Wojtek Godzisz – Beltane
Wojtek follows up last years great single “The Moon And The Yew Tree” with “Beltane.”The track was inspired the Pagan feast that brings in the “greening of the Earth” at the start of the spring. The track starts off like a song from a villain in a musical. As Wojtek is telling the story and those shouty background vocals its hard to not think of a Disney movie here. Just going through the song it seems like the perfect song to sit around singing together wearing a colorful collection of capes and a fire pit has to the in the works somewhere. Wojtek again has this really rare vocal that sounds so polished and raw at the same time. It is a joy to hear. “Beltane” is another fabulous single from Wojtek.
By John Siwicki
Hush The Many (Heed The Few) – Revolve
“Revolve” came in the most beautiful sleeve to the offices. It was wrapped up in this hand tied cloth that was so beautiful designed. I will cherish this sleeve as the bands new single is something really special. After tinkering with greatness on the “Mind The Sprawl” EP the bands’ new single delivers on all of the promises that they showed there. The record features brilliant vocal play between a young man and women. The male vocal provided Nema is such a force with this dark and brooding vocal that is the rock on the song. At first, he sounds very familiar as I spent a few minutes trying to place him. As with most epic songs it starts off slow and begins to build and build. Yet, “Revolve” takes you for a little ride. The frantic and schizophrenic end that makes the song just down right massive.
By John Siwicki
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds – Dig Lazarus Dig!!
The mustaches are big and bushy and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are back in rare form. Last year, Bad Seeds side project Griderman has awakened Nick and the boys for their fourteenth album together. The Grinderman project was straight up rock music and unlike anything the Bad Seeds have ever tackled. “Dig Lazarus Dig” takes a similar lo-fi approach to the recording process. The songs are stripped down and Nick Cave’s lyrics could only be classified as ‘dirty.’
On the bands official website Nick Cave had this to say about the album. “Ever since I can remember hearing the Lazarus story, when I was a kid, you know, back in church, I was disturbed and worried by it. We are all, of course, in awe of the greatest of Christ’s miracles – raising a man from the dead – but I couldn’t help but wonder how Lazarus felt about it. As a child it gave me the creeps, to be honest…..”
As the opening riff of “Dig Lazarus Dig” invades my ears and Nick Cave starts with his dark and descriptive narratives. Cave gives an vocal that sounds like he is giving a sermon on a mountain. The guitars have such a noisy and filthy sound to them its really remarkable. “Night of the Lotus Eaters” is built around some of creepiest sounding music I have ever heard. If you combine this with Nick Cave dark tones this is one that will scare the shit out of you. “Albert Goes West” starts up a lot of mixed feelings. Lyrically, it is pretty good as it is classic Cave story telling. Then during the middle of the song he goes into this strange breakdown about dancing. At first, it was a little weird but it grew on me as it was part of the charm of the song. “We Call Upon The Author” more than another song on here sounds like it should be in a church. The organ is all over this and then the hook “we call upon the author to explain” just feels right inside a place of worship. “Jesus of the Moon” is one of the few ballads on the record and this was always a trait that the band were great at. Also, we have Nick opening up “I couldn’t just consign it to the garbage bin.” “More News From Nowhere” would be the perfect flip side for Grinderman’s “No Pussy Blues.” Instead of a man sounding on his prime like in “No Pussy Blues” on “More News” he sounds broken and on his last gasp. Cave comes across like a man defeated and empty.
The record is hilarious, creepy, and exciting in all different places. For guys who have been around for as long as they have and to make an album as rich and complete as this is a special feat in itself. The band sound refreshed, happy and ready to take things on again. The sound is always a great touch the heavy noise and distortion Bad Seeds is always better than the ballads in my book. The band showing no signs of stopping it will great to have Nick’s dirty tricks keep coming back.
By John Siwicki
British Sea Power – No Lucifer
Awhile back, I read a negative review of British Sea Power’s latest album “Do You Like Rock Music?” and it really got me angry. For some reason with this band they hit all chords with me so much sometimes I just don’t see negatives here. “No Lucifer” is the bands second single from the said album. The song starts off with a quiet first 20 seconds and then morphs into a giant sing a long. By the end of the song you will be chanting “Easy, Easy, Easy.” The song is also a tribute to an English wrestler. Then a lyric like “give me the dummy, tit” could mean a lot of things in that context as well. This is another fine epic from the band really shows off all the meat that the album really has to offer.
By John Siwicki