Browsing Tag

Jazz Rock

Ellen Mara Band sparked jazz-fusion liberation with ‘Burnout’

Posted on 29 November 2024
Ellen Mara Band

‘Burnout’ by the Ellen Mara Band transcends unravelling as a sign of the times; it liberates the listener from the exhausted frustration of feeling as though there aren’t enough hours in the day to tend to the excessive demands of modernity.

While there was once a time when burnout was considered an individual problem, consciousness of the systemic social issue is starting to become a major part of the discourse. Exemplified by this all-serotonin, no-brakes jazz fusion tour de force. The track wraps you up within the technically proficient sonic emancipation as the band’s ability to balance consolation with euphoria and affirming lyricism is proven to be superlatively second to none—if their sound is this sweet recorded, you better prepare for the sugar rush if you see them live.

Recently rebranding from a solo project to a full band in preparation for their 2025 album release, Ellen Mara still takes her place as the frontwoman, sharing heartfelt life learnings through carefully crafted melodies, intricate arrangements, and playful grooves. In collaboration with her partner and co-writer Will Sutcliffe and their talented band members, the Ellen Mara Band offers an authentic fusion of Soul, R&B, Rock, and Jazz. They’ve earned a reputation in the Sydney live music scene and have recently captured the attention of renowned U.S. soul singer Allen Stone, making their international debut at Stone’s annual festival ‘Stone Family Field Trip’ in Washington in October 2024.

If you do one thing today, tune into the soul-provoking expression of resilience and join the groove-driven Ellen Mara Band revolution.

Burnout will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, from November 29th;

Review by Amelia Vandergast

faSade – Freedom to Carry (Is Not Free): A Dark Cabaret Plea For An End to The Right to Bear Arms

Posted on 6 November 2024

In the Avant Garde production of faSade’s dark cabaret rock single, Freedom to Carry (Is Not Free), the artist plunges deep into the heart of one of America’s most polarising debates. The jazz-imbued track, saturated with theatrical verve, doesn’t shy from voicing the harrowing price paid by innocence in the face of the nation’s gun culture.

With each lyric, faSade delivers visceral blows, but none as sharp as the one imparted through the strikingly sombre line, “Your freedom to carry is not free when I have to carry my child to the cemetery”.

The fierce outcry against the so-called freedom of gun ownership accounts for the loss of the cost of children’s lives while delivering an anthem mourning those lost to the bullets of mentally ill assailants and a rebuke of society’s complacency.

With America on the brink of electing a new leader, the timing of the track couldn’t be more poignant. faSade holds a mirror to the grim realities of a society that chooses the profits of the gun industry over the safety of its youth as the artist condemns the political powers that perpetuate this cycle of violence for electoral gains, and the societal indifference that allows domestic abusers and despondent individuals access to firearms.

Through Freedom to Carry (Is Not Free), faSade implores listeners to awaken from their idle states as mere legislative changes could preserve countless futures.

The official video for Freedom to Carry (Is Not Free) premiered on October 18th; stream the video on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get into the ‘East Coast Groove’ with Martin Packwood’s jazz-rock soundtrack

Posted on 2 October 2023
East Coast Groove by Martin Packwood

After an installation of tropic percussion and equally as exotic reverb, Martin Packwood’s single, East Coast Groove, gives way to a guitar-driven jazz-rock instrumental soundscape, which amalgamates era-spanning guitar styles from across the globe and unravels as an inexplicably unique tapestry that breaks through the monocultural mould, note by note.

The Birmingham, UK-hailing guitarist has long held a passion for instrumental composition, inspired by a diverse array of riff legends, from Santana to Clapton. By picking up his Strat and finding a refreshing way to pay ode to their styles, Packwood orchestrated a hit of pure rhythmic soul.

If you’re looking to get into the world of groove or you have long been acquainted, you will experience East Coast Groove as four minutes of progressively elevated guitar-driven euphoria.

East Coast Groove was officially released on September 22; stream and purchase the single via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Martin Mayer – ‘Carol Of The Bells’: Cinematically Prodigal Jazz-Laden Piano Pop-Rock

Posted on 14 November 2020

The Beijing Times describes Canadian pianist and composer Martin Mayer as “Canada’s Prince Of The Piano”, and with ‘Carol Of The Bells’ – a soaring, shifting, ringing three-minute eighteen-seconds instrumental track of rolling drums and searing piano melody – Mayer is certainly doing everything to prove himself worthy of that title.

An instrumental fusion of pop-rock, smooth mellow jazz, and strict classical discipline, ‘Carol Of The Bells’ rings and chimes its way through key shifts and tempo switches, alternately lifting and dropping  through the full dynamic range to produce an explosive, energetic track.

Mayer’s most recent album, ‘Unbreakable’, was listed as one of the top 25 New Music Critiques of 2018 by Music Connection Magazine, whilst Canada’s National Post predicts that Mayer is “Poised to take over the world stage”. On the basis of ‘Carol Of The Bells’, that truth is close to undeniable.

Hear ‘Carol Of The Bells’ on Spotify; follow Martin Mayer on Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Dangerbirds – Red Tea: Kaleidoscopically Entrancing Melodic Jazz

Posted on 13 September 2020

‘Immersive’ isn’t usually the first adjective which comes to mind to describe a standout track from Jazz ensemble but discernibly, the Leeds-lauded Jazz outfit Dangerbirds are anything but archetypal.

After forming in 2018, Dangerbirds took their time crafting their transcendently warm album “Shapes”. Part Ambient Jaz and Part Progressive Melodic Instrumental Rock, the album is a deluge of complexity weaved into trustable rhythms. The standout track is undoubtedly Red Tea, it may not use typical time signatures, yet, you’ll want to surrender your pulses to the alchemy weaved by virtuoso-level composer and guitarist Sam Horan regardless.

Never let it be said that Jazz can’t be accessible and fit for contemporary airwaves.

You can check out Red Tea along with the rest of Dangerbirds debut album Shapes via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Digital Dreamers – Matzo Ball Marriage: Obscurely Infectious Avant-Garde Pop Rock

Posted on 12 May 2020

“Matzo Ball Marriage” is the eccentrically orchestrated latest single from Avant-Garde Experimental artist The Digital Dreamers. Any fans of Frank Zappa will definitely want to delve into the aural insanity which ensues after you hit play.

The growling bass notes in the prelude may lead you to believe that you’re about to be introduced to a serious Funk Rock track. But when the endearingly adrenalizing vocals kick in over the up-tempo piano notes as they electrically sail through their progressions, you’ll realise that The Digital Dreamers only takes the quality of their slightly obscure, insanely infectious sound seriously.

They’ve left quite the impression. We’re already stoked to hear what comes next.

You can check out Matzo Ball Marriage for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Big Fat Meanies – Meet Me at the Downbeat: Frenetically Funk-Driven Alt Rock

Posted on 20 February 2020

If you missed the seminal release “Meet Me at the Downbeat” from up and coming Alt Rock artist Big Fat Meanies, it’s our pleasure to introduce you to the frenetic hit.

With Ska, Punk, Rap, Funk, Rockabilly, Swing and Hip Hop all influencing the instrumental style, Meet Me at the Downbeat is a dynamically progressive track which really comes into its own through the stunning solos. Rather than just offering the usual guitar riffs, you’ll also hear drum, bass, and sax solos – each of them is as captivating as the last.

It was a bold move incorporating such a smorgasbord of sounds into their single. But perceptibly, Big Fat Meanies have more than enough talent and energy to pull it off. I can only imagine how immersive a live set would be.

You can check out Meet Me at the Downbeat for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast