musings from boston

Introducing… Echo Bloom

On December 17, 2014

photo by John Whitlock

Exploding the concept that a band has to stay confined within a particular genre in order to appeal to their core audience, Brooklyn orchestral folk band Echo Bloom are currently on album #2 of a genre-conceptual trilogy (coincidentally, we’re currently on band #2 of a trilogy of Brooklyn-based bands; spooky!). The first album was Blue (chamber pop), a study of orchestral folk with acoustic guitar, piano, organ, banjo, mandolin, glockenspiel, autoharp, percussion, strings, French horn and beautiful harmonies. “Veins” is from that first release. The third album, Green, will be classic pop. Their second album, to be released early this year, is titled Red (country/shoegaze – or, as they say, bootgaze), and it will showcase a harder sound with guitar feedback and a driving beat along with their luscious 3-part harmonies. You can listen below to the first single, “Operator,” which begins slowly and then builds into a magnificent ship with sails unfurled.

The ensemble formed in 2009 (originally the Rosemont Family Reunion) and is led by vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kyle Evans. He conceived the idea of the genre concept trilogy while living in Berlin and discovering German culture. He put together his six piece band and worked on the albums back in the U.S., in Brooklyn.

Keep an eye out for Red, and in the meantime, you can purchase “Operator” on iTunes.

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Introducing… Howard

By julie

On December 14, 2014

In Indie Music

Funny how the universe works. Once I decided to re-examine my feelings about electronic music this year, my inbox began filling up with artists who have found a way to combine man and machine in a more emotionally satisfying way than what I’ve encountered in recent years. One such band is Brooklyn-based trio Howard. A new or maybe not-so-new but “new to me” genre has surfaced called folktronica. Pleasing beeps and boops are woven together with unadorned, quiet vocals, organic-sounding instrumentation and honest contemplations. Have a listen and see what you think.

Previously known as Orange Television (based in Massachusetts), Howard Feibusch (producer, guitar, vocals) and Myles Heff (bass) were joined by Chris Holdridge (drums). Howard is poised to release their debut album Religion with an album release show at Mercury Lounge in New York City on January 19. Their debut single was “Song About Something.” Indie Shuffle included their single “Money Can’t Buy” on its “Best Folk Music of 2014” list, but the term folk music is clearly a misnomer. Or perhaps it IS folk music for our complicated times. Maybe today’s folk music, just as the folk music of earlier centuries included “found” and “handmade” instruments, includes the instruments made by our species that we now find ourselves surrounded by. Though instead of letting technology rule us and dehumanize us, the new practice may be to weave it, dare I use the phrase more organically, into our fragile human experience.

In addition to their album release show on the 19th, Howard will be playing at Chelsea Nights in New York City tomorrow night (January 2). For those in Western Massachusetts, they’ll be opening for Brooklyn power-trio &Co at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton on Sunday (January 4).

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The Busker Diaries: Tice

By julie

On December 11, 2014

In Indie Music

Back in November, we premiered the debut edition of The Busker Diaries. Here now is the second installment of what looks to be a phenomenal documentary mini-series from Berlin that profiles primarily buskers (street performers) from around the world, telling their story in their own words and giving us a taste of their music. In yet another compelling video, we’re introduced to Tice (short for Hatice and pronounced Teache), a German street rapper with Turkish heritage. She isn’t a busker, but they make an exception for this powerful and talented performer. She talks about what it’s like to be a female rapper in Germany, and how she uses her music as self therapy.

“They say it’s hard for women in the rap game, but I don’t let it get to me, I’m over that shit. I reckon these guys are just jealous. They can’t admit ‘hey, that sounds dope, she’s better than me,’ just cause she has a pussy.”

Ok. She’s Turkish and living in Düsseldorf. And a woman. And a female rapper. Damn. Respect.

Busker Diaries #2 – Traum from Fabian Frost on Vimeo.

The Busker Diaries will continue to feature these artists, their music and their story, in mini documentaries, and you can donate on the site to help support the artists so they can continue to create. Artists can apply to be considered for a feature or recommended by others through busker@dieleiter.com.

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Introducing… Hurricane Love

By julie

On December 7, 2014

In Indie Music

Though it’s difficult not to compare Sweden’s Hurricane Love to bands like Monsters and Men, what with their anthemic choruses and male-female group harmonies, they have, to my ear anyway, a more polished sound and pristine voices that seem classically trained. Whether or not this note perfection is to your liking is, of course, personal preference, but anyone who enjoys music that’s strengthening and spiritually uplifting should definitely give these talented musicians a listen. Like Mumford and Sons and the Lumineers, they carry on the tradition of folk-infused indie rock, albeit with a pop sensibility.

The video for their single “Nowhere To Go” is simply filmed, showing the ensemble performing in a full circle as the camera slowly rotates. It’s highly effective in displaying their group dynamic, camaraderie and passion.

The six members of Hurricane Love first came together in early 2012 and have already toured in Germany, England and Sweden. With their first single, “Only Human,” released in 2013, they earned a place on Billboard’s Next Big Sound feature. They stripped things down to the basics when they performed acoustically on the streets of Cologne, Germany, for the Cardinal Sessions. Personally, I love acoustic sets like these, as you can see immediately whether or not a band truly has it or doesn’t. These guys definitely have it. I don’t see any shows scheduled for now, but for now, you can order the “Nowhere To Go” single from iTunes.

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Introducing… Elliot Maginot

By julie

On December 3, 2014

In Indie Music

Moody and wistful are descriptors that come to mind upon listening to Montreal native Elliot Maginot’s “Monsters At War,” the first single off his debut album Young/Old/Everything.In.Between. Produced by Jace Lasek (Besnard Lakes, Suuns), it comes out February 10th on the Montreal label, Indica Records (Half Moon Run & Phantogram). He has a nice finger-picking style that blends with choral harmonies.

Beginning February 7, Elliot will be touring around Canada. See his site for the schedule. Meanwhile, you can preorder the album and get two free tracks, “Monsters At War” and “Survival.”

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Introducing… The Outdoor Type

By julie

On November 29, 2014

In Indie Music

A down-homey vibe with guitars, harmonica and sweet pop vocals combine with a little edginess in the way of analog synths on this debut song called “Are You Happy” from The Outdoor Type. It’s the project of Melbourne, Australia-based singer and songwriter Zach Buchanan, and it has a nice little ’80s retro sound going for it. In a mere hundred words, he paints a complete portrait of suburban life — laziness, craziness, Diazepam, instant coffee, breakfast TV, the 9-5 rat race, store-brand foods, cheap red wine, regrets, the works.

“Wait here.
Don’t go home,
Nothing easy,
Nothing grows,
I gave you all I own,
For your tired weary soul.”

Are you happy? If not, try listening to this upbeat little gem with the wistful undercurrent.

The song was produced and mixed by Colin Leadbetter. The Outdoor Type will be releasing their debut EP in early 2015, followed by a full-length album.

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Introducing… Macombee & The Absolute Truth

By julie

On November 25, 2014

In Indie Music

I think it must be living on one of two relatively small islands in the middle of a vast ocean that produces a special kind of quirkiness and fertile ground for artistic expression outside the norm. Macombee & The Absolute Truth are inhabitants of their own unique reality. Their music is grand and theatrical, with equal parts horn-driven spy movie soundtrack and pretty orchestral piano balladry. It all centers around band leader Sarah Macombee’s Broadway musical vocals. There’s the delightfully adrift and off-kilter “Floatsam and Jetsam” and the expansive (and well-named) “Epic.” Quieter contemplations such as the very sweet “Limbo” and the choral celebration of “Ripples” (that includes her vocal students) give way to full-on productions like “No Man’s Land” and “The Absolute Truth” (which begins and ends this ambitious debut release). Their first release? really??

Originally from England, the Macombees (technically the McCombies) emigrated to New Zealand, and Sarah has been singing in choirs and in bands for many years. Macombee & The Absolute Truth features several Macombee family members and their friends. Up to a dozen or so people were involved in the production of No Man’s Land. It was an album that took 5 or 6 years to make, through trials and tribulations that included a relapse of MS for their bandleader and the unexpected passing of their first producer, Ben Stockwell. All this only added to their determination, which perhaps is what explains the tremendous confidence and polish of this intriguing album. You can hear them discuss the coming together of the band and the making of the album, in addition to three songs performed live, on Radio New Zealand.

My personal favorite is the first single, “Floatsam and Jetsam,” and the quirky video of a pleasant little tea party that goes awry. It was filmed and directed by Immi Paterson-Harkness, edited by Darryn Paterson-Harkness, and features a truly wonderful performance by actor David Thiele. For me, this perfectly captures the amazingly inventive and slightly crazy and surreal Kiwi personality. I look forward to having the Macombees on our shores one day soon.

No Man’s Land can be purchased on iTunes or in its physical form from STORENVY.

Upcoming New Zealand Shows
1/23 – Lucha Lounge, York Street, Newmarket
2/13 – Hauraki House Theatre, Coromandel Town (vocal workshop and show)
2/14 – Kauaeranga Hall, Coromandel (vocal workshop and show)
3/29 – Titirangi Festival of Music, Titirangi Theatre, Lopdell House (vocal workshop and show)

For more information, see their site.

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Introducing… The Bulls (as they Come Unwound)

By julie

On November 21, 2014

In Indie Music

Photo by Josh Giroux

Just one song so far, and it’s a shimmering beauty. The Bulls is multi-instrumentalist Anna Bulbrook (The Airborne Toxic Event) and guitarist Marc Sallis (The Duke Spirit). In early October, they unveiled their first song, “Come Unwound,” which begins as a reverent and breathy Nico-esque sad prayer to an unraveling relationship. The minimalist music slowly builds into a dramatic orchestral production with soaring strings and reverb-soaked guitars, dropping back down for each verse. Stunning.

After hearing Anna’s beautiful voice slowly taking on a more prominent role in her outings with Airborne, it’s a real treat to enjoy it full-strength, front and center stage. And likewise, as her “day job band” embraces synthesizers on their next release, it’s a pleasure to know that her stellar violin/viola skills will enjoy free rein here. With influences ranging from late ’80s/early ’90s dream-pop and shoegaze, The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees, bits of new wave and guitar grunge, luscious strings and ethereal vocals, The Bulls promise to give us some pleasant daydreams to float off and away in.

To accompany these aural delights, The Bulls released equally compelling visuals in the form of a provacative video, directed by Evan Mathis, that features Kinbaku model Stacy Lewis. Anna and Marc talk about the video and the formation of The Bulls in an interview with L.A. Weekly.

I’m looking forward to their debut EP, hopefully out early next year. In the meantime, you can purchase “Come Unwound” on iTunes.

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Introducing… The Midnight Hollow

By julie

On November 17, 2014

In Indie Music

Photo by Evan McKnight

Ah, these guys warm my ’80s goth heart. Brooklyn-based The Midnight Hollow will bring a smile of recognition to fans of bands like Simple Minds and Echo and the Bunnymen, but they also have psychedelic and experimental moments that combine to create something you can get quite lost in. They’ll be releasing their debut full-length album, The People Inside, next year. For now, have a listen to the first single, “Forward.”

The Midnight Hollow is singer and multi instrumentalist Spencer Draeger and Andrew Segreti on drums. Matt Liebowitz (bass), Vahak “V” Janbazian (percussion)
and Katie Lee Campo (keyboards) join them for live performances. Their first song, “Downstairs,” came out in 2013, as part of a compilation album on Zappruder Records. Back in the summer, they released a video for “Her Morning Glow,” which they modeled on psychedlic cult classics of the 1960s. Their debut EP included the spacy, hypnotic “Rabbit Talk.”

That should be more than enough to whet your appetite until next year’s new music, which will hopefully include some touring. If you’re in New York, they’ll be playing with Motel Pools on January 3 at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn.

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Introducing… Bat Manors

By julie

On November 13, 2014

In Indie Music

They describe themselves as “Halloween pop” and their debut album, due out January 27 on Bleed101 Records, is Literally Weird. Don’t let that scare you, though. Bat Manors, hailing from Provo, Utah, is a perfectly lovely and quite dreamy chamber pop and folk ensemble consisting of several dozen musicians. Ok, maybe not quite that many, but at least a sextet, with others popping in and out. It begins with singer-songwriter Adam Klopp, joined by his many friends (up to a dozen at their live shows). Oh, the softly strummed acoustic guitar, the lap steel, the pretty strings! The gently harmonizing vocals! Their debut covers such heady topics as “love, sexual discovery, and losing your faith in one of the most faith-driven communities in the world.” The first single is “Manifest Destiny.”

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Coming Soon!

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