Wed, 25 January 2012
Hey Folks For the first time in a very long time, I'm not able to offer you a Suffolk 'n' Cool this week. We have an elderly, confused and frail relation living with us who requires 24 hour care. After a month of night duty (and no sleep) every other night and a lot of hard graft every day, this week something had to give. I'm really sorry that it is SnC, it is one thing that has been keeping me motivated and sane. I'm hopeful that it will only be this week and that we'll have a more sustainable regime in place very soon. In the meantime please check out what Codger and the like are playing over at AMP and be sure to give this excellent video from Jordan Reyne a look. She does have a way with a song that woman! All being well, I'll catch you next week. Peter Category:general
-- posted at: 6:39 PM |
Thu, 19 January 2012
Research has shown that loud headphones are sometimes not just bad for your hearing, they can kill you. Well, indirectly. Pic: A great sunrise yesterday but today, I'm not convinced that the sun rose at all. Big Woman - The D.A. (El Paso, Texas, USA) “All my friends are feral cats, hipsters and scaredy rats, hobos and acrobats,” chimes lead singer Tyler Dudley in a moment of beatnik whimsy, before an irresistible bass line kicks in and refuses to vacate your brain. The You Kids! album is described as a wonder: lovingly crafted songs that transcend synth-pop formula, laden with personality by odd flashes of weirdness – whether it be secretly recorded barroom banter or those glitchy chirps at the end of “Big Woman,” which is the first half of the “Pastels” single (we’ll have the other “side” in a week or two). More impressively, You Kids! has improbably bottled The D.A.’s live sound. Through one major tour, countless local gigs and scores of daytrips (including two jaunts to Austin during SXSW), the quintet has become a live powerhouse that can get ankles swiveling, merch moving, and babies made. Tyler has been known to hang from rafters, barking like a madman. Keyboards either titter in pleasure or shudder in fear at the wrath of synth maestro Cesar Muñiz. Michael Frisbey’s trumpet– alternately sad and buoyant – cuts through the din of chugging guitar, Steven Escargaza’s earworm bass, and Evan Tremper’s driving drums. And the Beat - Lila Rose (Berkley, CA, USA) A second track in as many weeks and a remarkable track it is too, full of interest, multi-layered and yet still clear and enticing, like a musical architecture that you can walk around in, because it has designed spaces. The Canadian singer/songwriter now makes her home in Berkeley, California, a perfect backdrop for her quirky and unusual style. While Lila writes within the boundaries of classic pop song structure, her songs could be called anything but traditional. I’ve only listened to five tracks from the album so far and an hugely impressed by each. On the basis of those, I’d say that the two years of gestation are well spent. This is an album of great authenticity and maturity.
Never - Orbital (UK) Never is a brand new track from Orbital which is available to download for free. It will appear on the forthcoming eighth studio album to be released in April 2012. UK Tour - On-Sale Now. April 2012. 5th Manchester Academy 6th Leeds Academy 7th Glasgow ABC 8th Liverpool Academy 9th Cambridge Corn Exchange 10th London Royal Albert Hall www.orbitalofficial.com for tickets The Loneliness of Some Poems - Hydrogen Jukebox with The Ne’erdowells (NYC, USA) HYDROGEN JUKEBOX, whose name derives from the culture-shifting poem "Howl" by the late great Allen Ginsberg, is New York City’s most innovative venue for spoken word paired with improvisational music. It began in 2005 at various clubs in NYC’s East and West Villages, where poets and pick up musicians would step up to the open mike to mix it up together in the spirit of the Beats from days of yore. It quickly gained popularity and morphed into the progressively experimental and increasingly together happening it is today—for the past two years featuring a kickin’ alt rock/punk/funk/noise band with a genius for improvisation, THE NE'ERDOWELLS (with Davey Paterson, guitar; Matt Riganese, keys; Brant Lyon, keys; Mary Noecker, bass; Dave McKeon, bass; and Ry Pilla, drums). The collaboration of The Ne’erdowells with eleven spoken word artists affiliated with Hydrogen Jukebox produced BRAIN AMPIN', its first album in the summer of 2011, under LOGOchrysalis Productions, produced by Brant Lyon, originator and producer/curator of the Hydrogen Jukebox series, where “POEMusic explodes on the tongue.” Hydrogen Jukebox are playing a show this evening, featuring the artists from the album, at Goodbye Blue Monday which you’ll find at 1087 Broadway in Brooklyn, NYC. Do a search for the address on Google Maps and then street view. Looks an interesting little spot eh? Doors at 8pm. If you’re picking this up after the show, a special hello. Let me know how it was. Sudden deaths from wearing headphones (from Digital Music News today) Forget about the damage that headphones have on hearing. Because according to a new study, there's another problem: sudden and irreversible death. In fact, the number of deaths and fatal accidents involving headphone-wearing pedestrians has tripled over the past few years, according to the just-published finding. These accidents, frequently sudden and fatal, typically involve young, 20-something males walking around urban areas. MA FACUT FEAT VALENTINA CASULA DUB MIX - DJ Click from Delhi to Sevilla DUB - Digital release Jan 23 (next Monday) “A powerful Digital Folk voyage straight into the heart of the gypsy world and all the musical treasures to be savored therein, infectiously infused with the fire of electro Dub artistry.” Recorded in Paris, Delhi, London, Cologne and Melbourne
AMPed There was a bit of a flap last week, when the AMP site disappeared for a couple of days. It turned out that the domain was pointing to a different site. Still, it all got sorted out in the end. I just checked and it is just where it should be right now. Rich Palmer from Audio Gumshoe in Ohio, USA is presenting show 318 and from Monday, Erk from Erk FM in Sydney, Australia will be up with show 319. Big Day (Plant Plants remix) - Torgny (Oslo, Norway) Having established himself with highly regarded hardcore acts like Amulet, it may come as a surprise that Norway’s own Torgny (aka Torgny K. Amdam) has chosen to delve into the electronic and pop realms of late. However, the most pleasant surprise is that Torgny’s recent aural explorations bear none of the awkwardness one might associate with the transition. Rather than coming off like a thick-necked gangster in an ill-fitting suit, Torgny encompasses his new synth-laced electro beats like a well-tailored second skin. Torgny has once again partnered with Marie Due on his forthcoming release, Trilogy. Each Torgny track features Due and is accompanied by a narrative-driven mini-documentary exploring the lives of Norwegian youth, courtesy of Emil Trier’s lens. |
