Monday, 22 October 2012

Camper Van Beethoven - Athens USA 2012

This is Camper Van Beethoven live at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia, USA earlier this year on March 2nd. The band have a simple taping policy. It's okay with us to tape live Camper Van Beethoven performances and trade them freely, so long as no money changes hands. You send 'em a blank, they make you a tape, and vise-versa. As soon as money enters in on any level, it's a commercial transaction; and with our music, decisions on commerce are ours and ours alone. This is a really superb recording both audio and performance wise.

From wikipedia - Camper Van Beethoven is an American alternative rock group formed in Redlands, California in 1983 and later located in Santa Cruz and San Francisco. Their eclectic and ever-evolving style mixes elements of pop, ska, punk rock, folk, alternative country, and various types of world music. The band initially polarized audiences within the hardcore punk scene of California's Inland Empire before finding wider acceptance and, eventually, an international audience. Their strong iconoclasm and emphasis on Do It Yourself values proved influential to the burgeoning indie rock movement.

Released within an 18 month period, the band's first three, independent records enjoyed critical success, each placing in The Village Voice's 1986 Pazz and Jop Top 100 Albums list. Their debut single, "Take the Skinheads Bowling", remains a college rock radio staple. The group signed to Virgin Records in 1987, released two lauded albums and enjoyed chart success with their 1989 cover of Status Quo's "Pictures of Matchstick Men", a number one hit on Billboard Magazine's Modern Rock Tracks. They disbanded the following year, however, due to internal tensions. Individual members found greater commercial success thereafter, with lead singer David Lowery forming Cracker, multi-instrumentalist David Immerglück joining the Counting Crows, and several other members playing in Monks of Doom. Beginning in 1999, the former members resumed their collaboration, resulting in a full-fledged reunion and several new releases.

In 2011, the band began playing a series of shows that featured the Key Lime Pie album in its entirety. In an interview with the Monterey County Weekly newspaper, published June 2, Jonathan Segel had announced that a week after that show, Camper Van Beethoven would begin working on a follow-up album to New Roman Times. The album has since been given the title La Costa Perdida and the release date of January 22, 2013.

Source: Neumann KM-184(PAS)> Lunatec V2> Sony PCM-M10(24/48), taped by Sloan Simpson.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3 variable@198 - 216kbps. 

Genre: Alternative Rock.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

01) ZZ Top Goes To Egypt
02) Flowers
03) Eye Of Fatima Pt. 1
04) Eye Of Fatima Pt. 2
05) Tania
06) Too High For The Love In
07) Seven Languages
08) Sad Lovers Waltz
09) Good Guys & Bad Guys
10) Tina
11) Waka
12) Poppies
13) White Riot
14) Wasted
15) Shut Us Down
16) R 'n R Uzbekistan
17) When I Win The Lottery
18) Summer Days
19) You've Got To Roll
20) L'Aguardiente
21) Mao Reminisces About His Days In Southern China
22) All Her Favorite Fruit
23) Sweethearts
24) Take The Skinheads Bowling
25) Opi Rides Again/Club Med Sucks
26) Pictures Of Matchstick Men
27) E:) Interstellar Overdrive

Line Up: 

David Lowery - guitar, vocal
Jonathan Segel - violin, guitar, keyboard, vocal
Greg Lisher - guitar, vocal
Victor Krummenacher - bass, vocal
Frank Funaro - drums, vocal

Web: Official HERE

(download link in comments below).

Thursday, 11 October 2012

2012Candy - October


Background: Having grown up with two home towns, it was almost destined that Sarah Beatty would occupy the space that exists between things. She grew up in Rochester, NY and Parry Sound, ON and cut her musical teeth in Parry Sound and Niagara. This singer-songwriter now calls Hamilton home. Her first full length album Black Gramophone was released earlier this year on May 24th.

Earning her a spot at this year’s Mariposa Showcase, Beatty has gone straight to the fundamentals in her debut solo effort. In the collection of 12 original songs, she pares down the instrumentation and ramps up the contemplation, curiosity, and charm of honest-to-goodness song writing. Recorded live off the floor, hers are where lyric, melody, and rhythm exist in distilled form. Purposeful in her approach, Beatty is a courageous one, letting smart lyrics, strong melodies, and a listener’s imagination take centre stage in this intimate and conversational recording.

Sarah Beatty writes, most simply, contemplative folk songs with spacious arrangements. As a consequence, she deftly occupies the space between blues, jazz, country, soulful styled roots music. Where her music shines brightest is with her dynamic vocals, expressive lyrics, and engaging melodies. The result is a sonic landscape that is old, new, natural, and made with her hands. Using an acoustic guitar and her voice, she writes honest, emotionally rich, and charming songs that often speak of situation and circumstance. As Glen Brown of Greater Hamilton Musician puts it “With lyrics like, ‘You can steal my thunder, but I can steal your rain,’ Beatty gets you thinking. She keeps her melodies simple and beautiful. Her voice is confident, uplifting and controlled. It's easy and good to sing along. Her music is a perfect match for this room and this time.”

2012Candy Comments: Sarah described her music to Beehive Candy as 'live from the floor with her own added harmonies'. The featured song's harmonies remind me a little of Sweden's female duo First Aid Kit, a positive thing by any standard. Sarah tells stories and drives the songs with some funky acoustic guitar play. Excellent debut in our opinion.  
Listen: To Be (player only) Web: Official HERE.
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Background: For those who miss the era of rock where music had bravado and albums had artwork, we present to you...hope. Echoes de Luxe have a sound and spirit that embodies 70's era rock bred with the sonic experimentation of today. The LA-based band's upcoming Hold On EP will be released independently on October 16, 2012.

