Sherry Counsellors - Tear Me To The Core

*originally printed in The Sentinel on the 3rd June 2011 

 

Local five piece, Sherry Counsellors are relatively new to the scene but already they have proven to be very productive and generous in how they are promoting their music. You can download their EP Dance of the Birdman for free via their facebook page along with new song Tear Me To The Core, which is being released as part of their ‘one song per month’ policy. This would mean nothing if it wasn’t so good. Tear Me To The Core is a straight up ballad with the Manic Street Preachers being a clear influence. The bittersweet Brit guitar melody reverberates serenely over delicate acoustic rhythms and understated percussion. It has a very chilled out vibe despite the clear emotional compromise that the lyrics are embattled with. It may not be the most original release in the world but it still works as a slow burning ballad and I, for one, definitely look forward to hearing more from this band.         

Mr Will Music - Sing For The Moment

*originally printed in The Sentinel 16th June 2011

Along with his trusty guitar, Mr Will has long been a key member of the local music scene, promoting the many sounds and styles of world music to a wider audience through the Planet Sound Community Arts program. Recently he has gotten back into recording and playing music as part of his band, Mr Will Music, releasing new single Sing For The Moment. The result is an eclectic mix of African and Latin genres that definitely succeeded in brightening up my day. Instantly, I was won over by the dueling guitar melodies and the frenetic finger picking madness of it all. The rhythm section is fast and funky and the harmonizing vocals provided by Seby Ntege and Hassan Kayemba sing out an infectious chorus. Lasting just over three minutes Sing for the Moment is a literal whirlwind of joy, which I would thoroughly recommend to everyone.     

Sheena Bratt - Fire In Your Eyes

*Article was originally written and published within The Sentinel (08/04/2011)

Love for the music has gotten Cheshire based singer songwriter Sheena Bratt far in life, from busking and performing in various different countries, to hosting a radio show in Thailand. Ahead of the release of these two live tracks she is globetrotting once more to play the Earthday festival in Rio, Brazil. First track ‘My Muse and I’ is a short and sweet introduction to Sheena as an artist singing about her mixed relation with her muse and the giddy creative energies that keep her from sleeping at night. Second track ‘Fire in Your Eyes’ comes with the full backing of a band and for the most part it is hard to find anything to disagree with. The music is sunny, the tempo is upbeat, the lyrics reflect motion and bustle and Sheena’s voice is distinguished enough to keep her from falling on the wrong side of country.

All The Young - The First Time

*Parts of the following article were published in The Sentinel (25/03/2011)

 

Formerly playing as New Education, four piece All The Young are a new band that Stoke on Trent can truly be proud of. A debut album is in the pipeline, to be released later this year after the band secured a six album contract with Warner Brothers. New single The First Time is nothing revolutionary in musical terms, but it is a solid and rousing dose of anthemic indie guitar rock that you can easily imagine blasting over the summer festival fields. Similarities can be drawn to The Enemy or The Twang, and other bands that have followed in the footsteps of Oasis. It follows a tried and tested formula to great effect; an energetic drum beat drives the entire song forward, giving way to a breezy bass line, massive lead guitar melodies and big sing-along choruses. It all paints a picture of a band who know the music they play and how to do it well. Definitely worth checking out. 

High Spy - Drowning

*segments of article originally published in The Sentinel 18/03/11

Artist: High Spy

Release: Drowning (single)

Genre: Prog Rock

Release Date: 8th Feb 2011

 

Ahead of the release of their third album and proceeding a massive gig held last year at the Victoria Hall, progressive rockers High Spy release their latest single ‘Drowning’. At least prospects look good for the band because this single bored me to the point of aggravation. From the beginning, production feels dated, and though you can easily identify a clear influence from Genesis and other prog rock bands of the 70s and 80s it just feels clichéd, pulling out every trick from the book with the keyboard having a field day through all his arrangements to the obligatory synth guitar that chirps up whenever the mood dictates. The whole song feels as if it is plodding through the mud on a grey drizzly day and yet it only lasts just under four minutes , which I guess is quite peculiar when you consider the average prog rock song. Killing the song dead is the vocals, which caused much reason to grimace. Attempting to lead into a big anthemic chorus with the lyrics: “Down Down, feels like I’m drowning”, it certainly sounds as if the singer is actually drowning which I guess may be the point. But still, do we have to drown with him? A bullet to the head would be quicker and painless.       

3/10

*I don't like being overly harsh with my criticism and if members of High Spy are reading this. Please don't take it personally...

Tiffany Lunn: Our Existence

* Article originally written for The Sentinel.

Artist: Tiffany Lunn

Release: Our Existence 

Genre: Electronica

Release Date: 15th November 2010
Website: http://www.tiffanylunn.co.uk/

Our Existence is the third album from Tiffany Lunn, Stoke on Trent’s very own keyboard virtuoso. Primarily a synth-based instrumental album, title track Our Existence is the only song with actual lyrics. Lunn has admitted that she has aspirations in composing music for film and television, and you can definitely hear this throughout the record. The entire record could be an alternative soundtrack to Ridley Scott’s Bladerunner with Vangelis being a clear influence with the layered synths and eastern arrangements. The main problem with the album, despite Lunn’s advanced technical skill and ability at creating melodies, is that there are no moving images that come with it. Our Existence will not be to everybody’s tastes, it is far too progressive and the prevalence of retro keyboards is unlikely to attract wide popular appeal. However, for those who are into Vangelis and can appreciate the movement and vision invested within the odd movie soundtrack, Tiffany Lunn will take you places. 

7/10

Ghost Trains - Sniffing Round LA

* Originally written for The Sentinel.

Band Name: Ghost Trains

Release: Sniffing Round LA (LP)

Genre: Acoustic

Release Date: February 2011

Website: http://ghosttrains.net/fr_about.cfm

Staffordshire acoustic trio, Ghost Trains release their second album Sniffing Round L.A. mere months after their debut Where Lovers Die. Independent in every sense of the word, Ghost Trains are riding a wave of creativity, having won a cult following with their soulful bohemian sound and melancholy lyrics. Opening song, Michael Caine, focuses the album within the gutter of the city angels, but it isn’t long before the album transcends itself skyward, as if floating on a breeze. Tim Ellis’s lyrics are thoughtful, sung with a variable sense of emotion where necessary and accented by sweet vocal harmonies. The acoustic melodies are executed masterfully and are truly worthy of getting lost within. As with the best acoustic music, Ghost Train thrive on subtlety to drop their bombs, the lyrics and music complement each other wonderfully and are absolutely deserving of your attention. 

New Foo Fighter track - White Limo

After teasing us over the last couple of weeks, the Foos have suddenly released a video for full length track White Limo right on time for Valentines Day. And it is love at first listen. I already wrote a bit about my expectations of the Foos next album and how I've sort of become disenfranchised with them as they've gotten bigger. I would just like to say that all is forgiven... They are absolutely channeling Weenie Beanie from their first album.

The Strokes - Under Cover of Darkness

The Strokes are back, after almost four years in purgatory. Their new album, Angles is coming in the Spring and has been preceded by the single, Under Cover of Darkness, which was released as a free download via their website for a limited time. Which was very nice of them... Anyway, the new single has a real swing to it and it almost feels, dare I say it? Uncannily like their first album. It has that same retro lego tightness... What a breakthrough. The music press seem to have the habit of complaining that the band have never regained the inspiration of that first album, which came to earth to save us all from the Stereophonics and Nu Metal by instating the prevalence of 'indie rock' in 2001. It is jarring to consider just how influential The Strokes became with the release of that album, a literal decade ago no less. Lets hope they don't exert themselves too much like they did with their third album, First Impressions of Earth. Short and snappy, gentleman. That is what you guys are good at.

Foo Fighers - New Album

1st teaser: Bridge Burning

The Foo Fighters have finished recording their seventh studio album which is set to be released later this year, in April. Produced by the legendary Butch Vig and recorded in Dave Grohl's garage, the album has already been teased through a couple of 30 second snippets, and promises to be their heaviest yet. This of course comes after extensive dabbling with the acoustic guitars on their last two albums. Former Nirvana band mate, Krist Novoselic will be playing bass and accordion on one of the tracks and guitarist Pat Smear is also confirmed to be playing on all tracks after rejoining the band as they toured their last album.

I have been a big Foo Fighter fan ever since There is Nothing Left to Lose, I have witnessed the band go from a popular band to one of the biggest bands in the planet, but after 2007's Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace I have felt myself sadly becoming less interested in the band. Personally, I felt that the band faltered after 2003's One by One, which I quite liked as an album in itself but one that saw the band go through a bit of trouble to produce. 2005's double album In Your Honour was founded on an identity crisis, creating one disc of the loudest material of their career and another disc that was dedicated entirely to acoustic guitar. I think it was a bit of a crime separating these two streams because the Foos have always been a band that worked on these two levels. They crossed the streams with their last album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace but you still had these two elements seemingly working against one another, sometimes within the same song. It seemed impossible to recapture the essence of songs like Aurora, but maybe this is the problem of a band that grows older. Maybe I'm just a massive softie. 

2nd Teaser: Miss the Misery

That said, I am excited about this new album. I'm excited that they are working with Butch Vig and I'm excited that they are going back to basics. Also hoping that we may get a sequel to Stacked Actors, with Grohl, Vig, Novoselic and Pat Smear forming a low key Nirvana reunion...

Undiscovered Soul - Let Go

* This music review was originally used for an article for The Sentinel.

Band name: Undiscovered Soul
Release: Let Go (EP) 
Genre: Rock
Release Date: January 3rd 2011
Website: http://www.undiscoveredsoul.co.uk

  

With the release of debut EP ‘Let Go’, local band Undiscovered Soul may have to rethink their band name, as they start attracting fans with their old school Saturday night rock music. The band’s true power lies with front woman, Maisie Cole, who sings with mighty gusto. Most refreshingly she has great diction, projecting the knowingly clichéd lyrics with great emotional gravitas. Stand out tracks include I’ll Be There, an infectious dose of breezy power pop with laugh out loud biblical references, and Won’t be Mine with its heavy guitar chords seemingly looking out for a fight. Title track, Let Go, is a slow burning power ballad laced with lazy Southern guitar which unfortunately sounds as if it is selling some high profile golfing resort. On the whole, however, Undiscovered Soul serve up a hearty meal of traditional meat and potatoes rock music. My diagnosis? Eat it. It’s good for you.    

7/10