Jóhann Gunnar Jóhannsson 19 September 1969 – 9 February 2018) was an Icelandic composer who wrote music for a wide array of media including theatre, dance, television, and films. His work is stylised by its blending of traditional orchestration with contemporary electronic elements.
Jóhann released solo albums from 2002 onward. In 2016, he signed with Deutsche Grammophon, through which he released his last solo album, "Orphée". Some of his works in film include the original scores for Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners, Sicario, and Arrival, and James Marsh's The Theory of Everything. Jóhann was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score for both "The Theory of Everything" and "Sicario", and won a Golden Globe for Best Original Score for the former. He was a music and sound consultant on Mother!, directed by Darren Aronofsky in 2017. His scores for Mary Magdalene and Mandy were released posthumously.
His only directorial work, Last and First Men, premiered at the Manchester International Festival in 2017, where he also performed the score live with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
"A Model Of The Universe" - composition from the original score to the 2014 motion picture by Icelandic composer/producer Johann Johannsson.
"The Theory Of Everything" is a 2014 British film directed by James Marsh and penned by Anthony McCarten. The film was inspired by the memoir TRAVELLING TO INFINITY: MY LIFE WITH STEPHEN by Jane Hawking, which deals with her relationship with her ex-husband theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and his success in physics.
A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS may well be known for their bizarrely teased haircuts as much as their hit single "I Ran". A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS were one of prime movers in the 80's new wave era. Growing out of the synth-heavy and ruthlessly stylish new romantic movement. Hairdresser Mike Score (lead vocals, keyboards) formed A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS with his brother Ali (drums) and fellow hairdresser Frank Maudsley (bass) in 1980, adding guitarist Paul Reynolds several months later..
"Telecommunication" became an underground hit in Euro-disco and new wave clubs. The band signed a major-label contract with Jive by the end of the year, and their eponymous debut album appeared in the spring of 1982. "I Ran (So Far Away)" was released as the first single from the album, and MTV quickly picked up on its icily attractive video, which featured long shots of Mike Score and his distinctive, cascading hair. The single climbed into the American Top Ten, taking the album along with it. In the UK, "I Ran" didn't make the Top 40, but "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" reached number ten later that year; in America, that single became a Top 40 hit in 1983, after "Space Age Love Song" peaked at number 30. "Wishing" was taken from the group's second album "Listen" in 1983. The band released 1984's "The Story of A Young Heart" which fielded the hit "The More You Live, The More You Love".
A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS are famous for their music but also famous for their references in popular culture from TV (Ross's Haircut in Friends), Computer Games ("I Ran" was the standout track on Grand Theft Auto Radio), Film (The band and haircut are referenced in Pulp Fiction, X-Men and The Wedding Singer) . This cemented the bands reputation and brought the band to a whole new legion of fans.
In 2003, the original line-up of Mike, Ali, Frank and Paul reunited for a one-off performance on the VH1 series Bands Reunited. In September 2004, they reformed again and did a brief tour in the United States. From 2004 to 2021 Mike was as busy as ever touring the band around the world. In 2018 the band appeared on record together for their "Ascension" album. The original members all make an appearance on record together for "String Theory".
One of the highlights of the second installment of their Orchestral Hits Opus 'String Theory', iconic 80's band A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS return with "Messages". A long term fan favourite now get's a single release, with five versions in total.
The Original Mix combines the unforgettable guitar energy of the 1982 release, with the Prague Philharmonic swooping in on choruses for added scale and emotional reach, an additional layer that is amplified on the Neo Classical Extended mix, and dialled down slightly on the more laid back Domestic Technology Mix.
Today's tune "Messages" is taken from the new album "String Theory", the single was released along with the Main Extended mix, there's something here for even the hardest hardcore SEAGULLS fans - and long may they continue. Released April 22, 2022
"Shining Star" is a song by EARTH, WIND & FIRE issued as a single in January 1975 on Columbia Records. The song rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart, becoming their first single to top both charts (and only single to top the former).
"Shining Star" was produced by Maurice White and composed by White, Larry Dunn and Philip Bailey. The song also came off EARTH, WIND & FIRE's 1975 album "That's the Way of the World".
The concept for the song came to Maurice White while strolling at night during the band's recording of "That's the Way of the World" at Caribou Ranch. He became inspired by looking up at the starry sky and took his ideas about the song to the other band members.
Today's powerhouse classic was made by vox/lead guitar: Myles Kennedy, guitar: Kathy Moore, drums: Dennis Leeflang, BVs: Christa Wells, bass: Mike Squires, trumpet: Austin Drake, tenor saxophone: R.W. Enoch and trombone: Lindsay McMurray. Mixed by Don Gunn Edited by Mike Squires.
The tune was made for the podcast Couch Riffs https://couchriffs.com. Couch Riffs is a music performance video series and audio podcast created and produced by Mike Squires ( Duff McKagan's Loaded, Harvey Danger, Alien Crime Syndicate and others). The video series has taken some twists and turns along the way and currently is focused on creating full-band quarantine videos. Keep coming back to find more videos soon and with more and more great musical guests. Enjoy!
Grant-Lee Phillips lost in the music as he performs his recent single "Remember This".
The single is taken from the forthcoming album "All That You Can Dream", which is due out on 20th May 2022. Like many artists, Phillips turned to song-writing when his touring schedule was paused indefinitely during the pandemic.
He explains: “I found respite in the process when I could do little else. It became a sort of meditation on this time in my life and the events that we’ve collectively experienced. We’ve experienced some staggering events over the past several years or so. When people speak of those things, it’s not enough to simply highlight or underline the headlines of the day. The aim is to tap into the feelings that we share that are trapped beneath our skin—and figure out how we expel those feelings by talking about them. I found that the circumstances of being off the road and left to reflect on what this time feels like, produced a different kind of song. In some ways, that freed me up to write and record the kind of song that was personal and executed as though it were for an audience of myself alone. That’s freeing.”
In a nod to this lyrical elegance, "All That You Can Dream's" music is ornate but spare. Phillips wrote and arranged the album's songs on guitar or piano, adding a basic rhythmic and vocal framework. To flesh out the music's contours, he then enlisted a pair of trusted previous collaborators, the Los Angeles-based bassist Jennifer Condos and drummer Jay Bellerose. "They were going stir-crazy themselves and welcomed the idea of a long-distance recording project," Phillips says. Bellerose set up drums in his living room, Condos served as engineer, and the duo laid down rhythm tracks to songs Phillips had sent over, as if the three musicians were all in the same room.
It’s a sensitive, introspective collection of songs that reflect the uncertainties and anxieties of the world we’re currently living in. Look out for the album and, in the meantime, enjoy this and try to catch him live, see all the dates below.
Today's tune "Remember This", taken from the upcoming album "All That You Can Dream".
GRANT-LEE PHILLIPS TOUR DATES 2022 / 2023
APR 27 WED
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Oslo, Norway
APR 28 THU
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Bergen, Norway
APR 29 FRI
Byscenen in Trondheim @ 9:00pm
Trondheim, Norway
APR 30 SAT
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Bodø, Norway
JUN 2 THU
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 8:00pm
Boston, MA, United States
JUN 3 FRI
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 7:30pm
New York, NY, United States
JUN 4 SAT
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 8:00pm
Philadelphia, PA, United States
JUN 5 SUN
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 8:00pm
Washington, DC, United States
JUN 7 TUE
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 8:00pm
Pittsburgh, PA, United States
JUN 8 WED
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 8:00pm
Cleveland, OH, United States
JUN 9 THU
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 8:00pm
Ann Arbor, MI, United States
JUN 10 FRI
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 8:00pm
Chicago, IL, United States
JUN 11 SAT
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 8:00pm
Milwaukee, WI, United States
DEC 1 THU
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Dublin, Ireland
DEC 2 FRI
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Cork, Ireland
DEC 3 SAT
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Limerick City, Ireland
DEC 4 SUN
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Belfast, United Kingdom
DEC 6 TUE
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Manchester, United Kingdom
DEC 7 WED
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
London, United Kingdom
DEC 8 THU
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Bexhill On Sea, United Kingdom
DEC 9 FRI
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Newport, United Kingdom
DEC 10 SAT
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Bristol, United Kingdom
DEC 11 SUN
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Guildford, United Kingdom
JAN 19 THU
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Chester, United Kingdom
JAN 20 FRI
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Strathaven, United Kingdom
JAN 22 SUN
More Music @ 10:00pm
Morecambe, United Kingdom
JAN 24 TUE
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Leeds, United Kingdom
JAN 25 WED
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Liverpool, United Kingdom
JAN 26 THU
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Birmingham, United Kingdom
JAN 27 FRI
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Leicester, United Kingdom
JAN 28 SAT
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Ramsgate, United Kingdom
JAN 29 SUN
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Winchester, United Kingdom
JAN 31 TUE
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
Cambridge, United Kingdom
FEB 1 WED
Grant-Lee Phillips @ 10:00pm
St Albans, United Kingdom
The Swedish post-punkers V**GRA BOYS have announced a new album, "Cave World" - Out July 8th 2022 on YEAR0001, and shared the first taster from the record, "Ain’t No Thief".
The band was formed in 2015, with several members coming from the bands LES BIG BYRD, PIG EYES, NINE, NITAD, and NEU-RONZ. In 2018, they released their first album, "Street Worms". Nils Hansson, a journalist at the newspaper Dagens Nyheter described the band favorably, praising their musical style, as well as their use of black humor and satire, and rated the album a five out of five.
In 2019, the band won the Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA) Album of the Year Award for "Street Worms".
The band's second album, "Welfare Jazz", was released in January 2021.
Benjamin Vallé, the band's co-founder and former guitarist, died in October 2021.
V**RA BOYS: “A lot of our output is a celebration of being a fuck-up”. The follow-up to 2021’s "Welfare Jazz", which has been produced by Pelle Gunnerfeldt and DJ Haydn, is released on July 8 via Year0001.
According to a press release, the album is “inspired by current events”, and “aims to tear through the insanity and confusion the world currently finds itself in.”
The band is out touring atm, see all the dates below.
Today's tune "Ain't No Thief", taken from the upcoming album "Cave World", enjoy!
MAY 3, 2022 - UEBEL & GEFÄHRLICH - HAMBURG, DE
MAY 4, 2022 - DIE KANTINE - COLOGNE, DE
MAY 5, 2022 - ÉLYSÉE MONTMARTRE - PARIS, FR
MAY 6, 2022 - LE BOTANIQUE - BRUSSELS, BE
MAY 6, 2022 - LES NUITS BOTANIQUE 2022 - BRUSSELS, BE
MAY 8, 2022 - ALBERT HALL - MANCHESTER, GB
MAY 9, 2022 - QUEEN MARGARET UNION - GLASGOW, GB
MAY 10, 2022 - THE INVISIBLE WIND FACTORY - LIVERPOOL, GB
MAY 11, 2022 - O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN - LONDON, GB
MAY 12, 2022 - SWX - BRISTOL, GB
MAY 13, 2022 - THE ACADEMY, MIDDLE ABBEY STREET - DUBLIN, IE
MAY 14, 2022 - THE FOUNDRY SHEFFIELD - SHEFFIELD, GB
MAY 16, 2022 - PARADISO - AMSTERDAM, NL
MAY 18, 2022 - FREIHEIZ - MUNICH, DE
MAY 19, 2022 - FESTSAAL KREUZBERG - BERLIN, DE
MAY 20, 2022 - CONNE ISLAND - LEIPZIG, DE
MAY 21, 2022 - FLEX - VIENNA, AT
MAY 22, 2022 - MEETFACTORY - PRAGUE, CZ
MAY 24, 2022 - PRAGA CENTRUM - WARSZAWA, PL
MAY 25, 2022 - TAMA - POZNAŃ, PL
MAY 26, 2022 - ATLAS - ÅRHUS C, DK
MAY 27, 2022 - PUMPEHUSET - COPENHAGEN, DK
MAY 28, 2022 - PUSTERVIK - GÖTEBORG, SE
JUN 1, 2022 - PARKTEATRET SCENE - OSLO, NO
JUN 3, 2022 - PLAN B - MALMÖ, SE
JUN 4, 2022 - FÅLLAN - JOHANNESHOV, SE
JUN 5, 2022 - TAVASTIA CLUB - HELSINKI, FI
JUN 11, 2022 - PARC DEL FÒRUM - SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
JUL 1, 2022 - DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE 2022 - BEUNINGEN, NL
JUL 4, 2022 - LUNAR SPACE - ATHENS - TAVROS, GR
JUL 15, 2022 - LES VIEILLES CHARRUES 2022 - CARHAIX-PLOUGUER, FR
AUG 12, 2022 - SZIGET FESTIVAL 2022 - BUDAPEST III. KERÜLET, HU
AUG 16, 2022 - PRAIA DO TABOÃO - PAREDES DE COURA, PT
AUG 18, 2022 - BRECON BEACONS - NEWPORT, GB
SEP 26, 2022 - CATALYST - SANTA CRUZ, US
SEP 27, 2022 - THE NEW PARISH - OAKLAND, US
SEP 28, 2022 - THE REGENCY BALLROOM - SAN FRANCISCO, US
OCT 4, 2022 - HOTEL CONGRESS - TUCSON, US
OCT 5, 2022 - SISTER BAR - ALBUQUERQUE, US
OCT 7, 2022 - FOX THEATRE - BOULDER, US
OCT 8, 2022 - GOTHIC THEATRE - ENGLEWOOD, US
OCT 10, 2022 - RED FLAG - ST. LOUIS, US
OCT 11, 2022 - BROOKLYN BOWL NASHVILLE - NASHVILLE, US
OCT 17, 2022 - WHITE EAGLE HALL - JERSEY CITY, US
OCT 18, 2022 - BROOKLYN STEEL - BROOKLYN, US
OCT 20, 2022 - UNION CRAFT BREWING - BALTIMORE, US
OCT 21, 2022 - CAT’S CRADLE - CARRBORO, US
OCT 23, 2022 - TERMINAL WEST - ATLANTA, US
OCT 25, 2022 - TOULOUSE THEATRE - NEW ORLEANS, US
OCT 27, 2022 - WHITE OAK MUSIC HALL - HOUSTON, US
DEC 7, 2022 - ASTRA KULTURHAUS - BERLIN, DE
DEC 8, 2022 - SUBSTAGE - KARLSRUHE, DE
DEC 11, 2022 - BATACLAN - PARIS, FR
DEC 14, 2022 - X-TRA - ZURICH, CH
DEC 15, 2022 - FABRIQUE - MILAN, IT
JAN 20, 2023 - ROCK CITY - NOTTINGHAM, GB
JAN 21, 2023 - BARROWLAND BALLROOM - GLASGOW, GB
JAN 23, 2023 - 3OLYMPIA THEATRE - DUBLIN, IE
JAN 24, 2023 - THE GREAT HALL - CARDIFF UNI - CARDIFF, GB
JAN 25, 2023 - O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON - LONDON, GB
JAN 28, 2023 - ANNEXET - STOCKHOLM, SE
MAR 29, 2023 - STORE VEGA - COPENHAGEN, DK
MAR 30, 2023 - ROCKEFELLER - OSLO, NO
"Isle Of Wisdom" is the latest release by the Swedish 70's progressive rockers HÄLLAS. "Isle Of Wisdom" is the follow up to the near flawless full lengths, "Excerpts From A Future Past" (2017) and "Conundrum" (2020). The new album follows the same root they once have created but with a minor upgrade, the sound is much better than the previous one, neeter production so all of the grandiose harmonies really sees the light. They seem more determined than ever and that really seeps out of the cracks. Traversing through an evocative, feel-good blend of nostalgic 70’s hard rock, proto-metal, folk and psychedelic influences - "Isle Of Wisdom" emerges as the anticipated third studio album. The new album is produced in collaboration with Linn Fijal and Vilma Colling at Riksmixningsverket studio, which has hosted the diverse likes of ARCH ENEMY, ABBA and Celine Dion, HÄLLAS experienced the rare chance to once again use ABBA’s unique synthesizers for the production of "Isle Of Wisdom".
"Isle Of Wisdom" is a eight track album with a play time of fourtyfive minutes. They really serves the listner with another marvelous journey, the melodies are like earworms where all songs have their own characteristics. The album opens up with "Birth / Into Darkness" and "Advent Of Dawn" two of HÄLLAS heaviest tunes they ever have recorded. Marvelous riffing and great vocals from the unique voice of Tommy Alexandersson. The mystical first single "Earl’s Theme" slows down slightly, but have a big atmosphere that almost knocks you down. "Gallivants (Of Space)" is a real grandious beauty with it's marvlous melody and vertiginous keys by Nicklas Malmqvist. The dramatic "Elusion’s Gate" dreamy "The Inner Chamber" and "Stygian Depths" are few other great tunes before the final "The Wind Carries The Word" that ends this magical album in a epic way, with it's seven minutes it's really demonstrate the band’s virtuosity and the song-writing skills that the band possesses. I can only congratulate you on another magical chapter in this saga. Well done! Hope to see them live soon.
Sum: "Isle Of Wisdom" provides an incredible journey.
Today's tune "Elusion's Gate", taken from "Isle Of Wisdom", enjoy!
Catch HÄLLAS live on tour:
06.05.22 DE – Hamburg / Logo
07.05.22 FR – Strasbourg / La Maison Bleue
08.05.22 FR – Paris / La Maroquinerie
09.05.22 DE – Hanover / Chez Heinz
10.05.22 DE – Leipzig / UT Connewitz
11.05.22 DE – Berlin / Frannz Club
12.05.22 DE – Munich / Strom
13.05.22 DE – Stuttgart / Club Zentral
14.05.22 CZ – Praha / Klub 007 Strahov
15.05.22 DE – Cologne / Club Volta
16.05.22 BE – Aarshot / De Klinker
17.05.22 FR – Lyon / Rock N’Eat
18.05.22 NL – Tilburg / Little Devil
19.05.22 DE – Wiesbaden / Kesselhaus
20.05.22 DE – Nuremberg / Der Cult
22.05.22 AT – Vienna / Szene
30.07.22 NL – Amsterdam / Melkweg
Betty Harris (born September 9, 1939 in Orlando, Florida, United States) is an American soul singer. Her recording career in the 1960s produced three hit singles that made the U.S. Billboard R&B and Billboard Hot 100 charts: "Cry to Me" (1963), "His Kiss" (1964) and "Nearer to You" (1967). However, her reputation among soul music connoisseurs far exceeds her commercial success of the 1960s, and her recordings for the Jubilee and Sansu record labels are highly sought after in the 2000s by fans of Southern Soul, Northern soul and deep soul.
Soul Jazz Records' fantastic collection Betty Harris' "The Lost Queen of New Orleans Soul" available in new one-off limited-edition heavyweight gatefold special edition green vinyl coloured pressing + download code exclusively for Record Store Day 2022!
Betty Harris's powerful, fiery soulful vocals found a perfect accompaniment with the New Orleans' players that Toussaint put together to back her, which by the time of her funk classic 'There's A Break In The Road' were the legendary super-tight, super-funk New Orleans group THE METERS.
With the extraordinary song-writing skills of Allen Toussaint alongside the powerful, soaring, confident and emotive singer and the groove of THE METERS, you have an unbeatable combination. That Harris never, in fact, lived in New Orleans (she flew in from Florida for all her sessions with Toussaint's local in-house players) seems almost an irrelevance, a geographical aside to the defining New Orleans sound captured on the recordings featured here.
All of these singles featured here were released on Allen Toussaint and his business partner Marshal Sehorn's local New Orleans label Sansu, widely distributed in the southern city but in only limited quantities elsewhere. As a consequence, Betty Harris' music failed to achieve the commercial success of other New Orleans artists such as Lee Dorsey (whom she recorded with) and THE METERS (who backed her). And so at the end of the decade, she stopped recording, retired from the music business to raise her family in Florida.
This is no reflection of the stunning musical quality of all these songs which encompass everything from southern soul, heavy funk, deep soul ballads and northern soul. Betty Harris has been a cornerstone of Soul Jazz Records' New Orleans Funk and New Orleans Soul compilations. Always soulful and always funky, Betty Harris' music contains the essence of New Orleans music. She is the Lost Soul Queen of New Orleans.
Today's tune "Ride Your Pony" is taken from the "The Lost Queen of New Orleans Soul", enjoy today's classic.
CROBOT have announced a June 3 global release date for the band’s new studio album titled "Feel This".
Riff-monsters CROBOT conjure up the kind of rock 'n' roll that has grooves so powerful they throw you around the room and hooks high enough to shake the heavens. They take the sweet-sounding nectar of the gods and pour it down your throat until you're wailing along like a banshee.
With tens of millions of streams, countless shows and acclaim from the likes of Metal Hammer, Classic Rock, Kerrang, BBC Radio, SiriusXM Octane, Loudwire, Guitar World and more, Brandon Yeagley [vocals], Chris Bishop [guitar], Tim Peugh [bass], and Dan Ryan [drums] realize their vision like never before on their fifth full-length, Feel This.
You'll feel rock 'n' roll comes to life in CROBOT's hands. "We never want to make the same album twice," Brandon leaves off. "There is something for every CROBOT fan out there as well as newcomers. At the same time, we're having fun. We want to be taken seriously, but not too seriously—because this is monkey hour after all." "That's the fucking line right there," agrees Bishop. "We want you to walk away smiling. If I can make you smile, I've done my job."
“Feel This” is a tale of perseverance. “Through constant struggles, we learn more what it’s like to be human. Our shortcomings and strengths alike make us a unique species,” Brandon reflects. “Feel This very well may point to our biggest strength of all, our ability to feel emotion (for better or worse).” Human nature is threaded throughout the album, from volatile relationships [“Dizzy”] to imperfections and learning from mistakes on “Holy Ghost.” Its warbling harmony wraps around the wah-drenched guitar straight out of Seattle; Brandon’s grunge-y wail rings out on the hook, “I am not the holy ghost. I won’t ever save your soul.” There’s “believing in something so much” on “Set You Free,” which spirals towards a seismic crescendo and emotionally charged guitar lead from Bishop.
Today's tune "Set You Free", the first single out of the upcoming album, enjoy!
Norwegian proggers GAZPACHO have released new live album and Blu-ray "Fireworker At St. Croix" in March, 2022. They also have shared a new live video for their song "Winter Is Never", which you can watch below.
The tune "Winter Is Never" originally featured in the band's 2009 album "Tick Tock". The new live version is taken from the band's new "Fireworker At St. Croix", a recording of the band's live stream for their 2020 album "Fireworker", which was released through Kscope on March 11. A moody trip into the world of "The Fireworker", captured on the 25th October 2020. No fixes, no polishes, no light show, no nothing. Just the pure rendition of the music along with a surprise or two.
The original core of the band consisted of Jan-Henrik Ohme (vocals), Jon-Arne Vilbo (guitars), and Thomas Andersen (keyboards, programming, production). They started making music together in 1996 and the band has since expanded with Mikael Krømer (violin, co-producer), Robert R Johansen (drums), and Kristian Torp (bass).
Enjoy todays tune "Winter Is Never", the third single from thier upcoming collection of films and live music will be the old favourite of many. "Winter Is Never" is a song about growing up and the magic of childhood. Something we can not forget. Especially now.
"My Girl" is a soul music song recorded by the TEMPTATIONS for the Gordy (Motown) record label. Written and produced by the MIRACLES members Smokey Robinson and Ronald White, it became the TEMPTATIONS' first U.S. number 1 single, and is today their signature song. Robinson's inspiration for writing "My Girl" was his wife, Miracles member Claudette Rogers Robinson. The song was included on the TEMPTATIONS 1965 album "The Temptations Sing Smokey". In 2017, the song was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant".
Over time, "My Girl", with its signature introduction and unrestrained expression of joy, would become one of Motown's best-known and most successful singles. "My Girl" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
Today's reimagined version of "My Girl" is made by the Palestine, Texas rock band BLACKTOP MOJO. The band consists of vocalist Matt James, drummer Nathan Gillis, guitarist Chuck Wepfer, and bassist Matt Curtis.
The band was founded by Matt James and Nathan Gillis in 2012. Enjoy today's cover!
Upcoming Tourdates:
23
APR
Montgomery
MULLETS AND MOHAWKS BIG ASS LAKE FEST
27
APR
Springfield
Front of House Lounge
29
APR
Des Plaines
The Des Plaines Theatre
30
APR
Kansasville
1175 Sports Park & Eatery
01
MAY
Bloomington
Castle Theatre
03
MAY
Indianapolis
Hi-Fi
04
MAY
Lexington
Manchester Music Hall
06
MAY
St Charles
Arcada Theatre
07
MAY
Flint
The Machine Shop
08
MAY
Horseheads
The L
10
MAY
Hermon
Morgan Hill Event Center
11
MAY
Portland
Aura
13
MAY
Rochester
Montage Music Hall
14
MAY
Leesburg
Tally Ho Theatre
16
MAY
Murrells Inlet
Suck Bang Blow
17
MAY
Black Mountain
Silverados
18
MAY
Athens
Georgia Theatre
20
MAY
Daytona Beach
Welcome to Rockville 2022
18
JUN
Baytown
Matt and Catt Acoustic @Dirty D's
18
AUG
Glen Flora
Northwoods Rock Rally
10
SEP
South Lyon
Scorpions MC Annual Pig Roast
TROUBLE frontman and doom icon Eric Wagner’s posthumous "In The Lonely Light Of Morning" is great goodbye to a legend. It always sad to listen to posthumously released albums.
The untimely passing of Eric Wagner in August 2021 robbed the metal world of one of its greatest ever voices. With doom pioneers TROUBLE, and an assortment of other projects, it cuts extra deep to spin this. In an unintended twist of fate, Eric had put the finishing touches on his debut solo album, "In the Lonely Light of Mourning" mere weeks before his passing. It now serves as the definitive swansong for one of doom metal’s most beloved voices.
Eric Wagner’s posthumous solo album, "In The Lonely Light Of Morning", was released March 18th, 2022 via Cruz Del Sur Music.
But, it is doom at its core: Earthy, honest, brooding and heavy -- just the way Eric preferred. "In The Lonely Light Of Morning" also finds Eric at his most vulnerable, with some lyrics suggesting he knew something foreboding was right around the corner. Eric Wagner's legacy is permanently secure in the annals of doom metal. Thus, it is impossible to quantify his impact on the metal scene. His legacy with Trouble is reflected in the countless bands who followed in their wake, purveying the same kind of heartfelt, undeniably heavy doom metal that touches the mind and spirit. Travel on, Eric.
Today's tune "In The Lonely Light Of Morning" is the title track of the latest and posthumous album release, enjoy!
DUAL FIGHTER is an American hard rock duo from Indianapolis. A unique brand of rock fusing fuzz-driven guitars, melodic psych-rock and a touch of doom with stacks of volume and riff-focused energy inviting listeners to fall into a wormhole of heavy rock bliss.
The new album "Mean Machines" was released March 25, 2022 via Galactic Fire Records. Written, arranged, performed, recorded, produced and mixed by Greg Osborne. Mastered by Tyler Watkins at Postal Recording. Album cover designed by Greg Osborne
Greg Osborne: guitars, vocals
Andrew Funke: bass
Today's tune "Fireball" is taken from the 2022 album "Mean Machines". Enjoy!
It's the Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and a public holiday in some countries. It is the second day of Eastertide. In Western Christianity, it is also the second day of the Octave of Easter, and in Eastern Christianity, it is also the second day of Bright Week.
But still it's Monday so it time to introduce "Record Of The Week". "The Eldorado Spell" is the second album release by the Norwegian four-piece KRYPTOGRAF.
This four old souls is inspired by the heavy sound of the late 60's, and they will hex you with their collective vocals, destructive riffs and inventive songwriting. "The Eldorado Spell" is a beauty by it self, where the sound is very 60's inspired with a foot in the psychedelic folk rock and riff heavy doom, nothing orginal at all, but the love for the past and creative minds is what makes them so good. Somehow I just adore when the Scandinavians makes music like this, the joy in thier craftmanship shines true the production and that is something which can be heard immediately from the opening "Asphodel", a marvelous rocker with heavy riffing and amazing vocals, especially the chorus. "Cosmic Suicide" the next tune in line keep the up the quality and deliver a great pace with some cool echos and a great solo. The pace slows down a notch in the more doomier piece "Lucifer’s Hand" while in the groovy "Creeping Willow" the pace is restore a bit and serves us with some cleaver riffing and melody along with a nice jam in the middle. A short folkish interlude of "Across The Creek" paves the way for the title tune "The Eldorado Spell", with a light marching tempo it moves forward determined and cohesive until it fades away and opens the door for the more doomiah and slowly "The Spiral", and after it reaches it's half mark it switches and pushes down the gas for a wile until it falls back in the end. "When The Witches" is an odd one, acid drenched piece that takes out the swing. "Wormwood" is another folkish interlude that makes the way for the final tune "The Wall" that rounds off this work in a really nice way.
Sum: "The Eldorado Spell" is the psychedelic doom buzz you need right now, check this up!
"You were all I lived for, I guess my life is through
I've been living so long, a year has gone
Lonely Sunday morning, rest in peace, my love
You been sleeping so long, a year has gone"
That's part of the song line of today's classic tune "A Year", a really great piece by the English rock band STATUS QUO, a tune that don't follow the traditional STATUS boogie rock.
"A Year" is taken from the fifth studio album "Piledriver", released in 1972. It was the first album to be produced by the group themselves, and their first on the Vertigo label. It peaked at number five in the UK and included several favourites that would be frequently featured in live concerts.
In a retrospective review, AllMusic applauded the album as both crowd-pleasing and moderately ambitious, commenting that "Despite the name, most of the music on "Piledriver" is varied and subtle enough to be interesting." They particularly praised "A Year" and "Big Fat Mama". The Village Voice critic Robert Christgau asserted that the band had no decent singer or guitarist, and criticized their attempts at ballads and blues as "boring".
"A Year" was written by Alan Charles Lancaster, best known as a founding member and bassist of the rock band STATUS QUO, playing with the band from 1967 to 1985, with brief reunions in 2013 and 2014. As well as contributing to songwriting, he was also one of the lead vocalists on albums and live concerts, taking the lead on tracks such as "Backwater", "Is There a Better Way", "Bye Bye Johnny", "High Flyer" and "Roadhouse Blues".
The alternatie Scotish band MODERN STUDIES have released "Light A Fire", a tune that is a contrast of a space-psych-shuffle with lush 70s style three part harmonies. Together with the subtly arresting strings (which were written as if for a grand orchestral ensemble but restrained to a trio), these became defining sounds of the new album "We Are There" released February 18, 2022.
Through the hazy daze of a smoky folk opus, MODERN STUDIES craft rich soundtracks, stuttering Super-8 sketches from a washed-out world of melancholy, hand-tinted and tantalising. Lullaby couplets blossom into gorgeous chamber pop melodies, the drama unfolding behind Emily Scott’s plaintive vocal; part Julie London, part Sandy Denny, a little bit Kate Bush, with a hushed sigh of Joni.
Sweeping strings carry them into unchartered terrain on this new release, flying high above their psych-folk roots, it’s an epic journey that’s exquisitely delivered, transcending categories, nodding to Brubeck, Low, Talk Talk, Jim O’Rourke and Pentangle, making music that is ready to cross over in these modern times with songs of substance.
On their new album "We Are There", an ambient muse moves through the shadows, analogue instruments creak and Laurel Canyon harmonies tingle in tape-echoed air; melody and magic conspire to create something way beyond the sum of its many parts, elevating Modern Studies from self-made innovators to poetic protagonists.
Today's tune "Light A Fire", taken from the new album "We Are There", enjoy!
The Nottingham quartet THE SOUNDCARRIERS have release of their first album in eight years, "Wilds". It was released on January 21, 2022 via the band’s own Phosphonic Label.
“We’ve always done things our own way and without any outside pressure,” states band member Adam Cann in a press release. “Making music like this keeps things fresh, you always lose something and gain something as you go along but I think of it as just another chapter.”
Band member Paul Isherwood adds: “A lot of the tracks started with a feel or groove. Then building it into a more concise arranged piece. We were conscious that we didn’t want the recording to sound too over-polished so although a lot of the tracks were quite painstaking in how they evolved we wanted the actual recording to be quite raw and not be reliant on cutting things up or overly editing things. We wanted it to sound natural rather than perfect.”
Today's tune "Waves" is taken from the new album "Wilds", enjoy!
"Godzilla" is a single by U.S. hard rock band BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, the first track on the band's fifth studio album "Spectres". The lyrics are a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the popular movie monster of the same name. Despite failing to chart, the song received significant airplay on rock radio stations and became a sleeper hit. The song, along with "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" and "Burnin' for You," is one of the band's best-known songs and has become a staple of its live performances. It has been covered by bands such as moe., RACER X, FU MANCHU, THE SMASHING PUMPKINS, Sebastian Bach, DOUBLE EXPERIENCE and FIGHTING GRAVITY.
Cash Box called it "a clever rocker tale of Godzilla...with a strong, catchy hook, excellent guitar and special effects."
In 2019, a cover of the song, sung by Serj Tankian, was featured in "Godzilla: King of the Monsters", marking the first usage of the song in a Godzilla film.
Today's version is made by the American stoner rock band FU MANCHU, a band formed in Southern California in 1985, and long-associated with the Palm Desert Scene. "Godzilla's/Eatin' Dust" is the fifth studio album from FU MANCHU, released on February 19, 1999 on the now defunct Man's Ruin label. The album combines what were originally two limited 10” releases: "Godzilla" (1997) and "Eatin’ Dust" (1999). Enjoy!
MESSA’s rising trajectory hits the stratosphere on their immense new album “Close”. Soaring up out of the Italian Doom Rock underground in 2014, MESSA have been rapidly garnering a frenzied throng of devotees, in thrall to their monumental and broad-ranging sound craft. Releasing two widely celebrated cult records, the latest of which “Feast For Water” in 2018 was a critical breakthrough success, with Rolling Stone calling the whole album “captivating, wringing maximum drama out of its savvy stylistic clash,” Messa have had everyone on tenterhooks, waiting for what was next.
New album “Close” draws us further into MESSA’s spellbinding textures and immersive dynamics. Described as “Stevie Nicks fronting Black Sabbath,” singer Sara’s colossal voice omnipotently carries the listener on an emotional rollercoaster ride where the sonic cauldron of Iommi guitars gives way to Arabian oudh and progressive solos in a masterful style-clash that well befits Messa’s incendiary reputation.
The hushed Fender Rhodes piano intro on opener “Suspended,” picks up where Messa left off on their previous album “Feast For Water” but then collapses gloriously into Jazz guitar and widescreen impassioned crushing riffs, lighting our way for the odyssey ahead. The scene is set magnificently for the journey that “Close” expertly takes the listener on, with MESSA’s obvious care and passion for the album as a pilgrimage of sonic experience. Heavyweight tracks like “If You Want Her To Be Taken” or “0=2” are modern Doom Rock classics that expertly upgrade and leave the genre reeling in their wake. “Pilgrim” and “Orphalese” are woven with tapestries of Mediterranean sounds where oudh and eastern chord phrasings expand Messa’s cinematic palette with a panache that is all their own. Atmospheric and grandiose belters like “Rubedo” and “Dark Horse” build into an almost limitless climax of discord and harmony where blast beats and saxophones descend into a thrilling cacophony that’s a masterclass in artful cutting edge Doom.
Referencing bands like DEAD CAN DANCE, SWANS and OM, MESSA have created an album where song, experience and atmosphere are focused into a crystalline modus where high art flawlessly embraces good old fashioned riff-worship. Transcending the occult and noir-tinted atmospheres of their past works, “Close” confidently weaves Messa’s multifarious influences into a singular breath-taking sound that leaves the listener enthralled. Perfection or something extremely close, MESSA’s “Close” is not just a Metal record, but it’s definitely one of the best things to break out of the confines of Metal in a long time.
Nakh: a ritual dance performed by women along the Algerian/Tunisian border. It features the swaying of the dancer’s head and thrashing of the hair. An altered state of consciousness is induced by the repetitive yet simple movements performed during the dance.
"Close" was recorded between April and May 2021 at Inside Outside Studio in Volpago del Montello (TV). Vocals recorded at La Distilleria in Bassano del Grappa (TV). Recorded and mixed by Maurizio ‘Icio’ Baggio. Mastered by Maurizio ‘Icio’ Baggio and Matt Bordin.
Headbang: slang to nod one’s head violently to the beat of loud rock music.
