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

6 March, 2015

Dalton-Dalton

Filed under: alternative,indie,lo-fi,pop,Recorded Reviews — Tags: dalton, debut album — willmunn @ 13:33

Dalton is the work of American singer-songwriter Nate Haar, a LA native who first picked up a guitar at the tender age of 13, since those tender formative years Nate has been busy honing and crafting his sound and writing cumulating in his self titled, bridging lo-fi indie scuzz and shimmering textures creating a unique and somewhat infectious sound that compels from the album’s first fragile notes.

The album opens with Bedford And Grand, starting on a sedate piano melody and Nate’s delicate croon, before sudden bursts of guitar shatter the fragile landscape whilst the subtle piano melody remains throughout underpinning the glorious fuzzy, bombastic riffs, revealing new textures, finishing on an irresistible vocal hook that has you clambering for more.

After such an impressive opening salvo, Breaker continues the impressive form, beginning with a handclap and a simplistic, repetitive guitar melody before Nate’s languid vocals join the mix to create a chilled out slice of indie pop. The collision of pretty pop melodies and clanging lo-fi guitars continues on the dazzling, near anthemic, What Should Never End, with its gradual rise and eventual hollered vocal refrain.

The album continues in the same rich and varied vein from the shimmering, understated New Time and the mesmeric closer, So Long, So Well to the brilliant rolling piano led, near gospel of For The Last via the fuzzy heroic indie rock of Control and the strummed and harmony enriched acoustic beauty of the aptly named Autumnal.

Dalton has created a sensational, stirring debut full of pretty, fragile melodies, contagious hooks and noisy, slacker guitar anthems, that should see fans of lo-fi indie lap up in their droves.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.daltontheband.com

5 March, 2015

Rachael Sage-Blue Roses

Filed under: alternative,folk,pop,Recorded Reviews — Tags: blue roses, new album, Rachael sage — willmunn @ 14:18

Rachael sage is a New York singer-songwriter/poet/actor/visual artist and record label owner who has been bubbling under the radar since her debut album, Morbid Romantic, despite performing with the likes of Marc Cohn, The Animals, Sarah McLachlan, Jamie Cullum and Judy Collins among others, whilst attracting the attention and plaudits from legendary producers Tony Viscounti and Phil Ramone among others and winning numerous awards and accolades along the way.

Blue Roses is Rachael’s tenth studio album to date again self released and produced (along with John Shyoski), the album is perhaps her most intriguing to date, mixing her bewitching vocals, intoxicating piano,stirring riffs and sweeping strings, as she dissects the human condition, longing and love over a delicious combination of pop and rock.

The album opens with English Tea, which instantly sets the mood with striking keyboards, rumbling drums, driving guitar, an infectious melody and a passionate, rousing vocal that compels the listener on.

From there Rachael unites hushed vocals, strings and a beautiful piano melody for the glorious, reflective, folky pop tones of the albums title track and the equally hook-laden Happiness (Maddies Song). War sees Rachael change direction slightly, as mournful cello collides with perky piano and part spoken word vocals, before spiraling towards to a huge, powerful chorus, creating a unique take on modern day off-kilter adult pop.

Used To Be My Girl is the shortest track on here, but also an obvious highlight, as Rachael plays with gender roles over a simplistic combination of acoustic guitar and brushed percussion, it’s a short, snappy and ultimately addictive track that sees Rachael at her quirky best, whilst in direct contrast, yet no less impressive is the mesmeric, expansive Skywriting, a five minute plus-track adding pedal steel to an already compelling mix of piano and Rachael’s intoxicating, breathy vocals.

Whilst no write-up of this album would be complete without mention of the stunning closing cover of Neil Young’s Helpless which has Rachael teaming up with the aforementioned folk legend Judy Collins, with the two complimenting voices producing a gloriously understated, unique and spellbinding rendition of the Young classic, that’s almost worth the admission alone.

Rachael is something of a rare breed, she straddling the great divide between rock pop and folk with an effortless beauty and elegance that few singer-songwriters seem to possess and in Blue Roses, Rachael has crafted a stunning, majestic album that enchants from start to finish.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.rachaelsage.com

19 February, 2015

Symmetry-The Cure

Filed under: alternative,pop,Recorded Reviews,rock — Tags: hey, new single, symmetry, the cure — willmunn @ 17:46

Symmetry are a Los Angeles based four-piece that first formed back in 2013, they released their debut album the same year and since then have been hard at work building up a fanbase across the globe with their relentless gigging supporting the likes of Room 94 in both the UK and Ireland last year.

The band are heading to our shores again with Room 94 on their Dirty Dancing tour and coinciding with their forthcoming track the foursome have a new single out in the shape of The Cure.

Symmetry blend a big bold combination of rock and alternative pop, add some fizz, a little bit of bounce and then shake until frothing. The Cure is a brash head rush of rock guitars and precious pop sensibilities that’ll appeal to teenagers the world over, its fun, highly infectious and there’s probably no cure for that nagging vocal hook (and mark my words you’ll be singing along whether you want to or not!!!)

If one “wave your hand’s in the air like you just don’t care” anthem wasn’t enough the band back it up with the equally addictive Hey, which again blurs and smudges the boundary between purist pop and fizzy rock with an irresistible chorus and a fistful of riffs that are simply impossible to ignore.

Whether Symmetry are rock with a pop element, or a pop band with rock tendencies is still open for debate but either way the two tracks on here are pretty damn catchy and surely that’s all that matters.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 7

www.symmetryband.com

 

6 February, 2015

Hanne Kolstø-Forever Maybe

Filed under: electronic,indie,pop,Recorded Reviews — Tags: forever maybe, hanne Kolstø, new album — willmunn @ 11:15

Norwegian native Hanne Kolstø straddles the divide between glacial pop and contagious electronica to create a sound that’s unique and infectious. Her last couple of albums have seen Hanne receive recognition from the Norwegian Grammy Awards (both nominated for best pop album), as well rave reviews across both the Norwegian and British press (Guardian, Sunday Times, Q, etc).

Forever Maybe, Hanne’s fourth album, set’s to continue this trend, whilst perhaps expanding even further musically.

The album opens with Blanko and from the off Hanne’s ethereal vocals are very much at the forefront of a gorgeous dreamy slice of glacial synth-pop, the beat moves from an understated heartbeat to a more euphoric throb around the minute mark, but never becomes obtrusive, whilst waves of synths (and is that an electric guitar?) further pepper the track before the programmed beats are replaced with a more organic sound as the track heads off into a harmony enriched and somewhat shoe-gaze like outro.

Synnecrosis adds acoustic guitars to the mix of bleeps, rolling beats, barely audible spoken word samples and synths creating a lush trippy take on electro-pop. We Don’t See Ourselves is a striking slice of pure radio friendly pop, complete with a dazzling hook-laden chorus and strummed acoustics, all complimented by a subtle electronic tinge, giving the track a perhaps more, commercial Imogen Heep feel that you could imagine becoming both a 6Music and Radio 2 staple in the future.

The album continues to twist and turn from the ethereal to synth-pop and then onto the likes of  The Urge To Repeat, which sees Hanne’s previously hinted indie rock influence come to the fore with crunchy (even feedback enriched) riffs, pounding drums and a delicious combination of chanted and melodic pop like vocals bring to mind fellow Scandinavian’s (and personal favourites) The Sounds.  Whilst, the likes of All Is Contagious and True Story use of multi-vocal harmonies lift the album even further into the ethers as Hanne expands on the beautiful synth-pop frame work.

Forever Maybe is another beautiful addition to Hanne’s ever impressive pop portfolio, it’s varied, inventive and oh so contagious, with enough hooks to hopefully snare the rest of Europe into appreciating Norway’s finest.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.hannekolstoe.com

16 January, 2015

Andrew Combs-All These Dreams

Filed under: americana,country,pop,Recorded Reviews — Tags: all these dreams, andrew combs, new album — willmunn @ 10:34

Singer-songwriter and Nashville native, Andrew Combs, is something of a new name to me, however he’s already been making great strides both in his native US and indeed here in the UK. Last September Andrew performed at the acclaimed End Of The Road Festival, as well as headlining his first London show. Whilst Combs debut album, Worried Men (2012), released on a small indie label, Coin Records, was named as one of the years best by American Songwriter, whilst Rough Trade made the album one of their choices of the month. Andrew also made something of a name for himself when he accompanied Caitlin Rose on both her US and European tour.

After the attention and acclaim for Andrew’s debut, Americana label of choice (and perfect fit), Loose (here in Europe) picked up Andrew for his second album, All These Dreams. As you would expect with any release associated with Loose, All These Dreams has that rootsy country tinged sound, however there’s more to Andrew’s sound than battered acoustics, he weaves a timeless pop element and hints back to the classic songwriting and delivery of the likes of Orbison and Paul Simon, for Combs has a rich and welcoming sound that could have easily been lifted from yesteryear and yet still sounds fresh today.

All These Dreams opens with Rainy Day Song and the first thing that hit’s you is the glorious deep soulful croon that Combs possesses, his voice is expressive from the outset , whilst the musical arrangement of shuffling beats, acoustic and pedal steel guitars and strings provide a beautiful, lifting melody that instantly captivates. Nothing To Lose adds delicate keys and plucked guitars to proceedings, whilst a glorious sustained vocal hook led chorus brightens even the dreariest days.

All These Dreams offers up a few welcome surprises during it’s eleven track duration, Foolin’ is more of a driving rocker, Strange Bird is an out and out country number complete with whistled middle section, whilst the likes of Pearl and the folky tale of redemption, Slow Road To Jesus are both slowburning ballads that really highlight not only Andrew’s stunning croon, but also his ability to write compelling and visionary tales, drawing the listener deep into the heart of the song.

Andrew Combs maybe a new name to me and I expect you as well, but after listening to this timeless masterpiece, I doubt you’d forget his name again in a hurry, tales of love, sin and redemption haven’t sounded this welcoming in many a year, another essential addition to your record collection courtesy of Loose.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.andrewcombsmusic.com

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