NYS Music 20​19

Category: Album Reviews

  • Hearing Aide: The Magnetic Pull

    The Magnetic Pull, a post-rock quintet out of Syracuse, put out their second LP in April. There are no vocals over the course of the 40 minute self-titled set, though the visuals are dense and the narratives vivid. Each track plays out like the soundtrack to a short film. Live, they have been know to pull-off an original live score to the 1922 silent film, Nosferatu, so this comes as no surprise.

    They leave the stories up to the listener; titles like “Pacipede” and “Know Seas” leave a lot to the imagination. The tracks flow fairly smoothly into each other providing a singular listening experience with multiple movements, perhaps different chapters to a single story. At times each instrument: guitars, keys, drums, bass, various electronics and samples, take on the roles of separate characters. At other times the instruments mesh in a show of force, pushing and pulling the energy as one combined sound.

    From heavy-shredding guitar swells and calming melodic piano breaks to reggae infused grooves, this journey has it all. Whichever way you imagine it in your head, it is sure to be a thrill ride of a listen.

    For the record collectors, The Magnetic Pull is being offered in limited release on 180 gram, coke-bottle green vinyl, packaged with a download-code sticker and eight-page anaglyph 3D booklet with 3D glasses. Otherwise, you can find it for download or streaming wherever you consume digital music.

    The Magnetic Pull will also be showcasing their new music at the Flyday Music Festival in East Durham, NY today, Friday.

    Key tracks: Pacipede, KGBFF, Townhouse Township

  • Hearing Aide: J.J. Cale ‘Stay Around’

    Legendary songwriter, guitarist and singer, J.J. Cale, was taken from us back in 2013, but his musical legacy will live on forever with Stay Around. His catalog of tunes have shaped lives, influenced musical styles and helped make the careers of more than one musical superstar. With songs like “Cocaine,” “After Midnight,” and “They Call Me The Breeze,” Cale’s storied musical catalog will outlast many of today’s contemporary artists. This fact is backed up by one, Mr. Eric Clapton, who has covered  multiple J.J. songs and has described his 2006 Grammy award winning collaboration with Cale, The Road to Escondido as being, “the realization of what may have been my last ambition, to work with the man whose music has inspired me for as long as I can remember.”

    Luckily for fans, Cale isn’t done providing new material just yet.  With the posthumous release of Stay Around, listeners are lucky to be provided with previously unreleased material that has been painstakingly compiled by J.J.’s widow, musician Christine Lakeland-Cale; along with friend and longtime manager, Mike Kappus.

    The result is a 15-track gem of an L.P. that includes unheard material penned by Cale with the exception of “My Baby Blues,” which was written by Lakeland-Cale.  This track captures Cale’s cool vocal style and sets the scene of a funky, smokey Juke Joint somewhere south of the Mason Dixon Line. The multi-layered rhythm guitar is interrupted by an oh-so-pleasing fuzzy guitar lead that effortlessly weaves itself in and out of the tune.

    Another Gem on Stay Around is the tenth track, a stripped down soul cry titled “If We Try.”  Lyrically, the song describes one man’s attempt at saving his relationship with his long term time lady by putting all of their mistakes in the past in an effort to give each other a fresh start.  The song features a solo Cale, starkly playing on the acoustic guitar, which creates a real feeling of intimacy, as if you were comfortably sitting in J.J.’s living room next to a fire while he performs the piece on his strumming guitar.

    Another favorite is the wonderfully produced “Long About Sundown,” the album’s 13th track. They say imitation is the biggest form of flattery. If you are familiar with Eric Clapton’s long musical career you know that there was fundamental shift in his playing in the mid to late 1970s. A good portion of that distinctive sound can be attributed to the fundamental core of Cale’s musical aesthetic. Sundown perfectly illustrates those similarities with an arrangement that could be right off of Clapton’s 1974 release 461 Ocean Boulevard.

    J.J. Cale’s life in music may be over, but his long musical career was one that he lived by on his own terms. His rejection of the big corporate musical industry was the nexus of the man’s music. Truth, honesty and a genuine love for the music that he readily embraced, yielded an enviable body of work that has forever changed contemporary music for the better. Stay Around is a perfect summation of that incredible work by a legendary artist.

    Key tracks: Lights Down Low, Tell Daddy, Long About Sundown

  • Hearing Aide: The Last Poets ‘Understand What Dub Is’

    If you were to construct a timeline showing the evolution of hip hop music, where would it begin? Some may think to credit the rhythmic jazz and blues of Bo Diddley, dating as far back as the 1950s. Some may say the birth of hip hop was in the creation of turntables and sampling, made popular with the scratching and beat matching of DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash in the 1970s. Beyond these names, and others that we’ve come to know under the hip hop umbrella, nobody has stood the test of time more than The Last Poets – the spoken word masterminds of the late 1960s, and the true trailblazers of hip hop music.

    the last poets

    Fifty years ago, The Last Poets began their ascension into the public sphere using moving poetry and smooth reggae backing tracks as a platform for voicing political activism, describing their experience as children of the civil rights movement. After decades of releasing albums and touring the world, the group released Understand What Black Is is 2018. While followers of the group are forever grateful for new music, it took the dubbing of the album by British producer Prince Fatty to bring this music – and the powerful message of unity and peace – to a younger generation.

    In the 2019 dub release of Understand What Dub Is, Prince Fatty adds transient delay and reverb over The Last Poets’ original tracks, keeping many of the album’s elements the same. From simple guitar riffs to decorative flute that decorates the spaces between each stanza, Prince Fatty keeps attention on the resonating lyrics of The Last Poets. At the same time, he tends to bring light to the 1970s -style rhythm in “We Must Be Sacred,” crisping those off beat drum hits. You can hear the chilling melody of “Certain Images” intensify with panning mastery, making it almost comparable to a hook in late hip hop.

    It’s clear that Prince Fatty has a deep understanding of The Last Poets’ immense impact on music and culture, as well as other creators of that era. His name, Prince Fatty, is an ode to Jamaican dub engineer, King Tubby, from the 1970s. Prince Fatty’s other successes include working with The Sugarhill Gang, making their mark on Harlem shortly after The Last Poets, with the first organized rap song to date. There’s no doubt that Prince Fatty developed a love for poetry at a young age, and followed this emergence of hip hop over the years, mixing and dubbing along the way. Understand What Dub Is is a tip-of-the-hat to the undefinable emergence of hip hop music, while bringing the inspiring voices of The Last Poets to center pan.

    Key Tracks: Certain Images, Understand What Black Is, We Must Be Scared

  • Hearing Aide: The Abyssmals ‘Gospels, Hymns and Other Trash’

    Just in time for the impending summer heat comes the revival of the generally unappreciated sound of surf rock, unless you’re Quentin Tarantino. Then, a track off this album will likely wind up on your next movie, shot in glorious 70mm film. The Abyssmals are treading new water on their sophomore album as they explore a surf rock sound. The genre is very cut and dry – a good majority of the top surf rock songs of the 1960’s did have a similar feel to it.

    But The Abyssmals try to break out of the mold by mixing in new flavors, both modern and classic. Where would someone listen to something like this? Hard to say. A slow cruise with the top down on a blistering, mid-July heat wave? Tiki bar party, perhaps? The tone of surf rock isn’t what people call uplifting either. It’s odd that it’s associated with relaxing at the beach at all. Nevertheless, it’s timeless sound, and The Abyssals have thrown a unique spin on the genre while flaunting their mastery of the quintessential sound of California’s beaches circa 1960.

    abyssmals

    The album is good fun. It won’t be in the Billboard Top 40 list anytime soon, but it could strike a chord with lovers of surf rock, grunge, psychedelia and even folk. The Abyssmals experiment with a several types of surf rock fusion, each of which has a natural and palatable feel to it, although the influence of grungy, darker tones can be found in almost every track. The album has a very familiar sound, but is also still very unique and almost indescribable. Listeners can pick out influences of anything ranging from Dick Dale to The Beatles, even Queens of the Stone age.

    Listeners can enjoy a mainstream, stereotypical surf rock sound like in, “Enter… The Abyssmals!” and “For All Time.” Quintessential instrumentation will drop listeners right into the bench seat of a ‘37 Split Window Ford, racing to Bikini Beach. Modern recording tactics keeps the sound recognizable but modern and tasty.

    But dive deeper and listeners will find a more unique blend of their influences. Songs like “Sleepwalker” and “See You Go” are built upon surf rock basics but are laced with psychedelia and indie. At this point, their sound is that of The Beatles meets The Black Keys. Lackadaisical vocals from Jarpon Reyes and Bob Forget are coupled with washy but sturdy instrumentation creating a unique atmosphere and a throwback to simpler times.

    This will be fun to see live and there are plenty of opportunities to do so. Check out their Facebook events page for the full list of dates and try to catch them in New York and Massachusetts area where they’ll be spending the majority of their time. The album is up for download on Bandcamp and available to stream on Spotify and Soundcloud.

    Key Tracks: For All Time, Sleepwalker, See You Go


  • Hearing Aide: Maybird ‘Things I Remember From Earth’

    Things I Remember From Earth

    Josh and Adam Netsky have been mainstays on the Rochester music scene for the past decade at least. Older brother Josh was writing songs beyond his years, while Adam brought the songs to life both on stage, playing drums, and on screen, crafting accompanying videos. Their creative teamwork reached a new high in 2012 with a song-cycle and experimental documentary about the ghost town of Centralia, PA.

    Part of being a great bandleader is crafting the songs. The other part is putting together the right parts to bring your visions to life. The Netsky’s pulled off a bit of a coup, scoring arguably the two best and most versatile guitarists in Rochester: Sam Snyder (Overhand Sam, Anamon) and Kurt Johnson (Moho Collective, Wallboards). Together they became Maybird, providing a more consistent outlet for their output. The band flourished on the Rochester scene and in 2016 they signed to Danger Mouse’s 30th Century Records, on which they’ve released two EPs, Turning Into Water and Unravelling.

    On Things I Remember From Earth, their debut LP for 30th Century, releasing Friday, the band’s sound takes a huge leap forward. With major label backing and national tours with acts like Portugal. The Man under their belt, the Netsky’s creative visions are finally reaching their full potential.

    The title, “Things I Remember From Earth,” was taken from Kurt Vonnegut’s “The Sirens of Titan,” as were the themes of many of the songs. “Human purpose, holding on to memories, and losing control of your mind/memory are all themes in the book that found a place on the album.” Josh Netsky explains.

    No longer encumbered by the what-ifs of a shoestring budget, colorful sounds explode from the record like tubes of paint being smashed with a hammer. The opening track “In Technicolor (for the first time),” sets it all up perfectly: “If you mix the colors in your eyes / darkened tears will fall / into vivid seas and multiply.”

    From the driving march of “To You,” to the slinky grooving “Gonna Lose Your Mind,” to the 80’s style bright pop of “Montreal,” track after track, colors are added and the vision becomes more complete and more impressive.

    The band might consist three guitarists and a drummer, but they pushed the studio to the limit, layering sounds upon sounds for a complete sonic scrub that leaves no stone unturned: A perfectly placed horn track, catchy backing vocals, an eerie whistle, a burst of piano, a humming organ, alien bubbles and wails from outer space, not to mention, all of that glorious guitar. A bevy of beautiful and unique choices color the edges of the psychedelic pop songs throughout. Don’t fret about the how’s and who’s, close your eyes and let the grooves wash over you.

    “When you feel it / for the first time / in spectacular color.”

    How will it sound from the stage? Find out at their record release show this Friday, May 3 at Radio Social where they’ll be playing the album front to back. It’s a free show and Maybird will share the stage with Mikaela Davis, Cammy Enaharo and August West.

    Key tracks: Gonna Lose Your Mind, Don’t Keep Me Around, When I Find My Out of the Circle

  • Hearing Aide: Chromaticam ‘Chromaticam’

    Once upon a time in Rochester, some teenagers started a ska band. Then they evolved into a rock band. Their third iteration was the pop punk band, Lighters. Two years ago, they went on hiatus. Fans have held their breath, waiting to for their next project. That day has finally come.

    Chromaticam is not ska. It’s not rock n roll. It’s not punk. Band members Matthias Galley and Will Westveer have veered off the beaten path. They’ve thrown out the idea of fitting their sound into the confines of a single genre. They also threw out the idea of adding lyrics.

    Chromaticam

    In an age when we are barraged with verbal clutter, instrumental music has become the calm inside the storm, a refuge for the weary listener. “Aqueduct” is a perfect example of this. In this opening track off the eponymous EP, rhythm and melody intertwine languidly over a backdrop of droning synth, giving it an ambient feeling. It has a transcendent quality which teeters on the verge of psychedelia.

    The sense of harmony in “Aqueduct” is contrasted by one of discordance in “Withering.” Instead of spacious expanses of sound, the notes follow a dissonant chord progression. The song is made even more anxiety-inducing by the addition of sound clips of an ominous tenor voice.

    While there are no lyrics, speech samples are abundant in the remaining tracks. “Sore” is an edgy tune that contains lines ripped from the financial crisis of 2008. “Snow Flurries” is a funky jam that features clips from a winter weather forecast. In “Yellow Tent” a rat-a-tat drum and trombone set a ceremonial tone, heralding in snippets of a political speech.

    Chromaticam draws influence from alternative, synthwave, and indie rock, giving them broad appeal. But don’t try to box them into any one category. Throw away those preconceived notions about genre. Chromaticam defies definition.

    Key Tracks: Aqueduct, Sore, Snow Flurries

  • Hearing Aide: Izzy Heltai ‘Only Yesterday’

    Only Yesterday, the new EP from Izzy Heltai, dropped April 19 on all streaming platforms. It feels nostalgic to his old work with more adult gut-punching overtones that make Only Yesterday something any indie-folk lover should check out.

    Izzy Heltai Only Yesterday
    Izzy Heltai captured by Emma Kate Rothenberg-Ware.

    The four song  EP starts with Helai’s single, “Marching Song,” which Heltai says was very much about being in a low point of his depression and not having much self worth in himself. The songs starts with some slow strumming acoustic guitar and slowly, he starts to sing. A piano joins, just slightly, and then completely adds itself as the chorus starts. Heltai sings: “On and on a marching song gets sung inside my head. I’m walking out the door now. It feels like only yesterday I learned I could be here. Now here I go leaving.”

    Then, just after the chorus ends, a trumpet adds itself to the mix. “Marching Song” sits in the stomach of the listener and they can’t help, but empathise with Heltai feeling like “He’s drowning and dragging you down and if he says nothing you’ll stay on dry land.” It’s the feeling that someone will be better off without you – a hard thing to admit to oneself let alone sing out to the rest of the world.

    The second song on the EP is called, “Common Sense,” and it starts with acoustic guitar and violin. It’s about thinking someone was the love of your life, but realizing, maybe you didn’t know them the way you thought. It’s a fabricated idea in your head. This is an emotion many have felt, but few are able to express in a way that’ll get across to the listener, the way Heltai does. It’s a feeling of nostalgia for someone that you realize, might not even really be for them, but for the idea of them.

    “Stuck in Stone” follows the classic Heltai format starting with an acoustic guitar intro. Accompanied with an array of different instruments, percussive guitar works as a satisfying pause to the song. The song revolves around having your mind made up, but your body being “Stuck in Stone,” physically not being able to make yourself do what you’ve decided. As most of Heltai’s songs, it is a relatable feeling. Heltai puts his remarkable twists to make a familiar story one-of-a-kind with his unique word choices.

    Izzy Heltai Only Yesterday
    Izzy Heltai captured by Emma Kate Rothenberg-Ware.

    Only Yesterday ends with “Mountain,” which switches up Heltai’s normal format. The song flows from present to past with Heltai’s current feelings on himself and love to things he’s experienced. His mother told him he couldn’t have candles in his room. He would burn the house down. Trumpet returns, adding a layer to the instrumental parts of the song, that resolve with an “ah” feeling for the listener.

    The 16-minute long EP feels so much longer than that with its catchy choruses to its insightful words. Heltai is definitely someone too look out for in the indie-folk scene. Heltai is currently on tour and has dates across the United States from now until August. For more information visit his website.

  • Hearing Aide: Carly Beth ‘Sleepless Lullaby’

    Twenty year old piano prodigy Carly Beth Hand has matured considerably in her musical evolution since her first LP Taking Flight was released at the tender age of 15 in 2014. Beth, who is a native of the sleepy little town Grand Island, NY which is located northwest of Buffalo near the Canadian Border, showcased her considerable musical talents on Taking Flight as a classical pianist and vocalist. This inaugural work gained considerable interest in the States as well as in China, mostly due to her active promotion on social media platforms. Her online live-stream performances on Facebook were received positively by an eager audience in China which she adeptly leveraged by learning to sing, speak, and read in Chinese.

    The newest Carly Beth single is “Sleepless Lullaby,” which was released in March and co-produced with Jimmy Bralower, has embraced her evolution from classic pianist/vocalist to pop princess. On this tune the piano takes a back seat to heavy synth and a creative dance/vocal  backing track.  This newly minted musical style may be the result of Beth’s recent relocation to London, England where she is now pursuing her music career and finishing studying at University.  The overall effect of this production is a slick radio friendly number that is contemporary and relevant.

    Carly Beth has not forgotten her musical roots and what has propelled her musical career up to this point.  Along with the release of this club friendly tune, she co-released a stripped down acoustic rendition of “Sleepless Lullaby.”  This distinctly different version of the song focuses on Beth’s  piano playing and removes the dance beats, while leaving some of her stark overdubbed vocals.  The listener will have to be the judge as to which of Beth’s styles they prefer.

    Carly Beth Hand will be performing along with Christina Custode at The Mug and Musken in Youngstown NY on July 19th during their Songwriter Concert Series.

  • Hearing Aide: Doom Boys ‘All I See Is Doom’

    Doom Boys are a new three piece band from Upstate New York with a brand new EP titled, All I See Is Doom. The five-song record was released April 19, and is available on CD and streaming services. The band consists of Zach Collins (Same Blood Folk, Son Bully) on lead vocals and guitar, Alex Lavon (Rabbit In The Rye, Byclops) on bass guitar and Blaze DiStefano on drums.

    Doom Boys formed after New York City studio musician, DiStefano, relocated Upstate and the trio began recording in his home studio. This EP delves deep into the human psyche and struggle of a cynical world, lyrically. Collin’s writing is very timely, and although dark, it has elements of hope in notion that we are all in this together. One can tell that over the two years the group has been playing together, they have become very tight. The title track, “All I See Is Doom,” is a raucous journey of heavy blues, straight rock-and-roll, and an element of intense garage fuzz. All three band members have been playing professionally for over a decade and the mix on this EP is exquisite. Each player clearly celebrates the talent of one another and it comes through in this superb recording.

    Blaze DiStefano, Zach Collins, Alex Lavon

    All I See Is Doom rips through each track with incredible lyrics and a synergy in the sound, that builds and crescendos in a wave of hits that will rock you down to your core. If you are a fan of The Black Keys, The White Stripes or old school blues musicians, this record will be right up your alley. The Doom Boys have produced an excellent first EP and have a bright future with this bold and loud new sound. Up until the surprise ending, as they take a shot at themselves, “All I See Is Doom” creates a unique and fresh identity, and then-some.

    Key Tracks: All I See Is Doom, All My Heroes, Teeth

  • Hearing Aide: Native Harrow ‘Happier Now’

    There’s something familiar behind everything on the gorgeous new album from Newburgh, NY’s Native Harrow. Yet, originality twists through it all, providing a fresh voice for the indie-folk world to fall in love with.

    A flourish of drums and guitar get the album started with a surprising, and refreshing, kick to the ear. Devin Tuel’s voice brings to mind Joni Mitchell, though she doesn’t allow the comparison to define her or the music.

    The Mitchell likeness might come through clearest in “Blue Canyon,” appropriately a love song of sorts for California. Jazz colors the edges of the title track, and “Hard to Take,” with a slight nod to Van Morrison via Ryley Walker. “Something You Have” injects a gospel-fueled soul, powered by some well-placed B3 organ. The energy of the set peaks with earthbound jazz-rock fusion on “Round to Round” that brings to mind the criminally underrated Arc Iris.

    https://youtu.be/7dH5LmX1PrM

    Happier Now cements itself as a great album by saving the best for last. “Way To Light,” a sarcastic fantasy about the love of material goods, is a building slow burn, with a hint of “Dear Prudence” and some fantastically eerie slide guitar.

    Devin Tuel wrote Happier Now‘s nine songs while constantly touring the country in 2017. The songs center around Tuel growing through her twenties and maturing as a human of her own making, no longer encumbered by the strict ballerina life set out for her since she was just three. When it came time to record with Alex Hall (JD McPherson, The Cactus Blossoms, Pokey LaFarge) at Chicago’s Reliable Recorders, Tuel and her trio tracked live in the same room, later adding minimal overdubs. The immediacy and intimacy comes through in the final product. Happier Now is an album to enjoy thoroughly in the present, but also hopefully a sign of great things to come from this budding artist Native Harrow.

    Key tracks: Happier Now, Round and Round, Way To Love

Built in Breakdance