BROOKE FRASER; album FLAGS

Brooke Fraser releases her first UK & Irish album debut today : Flags. It is formed out of vivid tales of stories and characters with intro-centric tunes, a charm and a half and catchy as you can get hooks. Fraser draws inspiration from characters other than herself and opts for colorful storytelling on Flags. Its no wonder it is already up for numerous awards in her homeland of New Zealand where she is an eight times platinum selling phenomenon.

I think it will be Fraser’s capability at delivering soft lingering, lilting melodies that will give her a steady rise not to mention her diverse catalogue of charming songs on this album.

The New Zealand songstress self-produced the record with a sublime confidence that radiantly reflects and beams off the songs. Whats more apparent, is her exploration of different instruments and soundscapes.

Standout tracks include the opener Something in the water (Video below with has over 1.6 million views already!) with its instantaneous sing-a-long appeal, or the piano-backed Aqualung duet, “Who Are We Fooling,” the ‘every girl’ track and Canadian shout-out, “Betty” and beautifully sparse “Sailboats.”

Fraser’s urge to write this album came to her one night at California music festival, Coachella, so it’s only fitting that there be a song in its honor and recognition that you can envision she will play at festivals with the sun going down in the back drop to fans lazily swaying to her hypnotic and enchanting voice. All in all this album is beautifully written and sublimely produced with a personal touch that captures the inner beauty in this artists' music which is destined to propel her into relative stardom away from home.

Flags: Wood & Bone) 10/10

Check out Something in The Water; the lead single from the album here:
Flags (Wood & Bone)

ROBERT SARAZIN BLAKE> THE BELFAST SESSIONS

In 1997, Robert Sarazin Blake dropped out of college and hit the road. The folk music of his father’s house had combined with the DIY punk ethos of the day and produced his first batch of songs, Another Irrelevant Year. On the heels of Richard Manning, Billy Bragg, and Ani Difranco, Blake’s 18-year-old release is an early document of the folk-punk movement. On his first US tour, Blake played 30 shows around the US planting seeds as he developed touring, not as an economic model, but as a lifestyle. He hasn’t stopped. Ten full length albums into his career, he’s continued to write pulling from folk roots, his travels, his contemporaries, and the quiet spot in the back of his mind. The writing has evolved, mellowing with experience and expanding with reference, but the essence of the work has remained the same-strong narratives solidly built on the folk foundation and fully in the immediacy of the now. The touring and performing has become an art in itself. Performing 200 shows a year, Blake is a world class performer in a neighborhood venue.

With gigs across the USA, Europe, and most commonly Ireland. Hitch hiking his way throughout his first tour around the country, guitar on his back, playing bars, rooms, festivals and fields, Blake developed a deep appreciation for Irish Traditional folk music. This year sees the release of THE BELFAST SESSIONS LP. Recorded in Belfast and Bellingham over the course of 2 sessions, the album features trad maestros John and Tina McSherry and Francis Mc Ilduff. 

THE BELFAST SESSIONS

THE LP: Flourishing songs of the everyday, of love and of the weather against a backdrop of uillean pipes, bodhran and guitar, the album is a testament to this powerful songwriters capacity at the simple, yet poetic delivery of song. 

The album features his most accessible work to date, most noticeably; 'Waiting' and 'City Covered in Snow.' It's a folk/trad record, written and conceived in the two wettest towns this side of Glasgow, informed by his love of folk, trad and quality music.

On 29th April, Blake returns to Ireland again with this new record, 'Belfast Sessions.'on deadslackstring records. He's not sleeping on beaches, or parks anymore (well we hope not!) but he is bringing his distinctive style of folk music to bars, venues and rooms around the country.

Irish Tour dates: 


29th April - Cobblestone, Dublin 


30th April - House show, Kinsale, Cork 


1st May- Roadside Tavern, Lisdoonvarna 


2nd May - Limerick 


4th May - Roisin Dubh, Galway 


5th May - Auntie Annie's, Belfast 
6th May - Cavan 


7th May - McGirls Pub, Leitrim 


8th May - Furey's pub, Sligo

Links: 
www.sarazinblake.com

new reviews! PETER BJORN & JOHN/ POLY STYRENE + MORE

POLY STYRENE: GENERATION INDIGO

Cult Punk legend, Poly Styrene who summarised an entire youth movement and helped revolutionise Seventies counter culture ahead of changing musical styles, releases her eagerly awaited: Generation Indigo next month. Here is a record that resists being a nostalgic Punk by-product and proves that there is still much of the essence of the woman she was, residing here. In fact not a bit has wavered, she is still capable of delivering a punchy monotone vocal and great Punk tracks, resonant of the early days. What I find great and utterly impressive here is that Poly Styrene has successfully not succumbed to total Pop degeneracy. 

The album stimulates the senses, dallying around Pop standards with clever dub arrangements and non-commercial dance beats. The pristine production gives a perfect vessel for her unchanged and un hinged non-cynical look on life. Ever the caring, anti-war and very much socially aware woman she always displayed herself to be. This album is exciting without portraying a completely transparent and false image - Awesome.

I also just heard that Poly was recently diagnosed with Cancer, so therefore Any planned shows arranged with the promotion of this record are currently on hold .I wish Poly a very speedy recovery while currently undergoing treatment.

PETER, BJORN & JOHN: GIMME SOME

There was a time that not a day went by without hearing the tune of Young Folks. It’s the token catchy song that has fears of getting ruined because of multiple plays. Yet, I am quite sure that Peter, Bjorn & John, are proud of it and so they should be, it made way for all things that followed. 

Gimme Some reins you in with the obvious pop songs, they’re so poppy they border on being a guilty pleasure. Half of the album see's the band doing what they do best, the other half is them experimenting, which is also what they do best. This is in no way a disappointment in any sense and absolutely a worthy addition to their distinguishable discography. 

Gimme Some doesn’t lack is energy. It doesn't lack great pop songs destined to be Summer anthems, It is idiosyncratic in the shortest bursts of vigour that almost sounds like a garage rock band and they’ve managed to release a great pop album with the unmissed absence of whistling… albeit I think its safe to say Gimme Some willl and them back on the map they have been traveling off and on since Writers Block.

Here is one of the tracks:

Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History

It’s a fact; Two Door Cinema Club have been unstoppable for the past year. With sold out shows all over, its no wonder that amongst their loyal fans, it extends to include Kanye West, Daft Punk and Blink 182, and it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the world comes on board the gravy train. That is, if their debut record Tourist History is anything to go by. (All aboard then..)

The album, features to the point, customized electro-pop anthems arranged and executed in a teen like fashion, aimed at a youth market who will support to till the bitter end. Here is target marketing, at its best. They deliver, deliver, deliver.

Offering the listener 10 tracks, over the space of about 35 minutes, they album is a high-octane energy bar with all the fat trimmed off. Two Door Cinema Club have stepped into the arena, and will remain for the fight offs. We think they will survive.

Brilliant new single from Dublin band: THE GANDHIS

The Gandhis are an ambitious band with an equally ambitious debut album titled: YOU ARE MY FRIEND. Despite it taking its time to reach me, I am most certainly glad it did. However, it is not the album as a whole that I draw your attention to: it is a new single which is out on March 4th via iTunes. Although it's safe to say that the entire album consistently showcases a dynamic songwriting ability for MAINSTREAM pop and is a refreshing twist on what in recent times has become something of an over done sound. Where have this band been hiding away?

The finely chosen and final single to come from the album is : You Are My Friend (which has a radio edit!!). It has a catchy sing-a-long chorus, with conventional guitar lines and up tempo beats mixed with perfectly delivered male harmonies. It makes for a song that is almost custom built for radio! BUY IT>>>> NOW.

PS:::you have got to check out the song they wrote for DATA from Star Trek- LOVE THIS BAND

also check them out on BTV_ BRILLIANT. Look at how great they are live.

ACOUSTRA: putting 'rad' back into TRAD

We have been hearing a lot about this Trad/folk band of late and with no wonder, they tick all the boxes. Fun, Talented and up for the mighty craic of it all...They are not in it for the debauched lifestyle, more so for the hell of it and for the lust of the music. Even though they can fairly find their way around the cover songs these past 10 years or more, its in the writing of original music that they relish in. 

March 2011 see the band release their debut EP and it's about time! We think this band will be shaking the floor boards of many a venue over the coming months and its just what we need in times like these. Speaking of recession, the band are giving the EP away for free also! Once you pass on the good word on and spread the musical love that is. The title of the EP, is The way it used to be and it also has a skit video to match: not so much in the rude mode of their fellow Limerick allies; The Rubberbandits, but a more a to the point dig at the Irish government and the state they have the country in. ( Video below ) But do check out TECHNO TRAD, by far one of the best pieces of original music I have heard, ever, in fact. And where the hell did the accordion player come from, word has it he also uses a wha pedal on it at live gigs!

CHECK IT OUT: FREE MUSIC- download and pass the link on!

  

Official band statement:

: "We wrote The Way It Used to be, as we’ve seen what the government has done to the country. They spoonfed us and squandered our economies cash, so who are we to ask the people of Ireland to dig deeper into their pockets at such a trying time. We thought to opt to give this EP away for Free- All we ask is that you download a tune & pass the link on! Or follow us http://twitter.com/Acoustra, see you all at a gig in the future!"

OFFICIAL VIDEO:

   

Stephen Young & The Union

STEPHEN YOUNG & THE UNION's album just arrived on my desk. Via special digital delivery, and to be honest there are many special things about this band. Based on the first listen, they are a mix between An Emotional Fish/ Imelda May (a male version on the more up tempo songs)  and The Waterboys. (Which, lets face it, it never a bad thing.) 

From the first track, the said single COKE & RUM, he brings us into the full fettle of what the band are capable of: that is creating a pounding heartfelt retrospect that will set him apart from his luminaries, with piano, roaring guitars, basslines galore and a seedy vocal that sounds like there was definitely Coke and Rum on the ready- this surely appeals to the repeat button!

Whether in a mellow mood or just plain aggressive, Young & The Union's music comes from the heart. 

The album’s title is ‘Wilderness Machine’. Young explains: “the concept of the album is loosely based on a character, who left his hometown after the break-up of a relationship and the death of a close friend. He moves to a remote house in the mountains where he writes a series of letters that lead to a novel”.

The recording process for the album took two years in total. It involved 11 different musicians in three different studios. Young was adamant on getting the right place at the right time to capture the imagery and overall sound of each song. 

A very good album- looking forward to having this on repeat.

new music 2011: GENTRY MORRIS

Gentry Morris: Awake ‘O’ SleeperHailing from South Georgia in the USA, Gentry moved to Bangor, Northern Ireland, in his mid 20s. Having honed his talent by touring the States for several years, including a stint in Nashville, he now calls Ireland home. He is about to release his third album, a mix mesh lucky bag of simplified & heartfelt musical treats delivered in an original voice that has become one of my favourites. His tone is one of pure audible luxury.

Attempting to following in the formative footsteps of Josh Ritter – it looks like Morris is using Ireland as a starting platform for his musical career. And what do we think of that, well we think it will work. 

AWAKE 'O'O SLEEPER is an acoustic masterpiece. Stunningly self produced and captures acoustic instrumentation to the full, leaving you with glowing lush sounds, which blends with Gentry’s vocals and the guest vocalists on the album. (including Juliet Turner). 

Stand out tracks: Fools Gold, Lie, Dervishes. Sublimely excellent third album that is well worth checking out.

9/10

also check out: very cool.