Monday, July 27, 2009

"Movement" by Earthsound (Jazz Artist from Boston, Massachusetts(MA))

Primarily a traditional, straight-up jazz outfit, the multi-cultural Earthsound ensemble combine Duke Ellington's rich sense of melody and Charles Mingus' sophisticated exploration on their accomplished debut jazz and fusion CD, "Movement." Citing such influences as Ellington, Jobim, and Paul Winter, the quartet's (piano, bass, flute, and percussion) border-less compositions range from piano-led meditations that recall Bill Evans to flute-dominated improvisations reminiscent of masters like Yusef Lateef and Herbie Mann. Leader and bassist, Jason Davis, much like fellow bass-playing bandleader Mingus, works in tandem with his Peruvian percussionist, Jorge Perez-Albela, to provide the perfect framework for Brazilian flautist, Fernando Brandão's flights of gravity-defying lyricism, even as pianist, Nando Michelin of Uruguay, fills the middle with chords as rich as they are light and dexterous. And like Mingus' groundbreaking opus, "Cumbia & Jazz Fusion," with its replication of nature sounds, Davis ably employs real nature samples less as affect than as an organic supplementation of the band's interplay. "Movement," Earthsound's excellent debut CD, is a terrific introduction for a jazz combo of real talent and vision.

-Rice B. and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Earthsound 's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"In the Garden" by PJ22 (Electronic Artist from Switzerland)

PJ22's new CD, "In the Garden," a 1-man-at-the-keyboards exploration of instrumental Electronica, finds the Breakbeat / Breaks veteran and former punk musician, expertly blazing a trail of propulsive and pulsating dance / techno music every bit as danceable as it is catchy. The 11 track CD, at times reminiscent of The Chemical Brothers or The Crystal Method, trips between ambient canvasses on "The Old State," riveting techno "Another Day," and sinister, Gothic like soundscapes "Dark Side" with equal skill, leaving behind a positively breathless blend of Electro music that explodes with sure and steady indulgence. Elsewhere recalling such club stalwarts as Daft Punk or Orbital, PJ22's command of melody and rhythm lend an urgency that pays off big-time on "Breacking Glass" and the title song, "In the Garden." As ready for the dance floor or providing a soundtrack to a night of introspective reflection, PJ22's compelling and seamless Techno and Electronica CD, "In the Garden," will inspire the feet as well as the ears.

-Rice B. & the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out PJ22's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"The Emergent Sea" by Roman Rhodes and the Born Again Pagans (Folk Artist from Japan)

It's no wonder that Roman Rhodes and the Born Again Pagans' fine CD is titled "The Emergent Sea." Of its 16 folk / jazz / pop-rock hybrid songs, 8 pieces refer to the ocean - directly or by inference, in their titles. More interesting, is that for this accomplished, multi-cultural band, the predominant sound the unique synthesis of such musical styles evokes is altogether that of California coastline vistas on warm summer nights. Built on light, breezy, and melodic contemporary folk-rock along the lines of Jack Johnson (but incorporating flourishes of late '60's / early '70's pop-rock and jazz styles as well), Roman and his Pagans deliver spirited and decidedly spiritual, tunes that celebrate life and nature with a keen inventiveness, both musically and lyrically. The opening (title) track, "The Emergent Sea," with its free-flight flute backing and tasteful guitar interpolations, sets the tone for the disc, while other highlights incorporate judicious horns as heard on "Odysseus," syncopated rhythms on "A Man Once Called Me," Youngbloods like guitar fills on "Long Talk Off a Short Beer," and even some good-old down-home reminiscing on "Grandma's Telecaster (The Good Old Days.)" "The Emergent Sea" offers an excellent showcase for the skills and influences of players with origins that stretch from Scotland to Japan and sundry points in between, but what ultimately makes Roman Rhodes and the Born Again Pagans' CD so effective is the cohesive, well balanced, and accessible music at its core.

-Rice B & RadioIndy.com Reviewer team
Check out Roman Rhodes & the Born Again Pagans 's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Saturday, July 25, 2009

"Friction" by Pitchblack-ltd (Pop/Reggae Artist from Sweden)

Sweden's Pitchblack-ltd serves up their own vibrant take on dance-oriented rock on their terrific album, "Friction". Unlike some recently successful bands of this genre, the success of Pitchblack-ltd's new release is due more to an age-old reliance on brilliant song craft rather than mere adherence to the revival of the once unholy alliance between Rock and Disco. Indeed, each of the eleven songs on "Friction" bristles with its own immediacy, tunefully melding R&B and Rock influences with equal command. The first track, "Trouble Skank," establishes their unique sound with an insistent groove and sing-along melody. Elsewhere, "Everybodys Monkey" and "No Riot!?" employ the same measures of dance-floor urgency plus garage band vocal inflections, while the more relaxed "The Late Mans Blues," and the jazzy atmosphere of "Rumours," are testament to the band's adeptness with a broader – yet entirely cohesive, musical vision. Pitchblack-ltd's second CD "Friction" is an outstanding collection of razor-sharp songs executed with precision and muscle, regardless of style or influences.

-Rice B. and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Pitchblack-LTD's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Featured Single

Band Name: Daniele Meo
Featured Single: Intimo Sapore
Album: Pezzi Rotti
Genre: R&B
LISTEN  |  BUY

Monday, July 13, 2009

"Six Songs" by Orange Democracy (Folk Artist from New York City, New York(NY))

"Six Songs" the aptly titled debut release by Orange Democracy, is in fact, exactly that: a 6-song CD but it really is far, far more. With an experimental, if not avant garde, approach to compositions and arrangements that, by turns, incorporate influences ranging from jazz, to classical, to choral music and more. This NY-based quartet's album is a virtual tapestry of its component parts. Classically trained pianist Cyrus von Hochstetter's nimble and inventive chording sets the pace with tuneful and complex jazz/easy listening pieces, upon which the evocative sax of Samir Zarif, and the jazz phrasing of guitarist Ted Boasso, add unpredictable but tasteful embellishment. Carla Jablonski, a seasoned and multi-dimensional vocalist, adds a second voice in spots, maintaining the same standards of musical exploration in harmonies that add yet another, almost grounding aspect to the richly diverse set of songs. "Bitter Rain," with its melancholy sax and worthy harmonies, is a particular highlight, but the subversive "High Heels To Hell" and melancholy "In Remembrance" is no less compelling. The excellent CD, "Six Songs" entails proficient musicality and collectively displays a uniquely sophisticated mix of modernistic songs.

-Rice B. and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Orange Democracy's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Friday, July 10, 2009

"Another Dirty Deal" by Rodney Wayne King (Blues/Country Artist from Tennessee(TN))

Capturing the essence of Country and Blues, Rodney Wayne King's excellent CD, "Another Dirty Deal," instantly charms the listener with eleven well-crafted songs. The energetic opener, "Outlaw on the Run," will grab the listener's attention right from the start with its gruff and tough vocals, razor sharp guitar, and solid beat. Showing country blues at it best, "The Richest One," with its slow and steady tempo, has an easy-flowing piano accompaniment and stirs up some thoughtful lyrics with memorable and warm vocals. Down and dirty blues is what "Dealing With the Devil" is all about with guitar and harmonica riffs complementing the powerful, driving vocals. Country flavor abounds in "Dusty" with an outstanding steel guitar and also offers some great harmony on the chorus. The compilations on this disc confidently alternate a mixture of a good old vibrant and energetic country feeling to a slow and steady blues vibe, which gives this album a nice texture. Don't miss a chance to hear the talented treasures of country and blues on the Rodney Wayne King's great new release, "Another Dirty Deal."

-Diane and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Rodney Wayne King's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

"It's Time" by Lisa Hugo (Jazz Artist from United Arab Emirates)

In the tradition of such venerable performers as Karen Carpenter and Eva Cassidy, Lisa Hugo straddles the boundaries of jazz and pop with equal ease and finesse on her fine new CD, "It's Time." With her supple, three octave vocal range and the instincts of a seasoned vet, the Australian born and world-traveled, pianist and singer/songwriter simply delights on this 11-song collection of pop, jazz, and easy listening songs. Backed by a small combo with exemplary taste and feel, Hugo's piano sets the tone on jazzier numbers like the CD opener, "With You I Can Be Me" and "Oh My Baby," while the subdued, "Please Try to Understand," finds Hugo delivering an emotion-laden confessional with only the leanest of guitar, bass, and sprinkling of cymbals. Although very comfortable and adept with the jazz-pop style, the real highlight of the set is "Butterfly," a wonderfully melodic pop tune as engaging as it is uplifting. Lisa Hugo's bio is one filled with musical accomplishment all across the globe, but her new CD stands on its own merits. Fans of adult-oriented, tuneful jazz-pop will thoroughly enjoy the perfect blend of polished and sophisticated easy listening music on "It's Time."

-Rice B. and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Lisa Hugo's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Monday, July 6, 2009

"Lempi" by Tunto (Jazz Artist from Finland)

Mixing jazz and world-infused explorations of melody and harmony with beats and soundscapes from the electronica school, Tunto's "Lempi" CD is a boldly inventive map into a musical world without borders. With titles that signify many moods such as, "Caressing Music," "Itch Music," or "Yearning Music," Tunto aspires to reveal his imagination is more than up to the task of translating and transposing, raw emotion into music form, a subjective aesthetic that demands no small amount of receptivity and reciprocation from his listeners. Tunto pulls it off quite effectively and this has much to do with the range of textures, vocals and instrumentals, he throws into the mix as well as the musical symbolism his melodies conjure. Tunto's provocative third CD, "Lempi," is an informed rendering of a brave new world of music's breadth and elasticity; an album for jazz, world music, and experimental electronica enthusiasts.

-Rice B. and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Tunto's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Friday, July 3, 2009

"Scratch" by Bela Lugosi (Classical Artist from California(CA))

Stunning and spectacular makes the headlines for Bela Lugosi and their spectacular classical album, "Scratch." Don't let the band name, Bela Lugosi of horror film fame, scare you off, as some of this twenty seven-track disc is dedicated to paying homage to highly acclaimed classical composers such as Bach, Chopin, Brahms, and Mendellsohn. Created by Misha Bodnar, an accomplished cellist, this group rises up to incredible heights with their fantastic abilities. The entire collection of pieces is performed by magnificent and breathtaking strings that are strong and brilliant yet dazzle with emotions pouring from the heart. Listeners will feel the fire and fury of the strings on "Sabre Dance" and "Bach Invention in F Major," as this intense, fevered precision is no easy task. Also interwoven into the disc are clever vocal clips of Béla Lugosi himself on "Béla Lugosi in One Body Two Many" and "Béla Lugosi in The Body Snatchers" which emanates an air of mysterious qualities. Although this may be an odd lot of musicians who may consider themselves gypsy street performers, the quality of Bela Lugosi's classical performances on "Scratch" will show listeners how awe-inspiring and tremendously exquisite this album truly is.

-Diane and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Bela Lugosi's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites