Monday, March 31, 2008

Sam

@ Tilburg, NL
Acoustic, Folk, Pop
Could It Be (mp3)
Myspace

Phildel

Chinese/Irish, London-born Phildel grew up in a liberal household with her mother and father until their divorce. At the age of seventeen, just weeks before her eighteenth birthday, she decided enough was enough. She wrote a letter to her mother and step-father stating all of the things she had spent the last decade thinking - that they did not have a right to change her name, to force a religion upon her, or to throw off their responabilities as parents. Then she packed the few belongings she had, picked up her cat Fayger and walked out. The combination of Phildel's natural musical talent and the experiences of her life, the isolation she felt at such a young age, cut through into her music. Lyrics in her epic song Switch-Blade invoke this feeling of
desolation - "If I took you straight up to, the loneliest landscape you knew, boy would you care, if you lost me there?". The life Phildel lead was so dramatically different to that of everyone else she knew, so drastically cruel and unfair, her reality was one that many could only imagine. And this nature of her reality being almost, fictional, made it feel like she lived in a permanent fantasy. This element of imagination, fantasy - a unique universe also became Phildel's trademark. Her instrumental arrangements are epic, fantastic and other-worldly. So often, her imagination was the only thing she had to escape to. With the stresses of her every day life, her dreams were full of horrific nightmares, each night would be a new string of multiple nightmares and in songs such as "Dragonfly Keeper" the lyrics invoke this mythological dream-like and dark, menacing connection "Things they found in the well, things they discover that fell from the sky. Labyrnths lead to the grave, nights I keep you awake, afraid to die". On a more inspiring and up-lifting note - some of her songs reflect her discovery of freedom, liberation and the beauty of human nature. Inpired by her father and his unending kindness as well as her love for her younger sister, songs like "Piano B" emerge.

@ London, UK
Acoustic, Alternative, Pop
Dragonfly Keeper (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Friday, March 28, 2008

Oh Darling

@ Portland, USA
Rock, Indie, Pop
Waking Up on a Train (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Alissa Moreno

@ Los Angeles, USA
Alternative, Pop, Rock
Better (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Silverfall

@ Mexborough, UK
Indie, Pop, Folk Rock
Last Statement (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

VideoPhonic

Edmond, USA @
Indie, Acoustic, Folk
I Heard (mp3)
Myspace

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Piano Vines

@ Houston, USA
Indie, Folk, Pop
The Life of Walter Price (mp3)
Myspace

Kárin Tatoyan

@ Los Angeles, USA
Electronic, Alternative, Rock
Fit In (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Iron On

@ Brisbane, Australia

Emmy The Great

London, UK @
Acoustic, Indie, Pop
Easter Parade (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Candle

@ San Luis Obispo, USA
Folk Rock, Acoustic, Country
Pennies In A Well (mp3)
Myspace

Monday, March 24, 2008

Nedelle

@ Oakland, USA
Acoustic, Folk, Pop
Ghost Ships (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Alfa Rococo

"So catchy, you'll be humming along in seconds"
Alfa Rococo was formed in 2004, while Justine Laberge and David Bussières recorded a song for the fun. They decided to renew the experience and followsa prolific musical competition in which they ended up in the semi-finals. The competition honors the best rate in Quebec organized by Rhythm FM and the Festival d'été de Québec. Although they are working on their first album, the two singer-songwriters are not in their infancy in the field of music, everyone has an inspiring and very rich. David was dedicated to guitarist DobaCaracol, played a European tour for the production Dralion Cirque du Soleil and currently performs in the group André. For its part, Justine has lent his voice to several soundtracks and television advertising in addition to being a background vocalist for Ève Cournoyer. The two friends have seen the fruits of their latest creations, supported by Mathieu Dandurand (Stefie Shock, My Grandfathers). This new album will, without doubt, stretch their legs and avoid the gray days. (translated from french bio)


@ Montréal, Canada
Pop, Electro, Indie
Lever L'Ancre (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Chris Townsend

London, UK @
Acoustic, Indie, Pop
Handle This (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

The Jealous Girlfriends

@ New York, USA

Samantha Marais

@ London, UK
Acoustic, Folk, Alternative
Please Take Your Time (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

My Sad Captains

@ London, UK
Indie, Folk, Pop
Bad Decisions (mp3)
Myspace

Michal Towber

Michal was born Michal Towber on a kibbutz in Israel. Her family returned to their native New York when she was a year old. She began taking classical piano lessons as a child, but by her high school years had become interested in popular music. Learning to play guitar, she began performing in downtown New York clubs where she came in contact with various musicians, among them Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum, whom she took as her date to her senior prom. After an appearance as part of the CMJ Music Marathon in 1997, she attracted label interest and signed to the RPM custom label of Columbia Records, run by Tony Bennett's son and manager Danny Bennett. With that, she delayed plans for college and went to work on her first album, Sky With Stars, which was released in June 2000.