Thu, 12 January 2012
A sky full of stars and aircraft tonight here in Suffolk. Unfortunately I was aware of that long before recording the show. Yip. Another late one but with a comely variety of styles and approaches from london and the UK, France, California and Canada. I hope you’ll enjoy the tracks and explore the artists sites. Almost all the tracks in this show are available for free download. Today was logging day as a couple of out-of-control willow trees near the barn had to come down. The logs are massive even though the tress were only planted about 14 years ago. Crave - Filthy Kicks (London, UK) Jamendo Originally released on the 2009 album Dirty Little Secrets, a compelling album on Jamendo at www.jamendo.com/en/album/56612 Take a look at the video of a live performance of the song at http://youtu.be/qMEs31Gsb4w You can also download the album free, under Creative Commions at the band’s site: La Corredera - Juanito.bass (France) From the 12 track album Goodbye Mr Big Nose (2008) available on Jamemdo. The bass / flamenco fusion thing really appealed to me and there are plenty of fine and very varied tracks on the album united by the prominence of the bass. Well worth checking out at www.jamendo.com/en/album/56775 www.myspace.com/jeanverdu I see dead people (Spotted in the Spinsider newsletter) OK, it’s a bit on the morbid side but the Live! I See Dead People Tumblr features a selection of iconic album, covers altered by Jean-Marie Delbes and Hatim el Hihi so that the deceased members of the bands are no longer pictured. The Beatle Abbey Road cover shows just Paul and Ringo crossing the street. The John Lennon/Yoko Ono Double Fantasy album becomes a poignant shot of Yoko alone. The results are surprisingly intense. http://liveiseedeadpeoples.tumblr.com/ Spinsider: www.spin.com/ Spanish Ladies / Geese On The Bog - Dave Swarbrick (UK) Dave Swarbrick is a legend. He has been described as “the most influential British fiddle-player bar none”. Perhaps best known for his 10 year stint with Fairport Convention, Swarb was instrumental in the creation of their seminal album Liege and Leaf. In fact, he was initially a session musician bright in to add some overdubs to a track. Swarb is yet another musician who emerged from the Art Schools of the 60s and 70s. I first saw him when he was playing with Martin Carthy first time around. They are still playing shows together and, I suspect, having a great time. The hallmark of their early collaboration, and much of Swarbrick’s work since was the innovative interpretations of traditional folk music, rather then slavish adherence to some arbitrary “correct” playing. For a magnificent demonstration of his improvisation and skill, check out the eleven minute epic track A Sailor’s Life on the Fairport Convention album Unhalfbricking. From the 2010 album Raison D’etre on Shirty Records. You can buy it direct from his site at: http://www.folkicons.co.uk/swarb.htm
Heart Machine - Lila Rose (Berkley, CA, USA) Heart Machine is the title track of Lila Rose’s new album, available from her site. Born with “ultra sound sensitivity”, Lila’s experience of the world around her has been quite out of the ordinary, and very much sonically based. Lila is both blessed and afflicted with sounds that most people cannot hear; while this is a gift when it comes to making music, it can also lead to great personal discomfort at times. Lila Rose began her ascent to music stardom five years ago in her native Canada. Two singles with GRAMMY winning producer Pete Prilesnik (Great Big Sea, Ashley MacIsaac, Sarah Harmer) earned Lila some attention. The singer/songwriter now makes her home in Berkeley, a perfect backdrop for her quirky and unusual style. While Lila writes within the boundaries of classic pop song structure, her songs could be called anything but traditional. I’ve only listened to five tracks from the album so far and an hugely impressed by each. On the basis of those seven, I’d say that the two years of gestation are well spent. This is an album of great authenticity and maturity. AMPed We’ve had website problems over the past couple of weeks and now the site is re-directing to somewhere else. To access the shownotes, artist links and a player, you can short-cut to Parkade (Nightblind remix) - Rah Rah (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada) Rah Rah's sophomore album, Breaking Hearts was recorded and mixed in Montreal by Kees Dekker (Plants & Animals) and was released on June 1, 2010 in Canada. It follows the widespread industry praise for 2008's debut album, Going Steady and reinforces the increasing visibility that has accompanied Rah Rah's relentless tour schedule. Rah Rah were crowned "Best new Canadian Band" and "Best New Alternative Band" by iTunes in 2009. The band has also been featured as iTunes Download of the Week and Starbucks Pick of the Week in Canada. The band members share a collective mentality, taking turns taking the lead, both in songwriting and while on stage and constantly switching instruments. The proud prairie rockers sing of the seriousness of art, poetry, love, and politics, and contrast it with a stage full of confetti, pinatas, candy, and six friends loving life and having fun. This young, six-member ensemble artfully bridge sincerity with the absurd. Despite lyrics that touch on underwater sea creatures, stockbrokers, Saskatchewan (and now Montreal), and impressionist painters, their songs are built to break your heart. All this along with the melodic male/female vocals and diverse instrumentation (guitars, bass, drums, keys, violin, accordion, ukulele), ensures that a Rah Rah show will not disappoint. |
Wed, 4 January 2012
The second half of our 20 to watch in 2012. Each of these artists have impressed me in 2011 and I think they are likely to attract significant attention in 2012. They certainly deserve it. There have been somne lovely moonsets this week and, when it isn’t pouring with rain, and some great coloured skies. They're Here - The Esoteric Gender (Reykjavik, Iceland) Four members, four different countries: England, France, Denmark, Canada. This explains the vast scope of genres their music touches, from dance to triphop, from rock to electronica. They have won the support of legendary producer/engineer Tony Platt (Bob Marley, AC/DC, Sparks) describing them as “a favorite of [his] for quite a long time now”, and adding “they deserve their music to be heard far and wide”, and of British magazine, who picked them as one of their favorite acts of the 2010 Iceland Airwaves music festival, as well as other newspapers and music industry figures from Iceland. Last February, they released their first EP, “Prelude”, which remained among the top selling albums of fair-trade website gogoyoko.com for four weeks without any promotion. Take a look a their videos on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/theesotericgender Surrender - Ólöf Arnalds (Reykjavik, Iceland) I had the great pleasure of catching Ólöf Arnalds on my first night of CMJ last year. After a pretty stressful journey from JFK into the city. Music publicist Ariel Hyatt had called me to say get to the show because it was stunning. In that respect, as in so many others, she was dead right. Ólöf was playing Googie’s Lounge (upstairs at The Living Room) on Ludlow Street in the heart of the LES and was the perfect antidote to a day of pressure and deadlines. There is such a lot of remarkable, creative and, above all, beautifully crafted music coming out of Iceland these days. Perhaps it’s something to do with the long dark nights. I have a theory that music takes time to ferment and mature a rushed song is like home-brew beer, created and finished too fast, overheated and not at all palatable. Is it just me or can you feel the space and depth here in what is after all a fairly stright-forward song. Southbound - Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers (Halifax, NS, Canada) Rugged, raspy, and roaring with charisma, Halifax's Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers is to folklore what smoke is to bourbon. Perfectly coupled. Ben's songwriting is as bold in range as it is in ferocity. Fuelled by a quality of melodrama and powerful lyricism, it's the romance and the manhood crashing with his voice that gives Caplan a truly innovative and experimental artistry. A sound that bridges the gap between controlled composition and unruly passion. Breaking between guitar, banjo, piano, and melodica, Caplan's stage show is almost reminiscent of a burly and bearded Freddy Mercury; a raging, strong, and exploratory songwriter, it's the blues in his soul, and the heart in your chest pounding as one that makes Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers an act not to be missed. http://bencaplanmusic.bandcamp.com/ www.facebook.com/TheCasualSmokers www.youtube.com/bencaplanmusic Lemon Tree - Pree (Washington D.C.) After touring for two years with Le Loup, guitarist May Tabol returned home to launch a new project with a close group of friends converging in the DC arts scene. Now playing as a four-piece, Pree combines a wide variety of folk instrumentation with electric and digital elements to create a unique sound brimming with layered melodies and contagious energy. Folly was written and recorded over the course of several heat waves and snow storms by May and her cohorts in a rotating cast of bedrooms, basements, and attics across the District, bearing witness to two foreclosures, a bit of squatting, a larger bit of eviction, and a subsequent life shuffle that would rival that of a wind-addled gypsy moth. This patchwork, guerilla style recording, which grew out of necessity, ultimately served to instil a sense of tension throughout the record leaving one hanging on despite the imminence of something so delicate falling apart. Pree’s new album, Folly, via the wonderfully eccentric Paper Garden Records. The Jazz Lawyer Cog in the Machine - Will Knox (Brooklyn, New York) One of my favourite songsmiths and a great performer. Will is an Englishman based in New York although he’s over here on this side of the Atlantic for a few dates: Jan 4 - London, Noman Chef Jan 5 - London, 12 Bar Jan 12 - Nottingham, Guitar Bar Jan 13 - Liverpool, Mello Mello Jan 14 - Dublin, The Cobblestone Do check out Will’s site for a great video of this song and a fabulous performance of The Ship & The Storm. Rio - Hey Marseilles (Seattle, WA, USA) “Built on the solid foundation of Matt Bishop’s songsmithery– [...] the band creates lush propulsion that is far less assuming and rowdy than the sheer mass of musicians on stage would have you believe.” –Tyson Lynn, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Bulletproof - Franco and the Dreadnaught (Manchester, UK) Although the name Franco & The Dreadnought suggests the project is a full band effort, Franco actually plays all of the instruments on his recordings; the Dreadnought being his Martin DXME Dreadnought acoustic guitar. Since going solo, Franco has been creating a name for himself on the festival circuit resulting in a number of other opportunities coming his way which is enabling his music to be heard by more people. His biggest achievement to date though, has been being personally asked by the Archbishop Desmond Tutu to write a song celebrating the life of Nelson Mandella which was presented to him as a gift on his 90th birthday. Further information on Franco & The Dreadnoughts including information on how you can download his new 6 track EP for free can be found on his Facebook site and executed at Soundcloud. www.facebook.com/FrancoDreadnought?sk=wall http://soundcloud.com/FrancoAndTheDreadnought CMJ 2012 It seems only a few weeks since CMJ 2011 - oh, it is only a few weeks since CMJ2011. Already, preparations for CMJ 2012 are well underway. The music and film marathon runs from October 16-20 in New York City. You can buy your badge to access all the showcase events and film screenings and if you’re an artist and would like to play CMJ, submissions process is already open. Check it all out at www.cmj.com/marathon That’s Right I’m Good - Gangstagrass featuring T.O.N.E-z (Brooklyn, NYC, USA) I met Gangstagrass mastermind Rench in the exhibition lounge at CMJ’s main location in NYU. Love what they’re doing or hate it, they don’t leave many listeners unaffected. Their highly accomplished rural bluegrass playing is combined with an urban sound to quite extraordinary effect. Bear - Grace Woodroofe (Perth, Australia) Grace Woodroffe made a big impression at CMJ in October. It was my first expereince of her amazing range of styles and expertise in each. Certainly an artist to watch this year. This is an intriguing and enticing combination of almost introspective close up singing and out and out rock. From her current album Always Want. AMPed Slight interruption to normal AMP service last week- the site is apparently getting too popular. Dan has been ready and waiting to present 316, and he’s still there for you at Ro Cutler at Dark Compass will be up with AMPed 217 from Monday. Got 2 Me - Ten Year Vamp (Albany, New York, USA) Ten Year Vamp’s latest release is called Lust, a 5 track, high energy pop/rock collection with a unique perspective on love and lust. “Every night we’re playing in some club or concert hall watching the audience. We’ve seen every possible permutation of love and lust… the stories unfold right in front of us every night.” says front-woman Debbie Gabrione. They are one hard working band, playing multiple gigs every week. Happy - Jimmie Bratcher (Missouri, USA) Jimmy gave me permission to use his track as the sig tune for Suffolk’n’Cool around six years ago - I bet he didn’t expect it to still be going strong this far down the line! www.jimmiebratcher,com |
Wed, 28 December 2011
Inspired by an idea from my fellow AMP members, I really wanted to put out a show of tracks from artists who I think are worth keeping an eye on in 2012. When I sat down to compile the show, I found that I had at least two shows worth of talent, so this week and next will feature a total of 20 artists to watch. Photo: Sunset tonight here in Suffolk. The nights should be getting shorter by a few seconds every day now. In a few months the sun will be passing way higher than the weak showing above the horizon that it managed today. I, for one, am looking forward to that. Hope and Ruin - The Trews (Toronto, Canada) The Hope and Ruin album was recorded in the wilds of Bath, Ontario. “We were just looking to run away a little,” guitarist John-Angus MacDonald admits. “And we wanted to do something fun, organic, be a band again, all that stuff.” “It was like anything was up for grabs,” continues John-Angus, “And we just needed to get a hold of where we were at, which is why we retreated to Bath. We went there to try and figure out what kind of record was in us.” And so bassist Jack Syperek, drummer Sean Dalton, and the two MacDonald brothers faded into the bucolic splendor of Bath, Ontario, where they had so much fun and got so organic that a couple months later, the Trews had a new album – Hope and Ruin. Or maybe it should be called Order Out of Chaos. I just heard that they have a series of US dates between January 11 and 21, when you can catch them in Madison WI, Milwaukee WI, Toledo OH, Cleveland OH, Philadelphia, PA, New York NY, Boston MA, Providence RO and Watertown NY. Creepy Little Story - Charlotte Eriksson (London via Gothenburg, Sweden) Charlotte Eriksson, also called the GlassChild, is from Sweden, Gothenburg, but has always gone her own way, leaving people amazed by her determination and independence. Only 19 years old, she moved all on her own to London to pursue her music and prove what she can do. After only 3 months she has already played with a full band at famous venues around London like the Water Rats, the Bull & Gate, the Enterprise etc. and she’s steady and carefully building a name for herself. “I moved and left everything I had built for 19 years. I learned how to build my home in my music. When I sing, I'm not scared anymore. I want this to mean something. I believe in writing your own story, and that's what I'm doing here. I'm just a glass child. I'm still creepy little me.” She's switching between lyrics like poetry with a fragile broken voice, to strong and edgy songs with a crystal clear punk/rock-voice that cuts right through. Being compared as a ”punk version of Bjork and Lykke Li”, to songwriters and vocalists such as Hayley Williams (Paramore) and Juliet Simms (Automatic Loveletters), she’s got a lot of power in her many ways of using her voice. Her music is naked and honest, and leaves you with feelings you never thought you had. ”I want to make a mess inside of people. I want to make them think.” the 20-year old says. Where the wild Ones Go - Trevor Sewell (Sunderland, UK) Trevor was first featured back on show 242. He later joined me on show from his home studio in Sunderland, UK for a chat and to hear a few more tracks from his new album Calling your Name Very much in the tradition of early Eric Clapton and Freddie King, Sewell has his own inimitable style that coasts easily between traditional values and the confident and almost nonchalant style that he has recently become known for. Trevor has played and recorded with various entourages including The Revillos, The Monroes and the legendary PJ Proby. His songwriting has to date somehow managed to evade the attention of the masses but maybe … just maybe that might be set to change. Trevor has out together a special package of three tracks from the new album, especially for Suffolk ’n’ Cool listeners. You can download a zip file containing the tracks Where the Wild Ones Go, Hate Me for a Reason and Condemned. Pick up your copy, quite free and legal from: http://mtmmusic.co.uk/suffolkncool No One's There - Anika (Berlin and Bristol) Living between Berlin and Bristol while working as a political journalist and music promoter, Anika met Portishead's Geoff Barrow through a mutual friend. Raised by music loving parents, Anika spent an early, brief part of her childhood in Germany. By the time she was 16 she had already bought shares in her family’s music festival in Haldern, met Patti Smith and was dreaming of a life making music. Still only 23, Anika's sophisticated music is likely to draw comparisons to Marianne Faithfull during her post-punk/dub Broken English period and Nico during her halcyon days, Anika is sure to make an indelible impression on the music world. Not a bad start for a new talent whose album was no more than an idea just a year ago. http://anikainvada.tumblr.com/ Fade - Hudson K (Knoxville, TN, USA) We heard from Hudson K in 279. Hudson K is the brainchild of singer/songwriter Christina Horn. Combining influences that span decades, Christina’s work dwells in the abstract, emerging in timeless forms. Drawing her inspiration from other such artists as Tori Amos and Tom Waits, Hudson K has crafted their own unique sound of avant-garde and pop fusion. Incredibly photogenic and fashion-minded, Horn is a glamorous figure for the alternative music realm; a seeming star-in-waiting, successor to that mystical/sexual rock-heroine crown. The New York-born Horn pulls from her music school education and her experience producing scores when it comes to writing songs. Her songs are literary, evocative, and complicated; their dramatic ebb and flow is wildly varied, but a smooth and cohesive ride through and through. All told, you could listen to this one for years and never get sick of it; like your favorite book or movie, you'll always find something new whenever you come back. http://twitter.com/hudsonkmusic Red Tag Nation - May McDonough & Co. (LA, USA) Dark hints of Tom Waits? A remarkable voice, startling instrumentation and worrying lyrics create a perfect storm of slightly unsettling music which, like any art form, is exactly what it is supposed to do. May McDonough and Co.'s story sounds a little like that abstract French film you saw once in college. You know there is a theme buried somewhere just out of grasp, and yet the bizarre imagery and odd characters leave you feeling a bit confused, a bit cultured, perhaps a bit enlightened, but mostly just exhausted. May McDonough is the first born child of a couple of private investigators who met on the job in the late seventies. May's father started his own private investigations bureau, and May's mother (who was known as Digger around the office) had just left her job taming