A musical prodigy who began writing and performing lyrical piano compositions at the ripe old age of 10, Grace Freeman (Gal Musette) spins us up a beautiful bit of introspection with Ghost (seen/heard here). Musette’s piano work is a simple and beautiful bit of dancing, flowing, notes, that could easily stand on its own as an instrumental. Her lyrics and voice, add a bit more pizzazz, without overshadowing that underlying atmospheric setting. And what of the lyrics? Musette allows the listener room to interpret, but the lyrics are none-the-less comforting: “I…
Read MoreVodka has never been a huge fan of live albums. Give me a good studio recording any day, and I tend to appreciate it more. That said, The Lunar Laugh’ soon-to-be-released Nighthawks! LP is thoughtfully curated, and carefully engineered, and mixed to get that live feel without an abundance of crowd noises. The production is bright and crisp, and the music is expertly played and sung, including wonderful three-part harmonies. What more could you want? Nighthawks! is mostly a collection of back-catalog tunes gathered from very good (see above)…
Read MoreAvid Vodka readers will remember Ebony Buckle. I’ve reviewed three of her tracks over the last year and change. There’s a reason for that: Buckle’s voice! It is at once beautiful, clear, and precise lyrically. While the storyline may not be perfectly clear, this leaves a space for the listener’s interpretation. The best creative minds have always written this way. They know their lyrical intended meaning, but they allow the listener space to experience their own vision. Enter Wild Woman, the single released back in July (seen/heard here),…
Read MoreM. Byrd has an infectious, hypnotic, single with Morning Sun (seen/heard here), which could function as an early morning experience in the mind. Byrd describes it this way: “Morning Sun has become a kind of morning mantra for me. The idea came to me a few years ago in the morning right after I got up and it came back to me subsequently over and over again, like a kind of entry into meditation, until I finally recorded it and arranged it into form.” Blending the sound of waves, jangling…
Read MoreProgressive rock can either be a blessing or a curse. Vodka favorites in this genre`, Big Big Train, have just released their latest long-player, Common Ground (July 2021), which falls firmly in the former category. The video for the title track (seen/heard here) of the new LP starts in silence with a simple statement: “There is more that unites us than divides us.” And then the music and lyrics kick in to remind us why that is so! It’s a message that needs to be emphasized often. The 24-hour…
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