Alester: "Main Girl"

The other day I was listening to the ’90s station in  friend’s car on satellite radio and realized Tyrese was right, R&B isn’t as appreciated as it once was. The top songs on this random countdown of nostalgia consisted of R. Kelly, En Vogue and Toni Braxton. Did we hit a drought, are there no more artists making music like this; romantic, full of soul - basically slow jams? The answer is no. Usher and Ne-Yo still exist in the mainstream and more up and coming acts like Alester are doing what they can. It seems like audiences have just shifted their attentions, but hey - if Alester’s “Main Girl” is spinning, they really need to shift their heads back and focus because this song has so many components that make it pop. It’s smooth, has that sense of romance and definitely has enough pop in it to make it in the mainstream. R&B isn’t dead, we just need more artists like Alester to creep up on all those EDM artists who’ve become the norm, so they can have some spotlight. If you love R&B and miss it on an everyday basis in your everyday life, check out Alester’s “Main Girl,” out now. (https://www.reverbnation.com/altizzle)

Kinderjazz

URL: https://www.kinderjazz.com/christobel.html

Kinderjazz is the Christobel Llewellyn founded the band together with her partner David Llewellyn as a means for young children to learn about music and instruments used in a jazz orchestra. Originally, Kinderjazz started as a 10 piece but after a chance meeting at Billy Hyde’s music store in Sydney with Latin Percussionist Aykho Akhrif, the band soon added an eleventh musician on Congas. Aykho has inspired many Latin charts for the band with five of these being named after him. The twelfth member was a second trumpet, Liz Geyer who decided to go solo shortly after joining, making way for Tom McElvogue to replace her.

Rock It with ARCADIA

ARCADIA is a metal project Tony Burgess started tinkering around with a few years ago and now he’s here and ready to rock it. “Full Metal On” has that rocking sound in the music, but the vocals are left in the wind. They’re hard to make out and yes, that’s normal in the metal scene - but these just feel like they’re hiding in the shadows. I’d love to hear them step out from behind and really bring the rock. With “Icarus” we hear that same thrashing sound and here the vocals step up a bit but they could still be stronger. While the lyrics are more a whisper in “Mind Breaker,” here it works because the music is playing along well with them. It’s like this metal mystery you want to solve. As we head into the last track with “Life” we’re introduced to even more headbanging arrangements and you can’t help but toss your head back and forth and toss up the horns. While we hit some bumps in the road that is ARCADIA, he manages to give a smooth ride here and there. If you’re a metal fan, check him out now. (https://www.reverbnation.com/arcadia8)

Courtney Chambers - Tales of the Aftermath

URL: https://www.courtneychambers.net/

Courtney Chambers’ fourth album, Tales of the Aftermath, moves the posts for her in a significant way. While her traditional concern as a songwriter, matters of the heart, remains in full view, the new album’s ten songs take a nuanced, genre-hopping musical approach and exhibit a sharp writer working at or near the peak of her powers. Each of the songs contains a handful of dramatic lines that, when Chambers delivers them with her customary soulful commitment, will knock the wind out of many listeners for a second. Despite the deliberate tempos and careful orchestration, Tales of the Aftermath is never a staid effort. The production gives it a live intimacy without ever being overbearing and balances its focus well between the multiple instruments. The guitars and Chambers’ gently insistent voice are captured particularly well.

Joel Tuttle Takes You Places

Joel Tuttle makes music that is void of lyrics, but not heart. “Sattle Raiker” is where this journey of sound starts off and what it is giving is a sci-fi meets Southwest feel - like this could be used in a western that takes place in a galaxy far, far away. With “Knob Nailer” you sort of get lost in the trance of it all while “Stir Cycle” takes you out of it and straight into a dance club in the ’80s. The beat pumps the whole way through and it stays pretty consistent. As we move along and into “Spackel Porpi” things take a bit of a funky turn, in a good way. What I like about this one is that you feel like you always have to be moving as the beat never allows any rest time. When it comes to making music that takes you places, Joel Tuttle knows what he’s doing. If you’re into instrumental beats, check him out today. (https://www.joeltuttle.com/)

Raniarokz: "Badd"

Raniarokz’s “Bad” showcases a singer songwriter taking an ambient route towards something new. Her voice carries a sense of melancholy as well as mystery. You hear her and want to ask her about her day and what has her down, but instead you allow her to continue because the shroud she’s created with sound has you under a spell. Towards the end the beat changes up and we do hear that pop inspiration but not too much. She doesn’t go from Vh1 to the club in a heartbeat, but you can tell there is a pep in her step towards the end, although subtle. If you’re into singers who put it all out there, check out Raniarokz now. (https://soundcloud.com/rania-rokz/bad)

Angelo Remón: Natural

Angelo Remón’s “Natural” is a smooth ride from start to finish. He lays it out flat with “I Don’t Cheat.” It’s the perfect song every woman wants a man to sing. Instead of a traditional R&B feel, he intertwines a sweet uptempo feel. Then he goes back to that soulful vibe in “Triflin” and “When Will I Know.” Here you can really hear the range in his vocals. He’s a treat to listen to. The thing about R&B is that it’s one of the few genres where you don’t need the help of all the modern day tools. All one needs to succeed here is a great set of pipes and what Angelo brings forth is that. His album is a fine mix between that well-known soul and of course more modern day, upbeat tracks that make you want to move. Angelo Remón’s “Natural” is for those who enjoy some Usher and Ne-Yo in their lives. (https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/angeloremon#)

Azaima Anderson - Horse Sense

URL: https://azaima.com/

This is a solid release. It has some problems with the production. Beyond that, there are times when the vocals seem a little lackluster. Overall, though, this is quite strong. The other album I reviewed by this artist is more consistent and stronger, but you really can’t complain with this one.

Jangly guitar sounds bring the opening title track in. It’s a pop country song. It’s not bad, but feels a bit tinny in terms of the production. The lyrics have double meanings, and that’s a cool thing. More of a jazz pop vibe is heard on “Time Wasted.” I like this one a lot. It makes me think of a lot of 80s music. It has a better production value than the first song did, too.