Neon

Posted on May 20, 2021 by normanweatheredmusic

Indie pop-rock outfit Bilbosavpresent their vibrant single ‘Neon’, which is the first taste of their ‘Ayla’ EP, a four-track offering slated for release in mid-June via Italy’s powerhouse indie label Seahorse Recordings. Irish singer-songwriter Lori Skycontributes vocals, as well as lyrics, in this offering with its full and mesmerizing, rhythmic darkness.

Hailing from Genoa in northern Italy, Bilbosa are David Carroll (guitar), Stefano Pulcini (guitar and synth), Daniele Ferrari (bass and synth) and Gabriele Gennaro(drums). Formed in 2016 from the ashes of their former band Chaos Del Signor Gaza, the remaining four musicians spent much energy collaborating, jamming and trying to understand what musical route to take. Finally, they desperated decided to lock themselves in a recording studio in 2018, resulting in the recording of their first official album, ‘Diamond Dust’, which they released in December 2020.

Formerly writing under the name Lorraine McCauley, Scottish-based Donegal-raised Lori Skyoffers a powerful new voice and perspective on the arts scene, making music for the soul and senses. Performing at Irish Feis since the age of four, she formed her first band while living in Japan. Following her 2010 debut solo EP ‘Haunt Me’, she formed Lorraine McCauley & The Borderlands and debuted with album `Light in the Darkest Corners’ in 2012, tipped as the next Scottish contemporary folk breakthrough. After returning to university for her master’s degree, in 2014, she began an artist residency in songwriting and singing with La Banda di Piazza Caricamentoin Genoa, where she met and collaborated with Bilbosa’s David Carroll, sowing the seeds for this new single.

“I saw the ‘Neon’ music as a bright light, like the love that a close relationship brings into your life. So I ended up writing this song to celebrate my Mum, who I had just lost. The music helped me to express what I was learning about grief, that when you allow yourself to feel the pain of loss you are more able to appreciate and understand the love,” says Lori Sky.

“Covid forced us to become more creative in how we collaborate with others. As a band, we wrote the music and then sent it to Lori Sky, an Irish singer-songwriter. Lori listened to the track and wrote lyrics to the song, which are very personal to her and yet, there are very universal themes here about love, loss and grief,” says David Carroll.

“We all shine our own light and reflect that light to others that care for us and are near us. There is a very close connection with the bright light and those close relationships that we have. Even when we lose those we love, they will always be with us in spirit and that light will never leave us and still affects us. There are other cases though where, to feel alive and connected to the world, he has to emulate that bright light with ‘manmade’ Neon light. Emulating that bright light that surrounds other people is no easy task, so tapping in our personal Neon light could give us the boost that we need to finally find that shiny bright light again, that we were all born with. In the world we live in, even our smallest action or deed could make somebody else’s day and give a little boost to that light that they own”.

As of June 3, ‘Neon’ will be available across online stores and streaming platforms, including Spotifyand Apple Music. The full ‘Ayla’ EP will be released on June 18.

CREDITS
Written by Bilbosa and Lorraine McCauley (Lori Sky)
Lyrics and vocals by Lorraine McCauley (Lori Sky)
Music performed by Bilbosa
Produced, recorded and mixed by Tristan Martinelli
Mastered by Mattia Cominotto at Greenfog Studio (Genoa, Italy)
Cover artwork by Stefano Pulcini with Jellyfish sculpture by Gabriele Gennaro

Keep up with Seahorse Recordings
Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp | Soundcloud | MySpace

Bluebird, Hollywood… Domino

Posted on May 14, 2021 by normanweatheredmusic

An email landed in my mailbox two days back from the fine folks over at Shameless Promotions PR. Inside the email was a link to a music video for the song Bluebird, Hollywood… Domino’ from a band that was all new to me, The Gorstey Lea Street Choir. A pair of names, one for the song and another for that band, that compelled me to know more about them. The band name comes with a story behind it. The song arrives as a story.

First things first, then shall we. Here is a link to the video:

YouTube https://youtu.be/2LDscdfKDPU

The video is a bit psychedelic in style and not for people with epilepsy but decent enough. However, it is the music that grabbed me.

The song opens with a droning synth note, which introduces a rattling snare drum in waltz tempo, followed by the other instruments and a great bass line.

Michael Clapham, half of the duo who call themselves The Gorstey Lea Street Choir, tells us that “This song is a cautionary tale of days gone by, what may have been and where we are now, we are two men in our’ mid lives’ (average age 51 and a half). We have a lot to look back and learn from and a lot to look forward too!!! It’s amazing what we have created, two middle-aged men fumbling around with some of our favourite musical toys in Russ’s converted garage,”

The other half of The Gorstey Lea Street Choir, Russ Philips adds this about the song.

