Friday Five: Liphemra - Peru - Little Death - The Noted - Apothek.

Liphemra - 'did u cry'.

Background - Los Angeles based Liphemra (comprised of Liv Marsico, Trey Findley, Miles Gray, Chris Parise) have just dropped their first official release 'did u cry'. Both dark and hypnotising in it's repetition, the track manifest an aesthetic unrivalled by any other project coming out of LA right now.

"You break up... Never talk again. You just want to know if they cried." - Liv

'did u cry' teases an up-coming EP by the same name which is set for an early March release via LA-based label Future Gods.

A wonderfully powerful background sound, gives way to Liv Marsiso's emotionally charged vocals, that dance above the ever changing soundtrack. A real alternative that works so well.

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Peru (the band) - I Need You.

Background - Great music can take you places.  So, perhaps it’s appropriate that Peru the Band shares its name with one of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth.  The soul-infused indie group has brilliantly combined elements of classic Motown, jazz and blues to create a pleasingly unforgettable sound. 

Peru the Band is set to release their highly anticipated debut EP, Ordinary People, on December 14, 2015. “Ordinary People is an inviting and warm listen,” declares The Huffington Post, “often peppered with vintage-style horns and piano….with Motown touches abound.”

Over the past several months, Peru has generated notable buzz for their songs “I Need You,” “Forever” and “My Lady.”  Established by accident in 2014, Peru the Band is comprised of Long Island natives, Michael Desmond (vocals/guitar), Tom Costa (bass) and Jay Scalchunes (drums). All virtuosic musicians, the three began writing songs together while playing with other touring bands. And, the rest, as they say is history. 

Collectively, the members of Peru have toured with groups like Taking Back Sunday and Bayside, and have shared the stage with artists from One Republic, Hanson and Jacks Mannequin. Additionally, they’ve been showcased in festival line-ups for Warped Tour, Taste of Chaos, Bamboozle and others. 

Peru recorded Ordinary People with Dan Gluszak, drummer for Envy On The Coast and Times of Grace (Roadrunner Records) and Mike Watts of Vudu Studios (The Pixies, The Dear Hunter, As Tall As Lions, Brand New). Catch Peru the Band in New York at Pianos on December 1, and at Bowery Electric on December 8 and December 15.

Nice jangly guitars and rhythm, support the 'just as nice' vocals and harmonies, and then the horns take it to another level. This is one super cool band.

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Little Death - Hotel Tokyo.

Background - Perth’s Little Death are the brainchild of enigmatic singer-songwriter Ryan Carson and have already begun with a narrative that most musicians only dream of and even more spend their recording careers attempting to achieve.

After finding production inspiration in the critically acclaimed Placebo album ‘Meds’, Carson took a wild chance by sending his demos to the renowned producer behind ‘Meds’, Dimitri Tikovoi (Placebo, The Horrors). Wildly curious from what he heard, Tikovoi invited Carson to record his debut album with him in London. Now sitting on a completed body of work that was mixed by Neil Comber (30 Seconds To Mars) and engineered by Andrew Hughes (Florence and the Machine), the soft single ‘Valleys’ appeared in June but is now spearheaded by current single and flagship track ‘Hotel Tokyo’.

Just launched to a sweaty hometown reception at Amplifier Bar, ‘Hotel Tokyo’ showcases Carson’s love of dark guitar driven alt-rock with a keen pop sensibility that has seen the track start appearing on playlists around the country. Little Death are armed and almost ready to announce the release of an emotional and brutally honest album that intertwines the intricate and delicate nature of Carson’s lyrics with the brazen and uninhibited music he backs them with.

There's more than enough going on in this song to keep the listeners attention, as competing styles come together in a coherent manner, whether its just vocal over drums, or the full on onslaught of alt rock at it's finest.


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The Noted - Hello (from the album 'Not Far Away').

Background - The Noted is an original band based out of Portland, OR featuring Daniel Work (piano/keys/vocals/acoustic guitar/songwriter), Jeff Koch (electric guitar), Mike Snyder (drums/percussion), John Dwyer (bass/vocals) and Angela Baldino (vocals/percussion). 

Our music is most often compared to Collective Soul, The Fray, Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Train, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac and many other amazing artists.

The band say 'Our music is diverse, highly original and great for the whole family'.

'Not Far Away' was produced, written and recorded, by the band. Vocals and harmonies really are quite something, and the variety within the songs very refreshing. 'Hello' is a good reflection of what musically, lays in store for the listener.


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Apothek - Family.

Background - Apothek is a child of its time. Though with any genetic dichotomy, this is one that spans generations. It embodies nostalgia and being part of tradition – an amalgam of parents, grandparents, siblings and cousins. Family, to be more precise…

Their genesis begins with debut single ‘Family’, and with it, a sound that could arguably only exist today. But beyond the cropped rhythms and synthetic symphonies, there’s a sense of classic melody that feels strangely inherent. Perhaps it stems from Apothek’s somewhat unlikely pairing; combining the freewheeling spontaneity of singer/songwriter Morten Myklebust with the more premeditative musings of producer Nils Martin Larsen. It’s a union of celebrated synthesis and one that straddles the divide between electronic and organic.

Lyrically speaking, ‘Family’ recites random states of consciousness – observing the dysfunctional, and at times destructive, quandary of family life. Stream the track below... Though still in their musical infancy, the Oslo-based duo sit alongside some of Norway’s finest, having collaborated with experimental jazz supergroup Jaga Jazzist and embarking their first ever live shows with pop wunderkind Susanne Sundfør.

Fresh from a buzzed (The Line Of Best Fit, Crack Magazine, Ja Ja Ja) and beyond-capacity showcase at Norway’s renowned Øya Festival, Apothek are once again invited to join Sundfør on tour; confirmed for a string of UK/EU dates this October/November.

'Family' is released today. The soundtrack commences in a gentle intriguing manner and vocals match the style and flow of the piece. Then a beautiful symphonic soundtrack sends the song soaring to a wonderful place before vocals take control again. Exceptional.

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Double Delights: $omeone feat Kite - Lydia Schubert

$omeone feat Kite - Hollow.

Those background words - When the music producer, $omeone, recently signed on Gotta Records, meets the sensitivity of the genius vocalist named Kite.

Kite is an award-winning Liverpool-based, Cumbrian-born songstress. Her debut EP ‘The Bed of The Brook’ was released in 2011 and led her on to play festivals such as Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Kendal Calling, Solfest and Ireby as well as gaining her a spot to play across the pond at Dewey Beach Music Conference in Delaware. Her first single ‘The Water’ was self-released in 2013 and has had extensive radio play including BBC Cumbria, BBC Merseyside and BBC Radio 2 as well as having been playlisted by BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson. Since her trip to the US in 2012 Kite has been working closely with Brooklyn-based collective Mason Jar Music (Feist, Wood Brothers, Josh Garrels, Alicia Keys).

Lot's of recognition and words of praise, already written for Kite here in the UK, and on the strength of this song, it's not hype, it's quality.


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Lydia Schubert - This Golden Hour.

The story so far - “I like to write songs that can read like stories.” 

Lydia Schubert was born in Perth during the eighties or nineties; depending on what mood she’s in and credits her musical prowess with a desire to tell stories. She is a mythologist and puts herself in the first person of the song. 

“But that doesn’t always mean the songs are about me” 

Lydia emerged from the dusty plains of Australia’s West, playing intimate venues in Fremantle and the surrounding locality to small and attentive audiences, where she cut her teeth as a contemporary poet/singer. She has developed an acute understanding of the ‘song’ form and its potential to articulate that which is buried deep in the soul, hidden beneath the small talk of the world. 

Lydia made her debut early on in the year with the single Jesse, a ballad about the gunslinger Jesse James, which earned radio play across the country. She now follows up with ‘This Golden Hour’, a song inspired by a dream and using the namesake of one of her favourite writers, Tennessee Williams.

This is a charming 'rootsy' song which gently builds as Lydia sings and a story unfolds. Simple as that? Quality often is.

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Another Genre Mix: Before The Flood - herMajesty - Still Parade

Before the Flood - I Can't Wait For You.

Background words - Before the Flood's 2nd LP (Hole in the Sky - 2015) is heavy on vocal harmonies, layered strings and deep percussion and bass. Electronic elements and synths add to the rich, and at other times ethereal soundscapes BTF creates through a long-awaited and eclectic 14 song journey. BTF's style and performances are constantly evolving but they continue to draw comparisons to Wilco, The Shins, The Weakerthans & Skydiggers.

Before the Flood formed in 2005, and the line-up has fluidly performed with between 4 and 7 members.  The backbone of the band has been strong, diverse song writing and rich, textured arrangements. Bars Wire and Wood (2008) had two singles (the title track & The Halls) that charted on college radio across Canada.

Over the last seven years BTF has been honing their craft performing through Southern Ontario - with 14 appearances at The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern (Toronto), 15 at The Moonshine Cafe (Oakville), regulars at NXNE and various summer festivals.

This is a solid album with songs that drift somewhere between folk, country rock and a few other places. All show off the bands well developed skills, and the featured track is a fine intro for those unfamiliar with BTF.

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herMajesty - My Body Your Mind.

Background - Art rock project herMajesty plans to self-release their new EP “My Body Your Mind” on November 4th and gig the north east in support throughout fall and winter. “My Body Your Mind” reflects an eclectic indie-glam sound that began with their July 2014 release “Crystals” featuring Fountains of Wayne guitarist Jody Porter’s psychedelic stamp. April’s Bowie-esque “Fashion Trance” followed  February’s “Days Turn to Nights.”
 
“My Body Your Mind” is the story of an immigrant son at a point in time where the experience of migration and dislocation and the desire to love and survive resonates in, and in spite of, the images from a 24-hour news cycle replete with negation, death, and pandering politicos. "My Body Your Mind” implies that the experience of emotional and physical trauma is grafted in memory and skin; that the fallout is, at once, fleeting and permanent, current and timeless, visceral and physical - like the song itself.

“My Body Your Mind” incorporates an ancient Middle Eastern instrument called the oud to amplify the immigrant son’s blues. The use of the oud and bouzouki flow in and out of the dramatic, mysterious wall of sound that integrates psych rock, new wave and world influences. herMajesty has been putting out music consistently since forming in NYC several years ago. They’ve shared the stage with acts like B-52s, Tom Tom Club, Boxer Rebellion, Say Hi To Your Mom, and received airplay on taste maker stations like KEXP-FM in Seattle and WFUV-FM in NYC.

herMajesty consists of JP (vocals, rhythm guitars, programming), David Leatherwood (guitars, backup vocals), Joan Chew (bass), Dov Manski (keyboards) and Konrad Meissner (drums, percussion). Keyboards on “Crystals” were handled by Dayle Raymond Jellyman.

Art Rock has become a crowded genre, it's one that has thrown up a few exciting artists, sadly there have been a few to many, pale imitations of Arcade Fire. herMajesty expand well outside the genre, and the featured track, shows off a talented band, with plenty of ideas of their own, and I feel comparisons with others would be an unfair distraction.


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Still Parade - Concrete Vision.

Background - Still Parade is the project and artistic expression of songwriter, producer Niklas Kramer. Kramer launched Still Parade with debut single 'Actors' on 20th May 2013 and for a long while his identity was clouded by secrecy and mystique. This decision was taken with a view to letting the music alone do the talking. And that it did. Following 'Actors', Kramer delivered extremely well received singles as well as the 'Fields' EP that saw Still Parade continue to build it's following online amongst the tastemakers of the blogosphere.

During this period between the end of 2013 and 2014 the identity of Still Parade's founder and driving creative force was gradually revealed as Niklas Kramer, a young producer and artist basing himself out of Germany's creative hub of Berlin. It also saw Still Parade begin to play festivals and headline shows across Europe in cities including London, Paris, Amsterdam as well as their home town of Berlin.

This period also saw Kramer become interested in experimenting with new recording techniques after receiving a tape recorder as a gift from his father. His previous output had all been recorded within fully equipped professional studios with experienced producers, resulting in a slick dream folk sound. However, only now was he realizing that he preferred the sound he was able to generate by himself within his own tiny Berlin apartment recording on that very tape machine.

Now armed with a collection of brand new songs Still Parade will be sure to leave behind the dream folk, yacht rock sound that became synonymous with Kramer's early output. His debut album self recorded and produced with the use of his tape machine, is set for release in 2016, and it's fair to say Kramer has successfully managed to harness influences from his all time heroes Todd Rundgren and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

I like this song. It is unpretentious, has an openly declared nod to his musical heroes, and yet has plenty of the artists own skills and ideas. As I said, I like it!

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Gussie Clarke - From The Foundation (Reggae Anthology)

Various Artists - Gussie Clarke - From The Foundation (Reggae Anthology).

Press Release - VP Records' vintage imprint 17 North Parade opens its vaults to present a new reggae anthology from one of the most influential Jamaican producers and businessmen Gussie Clarke. On Oct 9th, 2015, 17 North Parade will release a comprehensive double-disc compilation From The Foundation, spanning Gussie Clarke's catalogue of hit productions from the 1970s until today, accompanied with a DVD that takes an in-depth look of the man behind the controls. All the music is re-mastered and coupled with deluxe packaging and extensive liner notes. In addition, a vinyl companion piece (carrying the same name) will be available the following week (Oct 16) that features exclusive tracks not available on the CD and digital version.

In the early 1970s, Clarke's breakthrough success with deejay-style vocalists like Big Youth and I Roy put him at the forefront of the new rebel sound because he was able to blend this style with more instrumental records. The first portion of the anthology includes a previously unreleased version (featuring Big Youth) of Clarke's 1972 debut U-Roy's "The Higher The Mountain" plus a never-before-heard extended version of Dennis Brown & Lennie Hibbert's "To The Foundation."The set carries into more classics like Augustus Pablo's "No Entry," Hortense Ellis' "Unexpected Places" as well as the influential 1981 Mighty Diamond's hit "Pass the Kouchie." 

The second half of the collection delves into Clarke's productions during the late 1980s when he launched his own Music Works studio. This was around the same time when the digital reggae era began, so the studio was fully equipped and ready to adopt the new style, but was still able to maintain the traditional roots reggae sound with musicians recording live instrumentation. The Music Works label focused on this new digi-roots style, incorporating keyboard and computer programmed riddims. Gussie Clarke continued to gather some of the best songwriters, musicians, background singers, arrangers, engineers and mixers Jamaica had to offer. Standout tracks include Dennis Brown & Gregory Isaacs' massive radio hit "Big All Around," Home T, Cocoa Tea & Shabba Ranks' "Pirates Anthem," Gregory Isaacs' monumental 1988 summer smash "Rumours." The riddim of the latter track triggered more breakthrough hits like J.C. Lodge's iconic "Telephone Love." To an enthusiastic, who changed and accepted the reggae music market, Clark was always able to evolve to the times and remain one of the most consistent hit makers in the business.

He continued to pump out chart-topping radio bangers in the 1990s, including Deborahe Glasgow & Shabba Ranks "Mr. Loverman" as well as Shabba Ranks & Krystal's international hit "Twice My Age," both featured on this set. He has worked with an ensemble of reggae artists over the years including Daddy Rings, Sizzla and Mey Vidal, as seen on the last 3 tracks of the From The Foundation. Gussie Clarke's music legacy lives on as he influences much of the music today. The icon shares his works on this timeless Reggae Anthology and proves that real roots remain strong when they are from the foundation.

Gussie Clarke has produced so many reggae hits, including from Augustus Pablo, Big Youth, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown,The Mighty Diamonds, Bunny Wailer,  J.C. Lodge, Shabba Ranks, Sizzla and many more. This compilation charts the story from the 1970's and the featured track is just a small hint of the various musical styles on the release. Reggae fans may already have some, or possibly, many of these tracks, however for those who have not, and who like the genre, this is a worthy contender, both to see how much Gussie has contributed to reggae, and the superb artists he has worked with down the years.

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