Cherry Pick: Paris

by Frank Gualtier -- 10/05/07,10/06/07

A

top an outright deluge of incredibly good music on the independent rock, pop, electro, dance and indie scene these past few years ride those incredible Scandinavians hanging ten and sounding like a million ...uh... Krona? Kroner? ...

From Swedens' capital city of Stockholm I find Paris -- a group who's been around since 2003. They're practically antiques by today's standards but I swear they sound as fresh as ever (I wanted sooo bad to say "as an eighteen year old on prom night.")

My introduction came via their indie pop song called 'Captain Morgan' from their 2005 release 'Secrets on tape' in which you'll find mention of several people including 'Barry Gibb' with a request to come sing some tunes in his falsetto -- I had to sit down I laughed so hard. All that aside it's a great song and so are their others.

My only shock is that they'd name themselves "Paris". Doesn't that bury much of heir press beneath that of Paris Hilton? Then again perhaps it actually does just the opposite and snags them a lot of good wrong turns. Hmmm... In truth I'm betting they hadn't thought of this at all -- I only mentioned it because my searches on them were nearly burried to the hilt-on... and also clumped with the rap artist Paris.

They released a third album this year (2007) 'The Landlord is kind enough to let us have our little sessions' on their own indie label Parismusic and I'm thinking I just don't get around enough that I missed them by a four year swath! KeeRipes...

Better late than never.
--

(2003) Streetlights

(2005) Captain Morgan

(2007) When I Laid My Eyes On You

[ website | myspace | discog ]

Cherry Vid: From a Tower by LoveLikeFire

by Frank Gualtier -- 10/04/07

H

ere's a great song by LoveLikeFire called From a Tower.

It's from their EP 'An Ocean in the Air' which you can order here.

I just found them myself so you know almost as much as I do - they rock.

Hit their myspace profile and you'll know exactly as much as I do - they consistently rock.
--

From a Tower by LoveLikeFire




[ website | myspace ]

Gileah and The Ghost Train - Gileah and The Ghost Train LP

by Frank Gualtier -- 09/29/07

Cover Design by Jeremy Beasley

T

wo years following the release of Gileah Taylor's well received album 'The Golden Planes' (2005) comes her latest project Gileah and The Ghost Train and a new self titled debut LP.

The initiate contract of producer Allen Salmon's new label The Love Library the band, fronted by Gileah Taylor (vox, keys, guitars), consists of Kevin Woerner (electric guitars) and Ava Quigley (vox, guitars, omnichord). Session players include Allen Salmon himself (bass, programming, "Odds and Ends") and Ben Phillips (drums).

While 'The Golden Planes' has a very close up and personal 'in the same room' feel to it this new album widens that space and has a larger heavier footprint. The former made use of negative space in constructs built on sparsity whereas the latter leaves almost nothing of the canvas uncolored.

This is a serpentine venture through quasi-gothic spiritualism who's stories coil and writhe around love and faith in their many shades including the inherent and the antithetical.

Lent the edge of Kevin Woerner's electric guitar and the joyous talents of Ava Quigley this album takes a much deeper reach into rock space, both in darkness and in light, than Gileah's previous efforts without sacrificing depth or any of the warmth for which she's known. In fact I find this, by no short measure, to be her most compelling and passionate work to date.

Being a long time fan of The Wilshires (myspace), Rilo Kiley (myspace) and The Cardigans (myspace) I'd say if you like any of them (or anything even remotely close) this is a shoe-in for you.

Scheduled to drop this October 23^rd (2007) 'Gileah and The Ghost Train' promises to be one of the best rock/pop-rock albums released this year. It's available for pre-order right now -- see merch below.
--

[ website | myspace | merch ]

B

elow is a live video of the song 'All I Know'.

I'm quite fond of this one. It's a great performance and the audio quality of the recording is excellent by YouTube standards.

Dig that hair thing Gileah's got going there -- smokin' or what?

Kudos to Bala Boyd for capping this.

