Update: The video for this track is no more. There is very little out there for this band anymore. Musically beautiful and pristine, Russian Roulette from UK artists Best Boy Grip, harbors a much darker image in the lyrics. Highlighting pain and sorrow with beauty is a great bit, done very well by Best Boy Grip. There’s something about this song that gets beneath the skin. Listening multiple times is almost a forgone conclusion. I searched for the album that Russian Roulette was from, but could not find it. Best Boy Grip has two recent EP’s, Barbara (November 2011) and The…
Read MoreThere are decidedly very few instrumental-only posts on this blog, mostly because stories are sometimes hard to find without words, but not always. Enter the New York City 10 piece aftro-rock-funk EMEFE and Stutter, from the bands July 2012 long-player, Good Future. This is a very skillful group of musicians, borrowing from multiple styles, rhythm and blues, funk, jazz, rock and more, to create a rich and fully textured soundscape. This is music to get your groove on, to cleanse your soul, to fill your…
Read MoreAustralian Julia Johnson nearly yodels her way through the bubbly ‘can’t believe all of this good stuff could be happening to me’ effervescence of Little Surprises, from Julia and The Deep Sea Sirens 2010 long-player, Family Pets. The video uses simply choreographed umbrella dancing, shadow puppets and the after effects of a lightning strike, to drive home the point of the lyrics so carefully crafted by Julia, "I still get a little surprise, when things work out so well. I still get a…
Read MoreOn Shyboy’s (a.k.a. Jason Arnold) August 2012 single, Bird In Flight, Jason’s contemplative vocal builds on a simple melody which transforms into a grand ballad. It’s the type of song that is perfect for just about any activity. You can listen closely to grab something interesting from the lyric; You can listen passively and the song just fills your soul with goodness; You can listen actively, and the music will have you bobbing and weaving and tapping your feet. In short, this…
Read MoreBears of Legend alternate between the tender and quiet to the bold and powerful on Let Me Be, from their December 2012 long-player, Good Morning Motherland. Stitched together with strong folk influences and laced with indie-rock and pop, this is very complex and textural music. Instrumentation is multifaceted, with accordion, cello, electric piano, guitars, and drums, all working flawlessly together and enhancing the powerful vocal lead. Finding info out about the band is a bit difficult. I know they are French…
Read More