Port Isla- Steamroller

Hi,

So today's post is introducing you to an up and coming band that I think will be big called Port Isla. They are a 4 piece indie band from Norwich. You can listen to their new EP "Steamroller" HERE. They have recently been touring with George Ezra and I picked up the last copy of their EP at the leadmill in Sheffield. Which is a great venue by the way and they have some really good people playing soon, so click HERE to have a look.

These guys are indie-folk with acoustic and electric tracks. The vocals are folk rocky and casual in a rounded kind of way. They have a rehearsed full sound and the three tracks are diverse with different but equally good styles.

Tracklist:

1) Steamroller- this is an upbeat folk-y song with prominent drum rhythms and a country swing with the banjo and harmonies. The chorus and the vocal melody are so catchy and the harmonies are used to a great effect.

2) Next in line- this is a more rock and electric song where the vocals are more raw and the piano is more in the foreground with an indie-rock input. The lyrics in this are again sparse and not hugely inspiring but fit well and have a good tune to them.

3) Simple sunrise- this is an acoustic gentle track where the vocals are more exposed and where some bands fall because they can't hide behind noise and crazy rhythms. But Port Isla have more than proved themselves in this track with gorgeous poetic lyrics like "and that simple sunrise much like a drawing by a child is right in front of me" and the incredible harmonies made up of the right mixture of strong and slightly clashy chords to add interest. The details in this track are put together really well making it my favourite on the EP.

Scruff of the Neck Records: Free Mix Tape review

Hi,

Today's post is my review of Scruff of the neck record's first mix tape which is FREE to download HERE

Tracklisting:
1. Out in the cold- Matt Fryers
2. I couldn't fall on you- Mercury field
3. St. Louis- Skinny Roller
4. Afterglow- The Reveurs
5. The Stealer- The High Nines
6. Rabbit Hole- Matt Fryers
7. Bumblebee- Mercury Field
8. Blue Dove- Skinny Roller
9. Hide & Seek- The Reveurs
10. Paupers & Kings- The High Nines

Background Info:
Scruff of the neck records are a Manchester based record company who have signed artists such as The Naughtys and Go Native. You can see more of them and download some of their bands' music HERE

Review:
1. Out in the cold- This is an indie-pop, acoustic track by 22 year old Manchester lad Matt Fryers. His vocals are raspy and sounds like they're struggling to get to the higher pitches. He is quite talented but not very unique. 5/10

2. I couldn't fall on you- Mercury field are a 5 piece rock band who are influenced by Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd among many others. This track is undoubtedly a classic rock and roll song, the first few electric chords are a give away at the first listen. A good track but again nothing too special 6.5/10.

3. St Louis- This indie/indie-rock song is by Skinny Roller who are a 4 piece indie band from Manchester. Mark Nangle's grunge-y, raspy, distressed, low pitched vocals fit perfectly with the electric minor chords, jumpy bass and light drums of this creative track! 8/10

4. Afterglow- This track is indie/indie-rock and by The Reveurs who are a 4 piece indie/rock band. The loud, powerful, full on indie-rock backing seems to drown out Gary Nelson's nasal, wobbly vocals. The vocals are undefined and not very confident even though the backing is just that. 4/10

5. The Stealer- The High Nines are a 5 piece rock and roll/ alternative rock band who have infectious guitar riffs and the alternative, indie-rock vocals of Steve Cornell make this track a great listen which will stay in your head for a long time! 9/10

6. Rabbit Hole- This song is a piano and acoustic guitar ballad sung by Matt fryers, the intro music is beautiful and haunting with long lasting effects. Fryers' vocals cut through the hypnotizing effects suddenly with their raspy pop tones. This beginning would be much better if the vocals worked their way in gently and softly. After this, though, the song becomes a gorgeous melody again. 7/10

7. Bumblebee- Another rock and roll song by Mercury Field, I prefer this one. I feel it has more vocal variation and more diverse music behind Josh Jones' classic rock voice. This is a much more innovative track. 8/10

8. Blue Dove- This Skinny Roller song is a slower and more melodic track than St Louis. The vocals are more varied in pitch, they sound more comfortable in themselves and in the higher pitches than in St Louis. The track isn't as catchy and infectious, but still a really good, original bit of music. 9/10

9. Hide & Seek- Another indie-rock song with much less backing and more vocals, although the vocals still can't seem to match up to the heavy rock backing. There are some nice and inventive interludes within the track though. 6/10

10. Paupers & Kings- Another alternative-rock song by The High Nines. This one is almost as catchy but not quite, although it still has its own merits with the grunge-y, casual vocals and their talented, fast moving twangy electric backing. 8/10


Thanks for reading! Don't forget to download the mix tape HERE and let me know what you think of the tracks!

The Edmondsons

Hi,

Just a short one for today!

Background Info:
The Edmondsons are three sisters from North London. They say they are influenced by Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Kate Bush, Bon Iver and Jessie Ware. All I can find of them is two demo songs on soundcloud HERE but I'll add more links if I find any.

These girls are similar to First aid kit and K T Tunstall but still have their own stamp on things. Their beautiful acoustic, fresh, open melodies and utterly gorgeous and clear cut harmonies work wonderfully. Brave Heart starts with vocals that sound almost exactly like K T Tunstall but is still gorgeous and California is a lot less similar. Even though they do sound similar to a lot of indie-folk artists already around you can still appreciate the beauty and professionalism and clear tightness of their harmonies. These girls will have a great career in front of them!

Drawn From Memory

Hi,

Today's post will be about a sound cloud of "drawn from memory". I can literally not find anything about this guy on the internet except that he's from Aberdeen. I don't even know if it's a he or a them but I'm doing my best and chasing the issue! Sorry for the obscurity but I think you should know abut him!

So his music is HERE

Review:
He writes beautiful acoustic indie and indie-folk melodies. His vocals are gorgeous, grunge-y and emotional but go with the acoustic guitar ballad backing so well. What he's done is made the music sound like it really means something to him, which you really hear through his songs. Sometimes I just don't know is a gentle, melancholy track with an utterly heartbreaking guitar backing and poetic lyrics. Foolish Notions is a more fast tempo track with higher pitched and more melodic and indie-pop vocals. But still a heart wrenching track with relateable lyrics and beautiful chords. It contains a harmonica like a few other tracks. Every time I listen to a track I think "this one's my favourite", but then the next one comes on and I change my mind again. This guy is a wonderful artist so HERE is his music..... really, you need to listen.

Marcas O'hUigin Interview and Review

Hi,

So today's post will be some words from a fabulous singer/songwriter "Marcas O'hUigin" and my review of some of his music. Here it is hope you enjoy!

Twitter: @marcasohuigin

www.marcasohuigin.com

You can listen now on soundcloud at:
https://soundcloud.com/marcas-ohuigin

"I also write across other genres such as pop, dance, folk and country and I plan to release more upbeat rock and dance tunes in the first or second quarter of 2014.

Some facts like the song 'She's in my Heart' was recorded live in 1 take. I had no lyrics but had some ideas. It was in the small hours of the morning when this was recorded. My wife was working a night shift and I was 6 bottles of heiniken 'under the influence of alcohol at the time. The record button was pressed, I closed my eyes and thought of how much in love I am with my wife. The Song 'She's in my Heart' was the result. no bullshit, I swear that's how it happened. I kept listening back and listening back and ended up I kept it for all it's flaws and beauty. A bit like our relationship - taking the good with the bad with love at the centre. In the bit where the vocals kinds fade away a bit after the second chorus was because I was unsure what to sing!

The song 'I don't see you anymore' was also recorded in 1 take.
The drums, electric guitars etc were all added much later after the initial recording.

The theme of the title song of my debut ep due for release in January 2014 'Me & You' is very straight forward - reminiscing over a relationship break up and/or coming to terms with a relationship ending. However, and as you know, this theme has been done SO many times in music genres since year dot and as a songwriter it is a huge
challenge to take this theme and try to make your own song connect with people
who either have experienced a break-up or are currently experiencing a
break-up and hopefully will use your song as part of the healing process - a bit like music therapy I suppose.

Lots of songwriters tend to moan via song about their own love experiences. The story in 'Me & You' song is fiction from my own personal perspective. I took inspiration from U2's Bono when writing
the lyrics for this. I remember thinking at the time about the song 'One' 'How can he write lyrics about love and heartache when he has been in a long-term marriage etc?' Also I took inspiration from Paul McCartney/The Beatles where they take the universal language of love and sing about it. The idea being that 'everyone' can or should be able to connect with this.

So quite simply, I put myself in the shoes of someone in a
relationship break-up and went from there. The music came first and then the lyrics. There is also the 'ghost' of the female in this relationship break-up singing lightly along in the chorus. My wife sings the female
harmonies and backing vocals and so she plays the part of the 'ghost' of the
lady in the relationship. The ghost appears at this point to represent that she too 'must be or could be' feeling the same.



A song of mine features on the (now collectable) school project release by Irish rock band 'Ash'. My song was
called Because you said' and I was the singer and writer for a band called 'FAT' at the time. Info to confirm this can be found at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJV2st6lg1k"

Review:

She's in my heart is a beautiful, gentle acoustic track. The gorgeous, dulcet, talented vocals of Marcas fit the genre perfectly and compliment each other so well. Me and you is another acoustic song with wonderful minor guitar chords behind the amazing harmonies, I love the emotion in this song, it's one you can clearly imagine in a film! I love the strength and clear remorse in this track. I Don't see you Anymore is another strong and clear cut grievous song. It's confident and switches from an acoustic, gentle melody at the start to a stronger and rough edged piece with harder vocals and electric guitar with more prominent, heavy bass which works really well I find! So this guy is worth a listen, thanks for reading!

Park Bench Society- Forest Gate EP

Hi,

Sorry I haven't posted for a while but I've been so tied down with homework recently that I have just not had the time! Anyway, today's post will be about "Park Bench Society"'s EP Forest Gate. You can buy or listen HERE

Background Info:

Park Bench Society are an acoustic, indie, alternative and Ska band from Loughborough. They say they are influenced by The Rivers, Jamie T, Arctic Monkeys, Tom Waits, John Mayer, Bon Iver, The Kooks, Steve Hewitt and Vampire Weekend.

They have a gorgeous acoustic indie sound. The track "Down by he bus shelter" is an amazing, catchy song showing off the vocal and song writing ability of the guys. This track is similar to Passenger but still has it's own unique style. The song "Room 66" starts off with the twangy guitar sounds and the slapping guitar drum , it sounds Spanish and is fast and upbeat. I love their accent which is really prominent in this song. The trumpets are a great addition. "Go home" is an angry and sassy song that is confident and clever. "Girl from the city" is another upbeat track that is unbelievably catchy and probably my favourite. These guys really think about their lyrics and backing which is obvious in their music. It is carefully sculpted, unlike early EPs in a lot of band's careers. This EP is full of upbeat acoustic indie tracks that get you dancing and thinking so I love these guys. I really hope they get big and your £3.16 would help a lot! .......

BUY IT HERE