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

28 August, 2014

Teenage Wildlife-Most Beautiful Thing/The Last Great Love Affair

Filed under: electronic,Recorded Reviews — Tags: most beautiful thing, new single, teenage wildlife, the last great love affair — willmunn @ 11:17

In essence Teenage Wildlife is the work of Shoreditch based John Wright, a renowned film maker and photographer who has worked on films for numerous fashion labels such as Dior and Louis Vuitton as well Vanity Fair and more recently GQ magazine among others.

John has been writing and recording music for numerous years with his material being used as part of the various aforementioned campaigns among others. John was encouraged to create the Teenage Wildlife persona as a means to release his musical output after working with numerous names in the music industry otffered him support. Most Beautiful Thing/The Last Great Love Affair is the first release under the Teenage Wildlife monicker and serves as an interesting starting point.

Both tracks sees multi-instrumentalist John create an intriguing combination of electro soul using synths, keyboards, loops and beats, Most Beautiful Thing also features an unknown yet recognisible female singer delivering a glorious soulful vocal that John loops over a glitchy dub inspired mix to create a lovely slice of modern R&B. The Last Great Love Affair is a little more jumbled, with beats obscuring the delicate vocals a little and yet it’s still an intriguing number (though I’d prefer it stripped back a little).

As starting points go this two-track single is a welcoming opening gambit from an obviously talented artist, it’ll be interesting to hear where John Wright takes the Teenage Wildlife project next.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 7

www.teenagewildlifemusic.com

27 June, 2014

Ray Fontana-The Other Side

Filed under: electronic,Recorded Reviews,rockabilly,surf — Tags: new single, ray fontana, the other side — willmunn @ 16:49

Normally I’m not the biggest fan of one track samplers, I don’t think you can get a feel for an artist over the space of one song, however with singer-songwriter ray Fontana I’ll make an exception.

The Other Side is a perfect slab of surf rock guitar, loud old school synth and attitude laced vocals, a song that somehow both nostalgic and so very now, there’s a hint of rockabilly, a touch of trash glamour and a sniff of 60’s cinema all wrapped up in Fontana’s grooves.

I’m worried that if I find out any more information or listen to another song by Ray Fontana I maybe left disappointed, The Other Side is a glorious noisy three and half minute obscurity that deserves to become something of a cult classic, I urge people to visit Ray Fontana’s website and download The Other Side, it’s a work of maverick genius!!!

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.rayfontana.com

The Mojo Fins-Circa

Filed under: electronic,indie,pop,Recorded Reviews,rock — Tags: circa, new album, the mojo fins — willmunn @ 15:26

It’s been a wee whilst since the last time I reviewed Brighton based four-piece The Mojo Fins, back then I commended the band for their intimate melodies, passionate vocals and mesmerising arrangements and having had Circa, the band’s latest album on repeat play near enough since it dropped through my letterbox I have to say I stand by every word and then some.

Circa was produced in Rockfield Studios with acclaimed name Dave Eringa over the winter months of last year, the third album see’s the band (along with dave) develop further showcasing new twists to an already compelling sound.

Since recording the third album The Mojo Fins have seen the likes of Frank Skinner (on Absolute Radio) and Clash Magazine support the first single lifted from the album, Introverts, helping the band gain the support they so richly deserve.

The album opens with a simplistic yet infectious riff before processed beats and Stephen Brett’s evocative vocals join the mix to create a stunning, sweeping heartfelt reflective indie ballad that the likes of Coldplay (The Mojo Fins are often unjustly compared to Coldplay!!) can only dream of. Exhale continues in the same rich vein, sparse, dreamy electronics and organic riffs pepper that ever smooth vocal delivery to draw the listener into the band’s unique sound.

Other obvious highlights include the beautiful, harmony enriched, quietly shimmering Catholic Guilt with it’s barely audible percussion shuffle and use of piano. The glorious piano led Arterial Road with it’s mournful, melancholic verses and stirring chorus, the upbeat, jangly indie pop of Grass and the obvious aching tribute to former lead Jon Chandler and absent comrades on a sensational, tender Friends.

What I really like about The Mojo Fins is that they never feel the need to beat the listener over the head with a barrage of noise or instrumentation, instead they have a lovely hushed sound, where melody and lyrics are the main focus of their attention, the musicianship though understated, is always inventive complimenting the soulful vocal croons.

Circa is a bewitching, quietly brooding, thought-provoking affair from start to finish, that see’s The Mojo Fins continue to enhance their reputation as one of the most compelling indie acts out there.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.themojofins.co.uk

28 April, 2014

Silhouettes-Gold Tag

Filed under: electronic,indie,Recorded Reviews — Tags: gold tag, new single, silhouettes — willmunn @ 20:24

Here’s another one of those releases that kind of passed me by when it was released late last year but has since wormed it’s way into my subconcious, so much so that I feel the need to share with you the humble reader.

Silhouettes are a four piece (six live) electronic/indie band hailing from Wolverhampton, they combine atmospheric synths and beats with swirling delays and reverb driven guitars to create a unique sound that echoes the likes of John Grant (second album particularly), a remixed Doves (checkout the B-sides album) and Massive Attack among others.

Gold tag is a stunning introduction to the band a dazzling combination of melodic crooned vocals and those aforementioned atmospheric yet sparse layers, that seduces  the listener urging them to listen closer to Nathan Till’s vocals as the band twist and turn through an intriguing musical palette, which they further enhance on the full length version of the track with a stunning and somewhat unexpected percussion fueled crescendo.

Along with the two versions of Gold Tag (radio edit and full length) the band also deliver an acoustic version of a track entitled Creaking Universe, which really highlights the stunning vocal ability of Till as he unleashes a stunning falsetto over a gorgeous stripped down melodic affair that’s worth the price of admission alone and hopefully something the band will continue to explore in the future.

If you like electro indie, or even dreamwave then I highly recommend this Wolves based quartet, it seems it’s not only their football team on the up.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 8

www.silhouettesmusic.net

15 December, 2013

Steve Blood-The Last Xmas (Feat. Andrew Lee)

Filed under: electronic,pop,Recorded Reviews — Tags: andrew lee, new single, steve blood, the last xmas — willmunn @ 15:32

Steve Blood may not be a name many of you recognize but back in the mid-to-late 90’s under the name of Wide Receiver, he enjoyed success as part of the big beat scene, championed by the likes of Mary Ann Hobbs and Steve Lamazq among others, even managing to secure a live Radio One Evening session back in May 1998. Along as his own singles, Steve was regularly sought out for remix work, lending his talents to the likes of The Cardigan’s and Africa Bambaata among others.

The year 2000, saw Wide Receiver top the Peoplesound.com mp3 chart with the Breakbeat Sushi single, which was subsequently picked up for use in the British film Dog Eat Dog, whilst in the same year another track Debt Collector was used in the Billy Connolly film of the same name. Steve decided to concentrate on composing to pictures finding success on a number of advertising campaigns.

With the help of singer Andrew Lee (formerly of The Scarey Men and Polygram Music Publishing Songwriter), Steve bids to return to the charts with The Last Xmas.

The lead mix of The Last Xmas (Classic vocal mix) is a subtle wintery piano led ballad with Andrew’s striking croon immediately grabbing the attention, whilst the tinkering atmospheric piano adds to the glacial mood, offering a stunning, sparse alternative to the usual overproduced, brash, “kitchen sink and all” standard seasonal fare.

The track is backed by three further mixes adding beats, a dub influence and electronic swooshes to the proceedings, but all still remaining faithful to the stripped down original with the Armstrong Factory Mix particularly worthy of note.

I’m not sure this becalming ballad will make itself heard among all the grandiose, clattering noise polluters, but if you want something relaxing, subtle and somewhat magical The Last Xmas is well worth tracking down.

www.thelastxmas.com

Rhythm & Booze Rating 8

 

 

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