Tag: Indie Folk

Fresh New Tracks, Vol. 41 – Cormac O Caoimh, DelCobras, The Kid and I, Ewan Patrick

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews23 Comments

For my latest edition of Fresh New Tracks, I’m showcasing terrific releases by four acts I’m especially fond of – Irish singer-songwriter Cormac O Caoimh, Philadelphia power pop band DelCobras, London alternative indie rock band The Kid and I, and Scottish singer-songwriter Ewan Patrick.

Cormac O Caoimh – “The Little Things”

Cormac O Caoimh is a talented singer-songwriter and musician from Cork, Ireland who writes incredibly pleasing indie folk/pop songs filled with sublime melodies and beautiful arrangements. His thoughtful, intelligent lyrics exploring the intricacies of life, love, hope and loss are delivered with fine instrumentation and warm, comforting vocals that remind me at times of Paul Simon. The prolific artist has released an impressive amount of music over the past 25 years or so (both with his previous band Citadels and as a solo artist), including seven outstanding albums, the most recent being 1999​-​2012 Vol. 1, an ambitious work released last May 2024 featuring 20 tracks, 10 of which were new recordings of older songs released between 1999 and 2012, whereas 10 were the original recordings of those same songs. I’ve previously reviewed three of his singles, most recently “There’s A Crack (Heart Attack)“ from that album that’s a reimagining of his song “Heart Attack”, from his 2012 album A New Season For Love. You can read that review here.

Now Cormac returns with a new single “The Little Things“, about which he explains: “Unlike many of my songs this is a true story and a happy one. It is about 2 people who have this massive soulful connection with each other but they do not tell each other. And they go through their lives savouring the small moments they connect – a chance meeting in town, a cup of coffee at work, etc. The happy ending is …they both die, and their ghosts hook up.” It’s a sweet and poignant song, with lovely instrumentals set to a gentle melody and accompanied by Cormac’s soothing vocals. The video features vintage footage of Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell dancing in the film Broadway Melody of 1940.

The Bandcamp release also features two extra B-sides – “Does God Only Hear Sober Prayers” and “Sweet Sake” – both tracks from a country album that Cormac had planned to make but never did.

Delcobras – “The Turnaround”

Marc Schuster, Jim Lorino & Nick Cervini

Hailing from Philadelphia is recently-formed power pop trio DelCobras, comprised of Jim Lorino (lead vocals, guitar & synths), Marc Schuster (bass & vocals) and Nick Cervini (drums). All accomplished musicians, Jim is also frontman of indie power pop act Scoopski, now on hiatus, and drummer for indie alt-rock band Naive Nature. Marc records both as a solo artist and is also one-half of duo The Star Crumbles, as well as involved with several other musical acts, including Scoopski for a time. Nick is drummer for Philadelphia indie rock band Sacred Monsters and also played with Scoopski. In addition to their musical talents, they’re personable guys with a wicked sense of humor. Their name is a tribute to Delaware County, where Marc and Nick live. “We rehearse in Marc’s basement in Havertown, and Nick lives around the corner” Jim explains. “I’m from Northeast Philly, but they’ve accepted me as one of their own.”

They’ve just dropped their debut single “The Turnaround“, a rousing anthem of self redemption celebrating the eternal promise of second chances. Jim wrote the song after experiencing a raft of disappointments, including his home team the Philadelphia Phillies losing to the New York Mets in last year’s National League Division Series, his band Scoopski falling apart, and backsliding in his ongoing efforts to lose weight (something I can sadly empathize with). Inspired by Phillies shortstop Trea Turner and the Netflix documentary The Turnaround, which chronicles the story of how Jim’s friend and YouTuber The Philly Captain (aka Jon McCann) spearheaded a movement to give Turner, who was struggling in his first season with the Phillies, a standing ovation at their August 4th game which resulted in a ten-game hitting streak for the player, “The Turnaround” is a marvelous post-punk infused rocker loaded with gnarly guitar chords fortified by a hard-driving rhythm of chugging bass and smashing drums. I love Jim’s exuberant vocals, nicely joined by Marc singing a few lines from the Frank Sinatra classic “High Hopes” (written by James Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn), in the bridge. I also love the charming carpool karaoke video.

The Kid and I – “Take My Hand”

Daniel Malek, Jacob Powell & Minky Très-vain

The Kid and I is a London, England-based alternative indie rock band comprised of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Powell, Minky Très-vain on guitar & backing vocals, and Daniel Malek on bass.  (Très-vain is also front man of scratch rock band Brain Ape, who I’ve featured several times on this blog, and of which Powell was once a member.) Influenced by an eclectic mix of acts ranging from Biffy Clyro, Foo Fighters and Blink-182 to Tyler, the Creator, Sam Fender and Phoebe Bridgers, The Kid and I serve up a fresh blend of energetic rock and indie vibes, infused with heartfelt lyrics reflecting the struggles of modern life. Since 2020, they’ve dropped 13 singles, an EP and a live album. Last March, I reviewed a live version of their explosive banger “Good Times Go”, a song about toxic masculinity and taking accountability for oneself.

On February 20th, they released their latest single “Take My Hand“, a powerful song of perseverance in these troubling times. Jacob explains “I wrote this song back in 2021 – it’s been kicking about for a long time, but it feels more relevant now than ever. This song’s about trying to escape the hatred we find in the world right now through love, and hoping for a better future in the process.” Backed by a dynamic mix of grungy guitars, aggressive drums and soaring strings, he passionately sings “I’m scared of having children in this day and age. Where big money does what it wants, always gets it own way / Please just take my hand, and let’s run away before the devil rears his ugly face again.” In addition to the three The Kid and I members, drums were played by Elvis Quagliotto, additional guitar by Henry Avedian, and strings by Gavin Brooks. The wonderful photo and cover art design were created by Forest Smith.