lions, tigers, and elephants for Hollywood for a more cerebral job in the p.i. field. Stemming from such unique individuals as these, May was born to be a wild card. And her life is supposedly as intriguingly unique as her parents, if not more so. In her own words 'I seem to be a magnet for strange happenings that no one would ever believe to be true'. Now May plays with her ragtag band of junkyard dogs. Her band wails away at lead pipes, trashcans, and overturned bicycles, as she sludges through chords and eases through chest-searing vocals that open even the most tightly crossed arms.” You can download May’s music free from the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/McDonoughAndCompany www.reverbnation.com/maymcdonoughandcompany www.maymcdonoughandcompany.com/ Tanktop - Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps (Minneapolis, USA) Since her arrival in Minneapolis during the fall of 2006 as an 18-year-old, singer/songwriter, Caroline Smith has become a celebrated part of the Midwest artist community. Her career began as a solo artist with a residency at Minneapolis' 400 Bar, a once reputable venue pivotal in shaping the careers of Elliott Smith, Conor Oberst, and local hero, Mason Jennings who less than a decade before began his own career with the same residency. Here she developed an independent sound which continues to be characterized by simple chord structures supporting sweet pop vocal melodies. Most recognizable in her music and the defining quality to her success is her alto singing voice quivering through vibrato, classic and controlled with the presence of Billie Holiday, Leslie Feist, and Joanna Newsom. In 2007, Smith befriended drummer Arlen Peiffer (Cloud Cult), bassist Jesse Schuster, and multi-instrumentalist David Earl and the boys joined forces to support Caroline's folk tunes as the Good Night Sleeps. In August of 2008, Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps released their debut full length, Backyard Tent Set. Most recently, Caroline Smith and company have completed tracking a new full length at the Terrarium in Minneapolis with Jason Orris (Polara, Happy Apple, Haley Bonar) and the songs are currently being mixed with Tom Herbers (Low, Dark Dark Dark, Andrew Bird). Little Wind expands upon Backyard Tent Set's story-telling whimsy, but shifts its foundation from the simplicities of folk to greater nuances of musical arrangement and soundscape rooted in modern indie rock. Loyal to the heart of Smith's sound, Caroline's unforgettable and endearing pop melodies remain the proudest strength of the record. Release is set for September 20th. I’ve had a listen to the album and it really is rather good. A little like SnC favourites Shayna Zaid and the Catch. A Woman Scorned - Jordan Reyne (New Zealand / London) A special airing of a track from Jordan Reyne’s new album Children of a Factory Nation. I’ve had a preview of the album and it is, quite frankly, stunning. The new album from Jordan Reyne is a tour de force, not just to be impressed by, but also an album in which to get totally and gloriously lost. Every track is pure Jordan Reyne and yet there is masses of variety from "traditional" ballads to the essence of pure rock. Her signature use of industrial and found sounds could be dismissed as just a gimmick - until you hear the intelligent and measured ways in which she uses them to enhance her songs. Her fabulously expressive voice and playing is fortunately complemented by the hallmark of a real musician - finely-tuned ears. The overall effect is of a musician of serious intent and driven passion for her craft and for the people she sings about. The recording / mastering gives the impression that her voice is just inches from your ear - deliciously disturbing. Jordan Reyne is carving a her own niche in the sometimes monotonous world of contemporary music. This is truly independent music that will surely (if there is any justice in this world) reach its audience. If this album is Jordan’s once in a lifetime “masterpeice”, she should always feel very proud of it. Something tells me that she has the appetite and talent to climb to even greater heights. Secret Window - Dusty Wright (NYC, USA) Suffice it to say that Dusty Wright has been around the block a few times over the past 30 years since moving to NYC. Dusty described one episode that captures the essence: I first fronted The Trolls, an acoustic duo that specialized in kid songs for adults. After several thousand gigs with my partner Didi, it was time to move on. Soon after, I cofounded the punk garage quartet Bastards of Execution (aka BöE). An East Village staple that pre-dated the Seattle grunge movement by several years, our legendary shows at such storied venues like the Limelight and Downtown Beirut soon afforded us an international cult following. Our twisted originals and obscure cover tunes provided the perfect antidote for the pedestrian synth pop then coveted by the jaded rock press and pushed by the predictable FM radio playlists. Needless to say, it was all too much and after two years we imploded. A poignant, award winning for Secret Window is at http://culturecatch.com/vidcast/dusty-wright-secret-window-music-video Try very hard to watch it full screen and HD with headphones or decent speakers. Better with Butter - Charles Pasi (Paris, France) Charles Pasi's album Uncaged is available digitally and he is playing shows all over France during the summer. |
Thu, 22 December 2011
A week rather strongly influenced by a burmp to ze 'ed on Sunday morning. I've been playing catch-up ever since which has left us with a rather shorter show than usual. The building project will be done in a couple of weelks or so and then things should get back to something like normal. I suspect that these fishing nets on the beach at Sizewell look more attractive to us than to the fish. Reset Rewind - Ana Popovic (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Ana Popovic is an incredible guitarist/vocalist who was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and now resides in The Netherlands. Her career has been meteoric, and shows no signs of slowing down. In 2000, Ana recorded her first release titled 'HUSH'. In February 2003, she released her second album 'Comfort To The Soul'. She recently released a LIVE CD/DVD titled 'ANA! Live in Amsterdam'. The most impressive aspect of Ana's music is her diversity of techniques and styles. Her blend of smoking electric funk slide guitar, jazzy instrumentals, tight blues groove, soulful feminine vocals and her incredible stage presence makes her an irresistible force in the music world. "Unconditional" was recorded in New Orleans with Grammy-award winning producer John Porter along with special guests Sonny Landreth, Jon Cleary and Jason Ricci and finds the fiery guitarist in top form ob her most blues oriented recording to date.
