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
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Mayflower Madame – Sacred Core
Mayflower Madame returns with a new video for their single titled ‘Sacred Core’. With a root in the gaze and a finger on the pulse of the alt, the Madame gives a dark and brooding opus with equal parts introspection and extroversion combining to make an almost holy sounding trinity of mind, motion, and music. The soul is sacred and the id is core from the hearts of Mayflower Madame. Inhale, ingest, intake, and introvert.
‘Prepared for a Nightmare’ was released on vinyl and CD on June 12. It is available through Bandcamp in all formats, as well as digitally via iTunes and Spotify.
Check out our other articles about Mayflower Madame HERE.
ABOUT MAYFLOWER MADAME & ‘SACRED CORE’
Norwegian psychedelic post-punk outfit Mayflower Madame presents the third single ‘Sacred Core’ off their new second album ‘Prepared for a Nightmare’, released via French label Only Lovers Records in collaboration with Portland’s Little Cloud Records and Parisian label Icy Cold Records,
“Sacred Core is a song about getting lost, drifting away and trying to find the way back to your safe haven – guided by swirling, hypnotic guitars and an insistent, heavy beat. Compared to the shoegazey post-punk of the album’s previous singles “Vultures” and “Swallow”, this track digs deeper into haunting, psychedelic territories, yet still maintaining our trademark dark and atmospheric sound,” says frontman Trond Fagernes.
The accompanying video was directed by Astrid Serck, who also created the videos for previous singles ‘Swallow’ and ‘Vultures’.
“To me, the song is like an open landscape – it’s grounded, but at the same time moving. I wanted to capture that feeling visually with footage from windmill fields and beaches, where there’s constant movement – like rhythm, as opposed to the solid ground. A contrast between motion and stillness. Something to hold on to as well as something loose and vibrating,” says Astrid Serck.“The core is what you hold on to. The motion is what you can let go. The sunbeams are blinding you, like a sacred light. The ceiling of a church is another symbol of sanctity. The moon is dancing, in disturbing ways, on the screen. In the video, there is also an abandoned house, left with the door open. It´s a metaphor for the feeling of something that is lost, you can go back there, but only the memories are left. In addition, there’s live footage of the band filmed from shows in Oslo and San Diego.”
‘Prepared For a Nightmare’ presents a dark and distinctive blend of post-punk, shoegaze and psychedelia. Here, the band delves deeper into their own distinctive blend of psych-noir and post-punk with elements of shoegaze and noise-rock.
Hailing from Oslo, Mayflower Madame is Trond Fagernes (vocals, guitars, bass), Håvard Haga (guitars) and Ola J. Kyrkjeeide (drums). Formed in 2011, they first rehearsed in a desolate industrial building, sharing space with a carwash company. Their hazy, smoke-laden sound was conceived naturally amidst these gritty surroundings. They soon recorded a four-track demo and became ‘Unsigned Band of the Week’ on a major Norway stations.
After a few years of touring, Mayflower Madame finally released their debut album ‘Observed in a Dream’ in 2016, followed by the ‘Premonition’ EP in 2018. Through eight tracks of theatrical psych-gaze exploration and dark romanticism, the album conveyed the wintry feeling of their home country – icy and gloomy, haunting, and majestic.
Mayflower Madame has shared the stage with bands like Killing Joke, Moon Duo, Night Beats, Psychic Ills, Froth, The Underground Youth, Crocodiles, Cosmonauts, and La Femme. They have also toured North America, the UK, and Europe.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/mayflowermadame
https://mayflowermadame.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/mayflowermadame
https://www.youtube.com/user/MayflowerMadame/videos -
Piqued Jacks – Eternal Ride of a Heartful Mind
Tuscany-based alt-rockers, Piqued Jacks, share their second single, “Eternal Ride of the Heartful Mind,” from their third album, The Living Past, out now.