“We are both very proud of what this track and the upcoming mini-LP represents, plus we also cannot wait for you to hear the re-imaginations that our friend and collaborator Choque (Black Star Liner) has created to go alongside the 4 original tracks,” adds Russ Philips.

The band is essentially two friends on a life-long journey; having met as teenagers in the mid-’80s, it took until 2016 for them to turn their teenage plans — discussed back when both were involved in aspiring Manchester bands — into a reality with the birth of this project.

Michael and Russ formed the band after reuniting for Russ’s birthday party and a subsequent impromptu gig. After 15 plus years of not playing an instrument, singing or songwriting, Michael dove back in with an enthusiasm that led to such a massive response from the crowd and landlord alike that the two songs turning into two hours and a guaranteed booking the next month. ‘What’s your band name, boys?” they were asked and ‘The Gorstey Lea Street Choir’ is quickly retorted with a tip of the hat to Van Morrison‘s LP ‘His Band And The Street Choir.’

As of May 13, ‘Bluebird, Hollywood… Domino’ will be available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music and Spotify. The entire album’…from Prince’s Park to Farsley – Volume I’ will be released on July 9 and can already be pre-ordered via the label’s Bandcamp.

Closing remark: mark July 9 on your calendar, you are going to love this album when it comes out.

Keep up with The Gorstey Lea Street Choir

https://www.facebook.com/TheGorsteyLeaStreetChoir 1https://twitter.com/GorsteyLea https://www.instagram.com/thegorsteyleastreetchoir https://500broadcast.bandcamp.com/album/from-princes-park-to-farsley-volume-i https://soundcloud.com/thegorsteyleastreetchoir https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrBSnmQLTE8DaTVZHQG-6Zg/videos https://open.spotify.com/artist/19YNwhd2isI2Vm9melbdRk

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

Pentral – What Lies Ahead of Us

Posted on May 12, 2021 by normanweatheredmusic

Brazilian progressive rock / metal trio Pentral present their debut long-player ‘What Lies Ahead of Us’on the trail of high-energy singles ‘Aiming For The Sun’, ‘All My Wounds’ and ‘Silent Trees’– the sonic launching pad into the sonic expansive of a concept album reflecting on today’s society, presenting the saga of a lowly couple fighting for their lives and sanity.

This long-player tells of the tragic reality of many Amazon dwellers, whose habitat, lifestyle and livelihood are brutally taken from them, not to mention the destruction of the forest itself. Through their videos and lyrics, Pentral tells the story about the destruction and pilfering of the Amazon’s natural habitat. The video for singles ‘Silent Trees’ (part 2) and ‘Aiming For The Sun’ (part 2) were filmed in their native Amazon – as chapters in a dedicated saga that will unfold, track by track. Directed by Roger Elarrat and produced by Luana Klautau, this also involves Lucas Escócio as director of photography and editor Roger Elarrat, this video features actors Anne Costa, Guto Galvão, Eduarda Cursino, Boris Knez and Aldo Lima.

Hailing from Belém in northern Brazil, Pentral is made up of Victor Lima (vocals, guitars, songwriter, lyrics), Vagner Lima (drummer) and Joe Ferri (bass guitar). Their unique take on alternative rock can be described as progressive, heavy, groovy and melodic, while the band also deliver a strong political message about what is going on in Brazil and all over the world.
Pentral stands for ‘spirit’ in Latin, indicative of the message this band is trying to inspire via their sound – the need to transcend this material world through the power of music, without losing connection with reality and human frailties.

For this 10-track LP, the trio worked with legendary producer Tim Palmer (David Bowie’s Tin Machine, The Mission, HIM, U2, Robert Plant, Tears For Fears, Ozzy Osbourne, Goo Goo Dolls, Pearl Jam). Produced jointly by Pentral and Tim Palmer produced this album, with Sergio Fouad and Cesar Bottinha co-producing. Palmer also mixed the LP, which was mastered by Justin Shturtz (HIM, The Psychedelic Furs, Nancy Wilson, Slipnot, Tin Machine).

Deeply influenced by their Amazon roots, Pentral’s music is influenced by many global influences while also striving to honor Brazil’s groove and unique harmonies, progressive rock, metal music, atmosphere and melody. This debut album sums up years of experimentation and the search for human awareness of the environment, peace and equality.

“The album ‘What Lies Ahead of Us’ is like a “declaration” and it was conceived way before COVID-19 came out…But it kind of fits the current reality we´re going through. This pandemic is the outcome of the unfriendly way we’ve been treating our environment and ourselves as well, and it served to expose our insensitivity, our lack of empathy,”says Pentral frontman Victor Lima.

“It’s a story about a man and a woman who lives in the woods. The forest is invaded by a group of mercenaries (pretty common in Brazil) in order to burn the woods down and make money with that, the man is killed, the woman manages to survive and she is pregnant, then she gives birth to a girl, and They try to survive in the city, experiencing racism, violence, hunger, selfishness, indifference. The only thing they have – they love each other. So, the elements of the story – environment being destroyed, people suffering discrimination by the color of their skin, by the place where they came from, being selfish and violent for the sake of their own interests and prejudices, politics and religion abuse and extremism and the only way I believe things could be solved – the power of love. The album is like a journey of the three characters (a woman, a man, and their kid) passing through all the issues I’m talking about in the lyrics for these ten songs.”

As of May 7, the ‘What Lies Ahead of Us’ album is available everywhere digitally, including Apple Musicand Spotify. It can be ordered via https://pentral.lnk.to/WhatLiesAheadOfUs or via Amazon.

CREDITS
All songs written by Victor Lima
Produced by Pentral and Tim Palmer
Co-produced and engineered by Sergio Fouad and Cesar Botinha
Justin Shturtz – mastering
Tim Palmer – mixing, additional guitars, percussion and keyboards
Victor Lima – vocals and guitars
Vagner Lima – drums
Joe Ferri – bass guitar
Cover artwork by Heidi Teillefer

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.

Lisa Gerrard and Jules Maxwell Deshta (Forever)

Posted on May 3, 2021 by normanweatheredmusic

Lisa Gerrard and Jules Maxwell, best known for their work as part of the legendary band Dead Can Dance, present ‘Deshta (Forever)’, the second single from their forthcoming studio album ‘Burn’. The accompanying video is directed by cinematographer Michal Sosna.
Produced by James Chapman (MAPS), the long-play will be released on May 7 via Atlantic Curve, a London-based label that is part of the Schubert Music Europe.

“Deshta recalls a dream of eternity, spinning fearlessly into the perpetual Light,” says Lisa Gerrard.

Jules Maxwell adds: “Deshta has a dark brooding quality. James Chapman’s production has helped draw out a raw earthiness to the piece and Michal Sosna’s accompanying video is brilliantly disquieting and human at the same time.”

The record began its journey more than seven years ago, when Lisa met Irish theatre composer Jules Maxwell before working together for the first time. Things really took root when Gerrard and Maxwell began writing songs for their earlier collaboration ‘The Mystery Of The Bulgarian Voices (Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares)’. They were later introduced to Chapman and asked him to produce this album, which represents a stunning departure for all three of them.

With Chapman joining the duo as producer, ideas generated freely and over time, a distinct sound for their work began to emerge. Their focus was to create something that was both euphoric and compelling; more inventive than what they had worked on separately in the past. From gentle beginnings, each track builds and intensifies, creating a hypnotic experience to listen to from start to finish. With Lisa remaining in Australia, Jules adding his keys and percussion from France, and James bringing new light to the sound from England, the three were literally worlds apart, but those worlds fused in this music.

“With ‘Deshta (Forever) the aim was to create a huge, expansive and spacious sound. It is a dark, uplifting and mysterious journey. The call and response sections in the vocals are especially haunting. It is a very immersive track, and it was a joy to work on,” says James Chapman.

Sosna’s video is among seven specially commissioned films to accompany the release of the album. The first of these, created by Polish director Jacob Chelkowski’s video for the title track ‘Noyalain (Burn)’, proves more than a little provocative in these days of Covid, as it portrays the simple, traumatic act of touching.

In early March, Jules Maxwell also released his sophomore solo album ‘Nocturnes’ – the debut release for the newly-formed Archangelo Recordings. This beautifully melancholic collection of instrumental pieces was written and recorded over the past four years, much of it in collaboration with the acclaimed UK-based Vincent Dance Theatre.

‘Deshta (Forever)’ and ‘Noyalain (Burn)’ are both available digitally across online platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. The full ‘Burn’ album, set for release on May 7, can be pre-ordered on vinyl, CD and digitally at https://orcd.co/lisajulesburn

Keep up with Atlantic Curve
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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

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

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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

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Weathered Music

The musical explorations of Norman and Joel Weatherly.

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Nick Hudson/Font Of Human Fractures