Tchoro Na Morte - Tcheka (Cape Verde) Manuel Lopes Andrade, aka Tcheka, was born on the 20th July 1973 in the port of Ribeira Barca, Santa Catarina district, on Santiago, the most African island of the Cape Verde archipelago. At a very early age, he began to perform alongside his father, Nho Raul Andrade, a highly popular violinist at the island’s village dances and festivities. At 15, he began to develop a more personal style, based on batuque, one of Santiago Island’s more popular beats, originally played by women. One of the first pieces he wrote, "Man’ba des bes kumida dâ", gave a clear idea of the musical path he wished to follow. His aim was to widen the appeal of batuque, turning it into a beat that everyone would love. www.madminutemusic.com/artist.php?artist_id=35&lng=e
New World Order - Part I (vocals: Revolushan) - Corty (Rennes, France) This is the first release from French dubster, Corty. Corty has collaborated with some of the finest and most prolific dub artists across the world: Revolushan (Strasbourg, France), Solo Banton (London, England), Bongo Chilli (Nottingham, England), Leah Rosier (Amsterdam, Netherlands) & Preecha Kungo(Amherst, Massachusetts, USA). The album is released by Pete Cogle's Angel Dust Records and is available from Jamendo. www.jamendo.com/en/album/102990 Leave it Behind - Lee-Leet (Poland) Lee-Leet is the independent singer-songwriter-composer who produces and publishes her own music. In 2009, she recorded and released her debut album, “State of Emergency”. In the spring of 2011, Lee-Leet released her second album called “Bare” where she sings about emotions using minimalistic means of expression i.e. only her voice and the piano. Lee-Leet recently published a new album called "LEAVE IT BEHIND". The new album is the third album since her debut in 2009 but the first one she arranged and recorded with her 5-member band. AMPed AMPed Show #314 is hosted by Graham Holland of It's A Frog's Life Acoustic Podcast & Liverpool Acoustic Spotlight and Alan Carr from Darkhorse Radio will be popping up with AMPed 215 from Monday. Thinking of Me - Ten Year Vamp (Albany, New York) Ten Year Vamp’s latest release is called Lust, a 5 track, high energy pop/rock collection with a unique perspective on love and lust. “Every night we’re playing in some club or concert hall watching the audience. We’ve seen every possible permutation of love and lust… the stories unfold right in front of us every night.” says front-woman Debbie Gabrione. They are one hard working band, playing multiple gigs every week. |
Thu, 15 December 2011
In SnC this week. An update from the John Peel Centre appeal and the winner of the Adnams Artist of the Month for November. Ah, that would explain why I was in Southwold this morning - another perishing cold day but with intersting skies and a great time with Tyler at The Crown Hotel. Please Excuse Me - Scout (New York, USA) Scout have been about for a long time and have just released All Those Relays, the first album since 2003. Driving force Ashen Keilyn deconstructed her band and put it back together piece-by-piece. New player, new producers and some great songs inspired by music, film and the idiosyncrasies of everyday life. An EP called Pi is available now on Invisible Brigades John Peel Centre update Well, it is happening. A mini festival in John’s name is being planned after a bunch of artists who John had promoted back in the day approached the project with offers of playing a benefit gig. Leading the pack was `the Undertones and coming onboard more recently are The Wedding Present and Bearsuit (subject to dates) there are at least another 5 artists with whom discussions are progressing well. Including some very well known names. The great thing is that if you pledge £50 to help make the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts a fitting tribute to the man who did so much to enable independent music, you’ll get a certificate, signed by Sheila (John’s wife), your name in the Benefactors Book held at the centre, a download of `Going Home (A previously unreleased documentary in which John returns to his childhood home plus one free ticket to the John Peel mini festival in 2012. Time is getting tight to raise the £25,000 “match funding” by Christmas that will release the £500,000 needed to undertake the next phase of the project. www.johnpeelcentreforcreativearts.co.uk Dérapage Controlé (M.W.D. remix) - Smarton Trio+1 (Budapest, Hungary) In this newest release you can hear the remixed music of the Budapest based jazzy rocky band Smarton trio. Among the remixers are some well known producers of the Budabeats netlabel, but also new partners, featuring star DJ’s of the Budapest underground nightlife. Besides M.W.D. and Suhov, Dermot, JumoDaddy, Savages y Suefo, Ba10&Bal or Franco Mento (CH) are those who have electronically toasted the original guitar, voice or Hammond-organ tracks. That's how jazz becomes techno, ballad gets broken-beated and surf rock melts into electro-soul. Budabeats describes itself as Hungarian Freestyle - I like that. Of course if you like a bit of dub do check out the wonderful Angel Dust Records http://angeldustrecords.com Blackbirds - Novi (Los Angeles, CA, USA) We heard the track on show 282, back in July. Now the accompanying video is available for your viewing pleasure, still with the same careful editing but somehow, being able to see Novi singing the lyrics, makes them much clearer. The song is a hoot. The video is in the shownotes for show 302 - go on treat yourself. You can download Blackbirds free and legal from http://download.themusebox.net/novi/Blackbirds.mp3 (right click and select download file) More music from Novi can be found on various web sites and social networking sites such as Reverb Nation, Facebook, and Soundcloud. You can visit the official Novi website for music, news and links. Hop - Kapela na Dobry Dzień (Bieszczady, Poland) From the Jemendo album Przez tę naszą wieś “In the past our individual passions leaded us through different music paths, which often run across somewhere here – in Bieszczady (Carpathian) Mountains. We all come from this place (from Cisna, Ustrzyki Dolne, Sanok) so we decided to come back, live and act here. Since 2002 we took joy and toil of common transmigration, connected our energies and created band for which traditional music of this Mountains become rich inspiration of many motives. Caring for traditional repertoire we draw inspiration from łemkowski, bojkowski (kind of ruthenian) and polish folk, keeping at once original words, language and melody. However we connected all this with energy of present day sound. Our music arrangement are results of different styles – You can find in it elements of folk, blues, jazz and rock. For that reason we were able to take the same way where tradition become present day and common transmigration become passion of discovering traditional folklore. During our concerts we propose meeting with traditional music of Carpathians in the new arrangement, full of passions.” Adnams Artist of the Month Tyler Torrance is head chef at The Crown Hotel in Southwold and brings masses of international experience and real fair to the role. He’s also a fabulously enthusiastic character, and a musician. I caught up with Tyler this morning at The Crown. Papa Don’t Worry - Sydney Wayser (New York, NY, USA) Multi-instrumentalist and stunning vocalist. Half-French and half-American, Wayser grew up in LA but spent a few months every year in Paris. She gleaned much of French culture from her songwriter father, leading her to musical influences that include Edith Piaf, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Jacques Brel, among many others. This European sensibility is evident on both albums The Silent Parade and The Colorful. AMPed Our Graham’s got a colour theme planned for AMPed 314. And it is a very happy seventh birthday to Dark Compass Weh-Weh - Kae Sun (Toronto, Canada and Ghana) Toronto based singer songwriter Kae Sun turned to his native Ghana for inspiration for his new EP, Outside the Barcode. The return to his homeland after nine years of living in Canada renewed his drive for creating the raw and non-commoditized artistic experiences that shaped his passion for music. Outside the Barcode is an authentic and reflective collection of songs that showcase Kae’s growth as a songwriter, storyteller and guitarist. Written while traveling the African countryside and recorded on 2-inch tape on a farm in Ontario the raw acoustic songs recall the sense of community and authenticity that inspired the tracks. Kae’s focus was to create a more shared listening experience rather than dictating his audience’s experiences. “It’s not about making music to get something out of people, but rather sharing experiences, capturing moments and communicating through music and lyrics,” he says. The result is an EP that conjures the collaborative spirit and culture of sharing that Kae experienced in Ghana. |
Thu, 8 December 2011
Ah well. Some day are like that. A frantic 17 hour day due to external and family needs left me with little time and strength to filter down to a full complement of songs but what we do have are really interesting. Winter arrived here in Suffolk this week, leaves have left, leaving some magnificent trees - like these by the River Deben near Easton. Yes, that's tonight's moon as it was rising at dusk tonight. Weight of the World - Shayfer James (New Jersey, USA) I had the pleasure of hanging out with Shayfer (described as the Villain King of New Jersey’s underground noir-pop music scene” along with Dusty (percussion) and Sarah (saw) - yeah that’s right she plays the saw) at a party in Brooklyn a year or so ago. What a great guy with a wicked sense of humour. Picture of Sarah and her saw at http://tinyurl.com/2e9b9ny This album sounds much more produced and rich than his previous work - talking of which, you’ll find another track on SnC 243.