Impose Magazine premiered the song and the “powerful new single & cinematic video” today, raving, “If this video doesn’t move you, you might want to check your pulse,” adding, “It’s been a stereotype for a long time that Italians are a culture of romantics and are most passionate (maybe tied with the French), but this song proves that generalizations aside – these Italians understand the nuances of modern love and have hearts big enough to hold every definition of what it means to be lovers.”
Describing the video, Impose says, “We see a man take a pilgrimage into the forest, alone. We’re confused about where he’s going and why, until he reaches his destination: a protest against deforestation. People are chained to trees, as the demolition crew works around them. Holding signs, and full of emotion, the protests hold signs begging “don’t cut it! plant it!” We learn the man is in love with one of the protestor’s and has come to aid the cause.”
This drives home the band’s message, and they explain: “Mutual love is the refuge for every so-called “unusual” relationship, always surrounded by the skepticism and judgment of others; it’s a place where the couple’s intimacy is sheltered from doubts coming from the outside.”
The single was recorded and produced by Dan Weller (Enter Shikari, Young Guns) in an old house immersed in the natural beauty of the Tuscan hills. “Guys, that’s the front runner single,” Weller said, right after listening to the demo.
After a heavily alternative track like the album’s debut single from the forthcoming album, “Loner VS Lover,” the Piqued Jacks once again prove their versatility and maturity with an intense pop song that opens itself up to a wider audience, without losing the band’s distinctive sound.
The first draft of the song featured E-King (lead vocals, keys), Penguinsane (guitar), littleladle (bass) and ThEd0g (drums), but its development came about with HolyHargot on the drums, and with the expert contribution of Dan Weller. Everything was then highlighted by the mixing of Forrester Savell (Karnivool, I Am Giant).”
“Eternal Ride of a Heartful Mind” is an overwhelming piece of music and lyrics, whose title is inspired by Michel Gondry’s cinematographic masterpiece. There’s no intentional comparison of the song to the film, just a beautiful love story.
LINKS:
http://www.piquedjacks.com
https://www.facebook.com/piquedjacks
https://twitter.com/PiquedJacks
https://www.instagram.com/piquedjacks
https://www.youtube.com/fourPiquedJacks
https://soundcloud.com/piquedjacks/albums
https://spotify.com/artist/5eprmPyM92CrWnnE1P840z -
Partisan – Oxygen
Partisan formed in Manchester, UK, early 2013. As the name implies they are passionate about their cause, which is to inject some authentic rock into the limelight, as serious contenders to pick up the music scene with punchy, bold and unflinching rock anthems!
The band’s members are Stuart Armstrong (lead vocals and guitar), Dan Albon (bass guitar) and Leo Stanfield (drums). Founding member Stuart Armstrong (lead vocals and guitar) left his previous band Six10Repeater, that disbanded in 2012 but returned to the scene with Partisan working on new material with his rock edge and progression from Six10.
They have achieved numerous accolades including being awarded as ‘Best Unsigned Band’ by XFM in 2009, two tracks, Hearts and Nails and Today Somehow featured Pro Evolution Soccer, supported prominent bands such as Nine Black Alps, Baby Shambles, Status Quo and The Damned as well as being reviewed by influential peers within the industry, Mark Radcliffe, and BBC Introducing.
The band has recorded and released many rock anthems, including the very popular Two Lovers, Ashes, Today Somehow and Juggernaut in recent years. Now signed to GAS Music they are releasing Oxygen in 2018. They have had the pleasure of working with notable producers, Jim Spencer, Christophe – Oxygene Studios and Mike Bennett.
They have had an exciting year, playing gigs and festivals such as The British Sound Project, Victoria Warehouse, and Sonder Fest. They have plans of further gigs and hoping to return to the US next year, after a fantastic response when they played Pianos in New York and Whisky a Gogo in Los Angeles in late 2016.
SOURCE: Official Bio
LINKS:
https://www.wearepartisan.rocks
https://www.facebook.com/wearepartisan
https://twitter.com/wearepartisan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeA7ADB8ws4
https://soundcloud.com/partisan77
https://reverbnation.com/partisan3