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Blues Music Blog & Promotion

MiLES. serves sun-kissed soul in his genre-bending single, ‘Wherever it Is’.

Posted on 27 May 2021
MiLES.

MiLES.’ latest genre-bending single, Wherever it Is, dug its heels right into the roots of soul, borrowed a few surf rock tones and revived timeless, dreamy, jazzy-sun-kissed melodies on synths, guitars and drums.

To say that the single is just as experimental as Mr Bungle’s album, California, wouldn’t be a stretch but the straight from the soul crooning on offer here will undoubtedly be a hit with any fans of Frank Ocean, Tyler, the Creator and Steve Lacy.

Making this single infinitely more impressive, the singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer only picked up a guitar for the first time in August 2020; the distinction in the mellifluous progressions may try to convince you otherwise.

MiLES.’ latest single is due for release on May 28th; you can hear it for yourselves here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

8udDha bl0od gives us the indie jazz blues with his single, ‘Fr33 jA2234 5UPeRm00n’.

Posted on 23 May 2021

There is seemingly no end to the Brighton-based experimental artist 8udDha bl0od’s versatility; in his discography, you’ll find it all, from drone electronica to Alt indie 90s rock to 70s psych. With his latest release, he has bestowed upon the airwaves a stunning fusion of Jazz and Blues that carries the same stylish cinematic air as a neo-noir classic.

With Fr33 jA2234 5UPeRm00n, 8udDha bl0od proved that Jazz is as accessible as the other genres he virtuosically dabbles in; those complex time signatures quickly start to feel like home when they are up against blues scales and guitar chords that work a little indie garage rock accordance into the mix.

You can check out 8udDha bl0od’s latest single by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Eleanor Goldfield has made her solo debut with the radical Americana EP, ‘No Solo’.

Posted on 21 May 2021

After opening for acts such as Helmet and Tom Morello in her band Rooftop Revolutionaries, Elanor Goldfield has launched her solo debut EP, ‘No Solo,’ which consists of three original songs and two spoken-word pieces. It’s a far cry from her political hard rock sound in Rooftop Revolutionaries, but the queer creative radical, journalist and filmmaker’s versatile sound still comes with a bruising impact.

The single, ‘Pyre’, is the perfect introduction to her visceral songwriting style. The enthralling slice of Americana lays its foundation in swampy bluegrass roots, while the easy acoustic guitar chords bring a light accordant air of singer-songwriter country folk. While tackling themes of damnation, the radical track unapologetically forces into consciousness the destruction that collectively surrounds us while speaking to your soul with a recognition that only exceptional songwriters can achieve.

With lyrics such as, “What do you live for if they’re dying to kill for a dime?”, if you don’t feel something listening to Pyre, you may want to check you’ve still got a pulse.

If you find space on your playlists for Bonny Light Horseman, Angel Olsen or Sharen Van Etten on your playlists, you’ll definitely want to make room for Goldfield’s debut EP.

Elanor Goldfield’s debut EP is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

The Third Arrangement give us a whole lot of ‘Rosie’

Posted on 18 May 2021

The Third Arrangement formed as a four-piece in South Jersey in 2016, around keyboardist and song-writer Nathan MacAdams and guitarist Frank Morley. Growing in numbers at the same time as in influences and scope, they’ve become a fine, innovative Acid Jazz-styled group, taking in rock guitar, funk, and of course jazz. ‘Rosie’ is a prime example of their art, with elements of Ben Folds, bits of Dave Brubeck, touches of JD McPherson, and occasional flashes of J. Mascis guitar breaks, all mixed in with storytelling, narrative lyrics.

‘Rosie’ is a beautiful mix of jazz guitar, flashes of rock flourish, and Rhodes piano, mellow and outlandish at once, all wrapped around the overall sound of a band that’s utterly aware of the sum of its parts; tight, assured, and with some serious groove. ‘Rosie’ is smooth, composed, with a lovely minor third rise and drop, and some absolutely filthy piano licks to compliment the sexy-as-hell guitar-work.

The Third Arrangement released their debut EP “Scarecrows” in 2019, and are currently recording more singles for release later in 2021; on the basis of this, we’re all going to need to get our hands on every last one of them.

Listen to ‘Rosie’ on Spotify. Follow The Third Arrangement on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Marshall Artz are ‘Coming Home’ with their twin guitars and a brand new album

Posted on 8 May 2021
Marshall Artz

Taken from their fifth album ‘What Matters’, Marshall Artz’ new single ‘Coming Home’ is a mildly folky, Louisiana-tinged acoustic-led duet, fast-paced and upbeat with some bluegrass vibes in places around the banjo-roll lead breaks and slide guitar pieces, all wrapped around the uber-tight fingerstyle rhythm work of Kevin Artz. There’s a folk-rock, Americana feel to the track, reminiscent of 70’s trio America, Bread, or Harry Chapin, with maybe an element of the Doobie Brothers thrown in in the way both players interact organically around the track to create something that sounds fuller than ‘just’ two guitars and vocals.

It’s an excellent track, pacey and tight; lyrically, the title’s pretty much on the money – a long time away, nothing but ‘FaceTime on my iPhone’ to connect with, and ‘today is the day that I’m coming home’. Gentle, fun, and uplifting, ‘Coming Home’ is a great introduction to Marshall Artz new album.

You can hear ‘Coming Home’ here.

Review by Alex Holmes

The Fruitful Journey: Alien of Nature roams free to fulfill his passions on ‘Canyonlands’

Posted on 6 May 2021

Taken off the superb twelve-track release called ‘Motion In Time‘, Alien of Nature beautifully soothes our worries about the darkness away, with the awe-inspiring new single called ‘Canyonlands‘.

Mike Baran aka Alien of Nature, is a fascinating travelling singer-songwriter based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is bravely following his full-time music dreams despite this horrific pandemic and is well on the way through the detours, to achieve his achievable goals through sheer driving determination, pure passion and hard work.

With a name that means ‘one’ in Gaelic, you feel the riveting rock, blues, country and folk fusions inside this tasty wrap of creation, that tastes so edible in your happy music palate. This is that authentic sound which isn’t following any fad, but is only flowing freely to find that open road and to inspire others to do what they need to do in life too.

The wanderlust period in his life of 2019-2020 is entrenched into his soul and you can feel his deeply-felt lyrics merge together perfectly, with his crisp guitar skills and soulful vocals that steams up your previously sad mood. His love for his craft is obvious and you can’t help but marvel at the valley of goodness here.

‘Canyonlands‘ from the currently Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Alien of Nature, walks us through the peaceful terrain, as he sees where he needs to go, in order to be truly happy. From California to the East Coast to his current home, you feel that this is an original musician, who will do whatever it takes to find his happy path in life.

Stream this carefully crafted single on Soundcloud and see more on the IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Armstrong & O’Donnell – Altitude: Minimalist Indie Folk Pop Perfection

Posted on 4 May 2021

‘Altitude’ is just one of the quiescently powerful folk-pop singles to come from the collaboration between Scottish guitarist and songwriter Mark O’Donnell and singer-songwriter Chris Armstrong.

The minimalist bluesy popping guitar notes create the perfect platform for Armstrong’s vocals which carry the same soul-steeped air as the likes of Tracy Chapman. That is until the single amps up the energy and makes a sonic shift in tone for the outro crescendo that is arresting enough to make an everlasting impression.

With no hint of hyperbole, the powerhouse duo has what it takes to become the Simon and Garfunkel of our generation. If Altitude doesn’t leave you mesmerised, you’re not paying attention.

Armstrong & O’Donnell’s single is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Perry Michael Allen brings us jazzy old-school groove with ‘Just Like That’

Posted on 2 May 2021

If a career working as a producer, song-writer, arranger, and session man for the likes of Albert King, the Memphis Horns, Wilson Pickett, Boz Skaggs, and Al Green (yep. Read that list again) amongst others isn’t enough for you, let’s add in works on multiple RIAA Certified Gold and Platinum albums, a highly coveted Memphis Blues Foundation ‘Blue Note’ Award, and music licensing to multiple films and TV shows (including ‘House’, ‘C.S.I.’, ‘JAG’, Ally McBeal’, ‘Pulp Fiction’, ‘Munich’, and ‘Mickey Blue Eyes’), and tutoring at the prestigious Berklee College Of Music. That’s one heck of a resume all in itself, except that now, as if by magic, Allen brings us ‘Just Like That’. A mix of Jazz-inspired motifs set over Hip Hop beats and breaks, with – of course – a huge Memphis-inspired feel.

We’ve got old-school TR-808 style electro beats and punching, hard-driven bass, sitting behind some chilled, grooving hip hop-styled vocals, a little funky syncopated guitar fill here and there, and a beautiful piano riff that reprises the Mission Impossible ‘tension’ music, hinting but never quite being a straight lift. The drums and guitar build through the track, until we get proper Stax-style horn fills, a little sax riff here, a clarinet there, building up the track until…too soon…and it’s over. It’s a killer track, all smooth-groove, funky without being over-the-top in that laid-back Al Green/Marvin Gaye kind of way, with a definite jazzy feel but a hugely modern vibe from the beautifully sung, soulful vocal and those Hip-Hop beats. It’s quite simply excellent.

Check out the video for ‘Just Like That’ on YouTube; follow Perry Michael Allen at the Clubhouse on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

The Dark Days have ‘Georgia’ on their minds.

Posted on 2 May 2021

Take four siblings raised in Colorado, a bunch of traditional acoustic instruments, some serious musicianship and songwriting, and a whole lot of heart and soul, and with a little bit of gentle shaking you might just come out with The Dark Days. Classic, perfect, gorgeous gentle Americana written ‘for our Ma when we were going through the struggle’, ‘Georgia’ rolls and swells along on waves of acoustic guitar, cahon, strings, and singer Xela Dark’s stunning voice; smoky, soothing, sultry, caressing, uplifting, and just plain beautiful, Xela’s vocal is the icing on an already extremely well-baked cake. Think of Counting Crows or the Jayhawks, with Sheryl Crow or maybe Lene Marlin taking over on vocals for Adam Duritz for a while, and you can imagine the sort of territory we’re in here.

It’s a perfect, sweet summer song; something to lie back in a corn field and just listen along to, and let everything else go for a few minutes. That’s pretty rare.

You can check out ‘Georgia’ on Spotify, and follow The Dark Days on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Lewis Shepperd has released his fervently soulful alt-indie track, Follow You.

Posted on 24 April 2021

Alt-indie-rock rarely falls into the swoon-worthy category, but when it packs as much soul as an Amy Winehouse record along with stormy melodic instrumentals, it is impossible not to be overcome by the level of feverish alchemy. Lewis Shepperd’s latest single, Follow You, is the perfect example.

With a curveball of a breakdown, the track briefly evolves into a feat of alt-hip-hop before the dreamy indie vocals breathe more expressive soul into the timeless single as they find synergy with the guitars that carry hints of blues. After honing in on their talent in function bands, it is safe to say that Lewis Shepperd’s place is well and truly in the original music scene. The individuality and gravitas that he brings to the airwaves are practically unparalleled.

Follow You is now available to stream on Spotify. Connect with Lewis Shepperd via Facebook & Twitter.

Review by Amelia Vandergast