Four years after the release of “What Went Down”, the Britons Foals return not with one but with two albums. What delight fans of their hypnotic pop and morning math rock. We find Yannis Philippakis and his clique on the stage of Gaîté Lyrique, on the occasion of the fourth edition of the ARTE Concert Festival.
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Claudio Conti – Old Clouds Fell
Claudio Conti is an Italian songwriter whose style is rooted in the same romantic pensiveness that marks the music of Tim Buckley, Nick Drake, Gene Clark. and Tim Hardin. Largely drawn to psychedelic music, folk rock, and 80’s indie rock, he considers Gram Parsons, The Doors, The Smiths and early R.E.M. as his main influences.
His new 14-track album ‘Garnet Dusk’ is a very ambitious and personal album with moods alternating between the chaotic experiences of a man in his early to mid-thirties, the solidification of his beliefs and worldview, including its flaws and qualities.
‘Garnet Dusk’ addresses such issues as migration and maturity – the product of deep thinking about the impervious, inevitable situations that life dishes up, usually not on a silver platter. This album was equally inspired by the sound of the ocean as by a woman’s departure. This is Conti’s attempt to explain unusual encounters like ships passing slowly in the night.
“This album is about the mysticism of love and rediscovered affection. The truth in children’s eyes and parents’ lack of consideration. And the frustrations, the illusions of flippancy that take us far from certain situations and on a detour towards the firmness of our insight, the channel of real life, where we find the life source that we really need,” says Claudio Conti.
Back in 2003-04, Conti self-released a sequence of home recordings called ‘Botticelli’, followed by the ‘Handmaids Skim The Marble’ EP in 2008 and the ‘Northern’ EP the following year. Having spent a significant amount of time in the UK and the United States, his various life experiences there allowed him to further shape his expressive-musical style and influences, resulting in the album ‘Every Forest Has Its Shadow’ (2012), which he fully wrote and then recorded with psychedelic folk rock band Magic Salad.
After a two-year hiatus, Conti split his time between Chicago, Los Angeles, and London last year, and decided to officially release his first solo album ‘Saltworks’ (recorded in 2013-14) with Seahorse Recordings and was very well received by Italian magazines and webzines.
This latest album ‘Garnet Dusk’ is like fire in the sky, lasting just a short while but holding your core intuitions – carpe diem. Then comes the night with its glorious shadows and blinding lights… a reel for the poets… a tryst for the unsatisfied.
“A sumptuous violin courtesy of Alessio De Vita immediately demands the full attention of the listener as Conti’s light, calming tones perfectly accompany. It magically refrains from upping the tempo and serves as an almost angelic call to the heavens”
– Louder Than War“Claudio Conti uses a folk scenario in which he weaves songs that you never get tired of – this is a pleasant and fluid earful… an inward-looking journey the artist leads us on discreetly”
– Rockit“Here unfolds a cherished and evocative dimension with swaying images of pure and luminous harmony”
– Music Map“Claudio interprets this genre uniquely, sneaking in races of British folk-rock under the influence of Jeff Buckley’s intimate vocal dynamics and the liquid atmosphere of a superb electric guitar”
– TempiDuri“You could easily become enveloped by the notes in Conti’s music or the genuineness of his vocals”
– Sound36 MagazineLINKS:
http://www.facebook.com/Claudio-Conti-1479110699037058
http://twitter.com/claudioconti70
http://soundcloud.com/claudio-conti-1981
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkwofKkFAABqlS_hjhcTpmA/videos
http://open.spotify.com/album/3qE7dqbAJTLmCSI7TgYbUs
http://itunes.apple.com/it/album/saltworks/id949723409
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=claudio+conti+saltworks
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/claudioconti -
Testament – Live @ Hellfest Festival 2019
Testament is an emblematic group of thrash metal and the movement of the Bay Area in particular.
About Hellfest
Founded in 2006 on the ashes of FURYFEST, the HELLFEST festival was conceived and imagined by Benjamin Barbaud (founder) and Yoann Le Neve (Co-Founder).Established for 13 years in the small town of Clisson (44 – Nantes), the HELLFEST has quickly established itself as one of the leaders of European festivals that offer extreme music.
Each year, more than 160 bands come to perform on the six scenes of the HELLFEST, each representing a current of extreme music: MAIN STAGE 1 & MAIN STAGE 2 (hard rock / thrash) – TEMPLE STAGE (doom / pagan metal / black metal) – ALTAR STAGE (death metal / grind) – VALLEY STAGE (sludge / stoner) – WARZONE STAGE (punk / HxC).
During this decade, big names in Metal have been programmed: RAMMSTEIN, IRON MAIDEN, AEROSMITH, DEF LEPPARD, BLACK SABBATH, SLAYER, MOTORHEAD, MOTLEY CRUE, MANOWAR, SCORPIONS, KISS, ALICE COOPER, ZZ TOP, MARYLIN MANSON, DEEP PURPLE, MEGADETH, KORN, SLIPKNOT, GUNS’N’ROSES, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, JUDAS PRIEST, DEFTONES, TWISTED SISTER, EUROPE, EMPEROR, TURBONEGRO, NOFX, BODY COUNT, STATUS QUO etc …
Mixing the giants of the genre, the rising formations or nuggets extracted from the underground milieu, the HELLFEST has won the trust of its public by offering each year an original and eclectic poster in the world of extreme music!
Welcoming more than 150,000 festival-goers over 3 days, the HELLFEST has distinguished itself by offering new installations year after year to guarantee the comfort of its fans, but also by offering an original immersion in an atypical setting. (Sculptures, ornaments, dressings, skate park, Ferris wheel ….) The scenography is worked in the smallest detail and has never been equaled: titanic light show, pyrotechnics, show and performances, set in daytime and night atmosphere, fire fireworks. The festival has surrounded itself over the years with artists and visual artists who participated in the creation of his own universe.
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James Holt – Whispers
James Holt is an alt-rock artist from the moors of Bolton and is receiving attention and praise from music industry giants, such as legendary producer Brian Eno, and the listening public alike. With the craftsmanship and energy of his songwriting translating effortlessly to his stage performance and having performed at the UK’s most prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, this is an artist to watch out for in 2018.
“Fresh and exciting to listen to”
– Brian Eno“Sounds so great on the radio!”
– Chris Douridas, KCRW (LA)“Very talented, very wonderful – absolutely love his voice”
– BBC Introducing Manchester“With an arresting voice that is reminiscent of John Lennon or early Bob Dylan, wily lyrics and an upbeat weave of rock, prog and blues, it’s obvious to see why his remarkable music is turning heads”
– Manchester Evening NewsSOURCE: Official Bio
LINKS:
https://www.jamesholtmusic.com
https://twitter.com/jamesholtmusic
https://www.facebook.com/jamesholtmusic
https://soundcloud.com/jamesholtmusic
https://www.youtube.com/user/jamesholtartist