Rhythm & Booze An online music webzine created by music lovers for music lovers.

28 August, 2012

Kimberly Anne-Bury It There

Filed under: acoustic,folk,pop,Recorded Reviews,soul — Tags: bury it there, EP, kimberly anne — willmunn @ 17:58

London based singer-songwriter is renowned for living with the “do it yourself” ethos, she fashions her home recordings with drum kits formed from £5 Ikea tables and condenser microphones tapes to mop handles, she also, often broadcasts live demos and events from her bedroom in the South East of London.

She began her musical journey in the acclaimed Brit School, where she encountered hundreds of artists with a multitude of ideas covering every genre of music you could imagine, she took the opportunity to experiment partnering numerous bands, artists and producers on an expedition of self discovery. After these collaborations Kimberley decided to take some time out to discover and hone her own sound, vowing to not pick up a guitar until she was sure what she wanted to say and how.

kimberley’s debut EP, Bury It There is the result of the going back to basics, crafting a five track collection of organic songs, featuring acoustic guitars, big pop hooks and stunning, attention grabbing vocal harmonies that help to ear mark Kimberley Anne as one of the brightest singer-songwriters to have emerged from the capitol in quite some time.

The EP showcases Kimberly’s unique vision, mixing up elements of pop, soul, acoustic folk and beyond, mix and combining genres to create something a little different to the norm. The EP opens with a glorious statement of intent in the form of the title track, imagine if you can, a female soul version of Ed Sheeran or a stripped back acoustic urban take on Lana La Havas if you prefer, catchy po p melodies combine with subtle percussion, acoustic guitar and Kimberly’s beautiful heartfelt vocals to dazzling effect, instantly bewitching the listener.

Kimberly proves that she’s no one trick pony with the slow building La La, a track built on a repetitive wordless vocal hook that gradually builds into a percussion based holler along radio anthem. Then there’s the gorgeous, spine tingling ballad, Never Be Yours, with it’s emotive vocals, passionate harmonies, mournful melody and delicate acoustic guitar or the African tinged funk of Kind Regards, with its’ infectious groove, chanted vocal opening and stirring hip-hop influenced hook, showcasing yet another side to Kimberly’s spirited sound.

Bury It There is a wonderful, evocative introduction to a wondrous new talent, Kimberly delivers more on this debut than most artists muster in a life time, miss this stunning debut at your own peril, but just remember where you read the name of Kimberly Anne first.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.kimberlyannemusic.com

31 July, 2012

Porter-Can’t Keep Still

Filed under: blues,easy listening,jazz,Recorded Reviews,ska,soul — Tags: album, can't keep still, porter — willmunn @ 12:29

Now here’s an aptly named album if ever there was one, Porter mix up a combination of jazz, blues, swing and ska to create a moving, ever infectious sound that has already seen the band support the likes of the acclaimed and Grammy nominated James Hunter among others.

Porter’s (named after frontman Gary Porter) latest album, Can’t Keep Still is one of those collections that makes you want to stop what your doing, clear a path in your living room, grab your partner and throw some shapes, or perhaps turn the lights down low and allow Gary’s smooth croon to seduce, either way there’s no way you’re going to be able to stay still, this is music to ignite passion, to incite dance, to light romance, this is an album that you can’t possibly deny.

Can’t Keep Still kicks off with the all swinging ska flavouring of Ten Days, a track that introduces you to the creamy croon of Gary Porter and the band’s ability to make you want to bounce, strut and pose all the space of three minutes. From the opening combination of horns and bass groove the band have you in the palm of their hands and don’t let go until the final few seconds of album ska friendly hammond organ fuelled closer Bridge Too Far.

Highlights ooze from the speakers every step of the way, from the elastic ska soul of Emily, with its jumping ska beat, choppy guitar and soul croon to the late 50’s styled easy listening, crooner Hanging On complete with it’s gorgeous, fluid, mournful sax solo to the laid-back reggae grooves of the slow groover, Happiest Day, with it’s warm horns and pumping piano melody and the Latin tinged River.

Can’t Keep Still is a silky smooth contagious journey through all that’s good in jazz, blues, swing and ska, if you have any affinity with those genres or just enjoy well structured, beautifully performed music and deep soulful vocals, you’ll get a real kick out of the delightfully delicious sounds of Porter.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.garyportermusic.com

10 June, 2012

Nell Bryden-Shake The Tree

Filed under: country,pop,Recorded Reviews,rock,soul — Tags: , shake the tree — willmunn @ 15:36

Regular readers of Rhythm & Booze will have no doubt stumbled upon my recent Nell Bryden reviews (Live at the NIA and recent single Buildings And Treetops both covered in recent times) and will already have realised I have something of a real affinity for the Brooklyn songstress, that began with Nell’s debut album What Does It Take. The Mark Taylor produced (James Morrison, Cher, Lady Gaga) second album is set to continue my love affair with Nell’s mature blend of rootsy country, rock and pop as Nell delivers a wonderful twelve strong set further developing her already potent sound.

Shake The Tree opens with the glorious (and recent Rhythm & Booze live favourite) ode to death row, Mercy On Me, a gorgeous blend of rootsy acoustic guitar, driving riffs, galloping percussion and Nell’s passionate, bluesy country vocals. As openers go it sets the mood wonderfully, Nell’s vocals dip and soar majestically, whilst the widescreen cinematic instrumentation bring to mind the likes of Calexico (which is high praise indeed!!) at their best. The aforementioned recent single, Buildings And Treetops follows showcasing the poppier yet no less impressive end of Nell’s musical spectrum, where chiming guitars and those stunning vocal tone’s combine to create a contagious pop anthem.

From the opening two song salvo Shake The Tree continues in the same rich vein, from the slow building majestic ballad Sirens to the rootsy country rock of Fingerprints, Nell delivers a beautiful collection of ballads and rockers with highlights coming thick and fast. The title track is an infectious, groove-laden, powerful piano led blues number complete with rattling percussion, hand claps and soul stirring vocal delivery, Echoes is an expansive pop ballad with marching beats and pedal steel guitar, whilst If I Forget is a funky little country number that opens with a few lines of acapella vocal before Nell’s band add a shuffling beat and a certain amount of swagger, delivering a short sharp slice of pure playful and addictive roots fun.

Shake The Tree is a rich, spellbinding album full of drama, passion and spirit, Nell’s vocals soar, purr and ooze with emotion, whilst the dynamic arrangements and delivery throughout will have you scrambling for the repeat button over and over again.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

http://www.nellbryden.com

 

 

 

29 May, 2012

The Black Seeds-Dust And Dirt

Filed under: disco,funk,Recorded Reviews,reggae,rock,soul — Tags: dust and dirt, the black seeds — willmunn @ 15:20

The Black Seeds are a New Zealand based reggae seven-piece who combine elements of funk, rock, disco and dub to create a unique and infectious take on the reggae genre.

To date the band have sold over 125,000 records world wide as well as performing at some of Europes leading music festivals (Roskilde, Lowlands, Big Chill, Lovebox, etc) on the back of the band’s previous acclaimed albums, The Dojo (2007) and Solid Ground (2008).

Dust And Dirt is the group’s first album to be released on their own record label, Proville Records as well being self-produced in the band’s own studio (situated in a condemned building in their native Wellington). The Black Seeds consider Dust And Dirt to be the best representation of true sound, having spent longer in the studio honing the songs and trial new techniques.

From the opening track, Out Of Light the band lay down a tight psychedelic tinged groove complimenting the swirling keys, pulsating bass and trippy vocals, showcasing a far more widescreen sound than the genre classification of reggae may suggest. It’s a mellow yet addictive opening salvo that eases you into the album nicely before they add delicate twinkling piano, funky rubber rhythms, harmonised vocals and sun-kissed horns on the stunning title track, Dust And Dirt, bringing to mind the likes of the Easy Star All Stars among others whilst retaining a sound all of their own.

The band offered up Pippy Pip as the album’s first single and it’s easy to see why, patted percussion collides with an effortless melody and soulful combination of the heartfelt lead vocals and the aforementioned funk ridden horns to create an easy on the ear, memorable bouncy reggae number that’s just perfect for those hazy, languid summer day festivals.

Elsewhere the band weave a shimmering disco dub groove into proceedings on Wide Open, whilst The Bend showcases the band at their loosest as they lay down a delightfully infectious horn assisted funk drenched number. The band really cut loose, showcasing that aforementioned rock influence on the sprawling, riff friendly instrumental, Loose Cartilage, that comes complete with molten guitar licks, delicious Hammond organ and the obligatory horns, whilst Frostbite reminds me of baggy era indie with it’s drawled out vocals and rolling groove.

Clash Magazine once called The Black Seeds “one of the best reggae acts on the planet” on the evidence of Dust And Dirt, I’d say they got it half right, I think you can remove the word “reggae” from that statement, the band have a great deal more going on than a simple genre classification. Dust And Dirt could well be the first essential summer album of the year, it’s hot, it’s contagious and it’s so goddamn funky.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.theblackseeds.com

 

24 April, 2012

Benson-Benson EP

Filed under: blues,indie,punk,Recorded Reviews,rock,ska,soul — Tags: benson, benson ep — willmunn @ 16:37

What do you get when you cross a gravely blues rock singer, a couple of former punk rockers and a parping slab of brass? Well obviously you get the genre straddling brass driven urgent indie rock of Benson, you also get one of the most exciting sounds to come out of Yorkshire for about……well for a fair bloody whilst.

After just a couple of low key warm-ups, Benson took the roof off the acclaimed venue, The Cockpit and since then the six-piece band have welded smiles on strangers faces and given their dancing shoes a full workout with their unique, frantic and ultimately fun sound.

The band’s self-titled debut EP manages to capture the bands vibrant energy, showcase their massive stabbing brass hooks and introduce their stunning secret weapon, lead singer Jordan Clark’s raw, contagious vocal tones.

From the band’s opening number, Days Like These, the band grab you by the lapels and don’t let go til they’ve shaken your very core. The lead track is a glorious statement of intent, complete with punchy guitar riffs, pumping bass and the aforementioned brass all topped with those gritty vocals. From there the band don’t let up for a minute, the two subsequent numbers, From Here and Don’t Wannabe You, are both frolicking,  ballsy affairs with swaggering soul licks colliding gloriously with hard hitting indie rock riffs with a side order of ska influenced bounce.

Benson are a throbbing, attitude fuelled swaggering six-piece that weld together all the best elements of indie, rock, soul, punk and ska to create the essential soundtrack to all of your hedonistic summer parties.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.thisisbenson.com

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress