Swedish Music

Posted on June 5, 2020 by normanweatheredmusic

I have an affinity for anything Swedish since that is the land of my maternal family. I was pleased then to review new releases from two Swedish groups and their music.

Following on from the release of their breakthrough debut EP ‘Mouth Full Of You’ last year, a collection that cemented them as one of the finest emerging shoegaze outfits of the moment as well as garnering support from Steve Lamacq at BBC 6Music, Swedish trio Spunsugar now return with their latest dose of forlorn industrial electronics on ‘Happier Happyless’ through Adrian Recordings.

With a strong affinity for post-punk, noise-rock and dream-pop, this genre-bending new offering sees the group deliver one of their hardest and most impactful releases to date. With a Robyn-Esque direction, filled with the atmospheric vocals of frontwoman Elin Ramsted, the group look to emulate the warm and driven sound of acts like Cocteau Twins and Slowdive with their pulsing aesthetic.

Speaking about their new single, the band said, “‘Happier Happyless’ is a sour and sweet song, tackling subjects of pining, happiness and revenge. Having a fittingly slower pace than former Spunsugar singles, this song is also a homage to the shunned 2001 slasher movie Valentine, released a little too late in the post-Scream era. Written to have “a memorable hook, a thumping synth bassline and a shoegazer chorus” this is an excellent introduction to the band’s debut album, because of the constant switching of emotional tonality.”

‘Happier Happyless’ is set to become the band’s first taste of their long-awaited debut album ‘Drive-Through Chapel’, set to later this fall via Adrian Recordings.

Bottom line. I really liked the blend of styles and the vocals are mesmerizing.

https://www.facebook.com/Spunsugar-1954664354594177/

https://www.instagram.com/spunsugarmusic/?hl=en

Press enquiries please contact james@mysticsons.com

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Swedish synth act Kite is made up of singer Nicklas Stenemo and keyboard player Christian Berg. The pair combine an adventurous nature with pop sensibilities, throbbing beats and an early nineties aesthetic. Their lean approach to songwriting – a methodology of ‘cut the fat’ results in tight, focussed songs that never outstay their welcome. Produced together with Blanck Mass (Benjamin John Power), new single ‘Teenage Bliss’ has shades of New Order, Chairlift and Superorganism. It conjures up mental images of half-remembered nights out, sweat-soaked gigs with friends and the naivety of first experiences.

The pair tell us that “When we started Kite the band F*** Buttons were a big source of inspiration to us. Since then we have been following Benjamin John Powers brilliant music as Blanck Mass. We are now extremely excited to announce that we are working on the production of two new Kite tracks with him.” The band have brought their projection filled, brain-melting visual live show to audiences in Scandinavia, Germany, the US, Canada and China.

If Kite ever comes to Canada again, I will be there. The driving bass and the lush arrangement grab me by the seat of my pants and didn’t let go.

https://www.facebook.com/KiteHQ

https://www.instagram.com/kitehq/

Press enquiries please contact jgreen@mysticsons.com

Rocking to the 9’s

Posted on May 29, 2020 by normanweatheredmusic

Oliver Marson is dropping a new video, ‘To The Nine’ s’, following on the heels of his previous singles’ Cocaine Romance’ and ‘Time for Love’.

With his unique musical styling of sound and sights, Oliver has created a video that channels the flashback machine to honour his musical inspirations, Bryan Ferry, David Bowie and Serge Gainsbourg. The music itself takes us back to the tunes of his hero’s and the video continues that theme.

With extravagant costumes and featuring himself in various characters, Oliver has crafted video that that looks behind for inspiration and forward with current musical tastes that features retro sounds that evoke modern music.

Oliver tells us:

The new video is “inspired by meme culture, the kind of aesthetic pop stars like Miss World and Charli XCX have perfected. I am dressed as all sorts of characters (a cardinal, in drag, as a french legionnaire) against a green screen in keeping with the song subject of being ‘dressed to the nines. It’s all improvised, as we wanted to make something quite lo-fi and spontaneous”.

The new track explores the argument used by misogynists and their belief that women who have been assaulted are to blame because of their choice of clothing. “I wanted to write from the perspective of a bitter misogynist and ‘To the Nines’ is an exposition of toxic male thinking. ‘To the Nines’ being an old English expression, which means ‘to dress flamboyantly or buoyantly”.

