Tag Archives: album

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News and Touring

Gareth Koch Releases New Solo Album ‘Saladin’s Dream’

Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a diverse repertory across multiple albums spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects & song writing.  He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.
Gareth is involved with many cross genre projects.  Over the past two years he has released two collaborative albums with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church).  Earlier this year a third collaboration with Steve saw the release of ‘The Hall of Counterfeits’.

On his new solo project, ‘Saladin’s Dream’, Gareth explores the fanciful notion of Saladin’s dreamworld – his unconscious desires and wishes.  Saladin (1137-1193) was a warrior/sultan & ruler of Egypt, best known for his war against Christian Crusaders and the capture of Jerusalem.
Dreams and their significance in waking life are an enduring source of mystery.  On this album Saladin is visited nightly by ancient gods, bringing with them their harps & music of the underworld.  He then spirals into the mayhem of dark assignations with a succubus before veering into the chaos of an Egyptian bazaar. In his free-flowing dreams Saladin embarks on a surreal journey into the future, encountering Macbeth’s witches and their cats.
The album meanders effortlessly through a landscape of goatherds, ancient cities and other worlds.  Saladin’s Dream can be seen as a synthesis of Gareth’s musical journeys, ranging from classical, flamenco, medieval, folk & rock, flowing seamlessly into the realm of free experimentation & creativity.

Tracklist

Song Descriptions
Bazaar
This soundscape like track takes you to the Middle Eastern Markets of The Silk Road in ancient times.  With oud’s, guitars, hand percussion, even some calls to prayer like wailing this truly evokes a time and place – think The Arabian Knights put to music.

Saladin’s Dream
The title track to this new album by Gareth Koch, exactly half down the track order it creates a neat bridge from some of the more eastern sounds into what we may term more classical ones.  Some beautiful guitar melodies layered onto backing that includes resonating vocal textures.

The Nefarious Goatherd
Belying the tongue in cheek title this song moves along at a good pace and includes some solid bass and low-end percussion that keeps up the pace nicely.  With similar instrumentation to the album – background vocal layers, stringed instruments over the bass and percussion elements.

Saladin’s Dream is OUT TODAY July 9th – via MGM

All DSP’s and CD’s from

sladins
 

Connect with Gareth Koch: 

For further information, Files, CD and Interview Requests please contact:
Marshall Cullen at Foghorn Media
0416 143 030
marshall@foghornrecords.net

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News and Touring

Margaret Anne and the Rock It Man release their debut album Soul Laid Bare

Following a succession of singles, a should out launch last month and recent radio interview spots including Todays Country Margaret Anne’s debut album is finally released across all digital platforms via MGM.

The debut album ‘Soul Laid Bare’ is out today and includes the duet ‘The Ones You Love’, co-written and sung with 13 times Golden Guitar winner Luke O’Shea, the custom song ‘White Haze’ and those written with Shane Nicholson, Gretta Ziller and Allison Forbes. It is an exciting blend of Americana, sweeping through sounds from Country, Roots and Blues to Grooving Funk and Rock.

Recording and production were performed at Noisy Trout Productions in Sydney, Australia, with the genius, multi-instrumentalist and producer Doug Weaver (aka The Rock It Man).

Reviews of already released songs which appear on the album confirm Margaret’s influences coming from Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Patti Smith combined with the production styles of Fleetwood Mac and ELO – lush, loaded with diversity and consistent high level of musicianship.

Drawing from her vast life experience, Margaret Anne has honed her talent as singer/songwriter over the years. She later teamed up with the multi-instrumentalist, producer and Mythbusters screenwriter Doug Weaver, to write and produce the album ‘Soul Laid Bare’.

Although they receive creative inspiration from Country, Roots and Blues, Margaret Anne and the Rock It Man combine a variety of compositional elements to form their unique sound.  To date there are five singles in their online discography.  Some of their most popular tracks include the likes of ‘White Haze’ a custom track written for USA ski hall of fame Extreme Skier Dan Egan, ‘Don’t Look Back’, co-written with Shane Nicholson, ‘Soul Laid Bare’ and ‘Cabin Boy’.  With a growing number of followers and listeners, there is no denying the fact that Margaret Anne is developing a dedicated following of loyal fans.

Sold out album launch at Beaches Thirroul:

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Download or stream the album Out NOW July 2nd via MGM:

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Connect with Margaret Anne:

https://linktr.ee/margaretannesmusic

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News and Touring

Steve Kilbey Album 2 Weeks in Top 20 AIR Charts

Following the successful NSW Album Launch Tour (just made it before lockdown) the new Steve Kilbey and The Winged Heels double album ‘The Hall of Counterfeits’  is OUT NOW and has scored Top 20 chart positions in the AIR 100% Independent chart the past few weeks and a number 1 single on the soundslikecafe playlist charts.

New USA Max Alt Interview:

https://www.maximumalternative.com

Recent Reviews
https://smellslikeinfinitesadness.com/steve-kilbey-and-the-winged-heels-the-hall-of-counterfeits-review/

https://glidemagazine.com/257736/steve-kilbey-and-the-winged-heels-make-creative-surplus-on-musically-vast-the-hall-of-counterfeits/

https://www.backseatmafia.com/album-review-steve-kilbey-the-winged-heels-soar-into-another-celestial-sphere-with-double-album-the-hall-of-counterfeits/?fbclid=IwAR3gPv_bjvesdwtCb6_2i5U6dMJcffLZoFP7iLos5upWkwXi1h8Oe0NLGKY

https://americansongwriter.com/steve-kilbey-and-the-winged-heels-invite-listeners-into-the-hall-of-counterfeits/

Customer review highlights
“That was a really beautiful journey - an experience from beginning to end. I felt transported to a bazaar or the outback – places I’ve only been in my imagination.
It was wild having heard some of these tunes in acoustic from months ago.
Now every sound – every song… nuanced and played – recorded and mixed – to perfection.
My ears – my mind strained at times to take it all in.
Hit by a tantric piano hammer.
And – like any great trip – it was worth the wait! X”

“Listened to some of the album, and it’s marvelous so far! It’s loose and weird, and everyone seemed to be having a right good time.”

From Steve Kilbey:
In 1990 I released an album called Remindlessness in which I attempted to take in everything I had ever been fascinated by and reconcile the whole damn lot with a weird and wild bunch of songs.

30 years on, armed with brilliant musicians (The Winged Heels), time has enabled me to give voice to those same preoccupations: past lives, Indian and Middle Eastern music, religion, ancient history, the Beatles and the many implications of their work.

A new sprawling double album, a labour of love.  The record I had to make before I shuffle off this mortal coil and begin again all over – some other time, some other place.  But this record is the big one and even if I do get another 30 years down here it will be a hard one to ever top.

“I have never been prouder of an achievement in my life.

Please, if you will, wander through The Hall of Counterfeits and take it all in.…”

The Hall Of Counterfeits is OUT NOW
CD and Digital via MGM Official Store
and/or Stream below:

Connect with Steve Kilbey:

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News and Touring

Thirty Three Degrees release first full Album

Central Coast Band Thirty Three Degrees Release their debut Album and play Launch Shows in support

New Reviews:

https://warlockasyluminternationalnews.com/2021/07/07/thirty-three-degrees-self-titled-debut-album-epitomizes-cutting-edge-artistry/

https://dancing-about-architecture.com/thirty-three-degrees-thirty-three-degrees-reviewed-by-dave-franklin/

https://just-fame.com/thirty-three-degrees/

Friday 16th July: The Servo Wollongong:

www.eventbrite.com.au/e/thirty-three-degrees-wthe-huneez-chance-magnetic-the-servo-tickets-155764121681

Saturday 17th July: The Basement Canberra:     

thebasementcanberra.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/a3af7588-bc68-446a-92c9-55a71513a664

Thirty Three Degrees’ self-titled debut album never had a real theme planned, but came together as the songs took shape over a period of time. The band views the songs as seeming to split into two as some of the songs are older than others.
One half is all about emotions and love, whether that be in conflict or happiness in songs like Bleed, Place In The Sun, The Key and No Illusions, then moving into the newer songs delving into current situations in the world. Reflecting on how we all react differently according to how those situations are portrayed to us on an information highway, both overloading and dividing us.
The music itself contains some strong grooves, rootsy slide driven rock with some blues undertones.
The album was recorded at Damien Gerard studios over 3 days, laying down twelve live recorded tracks and then adding guitar overdubs, vocals and mixing. The band eventually settled on a 9 track album as the best representation of their work.

Tracklist

Thirty Three Degrees are an original rock band with a strong groove and some rootsy vibes, from the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia.

