Review: Andre Detoxx – She Believed in Me EP

Artist – Andre Detoxx

Album – She Believed in Me EP

Label – UM Records

Promoter – Kahua Promotions

Release Date – Nov. 28, 2011

Uk / Poland based Dj / Producer serves up some fresh material with his newest EP She Believed in Me. This EP features two new original tracks as well as a remix of the first track, Nightchords, and two of the second, Redeem. The featured artists making an appearance on this ep are none other than Australia’s own YokoO and Canada’s producer duo HouseRiders; Jeff Fontaine & Martin ‘Deep’ Spelle. Fontaine and Spelle are both featured as HouseRiders on one track and separately on the last. This makes it seem that their collaboration on the first track was done together and on the last was apart. Though it does not seem to be specified anywhere that I have found.

Toxx seems to have been busy these last few months playing plenty of night clubs, writing mixtapes, and collaborating with other artists. Each month he releases a new hour long house mixtape know as The GrooveBar collection for audiences to enjoy. He also has a house radio show on tuesdays at http://www.houseradio.pl/. Sounds like he would fit in great with all of us at Kcsc! Toxx has always focused on a deep house style with plenty of influence from jazz, lounge, soul, and funk. Although he has also been known to dabble in some tech house and vocal house.

The EP begins with two original tracks that feature deep / tech house drums and bass that moves the song through each sweeping phrase as fleeting atmospheric tones present you with an ambient sea in which to you loose yourself. This first track Nightchords features more of a dancy feel to the deep house roots with heavy hitting bass and bright high-hats that weave a progression with the airy synths and various drum embellishments that can only be topped off by a catchy piano lick.

The second song Redeem is similar to the first song in its ambient synth progression and heavy hitting bass, but displays influence from lounge and jazz with its softer drums, progressive bass, as well as an awesome sax ‘break’ during the latter half of the track. This track also features audio sampling of ‘street noise’ in the background with the sounds of many people conversing in the foreground. This almost sounds like a subway area, maybe bus stop, basically the sounds of just some of people gathered inside or underground.

The rest of the EP features remixes of those two tracks, the first being a remix of Nightchords, and the last two being remixes of Redeem.

YokoO’s Nightchords remix is well constructed. He begins the track with some ascending ambiance before bringing things in more of a dancy direction like the original song. Though unlike its predecessor, this shanty features some sampled vocals, both male and female. These samples act more as embellishments or layers to the tune. This track also features a few more bass and synth ‘breaks’ than its founder.

Both remixes of Redeem by producer’s Fontaine and Spelle are great. The first is more of a deep and dancy tune while the other is more deep and tech house. Both tracks features some vocal sampling, but just as in the other tracks is featured more as another layer or embellishment. Each of their tracks also features hard pumping bass and drums rather than the original tracks more calm and hard bass approach.

Overall, if your looking for something that is the perfect combo of deep and tech house with which you can get a little groovy yet keep things pretty relaxed then this ep is right up your alley. Toxx and associates generously offer up an average of 7.30 min per song. Plenty of time to get lost in each track. If you are a fan of Fred Everything, Atjazz, or Homework then you’ll love this ep and all of Toxx’s material.

Below are links to the Ep (preview), and Toxx’s soundcloud where you can listen in meow and check out some of his new mixtapes as well as all else that this awesome artist has to offer.

EP: http://soundcloud.com/kahua-music/sets/umr003

Andre Detoxx: http://soundcloud.com/andre_detoxx

Ian Anderson (DJ POWDER)

