For some pretty, melodic and rather day-dreamy, ethereal indie pop, have look and listen to the music of Don Vail. On this latest recording, he was joined by some talented musicians — David Dunham and Bill Priddle (whom he’s worked with previously) plus Bob Wilcox, Jordon Zadorozny (Blinker The Star), Kori Pop and Luke Bentham (The Dirty Nil).
This video of psychedelic eye candy was directed by David Dunham, with video production by DIVORCE. The video credits also reveal that the flower footage was directed by Mitch Bowden, and I’d like to say a word about that flower. I was a little disappointed that even after all that water, the glass flower did not grow. But the music is still lovely.
Their debut self-titled release came out in 2009, and they’ve just released Fades. As one swims deeper into the waters of this new album, the music takes some unexpected turns into electronic space territory. Have a nice trip.
In the cluttered landscape of musicians trying to hit upon the next big thing or clinging to past successes and never venturing far from their established sound, it is refreshing to discover an artist in a constant state of metamorphosis. Eric Bachmann is best known for his seminal 1990s band, Archers of Loaf, though he’s a man who has never stayed still, neither physically nor creatively. He has restlessly moved from noisy, edgy indie rock to instrumental film soundtracks to alt-folk and Americana to dream-pop collaborations – and at one point, he quit music altogether.
One gets the impression that he was always on a mission of self-realization, a personal quest to find his artistic voice. With his latest solo album, an honest and engaging collection of introspective songs, he may well have found it.
Formative Years with The Archers of Loaf
Eric Bachmann was born in Greensboro, North Carolina and raised in Asheville. Early on, he majored in saxophone at Appalachian State University, but instead joined forces with guitarist Eric Johnson, drummer Mark Price and bassist Matt Gentling in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 1991, to form the noisy and edgy Archers of Loaf.
The early 1990s were a fertile time for indie rock and college radio stations, and the band was enthusiastically supported, developing a cult following in indie circles. They released four studio albums – Icky Mettle (1993), Vee Vee (1995), All the Nation’s Airports (1996) and White Trash Heroes (1997). They also put out a compilation album titled Speed of Cattle (1996), an EP, a compilation album and three live albums. The last of these live recordings, ‘Seconds Before the Accident’, was released posthumously in 2000.
Through their releases and heavy touring, Archers of Loaf amassed a large contingent of dedicated fans and an abundance of press accolades. They regrouped for a surprise show in January 2011 at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, North Carolina. This was followed by a proper club tour to commemorate Merge Records’ rereleases of their studio albums.
The Instrumental Soundtracks of Barry Black
In 1995, Bachmann collaborated with producer Caleb Southern to release a mostly instrumental album under the pseudonym Barry Black (this was inspired by an inside joke that he was “the opposite of Barry White”). An informal series of sessions recorded at home with various Chapel Hill musicians turned into a serious project of adventurous atmospheric soundtrack music. It was released by Alias Records, the Archers’ label. Bachmann performed several instruments including organ, Moog, guitar, banjo, saxophone, drums and clarinet.
The music was inspired by everything from modern classical and world music to pop, folk and jazz. There were contributions from local musical luminaries such as pianist Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five), fiddler Bill Hicks (Red Clay Ramblers), trumpeters Chris and Jim Clodfelter (Geezer Lake), percussionist Chris Wabich and on vocals, Cat’s Cradle club owner Frank Heath. Barry Black released a follow-up album, ‘Tragic Animal Stories’, in 1997.
Temporary Retirement and Crooked Fingers
Shortly after Archers of Loaf disbanded in 1998, Bachmann, who was burnt out from the business, decided to quit music altogether. It was a decision that proved to be short-lived. He moved to Taipei, Taiwan and accepted a job teaching English to children. At the time, he intended to stay there for the rest of his life, but after a few months, he wanted to start playing music again. He purchased a cheap guitar and began writing the songs that would make up the debut Crooked Fingers album.
Crooked Fingers was a sonic departure from the raucousness of Archers of Loaf. With a revolving cast of musicians, the band’s music was a rich and darkly shaded blend of indie rock, alt-folk and Americana. Their lavish instrumentation over the course of ten years included guitars, cello, violin, double bass, trumpet, mandolin, clarinet, flute, sax, percussion and lap steel guitar.
They released six full length albums – their self-titled debut, ‘Bring on the Snakes’, ‘Red Devil Dawn’, ‘Dignity and Shame’, ‘Forfeit/Fortune’ and ‘Breaks in the Armor’. On their ‘Forfeit/Fortune’ album, there were guest appearances by Tom Hagerman (DeVotchKa), Brian Kotzur (Silver Jews) and Neko Case (The New Pornographers).
Short Careers — Bachmann’s Collaborations and Solo Projects
It wasn’t until 2002 that Eric Bachmann released his first proper solo album, the amusingly titled ‘Short Careers’. It was an instrumental soundtrack album for the indie film ‘Ball of Wax’, about an evil baseball player consumed with greed. The album picked up where Barry Black left off, now under Bachmann’s own name, and would mark his first attempt at film scoring.
He followed this up in 2006 with his second solo album, ‘To The Races’. This austere and powerful collection of folk ballads features Bachmann’s gravelly vocals and acoustic guitar, with guests Tom Hagerman on violin and Miranda Brown on vocals. Its introspective nature and sparse instrumentation may have had something to do with the environment in which it was written – living out of his van in the Seattle area.
Though Crooked Fingers continued to be Bachmann’s main vehicle for his music, he worked on other musicians’ projects as a producer, arranger, engineer and multi-instrumentalist. He made appearances on recordings by Azure Ray, Micah P. Hinson, Laura Minor, David Dondero and Liz Durrett (Bachmann’s wife, who performed on Crooked Fingers’ Breaks in the Armor album and played with them live). He joined Neko Case’s touring band in 2013, playing guitar and piano, and continued to work on new songs for his third solo album, which saw its release on Merge in March 2016.
Boldly and Modestly into the Future
On Bachmann’s latest self-titled solo album, he openly and honestly shares his insights and contemplations with mature, introspective songs that examine such weighty topics as life, love and loss. His recent intimate performances, presented as a classy yet humble career retrospective with songs from every project and album, seem to be at once paying tribute to and closing the book on his past, to focus more fully on his solo career. His decision to retire Crooked Fingers and release this new album with his name and nothing else is the artist fully unmasked, venturing forth with newfound creativity and confidence.
After a funky beginning with jazz horns and shuffling percussion, Icelandic musician Junius Meyvant (a.k.a. Unnar Gísli Sigurmundsson) opens his mouth to sing, and it’s not what you’d expect. Instead of a Nordic growl conjuring Vikings of yore (his blond and bearded look fortifies this image), what issues forth is a smooth, retro ’70s soul vibe and some downright ethereal bits of falsetto. It’s jarringly wonderful.
This song of comfort and hope, ‘Neon Experience,’ was filmed near the harbor in Reykjavik for his Spotify Session. It comes from his debut album, ‘Floating Harmonies,’ which is due out on July 8, on Record Records. You can preorder a physical copy on Record Records’ site.
“Don’t let your mindset fool around
don’t let the whole world drag you down
new day will come, come around.”
– Neon Experience
The song reached 91,000 plays and charted at number 2 on Hype Machine. In his native Iceland, he won the Best Newcomer and Best Song Icelandic Music Awards and received nominations for Best Male Singer and Best Song. His music has been played on BBC Radio London, Radio X and Amazing Radio, and he has regularly toured around Europe. In the U.S., his debut single ‘Color Decay’ was chosen by KEXP’s programming director Kevin Cole as Song of the Year, with praise for his guitar playing, in addition to his singing. His music effortlessly melds authentic-sounding soul with folk and pop sensibilities.
For now, you’ll have to be in Europe to see a live performance. Júniús will be playing at London’s Bushstock festival with Dan Croll on June 18th, and is set to embark on a European tour beginning in September. See his official site for dates and details.
P.S. – Just released (5/17) is the official video for ‘Neon Experience,’ a fascinating ‘day in the life’ mini-documentary of an Icelander and his young son. A convincing tourism advertisement if I ever saw one!
It’s a last-gasp attempt to be timely, to be sure, but I feel I must mark the occasion. A favorite Boston band — no, let’s call them a musical art ensemble — by the name of Jaggery is officially releasing a new album today. It’s called Crux. This evening, they’ll be hosting their record release party at ONCE Ballroom at Cuisine en Locale, with what will most certainly be a stunning performance by this wonderful group of musicians. Because, truth be told, I have yet to see a performance by them that isn’t stunning. And that includes the one at the dearly departed Church, which was done in darkness with people shining their smartphones onto the stage when the club suddenly lost power.
I’m listening to Crux as I write this. Beginning with Singer Mali’s ‘War Cry,’ like an eagle warning the planet of imminent catastrophe, the album embarks on a mysterious journey through jungles and tropical rain forests, deserts and savannas, open tundra and grasslands. Such is the breadth and depth of these musical passages, like unique, self-contained acts of a life-long, epic musical. I’m quite used to Mali’s playful, threatening, taunting and soaring vocals being jaw-dropping, but she has reached new heights (and depths) here. It’s the voice of a million colors.
The musical accompaniment provided by Mali’s exquisite piano and her insanely talented mini-orchestra — Daniel Schubmehl (drums, percussion), Tony Leva (upright bass), Rachel Jayson (viola), Dylan Jack (drums, percussion) and Petaluma Vale (harp, vocals) — is downright kaleidoscopic, begging for a thousand dancers to be flinging themselves around, under and over each other on a vast Broadway stage.
In this incomprehensible world we now find ourselves in, with so much discordant noise and nonsense all around, there are thankfully those extremely rare occasions of brilliance. Think of it as a tiny glistening diamond in a sea of shit. A sensible and sophisticated environment in endless rows of tacky used car lots and strip malls. And for that moment, as we behold that impossibly perfect gemstone forged from the chaos that surrounds it, against all odds, we are simultaneously taken out of ourselves and back into our center.
04/29 Somerville, MA — ONCE Ballroom — album release party
06/21 Kingston, NY — BSP Lounge
06/22 Philadelphia, PA — TBA
06/23 Baltimore, MD — The Crown
06/24 Washington, DC — 16th Street House
06/25 Reidsville, NC — Brad & Tammy’s Listening Loft
06/27 Indianapolis, IN — 10 Johnson Avenue
06/28 Chicago, IL — Martyr’s
06/29 Detroit, MI — TBA
06/30 Toronto, ON — Transaz Club, Southern Cross Room
07/01 Buffalo, NY — Hickory Sanctuary
07/02 TBA
07/03 New York, NY — TBA
Have you ever wanted to thrash around a fancy mansion? If so, you’ll probably enjoy the video for ‘Catalyst,’ the featured track off the debut EP from Canadian punk band NO//LIARS. I’m not quite sure if their name implies an upstanding group of honest young lads or if it’s emphatic social commentary (which could understandly apply to the current state of the American political environment). Whichever it is, these guys let loose in a classy establishment replete with stained glass, works of art, tiffany lamps, marble fireplaces, wood paneling and what appears to be a turret.
And why not? These are classy guys. They’re Canadian, after all, and their head-banging, vocal cord shredding mayhem does incorporate some downright melodic moments and, dare I say it, actual soft harmonies and maybe even a bit of heartache. That’s because it’s a song about betrayal, and about ‘all the things that go through your head when you realize you’ve had the wool pulled over your eyes by someone you trusted.’ But don’t you dare call them emo.
This powerful video was directed by Mike Morash, and NO//LIARS features Morley Grass (vocals), Noah Edwards (vocals, guitar), Eric Paone (guitar), Jonathan Graves (bass) and Mike Battle (drums). You can download the NO//LIARS EP on iTunes or stream it on Spotify.
It’s not always the best idea to go into business with relatives. However, in the case of Silver Lake, Los Angeles indie-folk band Miner, all that familial familiarity is put to good use in the form of tight, tuneful melodies and closely knit harmonies.
Miner began with husband and wife Justin and Kate Miner and Justin’s brother Jeremy Miner, joined by drummer Tobias Urbanczyk, who may or may not be an actual family member but probably feels like one by this point. Their debut album ‘Into The Morning’ (2014), which was self-released, led to a big national tour where they performed with bands like Sir Sly, Lord Huron, The Eels, Cayucas and Typhoon.
On their new album, Tunaki (released in February), they worked with Phil Ek (Modest Mouse, Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, The Shins) in Seattle. The album sounds adventurous and expansive, with breathless melodies and those exuberant vocal harmonies that propel the songs to soaring heights. And as there’s nothing like a bit of family drama to provide added impetus to a creative project, during the recording process Kate was awaiting results from a blood test that would tell her if she was a carrier of Huntington’s Disease, a fatal genetic condition. The good news is that she’s fine and tested negative, and the sense of urgency and focus shows in this finely honed, lush music that blends the vigor and ‘citizen of the world’ quality of Local Natives with the traditionally-minded warm indie folk of The Lumineers.
They’re currently touring, and will be hitting the East Coast toward the end of May. Catch them if you can! In the meantime, you can purchase Tunaki on iTunes.
Spring 2016 Touring/Festival Dates
May 15: Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room
May 17: Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey
May 18: Nashville, TN @ The High Watt
May 19: Louisville, KY @ The New Vintage
May 20: Asheville,NC @ Sol Bar at New Mountain
May 22: Washington, DC @ Black Cat
May 23: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge May 24: Boston, MA @ Great Scott
May 25: Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
May 26: Pittsburgh, PA @ Cattivo
May 27: Muncie, IN @ Be Here Now
May 28: Chillicothe, IL @ Summer Camp Music Festival
May 31: Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
June 1: Madison, WI @ The Frequency
June 3: Milwaukee, WI @ Club Garibaldi
June 5: Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center
June 9: Reno, NV @ Peppermill Casino
June 10: Reno, NV @ Peppermill Casino
June 11: Reno, NV @ Peppermill Casino
June 18: Davis, CA @ Davis Music Festival
June 24-26: Rothbury, MI @ Electric Forest Festival
If you’re looking for deep revelations and the answer to life, you likely won’t find it in the music of Boston-based The Relevant Elephants. But that’s OK sometimes. If you’re looking for an entertaining diversion or you’ve got an itch that can only be satisfyingly scratched by some loud, raucous screaming guitar and pounding bass and drums, part alt-rock ’90s and part classic Led Zeppelin, then these guys can help you out. Lyrically (because we’re all about that here), there are definitely some tongue-in-cheek Weezer moments here (“Allston and Brighton are for Drinkin’ and Fightin’,” “Starving Artist,” “Rock ‘n’ Roll Band”), but it’s cleverly done and the the highly evolved and sophisticated gonzo musicianship brings the proceedings to a higher level than just throwaway novelty songs. These guys are reverent in their irreverence.
The Relevant Elephants came on the scene with their debut EP back in the spring of 2015, hitting places like New York, Detroit and Chicago with live shows, in addition of course to the Boston area. They released their debut album, Paper Walls last month, and it certainly didn’t hurt that Stephen Colbert name-dropped the band at a Q&A session. The band features Zack Hankins on vocals and guitar, Adam Khalil on bass, Mack Suhre on drums and Drew Lucas on lead guitar and vocals. They’re currently collaborating with visual artists from TV shows “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Archer” and “Aqua Teen Hunger Force,” so keep a lookout for plenty more to come.
I find this song from Newfoundland-based LeRiche somewhat sad in its quiet resignation — but perhaps I shouldn’t. ‘Bury Me’ is an introspective ode from the musican to his lover, or so it seems. It starts out deceptively simple, a softly strummed acoustic guitar accompanying a wistful voice, but it soon swells in full orchestration. The more instruments that join in, the more hopeful and joyous the tidings. And that’s despite the musician gives his lover instructions to dress him in some nice clothes for his last show. Wow, bittersweet.
“Bury me with my guitar
I may never become a star
but it’s all that I know, all that I know.”
This newly-released song is from LeRiche’s forthcoming EP called ‘Quiet Steady,’ which is due out in the summer. The artist calls it ‘a song of self-sacrifice.’ The cover art of the EP, plus footage and images from the video, feature his home town, Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. The meaning behind the confusing EP image of the town and its water reflection, inverted, is that ‘sometimes beauty is beneath the surface’ and ‘we need to look beyond our reflections to see that.’
The 22-year-old started playing around with a guitar as early as the age of one, and has also tried his hand at piano, bass and drum, settling into singing and songwriting as his passion. After performing in local venues around Newfoundland, representing Canada at Global Village 2012 in Qatar and working in summer repertoire theatre, Theatre Newfoundland and in Labrador with The Gros Morn Theatre Festival, LeRiche put out his first release, ‘Rain.’ It includes accompaniment from a string quartet, percussion and the sound of falling rain through the open window of his Toronto recording studio.
At first blush, the upbeat quirkiness of Canadian Hanna Bech and her personable brand of pop music is somewhat reminiscent of Ingrid Michaelson, even down to the ukulele. In addition to the irressistable charm of the uke, Bech’s new video for “ABCs” features sign language, lips singing, a Sesame Street nursery rhyme delivery and plenty of whimsy.
This song is off Bech’s debut EP, Naked Bones, which is set for release on May 13. Other songs on the upcoming release (such as the title track and the very intriguing “Tidal Wave”) have a darker undercurrent and a more complex weave. There are also some lovely strings that make an appearance, and she delves into darker and deeper waters as it goes along. Overall, the EP feels like musical theater, with some dramatic moments. She describes her debut as “a quirky album that is serious about playfully exploring the darkness and hope we have within us.” Creating fun, lighthearted music is her way of dealing with her own anxieties and other health issues, and it’s her hope that it will help others as well.
Her instruments of choice include vocals, piano, trumpet and ukulele and quite likely, anything else that crosses her path, such as tables, chairs and her own body percussion.
Follow Hanna Bech and be on the lookout for her debut!
Meeka Kates’ latest single, “Wild,” tells the story of, in his words, “a rather ill-fated romance and a girl looking for an escape, perhaps willing to let herself be deceived in the hopes of finding one.” It’s catchy and danceable in a minimalist way, but with a smarmy sort of undercurrent in the lyrics, sung with a smooth-as-silk delivery that effectively puts across the slickness of a fast-talking hustler.
“Empire (Feat. Allen Ginsberg),” released earlier this year, is quite an inspired collaboration and very nicely put together. It’s the sparse bass and percussive instrumentation plus his smooth vocals and savvy harmonies that makes this music hypnotic and irresistable.
He seems to be based in Melbourne now, though he gives his hometown as “New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Lyon” as well. He has two more EPs scheduled for release in the next few months, plus a few features, so follow him to keep up with what he’s doing.
And here’s something really cool that I came across, where Kates gives Ol’ Blue Eyes a run for his money, with the help of a loop pedal. Nice.
