Singles/Video
Reviews: February 2021
https://ffanzeen.blogspot.com/2021/
Text
by Robert Barry Francos
Note
that these reviews are listed alphabetically, not in a “ratings”
order.
Anya
Marina
“Notice
Me (Live from Rockwood, NYC)”
www.anyamarina.com
This
is off her sixth album, Alive
and Alone in New York, which
was recorded at the great Rockwood Music Hall on the Lower East Side,
which has sort of become the CBGBs of singer-songwriters (with
cleaner bathrooms). “Notice Me” is one of her signature songs,
and on the original album, it is produced with a wall of sound that
accentuates the mood with overdubs, and a much larger group behind
her. For this recording, it’s just her and her guitar, and feels
way more personal. With a chantable “do-do-do” chorus, it can
easily be a pleasurable ear worm as she feels neglected by her lover.
It’s a bit of an upbeat song and doesn’t actually feel as
desperate as the topic sounds. It’s coyer and sexier, with a hint
of frustration, with Anya’s lovely falsetto voice playfully calling
out. The album has 17 tracks covering her career, and this is the
first single. You can find the original version on YouTube if you’d
like to
compare.
https://soundcloud.com/anyamarina/notice-me-live-at-rockwood-nyc/s-YJhEX8g32gD
Ben
Howard
“What
a Day”
Republic Records
From
the upcoming album, Collections
from the Whiteout,
Ben’s fourth full release is a “pastoral” sound as the singer
reminisces about where the time goes. It’s a nice, light sounding
ballad that has some deep thoughts imbued with a light, melody back
up by what sounds like a drum machine (though I could be wrong). The
production is high, but it doesn’t necessarily overwhelm here. It’s
also pretty catchy, which is always a good thing. His British
inflection is also endearing. The video seems almost straight out of
a Monty Python sketch, with a bit more seriousness. I might actually
go listen to the album, at some
point.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu2_12GGHKY&feature=youtu.be
Carla
Geneve
“Dog
Eared”
Dot
Dash; Remote Control Records
Australian
22-year-old music teacher hits the pop rock trail on her solo album,
Learn
to Like It.
Filled with encouraging girl power – as one can see in the song’s
video – Carla has a strong voice and belts out on choruses,
hovering the line between alt pop and rock. Dealing with finding
self-worth because she “always feel so useless,” but acknowledges
she “still has something to lose,” meaning there is some
possibility of positivity. It’s a really good song, the production
is tight without being overbearing, and it’s lyrically smart. The
road trip video filled with her friends is cheerful, as is, on some
level, the song, as she pulls herself up. Liked this one a
lot.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zF1hfrnjL_I&feature=youtu.be
The
Cavemen
“Am
I a Monster”
Pig
Baby Records
Thematically,
what if the early Cramps had been a hardcore band instead of
voodoobilly? That is one way to look at New Zealand “ghoul punks,”
The Cavemen. The song is a three-chord mosh fest with a horror motif.
While I heard the recording rather than seeing a video, I have seen
picture of them, and they seem quite energetic, which is definitely
present in their music that seems highly influenced by the early
1980s H/C and garage scenes. The melody of the song is certainly
catchy, though it’s hard to tell what they’re saying much beyond
the chorus, which is the song’s title, and a few snippets here and
there about loneliness, due to a garage-rock level of vocal fuzz.
This definitely harkens back to a minimalist period, pre-extended
guitar solos by the likes of Ginn and Mascis, but that’s okay with
me; there is a brief and raucous burst, though. A Ramones-ish
slagging of basic chords and speed is just what I like. These guys
sound like they’re a lot of fun, and this one will get some more
listens by me over time.
https://soundcloud.com/reprobatepromo/the-cavemen-am-i-a-monster-1
Elise
Davis
“Yellow
Bed”
Tone
Tree
Nashville
singer-songwriter Davis released her single, “Yellow Bed,” from
her third album Anxious,
Happy, Chill.
