Author: James Fenney

Spotlight!: The Skeleton Keys

/ James Fenney

the skeleton keysNothing excites me more than a band that pushes themselves to their creative limits, joyfully embarking on sonic adventures with reckless abandon. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, The Skeleton Keys are just such a band. Though they have grown from indie roots, their music has blossomed into a multifarious marvel.  ‘Cannonball’ features elements of funk, a dash of Noel Gallagher and some heavy alternative riffs. Tracks like the light and shade of ‘Blue Sky Believer’ and the effervescent ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl’ boast colourful melodies that are sure to leave a smile on your face,  but also contain plenty of complexity to showcase the band’s superb musicianship. To top it all off their debut EP is adorned with some simply gorgeous artwork, which is always a plus! The Skeleton Keys have hit the sweet spot, the perfect mix between innovation and entertainment, and if their first release is anything to go by then we could have an award winning album in store one day.

Fans of Biffy Clyro, Queens of the Stone Age, Twin Atlantic and The Libertines should check out their debut EP Danger Island.

Jack White plays the first vinyl record in space

/ James Fenney

jack white space vinyl

Space …the vinyl frontier. Musical mad scientist Jack White has completed his mission to play the first ever vinyl record in space. A gold plated 12-inch master of Carl Sagan’s ‘A Glorious Dawn’ was played by the specially designed Icarus Craft, which consisted of a specially engineered turntable attached to a high altitude balloon to take it to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere. The world first came about thanks to former NASA member Kevin Carrico and the SATINS program who worked in collaboration with Jack White’s innovative label Third Man Records

The first Glastonbury live album announced

/ James Fenney

glastonbury-live-album-artwork-2016

The world’s most famous festival has announced that it will be releasing it’s first ever companion live album entitled Stand As One. The compilation of performances from the 2016 festival is dedicated to the memory of the late Jo Cox MP and proceeds will go to Oxfam’s Refugee Crisis Appeal. It will be released digitally on 5th August, as a hard copy on 19th August and is available to pre-order now. The tracklisting is as follows:

  1. Coldplay – Birds
  2. Foals – What Went Down
  3. The Last Shadow Puppets – The Dream Synopsis
  4. Jeff Lynne’s ELO – Showdown
  5. Chvrches – Bury It
  6. New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle
  7. Years & Years – Eyes Shut
  8. Jess Glynne – Right Here
  9. Muse – Starlight
  10. Wolf Alice – Giant Peach
  11. Editors – Munich
  12.  Sigur Rós- Sæglópur
  13. John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure
  14. Richard Hawley – Tonight the Streets Are Ours
  15. Jack Garratt – Worry
  16. Laura Mvula – People
  17. Madness – My Girl
  18. Baaba Maal – Fulani Rock
  19. Jamie Lawson – Someone For Everyone

Top Tracks: Daisy Victoria – Animal Lover

/ James Fenney

Socially anxious Suffolk songwriter Daisy Victoria has emerged from her woodland sanctuary with the title track of her latest EP. Alternative anthem ‘Animal Lover’ is an outlandish and engaging offering that charms from the offset with some compelling guitar work and striking vocals reminiscent of kindred spirit Kate Bush. All the best artists are just a bit mad and Daisy is no exception. Bolstered by a rich lyrical imagery, Daisy’s music paints a vivid picture which celebrates all the glorious strangeness of everyday life. She remains an intriguing character as well as an outstandingly talented artist. Her new EP Animal Style, recorded with producer Dan Austin (Pixies), is out 19th August and the title track is available on SoundCloud now.

Stagnant Streams: How streaming killed the charts

/ James Fenney

spotify-logo

Let’s be honest with ourselves, for as long as the charts have existed they have had to be taken with a pinch of salt. “Chart topping” music and good music rarely coincide, and any institution that gives Mr Blobby a number 1 single can’t be said to represent the best music in the country. Even so chart placings remain a source of pride for up and coming artists who rightly celebrate them as a milestone. However with the new rules in place to allow streaming figures to contribute to chart positions it could end up being the final nail in the coffin for this longstanding music institution. Continue reading →

Spotlight!: Kyle Britton

/ James Fenney

Kyle Britton

There’s something devilishly intriguing about the music on offer from this alternative singer/songwriter. The combination of dark folk undertones, the soft country twang and the sinister strings create a sound unlike anyone else, as though it has drifted through from some alternate reality. ‘Fire Walker’ dances around a haphazard bass line, ‘Villain’ could well be the theme song of some roguish desperado from a spaghetti western, whilst ‘Riddle’ is a wild cinematic ride all in itself thanks to the vivid pictures painted by the lyrics. With so much music in the world it’s rare to find an artist whose body of work is so unique and invigorating. Anyone whose music compels me to waltz through the streets whilst daydreaming about being some Victorian scoundrel gets a tick in my books. That is how you can pinpoint exceptional music, not only can you relate it to your own life, but it can also whisk you away to another world and leave it all behind.

Fans of Ryan Adams, Eaves, Lanterns on the Lake and Blackberry Smoke should check out his debut EP Riddle.

Bomb attack outside German music festival

/ James Fenney

ansbach bombing

Twelve people have been injured after an attacker detonated a nail bomb outside an open air music festival in the Bavarian town of Ansbach. The attacker was a 27 year old Syrian man who was denied asylum and faced deportation. He detonated the device after being denied entry to the festival for not having a ticket. Following the blast the public were evacuated from the area. Details are yet to emerge about the man’s motives and intentions, but this has been the latest in a string of attacks that have taken place in Germany and across western Europe.

Spotlight!: Trickster Guru

/ James Fenney

trickster guruThe brainchild of multi-instrumental singer/songwriter and producer Christopher Caplan, Trickster Guru is one of the most refreshingly eclectic projects to emerge in recent years. Originally conceived as a garage rock band it has now evolved beyond recognition thanks to it’s diverse melting pot of influences. ‘The Reminder’ combines the garage origins with a sizeable helping of glam, ‘Ghosts in the Night’ is a likeable slice of upbeat synthpop, ‘Little Butterfly’ is an indie experiment with hints of Peter Gabriel and ‘Problem Child’ blends R&B with electronica. A lesser artist would be swamped by all these different musical atmospheres swirling together but Trickster Guru rises above chaos and bends it to his will, making all these disparate elements become part of a bigger picture. Impossible to be tied down or pigeonholed, here we have an artist talented, ambitious and indeed just the right amount of crazy to make people of all walks of life sit up and pay attention.

Fans of Jack Garratt, Paolo Nutini, Everything Everything, Yeasayer and Little Scream should check out the new EP Problem Child out now