Echoes de Luxe released their debut self-titled EP in March of 2009, mixed by Alex Newport (Jubilee, Mars Volta), and mastered by Pete Lyman (Mars Volta, Death Cab for Cutie).  After playing shows in support of the EP, the band began work on self-producing their recordings in their home studio, releasing them as The Notremonde Demos in February of 2010.

For their forthcoming Hold On EP, Echoes de Luxe teamed up with Velvet Revolver's Dave Kushner and veteran producer Ryan Williams. As the band explains, "Having self-produced everything before, it was a challenge to relinquish control to someone, even with as much respect and confidence as we had in Dave’s talents.  Ultimately and without surprise, the songs came out far better than we had hoped, and it was all down to the creative partnership and fun working atmosphere."

2012Candy Comments: This is a beautiful piece of music with captivating vocals. It's got into my head, please feel free to welcome it in to yours.
Listen: Hold On (mp3) Web: Official HERE.
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Background: The Resident Cards are Dana Boulé and Erica Buettner, two American wanderers who met each other in 2009 by random chance in Paris, France. Classically trained in piano, Dana came to Paris from the Brooklyn punk scene, having fronted several punk bands (Stupid, The Sobs and Dirty Magazine) and having broken several accordions and keyboards whilst regularly being thrown out of clubs. Upon arrival in Paris under the misty grey of winter, she realized life has a softer side and released her first solo album Going, Gone in 2009. Her music has been featured in Woody Allen’s Midnight In Paris and she has scored several feature films, multiple short films and various commercials for clients including MTV Networks.

Erica came to Paris as a literature student at Nanterre University while also studying French at the Sorbonne. She started her musical career playing the folk clubs and theatres of Paris solo with a guitar. Her mesmerizing voice and songwriting caught the ear of French producer Pierre Faa (Peppermoon) and together they released her first solo album, True Love and Water in 2011. She has shared the stage with the likes of Patrick Watson, Ron Sexsmith, Warren Ellis, This Is The Kit and Emmanuelle Parrenin.

The Resident Cards’ debut album We Won’t Leave Any Trace was written and recorded over ten months in a tiny Parisian apartment high above the Seine river. Belgian drummer and singer-songwriter Boris Gronemberger (V.O., Raymondo, Françoiz Breut) was brought in to add percussion and Belgian beers. The final album was mixed and mastered in London by Charles “Chicky” Reeves at Sublime Studios who has mixed such legendaries as Johnny Cash, Tito Puente, Radiohead, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and Grace Jones among others.

2012Candy Comments: Wonderfully flowing music with complementary vocals that seemingly skip across the music. The sort of music to have on at breakfast time to ensure the day starts well.  
Listen: Pyramids (mp3) Web: Facebook HERE.
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Background: Since their inception in late 2010 That’s No Moon has been busy destroying dance floors across the Midwest. The band’s infectious brand of indie-rock, which includes elements of pop and electronica, can transform even the most apathetic of crowds into a raucous dance party. With the release of their debut full length in September of 2011 That’s No Moon proved that they are much more than just an energetic live act. While still retaining the excitement of their live performance the 12-track album showcases the band’s ability to meld pop sensibility with musical energy and integrity.

Showing no signs of slowing down, the band is already in process of recording a second full length album. After teaming up with independent label Blue Box Records in 2011 the band has high hopes for their sophomore release. The new album was released on September 27th, 2012 at the Pygmalion Music Festival.

2012Candy Comments: Fresh and energetic and simply refusing to sit in any particular musical genre.
Listen: According to Ancient Alien Theorists (mp3) Web: Official HERE.
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Background: The Silver Snails are a full indie pop music project based in the medieval wine country of Romagna, Italy, with strong ties to the West Coast. Anchored by the husband and wife team of Lucas Ward and Elisa Fantini, their mission is to open human hearts through song. The Silver Snails draw from a diverse palette of musical influences including classic rock and pop, Beethoven, electronica, Irish, jazz, Nigerian, Kawali, Asian folk music, and more.

The Silver Snails 2012 debut offering 'The 7 Melodies' constitute an integrated musical spell designed to unlock joy and unleash magic within the lives of those who listen. Revealed by inspiration, diligently sculpted, recorded and mixed over a 2 year period, The 7 Melodies incorporate English, Italian, and French, with touches of Mandarin and Sanscrit. Fresh and melodic, the songs are stylistically adventurous, yet firmly rooted in post-Beatles pop. Like the 7 colors of the spectrum, each song is shaded by a different frequency of emotion. Taken together, the songs form a powerful audio Love bomb.

The Silver Snails are supported by a community of musicians, artists, dancers, and friends, each of whom has added their personal inspiration and talent to the project. Using music as a platform, the Silver Snails aspire to open a channel of Love from the human family to the Sky, inspiring and supporting others to do the same.

2012Candy Comments: Euro-pop this most definitely is not despite the international flavours. Great pop it most definitely is, with a whole host of other musical elements carefully crafted in.
Listen: Beatrice Russo (mp3) Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Sóley Stefánsdóttir, student of composition and member of the Icelandic indie-collective Seabear and Sin Fang, has announced performances down the East Coast with Of Monsters and Men. The mostly sold-out tour supports her We Sink debut full-length via Morr Music, and begins on November 15 in Toronto stretching through November 30 in Orlando. The intimate songs off We Sink will be performed across two dates in NYC and Toronto, and the tour commences after she performs at this year's Iceland Airwaves Festival. Morr Music will host a showcase at the festival on Wednesday, October 31 featuring FM Belfast, Sin Fang, Pascal Pinon, Prins Polo, and Sóley.  