After a brief hiatus from the music scene, Shane decided to re-enter the music world and search for like-minded musicians to write and perform with.  At this same time, Chris was re-entering Australia from Los Angeles with the same goal. Thanks to musician classifieds on social media, the two met up and at the end of January 2020, Shane Romeyn and Chris Roberts formed the band.

The good vibes and good songs flowed out immediately. Due to COVID-19 gigs were off the table for the most part, so with the temporary assistance and amazing bass work of Chris’ brother Mike, the band decided to instead enter the studio and recorded their debut album.

Since then the band has brought on a full-time bass player, Andrew, to complete the trio and they are
continuing to pump out song after song and rehearse for future gigs.

Stream the album here (Foghorn/MGM) :

33degsales

Connect with Thirty Three Degrees:

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News and Touring

The Blind Pilots release their first full album ‘All Kinds of Crazy’

Congrats to the boys on scoring top 5 Amrap Charts in the first week of release

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All Kinds of Crazy is the first full length album for The Blind Pilots.  The band spent months working up these songs with many of them tested and refined during their many live shows.

The album was recorded in July of last year, in between the gaps of isolation during the Covid pandemic.  ARIA award winning producer – Govinda Doyle engineered the project with the band in his studio on the Northern Rivers of NSW.

Years of gigs and similar musical influences mean that the band meld together: Blues, Stoner Rock and remanences of 90’s riffage together to get their point across.  Drawing from their more recent experiences, everything from social perceptions, loosing mates, the band found inspiration from ‘All Kinds of Crazy’.  The unexpected became the topics that allowed them to bond together creatively to deliver an exceptional album.

The Blind Pilots strive for the ‘magic moments’ and serve it up with plenty of dirty slide guitar and foot stompin’ harmonica riffs.  The four friends have known each other from previous successful bands playing gigs up and down the East Coast.  All grew up listening to the same music and share common influences of artists who had something to say – Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison and well –  you can guess the rest.

After seeing each other play, a mutual friend conjured a plan to get them together at the same time in the same rehearsal room.  A few late-night jams, many entertaining stories and a full fridge, The Blind Pilots was ignited.  They released an EP in 2019 that saw them feature on the Australian Blues Charts and led to appearances at The Byron Bay Blues Festival, Woodford Folk, Festival Of the Sun and Echuca Blues with loads of pub shows in between.

The Blind Pilots produce an energetic live show full of intense commitment – whilst still maintaining a laid back vibe for all to enjoy.

The Blind Pilots are:
Owen Mancell – Guitar/Vox
Matt Hough – Drums
Ryan Stone – Harmonica
Daniel Chamberlan – Bass

Song Descriptions:
All Kinds Of Crazy
This title track really sets the scene for what’s to come.  Expertly executed rocking blues, not unlike ZZ Top and other southern blues bands.  These guys are seasoned live players and the track comes together with the classic bass, drums, slide guitars, blues harp and powerful vocal delivery.

Mood Of The Dude
Another catchy up-tempo rocking guitar blues tune, this one really sits in the groove, and is capped off by the great guitar and blues harp riffing these guys do so well.

Probably Think Of You
A catchy slide guitar riff and drum pattern introduce another up-tempo foot tapper.  By the time the harp, vocals, bass and more guitars come in this one has you hooked – just like the whole album – a great offering from this rocking blues line up.

 Stream:

BP-Sles

Connect with The Blind Pilots:

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News and Touring

John Kennedy’s Love Gone Wrong reissues Always The Bridegroom

CD ONLY IN STORE NOW

Deluxe Reissue including bonus ‘Live at 3LO Disk’

Sold out Launch at Petersham Bowlo

Read all about it in the Bernard Zuel review right here

BZ

An enthusiastic young music journalist once described John Kennedy as a humble genius.  Kennedy is neither a genius nor particularly humble.  Kennedy started his music career in Brisbane in with his band JFK and the Cuban Crisis.  The band moved to Sydney and after establishing itself on the indie music scene broke up leaving Kennedy to pursue a solo career.

Over the years Kennedy has shared stages with many of the acts covered on this new album.  Band members have come from or gone on to the Triffids, Paul Kelly, the Go-Betweens and Ed Kuepper.

The Sydney musician, John Kennedy, was enjoying a successful independent career in Australia in the 1980’s before the release of his band’s Always The Bridegroom LP in 1987.  John Kennedy’s Love Gone Wrong broke up in mid 1988 as a result in part, of the mixed responses the album received.

Now nearly 35 years later, he has taken the opportunity to re-assess the record.

Together with a bonus live disc and stand alone single tracks, this release presents a talented young band performing a strong collection of Kennedy’s songs.  The songs including some live rearrangements and cover versions, display the pop, rock, folk and country influences that Kennedy combined to create his Urban and Western sound.  Gospel and even a bit of funk were also added to the mix.

On listening to the remastered versions of these songs, Kennedy states that he can now,  “hear the care and the craft that went into them. Under the pale skin of the production, I hear the beating hearts of the songs, they are an important part of my back catalogue – part of my story –  part of my legacy.”

To those fans who liked these songs the first time round, this release will take them back to the joys of well spent years in the Australian Indie landscape of the 1980’s. Harsher critics will find some fine moments from a band that never quite reached its potential.

The Deluxe Edition CD release includes a 16 page booklet with Kennedy’s essay and band photos, record covers. posters and reviews from that period which help place John Kennedy’s Love Gone Wrong in the context of the golden era of Australian indie music.

“Even without the addition of the live-on-radio disc, which has brighter sounding takes of some album tracks and a bunch of older and non-band songs, and four bonus tracks which include the surfing Christmas single Run Rudolph Run, history will be kinder to this Always The Bridegroom than both Kennedy’s memory and the original reviews.
Who knows? What we do know is that this never was the album that killed his career. And that’s a good thing.”
(Bernard Zuel - 14/4/2021)

 ALWAYS THE BRIDEGROOM DELUXE REISSUE DOUBLE ALBUM WITH BONUS ‘LIVE AT 3LO’ 2ND CD. 

EXCLUSIVE CD ONLY LIMITED RELEASE

OUT NOW THROUGH MGM DISTRIBUTION AT ALL GOOD MUSIC RETAILERS – Redeye, Greville, Rocking Horse and many more.

OR MAIL ORDER HERE

 Always The Bridegroom  OUT NOW In Store CD Only

 

Connect with John Kennedy:

Kilbey kennedy - Jupiter 13 - digital album art
News and Touring

Steve Kilbey & Martin Kennedy New Album Jupiter 13 Out Now

Triumphant New Album Jupiter 13 out now – first in 4 years for the Kilbey/Kennedy collaboration

Release Dates;
All Platforms and CD Instore March 5

Steve Kilbey from enigmatic rockers The Church, and writer of one of rock music’s greatest songs Under The Milky Way, once again teams up with All India Radio’ s Martin Kennedy to release their sixth album Jupiter 13.

No-one can accuse Steve Kilbey and Martin Kennedy of sitting around on their backsides. In their decade of working together, they have released five studio albums, half a dozen compilations and three albums of commissioned songs.

Now after a four year break they return with Jupiter 13, an album that takes them to new and unexpected places.

Musically inspired by Pink Floyd, David Bowie with elements of 1990s college rock and shoe-gaze, Jupiter 13 is overflowing with Kilbey’s trademark lyrical genius, taking us all the way from 1960s summer holidays into science fictional flights of fancy.

Working solo as he always does with Kilbey Kennedy projects, Kennedy recorded the music during COVID-19 lockdown in Tasmania early 2020. Then flew to Sydney to spend a few days at Damien Gerard studios to record Kilbey’s vocals. At this point Steve hasn’t heard any of the music, or written any lyrics. It all happens on the fly. It’s the way they’ve always worked. Kilbey’s creativity was on full display during the recording of the album. Kennedy:-

“Steve was on fire with ideas with this album. Creative madness in the best possible way, it was a joy to behold. Musically I think our album draws from the best of our previous albums with elements of Bowie, Bolan, Pink Floyd and a good dose of 1990s shoegaze. Lyrically it is pure unadulterated Steve Kilbey.”

The album was mixed by Andrew Beck (Grinspoon, Mental As Anything, Paul Kelly, Kate Miller Heidke) who brought fresh ears to the project and a vibrant live sound.

“The two Australians’ approaches to music and art seem to have been made for one another. Both are serious artistes in the old school, classical sense. They work in multiple mediums, including poetry, painting, animation, and, of course, music. On a more tangible level, Kennedy’s lush, film-like, downtempo soundscapes were an ideal backdrop for Kilbey’s ageless, arch, silky croon and stream-of-consciousness lyrics. A match made if not in Heaven, then certainly in Nirvana.” – John Bergstrom, Pop Matters

 

Jupiter 13 March 5
CDs Instore via MGM
Stream and Download Below

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