Ewan Patrick – “Always With You”

Ewan Patrick is a thoughtful and talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Edinburgh, Scotland who’s had music in his blood for much of his life. He studied contemporary classical composition at Napier University in Edinburgh, then earned a graduate degree in Music Production at Leeds College of Music. He also played in many bands over the years, performing extensively across the UK, including at a number of major music festivals. In 2020 he began recording and releasing songs he’d written over the years that he says “never quite found their place in any of the bands I’ve played in.“ His songs range from pleasing acoustic, folk rock and piano ballads to stirring anthemic rock, all of which Ewan handles with ease, both musically and vocally with his strong, clear and beautiful singing voice. He also records, mixes and masters all his music by himself. Thus far, he’s released numerous singles and two excellent albums, Forever Love in 2021 (which I reviewed) and Keep On Coming Back For More in 2023.

On February 11th, Ewan dropped his latest single “Always With You” on Bandcamp, and will be available on all other major streaming platforms on February 25th. It’s a beautiful, heartwarming song that starts off gently with only an acoustic guitar accompanying his plaintive vocals, eventually building into a soaring anthem with gorgeous layered guitars, powerful bass and tumultuous percussion. The poignant lyrics speak to the overwhelming feelings of grief that envelop us after losing a loved one. Ewan elaborates: “The inspiration for this track has come from my work with children and young people that have experienced a bereavement. Losing someone who is so close to you is the hardest thing any of us will experience in our lives. I hope this song captures even an ounce of the rollercoaster of emotions we experience when dealing with some of the toughest times in our lives. It’s one that means a lot and I’m really proud of. I hope it resonates with many. ” Well, it most definitely resonates with me!

Fresh New Tracks, Vol. 35 – John Serrano, Mayflower Madame, Mock Deer, Quizboy & Marc Schuster

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews9 Comments

There continues to be lots of great music being released, which means it’s time for another installment of my Fresh New Tracks series. Today I’m featuring four recently-released tracks by acts from four different countries – Spanish singer-songwriter and musician John Serrano, Norwegian psych-noir band Mayflower Madame, English folk artist Mock Deer, and American singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Quizboy and Marc Schuster. I’ve recently written about John Serrano, Mock Deer and Mark Schuster, whereas this is the first time I’m featuring Mayflower Madame and Quizboy.

JOHN SERRANO – “The day I met the sun”

John with an injured arm and his new rescue kitten

Hailing from Málaga, Spain is John Serrano, a prolific singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who I cannot heap enough praise upon. Not only is he a versatile and talented musician with a beautiful singing voice, he’s also thoughtful, kind, handsome and incredibly supportive of other independent artists. Drawing from a wide range of influences, including alternative and progressive rock, blues, electronica, synthwave and jazz, he’s recorded and released an extensive, colorful and eclectic catalog of music over the past 10 years, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with other musicians. In March, I reviewed his poignant singles “Oh, well” and “Better Times”, which he’d released back to back over a two-day period. He quickly followed with two more singles, then on April 24th he dropped his album Alive, dedicated to his grandmother who passed away in March at the age of 92.

A week after that album’s release, John severely injured his left arm, requiring surgery and rendering him unable to play guitar for the time being. Undefeated, he decided to make what he’s calling a “full electronoir experimental retro futuristic jazz-noise album”, recording entirely with synthesizers. Thus far, he’s released two singles for the new album, the latest of which is “The day I met the sun“, a brilliant and haunting track that’s a significant departure from the languid and pleasing songs on Alive. The song starts off with a dreamy ethereal feel, accompanied by John’s angelic falsetto vocals, then abruptly transitions into a much darker, almost frightening song with grinding fuzzy reverb, ominous drumbeats and tortured synths. His vocals also shift into a much more menacing tone, unlike anything I’ve heard from him previously. He said he’s been throat singing for a few years, and to get the desired effect, he “panned the vocals and cut the EQ Filter right when they kick in.” Along with the first track “A wee house upon the hill”, “The day I met the sun” offers a foreboding peek into what we can expect to follow. The tracks are only available on Bandcamp at this time.

John’s socials:  Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram

MAYFLOWER MADAME – “A Foretold Ecstasy”

Mayflower Madame (what a great band name!) is a psych-noir/post-punk band from Oslo, Norway, comprised of Trond Fagernes (vocals, guitar, bass) and Ola J. Kyrkjeeide (drums). For studio recordings they are joined by Kenneth Eknes (synth), and for live performances, additional musicians are brought in to form a full band. They’ve released a fair amount of music since 2015, including two albums – Observed in a Dream in 2016 and Prepared for a Nightmare in 2020, as well as an EP Premonition in 2018 and numerous singles. Ironically, Prepared for a Nightmare now seems to have indeed been a “premonition” to the Covid-19 pandemic that followed the album’s release.

I just learned about Mayflower Madame yesterday when their PR rep reached out to me about their new single “A Foretold Ecstasy“, which I loved the moment I heard it. As I do for all artists and bands I write about for the first time, I listened to as much of their music catalog as time permitted so I could get a good feel for their sound. And I can emphatically state that I really like this band’s music, which has been compared to that of Sisters of Mercy, Jesus and Mary Chain and The Cure. Their compelling sound, which they describe as “the perfect soundtrack for the nightly walks of restless city dwellers“, is a masterful blend of post-punk, darkwave, psychedelia and shoegaze, featuring pulsating rhythms, lush atmospheric synths and reverb-drenched guitars.

About “A Foretold Ecstasy”, band songwriter and vocalist Fagernes said the lyrics speak about “constantly chasing some sort of elation or intoxicating sensation to relieve one’s inner turmoil, while still being aware that it’s just a passing state followed by an inevitable downfall”. The song is a gorgeous darkwave gem in the vein of The Cure or Depeche Mode, two of my favorite bands from that genre. Fagernes’ vocals are intoxicating as he breathily croons “Well, I’m just glad you made me feel something. But it won’t last, I still believe it’s all or nothing.“

Mayflower Madame’s socials:  Facebook / Instagram

MOCK DEER – “Smudge”

Mock Deer is the music project of London-based singer-songwriter and musician Ricky Damiani, whose sound can generally be described as indie folk/singer-songwriter with elements of alternative rock. He’s released a fair amount of music over the past 12 years, including his debut album The Art of Loneliness in 2020, several EPs and numerous singles, as well as composing original music for TV programs and theatre. Last month, I featured his haunting and powerful single “Harbinger” on a Fresh New Tracks post. Now he returns, with “Smudge”, a wonderful song and the second track from his forthcoming EP Pilgrims. 

As with “Harbinger”, for “Smudge” Damiani sang vocals, Mat Martin played lead guitar, Jayden Pegler played bass, Will Inscoe played keyboards, Aaron Carpenter played drums, Matthew Herd played saxophone, and Lola Hepper sang backing vocals. The track was produced by Scott Fitzgerald and mastered by John Nicholls. Written during the first Covid lockdown, the song touches on themes of mental illness, alcoholism and friendship. The song has a darkly beautiful, meandering melody, with a melancholy feel reminiscent of some of Radiohead’s songs of the 90s, featuring gorgeous shimmery guitars, warm saxophone, spacey synths and soaring choruses. Damiani’s vibrant, emotive vocals run the gamut from quiet introspection to impassioned lamentation as he addresses a troubled friend: “You play that part of tough guy so well, but we all know it’s just a show. So lets be random, let’s be odd. Let’s turn this normal on its head. Let’s go there, for one last jolly. You’re well aware it’s all just folly. Just one more, for the road I swear.”  

Mock Deer’s Socials:  Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram

QUIZBOY & MARC SCHUSTER – “All the Same to You”

Quizboy is an enigmatic yet highly sociable artist who, in his own words, creates “dirt-made rock and roll from the Pacific Northwest“. Based in Portland, Oregon, the insanely busy guy also occasionally records music under his dark and sludgy post-hardcore project Never Say Never (NsN), as well as runs an online radio station Audio Mirage Studios, where he hosts Marc Schuster’s Tweetcore Radio Hour. As if all that’s not enough, he also has his own music blog, also titled Audio Mirage Studios.

Marc Schuster is an even busier guy with his hands in so many projects it literally makes my head spin! It’s all I can do to write 2-4 posts per week for this blog, and I’m now mostly retired. At any rate, I’ve written about him and his music many times, most recently when I featured his song “Paul Giamatti (Is Everywhere Tonight)” on a Fresh New Tracks post, but to summarize, he’s a creative and multi-talented Renaissance man from the Philadelphia area who’s an educator, author, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and visual artist. Over the past decade, he’s recorded quite a bit of music, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with too many other artists and bands to mention here. In addition to hosting the aforementioned weekly Tweetcore Radio Hour program, where he features songs by talented indie artists he’s met through Twitter (now X), he also has a terrific blog called Abominations, where he writes about music and interviews indie artists. He also broke his right shoulder a few months ago, but still managed to put out his latest album Arguably.

The two recently collaborated on their first song together, “All the Same to You“. Released May 3rd on Bandcamp, (and most other streaming services except Spotify on May 17) the song was co-written, recorded and produced by them both, with Quizboy playing acoustic and electric guitar and singing vocals, and Schuster playing drums, bass, electric piano, synths, acoustic guitar and singing backing vocals. The release also includes a master by fellow musician Brian Lambert. Over a mellow groove, the guys layer crisp, reverb-drenched jangly guitars and sharp, colorful synths to create a jarring, yet somehow pleasing backdrop for Quizboy’s raw, melancholy vocals. Lyrically, the song is a bit of a downer, and seems to speak to the futility of life: “Miss me when I’m gone. Suffer me while I’m here. Pain has led me home. Whatcha say won’t do. They place these chains on me and you to break. Honestly, I can’t wait. If it’s all the same to you, I forsake.” Good job guys!

Quizboy’s Socials: Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram / Threads

Marc Schuster’s Socials: X (Twitter) / Instagram / Threads

TALK IN WAVES – Single Review: “Like You Do”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews15 Comments

A long-time favorite artist of mine is Talk in Waves, the music project of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jake Mimikos formerly known as The Frontier. Based in northern Virginia, he’s an enormously talented and gracious guy with a sense of humor to match, and I’m quite fond of him both as an artist and human. Skillfully blending elements of folk, pop, indie rock and electronica, his music is incredibly melodic, flawlessly crafted and always catchy, without sounding overly pop or formula. He produces and records all aspects of his music in his home studio. As with many singer-songwriters, Jake’s songs are often inspired by personal experiences, touching on relatable topics like love, relationships and loss, which are expressed through lyrics that are honest and straightforward, and delivered with his warm, pleasing vocals.

He’s released an impressive amount of music since 2015, including several recent remixes of his songs by other artists, and I’ve written about him numerous times on this blog since 2016. This review constitutes the 10th. (You can find a few of those reviews under the ‘Related’ links at the end of this post.) I’ve loved all his songs, and four of them – “Dark Places” (2019), “Can We Go Back” (2021), “Closer” (2022) and “Walk Through the Fire” (2023) – have gone all the way to #1 on my Weekly Top 30 chart, while “Sleep” (2020) reached #2. Now he’s back with his latest single “Like You Do“, delivering more of the catchy and melodic goodness we’ve come to love and expect from him.

The song opens with a throbbing synth line accompanied by a gentle drumbeat as Jake begins to sing. Soon, the music expands with a mix of acoustic and electric guitars, colorful layered synths and skittering programmed drumbeats, creating a lush backdrop for Jake’s heartfelt vocals. One of the things I like about his songs is how they sound better and better with repeated listens. As I’ve noted in previous reviews, he’s quite adept at programming synths to create captivating soundscapes that quickly draw us in, then hold us in rapt attention all the way to the finish. With “Like You Do”, a careful listen reveals so many wonderful instrumental textures, like the beautiful acoustic and jangly guitar notes, fuzzy bassline, and complex synths that sound haunting in spots, and almost cinematic in others.

The bittersweet lyrics are directed toward a former romantic partner who the singer desperately longs for, and wishes would come back into his life. Jake has a terrific singing voice, along with a talent for reaching deep in his core to summon a well of emotions that come to the surface with an honest and sincere vulnerability in an expression of heartache and anguish that tugs at our heartstrings.

Feels like I'm running out of time
Can't get this feeling off my mind
I still see you in my dreams
Wonder if you ever dream of me
I just want you in my life
Want it to be right
Figured out who's worth the light
Figured out who's worth the fight

Every song sounds the same, every road leads to waste
The stars, they don't shine without you
All the heartache I felt, all the doubt in myself
Nothing takes that away like you do
Yeah, nothing takes that away like you do

Feels like there's something in the way
Maybe it was something that I didn't have to say
I always thought that I would change
Who am I to tell you what to think of me anyway?
I just want you in my life
Want it to be right
Figured out who's worth the light
Figured out who's worth the fight

Every song sounds the same, every road leads to waste
The stars, they don't shine without you
All the heartache I felt, all the doubt in myself
Nothing takes that away like you do
Yeah, nothing takes that away like you do
 
If the moment is gone, we can find a way to hold on
Every song sounds the same, every road leads to waste
The stars, they don't shine without you
All the heartache I felt, all the doubt in myself
Nothing takes that away like you do
Yeah, nothing takes that away like you do

And here’s the song on Bandcamp:

His socials: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Find his music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Soundcloud / Reverbnation / Apple Music / iTunes / Amazon / YouTube

CORMAC O CAOIMH – Single Review: “There’s A Crack (Heart Attack)”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews10 Comments

Hailing from Cork, Ireland is Cormac O Caoimh, a talented singer-songwriter and musician who writes incredibly pleasing indie folk/pop songs filled with sublime melodies and beautiful arrangements. His thoughtful, intelligent lyrics, exploring the universal topics of life, love, hope and loss, are delivered with fine instrumentation and warm, comforting vocals that remind me at times of Paul Simon. The prolific artist has released an impressive amount of music over the past 25 years (both with his previous band Citadels and as a solo artist), including six outstanding albums, the most recent being Where The World Begins, released last October (of 2023). I’ve previously reviewed two of his singles, “I’m in Need”, in 2020, and “My Little Buddha“, in March 2023. You can read those reviews by clicking on the “Related” links at the end of this post.

On May 3rd, Cormac will release his seventh album 1999​-​2012 Vol. 1, featuring 20 tracks. The first 10 are new recordings of older songs of his that were first released between 1999 and 2012, while the second 10 are the original recordings of those same 10 songs. About this project, he remarked “The new recordings are not necessarily better (some might be, some are not) but they are all very different.” In advance of the album release, he’s dropped two of the new tracks as singles – “You’ll Find Me (There’s Gold There Somewhere)”, a reimagining of “There’s Gold There Somewhere”, and “There’s A Crack (Heart Attack)“, a reimagining of “Heart Attack”. Both of the original songs are from his 2012 album A New Season For Love.

The original recording of “Heart Attack” is a lovely though somewhat melancholy song highlighted by Cormac’s beautifully strummed acoustic guitar, accompanied by gentle synths and well-placed electric guitar chords. His soothing vocals really do sound like Paul Simon on this version. “There’s A Crack (Heart Attack)”, which is 25 seconds shorter than the original, has a bigger, more dramatic feel, with added somber piano keys, darker, more powerful synths, and more strongly resonant guitar notes. Cormac’s vocals also sound different, this time much more emphatic and with added echo that impart a greater sense of foreboding. Though each version sounds very different, I really like them both a lot.

The lyrics describe feelings that might occur during a panic attack, when one loses all rationality and a healthy sense of perspective: “Your ears hear a tune that nobody sings. Your eyes are immune to the beautiful things. There’s a crack on your path. There’s no way back. Your heart’s under attack.” The fascinating and quite effective video features distorted footage of a male passenger on an airplane having a panic attack.

Here’s the full album on Bandcamp, with eight tracks currently available for streaming:

To learn more about Cormac, check out his Website
His socials:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Find his music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Soundcloud / Apple Music / YouTube

ART BLOCK – EP Review: “Dandelion”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews12 Comments

Art Block is a brilliant and innovative singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in East London, England, who’s been making beautiful alternative folk music for nearly ten years. A prolific artist, he’s released an impressive catalog of music since the beginning of 2015, including numerous singles, EPs, remixes and three albums, two of which, Stones and Fire and borderline, were released in 2023 alone! I’ve featured him several times on this blog, most recently last June when I reviewed his wonderful EP Tiger. (You can read a few more of those reviews by clicking on the ‘Related’ links at the end of this post.) One of his songs, the haunting and gorgeous “White Horses”, went all the way to #1 on my Weekly Top 30 in December 2022, and ranks #26 on my 100 Best Songs of 2022 list.

On March 1st, Art Block released a new EP Dandelion, featuring three exquisite tracks inspired by the Northumberland coast and St Abbs, a small fishing village on the southeastern Scottish coast. The EP was produced, mixed and recorded by his longtime collaborator William Robertson at Super Symmetry Studios, and mastered by Tony Cousins at Metropolis Studios. Art Block played all instruments except for drums, which were played by Raphael Bouchara, another frequent collaborator of his. The lovely string arrangements were done by Joseph Robertson, with additional synths by Charlie Shan.