Review: Monkey Kids – Wild Attraction EP

Artist – Monkey Kids

Artist – Monkey Kids

Album – Wild Attraction EP

Label – Umalu

Release Date – Nov 18th, 2011

    Umalu Records and Kahua Promotions bring some new and interesting material this month with the release of a new artist, Monkey Kids, and their debut EP “Wild Attraction”. This four track preview is a tribute to the last few decades of psychedelic pop. It has a more modern spin with late 80’s inspired dance and ambient synths along with its’ share of house beats, 8-bit sounds and various elements of reggae. The layering of each track can, at times, get fairly complex, but the overall mood stays temperate which reflects the album’s house and psychedelic pop influences.
    The beginning of the EP starts with a dancy house song. This tune is driven by its analog bass,up-tempo house beats and features plenty of chip-tune embellishments with beeps and bops spread out over the whole song. This song is an example of simplicity, yet it still manages to have a good groove and get people grooving dancing.
    This leads into the next track, which is full on psychedelic pop/rock. This track is driven by piano with accompaniment from guitar and a drony walking bass line.  As the track progresses, synths tones begin to replace the piano as the sound molds and develops into a modern version of the song’s opening progression.  Much of the piano’s progression is very reminiscent of a few song by Pink Floyd, especially when the added guitar tones and embellishments are melded into the track with the modern synths which eventually make their way into the song.
    Afover glancing back over the last few decades on psychedelics, we sway into the next track which keeps the same psy mood from the previous one but is more house and funk influenced. Ambient synths on house beats pair with a funky bass line to lay down a foundation for this track. These layers are then drawn together by some gritty synth embellishments and reggae inspired vocals. This song was likely my favorite of the entire EP. It keeps the same temperate mood that has flowed through the each song but takes things in more of a funky direction. It makes you want to get down.
    The EP is then topped off with its final track which features more of an electronic pop style, somewhat similar to such groups as Cut Copy and early Tears For Fears. The song is driven by catchy bass and drum line. The song is completed by its dualing bright and warm analog leads which meld a melody that can only be completed by the lo-fi vocals.
    The lyrical styling in this album is simple and seems to be just be thought provoking one liners which are repeated throughout the whole song with slight differentiation between each phrase with added effects to catch your attention. Some reverb and other slight sounds are added to some of the vocals, but for the most part they stay pretty clean.
    If your looking for something thats a little dancy, has easy going synths and vocals, and a world feel to their psychedelic roots then Monkey Kids Wild Attraction is right up your alley.

Attached is a link to Kahua’s soundcloud which features a preview of each track on the EP, ready to listen to at the click of a button!

Ian Anderson (DJ POWDER)

http://soundcloud.com/kahua-music/sets/ulr007/

Ian Anderson (DJ POWDER)

Most Influential Radio Hosts – #15-6

Continuing right where we left off, this is the second of three installations ranking the top 25 most influential radio hosts within the last decade. Once again, as a disclaimer, this is a personal opinion with no real scientific method to it. The rankings are based on viewer numbers, show longevity, overall content, genre (political talk, sports talk, music, etc.), and probably some personal bias. This list does not reflect the viewpoints and opinions of my fellow DJs at KCSC. Now that all of the boring disclaimer stuff is out of the way, let’s continue this list!

15. Sean Hannity – The Sean Hannity Show
As the host of his self-titled radio show, The Sean Hannity Show, Sean Hannity is one of the most recognizable names among the most radical, conservative right. In addition to being a radio host reaching over 13 million people per week, he also hosts his own show on Fox News, Hannity.

14. Delilah – The Delilah Show
Easily the softest, most laid back radio show on this list (or in the history of radio for that matter), Delilah features a range of softer, more emotional love songs that people can dedicate to a friend, lover, etc. People often call the show show seeking relationship or personal advice and receive it from the extremely soft-spoken, honest, and compassionate voice that is Delilah.

13. Glenn Beck – The Glenn Beck Program
Yet another radio host of the right, conservative point of view, The Glenn Beck Program is broadcast on over 280 stations throughout the United States as well as XM stations. His show, originally out of a local radio station in Florida, jumped from 18th to 1st in local ratings in less than a year. Soon after, he had a nationally syndicated show and a television program on Fox News. His time with Fox News ended earlier this year, but he is currently the CEO of his own broadcasting company, Mercury Radio Station.

12. Don Imus – Imus in the Morning
Never shy for words, Don Imus has been a nationally syndicated radio host since the 80′s on various stations around the country. Most known recently for his harsh words about the Rutgers women’s basketball team, controversey seems to follow Imus wherever he goes. Unlike other hosts on this list, Imus in the Morning
is much more free flowing. Imus covers topics in politics, sports, general news or whatever is on his very opinionated, passionate mind.

11. Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg – Mike and Mike in the Morning
This very unique sports talk show is on very, very early in the morning and covers hot sports topics from all over the country. What makes Mike and Mike in the Morning so special is the special points of view the co-hosts bring. Greenberg, an avid New York fan, brings the perspective of a passionate fan while Golic, a former NFL lineman, brings the perspective of the athlete and provides insight from that point of view. This creative, unique blend is the spark of controversy and debate between the two friends and co-hosts.

