Minor Sounds

Minor Sounds is a wonderful dark folk/electronic music project.

Minor Sounds is Brighton based singer/songwriter Mirna Stanich and Warsaw based producer Martin Zietek.

They have this amazing album on current release, and the personnel for that was:
Mirna Stanich (Croatia) - vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, piano, synths and organ, banjo, beats
Martin Zietek (Poland) - bass, electric guitars, electronics, Moog, beats, backing vocals
With Guests:
Igor Busljeta (Croatia) - live drums on a few tracks
John Roman "Mass" (UK) - beats and Moog on Gravity and Crooked Feet
Michael Dennis (UK) - violins on Clean Cut

Their first album "The Humming" was recorded in a few living rooms in Brighton and Martin's home studio in a village near Warsaw, bouncing tracks back and forth between them. The recordings were made between 2009 and 2012.

So enjoy these samples of their amazing music.

Here they are on BBC Introducing
    

Check out this live gig from Brighton.

Different Kind Brighton Festival Fringe 2011 @ Komedia

Here's another one from Brighton

Three-Legged Dog

The title track from the album.

The Humming

Finally today, check out the depth of this amazing album.

The Humming

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Cats Park

So I came across this band, and they blew me away.

They play Trip Rock, and they hail from Saint Petersburg in Russia and they are Cats Park. Cool name!

Cats Park are:
Alex Andreev - bass, keys, guitar
Faijee - Vocals
Roman Shatohin - guitar
Alexander Alexeev - keyboards
Alexey Menshikov - drums 

The Cats Park story began in spring of 2010, when a bass guitarist Alexey Andreev met Faijee, a jazz vocalist. The former, having participated in various bands, had an urge to flesh out his own musical ideas and record the material that he had accumulated. The latter, having had lots of work experience on the jazz scene, wanted to unleash the darker side of her creative nature. Both Alex and Faijee felt too restricted by the framework of genre standards and stereotypes they had previously worked with in abundance. They wanted to create and experiment freely. 

Well they have certainly come up with a unique sound.
Something I am really digging.
I think you will enjoy them too.

And I cannot get enough of Faijee's voice. Wow!!

First up this visually attractive video will grab you and open you up for the stunning vocals of Faijee, this is a young lady with an amazing talent.

Your Love is a Sin Video for 'Your Love is a Sin' from Face the Future
Directed by Oleg Trofim & Anton Zemljakov
Edited - Oleg Trofim
Cameraman - Anton Zemljakov
Production director - Alexander Suvorov
Artdirector - Ira Schastlivtseva
Make-up artist - Natasha Majdanichenko
Assistant cameraman - Vitaly Afanasev
Supervisor - Dmitry Kutejkin
Photographer -- Ivan Gluhov
CatsPark, 2011
Starbox Production, 2011

Now let's hear that voice in a full throat live song.
I guess I shouldn't just focus just on the voice, that's a damn good band hitting all the right notes there.
An all around great performance.

Brand New Day Live from the Placement July 2011
Recorded & Mixed by Roman 'English' Urazov
Video - Starbox Production 2011

And from that same gig, check out this live version of the first song featured above.

Your Love is a Sin

Another track from their great album. This is one very mellow song.

Time To Quit

And finally today a little bit of Russian. A truly beautiful song.

Vana Hoya (Aquarium Tribute) music & lyrics Boris Grebenсhikov
Video by Alexey Gurov
Cats Park 2012

Still wanting more? I knew you would be, so here's their latest EP.

Face The Future

Recorded & Mixed by Roman Urazov («Dobrolet», «Galernaya20» St.Petersburg)
Mastering - Christian Wright («Abbey Road», London)

Photo - A.Fisher

credits

released 20 April 2012

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Vajra

Vajra was formed by composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist, Annamaria Pinna during her self-imposed exile in India. The child of a former monk and school teacher, Annamaria was encouraged to learn about the world around her and to question her assumptions. She believes there is divinity in creativity. Annamaria has a neurological condition called synesthesia, where she attaches color and shapes to sound.

The debut album "Pleroma" was released on the Summer Solstice, 2012 (6.21.12). Pleroma is an exploration in paradox (east vs west, soft vs pummelling, female vs male) and includes appearances by Blake Fleming (ex-The Mars Volta) on drums, Doug Wright (The Dirty Pearls) on bass and Will Dahl (ex-Harley's War) on guitar. 

Vajra's music is hauntingly dark and hypnotic weaving Eastern Indian themes with melodic, progressive rock creating foreboding and mysterious lullabies. Sylvia Massy (Tool, System of A Down, Prince, Johnny Cash) co-produced the vocals and mixed. Tom Baker (NIN, Foo Fighters, Ministry, Prince) mastered.

If you like your music as Dark, Melodic, Progressive Rock with East Indian Themes then you are in the right place. This is music to aid your soul, and take you to another place.

Kick back and enjoy.
First up we have track one from the album Pleroma.

Inside The Flame

This is track six.

Erode The Will

Now we have to have a live version of that first song, so here it is live @ The Bowery Ballroom March 24, 2012.

Inside The Flame

One more from the same gig.

Blind

OK, so I know you are still wanting more ....... Check out the album





released 14 July 2012 
Vocals, Midi, Keyboards: Annamaria Pinna 
Drums: Blake Fleming 
Bass: Doug Wright 
Guitar: Will Dahl 
Tabla: Turtle Jon 

All songs Written and Produced by Annamaria Pinna 
Vocal Production by Annamaria Pinna & Sylvia Massy Shivy 
Recorded at Vacation Island Recording by Matt Boynton & at Radiostar Studios by Sylvia Massy Shivy & Ian Rickard 
Mixed at Radiostar Studios by Sylvia Massy Shivy & Rich Veltrop 
Mastered at Precision Audio by Tom Baker 

Art Direction: Annamaria Pinna 
Design/Layout: Gayatri Patel & Gregory A. Bardashian

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Belle Starr

Are you ready for some amazing harmonies?
Then meet Belle Starr.

Not to be confused with Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr, aka Belle Starr, or the British group The Belle Stars.

Belle Starr is a trio of beautiful young ladies with great vocal and fiddling skills.  They are Stephanie Cadman, Kendel Carson & Miranda Mulholland.

They hail from Guelph, Victoria, Ottawa.

And in a just world they would be mega stars.

Check out some of their tunes and see if you don't agree with me.

Summerlea The Official HD video for Canadian group Belle Starr's "Summerlea" (song written by Fred Eaglesmith).
Directed by Jeth Weinrich in New York City and Alberta Canada with support of CMT Canada.
Song features Lyle Molzan on drums, Colin Cripps and Russell Broom on guitars, Maury LaFoy on bass, Steve O'Connor on keyboards and was produced by Russell Broom at the Woodshed in Toronto, ON.

Gotta love this version of the Talking Heads classic.

This Must Be The Place (Naïve Melody) The Official video for Belle Starr's This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) (written by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth).
Directed by Christopher Mills in Joshua Tree California.
Song features vocals by Belle Starr, fiddles by Stephanie Cadman & Miranda Mulholland.
With Danny Michel on acoustic guitar, John Dinsmore on electric guitar, Steve Zsirai on bass, Joel Anderson on drums and percussion.
Produced by Danny Michel and Belle Starr.
Engineered and mixed by Jameson Elliott.
Recorded at the The Lincoln County Social Club and the Rogue,Toronto ON.
From the EP "The Burning of Atlanta".

And finally today this beautiful take on one of Dolly Parton's best songs.

Jolene The Official video for Belle Starr's JOLENE (written by Dolly Parton).
Directed by Jeth Weinrich in Longview & Calgary Alberta.
Song features vocals by Belle Starr, fiddles by Stephanie Cadman & Miranda Mulholland, taps by Stephanie Cadman with Maury LaFoy on bass, Lyle Molzan on drums & percussion, Steve O'Connor on wurlitzer, and Colin Cripps on electric guitar.
Recorded at the Woodshed
Produced by Russell Broom
Engineered by Tim Vesely. from the EP "The Burning of Atlanta".

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Stacey Randol

Today I stumbled across this amazing singer, Stacey Randol.

Although she currently resides in Nashville, TN she should not be pigeon holed into the country genre.

Like many others Stacey grew up singing in her Sunday morning church services.

But then she would spend the afternoon listening to her dad’s “walk down memory lane” records of The Beatles, The Turtles, The Beach Boys, and the king himself, Elvis Presley.

Stacey studied music at Milllikin University, and then travelled to Italy, China, and throughout the USA.

Along the way she was listening to Paul Simon, Fleetwood Mac, Harry Nilsson, Vampire Weekend, Angus & Julia Stone, Beach House, and Brandi Carlile.

So her musical influences have been extensive and diverse.

You just have to listen to her album to understand why I said don't pigeon hole this young lady.

However you attempt to classify her, talent will out.

You can download a free copy of Stacey's new single Fragile Forest at Noistrade, through this weekend. Get it while you can.

Kick back and enjoy, Stacey Randol.

Encore Stacey Randol performs 'Encore' at The Mercy Lounge's 8 off 8th. 

Here's a few snippets from a gig at The Basement Songs featured are "Battled Feet", "Steady Rhythm" and "Oblivion".

What Did You Learn In School Today Stacey Randol and Michael McBurnett cover "What Did You Learn In School Today."
Written by Tom Paxton and performed by Pete Seeger in 1963. 

Stacey introduces us to some more of her songs Live At Casablanca

Songs featured are "All The More!", "Bottled Up", "Pass Us By" and "Hometown"

This time Stacey is live at The Good Cup

Read My Lips

Now I know you are still waiting for more, so check out her album right here.

Steady Rhythm

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Crystal Castles

The Reading Festival is in full swing.

Needless to say I won't be going this year.

I still remember going to one of the early versions of this festival, when it was really just a bunch of tents in the woods.

Not sure who the bands were. Maybe Curved Air? The main thing I remember was a drunk naked woman trying to get on stage with a band and they weren't having it.

Fun days of youth.

So this year there are some amazing bands, as always.

But one set that caught my eye was this amazing performance by Crystal Castles.
 

Kudos to Pięćsetne Konto for uploading it.

Crystal Castles are an electronic/experimental band formed in 2004 in Toronto, Ontario consisting of producer Ethan Kath and lyricist and vocalist Alice Glass. Crystal Castles are known for their chaotic live shows and their lo-fi melancholic homemade productions. The duo released many limited vinyl EPs between 2006 and 2007, and two eponymous albums in 2008 and 2010 to widespread critical acclaim. Their debut album was included in NME's "Top 100 Greatest Albums of the Decade" list at No. 39.

[Wikipedia]

Reading Festival 2009

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Get Well Soon

I've always been a sucker for over the top music videos.
Muse - Knights of Cydonia being one of my all time favorites.
So I was happy to find this one from Get Well Soon.

Get Well Soon is a music and band project of the German singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Konstantin Gropper (born September 28, 1982 in Biberach an der Riß, Upper Swabia, Baden-Württemberg).

Get Well Soon have an amazing new album "The Scarlet Beast O'Seven Heads" that is about to be released this week.

But meantime, you have to see and hear this. Totally amazing.

Roland, I Feel You "Roland, I Feel You" directed by Philipp Kaessbohrer and produced by his incredible team at BildundTonfabrik Cologne!
The song is taken from "The Scarlet Beast O'Seven Heads / La Bestia Scarlatta Con Sette Teste" available from August 27th on across Europe (UK, September 3) on CD, Limited 2CD, 2 Vinyl and download via CitySlang.

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I've Only Just Begun

I've Only Just Begun is a beautiful video and song to help in the protest against Russian homophobia.

The film tells the story of Venuz Vulgar, who is traveling with an entourage to St. Petersburg to free some imprisoned friends after Russian laws banned "homosexual propaganda." This seems a clear reference to the draconian state of minority rights in that country, especially following the Pussy Riot trial. Aside from the haunting visuals and poignant message, the film impresses because it was produced independently, with the directors own money and cast entirely of volunteers. Sandra Bernhard recently saw the six-minute flick and called it both "stunning" and "wonderful."

Joseph Alexiou

Anthemic "I've Only Just Begun" -song will be released digitally (iTunes, Spotify etc.) 3rd of September 2012 in Europe, US, Latin America & Canada.

"I've Only Just Begun" is a ragingly beautiful and empowering story about Venuz Vulgar and his friends on their way to St. Petersburg, Russia. It's written and directed by E. Over 60 people were involved in this free, independent production.

And don't forget - Free Pussy Riot.

Billy Fury

While I was in the middle of the Eskimo Fandango nostalgia post, my baby brother sent me this picture above asking me if I knew where it was.

I didn't even know it existed, so obviously I knew not where.

Turns out it's off West End Lane, West Hampstead.

This is too cool.

So of course it set me to thinking about Billy Fury, one of the UK's greatest Rock n Roll singers.

Billy Fury (17 April 1940 - 28 January 1983) born Ronald Wycherley, was an internationally successful English singer from the late-1950s to the mid-1960s, and remained an active songwriter until the 1980s. Rheumatic fever, which he first contracted as a child, damaged his heart and ultimately contributed to his death. An early British rock and roll (and film) star, he equalled The Beatles' record of 24 hits in the 1960s, and spent 332 weeks on the UK chart, without a chart-topping single or album. Allmusic journalist, Bruce Eder, stated, "His mix of rough-hewn good looks and unassuming masculinity, coupled with an underlying vulnerability, all presented with a good voice and some serious musical talent, helped turn Fury into a major rock and roll star in short order". Others have suggested that Fury's rapid rise to prominence was due to his "Elvis Presley-influenced, hip-swivelling, and at times highly suggestive stage act."            [Wikipedia]

He was a regular on Ready Steady Go as well as other early Brit TV shows - 6.5 Special and of course Oh Boy.

Sadly missed I still play his music frequently.

So kick back and let's see if we can capture the essence of Billy Fury.

Nothing Shaking

Don't Knock Upon My Door From a 1959 TV show.

Not sure what TV show this was from, but you get three songs for the price of one.

Alabamy Bound 
I'd Never Find Another You 
Just Because

Won't Somebody Tell Me Why

And finally a couple of slide videos for two of his biggest hits.

Halfway to Paradise

Wonderous Place


As we started with a London tribute with Billy Fury Way, here is his Liverpool tribute, an amazing statue at the Albert Dock.

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