‘The nature of the recording was very spontaneous; I came into a studio with just a couple of chords and a vague idea of what I wanted the song to be. In the end, it was very natural, and the song seemed to flow from one idea to another, which culminated in quite a flamboyant sound, mirroring the song’s title. The way I see it, what better way is there to tackle this subject than a bit of flamboyance.”

This video is far more than a vehicle to present Oliver’s music. It explores a problematic and often jarring reality and brings it to us a teaching tool. I enjoyed this video, and I suggest it as a great track to dance along with. Enjoy your summer and live safely.

https://open.spotify.com/track/48IYKF90FUpcapN8a7wwnv?si=ikUg4UkKTcizoBa0EQ0xlA

https://twitter.com/oliver_marson

https://soundcloud.com/olivermarson

https://www.instagram.com/oliver.marson

https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/oliver-marson/1463994395

https://www.facebook.com/oliver.marson https://twitter.com/oliver_marson

Press enquiries please contact jgreen@mysticsons.com

Warrior

Posted on May 26, 2020 by normanweatheredmusic

French producers and brothers Supernaive are releasing new single ‘Warriors, taken from their debut album Nekomata. Mixing electronica with R&B they present a palate for the vocals of Carmeline, who also stars in the video:

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ1pvnD1yGo&feature=emb_title

Recorded between Paris and Tokyo, the record features elements of electronica and RnB while drawing on Japanese cultural reference points, most obviously in the masks, they wear which are a symbol of eternal youth in Japanese Noh theatre.

The soundtrack provides the backdrop for the narrative of the song – Carmeline is a warrior running from something or someone through terrain that varies from the stark almost Matian rocky outcrops to fields of plenty. There are two scenes of Carmiline setting a car on fire and walking away.

The first fire could be the start of her conflict. The second opens the door to the end of the battle, where we see the Japanese masks.

Inspired by early Tomb Raider games along with the tension found in 1970s thrillers such as Spielberg’s Duel, the video plays out Carmeline’s lyrical story, depicting her being hunted in a high-speed pursuit across an unforgiving wasteland.

‘Warriors’ will be available everywhere from May 22nd 2020.

D I S C O V E R

https://www.facebook.com/supernaivemusic

https://www.instagram.com/s.u.p.e.r.n.a.i.v.e

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYeDyyEJ51ov6eps7cniNCA

For press enquiries contact jgreen@mysticsons.com

I ‘don’t know (what to do)’

Posted on May 26, 2020 by normanweatheredmusic

Mia Berg has graced my listening with a song about being vulnerable and not having the slightest idea about how to move forward. However she does not allow that emotion dull her need to express herself and she deftly weaves that story with music that supports the story without weighing it down.

Mia’s lyrics touch on more than one life moment.

I don’t know what to do after school.

I don’t know what to do when I retire.

I don’t know what to do on my day off

I don’t know what to do after a complicated relationship ended.

I don’t know what to do about a lot of things in life, and this song captures that particular moment and gives it a voice.

In Mia’s own words she tells us, “The song is really just about being vulnerable, and about letting go and the fear of someone leading you on or letting you down if you decide to let them in.”.

Without a lot of flash, but with a lot of integrity, Mia has crafted a soundscape that captures the feeling of not knowing what to do.

A feeling of anxiety, helplessness and confusion winds it way through the music that supports the song without getting in the way of the words.

Intentionally or not, Mia has voiced what many of us may be feeling through the Covid-19 experience.

While It’s not easy to admit that we have no idea what to do, Mia has brought that courage to the forefront and given voice to what many have felt but did’t know how to say.

This single is from the EP coming out later in the year through Tik Records.

Discover Mia Berg

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tik-music/tik56-mia-berg-dont-know-what-to-do/s-CAZdCv54hxu

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6zTIHIKMneCUV3Qb2yULkx?si=-oX48uBYTeOM6jLrLEc9IA

Popmani: http://popmani.se/upptack-mia-berg-you-decided/

Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/10496043

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/no/artist/mia-berg/1044830483?l=nb

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miamiaberg/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miabeerg/

don’t know (what to do: written by Mia Berg Rønning

Producer: Henrik Lillehaug

Label: Tik Records

Coverart/photo: Guro Sommer

contact: miabergproduction@gmail.com

label/promo Norway: sverre@tikmusic.no

promo UK: james@mysticsons.com

Kidsmoke – The Bluest You

Posted on May 22, 2020 by normanweatheredmusic

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Wrexham’s Kidsmoke have just dropped new video ‘The Bluest You’ to announce their debut album, described by The Line Of Best Fit as ‘hazy and euphoric’. The band has just signed for 2020 to Libertino Records, and have just announced their long-awaited debut album coming 19^th June 2020.

Kidsmoke – ‘”The Bluest You” Debut album coming 19th June, 2020 Via Libertino Records

Quote:

“This song is a favourite of ours and takes up that all-important position of the last track on A Vision In The Dark. To us it’s full of intricacies, layers, textures and swirling vocals, so when Edwin (Burdis) shared his initial ideas about the direction of the video we knew immediately that he’d hit the nail on the head. We loved the idea of constant movement and of abstract shapes and colours – you never quite work out what / who you’re looking at before it moves onto something else.

We filmed the video in just under 3 hours (that’s got to be some kind of record…?) at Roc2 Studios in Wrexham. It wasn’t really like any other video shoot we’ve done before, but Edwin seemed to have everything mapped out perfectly in his mind so we knew we were in safe hands.”

Goldzbrough – Like It Was

Posted on May 22, 2020 by normanweatheredmusic

Ahh, the memories of summers gone past. I was cruising in my ’58 Pontiac with the windows down and the stereo up. Drive-in movies, bush parties, laughs, love, love lost and remember it like it was.
These memories were sparked by a listen to a song, ‘Like It Was’ by Goldzbrough. The London based producer with an impressive CV that includes stints with Ed Sheeran and James Bay, among others. Crisscrossing the Atlantic Ocean between Los Angeles and London has sharpened his craft of creating music. Goldzbrough’s love of rock/pop classics, like Simon and Garfunkel and the Who, is given a twist that sounds new and fresh.
His lyrics explore love and good times that are relatable and creates a springboard to happy memories of days that make me say that is ‘Like It Was’.

‘Like it was’ reminisces over happy recollections and stories from the past and having the desire to go back and relive them one last time. Possessing a euphoric quality, the feel-good track is a sleek breezy Pop production, whilst hints of Hip-Hop rhythms glimmer through his hazy vocal.
‘Like It Was’ is out now, via Inspirit Music Productions.

https://www.instagram.com/GOLDZBROUGH/

https://www.facebook.com/goldzbrough/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt4bRkbeN23pYOuF3BTxNgQ

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/globalnetwork-music/sets/cool-moments-1
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2aarv53NAJNUeAAzv4BzNk?si=lh8yVmcOQuG7oHJKryCR-Q

Press enquiries please contact johan@mysticsons.com

Global Network

Posted on May 21, 2020 by normanweatheredmusic

From the suburbs of Paris, Global Network has set their sights on exporting their music around the world through global networks.

Global Network is Loris Sasso and Nils Peschanski. Although they both grew up in the suburbs of Paris, it took a few years for them to connect the dots and make music together.

“We complement each other pretty well”, says Loris. “Nils has the grounding in musical theory, so when it comes to finding chords, it’s like going to the supermarket, there’s plenty of choice. He throws out loads of ideas and easily finds beautiful sounds with his synth. Then I take care of the beats and vocal melodies. But we’re always guiding each other to get the best result for the track.

Their first ever show happened in 2019, in the suburb of Essonne (aka ‘le 91’), where Nils grew up, but since then they’ve toured Slovenia and played in the UK, at festivals, in a high school, even in a prison. We like new and different experiences,” they say, a point reflected in the name Global Network.

Touching on universal themes such as the relentless pursuit of love on the song ‘Want You’ to their paean to lost love on ‘Let Me Go’, Global Network make accessible music.“We were looking for something fun with a touch of naïve ambition, like an import-export business planning to take on the world from its base in the Gare du Nord. It doesn’t bracket us in any particular style. But also, over time, it’s also become about our desire to connect with people through our music, and to live new experiences.”

Global Network looks forward to doing live shows where they can explore their sound and adapt in on the fly. Live they leave themselves the freedom to adapt tracks, extend them, feeding into and feeding off the energy of crowds. Loris can croon sensitively on the slower jams or ride, the faster rhythms as the energy builds. For their shows, they’ve made a conscious decision to steer clear of laptops and focus on the immediacy of drum machines (two Elektrons) and a Korg for the warm washes of synth. “It took quite a while to get the set up right,” they say, “but it really enriches our sound in terms of the precision and its personal, raw feel.”

Global Networks EP, Cool Moments is being released May 22, 2020

For press enquiries contact jgreen@mysticsons.com

Better Days

Posted on March 23, 2020 by normanweatheredmusic

It has been said, Thomas Wolfe is credited with the original quote, that “You Can’t Go Home Again.” I have tried to go home again and failed miserably. I have driven the streets that I used to wander in my childhood with friends whose names are forever lost. I have driven by buildings that I used to call home and found dilapidated old structures or new buildings where my home used to be, and I have even found empty lots that were supposed to be full of happy memories.

I went to a school reunion a few years back and it was really awkward trying to converse with these people who I spent five days a week with on school buses and in our classrooms. People that I used to hang out with, play the guitar with, go to dances and movies with, there were a few members of the opposite sex that lived within my circle of life. But it wasn’t the same. These people had gotten old, where were my childhood friends? These people had changed, the friend that jammed with me was now an alcoholic who hadn’t played the guitar after our halcyon days of learning to play “Get Back”. The friend that introduced me to marijuana would barely say hello to me. The people that I thought I would meet at the reunion had faded away, they were only memories tied to that time and place. Having once shared a few high school classes is not enough to sustain a lifelong relationship.

There are some good reads that explore this concept of never being able to go home. I just finished re-reading one that evoked good memories from an earlier age, Summer of ’42 by Herman Raucher. I read it the first time when I was a young man coming of age in the small home town that I previously visited, it resonated with me at that time because of the teenage emotions it evoked as I read it back then. This time it provoked the emotions of being an adult who can never go home again.

I couldn’t go back home again because it didn’t exist except in my nostalgic memories. Nostalgic memories are often tied to music, much the same as my memory of playing tunes on my first guitar. In fact, there is a song from that era that captures a lot of the sentiments that I am searching out here, it was by The Moody Blues on their album Every Good Boy Deserves A Favor, the song was titled “You Can Never Go Home” and there is a new song that I have been introduced to that further explores this concept, it is “Better Days” by Chris Collins and produced by Discrete.
Collins has drawn upon his memories of better days in his life, at only eleven-years-old, he appeared in the finals of Sweden’s televised Talang, as well as landing third place in Eurovision Young Dancers which saw him surpass 60 million viewers worldwide and Discrete who grew up in a creative household and discovered music production at thirteen. Together Collins and Discrete crafted a song that speaks to that longing of wanting to go home again. These two musicians have gifted our ears with “Better Days”, a sentiment that I am sure we all long for in these troubling times.
A sample of the lyrics:

Nothing is like yesterday
Between us two
I wish I could stay away
From you
But I’ll keep dreaming of better days
Better days with you
Discrete’s production supports singer Chris Collins through the longing in “Better Days”. Longing over a relationship that has seen better days. We find Collins yearning over a love lost and Discrete adds synths that match those words to evoke memories of yesteryear. Together they revisit the eighties and lost love through their music. Music that builds visions of disco dance floors with synth effects, analog pads and drums that Collins and Discrete use with a steady hold on today despite the push and pull of nostalgia evoked in both the lyrics and the music that backs it up.
Better Days is a song that required many listens for me to totally grasp the essence of the emotions expressed in it. I would encourage you to do likewise and see what memories it pulls up for you.

