With ten years of song writing experience behind him, Paul Keen has teamed up with fellow Fluid Groove Records artist Paul Madsen, in order to put pen to paper once again and produce ‘Hiding from the Storm’.
Hailing from Norwich, their eighties influences radiate with little subtlety from Keen’s fifteenth release.
However, it is the effortless comparisons to the likes of the Eurhythmics and Depeche Mode that place the partnerships’ release in a somewhat out of touch position.
Fans of Grove Armada’s Late Night Tales or the afore mentioned artists may possess more curiosity about what Keen’s upcoming album ‘Milestone’ will have to offer as it is not his talent that is in dispute, more ‘Hiding from the Storm’s’ modern relevance.
As whilst their synth-pop meets electro sound would have once delighted shoulder pad toting dance fans, it is hard to see where their mass appeal will lie twenty years on.
Thursday 28 August 2008
Wednesday 27 August 2008
Single Review- Kissing Kalina - Here She Comes - The Mag
Only a few years old, Kissing Kalina effortlessly exudes all the addictive factors of Rock; the filth, the sleaze and the ability to instigate impromptu body thrashing of an audience.
This, teamed with Danny Sanchez’s vocals, that at times sound like an intoxicated Brian Molko of Placebo, make their debut single ‘Here She Comes’ likeable and easily pigeon-holed but regrettably rather forgettable.
Whilst Kissing Kalina’s talent and potential is evident with good structure and dirty guitar riffs reminiscent of the earlier work of The Libertines, whether it’s the premature nature of the band and thus their need to develop or simply the necessity to dig deeper and hear more from the duo, ‘Here She Comes’ is catchy but nothing you wont have already heard in a sticky-floored rock venue.
This, teamed with Danny Sanchez’s vocals, that at times sound like an intoxicated Brian Molko of Placebo, make their debut single ‘Here She Comes’ likeable and easily pigeon-holed but regrettably rather forgettable.
Whilst Kissing Kalina’s talent and potential is evident with good structure and dirty guitar riffs reminiscent of the earlier work of The Libertines, whether it’s the premature nature of the band and thus their need to develop or simply the necessity to dig deeper and hear more from the duo, ‘Here She Comes’ is catchy but nothing you wont have already heard in a sticky-floored rock venue.
EP Review- Hot Head Show - Chopstickabean
After meeting on their school orchestra a decade ago, three North London boys with all the quirkiness of the Bloodhound Gang and the strategic disorganisation of System of a Down, have since spent ten years turning a conventional background into a far from conventional EP.
“Chopstickabean, I’ll give you half the time you need. You know exactly what I mean…Chopstickabean, Chopstickabean.”
And whilst it is hard to fathom just exactly what it is that vocalist Jordan Bennett does mean as his baritone vocals growl the lyrics, admittedly there is something about Hot Head Show that makes me want to understand this three-piece’s ale-addled pirate sounding idioms.
Their shambolic Ska sounding beats means fans of similarly kitsch bands like Gogol Bordello will no doubt find this chaotic nine minute EP a tantalising taster ahead of the band’s 2009 tour alongside bands of the same label.
“Chopstickabean, I’ll give you half the time you need. You know exactly what I mean…Chopstickabean, Chopstickabean.”
And whilst it is hard to fathom just exactly what it is that vocalist Jordan Bennett does mean as his baritone vocals growl the lyrics, admittedly there is something about Hot Head Show that makes me want to understand this three-piece’s ale-addled pirate sounding idioms.
Their shambolic Ska sounding beats means fans of similarly kitsch bands like Gogol Bordello will no doubt find this chaotic nine minute EP a tantalising taster ahead of the band’s 2009 tour alongside bands of the same label.
Thursday 14 August 2008
Back to Black - Entertainment Newsline
This summer we have watched in morbid curiosity as Amy Winehouse searches for houses to be close to her imprisoned husband, despite her family’s fears for her life, and Cheryl Cole take back Ashley amidst allegations of serial adultery throughout their married life.
With talented celebrities and some of the richest and most beautiful people unable to break the intoxicating spell of ex-partners, it is hardly surprising that DearCupid.org, the world’s largest online agony aunt, has received over 5,600 questions from us mere civilians struggling to get over a serial heartbreaker.
Site owner of DearCupid, Andrew, claims that Amy and Cheryl’s return to their bad-for-them ex’s should not be seen as especially significant:
“It’s just a reflection of how people behave. Lots of folks can’t move on because they think it’s easier to go back than forwards. They’re scared, lonely and probably lack self esteem.”
However, whether it’s because of insecurities, fear of change or an addiction to the familiarly addictive rollercoaster of emotions endured as the result of partially unrequited love, we’ve all been there. Facebook stalking, Mariah Carey’s ‘We Belong Together’ on repeat and a resounding bitterness for public displays of affection. It’s a pretty bad place to be.
And yet you can guarantee that the minute you stop checking your phone every ten minutes, stop boring everyone around you with anecdotes of happier times together and start to realise that you are going to be fine without him/her; they’ll contact you.
It’s as if they’re sat in a control room watching over you and your emotions and when they sense you’re feeling okay, alarm bells ring and they know it’s time to call to tell you that they have changed and are a new and improved version of their previous self.
Should you believe them and allow them to come back into the heart they were so relentless with? Andrew from DearCupid thinks not:
“It’s normal to want to get an ex back. But it doesn’t mean you should try. Change your life and move on. Don’t fuck them, text them or keep them as a friend on Facebook. In that order. People never change and going back never works.”
As easy as Andrew makes it sound, there are still people everywhere who just can’t seem to break the cycle of returning to an inconsiderate ex. The more people around them criticise, the more desperate they become to prove everyone else wrong….usually to their own detriment.
And even if they do break the spell of this relationship, it is all too easy to fall straight into the heartbreak of another similar situation. However, Andrew feels there is an easy solution to avoid making the same mistakes with a new love:
“Stop having relationships that are the main focus of your life. Your life should be made up of friends, jobs, family, hobbies, healthy activities and a partner should fall into that. If you focus on your partner, when they’re gone it is like a gaping hole has opened.”
With talented celebrities and some of the richest and most beautiful people unable to break the intoxicating spell of ex-partners, it is hardly surprising that DearCupid.org, the world’s largest online agony aunt, has received over 5,600 questions from us mere civilians struggling to get over a serial heartbreaker.
Site owner of DearCupid, Andrew, claims that Amy and Cheryl’s return to their bad-for-them ex’s should not be seen as especially significant:
“It’s just a reflection of how people behave. Lots of folks can’t move on because they think it’s easier to go back than forwards. They’re scared, lonely and probably lack self esteem.”
However, whether it’s because of insecurities, fear of change or an addiction to the familiarly addictive rollercoaster of emotions endured as the result of partially unrequited love, we’ve all been there. Facebook stalking, Mariah Carey’s ‘We Belong Together’ on repeat and a resounding bitterness for public displays of affection. It’s a pretty bad place to be.
And yet you can guarantee that the minute you stop checking your phone every ten minutes, stop boring everyone around you with anecdotes of happier times together and start to realise that you are going to be fine without him/her; they’ll contact you.
It’s as if they’re sat in a control room watching over you and your emotions and when they sense you’re feeling okay, alarm bells ring and they know it’s time to call to tell you that they have changed and are a new and improved version of their previous self.
Should you believe them and allow them to come back into the heart they were so relentless with? Andrew from DearCupid thinks not:
“It’s normal to want to get an ex back. But it doesn’t mean you should try. Change your life and move on. Don’t fuck them, text them or keep them as a friend on Facebook. In that order. People never change and going back never works.”
As easy as Andrew makes it sound, there are still people everywhere who just can’t seem to break the cycle of returning to an inconsiderate ex. The more people around them criticise, the more desperate they become to prove everyone else wrong….usually to their own detriment.
And even if they do break the spell of this relationship, it is all too easy to fall straight into the heartbreak of another similar situation. However, Andrew feels there is an easy solution to avoid making the same mistakes with a new love:
“Stop having relationships that are the main focus of your life. Your life should be made up of friends, jobs, family, hobbies, healthy activities and a partner should fall into that. If you focus on your partner, when they’re gone it is like a gaping hole has opened.”
Thursday 7 August 2008
Album Review - Redemption Unnamed - Silent Shadows - The Mag
Redemption Unnamed come screaming out of Plymouth with no apologies for their eleven track homage to all things traditional rock.
As the first track of the album edges you into an Evanescence inspired sound, the band’s description of band member Dani’s responsibility for ‘throat and words’ appears somewhat cryptic.
That is, until ‘Carrie White’ hits the three minute marker and her Amy Lee style vocals cascade into spine-chillingly gender defying roars and more four letter words than a mild Tourettes sufferer.
The music that Dani’s vocals smash through combines drumbeats and heavy rock in a way that isn’t unlike the likes of Incubus’s darker album tracks. However their strategically placed Bullet For My Valentine meets Guns and Roses style guitar riffs give a much more 80’s screamo edge that will be welcomed by their demographic.
There’s a thread of distinctive sound that runs throughout ‘Silent Shadows’ but the band’s skilful musicianship allows each song to stand alone in its own anti-conformist stage, something that instrumental breather ‘Low Life’ epitomises.
Overall, whilst their dark musical style may not appeal to the masses, fans of long-standing traditional rock and screamo will no doubt soon welcome Redemption Unnamed with sporadic moshing in rock venues all over the country
As the first track of the album edges you into an Evanescence inspired sound, the band’s description of band member Dani’s responsibility for ‘throat and words’ appears somewhat cryptic.
That is, until ‘Carrie White’ hits the three minute marker and her Amy Lee style vocals cascade into spine-chillingly gender defying roars and more four letter words than a mild Tourettes sufferer.
The music that Dani’s vocals smash through combines drumbeats and heavy rock in a way that isn’t unlike the likes of Incubus’s darker album tracks. However their strategically placed Bullet For My Valentine meets Guns and Roses style guitar riffs give a much more 80’s screamo edge that will be welcomed by their demographic.
There’s a thread of distinctive sound that runs throughout ‘Silent Shadows’ but the band’s skilful musicianship allows each song to stand alone in its own anti-conformist stage, something that instrumental breather ‘Low Life’ epitomises.
Overall, whilst their dark musical style may not appeal to the masses, fans of long-standing traditional rock and screamo will no doubt soon welcome Redemption Unnamed with sporadic moshing in rock venues all over the country
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