Tag Archives: Album Review

Album Release, Alt Rock, Garage Rock, Grunge, Indie, indie rock, New Music

Static Vision ‘What Is and Now’ Album

Static Vision are a punk band from Limerick who have just released their debut album ‘What Is and Now’. It’s a no nonsense assault to your eardrums of slickly presented swagger drenched punk rock with some powerful garage thrown in. Recorded in one day in the Music Hubb Studios in Limerick with Chris Quigley it’s a impressive collection of tunes. ‘The Unknown’ slaps you straight into their rowdy punk sound with shrilling distortion and an aggressive vocal. However, it’s not all shouting and bashing instruments these guys refine it down adding some sublime indie drizzled guitar riffs and an infectious melancholic sing along ready melody into the mix. ‘Tune’ introduces an Arctic Monkeys ‘Brianstorm’ – esque riff to start building into a sun soaked hazy verse which explodes with screaming vocals. It’s a fiery expressive album showcasing their raw kinetic sound. With tunes like ‘Got Soul’ and ‘Familiar Faces’    bringing us the light indie bops rooted in a ruckus causing explosion that I can imagine gets a crowd going crazy. Their tracks are well crafted leaving space to wiggle and dance between the frantic moshing and neck snapping headbanging. ‘Feels Like I’m Older’ is the mellow mood shifter of the album. With bright jangly guitar lines and a peppy sway-like tempo teamed with lush backing vocals it’s a breezy spurt of luminous indie. The vocals remain harsh and fiery but the instrumentation contrasts with a sweet Californian sun kissed vibe. The album is brimming with organic coarse tracks that exude the energy of a live show. Sure, it’s rough and tumble but that’s why it works it’s real and honest. ‘Dead’ is moody sulky bliss reminiscent of Nirvana while the vibrant ‘Alcoholic’ and the sultry ‘Girls’ bounce back with quirky vocals and an infectious indie elasticity which brightens the atmosphere. With psychedelic hues thrown on top and some shredding guitar features these guys are ones to watch.

Static Vision ‘What Is and Now’ Launch show is on tomorrow the 18th November in the Pharmacia Limerick if your around check them out.

Stream ‘What is and Now’ below


Album Review, Indie Folk, New Music, Theatrical

Harpeth Rising ‘Against All Tides’ Album

Harpeth Rising have released their new album ‘Against All Tides’. The classically trained trio of Jordana Greenberg, Maria Di Meglio and Michelle Younger recorded between May 2016 and February 2017 in the eye of the political storm that was taking hold of America. Against All Tides is therefore unsurprisingly heavily influenced by the atmosphere of social unrest that surrounded them. Many of the songs are protests and direct indictments of the political system while others take inspiration from personal suffering and hardships. Two of the songs The Highwayman and I Did Not Make the World were written by David Greenberg, Jordana’s father. David’s songs have appeared on each of Harpeth Risings albums and Jordana – the primary songwriter for the band – states how her father “continues to be a source of inspiration” to her and her music. Over the past 5 years Harpeth Rising have recorded 5 albums, toured 9 different countries on 3 continents and performed more than 600 gigs.

‘Against All Tides’ is an intricate tightly weaved 11 track album filled with organic pure blends of baroque and folk. From the first track ‘Love Child’ the trio slap straight into their meticulously weaved sound. The twanging banjo bounces and playfully hops between an eerie dark soundscape of crawly strides on violin and building depth of urgency on cello. The three-part vocal harmonies give a warmth yet striking hair-raising effect to the track. The tracks that follow maintain this darkened mysterious tone emphasised by the trio’s organic stunning use of instrumentation. ‘Drink of Reddest Wine’ brings a melancholic tone with winding hazy strings dragging back and forth while a sombre vocal melody pines and sobs the mournful lyrics. It’s tender and emotional with a hidden mystical tone. ‘3. 535 (Are You Even Alive?)’ throws a bouncy and theatrically spooky tone into the mix. Tracks like ‘The Highwayman’ display the trios braided weaving instrumentation perfectly. Strings sway, glide and pierce through the track adding soft swoons and dire urgency while the woeful cello builds with chilling depths. The light banjo adds a rush of panic while the vocals narrate through this frantic instrumentation. It’s quite heart stopping. ‘Prison Trilogy’ showcases their knack for story telling and heart wrenching emotion through melody. The accompaniment is simple for this track which leaves the attention all on the beautiful melody and passionate vocal delivery. That sweet string feature is just sublime and delicate lulling you into a beautiful soft stupor. ‘Lucid Dreaming Sheep’ closes the album with a unique sound for the trio. It’s richly rhythmic and boppy with a shimmy and shake like swagger and attitude. This track ends the album showing there’s a little more to their sound than perhaps you would think at first.

‘Against All Tides’ is a well-balanced album filled with hair raising stunning tracks to evoke all your senses. With dance ready beats magnificent storytelling and dazzling richly intertwined instrumentation it’s the perfect organic blend.

Stream ‘Against All Tides’ below

 


Album Review, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

James Walker ‘English Bones’ Album

English singer-songwriter James Walker is set to release his debut album ‘English Bones’ on Wild Native Records on the 17th November.’English Bones’ was produced by Sam Winfield (Amber Run, Dry the River, Supergrass) and features ten tracks including ‘Lullaby’, ‘Weathered’ and the current single ‘2009’. Available at all the major outlets, the album is a brilliant collection of songs that Walker has created over the past eighteen months and the songs cover issues of identity, nostalgia & celebrity stalkers.Having extensively toured Europe as a pianist, co-writer and collaborator for Adam Barnes, Walker set his sights on creating his own work informed by his experiences of love and heartbreak, to finding identity within the LGBT+ community, to recovery and rehabilitation from a rare heart condition. Inspired by artists such as Conor Oberst, The Weepies and Damien Rice and drawing on the influences of Foxing, Pavement and Tigers Jaw, Walker has performed over 200 shows in the past year over the UK, EU and USA.

‘English Bones’ is the sweetest most beautiful collection of tracks. Walker takes the listener on a tender emotional journey soothed by his luscious melodies and gentle vocals he cushions you for the hard-hitting melancholic tunes like opener ‘Weathered’ and warms your soul with the vibrant peppy tracks such as ‘2009’. Walker touches your soul with his passionate vocals and sparkling soundscapes. ‘Next To Me’ warms the cockles of your heart with tender tones and warm mellow twinkling guitar between a melty sublime melody. His vocals shield you from the sombre tone while lush backing vocals and delicate glowing soundscapes add a laid back hazy vibe. ’Landslide’ is a lushly arranged love song that exudes delicate tones and a nostalgic wispy atmosphere. ‘Lullaby (feat. Judy Blank)’ is a blissful slice of heaven. So quiet and peaceful yet seeped in a luscious melody. This track is simply beautiful and my favourite on the album. Judy Blanks’ vocals harmonise and blend magnificently with Walkers. It glides with a soft feathery grandeur and elegance lulling you into a sway-like dreamy state of bliss. Utterly breath-taking and graceful. The album continues with the wispy, light and airy tender tones of ‘Casanovas’, ‘Waiting’ and ‘Casualty’ while ‘Abyss’ adds a few sonic flecks, jittery sticky beats and an exquisite piano feature into the supple mix. ‘Kreuzberg’ closes the album with soft accompaniment, it’s breezy and a touch eerie to start. Light piano glistens through guitar strums while echoed vocals add a cold icy vibe.

‘English Bones’ is an album that displays Walkers strongly emotive, heart-warmingly tender and passionate musicianship. With mostly warm toasty glowing vibes he injects little mood shifters throughout adding some lively peppy tunes and some chilling breezy tunes in there to keep things refreshing. It’s an emotional journey for sure but a lovely listen. Walker has the ability to grab raw tender emotion and portray it so beautifully and sweetly creating a tear jerking, majestic and ethereal experience.

Walker, who has just completed an extensive two-month tour of Europe with Matt Phillips and Judy Blank, will be heading out once again for dates with Adam Barnes this November. James will also be returning to the USA to tour the East Coast in support of the launch of Matt Phillips new album next Spring.

Stream ‘Lullaby’ (feat. Judy Blank) below

https://soundcloud.com/james_walker_music/lullaby

 


Album Review, Blues, Indie Blues, Indie Folk, New Music

The Small Change Diaries ‘Lullabies for Cynics’ Album

After forming back in 2014 and since releasing both a debut album and EP, The Small Change Diaries are all set to release their second album ‘Lullabies for Cynics’, which will be available from 3rd November. The release will be celebrated with a launch gig set to take place at Sunny Bank Mills on its release date. Their debut album ‘Adam Blames Eve’ received critical acclaim from the likes of BBC Introducing and thus far, the tracks ‘Huggie Crying Thing’ and ‘I Know What You’re Saying’ from the new album have been played on BBC Introducing Leeds, giving them a promising start. With a rich variation of instruments, The Small Change Diaries create poetic, acoustic songs with thought provoking lyrics and a heartfelt delivery. Similar to their previous EP ‘Protest Songs’, their latest album ‘Lullabies for Cynics’ was inspired by world events in the past 18 months. Described by the collective themselves as ‘music for the head and heart’, various tracks touch on specific affairs such as the Paris attack and changes in US politics, leaving the listener with a lot to think about. The album also features some stellar international musicians, including Laurent Zeller from France, and Phil Doleman, both who have decades of musical experience. It was recorded over a 12 month period and has been a labour of love for the 4-piece.

At first glance ‘Lullabies for Cynics’ has a warm fuzzy glow that maybe we all need sometimes. From the title track ‘Hold On’ this four piece sweep us with a deluge of lush rich instrumentation emitting bright radiant vibes and warm tones. Opulent sweet melodies teamed with beautiful harmonies and bouncy light rhythms create a boppy sound that wraps you up in a cosy blanket shielding you from the harshness of the world. I don’t think you can get a more glowing peppy track than ‘Huggy Cryin’ Thing’. It’s light, catchy, warm and soothing. Oozing oodles of cheery vibes. I’m usually the cynical person and for sure not a morning person but I think if I was a morning person i’d wake up singing this song while the sun shone on me and the birds tweeted. It sets the scene for cheery perfect idealism. It has a sweet quality to cheer anyone up. ‘I Know What Your’re Saying’ with its foot tapping tone and  ‘Kicking Down Doors’ with its guitar twangs, jagged tempo and waltz injections take a slower melancholic tone. They are a little more sombre and honest. With tracks like the sparkling  ‘Not One Of Us’ and the darker swing of ‘Voodood Doll (feat.Phil Doleman)’ it’s like this four piece create their own little world which has a soft positive first impression but dig a little deeper and it’s a little more dark. Gently shaking percussion and snug strings create a cosy atmosphere though the lyrics are a lot more striking and harsh than the dreamy instrumental illusion. The four piece take their hand to blues with ‘Slow News Day’. Drenched in lazy hazy vibes with sublime bluesy drizzled horns and stroke tap beat it has a classy curvy easy going tempo with a murky story behind it. ‘Lullaby’ closes the album on a soothing note. Basically they sing us a lullaby before adding a bright refreshing little wake up burst about 1 minute and 30 seconds in. It sparkles and glows with pacifying gentleness and hopefulness.

‘Lullabies for Cynics’ is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. The Small Change Diaries create a peppy fantasy world with folk, blues, gospel-style arrangements all while conveying the candied truth through their politically challenging lyrics. At a first listen it’s just camp fire sway ready lollipops and rainbows tunes but at the root there is depth there. Perhaps candy coating the harshness for us a little.

After performing at both UK and overseas festivals over the duration of the summer, The Small Change Diaries are now ready to settle back in the UK to promote their album, starting with their album launch gig on 3rd November 2017 at Sunny Bank Mills. Information about further upcoming live dates can be found on their social media pages here

Watch the video for the track  ‘Birdman’ below


Album Release, Album Review, Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music, Synth Rock, Synth-pop

Deep City Diver Self-Titled Debut Album

Hackney indie rock band Deep City Diver will release their self-titled debut album on the 6th October. This trio have crafted an album with tracks anthemic in every way with their brand of guitar pop stamped all over it. Doused in synth soundscapes they bring each track to life and evoke every fiber of emotion in the listener. Their sound is ambitious and exciting fully polished and meticulously formulated, it doesn’t feel like a debut album it feels like the fourth or fifth album of a well-established  band. They know their sound and it’s so familiar and comfortable it’s like they have been around for years, yet fresh and new. ‘Easy Prey’ kicks off the album smothered in 80’s synth pop shimmer and sparkle. The melody is sombre and sway-like and Nico’s vocals coo and brood for the verses before becoming dynamic for the anthemic chorus. Running basslines and a snappy beat adds a dance-like shuffle while jingley guitars flicker and stride with swagger and panache. It’s an infectious 80’s flashback. This trio do exuberant fist pump anthems well and ‘Everyone Is Alone’ and ‘Another World’ display this perfectly. With Bon Jovi-esque fiery choruses, powerful vocals and that adrenaline pumping get up and dance your worries away vibe. They bring the rock and roll nostalgia to the album with melty ear worm melodies and some sharp guitar injections adding a bit of edge and rawness to their sound. ‘As the Crow Flies’ is a beautiful melodic tune. Wandering soundscapes wisp around strident guitars. It’s pretty sweet and tender however the musical background adds a film like dramatic sorrow and breezy sharpness. ‘Down On Wreckyn Street, I’m Ruined’ is another indie rock thumper. Energetic, boppy and vibrant smothered in vitality with a dash of airy synths filling out the sound and giving a refreshing little multi dimension to the track. ‘Nothing Hurts’ is an elastic guitar driven tune. A rebounding spring on guitars adds buoyancy before the shredding air guitar worthy solo. ‘Honeyeater’ another slow burner with a strong thumping beat and elegant honey drizzled melody gives a 60’s feel mixed with a bit of the The Smiths. Probably my favourite track on the album for its depth and sweet sorrow filled guitar feature. It’s richly emotive and Nico’s vocals are immensely passionate and divine. It’s a tearjerker for sure utterly romantic and raw, just sublime to listen to.‘Living In The Hyphen’ and album closer ‘Youth’ are the delicate ballads. Beautiful melodies and smouldering synths create a dark sorrowful atmosphere swirling around Nico’s compelling emotion-filled vocals. ‘Youth’ displays Nico’s vocal depth.It’s a little organ-y which adds warmth to the track and once again this track is very passionate and heart wrenching. It’s a short track, just over two minutes bringing a nice end to the album. With simple accompaniment it leaves space for contemplation.

Deep City Diver have compiled a collection of tracks that speak to the heart, live in the moment whatever that moment is and makes you feel something. It’s an emotional journey of highs and lows dramatic anthemic tracks that are massive and fiery to slow tender pure passion and raw emotion. It’s epic guitar pop at its best.

You can catch Deep City Diver at their Vinyl Launch Gigs at

20th October 2017 – The Underground, Stoke-on-Trent (w/ DIVENIRE)

21st October 2017 – Blondies, London (w/ Bear Muda)

Stream ‘Another World’  below

 

 


Album Review, Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music

Plastic Barricades ‘Mechanics of Life’ Album

Based in North-West London, indie three piece Plastic Barricades have released their new album ‘Mechanics of Life’. Comprised of members Dan Kert on guitar, keyboards and vocals, Daniele Borgato on bass and Frazer Webster on drums the band have been nominated for “Oxjam Band of the Year ” and “MTV Brand New”, voted #1 out of 222 bands participating in Hard Rock Cafe London Global Battle of the Bands competition, won Camden Rocks Battle of the Bands, got nominated for “Brand New Artist”, landed 2nd place in Sziget Festival band competition and won Enfield Battle of the Bands and Songwall’s “Songs in the Sky”. Two songs from “Tree of Ideas” EP were also featured in Channel4 “Hollyoaks” TV show.

‘Mechanics of Life’ is a fine display of the chilled indie soaked sound Plastic Barricades do so well. The previously featured on Indie Buddie ‘How Goldfish Grow’ kicks off the album drenched in bright peppy vibes and crunching guitars. It’s bright bubbly indie with melancholic dark undertones adding depth to the track. They keep their sound radiant and glowy while slapping a nice bit of passion and meaning on top. ‘Singularity 2045’ and ‘Our Favourite Delusions’ display slick nimble solos, sharp piercing licks and blazing guitar moments that are divine. The tracks are punchy and meaty with melty glorious melodies and laid back beautiful vibes. They pack so much into their sound adding multi textures and intricate layers. The little peppy sparkling gem ‘Be the Change’ is golden sweet honey to the ears. Smooth tender vocals coo while a sun kissed instrumental backing, lights the track to heavenly heights. It’s passionate and delicate with zests of guitar refreshing the velvety melancholic track. ‘Around the Sun’ gives a groovy element to the album. Catchy vibrant melody illuminates the track with positivity. Each track that follows is easy going mellow and perky. They create music for hazy days in the sun. Though some have a gloomy undertone the tunes are soothing, sweet and melodic. For me the stinging jingles on guitar really stand out and add a squirt of beaming energy and glorious bedazzlement to each track. The luxurious melodies in ‘Half of your Soul’ interweave blending longing and inspiriting tones creating a heavenly blissful sound. ‘Masterminds’ brings us to the end of the album. It does feel like a farewell track, soaked in melancholic tones with a delicate stab beat. With elegant little guitar jingles and a sway-like tempo, it’s a delightful end to the album.

Plastic Barricades ‘Mechanics of Life’ is a laid back glorious album to wrap your ears around, soothe your soul and relax your mind. Its sun kissed and sweetly melodic with bright bubbly indie pop melodies coated in spongy rapid rhythms and flashes of sharp glistening guitar. They add their own glimpses of pizzazz in there too keeping it fresh and edgy but all round it’s a sublime wholesome listen.

Stream ‘Mechanics of Life’ below

https://soundcloud.com/plasticbarricades/sets/mechanics-of-life-lp-pre/s-8wbUn


Album Review, Alt Rock, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, psychedelic, Singer/Songwriter

Kev Howell ‘Haunting Ambition’ Album

Glasgow based singer-songwriter Kev Howell has recently released his debut album, ‘Haunting Ambition’. After beginning writing original material back in 2014 with an old 8-track machine, some Cubase software, and a lot of ambition and talent, Howell has come a long way. Over the past 3 years, he has grown a solid and dedicated fanbase and gained support slots for the likes of Ben Ottewell and Bill Ryder-Jones. Inspired by the likes of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, ‘Haunting Ambition’ boasts nine alternative rock tracks, driven by melodic guitar chords and a haunting and distinctive vocal line.

‘Haunting Ambition’ is a swirling dark concoction of alternative soft rock churning and coiling in a sixties psychedelic dissolving fermentation. Smooth and crooney ‘Distance’ sets the mood of the album. The underlying groovy hints present itself through the bouncy rhythm while spooky spine chilling soundscapes wisp around haunting vocals. The smooth melody is delicate,soft and almost fragile while sharp guitars sting with a stabbing shrill creating a goosebump inducing thrilling listen. The shadowy narcotically hazy ‘Kamikaze’ follows. Vaporous and smouldering this sultry track exudes eerie tantalising mystery wrapped in a psychedelic rock mirage. There is definitely a Beatles-eque vibe in the song maybe it’s something about Howell’s soothing McCartney-like smooth vocals or the melty melody smothered in dark creeping sixties psychedelia. Each track flows fluidly into the next bringing you further into Howell’s cloudy dream state. ‘Ode to an Angel’ lightens the mood and tone of the album. Gentle, sweet and delicate with soft accompaniment it’s heavenly and calm. Warm guitar twangs twinkle in and out of the lush emotional vocal melody while glistening soundscapes add a heartfelt sprinkle of affection. It’s an elegant mood shifter. Each track is well layered yet arranged meticulously in such a way so each note, each pluck and strum makes its own impact and striking imprint on your soul. With this album when it’s swoony and dreamy it’s divine but Howell knows exactly when to break that up and add a wobbly mirage of sharp guitar stings. Each song tells an absorbing story which pulls you right into the depths of the track creating a wholly engulfing experience. ‘Nightbird’ brings a shimmy dance quality with an impressive array of instrumentation from banjo twangs to electric and acoustic guitar intertwined with electronic soundscapes. It’s infectiously boppy and very catchy. ‘Grave Lament’ is just simply beautiful and mesmerising. Howell gives you just under a minute and a half of this blissfully sweet relaxing track. Warm guitar takes you to a dreamy island paradise while a gentle snapping beat soothes your mind. It’s mind melting soul fulfilling and oh so good. With velvety vocals caressing a creamy melody it’s like he takes away all your worries and for a brief moment you are in Utopia. ‘Snipers Blues’ closes the album off with a gritty punch of blues rock. Dirty riffs drive the track while kinetic drums bounce and pound with ferocious energy. It’s effortlessly cool, swagger driven and ballsy while also holding an air of breezy laid back attitude. Sultry and eerie with sharp guitar wails it’s a dramatic memorable end to the album.

Kev Howell’s ‘Haunting Ambition’ album blends the brawny fiery punch of rock with sublime smoky poetry and sensual steamy psychedelia, showcasing his refined and proficient musicianship. It’s an album you can put on and will listen to all the way through finding new intricate details each time. He leaves space for thought and contemplation while still layering and weaving fine textures and sublime melodies. An impressive debut.

Watch the video for ‘Kamikaze’ below

 


Album Review, electro - rock, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie, Indie Electro, New Music

Heez ‘This time will be different’ Album

Heez has released his new album ‘This time will be different’. The sensual groovy ‘Aphysical’ kicks off the album featuring sweet vocals from Culture Child. Previously featured  on Indie Buddie this track has R&B soul entwined with  dark clammy sultry flexwave. ‘Whoa there’ is brimming with Heez’s swagger filled attitude and sauve. Sticky beats ricochet off ethnic tinged swirling  soundscapes while aggressive rapped vocals flow with venom-filled vigour. Its cruising slick and steamy while holding a nice bit of punch. ‘Sins’ featuring Trip Carter displays a brighter bubbly side to Heez’s sound. Still oozing swagger and panache from its core this sleek ditty radiates sunshine and good times. Sweet melody caresses the soft beat and gliding electronics. This is the perfect summer tune – cool breezy, sun kissed and catchy as hell. ‘Curfew’ bleeds emotion and passion to a body grooving beat and flashes of electronics. Dramatic and heavy its hard hitting and deeply emotive. With an exotic guitar feature its delicate and balmy and richly textured. ‘Slow me down’ featuring the beautiful voice of Kiki Halliday closes the album with pulsing beats dreamy tones and a delicious arrangement. Its melty melody is delicate and tender flowing with such grace and beauty while still maintaining Heez’s sticky drippy electronics. Halliday’s vocals blend perfectly with Heez’s it’s quite touching and sweet.

Heez has proven with ‘This time will be different’ album that he has a knack with melodies and a refined ear for complex sublime arrangements. At times, its tough and aggressive punchy and dark other times its sweet delicate and touching. He blends these seamlessly creating a unique exquisite album that’s absorbing.

Stream ‘This time will be different’ below

https://soundcloud.com/4heez/sets/ttwbd


Album Review, indie rock, New Music, Rock, Rock and Roll

Queens of the Stone Age ‘Villains’

Rock dare devils Queens of the Stone Age have released their new much anticipated album ‘Villains’. Eager fans have awaited the album nervously. Finger nails have been chewed to a measly stump as they hoped the Mark Ronson produced album wouldn’t disappoint. Mixing the funky pop production we know Ronson for, with the gritty heavy rock that we are used to from Homme &Co, it could have gone either way. But these guys pulled it out of the bag. They shame us for our doubt with the slickest tightest most thrilling album, arguably their best to date

‘Feet Don’t Fail Me’ keeps the suspense with nearly two minutes of a moody dark eerie intro before blasting into a vivid riff that bounces, rebounding off the swagger soaked hair raising sound these guys do so well. It’s slick well-oiled with razor sharp guitar and a tight rhythm that snaps with instant vibrancy and elastic effect. It’s just too cool. Shredding guitar solo blisters leaving burn marks behind. Homme’s vocals coo and wail with sizzling vigour. It’s the perfect start to the album. The strutting hip shaking danceable ‘The Way You Used to Do’ follows. Finger clicking and soaked in a slick bluesy guitar riff it’s insanely catchy and shimmy worthy. This track alone will have you dancing embarrassingly around the room with its ear worm melody and infectious foot tapping beat. ‘Domesticated Animals’ is a punchy dark throbbing track with a nice little clap feature. Its sultry guitar licks and pulsing rhythm create an eerie gliding dramatic atmosphere. With Bowie hints in places and spooky dark tones all wrapped in a cinematic striking soundscape, it’s a scorching dazzler.‘Fortress’ slows the pace becoming sombre and shadowy while still packing QOTSA’s gritty shaded punch. The rock and roll flamboyant swagger stained track ‘Head Like a Haunted House’ follows with a rush of gyrating hip causing grooves. With 60’s surf-like guitar glides punchy drums and Elvis-like vocals this track makes a delightful shift in the album. That running bass is just sublime. The spacey wails give a unique twist while whistles add a cheeky chappy charm to the song. Still remaining heavy, it’s fantastically obscure and diverse. ‘Un-Reborn Again’ follows the rock and roll laced style however with elegant string feature and sharp guitar stings. The track glides with feminine grace while still maintaining a razor-sharp edge. ‘Hideaway’ slinks in, sultry and stealthily with a hush hush manner. It’s scorching guitar blisters with steamy humidity while Homme’s vocals smoothly and enigmatically caress the lyrics. ‘The Evil Has Landed’ is a spray of bluesy groovy rock. It’s a flexing of their rock, psychedelic muscles between crunchy riffs and pulsing beats. Sinister with hints of sweetness Homme stays mostly in his falsetto range as the track builds to an electrifying crescendo. It shifts becoming heavier and mightier and mosh frantic. ‘Villains of Circumstance’ brings us to the end of our journey with the ‘Villains’ album. Delicate and gentle with sweet guitar jingles and breezy soundscapes the song starts tender yet eerie. Building into an almost anthemic bright chorus, they manage to pack so much into this track. With echo brooding passion-filled vocals its moving yet positive. The chorus is very hopeful and vibrant with sonic twinkles throughout and dramatic instrumentation it definitely leaves you wanting more.

Sweet luscious melodies instant danceable grooves and enough heaviness to make a room shake and shimmy at the same time ‘Villains’ hasn’t let us down. Queens of the Stone Age have been shifting  slightly since the ‘Rated R’ days but not negatively. ‘Villains’ is sophisticated refined and fun while still packing some gritty punches.

 

Stream ‘Villains’ below

 


Album Review, New Music

Pandovisia ‘Gone With The Solar Wind’

Net artists Pandovisia have recently announced the release of a mini LP titled  ‘Gone With The Solar Wind’. The release marks the anniversaries of the Voyager space programme and the cult sci-fi TV series Space 1999. The duo’s second album takes us to the far reaches of the solar system, and beyond. Exploring the ultimate challenge of single-sided communication, this record is conceived as a message in a bottle bound for outer space, including samples from the Voyager golden record and private audio clips.  ‘Gone With The Solar Wind’ is a story of reaching out to the unknown in search for love. In Pandovisia’s world, the wandering Voyager probes and forever gone Eagle Transporter spacecraft are metaphors for hope and dreams of scientists, children and artists alike. ‘Gone With The Solar Wind’ was pre-released on 20th August the day of the launch of Voyager 2, and will be officially released on 5th September, 40 years since Voyager 1 left this planet to become the first human-made object to leave the solar system and cross into interstellar space. The album will be available to stream or download from all major digital stores.

The wobbly spacey ‘The Golden Record’ kicks off the mini LP with warm guitar strums swooned in a dreamy atmosphere of soft jingles and drum thuds. The sweet toned guitar is lulling and calming while spaced out alien eerie synths slide in and out creating a haunting tone. The soft flickering ‘Solar Wind’ follows breezy and drenched in mirage like synth delusions. ‘Space 1999,’ Silent Ambassador’ and ‘Outside The Solar System’ are the only tracks that feature vocals. ‘Space 1999’ features both male and female vocals that coo with breathy rasps through fluctuant soundscapes, Asian hints and retro multi textured synth grooves. ‘Outside The Solar System’ is a melancholic tender track thudding with heavy somber tones teamed with warm glimmering guitar and wavy synths. With a catchy groove, sticky beat and repetitive spoken vocals its quite compelling and closes the LP on a thought provoking note.

‘Gone With The Solar Wind’ is brimming with some sweet toned melodic guitar moments that are simply divine while blending that among a rich spacey mirage of wavy synths, whiny jangles and slapping beats. It’s a unique LP and an experience all to its own.

Watch ‘Silent Ambassador’  below