Policy Overkill - Failure

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S'been almost a year now since I first laid ears on Policy Overkill, an electronica artist from PA, USA and several other big capital letters, so it's about time we had a good look at what happened in that year. Impressed was I at Wonder (August 2006), a recommended I gave it. (Ed: you haven't been taking your anti-Yoda meds have you?) Not a bad start, and in ambient electronica too which is not usually a fruitful place for me. Smile (September 2006) didn't fare so well, it's techno-Goth feel a bit too spotty to really work out. Song 17 (December 2006) ended the year on a very high note with it getting a highly recommended from me and guaranteed him a place in the Soundclick Hall of Oddities for that year. Chaos Theory (February 2007) showed that Policy Overkill is not one for standing still; an adventurer in the wilder aural limits.

OK, yeah, another ********* nutter would do just as well.

After I spent an hour scratching my head, my thumbs twiddlling for the audio clean up department, I finally decided that Policy Overkill was exactly the kind of nutter who would put record hiss and crackle into a track. Funnily enough, it (just about) works but that's only because the rest of the musical scenery soon takes up most of your attention span. Much more experimental electronica than your average techno fan might expect but that's their look out because I found Failure surprisingly listenable. I have to put that down to my continuing education thanks to Soundclick's more experimental artists.

Certainly Failure is a classic slice of experimental electronica that has more in common with drt and the ilk but there again Policy Overkill has a tendency to hop about a bit. After a few plays I'd warmed up enormously to this track, despite my initial dislike of the crackle and hum, there's a willingness to REALLY fekk around with the track and make itself tie itself in knots. I gotta tell you I love that stuff. Accordingly, Failure is going to gain a place on my hard drive so I guess its not that much of a failure is it? Obviously it's not going to count for everybody but if you like electronica that skates on the thin edge then Policy Overkill has a world of bafflement to behold.

Highly Recommended experimental electronica. (Ed: yeah, but why does this happen? Is it Fate? Is it Destiny?)

Radio Pohmelye - The Spaghettification of Dr Vostok

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Radio Pohmelye, an artist from Helsinki, Finland impressed me with his technical abilities but not, unfortunately enough to make the review that noticeable. Sure, it's a given that not everyone can come up with the goods every time but I have to say that (in general) Scandanavian musicians stand a better chance than most. Radio Pohmelye is no slouch at getting the track to sound right either, it's more a question of waiting for the right track to come along rather than wondering IF the right track will ever come along. After all, achieve a certain level of professionalism at this game and then its just a question of getting the songs right.

Easy when you know how.

The Spaghettification of Dr Vostok is - at first glance anyway - musically the sort of thing you would expect having listened to his first track (Sunday Morning Workout, December 2006). It also has some of the same - I won't say flaws, because that wouldn't be the right word - oddities that made that track listenable on a musician level but what your average punter might get from it may not be the same experience at all. We - musicians, that is - listen to tracks because we want to know how others did that bit and that bit there Joe Q Public just thinks it's rubbish or its not and that kinda depends on the level of a: hummability or ; b: atonality or sheer out and out predjudice against anything that smacks of being different.

There's no doubt, as even the most cursory of listens will show you, that Meddi (aka Radio Pohmelye) certainly knows his crotchets from his quavers; a very common event for musicians from Scandanavian countries. I'm told it has something to do with the way that music is taught in schools there. Who cares, because speaking as a fellow musician, I like what this artist comes up with but it does have its little quirks that make it harder to grasp than it should be given the musical thought he's putting into it. The Spaghettification of Dr Vostok is a full musical production that has much appeal, if you like a bit of musical whimsy (lots of la la vocals etc) then look no further. It's on the Radio.

Oddly catchy musical vision. Recommended for its inbuilt giggle factor.

One Kid's Lunch - Victory

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It's been a bit of a quiet year for One Kid's Lunch so far, although OKLdave has been throwing out material hither and yon from all other points to keep the pot boiling. Bless 'im. 2006 was studded with little OKL gems, all of which helped them get considerable mentions, a Track Of The Year and a Top rating in my year end reviews. Maybe they were all a bit puffed out after all that excitement eh? Poor likkle lambs. S'far as I can remember Maybe (April 2007) is the only track I have reviewed this year. Either that or Dave has finally finished clearing out his musical closet so they can get to the newer stuff.

Yeah, that'd be right.

I'm a firm fan of the 'here's some instruments, let's have some fun' school of music, which is probably the main reason I like this duo (Dustin and Dave, the Double D) but that wouldn't be the whole truth. I like them because of their style of music, the way they express themselves through it and the droll humour that often pervades every inch of space. Just as an example of that, take a look at their song titles and comments (eg: a song titled Nah whose comment is 'on second thought... or; a song titled More with an 'is that it??' comment). Silly? Childish. Yeah but.... nrrrrr. Shifting their genre slightly, One Kid's Lunch early Beatle phase has passed and now they are growing some rock muscles - or at least that would be your first impression of Victory.

I swear to all that is holy the first reference I got from this track is ZZ Top and believe me, that's a wake up and smell the coffee moment. I always liked the sheer swagger of the Bearded Ones music and I think that's why I took to this straightaway, despite it being quite a departure from usual OKL fare. At bottom though, as always with this artist, is a great song with plenty of attitude and lots to say. In this case, OKL wrestle with Christ's victory over death and - in the process - taunt His Grim Reaperness righteously. You can almost imagine the rotten vegtables being hurled at him. Victory is fast paced, highly engaging southern rock that shows me that OKL can rock out when need be with a capital R-A-W-K. Oh, according to the plot of this song death is a fly and Jesus is the swatter, so that's alright then.

Excellent rocker (with just enough cheese). Highly Recommended.

1969 - Planet Earths Midnight Creature Show[

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China, being the most populated country on the planet, should be absolutely awash with musicians but you wouldn't know it by checking out Soundclick would you? Search on China and you get a grand total of 165 artists, search on NanJing and you'll get four; one of which being self-acclaimed 'lonely planet boy' 1969. Is it that Chinese musicians don't know about Soundclick? As sure as shit there are thousands of young, energetic musicians there, that I know for a fact. China has an excellent musical scene and it would be nice to experience it more through Soundclick. OK, rant over, let's get to the music.

1969 is a one man band (you may also know him as blue zeppelin) who works in Alternative who does a very impressive job with echoes of early Bowie both in song construction and delivery. Hey, if you are going to influenced by anyone it might as well be someone good right? There again, I did notice that he cites Marc Bolan as an influence and I can hear some of that as well. The music, though, is much more complex than anything the pop pixie would have come up with - much more Bowie. What comes out the other end would come as a major surprise if you didn't know that the musician was Chinese.

Gor'blimey guv is about right.

It takes a while to get moving, you have to get past a sci-fi intro that is kinda rough soundwise, but once you get into the heart of the track you will forgive it anything. Especially if you like the musical references I cited above. Although, I think I would have to say I would have liked a cleaner sound but put up against the song and its arrangement, it's something I can definitely live with. There's definitely a 1970's feel to the track, 1969 probably spent ages putting it all together and - given the fullness of sound and instrumentation - it's come out of the process extremely well. Definitely a track I'm going to have hanging around for a while. Surprisingly enough, he also reminds me of Soundclick artist melv in sound and in presentation and that - believe it or not - is a high recommendation.

Life On Mars? Yep, we are being watched. Highly Recommended for 1970's rock freaks.

Laura Amelia Smith - Truffles

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Regular readers will know that I pretty much review anything that comes down the pipe and I think that is one of the ways my own tastes have changed along the way, because I find some incredibly young artists doing some very good things and I find that heartening. Laura Amelia Smith is a 12 year old (yep, you read that right) Australian who had made three tracks so far, this being the third. Although I couldn't put my hand on my heart that her music had in any way knocked me out, it was certainly proficient enough to get my attention. So between Laura's Bop (February 2007) and Waist Deep in Popcorn (March 2007) it showed that Laura's work was interesting, more especially for her age than her dexterity.

Small fingers, ya see...

As I noted on both occasions though, it's her accomplishment at this age that makes it interesting because you can imagine what she might do with more years under her belt. Anyways, Truffles is the third tune up and its immediate impression upon playing was that this couldn't be Laura - or someone had helped her (a lot) with production. Either way, it's a lush, wide open space that will captivate any listener lucky enough to wander in it's path, it certainly did that for me. Moreover, the more I played it, the more I began to notice the little changes of pace and mood happening between the instruments, all a considerable improvement on the lady I had heard previously.

As a guitarist, I recognised her initial style but Truffles brings it a lot closer home. Even a more accomplished player would get a kick out of the way Laura puts this tune across. Age means nothing in an aural dimension matey, get a load of the pleasure this track brings along with it. Essentially an acoustic solo guitar peice augumented by lush strings, spheres, Truffles is so full of little musical surprises that even more seasoned musicians would be proud to call their own. It's not without it's little problems; there is a massive glitch at 2:20 or so and the sound from that point on degenerates slightly but it doesn't detract from how good a track it is musically. 12 or no, you either know what you are doing or not, and Laura shows growing confidence in herself and it shows.

Excellent instrumental, relaxing and invigorating. Highly Recommended (even with glitch)

Road Apples - A Perfect Hell

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Click the weblink above and it will take you to a place that promises 'original tunes by a songwriter in Canada - guitar-driven rock music with an "alternative" edge' and no - for the first time in ages - this review is not about Cam Bastedo. Nope, Road Apples is the musician I have in my sights and although he shares the same musical ground as some of Cam's work (beatleish pop to be precise), his approach is different enough to be distinctive. When I reviewed August (November 2006) I really liked its dedication to the cause of this particular field and gave it a highly recommended as I did with Fly Away (March 2007), a knockout collaboration with Alchemystic.

