Taught Me
Lady (Kilby 2008) is the compilation that Blake Henderson has been working on for some time. It is said that he writes, performs and records all of his own material and there is no reason to doubt it, or his ability to pull it off.
With official release of the album on Sept. 1, this alternative/ambient artist will be spending a lot of time in Europe, where OWN Records is the label of choice. According to the Web site info, “OWN Records is an independent record label from Luxembourg bringing us terrific music every time.”
Here’s a quote from the Web site, www.cryinggirl.com (or just look for Clumsy Congregation).
“Listening to ‘lady,’ i’m laying on my back, arms crossed behind my head, on a grassy hill that overlooks the Bay. My eyes are closed. The sun is bearing down on my fleshy lids and the light is causing little images to form. Petite figures of trees and children and balloons and bells and singing and dancing, like little paper cutouts, emerge from my periphery. The ones that we marveled at, jumping out of our pop-up books, as children.”
Look for this writer, producer, engineer etc. in lots of places. Here are a few: “Lady” official release San Francisco, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; Seattle, Washington; TEMPE, Arizona; Astra Stube GERMANY, Hamburg; TBA FRANCE; Dqliq Luxembourg City; Treibhaus Luzern.
Tags: independent music, music, indie music, taught me, indie
Soundside
Hey! These guys are pretty good! One listener compared them to the sound of Three Doors Down. That’s not all bad.
Soundside is Rich Arcati - vocals; Dan Reardon - lead guitar/vocals; Matt Fox - bass; Karina McMahon - drums. Their tune, “Loss for Words” (Seconds From Sunrise (2008 Mystery Sound) is a truly ear-catching tune. But, in truth, “Mind Over Maria” may be even better. The rhythm/backline put down by Karina McMahon is fine. The pace change seems right, and I do enjoy the brief foray into a reggae feel. Guitar work - no introduction needed.
This is also some good stuff, from their Web site - Soundside Highly Supports the following Associations, check out these links for more info:
American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org
National Association for Music Education
www.menc.org
Influences include Live, Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews, and Blink 182 among many others… Nice choices. Quality all around. But the Soundside folks add this - Everything and anything you do can affect the outcome of future songs you write. Check out “GBR,” for instance.
I don’t know where Glen Cove, New York is. At least, I won’t until I look it up on the map. Then I’ll know where a “kick ass rock band” starts from. This may not an earth-shaking change in style. It may not set us off in a new direction. But it is quality rock.
Tags: indie music, indie, music, independent music, soundside
Robin Moore
At: Now (2008) is a statement of sorts, with ballad-style tunes such as “What You Wanted” and things a bit more upbeat, such as “Promised.”
Moore’s short story is not much different from dozens of others who have tried and continue to try to get attention in the crazy world of music sales. What Robin Moore offers up front, on a Web site, is clips/samples of several tunes that sound interesting. It’s hard to say where this is all going.
Moore has excellent credentials: Berklee College of Music; performance experience; composing and editing for film and television; songwriting. But check this out, from the Web site:
“On July 12, 2007, Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter Robin Moore awoke from a 13 year, life-induced, walking coma.”
A life-changing illness? No, just a decision to go on to other things, such as original music for which Moore himself is the performer. Words like “restrained” and “compelling” are tossed around when writing about Moore’s new effort. Some of it is just that.
Moore certainly has some musicians with chops to help him out. On drums is Joel Domantay. Bass man Dan Erlich has worked with Ziggy Marley, Debbie Gibson and Storm 420, according to Moore’s info.
He cites a number of classic rock and pop artists as influences. It’s an impressive list, to say the least. Keep your ear to the ground for Robin Moore.
Tags: independent music, indie music, music, indie, robin moore
Muke Zouk
Those who play and produce CDs such as Shutterspeed Lullabies (2008 Minute Morning) put out some cute music. Now, there may be some who hate “cute.” Sorta like the gal in the movie who says baby ducks are cute.
Muke Zouk members Luke Kuzava & Madeline Liebowitz list all sorts of influences, from Weezer and Sigur Ros to Modest Mouse and Daft Punk. But what is this about “funbombs exploding in your brain!”
“Hamburger Waltz” or “Dreamsicle” would be a good introduction to this project.
Let’s let the Web info explain, “Muke was formed when Madeline Liebowitz and Luke Kuzava (who had met in the dorms their freshman year at the University of Oregon) had nothing much to do one day and decided to try and record something on Maddie’s iBook.” The rest is, as they say, history.
Web information describes the collections as “an album of strange, beautiful dreamscapes so vividly rendered you’d never guess that it was recorded almost entirely with the built-in microphone of an iBook.” (The vocals for eight of the ten songs were recorded using a better microphone).
There is one thing to be said for the effort of this duo - if more grown-up people would return to their childhoods more often, we wouldn’t be in quite such a mess.
Good luck, Muke Zouk.
Muke Zouk On MySpace
Tags: muke zouk, indie, indie music, independent music, music
Lior
I have to admit that I had not heard of Lior before someone with a real good ear provided information and a Web link. Now, I must admit that I like the music. It’s good listening. “I’ll Forget You St. Sia” (Corner of An Endless Road).
Clarity of voice is one factor that contributes to this young artist’s success. Of course, those who come from that great land down under have known about Lior for a couple of years. He had an independent album called Autumn Flow in 2005. The information from Lior notes his “Middle Eastern heritage” and points out that he has already garnered nominations for such things as Best Male Artist in Australia’s recording industry.
There is an old joke about being either “independently wealthy” or “independent of wealth.” Lior showed listeners with “Daniel” and “This Old Love” from the 2005 album that he could sing sweetly and with an easy-to-listen-to style, and ultimately become something other than independent of wealth.
His growing popularity in the UK is helping add to the bottom line as well. He is also gaining favor in the United States.
He describes the newest CD this way: “Corner Of An Endless Road is a true representation of my musical landscape; think Led Zeppelin jamming with Nick Drake at a teahouse somewhere in the Middle East.”
Lior, 2008
He is touring the UK and the U.S. to promote the newest CD, “before further international touring over the next 12 months.”
Tags: music, lior, indie music, independent music, indie