Austrian Indie Rocker Tanzos arejump-starting our weekend with squalling guitar harmonics, glitches and outtakes, on their new monochromatic music video for ‘How Do You Want Me?’ It sees Tanzosexploring the emotions and pressures felt when striving for the acceptance of others which is always relevant but perhaps more so during the interesting times that we live in.
‘Can’t We Just Be Friends Again’ was a hot release back in March, from the Bristol-based band Tungz. Since then they have garnered positive reviews including one from yours truly. Now they are pushing their music forward in a new and exciting direction as heard on their latest offering ‘Go Out’, released 22nd July 2020 via Heist or Hit.
While written and recorded before lockdown, ‘Go Out’ has become an unintentionally timely release for the band. The lyrics are focusing on anxiety and bad routines, which are all too familiar amid the lockdown.
Speaking about the bands new single, vocalist and songwriter Nicky Green said, “Jamie (Maier) and I spent eight months sofa surfing and sharing rooms while we were looking for a place and saving money to move to London. Because we were moving around so much, the song ended up being written in 4 different places. I wrote it as a conversation with myself. It’s about carrying too much weight in your soul without realising and getting exhausted with a routine that’s no good for you.”
‘Can’t We Just Be Friends Again’ was a hot release back in March, from the Bristol-based band Tungz. Since then they have garnered positive reviews including one from yours truly. Now they are pushing their music forward in a new and exciting direction as heard on their latest offering ‘Go Out’, released 22nd July 2020 via Heist or Hit.
While written and recorded before lockdown, ‘Go Out’ has become an unintentionally timely release for the band. The lyrics are focusing on anxiety and bad routines, which are all too familiar amid the lockdown.
Speaking about the bands new single, vocalist and songwriter Nicky Green said, “Jamie (Maier) and I spent eight months sofa surfing and sharing rooms while we were looking for a place and saving money to move to London. Because we were moving around so much, the song ended up being written in 4 different places. I wrote it as a conversation with myself. It’s about carrying too much weight in your soul without realising and getting exhausted with a routine that’s no good for you.”
Tungz effortlessly weaves funk into grooving bass lines within a song that still sounds new and fresh to our ears. Self-produced, their latest single ‘Go Out’ will be available to stream and download from Wednesday 22nd July via Heist or Hit.
‘Can’t We Just Be Friends Again’ was a hot release back in March, from the Bristol-based band Tungz. Since then they have garnered positive reviews including one from yours truly. Now they are pushing their music forward in a new and exciting direction as heard on their latest offering ‘Go Out’, released 22nd July 2020 via Heist or Hit.
While written and recorded before lockdown, ‘Go Out’ has become an unintentionally timely release for the band. The lyrics are focusing on anxiety and bad routines, which are all too familiar amid the lockdown.
Speaking about the bands new single, vocalist and songwriter Nicky Green said, “Jamie (Maier) and I spent eight months sofa surfing and sharing rooms while we were looking for a place and saving money to move to London. Because we were moving around so much, the song ended up being written in 4 different places. I wrote it as a conversation with myself. It’s about carrying too much weight in your soul without realising and getting exhausted with a routine that’s no good for you.”
Tungz effortlessly weaves funk into grooving bass lines within a song that still sounds new and fresh to our ears. Self-produced, their latest single ‘Go Out’ will be available to stream and download from Wednesday 22nd July via Heist or Hit.
This song has been on replay mode all week. Maybe I like it. Perhaps the sea is a bit salty. Maybe, yeah, just maybe. Here I go listening to it again. Hear I go listening to ‘Depends On Where You Stand” again.
Not only a catchy bit of music but interesting lyrics that reminded me of Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures At An Exhibition”. Elaborating on his interpretation of the track, Crawford tells us: “Two former lovers meet together in an art gallery, and they’re out of awkward pleasantries to exchange. No amount of hastily formed opinions on the artwork displayed can drown out what they are neglecting to discuss. They play-out a Hollywood-Esq sequence of trying not to be caught sneaking a glance, whilst attempting to give each other enough space by dancing around each other at a pace that is as excruciating as it is conspicuous.” Brilliant, simply brilliant.
Hailing from Glasgow, Crawford Mack draws on the influence of various works of literature that he devours with an insatiable appetite for words. Crawford is not just a composer and lyricist; he is also a video and art director, and he bringings all of these talents together for the expression of his musical vision.
Initially, Crawford was a jazz musician, breaking out of that genre box he has created a musical sound that, in his words, found ‘the sweet spot between Led Zeppelin and Joni Mitchell’. Crawford has collaborated with a wide variety of musicians from jazz, rock, electronic, and classical music projects. Those experiences came together and resulted in a journey to Antwerp to record his upcoming debut album, ‘Depends On Where You Stand’.
I would encourage you to give the teaser title track a spin while we wait in anticipation of the album release.
In 1967 the Beatles recorded ‘A Day in the Life’, a track from their Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album which is generally recognized as one of the most exquisite pieces of vinyl ever recorded.
‘Zombies’ is a song by the up and coming Bristol-based band the Goan Dogs.