S'no good looking for a download link, you are going to have to pay for this jobbie or takes your chances with whatever player you can get to work in the Soundlcick maelstrom. Therefore, I might add, it raises the stakes considerably when it comes to reviewing a track. After all, free is free and money is money. What would I get then for my hard earned 99c? (Ed: that's around 51pee in real money) Well, you'd get a 128kb/s file for a start and - to be honest - the least I would have expected would be a 192kb/s rendering. Small potatoes I know - writer checks to make sure he spelt potato right - but these things cross your mind when you cross someones palm with silver. However, it's the music you are paying for innit? So is it worth it. Certainly is if you happen to like Road Apples, and I do - but there again I get to listen free too...

Damn, life is suddenly full of dilemmas...

A Perfect Hell is a cute little ditty about the first 'special forces' military group of World War 2, inspired by a novel by the same name. Not sounding very beatleish at all, is it? It isn't, this is a much rockier, harder sounding Road Apples - partly technical, partly emotional. Considering the subject matter (read the lyrics, it is helpful) A Perfect Hell is surprisingly listenable in a meatier, almost Power Pop production that is unexpected. While there is some question of the sound quality here and there, songwise this is a powerful, considered performance delivering a polemic on the nature of war. OK, I see that look in your eye; you still want to know if it is worth your money, right? Well, I'd give that a considered yes because - if I were being honest about it - I'd want a less flawed rendering or maybe a higher bitrate for the joy of actually owning it. Hope I made myself clear here because this is a moral minefield.

Listen before you buy, but this is a tough choice.

The Bob Lazar Story - Greengold

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I've encountered The Bob Lazar Story a couple of times in the past and considering the genre they are working in (prog rock, long one of my most hated genres) I've found good things to say about all three tracks. Now, to the smartasses who are cracking on about me saying good things about everybody, FOAD. See, things are never what they seem. Although I've liked previous tracks, the genre will always stop me really breaking out into a sweat, even while I notice that Matt Deacon (aka TBLS) not only is an accomplished musician he also knows how to get it down digitally too.

Not a bad trick, and one that stops me noticing the genre too much, Smart.

Greengold is, apparently. 'an ode to everyone's favourite algae drink - the Spirulina Smoothie' and don't ask me what that is cos I haven't a clue. If it ain't coffee coloured, I ain't interested, know what I mean? The Bob Lazar Story is a bit adept at using unusual timings (Greengold, for example, is in 7/8) and I think this is one of the reasons I keep listening longer than most. For someone spoonfed a diet of four beats to the bar, as most people are these days, music made in other timings can sound well odd. Slip into the first say thirty seconds of Greengold and you'd swear that these people are on aceeeeedddd. Or an alternate universe.

There again, me little munchkins, this is the land of prog rock and seen in that light, Greengold sounds exactly like it should. So slippery it's like trying to nail water to the wall. My problem with the prog rock style is that it is all about the 'technique' and not about the heart and soul of the music. All well and good in the hands of virtuoso performers; like two week old porridge in the hands of lesser lights. Matt Deacon, fortunately is one of those rare musicians it is interesting to hear and he varies enough for his music to sound fresh rather than turgid. Greengold is a bit of a feat of instrumentation and arrangement and certainly if you like that side of it, there's plenty here to gawp at. Taken as a straight bit of music too, it has lots to offer - provided you can get past the strange timings. Me, I liked this one a lot and it shows how dedicated to making the genre work for The Bob Lazar Story than most of the competition.

Exhuberant prog rock. (Ed: is there such a thing?) Recommended

Matan - Brand New Blood

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Fourth time around for Matan, a young Isreali singer/songwriter who has been around Soundclick now for around a year. Although his initial impression wasn't too favourable, I've certainly warmed up to him since then. When I reviewed The Gate (April 2006) I commented that it was 'interesting, but not exactly gripping'. That was partly down to the song not being sung in Matan's own language, displaying a distinct accent when singing in English; and partly because the music was uninspiring. Hey, can't win 'em all, Travelogue (July 2006) didn't do much to dispel that initial impression but was - underneath the lo-fi production - a cracking little song Gromit. Err, hold on. Not Gromit. That's just too silly. The Flood (March 2007) really bought the songwriting aspect to the fore and was again a song to be savoured so by now it should be obvious that with this artist, the song IS the thing.

Which is probably good really because his tracks are decidely lo-fi so it won't do for those who like to gawp at aural splendours or goggle at the technical wizfuckry of stupidly good production. If, however, you are always on the lookout for a decent song then Matan would certainly fit the bill - accent or not. Brand New Blood, like all his previous songs, doesn't stray too much from it's acoustic/voice base but the little additions Matan makes to it (some string sounds, some etherals whooshes and the like) certainly hep to raise it above the normal 'look at me I'm a singer/songwriter' crowd. As usual, also, the song that is Brand New Blood is head and shoulders above most of that genre. This would be a class song no matter who did it.

To give him his full due, Matan has definitely progressed loads since those first tracks and Brand New Blood just shows how far he's come. Put it like this, if I'd put this out there is no way I'd feel ashamed of it. In fact, it's soft rock accompaniment ideally suits Matan's vocal delivery showing what he does in its best possible light. Sure its lo-fi, it's a little rough in some of the timings but hey I will always overlook that for the feel and tenor of the track. I said, when reviewing The Flood, that it was probably his best track yet but I was wrong about that. This one is. From the way the little touches enliven the proceedings, to the laconic, almost bored vocal delivery Matan adopts, this is a winner especially if - like me - you are a sucker for a good song.

A rapidly maturing songwriter. Highly Recommended Pop Rock song.

Denny Schneidemesser - The Magic Of Rain

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Seeing as I might appear to spend my entire life pissing and moaning about some of my least favourite genres (techno, trance, 4 to the floor electronica, film music, games soundtracks, weepy ballads - God, the list seems endless), I still manage to find some good tracks from these fields despite my antipathy. I'd never heard of Denny Schneidemesser until I reviewed Freedom's Calling (April 2007), a track well over six minutes long and a film score to boot. Surely I did the dirty on it? Actually, no, I ended up quite liking it for it's style and intricacy and even recommended it which - for the genre - is a miracle. The magic ingredient that won over this hardened heart? For one so young, Denny has a fine grasp on the concept and delivery of cohesive, detailed music, and time and experience will only sharpen that edge more.

In other words, one to watch.

Denny is from Potsdam, Germany and if you know musicians from that country you will know that they generally attain a high standard of production and performance, and Denny is no exception. One of the things that won me over to his first track was the wonderfully clean production on it. The Magic Of Rain is another slice of film music, this time just over five minutes long and -according to the song comments - is a 'orchestral piece with modern elements, jungle percussion and warm strings'. Tell you what, here is a test. Take a listen to the first twenty seconds of this and tell me that you don't agree with me, Young he may be but he sure knows how to produce spectrum filling music - whatever you feelings may be about the genre it's in.

Had the piano solo had a bit more edge/bite to it, I would have loved this the first time I played it. Like his other track, the more exposure you have to it, the more it's going to grow on you. I know that Denny is using some pretty decent kit to get these sounds so there is no surprise at their quality. I wonder, though, what he is using to master the track with because - once you get used to it - there is no doubting that the entire tracks lacks that sharp edge music like this deserves. Full bodied, stirring phrases and elegant transitions mark this out as being something special. As I remarked on reviewing Freedom's Calling, his main competition is going to be someone like Sound Radius, but Denny has definitely got the musical chops to get there.

Highly Recommended (gulp) film (gulp) score. (Ed: Nurse!! The screens...)

Cam's Even Song - Stingray

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And now the Guinness Book Of Records (Soundclick branch, sec: Algernon Weasley) really should announce that Cameron Bastedo (aka Cam's Even Song and all its disguises) gets an award as being the most prolific artist on SC. However, the real kick in the ass is that most of the 180+ tracks he has on his numerous webpages and aliases are wonderful. Really. Look, take that disbelieving, snot-nosed expression off your face, and have a listen for yourself. Somebody (I think Chad Yochum) said that Cam's music was breezy, timeless, nostalgic and I think I'd agree with that whole-heartedly. It's one of the reasons I have most of his 2006 output stashed away on my hard drive, and the reason he holds the dubious honour of being my Artist Of The Year 2006. Cam manages to sound different in almost everything he puts out, even when you know that it's all coming from him, it still makes you shake your head like a horse maddened by flies. Now WHERE did that image come from :D

Envy, my friends, sheer, unalloyed envy.

Now it's already a given that Cam's Even Song cannot be AOTY two years running (no-one can) so does he settle back in his tawdry glory? Not flipping likely mate. Gonna Sell something to a Telephone Salesman! (February 2007) was his first Must Have for this year and My Castle By The Sea was his second; each a study in what Cam's Even Song do best. Make great songs, perform them with style and innovation along the way making some of the most fun music you are ever likely to hear. I agree that Cam has a certain style that does require you to explore what he does over a matter of time. It's about adopting a particular taste and its the way that I came to see Cam's music and the way many others did too. Cam's music has so many sides, it should be glassed over and called a greenhouse; every single track has something different to offer.

Stingray is so different, it made me double take....

Arrrggh, I screamed in frustration, cccahhhhhmmmm onnnn, you can't be serious???? Of course, even Cam says in the song comments that Stingray is 'a silly song' and indeed it is. If I didn't know Cam better, I would think he'd been hitting the waccy baccy a bit too much (ie adopting a horse feed bag and filling it to the brim then chewing the lot. But look again at the lyrics and - whatever you do - don't dismiss this track out of hand. As always, Cam's music has a habit of sneaking up and mugging you when you least expect it and by the fifth or sixth play I was beginning to get the wider picture. Which I must admit, I was quite pleased about because my first impression of this track gave me a massive turn when I contemplated reviewing a Cam track I didn't like. I'm not sure what created this first impression but it is highly mis-leading. While Stingray isn't among Cam's finer works (and probably doesn't even aspire to be), it's still a class little number.

