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Finally, a band with some Gumshen….

September 15, 2015 by Casey Douglas Leave a Comment

Sometimes what you fancy listening to is some upbeat, faster tempo music that has a lighter feel than some of the other genres. Gumshen’s DigiBites fills that role very well, a mixture of electronica, rock and pop, it makes for an eclectic and layered listening experience.

fileThe Seattle-based band is made up of Ron Hippe, Jan Ciganik, Dennis McCoy and Chip Reno, and sites influences from artists including Pink Floyd and Chromeo. They have had a number of albums released since 2007, DigiBites being their most recent.

One thing that I really enjoyed about DigiBites was the clean and warm sound. I often subjectively find some music that veers more towards electronic beats to be a little cold and clinical but Gumshen’s tracks all seem to have a warmth to them that appeals to me. The next thing that I really appreciated was Ron Hippe’s vocals; they have a kind of echoing magnetism that sits more than comfortably on top of the various sounds contained in the music. His vocals also hold your attention, in tandem with the song writing of course. There are a number of tracks where the flow of the words is interrupted by a change in his tone or pace. The track Be Here Now is a great example of this, the airy first few lines of the chorus followed by the more sudden (but not harsh) exclamation “Look up!”. Pick Up The Slack is also a track that enjoys slightly harder vocals in this manner, the titular line “Pick up the slack!” an order rather than a suggestion.

Now a confession. I have never viewed myself as being a foot-tapper when listening to music. DigiBites’ fast pace and catchy beats did bring this behaviour out in me though, much to my amazement. I might add I have nothing against foot-tapping, I just very rarely do it. To me, that is solid evidence that Gumshen’s music has something to it above others I might have listened to. Most of the tracks on DigiBites have something in them that appeals, whether it is some deep-toned electronic notes or delicately plucked fast-paced guitar riffs, it all comes together in a smooth way that is easy to listen to and satisfying. What more could you want?

You can checkout Gumshen at their website here.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: be here now, chip reno, chromeo, dennis mccoy, Digibites, Gumshen, look up, Music, new music, pink Floyd, review, reviews, ron hippe

BURST by Majentta

September 8, 2015 by Casey Douglas Leave a Comment

When the chorus kicks in, the backing music has a great texture, distortion and grain adding some grit to the main chorus refrain.

MajenttaThe main guitar riff that underpins the track in general certainly gets stuck in the ear, the pace of the notes sitting really well with the slower extended notes that surround it. The lyrics sung by Majentta’s powerful voice are no less intricate, the hook laden chorus filled with questions and lingering words that almost makes the listener feel rude not to answer her.

Burst has all the qualities of a pop-style alternative rock track that would sit comfortably in the music charts alongside more well-known bands and artists. The theme of death and loss sung with panache yet a fairly upbeat instrumental backing is a great listen. While the backing music is layered and interesting, the main draw here is Majentta’s voice, a voice that can instil awe and fear in the blink of a change in tone. So many artists seem to be unwilling to allow their voices a full range of expression, but this is something Majentta doesn’t struggle with one bit.

If you are a fan of strong female vocalists, visit Majentta on Bandcamp at this link and take a listen. There is also a great music video on Youtube for Burst and it is well worth a watch too, giving visual expression to the underlying theme of death and loss writ by the lyrics. If you do check it out, keep an eye out for some great sinister smoke effects.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: alternative rock, Burst, distortion, female vocalists, Majentta, Music, new music, review, reviews

Whoa Mama!

June 16, 2015 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan Leave a Comment

Whoa… I actually had to wait (at least) for 30 minutes to write anything after ‘Whoa’ to let my goose-bumps subside! The first 12 bars of the first song (The Way You Do It) I played on my stereo system were enough to blow my mind.

Whoa MamaThe paper-weights on my desk are still dancing, riveting on the groovy rhythm. My mind still looks for some signs of conclusion. Still unable to admit, I try to find some info about the band ‘Whoa Mama’, but there isn’t much; except the three released songs. Finally, I contacted my editor and –to my pleasure- I was told that ‘Whoa Mama’ is actually a new band, not some uncut rough diamonds from the 1970’s.

Without getting a peak at their looks or attire, I would dare to guess (and comment) that the band must be living in the 70’s: every single note they play or sing, every rhyme they make, even the tones of their instruments (tuning of the snare on the drums for example) screams loud about the classic blues rock era!

And the three gems of polished songs (available on the YouTube) are enough to tell that the members of ‘Whoa Mama’ know every hit classic rock song by heart. You would find colors of every 70’s hit act in their songs, from Ted Nugent to Tommy Bolin for guitar sounds to Jim Morrison-Janis Joplin-David Coverdale vocal frolics.

Whoa MamaThe first song I heard ‘The Way You Do It’ is a gut wrenching ballad, with intoxicating and dreamy vocals. It is more like messy love making and frantic day dreaming, packaged in a crazy but lucid flowing vibe. Apart from vocals, I absolutely adore the guitar chops… riffs, sweet phrasing with articulate runs, and an enchanting tone on the top of it.

Song ‘All for Nothing’ is more like an orgy between Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) and David Coverdale (White Snake) signature styles and sound. It is a rejuvenating representation of classic blues rock.

The song ‘Bloody Mary’ is drifting somewhere between the giant rockers Black Sabbath and Free. Immense feedback drenched guitar tone, swift and subtle changes in the groove and timing; it is enough to get you drunk without the need to indulge in any other substance.

‘Whoa Mama’ is absolute Rock, absolutely psychedelic…

I am eagerly waiting for more material from this great band.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: 70s, Black Sabbath, bloody mary, blues rock, David Coverdale, free, groovy, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, Music, new music, review, reviews, Rock, Ted Nugent, the way you do it, Tommy Bolin, White Snake, whoa mama

Sleep Star Ignition

May 26, 2015 by Amanda Gegg Leave a Comment

It’s quite a rare thing to be impressed by a band as quickly as I was by Sleep Star Ignition…

Obviously the main reason for this is their immediately infectious modern take on ‘punk meets post-hardcore’ in their new EP Matters of Heart and the Will to Burn, lead by the diverse range of vocalist Nick Villars. But when you look a little bit closer you can see that their whole ‘get up’ is impressively put together, ranging all the way from their energetic, alternative sound to the slick branding of their website and album cover. These guys are pretty much rock stars on their own terms already and it is just a question of time before the rest of the world sits up to take note, which I have no doubt they will.

So who exactly are the people that make up this four-piece Ohio-based ensemble? Alongside the previously mentioned Nick Villars, there is Bob Tallman on guitar, Zach Madden on bass and Zach Bender on the drums. Moreover, having only formed in early 2013 with the will to spread their profound message through heartfelt lyrics and upbeat melodies, it is hard to believe that they haven’t been together for longer. The chemistry is very obviously in the right time and the right place for these guys.

Sleep Star IgnitionTheir latest EP Matters Of Heart And The Will To Burn is made up of five songs. With first track ‘Lunar Transmission’ immediately alluding to a sound similar to predecessors such as You Me at Six by jumping in the deep end with a more pensive, intense sound that really hooks you in. In the next two songs ‘The Forge’ and ‘Boardwalk’, Nick Villars proves why his vocals are perfect for this genre of music and immediately throws in some impressive and diverse range, with the perfect amount of harmony mixed in.

With the last two tracks ‘Gone Home’ and ‘The Beauty and the Doubt’, we are strongly reminded of the bands main influencers which would definitely include Taking Back Sunday and Brand New and seeing as there now appears to be a gap in the market, it would seem it is the perfect time for Sleep Star Ignition to act. And as I said earlier, they are pretty much there already with the word spreading as we speak. I know I certainly can’t wait to hear the next EP.

Check out more from Sleep Star Ignition:

Official Website – sleepstarignition.com/
Facebook – www.facebook.com/SleepStarIgnition
SoundCloud – soundcloud.com/sleep-star-ignition

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Alternative, Bob Tallman, EP, ignition, lunar transmission, matters of the heart, Metal, new music, nick villars, ohio, Pop, post-hardcore, Punk, release, review, reviews, Rock, sleep, sleep-star-ignition, star, taking back sunday, will to burn, Zach Bender, Zach Madden

The Amplifires

March 24, 2015 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan Leave a Comment

The first and forthright comment I can give about The Amplifires’ music is: it is very digestible, and a wide spectrum of music listeners can enjoy their songs; it pans in between Alternative Rock and Punk, with all the classic shades added to it. From Blondie to Ramones, and even Jim Morrison at times, so there is something for young listeners, as well as old trained ears of the 70’ and 80’ era.

Songs are short, crispy and punchy. You wouldn’t need to leave some out to a make a play list as they all appropriately melt into one another, although the lyrical (or conceptual) content varies.

The AmplifiresLike all great Alternative outfits, rhythm section is providing a solid ground for the punchy guitar work over it, but my interest lies in the beautiful (and natural) tone of the vocalist Sharon Clancy. She has a gifted voice, and in my opinion, she could have picked any genre and her voice would have adjusted to it; it has a certain feel to it. No wonder a huge number of listeners are drawn to it. That also explains the growing number of followers for The Amplifires, on the both sides of Atlantic.

The UK based band (Matlock to be precise) was found in 2005, when David Brunt (guitarist) and Steve Rawlinson (bassist) accidentally met and realized that they have some common interests (in terms of music) shortly they were joined by Sharon Clancy (vocalist) and an improvisation of Blondie’s ‘Call me’ led to the solidification of the act. There had been quite a few replacements on the drums, but currently Sandy Mitchell is holding the seat; and he is holding it steady.

The Amplifires has been quite active ever since: the first album ‘Fire On The Moon’ was released in 2008, followed by ‘S.W.A.L.K’, 18 month later. Their latest album ‘Grace and Danger’/Life’s a Gamble’ has been released, available both on musicxray.com and reverbnation.com, as well as on apple’s itunes.

And the new fans looking for a chance to hear them live can check their performances on youtube.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: alternative rock, Blondie, Fire On The Moon, Grace and Danger, Jim Morrison, Life’s a Gamble, new music, Punk, Ramones, review, reviews, S.W.A.L.K, the amplifires

It’s eerie… It’s dark… It’s progressive… Or just simply, It‘s Froskull

March 17, 2015 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan Leave a Comment

Listening to Froskull may not be an easy feat, for those of you who want their peanut butter and jelly on separate slices…

Froskull Album CoverOn the other hand, if your musical choices go beyond easy listening, and if you are looking for something that is as interesting and as compelling like the Milky Way, then you have reached the right planet.

The Nashville original; composer, musician and producer Stephen Hammond is the mind (and skull) behind all of it, as he conjures up the bending wizardry that compiles all -possibly known Rock oriented- genre you can find in a deviously drafted and produced album (of the same name)

It should sufficiently entice any music lover’s interest: I have found the traces of Enigma to Metallica and Priest to Crow on just one track (The road to Sto-Vo-Kor) which was enough to draw implicit attention from me.

(If only they had added a flute player I would have added Jethro tull in the list, especially with the sir name Hammond of the founding member)

Reportedly, Stephen Hammond has been producing professional music (putting out music albums) ever since 2008, afterwards; he add bassist Jason Schond, his brother Brett Hammond on guitars, and Adam Dennis on drums (in the respective order). The actual band (with the name Froskull and current line up) settled in 2012.

All of the musicians in the lineup are equally polished; exploring wild eccentric pan-genre compositions, laden with intricate beats and timings, trickily infused bass lines, topped with searing guitar solos and plenty of meat in terms of riffs!

The four piece band has enough zeal and skills to seriously equate with a 24 piece orchestra.

The phrase ‘Flight of the imagination’ is ringing through my head, as I have just finished listening to the Froskull playlist, a 4th time in a row.

I wonder if they can come up with a song based on it…

Cherries on top!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Crow, dark, eccentric, Enigma, Froskull, Metallica, Nashville, new music, Priest, Progressive, review, reviews

Featuring: RemedySounds

March 15, 2015 by Dominic Vermeulen-Smith Leave a Comment

Having left the forces in 2011, Josh Clarke decided to dedicate his time to learning the guitar, a decision that would soon transform his life and how he apparently spends 100% of his time.