I have seen a few of her videos performing live in her bedroom or on
stage, and she is really amazing. Her songs are poignant, such as
this one about relishing time with her husband. That being said, I
had a bit of trouble with this song, recorded in a studio. The sound
is very flat and electronic, including the processing of her voice
via reverb, which makes it lose its beautiful tone, giving it a kind
of impersonal feel when the song should be emotional. I hate saying
this since I like her and I enjoy her voice, but it is the production
here that squashes her sound. I believe if I saw her do this live, I
would enjoy it a lot more. I say go seek her out, find her videos and
enjoy. This is the only song off the album I have heard and I’m
hoping the rest of it is more loyal to what she has to
offer.
https://youtu.be/zTUWFp5HT7s
Half
Waif
“Orange
Blossoms”
Anti-
Records
The
first single by Half Waif – aka Nandi Rose – is quite lovely,
albeit sad. As described by her press, it is “a desperate plea to
be rescued from wrestling with everything.” In a voice perfectly
suited for the song, the protagonist is in urgent need for help
kick-starting her life at the moment, asking repeatedly for “someone”
to do things like answer an email, or “make me think I’m worth
something.” Thematically, it reminds me of The Allen-Ward Trio’s
“I Need a Friend,” but rather than folk, this is more modern
singer-songwriter. Yes, she’s listed as alt pop, but I would not
personally put this song in this category. There is some lovely
harmonies snuck in, backed by an electric piano in the forefront.
It’s a powerful, lovely tune and is both bleak and, at the end,
hopeful. It’s a
keeper.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oMFInHDvrsg&feature=youtu.be
Lost
Horizons, featuring Marissa Nadler
“Marie”
www.bellaunion.com
Lost
Horizons is the collaboration, among others, of Simon Raymonde
(Cocteau Twins) and Richie Thomas (Dif Juz), and this single is
included in their new album, In
Quiet Moments, Part 2.
They are joined by Marissa Nadler to front it (other songs on the
double album are voiced by different singers). As one might expect
from Raymonde and Thomas, the song is strongly studio-enhanced, moody
and I might add gothic. The shadowy reverb is ramped up and it almost
sounds like a ghost is singing it. Nadler has a good voice, somewhere
in there, and I would have liked to have actually heard it clearer
through the production. The song itself is a quiet, slow, and soft
footed ballad, reminiscent of XTC’s “Somnambulist.” After a
couple of listens, it is starting to grow on me, more for Nadler,
honestly. Because of the production, I couldn’t make out much of
the lyrics; however, it sounds melancholic.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbyow_x96z8&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=bellaunioninc
Thee
Sacred Souls
“It’s
Our Love”
Daptone Records; Penrose Records
Hailing
from the San Diego area, this soul trio (perhaps they could have
called themselves “Three” Sacred Souls?) fit somewhere in the
post-Motown category with the likes of the Ohio Players (sans horns)
and Al Green. Vocalist and lyricist Josh Lane uses his falsetto voice
to lull the listener about his love in a Barry White ballad speed.
Soul is not my forte, honestly, but I was charmed by the sound here,
as Sal Samano and Alex Garcia skillfully back him up with their
rhythms (guitar and drums). The video is quite simple, as is the
tune, mostly shot with the band in the
studio.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lzCT9gl2kOk&feature=youtu.be
Yonaka
“Seize the Power”
https://www.facebook.com/weareYONAKA/
This
track is listed as “Dark Alt Pop with Heavy Riffs” on their
Facebook page. That feels accurate. It’s definitely modern, with
heavy production and added with some pop fusion. It’s like if Lady
Gaga’s style was thrown in a blender with some electronica and
white rap, fed through some anger and entitlement. It’s decent, as
even the rappish parts aren’t too stereotypically done. The
positive behind it is its power, as Theresa Jarvis forcefully infuses
her lyrics with drive, almost yelling above the British band’s
studio-infused minimalist
melody.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=csVhNAEmacE&feature=youtu.be
Zadar
“Upstairs
Room”
https://zadars.bandcamp.com/
Not
to be confused with the Yiddish “Zaydeh,”
nor the city in Croatia, their publicity calls them “scathing post
punk [sic]
from
Philadelphia,” sounding like Sisters of Mercy. Really? This song is
essentially based on a dissonant B-52s-type rhythm played
electronically over an over, with Fred Schneider-style vocals without
the charm. Even the lyrics are repetitive and kind of monotonously
mundane. I’m not a fan. But then again, I was bored by Sisters of
Mercy, as
well.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hXCSqHrdnSU&pbjreload=101
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