Tag: Singer-songwriter

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

ASGARD RAVEN – Single Review: “For Us All”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews19 Comments

The other day, while listening to the weekly Tweetcore Radio Hour music podcast, hosted by the inimitable Marc Schuster and available on the Audio Mirage Studios blog and elsewhere, one of the songs he played immediately jumped out at me. It’s not often I stand up and take notice when first hearing a song, but this one hit me right between the ears. At first, it sounded like it might be an old Oasis song I’d never heard, but I knew that couldn’t be right, as Marc plays only newer songs by lesser-known independent and unsigned artists. It turned out to be a song titled “For Us All“, by British artist Asgard Raven. With a name like that he sounded vaguely familiar, though I couldn’t quite remember where or when I’d learned of him. After doing a bit of digging, I found the interview Marc did with Asgard two years ago for his own blog Abominations, which I’d read. 

With a name inspired by Norse mythology, Asgard Raven is the musical moniker of Joe Bickerton, a singer-songwriter and musician based in the southwest London suburbs. Drawing from an array of influences, including punk, rock, blues, folk and indie, as well as the music of some of his favorite acts like Midnight Preachers, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Embrace, Puddle of Mudd and the aforementioned Oasis, he plays a “melodic-anthemic” style of alternative rock reminiscent of 90s brit pop and rock, or as he put it in his interview with Marc, “anything with guitars in it to be honest“.

According to his bio, Joe learned to play guitar in the 1990s while posted in Cyprus during his time in the army. Inspired by Oasis and motivated by his distaste for radio music, he took his guitar everywhere, covering 90s classics all over the world while on deployments. During the early days of Covid lockdowns when he had plenty of time on his hands, he picked up his guitar again after a long hiatus, and began writing and recording songs inspired by his life experiences, “reminiscing on memories that we can all relate to“.

Raven records his music at Sunrise Sound Studio in Hampshire, where it’s produced by his frequent collaborator Marc Burford, of British rock band Echotape, and mixed by Mat Leppanen at the Animal Farm studio in London. He’s also had support from legendary Oasis manager Alan McGee, mentoring him around the direction of the project. He released his outstanding debut single “Until Another Day” in September 2021, and has followed with three more singles, his latest of which is “For Us All”, which he released on March 22nd. (He’s also uploaded an extensive number of excellent demo tracks worth checking out on Soundcloud.)

Raven calls “For Us All” “an energetic rock’n’roll song highlighting the challenges, barriers and loneliness people can often face when trying to get on in the world, especially if they don’t conform to the ’norm’. It looks at how we can’t always see when people are struggling, and how by being there we can support those we care about.” The song opens with a wonderful stomping drumbeat, which is soon joined by melodic rhythms and vibrant, multi-layered guitar work by Raven and Burford, featuring a lush array of reverb-soaked jangly, grungy and acoustic textures, accompanied by a driving bassline and outstanding drumming by Nathan Read. And not only does the music seem to channel Oasis, Raven’s vocals even sound a bit like Liam Gallagher’s here, his strong British accent shining through as he offers support to a friend who’s struggling: “The world can be a lonely place sometimes. And no one can see the pain behind your smile. Come on my friend, lean on me. Take my hand, let it all be.“

I like pretty much everything I’ve heard by Asgard Raven, and I think “For Us All” is his best song yet. I’m confident we’ll be hearing lots more great music from this talented artist.

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

Find his music on: Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music / YouTube / deezer / Soundcloud

Fresh New Tracks, Vol. 34 – Karen Harding, Mock Deer, Popclaw, The Vanities

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews15 Comments

Musicians and bands continue to reach out to me with their music at an unrelenting pace, which means it’s time for another Fresh New Tracks installment. Today, I’m featuring four songs by artists who are all new to me (in alphabetical order) – Australian singer-songwriter Karen Harding, English folk artist Mock Deer, English rock duo Popclaw, and Welsh electro pop-rock duo The Vanities.

KAREN HARDING – “6 Feet Off The Floor”

Karen Harding is a singer-songwriter based in Melbourne, Australia who’s released an impressive number of excellent singles since 2021, beginning with her lovely piano ballad “I Didn’t Realise”. Her vibrant, emotive vocal styling has been favorably compared to artists like Sarah McLachlan, Eva Cassidy and Ella Henderson, and her songs have earned her numerous accolades, including the 2021 Bendigo Bank-sponsored Radio Eastern Songwriter Talent Show, being nominated as a Top Ten Winner at the World Songwriting Awards in September 2021 and Best International Artist at Crags Radio Independent Artist Awards in February 2022. She considers her music, which she records and produces by herself, “a tool for therapy and personal growth”.

Today, Karen drops her new single “6 Feet Off The Floor“, her 18th overall thus far, and the third from her forthcoming album Behind the Mask, due out later this year. About the track, Karen says it’s “a pop song of positivity and optimism, about moving forward and past our worries, and rising up just a little so we can look down on those things we spend so much time dwelling on in our thinking.” It’s a pleasing, contemplative song with sublime piano keys and delicate synths layered over a gentle percussive beat. Karen’s clear vocals are comforting as she sings “When I was six feet off the floor, all of those problems seemed so small. And in the grand scheme of it all, I found a higher place to explore.”

