Sound Cloud Sunday – July 8, 2018 (Episode 21)
Sound Cloud Sunday July 8, 2018 – Episode 21
The temperature is climbing here in LA this week – expect fires and climate change recriminations to follow, but while we’re still in the one day of spring before summer, we thought we would rain some awesome tunes down on you along with at least one tortured pun. Our breakout track of the week is this doozy from Charles Wallace, an artist we don’t know much about (and has even less written about) that we found trolling the indie fringes of Bandcamp. We find a very 60’s Morrison-cum-Eric Burdon vibe to the whole precedings of this particular track, with a huge dusting of jammy air. Enjoy this week’s episode as we move into the hot, hot, hot.
Charles Wallace – Roller Coaster, Baby
Hometown: Vittoria Vinetto, Italy
Album: From the album Charles Wallace And His Friends From Outer Space (available on CD Baby
Review Snippet: Bedroom born music, with the help of the Friends from Outer Space, transformed in a sail through the roughness of love and life.
Website: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/charleswallace1
RJ Comer – One Last Kiss
Hometown: Chicago
Album: From the album “One Last Kiss” on Growling Moon Records
Review Snippet: RJ’s new release, One Last Kiss, is RJ’s first solo LP—a collection of songs that are both conversational and poetic, deftly straddling traditional and contemporary Americana and Blues. With a baritone voice that can be powerful, ragged, or soothing, RJ shows the emotional and experiential range of a man who once only knew how to fight or flee, but slowly learned to live and prosper, and eventually learned to love. One Last Kiss was produced by Shawn Byrne and features Parker Millsap’s fiddle player Daniel Foulks and Grammy-winning slide guitarist Randy Kohrs (Jim Lauderdale band).
Website: http://www.rjcomer.com
Good Harvest – Charley
Hometown: Sweden
Album: From the 2017 album “In A Life And A Place Like This”
Review Snippet: Trust me, these woman do not leave you in regret. Such beautiful harmony and music that reaches into your core.
Website: http://goodharvestmusic.com/
Doc Robinson – Leave A Light On
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Album: From the album “Ring Of Love” (self-released May 3)
Review Snippet: W e’re doing a bunch of layering, a ton of vocals and things like that — reference ’60s throwback stuff. We bring up Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Fleetwood Mac a lot. Also, nowadays, stuff like Bon Iver where they layer vocals, they do so in a way that’s really melodic…using some effects and using some unconventional melody in the harmony, which is actually really more about using the studio as a band member. You have to do some of that stuff on the fly for it to. Happy accidents: things you can’t do unless you try it.
Website: https://www.docrobinsonofficial.com/
Julie Kasdorf – The Minute I’m Gone
Hometown: Purcellville, VA
Album: From the album “Motel” on Tiki Records
Review Snippet: “Glorious harmonies…skillfully sincere…playful and loose…All elements come together…wickedly catchy
Website: https://juliakasdorfmusic.com/
Andrew Duhon – Street Fair
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Album: From his third album “False River” self-released in May.
Review Snippet: “Another world-class voice is heard from Louisiana, another soulful, mesmerizing singer who writes emotional songs with impact and heart. Andrew Duhon is a troubadour for the next generation, a story-teller for his generation. Measured in the blues with the gift of narrative, Andrew¹s songs will not only make you think, they will make you sing along, days later. This a young artist to watch, and to hear, as soon as you can find a way.”
Website: https://www.andrewduhon.com/
Kyle Ollah – The Hangman
Hometown: Duluth, MN
Album: From his debut album “Used to Where the Old Straw Hat, But Now You Where The Crown
Review Snippet:
Website: https://www.kyleollah.com/
Stick Figure – Fire On The Horizon
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
Album: From their fifth album “World On Fire” just out on Ruffwood Records
Review Snippet: Cavernous grooves, sparkling electronic orchestration and thick rhythms; songs and sounds that have incubated in a studio cabin in the woods near Santa Cruz, CA, where Woodruff found solace excavating a foundation and constructing a studio, all in preparation for his most ambitious recording to date. When completed, a brotherhood of hard-jamming musicians delivers this widescreen soundtrack in concert performances of consciousness-altering emancipation.
Website: https://www.stickfiguremusic.com/
Lindsay Lou
The Dales – Whistlin Jack
Hometown: Los Angeles
Album: Their debut album “Marie” was released June 8 on Big Picnic Records
Review Snippet: The echoes of that tragedy ring through Marie and resonate in the bittersweet sentiment and alluring melodies that provide its wistful embrace. Yet, Marie is more than simply a requiem to eternal love. It’s a set of songs that still resonate with unfettered optimism while finding an upward glance even in the face of unbearable loss. From the resolute refrains of opening track “Pillars of Sand” to the final resolve of the stunning title track, these melodies soar with conviction, resolve, drive and determination. Indeed, the evocative harmonies that grace such songs as “Liberty Square,” “Still the Love” and “Hiding in the Light.” Moreover, with the allure and emotional grasp bestowed on tracks like “I’ll Get By” and “Whistlin’ Jack,” The Dales create a sound with an infectious energy and intuitive intent that all but ensures its instant attraction.
Next Time In LA: Supporting Marc Broussard at the Teragram Ballroom (September 28) the Belly Up in Solana Beach (September 29).
Lera Lynn (with Rodney Crowell) – Crimson Underground
Hometown: Nashville via Houston
Album: “Plays Well With Others” (just released her 4th album) her on Single Lock Records
Review Snippet: “…her gorgeous Emmylou-like voice which wraps itself around the varied tone of her collaborators…” –
Website: https://www.leralynn.com/
Al Shields And The Delahayes – Counting The Hours
Hometown: Edinburgh, Scotland
Album: “Holy Ground” EP (self-released out now)
Review Snippet: Edinburgh based Al Shields has been carving a bit of a reputation on the local Americana scene over the past couple of years. Here he ditches his usual acoustic presentation for a full blooded band sound giving us six songs which are all fine country flavoured rock numbers and which display his admiration for the likes of Jason Isbell along with some venerable artists who have walked this road before. Melodic, with curling guitars and a flavour of sweet pedal steel playing, Shields and his Delahayes have turned in a most welcome collection.
Website: https://www.alshields.com/
Romantica – Dear Carolina
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Album: “Outlaws” just released on La Traviata Records.
Review Snippet: Over 15 musicians have performed live as a part of Romantica. Some have spent only a short time with the band, contributing to a single tour or album, while others have been long-term members with significant contributions. Kyle has been the band’s lead vocalist, motivating force, and sole songwriter throughout the group’s history, but a number of other musicians are closely identified with the band.
Website: http://www.romanticamusic.com/
Lindsay Lou And The Flatbellys – Shining In The Distance
Hometown: Nashville via Traverse City, MI
Album: “From the self-released album “Outlaws”.
Review Snippet: Her singing floats over the instrumental mastery and deep groove of her band with dynamics that range from a lullaby to a battle cry. In the words of David Grier, “Lindsay…sings the way you would want to if you could. Phrasing, tone, emotion, it’s all there. Effortless seemingly. Simply mesmerizing. Riveting! Don’t miss the musical force that is Lindsay Lou.” Lindsay’s brand new full-length “Southland” (April 2018) is a collection of songs examining the range of emotions and complex themes of our changing times; delivered with soulfully fierce intensity and tender intimacy that demands your attention.
Website: https://www.lindsayloumusic.com/
John Calvin Abney – Broken Bow
Hometown: Norman, OK
Album: “From the album “Coyote” on Black Mesa Records.
Review Snippet: Wide Open Country called John Calvin Abney one of the 15 torchbearers of Oklahoma music’s modern era, saying that “despite his youth, John Calvin Abney‘s catalog of songs has long been road tested…a unique lane that’s combined freak folk quirks with indie rock sensibilities…like night rides through the country with Elliott Smith…straightforward alternative country prowess of Ryan Adams‘ Heartbreaker or the jangling ramble of a young Bob Dylan.”
Website: http://www.johncalvinabney.com