Gileah and The Ghost Train - All I Know (live)

Track Listing
01.) The Devil
02.) The Emergency
03.) The Escape
04.) The Lazarus
05.) The Light Princess
06.) The Lion In Love
07.) The Satellite
08.) The Shadow
09.) The Slave
10.) The Spirit

The Devil by Gileah and The Ghost Train
When the devil comes like a good angel, but with a loose tongue. I can't save you now. When my heart breaks from all your mistakes, the times are changing. I can't save you now. When all your friends leave you broken, leave you to your disease, I can't save you then. I have longed for change, Oh to see you choose, Oh, you can't refuse, the Savior's hand. I have prayed for change, Oh, to see you choose, Oh, you can't refuse, the Savior's hand. I only care for you, my dearest friend.

[ website | myspace | merch ]

Susanne Sundfør - Susanne Sundfør LP

by Frank Gualtier -- 09/16/07

M

ore Scandinavian grace and little bit of magic cometh our way...

Norway's Susanne Sundfør released her self titled debut LP this year and it's a beauty. If I were rich I would buy everyone a copy of this and I bet you'd all insist on paying me back -- it's that good.

The compilation is an eleven track (plus one hidden song) pop-rock album in the same vein as some of The Beatles more poignant and mellow works like Eleanor Rigby while occasionally brushing more epic skies and rich progressions that remind me of Great Northern but always rent in a personal manner.

Both the afore mentioned harmonic progressions as well as her pros are often split into opposing hues of dichotomy. She sings in celebration of resignation in what sounds like a spiritual epiphany in 'I Resign' and of strength in loneliness leading to an open door in 'Walls'. The first song will raise goosebumps -- the second will quite possibly make you want to weep and in both, as with many of her other songs, she paints the backdrop as much with her music as with her words.

When I hear her voice I think of a butterfly. It flips and flops and flutters around so casually as to appear almost clumsy and yet just as that butterfly can navigate through a field of thistle without so much as a single incident so too does Susanne flirt with notes. An excellent example is how she ends each repetition of chorus in her song 'Gravity' -- dancing about like a songbird in spring (yet again against a somewhat jaded text) and tagging every note of these lovely alternating short scales. It's breathtaking.

She doesn't sound like anyone I've ever heard but I have seen her compared to Chan Marshall and I wouldn't argue with that too much.

Every song on this album is fitfully and/or joyfully moving and filled with incredible depth. She's only twenty one years old yet she sings of things very far beyond her years. Things many artists twice her age can't touch. She's one of the brightest stars in a sky filled with brilliant constellations and I simply cannot praise her enough as an artist or suitably elevate her work on this incredible album.
--

H

ere's a video of Susanne performing live at Rockefeller with the KORK orchestra.

This is a beautifully charged performance. You can almost taste the electricity in the air and Susanne's disciplined composure is as stunning as her music.

--Bravo--

'The Waves', 'Dear John' then 'After You Left'


[ website | myspace | Susanne Sundfør LP (Hardcopy) ]

Cherry Vid - Home by Great Northern

by Frank Gualtier -- 09/15/07

H

ere's an awesome new video for Great Northern's song 'Home' from their 2007 debut LP 'Trading Twilight for Daylight'.

This group has all the key elements of an excellent and timeless band and that includes an eccentric imagination.

I've been dying to see a 'real' video from them since I first heard of 'em several months ago. Well -- it's here and as I expected it's totally whacked and very cherry.

Great Northern - Home


[ website | myspace | amazon.com: Trading Twilight for Daylight ]

Cherry Vid - Copper Red by Sierra Swan

by Frank Gualtier -- 09/02/07

Photo by Jeaneen Lund
If this doesn't get your attention I swear I'm gonna crawl right through that monitor and...

This is the video for Copper Red by former Dollshead member Sierra Swan.

It's from her 2006 debut album Ladyland.

Sierra's a bit more of a label big shot than I usually feature here but through following her personal blog and witnessing her generosity with her music and the stories behind the songs (she's been giving away songs on her myspace profile) I've come to believe that she's an echelon spanning artist suited to a wide variety of palettes including that of those who read this blog.

Nutshell: I think you'll like her.

Enjoy.



Links for Sierra Swan:

• myspace: Sierra Swan
• myspace: Dollshead
• amazon: Ladyland

Cherry Vid - The Rain by Lou Rhodes

by Frank Gualtier -- 08/28/07

This is the new video from former Lamb singer/songwriter Lou Rhodes for her song The Rain.

