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

4 July, 2014

The Black Angels-Clear Lake Forest

Filed under: blues,psychedelic,Recorded Reviews,rock — Tags: clear lake forest, New EP, the black angels — willmunn @ 15:27

Austin, Texas is known to be a hot bed of musical activity from the SXSW festival to the plethora of local bands, the air is often filled with the sound of music. Among the various venues and garages there dwells a band that are quite unlike another, a band that take a 60’s psychedelic rock influence and then soaks the sound in hypnotic drones, marching drums and infectious driven guitars to create a unique and infectious take on the genre. That band is The Black Angels, a four-piece that first made a splash last year with their glorious album, Indigo Meadow and now return with a brand new Seven-track EP, Clear Lake Forest. Forget SXSW, etc The Black Angels follow in Roky Ericks0n’s lofty footsteps and help provide the true alternative soundtrack to Texas.

The mini-album opens with Sunday Evening and straight from the off the band create a 60’s like groove that brings to mind an acid-laced Beatles, they then combine that already evocative sound to a thick fog of sound that nods at the likes of Jesus And The Mary Chain, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Spaceman three among others, giving the track a retro sound with a modern twist bubbling underneath and whilst Christian Bland (guitar, drone machine/organ) and Kyle Hunt (Keyboards, percussion, bass, guitar) set about creating a dense groove the vocals of Alex Maas still shine through.

The seven track collection continues in a similar manner through the equally contagious Tired Eyes before The Flop adds spacey, swirling organ to primitive drums and clattering guitars, forming a stunning psych anthem ripped straight out the garage, whilst the repetitive riff and the vocal delivery of  EP highlight, An Occurrence At 4507 South Third Street offers up something of a previously unheard bluesy influence, which again crops up on the six and half minute epic, mantra like closing track Linda’s Gone.

Clear Lake Forest is a glorious collage of retro psychedelia, 60’s rock and modern day rock n’ roll, if you’ve not yet checked out The Black Angels, this is a fantastic entry level and if you have already heard the band…..well you can stop reading and get ordering, another mesmeric release by Austin’s finest.

Rhythm & Booze rating 10

www.theblackangels.com

1 May, 2013

Wolf People-All Returns

Filed under: folk,psychedelic,Recorded Reviews,rock — Tags: all returns, jagjaguwar, new single, wolf people — willmunn @ 12:34

There are some record labels you can trust to continuously churn out faultless, bewitching releases time and time again, JagJaguwar are one such label, in the past they’ve delivered delights from the likes of Bon Ivor, The Besnard Lakes, Okkervil River and in recent times the majestic Sharon Van Etten among others.

Among the lesser known acts that adorn JagJaguwar are UK based fuzz-rock, folk infused purveyors, Wolf People a four-piece that weld together an intoxicating combination of influences from the classic 60’s rock of Groundhogs and Peter Green era Mac with driving psychedelic guitars and captivating folk melodies to create a sound that both compels and captivates the listeners imagination as the band deliver their flights of fancy.

All Returns is the first single to be lifted from the bands second full length album, Fain and it captures the band’s majestic sound wonderfully as the group’s intoxicating melodies and harmonics entwine with the thick, swirling psychedelic riffs to create a wonderful meandering scuzzy soup all topped by Jack Sharp’s intriguing vocal couplets and languid yet infectious delivery.

All Returns is a stunning return that whets the appetitite wonderfully for the full course of Fain.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.wolfpeople.co.uk

www.jagjaguwar

 

4 April, 2013

Futur Primitif-Digital Space

Filed under: alternative,electronic,folk,indie,psychedelic,Recorded Reviews,rock — Tags: digital space, futur primitif, new single — willmunn @ 09:38

Futur Primitif is the new project from former (and firm Rhythm & Booze favourites) Low Anthem man, singer-songwriter, Daniel Lefkowitz alongside Jared Elmore, who peppers Daniel’s vision with waves of synth, programmed drums and assorted fuzzy sounds and soundscapes. The band’s debut single, Nuclear Shockwave received spins and support from the likes of 6 Music, XFM and Amazing Radio among others.

Digital Space is the second track to be lifted from the duo’s upcoming debut album, Machineteeth and should see the band continue the momentum they’ve already begun to build. Like Daniel’s previous output there’s a hazy folky undercurrent, however this is where the comparisons to The Low Anthem end, the duo add a definite psychedelic rock feel to the proceedings, whilst the electronic flourishes help create something of a dense, almost mantra like repetitive groove more akin to the that of The Velvet Underground or perhaps a more blissful, dreamy Raveonettes. There’s no mindless self indulgement or whacked out guitar solos, this is all about setting a mood and locking the listener into a trance like state and Futur Primitif accomplish this with ease.

If you like indie fuzz, hazy folk or  blissed out humming electronica, you should find something to embrace here, Digital Space is a brilliant single that seduces more with every spin.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.futurprimitif.com

13 January, 2013

Holy Vessels-Last Orders At The Marshall Arms

Filed under: americana,folk,psychedelic,Recorded Reviews,rock — willmunn @ 21:03

Towards the back end of 2012 my personal life began to unravel before my eyes and with all the upheaval and unrest I let this site slide, sure I wrote the odd thing here and there, but in truth there were a number of releases that didn’t recieve the attention they deserved and so with that in mind and with a slightly clearer view on life, I’ll try to start the year with a nod to those releases from the last few months of 2012.

Brighton five-piece Holy Vessels released an album back in October that definitely deserves mentioning on these hallowed pages. Last Orders At The Marshall Arms, sees the rootsy band weave an inspired mix of folk, psychedelic rock and Americana to create a stunning collection of wistful laments and infectious melodies.

Holy Vessels honed their craft with their consistent gigging, taking in high profile slots at the likes of Glastonbury, Big Chill and Lounge On The Farm alongside support slots with the likes of the Maccabees, Crowd Control and (firm Rhythm & Booze favourites) The Felice Brothers. Having perfecting their hazy sound on the road the band teamed up with former Del Amitri guitarist Iain Harvie over a two week period to record their debut album in a shed in Cropedy.

The rural and rustic setting lend brilliantly to the band’s uncomplicated stripped down blend of strummed guitars, warm harmonies and shuffling beats interspersed with the occasional psychedelic blowout and stripped down sixities styled garage rocker thrown in to further enhance the band’s intoxicating sound.

Last Orders At The Marshall Arms opener with a glorious mood setter in the shape of Golden Hair, a track that opens with those aforementioned rich vocal harmonies, before the group vocals are joined by a combination of twanging rock n roll guitars, marching drums all pinned together by a knowing country like groove and a contagious vocal hook that instantly draws the listener in for further investigation. The band follow up their invigorating opener with the shuffling  folky/country duo of Springtime Bloom and Down By The Wayside, both featuring rootsy bar room piano, shuffling beats, strummed acoustics and effortlessly crooned hook-laden vocals which wouldn’t sound out of place on day time radio.

As the album continues the highlights come thick and fast from the groove-laden sixties inspired psychedelic rock of Queen Of Alimony to the gorgeous fifties harmony enriched Perhaps She Never Really Came, to the stripped back minimalisitc rock of album closer Fever (oddly bringing to mind The Velvet Underground), via the somewhat darker twisted psych thrill of Peeping Tom with it’s time changes, frenzied middle section and near falsetto backing vocals.

Last Orders At The Marshall Arms is one of those rare albums of  all thriller, no filler, as the band twist and turn in a number of directions whilst never losing sight of their stripped down timeless rustic roots.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

http://www.holyvessels.co.uk

8 December, 2012

Born Blonde-Signs Of Fear

Filed under: blues,indie,psychedelic,Recorded Reviews,shoegaze — Tags: born blonde, new single, signs of fear — willmunn @ 20:30

Born Blonde maybe something of a new name name to the majority of you and indeed they are to me, however the West London based five-piece hae begun to makes waves across the capitol with their impressive blend of widescreen, cinematic indie rock, combining shoegaze type soundscapes, psychedelic riffs and hook-laden bluesy vocal hooks to dazzling effect.

On the evidence of new single, Signs Of Fear (taken from their recently released debut album, What The Desert Taught You), the band could well be set to make something of a splash in the new year. The track is a stunning combination of shimmering guitar riffs, passionate ravaged blues rock vocals and infectious, heartfelt 60’s tinged harmonies bringing to mind a myriad of classic indie rock bands from The Verve to Spiritualised via the rootsy rock of (Rocks, Country Girl era) Primal Scream, yet still maintaining a sound very much of their own making.

The version of the single I was sent only had the lead track but on that sole outing alone, Born Blonde grab the attention from the get go and demand repeat spins and if a one-track single can do that imagine just how good the album could be. Born Blonde are certainly a band to keep a close eye on in the future if you have an affinity to indie, early 90’s shoegaze,  pyschedelic tinged blues or just a well written, expertly delivered hook-laden anthem.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

http://purringheart.tumblr.com/

http://www.facebook.com/bornblondeband

 

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