Sound Cloud Sunday June 2, 2019

It seems like we’ve rounded another corner and Laurel Canyon Radio heads into the summer with a whole new flock of indie music that just evokes our Southern California heritage but manages to ring universally lovely at the same time. Our music this week comes from Sweden, France, England and the far corners of the US from LA to New York and Seattle to South Florida. The beauty of music, especially indie music is that there is just a never ending combination of notes and sounds that can sound fresh and please us and take us to that place of universal love and peace. Here a few tracks that are going to do it for us this week:

Chris Alma Jose – Tonight Tomorrow And Forever

Hometown:      Cheyenne, Wyoming

Album:  From his new album “Ghost Notes” self-released May 9. 

Review Snippet:  

Website: https://soundcloud.com/chrisalmajose

Drunken Prayer – Ni Ni Neo

Hometown:      Asheville, NC

Album:  From the album “Cordelia Elsewhere” released in April on Deer Lodge Records. 

Review Snippet:
The music on Cordelia Elsewhere is a direct, if slightly eccentric, descendent of outlaw country. These are stories of superstition, civil war and “triple stacks blocking out the sun”. The more upbeat numbers on the album were hatched on a tour across Europe with Morgan’s other band, alt-country goths, Freakwater. The rest were finished on a trip through the Bible Belt that began on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. The songs collectively bear witness to life on frighteningly shaky ground.

Next Time in LA:  Highland Park Bowl on June 26. 

Website:   https://drunkenprayer.com

Faye Webster – Hurts Me Too

Hometown:   Atlanta

Album:  From her album “Atlanta Millionaires Club” out on May 24 on Secretly Canadian Records.      

Review Snippet:  Faye Webster isn’t afraid to tell you how she feels. Rooted in a familial lineage of folk, 21-year-old songwriter Webster’s forthright, exposed lyricism pays homage to the great Americana traditions of songwriting while drawing from Webster’s own experiences immersed in Atlanta’s hip-hop scene. Her carefully-cultivated sound organically mingles that inherited country and folk with her time immersed in rap collective Awful Records, injecting the traditional with a clandestine jolt.

Website:   www.fayewebster.com

Bobbie – Endless Night

Hometown:  

Album:  From the album “Elegy For” self-released May 15. 

Review Snippet:  

Website: 

Darcy Windover – Simple Words

Hometown:      Toronto    

Album:  From the album “Cope” self=released in April. 

Review Snippet:

That momentum helped Windover complete Cope a year later with producer John Dinsmore (Kathleen Edwards, NQ Arbuckle) and his trusted band, including co-writer and duet partner Stacey Dowswell. Together, they built on the foundation of “How To Be Lonely” with songs that look at the causes and effects of mental illness from various perspectives.

But what perhaps is most impressive about Cope is its immediate sonic appeal, particularly for anyone who appreciates classic roots-rock sounds. As a songwriter, Windover draws inspiration from heroes such as Tom Petty, emphasizing melody and hooks above all else, with a little twang for good measure. With a wealth of experience embedded in it, Cope marks the formal arrival of a major voice within the Canadian roots rock scene.

Website: http://www.darcywindover.com/   

Lowland Hum – Will You Be

Hometown: Charlottesville, VA   

Album:   Their 4^th album “Glyphonic” was released on Tone Tree on May 10.      

Review Snippet: 

There are two reasons why we stop to pay attention to something. It happens when a sight, smell, or sound is so arresting that our physical bodies automatically orient themselves toward that very thing — an early morning walk by a bakery, a slow drive by a crash site. It also occurs when we consciously decide to take in something of value — a parent impressing a point, a beat poet reading her latest creation.

The differentiation here is important because it speaks to the two-sided beauty of Lowland Hum’s body of work. The sparse and (mostly) serious sounds of the married indie folk duo of Daniel and Lauren Goans have long demanded our attention for both reasons. Starting from their 2013 debut Native Air, the duo’s acoustic-driven creations have captivated with their pastoral yet progressive arrangements. At the same time, we’re driven to pay attention knowing the time invested will yield meaningful personal dividends.

Website: https://www.lowlandhum.com

Hugo Barriol – Yellow Line

Hometown:  Paris, France      

Album:  His debut album “Yellow” was released in February on Naïve Records. 

Review Snippet:

Hugo Barriol is a folky singer-songwriter from Paris and the Metro Awards winner of 2016. His debut EP On The Road, released via Believe/Naive, has already served over 4 million streams on Spotify.

Website:  https://www.facebook.com/HugoBarriolmusic/

Velvet And Stone – By The Water

Hometown:      Devon, UK   

Album:  New single!     

Review Snippet:   Following on from the success of recent single ‘OH BOY’, receiving airtime on BBC 6 music and continued support from BBC introducing, are back with this open and upbeat single ‘BY THE WATER’, just released on Friday. It is the perfect soundtrack for Summer, providing another sweet taste of what is to come in their highly anticipated self-titled album, released this June.

‘BY THE WATER’, written last winter, was one of those songs that all came together very quickly and just sounded right. Often those are the best songs! Leaving the true meaning unexposed Velvet & Stone allow the listener to create their own personal connection to the track.

Portraying folk/Americana vibes perfectly, Velvet & Stone combine haunting soundscapes with catchy pop hooks and great songs providing an original and beautiful take on a traditional genre. Led by the ethereal blend of Lara Snowdon’s vocals and Kathryn Tremlett’s violin, joined by their touring band of Kev Jackson (electric guitar), Paddy Blight (bass), Garry Kroll (Drums) along with producer Josiah Manning (acoustic guitar and keys).

Allman Brown – Darling I’ll Be Alright

Hometown:     London, UK 

Album:  From his second album “Darling It’ll Be Alright” self-released on May 10. 

Review Snippet:

Acclaimed artist Allman Brown captures intimate love and all its facets in his sophomore album Darling, It’ll Be Alright. Brown has created an album that is so smooth and captivating in both vocals and lyrics that you find yourself easily slipping into a constant loop of his music for hours.

The album opens up with the effortless soft pop of “Home,” a heartfelt track that is as catchy as it is uplifting. The title track, along with “Dust & Heat” and “Bury My Heart” have a similar positivity to them that feels genuine and sounds like summertime. On the flip side, songs like “Crazy Love” and “Shapes in the Sun” delve deeper into the sultrier aspects of Brown’s music. It is reminiscent of fellow British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s many hits in the unique vocal melodies and edgy, sharp guitar riffs.

Brown also delves into more somber ballads with “Hurting,” “Waiting for Something to Believe In,” and “Lonely Hearts, Los Angeles.” In particular, “Lonely Hearts, Los Angeles” stands out as a track that discusses the solitude of being in a big city, but still manages to be romantic in its depiction of something as gloomy as being alone – a difficult feat. Another standout was the final track, “Natasha,” which is a perfect example of Brown’s ability to emphasize the details of a loving relationship as well as highlight the beautiful simplicity of the song itself:

Website:  https://www.allmanbrown.com/

Vilma Flood – Green Eyed Moron

Hometown:      Sweden

Album:  From her debut album “Moodswinger” out in April on Rusty Music.

Review Snippet:  

I like the concept of individuality and I especially like that concept in the context of music. Too many musicians take the easy way out and concentrate on their plastic persona rather than content so it was rather invigorating to point my ever critical ears at Vilma Flood and her album “Moodswinger”.

It might seem old fashioned to call the songs on this album, and the artiste who sings them, as organic yet it is nothing less than true to do so. Vilma Flood’s voice has the stamp of individuality on it and, with her vocal style alternating between the laconic and the quirky, it becomes difficult to place her in a marketing pigeonhole. Now, that’s a good thing in my book and, when you add in the reverb laden poetry and folk singer spirituality that she uses to decorate the words of her songs, it is no surprise that the end result seems so naturalistic, unforced and, let’s admit it now, enchanting.

Let’s consider a few of the songs. The title song “Moodswinger” is immersed in maturity and introspection yet still manages to be accessible even to a knuckle dragger like me while “Green Eyed Moron” offers a delightfully twsited take on the roots festival friendly blues sound. As for “People Song”, this song nudges old time country style harmonies gently and duly edges them into the modern day folk perspective.

There was a time – so I am told – when the music business actually treated music seriously. Vilma Flood deserves to be taken seriously and “Moodswinger” is the kind of album that should be released on vinyl as I would not be surprised to find that both current and vintage music addicts will find it addictive.

Website: http://www.vilmaflood.com/

The Alvarez Theory – By The River

Hometown:      London.      

Album:  Self-titled, self-released debut came out last Friday. 

Review Snippet:  He

The Alvarez Theory is a London-based band that revolves around the songs of German/Spanish-born singer-songwriter Diana (Dee) Diehl. However, the band’s eponymous debut release has been a long time in coming – for it was originally started as a solo project by Dee herself a few years ago in Bremen (where she had been supporting various British bands and singers). It would seem that the songs only gradually gained their haunting demeanour and special atmosphere as the band dynamic evolved over the years.

The title of the upcoming release alone is a head-turner – Strangers I’ve Already Met. It reads as a mystery that ultimately invites one inside for discovery. As singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matthew Bean (who utilizes a rotating cast of characters in the studio and operates under the pseudonym Sneaky Bones) explains, the line is from one of his newest songs, “Strangers,” and stems from his theory of familiarity and simulation. “There’s a constant déjà vu going on,” he says. “Often when I meet someone, I think, ‘I know this person from somewhere’ and I try to track down our common thread. There usually isn’t one; just a vague, intangible connection or reminder of the people I do know. I think there might only be a couple hundred distinct characters in the world, so everyone is just a stranger that you’ve already met.”Which is a good way of describing the bold and beautiful music on Sneaky Bones’ third album. It greets you with a soothing air of familiarity and bears all the marks in the road that led the Seattle-based musician to its creation, yet it’s resolutely and unimpeachably original – a stranger you’ve already met. On one hand, Bean is retracing and re-framing the roots of folk, country, rock, grunge and soul because he loves the music madly, but on a deeper level, he filters their influence – adding his own magical force along the way – and in the process pushes the music forward. 

The Alvarez Theory is a London-based band that revolves around the songs of German/Spanish-born singer-songwriter Diana (Dee) Diehl. However, the band’s eponymous debut release has been a long time in coming – for it was originally started as a solo project by Dee herself a few years ago in Bremen (where she had been supporting various British bands and singers). It would seem that the songs only gradually gained their haunting demeanour and special atmosphere as the band dynamic evolved over the years.

For in the band setup, Dee’s songs are encased within a tellingly sparse-textured musical landscape. This is built around Dee’s guitar, with perfectly judged backdrops involving Julia O’Hanlon (fiddle, concertina, vocals), Mark Patterson (mandolin, banjo, guitar) and Sarah Louise Bates (bass, vocals). A handful of other musicians also play sporadically on the album, principally Dan Latham (drums) and Nick Harris (organ). They also now have a drummer, Flo Miller, who presumably joined the band since recording the album. Interestingly, the album was recorded over the course of just ten days at Nick Harris’s Spareroom recording studio in north London, and the performances have an attractively close, intimate, immediate feel.

Website:  https://www.thealvareztheory.co.uk/

Sneaky Bones – Speed Veins

Hometown:      Matthew Bean of Seattle 

Album:  From the album “Strangers I’ve Never Met” released May 17 on Somnoler Records. 

Review Snippet:  

The title of the upcoming release alone is a head-turner – Strangers I’ve Already Met. It reads as a mystery that ultimately invites one inside for discovery. As singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matthew Bean (who utilizes a rotating cast of characters in the studio and operates under the pseudonym Sneaky Bones) explains, the line is from one of his newest songs, “Strangers,” and stems from his theory of familiarity and simulation. “There’s a constant déjà vu going on,” he says. “Often when I meet someone, I think, ‘I know this person from somewhere’ and I try to track down our common thread. There usually isn’t one; just a vague, intangible connection or reminder of the people I do know. I think there might only be a couple hundred distinct characters in the world, so everyone is just a stranger that you’ve already met.”Which is a good way of describing the bold and beautiful music on Sneaky Bones’ third album. It greets you with a soothing air of familiarity and bears all the marks in the road that led the Seattle-based musician to its creation, yet it’s resolutely and unimpeachably original – a stranger you’ve already met. On one hand, Bean is retracing and re-framing the roots of folk, country, rock, grunge and soul because he loves the music madly, but on a deeper level, he filters their influence – adding his own magical force along the way – and in the process pushes the music forward. 

Website:   https://sneakybones.com/

Cris Jacobs – Under The Big Top 

Hometown:      Baltimore 

Album:  From the album “Color Where You Are” released in April on Blue Rose Music

Review Snippet:

Cris Jacobs, former frontman for the Baltimore-based group, the Bridge, and collaborator with Ivan Neville this past fall on Neville Jacobs, is releasing his third solo album, Color Where You Are. Jacobs is one of those triple threats– singer, songwriter and guitarist– blessed with a deep, soulful voice and able to traverse several genres. Along the way, he has impressed Steve Winwood, who invited Jacobs to open his 2014 tour. Sturgill Simpson followed suit a year later. Following those dizzying tours and his highly acclaimed 2106 Dust to Gold, Jacobs got married, became a dad, and found that multi-tasking has become a necessary part of life.

The title nods to Jacobs’ experience writing the album. Said another way, it means seize the moment or make the most of available time. As he says, he had to do it, “between tours, coming home, changing diapers, fixing things around the house….You name it.” This pressure brought a new kind of deeper focus to concentrate on people and aspects of the world and its events that he cared most about. The opening track, the single “Painted Roads” is emblematic of this approach as Jacobs feels we sometimes get so goal-driven and success-oriented that we don’t stop to appreciate the beauty and details in daily living.

Next Time in LA:  This Wednesday at the Mint. 

Website: http://www.crisjacobs.com/

Jacob Reese Thornton – Sketches Of You

Hometown:     Fort Lauderdale

Album:  New single   

Review Snippet:  

Jacob Reese Thornton is a 16 year old guitarist, songwriter, and recording artist, who brings a depth and a passion to his music that significantly exceeds his years.  Jacob is partnered with both Taylor Guitars and Ernie Ball Music Man Guitars.  In 2017, he was invited to join legendary rock photographer Robert M. Knight’s “Brotherhood of the Guitar” organization (www.brotherhoodoftheguitar.com), which is supported by Taylor, Ernie Ball and the Guitar Center, and consists of a select group of hand picked
​​young guitarists from around the world. 

Website: https://jacobreesethornton-epk.com/

The River – Sweet Music

Hometown:     

Album:  Their debut album “Singing to Tomorrow” was self-released on May 14.    

Review Snippet:

Website: 

Abe Abraham – Today Was Just A Long One

Hometown:      LA via Detroit. 

Album:  From the album “Ever” released in April on Antifragile Records.      

Review Snippet:

Abe Abraham is a man so nice that his surname is similar to, but not the same as his given name. His music is like a prairie wind carrying a tumbleweed down a dirt road. Listening to this makes me warm and brings me in from the frozen tundra of life. This must be what Luke Skywalker felt like when he climbed inside Falcor’s vagina. WARM.

Reminiscent of the singer/songwriters that I grew up with. James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Neil Young, Paul Simon… real songs and real music. It’s warm coffee in hand while staring out the window on a snowy day. It’s your first kiss. It’s red fuzzy footy pajamas. It’s tucked in and forehead kissed before bed. It’s the back of the station wagon at the drive-in movies. It’s the surprise trip to Chuck E. Cheese. It’s the reassuring note left in your sock drawer after a rough day. This is heart warming and lovingly beautiful music.

Website:  https://www.facebook.com/pg/abeaberr/about/?ref=page_internal