Got your snorkel? Flippers? Dive! Dive!! Dive!!! Recommended whimsy.

Fluidity - Apologetic Me

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Out of all the components that go into making our music, there is one area I am absolutely rigid about; drama and excitement! What, you ask, we can get that through music? Of course, young grasshopper, but you may have to rummage around in the Soundclick bin before you come up with something that tasty. Take, for example, yon John Paul Carroll (aka Fluidity) a NZ based rock musician who knows his stuff and isn't a-feared to rock out when the need takes him. Truth is, like a lot of SC regulars, I have developed a taste for his work which - initially - I thought sounded a bit thin aurally. Mind you, that was a problem he sorted out quickly enough as you can hear by listening to I Write Songs Not Cheques (May 2007) or Negative Slant (April 2007) which show exactly what Fluidity means in sound terms.

Built on rock and roll.

As a regular reviewer you get to see various facets in most artists output and I think I've seen most of them in the acres of Fuidity tracks that have come my way. I have compared him to endless people and - in rock mode - he reminds me most of the energy and drive of (gulp) Status Quo. This years tracks from this artist in particular show that Fluidity is settling into his own groove very successfully and, along the way, giving us some very high energy, straight ahead rock tracks in the time honoured classic fashion. Although Apologetic Me is billed as Pop Rock, it's rock in tooth and claw, but with some excellent vocal touches that make the track interesting and exciting to hear. See what I mean now?

From its opening chops, Apologetic Me, sets itself up to power effortlessly, the vocal sounding surprisingly Cure-like (another comparison I have made in the past) and - as a casual listen - it impressed immensely, especially when cranked up to wall shaking levels. Although it's not without it's little niggles, I think this is one of John Paul's finest efforts to date. Oh and btw did I mention that this r-a-w-k-s. As in kerrang! More listens show the song to better light and again JP shows his lyrical individuality coming up with - this time - a tale of regret and wishful thinking that makes much more sense once you'd had a careful squint at the selfsame lyrics. Especially the 'right guy at the wrong time' sections. Along with drama and excitement, I will also want visions in my music and JP's new songwriting maturity shows that he is a man of many visions. IM(very)HO, one of the best Fluidity tracks yet.

Highly Recommended peice of rock fun.

Christopher Martin Hansen - Dos Sol Etude

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Obviously, if I mention one (Alderman in the last review) I have to also drag in the rest of the crew, namely Jim Miller (of Jim-n-Lisa fame) and Christopher Martin Hansen because they all seem to be connected at the hip at the moment. Also it was only a couple of months ago that I was complaining about not hearing enough of CMH and boy, has he made up for that lack in a very short time. Chris, like Alderman and Jim-n-Lisa are long standing Soundclick veterans with track records longer than most newbies can imagine so it's pretty much taken for granted that these artists are never going to settle for second best. Jim Miller, in particular, has a fine ear for the right production and mix (he has his own mastering site) and that - to my mind - is what CMH has missed on previous outings. There is absolutely no doubt of CMH's technical ability as a guitarist, as pretty much all of my past reviews have stated - moreover every other guitarist I know seems to be a CMH fan.

Gotta be something there guv, I say.

Jim Miller supplied his superlative (and highly distinctive) sax skills, the drum track and production on this track and - as CMH states on the song comments 'bought this song to life'. I can't testify to that because I don't think I heard the original of this, but hey, a CMH/Jim Miller collab is certainly a treat to be savoured. Dos Sol Etude turns out to be a track about a binary solar system, and their relationship to each other and I'd say that was an accurate description of what you will hear too; both Jim and Chris have a tremendously fluid instrumental style which really helps the track to establish itself early. For sure if you are already a Jim Miller and/or CMH fan you will just love this to bits; the counterpoint between the sax lines and the guitar lines is hair raising.

Granted it is billed as New Age and it does have a whiff of that about it, but both artists virtuosity raises it out of the usual hippie grabbag the genre wallows in; there is a lyrical quality about their work that shines through this track like a beacon. Jim Miller's performance is - as usual - faultless and his knob twiddling (Ed: he'd better be talking about the recording process) is a wonder to behold. As many of you know I hold rigidly fascistic views about what makes or breaks a mix and young Jim's yet to put a foot wrong in that regard. The combination of these two musicians alone would have been enough, but to then come up with something that truly sounds like an amalagm of their individual talents makes this irrisistable to fan and and new listener alike. Here's a track for anyone who takes the 'unsigned music isn't much good' theory too seriously. On the strength of this, unsigned music has never sounded finer, or in ruder health.

Two Stars from two (SC) stars. 8 fekkin billion from me of course. MUST HAVE.

Alderman - Sunset Over Andama Sea

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BTaking into account the absolutely ludicrous positioning of Soundclick's Critics Corner forum (ie it's right down at the bottom of the forum list) it is no wonder that the fall-off of posting in there is so noticeable. This has been - in the past anyway - one of the most fruitful, useful and informative (to a normal listener) place to come to see what on SC is good, judged by their own peers. God only knows why this change was made, but personally I can see only disaster if it isn't fixed and fixed soon. Take, for example, my reviews and my signups. There was a time when I would get over 30 tracks for review in less than 24 hours; since the forum change I'm lucky to scrape past 20, and that isn't because no-one wants the reviews. They just don't find it any more.

Alderman has been a firm favourite of mine ever since I first met him on another site about four years ago. I have a ton of his tracks on my hard drive; and he has been in my year end reviews every year since I started them. So, it's a given then that I would like pretty much anything that comes from his direction from the collabs he does (Jim-n-Lisa, Christopher Martin Hansen et al) to his own material. Matter of fact his last track (Visions, March 2007) was both his own work AND a collaboration - with CMH and was deemed a Must Have track by me and I've heard no reason to change that since. More to the point it is by far the best track I have ever heard from this artist and that, I suspect, has to do with the calibre of people Leif (for it really is he) chooses to work with. Suffice to say that this is one track I looked forward to reviewing, I have heard it before (on Mike K's Saturday Night Rocks radio show) and was blown away at how neatly the man had managed to sneak some of my thunder.

Well, I say 'my' but of course that isn't the case.

There be fekkin millions of people making World Music but I do look at it as being my 'home' genre. Alderman has flirted with the genre before in various ways, but never to this point making an out and out world music track. In lesser hands, I would have been shovelling shit in all directions by now, but Alderman has learned enough to know how to do it and how not to overdo it. Inspired by his recent trip Alderman has put the experience to use in making an aural diary of the event. Got to hand it to the guy, he's gone a long, long way on the authenticity front - there are some gorgeous world sounds in this track. As Alderman himself states, it's a tad more Indian than anything else, but there's enough regional differences within the main instruments that it'll do as a quick thumbnail ramble through the area's musical delights. Therefore, you should probably have a taste for ethnic instruments (of the Asian subcontinent particularly) but if you like the genre, you will take to this like a member of the Anatinae family to molecular liquid. (Ed: he probably means like a duck to water, but the drugs are obviously kicking right in).

Highly Recommended World music. An authentic gem.

Exit Motel - Hospital Man

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Last one out of the review bag this month just scrapes in under the wire from Soundclick newcomers Exit Motel. No idea what it's all about but there's plenty of info on their SC webpage or their own site from which I've gleaned they are a duo (Matt Clark and Rich Patmore to be precise) and hail from Eastern England. Their music certainly doesn't sound in any way English though; in feel this is steamy rock of the eternal kind. The only dead giveaway are the lyrics and the deadpan delivery used to put them across (think Cure and you won't be far wrong).

There are some remarkably good brit alt bands, and in performance terms, Exit Motel sound like they belong; having a very classy arrangement to back up the musical dexterity. There is a tremendous laid back feeling to the track which at first I found a little off-putting, repeated plays put paid to that though. Just a question of getting used to. The more I got into the track the more I had to hand it to Exit Motel for a terrifiic arrangement that gives you glimpses of past history from 10cc to - as I mentioned before - The Cure.

Coming from a live band, you'd expect a certain amount of cohesion, and that's certainly the case if Hospital Man is anything to go, Exit Motel have their own particular take on this genre and it's surprisingly fresh sounding. Definitely a band I would want to go out and see, they'd certainly make for a lively evening. As such Hospital Man is a worthy introduction to this band and although it's the only track available on Soundclick right now, I'm sure it'll be followed by many others. Hospital Man is a study in how to make rock that's light but still has plenty of bite, and an indication of how they may be newcomers to Soundclick but not newcomers to making their music. Well worth going for a listen, right now.

Alternative rock that works. Highly Recommended.

Charlie A - Aswang - Bad Times

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Charlie Amour (hence the A I guess) stumbled into my world last year with his 'record-the-babe' classic Bebee Bubba (July 2006), a wonderful peice of musical nonsense guaranteed to warm the hardest heart, The next track I heard, Broken China (January 2007) gave me an instant throbbin' wotsname the instant I fired it up. This track showed me that Charlie A isn't just a chuckle charlie, he's a very serious musician with a point to make and ammunition to back it up. Take this track, for instance, Aswang is the title of the film this is wriiten for, and this is a section called Bad Times... (sigh)

Charlie says it so much better (Ed: we ain't paying him).

The film is a suspense/ drama, documentary. In the early 1900's the Canadian government put a $500 head tax on Chinese Immigrant, this left a lack of women in gold mining towns. The Chinese Mafia (operating as a benevolent society) kidnapped women from S.E. Asia and forced them into prostitution. There is an actual case in Victoria of a Filipina women who was one such woman. The less attractive prostitutes were kept in crates and were abused by men. The Filipino community in Victoria created a rumour that this woman was a Mangkukulam (a witch) and cannot die until she passes on her power - therefore she still lingers. Our main character uncovers the story, and is led on a journey to restore the line that was broken and if you aren't intruiged to hear the music after that, you have no soul. This, mind, from a confirmed romantic who would believe any old rabbit you'd care to sell me.

(Ed: the really jarring thing is that he's perfectly serious. Picks up any old broken winged, tramp/hobo/baglady)

At just over two and a half minutes, Aswang - Bad Times is not going to tax anyone timewise. Moreover if you like a skilful blend of piano and strings (that's cellos, violins and stuff) then this will go down well with you. It's a bit more string driven though, despite the piano in the intro. It is indeed the kind of music I would expect in a film so on that score Charlie is covered, Much more to the point to me would be to see the film itself, and no doubt that time will come. Well up to the usual extremely high standard of work Charlie A has delivered in the past.

Excellent string drenched soundtrack. Recommended.

Christopher Martin Hansen - In The Hedgerow

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In The Hedgerow is CMH's tribute to the late, and very great, Michael Hedges], an acoustic guitarist much in the same vein as Chris himself. I have often likened CMH's playing to the work of Leo Kottke but the same comparison could be made for Micheal Hedges - although Chris would deny that he is anything like as good as either of these artists. I disagree vehemently and I've often told him exactly that. In truth, Christopher Martin Hansen is probably my favourite unsigned guitar player and has been ever since I first came across him a couple of years ago. At the time (2005) I had been hearing a lot of his work through (yet again!) Mike-K's Saturday Night Rocks show on Songplanet and did a quick thumbnail sketch of what I found on his site.

Since then Chris has become a Gilmore favourite, because I do love to hear a guitar played well and this is one guitarist I would urge everyone to hear; quality all the way. Chris is what I would call a classic guitarist, pretty much able to play anything but his own works are where he shines. The Road To Dublin, Dance Of the Spanish Maiden (with the aforementioned Mike-K) and the perfect Visions collaboration with Alderman and many more have found residence on my hard drive since then. It's a given then that I am biased towards this artist (and probably this style of playing too if the truth were known) so take it as read that I am a fan. Mind you, there are still lots of other people out there who haven't heard this fluid, experienced player and that's something that should be put right. Stylistically and technically, a couple of minutes alone with In The Hedgerow will show that you are either going to be in awe of this guy as a guitarist, or not. Doesn't detract whatsoever from the pull of his music and I'll bet this one would pick its way into your brain quick enough. A bit more of a straightforward guitar track this time, and to my mind much more reminiscent of guitarists like Kottke, Hedges et al; with a mix as deep as an ocean.

Obviously being a mostly acoustic guitarist with the edge in technical ability means that the music is definitely not going to be lauded universally, but the charm of his music and his excellence as a guitarist has won him many fans. But there's a slight departure in the works, and its an interesting one so read on... I first heard Delusions (on his Songplanet page) on Mike's show last week and fekk me, the boy went electric! At first I thought it was a 12 string but discovered that Chris was actually playing a Telecaster - all of course blindingly obvious with hindsight. At the time I was gobsmacked by the sound he was churning out and I remember thinking I should include it in this review. It's insistent pulse and intricate fills really filled out the usual wide-as-the-ocean mix Chris generally delivers. These two tracks do kinda match too, at least stylistically so grab a listen to them both and meet a singular guitarist.

No one like CMH. You read it here. Highly Recommended.

Maria Daines - Save Yourself

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I think most people expected that when Maria Daines (and partner Paul Killington) won IOMA's Artist Of The Year award in 2005, that they would take off into the real world music business and never be seen online again. Maria and Paul are made of much sterner stuff than that though and the reason for their almost complete silence throughout 2006 was because they have been working to put together a live band that would do them justice. As of the time of writing I have yet to see the band in action but believe me, it's only going to be a matter of time. After all, M&P were MY artists of the year that year too. So, the Maria Daines Band (as they are now known) consists of Paul Killington - guitar, Bob Bampton - bass, Maria Daines - vocals and Dave Whitley - drums.

It would be true to say that since those awards Maria and Paul have become pretty much everybody's darlings and that wouldn't be so if their music wasn't powerful, sophisticated and better than pretty much anything else you are likely to hear - especially in the Blues Rock field. Maria's voice is obviously the first thing you are likely to take notice of; a full bodied blues voice that demands you pay attention or it'll box your ears for you. The second thing you will notice is the absolutely flawless playing of Mr Killington and all. Give it time though, and all of the things that most of us love M&P for will show themselves; sharp, concise lyrics, a song that usually has something to say and a good time feeling that infects every single track I have ever heard from them.

Save Yourself is typical M&P fare, although Maria is showing a more mellow side of her voice than I have heard before but even the most cursory of listens will show you that everything written and said about this artist is true and then some. One of the things that has always impressed me about their tracks is the production nous Paul brings to the party; bigger tracks you will not hear - in any genre you care to name. His use of the stereo spectrum (particularly doing the kind of material they do) is quite startling and is guaranteed to jump out at you from note one, even with a track as laid back as Save Yourself. I heard this last Saturday on Mike-K's SNR show and KNEW I had to review it - principally because it's been fekkin ages since we've heard anything new from this source. Judging by Save Yourself, the wait has been infinitely worth it.

MUST HAVE (as if you didn't know). Stars in their own lunchtime ;)

TheSolitaireOne - I Let My Baby Go

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Or, if you frequent Soundclick's forums, you may know this artist better as songswriter. First time, as far as I am aware, that I have reviewed this artist, although I have read his reviews and forum postings enough times. I Let My Baby Go is classed as Straight ahead blues and that's pretty fine by my lights because I have been a lover of the blues for a long, long time as anyone who read my review of the Avalanche/Blues Forum track last month will testify. Moreover, while downloading this track, I noticed and played You Never Miss Your Water which is also on this page. The original track (by Lightning Hopkins) is one of my all time favourite blues tracks and to give him his due, TheSolitaireOne makes a splendid job of it.

For an artist to cite BB King, Howlin Wolf and Buddy Guy as influences should give you a clue that this is the blues, as authentic and nuanced as only the best blues can be. Or at least it better be because that's the downside of this thing called authenticity; if it doesn't feel real it isn't going to work in the same way. While it would be fair to say that I Let My Baby Go - or at least this version of it - doesn't quite match the sound and fury as played by the above sources or the quite extraordinary bluesy outpourings of Jimi Hendrix, instrumentally it pretty much hits the right spots.

In my books, that's a bloody good start.

It's in the vocal delivery where the facade breaks down, unfortunately, and that purely is a matter of personal opinion. I'm probably going to get lynched for this (Ed: is that worse than s-u-e-d?) but the vocal sounds too white bread to really cut the mustard. By all appearances, Arthur Park (aka TSO) penned this track and obviously scored it all out too - he says on his interview page that this is home recorded; despite the impression the crowd on this track will give you. I'm certain that the vocal would cut more in a geniunely live situation; it's very hard to do that in a more sterile environment. There's also a strangeness about the kick that worries me, almost as if the whole backing track is off by the slightest tad. Nonetheless, these are just musicianly niggles and won't amount to much in anyones eyes. All they will be interested in is that it IS the blues, at least in sound and texture.

Well performed blues that just misses the mark. Recommended if you like the genre.

DTRG - Back to You

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Question: when is a song not a song? When you never finish the lyrics to it, according to me ol' mate Dave (of OKL, preOKL and all other shades thereof) who - as it happens - is the sole prop and guiding light behind DTRG. Back To You is an instrumental with Muzak overtones, according to the same Dave source, and that - as we know - is a well known migraine inducer where I come from. Not then, a very good starting price, so you would have to be asking yourself right around now; well, what's in it for me? For sure, it's yet another slice in the multi-layer pie all those shades of OKL, but is it satisfying in the way that only One Kids Lunch (for it is they) can be?

Well obviously its not going to supply the usual lyrical puns I've come to associate with music from this quarter so it should be equally as obvious that if you can't stand instrumental tracks, best stop reading now. For the rest of us, there is some appeal to the track but it for sure is going to wear off pretty quick because it sounds exactly what it is: a track just itching for a real good solid vocal line. The production was pretty tidy with the exception of some very noticeable level drops dotted throughout the track, most people probably wouldn't splutter a thousand wtf's at their computer screen but I was ever a nit picker about picking the odd nit or two.

What is a nit anyway? (Ed: ewww, please, don't answer that).

So all respect to me mate Dave an' all that but it isn't the sort of track that is going to interest anybody outside of us musicians and - maybe, just maybe - the new collaborator that may take this artist up on this fledgling track. As the band interview comments say, these track are literally demo's; although they aren't in sound quality, merely unfinished. Musically, it's the kind of guitar driven rock that will be familiar to all One Kids Lunch fans, and you may get a kick out of hearing it (I did, but not for long) but outside of that, I don't think this will have many takers. On the other hand, it really cries out to be finished so emailing the artist constantly to get his act in gear may well do the trick.

Ciccie Malm - Allting är möjligt

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Most people who know me well know that I am a right surly sort. Not one to respond much because I think I pretty much say what I have to say through my reviews. Consequently I ain't too chatty anymore in forums, PMs or emails offering me massive sums of payola to give a favourable review.. (Ed: what is this boy on today??), and it's the rare ocassion where I am roused from me chair but here's one of them. Not only did Ciccie send me a PM but she also plastered a few mentions about her work in various forums so we'd all take a bit of notice. Normal way of going about things then yeah? Well, yeah but being the right surly sort I mentioned above, what am I now doing writing exactly that review?