As you can see for yourself, there is some commonality between these two beautiful pieces of music. Coffee is the one that immediately got my attention. I think I will have another cup now that we are mentioning it.
The other slice of common ground is the idea of getting caught up in the rat race of life and feeling like we are either caught up in a dream or living amongst zombies.
Discussing the track, Goan Dogs tells us: “Now that the whole world is ill, we all do the same things day in, day out. Stuck on a loop. Remember the good old days? When we were free to wake up, eat food, drink, get bored, get anxious, sleep and repeat. Everyday. Without thinking. Like Zombies.”
The Bristol quintet Goan Dogs have their debut album in the works and with the recent release of their previous songs, ‘Anxiety’ and ‘God Loves a Trier’, the five-piece band announce their third offering ‘Zombies’. Working with illustrator and animator Client_Pleaser1987 who just so happens to be the band’s guitarist, the video is exploring life a world of fast-paced environments, work, commuting and being human puppets to overlord bosses. Goan Dogs’ eerie new project perfectly captures our robotic way of life through the world of animation.
I have listened to Ben Hobbs performing his newest release, “Own Arms”, dozens of times over the last week, and I am still coming up empty on what I want to say in the way of a review.
It is not for lack of liking; this is a pleasing listen, I really do like it. I would give it a solid nine out of ten. Snappy guitars, synthesizing synths and a good groove propel the song along nicely.
My lack of writing is not for lack of connecting to the lyrics. The lyrics look at bidding farewell to people, places or things that may be preventing us from moving forward with our lives. Discussing the project, Ben says: “I wanted to capture this fast-paced punk idea, circling around on three chords and create something with loads of energy. It started out
a lot more electronic with the production, but we decided that to really make it work, everything had to be live and real.” Hence, the lyrics presented no obstacle to my writing of a review.
My silence was not an act of procrastinating. I had the time and resources to write this up a week ago. It was something of a writer’s block I assume, that kept me from putting pen to paper, metaphorically.
Grooving music, smart lyrics and all the time in the world and I am still coming up empty. In place of a proper review, I submit this for your reading and listening pleasure. Put down whatever would distract you from giving this recording an appropriate session of listening. Pull up the lyrics so you can read along, I prefer iTunes for the ease of doing this task, but if you have another method that works for you, all the power to you. Relax and let the music wash over you.
Repeat.
Repeat, and wait with bated breath for Ben to grace us with more material from his forthcoming E.P.
Supernaive, what a great name that is, I liked it before I even listened to them. The brothers Baptiste and Lucas Malgoire have been working together as Supernaive and released some excellent material over the years. 2017 gave us the E.P. Dazed & Confused, not to be confused with the song that Jimmy Page ripped off from Jake Holmes. And do not be dazed by the movie Dazed and Confused, produced by Richard Linklater which gives us a look at coming of age in 1970’s Texas. The Supernaive E.P., Dazed & Confused is a piano-driven electronica journey and proved to be a strong start for the boys that share time between Tokyo and Paris, France, not to be confused with Paris, Texas. The movie Paris, Texas, gave us the excellent music score by Ry Cooder since we are talking about music today.
In 2018 the lads Malgoire gave us Lions & Pigs, an ethereal, esoteric darker sound than their previous work, in a right way. This four-song E.P. has an edge to it that cuts through to our ears. BTW, excellent cover art.
And now we have all that 2020 has become with the redeeming grace of great music, specifically the full-length album Nekomata. Dozens of listens into this album and I still don’t know what to say. It is powerful without being pushy, beautiful without being gaudy, layered without being rock. They don’t just walk to the beat of their own drum, they beat the drum, and then we walk to that beat with them. Supernaive have released a new video & single ‘Under Control’ (ft. NAL) along with their debut album Nekomata
Rex, collectively as a group, know how to construct a good story. Much in the tradition of the Good Shepherd as mentioned in the song Dm from their freshly minted E.P. They weave a tale of unrequited love and the choices that a lover faces, lose the love of their life or cross the river, i.e. death, to be with their lover in eternity. What a tangled web they weave, tangled up in blue to be sure, much like another good storyteller, Bob Dylan.
I engaged with Rex immediately when I heard their single, Lovers Like We Used To Be, and wore out the proverbial needle in iTunes listening to it. Listening to the whole E.P. is a five times better. Specifically the five songs on the E.P. Rex. Where do I start to count the ways that I groove to this music? Thumping and magical bass. Understated but powerful drums. Grunge guitar, distorted, dissonant, echoes of Loe Reed. Smart lyrics delivered with demonstrative vocal cords, including a guest spot by Silia Hollestelle that has its own magic going on.
Last but not least, am I at five yet? As I was saying, last but not least, I would love to see this band live. They know how to build a song, and that would engage the audience, and I am sure it would be a memorable night. Please come to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, as soon as the pandemic is over.
In the meantime, everyone that reads this should go and listen to this beautiful recording. I am going to listen to it again for the umpteenth time.
