Category Archives: Music

New music by emerging artists.

“Det Syng for Storegut” by Origami Arktika
26
Jul

One of Norway’s best kept secrets, Origami Arktika, moves along the axis of time by using old Norwegian folk songs and folklore combined with modern inspiration and technology. The music on the new album, Absolut Gehör, is dim and melancholic. Led by vocalist Rune Flaten, there are seven other accomplished musicians whom, in this case, make deceptively little music. But, the sum of all the smaller or larger elements result in a unique musical landscape.

Origami Arktika is part of the Origami Republika (a Norwegian artists collective). A previous album was recorded at Einstürzende Neubauten’s studio (German industrial band from West Berlin) and one of the members has a Norwegian Grammy from another project. Thus, they have a pretty impressive pedigree.

[audio:Det Syng for Storegut.mp3|titles=Det Syng for Storegut|artists=Origami Arktika]
“Det Syng for Storegut” by Origami Arktika

Album Art (resized)

Image and mp3 courtesy of Brian John Mitchell of Silber Records

“Desire Like a Lion” by Matt Townsend and The Wonder of the World
26
Jul

Indie folk/folk rock artist Matt Townsend and The Wonder of the World released a successfully crowd-funded album via Eternal Mind Records on June 23, 2014. The songs feature themes of loss and redemption, spiritual yearning, romantic longing, death, re-birth, freedom, alienation, gratitude and more.

Matt Townsend began writing songs in secret around 2008 and began performing in 2010. Initially busking on the streets of Burlington, VT and playing local coffeehouses, he soon began gracing the stages of clubs and venues around the Burlington area. Influenced by the songwriting of Bob Dylan, Neutral Milk Hotel, Townes Van Zandt, Neil Young, William Blake, and many many more, Townsend’s songs “connect universally while remaining personally vulnerable.”

The new self-titled album is streaming in full on Soundcloud.

[audio:Desire Like a Lion.mp3|titles=Desire Like a Lion|artists=Matt Townsend and The Wonder of the World]
“Desire Like a Lion” by Matt Townsend and The Wonder of the World

Matt Townsend

Image and mp3 courtesy of Matt Bacon, Intern at Independent Music Promotions

“Ocean Ending” by Polaris Rose
26
Jul

Dynamic Los Angeles indie rock band, Polaris Rose, have released their vibrant new EP OceanSongs. Peter Anthony and Madelynn Elyse are the vibing duo that make up Polaris Rose. Their music is a place where illustrious songwriting collides with intricate harmonies for an electrifying yet sparse atmosphere of music.

Beginning with a slow grooving rhythm, the album track “Ocean Ending” is a stylistically simple song. The multi-part harmonies and layers of vocals provide a romantic chemistry to the atmospheric oceanic arrangement, lush with the sound of crashing waves and spare, elegant chords. Visit Youtube for the Official Video for “Ocean Ending.” Plus, a free download is available on Soundcloud.

[audio:Ocean Ending.mp3|titles=Ocean Ending|artists=Polaris Rose]
“Ocean Ending” by Polaris Rose

Polaris Rose

mp3 courtesy of Sera Roadnight of M T Press

Image courtesy of Review Fix

“My Best Friend” by Matt Bouvier
26
Jul

Currently on tour, Matt Bouvier releases his debut EP Death And Love for Small Bear Records. The album is a collection recorded in England, Sweden and Norway. The follow up to his self-released Death And Hope, the EP sees him utilising a more electronic sound and more complex orchestration, whilst continuing to explore dark themes. The recording also adds his original EP, which is no no longer available elsewhere.

Visit Matt Bouvier’s bandcamp to have a listen to the digital album. Visit Youtube for a preview of the track “My Best Friend.”

[audio:My Best Friend.mp3|titles=My Best Friend|artists=Matt Bouvier]
“My Best Friend” by Matt Bouvier

Death And Love

Live mp3 courtesy of Phil Reynolds of Small Bear Records

Image courtesy of bandcamp

“Across The Sea” by The Golden Sounds
26
Jul

Formed in Nashville in 2004, The Golden Sounds is the creation of front-man Todd Evans. The band just released Waiting On The Birds and Todd released an illustrated short story book to accompany it. “I love print and I love sitting down and listening to a record all the way through instead of just buying a single. So releasing a short story with the album is my attempt to get people to slow down for a moment, sit and think, and enjoy…” ~ Todd Evans

The Golden Sounds’ current line-up is: Todd Evans (singer/various instrumentals), Adam Riggs (Keys), Andrew Collins (guitar, melodica), Chris Vicari (drums).

Have a listen to the album track “Across the Sea” below or visit the band’s Bandcamp.

[audio:Across the Sea.mp3|titles=Across the Sea|artists=The Golden Sounds]
“Across the Sea” by The Golden Sounds

The Golden Sounds

Image and mp3 courtesy of Todd Evans of The Golden Sounds

“I Don’t Dance” by City City
8
Jun

Electro/synth indie rockers, City City celebrate the release of their first official video “I Don’t Dance” off of their upcoming full length, self-titled album. The band previously released two EP’s, Lines and Adult People.

“I Don’t Dance” is a throwback to the movie culture generation of the 80’s and 90’s. City City was originally pioneered by Kyle Minichelli (guitar), Jeff Kirchner (guitar/synth/vocals) and Dan McCollister (lead vocals) in 2006. Later in 2011, they completed their line-up when they recruited Valerie Ngai (bass/synth) and Jarrett Portnoy (drums/vocals).

City City has toured throughout California, the midwest, and several other states, including Hawaii. You may visit the band’s website for a free download of “I Don’t Dance.”

[audio:I Don’t Dance.mp3|titles=I Don’t Dance|artists=City City]
“I Don’t Dance” by City City

City City

Image and mp3 courtesy of City City and promoted by Independent PR Manager, Tiffany Youhanna

“Midnight” by Ships Have Sailed
3
Jun

The finely-crafted pop tracks on Someday, the debut EP from LA-based band Ships Have Sailed, will be available on July 15.

The brainchild of singer-songwriter Will Carpenter, Ships Have Sailed was formed in early 2013 as an outlet for material that didn’t fit into Carpenter’s role as guitarist for hip-hop rockers 7Lions.

The resulting 6-song EP is a heady blend of current alt-rock, cathartic songwriting, and dreamy-pop. You may view the video for “Midnight” on YouTube. And, feel free to stream the track below, or visit the band’s Soundcloud profile.

[audio:01 Midnight.mp3|titles=Midnight|artists=Ships Have Sailed]
“Midnight” by Ships Have Sailed

Ships Have Sailed Someday

Image and mp3 courtesy of Jennifer Thorington & Samuel Markus of Working Brilliantly

“Love (Fill My Heart)” by Clara Barker
2
Jun

The new album from Manx singer-songwriter Clara Barker, Fine Art & The Breslins, is available now on Small Bear Records. You may also find it on Bandcamp. All purchases from Bandcamp also include four bonus tracks as a special thank you for buying direct from the artist.

The sophomore album from Barker features eleven songs of love and longing along with odes to sleep and Tennessee’s finest. It also features beautiful artwork by Oscar-nominated artist Juan ‘Fine Art’ Moore. Barker, and production partner in crime Phil Reynolds have created a collection of songs that are funny, gentle, brutal, clever and completely open-hearted.

A short video talking about the album can be seen on YouTube. And, more about Ms. Barker can be found here, including the video for “The Bees Song.”

[audio:Love (Fill My Heart).mp3|titles=Love (Fill My Heart)|artists=Clara Barker]
“Love (Fill My Heart)” by Clara Barker

Album Art (resized)

Image and mp3 courtesy of Phil Reynolds of Small Bear Records

“Shoes” by Samsel and the Skirt
1
Jun

Straight from the heart of Portlandia, Samsel and the Skirt is an alt-country band with sincere lyrics and energetic songs. The band is fronted by singers Cary and Kelsey Samsel. Cary’s blues backround is evident in his singing but well complimented by Kelsey’s smooth heart-wrenching vocals. The two sing tales of heart break, love and disconnect. Recently, the duo opened for folk, soul, blues, pop music duo Johnnyswim.

Have a listen to the track “Shoes” from their debut release Shoebox. Also, you may view their official video for “Those Days” via YouTube.

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“Shoes” by Samsel and the Skirt

mp3 courtesy of NoiseTrade

Samsel and the Skirt

Image courtesy of Samsel and the Skirt’s official site

“Brand New Day” by Ray Tarantino
1
Jun

The new album, Good Things Will Happen (Tiny Drum Records) from Ray Tarantino, is a tribute to the American dream: the story of a guy who walked a road of trial, carrying nothing but a good dose of courage.

His father was a Sicilian diamond dealer; his mother a Tuscan countess. Born in the north of Italy and raised in the UK, Tarantino brings an international sensuality to Americana music.

The start of Tarantino’s music career was as dramatic as his lyrics. After a high-speed traumatic car crash nearly ended his existence, he threw in the towel on his life as a money-making corporate drone and traded a pencil-pushing nine-to-five for a guitar and a ’97 Econo-line van with a queen-size bed in the back. This is the kind of hope-filled journey Hollywood makes movies about.

[audio:Brand New Day.mp3|titles=Brand New Day|artists=Ray Tarantino]
“Brand New Day” by Ray Tarantino

mp3s courtesy of Alex Steininger at In Music We Trust PR

Marfa TX

Summer touring across the desert (Marfa, TX)

Image courtesy of Tarantino’s official site