New York, USA @
Acoustic, Indie, Pop

Monday, March 17, 2008

Or, The Whale

@ San Francisco, USA

Brandi Shearer

@ San Francisco, USA
Alternative, Acoustic, Rock
Lullabies (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

The Seedy Seeds - Change States

Electro, Indie, Pop
Selfreleased
2007

"We started this band in order to force ourselves to play the instruments that we own but don't know how to play. We create dancy pop that is the best music ever" is how The Seedy Seeds describe themselves on their site. And it is exactly what I felt when I listened to their debut album: "Change States" for the first time. The album is packed with fun, electro poptunes. Songs that make you want to dance, and will let you smile non-stop. The use of several instruments like the harmonica, on the rocky upbeat Alberta, and the kooza on The Little Patton make every song special and really make them have everything on its own

3/5

♥ The Little Patton (mp3)

Friday, March 14, 2008

The Wars of 1812

@ St. Paul, USA
Indie, Folk Rock
Radios Unsigned (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Sara Grabow

@ ?, Denmark
Pop, Folk, Acoustic
Nighttime Terror (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Alathea

@ Unicoi, USA
Folk, Acoustic, Roots
Hurricane (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Heidi Talbot

Edinburgh, Ireland @
Alternative, Folk, Acoustic
Cathedrals (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Ham Sandwich

@ Kells, Ireland
Alternative, Indie, Rock
Click... Click... Boom! (mp3)
Myspace

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Stephanie Briggs

@ New Braunfels, USA
Folk Rock, Indie, Alternative
Siphoning Seasons (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Monday, March 10, 2008

Night Canopy

@ Los Angeles, USA
Folk, Pop, Acoustic
Sing Me To Sleep (mp3)
Myspace

Johanna Stahley

New York, New York @
Rock, Pop, Soul
Nothing I Would Change (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Friday, March 7, 2008

Ohbijou

@ Toronto, CA
Indie, Folk Rock, Pop
St. Francis (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Sydney Wayser

@ New York, USA
Acoustic, Folk, Indie
Misplayed Games (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Thursday, March 6, 2008

The Salteens

@ Vancouver, Canada

Lissie

@ Hollywood, USA
Acoustic, Rock, Pop
On My Chest (mp3)
Myspace

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Sonicflyer

@ London, UK
Indie, Rock
Sun In My Pocket (mp3)
Myspace

Kelsey Wild

@ Byron, USA
Indie, Acoustic, Pop
Let Me Go (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Elíza - Empire Fall

Pop, Alternative, Rock
Lavaland
2007

While listening to this album it came to me that all music from Iceland has something in common. All have a fresh, ethereal sound mostly created by (exotic) electronic instruments such as bells, triangles etc. Elíza's debut album "Empire Fall" is no exception. The album consists eleven beautiful songs, some enrichened with Elíza's violin, that gives it just that little bit of originality. It opens with the guitardriven title song Empire Fall, remainings from her time fronting Bellatrix (an Icelandic rock band) Hjartagull however, is a soft, almost acoustic song with beautiful Icelandic lyrics. Return To Me is the example of a perfect ballade, and with Island it's just like she's referring to Iceland and it's surrounding sea. The following Queen of Solitude and Stone Heart are my personal favorite tracks of the album, and show that this woman, is one to look out for.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Calling Wendy

@ Toronto, CA
Pop, Acoustic, Folk
Tenesee (mp3)
Myspace

Rachael Kichenside

@ Manchester, UK
Acoustic, Indie, Folk
Something To Say (mp3)
Myspace

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Chasing Pandora

@ Valletta, Malta
Acoustic, Alternative, Folk
Bedroom (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website

Amy Cooper

New York, USA @
Alternative, Rock
Tonight We Fly (mp3)
Myspace
Official Website