Well, I had to listen, didn't I? Just in case, know what I mean?

The thing that really dinged my strings was that Ciccie is a Swedish artist and you know I have a soft spot for them. That persuaded me to pursue this and I'm real glad I did because the track I finally ended up with is exactly what I would have expected and then a tad more to seal the deal. The only real setback was that (as you can see from the title) it's all a bit Swedish, so I remain blissfully unaware of what the song is all about. There is a Henry Ford (carmaker, capitalist and industrial innovator, him wot makes cars) quote on the song lyrics page about attitude and I guess that applies to the track and it's content just as well because Allting är möjligt (can't keep on saying that, I'll dislocate me jaw) has mucho attitude.

The reason I like Swedish musicians is because they are all, to a man and woman, professional and accomplished - so much so that you have to ask yourself why they aren't signed. Well don't look at me to answer that because I've had a lifetime of that question and I'm still no wiser. It's a given then that (insert song title) is a slick, highly polished rock based track that'll knock your socks off if you know what you are talking about and will sound amazing to those who haven't a clue how music is made. This sounds like, and probably is, a professional studio production and sounds it in every way. Ciccie shows that she has the requisite vocal - how can I put this? - rock attitude to pull it off, in the process making this a track to savour whatever language it is couched in. Look for more from this artist, that's my advice.

Excellent pop rock, albeit in Swedish. Highly Recommended.

Rude Corps feat Sir - Her Perception of Us

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A certain sheep bleated at me a while ago that I should listen to Sir and promptly laid a line on me (Ed: Surely that should say link?) to a track called When There's Just Me And You (March 2007) which said Sir was vocalising on. When There's Just You and Me turned out to be a veritable aural orgy delivered to your earballs with plenty of verbal vaseline supplied by said Sir. He turns out to be a hip hop rapper UK stylee and believe me I find nothing wrong with that at all. There is a grand tradition of this kind of sound in the UK and Sir - along with Rude Corps - are carrying that sound forward. That salacious slut (I refer to the aforementioned track) got a highly recommended from me for all its reckless ways, as well it should because I love the blend of poetry and rock from Linton Kwesi Johnson to John Cooper Clark. OK, before you all start climbing on my case about genre discretion and that Linton is reggae not rock, s'far as I'm concerned they are ALL beat poets of some description,

So nrrr.

Her Perception Of Us is a track - so I am informed - from Sir's upcoming album 'An Unrealistic Silhouette Of Dawn' and like the porn track (Ed: you have to stop doing that otherwise we'll get sued) the combination of Rudey's musical muscle and Sirs atonal, flat northern English delivery make this happen. I liked Just You and Me for the deft little touches that Rude Corps brought to the party and he's showing a lot of the same thing going on here. Yes, it's hip hop in nature but Rude Corps definitely take it into a slighly different direction from the usual tales of basic beats and riches n bitches... As I said when reviewing You and Me, this has a distinctly English feel to it that I find appealing but that's probably because I am English.

Americans may find this quaint, but a little difficult to understand; especially if your vocabularly doesn't stretch to more than three swearwords at a time. Compared to the sweat soaked torridness of the previous Sir track (Ed: ENOUGH already!!) Her Perception Of Us is but a gentle jaunt into the mind of Sir who is prepared to share with us his feelings about well, women really. Not that he has a one track mind or anything. Hey, I don't give a toss either way because it's the way he tells the tale, structurally held up by the sparse but effective backing track that mark them out. I can probably see that this may well be an acquired taste in the eyes of some people, but there's still enough here to be worthy of more than a second glance. Me, I look forward to the whole thing because this is one collaboration that definitely works for me.

Excellent UK Hip hop, with a twist.

Decollage - Guarana Flash

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So far, Decollage has a bit of a patchy track record with this reviewer, and that's not necessarily because her tracks aren't any good. In fact, they are perfectly presentable, especially when we are talking about experimental electronica which is one field where - pretty much - anything goes. There does, however, have to be some point to it though, a random series of sounds slapped together is not going to do it for me, or any other self-respecting experimental afficiendo. There is method and thought behind Decollage's tracks, but the last couple of tracks have singularly failed to move me to the extent that No 1 (November 2006) did, and that was the first Decollage track I was exposed to.

So, was No 1 just a lucky shot? or is there more to this artist?

I think the secret of Decollage lies in the birth of electronic music (at least the German variety) because her work owes a lot to that school and, taken on that level, is remarkably entertaining especially considering how long she has been at this game. Like Burp, Decollage harnesses percussive rhythms the way that other artists conjure up riffs - makes for a very distinctive sound, that's for sure. Guarana Flash echoes pretty much the musical path she has chosen to pursue and is (to my ears anyway) a much more satisfying listen than say Dragonfly eat Holland (December 2006) or Space Zoo (February 2007), I think because of that attention to the rhythmic side of things.

Having never experienced a flash of any kind (Ed: now that's a porky pie* if I ever heard one) I have no idea whether this is the musical equivalent of a guarana high but it's definitely a ways into strangeville; beware of the brown acid and that kind of thing. Nonetheless, after more than a few plays I find myself humming along - you'd never have believed it possible - but there it is. Certainly a much more accessible track than I have become used to from this artist - provided that you like the genre of weird:extremely weird in the first place. Still, Burp has made a career (audience laughs) out of being just as extraordinary so I see no reason whatsoever why Decollage should not join him - and this track would be an ideal starting place. So off you go.

Highly Recommended sonic mayhem (with added headbang).

*porky pie=lie (cockney rhyming slang, ancient English dialect)

Azoora - Desert Storms Demo

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Azoora blew my bollocks off (Ed: PLEASE tell me you are speaking figuratively!) when - after a considerable hiatus - they delivered Marzipan (March 2007) to my ears; a killer tune with a knockout production that absolutely demanded a Must Have rating. As it happens, it was the very first must have they have ever got from me - in whatever combination they work in (Bipolar, Azoora or various collabs) and I'd say it bodes well for this year provided the band don't go and take another year off. Actually, I say take a year off and obviously they didn't, but it's equally obvious that they haven't had the time to record and produce anything for online consumption. Yeah, damn that real world eh?? Whatever, if you think you know how good music could be on Soundclick, think again because with this one track Azoora raise the bar considerably. Don't take my word for it, have a listen right now...

We'll wait. [sounds of feet shuffling and tuneless whistling]

Azoora are Paul Loader (acoustic guitar/lead vox), John Purcell (electric guitar/production), Trudi Lawrence (backing vocals) and Ben Cockran on drums; all of them busy with other (real world) musical projects so it is to be expected that their online presence would be patchy, but their music most definitely isn't. I've played Marzipan to death since I've had it and - at this stage - it's almost a shoo in for a track of the year. Not bad going I'd say. Desert Storms builds on the awesome arrangement and production skills but the vocal this time is probably Paul Loader because it's a cast iron certainty it isn't Trudi. Although I found this track nothing like as immediate as Marzipan, it's real quality comes out with time and repeated plays.

Desert Storms has a lot of the sound and texture of the previous track too, which leads me to assume that these come from the same sessions; it has the same acoustic slant too - all of which endears it to me. See, I particularly like well made songs, and that is one thing I have always got from this outfit, and a class performance into the bargain. Sounding a lot like a lighter, but more sophisticated Silvertrain, Desert Storms takes a while to get on its feet, but the first couple of minutes are so lush and wide open that you'll be too busy checking out all the aural geegaws to notice that it's almost ballad-like. Then right around 1:56 the track finally starts jogging on the spot, and it's a revelatory moment. There's no doubt Azoora are making some achingly beautiful music that has so much heart and soul it brings tears to these old eyes, not mention intricacies for my ears to batten on to.

MUST HAVE alternative pop.

Silvertrain/Damien Project - Believe

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Another month another (not) Silvertrain track. In fact, John Brandon - the usual face of Silvertrain these days - has gone one further and got into a collaboration with another well known scene face; Damien Project. For those who have been around Soundclick (and the others sites we all seem to inhabit) both names are extremely familiar, I have been a Silvertrain fan of pretty ferocious dedication since 2003 and have known of the Damien Project almost as long. It's a given then that with John's songwriting abilities and Damien Project's extensive production skills that this should be something well worth bending an ear for. As John says in the song comments 'this is an epic track'..

Weeeell, let's see.

There again, a ST review wouldn't be an ST review without a certain amount of back story. John wrote Believe in his usual style (kinda rock ballad-y), recorded it at home with just a guitar and voice and I managed to get a listen to this before hearing the collab version which is fine by me. I like to see where a song goes. Anyhoo, Believe (the original) is pretty much what you would expect from this quarter; a solid song but not much else. I might have had a couple of good things to say about it but overall - as you well know - this isn't really my cuppa at all. Good job that the version I had only topped out at a minute and a half otherwise I would right now probably giving the poor guy earache (again). From the outset, the collab version of the song is recognisable, enhanced and accentuated with some splendid arranging from DP.

It's also a good deal longer, some five minutes or so, all of it full of some fine sounding music, although with one small caveat; you should probably like slow, weepy ballads if you go to listen to it. Having said that, the sheer work and attention to detail that Damien Project brought to this track is astonishing, developing what was essentially just a song idea into a fully blown track with some considerable gravitas. All this, and I really don't like the style at all. I do, however, like what Damien Project has done to this track from the stuttering strings at the end of every verse to the sublime spoken outro - all very rock, all highly listenable. Not so much a collaboration as a complete re-write. DP took the original idea John came up with and wrote an entire score around it and I do mean an entire score. I bet John had no idea this was heading his way, and I'm bloody certain he's glad it did. As it happens, so am I.

A great song but an incredible arrangement. Highly Recommended.

