NEWS FROM NEPTUNE "THE COLD OPEN" CASSETTE OUT NOW!!!
News from Neptune is the solo alias of Wirral-based musician David Miller, a multi-instrumentalist who has gathered a considerable stash of home-recorded material over the past decade, as well as writing and recording for a number of local projects. CMM are so excited to announce the release of his debut E.P. "The Cold Open" as a limited cassette. Miller has really carved out his own musical style that perfectly merges elements of more traditional compositions with experimental madness. The E.P. is a truly delightful and inspiring work of art and you can pick one up now at www.custommademusicva.com
WEINF RELEASE VIDEO FOR "CAREFULNESS AND OTHER BAD ADVICE"
Barcelona based indie unit Weinf have released a video for their latest single "Carefulness And Other Bad Advice" from the bands latest album “Purple Bird and Other Strange Songs” which is out now on CMM. Drawing influence from the likes of Morphine, and The Velvet Underground Weinf create the perfect eclectic mix of jazz and psychedelia. The band are playing a round of shows all over Spain throughout the month of May. Find out more at facebook.com/iamweinf
SAM ELLIOT STARS IN "THE HERO".
Here at CMM we love all things Sam Elliot. From his role as legendary bouncer Wade Garret in Roadhouse to playing "The Stranger" in The Big Lebowski it's always inspiring to hear Sam's trademark voice and see his "salty" smile. In "The Hero" Elliot plays Lee Hayden,an aging Western icon with a golden voice who's best performances are decades behind him. The film also stars Laura Prepon (That 70's Show/Oranage Is The New Black), Krysten Ritter (Breaking Bad/Veronica Mars), Nick Offerman (Parks And Recreation), and Katharine Ross (The Stepford Wives). The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival back on January 21st and will open in theaters on June 9th.
KYLE CRAFT COVERS LEONARD COHEN
Last year I fell in love with Kyle Craft's debut album "Dolls Of Highland". This week Craft released this impressive rendition of the late great Leonard Cohen's classic "Chelsea Hotel #2". Reflecting on the track Craft stated. “Chelsea Hotel #2, the way Cohen delivers it, it’s through a window into another time and the further we get into this thing, the future, the more I feel like a stranger. When he died, I felt very alone…as I’m sure many people did. The song is for him, for Patti Smith, for Dylan…for everyone who inspired me to write and for a time and place that seems so foreign now.” Craft plays the Mercury Lounge in NYC on May 15th and continues to work on his next full length due out in 2018.
CMM are incredibly excited to release the new Mariana Rivals E.P. as a limited edition cassette. The California/Connecticut based synth pop unit deliver a pair of new tracks that are absolutely delightful. A wash of shimmering synths ring throughout the heavy groove based feel of “Take”. It’s pumping bassline and laid back rhythm are simply second to none while the mysterious yet soulful vocals put everything over the top and get you singing along in no time. “Chroma” is a bit darker and more subliminal. It’s got a heavy feel to it that builds throughout and keeps you guessing at what will come next as it’s cunning dynamics and atmospheric presence is as beautiful as it is enlightening. There’s also an underlying orchestral element to it all that I enjoy very much. A captivating pair of songs that could easily serve as the soundtrack to a universe trillions of light years away. The cassette is available now at www.custommademusicva.com or mariarivals.bandcamp.com
WEINF "PURPLE BIRD AND OTHER STRANGE SONGS” CASSETTE OUT NOW
Another new favorite of mine is Barcelona Spain based outfit Weinf and I couldn't be happier to release their new full length "Purple Bird And Other Strange Songs" as a limited cassette. The album comes off like the soundtrack to a secret David Lynch film. Drawing influence from the likes of Morphine, and The Velvet Underground it's the perfect eclectic mix of jazz and psychedelia. Weinf founder Dani Ruiz distinct voice and guitar work are nothing short of stellar and sure to draw you in for a truly exciting listening experience. Pick up a copy at www.custommademusicva.com or weinf.bandcamp.com
STIV: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A DEAD BOY COMING IN 2018
STIV: The Life and Times Of A Dead Boy is an upcoming feature-length documentary on legendary punk icon, Stiv Bators. It will be the first film ever made about the rowdy and controversial performer, and his life will be documented through archive footage, photography, music and all-new interviews with the people who knew him. Stiv Bators was one of the early American punk pioneers, and is primarily known for his work with
The Dead Boys and The Lords Of the New Church. Classic songs like "Sonic Reducer" and "Ain't It Fun" continue to inspire fans and musicians from all walks of life. Acclaimed director Danny Garcia will helm the project, and already has numerous punk documentaries under his belt, such as The Rise and Fall Of The Clash, Looking For Johnny, and Sad Vacation: The Last Days Of Sid and Nancy. Following in the same gritty underground style that has become Garcia's hallmark, STIV: The documentary has a tentative release date of May 2018.
New Jersey psychedelic rock outfit Auza Blaze are in full studio mode, working on a new album and I must say I can't wait to hear it. Their 2015 self titled debut was absolutely genius as it's rich, mind bending atmospherics matched with incredible songwriting made it one of my favorite albums of the year. Aura Blaze guru Rhode Rachel has been posting in depth updates on the record and options and philosophies on recording which I find incredibly interesting and inspiring. Check out his latest update here.
STARLIGHT (featuring IGGY POP) - A FEATURE FILM BY SOPHIE BLONDY COMING MAY 8TH FROM CLEOPATRA ENTERTAINMENT
Cleopatra Entertainment LLC, the movie division of famed indie record label Cleopatra Records, has acquired all domestic rights to Starlight, a feature film by French film maker Sophie Blondy, coming to Blu-ray and VOD on May 9th.
Set in the dunes near the North Sea, a small circus company is suffering from a serious lack of audience for their shows. Spectators are rare but the magic of the circus still thrives.
Each performer rehearses and performs new numbers, but this fragile balance will quickly shatter to unveil their real nature and their most obscure feelings. The circus will then become a place of romantic lust where each will use their powers to satisfy their desires.
Angele, the diaphanous ballerina, her clown lover Elliot and the circus ringmaster, full of cruelty and disturbed by fits of schizophrenia on one side. Zohra in love with Elliot, haunted by an uncanny conscience on the other side. Secrets, jealousy, envy will progressively take hold of them and trigger some irreversible acts. The life of the circus will then take a whole new turn. Iggy Pop appears throughout the film as an "angel" type character.
Starlight was selected and screened at Tallinn - Black Nights Film Festival (Estonia, 2013), Montreal World Film Festival (Canada, 2013), Moscow - International Film Festival (Russia, 2013), Rendez-vous with New French Cinema in Rome (2013), and at Rotterdam International Film Festival (Netherlands, 2013).
"Ran" is the lead single from Future Islands new album "The Far Field". As always singer Samuel T. Herring puts everything he has into his passionate, heart felt vocal delivery. He's quickly emerged as one of the more enigmatic frontmen in recent years and "Ran" is the perfect example of why he's deserving of such stature. Bassist William Cashion's signature swing is the driving musical force behind this one and he's complimented well by Gerrit Welmers's alluring atmospheric keyboards. It's infectious rhythm and lulling undertones are undeniably appealing and showcase the bands first rate song writing ability and drive to explore new horizons. "The Far Feild" is available today courtesy of 4 A.D.
Guided By Voices "August By Cake" 2 X LP (GBV INC)
Few musicians actually make it to their 5th album much less their 10th but there is a very minuscule group who can say they have made 100 albums. Off the top of my head I can think of maybe James Brown, Hawkwind and Merzbow. "August By Cake" is GBV founder Robert Pollard's 100th album and is also the bands first double album. Packed with amazing anthems like "Dr. Feelgood Falls Off The Ocean" and "5° Degrees On The Inside" the album marks the return of longtime guitarist Doug Gillard and first appearance by new acquisition Bobby Bare Jr. both of whom make their presence felt in full effect. Other favorites include the jangling sounds of "Hiking Skin", the Gillard penned "Goodbye Note" and psychedelic noise of "Fever Pitch". Here's to another 100 albums from the most prolific man in rock n roll.
Lucius "Million Dollar Secret" Single (ilovelucius.com)
It's no secret that I love Lucius, so I was really excited to hear this brand new single. Clocking in at a brief two minutes and twenty three seconds "Million Dollar Secret" is a soothing, passionate number that highlights Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe signature voices in fine form while maintaining a breathtaking array of ambient tones. The track recently appeared on an episode of the HBO series Girls and the band are also featured in the upcoming David Byrne documentary "Contemporary Color" which you can check out the trailer for below.
Milon S/T E.P. (milonbristol.bandcamp.com)
Off the chart musicianship, cagey rhythms and brilliant dynamics is what you will find on this debut release from Bristol based art/jazz unit Milon. Led by tenor saxophonist Dino Christodoulou and electric guitarist Neil Smith the group unleash seven introspective pieces that continuously keep things on the move.
The guitars range from crisp clean chords to frantic "strangulation" like solos while the saxophone style is more aching to that of Sonny Rollins. Drummer Roberto Nappi and bassist Pasquale Votino lay down an unbeatable foundation that's not afraid to wander into the outer realms of experimentation. The band sync together amazingly well, much like the four lions that got together to form Voltron. "Calabacin" is an absolute shredder while "Ayia Luna" and "Woody's Beat" offer up a bit more swing. This is the type of record that has me picking up something new with each and every listen. It challenges you while you can tell the band are challenging themselves throughout the entire thing. A truly stellar release across the board.
