Have you ever found someone who says something you meant to say but you couldn’t? Or maybe you were not able to think of saying beforehand? True artists are brave. They are not squeamish to open up a wound and study it in all angles.
For weeks now Don Beekeeper has focused on his writing and posted the audio snippets via his soundcloud. I like this unhurried but passionate side of him. He still writes songs every now and then especially the fantastic cover of The Street OF Laredo.
“Streets of Laredo” a.k.a the “Cowboy’s Lament”, is a famous American cowboyballad in which a dying cowboy tells his story to a living one. Derived from the English folk song “The Unfortunate Rake“, it has become a folk musicstandard, and as such has been performed, recorded and adapted numerous times, with many variations. The title refers to the city of Laredo, Texas.-Wikipedia
Don breathes new life into this traditional song and added his own unique touch. But this post is not really about his tunes but his lyrical talent. His poetry. I think being a true artist is to be fearless. He reads with such candor that makes you believe what he writes about. I don’t trace a sense of ingratiating self-righteous tone there. He reads and writes from the heart. Have you seen his wordpress page? You better. And read the previous issues too because you can find something there that you can relate too.
To be honest I have followed this guy’s career for more than two years now. He always brings something different, be it his style of music, his writing or the way he lives his life. It’s his understanding of human frailty or sadness that’s really hard to find these days. Just listen to this poem Let it End
New music: Kagero, Nouvelle electro and Julien Bayle
Kagero
Kagero
Good day to Sphere Musicista! This is another week of exciting music. I know I should have made this introduction this Monday but late is better than never. Don’t worry. I will make it a habit from now on. Just think of me as DJ Bax talking to you from the wonderful sunny Asia. Though it is written but hey this is how I talk in person. So how are you doing out there in your snowy lands? I am sure doing the usual BRRRRRR inside your warm blankets. So what do we have here today? I have a band based in New York fronted by a Japanese singer with an English accent. And they play a combination of gypsy, alternative rock and Japanese music. Sounds interesting huh? Well wait until you head their tracks via soundcloud which I am posting now. Enjoy!
So did you enjoy the tracks folks? Smooth eh? I like the percussion and horn section. That lead singer does have Japanese and English in his way of singing. Here is a brief info I gather from their press release. In case you don’t want to go through the details in their soundcoud:
Kagero is a Japanese Gypsy band out of Brooklyn, NY . . . think Gogol Bordello meets David Bowie. Upbeat, folky pop songs with world music flavors, sung by a Japanese man with a British accent. I am submitting our songs for consideration for your This Week’s Featured Artist column. Here is our own fast-loading EPK, featuring “Life’s A Thrill”, plus 4 other from the new album, Gumbo du Jour.
More reviews:
Kagero’s sound is a melting pot of tonalities and rhythms from Asia, the Middle East, South America and Eastern Europe — “Cultural Confusion”. Sometimes the songs are beautiful imagery, sometimes sad folk tales, and sometimes silly songs about drinking. But the tunes are always fun, and the show is high energy dancing good time. “Kagero’s world music goulash is very tasty — even if you don’t always know what’s you’re eating.”
“Rooted in uplifting elements from eclectic origins, “Japanese Gypsy Rock” unites Kagero’s musical influences and talents into a cross-culture dance party.” by Meijin Bruttomesso, The Deli Magazine
The first time I heard The Taste of Sweet Salvation I was paralyzed. The song is really well made and groovy, you can bet your Kraftwerk and Chicane on it. “Taste of Sweet Salvation”already appeared inwww.radio-happy.com hosted by DJ Flip Martian on his radio show at 8pm – 10pm UK time. Their peers in the electro scene like People Theater, Cosmo Simnovec and Loic Rathscheck all gave positive responses to this first track off their debut album which they are yet to release. If you love melodic electro with irresistible beats and interesting lyrics then Nouvelle electro is your perfect companion.
Listen to this:
Did you enjoy? Man, I tell you those beats that begin around 0:15 have that attitude. And everything is just electro heaven. About Nouvelle electro:
Electro duo:
Ian Henderson : synths, vox, songwriting, programming, production. He is a former member of Irish Synthpop band EDEN 1997-2011 with over 20 releases world wide including Let It Flow, If I Was A Pet Shop Boy and Only Lovers Do.
Paula : synths, vox, songwriting, programming. She has
various solo works and collaborations.
Julien Bayle is a French digital artist doing both the visual and musical. I discovered him via Google+ communities for electronic musicians. He has this kind of serenity that is blanketed by complex beats and sounds that could have come from different sources. Listening to him is like looking at a portrait mainly in white where the edges are blurred and only the center is focused. It is a sound that is not intrusive but it is fascinating. His music gives you that different kind of feeling. I can’t find it anywhere in electronic music and I can’t describe it either.
I am spending the night listening to the music of The Roadside Bums.They are based in the Philippines, the province of Negros Occidental. The EP is called TRESE:Case One. Just to give you a heads up, this project is actually based on a comic book of the same title. You can find more information here: http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/ and here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trese. There are ten titles woven seamlessly to create a fluid feel to the whole album.
The music is electronica. It is also composed of classical, worldbeat, and industrial metal influences. All of the tracks are melodic laden with synth effects morphing from danceable beats to floating and sometimes eerie ambient. They give out the sense of suspense, and adventure into the supernatural as what the comic book is all about. I have known these guys since the 90s and they released albums through different monikers and genres. Perhaps that’s what you get when you own thousands of records in your music library, which lead man Bong Tan has. The Roadside Bums are part of FoodShelter and Clothing.
Here is the youtube video for the single View from Above:
Cool December winds are blowing and I am warmed by the beautiful music flowing all over. So what do we have for this week? A lot actually. There is a jumble of ideas and sounds but I will just pick a few to make it coherent. I just had a terrific time listening to Danny Coleman’s Rock on Radio with the gang tuning in. We had a great time chatting. I will post a picture here to give you an example -even my typos which I am NOT ashamed of hahahaha.
So let’s start the ball rolling.
B3nny
Benny Pedersen a.k.a. B3nny
Always so pleased to be updated with the works of Benny Pedersen who recorded this performance as a front act for Mike Sheridan. Benny is in the process of further improving the musical project he is doing.
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Dave Martin
Scottish musician Dave Martin created this amazing dance track. He also plays the bodhran, drums and other instruments for The Big Fat Eclectic Ceilidh. Now Dave stands alone on this one showing his prowess for great melodies and big beats.
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Tiger Darrow
Been following the music career of New York based actress/singer/songwriter Tiger Darrow. Normally she plays the cello and piano but this one she stands all by herself with her Aimee Mann inspired vocals.
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Sacha Talens
Canadian artist Sacha Talens is going to release his debut LP this January. He is busy recording additional tracks for a possible b-sides and also doing production work and mixing for other artists. This one is a song about sex and feet-only when taken literally 😉
And this video merits an attention:
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MC Amalgam
French rapper based in Reading England has released an EP called RED IS NOT DEAD. What to expect? Awesome beats, eccentric instrumental arrangement and French vocals. Don’t worry if you don’t understand French. His performance is hypnotic that will get you into the mood. He also contributes his talent to Celtic Punk/Ska band Will Tun and the Wasters which is a regular in my Celtic music blog. MC is emerging as an artist giving something new to the hip hop scene!
Also in this edition: Gary Dewhurst and Alice Braga.
Spending time with singer/songwriter Layne Greene for another Tea Talk episode.
Layne Greene
This is a topic that guitar aficionados should read. What I am writing about will challenge those who claim to love electric guitar music. Yeah this is the sh*t man! So yeah you love your guitar and you play well BUT…do you have the effects that will make your musician friends drool? Are you really an elitist as you claim to be? I am joined by my pal Layne Green for this conversation. Layne and I used to have a regular Tea Talk episode in this site but our schedules got in the way. But it is nice to hang out once in a while to exchange ideas about music.
Pedals, pedals, pedals!
Layne Greene: the music store finally has the pedal I want in stock 😀 yay!!!!!
I hope sooo have to try it first if not, they have another one I’m interested in, but its more expensive.
Oh ok yeah it is great to have options but that one looks really nice
Pedals are expensive :S boooo it should do what I need it toooo http://www.strymon.net/timeline/ I want one of those but they cost waaaaaaaaaay to much.
That one is a beautiful monster.
It does more than I’d probably use if I play until the day I die but it costs like $500
That’s like a good laptop!
I think I’d have a hard time spending as much on one pedal as I’d spend on a guitar :S
Because for you they are the same? Oh you mean pedals and guitars- it is hard to choose.
I mean, I could get a realllly nice second hand guitar for less than that one pedal and I definitely think that a decent guitar is more important than a decent pedal or an amp I could get a realllly nice amp for $500. Pedals are expensive, but most of them are reasonably priced for a bit of saving. Like the flashbackx4, it’s expensive, $310 or so after taxes, but it’s reasonable if you save birthday money… Christmas presents, live a little cheap for a few weeks, perfectly reasonable but saving for a strymon would be ridiculous o.O
A lot of Christian bands use strymon. “praise and worship” groups. They use a lot of strymon and JHS pedals. And a lot of the standard pedals but I’ve noticed a lot of those 2 brands on their boards . A lot of the guys with the money to buy those kinds of pedals are buying nice pedals to cover up crappy playing . I think the whole strymon thing just bugs me I mean, I would love to have the timeline, but most people who have them don’t even use most of the features, and there’s so many gimmick features that are completely useless musically.
It just means that it can be a waste not to take advantage of the features you paid for..I think that is what you are trying to say.
I dunno, it goes even deeper than that, I mean, I think it just bothers me that people who can’t play think that by buying fancy pedals no one will notice that they suck anymore :S its elitist of me, but oh well lolol
Right it does make sense you can’t hide playing regardless of the effects bad playing will always be bad playing.
Bandcamp vs Soundcloud:
Sphere Music:Which is more effective in the ‘selling thing’ bandcamp or soundcloud?
Layne Greene: definitely bandcamp by far. You even get an option to let people pay more if they want to.
I noticed that...so in your experience bandcamp is the most reliable site to sell recordings? Not soundcloud despite it’s ‘buy this recording option”?
Soundcloud is better as a sort of musical journal it’s got lots of musicians, who want other people to listen to their songs. Very few people like Don Beekeeper who are legitimately interested in the community.
Yeah I noticed he is VERY active there.
If soundcloud was a country, Beekeeper would be the president. 😛
This is good news about bandcamp. So if artists are just aggressive in marketing their music, they can really earn without having to get into a label.
Yeah, that’s the whole philosophy behind bandcamp the big thing about it though, is you have to treat it like you’re releasing it through a small indie label no one has eve heard of.
It is like building your store and managing your goods and there is also this thing about newsletter.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is expecting bandcamp to sell albums for them.
It is really not good to expect too much unless you have a manager. My dream is to get rich so I can manage artists lol. And I will let them do what they want haha…or make a label where I will pay people to advertise my artists aggressively and pay radio stations to play the music have the music get into the movies and tv shows. I realize it is all about the money machine… those who got big were backed by rich guys. It is all about brainwashing the consumer that the music is amazing and those who do the brainwashing have connections and money because all types of music are relevant but who gets heard is a question of support and advertisement. What do you think?
I agree entirely, look at the popular music today, NOBODY thinks its good music, but they buy it because of their children, children are more susceptible to marketing techniques, they haven’t learned to think for themselves in many ways, so the record labels pump money into the Justin Biebers and Taylor Swifts of entertainment.
Right! need to brainwash the children and that means getting a spot in the popular media. We need to let children realize that dancing and singing baby baby ohhh is crap and uncool then they will stop.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA EXACTLY!!!!
Music samples from Layne:
Layne Greene performing his song Break
w/ Alex MacNeil
Old Block Productions – http://www.oldblock.ca
Andy Cunningham – Director/editor/Second Camera/Lighting
Adam Johnson – First Camera/Sound Recorder/Sound Editor
Brad Sutton – Lighting
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Featured Artist: Gary Dewhurst
The smooth sounds of this UK based musician turn my head! I said man, that is one pleasant music there. I was having a bad mood but when I heard this all that has changed. Check out the brief bio below.
Having toured extensively from the early 80’s both as a solo artist and as part of numerous bands playing both electric and acoustic guitar, while having the privilege to play some of the largest venues across Europe, Gary gradually wound down the live work in favour of what seemed like a more settled life with more time spent writing, recording and producing, however there is nothing like being out connecting with an audience and enjoying the journey through music together.
After much thought and consideration he returned to his first love armed with a handful of songs and an acoustic guitar. Gary is currently building a new network of gigs and loving the sense of starting out again with a new purpose and joy for both my music and the music of others he gets to share in along the way.
Plans are afoot for a new album featuring songs that Gary is currently playing live. .
Gary loves the chance to work everywhere from the most intimate setting without even a PA, up to the buzz of a large festival where musicians get a chance to spark off each other in a special way.
He lives in Carlisle close to the English / Scottish border which provides a diverse range of influences in his music.
Gary is also a photographer, specialising in landscape work. His work has been published on many occasions. He will soon to be offering prints of his photographs and will happily undertake commissions
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Featured video: Let Nature Heal Your Heart by Alice Braga
Alice is from New York. I confess I was really worried when Sandy hit. I am glad she is ok. This is one of the videos she made last October 12. Enjoy!
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