Indie Music Reviews

Jiggley Jones – Truthseeker

published on March 21, 2018

Jiggley Jones – Truthseeker

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/1bgkA7L8Vo9xC1scWF9oDR

Running a little over four minutes in length, Jiggley Jones’ “Truthseeker” is a fine single that carries on the work of Jones’ first two EP releases and shares common sonic ad thematic territory with his new collection Not Your Typical Day Out. It’s a fine enough composition and performance that it deserves judged on its own merits It’s features delicately considered melodic strands from both Jones’ memorable voice and sensitively rendered acoustic guitar work weaving its spell just behind the vocal. The marriage of these elements work in seamless sympathy with one another to create a dreamlike effect over the song’s four minutes ten seconds and Jones’ voice is at the song’s center from the first, aching with feeling and realizing the song’s potential thanks to his attention to detail. “Truthseeker” deserves mention among the year’s best singles, genres be damned, and will likely rate high in many year’s end conversations.

Noble Son - Joy of Violence

published on March 19, 2018

Noble Son - Joy of Violence

URL: https://www.nobleson.ca/

From BC, Vancouver comes Adam Kirschner a singer, songwriter and even voice actor, who is here to deliver his musical message via his debut under the Noble Son moniker. His flagship record Joy in Violence is a tour de force of textures, layers, immaculately woven production and varied instrumentation that renders each track an individual experience from the song that preceded it. These nine tracks get in your head and stay there thanks to eclectic songwriting that’s unafraid of constantly making new challenges for itself.

Robin Kelly - Orewa Heartbeat

published on March 14, 2018

Robin Kelly - Orewa Heartbeat

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/6rOYRoXAMHd5rc7Iq34NlC

Physician, writer, musician, public speaker. Robin Kelly is a polymath of sorts whose endless creativity manifests itself in virtually every area of his life. His practice of alternative medicine and interest in Eastern philosophies has clearly informed both his day to day life and art alike with the sort of depth many fail to acquire even by old age. He never communicates that earned wisdom or his beliefs to the audience in a heavy handed way but, instead, one feels the presence of his personal life opening up the musical and lyrical possibilities in his compositions and fills them with positivity we don’t always hear from performers working in this vein. His musical chops aren’t flashy, but solid, and serve the songs first and foremost. He’s obviously recruited first class collaborators to assist him in realizing Orewa Heartbeat’s artistic vision and their effect is apparent on nearly every tune.

Vessbroz (feat. Kyle Davis) - Nothing

published on March 13, 2018

Vessbroz (feat. Kyle Davis) - Nothing

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/52JPO3H0J4oRJJ2hnXj8yu

The single “Nothing” from Vessbroz and singer/songwriter Kyle Davis is the first offering from their slated to soon be released album Lost. The first single finds their creative partnership in full flower as Davis’ extraordinary and exponentially growing talents as a vocalist and lyricist magnificently complement the EDM duo’s skill at crafting dramatic and atmospheric electronically driven soundscapes. Despite the song’s inclinations towards electronica, there’s some traditional instruments that make a big difference in the final result and the performance, as a whole, can never be accused of taking the path of least resistance. Instead, this is as power packed as EDM inspired fare has come in recent memory and the inspired level of energy sparking each of its elements to life makes it one of the more gripping listening experiences in this new year, It’s a powerful release in every way and certain to draw attention to this project and the performers involved.

Brendan McMahon drops EP

published on March 12, 2018

Brendan McMahon drops EP

SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/brendanj-2/sets/about-joe

Melbourne singer/songwriter Brendan McMahon, according to bio, has mastered the art of creating songs from a mix of exotic travel adventures and the simplest things, since releasing his 2016 debut album Marker 7-58 under the moniker Satellite Gods. Teaming again with a batch of Australia’s most brilliant musical “gods,” he continues his dynamic musical evolution with five of his edgiest, most emotionally hard-hitting tracks ever on his fresh EP – About Joe – follow up to his well-received 2017 set Universalist. The disc contains his most varied tracks to date, all bringing something new to his music.

Monsieur Job - Chow Chow eyyy Pow Pow

published on March 12, 2018

Monsieur Job - Chow Chow eyyy Pow Pow

YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V8N0bTvmNw

“Chow Chow eyyy Pow Pow” is one of the more impressive debut singles in recent memory and gets Monsieur Jobs’ musical career and discography off to a breathtaking start. They include a radio edit and remix with the release and, though this always isn’t the case, these alternate takes on the track highlight the song’s inherent worth. Penned by band mates Stan Kolev and Toby Holguin, it couples the disciplines of DJ and club music with a spicy Latin roll that never sounds overly stagy or unnatural. Kolev, as well, helmed the remix released with the single’s radio edit and obviously contributes much to the band’s blossoming creativity. The song is capped off by the featured vocal performance from No Mercy lead singer Martin Citron and he effortlessly blends in with the vivid arrangement and Kolev frames his voice with equally strong results in the remix version.

Scott Smith -Igniting the Flame (EP)

published on March 11, 2018

Scott Smith -Igniting the Flame (EP)

URL: https://www.scottsmithband.com/

Igniting The Flame – Scott Smith’s latest EP, is a six track little slice of wonder, with every last song counting as much as the next. It plays like an album, only short on songs but long on melody, catchiness and everything that makes for a good EP collection. This is an EP that makes you want to hear the second half, it’s that contagious. Produced by Julie Wolf (Bruce Cockburn, Ani DiFranco) at the legendary Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, where CCR and Santana, among other legends, have recorded. Julie Wolf was called upon to help bring out the best in Scott Smith’s vocal arrangements which at times differ from the music.

Songs From The Suck – Randy Steele

published on March 11, 2018

Songs From The Suck – Randy Steele

BANDCAMP: https://randysteele.bandcamp.com/releases

Songs From The Suck – Randy Steele, is a solo album by one of the members of the Slim Pickens Bluegrass band out of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Suck is a reference to Suck Creek that comes into the Tennessee River close to Randy’s house. In the early days before TVA dammed the rivers, it was a notorious section of rapids that would break boats and such. Just below was Moccasin Bend, where Cherokee raids were often waiting, and the Muscle Shoals in Alabama was another dangerous section of the river. He liked it phonetically and I thought it would be an easy title to remember.