It's from her forthcoming album Bloom due out next month (Sept '07).

She's pretty endearing just as a person let alone a prolific artist - here's a quote from her bio for Bloom:

“Sometimes I think, ‘My God, I keep writing all these love songs,” and I really struggle with that,” she confesses. “I think I’m a bit of an emotional junkie, you know? It seems to be what consumes me. The heart never ceases to provide me with subject matter. I don’t know why that is. Someone asked me the other day, ‘Are you in love with being in love?’ And I couldn’t really answer that question.”

Hope you enjoy this video and Lou Rhodes as much I do.


>'The Rain' - Handwritten Lryics - by Lou Rhodes<

Links for Lou Rhodes:

• Website
• MySpace
• Merch
• Amazon: Beloved One (2007)
• YouTube: More Lou Rhodes Videos

Cherry Vid - What's a Girl To Do by Bat for Lashes

by Frank Gualtier -- 08/22/07

I only found out yesterday about Bat for Lashes while reading the myspace blog of lotte kestner, a solo project of Trespassers William Anna-Lynne Williams.

Upon investigating I ran across this amazing video for the song What's a Girl To Do.

First thought: "Anna-Lynne you hear as good as you sound..."

The song is from the album Fur & Gold which was released between Sept '06 and July of '07.

If you read the Bat for Lashes bio and check out this simple yet incredible video and song we'll be of equal footing.

The brainchild of Natasha Khan, Bat for Lashes is worthy of attention.

I certainly plan on staying in tune.



Links for Bat for Lashes:

• Website
• MySpace
• Amazon: Fur & Gold

Cherry Vid - Buttons by Sia

by Frank Gualtier -- 08/21/07

Yesterday I ran across this and I haven't stopped laughing yet.

This is a promotional video for the song Buttons from Sia's upcoming album 'Some People Have Real Problems' slated to drop by year's end.




Buttons by Sia
you caught me pushing imaginary buttons
(step away from me lover, away from me lover)
you caught me counting imaginary school-children
(get away from me lover, away from me lover)
yes, i can see that your carpet is animated
(walk away from me lover, away from me lover)
yes, i see open wounds in everyone i dated
(away from me lover, get away from me lover)

i am no good for you
i'm seeing ghosts in everything i do

you caught me turning all the lights on and off
(walk away from me lover, away from me lover)
when will you see that i am carrying this stuff?
(walk away from me lover, away from me lover)
can't you see that i am losing my marbles?
it's marvelous, losing another, losing another

i am no good for you
i'm seeing ghosts in everything i do

Links for Sia:

• Website
• MySpace

Cherry Vid - Le Marin by Babet

by Frank Gualtier -- 08/20/07

She seems to me to have come right out of the blue -- but what a landing.

Babet has been making quite a splash on the music scene lately with the song 'Le Marin' from her new album Drole D'Oiseau.

When I first heard 'Le Marin' I was delighted. Then I saw Babet sing it on live radio and was truly captivated. There's something about this music and as much about Babet herself.

Everyone remembers groups like ABBA and The Beatles with similar cause. It's not just that they made such good music but as well they had a unique spirit in them and for what they were doing. It was alive and visceral -- so real you could feel it in the air. And it endeared them to us.

People like that are rare so I get pretty excited when I hear great music coming from personalities that are so much larger than life. They just exude charisma and everything around them lights up.

When the video for this song came out -- I was just floored.

It's a thing of beauty for it's colors and effect alone but to augment that you see Babet and that intrinsic magnetism in her facial expressions and gestures. It adds a whole other layer of magic to an already enchanting song and to this pastel land of size shifting marvels through which she walks.

You can throw all the effects in the world at a project and still end up with a whole lot of nothing. This video, on the other hand, is alive and infused with a distinct flavor that can only be described as "Babet".

This girl is one to watch in coming days and months -- and years.

Le Marin

Babet

Links for Babet:

• Website
• MySpace
• CD Universe: Drole D'Oiseau
• Amazon: Drole D'Oiseau

Cherry Vid - Violence by Rose Kemp

by Frank Gualtier -- 08/14/07

Photo by Chris Lucas
Rose Kemp -- one of the most amazing talents of our time.

Sometimes she's a really big firecracker in a very small box. Other times she's a comrade in mourning.

She can sing sweet and gentle or she can take out an eye with a word.

And she wields her axe with aptitude -- exactly how she handles her voice. One minute picking out beauty in a choice progression and the next minute stomping on fuzz.

She's everything I ever wanted in a rock diva.

Two very talented people, musician / visual artist Frànçois and musician Rozi Plain (who obviously has her hands in visual arts as well), put together this stop motion animated video for Rose Kemp's song Violence. The result is a beautiful eye and mind opening amalgam of three amazing individuals.

Enjoy.


Violence by Rose Kemp
Video by Frànçois & Rozi Plain
Nothing but the ticking of the clocks
The slamming of the stocks
Nothing but the silence on the street
Where we were meant to meet
There's nothing else to find here

Listen to the witness in the dock
The turning of the lock
You don't know why you're still alone
But the intimacy shown
Is enough to make me certain

The stupidest thing I've ever done
But it was so much fun

Nothing like the setting of the sun
When day had just begun
You left me silent by the phone
And I didn't like the tone
You quickly said goodbye with
Your chilling heartless undertones of choice
The weapons in your voice
They leave me feeling empty
They leave me hollow to the core
Like I couldn't fail anymore
Even if I tried to

Two three four

So I pick up the blankets
The daylight is fading
When I've only just managed to raise my head
So I draw back the curtains
It's six in the evening
And I've only just got the courage to get out
of bed
Nothing is right in my head
Nothing is clear in my heart
I feel like my body is dead
The day doesn't have to start here



Links for Rose Kemp / Frànçois & Rozi Plain:

• MySpace - Rose Kemp
• Myspace - Frànçois
• Website (films area) - Frànçois
• Myspace - Rozi Plain

The Divine Madness - Secrets

by Frank Gualtier -- 08/12/07, 08/15/07

It's been just over a year since I last wrote about The Divine Madness¹. A lot has happened since then and the horizon is filling in so I think an update is long overdue.

I'll tell you about their album Secrets -- and bit more.

Let's start with the current lineup.

The Divine Madness
Victoria Mazzè - singer/film composer²
Chris Ride - keyboardist
Chris Cano - drummer/percussionist/keyboardist
Moni Scaria - guitarist (Kidney Thieves³)
Dylan Halacy - drummer (Percy Hill^?)

In 2006 they released the Precious EP containing the four tracks Closer, Precious, The Future, Crawl and Redemption.

Later that same year they released their debut LP Secrets, a whopping 23 track 11/12 double CD set.

Secrets - Track List

Disk 1 PARADISO		Disk 2 INFERNO
01	Haunted	01	Total Addiction
02	Secrets	02	The Future
03	Gentle	03	Precious
04	Blessed	05	Show Me
05	If Tomorrow Comes	05	True Love
06	Wish	06	Dirty
07	Closer	07	Push
08	Forsaken	08	The Sorrow
09	Dust	09	Pacify
10	Wonderland	10	MIA
11	Redemption	11	Crawl
		12	Until The Break of Day

Secrets (double) LP © 2006 MazzeCanRide Music ASCAP (635961079224)

Here are some samples you can listen to or purchase. (excellent review reading music)


Note: Contents of sampler are subject to change.

The genres covered by this album are rock⁴, 'new wave'⁵, and a heaping helping of victoriandustrial⁶ which is beautifully haunted by Mazzè's gothically⁷ angellic voice and the often operatic⁸ vocal harmony arrangements. Combine that with rich yet smartly restrained guitar and a set of synth⁹ patches keying everything from ethereal strings to glockenspiel toy piano'ish¹⁰ sounds (think Music Box) and you get a decidedly 'through the looking-glass'¹¹ flavor. Though always rhythmic there are even reaches to 'electro dance'¹² here -- a portent of ensuing persuasion. I did mention 'new wave'⁵.

The content largely covers dark themes from tacit vampirism and death to loneliness and dark fantasy as underscorings to otherwise traditional songs dealing mostly with love and with loss. Most curious and attractive I think is that these don't seem to be the songs of a depressed poet emoting, but rather the works of happy minds exploring. No surprise that 'Alice in Wonderland'¹³ comes up time and again in association with The Divine Madness. Thank you Grandma Brown¹⁴.

Secrets is an enchanted musical odyssey of considerable depth served up in bite size tracks.

The Divine Madness is a group of prolific and tireless professionals. They're also sticklers for perfection. It shows in their sound, their look and everything they touch.

From pen to master¹⁵, cover to cover, Secrets is one of the best albums around. It contains a few songs such as Closer and Precious that alone are worth it's entire purchase.

Last I read Secrets was nearly sold out and the band is considering selling a reprint as two single albums 'Paradiso' and 'Inferno'. If you'd like it in it's current incarnation you might want to hurry.

---

Currently their music sounds like it's heading into more 'electro dance'¹² territory. They are, much to my pleasure, doing this without sacrificing that special sound they have and though it stupifies me as to how -- they just keep sounding better everytime I hear them.

If you want to hear their latest hit them up at their myspace profile and check out songs such as 'The Hunger', slated to track one of their upcoming albums 'Rapture'. In a word -- G O R G E O U S. And you'll hear precisely what I mean about bringing in the dance w/out sacrificing their sound.

They're still hugely underrated but I have no doubt in my mind that the road will rise up to meet them. I like to consider myself a part of that road.

-frank-

Videos by The Divine Madness

---

YouTube / Brightcove
Closer	Gentle	Faith

Links for The Divine Madness:

• Website
• MySpace - Main
• MySpace - Rapture LP
• MySpace - Secrets LP
• MySpace - Fans of The Divine Madness
• MySpace - Epicenter Soundtrack
• CD Baby - Secrets
• Merch
  

Notes & References

---

¹Touring the Indies 07/17/06 Article: 'The Divine Madness', ²(UBL) the ultimate band list Profile: The Divine Madness (see bio), ³Kidneythieves Website - KT | News (aka Kidney Thieves), ⁴Rock Music, ⁵New Wave Music, ⁶Victoriandustrial Music - a genre created by Emilie Autumn, ⁷Goth Subculture/Gothic Music, ⁸A slow Bel Canto or style of singing usually associated with Opera, ⁹Synthesizer, ¹⁰Toy Piano (see 'Serious Business'), ¹¹Through the Looking-Glass(,and What Alice Found There - 1871 Lewis Carroll), ¹²Electronic Dance Music, ¹³Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - 1865 Lewis Carroll, ¹⁴MYGOTHICHEART.COM - Interview with Victoria Mazze¹⁵Master Recording - a mixed master from which copies are made

Cherry Vid - Lenore's Song by Yunu

by Frank Gualtier -- 08/11/07

This video about blew my mind when I first saw it. Over 16K images were used to create the stop motion animation that captures the deliciously dark side of Yunyu very aptly.

Three points of huge interest that gave me the trifecta "wow! wow! wow!" (for our canine readers that would be "bow! wow! wow!").

First is the song -- absolutely brilliant. I've posted the lyrics as cap'd from her myspace player below the video.

Second is the acting and choreography. So much stop motion (and similar) animation focuses on one or two effects and all else is forgotten. Not here. There is a full story being told. Look at the acting by Yunyu and cast -- the facial expressions and posing. This is high quality stuff that beats the knickers off most of the slew of 'high dollar production' dvd movies I've bought recently.

Finally there is the attention to detail. See above ...and all else is forgotten. Here you have faces in objects that combine with the music to be pretty disturbing if you're paying any attention at all.

This video is a beautiful distraction from real life disturbia and a solid work that reflects the wonderful music for which it was created.

The song itself is from Yunu's debut LP 'Spiked Soul' (see links at bottom) which I also recommend. It's a curio rock compilation with a nearly hidden and seemingly very personal monologue of turmoil ('cause the yin and the yang of preservative esteem are conflicted) going on beneath an intelligent and highly witty veneer. That's my take anyway. I dug deep there huh? Don't worry -- Dr. Frank will be sending her a bill.

But wait -- it gets better!

When it arrives you'll find this really neat dual pocketed red cloth foldover (Yunyu Spider Logo'ized) filled with goodies and tied together very neatly. Open it up and you get two CD's. One for you and another that's labeled "Yunyu says... Give this to a friend." I'm guessing it's a sampler but since I don't have any friends I may have to give it to myself and find out. Finally there is a DVD for (c'mon you can guess this...) "Lenore's Song". It's a high quality version of what you see below.

How awesome is that!?

You also get some pretty slick stickers that stick nevertheless.

Yunyu is currently threatening to put out another album and I think she means business. Check out her website or myspace profile -- she keeps them both up to date and pretty well synched and you'll also get to hear some of her other songs.

The girl is a keeper.



Lenore's Song by Yunu

(Inspired by “ THE RAVEN” by Edgar Allen Poe…was I right about Lenore, Mr Edgar?)

Gently Gently I came rapping
Like the bird whose beak came rapping
Wanted mine and wanted yours
Both souls I seek to keep

Wondering Wondering If I’m intruding
Fear you old friend fear you so much
Thinking thinking if I should
Call upon you tonight

When I see you laughing with them
Have my secrets become jokes
When I see you lunching with them
Is my flesh the meat they poke?

Wanting Wanting to know if
You are my friend just so if
When my flesh is dead and rotting
You would help them end their plotting

Where Where where were you when I cried
Where Where Where were you when I died
Did you fight
Did you fight

Where where where were you
When I screamed my last
Where where where were you
I find you nesting at my chamber door
Along with them
Along with them….

Never nevermore
I’m your lost Lenore
I’m who you called a whore
When they came for me
Never nevermore
I’m your lost Lenore
A ghostly imprint upon your mind I bore

Gently Gently I came rapping
Wondering why you stand there gaping
When I stand here still alive
A thousand knives upon my back

Yes there are still some with your name
The name of you whom I still blame
Wondering wondering why you are
Shivering your face so white

Did you think that I should visit
Risen from the grave of lies
Am I just a ghost of conscience
That’s come haunting you tonight?

Where Where where were you when I cried
Where Where Where were you when I died
Did you fight
Did you fight

Where where where were you
When I screamed my last
Where where where were you
I find you nesting at my chamber door
Along with them
Along with them….

Gently gently I came rapping
Not in the shape you have me come in
Am I just an imagination
Is there still some salvation

See you backing backing slowly
The smile you wear in life just fading
Wonder why you clutch your left
Is that heart of yours still beating

This is just a visit my friend
U Wonder why I fear no more
Do I exist do I not
Am I a haunting of your mind

Where Where where were you when I cried
Where Where Where were you when I died
Did you fight
Did you fight

Where where where were you
When I screamed my last
Where where where were you
I find you nesting at my chamber door
Along with them
Along with them….

Never nevermore
I’m your lost Lenore
I’m who you called a whore
When they came for me
Never nevermore
I’m your lost Lenore
A ghostly imprint upon your mind I bore

So
Gently gently I came rapping
Tapping at your chamber door
Am I in your troubled mind
Ever ever more?

Links for Yunyu:

• Website
  
• MySpace
  
• CD Baby - Spiked Soul
  

The Divine Madness

by Frank Gualtier -- 07/17/06

Hanging out on MySpace has it's perks. I recently caught wind there of The Divine Madness and while I can't attest to their mental status I can say that I'm enamored with their music.

Fronted by the captivating voice of two time phoenix Victoria Mazze they sound something like a cross between Berlin and Celeste Lear with a bit more lean towards distortion and darkness. Victoria's voice is breathtaking with a curiously original yet familiar timbre that makes me think of a hybrid between Terri Nunn and Lijie.

Victoria Mazze (VOX), Chris Cano (Drums) and Chris Ride (Keys) make up the band. They write and perform their own material and credit "JOHNNY BURKE & RAIN" (Guitars) as "special guest stars".

They currently have one 4 track compilation out with the Precious EP and the debut full length Secrets is due out soon. Last I read it was up in the air but they may be releasing Secrets as a double disc.

A video for the song Closer is included on the DVD for the movie "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Curse" and can also be viewed on their MySpace profile. This is well worth the time even if you're on dialup as it cache's after one run and you can replay it with no streaming glitches after it buffers up fully the first time.

I've embedded the YouTube stream of the video below.



The Precious EP can be purchased from their online store or their MySpace profile (see the links below).

If you haven't heard The Divine Madness you're sorely missing out on some really good music.

Links for The Divine Madness:

• Website
  
• MySpace
  
• TDM's Online Store