tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50795473600087221542024-03-05T00:15:27.896-08:00Earthly PleasuresWe used to talk about girls who play guitarsEarthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.comBlogger326125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-23371302609898899312020-09-14T03:29:00.003-07:002020-09-14T03:41:11.232-07:00Julia Church - 'Marionette'<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtdmDFcqU_XOIJAdgM4DyRzW7lNfPOWbUyZacA4sptKKjog4dOiV5R8yw4ZcenIyuysQ2sMYOu_LYH-MP3NvEU3lJSlnyksATmiyZykTuBlcLzT5X45Ko6HHJSgO97J3nBT50jDrcCsg/s2048/IMG-0436.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1362" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtdmDFcqU_XOIJAdgM4DyRzW7lNfPOWbUyZacA4sptKKjog4dOiV5R8yw4ZcenIyuysQ2sMYOu_LYH-MP3NvEU3lJSlnyksATmiyZykTuBlcLzT5X45Ko6HHJSgO97J3nBT50jDrcCsg/s320/IMG-0436.JPG" /></a></div><p></p>Prodigious South African songwriter-producer <i>Julia Church</i> comes highly recommended; a graduate of Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, the Durban born artist has featured as a session musician on some of the most explosive dance tracks of the last decade raking in some 50 million streams worldwide, all while simultaneously pursuing her own blossoming career as a solo artist. <div><br /></div><div>With two EP's already under her belt, and a growing fanbase, Julia has already found critical acclaim from dependable indie taste-makers <i>Earmilk</i>, and has in recent days secured that all important insider tip from industry giant Spotify, who granted her new single '<i>Marionette</i>' their seal of approval via this weeks New Music Friday.
<div><br /></div><div>'<i>Marionette</i>' is truly an exquisite pop song and an excellent point of introduction to the work of this versatile songwriter-producer. New listeners will immediately find Julia Church's vocals and songwriting soulful and engaging, with a delightfully playful recurring vocal riff making 'Marionette' a particularly compelling ear-worm. In terms of genre it's a contemporary pop sound, yet 'Marionette' unabashedly hints at influences ranging from the smooth beats and lyrical flows of 90's RnB to the scat singing vocal improvisations of early jazz combining the two to great effect.</div><div><br /></div><div>With memorable vocal hooks, and a sound that encompasses the best of our musical past 'Marionette' has all the makings of an instant classic. As Julia says in the chorus "I want to be timeless" in a way she already is. </div><div><br /></div></div>
<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/877209697&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: interstate, "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", garuda, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 100; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/juliachurchmusic" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Julia Church">Julia Church</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/juliachurchmusic/marionette" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Marionette">Marionette</a></div>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-89535807442416067702020-09-11T03:36:00.002-07:002020-09-11T03:36:46.197-07:00Mima Merrow - 'Freckles'<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzSHtupcv4CDLbUotI4H4R5WaOZ2Uagpw6PEBxgu5hrgj3L1Wy7mzuJeO3VzWJzJy_8J8wt2r5O-b0luVbTGLbrdHXqXdzPBc5itDxHR5SHGt3GAQ6NoKbs-NpvFyD_QNuurdzcfcnKE/s940/image001.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzSHtupcv4CDLbUotI4H4R5WaOZ2Uagpw6PEBxgu5hrgj3L1Wy7mzuJeO3VzWJzJy_8J8wt2r5O-b0luVbTGLbrdHXqXdzPBc5itDxHR5SHGt3GAQ6NoKbs-NpvFyD_QNuurdzcfcnKE/s320/image001.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Glasgow based alternative folk singer songwriter Mima Merrow has impressed us with her breathtaking debut single 'Freckles', "a touching lament for what is lost in the act of survival". </p><p>Lyrically confessional, intimate in both it's semantic content and the gentle intonation of its performance (which unabashedly draws upon the ebbing musicality of Mima's Belfast accent), 'Freckles' is a curious crossover between wistful piano ballad and delicately poetic spoken-word.</p><p><i>“This track is a search for strength in the midst of grief”</i> explains Mima.<i> “It’s that moment when we realise we are made of ancient stardust and all we need can be found in our bodies. Growing up in a place where your whole self could be, at once, reduced down to the minutiae of happenstance and conflated into rituals so generic they feel meaningless, space to figure yourself out can be hard to come by. This track looks at that emptiness and how to find connection.”</i></p><p> Unadorned, understated yet undeniably authentic on 'Freckles' the listener is immediately drawn to Mima's riverrun stream of poetic consciousness which overflows with candid and striking imagery. It is a performance so arresting, that it wants for no accompaniment other than the organic warmness of the piano, and the sparing hair raising flourishes of pitched percussion that interject their chimes at unexpected intervals. </p><p> Compelling and moving, ‘Freckles’ is all about honing the listeners emotional intelligence, focussing on what is left, inviting us to notice the small, yet unmistakable traces of our ancestors in tree roots, in the eyes of another even in the freckles of our skin. </p><p>Recorded and mixed by Frightened Rabbit’s Andy Monaghan 'Freckles' is released today and is taken from Mima Merrow debut EP, Good Grief due for release in December 2020.</p><p><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=853830560/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://mimamerrow.bandcamp.com/track/freckles">Freckles by Mima Merrow</a></iframe></p>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-66749125689850169642020-09-02T03:51:00.012-07:002020-09-02T06:47:49.287-07:00FIGHTMILK - 'If You Had A Sister...'<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 211px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 316px;"><img height="211" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/1K9rx-Oe5lw_dVOfSnw3saijyznLeauZdaMiQHyRC7idTXYOijJZ91W1tdRJA9LXeOwcb3XFwC22UN9JH3EXic5rmQvp0QqPdmZPYCUKkmH_gacCfog1d4V8SFZ8idnts3RTYhP4" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="316" /></span></div><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3222d713-7fff-9358-c638-6f42375e9468"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><p>We've been admiring from afar the work of stalwart indie-popsters <i>Fightmilk</i> for sometime now. The London based four-piece have a bit of a knack for writing memorably wistful, guitar-pop tunes that you will inevitably find yourself humming as you awkwardly sad-dance around the flat alone wondering where your twenties went, and whether or not it's ok for semi functioning grown-ups to cry [<i>enough about my "Social Plans" for this weekend - Earthly Pleasures</i>]. </p><p>Having recently teamed up with the dependable indie-taste makers at record label <i>Reckless Yes (LIINES, Bugeye Chorusgirl) </i>the band have been busy away working on their forthcoming sophomore album and are set to release their new single <i>‘If You Had A Sister...’ </i>this coming Friday, September 04th.</p><p>Perhaps the darkest, and most brooding release we've ever heard from the band, on <i>‘If You Had A Sister...’ Fightmilk </i>conjure an atmosphere of rumination and obsession, with lyrical themes of disappointment and inadequacy slowly unraveling their protagonists veneer of holding it together. Storytelling in both words and music, the track opens with an expansive sus chord that hangs unresolved on a resonant echo of reverb mirroring the ellipsis of the title and chorus which foreshadows the frenetic outpouring of emotion later in the track. </p><p> Returning <i>Earthly Pleasures</i> readers may remember lead singer Lily from her endearingly downtrodden solo releases under the <a href="https://earthlypleasuresblog.blogspot.com/2019/11/captain-handsome-i-wish-i-had-dog.html">Captain Handsome</a> moniker. As ever Lily gives a spellbinding performance on this latest release, with her trademark mutedly sardonic lyricism carried by virtue of it's understated, self-deprecating wit.</p><p>This is an excellent single by one of the UK indie scenes leading lights, we can't wait to hear more from Fightmilk's and will wait expectantly for their highly anticipated second album which will be out via <i>Reckless Yes </i>in early 2021. </p>
<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/875630458&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: interstate, "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", garuda, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 100; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/reckless-yes-records" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Reckless Yes Records">Reckless Yes Records</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/reckless-yes-records/fightmilk-if-you-had-a-sister" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Fightmilk - If You Had A Sister...">Fightmilk - If You Had A Sister...</a></div>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-55996177605282621432020-08-28T05:57:00.002-07:002020-08-28T06:00:46.001-07:00FAULTRESS - 'OWL'<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRAGxpmgUaIwW96n2jJtiter6DFwyx4q2HP07HORrb3fce5cQg-o6gtuSBlYB9jsLAky9553yWRCZtvRoIvdkvX3ExVWC_ig3XPnhMsiXdY2xOpNQjHWNtXiFfY6K51ufpHfO4VrMP0M/s1440/image-asset.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRAGxpmgUaIwW96n2jJtiter6DFwyx4q2HP07HORrb3fce5cQg-o6gtuSBlYB9jsLAky9553yWRCZtvRoIvdkvX3ExVWC_ig3XPnhMsiXdY2xOpNQjHWNtXiFfY6K51ufpHfO4VrMP0M/s320/image-asset.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's almost a year to the day since we last heard from bewitching alt-folk storyteller Rosi Croom aka <i>Faultress</i>, having last featured her somewhat niche neurological neo-folk nocturne for neuropeptides '<a href="https://earthlypleasuresblog.blogspot.com/2019/09/faultress-beating-heart.html">Beating Heart</a>' back in September 2019. <div><br />Returning in 2020 with a new self released EP titled '<i>Creatures</i>' released today, Faultress’ latest release intelligently examines themes of loneliness and fractured mental health, with Rosi's stark yet striking mix of electronic a capella vocals serving as the perfect vehicle for these intimate, reflections. </div><div><br /></div><div>'<i>Creatures</i>' is a succinct EP, consisting of four exquisitely balanced tracks each composed with the aforementioned intimacy in mind. Immediately striking is the tangible closeness of the listener to Rosi's captivating voice, thanks in equal parts to <i>Faultress'</i> spellbinding performance and to the work of sound designer and producer Agon Branza who prepared the songs produced specifically for headphones.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our choice pick from the EP is lead track '<i>Owl</i>', which illuminates the quotidian routines of urban nightlife through complex use of anthropomorphic metaphor and intriguingly poetic lyricism.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>‘I watch the humans lit in silhouette </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> the electronic lights and warming beds </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and I will soon go from here </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and they will never know that I was there </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I’m independent, solitary, free.’</i></div><div><br /></div><div><div>
<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/878863570&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: interstate, "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", garuda, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 100; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/faultress" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Faultress">Faultress</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/faultress/owl" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Owl">Owl</a></div></div></div>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-57863977380818226532020-08-27T02:41:00.001-07:002020-08-27T02:41:23.178-07:00Ali Morris - 'Colours'
<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGLqn4nT0cDa6cDXSVVy_oMDvTKfiyaOUrHbVB8slJGsSceEl706EcvFik91ljzmBo-iglYLP2tY9U9M_2Q9Fo9sCZbj8QE1Pfm4_BjHx8Ekq6LwbQG4P1pxE2bRp8zjhtub_1pPLgFo/s2048/Adjustments.plist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGLqn4nT0cDa6cDXSVVy_oMDvTKfiyaOUrHbVB8slJGsSceEl706EcvFik91ljzmBo-iglYLP2tY9U9M_2Q9Fo9sCZbj8QE1Pfm4_BjHx8Ekq6LwbQG4P1pxE2bRp8zjhtub_1pPLgFo/w320-h320/Adjustments.plist.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>
Peruvian songstress <i>Ali Morris</i> (FKA Zophy Ohr) has just dropped her debut three track EP <i>'333</i>', showing off her versatility as a singer as well as her ambitious intent as a recording artist, offering up three entirely distinct but perfectly formed works of modern pop. <div>
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<i>Eartly Pleasures</i> choice cut '<i>Colours</i>' sparkles with a sprightly skipping synths and intoxicatingly heady rhythms, floridly blossoming out of an unassuming (and effortlessly cool) finger snapped opening into a vibrant pop banger. '<i>Colours</i>' is a delightfully surprising track, though lyrically tinged with feelings of nostalgia, '<i>Colours</i>' remains refreshingly light thanks to Ali's ebullient vocal performance and the songs memorable eponymous refrain. Emotionally vivid, thanks to the rich hue of its arrangement and Ali's dazzling performance, 'Colours' takes us on a music journey celebrating human connections and the nature of personal growth. </div><div>
<br />Elsewhere on the alliterative EP '<i>Courage</i>' offers a delicate soul searching piano ballad, while Spanish language track '<i>Cuando</i>', saunters and sways to the infectious rhythms of contemporary latin, mixing its reggaeton feel with a powerful and uplifting vocal performance. </div><div>
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<i>'333'</i> is does exactly what any first EP should. While the collection serves an excellent introduction to the multifaceted, cross-genre and cross-cultural aspects of <i>Ali Morris</i> as an artist, it also says something about the outlook that unifies her work, specifically the notion music and human experience is something optimistic and universal. We can't wait to hear more. </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">[*Photo Credit: <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Valeria Morris]</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/868524151&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: interstate, "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", garuda, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 100; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/imalimorris" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Ali Morris">Ali Morris</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/imalimorris/colours" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Colours">Colours</a></div></div>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-72179739147719797532020-08-18T08:19:00.003-07:002020-08-19T05:37:12.552-07:00Azadeh - 'The Cure'<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_Npkv2ByBykESSIz0HVS2BbFFm9-ecO7mJALjmlCwNM3ZhCpzWVBy29YsTeSg_WOOnY9vShNQf56F9BHNFZaC5O3sJvLhRzwlVYeRyntzaIa6tILu3cwZfD2nQwo8ifnqNDlhCOoZ3s/s611/Screen+Shot+2020-08-03+at+11.00.23.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="506" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_Npkv2ByBykESSIz0HVS2BbFFm9-ecO7mJALjmlCwNM3ZhCpzWVBy29YsTeSg_WOOnY9vShNQf56F9BHNFZaC5O3sJvLhRzwlVYeRyntzaIa6tILu3cwZfD2nQwo8ifnqNDlhCOoZ3s/w265-h320/Screen+Shot+2020-08-03+at+11.00.23.png" width="265" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">
We're completely taken by the soulful downtempo pop music of London based artist Azadeh who has just released her captivating single "The Cure" today. </span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mixing elegant ambient elements, with soothing chamber string sounds, the marching rolls of a trip-hop drum loop and Azadeh's bewitching vocals "The Cure", is a dazzlingly sophisticated debut in both arrangement and execution, worthy of comparison to the work of <i>London Grammar</i> and <i>Florence Welch</i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> A song about overcoming fear, "The Cure" is a soaring, uplifting track from start to end. While there is a certain darkness to the track it is elevated far beyond its grounded bluesy intonations and poetically plaintive lyrical content, by Azadeh's compelling vocal performance which is confident and wonderfully expressive. On "The Cure" Azadeh has truly captured something magical, hopeful even, on an intensely moving single that is testament to the power of self love. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Raised in London by parents who fled the Iranian revolution in 1979, Azadeh has been championed by BBC Persian though has sadly been "<i>advised not to return to Iran", </i>speaking about the situation Azadeh mused<i> "</i><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">This put me in a very difficult situation. A country which I love so much and where my ancestry lies was no longer open to me. Since then I have written protest songs and I am sure that door has been shut on me. The way I see it, I have a voice and I am fortunate to be able to use it but I know so much more needs to be done before freedom can even be a word associated with women in Iran. “</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Irans loss however is our gain and we wait expectantly, to hear what's next from this highly promising artist empowered with a much needed voice. </span></div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/867915763&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: interstate, "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", garuda, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 100; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/azadehmusic" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Azadehmusic">Azadehmusic</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/azadehmusic/the-cure-1" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="The Cure">The Cure</a></div>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-62111458636445190792020-08-14T08:31:00.003-07:002020-08-14T08:31:28.590-07:00Gillian Frances - ''Loose'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9WOKvIbU3KDhjjnHSYEbb7e-E3KoBhT-juwjNReIDEhNHf5Zsgl8hyphenhyphenD0BksEKpiKAV6Z4k8sWpr2pikEW8NpR0aTGnJmqTc3zK5R5LpNc4fmqShlaBn57wVgc1Klx8m92hXKaVYf-Ec/s2048/fullsizeoutput_7a4+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="2048" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9WOKvIbU3KDhjjnHSYEbb7e-E3KoBhT-juwjNReIDEhNHf5Zsgl8hyphenhyphenD0BksEKpiKAV6Z4k8sWpr2pikEW8NpR0aTGnJmqTc3zK5R5LpNc4fmqShlaBn57wVgc1Klx8m92hXKaVYf-Ec/w400-h265/fullsizeoutput_7a4+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div><br /></div><div>From an initial tenderness, that is at once haunting and ominous, blossoms a thundering outpouring of gloom. "<i>Loose</i>" (released today) is the latest cut to be taken from Gillian Frances' debut full-length album '<i>Miles Away From Myself'</i>, which is available now via <a href="https://gillianfrances.bandcamp.com/album/loose-hunting-ground">Decency Den Records.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>An intensely dark yet undeniably compelling work, '<i>Loose</i>' blends delicate folk-inspired finger-picking with snarling bouts of distortion and wailing cries to form an utterly gripping alternative rock track. 'Loose' isn't just a compelling contrast in cascading emotion however, it's also a masterpiece in the subtlety of foreshadowing; intelligently using the device of repetition and returning refrains, expanding upon them to reinforce the tracks permeating atmosphere of anguish. </div><div><br /></div><div>An accomplished multi-instrumentalist and singer songwriter, Frances will already be familiar to <i>Earthly Pleasures</i> readers having played bass and guitar in EP favorites <i><a href="https://earthlypleasuresblog.blogspot.com/2018/08/black-belt-eagle-scout-soft-stud.html">Black Belt Eagle Scout</a></i>, as well as for her collaborations with <i>Surfer Rosie</i>, <i>This Is The Kit</i> and <i>Beverly</i>. While there is some crossover to be found stylistically on her solo work, Frances invests a great deal of her personal experience on '<i>Miles Away From Myself' . </i>The songs which make up the LP are almost confessional in their exploration of challenging introspective themes such as her battle with depression, anxiety, disassociation, heartbreak and codependency.</div><div><br /></div><div> Loss is a theme that is prominently explored in the collection, and with that in mind '<i>Loose' </i>is perhaps the most fitting introduction to the album and to Frances' solo work as a whole. With it's contrasting wistfulness and grungy roar united in their sincerity of emotion, 'Loose' encapsulates the full range of bitter-sweet reminiscences captured on <i>Miles Away From Myself'</i> . </div><div><br /></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2806973157/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/track=4253231474/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 470px; width: 350px;"><a href="http://gillianfrances.bandcamp.com/album/loose-hunting-ground">Loose//Hunting Ground by Gillian Frances</a></iframe>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-59924718084269518412020-08-05T06:01:00.001-07:002020-08-05T06:04:43.397-07:00Ailbhe Reddy - 'Between Your Teeth'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEo6gDNOQB_NcFWPUG5__qV754ARKxiCAiXVkqY4Jv5KDw2ZFsd_JerM6up-PqCaVyXRTnL4RA2TER4CeXQtzjnZBmzR9BbOt002IM9Zwb_6goJdxDOgms9hvM6QDo4YS8Ii_RVrg518/s1600/unnamed+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEo6gDNOQB_NcFWPUG5__qV754ARKxiCAiXVkqY4Jv5KDw2ZFsd_JerM6up-PqCaVyXRTnL4RA2TER4CeXQtzjnZBmzR9BbOt002IM9Zwb_6goJdxDOgms9hvM6QDo4YS8Ii_RVrg518/s320/unnamed+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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With her debut album '<i>Personal History</i>' set for release on the 2nd of October, Dublin based alt-folk artist Ailbhe Reddy has given listeners a tantalizing preview of what's to come on the much anticipated record with her latest triumphant indie-pop inflected single ‘Between Your Teeth’.<br />
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Out now 'Between Your Teeth' is a song "about the frustration of being unable to communicate in a relationship” and plays on the theme of communication fluently by matching a poetic lyrical introspection with a subtle musical arrangement that draws the listener in from the outset. As guitars cycle through ruminative, repeated lines Ailbhe exasperatedly sighs <i>"Round in circles we go"</i> as a feeling of tension and irresolution permeates and flows outwards.<br />
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Explaining the title, and the inspiration behind the track Ailbhe says “people hold things back because they either don’t want, or don’t know, how to express themselves. While travelling alone, I always spent a lot of time thinking too much about past conversations and wondering what words were being held back between another person’s teeth”.<br />
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Contrast this with the succinct elegance with which Ailbhe articulates herself artistically and it is easy to see why this promising artist has already received widespread acclaim throughout the industry with notable support on the BBC 6 Music airwaves and festival bookings at the likes of Glastonbury, Primavera and Latitude.<br />
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'Between Your Teeth' is taken from Ailbhe Reddy's debut album 'Personal History' and is set for release 2nd October via Friends of the Family.<br />
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[*Photo Credit: Ciaran O'Brien]
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/813973444&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/ailbhe-reddy" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Ailbhe Reddy">Ailbhe Reddy</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ailbhe-reddy/03-between-your-teeth" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Between Your Teeth">Between Your Teeth</a></div>
Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-67912951460289032552020-08-04T03:38:00.004-07:002020-08-04T03:42:28.285-07:00Emzae - 'Thrive'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Music is perhaps the most liberating if arts. As freeing in the act of its performance as it is in its consumption, music has the ability to take the composer, the listener and the performer somewhere entirely unexpected within themselves, unlocking the fullest of emotional possibility, literally giving us all something to thrive-off of.
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With this liberating capacity of music in mind, pop songs are arguably the perfect vehicle to challenge those difficult to articulate, yet entirely real social conventions and cultural expectations that restrain and inhibit us. This is the central theme of 'THRIVE', the latest single from Derby based dance-pop producer Emzae who has crafted, an exhilarating sad dance number about bad nights out, feeling alienated and dedicated to "anyone who’d like to embark on the path to being unashamedly themselves and not feeling bad about that. But also having a dance whilst they’re doing it."<br />
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With invigoratingly rhythmic lyrical jabs criss-crossing the post-disco throbs of octave synthesizers, 'Thrive' manages to deliver a serious message in an engaging format its velocity just downtempo enough to locate it within the realms Early to mid-1980's dance pop and R&B influence (with occasional hints of Hi-NRG in the electronic production).<br />
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A stalwart bedroom pop producer, Emzae (Emma Shaw) has been honing her art for some time now with her admirable DIY-pop ambitions not going unnoticed by taste-makers at <i>BBC introducing, Dot to Dot Festival and Glam Glare </i>among others and rightly so. Brave and independent, innovative and creatively uninhibited, Emzae is a with out a doubt a highly promising talent on the cusp of realizing their full artistic potential with 'Thrive' representing a big step up in confidence: “This is what it feels like to be free"<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/851022874&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/emzae" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="emzae">emzae</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/emzae/thrive" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="THRIVE">THRIVE</a></div>
Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-84170392440733417732020-07-31T05:53:00.000-07:002020-08-04T01:28:00.898-07:00Rosa Mystica - 'Holding Roses'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Roses are loaded with symbolism, since ancient times they have been associated with love and seduction. A trail of rose blossom runs through classical myth and history from the poetry and rituals devoted to the Greek goddess Aphrodite to the legends of the last Ptolemaic queen of Egypt Cleopatra (who famously used a carpet of rose petals to seduce Mark Antony). Through the millennia roses have continued to flourish inspiring artists, poets and authors, taking on new meaning, layers of symbolism, myth and cultural significance<br />
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One such artist to delve into the deep roots of this burgeoning trope is Twenty-six-year old Connecticut native Rosa Mystica who uses the image of the flower on her new single 'Holding Roses' to artistically interrogate her own experiences with “fallen musical men", in a bluesy electronic interrogation of groupie culture which is seeped in enigmatic symbolism at the centre of which is of course the rose.<br />
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What does the rose symbolise? Is this Blakean ambiguity, are the roses held taken from the garden of innocence or experience? Is it a Faulknerian rose of some shrunken, preserved ideal? Or is the Lynchian blue rose the symbol of enigma itself? <i> "Pack yours bags and I’ll meet you there..."</i><br />
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<i>[*photo credit:<a href="http://www.instagram.com/Joleahalarke"> </a></i><a href="http://www.instagram.com/Joleahalarke">JoLeaha Larke</a>]<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/857233363&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/rosaxmystica" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Rosa Mystica">Rosa Mystica</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/rosaxmystica/holding-roses-rosa-mystica" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Rosa Mystica- Holding Roses">Rosa Mystica- Holding Roses</a></div>
Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-1237524488160156932020-07-28T07:02:00.002-07:002020-07-28T07:02:43.612-07:00Skullcrusher - 'Trace'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're quite taken by the comfortingly organic, alt-folk sounds of LA based songwriter Skullcrusher (Helen Ballentine), whose latest single 'Trace' excises the traces the darkness left behind by a past relationship and lightens the path for the listener, on a journey of pathos and catharsis.<br />
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Taken from Skullcrusher's eponymous debut EP which is out now via Secretly Canadian, 'Trace' is emblematic Skullcrusher's airy yet intense songwriting style, which marries traditional folk instrumentation with contemporary ambient influences. Down to earth, yet distinctly modern, 'Trace' never eschews this particular homespun charm, keeping the listener grounded as Ballentine unflinchingly guides us towards poignant moments of reflection with understated confessional lyricism.<br />
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Brief and bittersweet, wholly moving from start to end, 'Trace' is a masterclass in relatable songwriting worthy of such folk greats as Joni Mitchell, we can't wait to hear what's next for this promising artist.<br />
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[*'Skullcrusher' photo credit Silken-Weinberg]
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/854827483&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/skullcrushermusic" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Skullcrusher">Skullcrusher</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/skullcrushermusic/trace-1" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Trace">Trace</a></div>
Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-78622612177963658722020-07-27T08:19:00.001-07:002020-07-27T08:19:05.696-07:00Merci, Mercy - 'Fall Apart'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Things fall apart the centre cannot hold; Sydney based pop monster Merci, Mercy is loosed upon the world... Ok, ok forgive the grandiloquence, maybe allusions to apocalyptic Yeatsian verse are a bit OTT for a "pop-music" blog, but honestly this new single from Merci, Mercy is something else. Not lacking in conviction, and full of passionate intensity the 19 year old pop prodigy is once again proving herself without equal in her ability to deliver dramatic, faultlessly lyrical and genuinely unique pop music.<br />
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'Fall Apart' is only the second release to surface from, the promising Australian artist whose disarmingly immediate pop tunes are loaded with the spellbinding insight of youthful disarray. Following fast on the heels of her jaw dropping debut outing "<i>Fucked Myself Up</i>" which saw Merci, Mercy find support from the likes of triple j, Spotify AU and The Line of Best Fit (to name a few), 'Fall Apart' is in equal parts boisterous pop romp and candid reflection on self-doubt and cynicism.<br />
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It is a tune of beguiling sophistication, making use of a punctuated lyrical flow, underpinned by staccato guitars and synths to invest the track with a satisfyingly ostentatious quality. These bold chorus' contrast with softer jazzy acoustic interludes, all of which are exquisitely produced making 'Fall Apart' a perfect pop anthem.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/850739464&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/mercimercymusic" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="merci, mercy">merci, mercy</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/mercimercymusic/fall-apart-1" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Fall Apart">Fall Apart</a></div>
Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-55258479613449927332020-07-27T06:37:00.005-07:002020-07-27T06:37:59.731-07:00Tia Gostelow - 'Always'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFwgDhQXO1ydMiFYwLrcpc0zysw_ONudSbViPkXwWZSQvxMGElDBVG7b0ZIc7a9qOFXzcH8BwmVqZtJ16mr7mJ7URLE4QMT0qHH0AZ16b2lzqbXupQzTqcWO5z05vqPtigz2lr6B3y0U/s1600/TiaGostelow_Studio_JeffAndersenJnr_IMG_5294_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFwgDhQXO1ydMiFYwLrcpc0zysw_ONudSbViPkXwWZSQvxMGElDBVG7b0ZIc7a9qOFXzcH8BwmVqZtJ16mr7mJ7URLE4QMT0qHH0AZ16b2lzqbXupQzTqcWO5z05vqPtigz2lr6B3y0U/s320/TiaGostelow_Studio_JeffAndersenJnr_IMG_5294_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The undisputed alt-pop queen of Queensland with some 10 million plus streams to her name, Tia Gostelow has surprised her listeners by setting the guitars to one side on her new album. Where once we would have found the unabashed jangling of indie/folk guitars that defined her critically acclaimed debut <i>Thick Skin,</i> two years on we're met with a vibrant and immediate detour into the realms of retro electronica.<br />
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With warm electronic sounds now coming to the fore, new single 'Always' is the perfect example of this radical change in direction. On 'Always' Tia's music is elevated into the lush climes of wave inspired tropical pop, with an infectious bass line moving nimbly beneath joyfully buzzing synths and the reverberating strikes of a gated snare drum. But it is naturally Tia's mysterious vocals, which really steals the show here as she wistfully explores a lyrical theme of unrequited love, with a palpable sense of confidence and maturity.<br />
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Speaking of the new release Tia adds: <i>"I had the feeling it was about being in love with someone but not physically being able to be with them and also pushing through all of the hard parts in a relationship because you know the good outweighs the bad. It just fit perfectly within the record as I’ve really highlighted my feelings about being away from my loved ones, feeling lonely and I guess just trying to figure out who I am as a 20-year old woman."</i><br />
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With all the the emotion and cinematic heart worthy of a John Hughes or Joel Schumacher film of the Brat Pack era, "Always" follows on from singles "Rush" and "Psycho" providing just the latest tantalizing glance into what to expect from her as yet untitled sophomore album.<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/850738444&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/tiagostelow-1" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Tia Gostelow">Tia Gostelow</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/tiagostelow-1/always-feat-holy-holy" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="ALWAYS (feat. Holy Holy)">ALWAYS (feat. Holy Holy)</a></div>
Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-47235829590130177742020-07-24T08:00:00.000-07:002020-07-24T08:00:09.435-07:00Dead Pony - 'Sharp Tongues' <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Lr9arAZJ9MjUC2MaIxgLwANY_jZDWM8l54xD6p8rmFIZWdKz8yYP6bWGR9Zpswk47klKFt3k42pN5GRBsoBCVLFRZKN6rErJep_q3-UDhVGWX5x-YucHi4RnhuPT___KVGQlnCh5Klk/s1600/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Lr9arAZJ9MjUC2MaIxgLwANY_jZDWM8l54xD6p8rmFIZWdKz8yYP6bWGR9Zpswk47klKFt3k42pN5GRBsoBCVLFRZKN6rErJep_q3-UDhVGWX5x-YucHi4RnhuPT___KVGQlnCh5Klk/s320/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As acerbic and cutting in its assertive attitude as it is in its equally pointed, (dare we say piercing?) guitar tone, 'Sharp Tongues' the latest single from no-nonsense Scottish rockers Dead Pony, is a a two and bit minute outburst of spiked post-punk ferocity.<br />
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With jagged edged, angular riffs slicing away between the pneumatically hammering pistons of a motorik beat, and the pointed lyrical incisions of front-woman Anne Shields, this single is raw, angry and at first a bitingly abrasive listen. But as confrontational, as it is there's also a compelling almost mesmeric quality to the confidence and unequivocal fierceness of the single.<br />
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Speaking about the track Anne revealed:<i> “‘Sharp Tongues’ is written about those people who absolutely grind your ears. Those people who are hellbent on spreading gossip and starting rumours. They are so unfulfilled with their boring lives, that to add a bit of spice they rely on stirring the pot and starting shit with people. I bet everyone had at least one-person spring to mind after reading that – and that is who this song is about”.</i><br />
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Wow. Not pulling any punches then huh?<br />
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Headstrong, with boundless energy and attitude to spare. Dead Pony are definite ones to watch this year. Having already caught the attention of BBC Radio 1 (Huw Stephens, Jack Saunders) as well as that grandest of brit-rock institutions NME, the future looks bright for Dead Pony; the latest trailblazers to emerge from that ever dependable reservoir of great guitar bands Glasgow.<br />
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'Sharp Tongues' is released today July 24th via LAB Records.<br />
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/deadponyband" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Dead Pony">Dead Pony</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/deadponyband/sharp-tongues" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Sharp Tongues">Sharp Tongues</a></div>
Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-41997558505985907272020-07-23T06:47:00.000-07:002020-07-23T06:47:21.545-07:00Abbie Ozard - 'TV Kween'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Delving deep into her personal feelings of insecurity "constantly aspiring to be someone other than yourself"; Abbie Ozard's latest single 'TV Kween' taps into anxiety with an emotional maturity and self-reflexive artfulness that has made the Manchester based artist one of the UK's most promising talents.
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A poptimist teen anthem with a serious message and irresistible feel good vibe, 'TV Kween' unpacks its complex theme with a tenderness and honesty that is at once profoundly relatable and satisfyingly immediate. Lyrically the track meanders through its protagonists search for fulfillment, while hinting that what is presented as desirable may in-fact be artificial.<br />
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There are knowingly saccharine elements to the song such as lyrically likening things to "cookie dough ice-cream" which individually may seem familiar or comforting but taken in context, clearly fall short of satisfying. This is echoed in the music video which sees Abbie mixing fruit-loop cereal with a can of Stella Artois in a sickly culinary juxtaposition which thankfully makes its way from spoon to the sink. <br />
<br />This signaling of artificial qualities only intensifies when one begins to take note of the decidedly Meta elements of the song as the listener tunes in to the song so does the lyrical protagonist "tune in to my favorite station", the music video contains a music video in a song dreaming of a video, and at the end of the video the screen fills with haze and smoke and a copy of Virginia Woolf's 'Mrs Dalloway' (a high-modernist novel noted for its chronotopically challenging narrative devices which hinge upon the relation between dreams, memory and hallucination) is glimpsed enforcing the inference of an intertextuality that is not immediately apparent on first watch/listen.<br />
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It's all good stuff and there is evident humour and wit at work here which does much to lighten the single and turns a track of pre-occupation and rumination into something that while critical and pensive remains engaging and hopeful. I was particularly taken by sweet chorus hook and the summery Beach Indie instrumentation which rises on a warm sirocco air beyond the lofty boltholes of bedroom pop, towards the shimmering guitars and hazy vocals that typify the more ethereal vapours of Dream-pop. This is an excellent listen.<br />
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'TV Kween', is out now via LAB Records<br />
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Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-34896967957469347872020-02-12T07:48:00.002-08:002020-02-12T07:48:21.769-08:00Amy Milner - "Plans"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSSusF4OGNimo8D7KqP-xTCp0R7Jmr2fmgCcRBrhrhtdTRsVRk3g4ySdALgSTUgoLF_Weu6YYQZ2su17gg-p2In3AhyaDagBfncuhFjBK1IFuBqfWvnetkxZGQl4-DnjdNfRDrLFS0EU/s1600/FsLnt0Og.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1280" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSSusF4OGNimo8D7KqP-xTCp0R7Jmr2fmgCcRBrhrhtdTRsVRk3g4ySdALgSTUgoLF_Weu6YYQZ2su17gg-p2In3AhyaDagBfncuhFjBK1IFuBqfWvnetkxZGQl4-DnjdNfRDrLFS0EU/s320/FsLnt0Og.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Suffolk-based Amy Milner might just have penned the perfect uplifting indie anthem in her latest single "Plans", the title track from her new EP (out now via EKT Records).<br />
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A dramatic, expansive number, "Plans" moves in leaps of inspirational impulse. Opening with a pensively sketched guitar loop, the song is soon fleshed out with richly coloured interlocking vocal lines, before finally developing into a vibrant Gesamtkunstwerk, pulling on a canon of disparate influences from (indie-folk to electronica) to create a gripping, theatrical work of story telling.<br />
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As Milner Explains:<br />
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<i>"Plans" is an expression of reassessment and hope upon meeting someone who puts the heart back into living, opens your eyes to things you didn't realise mattered so much[...] The song brings together two people who are largely opposite in character, making the pull of each to the other quite unexpected. No matter how successful you could become in your job, or skillful you might be in your discipline, the key to true contentment is surely to love, be loved and spread happiness by embracing your own?"</i><br />
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'Plans' is a stunning effort, poignant yet uplifting, the single is a real masterpiece of song-craft showcasing the full scope of her creative partnership with producer and long-term collaborator Tim Larcombe (Lana Del Rey/Halsey).
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Drop whatever you're doing right now and listen.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/750379852&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-24155118757589738282020-02-06T03:04:00.001-08:002020-02-06T03:04:41.093-08:00Bugeye - 'Don't Stop'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW5BUrozpYKjNOb_P63W88EFTYXbxFXHR6hb1WGOdaBDiVBSScNyB3cjtsxqTBa14nLbXTYOME_iRLZHXDWQgnzniNqBCQnv0KAxifDylOXIeFWOLlsl8kiSJ90iWxS5NTFY0lpA4hHA/s1600/bugeye-shapes1-hires-A4-rgb-768x543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="768" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW5BUrozpYKjNOb_P63W88EFTYXbxFXHR6hb1WGOdaBDiVBSScNyB3cjtsxqTBa14nLbXTYOME_iRLZHXDWQgnzniNqBCQnv0KAxifDylOXIeFWOLlsl8kiSJ90iWxS5NTFY0lpA4hHA/s320/bugeye-shapes1-hires-A4-rgb-768x543.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Croyden disco-punks Bugeye offer up a searing mix of disco-meets-Riot Grrrl on new their single 'Don't Stop', in a teasing glimpse of what's to come on their highly anticipated debut album.<br />
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On form as ever, the four-piece continue to churn out a winning formula of thrusting alt-pop bangers, where jarring guitars interspersed wonky synthesizers are spurred on, enlivened by the snarling vocals of Angela Martin.<br />
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Speaking of the new single the band opine: <i>“Don't Stop is about alcohol abuse and the cyclical state that goes hand in hand with this. It's a downward spiral of fuck ups and promises that tomorrow will be different. It's about the denial of evening having a problem in the first place and the pressure that society and the media put on us to don't stop.”</i><br />
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FFO Blondie, Elastica,
LIINES the band are on tour in the UK throughout March, and their debut album will be available on Reckless Yes, later this year.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/751529983&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-22186821157453237602020-02-03T09:22:00.004-08:002020-02-03T09:31:59.784-08:00Pave the Jungle - 'Jelly'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Flavoured with elements of noise-rock, made palatable by the more immediate and arresting traits of grunge; 'Jelly' is the appetising debut offering from Tyneside alt-rockers <i>Pave the Jungle. </i>A single with a sharp but sweet mix of punchily angular guitar riffs and brooding vocals, coming together in a thick gelatinous form, a tremulous anthemic din that leaves the listener weak-kneed and shaking like... 'Jelly'.<br />
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<i>Pave the Jungle</i> is the brainchild of songwriter Rachael Whittle, whose grave alto vocals, and formidable guitar-work we last brought you in a <a href="http://earthlypleasuresblog.blogspot.com/2017/06/soundcloud-scavenging-5.html">playlist feature from 2017</a> - where Whittle's work with her previous project '<i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/ilser/breaks">Ilser</a>' </i>could be tentatively located on the the sludgier end of the grunge spectrum, <i>Pave the Jungle</i> is a bit of a creative departure in part spurred on by Whittles participation in an artist mentorship program coordinated by <i>Generator</i> North East which saw her collaborating with <i>Nadine Shah</i> and James Brown (of <i>Pulled Apart by Horses</i>). Speaking of the difference between the two projects Whittle remarked...<br />
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<i>“For too long, I was rooted entirely in live performance[...]</i> <i>Whatever the songs were at the time I scraped them off stage and into the studio, that’s how they remained – forever. Now, the intention is to deliberate more. Not just to view the studio as a place for exploring more daring ideas, but to make sure there’s real meaning and value attached to the end-result.”</i><br />
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Whittle, and <i>Pave the Jungle</i> are now reaping the rewards of that insight, after serving up a five minute rock epic like 'Jelly' it's all but certain listeners will be back for seconds.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/707240371&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-76939482594083745972020-01-21T01:33:00.001-08:002020-01-21T02:57:46.692-08:00Lauran Hibberd - 'BANG BANG BANG'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Fans of jangly guitar pop with a fraying slacker edge will continue to find charm in the precocious punky lo-fi of Lauran Hibberd. Ever since falling in love with the infectious immediacy of her spikily delivered, subtly political 2018 single "<i><a href="http://earthlypleasuresblog.blogspot.com/2018/10/lauran-hibberd-what-do-girls-want.html">WHAT DO GIRLS WANT?</a></i>" we've kept a watchful eye on the blossoming career of one of the UK's most promising Indie-Rock performers.<br />
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While there's always been a deceptive juvenility to Hibberd's sound and presentation (it's simplicity belying a knack for expert song craft and a razor sharp wit); one can't help but feel that with each successive release Lauran Hibberd really is coming of age. Although new single '<i>Bang Bang Bang</i>' is according to Hibberd an "ode to the teenage girl" and made for a movie "prom scene", there's a toughness and maturity detectable in the arrangement and delivery, that speaks to a firmer more assertive version of Hibberd's sound, the verses barbed with deliberate, hard hitting, rhythms punctuating the bittersweet melodies, and choice lyrical phrases in a style not dissimilar to early <i>Honeyblood</i><i>. </i><br />
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There's still some saccharine elements to be found of course; the driving guitars and vivid pop intonations that give Hibberd's music its momentum show no signs of wearing with age. And while it may be said that Hibberd is growing up as a performer she's certainly not slowing down, and I feel she does well not to do away with any of that outpouring of energy that is so much of her music's charm. The chirpy two note klaxon of synths on the chorus for instance, gives the track a much needed lift, invoking some of the uninhibited joy of noise-pop that suits the cartoony onomatopoeia of the singles central lyrical refrain.<br />
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'BANG BANG BANG' is another excellent offering from a rising star of the UK's alternative scene. Having long ago conquered the Solent straits to become one of the Isle Of Wight's proudest exports, wowing fans across the UK and Europe, Hibberd now has her eyes set on making inroads into the US market, with an upcoming showcase at this years SXSW. We wish her all the best in the year ahead.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/684784885&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-67388505551625520302020-01-19T01:36:00.000-08:002020-01-19T01:36:07.404-08:00Hedara - 'Hurts'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's nothing that soothes the pain of a broken heart quite like the infectious joy of big sing-along pop hook, and on her epic pop effort 'Hurts' London based artist Hedara has a remedy so powerful that could lift the most desolate of souls from their suffering.<br />
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Don't get us wrong, it's still a sad, serious number, but you need shades of dark to appreciate the light and it's the depth of contrast between both that really makes this track. Rather than settling for some somber tear-jerker Hurts emanates a triumphant "rising in spite of adversity" vibe which is as empowering as it is uplifting, making the most of Hedara (Scarlet Billham)'s impressive vocal range.<br />
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Speaking of the inspiration behind the track Hedara explained: <i>"Hurts is a self admission about having allowed someone to control a relationship, and the realisation of knowing that it is totally wrong, so you take the hold. It’s about realising you’re done with the excuses. Something worth having shouldn’t hurt and it’s time to walk away”</i><br />
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Straight from the soundtrack of some future feel-good romantic film 'Hurts' is a powerful, healing pop song, destined to have us all weeping in the aisles in the best possible way. <br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/714086269&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-15471016921911756082020-01-18T01:53:00.000-08:002020-01-18T01:53:02.287-08:00Hanya - 'I'll do it tomorrow'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MCm3TMymTiAsfrS1AcVujqbqu9XzJIzHufRJXeCN5k2wfmCe39Bxt0X1u8KI5c35OgajWPgBtcqRUdz6jXbEEG_MVi2x8BJJeCreOL4oeAX6qV7HSmrTKbuh0v8Uys70cfs4D8133uM/s1600/unnamed+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MCm3TMymTiAsfrS1AcVujqbqu9XzJIzHufRJXeCN5k2wfmCe39Bxt0X1u8KI5c35OgajWPgBtcqRUdz6jXbEEG_MVi2x8BJJeCreOL4oeAX6qV7HSmrTKbuh0v8Uys70cfs4D8133uM/s320/unnamed+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Brighton guitar-popsters HANYA are making a name for themselves on the indie circuit, with glowing reviews and show supports alongside the likes of <i>Honeyblood</i> under their belt, the future looks bright for the south coast four-piece. Not ones to rest on their laurels however, HANYA are striking while the iron is hot, with the release of their their latest single "I'll Do It Tomorrow", urging listeners to ditch the mañana attitude and seize the moment.
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Speaking ahead of their upcoming release, the quartet explained: <i>“I’ll Do It Tomorrow was the result of realising that rarely does anyone take the advice we ask for, we love to procrastinate and wait until things change around us, [...]The song is pretty much advice to an old friend…be every version of yourself, let go, do it now, don’t wait until tomorrow”</i><br />
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Genre wise the group are touted as Dream-Pop, but outside of the lethargic jangling of the guitar work on the verses, this isn't your typical shoe-gazing somnambulism. In fact there's actually a bit of a punky edge to the chorus which twitches with fidgety drum work and sharply punctuated guitars that enliven the ethereal, elongated vocal lines of Heather Sheret. It's a dreamy sound yes, but its one I feel comes from a restless sleep, an anxious "why did I drink that third can of monster? -pop".<br />
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However it's packaged, this is really is quite good.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/743864791&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-71045542956020006312020-01-17T02:15:00.000-08:002020-01-17T02:15:34.964-08:00Bloods - 'U & M E'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTZJdkALIH1AfMAawoSaDsGaHPKySTTYmZE2e9P8dYqB2KR8WidklnoE5dYjVET9Fu2FaRIIhl1tu7a0vzcAPkiq2QWhuOyq_XZEH1RFzy1A8G8vmo0yMY4d1oy2ISYGcFF96cUj0Pco/s1600/EOHUJZwUYAA-Bh-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="679" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTZJdkALIH1AfMAawoSaDsGaHPKySTTYmZE2e9P8dYqB2KR8WidklnoE5dYjVET9Fu2FaRIIhl1tu7a0vzcAPkiq2QWhuOyq_XZEH1RFzy1A8G8vmo0yMY4d1oy2ISYGcFF96cUj0Pco/s320/EOHUJZwUYAA-Bh-.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Australian grunge-pop band Bloods have gone on something of an alt-rock pilgrimage in the making of their forthcoming 'Seattle' EP. Tapping into the deep musical heritage that swells out of the shores of the Puget Sound, Bloods have crossed two hemispheres and the breadth of the pacific, in order to follow in the footsteps of their musical heroes.<br />
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The new record was recorded at Jack Endino’s (<i>Nirvana</i> - 'Bleach') Sound House, with Steve Fisk (<i>SubPop, Soundgarden, Mudhoney</i>) on production and mixing duties, and even features a guitar sound played through one of the original amplifiers Kurt Cobain used on <i>Nirvana</i>'s debut record.
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There's something profoundly endearing about Bloods reverence for their artistic forebearers; music by nature of its consumption is transitory and fleeting lasting only as long as its performance or reproduction; which in the age of streaming, with an inherent diversion of attention spans away from artists and albums to singles and playlists, has only intensified.<br />
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More impressive is that Bloods actually have the substance to back up their flying of the weather worn plaid-tartan 90's-guitar-band-flag. The EP's lead single 'U & M E' has an unshakable aura of angst and raw emotion, in its grappling with the foibles of infatuation, with front-woman Marihuzka Cornelius' vocals giving off a savage ferocity, straining the limits of her voice and the listeners ears in a heartfelt expression of desire. Musically too there's that frantic urgency and energy, so essential of the "Seattle sound" as a powerful combination of thumping unprocessed drums, growling bass and frenetic lead guitar-work combine for a result that is vaguely reminiscent of Cobain's own reference point '<i>The Vaselines</i>'.<br />
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This is one which demands being played loud; 'U & M E' is taken from Bloods forthcoming 'Seattle' EP which is due May 15
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/722425726&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-8086716309652947452020-01-16T01:31:00.000-08:002020-01-16T01:32:31.822-08:00Cheerbleederz - 'Say 2 U'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWL4FAz1CJq5qu3oin4jsgQFpQ6Lk6OGEzGj2M_bh-bguj3C5veTl8o7fgXiGcWlRA2Nlj3FlLBwIzQyg6rs4T5LWTe2d0kmhsxZ9MiWTsXoj_A7i92wdovdYDbSrQissk6uSFBpz0wg/s1600/032001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWL4FAz1CJq5qu3oin4jsgQFpQ6Lk6OGEzGj2M_bh-bguj3C5veTl8o7fgXiGcWlRA2Nlj3FlLBwIzQyg6rs4T5LWTe2d0kmhsxZ9MiWTsXoj_A7i92wdovdYDbSrQissk6uSFBpz0wg/s320/032001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's only January and I dare say the good folks at <i>Alcopop! Records</i> really are spoiling us this year. Yesterday we brought news of an excellent new release due at the end of the month from Danish rockers <i>Nelson Can</i> and barely a day later comes news that London based indie-punk supergroup, <i>Cheerbleederz </i>(feat. members of <i>Happy Accidents, FRESH, Finish Flag</i>) will have a four track EP out in Febraury; presumably timed precisely to soak up the remaining credits from my Christmas stocking-filler (a bandcamp gift-card).
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The second EP to come from <i>Cheerbleederz, 'Lobotany</i>' according to the band has "<i>themes of beginning new friendships—both platonic and romantic—as well as reflections on self esteem, vulnerability and sticking up for yourself.” </i>Lead track 'say 2 u' is essentially a love song that's afraid to commit, and for that it's quite charming, swaying back and forth between uncertain, heartbeat skipping guitar notes and softly ruminating vocal ellipsis. <br />
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There's a lot to like about <i>Cheerbleederz </i>sound, from the deliberately askewed vocal harmonies which emphasize points of lyrical tension, to the purposeful bouts of quiet-loud which the three piece use as effectively as any golden-oldie from the height of alt-rock. The latter functions exceptionally well on 'say 2 u', while it does add to the pre-existing sense of liminality, in it's final iteration it is paired with a hesitant decay, as the song fades out so does the the energy suggesting that this final flourish may have all been bravado leaving the listener to dwell on the faltering confidence of what we know to be a vulnerable lyrical protagonist.<br />
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<i>'Say 2 U' </i>is taken from the forthcoming<i> EP 'Lobotany'</i> due for release 7th Feb 2020.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/728579242&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-39334528548248028432020-01-15T05:07:00.000-08:002020-01-15T05:08:39.996-08:00Nelson Can - 'Madness'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4swZ7OvGV7y4yHGeWQnUkxK1LZefa7orTTS53a1hRZj_Rv1jKhqAsYyhBrMU01N_oiUQ8h9gL8uBdAqAGqNE-PpDwULR-jK3IygaGKrv2B5zoyWMAJ2nGUVKHQX4FMjyxiGPW7EstJw/s1600/828493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4swZ7OvGV7y4yHGeWQnUkxK1LZefa7orTTS53a1hRZj_Rv1jKhqAsYyhBrMU01N_oiUQ8h9gL8uBdAqAGqNE-PpDwULR-jK3IygaGKrv2B5zoyWMAJ2nGUVKHQX4FMjyxiGPW7EstJw/s320/828493.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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There'll always be a place in our hearts reserved for bands like Danish rockers 'Nelson Can'; after eight hard years of touring Europe with a visible love and friendship forged in music between SigneSigne, Gin, and drummer Maria Juntunen—the indie heroines are about to release a much anticipated new album (their first in six years) via dependable alt-rock champions Alcopop! Records .<br />
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If the band can be said to have to have come of age on their excellent 2017 release '<i>EP3</i>' (see throbbing alt-rock anthem '<a href="http://earthlypleasuresblog.blogspot.com/2017/10/nelsoncan-breakdown-your-walls.html">Breakdown Your Walls)</a>', the new long play '<i>So Long Desire</i>' represents a narrative progression from Bildungsroman to Künstlerroman, with the band achieving an artistic maturity, to match their often visceral emotional experience.<br />
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This artistic accomplishment is nowhere more evident than on album highlight ‘Madness’, where the wholesome, tender melodies of the track's intro deteriorate into a disorientating mass of psychedelic droning. This hazy midsection, glued together by pulsating drum rhythms and a writhing bass riff functions as a chrysalis before a final movement into a wild runaway outro. This is the band at their very best, and while much could be made of the evident finessing of Gin’s lyrics (unabashedly alluding reference Shakespeare’s familial tragedy 'King Lear', emphasizing the famous line “O, that way madness lies”) or how much the band have came along in production terms; the real renaissance moment here is a musical accomplishment, to be found in the way the band move from these left-field fringes into an irresistibly immediate final vocal hook to resolve the building tension, thus taking a long-established trope of popular music and injecting it with a vigor and change of context so that it sounds edgy and bold.<br />
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As ruthlessly hard-hitting as it is intelligent '<i>So Long Desire'</i> is a real milestone release in the constantly evolving sound of the Copenhagen based three-piece. '<i>So Long Desire'</i> will be available via Alcopop! Records 31 January 2020.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/691412878&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079547360008722154.post-7376204284637374172020-01-14T04:07:00.001-08:002020-01-14T04:07:42.288-08:00Captain Handsome - 'Halloween'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5q-BQDo5LdjJ18J9RD50WOtSZFz2Bp2LC5EJSKnJc90KJ06RKUm-kwPNj48qJPt99FXZMPCZL-9z38J-N2BhNOuV3Qoruv9P8SeZoZv7s0h_iqLsXbkf2h5Ct2FJVbww6twBc80Bz62M/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5q-BQDo5LdjJ18J9RD50WOtSZFz2Bp2LC5EJSKnJc90KJ06RKUm-kwPNj48qJPt99FXZMPCZL-9z38J-N2BhNOuV3Qoruv9P8SeZoZv7s0h_iqLsXbkf2h5Ct2FJVbww6twBc80Bz62M/s320/Capture.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's nice to start a new decade here at Earthly Pleasures with one our highlights from the previous. Captain Handsome (Solo project of Lily from Fightmilk), got our hind quarters wagging at the tail end of last year with their minimalist jangle pop single 'I Wish I had a Dog', a unexpectedly heart wrenching track which resonated with an understated self deprecating wit, and downtrodden sensibility that we found authentic, unusual and wholly charming.<br />
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Captain Handsome's latest effort 'Halloween', is the second to be taken from forthcoming EP <i>I Am Not An Animal</i>, due for CD and digital release on 31 January. Dwelling on feelings of embarrassment, it's an ode to the awkwardness of ones early to mid-twenties, and the nightmare of falling short of the social savoir-vivre when you really should know better. About the track Lily said: “‘Halloween’ is part ode to Goth Christmas (the best day of the year) and part hardcore whinge about parties going wrong. If you've ever ended up as somebody else's funny story, I hope you manage to exorcise it and move on rather than putting horror strings into a three minute lo-fi mope.”<br />
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We didn't Lily, so we'll be joining you on that three minute lo-fi mope if that's ok?<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/706099315&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>Earthly Pleasureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09353846126330608396noreply@blogger.com0