Category Archives: Reviews

Apklypz – Golden Spiralverse

Logo Man

Golden Spiralverse is a genre defying debut single from “APKLYPZ,” a musician who has been around the block a few times and paid his dues. A conceptual electronic track, Golden Spiralverse has elements of retro futurism, at times reminiscent of ambient video game music. It’s very cerebral, the kind of jam one would hear in the background of a performance art presentation. APKLYPZ has described the mix as “dense,” and the sound strikes me as being loosely similar to industrial techno music from the early 90s. The difference being that this recording emits brighter, more positive vibes. Don’t be fooled by the run time of the track either. There are a lot of dynamic changes, as well as unpredictable musical twists and turns packed into this abstract little jam. It’s like an entire album condensed into one song, almost like someone’s life flashing right before their eyes just before the apocalypse. The artist also has a background in video production, and it shows. The production quality on both the music and the video is top tier. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this picked up for usage in a television commercial or something. It’s very lively and engaging.

APKLYPZ Artist Promo Profile Pic

For more info:

Website: http://www.apklypz.com
Spotify: Apklypz on Spotify
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/apklypz/1439716567
CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/apklypz

Hakon Skogstad – Two Hands to Tango

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Two Hands to Tango is a full length album from classically trained, professional pianist, Hakon Skogstad. In terms of recorded piano instrumental performances, this album is about as good as it gets. This guy has studied piano all around the world at some of the best institutions and received private lessons from high profile teachers in a variety of disciplines and styles. What strikes me about Two Hands to Tango is how lively and vibrant it is considering the recordings are just piano and nothing else. I think people underestimate just how difficult it is to record songs with one solitary instrument and still manage to create a sound which mesmerizes the listener. Yet, Hakon Skogstad manages to do just that. He effortlessly maneuvers the keys and seems to have a built in calculator-like intuition, a complete mastery of the mathematics of the pacing in his songs. He alternates between tepid and brooding moods to playfully quick hopscotch without missing a beat. The tracks feature a level of complexity and sophistication that’s instantly appreciated by anyone whose ever attempted to jam on the piano. My favorite song on this album is Canaro en ParĂ­s, which is bright and has an excitable form.

For more info:

Website: http://www.hmskogstad.net/music/two-hands-to-tango/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3VJdpoFj4QAL5aKtIms0NK?si=3a6rnOH7QEyjJ2aEZ3ZZAg

Jamit – Star of Wonder

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Star of Wonder is a new single from Singapore based (but originally from Melbourne, Australia) artist Jamit. The song draws from a range of electronic musical styles and is characterized by a bright and hypnotically uplifting sound. This track has enough of a pulse to be a party jam but it’s still mellow enough to be enjoyed alone in a moment of meditative reflection. Emotionally, something about it gives off very positive vibes. The synths are very chime-like and cerebral. Star of Wonder is mostly instrumental, although vocals (credited to “Bassa”) occasionally make unexpected appearances to accent the song. Anyway, I came away from this song with a good feeling about Jamit’s music. It has an energy to it and a sense of openness.

For more info:

Star of Wonder by Jamit

Luxury Eviction – Master of None

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Though it was apparently “recorded using legendary audio equipment from Abbey Road and Capitol Records,” Luxury Eviction’s Master of None would have sounded great even recorded on 4-track in someone’s closet. Blair B’s vocals are just that powerful. Her songs could almost be described as avant garde, alternative, and ultimately more substantive versions of James Bond film theme songs like For Your Eyes Only and All Time High. The tracks on this album just have a very epic, symphonic feel to them, but with some edgier, brooding undertones. The songs are very meticulously put together and well crafted. Though they were recorded on top notch (analog?) gear, there isn’t a bunch of processing or post-production tinkering with the sound. It’s mostly left in its fresh and undisturbed form, accented with traditional reverb and delay. My favorite track on this album is probably Dragonflies in Hurricanes, which features some radically retro synths.

For more info:

http://luxuryeviction.com/
http://www.facebook.com/luxuryeviction
https://www.instagram.com/dablairb/

One Week 20 Years Ago

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[Fran and Stephen are observing from the roof of the mall]
Francine Parker: What are they doing? Why do they come here?

Stephen: Some kind of instinct. Memory of what they used to do. This was an important place in their lives.
– Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Hard to believe it’s been 20 years since Barenaked Ladies’ One Week was a popular, chart topping hit. I remember driving around Tempe in the fall of 1998 listening to The Edge 106.3 FM, and it seemed like this song was on the radio every 5 minutes…sometime between songs such as Harvey Danger’s Flagpole Sitta and Third Eye Blind’s How’s It Gonna Be? These songs were heard many times on trips to and from Blockbuster Video (as well as Hollywood Video) to rent and return erotic thrillers, midnight outings to Denny’s, lonely drives to North Phoenix, my job at Abercrombie and all the rest.

One Week was one of those cheesy songs that I would have never admitted to liking but knew the words to and would secretly enjoy when it came on. It wasn’t passionately hated enough for me to like ironically, the way I later did with boy bands and Vitamin C, it was at least preferable to rapcore, a genre which I loathe to this day. In 1998, I would have complained about all the music on the radio sucking except the oldies station. This seems laughable in the context of today, when nearly every pop song is processed gibberish. In hindsight, we didn’t know how good we had it! One Week has the feel of a relic from a much more innocent and carefree era. It might as well be 100 years ago and a different country. The plethora of pop culture references in the lyrics are characteristic of Generation X works made at what Bret Easton Ellis refers to as the “height of the empire.”

Watchin X-Files with no lights on,
We’re dans la maison
I hope the Smoking Man’s in this one
Like Harrison Ford I’m getting Frantic
Like Sting I’m Tantric
Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy

I remember thinking these lyrics were so dumb, but not because I was opposed to the idea of cheesy pop culture references in songs. It’s just that the particular items referenced weren’t things that I personally was into. I did after all, write a song about Michael from Melrose Place. To revisit and paraphrase that memorable line from 1978’s Dawn of the Dead, such things had an important place in our lives.

I felt as though I owed it to Barenaked Ladies to write something about One Week, given how much enjoyment this jam gave me in 1998. 20 years later I can finally admit it.

Grayson Word – All Night

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All Night is a follow up single to an EP released earlier this year (at only age 17) by Grayson Word, a “soul/pop singer & multi-instrumentalist based in Nashville.” The verses in All Night delight with a loungy, funky pop sort of quality, but where the track really shines is the chorus. Out of nowhere, Word’s voice casually reaches unexpected highs with considerable ease. This dynamic quality is reminiscent of songs like Billy Joel’s The Stranger. It’s evident from listening to even one Grayson Word track is that this kid is no poser. There are tons of aspiring young pop stars out there with recordings which are gummed up with autotune and horrible effects processing to mask deficiencies in skill. All Night doesn’t have any of that and Grayson’s musical chops are confidently displayed in full force. These recordings cut through the BS that infects much of contemporary pop music. On top of all that, this guy is only a teenager and probably hasn’t even reached his full potential yet. The only thing standing in the way of All Night being played in nearly every department store is a lack of industry connections. Hopefully, that will change as the “Word” gets out.

For more info:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/graysonwordmusic/
Spotify: Grayson Word – All Night
iTunes: Grayson Word – All Night

Fans of Jimmy Century – eSensuals

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eSensuals is a full length album from Vegas based (originally from Oakland) duo, “Fans of Jimmy Century” (FOJC for short.) The sound is an impressive combination of loungy female vocals, quirky lyrics and “indiewave” dance music. It’s an eclectic concoction that I’ve personally never heard before, (and I’ve listened to a lot of wild stuff over the years) but which this group performs expertly. There are so many detectable musical trace elements here it would be a struggle to name them all (disco, mod, 80s synthpop, vaporwave etc.) There’s quite a bit of variety among the songs as well. They’re not just doing the same thing over and over on this album. Architecturally, each of these songs has its own personality. True to the album title itself, the tracks on eSensuals are memorable for their clever and catchy names, revealing the wit and creativity of the creators. It’s not all a front or a gimmick though, songs like Liquid Chill and Cherry Drops musically live up to their powerful names in every sense. This album is just a really solid representation of indie music in that it finds the perfect balance between skill, aesthetics, humor, and the avant garde without ever coming across as pretentious or ego-driven.

For more info:

http://fansofjimmycentury.com/

Divine – Runaway

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Runaway is the debut single from “Divine,” an up and coming artist from the Philippines. Her mother and sister are both singer’s also, so the passion to perform runs in the family. One listen to Runaway is enough to realize Divine is a talented singer. She sings on key and has a dynamic vocal range. Unlike with other pop artists, the effects in the song are used to accentuate her voice rather than conceal flaws. Take away the beats, the synths and everything else on the recording, and she could still manage to captivate the audience with her vocals alone. She also sings with expressive emotion and a touch of attitude to match the tone of the lyrics. In particular, her rendition of the chorus is where she really shines.

Runaway is a professionally produced pop song of label quality with a video to match. The lyrics center around a love interest whom Divine is advising and pleading with him to run away, so that she won’t have to break his heart. Basically, she has feelings for him but thinks he should stay away for his own mental health. It’s a contemporary spin on a classic romantic theme. I could see this artist rising in popularity if she continues to surround herself with a good team. All of the framework is there. It’s important to mention that Runaway is not officially available yet. It will be available for pre-order on Nov 2nd, and the official release is scheduled for Nov 9th.

For more info:

http://www.iamdivinemusic.com/
http://www.leveledupmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DIANA3GARCIA/
https://www.youtube.com/user/FreeStyle3D

XOXOXO – Fornicate

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XOXOXO was an early 2000s, Phoenix band that almost made it big during the Myspace era. They were fronted by an incredibly talented girl named Rachel Taylor, who tragically passed away about 10 years ago. I knew a girl that performed in a play Rachel wrote titled Sorbet and Other Stuff.The band was somewhat ahead of their time in that they were a polished, synth oriented and fashion conscious indie band at a time when most local indie rock was centered around guitars and Pabst Blue Ribbon. I always admired XOXOXO for aiming for something big. The band released one cd, which is pretty damn hard to find. XOXOXO even had a smear piece written about them in the Phoenix New Times, which is just further proof that they were awesome. XOXOXO disappeared for a while and reemerged with a new name, The Kohl Heart. I seem to recall that they lived in Oakland for a while as well. The members seemed to have a tendency to reinvent themselves just as they were beginning to achieve success. They are mostly forgotten …but not by me. Rachel Taylor RIP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd8bGYegOnE

Phantom Phunk – Struggle With Me

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Struggle With Me is the latest EP from Tampa trio “Phantom Phunk.” Even though the band currently has three members, additional appearances are made on the album by rapper Cloud Master Price. Struggle With Me is an interesting release because it experiments with a combination of punk, neo-alternative, funk and hip hop. The first track, Mediphorical is my second favorite song on the album. It features a terrific, minimalist guitar presence and is fronted by the assertive vocals of Alexa Toro. The song is a great choice for opening track because the energy really gets the album off the ground. Every Where You Go gets into more experimental territory. It’s almost like if you mixed a hip hop jam with a Tegan and Sara song and somehow managed to make it work. No Hard Feelings makes creative use of timing and pauses to set up Toro’s vocals, which display a lot of echoey dynamicism in this song. Something Certain People Say is the best track on the album. It’s got a catchy chorus, the best guitar tone and has potential to be a legit indie hit song. Cheap Thrills is the loudest, hardest rocking song. Cloud Master Price makes another climactic appearance on this track and provides the link it needs to round out the album.

For more info:

https://www.phantomphunk.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PH2Music/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0AgBoNSoLQRM3kpYyeFgVf