After being denied any possible combo of the words “Josh”, “Clarke” and “music” for a YouTube channel name, the online video site threw out a list of alternative suggestions, one of which was remedysounds. And so the story behind the name is as simple as that. Since then however it has provided a name for a character that Josh becomes on stage calming his nerves and say things he wouldn’t otherwise say…

Josh and his friends alike may agree that he is strongly politically opinionated, outspoken on social justice and greed. He now tries to channel these messages into his music as he aims to subliminally plant his ideas whilst playing music that isn’t acceptable if it isn’t perfect. That is to say Josh is a perfectionist, but this shouldn’t be taken as a negative as his enthusiasm is unrelenting and inspiring.

RemedySoundsThe future is looking bright for Remedysounds, in the last few years he’s played countless gigs and festivals, including his highlight last year at Portsmouth’s Victorious Festival and an offer to go straight to the X-Factor Live Shows, which it should come as no surprise that he turned down.

Now working to complete a 10-track album, you can look forward to hearing more from Remedysounds all over the UK in 2015.

Filed Under: Video Podcasts Tagged With: new music, Podcast, remedysounds, review, reviews, x-factor

The Cardboard Crowns

February 17, 2015 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan Leave a Comment

Are you still in shock after watching old booties hanging low to attract music lovers?  (Sorry J-lo)

Well here comes the Global Citizens!

Global Citizens, The Cardboard Crowns, energy, provoking, Bounty on His Head, Generations, Rock Steady, ReggaeThe debut album by (Ottawa, Canada based) The Cardboard Crowns has pleasantly convinced me that the ‘Dead Art Era’ is finally behind us.

I have no shame to admit that it is one of the most mature content I have come across while breathing on the hard mix of musical genres. This comment might surprise you if have just begun to listen to their music (or just watched/seen one of their videos or picture), but if you focus on their music (and lyrics especially) it would not take you long to see the serious commitment (and skills) behind their act.

Just going through the first 7 songs I got my hands on (Hats off to Shut my mouth) made me realize that I would have to listen every song at least 3 times to analyze the dynamics of their music.

I would not delve into defining their genre; I would rather focus on the energy they are blasting out, and the clear and thought provoking concepts they are throwing at you.The Cardboard Crowns - WMD Studios

The instrumentation is great: from haunting chimes on ‘Bounty on His Head’ to the classic tones of accordion on ‘Generations’. They have fittingly and appropriately captured sounds for Rock Steady to Reggae. All genres they employed are according to the lyrics and concepts.

Conceptually, the album ‘Global Citizen’ has covered almost all aspects of global society. You will find everything from domestic problems to generation gaps and even immigrant’s life being discussed on it.

Vocals are good all around, topped up with some excellent harmonies! (My favorite part)

Bottom line is: if you are thirsty for something new, then I would suggest you don’t need to go further than The Cardboard Crowns, they will capture your interest for a very, very long time…

Hats off to the Crowns!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Bounty on His Head, energy, Generations, Global Citizens, new music, provoking, Reggae, review, reviews, Rock Steady, The Cardboard Crowns

If there’s a band we want to see in the UK…

February 3, 2015 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan

I would be unfair to cradle Slow Burning Car in just one big creative embrace. They have a wide spectrum of vibes emanating out of their musical instruments.

Slow Burning Car - The Scattering Vol.2I developed this ‘discourse’ especially listening to their latest album ‘Assumption’. The output is varying in sounds from RnB to Heavy Metal. Some songs play like ‘Red Hot Chili Pepper’ and some appear to have fallen out of Robert Plant’s retro Led Zeppelin closet.

When the song ‘Tread Not on Me’ started, I had to check whether I had put on Eric Clapton’s playlist by mistake! The further surprise was: when the bridge part of the same song brought the blazing ‘Sex Pistols’ back into my ears; bizarre is the right word for it.

Slow Burning Car is: Troy Spiropoulos who handles Lead and backing vocals, as well the bass guitar (also stints with keyboards, sound effects etc.) Troy’s songwriting aspirations come from mythology/theology to the reality of life and common observations. The guitarist Duc ‘Jimmy’ Le is not only an established sound engineer, but he also has an impressive brand of hand-crafted effect pedals assigned to his name. Last but not the least is the drummer Mike Zimmerman; his open hi-hat floundering quite obviously hints at greats like John Bonham and Buddy Rich (hence the Zeppelin like feel in some of their songs).

Slow Burning Car - AssumptionThe music produced by this dynamic trio can be called ‘Experimental’, but this is the third studio album by Slow Burning Cars, so I would stick with the ‘Progressive’ element. To name a few from the past albums, the song ‘Fabien’s Stroll’ from their second album ‘The Scattering – Vol.2’, gave me some goose bumps. Its eerie, it’s psychedelic, and it is much more enchanting than any other (ballad) songs they produced. My second pick would be ‘The Scorpio Complex’ for its raw n inclusive psychedelic experimentation; it sounds as if the whole band got into a minivan and recoded it live….

From a creative perspective, their previous albums (Blow Back and The Scattering) are more colorful, while Assumptions has a straighter to ‘Alternative Rock’ approach. It is noticeable that the band is finally settling down for a ‘Sound’. It is also evident that, as a band, Slow Burning Car had been more focused on the ‘Live Sound’ rather than their studio outputs.

There is one unique quality emerging out of their experimentations: they have a different (yet classical) touch in their ballads, so my analysis (suggestion) would be, to hear them focusing on the ballads and more on singer-songwriter genre than their efforts to please a live crowd with piercing and grungy acts.
Slow Burning Car is doing circuit around Los Angles, California, while also touring Europe (UK).

Peace and Love, in the troubling times!

Links
Slow Burning Car’s Official Website

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: alternative rock, Ballads, Bass Guitar, Blow Back, Buddy Rich, California, Classical, creative, Duc ‘Jimmy’ Le, Eric Clapton, Experimental, Fabien’s Stroll, Grungy, guitarist, heavy metal, John Bonham, keyboards, Led Zeppelin, Live Sound, Los Angeles, Mike Zimmerman, mythology, new music, Progressive, psychedelic, Red Hot Chilli Pepper, review, reviews, RnB, Robert Plant, Sex Pistols, Slow burning car, sound effects, The Scattering, The Scattering Vol.2, The Scorpio Complex, theology, Tread not on me, Troy Spiropoulos, UK, Zeppelin

A dry January or a month of alcohol abuse?

January 27, 2015 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan

There is one odd thing, common about all art forms; a thing might go out of fashion (or stop being HIP) but art forms never die!

Marshall Dane

It has been said about Rock ‘n’ Roll, but we see a new wave and fresh colors being added to the stream every now and then. The same was being said about ‘Country Music’ that it is dying out, or being reduced to attract only a marginal number of followers, but hold on to your horses’ folks!

Here comes Marshal Dane, adding new zeal to the tried and tested flavor of Country Music. Surprisingly, he comes from Ontario, Canada. Marshal Dane’s rowdy single, “Alcohol Abuse,” reached No.1 on the New Music Weekly country internet chart, and No. 60 on the Music Row Country Breakout chart.

The southern Ontario boy has a definitive style and mix of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Country, and already, he has been compared to the likes of Jon Bon Jovi and John Denver. Personally, I think he would be closer to Billy Ray Cyrus with his edgy lyrical style (I also noticed phrasing of Dolly Parton floating around in his songs).

Out of all of his songs that I have heard ‘One of these days’ is my favorite, and in Marshal’s own words, “the songs is not really about where I’ve been but more so about where I am now…where I wanna go…and how I’m gonna get there, wherever ‘there’ is.” Now, that is deep, although most of his other songs appear more focused to please ‘Easy Listeners’.

All songs are well produced and all have an ample amount of bluegrass harmonies, violin accompaniment, and well-crafted lyrics that wrap humorous anecdotes within good music; quite obviously intended for a merry time listening.

Dane’s best musical tool is definitely his voice, which quite remarkably fulfills the art of storytelling. It takes you down the memory lane, rendering back the broken and lonely heart by giving it a hopeful escape.

No wonder the majority of his fans are women!

Hence, rise of a new county star!

 

Links:
Marshall Dane official website
Marshall Dane on ReverbNation

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Alcohol Abuse, Billy Ray Cyrus, Bluegrass, Canada, country music, Dolly Parton, harmonies, John Denver, Jon Bon Jovi, Marshall dane, new music, One of these days, Ontario, review, reviews, Rock ‘n’ Roll, violin

An absolute motherfaster!

January 20, 2015 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan

Well, whoever holds the opinion that ‘Rock is Dead’ should face the Motherfaster!

MotherfasterThe above statement is a light in the dark for all lovers of heavy and pounding sounds of ‘Heavy Metal’ and Rock: from those who have had cut down their locks and cried in the night hearing Justin Biebers’ being played over and over on the radio, to those who have sold their soul and taken the distortion pedals out of the effect’s chain –to produced cleaner/lighter sounds- just to feed their (Sunday School going) kids…

Ironically, Motherfasters is producing the darkest music (in their genre) that I have heard in the contemporary acts so far. Their menacingly corrupting songs include tales of a wide range of insane realities: from topics like drug-sex-abuse to serial-rapists and laments-of and about-gods to underworld-gangsters.

Yeah, not the stuff for Sunday Schools…

Motherfaster is: a three piece ‘Rock Machine’, driven by the Ozzy influenced vocal antics of Paminos (who also holds the Bass guitar) with Bill fanatically rendering riffs after riffs; that could put smiles on Toni Iommi’s face, and then they have Jim thrashing drums -while keeping the trio steady at the same time. The trio is (surprisingly) from Athens, Greece. These three got together in the fall of 2011, and after some initial experiments (and around a dozen gigs during 2012, 2013) they took the applause of their fans seriously, and conjured up a studio album (March 2014).

In November 2014 they released the first single ‘The nymph and the god’ which was featured in the compilation CD Fear Candy No 138, that comes with Terrorizer magazine (Issue 254) along with some other existing bands.
It is needless to say, but the moment you play Motherfaster, the first thought that hits you is: “Oh my god, this is the rebirth of Metal…”

If I hadn’t been keeping an eye on the aging monsters of Black Sabbath, I would have mistaken Motherfaster for their pseudo name. Motherfaster has got the same musical chemistry going, only with a refreshed and original zeal.
Their sound ranges from Hard (Blues oriented) Rock to Heavy Metal, very much into pioneer’s style, and the feel of it tells about the varying influences of Sabbath, Pantera, Judas Priest and even Black Label Society at times.

My favorite pick is 24/7 (the song about Mafia Guy) with its in-your-face attitude. So far Bill has impressed with his guitar chops, but I would love to hear him using less takes/layers during guitar solos.

In conclusion, Motherfaster gets thumbs up from me; with a middle finger attached to it…

Links:
Motherfaster Official Website
Motherfaster on ReverbNation

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Athens, Bass Guitar, Black Label Society, Black Sabbath, Blues, darkest music, drums, fear candy, Greece, heavy, heavy metal, Judas Priest, Metal, Motherfaster, new music, Ozzy, Pantera, pounding, review, reviews, riffs, Rock, Rock is Dead, rock machine, Sabbath, Terrorizer magazine, The nymph and the god, Toni Iommi

Screaming Culture

December 23, 2014 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan

Screaming CultureWell there is definitely something mysterious about singer/songwriter Ricardo Monteiro who is also known as Screaming Culture, apart from his music that is, it is unbelievable that such a talented artist has been around in music circles since 2009 and haven’t bothered to leave trails of diehard fans and ‘Screamer Chicks’ behind him.

It is openly stated (on his reverb page) that he is a fan of Nirvana, and late Kurt Cobain’s influence is quite dramatically imbedded in almost every song he has released so far. Ricardo Monterio a.k.a. Screaming Culture’s ‘Numb’ is definitely one of my favorite songs by any contemporary artist. Not only he has been able to keep the unique mood of Nirvana’s (simple but haunting -E harmonic- melodies) but also brought a new flavor into it. This may be due to the factor that Ricardo Monterio has far better range and singing skills as a vocalist, and also that he is a multi-instrumentalist solo artist. He is able to create and produce better songs, both in terms of compositions and arrangements.

Production of almost all of the songs is up to date, if not high class according to current RnB crazed music production, but then Alternative music has slightly different requirements, and if you are an alternative rock fan, then you probably wouldn’t give a rat’s cold rear for the sound coming out of your woofer.

After commending his comparatively better vocal ability, I am absolutely impressed with the depth of his lyrics and emotional/political juxtaposition of ideas: it denotes that the artist has a reasonably aware head on his shoulders.

Another interesting song by Screaming Culture is ‘Learn to Survive’. It is –almost- an instrumental, with bits of one-liner or punchy lines thrown around -with some phrases describing the mind set of underdogs. But it is very catchy, if you are looking for a theme track for a movie or documentary then it is a must listen for you… it is on loop play on my media player almost every hour of the day!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: instrumental, kurt cobain, learn to survive, new music, nirvana, numb, review, reviews, Ricardo Monteiro, Screamer Chicks, Screaming Culture

The Regulars Band with a festive treat for your ears!

December 16, 2014 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan

The Regulars certainly have the unique blend and characteristics of big bands: they have elaborate compositions, bigger sound (due to the clearly organized instruments), and groomed vocals –especially harmonies- and above all, band members seems to be enjoying their respective instruments and jobs. Hailing from an extensive ‘Band forming back ground’, I can assure you that a members sharing a passion for their dedicated parts in a band, is more than often ‘The Decisive Element’ for band’s success.

The Regulars are based in Atlanta, GA. The siblings Lee and Lindsay Smith hold the combined Lead Vocals spot, but the band seems more centered and arranged around Lee’s rhythmic piano. I am most impressed with the tight rhythm section and well-crafted electric guitar sound that keeps up with high range vocals of Lindsay and melodies lines of Lee.

Although, The Regulars are labeled as a Funk band, I would consider them more than that. Here I would go back to the ‘Big band’ attitude that I mentioned earlier: going through the available songs and considering the rhythm section first, the drummer Elliott Phillips is not trying to do anything extra while he keeps a very tight and dynamically pure beat (a good sign for any live band) while the bassist Clay Davis’s concentration never drops! To have a bassist who is innovative and who doesn’t bog down just for the groove’s sake; is just like icing on the cake (best sign for a live band).

Douglas Ehlen electric guitar immediately brings back the tonal memory of late 60’s. With a guitar sound that reminds of the late Larry “Rhino” Reinhardt (Iron Butterfly) it is refreshing to see a ‘Band oriented’ guitar player who is not dying to come up with a killer guitar solos while producing some ‘Alienist’ tones, out of myriad effects and absurdly ‘Technocratic’ amplifiers (great sign for a live band).

I haven’t seen Lindsay Lee’s great dance moves yet (the official compliment about her) but she does impress with her in-tone and well trained vocals. Out of the entire band, she seems more of the ‘Funk’ lover, as it is very evident in the song ‘Mother Funker’.

The Regulars lead by Lee Smith have just released their new album ‘Spectacle’, and it’s available now on itunes…

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: bassist, big band, drummer, electric guitar, funk, harmonies, Iron Butterfly, Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt, live band, Mother Funker, new music, review, reviews, rhythm, Spectacle, The Regulars, vocals

Got 2 Funk live at WMD, it’s time to get FUNKY!

August 4, 2014 by Dominic Vermeulen-Smith

Mothers lock up your daughters, husbands lock up your wives, because Got 2 Funk is in the building and you guessed it, it’s time to get funky.

What makes a good cover band is not simply being able to recreate the patterns of different inspirations; it is the ability to capture the energy and true feel of a song. Here at WMD we have had the pleasure of working with a cover band that perfectly balances the energy of the songs they cover with their own personal flair, resulting in sweet music that will have your hips moving before you know it.

Got 2 Funk joined us for a day of live recording where they covered a variety of funk/soul hits, during which they blew us all away with their performance; no man, woman or child can sit still once Got 2 Funk start to get their funk on.

With inspirations such as McFadden & Whitehead, The Commodores and James Brown, Got 2 Funk are one of the true gems of South Coast cover bands and here at WMD we strongly recommend you pay this truly great band a visit when they play a show near you.



Filed Under: Video Podcasts Tagged With: bass, drums, funk, guitar, Music, new music, Podcast, reviews, Studio, Video

Sam Brawn Live at WMD Studios

April 4, 2014 by Dominic Vermeulen-Smith

WMD Studios are proud to present…

Sam Brawn: Video Podcast, Live at WMD Studios

“On my 12th birthday my dad gave me his beaten up old electric guitar because he couldn’t afford to buy me a present. Turned out to be the greatest present ever. Since then I’ve been mainly locked away in a log cabin, writing songs and teaching myself to play. I aim to surprise people with my music, give them a reason to come back and listen again. And, hopefully, again. And possibly even a fourth time, in exceptional cases. Hopefully what comes across is just how much I love doing it. Which is always going to be more important than singing in tune or writing lyrics that make sense.”, Sam Brawn


Sam Brawn is a solo artist in that it’s only him on his own. But you wouldn’t believe it to listen to his tunes! His creative use of effects and loop pedals mean that at any particular time you could easily believe that there is a band of 5 or more people. Also we took the opportunity to stretch the green screen’s legs a little more and the result is our best video yet and Sam was fantastic in getting out of the box to get some of the crazier shots on the go. It was such an immense evening filming the podcast with Sam, original sounds and a great guy.

WMD VIDEO PODCAST

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Filed Under: Video Podcasts Tagged With: new music, reviews

Skin for a Canvas

March 2, 2014 by Dominic Vermeulen-Smith


“We were trying to think of a name, and wanted it to be well, tattoo based, and so yeah, that happened…”
– Ian, Skin for a Canvas

Ambient acoustic music from Skin For A Canvas shown here in the Live WMD Studios Video Podcast.We had a great time filming and recording with Ian, great fans of his work, hope you enjoy as much as we did.

WMD VIDEO PODCAST

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Filed Under: Video Podcasts Tagged With: new music, reviews

The Underground Pilots

March 2, 2014 by Dominic Vermeulen-Smith


“He went outside and laid on the floor until some people came in, but no one came in…”
– The Underground Pilots

Progressive Stoner Rock band The Underground Pilots from Portsmouth featured here with live set and interview in their featured WMD Studios Video Podcast. Real rock music is alive and well here, the scene helped along by the fact that these guys also run Pilot Promotions putting on regular live music shows throughout Portsmouth.

WMD VIDEO PODCAST

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Filed Under: Video Podcasts Tagged With: new music, reviews

Winter’s Hill

March 2, 2014 by Dominic Vermeulen-Smith


“I said to Jack; “I reckon we can play that stage next year”, and Jack said “No, we can’t”….”

– Max, Winter’s Hill

Winters hill are a 3 piece alt-folk acoustic band from the south coast of England. They have created their own unique blend of folk/country/blues/acoustic music. Winter’s hill were down at WMD studios early in 2014 recording their video podcast featuring live performance and interview.

WMD VIDEO PODCAST

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Filed Under: Video Podcasts Tagged With: new music, reviews

The Sixes & Sevens

March 1, 2014 by Dominic Vermeulen-Smith


“We had a great time, great guys, great studio. For anyone out there, the results speak for themselves.”

 – David Boyd, The Sixes & Sevens
South coast rocker’s The Sixes and Sevens are regular visitors at WMD Studios having recorded their debut EP as well as featuring in the first WMD Studios Video Podcast. A great bunch of lads and we’d well recommend checking them out if they play a gig near you! On this page you can check out some of their tracks, the video podcast as well as some shots of them jamming at the studio.

WMD VIDEO PODCAST

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Filed Under: Video Podcasts Tagged With: new music, reviews

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