening to those opening moments again, and forty minutes later…you get the drift. This album’s primary weapon of choice is the piano with tasteful accompaniment by violin(s), the voice of Nick Hudson, some fascinating samples and background vocals, as well as a church organ, round out the arsenal. I can’t describe the sounds, the music is fresh and at times startling; you have to hear it for yourself. It has elements that would not be out of place in True Detective (Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson).

I’ll let Nick Hudson tell you more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXPXQg-sj70
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxhR48f2kes

Bottom line, I developed a fascination for this album that made me curiouser and curiouser every time I listened to it.

Bottom of the bottom line, I will keep listening to this album, and you should do yourself a favour and buy it on Bandcamp.

As of April 30, the ‘Font of Human Fractures’ album will be available on vinyl and digitally
via Spotify and Apple Music. Both are also available directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

Keep up with Nick Hudson / The Academy of Sun

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR

VIDEOS

‘Come Back When There’s Nothing Left’ https://youtu.be/UlXla5YJYLQ

‘Surkov’s Dream’ https://youtu.be/2vwSuA3Lmj8

‘There is No Such Thing as You’ (live in Sophia)

https://youtu.be/riJ5qsSHutg

‘Surkov’s Dream’ single teaser https://youtu.be/U4VZkqsEWJU

Shameless Promotion PR

REPLY TO contact@shamelesspromotionpr.com

Babel

Posted on April 24, 2021 by normanweatheredmusic

Have you ever listened to an album, and it sinks its hooks in? You can’t stop listening to that album. I have slabs of vinyl that I am sure I have ground the grooves a few millimetres deeper. Dark Side of the Moon is an example of that.

In iTunes, I have albums that I put on repeat and, over time, accumulate an insane amount of listens to that one piece of music. Giles Corey’s self-titled album is an example of that in my recent playlists.

I do a few music reviews, and some of the bands are amazing. I put them on repeat because I like them and not just because I want to write a gushing review. Recently I was offered the opportunity to listen to a new EP called Honeyspell. It is from the Finnish duo Mikko Pykäri and Karin Mäkiranta, who goes by the moniker Babel.

It did not sink its hooks into me. I did, however, put it on repeat. I desperately wanted to understand this music. I still don’t. I want to write a gushing review, but I am unable to do that.

I am sure others would wax poetically about this EP, and I want to, but alas, I can not do that. I hear a wash of synths that overpower the mix, and I can’t hear the vocals enough. I am not particularly fond of how Karin Mäkiranta’s vocals were processed. I am sure she has a lovely voice, but it does not come across that way in my ears. Others have described her vocals as ethereal, and I can understand why they would say that, but they still don’t put a spell on me.

The synth processing would work well as some ambient soundtrack, but I found it overpowering the mix. The percussion moves along right smartly; no complaint there. I can hear guitar playing occasionally, and I would have liked more of it not washed over by the mix. I can pick out bass lines every so often. I can’t tell if it’s a bass guitar or synthesized, but I found it lost in the mix once again.

In summary, I think Babel can make some good music. They are on SoundCloud, Spotify and iTunes, so they must be doing something right. However, it is not sweet music to my ears.
I want to end this on a positive note. I liked the cover art, and I think Mikko Pykäri and Karin Mäkiranta are talented musicians who will only get better moving forward. I look forward to their first full-length album, Yoga Horror, which comes out in 2022.

https://soundcloud.com/pmerecords/sets/babel-honeyspell/s-IOE7iB2kCO3

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4qrLovyKfCeNbEdN0Tmx1Q?si=IGQ_jEbrQFeH35kkG6bMkQ

https://www.facebook.com/babel2babel/

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Weathered Music

The musical explorations of Norman and Joel Weatherly.

Category Archives: Album Review

A Poole for You & Us

Supernaive Versions

Ender Bender

Charlie, Charlie

Song of Co-Aklan

‘My Heartbeat Keeps Me Awake’ by The Casual Sexists

Distant Voices/Long Road To Home

The Modesty Blaise

Nick Hudson/Font Of Human Fractures

Babel