10. Michael Savage – The Savage Nation
Yes, there is yet another conservative-minded radio host on this list. But how many of these conservative talk show hosts have degrees in medical anthropology and medical botany?Although this does not necessarily enhance his ability to influence political ideologies, The Savage Nation boasts the second most online streams of any radio show in the United States.

9. Dr. Laura Schlessinger – The Dr. Laura Program
Discontinued in 2010 (although currently on XM radio), Dr. Laura’s program features a tough love, straight to the point advice show. During its’ glory days, The Dr. Laura Program ranked as the top listened to radio show in the United States. Slight decline in popularity over the last decade and ideology differences between her and various producers ultimately led to her transition to satellite radio.

8. Dave Ramsey – The Dave Ramsey Show
After finding fortune and riches through real estate investments as a young man, Dave Ramsey turned his career to radio, offering financial advice and guidance to his listeners on over 400 stations throughout the country. In addition to The Dave Ramsey Show, Ramsey has been featured on 60 Minutes, The Today Show and even had his own show on Fox Business Network.

7. Paul Harvey – The Rest of the Story
Broadcasting for the better part of 50 years, The Rest of the Story was a very in-depth, feature story show hosted by the great voice of Paul Harvey. A staple of ABC radio network, Harvey’s influence reached over 24 million listeners at his peak. He would broadcast six days per week almost every week until his death in early 2009.

6. Jim Rome – The Jungle
As one of the most recognizable voices in sports talk, Jim Rome brings his humor and no-nonsense personality to his radio show, The Jim Rome Show and his television show on ESPN, Jim Rome is Burning. Getting his start at a college radio station at UC Santa Barbara, Rome worked up the ranks all the way to the big dogs at ESPN. Rome boasts one of the top ten most listened to sports radio shows along with the third most watched television shows on ESPN.

ROBINSON Q+A / OCTOBER 2011

1. You recently made a trip to California for some touring. What was the music scene like compared to that of the UK?

“It’s hard to say, I’d have to play in excess of over 500 gigs to give you an honest answer for that. It was similar in a way that some (not all!) promoters just don’t have a clue. Some try to be an “all you can eat buffet”, and try to offer everything…but a plate full of music that doesn’t harmonise with each other, often leaves a dissatisfaction in the taste. For instance it just doesn’t work putting on an acoustic act followed by a goth metal band closely followed by an indie band, the genres and dynamic are just to extreme. But I have to say that the audiences were far more enthusiastic and wanted you to triumph rather than to watch you burn.

2. Beneath The Ballroom has a noticeably stronger sound than your debut album. Were you trying to achieve a different sound or is this a natural progression of Robinson?

“Absolutely, an artist that keeps on creating the same work is dead, there is no more meaning to his journey. My music is my life and much like life, your attitudes and opinions are always changing, much like the British weather. I never want to be genre specific or follow a fashion or a trend. I refuse to take the public footpath and would be disappointed in myself if I didn’t hack down and carve my own path through the brambles and wild bushes.

3. What are the next steps in the life of Robinson?

“I’ve just had new soles custom made for my shoes as I’ve had agonising feet all of my life, so the next steps I take will be ones of comfort and relief (hopefully!)”

4. Who are your main influences and do you feel that they are apparent in your sound?

“The obvious answer is that John Martyn, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Otis Reading, The Doors, The Beatles and The beach boys have all played their roles in my making but it’s all to difficult to say who influenced what. The truth is that you don’t ever know what your influences are, much like the sponge has no idea of how much water it’s absorbing. But its not just music that affects, it can be the 3/4 part harmony of the Freight train horn, or the wail from a baby to how the babbling brook on a fresh winters day makes you feel. I’ll leave for you to hear if it’s apparent in the music.

5. Can you give us some background information on the track “I’m Leaving”?

“Well, I was sleeping with the devil, she was a corporate banker but she had great legs and her demonic eyes were weirdly sexy, I couldn’t resist. She became my “Suga’ mama”. She always made sure I could drink, would take me out to meals, pay for my haircut, pay for my shoe shine. It was almost like being in heaven but of course I was just tasting the high life of hell and I would have stayed but morally I kind of felt like a whore.

So I knew it couldn’t last, at first she loved the idea of me being a musician, i think she found it romantic but as we all know a dream can’t buy luxury. Although she was extremely wealthy I think she was getting tired of supporting me. She became resentful towards me and would spit at my guitar if it was propped up anywhere. “This isn’t gonna work” I told myself, I had to leave, so I wrote the song “I’m leaving”, Played it to her, she slapped me round the face and threw me out of her house and I never heard from her again.”

6. We are told that you spent time in the Portland area to record this album. What was your experience like while there? What stood out to you about our Pacific Northwest?

“How green it all was, it truly is a beautiful part of the world. I loved how much it rained there. I’ve never been a solar powered person, I find much more beauty and melancholy in the rain, it washes all the filth away and as Tom Waits said “sounds like a round of applause”. I never experienced Portland, it was a place called “McMinnville” that I stayed in, which was about 2 hours out of Portland. It was a sleepy town that time had forgotten about. It felt like I was walking through a film set, the year being 1890, I loved it, to me this was perfect. I was touched with how welcoming, hospitable and friendly the American people were… “Have a great day!!” … – you would never hear that in England! ”

7. If you could be featured on a fellow artists’ album, who would it be and why? (Current recording artist)

“Tom Waits, because I really want to know the magicians tricks!”

8. You seem to be quite the musical talent. What was your first musical love and who influenced you to get involved with music?

“I was 3 years old when I was first electrocuted by music, it was fast foot-stomping Irish music that my dad was playing on the car stereo. I got so excited that I bust out of my buckles, my arms were flying in all directions and my legs kicked like the can-can! At about the age of 5 I had a rather unhealthy obsession with the Jackson 5 and Buddy Holly that stayed with me until the age of 11. I believe the ghost of my Grandpa got me involved with music. He died when I was just 3 so i didn’t really know anything about him. I was in primary school aged 9 when it happened… I was bursting for the toilet and asked to be excused from the classroom. As I walked down the long oppressive Victorian corridor I began to hear the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. I couldn’t move, the earth stood still while the notes of that clarinet danced like comets through the galaxies. When the clarinet stopped playing, the earth woke up to find that I had wet myself… but I didn’t care, I cared for nothing from that day forward other than music. I ran home after school to announce to my mum what had happened to me, “I want to play the clarinet! can I please have lessons and a clarinet??! I’ll never expect anything for any birthday or Christmas for the rest of my life! please mum, please!!”. She told me to calm down as she had some extraordinary news to tell me….. She told me that my Grandpa played the clarinet and that he had left it in his will for me to have! It was my Grandpa’s ghost that led me out of the classroom that day and who is still watching over me at every step of my journey.

9. Describe the typical emotions you have right before you go on stage to perform.

“I feel like a firework that has just been ignited ready to soar high into the sky… so naturally you hope you don’t plummet into the ground. Anxiety is the most typical emotion, I worry about practical things, like strings breaking, the P.A exploding, the guitar leads working properly, my voice breaking or my trousers falling down.”

10. What has been the standout moment of your career thus far?

“Since the age of 16 I had played around pubs, clubs and bars only to play to very few people with many ears closed and more often than not, a projector screen showing the football or rugby whilst trying to deliver a delicate acoustic set. Over the years it had become frustrating to say the least. This is why this year was like clean air entering my lungs after drowning in a sea of doubt. For the first time in my life I saw people from my hometown (and not just friends and family) turn up to the shows. I never told anyone this and this is the first time I’ve ever admitted it and here I am doing it publicly… but we played a gig this summer at “The Old Rectifying House” in Worcester as part of the music festival and something very strange came over me. After playing the show I went to the toilets and locked the cubicle door behind me. I held my head in my hands and wept in sheer happiness and relief. I couldn’t remember the last time I had even shed a tear let alone cried and here I was bawling like a little baby! I just couldn’t believe it. Some dream of Grammy awards or world wide fame or a number 1 in the charts. For me it was always my ambition to have the support of my hometown and here I was being backed by Worcester’s finest musicians, (John-Joe Murray, Josh Taylor, Will Hughes, Hywel Payne, Wes Dance, Rich Clarke, Josh Crivelli) playing to a room that was singing along to my songs and was so full that they were turning people away at the door! Truly I was touched, it felt much like falling in Love.

Most Influential Radio Hosts – #25-16

Popular radio hosts are often overshadowed, but are nonetheless celebrities that have unique personalities, viewpoints and an extreme influence on their listeners (usually numbering in the millions). As a disclaimer, this list of the most influential, entertaining and informative radio personalities is my personal opinion and does not reflect the opinion of my fellow KCSC members. This list is based on viewer numbers, the longevity of these shows, the content (whether it be humor, political activism, sports, etc.) and probably a little bit of personal bias (you try to compile a list like this without putting your own personal spin on it). This three part series will start with numbers 25-16, so without further adieu, let’s get down to brass tax.

25. Kidd Kraddick – Kidd Kraddick in the Morning
David Cradick, aka Kidd Kraddick, is the host of the nationally syndicated radio show Kidd Kraddick in the Morning. Kraddick’s show features general news talk with a humorous spin on it. His show also showcases a rather hilarious use of voice-altering technology to portray various made up characters such as Pooladsanj Pooladsanj (“Poo Poo”) and Wally the Wal-Mart cashier as they’re put in different situations with Kraddick’s co-hosts. Kraddick is also the founder of the charitable organization, Kidd’s Kids, which sends chronically ill children to Disney World every year.

24. Neal Boortz – The Neal Boortz Show
As the self-proclaimed “High Priest of the Church of the Painful Truth”, Neal Boortz is a political show host stemming from the Libertarian point of view. His show, The Neal Boortz Show, reaches approximately four million people throughout the country per week and touches on general news topics and controversial issues. He’s definitely not afraid to get into verbal scuffles with callers and guests, making for a very entertaining show regardless of one’s political viewpoints and beliefs.

23. Tom Joyner – The Tom Joyner Morning Show
Since 1994, The Tom Joyner Morning Show has been a staple in millions of American’s morning drives. He and his co-hosts aim to put a humorous spin on both sports and news topics throughout the world. His show also features old-school R&B music, mostly from the 1970s. For a brief stint, Joyner hosted The Tom Joyner Show on TV, a sketch comedy program similar to that of comedian Dave Chapelle. Joyner’s morning show reaches millions of people across the nation each week and his influences reaches out into the community as the owner of numerous charitable foundations.

22. Bob and Tom – The Bob and Tom Show
Bob Kevoin and Tom Griswold, a tandem that has been on the air together since the early 80s, host what remains to be one of the most popular nationally-syndicated shows in the United States, The Bob and Tom Show. This is easily one of the more entertaining morning drive shows out there, featuring dozens of different, unique and hilarious characters portrayed by Kevoin, Griswold and other co-hosts on the show. The Bob and Tom Show is definitely more comedy-based than many of the other morning talk shows out there.

21. George Noory – Coast to Coast AM
As one of the most unique shows out there, Coast to Coast AM is a show dedicated to the paranormal and conspiracy theories. Hosted by George Noory since 2001, this show features topics, guests, and subject matter all related to everything from crop circles, UFOs, the Mayan calendar, ghosts, etc. You get the picture. This show airs from 10 p.m – 2 a.m. Pacific Time throughout the United States, as well as in Canada and the Philippines and brings in an estimated four million listeners per night, making it one of the most unique and popular nighttime radio shows on air today.

20. John and Ken – The John and Ken Show
Broadcasting out of Los Angeles, John Kobylt and Kenneth Chiampou host the most popular local talk show in the United States. Reaching over one million listeners per day in the greater L.A. area, The John and Ken Show has entrenched themselves as a voice that has significant influence in southern California. Outspoken, controversial and fearless don’t even begin to describe Kobylt and Chaimpou. They played a significant role in the recall of former California governor Gray Davis, hosting numerous petition organizers on the show and calling millions of constituents/listeners into action. If that isn’t the definition of influence, then I don’t know what is.

19. Dan Patrick – The Dan Patrick Show
The first sports talk host on this list, the former ESPN anchor and current Fox Sports show host boasts one of the most popular sports talk shows in the nation: The Dan Patrick Show. Unlike most sports talk hosts, Patrick tends to be a little less bias and opinionated towards general sports topics. Rather than having his own personal spin on controversial sports issues, Patrick just reports it as is. This can be seen as a nice change of pace to the common, extremely opinionated sports hosts, but can get a little monotonous and boring at times.

18. Ryan Seacrest – On Air With Ryan Seacrest
In case you’re wondering, this is the same Ryan Seacrest that hosts American Idol, but his role in radio is extensively different. Although the main focus of On Air With Ryan Seacrest is the music, usually U.S. top 40 singles, Seacrest also provides listeners with on-air interviews of some of the most popular celebrities and figures in the country. Seacrest’s morning show is not only nationally syndicated, but is also broadcasted in Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa and Canada among other countries internationally.

17. Frank Caliendo
I’m pushing the line here with radio hosts, but Frank Caliendo is on nationally syndicated shows almost daily it seems like. Although he doesn’t have his own radio show (yet), Caliendo’s presence on numerous shows throughout the country provides a change of pace comedian different from all others. Caliendo’s spot-on impersonations of popular figures like George Bush, John Madden, Robin Williams, and the entire cast of Seinfeld will keep you (and the show hosts themselves) laughing on end. I would rank him higher on this list, but technically he doesn’t have a show. So for now, the funniest man on the list sits here at 17.

16. Laura Ingraham – The Laura Ingraham Show
While researching dozens of radio hosts throughout the country, I have noticed that many of them fit the bill of “right-wing/conservative”. The Laura Ingraham Show fits that bill almost perfectly as Ingraham remains one of the most (if not the most) popular female conservative talk show hosts in the United States today. Her sarcastic, satirical approach to issues, both political and social, provides a witty viewpoint on problems throughout the country. Her voice reaches almost six million listeners per week, putting her in the top 10 of the most listened to radio talk shows in the United States.

Album Review – The Death Set: Michael Poiccard

Artist: The Death Set

Album: Michel Poiccard

Record Label: Ninja Tune

Release Date: March 15th, 2011

The Death Set is a high energy music group formed in 2005 in Sydney, Australia by Johnny Siera and Beau Velasco. Six months after the band’s formation, they relocated to Brooklyn, NY; the place the band now calls home.

The album received high praise and yielded positive reviews. After a vigorous touring schedule, the band was getting ready to head back into the studio in late 2009 when tragedy struck. On Sep. 27, 2009, founding member Beau Velasco was found dead in his New York studio due to a drug overdose.

While many bands would have quit, the band decided to re-enter the studio and create an album in celebration of Velasco’s life. With producer XXXchange manning the decks, The Death Set reemerged with a record that is, quite literally, ready to blow up your stereo.

Michel Poiccard erupts with the same aggressive, Ritalin snorting energy that the band proved they were capable of.

After a warning of the intent of the album on the intro, the band explodes into the first single “Slap Slap Slap Pound Up Down Snap”. After heavy electronic bass and repetition of the title, Johnny Siera’s enraged sneer breaks through with driving guitars and drums clocking in just under 2 minutes.

The album continues heavy hooks and fuzz lo-fi vocals at times to interpret the message and meaning of the album.

The most interesting parts of Michel Poiccard are easily the guest appearances that can be found on the record. Both Diplo and SpankRock are featured on tracks to add the electronics that are found more heavily on Michel Poicarrd then on previous works.

Michel Pioccard is an album dedicated to the life and loss of Beau Velasco. While there are tracks that still feel like the angst filled Death Set the people know (“Slap, Slap, Slap Pound Up Down Snap”, “Chew It Like Gum Gum”), Siera finds himself experimenting with sounds that don’t fit well within the intrigue that The Death Set normally presents (“I Miss You Beau Velasco”, “We Are Going Anywhere Man”).

While the energy is high on Michel Pioccard, the strength in the songs has been slightly lost without the dual vocals of Velasco and Siera. While Siera is a strong front-man, he still has not full grown into his own as a solo leader. But this album shows he has the potential and talent to do so.

After the loss of a founding member, The Death Set bounces back as only they can with an album just as spastic as they are.

6.5/10

 

Trevor Platt

DJ Trainwreck

(Originally posted on DJ Trainwreck’s blog: TrainWreck Music)

 

Album – Fences: Fences

Artist: Fences

Album: Fences

Record Label: OnTo Entertainment

Release Date: Sept. 28th, 2010

Christopher Mansfield, the main force behind Fences, fancies himself a “F*** Up”. Hidden underneath a mass of tattoos is a soft spoken, heartfelt musician. The tattooed artist with the help of producer Sara Quinn (Tegan and Sara) cracks through his harden exterior to share songs of personal screw-ups, drunken debauchery and loves both had and lost.

On Fences, the self-titled debut, Mansfield uses experiences from his life to create a very personal album that truly speaks to the listener. Similar to the styles of Elliot Smith, who also struggled with addictions, Mansfield opens up wholeheartedly to the listener using his art as his escape.

“Boy Around Here”, the album opener, tells the tale of being unaccepted, a feeling that everyone can relate to at one time or another. Mansfield coons the chorus “Boys around here don’t respect a thing, respect a thing at all, Boys around here don’t respect me, respect me at all.” This chorus begins to repeat for the latter portions of the track with keys slowly getting louder to the end.

In “Same Tattoos” Mansfield opens up about love lost with the longing lines, “And it was full of memories and memorabilia, and a necklace with saints I wore in class, It’s not like you were really gone gone gone gone, but you were, and I never felt love.” His ability to open up on a deep level creates images similar to artists like City & Colour, who sit down with just an acoustic guitar and craft beautiful musical pictures.

With a folky acoustics Mansfield sits, willingly baring his soul. Throughout the record, whimsical guitars carry Mansfield’s lyrical tales helping to create a calming feel to a very melancholy record.

Mansfield lyrics, while honest can become a little repetitive within the chorus’s as he continues line over and over.

This Berkley School of Music dropout managed to land himself on Spin Magazine’s:Top 10 of 2010 You Probably Didn’t Hear. After this incredibly honest record, people can certainly say that they are now listening.

7.5/10

Trevor Platt
DJ Trainwreck

(Originally posted on DJ Trainwreck’s blog: TrainWreck Music)

Album – Loch Lomond: Little Me Will Start a Storm

Artist: Loch Lomond

Album: Little Me Will Start A Storm

Record Label: Tender Loving Empire

Release Date: February 22, 2011

Loch Lomond, for those who don’t know, is a Socttish loch, or lake, and is the largest amongst the British Isles. It is a beautifully scenic location containing many islands.

It is also the perfect name for the band that originated as a solo recording project for multi-instrumentalist Richie Young in 2003. By the latter half of 2006 the band had solidified itself as a 9 person chamber folk band. Incorporating a vast array of both traditional and nontraditional instruments found in the indie folk community.

On Little Me Will Start A Storm, the band creates whimsical sounds that draw the listener in with orchestral instrumentation combined with a vividness that finds oneself displaced on the bogs of Scotland.

Surprisingly the band originated and remains located as a member of the Portland indie community.   It’s almost hard to believe that they were not found singing Celtic folk on the side of Lomond itself.

The album opener “Blue Lead Fences” holds the least amount of orchestral sounds but is is among the most commercially friendly of the album combining sounds of Portland Indie Pop with a folk aesthetics.

Young sings “Cape around my neck, running fast your shoes come off, nothing left so nothing lost” about the simplicities of life found through youthful adventures. Remembering a time in life where there were truly, no cares in the world other then having fun.

The upbeat sounds take a sharp turn into chamber uniqueness with the albums first single “Elephants and Little Girls” with soothing clarinet lullabies and melodic string plucks that would find any classical composer proud.

The album continues this direction bringing in many different sounds and singing styles to paint lyrical portraits. The music created is beautifully scenic with a fresh combination of new and the old. The chamber vocals take the listener on a journey from the insides of a dark gloomy church to the breezy open hillsides of France.

The album is as diverse lyrically as it is musically. Whether its humorously listening to Young compare friends to eggs (Egg Song) or the almost 90s sounding alt chamber “Earth Has Moved Again” in which the subject of starting new with friends or past loves is told through the metaphoric changes of Earth itself.

The album’s uniqueness, while a breath of fresh air, can cause the album to play a little more like a chamber concert then the record is was intended to be. It is easy to find yourself tuning the album out due to the orchestral intensity rather then losing yourself to the sounds and atmospheric bliss the record has to offer.

Regardless, Little Me Will Start A Storm is an enchanting album that makes what is old, new again and creates a eloquent shift in a somewhat stagnant genre.

7.5/10

Trevor Platt
DJ Trainwreck

(Originally posted on DJ Trainwreck’s blog: TrainWreck Music)

Live Show – Deaf Pilots Rock Cafe Flo

Artist: The Deaf Pilots
Show Date: Mar. 10, 2011
Venue: Café Flo

The local rock trio of Derek Julian, Ryan Fairley and Calvin Van Burg absolutely blew me away at their performance on Mar. 10 at Café Flo. Known as The Deaf Pilots, this hard rock/alternative group has to get some serious recognition. I had heard of this group just sort of being “good” and “fun to listen to” from friends who keep up with local Chico bands, but I literally had to keep myself from smiling like an idiot throughout their 45-ish minute performance that, unfortunately, consisted of only about 20-30 listeners.

Their set started out with a classic cover that anyone who has seen The Hangover knows of; Joker and the Thief by Wolfmother. I’m usually not a huge fan of covers unless they’re extremely good, but this was definitely pleasant. They didn’t necessarily try to copy the song, but they put a unique twist on it that made it fun to listen to. Let’s set one thing straight—no one is going to recreate the high-pitched shrill singing of Andrew Stockdale (Wolfmother singer). Julian, the Deaf Pilots lead singer, didn’t even attempt to. They played it to their style and it was superb. I loved it.

Not only were their next few songs very well written and played, but what kept me fascinated was the versatility of each member of this group. Every other song or so, I’d see Van Burg and Julian switch off between guitar and bass. According to the group, even Fairley (mainly the drummer) has picked up the guitar on some songs. This group is extremely versatile. Often times when bands try to switch it up, songs may have a different feel or might not sound all way normal, but everything blended perfectly regardless of who was playing what instrument.

To people who know The Deaf Pilot’s, the song of choice is “California Woman.” I had never previously heard this song and I loved it (you can check the music video here). Another thing that impressed me was this group’s crowd interactivity. They made shout outs, had call-and-response sessions with people in attendance and just simply looked like they were having fun doing what they were doing. It’s easy to tell when a band is loose and is having fun and DP definitely fit that mold.

The set closed with a new song titled “Don’t Jump the Gun.” It was high energy and featured a great solo by Van Burg on the guitar. All of their songs featured fantastic drumming by Fairley and an astonishing bass/guitar/vocal mix from Julian and Van Burg. From start to finish this group had me impressed. They are most definitely the best local band I’ve heard to date and I would encourage anyone and everyone to check them out.

For more information of upcoming shows, visit TheDeafPilots.com. You won’t be disappointed at all.

Geoff Hull

ALBUM – Cape Dory: Tennis

Artist: Cape Dory

Album: Tennis

Release Date: Jan. 25, 2011

After releasing their first single in June 2010, a music blog buzz was quickly formed around cutesy married Denver duo, Tennis. Admittedly, I was one of the people feverishly playing “Marathon” on repeat for the majority of my summer; It was the perfect lo-fi surf-pop gemstone amongst all the other summertime singles, and I couldn’t get enough.  It was finally announced that Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley would be releasing their debut Cape Dory in January 2011, a surprising drop date seeing as how well the first few singles meshed with warm weather and green grass.  As it turns out, Cape Dory is the perfect glimpse of sunshine in the middle of winter. In a sense, this album represents a light at the end of a dark tunnel.  The album is a collection of shining neo-doo-wop stars about the couple’s eight-month trip exploring the northeastern coast on their boat, Cape Dory– full of maritime crooning and swaying guitars.

The album opens with the charming “Take Me Somewhere”, which starts mid-tempo but is quick to blossom into the idyllic surf-pop jam that defines the band’s sound as a whole.  Come track four we hear “Marathon” again, in all its glory, obviously re-recorded, but thankfully left largely untouched from the single version released last summer.  Alaina’s voice drips sugar as she sings, “we didn’t realize/that we had arrived/at high tide, high tide,” followed by the chorus of ooh’s that got me hooked back in 2010. “Pigeon” chimes in as a perfect change of pace with its sliding guitars and lovey-dovey lyrics; this is where the 60s doo-wop sound really gleams, as if we are hearing a solo from some sort of nautical Hairspray production.  The album ends with “Water Birds”– clanging away, then mellowing to a close and we are left with an uncomplicated form of satisfaction.

Every track is short and sweet. Each is a cohesive and independent piece, but together they form something that provides the perfect half hour of summer dreamin’ in the dead of winter.  Warning to those who are heartbroken; Cape Dory is sickeningly cutesy.  It is a sugar rush of love expressed pleasantly and nautically; embrace the simpleness.

Marchese Taylor (DJ Evergreen)

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