Two For Your Ears: Housemate - Atlanter

Housemate - Wild Gardens.

Background promo - Housemate has never been one to conform to musical genres and "classification". A self-taught disciple in the craft of genre-splicing, "Wild Gardens" embodies the contrasting influences and conflicting diversity personified by his Stop Out Records back catalogue and live shows.

'Wild Gardens' coolly dissolves from its eccentric outset into a backdrop of acidic jazz trombones and cinematic melodies to disclose a calculated trapstep killer ominously lurking underneath its kooky leftfield exterior.

From the opening notes 'Wild Gardens' was one of those pieces of music that gained my total attention. Different, and yes a little eccentric, however immensely pleasing. With so many directions being taken, they somehow come together as a strange, but wonderful piece.

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Atlanter - Jareeze (Radioedit).

Background promo - Atlanter washed over Norway like a tidal wave in 2013. Their debut album, Vidde, became a favourite among both record buyers and critics, with its beautiful and natural mix of African desert blues, American delta blues and German “motorik” from the 70s. “Vidde blues” was a new and self-made term at that time - a term that summed up the quartet’s wish of uniting music from several corners of the world in “Norwegianised” and timeless attire. They fully succeeded. “Atlanter are a straightforward pleasure”, the NME wrote about their debut album. With a Norwegian Grammy nomination and several high positions in some critics’ summaries of the music year 2013, we’re allowed to have high expectations. The Atlanter wave is here again.

‘Jewels of Crime’ is both a natural sequel and a long step forward for the quartet. A conceptual album about diamonds and pearls. An album that Atlanter have spent three long years recording, but that really has provided the musical gems to befit the subject matter.

Arild Hammerø (guitar, vocal), Jens J Carelius Krogsveen (guitar, vocal), Jonas Barsten (drums) and Morten Kvam (bass) have all the time kept and developed their astounding knack for improvisation, their joy of playing and their intuitive musical understanding, which also in a live setting is central to the band’s sound. They’re proving on ‘Jewels of Crime’ that they also master the art of songwriting completely. Jewels of Crime will be released on Jansen Plateproduksjon on 22 January 2016.

'Jareeze' reminds me of the days of jazz-rock in the sense of just how tight and funky the music is. Vocally it has a more indie feel to it. Overall it is a fascinating taster for the new album, which on the strength of this, promises to be, quite something.

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New Riders Of The Purple Sage - Fillmore East 1971 (IA)

From the Internet Archive (IA) this is the New Riders Of The Purple Sage live at the Fillmore East, New York, USA back on the 28th April 1971.

Back in 2009 we featured the band live at the Fillmore West from the same tour, (that feature has now been updated with Internet Archive streaming and download links). The Fillmore East gig is such an excellent performance and recording, that I just could not resist featuring this to. The background for the band below is the same as, that we provided with the 2009 feature.

The group emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco in 1969, and its original lineup included members of the Grateful Dead.

After a few warm up gigs throughout the Bay Area in 1969, the New Riders (for all intents and purposes John Dawson and David Nelson) began to tour in May 1970 as opening act with the Grateful Dead. This relationship continued on a regular basis until December 1971. Throughout much of 1970, the Dead would open with an acoustic set that often included John Dawson and David Nelson before segueing into the New Riders and then the electric Dead. 

By the time the New Riders recorded their first album in late 1970, change was in the air. Dave Torbert, a young Bay Area musician, replaced Phil Lesh. After Mickey Hart went on sabbatical from music in early 1971, Spencer Dryden (from Jefferson Airplane) began a ten-year relationship with the group as their drummer, and eventually manager. The first album, eponymously titled, was released on Columbia Records in late 1971 and was a moderate success. Featuring all John Dawson songs, the record was driven by Jerry Garcia's inventive pedal-steel playing.

With the New Riders desiring to become more of a self-sufficient group and Jerry Garcia needing to focus on his other responsibilities, the musician parted ways with the group in November 1971. Sadly John 'Marmaduke' Dawson passed away in July 2009.

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Excellent (Linage - SBDMR > Reel > Alesis Masterlink > CDR > EAC > SHN).

Genre: Country Rock

Set: Full Set.

Set List:

Workingman's Blues
Superman
Truck Drivin' Man
I Don't Know You
Runnin' Back To You
Down In The Boondocks
Garden Of Eden
Glendale Train
Fair Chance To Know
Sailin'
Connection
Henry
The Weight
Last Lonely Eagle
Louisianna Lady
Fun, Fun, Fun
Honky Tonk Women

Band Line Up:

John Dawson - rhythm guitar, vocals
David Nelson - lead guitar, vocals
David Torbert - bass, vocals
Jerry Garcia - pedal steel guitar
Spencer Dryden - drums

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments: You can stream the concert below. For download files in either MP3 or OGG VORBIS format, visit the Internet Archive (here).

Listen:

Radiohead - Spectre

Radiohead - Spectre.

And we quote - Last year we were asked to write a theme tune for the Bond movie Spectre.

Yes we were. It didn’t work out, but became something of our own, which we love very much.

As the year closes we thought you might like to hear it.

Simply wonderful, enjoy Radiohead and their interpretation of a Bond theme for Spectre. In my opinion, better than.... but hey ho, I'm an unashamed Radiohead fan.

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Southern End - Lost Girl

Southern End - Lost Girl.

Background promo - Newcastle band Southern End, formed in early March 2014 with members Patrick McBeath on lead vocals/rhythm guitar, Aidan Liddle on lead guitar, Duncan Brown on Drums/percussion and Andrew Gray on bass guitar and backing vocals. After getting together in high school through similar influences, they decided to jam out a few of their favourite songs and have since then written and recorded many songs. 

Lead singer Patrick McBeath brought ‘Lost Girl’ to the band’s rehearsal the day before their scheduled recording session at Trackdown Studios with producer/engineer Evan McHugh. Impressed by the songs potential the band quickly stuck the pieces together and recorded it in the studio the next day. “We had heaps of originals to go in with, but after we finished it at rehearsal we all knew it was the right song to use” says Southern End. 

The finished product was a track that took an atmospheric pop approach to blues. Southern End are looking to start off 2016 with a slew of shows on the east coast supporting the launch of their new single. “Lost Girl” by Southern End will be released 15th of January 2016.

This is a really cool bluesy rock track. Patrick McBeath has vocals just right for this type of song. The band are clearly a long way beyond jamming their favourite songs, 'Lost Girl' has all the right ingredients, and production is spot on.

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