March 28, 2024

HCTF premiere - Ward White: "Continuity" video

Los Angeles based musician Ward White has made a visualizer video for is new single Continuity, a track from his forthcoming album about the movie business, Here Come The Dowsers: "(..) served up in a comfy blanket of swirling guitars, tinkling piano and a subtle rhythm section playing catch. White uses the upper reaches of his vocal register to tell the tale of hope and dreams. Being an art rock crooner is as far you can get away from what is popular right now, but his way of conjuring up an ace melody will be appreciated by fans of Sparks and David Bowie."

Gabriel Vicéns: Mural

Gabriel Vicéns

New York based composer and guitarist Gabriel Vicéns has mastered the art of less-is-more on his new album Mural, a collection of modern chamber music pieces wherein the spaces between the notes are as important as the music itself. He plays a game of hide and seek with his audience, that will likely induce quite a bit of head-scratching, before giving way to being in awe for his bravado. Vicéns always seems to be one of two steps ahead as he urges his musicians to step on the tightrope and follow him to the other end, where - after a short stop on a platform - the next challenge is already waiting.

Vicéns avoided to use of any percussion instrument in his compositions, so there is no common ground for the orchestra to fall back on. By doing so, he created a tapestry of sounds without a safety net that can be as unpredictable as a bunch of leaves in the Autumn. Hanging onto a particular instrument may offer some kind of comfort, but it is the dance of all the players that makes Mural a mesmerizing work of art.

Dez Dare: "Josephine Says Explode" video

Darren Smallman has posted a no-frills video for Josephine Says Explode, a track by his one-man garage-punk band Dez Dare that can be found his Billion Goats. A Billion Sparks. Fin album: "a rollercoaster ride without any of the nasty side-effects (nauseau, dizziness and the like). He is shouting at the heavens, calling in physics as well as science-fiction to make sense of it all. It is an album that is bursting at the seems with fuzz and reverb, and it sounds like it might fall apart at any second. Smallman is walking the thin line between structured mayhem and chaos, but it is worth the risk. The best art offers a challenge for both the artist and the public".

Jeffrey Silverstein: The Lagniappe Sessions @ Aquarium Drunkard

Country musician Jeffrey Silverstein recorded four covers for Aquarium Drunkard's The Lagniappe Sessions: Chip Taylor's (I Want)The Real Thing (MP3), Steely Dan's Do It Again (MP3), Jim Ford's I'm Ahead If I Can Quit While I'm Behind (Jim Ford) ( (MP3), and Tom T. Hall's That’s How I Got to Memphis (MP3). About the latter:

We’ve been covering “Memphis” for the past year and change. Figured it was time to have a go at recording it. Natural Child put me onto this song around 2012 via For Love of The Game. Been obsessed ever since. Lots of great memories associated with one. A damn near perfect song and one I never tire of hearing or playing.

» jeffreylewissilverstein.com

March 27, 2024

Native Sun: Too Late

NYC rockers Native Sun keep it simple on their new single Too Late, taking cues from the classic punk playbook to unleash their frustration about the downtrodden, who can't get a break. So they gave them a voice instead. The video was made by Tim Nagle & Conor Cunningham.

Too Late is released via Grand Jury.