NYS Music 202​0

Category: Album Reviews

  • PEAK releases a unique psych-funk fusion sound with “Hot Clips Volume 1”

    Based out of Brooklyn, indie-funk artist PEAK is eroding the border between techno and funk with their new album Hot Clips Volume 1.  The collection is PEAK’s latest release that explores a wide array of emotion, and doubles as something techno-funk and indie enthusiasts look to for a unique fusion of both worlds.  Imagine as if you’re riding in a ship through a space galaxy, and you entered into a psychedelic time travel where influences of authentic 60’s bands and modern funk-rock combine seamlessly; PEAK would be the pilot of this ship and the realm is Hot Clips Volume 1.

    The album takes off with “What It Is About Her,” a track that’s experimental right off the bat with a techno beat growing into a full acoustic drum sound.  The vocals join the steady instrumental flow, and provide as a comforting blanket through exploring emotion about a girl.  Throughout the track, the band proves their unique dynamic changes with the blend of rock and bright electro-synth solos.  PEAK is able to take you on a comfortable roller coaster, with the peak (no pun intended) being the psychedelic journey track “Baromtric Pressure,” followed by the funky feel-good track “Win Some, Lose Some” that brings you back down to earth.  Once you start the adventure of listening to Hot Clips Volume 1, it’s hard to snap out of the attractive trance brought on by the upbeat dance beats and wild keyboard solos.

    Hot Clips Volume 1 is the launch of a live series from PEAK featuring Jeremy Hilliard on guitar on vocals (Turbine), Kito Bovenschulte on Drums (Particle), Josh T. Carter on Bass (Hayley Jane and the Primates) and Johnny Young on keys and vocals (Mick Taylor, Artimus Pyle). PEAK released their debut studio album Electric Bouquet (produced by Dave Brandwein of Turkuaz) in 2018, and have since since been steadily touring to perform at prominent venues, and releasing music for everyone to enjoy.  

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_DhBH9p4yz/

    Written over a period of time from Fall 2019 to Winter 2020 during tour, this collection of songs were some of the band’s favorite jams until they were solidified with the help of keyboardist and mixing engineer Johnny Young.  With all of these great influences brought to one table, the band was able to bring these jams to life and capture their emotion while maintaining a fun techo vibe.

    Key Tracks: What It Is About Her, Baromtric Pressure, Wild Ride, Can’t Love Somebody

  • Helena Halberg releases pick-me-up single “Last Love”

    Helena Hallberg drops “Last Love” to pick us up from where we left off in NYC coffee shops crooning breakups in back alley poetics over bouquets of taunting stanzas. Somewhere between sober and sauced, the disobedient tempo paces folk to a spirited jazz gig in a backroom; challenging the distance between breakups and landslides.

    If contemporary feminist acuity impaled the deck to lull and roar all together “I am not here to be your mother, I am not your teacher,”  Hallberg’s “Last Love” is an ode to one’s own time. This time she cuts a mischievous long finger to self-realization in the full glory of independence.

    Social distancing suddenly doesn’t feel so lonely but instead a sigh of relief for a party of one. If you’re looking for a tack you can play over and over to a thousand different mood sets, Hallberg will cover you in a blanket with the thought of wherever you are is exactly where you’re meant to be if you just own it. If only transistor radios weren’t extinct but mercifully Hallberg’s uptempo asserts itself with the same temporal defiance on Spotify as it might on vinyl. 

    In the meantime of Hallberg’s next music release, check out her weekly live streams and stay updated with her latest content via Facebook and Instagram.

  • Hearing Aide: Lettuce ‘Resonate’

    Lettuce once again flaunts their funky prowess, proving they can take the form of any sub genre of funk on the planet on their new ablum Resonate. Each of these tracks nods to an iconic genre, idea or artist that have breathed life into the sounds we love today. Listeners will find an ode to pivotal musicians like Ndugu Chancler, famous studio drummer, to features with Big Tony Fisher of Trouble Funk. This is a very special collection that could not have come at a better time. 

    The album kicks off with three classically funky instrumentals, chock full of memorable hornlines, flavorful solos, and a stupendous production value. “Blaze,” “Good Morning Mr. Smink” and “NDUGU” are all snappy, precise and detailed tracks, sure to light a fire under your ass. Listeners will feel and hear quintessential flavors from the founding mothers and fathers of funk. Not too much flair, just a steady flow of good music. 