9-20 Special - Coleman Hawkins (1904-1966) Coleman Hawkins reached a new level of creativity during the 1940s. This collection focuses on those years, presenting the original master of the tenor sax in a wide variety of settings, including his encounters with young modernists like Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk. As Wikipedia has it: “Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.[2] Hawkins was one of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument. As Joachim E. Berendt explained, "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn".[3] While Hawkins is most strongly associated with the swing music and big band era, he had a role in the development of bebop in the 1940s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleman_Hawkins
New Cell Phone Number - Marla Mase (New York, NY, USA) Marla Mase is a writer/performer/producer/singer/songwriter from New York City and she’s been on email with me (lots) for the past hour or so. She writes songs, plays, monologues, short stories, erotica, blogs,and poems. She is known for her gutsy, sexy, raw, performance style and her intelligent lyrics. Her newest work, SPEAK, is a genre-busting rock album with a mix of world beat, spoken word, funk, r&b, punk, and classic rock-n-roll. It is very Mase — eclectic, provocative, theatrical, risky, and passionate – and as with all her work it has a TRUE/SEXY GROOVE. Marla’s co-writer and producer is internationally renowned guitarist/ recording artist Tomás Doncker. They are now working on her 3rd CD, personal affairs, scheduled for release in the Fall 2012. www.reverbnation.com/marlamase John Peel Centre for Creative Arts The centre desperately needs to raise some money which will in turn release a significant grant to really develop a fitting tribute venue to the work of John Peel. Codger has recorded a really heart-felt appeal at petecogle.com www.johnpeelcentreforcreativearts.co.uk/ Signs - Dub Vision (Berkeley, CA, USA) Ever since they were brought together as the backing band for Don Carlos, Dub Vision has flaunted a passionate, energetic, animating force earning fans worldwide. Dub Vision consists of some of the powerhouse reggae musicians on the US west coast, including Hodge, Toho, Night Sun, Jamie, Gavin, Balboa, Tony, Gabe, Wadi, and other guest musicians consisting of hundreds of years of musical experience. The band was originally formed as the backing band for reggae legend Don Carlos and has toured with Don since 1999, torching the four corners of the world, including the continents of North America, Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia. Other artists Dub Vision has backed include Dillinger, Charlie Chaplin, Sister Carol, Everton Blender and many other reggae artists. With the “Counter Attack!” album, Dub Vision has moved from the back to the front, giving fans a taste of many different styles of reggae and dub they have played along their journeys. |
Wed, 30 November 2011
John Peel was undoubtedly one of the most influential people in British music. To describe him as a DJ, radio presenter and journalist is really an understatement. The breadth of his musical taste and quietly stated way in which he implored us to really listen to what he played defined a musical culture which lives on today. On Friday I was invited to Stowmarket, here in Suffolk, to celebrate a landmark point in the development of the creative arts centre that bears John’s name. John lived with his family in a small village just outside the town for over 30 years. Since John’s death in 2004, there has been a Peel-shaped gap in a lot of people’s lives, mine included. What better to fill that gap than a space adopting an eclectic and non-elitist view of the arts - and opening doors to participation. In short, Keeping it Peel. That’s exactly what The John Peel Centre for Creative Arts has the potential to achieve. . Autobahn Garten - Volfoniq feat Tribuman (France) Founded in 2004, Volfoniq is a "one-man-dub" from the south of France. In a retro-futuristic mood, he uses his classical formation (clarinet) and a rich musical history to produce a dub that goes farther than tags, respecting the jamaican roots, but adventuring into new lands of experimentation. Based both on electronic and acoustic elements, his music is fundamentally opened and generous.Encounters and sharing are at the center of Volfoniq's approach, that led him to collaborate with numerous artists from different kinds and places. On this pilgrimage, he's faithful to LibreCommeLair (LCL) label, and also made some releases on prestigious e-labels like Jahtari or A Quiet Bump. Get the album from LCL at www.lclweb.org/audio_lp_lcl30.htm Trevor Sewell interview I had a catch-up with Sunderland-based blues manTrevor Sewell this week who has just picked up a highly prestigious award - in Hollywood! You can still download a special collection of tracks which Trevor put together especially for SnC listeners. http://mtmmusic.co.uk/suffolkncool/ Where The Wild Ones Go - Trevor Sewell (Sunderland, UK) From Trevor’s album Calling Your Name Jeden - The.Midziuk (Kolobrzeg, Poland) Kołobrzeg is right up on the north coast of Poland looking out towards Sweden. From the new album Lemniwe Bity which you can download from Jamendo at www.jamendo.com/en/album/76170 AMPed The current show is 311, hosted by Ro Cutler from Dark Compass - he played a great track that Codger submitted I bet you’d know which it was even without the introduction from Ro! Coming up on Monday is 312, hosted this week by Rich Palmer of Audio Gumshoe. John Peel Centre for Creative Arts On Friday I was invited to Stowmarket, here in Suffolk, to celebrate a landmark point in the development of the creative arts centre that bears John’s name. The centre urgently needs to raise £25,000 in match funding by Christmas. That’s not long (just over three weeks) but, by casting the net wide, it is possible. An Angel Shares crowd funding campaign has been set up for exactly that purpose. It is open now and will end on Christmas Eve. Whether for yourself or as a gift for someone else who “got” John Peel, Angel Shares are a brilliant idea. There are a variety rewards for people who contribute to the appeal. You’ll find all the details at http://angelshares.com/projects/23/the-john-peel-centre Here’s a short video about the centre. < www.johnpeelcentreforcreativearts.co.uk Addicted Lover - Sampeace Brown (Norway) MusicSubmit Sampeace Brown who was originally born in Nigeria - West Africa with a population of about 150 million people, started his artist career at the age of 14 . Sampeace Brown grew up in a big family where singing and listening to pop music and traditional folklore was part of the daily rituals and way of life. Now he is based in Oslo, Norway and has a new album (Bridge of Hope out now on Street Solid-T-Kay http://www.streetsolidtkay.com Sway - Marc JB (London, UK) direct With over 70 #1s across the US and UK, Marc JB is one half of remixers/producers BIMBO JONES I first heard this track on a delightful BBC Radio 4 programme a couple of weeks ago which my chum Sally Jackson-Freeman had told me about. Her grandfather was Jack Jackson, who was a renowned trumpeter and bandleader but also a pioneering radio DJ who strongly influenced the style of Kenny Everett who said of him “He was the first person to have fun on radio.” The programme explores his legacy closer to home, through the lives of three generations of his family who are all involved in music. Sally got hold of this Marc JB track for us (for which I’m very grateful). I didn’t realise when listening to the programme but it features the music of his grandfather - now that’s just a bit special eh? You may still be able to hear the programme at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0169255 Daft recording from Codger Thanks to everyone, the artists, managers, labels and publicists who send me stuff and particularly to you, the listener who does me the honour of listening to this quirky old show and even expressing your appreciation now and again. Thank you. You are appreciated too. |
Thu, 24 November 2011
Life is still totally frantic and in some respects tragic but I’ll not dwell on that. The somewhat belated Adnams Artist of the Month is announced in this week’s show as part of a slightly different AOTM feature if you have a view, I’d be delighted to hear from you. I’ve rarely seen such limp sea as that at Southwold yesterday. The waves (such as they were) hardly seemed arsed to drag themselves onto the shore. Still, it made for a very atmospheric day; especially under the pier. Lines - Said the Whale (Vancouver, BC, Canada) In March of 2011, the band embarked on their first major tour of the United States, including several performances at the SXSW music festival in Austin, TX. On the fourth day of that tour, their van was broken into and they were robbed of over $8,000 in gear and personal belongings. This tour was also being captured by a CBC TV documentary film crew for what would become “Winning America” a film exploring the trials and tribulations of a band trying to break into America, airing this July. Amidst the US tour dates, the band flew into the Toronto-hosted JUNO Awards, where they won New Group Of The Year. The band promptly returned to the States to complete their tour, returning home just long enough to do laundry and repack before hitting the road again to tour across Canada. Do you hear the line I think I hear? See SnC episode title. Their current album, New Brighton, was released a couple of weeks ago. https://www.facebook.com/saidthewhale http://twitter.com/#!/saidthewhale Burning Senses - Particle Wave (Los Angeles, CA, USA) Formed in 2006, Particle Wave came about when long-time friends, Bryce Stoddart, Brian Arthurs & Chase Harris combined forces with singer & lyricist Greg Maechling. During countless jam sessions and performances across Southern California, Particle Wave has successfully integrated each member’s influences in order to shape their current sound. Rooted in classic rock, the band incorporates elements of noise pop and indie rock to establish its sonic foundation -- while delivering strong, melody-driven vocals, guitar hooks, and harmonies to complete the experience. This track, Burning Senses is on their album Painting on Shadows www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Particle-Wave/217426371470 Donations Many thanks to those who have already donated to help maintain Suffolk ’n’ Cool to provide the quality of service that we strive to achieve. There is a Donate button on the SnC homepage at www.suffolkandcool. com Slippery Slope - The Do (Paris, France) If ever a band could make Paris sound like LA, it’s The Dø. French duo Olivia Merilahti and Dan Levy made history in their linguistically protective native land when their English-language LP, A Mouthful, went to #1. Surprisingly, The Dø were the first French-based band to pull off such a fete. But, upon closer inspection, the band’s bold decision makes perfect sense – their songs were always destined to export themselves to America and win over audiences one chorus at a time, which is exactly what’s happening right now. Their new album Both Ways Open Jaws was very recently released in the UK. Adnams Artist of the Month - Chosen by Duncan Gooch Duncan Gooch, who manages the Adnams Cellar and Kitchen store in Southwold, talks to us about his work and his passion for music. There is a slightly extended version of the interview on the Adnams Artist of the Month page for October 2011. Oink Plink - Gadjo (Barcelona, Cataunya/Spain) An older track from Gadjo, from their 2007 album Parayayasygamberros You can download this track free and totally legally by clicking in the arrow here:
Bakkus - Mammút (Reykjavik, Iceland) Mammút is a band from Reykjavik, Iceland consisting of three girls and two boys aged eighteen and nineteen. In 2004, three months after forming, Mammút won the annual battle of the bands (Músiktilraunir) competition in Iceland . This has been the springboard for some of the most promising bands and artists in Iceland. Since then Mammút have been playing gigs all over Iceland and Europe ,including supports with Belgian art rockers dEUS. Their music has developed in to something quite unique distinctive vocals and angular guitars held together by brilliant melodic bass and innovative drums. AMPed This week Rodrigo is hosting the show from the Azores Islands and then from Monday, Rowley from Dark Compass takes his turn. Sunny Day - Mastermind XS (Saarbrucken, Germany) Reset All Systems is a 12 track masterpiece from Daniel Stephan & Heiko Petry, aka, Mastermind XS. These two friends have already released one EP on the LCL label, called One Dub Many Roots, and were on the first release from Angel Dust Records: Dust Particles, Volume One. Do check out their page at Angel Dust which, as you know, is run by Pete Cogle as a not for profit enterprise. http://angeldustrecords.com/home/?page_id=650 |
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