Genre Wander: Ben Mauro - Vorsen - Sofia Härdig

Ben Mauro - She's Beautiful.

Background promo - Last year singer, guitarist and songwriter Ben Mauro was part of a major European tour with pop/funk icon Lionel Richie.  It was a two month tour of sold out arenas across Europe. Ben’s extraordinary musical skills and dynamic stage presence has been the reason that he has remained a core member of Lionel Richie’s band for over fifteen years.  Ben has also worked with many other artists including Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears, Don Felder from The Eagles, John Fogerty, Christina Aguilera, Toni Braxton and also worked on projects produced by Peter Frampton and Prince.

But with Ben it’s not just about the music, it’s also about giving back.  On every trip to Syracuse he goes to his old high school (West Genesee HS) and college (Onondaga Community College where he studied classical guitar) to talk with students.  Ben gives them advice on how to have longevity in the music business and gives clinics to teach them the basics of music theory.  In 2014, he started the Ben Mauro Endowment for Music Education at West Genesee; over the next four years he will make a donation to the school’s music department.  He wants every kid to have every advantage to be able to play if that is their passion.  Ben grew up playing the clubs of Syracuse then eventually moved to NYC where he landed the gig with Lionel Richie.  Ben now lives in Los Angeles, California.

Ben Mauro, has a new EP called From NY coming out next Tuesday 23rd February.

'From NY' is a refreshing collection of songs of which 'She's Beautiful' gives just a little hint of what to expect. Some songs are country rock orientated, some quite funky, and some more contemporary pop. All are delivered with style and a real sense of warmth.

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Vorsen - Hurricane.

Background promo - Perth four-piece Vorsen have hit the ground running, entering 2016 with a blistering debut EP in hand after a solid first year of writing and performing under their belt. While single 'Hurricane' is doing the rounds at radio the 'Vorsen EP' is officially out through all digital retailers yesterday Friday 19th.

Initially formed by singer/songwriter Oliver Halvorsen, the scope of Vorsen's music soon grew beyond that of a solo project and led to Halvorsen recruiting three of his fellow WAAPA graduates – guitarist Chris Mackenzie, bassist Brad Roberts and drummer Drew Williamson. As a quartet, the band quickly found their feet, enabling each member to add their own unique touch to the band's highly dexterous musical capabilities.

As you would expect from WAPPA graduates, the level of musicianship in Vorsen is outstanding, but rather than this being a band of individual virtuosos, everyone's greatest musical strength is their ability to work together. And that's where the true magic of any great band comes from... their chemistry. Already a formidable live ensemble by the time they entered the recording studio, Vorsen's natural chemistry on stage is the backbone of their EP.

Vorsen's four track EP kicks off with the featured track 'Hurricane'. It's a solid blues orientated number, with skillful playing and just the right type of vocals. The band are clearly not a one trick outfit, they can funk up numbers and with the third song you see a softer side.

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Sofia Härdig - Sitting Still.

Background promo - The multi-instrumental Sofia Härdig is the latest example of another world class Scandinavian export that’s been dominating the music scene for a while now. Having worked with household Swedish names like the Grammy Award winners The Hellacopters and Bob Hund, as well as having collaborated with Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and Pussy Galore’s Julia Crafitz on Free Kitten, she is now ready to expand onto the world with the release of her upcoming new single Sitting Still.

Hailed “the rocktronica queen of experimental music” in her native country, she remains truthful to her artistic vision. "I find beauty in flaws and that which is not perfect is what excites me, I love the unusual, the unexpected, untrained and unplanned… I hope my music portrays that in its sound”. In order to keep the authenticity and imperfection alive, her new 2-part EP collection called The Street Light Leads To The Sea was recorded only in three days with a few musicians specifically known and hand-picked for their improvisational skills. The moment the record button was on, each musician was encouraged to simply go wild and free.

The result comes in the shape of Sitting Still, the Sonic Youth, The Pixies and Le Tigre- inspired track filled with attitude, vibe and raw emotion. It is fast, it is bold and it will be out everywhere 26th February 2016.

'Sitting Still' is a blistering, wall of sound, rock'n'roll, two and a half minute, blow out. Guaranteed to remove the most stubborn cobwebs, if you need a wake up call that works, this is it.

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Quality Not Quantity: Linda Em - Overcoats

Linda Em - Blue Girl (Single edit).

Background promo - With both BBC and Irish radio support for her debut album “Shadow Lands” , new single “Blue Girl” is available on download on 29th February. The single takes you back to the 1960s Phil Spector “Wall of Sound” girl group soul era, with Linda’s pure and raw vocal beautifully intertwining with the soulful backing singers.

Linda’s lyrical narrative has a nostalgic feel to it bringing back the early days of Woodstock, with some saying that she has an old soul for such a young woman. No surprise when she quotes Joan Baez, Carole King and the husky laments of Melanie Safka as her song writing influences. Performing at the credible 100 Club (London) and Ifracombe Folk festival her set up can be acoustic or with her full seven-piece band, which includes soul backing singers and a mandolin/ bodran player bringing the Celtic vibe to the music.

Linda’s clear, warm, sultry vocal draws the listener into her musical story telling throughout her album “Shadow Lands”. What‘s unique is the extraordinary mix of other influences that create Linda’s original Roots sound. There is folk (revisited from a current London / Irish cultural perspective), a bit of rock, Celtic, American blues and even a hint of Ska if you listen closely. The overall production of her songs take you  back to the 60s/ 70s sound pulling you right back to Woodstock  with an overall modern day eclectic feel.

Getting straight to the point, 'Blue Girl' is, in my personal opinion an absolutely stunning song. Vocally it has passion, style and heart. Add in the wonderful harmonies and notably cool music delivery, and you may have spotted that I really like it. The song strides across genres, it's a melting pot of ideas, held in harmony by the clear commitment to deliver a top class piece.

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Overcoats - Nighttime Hunger.

Background promo - New York-based Overcoats’ female duo Hana Elion and JJ Mitchell announces the release of their newest track, “Nighttime Hunger,”. Hana and JJ are also pleased to announce they will be heading to SXSW, where they will be playing in the official showcase.

The new single is a step towards a darker, more ambitious sound. Grounded in the duo’s trademark soulful minimalism, the song is about the fears that subside by day but emerge and consume us by night. Bullett Magazine says “it almost sounds sweet and innocent. But there’s a lot of threat implied in the lyric of their song.”

The girls’ most recently finished their three-month tour overseas in support of their first EP. This tour included notable performances including showcases in London, a headline show at Dublin’s renowned Whelan’s, and a set at Longitude Festival alongside the likes of James Blake, Hozier and Ibeyi. They have since been packing various NYC venues such as Rockwood, Pianos and Mercury Lounge. The girls head down to NPR’s Mountain Stage later this month.

Those who’ve had the pleasure of seeing the girls live know that Overcoats’ is more than a band, it’s an artistic bond whose unique telepathy palpably resonates with their audiences.

Somebody is determined that my weekend gets off to a great start as far as the music goes. 'Nighttime Hunger' charms and delight in equal measures. The minimalist style is apparent within the musical accompaniment, however this unleashes the vocals to interact wonderfully.

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Thursdays Three: Matthew Logan Vasquez - Evol Walks - Von Spar

Matthew Logan Vasquez - Personal.

Background promo - If you happen to like indie rock performed by real bands, and you catch yourself listening to a mixture of The Vaccines, Kasabian, Dead Weather and Arctic Monkeys more often than not, you should keep an ear out for Matthew Logan Vasquez, the front man of Delta Spirit and one-third of the super-group Middle Brother’s upcoming new LP Solicitor Returns.

Inspired by the sonic nonconformity of The Black Keys and The Raconteurs his tracks like Everything I Do Is Out, Personal or Muerte Tranquila showcase the lo-fi rock raver-cum-primal stomp-like energy from start to finish. Compromise- what’s that? Take it easy- what for? No no no, this track is certainly not about keeping anything in, but letting yourself go to the sound of the still much alive rock’n’roll.

The speaker-blowing vocal abilities of Vasquez, hinting slightly at the style of Dan Auerbach and Cold War Kids, are complimented well against his guitar-driven idiosyncratic flourishes… And when he sings, he manages to channel highly addictive levels of drive and determination at the same time.

I Bet It All is a contrast to his high level attitude. It sounds delicate, genuine and filled with beautiful (almost ELO-like) harmonies.

Solicitor Returns is filled with only brilliant tracks, and the album will be out for sale and download on the 19th February via Devil Duck Records.

UK Dates (* with Nathaniel Rateliff):
06.03. London - The Islington
07.03. Brighton - Concorde 2*
09.03. Bristol - O2 Academy*
10.03. Manchester - The Ritz*
11.03. Glasgow - 02 ABC*
12.03. Dublin - Olympia*
13.03. Dublin - Olympia*

Returning in May for The Great Escape

USA Dates - Here.

1-2-3-4 and 'Personal' erupts in your speakers. Slick vocals and wall of sound guitars, soar over a pounding beat in what is a serious dose of 'wake up' rock'n'roll.

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Evol Walks - Without Me.

Background promo - Fronted by Leah Martin-Brown, Evol Walks are loud, electronic Rock & Roll band with attitude During 2015, Evol Walks put in the hard yards, touring three continents and sharing the stage with some of the world’s biggest acts including Dream Theatre and Black Label Society

Evol Walks performed a slot on the main stage at the Polish Woodstock, playing in front of over 250,000 people “Without Me” was written by Leah Martin-Brown and features the iconic drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, Paul McCartney).

So there I was expecting 'Without Me' to be a major assault on my ears and it turns out to be a ballad. I suppose the song is a little bit classic rock meets stadium rock, however it's very, very catchy. Nothing wrong with the occasional rock ballad, and if it's this good, make it a regular event.

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Von Spar - Chain Of Command.

Background promo - Precarious born vivants, gifted musicians, radical guys – Von Spar are many things, but above all they are one of the most amazing bands in the realm of what the British music press once baptized as Krautrock. Sebastian Blume, Jan Philipp Janzen, Christopher Marquez and Philip Tielsch have in the past been praised even more than the revenants of the genre (in 2012, together with Stephen Malkmus, before the watering eyes of Can founding members Irmin Schmidt and Jaki Liebezeit, they provided a reinterpretation of the album “Ege Bamyasi” at the Cologne Weekend Festival) – even if the four were equally inspired by techno, synth-pop, noise, post-punk and new music.

“The concept of the collective Von Spar seems to be to torpedo listeners’ expectations from album to album”, wrote German newspaper Taz about their last album “Foreigner”. And once again, much is new on “Streetlife”. Four of the eight pieces were recorded with Canadian singer Chris Cummings, aka Marker Starling (formerly Mantler), who has worked with Junior Boys and Owen Pallett in recent times, and whose fragile voice at moments recalls that of the great communist and musician Robert Wyatt. Other pieces feature the voice of Ada (Pampa Records) and of Scout Niblett (Drag City), for whom Jan Philipp Janzen has played drums on various tours (as he has for the likes of Owen Pallett and The Field).

“Streetlife” has emerged as a heterogeneous album ranging from melodic piano disco (“Chain Of Command”), to tripped out soundscapes (“Hearts Fear”), to grandiose soft rock (“Try Though We Might”). One might call it music for a better world, if that didn’t sound so lofty. Yet Von Spar are not at all lofty, they are wide awake. This is not escapism, but life in the streets. And that’s how they live it.

'Chain Of Command' is a melodic piano lead piece. Vocally it's soothingly gentle and very appealing. It's not until nearly three minutes in, that I got the Krautrock references, however they are quite organic rather than contrived, (not sure if that makes any sense, however it's the best I can put it). The outcome for me is simple, I want to hear more.

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Genre Wander: Shapes On Tape- Lake Jons

Shapes On Tape - My One and Only True Love.

Background promo - "My One and Only True Love' is actually about my one and only true love. It's about my girlfriend. It is a factual account of just a few of the things that make her a marvel of nature. She was a ballerina but should have been a drummer in a riot grrl band--or perhaps both. She did go to space camp two years in a row, as well as art school. There's no question that she is the smartest, funniest and best woman to ever be able to put up with me. Also, it explores a Faulknerian inspired notion that the very specific actually creates and ironic sense of the universal, but that is very much secondary."

Shapes on Tape was an arranged marriage. In 2012, Jason Matuskiewicz left behind a reasonably decent job as a young litigator in a relatively secure law firm to move to New York City and "make it" with his band. A solid career move to be sure. His famous last words were, "If I had known it was going to be this easy, I would have moved to New York a long time ago." Hilarious. Spoken like a true fool. As the labels and other industry types began to gather, and various kinds of deals were offered, the band did what many bands do under pressure of any kind. It completely imploded.

Having nearly attained his wild dreams only to have them snatched away did not affect Jason in the least of little bits. Or so he told everybody. His girlfriend, however, did not believe him, and to this day claims evidence to the contrary. She demanded that her friend, genre-hopping producer/multi-instrumentalist and 90’s groovebox enthusiast, Adam Kruckenberg, play music with her mopey boyfriend, in order to snap him out of his interminable funk. And guess what? It worked. The duo hit on a collaborative process that highlighted both of their strengths. They soon took Jason’s effortless punk-tinged folk songs in a far more electronic direction.

Matuskiewicz’s lyrics and straightforward style always flirt with the relationship between high and low concept, taking on complex social and emotional issues with an abrupt three chord frankness that never takes itself seriously, while Kruckenberg’s synthetic re imaginings take the songs into lush and dynamic sound that is simultaneously unusual and instantly accessible. The Deli has described the band as "effortlessly transitioning between laid back dream pop and rock infused dance anthems," which is about as good a description as possible.

'My One and Only True Love' musically reminds me a little of New Order, however vocally it's far to upbeat and then the comparisons fade as Shapes On Tapes stamp their own mark on the song. Anyone with a sense of rhythm may find dancing unavoidable, enjoy!

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Lake Jons - My Friend.

Background promo - Lake Jons is a finnish trio, formed by a happy accident in 2014. Singer-guitarist Jooel Jons got accompanied by guitarist Jaska Stenroth and drummer Mikko Pennanen while performing his songs at their friend’s graduation party.

The trio started working together as Lake Jons, creating their beautiful folk sound at a garage somewhere in Helsinki. Since then Lake Jons have played loads of live shows and charmed people with their music which combines the spirit of dusty garages, rumbling canyons and Nordic woods. Gorgeous vocal harmonies and moods referring to Bon Iver, Josh T. Pearson and Beck are in the center of it all.

Their new EP 'Explore' contains 6 songs. EP was on power play at the Finnish national youth Radio YleX. 

'My Friend' is the first of six songs on the 'Explore' EP, and it really is, only one sixth of the whole. The band explore (sorry) differing styles and pace throughout the EP, however the quality and sheer craftsmanship of this collection is constantly apparent.

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Dreampop Double: The High Violets - Postiljonen

The High Violets - Bells.

Background promo - The High Violets "Heroes and Halos" (Saint Marie Records) Release date: April 1st, 2016.

Heroes and Halos opens with two sharp hits on the snare, like two quick blows to the head, and then you’re inside and it’s happening all around you. ‘How I Love (Everything About You)’ stops you in your tracks. The High Violets make you put down that chocolate chip muffin and listen.

These dream pop vets sound like a delirious mix of Lush and Slowdive, and their fifth album finds them looking to the skies, a cathedral of colour, a stadium of sound. Listen to the way the chorus in ‘Long Last Night’ keeps climbing and climbing until your agoraphobia kicks in and you have to grab onto something to keep from falling out of your chair. Then there’s the sinister groove of ‘Longitude,’ the majestic bliss of ‘Ease On,’ one great song after another, all awash in hooks that swoon and dive.

The album ends with the sparse burned-out waltz of ‘Hearts In Our Throats.’ Kaitlyn ni Donovan’s vocals accompanied by a hollow drum machine—it sounds like the sun coming up after a night of sensory overload, when all you want to do is sleep but your brain won’t stop spinning and so there’s nothing to do but look out the window and contemplate the future, your breath forming patterns against the glass, as another morning arrives.

They’re from Portland, Oregon. They’ve been doing this for years. They know where all your buttons are and exactly how to push them. Like an open-mouth kiss, an unexpected present from a secret admirer, Heroes and Halos makes your ears ring with joy and your heart thump with wonder. It’s the greatest moment in a career of great moments. It’s The High Violets. It’s happening.

The featured track 'Bells' is the fifth of ten tracks on the album 'Heroes and Halos'. In fairness the song descriptions that are in the above promo are pretty much on the ball. 'Bells' gives you some insight into the album, it's very well crafted dream pop that dips towards shoegaze on some songs, overall it's a highly likeable album from a band that clearly know what they are all about.

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Postiljonen - How Can Our Love Be Blind.

Background promo - Following the success of their debut album Skyer, Postiljonen escaped to the valleys of Dalarna in rural Sweden. Over the course of a year the band spent one week a month in a small house, far away from everything, where they focused on what they loved. What happened there was Reverie.

The border-crossing dream pop trio Postiljonen, with members from Norway and Sweden, have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Mia Brox’s soaring vocals and the deft production of Daniel Sjörs and Joel Nyström Holm combine to create music full of heartache and nostalgia. Inspired by grainy old black-and-white films and the sleepless nights of summertime, Postiljonen’s music is a manifestation of their daydreams coming to life.

In 2013 the band released their debut album Skyer. Praised by critics both at home and internationally, it was picked out as one of Gorilla vs. Bear's best albums of 2013 and was also nominated for Pop Album of the Year at the Swedish P3 Guld Awards. After songs from Skyer were used in the HBO's ’Looking’ and the Fox series ’The Following’, the band were invited by respected music supervisor Gary Calamar (Six Feet Under, House, True Blood, Dexter etc) to perform at the prestigious Mimosa Sessions in Los Angeles. Expanding to a five-piece on the live stage, the band recently sold out their third consecutive date in London, have completed three successful tours of Asia and are regulars on the Scandinavian summer festival circuit  - winning over new fans at every turn.

During the early summer of 2015 Postiljonen released a first taste from the follow-up to their acclaimed debut album - the painfully beautiful ‘Wait’. Inspired by Californian winds, Chinese gardens, late Lost in Translation nights in Tokyo; and of course their part-time life in the woods of Dalarna, Postiljonen continue their experiments with sweet eighties references and dreamy sounds. ‘Wait’ was followed by the singles ’GO!’ and ’The Open Road’, which Simon Raymonde (Bella Union / Cocteau Twins) named as his favourite song of 2015.

Reverie is due on February 19 via Best Fit Recordings. A perfect soundtrack to hazy sunny days and starry nights.The band will be playing a headline London show and The Great Escape in Brighton, UK this May.

May 18 - The Shacklewell Arms, London
May 19 - The Great Escape, Brighton.

'How Can Our Love Be Blind' has a really lush feel to it, right from the very start. Vocally it's beautiful and the melody and music just add to what is a really pleasing song. It does in part remind me of the Cocteau Twins, however see that as a massive compliment on my part, considering how defensive I am of said band.

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