Sóley has received over 7 million YouTube views for a fan's uploaded stream of her song 'Pretty Face.' It's hard to believe this is the same artist that did not deem herself a proper singer until she had been around the world and back with Seabear. We Sink is 13 tracks of intricate compositions where she combines seemingly disparate elements with stunning ease. Sometimes incredibly catchy and other times amazingly quirky, the album has a carefree quality reminiscent of earlier Icelandic acts but also calling to mind the sounds of Joanna Newsom, or the Casady sisters circa 2004.

Oct-31 - Reykjavik, Iceland - Iðnó^
Nov-15 - Toronto, ON - Kool Haus (sold-out)  
Nov-16 - Toronto, ON - Kool Haus (sold-out)
Nov-17 - Montreal, QB Metropolis - (M for Montreal) (sold-out)
Nov-19 - Boston, MA -Orpheum
Nov-20 - New York, NY - Terminal 5 (sold-out)
Nov-21 - New York, NY - Terminal 5 (sold-out)
Nov-24 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower
Nov-25 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club (sold-out)
Nov-29 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle (sold-out)
Nov-30 - Orlando, FL - Beacham (sold-out)

^FM Belfast, Sin Fang, Prins Póló, Pascal Pinon
*All US dates with Of Monsters and Men.

2012Candy Comments: I was simply captivated by this song. Atmospheric with enchanting vocals, the various references with the likes of Joanna Newsom, Coco Rosie and fellow native Bjork are well deserved and like these artists Soley has many unique attributes.
Listen: I'll Drown (mp3) Web: Morr Music.
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Background: Erica Spring the singer/keyboardist of Au Revoir Simone released her self-titled debut EP this spring on Cascine.

Backed by Jorge Elbrecht of Violens on percussion and as producer, she has taken elements of her band's sound and spun them into her own brand of bittersweet, sun-bleached pop. The EP has seen praise from Vogue, Pitchfork, and MTV Hive among others.

Erica is performing at CMJ 2012 this year as below.

Wednesday 10/17- New York, NY - Le Baron
(Ghostly & Cascine Presents: CMJ Showcase)

2012Candy Comments: I nearly missed this song as it was packed in with a number of artists promo's all appearing at CMJ 2012 this month. It's the only solo song I have heard by Erica and to use that well worn cliche again, I will be checking her music out some more based on this.
Listen: Hidden (mp3) Web: Facebook HERE.
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Background: Jaggery’s sound moves from haunting lullabies to intricately-woven, mixed-meter rants to catharsis-inducing, barn-burning mini-epics ~ oftentimes within the same song.  The Boston-based five piece establish their genre-defying style ~ blending elements of darkwave, jazz, classical, ethereal avant-rock, and chamber art-pop ~ with the release of their EP Private Violence ~ an ode to Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood ~ on November 13, 2012.

Private Violence takes a turn for the macabre, adapting its title from criminologist Richard Rhodes’ book, Why They Kill, which describes criminals as “differ[ing] from the rest of us in following through with private violence.”  Nowhere is that more evident than through frontwoman Mali’s primary inspiration behind the EP: Perry Smith, misunderstood murderer from Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood.

Capote described the 1959 murders as “four shotgun blasts that, all told, ended six human lives.”  Mali and Jaggery opted for a more musical approach to the tragic Kansas crime scene. “Hostage Heart,” the first song written on the EP, works as both a tribute to Perry Smith and an identification with the murderer. “I was looking at myself, and looking at Perry, yet also expressing the wonder and horror over what his hands were capable of,” explains Mali. “Oh my god” is a dark, gritty jazz recounting of Smith’s hanging, and the EP ends on the aptly titled “End Song,” a wistfully sung ballad to Smith as a confused and abused child.

Jaggery found its footing in New York, writing and performing under different monikers until 2004 when the band began to take its current shape: songstress/pianist Singer Mali is flanked by a rotating lineup of musicians and instrumentation, including Daniel Schubmehl’s West African and jazz approach to the drum kit, Tony Leva’s often prepared upright bass, Rachel Jayson's avant-classical viola, and Petaluma Vale’s glistening Celtic harp and backing vocals.

2012Candy Comments: Having read all of the above, I was ready to be disappointed as the promo set expectations so high. I am now delighted, do I need to say any more....
Listen: Hostage Heart (mp3) Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Emerging as a musical force, Daniel Robinson recently swept the competition winning an award in the prestigious international John Lennon Songwriting Contest 2012. His single "The Last Night" was selected from thousands of submissions from all over the world as the winner in the Electronic music category. It is currently available for streaming on the contest website.

Harmoniously gifted, the Buffalo, NY native's music was showcased to a respectable judge panel of industry insiders and pulled through triumphantly. Based in Toronto, Canada the singer-songwriter released his song as part of his debut EP North, last year, which was received well by fans and music writers. The EP propelled Daniel's fan base and established him in his home town. Honing his skills since the tender age of 5 years old, Daniel's iconic influences, such as Elton John and Bruce Springsteen, ignited a relentless desire in him to write his own material and become a musical prodigy. Maneuvering from genre to genre during his self-discovery, the electric performer finally found his niche and has been soaring ever since. His unique, soothing but powerful vocals serenade crowds and has gotten him named as iHeart Radio's Artist to Watch.

Overly impressed by the work they created together in the last year, it was Daniel's songwriting partner and producer Mark Zubek submitted the song to the online contest without telling him. The synth-heavy song boasts a fun, bouncy beat with light-hearted lyrics about finishing the summer off with a bang. Melodiously dynamic and dominant, the song landed Daniel the Grand Prize in his category.

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is an international contest, which began in 1997. Year round, the contest is open to both professional and amateur songwriters who wish to produce their best songs. Among the thousands who entered, there are 12 categories. By looking mainly at melody, composition and originality, the judges decided that Daniel's song "The Last Night" was flawless in all three aspects.

2012Candy Comments: He may have one a prestigious award and deservedly so, however I get the impression this is more about a love for music and natural talent, all of which is present in abundance within his EP North.
Listen: Heroes In The Sky (player only) Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Listening to The Growl’s colossal sound – built up in layers of percussion, with guitar tones one music critic aptly described as leaving the taste of iron on your tongue – it is hard to believe the band began as simply as a bedroom recording project between two friends. Seeing them live, as a six-piece dual-drummer wall of sound, more so. And while the core of the band is still founding members front-man Cameron Avery and bassist Clinton Oliver, it is safe to say the band has come a very long way in a very short time.

Self-produced, The Growl’s debut EP Cleaver Lever is a worthy addition to a stunning body of work emanating from the current pool of musicians in the West Australian city of Fremantle. With Cameron Avery’s other band Pond (in which he plays drums) having recently released their new album to a stunning reception across Europe and the US, and with Tame Impala doing all of the amazing things they are doing, the Fremantle music scene has produced some of the most interesting and imaginative music of the last few years - and that’s just looking at the bands the world outside of Australia knows about.

Back at home, The Growl have had a fairly speedy rise to prominence. In addition to being championed by Australian radio’s most influential figure, Richard Kingsmill, The Growl found a very strong grassroots following upon debuting as a live act in 2010. Community radio loved them, other bands loved them, and within a year The Growl were capable of selling out big shows to an increasingly diverse audience.

2012Candy Comments: No nonsense timeless rock, that appears to have been fired out of a Bourbon soaked cannon.
Listen: With the Sharp End of a Trowel (mp3). Web: Official HERE.
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Listen:

Thursday, 4 October 2012

Beirut - Austin USA 2007

This is Beirut recorded live back on March 16th 2007. This was at the KLRU studios in the communication building on the University of Texas campus, on the Austin City Limits Stage, (where they produce the TV show). The actual recording was from KEXP Seattle who re-broadcast the concert.

Beirut is an American band that was originally the solo musical project of Santa Fe native Zachary Francis Condon, and later expanded into a band. The band's first performances were in New York, in May 2006, to support the release of their debut album, Gulag Orkestar. Beirut's music combines elements of indie-rock and world music. 

Wikipedia tells us - On his return from Europe, Zachary Condon enrolled at the University of New Mexico, where he studied Portuguese and photography. Condon recorded the bulk of the material used for Gulag Orkestar by himself in his bedroom, going into the studio to finish the album with the assistance of Jeremy Barnes (Neutral Milk Hotel, A Hawk and a Hacksaw) and Heather Trost (A Hawk and a Hacksaw), who became early members of the band Beirut.

On the strength of the recordings, Condon was signed under the name of Beirut to Ba Da Bing! records, and Gulag Orkestar was given a May 2006 release. Condon recruited some friends to play the music live for the first shows in New York, and Beirut was born.

Beirut's first official music video was for the song "Elephant Gun". The second video, which was for the song "Postcards from Italy", was directed by Alma Har'el, and was released later. 2007 saw the first release of the full band with the Lon Gisland EP.

Source: FM Stereo.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3 variable@188 - 200kbps. 

Genre: Balkan folk, Indie folk, Electronica.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

1. The Penalty
2. Carousels
3. After The Curtain
4. Le Moribond
5. Elephant Gun
6. A Sunday Smile
7. Untitled
8. Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)
9. Gulag Orkestar
10. Postcards from Italy
11. Brazil
12. Scenic World
13. The Canals of our City

Web: Official HERE

reloaded 22/June/2015 link in comments.

Thursday, 27 September 2012

2012Candy - September

Background: The Peach Kings, Texan Paige McClain Wood and Californian Steven Trezevant Dies, recently released their new EP Handsome Moves  (September 6, 2012).

They describe their sound as "gypsydelic," which is just what it sounds like. Stemming from their inability to choose one genre of music to play, they coined the term in order to reflect their own personal view of the band. "Gypsy-" because they were inspired by playing outdoors and "-delic" because it contains just a hint of strange.  Paige and Steven are strongly influenced by visuals in cinema and fashion. In fact, Drew Barrymore discovered their music and selected them to be a part of her Spring Music Preview spread for V Magazine, alongside the likes of Mayer Hawthorne, M83, Spank Rock, Warpaint, and The Drums.

The duo fill the gap between upbeat rock and downtempo electronic, with comparisons being made to The Black Keys, Mazzy Star and The XX. Similarities can also be drawn to Little Dragon, and how they do so much with so little. They draw their sound and inspiration from the smoky smooth crackle of blues, folk, and soul vinyls as well as the hypodermic tones synthesized in various beat laboratories across the globe. Stripped down, The Peach Kings' power is derived from Paige's hauntingly sensual vocals combined with Steven's complementary rhythm and picking.

2012Candy Say's: Delightfully upbeat with great harmonies this is just one standout song from the EP, if you like this, you will love the rest.

Featured Track: Fisherman (mp3). Web: Official HERE

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Background: Recording as Steffaloo, Los Angeles native Steph Thompson has in a very short time captivated indie music fans with releases in two distinct styles. Her 2011 self-released debut, Meet Me In Montauk, and her 2012 Mush full-length, Would You Stay, surround the beauty that bursts from her songs with acoustic guitar, ukulele, piano, simple percussion and lots of white noise. The feel is intimate bedroom pop, as if the songs are her way of finding the courage to stop her heart from swallowing her whole.

Praise has been swift to come her way, with performances at SXSW, CMJ, FMLY Fest, glowing reviews, notice in the Los Angeles Times, and her very own Daytrotter Session. In addition to Steffaloo's stripped-down solo material, she has teamed up with a number of acclaimed electronic producers as a guest on their albums. Her work with Blackbird Blackbird, Sun Glitters, Teen Daze, Chrome Sparks and others has been featured in important outlets including The Fader and introduced a whole new fanbase to her work. Whether releasing emotional solo meditations or collaborating with cutting-edge electronic producers, Steffaloo is set to become an artist of note.

2012Candy Say's: Dreamy vocals work there magic over sublimely crafted instrumentation and the lyrics tend to draw you in around the second listen.

Featured Track: Would You Stay (player only). Web: Official HERE.
 
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Background: British artist Emoticonman has been creating electronic music for a number of years and can be loosely described as psychedelic. With the odd nod towards Aphex Twin and similar, the music can both excite, challenge and draw you in to the mixture of rhythms and carefully crafted layers of sound.

Some simple melodic instrumental pieces compete with energised soundscapes, occasional and intriguing lyrics and on occasional outright hostile assaults on your audio senses.

Listening to Emoticonman over the last few years has been described as "following a journey of musical exploration - where nothing can be ruled out". The intriguing thing is you never know quite what to expect. With much of the self released material now available at the artists site, this is your chance to enjoy some fine electronic explorations. (The featured song is yet to be released).

2012Candy Say's: We chose this instrumental piece partly as it's an exclusive for ourselves, but more importantly we just love the way it builds and flows. This is just one aspect of Emoticonman, believe us there is so much more!

Featured Track: Wandering Off The Path (player only) Web: Official HERE.

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Background: Portland, Oregon-based duo Jenn Rawling & Basho Parks are continuing to tour in support of their debut full-length, Take The Air (Waterbug Records), by setting out on another national tour. 

Jenn Rawling, ace songstress and vintage American folk and old-time country singer, joins masterful string player & harmony singer Basho Parks in a partnership of formidable musical talent and palpable sympathy. Their music marries musical and lyrical imagery, with repetitive figures that subtly shift accent and meaning like sunlight gleaming from a stream. The result is an emotionally rich recording which unfolds more gifts with each listen.  There's a flowing kindness at the heart of this music; more than a nod to our barn-raising ancestors; and a formal mastery of the song form whereby the inevitable continues to amaze.  Recorded and produced with Skyler Norwood (Blind Pilot, Horse Feathers) at Miracle Lake Studios, the duo pared down a fistful of songs to the ten that comprise Take The Air. This album will get in your head and heart, and you won't mind a bit.  Using both stripped down and lush instrumentation,Take The Air reels the listener in with its delicate subtlety and glowing warmth.  This is superb artistry and the effect is profound.

A rare songwriter whose varied and distinctive melodies carry the story, Rawling's tunes can trace the motions and calls of birds and, in "Gather it Up," the determined, seemingly desultory motion of honey bees, echoed and elaborated by Parks' evocative violin.  A melodic section's end in "Whistle Bird" soars headlong into a new feeling; "Little Swallow" sashays in its groove like an old string band mainstay: Basho's fiddle calls up a little bit of "Cotton-Eyed Joe," daring all within earshot to give it up, to join in and dance like fools. "Leaving So Soon" captures the suddenness of a relationship loss by reaching the chorus so quickly we haven't got time to prepare for it. We are waiting for more of the verse, each time, but like the person who left the author, it's not there. And we feel it. "Lonely Owl," "Gather it Up" and "Tidal" are cousin to the ecstatic nature poetry of Mary Oliver. Jenn Rawling's songs don't connect the dots. They leap, and the intuitive connections she makes are so true that she takes us with her.  Each track stands individually on its own, together forming a collection of work both captivating and full of heart. 

Jenn and Basho met while contributing their musical talent to bands around Portland over the past few years.  Both were recovering from potentially career-ending wrist injuries, but had almost simultaneously decided to play music again.  Discovering these common loves propelled the folk-duo to become romantically and musically inseparable, and now they're taking it all on the road with a great dane and a van.  "Ours is a story of triumph in the face of adversity.  Real phoenix-rising kind of stuff," chuckles Parks. 

Happy to call the Pacific Northwest home, the two revel in its natural scenery and draw much from the flora and fauna of this region.  Wisconsin-born Rawling spent many summers working atop a firetower in the Mt. Hood wilderness.  Wrapped in that isolation, Jenn was able to give focused attention to songwriting.  She is an artist governed by intuition, tapped into the poetry of human life, who bides her time painting, gardening, cooking and admiring salamanders.  "[I'm] inspired by nature's seasons, and these are my love songs to the moon and stars, ballads to the birth of flowers, and human expressions of love and loss," she explains.

9/28/12 - Boats & Bluegrass Festival - Winona, MN
9/29/12 - Boats & Bluegrass Festival - Winona, MN
10/4/12 - Wisconsin Public Radio - Madison, WI
10/5/12 - Huebschman Barn - Platteville,WI
10/6/12 - Musical Offering - Evanston, IL
10/11/12 - Folk Alliance Midwest - St. Louis, MO
10/12/12 - Folk Alliance Midwest - St. Louis, MO
10/13/12 - Folk Alliance Midwest - St. Louis, MO
10/14/12 - Folk Alliance Midwest - St. Louis, MO
10/15/12 - Barking Spider Tavern - Cleveland, OH
10/17/12 - Club Helsinki - Hudson, NY
10/19/12 - WERU Radio - Ellsworth, ME
10/20/12 - 430 Bayside - Ellsworth, ME
10/27/12 - Circling the Square Press - Gardiner, ME
11/2/12 - The Listening Room - Fargo, ND
11/3/12 - tba - Minneapolis, MN
11/8/12 - Luna Cafe - De Pere, WI
11/10/12 -  Lakeshore Fellowship - ManItowac, WI
11/16/12 - Cafe Carpe - Ft. Atkinson, WI
11/24/12 - Trempeleau Hotel - Trempealeau, WI
11/29/12 - Avogadro's - Ft. Collins, CO
12/1/12 - tba - Denver, CO
12/2/12 - The Helm - Colorado Springs, CO

2012Candy Say's: Wonderfully produced and simply beautiful music, we could say more, however we will let the song do the talking (or singing...).

Featured Track: Gather It (mp3). Web: Official HERE.

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Background: Boston-based indie-rock quartet Mean Creek have announced their Fall tour of the U.S. supporting Counting Crows. Marking the band's second stint with Counting Crows, the tour will begin on Tuesday, October 23 in Port Chester, NY, at The Capitol Theatre and will take in 14 evenings across the U.S., culminating in an appearance at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA, on Saturday, November 24. Prior to the tour, the band will be performing as part of this year's CMJ Music Marathon from October 17-19. Mean Creek will be on the road in support of its soon-to-be-released sophomore album titled Youth Companion.

Youth Companion, an album that was recorded at 1867 Recording Studio by Chris McLaughlin, producer of the band's acclaimed debut album, The Sky (Or The Underground), will be released through Old Flame Records on October 16th.

Building its name and acquiring a presence that has led to the band becoming a household name in their native Boston, the four members of Mean Creek - Chris Keene (lead vocals/guitar), Aurore Ounjian (guitar/vocals), Erik Wormwood (bass), and Mikey Holland (drums) - delved into their newest musical project with the assurance and conviction that comes from knowing their legitimate place in the world. Recently named "Best Boston Band" by the readers of The Boston Phoenix for the second straight year in a row and taking home the coveted "Album/EP of the Year" for their John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., Kurt Vile)-produced Hemophiliac EP at the 2011 Boston Music Awards, Mean Creek have their sights set on impacting the nation as they have in their hometown with Youth Companion, the band's most focused and biggest-sounding work to date.

Mean Creek will be performing at this year's CMJ Music Marathon as well as touring the U.S. supporting Counting Crows during October and through all of November. Tour dates below.

October
11 - Allston, MA - Brighton Music Hall (Youth Companion release show)
17 - New York, NY - CMJ - Fontana's - Pirate! showcase
18 - New York, NY - CMJ - Pianos - Old Flame Records showcase 
19 - New York, NY - CMJ - Bowery Electric - The Outlaw Roadshow showcase
23 - Port Chester, NY - The Capitol Theatre
25 - New York, NY - Roseland Ballroom
26 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount
28 - Charlottesville, VA - nTelos Wireless Pavilion

November
01 - Boca Raton, FL - Mizner Park Amphiteater
04 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
07 - New Orleans, LA - Mahalia Jackson Theatre
09 - Thackerville, OK - Winstar Casino
10 - Austin, TX - Stubb's
12 - Houston, TX - Bayou Music Center
14 - Albuqerque, NM - Kiva Auditorium
16 - Tucson, AZ - AVA Amphiteatre
20 - San Francisco, CA - Nob Hill Masonic Center
24 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern

2012Candy Say's: This is a powerful and anthem orientated song, that avoids the trap of becoming cluttered with to much going on. It's just great music.

Featured Track: Young and Wild (mp3). Web: Official HERE.

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Background: Along with his band the Coastal Quartet, Nova Scotia’s young and hungry jazz mastermind Will Fisher (The Will Fisher Coastal Quartet) has been nominated for a 2012 Music Nova Scotia Award. The group’s debut album Portage earned them a nomination in the Jazz Recording of the Year category. Winners will be announced on November 11, during Nova Scotia Music Week festivities in Liverpool. Prior to the Awards, the quartet will be on the road, giving fans at The Rex in Toronto and Avant Garde Bar in Ottawa a taste of Portage live, leading up to its much-anticipated release on October 28.

Blending contemporary jazz with world and roots influences to create a distinctive sound, The Will Fisher Coastal Quartet’s Portage features an exciting line-up of Canadian jazz artists including Jon Challoner (trumpet), Mikko Hilden (guitar), Mike Downes (bass), and special album guests Nancy Walker & Matt Giffin (piano) and has received strong feedback from jazz critics across North America.

Named a "young, bright light on the cusp of a great career” by CBC Radio, Will has performed with a wide range of artists across Canada and the United States, including Nancy Walker, Kieran Overs, Kirk MacDonald, Bernie Senensky, Nathan Hiltz, Craig Wagner, Jennah Barry, Ian Sherwood, Aidan Knight, and a Canada-wide tour with Coco Love Alcorn, to name a few.

A multi-recipient of the Emerging Music Business Grants from the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, Will has received numerous provincial and national awards including the 2008 CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award and the 2008 Chico Berardi Award (Nova Scotia Talent Trust).

2012Candy Say's: It's the likes of Will Fisher that have helped me overcome my somewhat blinkered view of 'jazz' music. This is simply wonderful, could be late night in a club, or pulling back the curtains for a new day.

Featured Track: The Great Karoo (player only) Web: Official HERE.

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Background: MPress Records label founder and singer-songwriter Rachael Sage announces CMJ performance on October 17th at Rockwood Music Hall in New York. In addition, Rachael will be on tour through the end of the year playing with legendary acts such as Judy Collins & Al Stewart all over the U.S., U.K., and Ireland.

These concert dates follow a successful release of Rachael’s Haunted By You Acoustic EP, which became available via iTunes on July 18th, 2012. Featuring material from her recent 10th album “Haunted By You,” the acoustic EP marks another first for the acclaimed artist during the milestone year of her 10th release.  The collection of guitar-based originals, supported by members of Sage's touring band The Sequins, includes guest appearances by Dar Williams, Katie Costello, Counting Crows member David Immergluck and Grammy ® nominee Seth Glier (MPress will also commemorate this benchmark album with its first vinyl release slated for Fall 2012).

The collection included on the acoustic EP merges the classic pop sensibilities of Sarah McLachlan with the sweeping dynamics of Glen Hansard. Sage’s poetic lyrics shine in this stripped-down setting, while cellist Dave Eggar (Elvis Costello, Coldplay) and percussionist Quinn (Tracy Chapman, Jesca Hoop) add just the right amount of accompaniment to her crystalline vocal performances.

10/04 | The State Theatre | Ithaca, NY * | 8PM
10/05 | Phleps Mansion Museum | Binghamton, NY | 6:30PM
10/06 | Fargo Theater | Fargo, ND * | 8PM
10/07 | Babcock Theater | Billings, MT * | 8PM
10/12 | Belle Mehus Auditorium | Bismark, ND * | 8PM
10/17 | Rockwood Music Hall | MPressFest CMJ 2012 | 2:30PM
10/19 | Tupelo Music Hall | Londonderry, NH + | 8PM
10/21 | Infinity Music Hall | Norfolk, CT + | 7PM
10/24 | Club Passim | Cambridge, MA + | 8PM
10/27 | Island Arts Centre | Lisburn, N-IRL * | 8PM
10/28 | The Lyric Theatre | Belfast, N-IRL * | 8PM
10/29 | Down Arts Centre | Downpatrick, N-IRL * | 8PM
10/31 | City Winery | New York, NY + | 8PM
11/03 | The Birchmere | Alexandria, VA + | 7PM
11/07 | The Castle Hotel | Manchester, UK | 8PM
11/08 | The Elgin | London, UK | 8PM
11/09 | The High Barn | Great Bardfield, UK | 8PM
11/10 | The Railway Venue | Bolton, UK with Never Forever | 8PM
11/12 | Kitchen Garden Café | Birmingham, UK | 8PM
11/20 | CC Muziekcafe | Amsterdam, NL | 8PM
11/25 | Club Barinton | Cologne, DE | 8PM
12/02 | Mocha Maya’s | Shelburne Falls, MA | 2PM
12/03 | Town Hall Theater | Middlebury, VT * | 8PM
12/04 | Radio Bean | Burlington, VT | 8:30 PM
12/05 | The Flying Monkey | Plymouth, NH * | 7PM
12/10 | The Wood Theatre | Glen Falls, NY * | 8PM
12/15 | The Museum at Bethel Woods | Bethel, NY * | 8PM
* With Judy Collins
^ With Jann Klose
+ With Al Stewart

2012Candy Say's: Some people can make terrific music seem so simple to record and deliver, should not be allowed... It's Rachael Sage for goodness sake...
 
Featured Track: Invisible Light (mp3). Web Official HERE.

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Background: Little People is the moniker of UK based downtempo electronic musician Laurent Clerc. He returns with his second full length album We Are But Hunks Of Wood on Youth & Progress Records. Along the lines of DJ Shadow, RJD2 and Four Tet, Little People plays downtempo, intelligent electronic music. Part beats, bleeps and real live instrumentation, this new record falls in a place where Bonobo and Explosions in the Sky would hypothetically meet. Having followed an unconventional route to success, thanks to in no small part to Pandora radio generating him huge amounts of exposure, he has seemingly existed outside of traditional promotional channels.

This new album comes a whole 6 years after his first album (Mickey Mouse Operation) was released on Illicit Recordings. His debut, an accomplished ode to late 90's instrumental hip hop, has gone on to be in the iTunes Top 30 selling electronic albums in the US for the last 2 years.

We are But Hunks of Wood is a sonic leap forward for Little People, which establishes him as a key proponent of the downtempo electronic music scene. Having initially come from the world of instrumental hip hop where tracks are often more akin to just sketches or interesting ideas, Laurent Clerc's pieces are fully fledged songs whose arrangements create a sense of mood and movement, effortlessly going from nuanced electronic patterns to soaring string arrangements over the course of the journey. This is no beat tape.

2012Candy Say's: Having rightly sung the praises of Emoticonman earlier, we are reminded that Little People has produced one incredible piece of music. Love the expression 'down tempo electronic', this is just so well thought out and a joy for the ears.
 
Featured Track: Aldgate Patterns (mp3). Web: Official HERE.

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Background: The Bloody Angle are a four-piece southern-fried swamp rock band, with a touch of Americana and just a hint of country. Made up of Matt Singleton, Jason Butler, Dustin Bugg and Brian Temples, the Bloody Angle was first formed when Singleton and Butler got together in early 2011. Their style features gritty guitars, lap-steel, and finger-picking, as well as vocal harmonies and traditional keyboard tones.

The eponymous debut album will be available October 16, 2012. The album was recorded entirely in the analog realm, at producer-songwriter Matt Singleton’s studio in the Central Virginia countryside. “We wanted to produce a record that was warm, immediate, and spontaneous,” said Singleton. “This album was a direct backlash against the modern style of making music... no edits, no grid, no auto-tune. We wrote and performed together in the studio, and captured the songs to tape as they came out, warts and all.”

The Bloody Angle is named after a section of the confederate line at the battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, during the Civil War. The fighting there was particularly intense, with over 18,000 men killed or injured in a 24 hour period of hand-to-hand combat. “We wanted the name to be on the dark side, to have some local roots, and have an element of southern history.” says Singleton. “In fact, one of the first songs I wrote when we started working on this project was an illustration of this battle, from a young confederate soldiers point of view. It ended up being the first song on the record.”

After over a year in the studio, the band is excited about the upcoming release, and future live performances.

“We have all been doing this a long time,” says Singleton. “The chemistry is there. It’s been a long time coming, and we are pretty proud of this record. We can’t wait until it drops, and we hit the stage to bring it live.”

2012Candy Say's: They only had to describe themselves as a "southern-fried swamp rock band" and we were intrigued. It's a bit like The Allman Brothers and The Black Crowes giving a history lesson, this is just so clever and we are hooked on the whole swamp rock thing.

Featured Track: Bloody Angle (mp3). Web: Official HERE.

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Background: Freight train rockers Jerzey Street Band have just made their US debut with the release of their striking new album, Breaking Radio Silence on September 18th, 2012.  These Brit rockers will be right at home in the States; their comforting Americana anthems conjure images of convertible top-down car rides, lost loves, and most importantly, give you the warm & fuzzy feeling of returning home after being away for far too long.

Chaneling tinges of Tom Petty during his Mudcrutch days, the track seamlessly straddles the line between melancholy and uplifting:
“… I don’t ever feel at home, thought this world was mine to roam.”/ “We all shiver to the bone, gotta make it on your own” / “We’re all crazy too.”
The song has a heartening familiarity about it, as if it might be an Eagles song you heard at a party that one time.

Hailing from Manchester's bubbling creative melting pot, the Jerzey Street septet has had a long and eventful journey to this point in their career. Not fitting into any current fashions or genres, the quality of their music alone has earned them support slots with many musical legends including Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Blackfoot, Alabama 3, Sandi Thom, John Allen and Wishbone Ash.  High profile shows, the release of their album in the UK and support from the likes of Maverick Magazine, Bearded Magazine, and BBC Radio 2's Bob Harris have enabled them to grow and cultivate a highly diverse fan-base spanning the UK.

Jerzey Street Band’s tasteful use of pedal steel guitar, dobro and harmonica on Breaking Radio Silence truly raises the bar for rock music in America and makes this band of Brits stand out. It’s a myriad of traditional sounds played with refreshing style; a must hear for fans of Counting Crows, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. Jump on board the freight train and rock..

2012Candy Say's: It's the fact they are from Manchester, England and not New Jersey that grabbed my attention first, thankfully the music delivers and this is no hype thing. Last time I was in Manchester it rained so at least the weather is in the right place (you need to live in Britain to fully get that).

Featured Track: Pale Blue River (mp3). Web: Official HERE.

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Listen:

Thursday, 13 September 2012

Tift Merritt - WFMU Session 2012

This is Tift Merritt live at WFMU on the Shrunken Planets programme originally broadcast on May 26th 2012. The engineer for this session was Stu Rutherford and the performance was recorded May 12th 2012. One point of interest was the song After Today, Tift hadn't planned on playing the song for this session, but added it on the spur of the moment. 

Tift Merritt began her professional career with her band The Carbines playing small clubs in Chapel Hill and Raleigh such as The Cave, Cat's Cradle, and the front porch of the General Store in Bynum, NC. In 1998, The Carbines released a 7-inch single "Jukejoint Girl" b/w "Cowboy". In 1999, Merritt made a guest appearance on a seven-song EP on the by Yep Roc label with the Two Dollar Pistols, led by John Howie, Jr. The record was called The Two Dollar Pistols with Tift Merritt. The EP featured two original tunes and five cover songs. In 2000, she won MerleFest's Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, found a manager, and signed a contract with Lost Highway Records.

In 2002, Merritt released her debut album, Bramble Rose, containing eleven original songs recorded with her long-time band and produced by Ethan Johns. The record landed on the top ten lists for both Time and the The New Yorker, and was called the best debut of the year in any genre by the Associated Press. A song from the album, "Trouble Over Me", was featured in writer Nick Hornby's 31 Songs. While touring to promote Bramble Rose, Merritt opened for fellow North Carolinian Ryan Adams, who had helped her secure her first management and record contracts.


Her new album Travelling Alone in due for release shortly on October 2nd, 2012.

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@256kbps. 

Genre: Country, Folk.

Set: Full session.

Set List:

1. Sweet Spot  
2. Feel of the World  
3. All the Reasons We Don't Have to Fight    
4. Travelling Alone  
5. Small Talk Relations  
6. After Today

Web: Official HERE

(download link in comments below).

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