Having performed in various bands over the years, and with his music being featured on such iconic shows as The Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy and True Blood, LA based songwriter TJ Stafford has struck out on his own with his debut single. ‘Crazy’, taken from his upcoming debut album All My Bad Habits Have Prepared Me For This out 30th June, is a dark and brooding track, a slow burning fuse of volatile alternative rock. With an inescapable air of tension the song drifts along its mesmeric rhythm, the haze pierced only by occasional cathartic bursts of aggression. Like a sleepwalk through a minefield, the contrast at work here is quite striking. TJ has started strong with his solo career and his debut seems sure to have more surprises in store.
Spotlight!: Gozer Goodspeed
Photo by Sandra Vilimaite
Armed with little more than an acoustic guitar and his trusty hat, Plymouth based singer/songwriter Gozer Goodspeed has crafted his own unique blend of classic blues and traditional English folk. Unplugged, understated and under no pressure to follow petty trends, here is a man carving his own path in this busy industry. ‘Every Night, Saturn’s Rings’ sees his guitar work at it’s most light and airy, and the more attentive listener might discern a few hints of Bono in the vocals. ‘What You Got Going On, Lewis?’ throws some piano into the mix to create a sound akin to a blend of the Rolling Stones and some old wild west saloon. The mandolin heavy ‘Barrel Headlong Into The Night’, the title track of Gozer’s forthcoming second EP, brings to mind the pastoral, yet vaguely exotic, soundscapes of Led Zeppelin III. Gozer Goodspeed’s foot-tapping blues and carefree folk are the product of an honest and down-to-Earth musician driven by a love of what he does.
Fans of Dan Owen, Seafret, Scott Lloyd and Jake Bugg should check out his Barrel Headlong Into The Night EP out 19th May
Spotlight!: Miccoli
It’s important within a band to have a strong bond, a deep connection of spirit and a sharing of ideas. It’s always been said that blood is thicker than water and few acts work in such perfect harmony as Miccoli, composed of twin brothers Alex and Adriano, and their sister Francesca. Weaving their voices together to craft a spellbinding display, an angelic chorus so rarely found in indie pop, they have produced one of the most promising EPs of the year. ‘Idle Stranger’ is a late night anthem to lead the way when you find yourself lost in life, while the slow burning ‘Undo’ show Miccoli’s ethereal harmonies at their best. The suitably bright and uplifting ‘Lights’ is a finely crafted hit in the making and the stripped back ‘Devices’ builds an intricate and fragile cathedral of sound from the sparsest of arrangements. This band of siblings have a clear idea of who they want to be, and if they carry on the legacy of their first EP then they are sure to win over new fans everywhere they go.
Miccoli’s debut EP 1/2 is out 12th May and is a must for fans of The Staves, Ben Howard, Amber Run and early Bon Iver
Top Tracks: The Afghan Whigs – Arabian Heights
Cult 90s legends The Afghan Whigs are back, with the latest cut from their forthcoming album In Spades, out 5th May. ‘Arabian Heights’ is nothing short of a rock masterclass; with a riff reminiscent of Led Zeppelin’s ‘The Rover’, a myriad of mystifying effects that could have come straight from Rush’s ‘Clockwork Angels’ and a stellar rhythm section that sounds like The Stone Roses possessed by the devil incarnate. There’s simply so much going on here; otherworldly elements, exotic expression and all the classic alt rock sounds in a way you’ve not heard before. ‘Arabian Heights’ takes every interesting aspect of every rock album you’re likely to hear this year and fuses them into something simply spectacular. If the rest of In Spades can match this then we may have an absolute classic on our hands.
Top Tracks: Duncan Lloyd – Heads Of The Bastille
Lead guitarist and primary songwriter for Maximo Park, Duncan Lloyd, has shared his latest single ‘Heads Of The Bastille’. The first single from his upcoming solo album I O U O M E, released 26th May, it juxtaposes a sad tale of waning love in a failing relationship with gloriously bright and cheerful indie melodies. The track gives the impression of a “C’est La Vie” attitude, trying not to get bogged down in life’s pitfalls and simply acknowledging that they are a part of the journey. Lloyd’s pensive and personal, albeit glass-half-full, songwriting on this track is delightfully refreshing. Music is meant to speak to people, and sometimes we all need to hear that when things get tough, we just need to accept the world as it is and try to look towards the future. This warm and honest song is the reassuring voice of reason you need.
Spotlight!: In My Disguise
Ipswich born alternative rockers In My Disguise are more than they appear. If you’re looking for straight shooting, no-nonsense riffs then you’re in luck, but if you’re also one to dig deeper for those little subtleties then there is plenty here for you to enjoy. Either way, they can provide exactly what you’re looking for. With their debut EP Achromatic the band have picked up the mantle left by post-grunge bands of the late nineties and early noughties. ‘Alive’ boasts a heavy groove and a wondrous melodic bass interlude, while ‘Fear’ is at times reminiscent of Tool’s ‘Sober’ and shows the band at their lyrical peak. ‘Scattered Memories’ features some blistering guitar work to bring the EP to a close and the stripped back ‘Story’, the band’s best work thus far, shows a different side to In My Disguise. It makes a great change of pace and shows the kind of range the band have to offer. In My Disguise have made an assured start to their career with their first release and have secured a place as one of the most promising new bands on the scene.
Fans of Alter Bridge, Shinedown, Audioslave and Stone Temple Pilots keep an eye out for In My Disguise’s Achromatic EP out 19th May.
Top Tracks: Naomi Wachira – Beautifully Human
There are many memorable lyrics that stay with us, but one of the most powerful to my mind is “war is not the answer, only love can conquer hate” from Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’. It’s a message that all too often gets forgotten in today’s divided world, but has been captured perfectly in the latest single from Kenyan born singer/songwriter Naomi Wachira. ‘Beautifully Human’, taken from her upcoming album Song of Lament, speaks out about human equality and celebrating our differences rather than fearing them. Combining folky acoustic guitar, warm reggae rhythms and soulful, uplifting vocals, the track plays as a bright anthem of hope, but deep down within lies a firm resolve not to give in to the darkness that surrounds us. This a ray of sun to be cherished in this bleak landscape.
Top Tracks: Julian Fulton – Howl
The old ways never really disappear, but sometimes they warp and change into new forms. The style-shifting new single from Julian Fulton contains bits and pieces of a range of genres, but at it’s centre beats a blues heart. ‘Howl’, taken from his upcoming EP Battered Receptions out 12th May, starts with a straightforward blues intro before taking you on a wild ride. Weaving its way from Jack White-esque vocals and a crisp indie guitar interlude, to wandering bass lines and mystical, atmospheric synths straight out of Rainbow’s Rising. Each surprising turn it takes builds the song up into something greater, and it grows even further with each new listen. Julian has seamlessly blended a range of styles into this intriguing little number, and his new EP promises to bring more of the same.
Top Tracks: Levy & The Oaks – Out Of The Blue
New Jersey based indie folk outfit Levy & The Oaks are back with their new single. ‘Out Of The Blue’, the title track of their upcoming EP out 19th May, shares a message of giving both yourself and others a bit of love, patience and understanding when times get tough. Starting out with a sparse folk arrangement, the band then bring an anthemic indie pop chorus into play, the kind that stays with you for days at a time, before catching you off-guard in the closing moments of the track with a hearty dose of electropop synths. Levy & The Oaks refuse to be pigeonholed with this latest track that seems equally at home as a festival anthem, or as a fireside sing-a-long for those long summer nights. It’s the kind of song that will end up being important to many different people, all for very different reasons.
Spotlight!: Ophelia
Photo by Ev Sekkides
All music fans love the thrill of finding something special, and watching it grow and blossom like some proud parent. Although very much still in the early stages of their career, transatlantic Americana duo Ophelia already display the kind of confidence and professionalism that most bands don’t earn until several albums down the line. Samuel Taylor and Rebecca Van Cleave bring together a wealth of different experiences and influences, and weave them into their own rich musical tapestry. On tracks like ‘A Little Too Late’ with it’s driving rhythm, and the bright folk pop of ‘Whip Of The Wheel’ with it’s strategic splashes of harmonica, Becca and Sam take turns in the spotlight and bring some big, memorable hooks with them. When they join forces however their sound takes a different, but no less captivating, turn. The dark blues, skittering percussion and bewitching harmonies of ‘I Can’t Dream About You Anymore’ sounds like some lost collaboration between Nick Cave and Feist, while the mournful, violin framed duet of ‘If You Could Read My Mind’ plays like a pleading love letter between two broken souls. Ophelia have won my heart and I’m excited to see where this road takes them, but even more so to be part of the journey.
Fans of Ryan Adams, James Bay, Feist and Alabama Shakes should catch Ophelia on their UK tour.
Belwood Music 