Inma Gomes - 2011 - Blue Season

R&B

[FOR FREE]

http://inmagomes.bandcamp.com/

• 4 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: Now

Impressions

There was a time when Inma Gomes would have topped the charts with her bluesy R&B and wild voice, and with any luck there will be again. Her four track LP, Blue Season definitely has throwback appeal, for those that like their r&b with a lot more blues and jazz than what passes for R&B these days. Gomes is backed up by a bass and guitar and that's it; no gimmicks, no attempts to add a sweeping orchestral movement, or dance beats to the proceedings. Of course the focus for this record is on Inma's voice, and she doesn't hold back. With the warm bassline, “Other Moment” sees her reaching for the top of her vocal register, with silky smooth results. In fact the bass has very warm sound to it through the entire EP, moving from the funky groove slaps on 'NOW' to backing melody on “SHE”, and it's really nice to hear more than a typical 'walking bass' holding up the low end, especially when drum and bass tend to sound similar all the time when jazz and blues are heavily influencing the music. Which is not to deride the guitar work, as it's suitably low key behind Inma's voice (it grabs your attention on “SPACE” quite nicely), it just doesn't stand out as much to me as the bass does. There is some dirtiness to the instruments though, occasional off notes, they both have an almost impromptu, live sound that doesn't come off sounding polished at all, but is infinitely more listenable for it as far as I'm concerned. If you need something a bit mellow, a bit funky, with a great voice, then Blue Season is the EP to grab.

The First Chairs - 2012 - Plastic & Prestige

ska/rock

   [FOR FREE]

http://thefirstchairs.bandcamp.com/

• 4 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: It's Okay, Plastic & Prestige

English

Creative instrumentation can spice up any type of music, whether it’s enhancing the sound or reinventing it. Don’t get me wrong: Plastic and Prestige would be a solid slice of uncompromising, anthemic rock on its own. But the decision to go in a fairly unexplored direction and add brass to the band really fills out the sound and takes it to a completely new level. Every component of this music has an affable punk charm to it, whether it’s the ragged yet dignified vocals; the manic convulsions of the guitar; the rousing brass section; and the constantly shifting, ebbing tempo, always about to careen over the edge but holding together against the odds. Sure, it’s unpolished, but damned if it isn’t even more compelling that way, almost as if the band is just messing with you to see how much they can shake you up. With or without the mindtrickery, though, this is just a jovial, uplifting experience, full of insights coming from unexpected places and with songwriting good enough to speak for the band’s conceits. These troubadors are young, but they already quite a bit to share, whether it’s about the pain of growing up or the struggle to find yourself in a world that could want nothing less. And ultimately, that’s where Plastic and Prestige finds itself: that weird space between being completely lost and moving forward all the same, and if for nothing else, I have to commend this band for fleshing out that battle with such honesty.

Those Gulls - 2011 - Those Gulls

Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://thosegulls.bandcamp.com

• 10 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: Your Politics, Choke, Swim with Sharks

English

Those Gulls self-titled album is three piece post-punk by way of grunge rock, with sociopolitical themes underpinning the goings on. The boys keep things moving at a brisk pace, only letting you catch your breath when the album itself has reached its finale; 'I'm a Ballchopper' is a remix that verges on industrial hip-hop and is considered a 'bonus track'. For a three piece they punch above their weight, the music has the large“all consuming” sound that larger bands tends to create. The guitars are certainly center stage most of the time, and that's where I feel the grunge aspect of their sound comes from. The riffs are heavy, but anthemic; like the guitars on a good Pearl Jam or Screaming Trees song would be. That isn't to say that everything is perfectly peachy.At times, the bass gets lost in the mix, like Metallica's “And Justice for All”. Guitar dominance will do that I suppose, but for every rare occasion that occurs, you've got thick bass lines bringing up the low end ('Say Goodnight') – The bass solo, yes bass solo,on 'Choke' is probably the stand out section of the album for me. It's not every day the bass gets to spotlight in rock music in quite this manner. The vocals can swing from excellent to a bit off for some intangible reason. Oddly placed in the mix on occasion, the singer sounds like he is up above (in a literal sense) everything else. It's got some issues with mixing that annoy, but these three guys have produced a really good rock record here that earns your attention. Rock out in your Sunday best flannel!

Warning – Flannel is a fashion statement not to be undertaken lightly.

Ten Million Sounds - - Ten Million Sounds : Morning Light Compilation

Ambient/ Hip Hop

[FOR FREE]

http://tenmillionsounds.bandcamp.com/

• 14 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Desires

Impressions

Open your eyes dear reader, it's morning. You've been asleep a long time. The light can be harsh at first, but your eyes will adjust soon enough, once the mist of sleep have cleared from your mind. That sound you hear is the music of a brilliant morning just like this one. 'Ten Million Sounds' to be exact, “Ten Million Sounds: Morning Light Come” to be more exact, a compilation of ambient electronica and instrumental hip hop with a general theme of morning and hope. If a collection of music could ever be more fitting for a way to start your day, I think it would be field recordings of forests filled with birds. Every track on this album has just the right amount of energy and a gentle pacing to get one going in the morning (or, in theory a way to unwind at night). Every song here is extremely polished, nary a rough edge in sight, though Larry Blueberry's “Somewhere Going” does take down tempo to extremes not explored elsewhere on the record. On the opposite end of the tempo spectrum (and quite possibly an enchanted forest), “Desires” is built around the flowing melody of a flute and Otso's “Beginning of the End” also features one. Two flutes, one album, no Kenny G. It's a win/win in my eyes. A side note, bugseed seems to be channelling their inner “What Does Your Soul Look Like” on “Gentle”, which is a great point of reference for this particular compilation. If you're in need of some uplifting music to put a spark in your step, Ten Million Sounds, with it's bright ambiance and upbeat and funky hip-hop will do the trick.

--note--

This album was released as part of a charity drive for International Justice Mission and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. More information on these organizations and the charity can be found on the Ten Million Sounds bandcamp site.

MINH [MAY] - 2012 - Hunt Your Own...

New Wave / Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://minhmay.bandcamp.com/

• 4 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: Without

Impressions

I do love to be surprised, and “I'd Like”, aptly named as it is, did just that while I was sitting down to listen to MINH [May]. The song begins with a slow paced bit of rock, overlayed with accordion-sounding synths driving the melody (or maybe an actual accordion, I don't know). It sound a bit like Low, if you're familiar, and I was set for an EP of slowcore infused, dreamy electrorock (the bands choice of term, not mine). Then something changed, I turn away for a second and MINH [MAY] busts the guitars out of complete left field, I thought the song had changed. Nope, they decided to sucker punch me with riffs when I least expected it and end the song on a huge high. Then, just as I'm getting my wits about me, “No one Protests!” brings a Devo-esque shout-sing anthem to the plate, with enough 80's new wave to bring back stonewashed jeans all on its own (Dig those drums)! “Without” is all about the tribal drums and crunchy guitars laying the groundwork for the anti-war lyrics that fit nicely along side those on “No one Protests!”. The last track, “I'm Alive” is a slice of 80's synth rock, all keyboards, samples, and drums battling for electronic supremacy, until of course the guitar jump into the mix at the half way point and turn the whole thing on its ear (the squealing keyboard loops add a lunatic vibe). The vocal work really piqued my ears up from the get go, there is just something about it that sounds so out of place, but I can't picture this music with anyone else singing. I have to think it's the accent (though I can't place it for the life of me), that make it seem like the singer could be dropping rhymes over dance hall beats, or the voice leading a workers revolt unto the factories. They're re-purposing an old sound for something uniquely their own. Download MINH[MAY]'s 'Hunt Your Own' now!

The Ages - 2011 - The Ages EP

Pop Jazz/Rock

   [FOR FREE]

http://the-ages.com/album/the-ages-ep

• 5 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: So Long, Caroline

English

A mixture of pop rhythms and some rock and jazz instruments makes this record rather pleasant to listen to.  This record starts off pretty snappy and I get the impression that their style of music is very suited to that sort of fast paced and upbeat music. Unfortunately, those are only the first two songs. The other 3 songs are falling into a "pop love song"-category, reminding me of some rather plain songs from the 90's, which dont quite seem to have the same kind of expression and don't stand out as much as the first two. These songs might just be a tad too "clean" to truly catch some attention. They are pleasant to listen to, and I am sure The Ages found enough people enjoying their sound. The use of the jazz instruments really is refreshing and considering the feeling you get while listening to those first songs, I wish they'd have concentrated on making more upbeat music to tap your feet to. Overall not bad, but lacking a certain something to make it truly stand out.

Loud Apartment - 2011 - Get Up Get Down

Funk Rock

   [FOR FREE]

http://loudapt.bandcamp.com/

• 10 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Get Up Get Down 2, Shaker

English

Some music is just so colorful and unapologetically enthusiastic that it yanks you right out of your seat and takes you to whatever destination it has in mind. The title track of Get Up Get Down, with its drum barrage, twinkling synths, buzzing walls of guitars, takes a while to get to that point, but once it climaxes, the various elements all running over each other in a desperate haze, man, it travels. The music has the polish of any excellent production, but it just breathes, every instrument taking part in a continuous dialogue, all unfolding behind the thoughtful narrative of the lyrics. There’s a wonderfully authentic flavor to the whole affair, the bustling atmosphere developing naturally, and the band reaches an irresistible euphoria as each song dares the next to top it. It’s a melting pot of music straight out the world’s greatest melting pot, and it tastes like so many different things that keeping track of all the layers can be dizzying. But the uninitiated need not worry; this is everybody’s celebration. If my plea for your presence hasn’t taken you into the zone already, then here’s the next step you should take: stop reading. There’s a shiny link right above this review. Click it. Then press the play button, and your journey into this warm, weird, wonderful world will begin.

Love Greatly - 2012 - Live From Our Living Room To Yours

Folk Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://lovegreatly.bandcamp.com/album/love-greatly-live-from-our-living-room-to-yours

• 10 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Cradle, When I Wake Up, Subject To Sink

English

Here's a unique live album of folk rock and pop: Take a group of different musicians, sit them down in a single living room together and have them record music together and see what comes out. The end result of such a session is “Love Greatly: Live From Our Living Rooms to Yours”, ten tracks of rather well craft music, a lovely (ahem) surprise given the nature of the project. It's as stripped back as stripped back can be – acoustic guitars and vocals are all you get for the majority of the tracks, and what little mixing there must have been to these tracks doesn't dilute the intimacy of the setting one bit. You can hear occasional vocal and instrumental hick ups when they do occur (which is to say not often). I can almost picture Andrew Benfante grinning from ear to ear as he lets the song drop out as he whispers a response to himself on 'CA', the tone of his voice changes ever so slightly when he picks up again, but it adds a little something extra to that section of the song. Jake Hull plays the crap out of that guitar of his on 'Cradle'. Ian Thorton's voice really pulled me into his two tracks, like a weathered soul letting it all hang out. Brian Million should be doing acoustic sets for arenas full of lighters (or cell phones if you're too hip for that). The living room can't contain him. I think andylion should be probably join him, because he really knocks it out of the park with 'light knight for a dark horse'. I wasn't sure at first, but he comes off more human on 'knight' than 'Find Your Ghost' and it adds to the song's appeal. The Hunt sisters; Jennifer and Jessi round things out with two excellent tracks, of which 'Subject to Sink' is the album's standout track. I will follow these two on any musical journeys they take. I would have liked the harmonies on 'Cradle' to have been more distinguishable though. At least harmonies are what I think I'm hearing. The biggest issue I had with this LP is that the first track has the audience clapping, which is then hastily cut off. I would have preferred that be removed altogether or more of the songs have reactions from the others in the room. Gentle and true, right into your ears.

The Winnebago's - 2011 - The Art Of Mixology

Stoner Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://thewinnebagos.bandcamp.com/

• 6 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: Hey Fuck You Buddy, Riverside

Impressions

Sometimes the sheer ferocity that a record possesses is enough to overcome any technical shortcomings that record may have. The Winnebago's have stocked up on ferocity like there's a supply shortage and they need the stuff to live. 'The Art of Mixology' is a live record of wall to wall ferociousness and unadulterated stoner rock that's here to be loud and have a good time, just don't get in the way or you'll get run over without a second thought. The guitars are effectively crunchy and distorted sounding, the bass is thick and heavy and (gets some time to shine on “Riverside”), while the drums crash with absolute authority and keep everything running smoothly. I do take issue with wherever this was recorded, it sounds like a small space that doesn't really allow the music to sound as loud and huge as it really should. These songs should destroy all in their wake. One other issue with this is that the vocals do not come through very well. They're just buried by the instruments, as if the singer was singing into a mic down a long hallway. From what I can tell from song to song is that the singer does sound like Lemmy (of Motorhead) with throat shredding howls and a god damn sense of purpose in front of that mic. Check out “Hey, Fuck You Buddy” for the best example on the record. It's odd, the vocals aren't the best and the music seems like its cramped in a small basement, but still manages to be excellent rock. I would love to hear these songs rerecorded so the vocals are more easily discernible and the sound is as ceiling rattlingly huge as the Winnebagos are capable, and as such easier for me to recommend. As it stands, if you're willing to overlook the low quality of the recordings, The Winnebago's are rocking Sheffield to the ground, and you should take notice