Currently listening to this band called Maff. They are from Chile. Their EP is composed of nine songs(one is a reprise). I will mention my impression of songs I like in random order. It is hard not to like Walking on Fire with its anthemic guitars and great melody. The song sounds like it could have been recording inside a stadium as it gives out that kind of vibe. You and Linger Around have the same pace and should be played side by side. Million Year picnic gives me the overall impression of their style. A definitive song.
The vocals are laid back and the emphasis on the melodies and atmosphere. Million Year Picnic sounds like a potential single.
It is hard to decide what songs are my favorites when I reached Blue Seas because each track is beautiful and the satisfaction builds up by sequence. Someday slows the pace with its thoughtful ballad style. Planet Wave reminds me of the late 90s. I see surfers in my mind. Act 1(the opening song)is perhaps the only one that sounds ‘different’ because of its rhythm. It is complex and its abstract aspect makes it cool. What a lovely EP!
The band excel in its execution and style. This is the kind of music where lyrical depth is secondary to musical texture. And I guess for someone who is not a ‘lyrics’ guy, it is easy for me to embrace this.
TRACKLIST
1. Act 1 03:30
2. Linger Around 02:54
3. Walking On Fire 04:57
4. Million Year Picnic 04:33
5. Someday 06:13
6. You 05:06
7. Planet Wave 03:10
8. Blue Seas 04:00
9. Walking On Fire (Radio Edit) 3:20
Keep up with Maff
Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter | YouTube | Soundcloud | Instagram
Stand up against the struggle , Time to make a few changes.
These are the lines that are repeated throughout the song. For Justin Griffin a.k.a Grades of Absolute Truth, the message is important as the music. The aggressive sound is more Nine Inch Nails than say, Bone Thugs and Harmony. A new video debuted just a couple of hours ago and is now available via YouTube. An interview with this groovy alternative rock artist will be out soon. So watch out for that one. For now enjoy this wonderful song. And drop him a line when you can!
Yup, nothing could represent the power of indie music that Philadelphia’s own Stellarscope. They are back with a new album called Shades of Sadness and Sorrow. They are improving on the sound that defines them as a band: a combination of 80’s post punk, dream pop and Gothic atmosphere.
There are 10 songs from this album. Shades of Sadness and Sorrow is their latest release after The End is Near. I’m Not Prepared (March 2014). The album will be officially launched early this March 2015. It is amazing that the Shades of Sadness and Sorrow sounds complex considering that there are only two personnel under Stellarscope: Tom Lugo and Bob Forman.
The recording is so lo-fi you would think you are listening to a cassette tape from some obscure 80s band. And that’s the way I like it. In a way it is a trip to the bast while at the same time the subject is very much relevant to what’s going on in the world. The vocals sound like they could have been recorded inside an abandoned factory as you can notice in the echo.
Dug this Hole greets us with its energetic style plastic through speakers. Perhaps this might be the band’s carrier single. We will see. It is hard to choose which track stands out. There’s Never Hated Like This (which I can personally relate to following the tragic personal events in my life three years ago). Although I think Living in a Haze is my favorite of all. I love the hazy guitar sounds that encircle the song creating a plasma of stellar radiation amidst the pulsing rhythm.
Farewell sounds like an intro from either a Sioux’s or old Cure song. I don’t know how to describe it…but classy could a fitting word. The Mansonisque Eat Your Heart Out sounds a bit chaotic but the drums are crunchy like spicy peanuts. After the aggression and robust sounds of the previous tracks, It’s All Gone Slows the pace. The glorious guitars of Soul Disturbances reminds me a bit of Bauhaus especially that the singing is unmistakably Peter Murphy. I love it! Face the Dirt closes this carousel ride with high notes.
Stellarscope proves that what is beautiful about rock in the 80’s is here to stay. And it is a joy to be showered by music like this at a time when everything feels bland.
Hello folks! It’s a soothing weekend and I am bringing to you updates on cool music around the web. It’s amazing to know that 2015 is anther great year of music. We have electronic,acoustic and other types of music that’s ‘not radio.’
I discovered Alex Pardini more than a year ago when I stumbled upon his music on the web. Since thn we have kept a tight correspondent covering many topics including photography( he’s a pro). He gets better each year as he creates fantastic and elegant tunes. His music speaks to the side of me who likes finer, better and beautiful things in life. This is the first playlist I listened upon waking up. These are evening tunes but then again, beautiful music is always enriching any time of the day. So good, so rich!
***
If you like something acoustic and soothing then check this song by singer/songwriter J.P. Kallio. What I like about his songs is that, you can appreciate his songs even if you are not a fan of folk music. His recordings are always excellent in terms of clarity and balance. This is the kind of quality that I look for in any stripped down tune.
***
Whenever I listen to any Michael Stovall song, I get carried away. His emotional pieces always have a room for the ‘soundtrack of your life’ kind of moment. The depth of lyrics and beautiful singing are his strong points. The melodies are his gold.
***
Talents between New Zealand and Ireland have created Altocirrus. I feel so fortunate to listen to their latest album plus review it for this site!
***
This musical asset of Romania by the name of LeVantcontinues to dazzle me with his unique ideas. His tunes are somewhat in the pop-but not so pop, category. His deep understanding of Classical, Medieval,Jazz,Electronic is astounding. Unjaded is his latest release.
***
Pierre Masse continues to dabble with different styles of music. From acoustic to electronic, his versatility is excellent. I don’t think any artist who started a career doing acoustic rock could pull that off elegantly. And he did. Amazing!
***
I am enjoying this new upload from Norwegian artist Kjell Roll Elgsaas. Very energetic and complex. Beautiful beats.
***
And last but not the least, I need you to listen to this beautiful song from Cornish singer/songwriter Dan Aston.Lemonade Sea is the title. This is recorded at The VIP Lounge in Penzance and featuring Sue Aston on violin and members from Cornish jazz band, Endangered Species.
GOAT
Lost (Acoustic Version)
Mileage: Retuned
The Intelligent South
Director: Teddy Cool
The shout out for this writing goes to Justin Griffith a.k.a. GOAT(Grades of Absolute Truth). I follow his Instagram and Twitter feeds and I understand how he keeps his music community happy. Apart from writing and performing his music, he also teaches kids and adults to learn musical instruments, even if he doesn’t teach them to sing or rap. And what is that? Well, he has this exciting merchandising going on.
These days it is not enough to post tunes or performing live through social media. You gotta give your fans something they can use for their everyday live. And nothing is better than a cap, a shirt or a jacket-anything that’s ‘practical.’ And Griffith is so good in this. He also posts snippets of his live videos via Instagram.Instagram is a good tool in exposing your music/art/blog. Never underestimate the power of the hashtag. He reminds me a bit of Beck who jumps from one genre to another. This music video I posted represents that point.
Remember where you came from, understand where you’re at, & know where you’re going. #GradesOfAbsoluteTruth
So who are the musicians backing Griffith?
They are :GOAT(Griffith) – Lead Vocals/Guitar, Double J – Producer/Keys/Backup Vocals, Christian Sly – Guitar/Backup Vocals, Graham Impey – Bass Guitar, James Bownds – Drums/Percussion/Backup Vocals, Lourdes Mabel – Backup Vocals. His inspirations are singer/songwriters, conscious hip hop, rock, blues, (and soul while combining the depth of an introverted poet), the precision of a perfectionist, and the relevance of a leader. He was included in the Top 10 Artists in DFW by LIT Monthly.
He has an impressive array of performances having opened for Everlast, Bubba Sparxxx, Shwayze, Paul Wall, Jon Connor, King Los, Devin the Dude, Snow Tha Product, Mac Lethal, Ceschi, Mr. Dibbs, & more. He can also perform as an acoustic act, duo, trio, or with a 6-piece band. See how versatile this artist is? He exudes an amiable vibe. You can just tell it not just from his social media posts but through his charisma on stage. So yes this is a shout out to this awesome guy and I am sure other artists out there can learn from his tireless way of getting his music out there.
The holiday spirit is about keeping warm while taking that time to reflect on what was before and what will be. The songs of Michael Stovall is very proper for the atmosphere. I know people are out there busy with their preparations. Singer/songwriters have to put their craft aside to make way for family gatherings. There are those who have lost loved ones and this Christmas was awfully sad.
Goodbye & Goodluck is for all of you sad ones. It’s because no matter how hard we try, this world is not a perfect place. And though life is beautiful, life can also be painful. It’s these little things or bigger things that make us human. And this tune is so beautiful I feel my soul calmed after listening.
***
Passion is unpredictable. Passion makes us prolific. JP Kallio is prolific this year. He has released more than one album and wrote many songs. I know some of them are yet to see the light of day. Apart from performing and writing songs, he is busy with his music blog. He writes quality articles that merit discussion. I think when you are an artist, you just gotta ride the wave when it comes. Because there will always be moments when inspiration is hard to squeeze. It speaks for me as a blogger. There are days where I feel like I want to write something but there is nothing there to write about. There are many tunes worth covering but my brain is dried up or on something else. I am distracted. So when the impulse happens, I grab my Mac and type away in case the muse escapes again!
***
Wooah! Check this tune out! It’s a repost from an electronic musician that I follow, his name is Ben Landis. I am sure you people from the gaming community is familiar with his works. Anyway this tune is not from Landis but from a group called Enhanced. They are from the UK and they have more than 22,000 followers via Soundclound. This is a dance track that has the winter chills going all over your body when you listen to the melody. And yes the title is called Wintertide. I am following this group now.
***
Mary Fahl is my muse.
About the video:
Exiles: The Wolves of Midwinter, written by Mary Fahl, former lead singer of October Project, along with John Lissauer for the audiobook version of Anne Rice’s new novel, The Wolves of Midwinter, which will be released Oct. 15, 2013.
Available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon.com. Shot and edited by Kate Bennis, http://www.katebennis.com.
Lastly, don’t forget to follow this amazing Irish singer/songwriter, Peter Chains. I like his voice. It has got that Peter Steele kind of deep but with the soothing style of Leonard Cohen, Anyway, you be the judge. If you think Hozier is amazing, I am sure you will find his singing mind-blowing.
You and Linger Around have the same pace and should be played side by side. Million Year picnic gives me the overall impression of their style. A definitive song.
The indie music blog 