Nitin Sawhney

Nitin Sawhney launched his new album, Last Days Of Meaning, at The Royal Albert Hall. Now that's quiet an arena for an album launch. So if you go big it's gotta be big, and it is. Definitely a contender for album of the year.

The Devil and Midnight (feat. Yolanda Quartey)

The first track off Nitin Sawhney's "Last Days of Meaning".
Lyric video by Luca Brenna and AWAL

Nitin Sawhney's new composition on the 140 year old 9,999 pipe Willis Organ commissioned by The Royal Albert Hall and played by jazz musician and organist James Taylor. Also featuring Engine-Earz front man Prashant Mistry on keys, Ashwin Srinivasan on the Flute and Martyn Kaine on the drums. This was the over the top, so to speak, encore. Amazing.

Organ Composition - Part 1


Organ Composition - Part 2


Another track from the album.
Last Days Of Meaning (feat. Natty)


And finally today a classic performance with another master.
Nadia with Jeff Beck

"Nadia" - Beautiful composition by Nitin Sawhney. The legendary Jeff Beck guests in this incredible live set

Nitin Sawhney (born 1964) is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality. Sawhney is also active in the promotion of arts and cultural matters, and is a patron of numerous film festivals, venues, and educational institutions.

Over The Rhine

Reading through the reviews in the current version of Paste I found one that really intrigued me. Maybe because I knew there was a district in Cincinnati called Over-The-Rhine.
But when I heard this first track I was hooked. Karin Bergquist's vocals are just so sublime.
For those who need comparisons a touch of Adele.
Over The Rhine are a Southern Ohio-based husband-and-wife team of multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Linford Detweiler and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Karin Bergquist.
Boy do they make sweet sweet music. I give you Over The Rhine.

The King Knows How

Over The Rhine stopped by to play a couple of songs. Here is The King Knows How featuring Karin's gorgeous vocals. 91.9 WFPK Radio Louisville
Video by Dalton Main

Now prepare for goose bumps.
The Laugh of Recognition

Over the Rhine share an unreleased tune from their forthcoming CD The Long Surrender, out on 2/8/11. Filmed during the Music Fog sessions at the 2010 Americana Music Festival in Nashville, TN.

Another amazing tune, no details where this one was recorded. Just sublime.
Trouble


Everyone has to sing at least one Leonard Cohen song, so why not this one. Again goose bump warning.
Hallelujah


To finish for the day a truly laid back beautiful song.
Days Like This

Over the Rhine performs "Days Like This" at WNRN in Charlottesville, Virginia

Jolie Holland

Jolie Holland has a great new album out, Pint of Blood.

A beautiful video from a Paste session.
The Devil's Sake

Writes an epic song, plays and sings it beautifully and whistles the last verse. Jolie Holland is a special kind of artist.
'The Devil's Sake' is on Jolie's new album 'Pint of Blood', released on June 28th. The album also features Shahzad Ismaily, Grey Gersten and Marc Ribot.

Here she is singing a Syd Barrett song from about a year ago.
Dark Globe


And I just love this song, this is a song that Tom Waits could have written. Just shows the power of Jolie's songwriting skills.
Old Fashioned Morphine


Listen to another track from the new album right here.
Jolie Holland - Gold and Yellow by antirecords

Cello Fury

Seems to be a cello kind of day. So I was really pleased to find Cello Fury from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.
Cello Fury is:
Simon Cummings - Cello
Ben Muñoz - Cello
Nicole Myers - Cello
Dave Throckmorton on drums

Cello Fury is a rarity in the music world: three classically trained cellists and a rock drummer performing high-energy original music in venues ranging from concert halls to rock clubs. Appealing to a wide audience across age groups and musical interests sets Cello Fury apart from your average rock band. Continually developing their own unique style of cello rock music, cellists Simon Cummings, Ben Muñoz and Nicole Myers along with drummer Dave Throckmorton unleash vitality and rhythmic drive in their music and dare to venture past classical expectations. The band's collective experiences have allowed them to perform on radio and television, in intimate club settings, and for audiences as large as 67,000 throughout 11 states and abroad. Cello Fury's album of original music was released on February 23, 2011. The first of a trilogy of music videos was released on June 3, 2011. ....more

So kick back and enjoy some awesome cello.

Trogdor + Self-Destruction

From a live performance at the Kelly Strayhorn Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA. CELLO FURY is Simon Cummings, Nicole Myers, and Ben Muñoz. The first piece is Trogdor (written by Simon Cummings) followed Self-Destruction (written by Ben Muñoz).

Anarchy + Pain of the Fallen

Cello Fury with Dave Throckmorton performing on drums. The performance took place at Pine Richland High School on April 21, 2010.

Infinity Rises

Music video by Cello Fury performing Infinity Rises. © 2011 Cello Fury. Cello Fury is Simon Cummings, Ben Muñoz and Nicole Myers. Featuring David Throckmorton on drums. Improvisational dance performed by Nicole Cerilli, Kirstie Corso, and Amanda Fisher (members of Bodiography Contemporary Ballet). Shot, directed and edited by Tom Larkin @tomlarkin. Production assistants: Timmy McCann and Sarena Clark. Infinity Rises composed by Simon J.C. Cummings © 2009. Special thanks to Carnegie Mellon University.

Not too much in the video stakes, but this track from their new album certainly ranks as one of the lighter pieces on the album.
Against All Odds

Helena Espvall

Having played guitar and cello in several rock bands (as well as performing in a silent movie orchestra, an Arabian Music ensemble and free improvised music), Swedish-born multi-instrumentalist Helena Espvall moved to Philadelphia in the year 2000. Besides performing with Espers, Helena performs with the Amnesiac Music & Dance ensemble and collaborates with many others in the psychedelic folk and free improvisation world.

Remember Chaos Butterfly?

Helena has performed several times at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, twice at the High Zero Festival of improvised music in Baltimore, at the Improvised and Otherwise Festival in Brooklyn, at the Big Sur experimental festival in California and at Terrastock 2006 in Providence, RI among others. [Museumfire]

Love me some cello in the morning. Helena Espvall certainly does provide great cello anytime.
Enjoy!!!

Albion

A Windows Have Eyes Production: Helena Espvall performs 'Albion' live in Philadelphia, PA on June 5, 2011.

Improvisation I

Same details as above.

Improvisation II has disappeared so here is a very cool replacement with a guitar. 8-13-2011.
Kling Klang

A Windows Have Eyes Production: Helena Espvall performs 'Kling Klang', a traditional Swedish folk song, live in Philadelphia, PA on June 5, 2011.
Filmed by MLS.

Rave On Buddy Holly

Rave On Buddy Holly the tribute album is finally getting released. If you've been here before you will know I'm a lifetime Buddy Holly fan. He and Elvis were my two youthful heroes. In fact his was the first concert I ever went to.
So I've been looking forward with anticipation and some trepidation. The trepidation because Paul McCartney and Kid Rock are included. But I'm loving the Florence and the Machine track.

I just love the New Orleans feel Florence and co add to this track. Really a different spin, not playing by rote. Awesome!
Not Fade Away - Florence and The Machine


Here' an EPK regarding the album, just to tease your taste buds.

Check out the EPK for RAVE ON BUDDY HOLLY, the new Buddy Holly tribute album featuring Florence + The Machine, The Black Keys, Paul McCartney, Cee Lo Green, My Morning Jacket, Modest Mouse, Fiona Apple & Jon Brion, Kid Rock, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, & many more! RAVE ON BUDDY HOLLY is due in stores June 28th, 2011.

The inimitable Cee Lo gets it right between the Buddy or the Elvis version.
(You're So Square) Baby, I Don't Care - Cee Lo Green

Updated 11-14-2011 due to other version going bye bye.

Here's a live version of another track on the album.
Rave On - She and Him

She and Him with actress Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward cover the Buddy Holly classic "Rave On" at 2010 Forecastle Louisville.

Maybe Baby - Justin Townes Earle

Justin Townes Earle's take on the classic Buddy Holly track "Maybe Baby." This version of "Maybe Baby" appears on the new Buddy Holly tribute album, RAVE ON BUDDY HOLLY, due in stores June 28th, 2011.

You can listen to it on the cloud right here.

Rave On Buddy Holly by concordmusicgroup

Alela Diane

We haven't heard any  Alela Diane for a while.  My bad.

Alela Diane is a homebody by nature. The Portland-based, Nevada City-bred musician, though traveled the world over, is most at peace within audible range of a crackling fire and her cat’s paws padding across the wood floors of her creaky Victorian residence. And although her methods thus far have echoed this aspect of her being—from fashioning hand-sewn CD jackets for The Pirate’s Gospel, to nearly spit-shining 2009’s To Be Still in her Dad’s studio—the reach of her success has spanned quite a bit further. In a time of pitiful sales charts, The Pirates Gospel went Gold in France, establishing Miss Diane a hearty European following. And while the US was just beginning to catch on, Alela had already broken ground on a new album. ....more

You won't hear a more soulful voice today. Give her a listen.

Desire


Live at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe NYC

Alela's Housing Works online benefit concert
Watching = Giving: To contribute to the wonderful Housing Works cause, fighting to end AIDS and homelessness, all you have to do is watch Alela perform songs from her recent concert at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in NYC. Each view generates revenue via the VEVO platform, and all proceeds go to Housing Works - it's that simple!!!
Featuring the songs "Long Way Down", "To Begin", "Desire", "Heartless Highway" and "The Wind".
All songs appear on the album Alela Diane & Wild Divine, out now on Rough Trade.

Daphné

It's been a while since I featured any young French chanteuses. Time to remedy that, today I give you Daphné. Daphné is a new (to me at least) young French singer, with an appealing tone to her voice.
She has a recent album you may want to look out for - Bleu Venise. Some great music on it.

Mélodie à personne

Une chanson extraite de l'album "Bleu Venise"

This is a mini-clip from the album.
Où va Lila Jane?


And here we have a live performance of another track from the album.
Portrait D'un Vertige


Here's another great song from about a year ago.
L'Homme A La Peau Musicale

Daphné was born in Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme, France but never actually lived in the prefecture of Auvergne. She has stayed in Paris, Poitiers in the Poitou region, the Alps and even abroad.
Daphné has always been a huge fan of Henry Purcell, Mozart and Maurice Ravel. Her modern musical tastes include Stevie Wonder and Sting but she says the latter did not influence her own work. Technically speaking, the most important thing for her in writing a song is finding the right tune because "tunes carry emotions". Sometimes referred to as the French Björk, Daphné's entrancing voice often has her compared to a fairy. She confesses that she "would love to touch the hearts of people who stopped believing in their dreams, in their lives, who only think of running away..."
Her first album, which could be defined as trip hop with a touch of pop and chanson, just illustrates this frame of mind. Le réveil (The Awakening) is about being happy in love and confident in the future. Anna is about the end of innocence. Un homme sous influence (A Man Under Influence) is about rejection while Ton cœur (Your Heart) is an ode to trust. Trafalgar Square tells how the sun always shines again after the rain. L'insoumise (The Rebel) and Il viaggio (The Journey), a song in Italian, are both about the essential need to stand for oneself, to resist, to fight against oneself and society to uncover one's true personality and eventually see love as it is: a liberation. [Wikipedia]

Cilla Jane

Melbourne singer songwriter Cilla Jane combines folk style guitar and enchanting vocals to create her captivating sound. Accompanied by haunting cello lines, intricate acoustic guitar, the band will take you into a dreamlike world. Check out their new album "Until Morning Comes".

I can see this young lady going really far, with the smooth and sunny sounds.

This for example is track four. Very cool.
On My Bike


And here's track seven.
Made Of Glass


Here's a live version of track nine.
Tumbling

Cilla Jane performs Tumbling live at the Northcote Social Club earlier this year.

And I couldn't resist this video from back in 2009. Very happy piece.
No Cares

Official music video for Cilla Jane, directed by Genevieve Bailey. 'No Cares' was shot on location in Daylesford, outside of Melbourne Australia.
Produced by Proud Mother Pictures

The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger

The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger had an EP a little while ago, I guess I missed it. Now I've found it. It's called La Carotte Bleue. Maybe that's why I missed it here in the USA, no sub-titles.

Track four has a video that lives up to the title. Cool.
Comic Strip


Here they are doing one of the tracks live.
Carrot Blue

Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger (GOASTT) performs "Carrot Blue-Jardin du Luxembourg" (Sean Lennon) at the Fillmore in Charlotte, NC

Britney Jean

The Ghost of a saber Toothed Tiger are Sean Lennon & Charlotte Kemp Muhl
Music video shot and directed by Daniel Kruglikov.

Tracklist:
1. Jardin Du Luxembourg
2. Rainbows In Gasoline
3. Robot Boy
4. Comic Strip
5. Walt Disney Sitting In A Chaise And Drinking Cordials
6. Britney Jean
7. 2012
8. Carrot Blue

The Founds

Time for our fix of down under bands today. And so I give you The Founds.
Brisbane post-pop sextet, Founds, are fresh out of the studio where they have been recording their debut EP, and they have a brand new single, Holograms, to show off. Eclectic, intimate and hypnotic, Holograms is the first cut from the EP they have been recording at Gasworks Studio in Brisbane with producer Tristan Hoogland (Ball Park Music, Oh Ye Denver Birds, The Honey Month) and Dom Stevens (Oh Ye Denver Birds).

'Invoke a left-of-centre Scandinavian pop feel think Jónsi, but female and fiercer."             Rave Magazine 2011

First up a real rocking tune from a live performance at Rics Bar In Brisbane.
Caves

Updated 5-6-2012 for the usual reasons.
And here's another from Queen St. Mall in Brisbane January 28 2011


So I know you are all asking for it, so here it is the new single.

Marina V

Marina V is in the area, Sunday 26th she will be at Rhythmix Cultural Works in Alameda, CA at 7pm.

Russian-born singer/songwriter Marina V is a young and charismatic pop artist with an incredible life story and a "hauntingly beautiful" sound (L.A. Times). Marina's music is "melodic and passionate" (The Washington Post), which, combined with her "voice of an angel" (The Prague Post) and her rich cultural background, makes this artist truly special. "If the Beatles and Tori Amos had a child raised in Russia by Tchaikovsky, that would be me," muses the piano-playing chanteuse, describing her musical influences. Now a true California girl, the red-headed songstress grew up in Moscow, blessed with a beautiful voice & long last name (Verenikina.)

Find out if she is going to be touring anywhere near you.

Certainly worth seeing her, give a listen to some of her tunes, right here.

You Make Me Beautiful

Directed by Niva Dorell and edited by 2-time EMMY-winning powerhouse editor, Schultz! (music videos for Destiny's Child, Michael Jackson, Eminem, TV specials for Justin Timberlake, Chris Rock, Dane Cook, etc etc).

Unbalanced

Marina V, with musical partner Nick Baker, performs the title song of her upcoming new album at a backyard concert in San Rafael, CA, 7/23/09

Hope

Pop Eye

Do you remember Pop Eye? No, not the spinach muncher, the Greek band who had that cool song last year. Well, they're back. And this time it's a double sided summer hit.

Check it out.
The Night Falls


and the flip side ........

Definitely Unknown

Dia Frampton

I don't know if you have been watching "The Voice" on NBC. I was wary, thinking just another wanna be Idol show. But there is scarce pickings on US TV during the summer when REPEATS rule the airwaves. So we gave it a try. Boy am I glad I did.
Unlike Idol and America's Got Talent, first up we didn't have to sit through a load of idiots who think they can sing (and everybody else knows they can't). All of the competitors on The Voice could win Idol hands down. Even the ones who never made it to the show.
Now we are down to the final four, but there has been nobody in the final sixteen I didn't like.
Any one in the final four could certainly win it, they are all great in their own style.
But for me the real standout has to be Dia Frampton. She has such a unique voice.
The more I hear her the more I am convinced, win lose or draw, she is going to be a big star.

I've always thought there was something familiar in her, and while writing this piece it clicked, she is part of Meg and Dia. But that does not change my mind one bit. Big star.

Losing My Religion

Replaced for the usual reasons 12.6.2011

This is certainly a situation where the cover is a million times better than the original.
Heartless


Before The Voice she performed this cover of an Adele song.
Someone Like You


And also this amazing version of the Christina Perri song.
Jar of Hearts

Viva Voce

Viva Voce is an American indie rock band from Portland, Oregon, formed by Kevin Robinson and his beautiful wife Anita Robinson. Their music draws on several influences including psychedelic rock, classic rock, folk and R&B. And Anita plays a real mean guitar.

But you know all that, and I'm sure you've heard their recent album. But have you seen them performing any of it live? Well here's your chance.

On June 21, 2011 - Viva Voce perform the following four songs from their recent album "The Future Will Destroy You" in the Bing Lounge, presented by Dick Hannah Dealerships. 101.9 KINK.FM. Portland, Oregon.

The Future Will Destroy You


We Don't Care


Analog Woodland Song


No Ship Coming In

Cindy Doire

Cindy Doire is a beautiful young singer from Timmins in Canada. And she can certainly sing. She is a Troubadour and Vagabond, according to her website. I'm just enjoying her new album - Sticks and Mud. You will too.

Music’s always been part of Cindy Doire’s life, but she has a footloose wandering soul that has seen her living in Mexico, teaching English in Cuba, recording in Nashville, hanging out in Brussels, busking in Spain, and laughing her way through another songwriter night at Not My Dog, Toronto’s smallest live music venue (licensed, last time anyone checked, for 28 people).

Cindy’s deceptive, too. Slim and petite, she has a voice that can whisper a lyric in your ear that will startle your heart (and maybe your libido).. This is a woman who can channel the moody atmosphere of French singers from Piaf to François Hardy and pin you against the back wall with a Joplin-esque wail to shatter your soul. ......more

Here's three of the tracks from the album, performed live.

Spill Me Down the River

Cindy Doire w. Rob Fenton, live at the Jeans Joint. April 2011

Don't Let The Bastards Get You Down

Same lineup still at the Jeans Joint. April 2011

The Road's a Temptress

WIM

WIM is a new band to me, they are from the land down under.
And they have a great sound and an amazing new self titled album.

Forming in late 2007, WIM are a band harking back to classic pop and timeless folk, whilst facing steadfastly forward toward modern indie/art rock.
Incorporating psychedelic instrumentation, soulful and earnest lyricism and intriguing vocal melodies, the sound travels a broad spectrum.
The band travel from the realms of such timeless sounds as The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel and Neil Young, to the more contemporary Grizzly Bear and Devendra Banhart. Describing themselves as ‘glam folk’, WIM aspire to meld and cross-reference a variety of genres.
In the end, the band is really about a sense of return to music and a new take on the modern-classic song. WIM’s sound travels over a vast array of colour and feelings; their songs truly speak for themselves. [afsydney]

This is just a totally amazing video and song. Prepare for goose bumps.

See You Hurry

See You Hurry Video - Directed by Daniel Askill from Collider

Something for You

Live at the Sydney Apple Store

Graceland

Wim covering Paul Simon's Graceland.
The Basement, Saturday 2 April. 2011

Vladimirska

With their unusual combination of instruments (accordion, trumpet, guitar and baritone saxophone) and original sound, Vladimirska’s music isn’t easy to classify. Their experimental attitude in composing songs and relaxed, natural attitude towards performing keep them firmly rooted in the realm of indie folk-pop. But they simultaneously have another foot in a darker, more exotic and carnivalesque musical realm reaching back to old-time European fanfares, carnivals and travelling circuses. The band themselves refer to their music as “retro-circus-folk.”

Vladimirska are from Kraków in Poland and they are made up of:
Scotia Gilroy - accordion, vocals, melodica, piano, toy piano
Ernest Heksel - trumpet
Igor Herzyk - acoustic & electric guitars, ukulele
Romek Głowacki - baritone saxophone
Antonis Skolias - drums

I say they are worthy entries into the DeVotchKa and Gogol Bordello school of music. maybe not so frenetic, but maybe more authentic to the middle European vibe.

The Dancing Bear

Circus-retro-folk band "Vladimirska" performing "The Dancing Bear" (featuring Ashia Grzesik) live at Rozrywki Trzy, Cracow (Poland) on 03.02.2011.

Rip up your Stitch

featuring Ashia Grzesik again, in Krakow, Poland

Maylee & Me

video: Krzysiek Żwirski.

Godzik

Scotia and company playing at Cafe Frania in Krakow, Poland. They're playing "Godzik", a song inspired by the true story of an escaped crocodile who hung out in Ukraine for awhile.

And lucky for us, Bandcamp has their new album.
Check it out.

Norma MacDonald

Here's a wonderful voice from Canada. Norma MacDonald has a fresh voice and some great songs that need to be shared with everyone.

Norma MacDonald is a creature of dichotomy; joy/sadness, city/town, past/future, art/science, dog/cat. Her music reflects the mixed feelings of one who is in a constant state of flux along these spectrums and the nostalgia felt for both extremes.

The New Waterford, Nova Scotia native's third album “Morning You Wake”, produced by Halifax multi-instrumentalist Phil Sedore (Amelia Curran, Catherine MacLellan), is undoubtedly the songwriter’s most diverse collection of sounds and stories to date. From the starry-eyed waltz Bright as you Dare, to the Neko Case-ean Comeback Kid to the elegiac Springsteen flood-of-emotion of Swollen Sky, her sound mixes the sincerity and grit of car stereo old-country with the polish and sophistication of satellite radio North-Americana. This latest recording also finds MacDonald tackling her hometown’s history; Blackhearts of the Company is based on the life of William Davis, a coal miner that was shot and killed by mining company police during a protest in 1925.
......more

Here she is at the Carleton Music Bar and Grill.
Pulling on a Thread

Norma MacDonald sings "Pulling on a Thread" live at The Carleton Music Bar and Grill in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

And here is a track from her new album, Morning You Wake
Comeback Kid


But wait! there's more. Courtesy of Bandcamp you can listen to the whole thing right here.

Fiona Sally Miller

Fiona Sally Miller is a new voice, to me at least. And what a voice, I just love the sound of it.
She has this great new EP out called "Out Of The Woods And In To The Trees".
Fiona Sally Miller is from Brighton, UK. And I think we'll be hearing more from her in the near future.

Fiona has a band who are:
Fiona Sally Miller (vocals, acoustic guitar, words) 
Matthew Hodson (electric guitar, Piano) 
Matthew Snowdon (percussion) 
Monti Ochocki (electric guitar, piano) 


I'm Gonna Miss Your Smiling At Me

Music video for artist Fiona Sally Miller's track 'Im Gonna Miss Your Smiling At Me Like That'. Directed and produced by Matt Flemming.

Cycle Song

Fiona Sally Miller and band playing 'Cycle Song' live to an audience at the famous Union Chapel London, 6th February 2010.
Shot, edited and recorded by Bradely Steenkemp.

In The Morning

Fiona Sally Miller and band play the song - 'In The Morning' LIVE! at Meadowlands Festival 2010.

And you can listen to her EP right here. Good old Bandcamp.

Katie Melua

Katie Melua with the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra is an album/DVD that was recently released.
It features a performance recorded in Stuttgart in 2009. Well worth the wait.

You remember Katie Melua don't you? Of course you do. You know you do.

Well kick back and enjoy some amazing vocals.

Kozmic Blues

Katie Melua, Kozmic Blues - with the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra - recorded at JAZZ OPEN Stuttgart 2009

Perfect Circle


One of my favorite songs.
The closest thing to crazy


Mockingbird Song The above two songs updated 3-1-2012 for all of the usual reasons.
And the Mockingbird Song is from a different earlier concert.
But anything Katie does is always great.

Abbe May

Great day in the morning. Wow! They have announced the release date for Abbe May's new solo album. Mark your calendars for July 8.

I'm happy to say I got hold of a preview album. Normally I don't attempt this since I'm not one for flowery prose. But this album is so damn good I'm gonna attempt a track by track commentary.

"Design Desire" was one of the first singles of the album so I've been playing that for a while, still not bored with it. Some really nice guitar riffs on this track. And of course Abbe is in fine voice.


"Universes" has Abbe in a really amazing tone. Some great guitar work. A kick ass rocker with a laid back vocal. How do they do that? How does one sound kick ass and laid back together?


Of course "Mammalian Locomotion" needs no introduction to all fans of Abbe. I'm just happy to have an official release on a full length album. Yes I'm still that old fashioned that I like to play complete albums.


Somehow I doubt that the Taurus mentioned in "Taurus Chorus" has anything to do with Ford. This is a great rockin' song. Lots of dark guitar on this track. And Abbe is in great voice.


"You could be mine" is probably the most kick ass track on the album. And when I hear her singing "You could be mine" I tend to forget my age and regress back to my youth.


Something a bit unusual for Abbe, she sounds vulnerable on "No Sleep Tonight", which is a great song.


"Cast That Devil Out" is a straight ahead blues rocker. Sounds like it came from the Mississippi delta.


Abbe sounds really sultry on "Blood River". Yet another great song.


"Feeling like a man, Looking Like a Woman" is currently my favorite track on the album, could change, who knows. Just a very, very evocative piece. Love that final chord. Just a perfect ending.


Don't know what "POG" is, track kind of sounds like Aussie FOG. Not in a bad way, some serious guitar work going on here.


"Carolina" another dark, almost swamp rock, evocatove piece. A grand finale to a great album.

Well that's the album. It was certainly worth the wait. My rating is 5 stars.

Can't have an Abbe post without a video. Links above to a couple of tracks on the album, but here is the b-side of "Mammalian Locomotion" a very apt titled piece.
Disney on Acid

Directed by Zena Loxton.
Camera by Zena Loxton.
Edited by Carly Baker.
Disney on Acid is the B-side to Abbe May single "Mammalian Locomotion"

Oh! and I still want to know what "Gonna Put My 25 55 In Your 7 17 24" means. A great song but the title is bugging the heck out of me. Anyone know?

BTW: see what others think of the album:

"Abbe May is set to destroy the entire rock world. Her new solo album Design Desire is bursting with the most righteous and gnarly blues-laced guitar sound this side of the White Stripes and the Pack a.d., drifting majestically beneath honest, take-no-prisoners vocals dripping with tasteful effects. This record is destined to break 2011 wide open with truth-bombs. The proof is in the video for the record's title track, with an rising scale guitar line, deliciously teased bridge and half-time break down, and reverb laden vocals." - PopMatters.com

Alyssa Reid

And now a Canadian beauty, with a wonderful voice. Welcome to Alyssa Reid.
Have a lookout for her debut album, The Game, released today.

Alyssa Reid (born March 15, 1993) is a Canadian singer and songwriter born in Edmonton, Alberta. Her debut television appearance was on the television show Party Mamas. She was also runner up for The Next Star, a Canadian reality television show on YTV. She is signed to Canadian record label Wax Records. She currently lives in Brampton, Ontario, a suburb in the Greater Toronto Area.

Alone Again


The Game - Behind the scenes

Your first glimpse into rising star Alyssa Reid's music video "The Game." Faze Magazine was invited on set for all the magic. Her full album is out June 21st!

Burned

Alyssa Reid singing her new song "Burned" at her show at Taste of the Danforth 2010.

Katy B

Katy B, another young singer from London. Actually from Peckham, south of the river.
Check her out, she has a great sound.

Kathleen "Katie" Brien, better known as Katy B, (born 8 May, 1989) is a British singer-songwriter and a graduate of the BRIT School. She is a Dubstep, R&B, funky, house and UK Garage singer and has also performed under the name Baby Katy. She was born in Peckham, South London. Having been offered "major label deals" in 2009, she released her first single with the label Rinse in 2010. The same year, she completed a degree in Popular Music at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Easy Please Me

Music video by Katy B performing Easy Please Me. (c) 2011 Ammunition Promotions Limited under exclusive licence to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited

Broken Record


Lights On

Music video by Katy B feat. Ms Dynamite performing Lights On. (C) 2010 Ammunition Promotions Limited under exclusive licence to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited

Magic And Fur

This time a band from the UK. Magic and Fur have a new album, also on Bandcamp, called The Last Of The Late Night Lost. These guys are from my old stomping grounds the East End of London.

Magic and Fur are:
Christofur Wilde - Vocals
Gary Legend - Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards
Gavin Ellis - Bass, Vocals
Julian Simon - Drums, Vocals
Dom Ryan - Keyboards

The first track of the album is this brilliant song that is slightly reminiscent of David Bowie.
Do not toll the bell


We can also go back in time a couple of years and check out their debut single.
Christine


And of course because it's on Bandcamp, and I know you want it. Here is the album.

Battle Circus

And now for a band from New Zealand. I just love the sound of the first track here, Flying Machine. It reminds me of so much I can't put my finger on. But they are awesome.
Battle Circus are a progressive rock band from Auckland, New Zealand.

They certainly have a leaning toward quirky videos.

Flying Machine


Send in the Clones


Utopium


And just to show it's not all quirky videos, her is a live performance.
Clockwork

Recorded October 25th, 2008 at NYC's Knitting Factory during CMJ.

Although that performance is almost three years old, and some of the videos date back further than that there is a very relevant point for featuring them now.
They have release their album, with a "you pick the price" deal on Bandcamp. The album contains all the tracks featured above.

Check it out here.

Dynamic and dark, New Zealand’s Battle Circus douses the senses with stunningly dramatic ferocity. The four-piece’s reputation for explosive performances and bold, ambitious musical arrangements has led them to take the stage at numerous international festivals.

These three songs tease the band’s debut full-length album, following the post-apocalyptic-themed debut EP, The Half-Light Symphony. Due for release later this year, the new album is unashamedly grandiose in both scale and ambition, and explores the full breadth of the musical ability the band’s live performances deliver.
credits
released 20 May 2011
Marcel Bellve- Vocals, Guitars
Yvonne Wu- Pianos, Keyboards
Ryan Marshall- Bass Guitar
James Whitlock- Drums (except Galacticus and Crush)
Daniel Bosher- Drums on Galacticus and Crush

The Grates

The Grates is another talented group from down under. They a two-piece band from Brisbane, Australia, comprising Patience Hodgson (vocals) and John Patterson (guitar) and sometimes Alana Skyring (drums). I know that's three but that's the description I found.

They are a fun band, I think Patience subscribes to the adage "girls just want to have fun" since she appears to bounce through every number when they are performing live.

Thye have a new album on release, Secret Rituals. Check it out.

Turn Me On


Like You Could Have It All


Crying All Night