Discrete, Chris Collins - Better Days (Coverart) copy

S T R E A M (Single)

https://soundcloud.com/whoisdiscrete/discrete-chris-collins-better-days-1/s-Aqjxb

D I S C O V E R (Discrete)

https://www.instagram.com/whoisdiscrete https://www.facebook.com/whoisdiscrete

https://www.soundcloud.com/whoisdiscrete

https://www.youtube.com/c/whoisdiscrete

https://www.twitter.com/whoisdiscrete

https://www.spoti.fi/2Mo2MAD

https://www.music.apple.com/se/artist/discrete/1392478878

D I S C O V E R (Chris Collins)

https://www.facebook.com/christoffercollins/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXxF7Mfmt2Yn0iHlX4J5K2A

https://www.instagram.com/christoffercollins/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Xtk8F7qtAqg7aOLZlJm9F?si=U8lHFHwhTFe0T1AM7ObIlw

Tungz

Posted on March 18, 2020 by normanweatheredmusic

“Can’t We Just Be Friends Again”, no question mark. Can’t we just listen to this catchy track again? Yes, that is a question. What is not in question is the talent of these lads. Nicky Green and Jamie Maier of the band Tungz have crafted a synth, pop, jazzy, fun little single following on the heels of their EP “Okay” from 2019. “Can’t We Just Be Friends Again” opens with a metallic sound that builds tension as instruments and vocal come in until it becomes a great little tune. It is highly probable that their tour dates will be cancelled due to COVID-19 but we can still be friends with Tungz through Soundcloud, https://soundcloud.com/tungzz/cant-we-just-be-friends-again/s-MyfFa, and Apple Music. Check them out, keep listening to good music like this offering from Tungz, and stay healthy everyone.

Tungz - CWJBFA copy

Cold Country Funk

Posted on January 17, 2020 by normanweatheredmusic

While hiding from the extreme cold we have been experiencing, down to -38c, I locked down and listened to some tunes, first up on the turntable was North Country Funk by Joey Gregorash, I bought this record without hearing a single note from it on the advice of my friend Bruce from Record Collectors Paradise and I have no regrets. I have returned to this album for repeated listens and the one song that stands out for both Bruce and me, is Down By The River, which I think is equal to, if not better than Neil Young’s version. Either way, this is still a good winter album, the cover photo says it all.

Next up were Explosions In The Sky who told me with their album that, The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place. To step outside at -33C makes the earth feel like a cold dead place, however, we Edmontonians are a hearty lot and life goes on, a bit slower perhaps for those of us with arthritis, but it does go on.

Another song by Explosions In The Sky, Snow And Lights, from their album How Strange, Innocense. This is a favourite band of ours, Joel and I, so I didn’t mind queuing up another listen by them.

A blast from the past came next, The Mamas & The Papas are California Dreamin’ on such a winters day. I am personally Jamaica dreamin’ on such a cold and snowy winters day.

A little levity came next with Frank Zappa, Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow, a 45 this time so it was a short cold shot.

A Hazy Shade of Winter by Simon & Garfunkel, another blast from the past that gives us another shade of winter in case we ever tire of the frozen white one we are stuck in.

Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow by Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, this is from the album No More Shall We Pass, which I think is a masterpiece of music. This line is particularly apt for our recent weather:
“I’m beginning to freeze
I’ve got icicles hanging from my knees”
Listen to the entire album if you have a chance, this warrants a comfortable spot on the recliner and listening on the big speakers.

White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes from their self titled album

Snow Blind by Black Sabbath from Vol4

I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm by Billie Holiday from Holiday Blues

Snowblind from Drowning With Land In Sight by The 77s

Snowblind Friend by Steppenwolf from Sixteen Great Performances

Snowin’ In Brooklyn by Ferron from Shadows On A Dime
I think the remainder of these songs speak for themselves, except for the last one, by Ferron, it’s actually snowin’ in Edmonton, but I’ll give her credit all the same because it probably is snowin’ in Brooklyn as well. I saw Ferron live at the Edmonton Folk Fest and fell in love with her music and the Shadows On A Dime album, which I go back to every now and then, just because it feels so good to reminisce about that performance. It may be cold outside but the turntable is still spinning and up next is Hot Buttered Soul by the great Isaac Hayes, it gets the blood flowing and the feet moving, good stuff.
I hope you manage to stay warm and listen to some good music, it warms the soul.

Weathered Music

The musical explorations of Norman and Joel Weatherly.

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