Rex, collectively as a group, know how to construct a good story. Much in the tradition of the Good Shepherd as mentioned in the song Dm from their freshly minted E.P. They weave a tale of unrequited love and the choices that a lover faces, lose the love of their life or cross the river, i.e. death, to be with their lover in eternity. What a tangled web they weave, tangled up in blue to be sure, much like another good storyteller, Bob Dylan.
I engaged with Rex immediately when I heard their single, Lovers Like We Used To Be, and wore out the proverbial needle in iTunes listening to it. Listening to the whole E.P. is a five times better. Specifically the five songs on the E.P. Rex. Where do I start to count the ways that I groove to this music? Thumping and magical bass. Understated but powerful drums. Grunge guitar, distorted, dissonant, echoes of Loe Reed. Smart lyrics delivered with demonstrative vocal cords, including a guest spot by Silia Hollestelle that has its own magic going on.
Last but not least, am I at five yet? As I was saying, last but not least, I would love to see this band live. They know how to build a song, and that would engage the audience, and I am sure it would be a memorable night. Please come to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, as soon as the pandemic is over.
In the meantime, everyone that reads this should go and listen to this beautiful recording. I am going to listen to it again for the umpteenth time.
Baby Taylah has an E.P. out called Good Enough, and she takes on the universal and timeless question of self-evaluation, in the song of the same name as the E.P. She repeatedly asks if she is good enough. Good enough for whom, I ask? Good enough for our self imposed standards, which are often far higher than those of anyone else. Good enough for the son that you make mention? Are we good parents? Do we teach them to be the best that they can be or do we push them to be better than us at their peril? To quote another great song, do we “teach our children well??
The question that Baby Taylah thrusts upon us, are we good enough, is not only timeless, it is also challenging to answer. Never the less we are left not only with the burden of self-doubt but are then hit with the next question from her, “will I be good”? Good, by what standards? Mine? Baby Taylah’s? Societies? Which society, they are not all equal and will all give a different answer to that question.
This recording will leave you bouncing these social/philosophical/religious questions around in your head, and that is only the first song on this four-song E.P.
I don’t want to give all the secrets away, so I suggest you put on some headphone, earbuds or whatever, and give a listen to this recording that I deem good enough. Good enough for a solid positive review. Good enough for a repeat play. It is good.
Good Enough E.P. is available to stream via Icons Creating Evil Art.
Carl Louis closed out 2019 with the most excellent album “Silent Soldier”. As of this writing, we are about halfway through 2020, and Carl is bestowing a single on us, “Portal To Happiness”. The first song to be released off of his forthcoming EP, which is to be released later this year.
Carl had this to say about the new single:
“Portal to Happiness» is about being in the moment. Going to that place inside you where time doesn’t exist. For me, that place is both happy and sad at the same time. That intense feeling is «Portal to Happiness».”
I love some of the imagery on this song, topnotch writing in my humble opinion. Take, for example:
”No sleep in the light
Damn, the sun in July.”
Earlier today, I was basking on my deck in the evening sun, where I live we get about 18 hours of daylight, so if you have trouble sleeping with the light on this might not be the best place to live. I, on the other hand, like the sun in July, bring it on. But, ye, I can relate to what he is saying.
That is just one example, listen to this song and then join the queue to buy to the album when it comes out. I’ll be in that line someplace.
Tony Njoku, the British-Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and producer, has released the EP Justine that includes his hit single of the same name as well three other critically acclaimed tracks. An already well established London-based, producer, singer and popular auteur Tony Njoku has released this EP hot on the heels of late-2019’s ‘Your Psyhe’s Rainbow Panorama’.
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Straddling neo-soul and crippling quarter-life crisis trip-hop, he says, “This is a song about my dedication to self-examination and self-discovery. Unearthing some of my laws and inner turmoil (lack of courage, low self-esteem, etc.), and discovering what gets me going despite that turmoil. It’s an ode to beauty, to finding your ‘why’. I suppose you could call this a love song directed at the self. A ‘self-love song’.” “There’s also a strong statement being made on aesthetics and meditation (or maybe escapism). I’d say that for me, the core value of the piece comes from when I get lost in the aesthetic qualities in its content. From the pacing to the colours, the shapes, the textures and of course the sounds. It’s like making a statement on not focusing on statements, or meanings or messages. Just focus on beauty, focus on the glory and healing powers of abstractions.”
“This is a track about trusting your instincts. Having faith in yourself, and about taking action on that self belief. To me it’s an uplifting song. Overcoming adversity and all that wonderful motivational stuff. It’s important to share that sort of energy, we all want to be inspired.”
I would add to focus on the ever-shifting sounds and pacing that take the listener on a ride through the world of Tony’s insecurities and his feelings of low self-worth. This EP is not an always easy listen due to the dark shadings of the lyrics, but the music tends to pull those lyrics up, and Tony has written, created and produced a beautiful little four-song EP to usher in summer. Enjoy and stay safe.
L I S T E N
https:soundcloud.com/tonynjoku/100-for-beautr/s-wV9cHFacebook /tonynjokumusic Twitter /anthonyasblue Instagram /anthonyasblue Soundcloud /tonynjoku http://www.tonynjoku.com Apple Spotify For more info contact james@silentkid.co.uk
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