In addition to his sublime melodies, poetic lyrics and gorgeous arrangements, a defining aspect of Art Block’s music are his distinctive, deeply affecting vocals that are often so emotionally wrought, they rip at our heartstrings. The three songs on Dandelion are no exception. First up is “Journey”, a beautiful, cinematic song that I’m guessing uses the voyages of seamen, sailing from the Northumberland coast to distant lands, as a metaphor for how we take our idiosyncrasies and shortcomings with us wherever we go: “A journey from a distant light. Don’t you understand? The actions you made in the past echo now. A cold cold heart, frosty like the art burns in the arctic.” Musically, the song starts off with a delicately strummed guitar accompanied by gentle synths and faint sounds of the sea, then gradually builds into a dramatic soundscape highlighted by lush orchestral strings and AB’s lovely soaring harmonies.

The title track “Dandelion” serves up more beautifully strummed guitars, sumptuous strings and bold percussion, as AB plaintively sings “I feel I am like a Dandelion, burning in the sun, spreading pollen. Riding the wind through time, I spin, alone in my sphere. I’m separating. I’m caught in the rain, only He knows my pain. Teardrops of joy and you’re constantly away. Growing older fast. This dance is not our last. Float like a seed in the sky. Dandelion in an empty sky.”

On the moving third track “Holy Island”, AB sings his praises for Lindisfarne, a tidal island off the Northumberland coast also known as Holy Island, and how its beauty inspires and invigorates him, helping him to cope with life’s challenges, also giving a nod to Palestine: “Holy Island your clear blue sea, cleansing every part of me. Whispering winds, monks they pray to stop eternal damnation. Don’t believe they see your beauty, even appearing through the rain. I may feel but I am blind, wilted and worn out. Oh I cry and feel your soul. Aching in my dune-filled soul. Poetry so divine our future’s may so intertwine. Palestine I see you there, sweeter than you might care. Holy Island by the sea, you fill me with your beauty.” Again, a beautiful, strummed guitar and lilting strings are the dominant musical features, along with warbling synths and Raphael Bouchara’s wonderful cymbals creating the majestic sounds of waves gently crashing on the shore.

Once again, Art Block has delivered a sonically beautiful, flawlessly crafted, and intensely thought-provoking work. Though it contains only three tracks, Dandelion is deeply impactful nonetheless, leaving a lasting impression for all who take the time to give it a careful listen. I remain a dedicated follower and fan.

The header photo is of Art Block standing on a lonely road in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.

Connect with Art Block: Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram
Find his music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud / YouTube

SHIPS HAVE SAILED – Single Review: “Find My Way”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews11 Comments

A long-time favorite music act of mine is Los Angeles-based duo Ships Have Sailed. Comprised of singer-songwriter and musician Will Carpenter and drummer Art Andranikyan, together they play an incredibly pleasing style of alternative pop-rock featuring beautiful melodies, intelligent, uplifting lyrics, outstanding arrangements and instrumentation, and sublime vocals. They’ve released a lot of music since 2013, including three albums, three EPs and many singles. I’ve loved all their music and have written about them numerous times on this blog over the past five years. (You can read some of those reviews by clicking on the ‘Related’ links at the end of this post.) Several of their songs have appeared on my Weekly Top 30 chart, with two of them – “Escape” in 2019 and “Breathe” in 2021, going all the way to #1.

Photo of Will and Art by Gentle Giant Digital

On January 21st, the guys dropped their latest single “Find My Way“, a beautiful, heartwarming song written at the request of an English woman they’d met some time ago while on tour in the U.K., and who wanted help telling her personal story of an epic trip she took across America with her now-deceased husband. Will elaborates on the song and its creation: “‘Find My Way’ is a story of profound love, profound loss, and the journey of finding yourself again. Despite that, this song isn’t a sad one – it’s a note of gratitude for the moments we do have and the memories that are created from our time here on earth, the people we get to know while we’re here and the relationships that grow more and more special with every moment. This song is dedicated to our dear friend who we met on tour a few years ago in the U.K., and to her late husband who we never had the chance to meet. Two soul mates whose love was palpable, they dreamed of taking a once-in-a-lifetime road trip across the U.S. and finally did after years of planning. But shortly after they returned, he passed away unexpectedly. This song is our tribute to them and to holding your loved ones close.”

The song was written by Will, who co-produced it with Dan Sadin, mixed by Fernando Reyes and mastered by John Greenham. It’s really lovely, with a buoyant, toe-tapping groove overlain with layers of slightly twangy strummed guitars and a gentle, galloping beat that lend the song more of a folk vibe than a lot of their music. The soothing background synths and clicking percussion sounds add interesting texture to the proceedings, making for a richer and more complex overall sound, and the wonderful soaring choruses call to mind some of the great songs by OneRepublic.

As always, Will’s arresting vocals are beautiful, conveying both strength of conviction and a heartfelt vulnerability as he sings the poignant lyrics: “Memories of trips we’ve taken, all the things we’ve seen. Thousands of the miles we traveled, chasing down our dreams. Thought the road was never ending, we’d have the rest of time. Reached the end without a warning, I guess we missed the sign.”

The sweet video features moments from Will and Art’s own stories, captured by photographer Andrei Duman, as well as personal photos provided by their friends to whom the song is dedicated. The visual treatments and typography were created by Jody Talmadge.

Follow Ships Have Sailed: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Find their music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Soundcloud / Apple Music / YouTube / Pandora/ Amazon

ALEX SOUTHEY – Single Review: “Never Listen”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews8 Comments

Still focused on Canada (having just written about two artists from the Vancouver area), today I turn my attention to Toronto, the home of singer-songwriter and guitarist Alex Southey. The talented musician has released a lot of music over the past four and a half years, including three albums, three EPs and numerous singles. His sound can generally be described as alternative indie folk, sprinkled with elements of rock, pop and shoegaze. But like all creative artists, he’s not afraid to experiment with his music by exploring different genres and styles outside his comfort zone, and as a result, each of his albums and EPs sound quite different from one another. His thoughtful and intelligent lyrics about life, love and socio-cultural issues of the day are delivered with his beautiful distinctive vocals.

Photo of Alex by Steven Medeiros

I’ve been following Alex since the beginning of 2021, and have previously written about him three times on this blog, most recently this past January when I reviewed his superb EP Common Fantasies. One of the tracks from the EP, “Soften”, spent three months on my Weekly Top 30, peaking at #5. Now he’s back with another terrific single “Never Listen“, his first release of 2023. 

For its recording, Alex played acoustic and electric guitars and sang vocals, assisted by fellow musicians Christina Dare on bass & backing vocals, Gab Lavoie on Korg synths, and Craig McCann on drums & percussion. All three also played on four of the tracks on Common Fantasies, and support Alex for live shows. The track was produced, mixed and mastered by Alex Gamble.

Alex’s wonderful strummed acoustic guitars have a rather mysterious quality as they guide the song forward, accompanied by Christina’s subtle bass line, Craig’s measured drumbeats and Gab’s delicate spacey synths. Alex’s beautiful chiming electric guitar that appears later in the song adds an enchanting layer of color and texture to the proceedings, creating a vibrant, arresting backdrop for his bewitching vocals that alternate from smooth heartfelt croon to ethereal falsetto. His and Christina’s harmonies in the choruses are simply stunning, nicely complemented by the aforementioned chiming guitar notes.

The lyrics speak to those who refuse to acknowledge or accept the warning signs all around us, using as examples our over-consumption of natural resources, the consequences of our continued burning of fossil fuels on our environment and climate, and repeated injuries resulting from violent sports like football: 

Heating everything I'm about to eat
Plants and animals - and motor oil

Learn to love the A
Learn to love the B
The part that slips between
Is gasoline

You just never listen
You just never listen

We can spend our time
Outside evening-walking
With smiles to hide behind
The never talking

Some come on so strong
It's the only way they know how to do it
It's all they really want
Nothin' much to it

You just never listen
You just never listen

After the CTE scan said
"You're never listening
You're never listening at all."

During the drive home
Close your eyes
Somebody's mother said it's fine
Somebody's brother died that summer

You just never listen
You just never listen
You just never listen
You just never listen

Alex will be performing “Never Listen”, along with several of his songs, tomorrow night (Friday, July 14) at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. Details below:

Connect with Alex on Facebook / Instagram

Find his music on Bandcamp / YouTube / Soundcloud

ART BLOCK – EP Review: “Tiger EP”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews7 Comments

There are some musicians and bands who possess such uniquely distinctive styles or singing voices, they sound like no one else, making their music immediately identifiable as only theirs. London, England-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Art Block falls into this esteemed category on the strength of his affecting vocals that are so heartfelt and steeped in emotion, they have the power to take our breath away as we try and swallow the huge lump in our throats that forms after listening to him sing.

The brilliant and prolific artist creates a haunting brand of alternative folk, characterized by stirring melodies, captivating arrangements and gorgeous instrumentation built around his poetic, deeply moving lyrics. He’s been writing and recording beautiful music for nearly a decade, and has released an impressive amount of it since early 2015. I’ve previously written about him and his music four times on this blog, including his enchanting single “The Basement” (his most successful single, which has been streamed over 350,000 times on Spotify alone) in late 2019 and, most recently, last September when I reviewed his stunning White Horses EP. The title track “White Horses” went all the way to #1 on my Weekly Top 30 chart last December.

Art Block has stayed busy in 2023, dropping a single “Vilnius” in February, then his first full-length album Stones and Fire in March, followed by Tiger EP, the subject of today’s review, at the end of April. Featuring four tracks, including “Vilnius” and an alternate version of “White Horses”, the EP was produced, recorded and mixed by William Robertson and mastered by John Webber. For the recording, Art played all instruments except for drums, which were played by Raphael Bouchara.

The title track “Tiger” opens with a strummed acoustic guitar, accompanied by mysterious airy synths and sounds taken from the streets of Cairo as Art begins to sing, with a strong tremolo effect in his voice, “A plain heart that cuts through all the acerbic dust.” As the song unfolds, the melody gradually swells and instrumentals expand with beautiful guitars, heavier synths and more intense percussion, all of which culminate into a dramatic crescendo. Like the music, the lyrics become more forceful too, with Art Block passionately lamenting of his pain and sorrow over having been left abandoned in a relationship: “A silence that kills, insatiable rips my tongue. A tiger has ripped my lungs, unable to breathe. A figure of speech, crawling through arctic veins. You left me when I needed a friend. A quarrelsome mind, and we don’t see we’re spinning all around as if it’s meant to be.”

“Vilnius” was inspired by Art’s visit to the Lithuanian capital last October, where he engaged with the Chromatikon artist collective who participated in a series of concerts intended to revive the old Jewish music of the Vilnius ghetto lost during Nazi occupation. Vilnius holds a special place in his heart, as he spent a year there as a volunteer for Voluntary Service Overseas after Lithuania’s independence from the Soviet Union. The lyrics seem to be told from the perspective of a young Jewish man witnessing the fall of Vilnius and Lithuania to the Nazis: “A Hebrew song, an old man’s lungs. Hold on my Vilnius. I see a cage and hold my rage. Hold on my Vilnius. I was meant to be playing C. Oh what a scene. Wasn’t yet an orphan. We were meant to meet in the dying streets but I forgot your number.” Art’s delicate acoustic guitar notes, accompanied by sparkling atmospheric synths and gentle drumbeats, create a melancholy but beautiful soundscape for his emotive, heartfelt vocals.

“White Horses (Alternate version)” is the same version that appears on Stones and Fire, and to my ears sounds very close to the original. For this alternate version, Art’s added some pretty guitar notes and more drawn-out string synths, as well as a drum machine beat, all of which add subtle textures to the original piano-driven track, making it even more gorgeous than ever. He says the song “was inspired by a beautiful place in England, but also by the attack in Mariupol, Ukraine which was in the news, where I imagined I was going through the devastation there. Perhaps ‘White Horses’ is a metaphor for something else, greater, perhaps mystical or mysterious? The place I visited in England certainly had a mystical feel even though the White Horse itself etched into a hill was not ancient.”

The final track “New Dawn” is a haunting piano ballad about struggling with inner demons and self-doubt that keep him from living a fuller and happier life: “I want to know when life will change, so I can reach out for a new day. Tired of manifesting, tired of love, I have a hole in my heart oh my God. I was always fighting with my thoughts, trying to find peace amid the wars. I was overthinking life, I was overcome with strife.” Art’s echoed vocals have an interesting lo-fi feel, backed by a vintage-sounding piano and Raphael’s skillful measured drums.

Tiger EP is wonderful, serving up eleven and a half minutes of auditory bliss that transports us to dreamy, faraway places. Art Block is a uniquely gifted artist who never fails to deliver exceptional music that’s deeply impactful, sonically beautiful and intensely thought-provoking.

Connect with Art Block: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Find his music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud / YouTube

CALLUM PITT – Album Review: “In The Balance”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews2 Comments

One of the brightest spots on the British music scene today is Callum Pitt, a thoughtful and immensely-talented singer-songwriter based in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Inspired by such esteemed artists as Elliott Smith, Julien Baker, Adrianne Lenker, Sufjan Stevens, The War on Drugs and Fleet Foxes, he creates, in his own words, “indie-folk with a grand, orchestral, chamber pop sensibility plus an alt-rock edge”. I say that’s a pretty accurate description of his beautiful music, which is characterized by lush harmonies, captivating melodies, and honest, meaningful lyrics touching on subjects like depression, anxiety, and social and political unrest, expressed through his emotive pleasing vocals that nevertheless manage to instill feelings of optimism and unity.

Since 2017, Callum has released an impressive number of singles as well as a four-track EP Poisoned Reveries in 2019. His second single “Least He’s Happy” has been streamed more than two million times on Spotify, with several other singles garnering well over 100,000 streams. He’s also earned accolades such as the Alan Hull Songwriting Award in 2019, and the Fender Player Plus competition in 2021. I love his music, and have previously written about four of his songs, two of which – “Fault Lines” and “Mayfly” – made my Weekly Top 30 chart, with “Fault Lines” ranking #84 on my 100 Best Songs of 2020 list, and “Mayfly”, which peaked at #8 earlier this year, guaranteed to rank even higher on my 100 Best Songs of 2023 list. (You can read some of my previous reviews by clicking on the ‘Related’ links at the end of this post.)

Photo by Daniel Stark

Now Callum has just dropped his long-awaited debut album In The Balance, and it’s a real stunner! The culmination of nearly three years of work, the album’s nine songs were informed by a number of events that prompted him to explore questions of existentialism and fate, including a vehicle accident that could have killed his parents and brother, a close friend almost dying of a drug overdose after leaving a party at his house, and the death by suicide of a childhood friend. Remarkably, he wrote and recorded the album while also working at a job and studying for his masters degree in Occupational Therapy.

He wrote the album in his bedroom, using only a nylon-string guitar and cheap 90s keyboard. He then took his demos to the studio, where he worked with long-time producer John Martindale to turn them into rich recordings, featuring a string quartet, and trumpets by James Leonard Hewiston and saxophone by Alex Saxon. Callum sang lead vocals and played acoustic and electric guitars and keyboards, Luke Elgie played bass, Gavin Christie played drums, and John Martindale played percussion, with Ada Francis and Jodie Nicholson on backing vocals

The album kicks off with “I Feel a God and Devil in This Room“, in which Callum explores how both good and evil are present in human experiences more than in otherworldly realms like heaven or hell, and that we should embrace our lives here and now, rather than wait for a theoretically better afterlife: “I feel alone, but I feel in my bones tonight, something bigger moving like a tidal wave, a wilting bouquet, on fire. I feel a God and devil in this room.” The song is enchanting, opening with delicate guitar, piano and strings, then gradually building to a dramatic crescendo with added saxophone, heavier percussion and gorgeous harmonies. The lovely video, filmed and produced by Gareth Williams, features Mia Fuller dancing to the song in an empty church.

“Black Holes in the Sky” addresses the aforementioned close friend that almost died from an overdose of acid after leaving a party at Callum’s house, and was thankfully saved by a passing dog walker at dawn: “You left our party, the last one to go / I heard that a stranger found you laid down, blue in the lips and frost upon your clothes on the edge of town.” The song starts off with an almost gospel-like feel, but transitions into a stirring anthem, with emphatic piano keys, bold guitar notes and blaring trumpets. On the hauntingly beautiful and contemplative “Crow“, Callum speaks of his struggles with depression and anxiety: “There’s something in the leaves reminding me there’s no light without dark.” His piano and guitar work are particularly stunning here.

“Fraction of a Second” was inspired by a night in 2019, in which Callum was reminded of how a change of a mere second of time could have resulted in a life-altering outcome. Minutes after he waved goodbye to his brother and parents as they left his house, a fire engine hit the back edge of their car. They were all unharmed, but had their car been in the engine’s path a fraction of a second later – if he’d said one more word to them at the doorstep – it would have slammed directly into the drivers’ side. Musically, the song has a melancholy yet hopeful feel, and features a buoyant drumbeat overlain with delicate sweeping synths, beautifully-strummed guitar notes, lovely piano keys and vibrant strings. As always, Callum’s smooth vocals are comforting and warm as he sings of his gratitude that his family safely survived the crash: “And I don’t know what I’d do, if that truck had taken all of you, I think the moon may disappear. But a fraction of a second kept you here.”

On the piano-driven “More Than This“, Callum touches on the impermanence of life and worldly beauty: “And no one ever said there would be more than this, but I feel it turning golden in the fall. Everything must go, it’s an angel in the snow. And I will never ask for more.” The moving video was directed by Sel MacLean and filmed by Ross Marshall, and shows Callum singing the song in an empty theater as he watches a couple, played by Igor Tavares and Laura Alise do an interpretive dance.

One of my favorite songs on the album, “Mayfly” is essentially about adulthood, and speaks to Callum’s feelings of apprehension over the responsibilities he’ll face as a potential parent, fearing he might not be up to the task: “I don’t deserve the love that I am shown, but someday I will. ‘Cause I, I need time, so I can be, who you need me to be. So hold out please.” Musically, the song has a lively, upbeat melody that contrasts with the poignant lyrics. I love the perfect melding of acoustic guitar notes and delicate piano chords in the verses, and how the drums become more intense in the choruses, accompanied by glorious exuberant riffs and swirling keyboards. Callum’s smooth vocals are both comforting and heartfelt, backed by Ada and Jodie’s lovely harmonies, and Alex’s bold saxophone in the final chorus is wonderful.

On “Moths and Butterflies”, Callum speaks to the value of expressing one’s emotions in a society where the expectation is for men and boys to suppress their feelings. Though still essentially a folk song, it has more of a rock vibe, with heavier guitars and drums, especially in the bridge. The enchanting “Uncanny Moon” features delicate guitar notes, stirring strings and gorgeous soaring harmonies.

Album closer “The Will of the River” is a beautiful, cinematic anthem in the vein of Sam Fender’s “Seventeen Going Under”, which means I love it! The combination of gentle acoustic guitar notes with more resonant jangly chords and fuzz-coated gnarly riffs, layered over an exuberant stomping groove, make for an exceptionally impactful track. The poignant lyrics speak of the childhood friend who took his own life, leaving him wondering if there might have been something he could have done to prevent it: “I’m so sorry for how we drifted, maybe I knew you too soon. It’s darker now. You’re now away, but my memories are so clear. We move at the will of the river, but you’re ringing in my ear.”

I’m not sure what more I can say about In The Balance, other that to state with confidence that it’s a gorgeous little masterpiece. Mr. Pitt and company have gifted us an impressive, flawlessly-crafted work, for which they should be quite proud.

Connect with Callum:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Find his music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud / Amazon

PHILLIP VONESH – Single Review: “Fly Over State”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews6 Comments

Phillip Vonesh is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist from Toronto who makes a pleasing style of alt-country/Americana. Drawing inspiration from a mix of genres ranging from 60s folk revival and 70s outlaw country to 80s pop, Phillip “strives to write songs that will be stuck in your head as well as your heart.” Over the past four years, he’s released music both as a solo artist, including an EP Lost Our Way in 2019, a two-track EP Cold Hands / Warm Heart, and a touching song “Noa-Grayce” for his newborn niece, both in 2020, and as a member of indie-Americana band The Spare Parts, who released their debut album Infatuation in 2021.

On May 5th (apparently a very popular day for releases, as this is the fifth review I’ve written of music released that day), Phillip dropped his latest single “Fly Over State“. The lead single from his forthcoming album If Only For The Night, it’s his first new music in nearly two years. It was well worth the wait, as I think it’s his best song yet.

The track was co-written by Phillip and Canadian songwriter Hannah Gazso, recorded, produced and engineered by Aaron Goldstein, who also played electric guitar, and mixed and mastered by Alex Gamble (who also mixed and mastered the EP Common Fantasies by fellow Toronto singer-songwriter Alex Southey that I reviewed in January). For the recording of the song, Phillip sang lead vocals and played acoustic guitar and percussion, Ryan Gavel played bass, Nick McKinley played drums, Scott Galloway played piano and organ, and Carleigh Aikins sang backing vocals.

“Fly Over State” is a lovely slice of folk-infused Americana, with vibrant instrumentation layered over a soothing melody. All the instruments are well-played, but the highlights for me are Scott’s beautiful piano and organ and the interplay between Phillip’s gentle acoustic guitar notes and Aaron’s edgier fuzz-coated electric guitar that adds a sense of tension to the proceedings.

Phillip’s plaintive vocals, backed by Carleigh’s lovely harmonies, are wonderful, beautifully conveying a strong heartfelt vulnerability and sense of sadness expressed in the bittersweet lyrics about feeling used by a romantic partner who’s emotionally unavailable, only coming around when she wants her needs met. He likens her to an air traveler who treats him like a ‘flyover state’:

I want to be the destination
Not a view from above
I wouldn’t feel this hesitation in your heart if this were love

But I’m wondering when you’ll be around,
sick of trying to chase you down,
I want to be more than a map dot town

But I’m a layover ‘tween betty and veronica
You only stay-over when it works for you
I’m a fly-over state and I got lost on ya
What do I have to do?

“Fly Over State” is superb, and I’ve had it on repeat the past few days. It’s a promising prelude of what we can expect on Phillip’s forthcoming album.

Connect with Phillip: Facebook / Instagram

Find his music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube