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

6 May, 2014

Fiona Bevan-Talk To Strangers

Filed under: jazz,pop,Recorded Reviews,singer-songwriter — Tags: fiona bevan, new album, talk to strangers — willmunn @ 16:23

Fiona Bevan is a Suffolk born singer-songwriter who has already made something of a name for herself co-writing the chart topping Little Things with Ed Sheeran as well accepting commissions from various films and even a Tate Exhibition. Fiona first started writing and performing at the tender age of eight, drawing from a love of books, she went on to become an English Literature student before music took over and she began to hone her craft, performing across London, whilst writing for others.

Talk To Strangers, Fiona’s debut album has taken the singer-songwriter four years to to entirely compose herself, but the wait would seem to bed worthwhile as she’s already received plaudits from the likes of Clash Music magazine as well as receiving features from The Sunday Times, Express, Mail, Guardian and Grazia among others.

From the opening number, Rebel Without A Clause, it’s immediately apparent why Fiona has received such adulation as a shuffling jazzy pop number emerges topped by a gorgeous soulful croon that instantly seduces the listener, leading upto a lovely hook-laden chorus. Slo Mo Tiger Glo proves that Fiona is no one trick pony as she delivers a beautiful strummed acoustic lament that once again frames Bevan’s beautiful vocal brilliantly drawing the listener into a delicious summery groove.

There are moments on the album such as The Machine and Dial D For Denial, where Fiona mixes the acoustic, pastoral instrumentation with more processed beats to create a poppier edge which may see daytime radio prick up there ears, but for me the likes of jazzier, majestic beauty of Gold showcase Bevan at her best, where clever, intricate, yet ultimately subtle composition provides an intriguing backing to Fiona’s mesmeric voice.

Further highlights include the intoxicating piano led Exorcist with it’s tumbling keys hook accompanying Bevan’s spellbinding vocals, the electric riff and vocal harmonies of the title track, the instantly infectious Pirates And Diamonds and the harp and string assisted vocal tour de force, Forwards.

Fiona Bevan describes her album as “pop in disguise” and that seems a somewhat apt description, there are instant summery pop hooks but there’s also clever jazzy arrangements and that stunning light and airy voice that equally intrigues and captivates.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 8

www.fionabevan.co.uk

22 August, 2012

Emily Levy-Lost And Found

Filed under: acoustic,Blog,folk,jazz,Recorded Reviews,singer-songwriter — Tags: album, emily levy, lost and found — willmunn @ 10:44

Emily Levy is a Leeds based singer-songwriter who creates a wonderfully unique sound taking influences from everything  modern folk, jazz  to medieval and contemporary electronica forming a delicate, captivating sound that has already found favour with the likes of leedsmusicscene.net and the Yorkshire Evening Post among others.

Lost And Found is Emily’s debut album recorded with the help of producers Mark Cresswell (Tanita Tkarum, Snake Davis, etc) and Sam Hobbs (Matthew Bourne, LSK, Dread Supreme) along with assorted musician friends, helping Emily captivate her engaging musical vision.

The album opens with Passing Clouds, a stunning mood setter that introduces the listener to Emily’s mesmeric, spine tingling voice on a gorgeous jazzy folk number featuring delicate strummed guitar, otherworldly clicks and twitches, a beautiful harmony enriched chorus and twinkling instrumentation that instantly compelling the listener to block out any distractions and immerse completely into the music. The second track, Shades Of Grey is better still, as Emily adds further layers of trippy loops, woodwind and ghostly male backing vocals (courtesy if Gary Stewart) to an already evocative mix, as Emily straddles genres to deliver a bewitching and unique sound that denies comparison or classification.

As the album continues she builds upon the atmosphere with a brief field tape of bird song on Still Point acting as a prelude to the gorgeous acoustic title track, a delicate finger picked number featuring a wonderfully enchanting vocal, that really showcases Emily’s stunning range as her voice has every hair on your arm stand to attention. Back To The Sunshine features electric guitar, a horn infused outro and infectious beats creating perhaps the most accessible and instant number on here and yet despite the more conventional structure the song still grabs at the lapels for attention as Emily unveils a genuine almost pop like hook and yet another string to her impressive bow, whilst in direct contrast, the appropriately named Humm, could be a distant folk cousin to that of Medulla era Bjork, based on what sounds like hummed wordless vocals.

The album concludes with the short, (one and half minutes) near classical soul of Born To Follow and a dazzling, stripped back piano and vocal led reinvention of Joy Of Living originally by Ewan MacColl that see’s Emily produce yet another jaw dropping vocal over a sparse yet affecting landscape, pulling at the heart strings, leaving the listener scrambling for the repeat button.

Lost And Found is a wonderful outing by a rare and genuine talent, Emily has a composed a passionate, thought provoking and original take on the folk genre, creating an album that weaves an intoxicating spell that’s destined to become a real favourite with those in the know, I can only implore you to take the time to track down this mesmeric album and spend time allowing the music to really take hold.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.emilylevy.co.uk

 

 

 

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

3 July, 2012

The Damn Jammage-Dream Tobacco

Filed under: blues,gypsy,indie,jazz,Recorded Reviews,rock — Tags: dream tobacco, the damn jammage — willmunn @ 13:24

Regular readers (actually even the most casual visitor) of Rhythm & Booze will, without a doubt stumbled upon my rather favourable musings on London collective The Damn Jammage, a ramshackle ensemble that throw together numerous influences to create a wonderfully dark and often macabre take on gypsy/rock n roll/blues/indie/punk, whatever you want to call it. A potent and intoxicating sound that simultaneously chills and seduces in equal measure yet always leaves you baying for more.

Well more I cry and more I shall receive, Dream Tobacco is the band’s third release to date (and a free download this time round so no excuses!!!), it’s a cover of a somewhat obscure Max Wall track that fit’s like a glove into the murky shadow like world of The Damn Jammage. The track is a wondrous blackened tale, a finger clicking, moody slice of  jazzy blues featuring a delicious combination of piano, double bass, accordion and the gravelly, semi-crooned vocals of frontman Danny Rapscallion.

Dream Tobacco maybe a cover but The Damn Jammage make the track their own, another bewitching addition to the already impressive set list that the band are compiling in preparation for their much anticipated debut album. As far as I’m concerned every release to date has been nothing short of essential and this is no different, I highly recommend you get downloading right now (oh and watch the sensational video above too!!!).

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

http://damnjammage.bandcamp.com/

20 June, 2012

The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band-Year Of The Rabbit

Filed under: Blog,jazz,Recorded Reviews,swing — Tags: the original rabbit foot spasm band, year of the rabbit — willmunn @ 21:19

I have something of a love for jazz and swing, I first started my secret affair a number of years back when an acquaintance threw a couple of Blue Note compilations my way, since then I’ve lapped up everything from the likes of Davis, Monk and Coltrane through to Nina Simone, Dr Teeth and beyond. In recent times I devoured the HBO series of Treme where I was exposed to all manner of funky ass sounds and I’ve picked up albums here and there by all manner of artists but apart from a few exceptions (Dr Teeth, etc) there is something of a lack of really decent top notch UK swing bands, who deliver original music without (and here’s the big one) the overbearing presence (and influence) of all things American.

Now sure I understand that beat music, rhythm & blues and jazz has their roots firmly set on the US soil but I want a band that vocally and lyrically negates that tried and tested formula, I want a band that’ll talk of the Cornish riviera as opposed to New Orleans, a band that sing of the Diamond Jubilee, goddamn I want a band like The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm  Band.

The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band are a seven-piece beat/swing/jazz/skiffle/blues call it whatever the hell you like Oxford based band that weld together numerous influences from the likes of Count Basie to Sinatra via Jerry Lee Lewis all combined with a firm tongue in cheek, punk like attitude and the gravelly vocals of frontman Stuart Macbeth.

Year Of The Rabbit opens with the groove-laden, trumpet led Cornish Riviera Express, instantly setting the mood for the album with a tight combination of horn, guitar and deep, down and dirty bass all topped off with a like gravelly vocal and a hook so big it could ground the entire US navy. As opening statements go Cornish Riviera Express is pretty damn faultless, it’s fun, infectious and full of groove.

From such an impressive opening gambit, the band continue to dazzle with the jazz meets traditional sea shanty classic in the making, PIRATES!, a delightful number that see’s the band literally frigging in the rigging as they create the first bonafide Sea-bound Swing classic. If I Had A House see’s lead singer Stuart Macbeth deliver his best Sinatra (or is it Richard Cheese, either way it’s delicious) croon as the band deliver a fine take on the big band genre with passion, class and sharp razor wit.

From here on in The Original Rabbit Foot Spams Band deliver a masterclass in blustery jazz swing infused with addictive rhythm and blues, blazing horns and galloping double bass, with highlights coming thick and fast. Lonely Record Shop and Shanghai Fanny are glorious upbeat, boisterous numbers with the former featuring sax and trumpet battling it out for supremacy, whilst the latter brings to mind prime-time Louis Prima or perhaps even Fats Waller.

Year Of The Rabbit is a damn addictive ride from start to finish, sure the band take you to places you jazz/swing lovers  already know and love, but the scenery has never been this vivid, fun and full of life before, The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band offer up a unique, buoyant (and British) take on a classic style that should have jazz and big band lovers rolling in the aisles.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

http://www.rabbitfootspasmband.co.uk/

www.rabbitjazz.co.uk

 

 

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