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EP Review- Stefanie Joyce- Marlboro Reds and Motel Rooms.

 Nashville Singer/ Songwriter Stefanie Joyce released her latest EP Marlboro Reds and Motel Rooms  early last month. Produced by Ryan Manner at Station West Studio in Nashville, Joyce releases an EP that tells five stories on "sin, redemption and everything in between". As a teenager, she trained with the prestigious Alberta Ballet  before earning a degree in Film Production and Creative Writing at th e University of British Columbia . Joyce has continued achieving success as a songwriter for several artists, as well as performing at numerous Music Festivals. She counts songwriters like  John Prine  and Brandy Clar k as influences, as well as authors like Cormac McCarthy and Anne Proulx. Stefanie Joyce combines her love of bluegrass with folk and country through a powerful and gritty sound on 'Marlboro Reds and Motel Rooms'. The EP begins with the Roots Rock of 'Presdio', a tale of loneliness and sin. Joyce sings over the squeals of the steel pedal guitar...
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Song Review- VanGoGo- Get Up to You

  Detroit Rockers' Vangogo return with a new retro track, entitled 'Get Up to You'.  Produced by Chuck Alkazian at Pearl Sound Studios.  the quartet released a track heavily influenced by John Hughes films ( The Breakfast Club, National Lampoon, Home Alone). The 1980s throwback to dreamy vocals and synth-pop is readily on display. Lead singer Nathan Mackinder explains, " 'Get Up to You” is about the journey to achieve the love you deserve. There are a lot of incredible stories out there about how people ended up together. Seems like for the majority, it didn’t come easy and there were a lot of long hard roads and tall jagged mountains to climb to get to a place where things worked out. But in all instances, it was an extreme desire and prophetic love that made it worth the voyage." 'Get Up to You' is a guitar-driven track that is accompanied by lead vocalist Nathan Mackinder's soft and tender vocals. The song blends hazy synthesisers with infecti...
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Album of the Week: The False Poets- Poetaster: A Miscellany

North East Freakbeat's The False Poets have returned with their third studio album Poetaster: A Miscellany  via Nice Mind Records. The album is the first compilation from the band and marks ten years of their existence. 'Poetaster' draws on material from their original spell between 2012-2014 and other songs from the second spell in 2018, including their 2019 debut album and last year's 'Strange Season' outing.  Formed originally by enthusiasts of 1960s beat music and garage punk, the album features four earlier recordings, as well as the new single 'Shadows of Fear' 'Poetaster: A Miscellany' is 44 minutes of folk, garage rock, progressive rock and retro rock. 'Did It Feel Real?' is a slab of 1960s jangly rock with an earworm chorus that features solid guitar work from the band. The swinging rhythms of the hook-laden 'Stick or Twist' will leave those hips swaying long into the night. The post-gothic 'Shadows of Fear' is ...
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EP Review: Cazimi- Signals

Acclaimed British quartet Cazimi released their latest EP Signals last month via AWAL Records. The follow-up to 2019's debut album 'Late in The Day' is mastered by Peter Maher and arranged by Cazimi in collaboration with Steve Wallace from Penetration. Following that initial success, Covid haltered any plans for a new album and tour before the four-piece decided to reunite with a new rhythm section. 'Signals' delivers four tracks of alt-indie with dark melodies and moody music to pique the interest. 'Echo' is the first track on the release with jangly guitars and dreamy vocals. The song evokes memories of indie bands like The Smiths and The Stone Roses. 'Coming Home' is next up and offers another slab of jangle pop with progressive guitar breaks, rolling basslines and vocals that feel like one is drifting on a cloud. 'Fascination' is darker in tone with mesmerising hooks and vocals that are as hypnotic as the band's sound. And lastly, ...
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Album Review- Sara Syms- The Darkest Light

  Americana Starlet Sara Syms released her third album The Darkest Light earlier last month. Recorded at the famed Espalande Studios in New Orleans, Syms opens up about her struggles with anxieties and depression on this 10-track LP. The songstress took time away from the music scene to contemplate life. The LP mixes blues, folk and roots to convey this story to the listener. The self-titled 'The Darkest Light' opens the album. A haunting three minutes of self-reflection. Syms's powerful voice sings over eerie string arrangements and piano keys that make this an evocative and dark track to start things off. The equally majestic 'Fear and Love' combines dark poetry with the addition of a flamenco feel giving this added poignancy. Syms invokes several emotions of anguish, sorrow, love and fears through her ability to engage the listener with strong storytelling and moving music. 'Unknown Road' is one such example, a country blues track with sultry vocals set o...
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Song Review- Dohny Jep- Wine and Dine

  Kent-based Alt-Rock trio  Dohny Jep have released their latest single 'Wine and Dine', a follow-up to this year's self-released second album. Produced, mixed and mastered by Rhys May (While She Sleeps, Bring Me the Horizon) in the band's purpose-built home studio, 'Wine and Dine' is an anthemic single about falling in love for the first time. Speaking about the single, vocalist Pete Herbert states, “Wine and Dine in its purest form is about love. It’s about those first moments of meeting someone new and the adventures that you are about to go on together, but also those first moments of conflict and how you pull together to get through those harder moments.” 'Wine and Dine' begins with melodic keyboards before breaking into hazy vocals. The band's pop hooks and catchy chorus provide a pleasant song to enjoy over the hot summer. Words by Anselm Anderson SOCIALS Website: https://www.dohnyjep.co.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dohnyjep/ Twitter...
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Song Review- The Blackwater fever- The Hurt

Brisbane's Alt-Rock Trio The Blackwater Fever have released new latest single 'The Hurt', taken from their upcoming studio album Temptator. October sees the band release their sixth studio album, having amassed over 85,000 plays on Spotify  'The Hurt' is a modern blues ballad steeped in raw emotion and sentiment. The band have built a strong fanbase over the years, supporting acts as diverse as Clutch, The Datsuns, The Black Keys, and most recently, The Hu. 'The Hurt' begins with the thunderous rhythmic stomps of electric guitar. The lead vocalist's husky howls resonate over the eerie screams of the organ before releasing their inner emotions with haunting melodies. The Blackwater Fever infect the listener with warm and soulful swamp music. Words by Anselm Anderson SOCIALS: Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/theblackwaterfever Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/theblackwaterfever Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/artist/1A5oymWstOyE3ZFeELbBtA?si=zt...
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Popular posts from this blog

Single Review: Allan James- Our dreams

Words were written by Anselm Anderson for Rambling Man's Reviews Allan James  is a much-accomplished singer-songwriter, based in Northern Virginia, USA James is a self-taught musician, who began playing guitar and singing songs aged 8 and by the time he reached his early teens, James had started to record and perform his original music for school, dances, and charities. James returned to the US following a successful stint as host of his own guitar TV show in Iceland, whilst living over there. Allan James achieved critical acclaim following the release of his debut single on local radio stations, as well as releasing  6 albums to date. James has always been at the forefront of utilizing technologies and using the internet to build a fanbase.  He now returns with " Our Dreams", the latest single off his forthcoming new album. A beautifully structured track that captures the soul with its succinct guitar play and poetic lyrics. The track conjures feelings of serenity...
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Review: Stereophobia- Choke on This

Photo Credit: Eclipse Records   Words written by Anselm Anderson Last week, Stereophobia released their highly anticipated sophomore album, Choke on This , through Eclipse Records. This album follows their 2023 debut, No One Cares, and features a straightforward blend of alt-rock and grunge influences. Stereophobia is a power trio based in Lisbon, Portugal, consisting of guitarist and vocalist Mike Rocha, drummer Daniel Antunes, and bassist Bruno Santos. Produced by Miguel Camillo and mixed, mastered and recorded alongside Stereophobia at MC Studios. Choke on This consists of thirteen tracks filled with musically unsettling tones, angst-driven lyrics, and sonically enriching riffs that cut deep. Photo Credit: Rodrigo Vargas The album opens with an unsettling monologue that transitions into the intense cries of 'Maggots', which combines frenetic riffs and frenzied harsh vocals, propelling this album into a dramatic surge of grunge. The album maintains a grunge essence, echoing ...
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EP Review: Virtue in Vain-Nothing is All I Am

  CoverArtwork Courtesy of San Pr Words Written by Anselm Anderson Today marks the final chapter of an emphatic trilogy by British Metalcore Heavyweights , Virtue in Vain . Nothing is All I Am ' is the third instalment exploring human emotions and psyche.  The trio began their journey in 2015 with their debut EP,  For All You Know is the Mask I Wore ,  focusing on the loss of identity, before 2019's   Dusk//Dawn looking at the consequences of a terrible night out, whilst 'Nothing is All I Am ' focuses on rebuilding a fractured mind. The trio of lead vocalist Hywel Thomas, guitarist Mason Williams, and drummer Daniel Bryant hail from South Wales deliver another dose of metalcore that hits like a sledgehammer to the head. The band replicates what many other British bands of the genre do, but they bring a story behind their music. Their emotional cries blend with powerful riffs and down-tuned instrumentals that resonate long after the music has stopped. Their...
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