Sage "Procrastinate" LP (sagerulez.bandcamp.com)
Sage are a promising new band from Cochrane, Ontario Canada. Their debut E.P. is full of crushing riffs and pounding drums that harness a raw, primal energy
that channels the likes of Dinosaur Jr, Buffalo Tom and Nirvana (they even do a cover of "Aneurysm". The catchy melodies and hooks on tracks like "Sinking Boats" and "Lukewarm" gel well with the dirge driven riffs of "Procrastinate" and "Fairweather Friends" while the slack rocker vocal stance and lofi-ish production won me over quickly as "Procrastinate" has all the key ingredients of a 90's underground rock n roll fan feast. A remarkable effort indeed.
Various Artists "Max's Kansas City 1976 and Beyond" 2 X LP (mvdb2b.com)
Max's Kansas City was a legendary New York City venue from the late 60's through the early 80's. The early day's saw appearances from Velvet Underground, New York Dolls, the Stooges, Bruce Springsteen and countless others until closing in 1974. The venue Reopened in 1975 under new management, Peter Crowley was hired as music director. The new young bands he booked helped spawn, in tandem with CBGBs, the New York City punk scene. In 1976 Peter compiled a studio album of acts associated with the club, Max's Kansas City 1976, to help promote the club. The album included the first recordings from legendary artists like Suicide, The Fast and Warhol-era veteran Wayne County, whose title-track gave a roll-call of many of the famous acts who'd regularly performed there. Now MVD entertainment has released this expanded 25 track 2 X LP/40 track 2 X CD titled "Max's Kansas City 1976 and Beyond" and it features tracks from New York Dolls, the Stillettos, the Offs, the Senders, Philip Rambow, VON LMO, Iggy Pop, Knots, Roland Alphonso, Cherry Vanilla, Nico, Joy Ryder, Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers and Sid Vicious. It's an incredible collection of raw in your face performances from the golden era of punk and also includes liner notes from Crowley himself. Simply put this is an essential collection of true New York punk/rock n roll.
New York City's Airlift deliver a pair of melodic, heartfelt songs that feature rich guitars, powerful vocals and a top notch rhythm section that keep things moving well. "Policy Of Containment" is a driving number that incorporates a straight forward rock sound with twisted atmospherics and an underlying element of mystery while "Like A Borderline" is faster paced and channels more of a late 80's/early 90's college rock approach that comes off like a cross between Dramarama and Seaweed. It's climbing, octave style guitar playing and inspiring vocal delivery give it an undeniable appeal. A refreshing blast of epic rock n roll from beginning to end.
Bash & Pop "On The Rocks" Single (Fat Possum Records) (tommmystinson.com)
So if you haven't heard Tommy Stinson has reformed Bash & Pop and the band will release a brand new album called "Anything Could Happen" in January, their first since 1992's "Friday Night Is Killing Me". Lead single "On The Rocks" is a gritty, swagger filled number that see's the former Replacements bassist returning to lead vocal and guitar duties in fine form. The track is full of the kind of charming hooks and catchy vocal melodies you'd expect from Stinson and really showcases how much of an incredible songwriter he truly is. A much welcomed blast of no frills rock n roll.
Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions "Let Me Get There" Single featuring Kurt Vile (hopesandoval.com)
The second single from the new Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions album "Until The Hunter" is a duet with indie darling Kurt Vile. It's breezy laid back feel showcases Sandoval's delicate trademark voice and Vile's stoic drawl over a backdrop of punchy guitars that remind me of something from one of Paul McCartney's 70's solo records. There's also the undeniable country feel that always seems to find it's way into Sandoval's music that I just can't get enough of. So wonderful to see her making more and more music in recent years. A remarkable effort indeed.
Iggy Pop "Post Pop Depression: Live At The Royal Albert Hall" LP/DVD (iggypop.com)
Iggy Pop takes his Post Pop Depression Tour to The Royal ALbert Hall and delivers a performance for the ages that's captured on this live LP/DVD. Backed by Josh Homme and Dean Fertita of Queens Of The Stone Age and Dean Fertita of Arctic Monkeys Iggy blasts through unforgettable renditions of "Lust For Life", "The Passenger","Sister Midnight" and "China Girl". My personal favorites are the raunchy romp of "Sixteen" and primal energy of "Tonight" as the combination of grit and swagger that flows throughout those tracks is absolutely crushing. At 69 years old Iggy is still as phenomenal as ever and this performance will show you why.
Jared Mancuso "Roll Over" Single (www.jaredmancusomusic.com)
The first thing that strikes me about Jared Mancuso's music is the amount of fun he seems to be having while making it. "Roll Over" the first single from his new album "Superdope" is a bouncy rock n roll track highlighted by Mancuso's straight forward vocal delivery and energetic guitar riffs. The track also makes great use of a violin which creates a nice dynamic alongside the bass and drums. Add in this hilariously executed Halloween themed video and you have all the key ingredients for an underground classic. The "Superdope" album release show takes place on Thursday November 17th at Bowery Electric in New York City with special guests Venture, TBC and Davide Moscato.
An impressive debut from this U.K. based band that follows in the footsteps of Teenage Fan Club, My Bloody Valentine and Loop. Opener "Another Shade Of Blue" is full of powerful fuzz driven guitar tones and wavering riffs that create a wash of hypnotic sounds while "Dionysus" is a cleverly written gem full of energetic hooks and powerful choruses. The controlled chaos of "Sissy Spacek" is highlighted by one of the most menacing guitar performances you will hear anywhere, as the shrill reverb drenched sounds offer a blast of sonic mayhem that's simply unstoppable. Things wind down with the sludgy, dirge like flow of "(Remit) Like I Do" which moves like a tidal wave of shoegaze bliss. Looking forward to hearing what these promising upstarts come up with next.
Deidre & The Dark "Boss Lady" Single (www.deidremusic.com)
"Boss Lady," the new single from NYC noir-pop group Deidre & the Dark is an infectious blast of sonic energy that merges early soul, big band and jazz. Deidre's passionate and powerful voice brings to mind classic girl groups of the 50's and 60's while the production style falls somewhere between new electronic producers like Toro y Moi and vintage Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. With an E.P. in the works for late 2016, Deidre & the Dark will be joining French Horn Rebellion on the road for select dates in the Northeast this March.
Fire To The Stars "Made Of Fire" Single (seahorserecordings.com)
Such a brilliant and powerful new single from Australia's Fire To The Stars that comes equipped with this passionately moving video from director Matthew Chuang. The gloomy melancholy sounds created on "Made Of Fire" are second to none as the ambient textures and beautiful vocals draw you in and sit well next to the orchestral instrumentation and flowing melodies that loom over ghost like undertones. It has a soothing spirit that's also haunting all at the same time as it's slow pace generates a dense level of mystery and intrigue. Clearly one of the best tracks I've heard this year.
Iggy Pop "Gardenia" Single (iggypop.com)
Having been such a fan of Iggy for so long and listening to his records over and over for years, his voice on "Gardenia" is like an unexpected visit from an old friend that you welcome with open arms. There is certainly an ode to Iggy's years working with David Bowie throughout this track as he locks into a phenomenal groove that's submerged in all of his trademark swagger. Backed by Joshua Homme and guitarist Dean Fertita of Queens of the Stone Age and Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders, the musicianship throughout the song is simply incredible as the band lays back, never overplaying and let Iggy do his thing. A fine addition to the legacy of one of the all time greats. From the new album "Post Pop Depression" available now at postpopdepression.shopfirebrand.com.
Jesus On The Moon "Elsewhere" (jesusonthemoon1.bandcamp.com)
This Puyallup, Washington based band craft a captivating mix of post punk and snyth sounds full of catchy hooks and atmospheric dynamics. Opening number "The Black Sheep" channels the spirits of Joy Division and New Order as the pulsating synths reek havoc across your mind. The melodies keep you moving as stand out track "Borderland" adds a touch of Psychedelic Furs like flair as the the banging beats and glistening guitars of "East Hall" make for a shining blast of dance inducing electro pop. The band show a more experimental side during the twisted and hypnotic sounding "Dark Flow" before settling back in on "Seraphic Spheres Tremble in the Autumnal Arcade" which feels like a song from the soundtrack of a lost John Hughes film. Overall an excellent album sure to please early 80's post punk enthusiasts.
A breathtakingly beautiful record from this Piano, Texas based project. Two ambinet soundscape pieces "Out of Everything that Glows" and "Hold" kick things off in fine form as each track adds just enough of a rugged touch to the layers of well crafted sound experimentation to take the tones over the top. A reverb drenched cover of the Ella Fitzgerald classic "Blue Moon" meshes quite well with the spaced out originals that follow. "Katy Lake" and "Russell Creek View" channel the spirits of Buddy Holly and The Velvet's while the final two cuts "The Deerfield Lights" and "Partners In Crime" lay back into Eno like territory. A soothing and inspiring release from beginning to end.
So Pitted "Feed Me" Single(subpop.com)
"Feed Me" off of Seattle based band So Pitted's new album "Neo" is a no punches pulled rocker full of relentless aggression from start to finish that's sure to deliver a sledgehammer sized blast to your ears.I love the grinding, dirge like riff that drives this song alongside the distorted droning vocal and ferocious blasts of guitar feedback that serve as a fine lesson in musical brutality. It's maniacal, it's menacing and it's down right infectious.