Assiah - In Falling Out

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At the hind end of the 1970's this old fart (Ed: he means him, not me) ran with a heavy mob. For my sins (and some intro from the Hawkwind circle) I was able to see some of the greatest heavy metals artists of the time from Led Zep to Ted Nugent and all stops between. I bet, for instance, that you didn't know that (at heart) the English pop band The Sweet were a closet heavy metal band? I do, because I was in the studio when the band were making Give Us a Wink and they fekkin ROCKED!! Of course it helped that most of the band members had already been members of several other notable HM bands. The reason I say this is not to big myself up - for me these are just memories - but to inform you that I have been into heavy metal a long, long time.

So it came as a bit of a disappointment when - after seeing people raving about Assiah and his brand of heavy metal on this and other sites, I reviewed Of Fire and Light (November 2006) and found it probably closer to prog than HM rock. It didn't stop me recommending it though - at least for all the shreddies fans out there because it was obvious that this is a guitarist who can wail when given the opportunity. Assiah states that In Falling Out is 'more of a straightforward rock song' so I guess that may go some way to curbing my rock animal instincts and - upon playing - indeed it does. After the first few plays it becomes impossible to deny that the base of the music has its roots solidly planted in heavy metal; guitars, drums and vocals are spot on both in sound and performance.

The fussiness of arrangement that spoilt Of Fire and Light for me is still present in In Falling Out but I found it more acceptable with this track, and I have no idea why. I think the reason is primarily to do with the way I started this review. There is - in the first vocal breakdown of this song - a marked Sweet-ish sound. Deft vocals helped of course, as does the harmonies but it's the solid rock of the backing track that really brings that reference to life. If you are familiar with the Give Us A Wink album then maybe you will be able to spot that too. So, if you are looking for a right good earbashing then look no further, this'll bang the wax right out of your ears in a single play, continued playing may however give you some substantial calluses. The track is classed this time as Alternative and in many ways that's an apt description because it is a mix of a couple of different styles, and a very good mix too.

Excellent classic rock with an alternative twist. Highly Recommended for rock hounds.

Alchemystic - Silently

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It was exactly two years ago when I wrote 'smart blend of styles' while reviewing my very first Alchemystic track Sands Of Time (May 2005). In the time since then I have every reason to believe that what I wrote then has been proved time and time again with a string of tracks encompassing some of the very best electronica/alternative that Soundclick has to offer. Don't - obviously - take my word for it, check out any track and it will show you that here is a serious musician, despite only starting a few years ago. Also in the time he has been here, Alchemystic has moved from being an up and comer to a fully fledged Honcho Dude to a great many people on this site, earning himself a string of Must Haves from me including one already this year - Cerulean Skies (March 2007). Cerulean Skies is a world track worthy of the name, and I should know about that, shouldn't I?

Just to show us all that he is no one-trick pony, the ol' Alchy gives us a hefty dose of classical this time round - and I don't mean classically inspired - I mean classical as in start-stop lush strings; breathless pauses and instrument overhangs; the whole deal. Admittedly it isn't a fortnight long, in fact it weighs in at a very insubstantial two minutes forty nine but what it lacks in length it more than makes up for in quality and texture. Exactly what I have come to expect from this artist. While it is absolutely for sure certain that no-one can keep up a string of dynamite tracks like Cerulean Skies, Silently will do as a fill-in for those oh.mi.god moments.

As always the most impressive element of any Alchemystic track is the authority he seems to bring to the table, whatever the genre is that he is working in. The same holds true here, because Silently is a lovely string driven peice, fit to be used as the soundtrack in one of the BBC's famed bodice rippers. I can see it now 'Heathcliffe!', Cathy! 'Heathcliffe!!' Cathy!!. Damn, I should stop this train of thought I am making myself horny :D. Anyhow, now I've dragged my mind back out of the gutter, I have no hesitation in recommending yet another Alchemystic foray into yet another genre that is new to him... The only question remaining is how the fekk does he do it??

Beautiful Classical interlude. Highly Recommended.

John and Lucie Collins - Men In Uniform

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Here's a track I have already reviewed once, but like last month's re-review of John and Lucie Collins' A Voice In The Night, this has been sufficiently updated to (hopefully) provide enough grist to my critical mill. Because of a new working connection with real world producer Art Munson, John and Lucie are finally getting the lush, professional sound their material needs to work properly. Or do they...? See, I don't normally like the genre(s) John and Lucie work in (pop, ballads, showtunes) and it would be fair to say that the music would have to be a bit above the Soundclick norm for me to be attracted to it. However, because of the quality of their music, lyrics and overall sound (particularly Lucie's vocals), they have captured my attention from the start.

It also should be said that there wasn't much wrong with their own producing skills.

I wasn't particularly taken by Men In Uniform the first time I heard it (I did an Overview of John and Lucie in February of this year) partly because I thought it sounded unfinished and - much more critically - I didn't think that Lucie's vocal really did anything to offset the lightness of the track. Moreover, in some ways, it sounded as unsure of itself as the track did. Not like Lucie at all, considering the stellar performances she has put in on other tracks. My opinion was, apparently, shared by John and Lucie and obviously they went back to work with it - aided and abetted by said Art Munson.

What comes out this time is the full power of the song, and it's a very different beast to the pale creature that whimpered in my ear back at the beginning of the year. More to the point, I think this is the very first track of this combination of musicians and producers that I have been able to spot what are undoubtedly 'professional' touches from the mind of Mr Munson. For a start, the track literally throws itself at you, sounding extremely girl-groupy and sassy as a Saturday night out. It also follows in a long tradition of American (more NYC really) tracks that started with the basic beat and lilt of a track such as Iko Iko and the rhythmic cadence that is the trademark of big city funk. All in all, what comes out of this new version of this track is slick, sassy, as dancey a track as you could wish for, in a production that is filled with neat little touches.

Top class funky pop. MUST HAVE

Big Wheel - Prism

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I ended 2006 by stating that Big Wheel is definitely an up and comer on Soundclick and the three tracks he has delivered so far this year all keep up that high standard. The Yes Song (January 2007) is an excellent drums and bass workout that packs so much into its five minutes it'll make your head spin. Magic Organ (February 2007) was a chilled slice of electronica that - although dating back to February 2006 - sounded as fresh as yesterday and finally Curve (March 2007) was a masterful slice of chill-out which gained him his very first Must Have from me. It's a certainty that this won't be the last one I throw his way.

Now read on...

It's almost a foregone conclusion that I am going to like pretty much everything this artist throws at me, his production and arrangement skills are well up there. I've liked everything I've heard from him so far, and Prism is the latest in a long line of suave, sophisticated electronic workouts, almost this artists trade mark. This is an intelligent musician who understands the use of light and shade as well as musical depth, and almost any of his tracks will show this off to perfection but seeing as we are dealing with Prism here - it's a real good place to start if you haven't given the Big Wheel a spin yet. There again, almost everybody I know is into this artist, so I'm probably preaching to the converted anyway.

Should you have just happened onto this review and have no idea of who and what Big Wheel is, I'd suggest you click on the link and acquaint yourself with one of the very best electronic musicians that Soundclick has to offer, and you may as well start with Prism. It's a beautifully realised peice, sonically and musically; piano led and with such devotion to sound fidelity that it feels like the track is tonguing your ears as well as massaging them. Over the years I've come across some excellent musicians in this genre through SC's electronica forum and through these reviews, but none that moves quite like the Wheel does. A cool, cool tune and no mistake.

MUST HAVE chillage. (again)

Pete Arnold - These Things

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Pete Arnold was all over the Soundclick forums around the time I reviewed his Blues Bother (September 2005), and then he promptly disappeared until now. T'wasn't because I gave him a mauling about that track, although truth to tell, I didn't find it that exciting as I said at the time. In fact, I had a few good things to say about that track as well as Streets Of My Dreams a track from the same session that produced Blues Bother. Pete comes from a very musical town - Coventry - so I expected a certain level of musicianship, and both tracks showed that he has some fine chops. Blues Bother (as you may have guessed) being a straight ahead blues, but Streets Of My Dreams was a much more solid performance and production as well as being a livelier tune.

So from 2005 to 2007 in one bound and...

These Things carries on much the same musical route mapped out back in 2005; kinda rocky, guitar driven vocal tracks with a distinct 'home produced' sound. Still, very few of the tracks that I hear on the 'Click are much more than that, so given the general level, Pete Arnold should find listeners without much trouble despite that. No that anybody but a nit picker would ever notice the difference anyway. What Pete Arnold does, there is no doubt, he does pretty well, even though there is a certain 'laid back' feeling to the music that is often the case with musicians recording themselves. See, for my money, this song IS a good one, and it kinda demands as much fire from the vocalist as it does from the track itself and in both respects I ain't hearing that.

It's a shame really because all the parts are there, just not delivered with the right sort of conviction in my estimation. Pete says in the song comments that 'it sounds a little ragged in places, but that was the idea, I assure you'. To me it doesn't sound as ragged as all that (unless you are talking about the general recording quality) but it does sound like it needs a swift kick up the butt in order to start kicking some - if you know what I mean. As I say, a perfectly decent enough song but with a stilted, dated arrangement that makes it feel like it's dragging and a vocal that doesn't so much drive the song as lay lazily on top of it. After such a period between tracks I had expected some improvement, that improvement is in the song itself not in the process of getting it all digitized, which may well explain it's unwillingness to catch fire.

The Antennaheadz - We're No Warriors

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Now called L'Antennaheadz for some Gallic reason, The Antennaheadz have been both a pain in my ass, and a source of some surprising sounds. A pain in my ass because they will persist in doing whatever they want and to heel with everybody else. That's just great, you might say, that's exactly the way it should be. In many ways, I would agree with you; but my view has to be slightly more wider to the outside world than that. See, regardless of what everybody says, ALL of us are here on Soundclick are on here for one reason and one reason alone: to promote our music. I know for a fact that the whole electronica: experimental genre is a big deal on Soundclick, but not, I am afraid to say a crowd pleaser.

More like music that people can hate you for playing. Niiiiiiiiiccceee.

Inspired by the work of Claude 'Deep Throat' Von Stroke, you would think that here would be an Antennaheadz track that wouldn't wander into the usual blind alleys, cul-de-sacs and dead ends they normally serve up to their listeners. Having just read that back, it looks as if I don't like this artist at all, and truth is, I actually do. A lot of that comes from the fact that my old friend Thomas J (The Men From San Deigo, Black Zarak and Station For Imitation) has a large part in the proceedings; it's also the reason why the music is often obtuse, bewildering, baffling and several other not so nice B words.

We're No Warriors starts promisingly enough with a decidely familiar four-to-the-floor, bongo filled intro that pretty much sums up the musical side of things because it doesn't go much outside this initial offering except some decent cutups at the end and some nice breakdowns in between. Exactly what you would want, I think, if you were searching out some electronic dance music so I guess on that score, the Antennaheadz have done exactly what they said - made a track that sounds just like something Vonstroke would do, except with a lot more roughness of sound and a propensity to experimentation that would never work in the straighforward dance manner of ol' Claude. Certainly a more accessible track than a lot they have presented to me, We're No Warriors will definitely please fans of the genre.

Wild and wooly electronic dance.

Nuff X - Making Waves

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In the nearly two years Nuff X has been around Soundclick, he has made many friends and fans - obviously more so in the electronica world than in general, but even there he is beginning to move out of the solidly electronic field to pursue other avenues of making music. He's been doing it very successfully too, clutching his 'glitch' niche to his breast, the man has come out with some dazzling tracks over the last year or so. Most of them getting at least a Highly Recommended from me and a couple coming within a C hair (think about it) of gaining Must Have status. So, there is much that James Bacon (aka Nuff X) can feel pleased about...

but that was then and this is now... :D

Making Waves is, in the artists own words 'a bit Portishead, ends up a bit NIN' which suggests that he is still pursuing the same trend as Undefined (April 2007), Heroic (March 2007) and I Didn't Come Here To Be Lied To (February 2007) set out beforehand. A little bit of electronica, a little bit of English northern vocals (mope-ll's even), and a LOT of technical jiggery pokery all of which comes out sounding like nothing you ever heard before - and therein lies the attraction for me for this artist. Dare to be different? Nuff X goes out of his way to be different - even from track to track. Making Waves carries a 'very early demo' tag but to be honest I don't think anyone would ever notice it if it wasn't pointed out. Sure, there is a little sonic roughness in the track, but that is often the case with this artist and it generally works well. Portishead isn't the first musical reference I got because to me this sounded more like The Cure than anything else.

That may, or may not, be a good thing. Depending on your mope factor I guess.

I thought that the Cure were a good live band, and made some good singles; and Nuff captures both of these aspects but I can see - after repeated plays - why he states it is an early demo. To be sure, some of the instruments are not particularly well defined, and there is a distinct muddiness in the bottom end of the mix; the vocals could be worked on somewhat to make them cut through more. However, underneath those quite superficial problems is an excellent, hard edged track that is quintesenntially English in style and feel and could well be one of this artists best tracks - given a slight makeover. No lyrics online, which is a shame, but hopefully when the final version is released this will also be remedied. In the meantime, no one but us nit pickers would ever see anything wrong with this, so go ahead take some time and have a listen if what I've said interests you.

Highly Recommended English cross between Alternative and electronica.

Terry Martin - Left Behind

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I know I make a point of not reviewing my mates, but whenever I do, as you now see; there is usually a good reason for it. I've just reviewed the latest Sylvan & Bonamici track because they have just returned to Soundclick after a years absence, and that's also a good reason. The reason I'm reviewing the latest track from Indiehitz CEO, Terry Martin is because a) it's actually doing great things and; b) he asked me. Left Behind comes in two parts (audio and video) - the video being of excellent quality, the music - said to say - less so. I have to add the caveat here that this is purely a personal view, because there is nothing technically wrong with either the video (which really is top class) ot the music. Merely the style it is couched in; a semi-soft rock ballad, and you know how peevish they can make me.

So, why is this track so special?

Neil Young started a site on the net called Living With War Today, and it has gathered some splendidly vociferious anti-war songs on it with some very familiar (to us anyway) names. Myridian, Lex Zaleta, Guy Michetti, Maria Daines, Nigel Potter and many other 'Clickers have tracks there. I tend not to get into online conversations about the state of the world at war, because I have better things to do with my time. However, I am a lifelong pacifist so that should give you a clue as to where I stand on the subject in general, individual wars are what I refuse to spend my time debating. So, having had all this speil, it should be obvious by now that Left Behind is a proud anti-war song based on the children of servicemen and women 'left behind' if they fall in the field of battle.

OK so far, no problems here, and then comes the music...

Obviously this track is going to ring more bells in the United States that it is most anywhere else because it is THE only topic of conversation of any importance there; it's also made from an American perspective musically being a cross between a rock ballad and a country tune. As such, technically there is nothing wrong with it - as you would expect from an old pro like Terry - but I have to be honest and tell you that it doesn't so much for me. Probably partly because of it's personal nature, but mostly because I really don't like the feel of the track. To my ears it is cloying; saccharine. You may indeed think differently and that's only right. I would however, suggest that you do check out both the track AND the video. Best to go for the video first though because it definitely helps the track to come over better. Taken on it's own, you may run into the same problems I did. Whatever you may think about this track, it is put together superbly with one of the sharpest mixes I have heard in a long while - and who else would feature a Flugel horn?? :D

Recommended anti-war song with a distinctly American bias.

Fluidity - I Write Songs Not Cheques

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You know young John Paul Carroll (for it is he) has been doing very well by me of late; even more so than normal. Point in case: Negative Slant (April 2007) got a highly recommended from me and still sits there on my hard drive being fired up occasionally. Such is the power of a song, grasshopper. Especially when it comes from someone who thinks about what he wants to say. Fluidity almost has a sideline in auto-biographical asides in a number of subjects ranging from death to taxes; whatever it is, he's got a song for it. In common with Negative Slant, I Write Songs Not Cheques has a couple of spots which I didn't feel 100% comfortable with - at least at first.

More on that in a while...

The initial cause of that is the kinda/sorta middle eight/chorus which doesn't fit all that well with the straight ahead rockin that pushes the verses over the edge so well. The track changes it's whole tone going into this chorus, and for my money loses the appeal it builds up during the verses. It sounds a good deal better the second time around after the second verse; more seamless and closer (I think) to the core of the track. That core is hard, heavy and rocking in a way I haven't heard from JP in a while; if this retained any more power it would surely explode of its own accord.

Given time, as always with Fluidity tracks, I Write Songs... turns out to be a cracker song, even given this artists usual high standard; the only real blot being that odd bit around the first chorus and even that gets better with time. It doesn't feel any more (I can't believe I am about to say this) fluid with repeated plays, it is a definite disjoint in what is otherwise a storming track that John Paul should rightly feel proud of - despite what I personally think about its structure. As always with this artist, the production is top class and the performance is amongst the best I have ever heard from him. All of which, as I say, does tend to make the odd quibble less meaningful. Besides how could I resist a song with the lyrics 'You got your head jammed in the business end of a horse thats just about to bolt; You got your dirty fingers in too many pies to taste the sweetness from the salt; You got your assets and liabilities but the only thing I need is me; so I'll save my best for a better day, and I'll give you the rest for free'

Amen to that, brother.

Highly Recommended and a Must Have for Fluidity's many fans...

Shorthand Phonetics - Luck Is All

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Or Luck, Is All. (^.^;) to give it it's correct title. It doesn't seem like it's been almost three years since I reviewed Whistleblower AFAIK, this was the very first Shorthand Phonetics to appear on Soundclick. At the time, they were all fifteen years old (they were a six peice too), now a lot of time has passed and SP is now very much a one man show - that man being Ababil Ashari. Whistleblower had the 'recorded in ababils bedroom' tag attached to it and it is true that this guy has been the heart and sound of this Indonesian bands best tracks. Many of which have been lapped up by all and sundry despite the sound being rougher than a bears butt and played with more energy than skill.

T'is the songs, ya see. Can't keep a good song down, even if you try to bury it in the Mix from The Pit. Green Apple Garden, All Too Platonic and a great many others showed us that no matter what, they knew how to turn out a good song. Last month (bringing us bang up to date) I reviewed Chivalry Is Lost On Some People from the new SP album 'Apparently I'm In Medicine' which is also at the download link above which had the same hallmark dreadful sound but once again a terrific little song. The same, I am glad to say, can be said for Luck Is All which is a good job because the sloppiness and performance leave lots to be desired. Again though, if you give it time, you will hear the barest bones of what I think may well be one of their best songs ever.

That's the really surprising thing about SP, time and again they deliver these flawed oddities, which we puzzle over, dissect, pore through and ultimately grow to like enormously. For my money, though Luck Is All could have easily lost three of its seven minutes, and been sharper and punchier into the bargain. If that had happened, and Ababil cleared up the vocal somewhat, I think this would kill from a thousand paces. So there you go, you will go and listen to the track and you will immediately say 'what the feck is that guy raving about'. Well, just to give you a heads up, the first section is the best section of the peice and that only lasts three minutes. Give it a bit of time and the power of the song will show itself. IMHO though, this does need a serious looking at in terms of deadweight; the first bit yeah, the second could maybe another song.

For fans only, probably. Recommended nonetheless for the first part, which is excellent, if sloppy.

Timmy Sells His Soul - Hurting Cute Little Animals

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As you may have surmised just from the titles displayed above, Timmy Sells His Soul, is an Alternative artist who should not be taken lightly. Alter ego of Daniel Euphrat (Dross and others) TSHS specialise in weirdness but probably not much like the weirdness you may have been exposed to on Soundclick. When the heading tells you this is 'a bizzare collection of music' you'd better believe the warnings. Having exposed myself (ooer missis!) to both Dross and an earlier TSHS track - Good Little Consumer (September 2006) - I have to admit that I have a sneaking admiration for his dedication to the cause of chaos theory and its musical application thereof...

Understanding, of course, that I am a well known weirdo.

However, I'm not down with beating things that are smaller than me and I certainly hope no CLA were hurt in the making of this mad madrigal - otherwise I'll round to sort y'all out. Coming from a background coloured by the likes of Frank Zappa, Sun Ra, Capt Beefheart, The Residents, I can well see exactly where Daniel is coming from with this track, even if he has no idea who these people are. As such, I am going to lap this up with great delight because it's certainly the best musically I have ever heard from this source and shows only too well that his liking for dissonance and disorder has nothing whatsoever to do with his lack of musical talent, Hurting Cute Little Animals is a terrifically detailed musical track that for sure has it's odd side...

Not, this time, to it's detriment either...

Hurting Cute Litte Animals is a very free, but highly listenable, musical ramble in the rock style pioneered by the above named artists, so if you like their work, this track will go down a treat. If you came across this casually, I feel certain that if you got past the intro you would probably want to hear it through to the end. Given that it's a mere three minutes and change, it's certainly not going to tax you overmuch. It is worth that casual listen too, even up until now you've been thinking that this trck is not for you. There's a musical confidence on display here that I haven't seen from any of Dross, and only a little bit on the last TSHS track but one the strength of just a few plays I think this is going to become a keeper for this year.

Excellent experimental Alternative. Highly Recommended.

Cameron Pierce - Bittersweet Goodbye

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Although Soundclick hosts musicians from all over the world (and several others planets as well obviously) but there is a decided majority of people from the US and UK, as would be obvious. What wouldn't be as obvious is the amount (and quality) of musicians from Canada - a truly staggering amount, and most of it very listenable. Cameron is obviously Canadian too hence the pathetically weak link I'm trying to make. Nothing pathetic about Cameron's body of work though; both in his earlier incarnation as latmat or under his legal name. What you get is West-Coast tinged vocal rock composed, performed and produced to a high standard, the sort of music that does have appeal for me, and a great many others (think CSNY, Byrds, Neil Young et al).

OK, I KNOW not everybody will like it, but I do.

So much so, that Cameron has pretty much become a permanent fixture in my household - especially when I want to listen that will cheer me up just by listening to it. He's been pretty quiet of late, the last track I reviewed of his was Cold (September 2006) so a new track was something I could look forward to. Cameron wrote this track about his father getting sick and then passing away, and it's a sign of the man that he then turned that experience into a song. Long time fans will instantly like this track because it is infused with Cameron's many hallmarks; great song, singable harmonies, classic rock lineup and some excellent vocals - all courtesy of the man himself.

To it's disadvantage I didn't think it was anything like as catchy of some of his other tracks but given the subject matter, that's hardly surprising. Nonetheless, Bittersweet Goodbye is a ferociously upbeat track, determined to shed some light in life's dark little corners, and it does it very well - albeit with a sound that (if this were possible) sounds dated already. In other words, you will have heard lots of tracks like this, the only thing that keeps it afloat is Cameron's style and his take on life as seen through his lyrics. Mind you, one of the best things about Cameron's tracks is that they are incredibly radio-friendly and in that respect, Bittersweet Goodbye is no exception but for my part, I have heard this artist do better. Nonetheless.....

Recommended vocal rock.

UniFaun - To The Green Faerie

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When I first started writing reviews out of Soundclick, it was a much smaller, more intimate place. It was a time when forums were a damn sight busier than they are these days. It was easy to spot the truly righteous musicians amongst them and UniFaun consists of two of that period's (ie late 2003) finer musicians; those incorrigible Swedes Nad Sylvan and Bonamici. Yep, stop rubbing your eyes in disbelief, the musical bar on Soundclick has just been raised substantially. Sylvan and Bonamici left Soundclick a while ago for Artist Launch and although I've kept up with the tracks I personally hoped that ultimately they would end up back here.

See? Dreams do come true.

Nad Sylvan was my very first Artist Of The Year (2003) and both he and Bonamici have a string of Must Haves from me, together and individually so I freely admit to huge bias towards these guys - despite them being rockers of the Genesis persuasion. Great musicians are great musicians I say and to hell with the labels. This applies ever more so because Nad and Bon have taken that premise and made it their own; at least if you judge by the six tracks they have on their site. Listen only at the moment, but for the paltry sum of 75 cents, you can own a peice of vintage S&B at the highest possible rendering (320kbps) and believe me this is one artist I actually WOULD pay money to have and to hold. Not only are Nad and Bon accomplished and adventurous musicians, they are also notable, seasoned producers (Nad being the ultimate perfectionist). It's obviously handy to keep the nit-pickers close, ya see...

I've actually had To The Green Faerie for a while now, because UniFaun is one of the very few artists I like to keep track of, so it's a given that I have played this track - like all their previous releases - to the point of destruction. One of the best joys connected with it is the lyrical smarts every one of their tracks exhibit, and To The Green Faerie is no exception - especially if you are a Genesis fan. That's the funny thing, I could never stand Genesis but I absolutely love what UniFaun do with it, regardless of what name they go by. Their music is complex, dense and takes weeks to work the bones out of them and this track is another in the most consistently impressive body of work it has ever been my pleasure to witness. Don't take my word for it, as good as you might find this track, there are maybe some others that are even more to your taste. Personally I'd recommend you hoover up the lot while you can. Nad Sylvan and Bonamici have always had tremendous potential and I think we should have a welcome back party immediatement....

UniFaun, different name, same great taste. MUST HAVE (even if you HATE prog rock

The Bob Lazar Story - There's No Trolley

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I knew that The Bob Lazar Story rang a bell and wasn't in the least bit surprised to find that I had reviewed them/him (one Matt Deacon to be exact) a couple of times last year. The music being prog rock is not the best of starts but TBLS has made a pretty decent job of making this much despised genre almost listenable again. I speak, of course, from a deep and bitter hatred of the whole prog rock look-at-me-I'm-wonderful routine. Clever musicianship does not always make for electrifying performance and it's all a bit noodly for when you want to get all jiggy jiggy with the nearest breathing female, but nonethless Double Turn Double Safe (July 2006) and ThreeFourFaster (August 2006) are not tracks that will disappoint even a casual listener.

Aaahh, but where's the stick-um? The stuff that keeps listeners glued to you...

OK, over to TBLS: 'In my mind's eye, when I visit the local fruit and veg store, I don't see the rank of trolleys that sit outside. That's the truth' is what he says the song is all about so that's certainly muddied the water considerably. Unless this is some arcane ritual, I have no idea what the man is saying here but hey, maybe I'm a bit slow on the uptake. The first thought that might spring into the forefront of your brain is that the artist may be off his trolley because There's No Trolley is not an easy track to cosy up with - especially if you are of a nervous disposition.

This is a track that takes off like a scalded greyhound and gives no quarter so it's a given that you are either going to like it or not, as is usually the case with the genre. It also feels a lot more experimental than previous tracks but that may well just be my imagination. As usual with this artist, the emphasis is firmly on the riff, and there's bags and bags to choose from despite the tracks puny two minutes and change. Having a few plays under the belt can always tame the wildest beast, as proved to be the case here. What came across initially as a prime wtf musical moment ends up reminding me of some of the best work in Hot Rats, a Frank Zappa classic from my misspent youth.

Oddly likeable oddity.

Lord Skye - To New Lands (Sailing)

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Lord Skye and his chosen genre (Games Soundtrack) has fared very well with me over the past year, despite my utter aborrence of the whole video games music thing usually. That is because he at least tries to bring something different to the party every time; some of which I've liked and some of which I haven't been so enthusiastic about but hey, that's the way it should be. See, the way I figure it is that if I can get something out of a track, someone somewhere will maybe think the same. Out of little acorns, an audience grows..

Speaking of always something different...

Last track I reviewed had a definite country tinge as well as its tongue firmly in its cheek; this time we are promised (and I quote) 'happy ship music' - and surprisingly enough that's exactly what you do get. How would I know happy ship music from a hole in the ground you may ask? Well, I have the experience, ya see; being of the boating persuasion. Actually, that's a bit too grandiose even for me. What I actually mean is that I played the pants off Sid Miers immaculate Pirates, and a couple of its imitators too and I know if I needed a soundtrack to a game like that, To New Lands (Sailing) would be well in the running.

While it ain't exactly my thing, there's no doubt that Lord Skye is progressing in leaps and bounds, and his confidence is showing in his music more and more. As I say, not my thing, but there is so much that I do like about the track that I have no hesitation about recommending it to you. Considering it weighs in at a puny, weakling time of two and a half minutes, it's a densely packed two and a half minutes that you will be unravelling for some time. Although I found the piano lead a bit too obtrusive the first few plays, it soon settled in properly. I loved the juxtaposition after a while, and it certainly added to that whole 'shipboard orchestra' effect. Certainly music of this type will be an acquired taste because of it's game-y nature, but Lord Skye pulls from enough other musical sources for it to be a worthwhile experience regardless of personal taste.

Yo ho ho and all that old bollocks. Recommended for boatheads and landlubbers alike.