Review

A gorgeously presented and impeccably curated collection of smouldering Lockdown oddities from the boutique soul and funk imprint, Colemine, Brighter Days Ahead provides a rallying cry for the genius of this niche independent label.    Musicians and labels have had to dig deep in adjusting to the financial and cultural challenges of the Covid pandemic. The Ohio-based cult … [Read more...] about Brighter Days Ahead: The Colemine Records Sampler – Review

Indigo Sparke builds emotional and powerful soundscapes that delve into her personal, lived experiences on debut album, Echo. Australian singer-songwriter Indigo Sparke really knows how to balance beautiful ideas against darker undertones throughout her music. It’s a skill that really comes to life on her new album, Echo. Co-produced by Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker and Andrew … [Read more...] about Indigo Sparke: Echo – Album Review

On his new, genre-blending record, the idiosyncratic and versatile classic-rock magpie Aaron Lee Tasjan meshes together acoustic and electronic sounds from different eras to conjure free-flowing, interstellar pop melodies with a tangy zest. The music career of the thirty-four-year-old singer-songwriter and ex-glam rock guitarist Aaron Lee Tasjan has followed a crooked and … [Read more...] about Aaron Lee Tasjan: Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan! – Review

Ryan Sambol, the ex-Strange Boys singer-songwriter, discovers the joy of scaling back, pursuing understated lonesome cabin folk missives for quarantine times. The Texan musician and poet Ryan Sambol first came to prominence as leader of rootsy Austin garage-rock combo The Strange Boys. Since the demise in 2012 of the band he’d formed as a teen, his muse has followed him to … [Read more...] about Ryan Sambol: Gestalt – Album Review

Dizmation creates an everchanging indie-based sound on the twisting and turning new record, Sea Area Forecast. Music producer, songwriter and visual artist Dizmation really knows how to manipulate sounds into an interconnecting whole. With the number of styles used on new album Sea Area Forecast, some artists would get swamped down in certain aspects, but Dizmation just … [Read more...] about Dizmation: Sea Area Forecast – Review

The Hold Steady continue their tradition of producing addictive indie music for the ears through their eagerly anticipated eighth studio album, Open Door Policy. Many dedicated fans could be forgiven for wondering how the six-piece could follow up such a great comeback after they released their last album; Thrashing Thru The Passion back in 2019. This preceding record … [Read more...] about The Hold Steady: Open Door Policy – Review