Karen’s Socials:  Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram

MOCK DEER – “Harbinger”

Mock Deer is the music project of singer-songwriter and musician Ricky Damiani, who’s spent much of his life in North Wales and Manchester, but is now based in London, where he’s become heavily involved in that city’s independent music scene. He’s toured extensively throughout Europe and shared the stage with such artists as Brent Cobb, Sam Brookes, Simon Joyner, The Burning Hell, Nadine Khouri and Curtis Eller. His sound can generally be described as folk/singer-songwriter with elements of alternative rock, and 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. He’s also composed original music for TV and theatre.

His powerful and haunting latest single “Harbinger“, released on April 4th and the lead track from his forthcoming EP Pilgrims, was a forgotten demo he’d written several years ago that he rediscovered while doing what he referred to as “some digital spring cleaning” during the pandemic lockdown. Re-hearing the song with a fresh and very different perspective than when he’d originally written and recorded it, Ricky liked the rawness of his vocals and decided to keep the original take for the final recording, which also includes Mat Martin on lead guitar, Jayden Pegler on bass, Will Inscoe on keyboards, Aaron Carpenter on drums, Matthew Herd on saxophone, and Lola Hepper on backing vocals. The track was produced by Scott Fitzgerald, who also produced his album, and mastered by John Nicholls. The poignant lyrics touch on his personal struggles, and learning to let go of painful experiences and appreciate the good things in his life: “And what’s to do. What do I have, I have you, I have love. Have so much I’m grateful of…” The striking photo for the single cover art, taken by Andrew Gale, is of female bodybuilder Stubbs Performance.

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

POPCLAW – “Liar”

Popclaw is a rock duo from Southeast England comprised of singer-songwriters and musicians Dan Lawley and Chris Bird. Formed in 2022 through a shared love of Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Ramones, the guys live two hours apart but have never met each other in person, consequently have only worked remotely thus far. Since December 2022, they’ve released seven singles (plus two remixes), their latest of which is “Liar“, which dropped March 17th.

Chris wrote the opening riff in 2011 while at Uni, but sat on it for nearly a decade until resurrecting the track during the pandemic lockdown in 2020, at which time his friend Simon Hunt, of the English rock band Elmo Blatch, wrote lyrics to go with it. Popclaw says “Liar” is a punk inspired song that’s “mainly about people that lie very frequently and badly, [and] could be about an ex partner, friend, someone you work with or even a politician.” The song is a rousing garage rock banger, with roiling, fuzz-coated grungy riffs layered over a thumping bassline fortified with smashing drumbeats. The aggressive vibe nicely complements the biting lyrics calling out duplicitous liars who drive us crazy. The cover artwork for the single shows a man’s pants on fire.

Popclaw’s socials: Instagram / Threads

THE VANITIES – “Just Passing Thru” feat. Bob Fitzgerald

The Vanities are an electro-rock duo from Cardiff, Wales comprised of Rhys Bradley (vocals/guitar) and Adam Hill (bass guitar/synths). With a combined love of 80s synth-pop and 90s grunge, they formed in 2001 and released their debut EP Space Tourist a year later. They followed with a few more EPs and singles throughout the 2000s, then nearly ten years would pass until the release of their debut album 2001 in late 2021. In 2023, they released “Private Army”, a hauntingly beautiful song inspired by the Russian invasion of Ukraine that marked a notable departure from their signature 80s sound. Now they return with a new single “Just Passing Thru“, a country and gospel-tinged song that’s another significant departure from their previous sound.

The song is a heartwarming sermon on love, loss and the importance of living life to the fullest, written by Rhys and produced by Al Steele. Rhys has a beautiful singing voice, but for this single he decided to have award-winning country music artist Bob Fitzgerald sing the moving lead vocal, along with stirring backing vocals by The Epoch House Gospel Choir. The musicians playing on the track include Reggie Duncan on the gorgeous pedal steel guitar, Adam Hill and bass, Gareth Jones on piano, Jon Martin Skauge on acoustic guitar, and Chris Barber on drums. The release includes an AA side remix by South Wales producer Jammy of an alternate version of the song sung by Rhys. Those two, as well as the version sung by Rhys, are included in the release available on Bandcamp. The video, featuring vintage early 1960s footage of happy family memories and driving trips, courtesy of Retro Vision Archives, brings the song’s poignant lyrics to life.

Here’s the song with the two alternate versions on Bandcamp:

The Vanities’ Socials:  Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram

JILL JONES – Album Review: “The London Sessions”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews13 Comments

Today I’m pleased to present American singer-songwriter and actress Jill Jones, who’s had a storied and challenging life and career. Born in Ohio, she relocated in her early teens to Los Angeles with her mother, who married Fuller Gordy, the brother of Motown head Berry Gordy. Her mother came to manage soul/R&B singer-songwriter Teena Marie, who was signed with Motown Records at the time. When Jill was 15, Teena asked if she’d be interested in singing backing vocals for her, which led Jill to begin her professional career as a backup singer. Three years later, in 1980 when she was 18, Jill met Prince when Teena became the opening act for his Dirty Mind Tour.

Prince loved her voice, and eventually asked her to become one of his backup singers. He invited Jill to the Sunset Sound recording studios in 1982 to sing backing vocals for several tracks on his album 1999, where she was credited under just her initials J.J. She also was featured in the music videos for “1999” and “Little Red Corvette”, then joined the tour for 1999 as a backup singer with Prince’s side project Vanity 6. After the tour, she moved to Minneapolis and became Prince’s on-and-off again girlfriend. He even wrote about her in a song “She’s Always in My Hair”, the B-side of his 1985 single “Raspberry Beret”. From 1983 to 1987, she recorded backing vocals for Prince-produced albums by Sheila E., The Time, Apollonia 6 and Mazarati. (Wikipedia) Jill also had a bit part as a waitress in the 1984 film Purple Rain, as well as in the 1990 sequel Graffiti Bridge.

In 1987, Jill released her debut self-titled album Jill Jones via Prince’s Paisley Park Records label, featuring songs written by Prince. The lead single “Mia Bocca” became a top 10 hit in Italy, and though the album received positive reviews from critics and was generally well-received in Europe, it was not a commercial success in America. In early 1989, she went to London to record demos for what was to be her second solo album on Prince’s Paisley Park label, but she and Prince disagreed on the direction of the album, and it was eventually shelved. By that time, their relationship had deteriorated; in recent interviews, Jill has stated that Prince had suggested she get a boob job and plastic surgery to make herself look more like Danish actress Brigitte Nielsen, which needless to say, really pissed her off.

Though she remained under contract with Paisley Park Records until April 1993, Jill worked on other projects with such artists as Ryuichi Sakamoto, Ronny Jordan, Todd Terry, Chic and Sinead O’Connor. She later released more solo material under her own name, including two more albums, Two (with musician Chris Bruce) in 2001 and I AM in 2016.

Fast forward to the present where Jill, along with the help of Scottish musician Neil Billinness, have resurrected those demos recorded back in 1989 and bundled them into her fourth and latest album The London Sessions, released on April 15th via Neil’s NERO record label. While Jill had long wanted to get her long-lost songs out into the world, it wasn’t until Neil contacted a friend of his in London who happened to be working in the studio where Jill recorded her demos, and managed to procure a cassette of the tracks. He says “This is an absolute passion project for me, and a dream come true to be making this project happen.”

For her part, Jill had a lot to say about the project: “Releasing old demos from nearly 35 years ago has been a poignant journey into the past for myself. Its a reflection on the evolution of my artistic identity. These unreleased recordings capture a pivotal moment in my life and career, showcasing the determination to carve out a distinct persona separate from the influences of collaborators like Prince. The music from this era serves as a time capsule, offering a glimpse into my musical headspace at that time, my creative process, and the emotional landscape that fueled the work.

These demos are a unique and intimate manifestation of Chris Bruce and I’s initial sketches of my musical vision for my second album on Paisley Park Records. In our collaborations, the process of crafting these demos took on a special significance. Chris’s impact on our collaborative work cannot be overstated. His dedication to the craft, coupled with a humility that is rare in the spotlight-driven music world, is a testament to his character and the depth of his artistry. Together, we forged a musical partnership that goes beyond the surface, creating songs that resonate with a profound honesty and authenticity. Chris’s influence is woven into the very fabric of our compositions, making him an integral part of the creative alchemy that defines our collaborative efforts.

After a fire in my home, my manager Roger Davies flew me to London and arranged for several musicians to work on production for the demos Chris and I had created in California. One notable departure from the Prince-produced sound is evident in tracks like “White Dogs,” a song that bears the weight of a personal and harrowing experience. The haunting melody and gothic undertones encapsulate the pain and anguish I felt when returning home to the aftermath of a devastating fire. The ruins and ash served as a stark backdrop to the heart-wrenching discovery of my beloved white dogs amidst the rubble. This traumatic event became the catalyst for a new artistic direction, as these demos (The London Sessions) came on the heels of this crushing experience.

I am providing a musical journey but also a narrative of resilience, independence and transformation. It’s an exploration of my attempt to navigate through personal tragedy and channel those emotions into a distinctive and evocative sound. As listeners delve into these archival recordings, I hope to give the listener a unique opportunity to connect with me on a deeper level, to take the listener back to the genesis of a musical rebirth born from the ashes of personal devastation.

Neil has been an unwavering pillar of support throughout my career, a steadfast ally who played a pivotal role in breathing life back into my stalled artistic journey. His unyielding belief in my work and his ability to see beyond the shadows that surrounded me were instrumental in revitalizing my creative spirit. In moments when the industry had cast doubt on my potential, Neil emerged as a beacon of light, offering encouragement and unwavering support.

The depth of Neil’s support became particularly evident when he spearheaded the resurrection of the London Sessions. Understanding the struggles and challenges that had plagued my career, he took it upon himself to champion this project, infusing it with renewed energy and purpose. His dedication to bringing my music to a wider audience and his commitment to revitalizing my artistic voice were nothing short of transformative.

There have been times in my journey where music, once a steadfast companion, felt like the ultimate betrayer. The music business, with its intricacies and demands, has a way of testing one’s resolve, and I discovered, perhaps painfully, that I just didn’t have the stomach for it. The industry’s pressures, the compromises demanded, and the constant struggle for visibility often left me feeling disillusioned and disheartened.

Music, the creative process, once a sacred space where emotions and melodies intertwined, became overshadowed by the harsh realities of the business side. The paradox between artistry and industry created a dissonance that echoed through my soul, leaving me questioning my place in a world that seemed more focused on charts and sales than the emotional resonance of the music itself.

Discovering that I didn’t have the stomach for the music business was a profound realization, one that forced me to reevaluate my relationship with my craft. Ultimately, I had to acknowledge that my passion for creating music could not surpass my intolerance for the industry’s pitfalls and people I simply couldn’t stand. In this realization, there was a sense of liberation, a reclaiming of the authentic essence of my artistry without the burden of conforming to external expectations. Neil helped me to have a bit of fun again, without the burden of recording labels, jesters, sycophants and strawmen.”

OK, let’s get to the album. It opens with “Unattainable Love“, a sleek, joyously upbeat dance-pop song that would feel at home on Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814. The lyrics speak to Jill’s penchant for becoming romantically involved with guys who were exciting but not right for her, or else couldn’t commit to a long-term relationship (been there, done that!): “Oh, you and I are the same kind. We run from those who try to tame the fires. It’s either hit or miss, I find it hard to remiss. Unattainable love.”

On the more introspective “Living Legend“, Jill touches on how the desire for fame drives a lot of people – in her case she’s referring to the music industry, but it also applies to other areas of the arts, sports, business and politics – to do things that aren’t always so savory or admirable, not to mention also being shallow and phony. “I want to live forever. I want to be a living legend. You know what that means.” The song has a cool, almost jazzy vibe with even a touch of progressive that makes for an intriguing listen, and Jill’s colorful vocals remind me a lot of Teena Marie’s here, as well as on some other tracks – a good thing, as I loved the late artist.

“Long Time” touches on the disappointment she felt when discovering that men she cared deeply for didn’t support her in return. Jill said in an interview that the song was inspired by Joni Mitchell’s song “Man To Man”. Over a head-bopping yet breezy synth bass groove, she croons “Ooh I tried to keep this love alive, but you treat me like a fan./ I need to find a man who understands my body.”

The dark and sonically fascinating “White Dogs” helped Jill come to terms with the heartache of losing her two beloved dogs in the house fire, and in a sense represented the end of her Prince era. The song has a more rock-oriented/techno vibe evocative of some of the great songs of the 1980s, with mysterious industrial synths, edgy psychedelia-tinged guitars and sharp percussion. Like the heavier instrumentation, her soulful vocals here are fantastic, packed with a raw, unbridled passion that elicits chills as she sings “Suicide or survival, I’m alone either way./ Oh I turn my back, and now you’re gone away. Some said I loved you too much. I guess I did.”

The influence of both Prince and Teena Marie can be heard on the lighthearted and funky “Some of Us“. I love the lively, skittering dance beat, super funky guitars and spirited piano keys, accompanied by Jill’s sassy vocals as she playfully croons “When kitty wants to roam, there’s no control. It’s irresistible.” “Red” is a solid rocker, featuring an aggressive stomping beat overlain with swirling orchestral synths and resonant guitar notes that I can’t properly describe, given my almost total lack of musical knowledge, other than to say they’re great. Jill says the lyrics speak to working through life’s challenges, and navigating the many minefields of the music industry and the duplicitous people in it: “Don’t know how much more can be tolerated. The threshold of pain has gotten to the limit. Why can’t you taste the venom on my tongue?/Red’s the color that I feel.”

Things end on an upbeat note with the delightful ear worm “Tango“. The song has a joyous Prince feel, with twinkling synths, jaunty guitars and exuberant horns layered over a sensual and funky bass groove. Jill’s lilting vocals are sexy and playful as she sings “Thought I heard a tango in the restaurant, baby. It was my favorite song. When we met the atmosphere was sexy, baby. Knew it wouldn’t be too long.” I think it just might be my favorite track on The London Sessions.

It’s a shame these songs haven’t seen the light of day until now, but as the old saw goes, better late than never. Thank you Neil and Jill for finally bringing them to life for our enjoyment, as The London Sessions delivers 25 minutes of auditory bliss.

Here’s the album on Spotify:

And on Soundcloud:

Connect with Jill:  Facebook / Instagram

Find her music on Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music / Soundcloud

CAITLIN LAVAGNA – Single Review: “Gold”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews14 Comments

It’s always a happy day when my favorite Welsh songstress Caitlin Lavagna returns with a new song to grace our eardrums, and today I’m pleased to share her electrifying new single “Gold“. Her fifth in an unbroken streak of outstanding singles that began in 2021 with her wonderful debut “How Not To Start A Fight”, “Gold” speaks to, in her own words, “Changing the narrative, owning your feelings, being brutal and upfront, not taking yourself seriously and not catching feelings.”

I adore Caitlin’s vibrant and sophisticated vocal style and honest, relatable lyrics drawn from personal experiences and heartache, and have liked every one of her songs. In addition to “How Not To Start A Fight”, I’ve also reviewed “Night Bus” and “We Lost Track” (You can read those reviews by clicking on the ‘Related’ links at the end of this post.) Both “How Not To Start A Fight” and “Night Bus” appeared on my personal Top 30 chart, the latter spending 20 weeks and peaking at #2, and also finishing at #28 on my 100 Best Songs of 2023 list.

Photo by Akta Photography

Born and raised in the picturesque Rhondda Valley of South Wales with familial roots in Gibraltar, the multi-talented and lovely singer-songwriter, musician and actress has had a life-long love for music and the arts, with a special passion for percussion and drums, as well as singing and dancing. Her music and vocal styles are heavily influenced by some of her favorite artists like Sting, Biffy Clyro, Stevie Nicks, Florence Welch, P!nk and Adele. 

In addition to writing and recording music, Caitlin is also an accomplished actress who’s performed in numerous stage musicals. Over the past year, she’s performed in the Rock and Roll Panto at Theatr Clwyd in North Wales, was invited to sing on Radio Gibraltar, and nominated for Best Female Artist at the Radio Wigwam Awards in London. She also performed in Turning The Wheel, a new musical by Kieran Bailey, and will be starring in the UK tour of Operation Julie, a prog rock psychedelic musical set in the 1970s and based on the biggest LSD drug raid in British history.

“Gold” was co-written by Caitlin and Otto Aday, and produced by Joe Rodwell. Though she often plays drums on her songs, for “Gold” they were played by Harry Ariyoshi-Pope. Caitlin recently shared her thoughts behind the song on Instagram: “This is my fifth single I have released as a solo artist. I wanted it to represent changing the narrative from being heartbroken to making a decision not to catch feelings in the first place. It’s sassy, quirky, fun and powerful. Beneath that though, it’s about being confident in making decisions for yourself and being honest about them. I added some Spanish into this track to honour my Gibraltarian roots. The phrase means ‘Life is simple, don’t complicate it’ and I think that’s a message I am taking into my life and therefore songwriting. I’m extremely proud and excited by this track and hope listeners can bop along and look forward to the many other tracks I have planned for release this year.“

While the song could be generally classified as pop, the brilliant arrangement features exuberant funk, jazz and trip-hop elements that make for a thrilling listen. I really love those wobbly, funked-up guitar notes and Ariyoshi-Pope’s spirited drumming. With her winning combination of colorful theatricality and powerhouse vocals, Caitlin lets loose with a bold and brassy delivery that occupies a sweet spot between sultry and playful, exuding a strong sense of unrestrained confidence as she sings “Gold that tastes like silver on my tongue. When all is said and done, this is only fun.” “Gold” ends with a self-satisfied laugh from Caitlin, leaving us utterly satisfied and more.

Follow Caitlin:  Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram

Find her music on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube / Soundcloud

pMad – Single Review: “Missing”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn ReviewsLeave a comment

pMad is the solo music project of Irish singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer Paul Dillon, a lifelong lover of music who’s been involved in songwriting and performing for many years. Based in County Galway, Paul was previously a member of the bands Starve the Barber and The Suicidal Dufflecoats, and currently a member of The Greeting, as well as his project pMad. Heavily influenced by some of his favorite acts like The Cure, The Sisters of Mercy, Sonic Youth, Suicidal Tendencies, The The, Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes and Tom Waits, his dramatic sound is an arresting blend of darkwave, post-punk, alternative and goth rock, with even a touch of indie metal thrown into the mix for greater impact. He’s also a strong advocate for social justice, emotional well-being and the environment, which he freely expresses in many of his songs.

Since December 2021, he’s released an impressive amount of music, including numerous singles, two EPs and two albums, his latest of which, I in Power, drops today, along with one of the album’s tracks “Missing“, which I’ll be writing about. I’ve previously featured him twice on this blog when I reviewed two of his singles, “Broken” and “Sisters”, the latter of which spent three months in my Top 30 and ranks #73 on my 100 Best Songs of 2022 list. 

On “Missing”, pMad explores the human tendency to sometimes take our relationships for granted and not fully value people while they’re with us, only to realize too late how much they meant to us after they’re gone from our lives. He elaborates “pMad is about embracing the imperfect nature of existence and delivering powerful messages through music. ‘Missing’ is a reflection on the importance of cherishing relationships before it’s too late.“

The song kicks off with a somber bass groove accompanied by a rapid thumping drumbeat, which are soon joined by a jagged guitar riff and pMad’s haunting vocals. Eventually, the music expands into an electrifying soundscape of beautiful swirling guitar notes and sparkling synths, that ever-present dark bassline and gnarly guitar keeping the song’s overall brooding feel fully intact. His vocals become more fervent in the choruses as he laments “Nobody’s out there, Nobody’s waiting. Times are tough. It’s not just a hole in the ground.” It’s another superb single by this creative and talented artist.

The artwork for the single features an original painting by Lasma Dublane-Dillon. 

And here’s the full album, featuring eight outstanding tracks, on Bandcamp. Besides “Missing”, other standout tracks for me are “Down” and “Opinion”.

Follow pMad: Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram

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

Fresh New Tracks, Vol. 33 – Neil Billinness, David Gergen, Marc Schuster, Soda Cracker Jesus

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews7 Comments

So much new music, but only so much time to write about it all! That means it’s time for another installment of my Fresh New Tracks series. Today, I’m featuring new songs by four talented gentlemen – Scottish electronic composer, singer-songwriter and producer Neil Billinness, L.A.-based singer-songwriter and musician David Gergen, Philadelphia area-based singer-songwriter and musician Marc Schuster, and Tacoma, Washington-based psychedelic indie pop musician Soda Cracker Jesus. I’ve previously written about all four of them, though it’s been many years since I featured Neil B. and David G.

NEIL BILLINNESS – “Spring”

Hailing from Rosyth, Scotland (located on the Firth of Forth northwest of Edinburgh), is Neil Billinness, a singer-songwriter and musician who composes, records and produces electronic music influenced by 80’s artists he grew up with like Howard Jones, OMD, The Human League, Tears For Fears, David Bowie, Prince and Madonna. In December 2016, I featured him in an Artist Spotlight where I wrote a fair amount about him, but to summarize, he spent time as a member of a few rock bands beginning in high school, but later put music on the back burner while he built his professional career. Starting around 2011, he took up songwriting again in earnest and set up his own home studio, where he embraced sequencing, sampling and programming which enabled him to produce music more easily. He subsequently established an independent label NeRo Music with his life partner Robert, who tragically passed away suddenly the day after Neil released his single “Passing Thoughts”, in January 2016. He followed with a few more singles, and began working on a sci-fi concept album, but lingering depression over losing Robert, as well as a health event that resulted in the partial loss of his eyesight, caused him to shelve the project. He later compiled the demo tracks into an album Space Travels, which he released on Bandcamp in 2018.  

More recently, Neil’s been working with singer-songwriter Jill Jones (who worked with Prince in the 1980s, including singing backing vocals on some of the tracks on his album 1999, as well as appearing in his movies Purple Rain and Graffiti Bridge), remastering and cleaning up the audio on tracks she’d originally recorded in 1989 into a new album to be released later this month. He’s also recorded and released some new material of his own, one of which is his latest single “Spring“, a dramatic electronic instrumental piece he released on April 1st. About the song, Neil explains: “This piece was written in the darkest of times eight years ago, when I was in a deep depression but starting to see light creeping into the darkness. It’s an instrumental piece, with some seemingly-random, cold electronic noises interspersed throughout. What they represent is for the listener’s interpretation. This track has a bittersweet memory, as it was a track that my dad heard and liked, before he passed away. My dad said things as they were and if he didn’t like something I’d written he would have no hesitation in telling me. But I remember when he heard this I could see him nodding his head and smiling, and he told me he liked it.” Well, I like it too, and despite its 7:25 minute run time, it doesn’t feel overly long. Though somewhat dark, it features a fascinating, almost otherworldly soundscape layered over a continuous pulsating beat, punctuated by spritely little flourishes and sci-fi sounds that served to lighten the overall mood of the piece.

Follow Neil:  Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram

DAVID GERGEN – “Into the Woods”

David Gergen is another artist I wrote about several years ago, back in March 2018 when I reviewed his beautiful album The Golden Light. A singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles, David has been writing and recording music for nearly three decades, and including The Golden Light, has released 10 albums, two of which are experimental instrumental-only works. Like Neil above, David also suffered the terrible loss of his life partner Michelle, who passed away in 2015, a life-changing event that can’t help but have a major impact on one’s songwriting and music. Accordingly, he writes thoughtful lyrics about love, loss and renewal, which he delivers with warm, comforting vocals backed by sublime piano and guitar-driven melodies drawn from elements of alternative, indie and experimental rock, Americana and easy-listening. 

On March 29th, David released “Into the Woods“, his first new single in five years. The song speaks of finding peace of mind and renewing one’s soul by getting in touch with nature and its healing powers. Anyone who’s ever hiked through a forest has experienced the beneficial calming effects that result from being in a serene and beautiful setting, leaving you feeling refreshed and even a bit more centered. Musically, the song is an agreeable blend of alternative rock and Americana, though David’s fuzzy electric guitars add an edgy vibe to the proceedings. His smooth vocals are both pleasing and commanding as he encourages us to seek solace and find healing in the woods.

Follow David:  Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram

MARC SCHUSTER – “Paul Giamatti (Is Everywhere Tonight)”

Marc Schuster is an insanely creative, multi-talented and very busy guy from the Philadelphia area who I got to know several years ago through blogging (he has a terrific WordPress blog called Abominations, where he writes about music and interviews indie artists). Not only is he an educator, author, literary critic and visual artist, he’s also a prolific songwriter and musician, recording both as a solo artist and as part of numerous music projects and collaborations with an ever-expanding roster of musicians. As if all that weren’t enough, he also hosts a weekly hour-long music podcast called “Tweetcore Radio Hour”, where he features songs by talented indie artists he’s met through Twitter (now X). I honestly don’t know how he finds the time and energy to accomplish all that he does!

Though Marc likes to experiment with different sounds, styles and textures, most of the songs he records as a solo artist have a delightful, indie bedroom-pop sensibility. Not only are they infectiously catchy, he has a wonderful knack for putting a youthful, often tongue-in-cheek perspective on everyday situations and problems many of us have faced at one time or another. His latest single, “Paul Giamatti (Is Everywhere Tonight“, is yet another lighthearted example of this. Marc explained his inspiration for writing the song: “I wrote it a few months back when, for no apparent reason, the thought occurred to me that it would be funny if Paul Giamatti had played George Costanza on ‘Seinfeld’ instead of Jason Alexander. That idea didn’t make it into the final version (it was in one of the verses that I cut), but the thought of Paul Giamatti showing up in unexpected places stuck with me, and soon I was imagining him everywhere.” The song has a breezy vibe, highlighted by cool piano keys and an infectious toe-tapping beat, and I love those horn synths in the bridge. James Lorino, aka Scoopski, sang backing vocals at the end of the track.

Follow Marc:  Website / Twitter / Instagram

SODA CRACKER JESUS – “Asleep But Awake”

One of the more fascinating and flamboyant artists I know of is Soda Cracker Jesus, the solo music project of the wildly imaginative and enormously talented singer-songwriter and producer Regan Lane. Based in Tacoma, Washington, Regan has been actively involved in the Pacific Northwest music scene for 40 years, with his hands in many projects, including serving as front man and ringmaster for psychedelic punk-rock band Strangely Alright. He created Soda Cracker Jesus in early 2021 as a way of expressing his punkier power pop side, and has released an impressive number of singles, several of which I’ve reviewed (my most recent was for “Space Boy” last May). 

His latest and twelfth single is “Asleep but Awake“, a collaboration with his friend Jimm Boudreau of The Dissonance Theory, itself a collaborative music project based in the Seattle area. Regan and Jimm co-wrote the music and lyrics, with Regan singing vocals and playing guitar, keyboards and strings, Jimm playing bass and John Hargis playing drums. The song is an alternative rock gem, with strong psychedelic overtones, and I love the intricate instrumentation and lush orchestration, not to mention Regan’s wonderful emotive vocals that always remind me of David Bowie. In fact, the song sounds like a long lost Bowie song from the late 70s. I may be off-base, but the lyrics seem to speak of letting go of unpleasant memories of past mistakes, and choosing to live in the here and now with a more positive outlook. “I don’t know if the stars will always shine. There’s a game I play while I’m lost in space. And I’m happy to be alive. This Is Dreaming. This Is Dreaming. And I’m Awake but I’m Asleep.” The colorful and trippy animated video was created by Regan/Soda Cracker Jesus.

Follow Soda Cracker Jesus: Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram

Fresh New Tracks, Vol. 32 – Bottlecap Mountain, Josephine Pascoe, Lissy Taylor, Loud Hound

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews13 Comments

Artists and bands I follow on social media continue to release new music at a dizzying pace, so in order to try and showcase even some of it, it’s time for another Fresh New Tracks installment. Today, I’m featuring four recently-released songs by, in alphabetical order – Texas rock’n’roll band Bottlecap Mountain, English musician and composer Josephine Pascoe, English singer-songwriter Lissy Taylor, and New Jersey singer-songwriter Loud Hound, all of them quite prolific in their musical output. I’ve previously written about Josephine Pascoe and Loud Hound, while this is the first time I’m featuring Bottlecap Mountain and Lissy Taylor. So let’s get to it!

BOTTLECAP MOUNTAIN – “I’ve Got Loving For You”

Bottlecap Mountain is a self-described “24 Carat Rock & Roll” band from Austin, Texas, comprised of Stewart Gersmann (lead vocals, lead guitar), Chris Stangland (bass), Yvonne Love (organ, backing vocals), Doug Pena (rhythm guitar, backing vocals) and Ray Flynt (drums). Their sound is a happy mix of alternative, garage and indie rock, infused with generous doses of power pop and classic rock & roll, accompanied by honest, thought-provoking and relatable lyrics delivered with pleasing vocals and wonderful harmonies.

Over the past 10 years, the prolific band has released six full-length albums, their most recent being their brilliant 0! Fantastik Melancholy last year. Today they return with “I’ve Got Loving For You”, the first single from their upcoming seventh album Electric Love Spree, due out this summer. The song opens with sounds of a revving motorcycle engine, then we’re off to the races with a cool, retro-sounding rock & roll gem that harkens back to some of the great songs of the 60s and 70s, but with a fresh approach. I love the stabbing guitar notes, spirited drumbeats and abundant crashing cymbals, all layered over a charming organ riff and punctuated here and there with some tasty acoustic and electric guitar work. The straightforward lyrics are a simple yet profound declaration of love, beautifully sung by Stewart and backed by his fellow bandmembers’ warm harmonies.

Follow Bottlecap Mountain:  Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram / Threads

JOSEPHINE PASCOE – “Odyssey”

Josephine Pascoe is a classically trained pianist, violinist and flautist based in the London suburbs. With a life-long love of music, she studied at Trinity College of Music in London, where she began composing her own music. She also trained to be a secondary school music teacher, but prefers giving one-on-one instrumental instruction on piano and violin. Since 2017, she’s collaborated with guitarist and producer Neil Thom, who she met the year before when she began taking guitar lessons from him, in the creation of exceptional instrumental music with ever-changing elements of jazz, acid jazz, classical, blues and funk.

Together, they’ve released an impressive amount of singles – 17 to be exact. One of them, “Starfish”, I reviewed last May. Their latest single, released March 23, is “Odyssey“, a beautiful acid jazz instrumental. For the track’s recording, Josephine played piano, strings and flute, while Neil played guitar, bass and drums. Like all their songs, Neil handled production and engineering. Whereas “Starfish” has a spirited dance-oriented feel with a strong lively beat, “Odyssey” is more contemplative and bluesy. I love Josephine’s warm piano keys, soothing strings and lilting flute, and as always, Neil’s bluesy guitars and funky bass provide a marvelous and edgy counterpoint to her more classical-sounding instrumentals.

Follow Josephine: Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram / Threads

LISSY TAYLOR – “Life Changing”

Lissy Taylor is a lovely, hard-working young singer-songwriter from Stoke-On-Trent, England. From what I can tell, she’s been releasing music since January 2020, including numerous singles and two EPs. According to her bio, she toured fairly extensively in 2023 in support of such acts as The View, Sea Girls and The Lottery Winners, and performed at the Isle of Wight Festival. Her songs have garnered airplay on Radio 1 Future Alternative, BBC Radio 2, John Kennedy Radio X and Amazing Radio. This year, she’s already played shows in support of Circa Waves and Haiku Hands, and is set to open the mainstage at YNOT Festival ahead of Headliner Noel Gallagher. She was also chosen by an expert panel of artists to perform at Manchester City FC opening for Barclays Women’s Super League on April 21.

Her latest single is “Life Changing“, released on March 15th. The song is an indie rock banger, fueled by an infectious driving beat overlain with a glorious mix of reverb-soaked guitars, humming bass, roiling synths and thunderous drums. Lissy’s vocals, which remind me a bit of fellow English songstress Ellie Goulding, are soft yet commanding here. About the song’s meaning, she elaborates “There’s so many people that go through struggles, myself included, and this song champions pulling yourself through to the otherside. This is a song to cheer you on when there’s doubts and to throw you up in the air when you’re winning. This is the sound of the underdog.”

Follow Lissy:  Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram / Threads

LOUD HOUND – “Clumsy”

LOUD HOUND is the music project of Tommy Florio, a talented singer/songwriter from Ventnor City, New Jersey. The silky-voiced artist fuses elements of garage, surf and psych rock with dream pop to create wonderful songs filled with infectious melodies, honest lyrics and irresistible guitar grooves. He’s recorded and released a tremendous amount of music since 2018, including two albums – It’s Okay to Be Lonely Part I in 2022 and It’s Okay to Be Lonely Part II in 2023, as well as more than 20 singles, two of which, “Runnin'” and “Youthful Stranger”, I reviewed. Hard to believe it’s been over five years since I’ve featured him on this blog, so it’s high time I revisit his music.

Since the beginning of this year, he’s been dropping new songs in “waterfall releases”, in which singles are released in a progressive series, with each new release adding to the previous one to eventually create a kind of EP. It seems to be an increasingly popular way artists are releasing their music, as I’ve seen numerous examples of this. LOUD HOUND’s latest release is “Clumsy”, a delightfully catchy song he says he wrote “back in 2020 as a romantic ode to my clumsiness while in pursuit of an uninterested lover.“ It’s a perfect pop-rock tune, with wonderful twangy guitars and swirling keyboards layered over a breezy melody. The lyrics are a heartfelt plea to a woman he desires to love him back: “With your golden smile that made me spill my coffee, I want you forever I’m just a little clumsy. Won’t you come and stay with me? I heard you needed some company. The love that you want and the love that you need, it’s right here baby don’t you see.”

Follow LOUD HOUND: Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram