New Music 2021

I just got around to listening through the Black Country, New Roads - Album "For The First Time" – twice! I’d sort of wanted to step back from the hype machine surrounding them and listen at my own convenience, when having a bit of a music listening weekend.

I’m on board with the singles which have been reworked for the album (and I think in some cases I like the singles better though the album versions add productions values) but collectively this is a stunning album. It seems unlike most things I've listened to where there is a thread / theme / relationship between the collection of songs, they stand alone and have their own dissonance from those around them.

I’m going to have another few sessions listening through, but right now I’d give this a strong 9/10 – it’s a blistering experience from the instrumental opener to the (only 6th) final track “Opus”
 
Ben Howards new album is out "Collections From the Whiteout" and I'm not quite sure how to take it all. His soothing signature voice seems to knit most of the songs together, but the experimentation with off-axis sounds intertwined with the familiar songs and folk ditties has me a little confounded. I did enjoy first listen but I think one track made me double take and skip the next time around "Finders Keepers" if memory serves.

You have to admire his intent to drive his music forward and change direction as he sees fit, but sometimes I do hanker for the simpler more melodic and upbeat quality of the first album. That said some of this is a welcome distraction and I found a second listen keyed some tracks as a better fit. Overall, I thought the album was perhaps striving in too many directions at the same time and could have been more with a bit less (if that makes any sense) I will keep listening as there are some tracks I genuinely like, but it would have to be a 7/10 for me.

Here is an article/interview on said album.

 
With a touch of the Beach Boys.........................one Left Banke will probably like.

ROY(Patrick Lefler) Where Did My Mind Go? from the album Roys Garage.



Right on the money asredastheycome! Very Beach Boys but also very Left Banke the band!
 
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From the Tees Music Alliance

Saturday 20th March marked the one year anniversary since venues were told to close down due to the Covid-19 global pandemic. To commemorate and reflect on what has been a tough time for performers, live music fans and those who work in the industry, we commissioned spoken word artist Faithful Johannes to produce a track accompanied by some visuals as part of our #DigitalTenderness project.

The track is entitled ‘Rearrange The Rearranged’ and it encapsulates perfectly, in Faithful Johannes’ signature style, the problems everyone in the creative community has endured this past year. Featuring the brilliant Clare Hargan from Nel Unlit on vocals, James Leonard Hewitson on trumpet and Ste from Mouses on guitar .


Faithful Johannes - Rearrange The Rearranged​


 
Willy Mason
Just announced his first album since 2012....

First single 'Youth On A Spit' The press release describes it as the heaviest thing he's ever released and "about the liberation that comes with disillusionment."

 
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