Sweet Gum Tree’s first and heavily supported album by the likes of Mojo, Uncut and The Line Of Best Fit, came to fruition with the help of many prestigious collaborators such as Isobel Campbell-Belle & Sebastian, Earl Harvin -Tindersticks and Marty Willson-Piper -The Church. This time, Arno Sojo has reshuffled his cards and chosen to record this new album almost entirely on his own, except for the help of Irish producer David Odlum (long-time partner-in-crime of Gemma Hayes and Glen Hansard).
Both a beautiful, romantic adventure and an unnerving trip through a mind crowded with troubled creatures, Sojo’s earnest vocals confirm that he is amongst those who still believe that music and words can touch the soul, by way of sincerity, constant reinvention and fine craftsmanship. Minimal drum machines and echo-laden guitars throughout create a state of grace evoking the ethereal new-wave productions of British label 4AD as well as hymns from great pop architects like Talk Talk, Prefab Sprout or Divine Comedy. The album’s electronic rigidity contrasts perfectly with the elegant strings and soaring melodies, while Sojo’s graveled vocals ensure it remains an outstandingly humane and sensitive collection of tracks.
The album’s title nods to Wes Anderson’s acclaimed, ‘‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’’, which itself was based upon Stefan Zweig’s writings on the rise of Nazism in the mid-30’s. Drawing a parallel with the current fiery state of the world and Anderson’s tale of creating love despite all circumstances, Sojo reflects on the challenge of how one can fulfill the need to dream whilst in such a desperate context.
The soul in Sojo’s voice is what really drives ‘Sustain The Illusion’, particularly on tracks such as ‘Someday’, ‘Guilt Trip’ and the closing lullaby, ‘Keeper’, that lulls you into a complete sense of security. On the other hand, ‘Burn Your Icons’ is both a thought-provoking, sharp and ironic look at the relevant question of how we view our fallen idols that gives a truly unique perspective on our society’s traditions.
LINKS:
http://twitter.com/SweetGumTree
http://facebook.com/sweetgumtree
http://sweetgumtree.tv
-
Woodfish – Damn Thang
Woodfish is one of today’s best U.S. based rock bands. The band’s appeal is universal. Their music is energetic; groove oriented and places heavy emphasis on the bass. The drive behind the creation and performance of Woodfish’s music is to stick to the roots of what makes great rock music while still creating a great new “Woodfish” sound that keeps people moving while touching their hearts and souls. The music of Woodfish can be described as a combination of rock, funk, surf, jam band and progressive styles which, infused together, provide audiences with an intoxicating and entertaining musical “Woodfish” experience.
Woodfish is the continual result of a musical adventure/journey which was started when two rhythm section oriented brothers decided they wanted to start a rock band. Woodfish formed progressively as brothers, Steve Kalorin (bass/vocals) and Dominic Kalorin (drums) hit local open mic jam nights on the Jersey Shore. As time passed, the brothers joined up with other musicians and began to identify a cohesive, consistent sound in their jams. Inspired by friends, songwriters and other musicians they met along the way they then decided to combine the free elements of their jamming with traditional and innovative songwriting arrangement styles. The resulting sound is now the very rhythmic, energetic and intoxicating sound you will find here on their website. Over the years, the full line up of the band members changed as things do with many rock bands but the Woodfish sound has and always will always remain constant.
LINKS:
http://www.woodfishmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/WoodfishBand -
American Anymen – Flag Burner
NYC-based anti-folk punk outfit American Anymen has announced they will release their new EP in mid-September. Called ‘Flag Burner’, this release addresses multiple contentious aspects of today’s governance and society, and the corrupt situation prevalent today in the echelons of power.
This is the band’s 12th album, following up on the band’s ‘Start My Center’ LP, which was produced by Jen Turner (Natalie Merchant, Here We Go Magic), also known for her involvement in recording Swans’ ‘The Glowing Man’. The band also recently explored their softer side on the recently-released ‘Oui’ EP, which entailed a collaboration with French songstress Lise. Both releases were critically acclaimed.
American Anymen was created in 1999 in NYC’s Lower East Side. With an unconventional approach to guitar, their sound is an eclectic mix of folk punk with indie rock and old-school hip-hop. With singer/songwriter and guitarist Brett Sullivan as its core, American Anymen’s current lineup also includes Joey Patches (drums and vocals), Scott Fragala (bass and keyboards), and Jen Turner (guitar and vocals).
Unique to American Anymen is the band’s strong political and ethical importance. While previous releases explore such issues as the downside of globalization, social injustice, police brutality, corruption and inequity, The new American Anymen release is their response to what has become known as Trump’s America.
“Flag Burner is a reaction to the fascist in the White House,” says American Anymen’s Brett Sullivan. “It was written with the idea that messages being subtly delivered in poetic lyrics were simply not enough in a Trump America. So the songs are blunt and literal. We have to speak out against these people, and the culture and rhetoric they promote. Locker room talk should not be their norm.”
‘Flag Burner’ is out as of September 15 and is available to stream from American Anymen’s Bandcamp.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/americananymen
http://americananymen.bandcamp.com
https://twitter.com/americananymen -
Lover – Fallen Famous
Where dissatisfaction is bohemian and vaguely Marxist in origin, Lover is here to show you the beauty in the darkness.
With a morbid longing for the picturesque at all costs – are you ready to explore a life no one thought could exist outside literature?
Lover is:
- Sarah bradbury
- Jamie moore
- Florence sabeva
- Alex villar
- Simon lacon
- Federico bianco
The bones of the band were formed towards the end of 2015, and they started on their debut album, ‘Human Geography’ in early 2016.
The album was completed just before they embarked on a mini UK tour supporting earl slick/bernard fowler’s station to station tour.
Whilst on tour the band started building a following and garnered great feedback from the public and industry insiders alike.
2017 is the year that lover decide whether you’re allowed to be part of their world or not.
About Fallen Famous:
The song came from a strong image of a run-down mansion and a group of young people wearing now tattered fancy clothes living there in faded grandeur in a post-apocalyptic world – almost playing at being the celebrities they once admired (and contributed to destroying). Like a sexier version of miss haversham and her house… the story is hard to pin down but it is something around the way we lionize and then tear down our heroes in today’s mass media culture – a micro version of how, as a race, we seem intent on destroying our home planet…LINKS:
https://facebook.com/LoverTheBand
https://twitter.com/LoverTheBand