Browsing Tag

blues

The LA singer-songwriter Eric Baugh has made his acoustic folk-rock debut with his compulsion-questioning single, Silent Spring

Posted on 2 October 2023

Eric Baugh strummed the decades and all the contemporary distractions which came as a courtesy of them in his debut single, Silent Spring. The bluesy lead notes against the quiescent calm of the acoustic folk-rock chords beneath his beckoning vocal lines will strike all the right notes with fans of Cat Stevens and Paul Simon.

The LA-based singer-songwriter made as much of a case for the beauty in simplicity in his guitar work as his lyrics which bring to question the way we live as though there’s no alternative. Consumerism and greed were never part of the human psyche’s blueprint; as eloquently illustrated by Baugh, we’ve been conditioned into commercialist conformity, and it is never too late to start again.

It may take more than one stunning song fuelled with small-town iconography and bearing R.E.M. reminiscences to derail our descent into further despondency with the world around us, but Baugh’s contribution is sure to compel his listeners into questioning their compulsions.

Silent Spring reached all major platforms on September 15; stream it via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Marygolds transcended space and time with the blues in their indie Americana single, Time Machine

Posted on 19 September 2023

The Louisville, Kentucky-hailing indie Americana outfit, Marygolds, made light melodic work of stripping away the past few decades and bringing a bygone era back to life in the standout single, Time Machine, from their eponymous 2023 EP.

Everything rests mellifluously easy on the timbre of the vintage bluesy guitar chords, which shimmer with early ’60s nostalgia as they drive the evocative instrumental arrangement under the gospel-esque vocals which reach the epitome of old-school soul. With the intimacy infused into the massive roots-wrapped production that could rival Father John Misty’s masterful work, Time Machine is so much more than an ode to the past; it’s a ticket back to soulfully sepia-tinged sanctity of it.

Perhaps even more remarkably, even though Marygolds left no clues to their 21st-century habitation behind in the cinematic gravitas of their work, their reverence for roots music didn’t come close to resounding as archaic. The outfit comprised of progenitors of modern blues is definitely one to watch.

Time Machine is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Eddie & The Wolves riffed the blues in their latest hard rock anthem, The Coming Storm

Posted on 15 September 2023

Batten down the hatches for the latest riff-adrenalized anthem, The Coming Storm, from Eddie & the Wolves. With the soulful overtones underpinning the blues rock installation of riotously introspective rancour, you’ll be exposed to the soft underbelly of the UK-hailing wolfpack while being electrified by the hard rock alchemy their tight synergy bleeds into the airwaves.

Instead of solely keeping it superficial and glam, Eddie & The Wolves used The Coming Storm to weave a raw tale that invites the listener to take the track as a sign that you should face the uncertainty of our chaotic world head-on. With the hook-littered hit on your playlists, standing at the vanguard of change will start to seem an infinitely better option than cowering into a bottle.

The Coming Storm will arrive on September 15; stream it on Spotify & keep up to date with the band on Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The blues rock renegade Chance Brown supercharged the airwaves with his electrifying single, Come See ‘Bout Me

Posted on 26 August 2023

The Victoria BC roots rock renegade Chance Brown delivered a bluesy bluegrass invitation you won’t want to turn down with his latest single, Come See ‘Bout Me.

Don’t let the acoustic guitar-wielding cover art fool you. Come See ‘Bout Me is more electrifying than anything Jack White has crafted in his entire career and just as rich in mainstream appeal thanks to the garage rock infusion. The track is so much more than a live wire, it is more reactive than the Chernobyl power plant at the point of explosion.

Between the harmonica blasts, the lap steel tones and the tightly controlled chaos of the choruses, Chance Brown succeeded in paying homage to the traditions of blues and ensuring that those aural traditions have a place in the contemporary music industry.

After spending his life in unwavering devotion to honing the different elements of song-crafting, Chance Brown has polished his talents and maintained his passion, initially ignited by the likes of Justin Townes Earle and Gord Downie, enabling him to become one of the most scintillating raconteurs of truths in any town.

Come See ‘Bout Me was officially released on the 18th of August; stream it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tom Rogers resurrected psych blues in his single, Rise Again

Posted on 16 August 2023

From the first nostalgic note in the debut single, Rise Again, from Tom Rogers, you will bask and revel in the Beatles and the Doors reminiscences and find something brand-new in Rogers’ reggae, blues, folk and psych amalgam.

While the groove-pocketed rhythms take a firm grip of your rhythmic pulses, the kaleidoscopic tones abstract you from the 21st century as the visceral with bluesy soul vocals light a fire under the vintage production.

With Pawala Ariyathilaka on lead guitar, Will Fraser on Drums, Dan Wakeling on bass, and Steve Burholt on keys, Tom Rogers and his backing band delivered a superlative slice of psychedelic blues rock reverence that will allow you to slip back in time and across the Atlantic. They didn’t reinvent the wheel with Rise Again, which carries a flood of second-coming redemption, but the way they gave you a ticket back to the 70s era of blues rock via a route never taken is something to celebrate. If you’ve got the Black Keys and The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on your radar, you have room for Tom Rogers on your playlists.

Rise Again was officially released on August 4th; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Off My Shoulders: Billy Moran tells us all to have faith no matter what the obstacles on Little Dreamer

Posted on 18 July 2023

Often compared to Gary Clark Jr. and Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme), Billy Moran has nothing to lose and cuts it loose rather brilliantly on the guitar-lovers-anthem which might be just perfect for those days when you just need to explore again on Little Dreamer.

Billy Moran is a Los Angeles, USA-based alternative blues/rock solo artist who is well-travelled and is known as one of the best underground acts around who is ready to conquer the world.

If you like music with a serious edge and a skillset which has been forged over many years of practice, Billy Moran takes us into a happier place away from any mixed feelings of current times. This is so catchy and might be a special single to whistle with on the way to work.

Little Dreamer from the LA-based alternative blues/rock solo artist Billy Moran is a body-grooving track which might take you back to a better time in the galaxy. This is a song all about getting great advice. Turning up the heat and taking us into a thoughtful melody to tap those feet with, we find a single to believe in.

When the world is cold, it’s best to look upwards, never down.

Listen up further on Spotify.

See his dreams come to life on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Sirens Wailing: SERVAN refuses to be stopped by the bullets on Dark Times

Posted on 7 June 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5QVeaK_TFg

Leading from the front and educating us all about what is really going on inside those distracting flares, SERVAN opens up the door and exhibits leadership qualities amongst the madness of the shattering world on Dark Times.

SERVAN is a Cologne, Germany-based indie hip-hop artist and music producer who is known as a conscious artist who has created GUERRILLA Blues and formulates an electric blend of realness featuring jazz, soul and G-Funk.

”The artist, producer and political activist with Kurdish roots fights for a change in today’s mass culture back to a HIP HOP culture that functions as a revolutionary tool of social criticism.” ~ SERVAN

He’s the modern-day hero we needed. SERVAN is his name. Making real music is his game. He takes his well-respected standing seriously and weaves a web through the lies and unties the truth in Dark Times whilst shining the light to help us all see what we need to view. Right now. Before it’s too late for humanity.

Dark Times from Cologne, Germany-based indie hip-hop artist SERVAN is one of the more eye-opening tracks around and might shock those who haven’t really opened their eyes recently. Lyrically on point and with a moody beat to play on maximum volume, to show us all what the world has become.

There is a real edge here which is striking and comprehensively to the point, from a revolutionary creative which is so sick of the pointless bloodshed being spilt due to greedy so-called leaders only caring about themselves.

View this top music video on YouTube.

See the vision continue on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

The Fretbenders – Wandering Soul: An Americana Beacon for Wanderlust Dreamers to Follow Home

Posted on 11 May 2023

Taking you simultaneously to a veranda in Sicily and a back porch in Louisiana, the soundscape in the standout single, Wandering Soul, from the singer-songwriter duo The Fretbender’s seminal album, Long Overdue, is a beacon for the wanderlust dreamers to follow home.

Between the harmonicas, slide guitars and folksy vocal lines which sugar the atmosphere with compassion for the world-weary to savour, Wandering Soul is a timeless rootsy Americana offering which will nestle you within its euphonic comfort.

The husband-and-wife duo, Diane and Bob Kordas are known for their homely senses of soul and their unique roots infusions, which allow heritage sounds to resound on contemporary airwaves. Following their hotly anticipated LP, we hope there’s plenty more in the pipeline.

Wandering Soul is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Just Like Honey: Maya’s Radio Orchestra Let the Light in with her jazz blues rendezvous, Suntrap

Posted on 3 May 2023
https://soundcloud.com/mayasradioorchestra/suntrap/s-SzD5YkM1Cav?si=bb9f31ab5e3446218e53aa0d7eb231ce&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Maya’s Radio Orchestra brought sun-bleached luminosity by the smorgasbord with her latest baroquely beguiling single, Suntrap. Just as the sun illuminates dust when it hits a room, the radiance in Suntrap through the honeyed vocals and swirling harps suspend the dusty underground jazz bars while the piano arrangement underpins the warm arrangement; contributed to by producer Lauren Gilmour’s scintillating synth lines. With the dreamy and lofty drum fills bringing a lemon slice of Portishead-reminiscent glamour, Suntrap becomes a sonic plateau that you will want to visit time and time again.

Maya says: “When I wrote this song, it was the end of February, and the midst of a very long dark, damp, Glasgow winter, and I was feeling very down. We underestimate how difficult the winter in Scotland can be, all whilst having to continue with our day-to-day lives as if we’re not affected by nature and the lack of sunlight.

Writing this song was my way of processing this uncomfortable realisation that capitalism and the need for productivity are incompatible with our human nature and that it’s having a detrimental effect on our communal mental health.”

Maya is a Glasgow-based British-Nepali singer-songwriter, harpist, pianist and vocalist. She is highly revered for her texturally intricate harmonies, which cathartically coalesce with her classy instrumentation and lyricality that unravels as conceptually philosophical poetry.

The sun will hit the airwaves on May 3rd. Stream Suntrap on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

THE PALE HORSES rolled with the punches in their soulfully heavy progressive blues single, Shallow Dive

Posted on 28 April 2023

THE PALE HORSES raucously reimagined blues with their latest feat of heavy progressive blues, Shallow Dive. The shimmering tones spilling from the Hammond organ remain definitively bluesy, as do the harmonised backing vocals, but everything else in the innovated hit came straight from the Toronto-hailing artist’s very own heavy rock n roll drawing board.

Even if you can take or leave blues and heavy progressive rock, there’s enough exhilarant substance in the release to affirm THE PALE HORSES are one of the most original acts on any scene. The jazz-inspired drums and vocal lines from Dane Hartsell transform this ode to 70s vintage tones into a riot of rock renovation, which may make traditionalists itch, but anyone who appreciates experimentalism will want to bask in the heat of this scorching sonically salacious release.

Shallow Dive is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast