Cumbria‘s The Lucid Dream finally unleash their debut full length this June, following 3 sold out 45s, steady press coverage and widespread acclaim for live shows which have seen them support everyone from Beefheart’s “Magic Band”, Death In Vegas, A Place to Bury Strangers and Spectrum.
Previous descriptions of the bands’ sound has honed in on fuzz and drone heavy nods to Spacemen 3 and Spiritualized, BJM and The Heads, yet that somehow overlooks the pure pop savvy and stripped down acid drenched hooks of the US West Coast and prime era Mary Chain and Beach Boys feel to tunes like “Heartbreak Girl” and “Love In My Veins”. To these ears, tips of the hat also include a favourable one towards Motown in places even, so to dig a wee bit here is no bad thing…
A great album and a real grower and sure to build upon the great reviews the 45s attained with accompanying radio play and press attention from the likes of Gideon Coe, Steve Lamacq, Lauren Laverne and Tom Robinson. The band tour in support of the album including slots supporting label favourites Sic Alps. Vinyl pressing of 500 is sure to sell out quickly .Taken from the forthcoming 5th album, ‘The Deep End’, to be released 2nd April 2021 (vinyl/CD/download), via Holy Are You Recordings. Here’s ‘CHI-03’, the first taster from our upcoming album, ‘The Deep End’!
On Tour: 15th October: Hebden Bridge Trades Club 16th October: Carlisle The Brickyard 29th October: Glasgow Stereo 30th October: Manchester YES
Holy shit we weren’t prepared for this this is a full on wigged out psych rock jams from two of the titans of all things psychedelica working in the business today. ‘Deep Fried Grandeur’ is an unexpected but scintillating collaboration between the dazzlingly talented Chicago based guitarist Ryley Walker and Japanese psychedelic rockers Kikagaku Moyo. Recorded live at Le Guess Who? in Utrecht in 2018, the two artists present lengthy, kaleidoscopic jams shot through with freak folk and jazz.
Recorded live at Le Guess Who Festival in 2018 then fully rounded out into a space rock opus in the studio. a special collaboration between Chicago-based songwriter and accomplished fingerstyle guitarist Ryley Walker and Japanese psych-rockers Kikagaku Moyo. With both artists taking a freewheeling approach to their music, they have dubbed their first-ever live collaboration ‘Deep Fried Grandeur’; an hour of deeply hypnotic jams and a hair-raising fusion folk jazz, acid rock, and psychedelia in heavy-improv setting.
“So, the group game together at Le Guess Who? Festival in Utrecht, Netherlands in 2018. I was asked by the organizers to find another group on the festival to collaborate with for a one off performance. I was immediately drawn to Kikagaku Moyo. We share similar guitar scuzz and riff heavy improvising when playing live. Seemed like the most fun and natural thing to do. I was in the middle of a european tour, so had my full backing band. So with KM and me, 9 mother fuckers total on stage wailing
It was a lot of SOUND. So we passed the live recordings off to cooper crain of CAVE and bitchin bajas to tweak the levels and add some sprinkles. He shaped the raw recordings into a cohesive piece that works for a 40 min slab. We had an afternoon of rehearsal and it mostly just drinking espresso, smoking cigs and saying “man, we’ll be fine”
Husky Pants Records, expected release: 5th February 2021
The London based Psychedelic Scientists The Chemistry Set return with a new 7” vinyl single “Paint Me A Dream”. It is being released by the Los Angeles “Hypnotic Bridge” label. The singles only label feature contemporary American Psychedelic bands like The Asteroid No 4, Triptides (whose release was single of the year in “Shindig” magazine), Magic Shoppe, Alien Mustangs and The Reverberations, as well as the 1960’s Psychedelic legends The Seeds, with whom they will release a single next year.
On the B-side of the single is a cover of “The Witch’‘, by the UK Acid Folk artist Mark Fry, whose album “Dreaming with Alice” released in 1972 is a cult classic. The Chemistry Set have given the song a twist, with a Gregorian Chant intro, that is taken from The Bee Gee’s acid drenched 1967 song “Every Christian Lion-Hearted Soldier”. Mellotron flutes, Iranian Setar and Acoustic guitars abide, faithful to the original vibe but then heads into “Freak-out” territory a la “Interstellar Overdrive” meets The Red Krayola. The single is released on 12th February 2021.
If you’ve been paying attention, we have quite high hopes for the future of Nisa, undoubtedly one of New York’s most talented rising talents. She will release her debut EP, “Guilt Trip”, in March, described a collection of songs described as “rooted in emotional detachment and reticence, especially surrounding dissolved relationships and a failure to communicate.”
Nisa has followed up the previously released “Bottom Feeder” with the equally triumphant new single “Ferris Wheel,” a song about the whirlwind dynamics of a long-distance relationship, and “the rollercoaster of emotions involved with trying to keep the ups and downs in check.”
It’s another powerful 90’s-esque rock anthem that sees her hone in on her already well-defined sound, while also continuing to expand her sonic reach yet maintaining a relatable emotional chord. She continues to find the perfect balance between something familiar yet brand new at the same time. You feel every ounce of every word and this passion is captured in perfect fashion in the music video that she has shared along with its release.
It was filmed in London with creative direction by Angela Ricciardi
Rarely does an album title suggest the truth in advertising that Keeper conveys with this, the seventh outing by the Canadian alt-country conglomerate that shares the name Elliott Brood. For the better part of the past 20 years, this talented trio has been making music that’s tasteful, tuneful and easy on the ear, and indeed, this latest release is no exception. These shimmering acoustic melodies are both hopeful and uplifting, a welcome respite from today’s troubled times. Various upbeat entries — “Bird Dog,” “Oh Me” and “Stay Out” — find an ideal fit with the reflective ballads “Merciless Wind” and “A Month of Sundays,” as well as with the tempered twang of “Full of Wires.” Indeed, the combination provides a reassuring sound that resonates throughout. That’s appropriate; according to the press material, the album’s overall theme revolves around “loyalty and longevity…the strength of conviction, and how that strength is tested over time.” No wonder then that the overall delivery is both buoyant and engaging, with every encounter as satisfying as the first. Consider this a keeper indeed.
Elliott Brood is a three-piece alternative country band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of Mark Sasso on lead vocals, guitar, banjo, ukelele and harmonica, Casey Laforet on guitar, backing vocals, bass pedals, keys and ukelele and Stephen Pitkin on percussion,
Ola’s Kool Kitchen podcast 432 with a glad bag of good music from Naked Giants, Beach Bunny, Helicon – Glasgow, The Gabriels, THE HECK & shame. Shout to Mark McLure Helicon, Gary Hughes, John-Paul Hughes and Paul Manchester.
This podcast is unpaid and survives on donations. You can donate here via paypal www.stephenmbland.com/olas-kool-kitchen Ola’s Kool Kitchen is a show on KCLA 99.3 FM in Los Angeles, 107.5 andhow.FM, Maximum Threshold Radio, Rock Radio UK, Sword Radio UK, Jammerstream One, Kor Radio, Bombshell Radio,Radio Wigwam and Dirty Chai Radio and you can hear more shows here https://hearthis.at/olaskoolkitchen
Show 432: 1. Naked Giants-Turns Blue 2. Beach Bunny-Nice Guys 3. Soap-Epiphone 4. Helicon-What You Love Will Kill You 5. The Gabriels-Loose Canyon 6. The Heck-I Hate It Here/I Like It Here 7. Shame – Nigel Hitter 8. Mogwai-Ritchie Sacrament 9. Sleaford Mods featuring Amy Taylor-Nudge It 10. Akai Tori (The Red Birds) – Takeda No Komoriuta 11. The Ronettes –Is This What I Get For Loving You-single-Philles Records 12. Baden Powell & Vinicius De Moraes-Canto De Ossanha-Os Afro Sambas-Forma 13. Kurt Vile-Dandelions- Speed, Sound, Lonely KV-Matador
When an artist receives any kind of tribute treatment, it’s generally a sign of some well-deserved recognition. It means that the music has become so iconic, reverence is readily assured. Likewise, when a salute of that sort spans two discs, it’s also evident that there’s plenty of source material that can be considered. Not surprisingly then, the iconic rocker Willie Nile gave the musicians that contribute to his particular tribute, Willie Nile Uncovered, plenty of songs to choose from. Nile, whose career was originally spawned during the Greenwich village folk scene of the mid to late ‘70s, eventually turned his gaze towards the insurgent sounds that drew Springsteen, Patti Smith, Elliott Murphy, and various arch denizens of his city’s post-punk scene.
That said, the music represented here is strikingly diverse, whether it’s Emily Duff’s take on the celebratory sing-along “Hell Yeah,” the appropriate Band-like sound given Quarter Horse’ read of “When Levon Sings,” the tender tones of James Maddocks’ version of “She’s Got My Heart,” or, naturally enough, the rousing revelry found in Nils Lofgren’s performance of “All God’s Children.
A varied list of rock, folk and Americana luminaries take part — which, aside from those mentioned above, include Graham Parker, John Gorka, Caroline Doctorow, Slaid Cleaves, Richard Shindell, Richard Barone and Lucy Kaplinsky — and they not only offer appropriate homage, but also ensure that the appreciation Nile so decidedly deserves is served up quite sufficiently.
“The subtitle to this 2 CD set of songs of native New Yorker Willie Nile is ‘Celebrating 40 Years of Music.’ 26 sterling interpretations of his oeuvre have resulted in one of the most playable and entertaining tribute album in years. Incorporating Americana, roots rock, folk rock, country rock and the kind of singer-songwriter smarts that a fella named Bruce pioneered just over the Hudson River on the Jersey side, there are no clinkers. Not one… So many highlights!” – Mike Greenblatt- Goldmine Magazine, November 2020.
“…it’s consistently excellent…it’s a dependably absorbing listen”. Hal Horowitz – American Songwriter – 8/20/20
“The range of Willie’s music has been captured brilliantly on Willie Nile Uncovered… It’s been lovingly packaged with complete credits and extensive liner notes… The album reveals the richness of Willie’s catalogue… Thanks to Willie for his unwavering rock & roll heart and thanks to Paradiddle for giving Willie his due.” – John Platt – New Folk Initiative – 8/28/20
“An effort with something for everyone, Americana, rock, folk, country and roots rock are all explored here and interpreted in thoughtful, exciting ways that certainly puts Nile’s work at the highest regard.” – Take Effect – 8/30/20
“A delightful compilation by many. Willie Nile has great friends. John Apice – Americana Highways – 8-20-20
“…all of the contributing artists bring something fresh to the material while remaining true to its spirit. The album will likely make you want to explore Nile’s recordings and also investigate some of the folks who cover them here.” – Jeff Burger – Americana Highways August 2nd, 2020 & TMR August 5th, 2020
“It’s an extraordinary tribute that gives justice to the brilliant Willie Nile catalogue.” —6/30/2020 – Norm Prusslin, co-founder of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame – New Jersey Stage
Working in tandem with her erstwhile musical collaborator David Rawlings, singer/songwriter Gillian Welch searched through her vault and uncovered a rich cache of home demos and reel-to-reel recordings that she then assembled into three volumes of archival offerings. Collectively titled The Lost Songs and delineated as Boots Vol. 1, 2 and 3, she shares 48 songs in total, thus allowing fans and followers an opportunity to bear witness to Welch’s creative sensibilities and the unreleased music she and Rawlings recorded in the fertile period between her critically-acclaimed albums Time (The Revelator) and Soul Journey. An aural sketchbook of sorts, the three volumes reflect a certain creative consistency and Welch’s willingness to indulge her muse wherever it might lead.
Fans of Gillian Welch and her long time songwriting foil David Rawlings’s reimagining of early country and bluegrass are used to being patient. Until a month ago, the pair had only released five albums proper under her name, and three in his, since Welch’s 1996 debut, “Revival”. But after their studio, with all their old recordings, was almost destroyed by a tornado in March, they’ve changed tack. Hot on the heels of July’s covers album, “All the Good Times Are Past and Gone”, comes the follow-up to 2016’s first batch of archive recordings, The Official Revival Bootleg, with two more volumes.
While most of the offerings are rendered in stripped-down settings, all reflect a propensity to tap traditional sources and pay heed to a strong roots regimen. It’s music that’s rendered with a genuine folk finesse and a sound of a vintage variety. The charm is manifest in both the novelty and the nuance. Although they are demos, with little more in play than guitar and Welch’s voice, they sound fully realised.
First Place Ribbon, about barefoot Kathy, “the kinda girl likes the dust between her toes”, rattles along with an irresistible momentum; the narrator of the brooding Shotgun Song fantasises about escaping the chain gang; Valley of Tears is as desolately beautiful as its name suggests. That Welch and Rawlings have sat on such inspired recordings for almost two decades makes you wonder what other hidden treasures might be forthcoming.
Unearthed from a cache of home demos and reel-to-reel recordings, Boots No. 2: The Lost Songs is the second release of archival music from the vault of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. This remarkable 48 song collection, spread over three volumes, was recorded between the making of Time (The Revelator) and Soul Journey. It is an intimate glimpse at the artist’s sketchbook, containing some lifelong themes as well as some flights of fancy.
Dregen has serious form with punk and garage rock through various groups – most prominently Backyard Babies and The Hellacopters, though fans will also recall stints with Michael Monroe and Tyla (of Dogs D’Amour) as well as highly charged supergroup (with Ginger Wildheart) Supershit 666. Now the busy Swede has teamed up with countrymen Grande Royale for this jet-packed blast of shouty, in-yer-face (yet deceptively sweet) garage rock’n’roll, fresh out of 90s Scandinavia with a twist of 70s London. Grande Royale has a history of working together with prominent names of the Swedish rock scene. The band has previously worked with Nicke Andersson (The Hellacopters, Imperial State Electric) and Ola Ersfjord (Dead Lord, Honeymoon Disease, Lucifer). For the release of the band’s fifth studio album “Carry On” they teamed up with Dregen, who adds vocals to the third single ”Just As bad As You”.
Grande Royale’s upcoming album ”Carry On” contains 11 tracks of high energy rock n roll. The Band has applied a rawer and more back to basics- approach for the album, keeping production simple while focusing on strong and catchy material. Orange fuelled electric guitars, crushing bass tones and thundering drums inspired by 90’s rock. Vocalist Gustav Wremer sings with more grit than on previous albums, adding a ton of attitude to the new songs. All put together, ”Carry On” offers an energetic and straight forward take on garage rock. Produced by the band members themselves, and mixed by Robert Pehrsson .
”On our previous record ’Take it Easy’ we experimented a lot with different instruments and sounds to challenge ourselves. To make something that, to us, is a bit unusual and that stands out from our other albums. On ’Carry On’ we’re focusing on what we’re best at – dirty garage rock n roll. We’ve basically recorded and produced the entire record ourselves. I think it ended up great. No fuzz, no muss, just rock!” – Gustav Wremer (guitars/vocals)
Dregen (The Hellacopters, Backyard Babies) has joined forces with Grande Royale for the release of the single and music video “Just as Bad as You”. The single is released on Friday, January 22 on The Sign Records, and is the third single leading up to Grande Royale’s upcoming album “Carry On”. With special guest Dregen on vocals, the band has created a highly energetic piece, delivering garage rock to a new generation.
Official music video for Grande Royale’s single “Just as Bad as You”. The track is featured on the band’s fifth studio album “Carry On”, released On The Sign Records
Brian Ray has quite the track record: musical director for blues giant Etta James for over than a decade, he’s also worked with the likes of Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Peter Frampton and Santana. Now he’s hooked up with guitar wizz Orianthi for “Bonne & Clyde”, a widescreen epic based on the The Trails End, the poem Bonnie Parker wrote a month before the pair died in a hail of police bullets. It’s as if the melody from Townes Van Zandt’s Waitin’ Around to Diewere crossed with the cinematic ambition of Bon Jovi’s Wanted Dead Or Alive, and very good it is too.
Orianthi Penny Panagaris is an Australian musician, singer and songwriter who rehearsed in 2009 with Michael Jackson in preparation for his ill-fated This Is It concert series, and also performed with Alice Cooper’s touring band. Brian Ray is the founding member with Oliver Leiber of The Bayonets. He is a Singer/songwriter plus guitar/bass player and singer with Paul McCartney for 12+ years.
The Story of Bonnie & Clyde · Brian Ray & Orianthi released on Whooray Records 17th jaunary 2021
The Fat Angel Sings 