Can You Feel It Coming...

Soulsavers (also known as The Soulsavers Soundsystem) are an English remix and production team consisting of Rich Machin and Ian Glover. They have released 3 albums Tough Guys Don't Dance, It's Not How Far You Fall, It's The Way You Land and Broken. Mark Lanegan (of Screaming Trees, Queens Of The Stone Age, The Gutter Twins) has served as the main vocalist on their last 2 albums singing 8 out of the 10 songs on It's Not How Far You Fall... their newest release features guest vocals from Jason Pierce (Spiritualized), Richard Hawley and Mike Patton (Faith No More). A very interesting project in that the songs all have a gospel, rock, soul and country mix that works well with Mark Lanegan's well worn voice. Very uplifting music for any occasion. Also to note is Mark Lanegan's albums with former Belle and Sebastian singer Isobel Campbell Ballad Of The Broken Seas, Sunday At Devil Dirt and Hawk. Also a great collaboration that seems to be tailored for Mark's gruff voice. Haunting and beautiful the combination of Isobel and Mark's voices blends so well that they have continued making albums after making a one off debut. Have a listen through at some of the different sounds:

Soulsavers - "Precious Time" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Soulsavers - "Revival" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Soulsavers - "Pharaoh's Chariot (featuring Jason Pierce)" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Soulsavers - "Kingdoms of Rain" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Soulsavers - "No Expectations"

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - "Ramblin' Man" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - "Revolver" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - "Who Built The Road" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - "Come Undone" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

All great artists who are worth checking out in their various projects. Hope to keep hearing all the great music they continue to put out.

Thanks for tuning in...

People Come On

A great band from Brooklyn via Cincinnati, Ohio go by the name of The National. They have a very unique sound due to lead singer Matt Berninger's voice and lyrics. A refreshing take on americana done by a band that knows how to do it well. Their lyrics are a central part of the songs and require extra attention for the small bits that you might miss like "When you're out with the cunts, You can break what you have, but the rest of it's mine" from "Looking For Astronauts" or "I'm a perfect piece of ass, Like every Californian" from "All The Wine". They have 5 albums under their belt including The National, Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers, Alligator, Boxer and High Violet. One of those bands that will only get better as time goes on and they release more music. Have a peek:

"Abel" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Lit Up" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Daughters Of The Soho Riots" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Fake Empire" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Mistaken For Strangers" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Apartment Story" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Bloodbuzz Ohio" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c


So listen, love and always share...

I Come From The Land Down Under

Another great band are The Veils. Not widely known but still a band worth your time. Lead singer Finn Andrews has such an incredible voice it can move you in so many ways. He has such a passion and urgency in his voice that beckons you in. They recorded their first album The Runaway Found with ex-Suede guitarist Bernard Butler which after going through a handful of producers finally was released after 4 years. The original line up split after that and Finn Andrews headed back to New Zealand for a while and recruited a new line up of musicians. Their second album Nux Vomica was featured on many year end best of lists in 2006. Their newest album is Sun Gangs and was released in April 2009. They definitely leave you wanting more every time you listen to a song and here's hoping they are gearing up for another album soon. Breathe in the beauty:

"Lavinia" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"The Tide That Left And Never Came Back" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"The Wild Son" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Advice For Young Mothers To Be" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Calliope" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"The Letter" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Begin Again" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Three Sisters" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"It Hits Deep" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Follow the sounds down, down, down...

From The Ground Up

An amazing band that hail from the US are Grandaddy who have been overlooked for a long time. They broke up which is truly a shame but not before releasing some of the most bittersweet songs about robots you will ever hear. Not that every song is about robots but they play a part along with nature. They all also share a mutual love of skateboarding. Great music for the summer and fall, you can't help but fall in love with the band. They released 4 studio albums Under The Western Freeway, The Sophtware Slump, Sumday and Just Like The Fambly Cat. They also had a handful of EP's & compilations including Concrete Dunes which was released without the band's permission. Lead singer Jason Lytle released a solo album Yours Truly, The Commuter after Grandaddy's demise and has gone on to form Admiral Radley with drummer Aaron Burtch. Fall in love all over again for the first time:

"Summer Here Kids" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"AM 180" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"The Crystal Lake" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's The Pilot" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Now It's On" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"El Caminos In The West" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"The Warming Sun" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Nature Anthem" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Elevate Myself" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Where I'm Anymore" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Admiral Radley - "I Heart California" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Jason Lytle - "Yours Truly, The Commuter" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Summer may be almost over but that doesn't mean the music that reminds you of it is...

The Shape Of Punk To Come?

A band that seemed to appear out of nowhere and then completely do a 360 hail from the UK and go by name of The Horrors. Their first release Strange House was a brash blast of dark punky sounds that caught the attention of the British music press. Then came their second release Primary Colours which took the band in a completely new direction. Produced by Geoff Barrow (of Portishead) the album was much more lush and washed in sound. A throwback to early 90's shoegaze it did not disappoint and showed that The Horrors were more than a gimmicky band. The tight black outfits and dark look still remain but I look forward to seeing what this band will do next. It's hard for a band to switch directions without losing fans but those fans probably wouldn't want to hear anything but the same stuff on repeat. So kudos to the band for trying something that worked and then some. Take a glimpse:

"Sheena Is A Parasite" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Death At The Chapel" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Sea Within A Sea" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Who Can Say" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Mirror's Image" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Enjoy!!

Lost In The Sea

A band that has long gone unnoticed and will most likely remain that way until years after their demise is British Sea Power. They are a strange band hailing from Brighton, England and have a penchant decorating their stage with foliage and plastic birds and shows generally finish with a semi-improvised song called "Rock in A", which sometimes lasts for over 20 minutes. Various members often climb riggings and tear down the foliage, Eamon walks around the audience beating his marching drum, and a ten-foot bear, Ursine Ultra, occasionally makes an appearance - often taking a beating from various band members. This has become one of the signatures of the band. All of the band members go by one name Yan, Noble, Hamilton and Wood. They first caught my attention with The Decline Of British Sea Power and then captured my heart with Open Season. After those first 2 albums they have released Do You Like Rock Music and a soundtrack to a documentry film Man Of Aran. Eamon, who played live keyboards, went on to form Brakes with Electric Soft Parade brothers Tom & Alex White and eventually left British Sea Power. They are of the few bands that sound comfortable in any music style they play from their punkier 1st album to their more melodic second album. Have a gander at these strange lads from a far off place...


"Remember Me" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Carrion" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"It Ended On An Oily Stage" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Please Stand Up" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Oh Larsen B" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Waving Flags" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"No Lucifer" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Man Of Aran" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

So I implore you to dig deeper into what this band has to offer and you never know what you might find...

What's That Sound?

Going to talk about a great Danish band today by the name of Mew. They have a melodic sound that can't really be put into one specific category but if you want the band's opinion then they refer to themselves as "pretentious art rock", jokingly. Mainly noticable by lead singer's Jonas Bjerre falsetto, the band have released 5 albums so far A Triumph For Man, Half The World Is Watching Me, Frengers, And The Glass Handed Kites and No More Stories Are Told Today, I'm Sorry They Washed Away // No More Stories, The World Is Grey, I'm Tired, Let's Wash Away. For the track "Why Are You Looking Grave?" they managed to get J Mascis (of Dinosaur Jr fame) to do guest vocals. Another interesting fact about their last album No More Stories...is the opening track, "New Terrain", if played backwards reveals another song entitled "Nervous" which is added as a bonus track to the vinyl edition of the album. Sink in:

"She Came Home For Christmas" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Am I Wry? No" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Special" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Comforting Sounds" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"The Zookeeper's Boy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Introducing Palace Players" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c


Mew are another one those bands that will slip through the cracks but if you manage to hold on they may not be lost forever...