    Then “Checker Wreckers” comes barreling through the door with a heavy footed beat accompanied by Big Tony Fisher’s gravely, hype lyrics. It’s easily the most powerful song on the album and is without a doubt, a key track. Nobody quite knows what a Checker Wrecker is, but who cares, it’s fun to say. 

    One of their more adventurous funk fusion attempts is “Moksha,” where Lettuce presents their usual grooves and beats while award winning sitarist, Indrajit Banerjee, laces some electrified sitar throughout the track. Everyone comes together to share the space of the track, while still seamlessly blending the two genres together. It’s an incredible feat considering how the two genres could not be more different.

    ‘Remember The Children” is a near perfect cover of Earth, Wind and Fire’s 1972 hit. An untrained ear would genuinely not be able to tell the difference between this and movements from the original track. (Obviously, Lettuce put some of their own person flair in their version.) There was never a doubt that the funk outfit was talented or not, but this takes a level of dedication and perfectionism that must be admired – especially when a song like this has so many different elements of instrumentation. 

    It’s a shame Lettuce won’t be able to flaunt their new album in a live setting for some time due to recent events, but that won’t stop fans from breaking it down in their living rooms. Lettuce is doing their part to help our first responders and medical care workers. Fans can buy Lettuce branded masks, and when they do, Lettuce will donate a mask to healthcare systems in need. Take your favorite bands, take care of those on the front lines of this pandemic, and take care of yourselves.

    Key Tracks: NDUGU, Checker Wrecker, Remember the Children

  • Hearing Aide: Birkby ‘Another Planet’

    As the year slowly moves on, more and more musicians are postponing their tours out of respect for public safety. One of those artists is Gabriel Birkby from Buffalo, who goes by the moniker ‘Birkby.’ After cancelling a number of shows around Western NY, Birkby decided to release his first EP, Another Planet, which he had teased to his fans earlier this year. This splendid debut combines uplifting and positive music with vivid lyrics that paint a story line of a society in reform after leaving their homeland. The contrast between the emotional lyrics and the musical style of each song results in a release that is both majestic and captivating.

    The album starts with “Change in the Weather,” a song about growth and new beginnings that is brimming with hope and promise. This upbeat track offers a glimpse at some elements that we’ll see through this EP: the pure emotion in Birkby’s voice, the interplay of dreamy synths and joyous guitar, and a chorus that feels like the clouds are parting and the sun is shining down on you. Also featured is Mike Gantzer of Aqueous, who provided additional percussion and a guitar solo on this opening track.

    Next up is “Underground Republic,” another song with a cheery sound that really benefits from the impressive way Birkby’s voice dances around his guitar work. The lyrics continue to paint a picture of new growth and uncertainty, but the chorus will certainly speak to a lot of listeners in this sheltered time of our lives when he exclaims “How about a little privacy Cause I know how I get And I’m sure I’ll regret.”

    Halfway through the release, we come across “Awake,” which stands apart from the rest of the album. This track is a soulful and synth-heavy jam that features a slower tempo and laid-back vibe, thanks in part to some 808s and beautiful layered vocals in the chorus. Despite the change in style, “Awake” still shares the elements that Birkby excels at throughout this release. His ability to blend multiple elements on his track with mastery is apparent in the way the keys and drums play so beautifully together underneath an emotional chorus pleading, “Can I get a hand over here?”

    Shifting musical gears again, “Inconsistent” is one of my favorite numbers on the EP. Each verse has a wonderful bounce to it and with lyrics that praise the search for clarity, salvation and a trust in what you can see for yourself while being skeptical of what the written word holds. But it’s the emotion and funky feeling of the chorus that won me over and this whole track has a flow to it that’s sure to make you smile, as I found myself humming it for days.

    Birkby saved the title track for the end of this release and it’s a great send-off that once again showcases both his incredible vocal talent and his guitar mastery as he has the two dance together throughout the chorus. “Another Planet” paints a picture of promise, improvement and encouragement, all while reminding you to “Wake and meet the burning day” because there is “Another future on the horizon.”

    Birkby’s first EP release is a must-listen, especially during these days of self-isolation. Another Planet may only 5 tracks long, but it’s a welcomed release in these strange times that only gets better with each listen. You can purchase the digital album or stream it from Bandcamp and the EP will be available to stream on Spotify starting April 20.

    Key Tracks: Inconsistent, Another Planet

  • Hearing Aide: Levi Robin “Where Night Meets Day”

    New York-based folk artist Levi Robin has released his brand new album When Night Meets Day, which takes us on a journey through a powerful collection of songs that Levi spent writing over the course of several years. Much of the album is influenced by Levi’s fascination and dedication to the kabbalistic and Chassidic teachings of Torah, though it may not be conveyed in a way the listener expects or recognizes.

    For one, most everything is written in parable. Also one might expect spirituality to come with some sort of detached enlightenment, heavenly contentment and unbounded idealism, and that would be true if the soul was in a heavenly world right now, but in truth we are souls embodied in a material world, facing challenges and concealments, tests and tribulations. Our lives are of extreme paradox with dynamic highs and lows. And so, Where Night Meets Day is Levi’s invitation to you; to enter a purposeful and intentional embrace of life’s dichotomies, night and day, life and death, pain and pleasure, detachment and embrace, transience and eternity…

    The album opens up with “No Other,” a carefully picked guitar track that smoothly transcends into an upbeat folk song. This song truly launches the album and sets the mood for the record. Throughout the album are songs like “Alabama” and “Hey Love” that have a pleasant atmospheric, airy tone accompanied with soft vocals, which serve as a blanket for all your potential fears and anxiety. Levi has been hard at work on new material with Grammy-nominated bassist, composer, and producer Stu Brooks and Grammy-nominated producer and engineer Joel Hamilton. Be sure to stay tuned this year for more music and content releases from Levi Robin.

    Key Tracks: No Other, Days of our Youth, Alabama


  • Hearing Aide: Cycles ‘Summer Dress’

    In these uncertain times, we’re seeing an influx in live streams and album releases as bands try to find ways to entertain their fans and make the most of this strange situation. Cycles, a psychedelic-rock-fusion power-trio from Denver, released their new EP, Summer Dress, on March 27th and also joined the nugs.net family that week, a move that ensures they’ll find plenty of new fans despite having to postpone their Spring Tour for safety reasons. These five tracks are the bands first release in three years and were all produced by Josh Fairman of SunSquabi, who helped encapsulate the tremendous skill that all three band members share into a record with a great live sound.

    The opening track starts with a peek at Colin O’Brien’s incredible drum work before the lyrics offer a well-timed reminder that just because we may be stuck at home doesn’t mean we have to be stuck staring at the countless screens around us. Tucker McClung’s flittering bass plays wonderfully underneath Patrick Harvey’s guitar licks and jam at the end of “Robot’s Breath” put an instant smile on my face.

    Next up is “The Key,” an instrumental that really highlights what this band is capable of. The first half of this gem is a composed masterpiece that each member shines on before they all let loose in the funkier, psychedelic second half. Patrick’s soaring guitar is what grabs your attention during the first listen of this track, but the intricate bass playing and the intense drums will be all that you focus on when you relisten to it.

    The title track, “Summer Dress,” start with a twisting, airy introduction and after a stratospheric guitar solo, gets punched up in a blast of funk. After another jam that is sure to be incredible live, it ends in a flowing send off with Tucker’s bass powering through to the very end. This band has such a fresh sound and are able to bring new and unique takes to each of these tracks.

    “The Clock” starts off like a sports car and Colin’s drumming takes a front seat during this offering. This track has so many levels to it and it’s an exciting ride. The first jam has a psychedelic Deep Purple vibe which makes it way into a slower, blissful jam a third of the way though the song. This transitions into a grimey groove that morphs into a rocket ship of a guitar solo. Each member really shows what they’re made of before this one finishes up.

    Cycles‘ EP finishes with “Sunrise,” a beautiful piece that musically showcases that specific time each morning. Starting off with a dreamy first half, it boils up into a sendoff as joyful as the rising sun. Summer Dress can be found on all streaming services and you can also find more information about the band and their current streaming plans on their Facebook page.

    Key Tracks: The Key, The Clock

  • Hearing Aide: Gawain and the Green Knight release new single “Doctor”

    Brooklyn-based Folk duo, Gawain & The Green Knight, are delighted to share their new single “Doctor”. The song continues the two’s exploration of universal aches as told by history’s ghosts- a path first started down on their debut EP, ​Ghosties​.

    gawain the green knight

    Written by Alexia Antoniou and arranged by Mike O’Malley, the song considers the strangeness of one’s anxieties manifesting physically in the body and expresses it through a doctor struggling to locate their own particular pain. Featuring the duo’s usual latticework of guitar, bouzouki, and close harmony, the song is worked into a grand panic by a cinematic string section.

    The group has been playing across the city at prominent NYC venues, and even in the midst of global chaos, the two folk architects are bringing their music right to your computer with their live streams every Monday at 3pm on their Facebook page. Stay tuned into their social media for news and music updates.

  • Hearing Aide: Timothy Alice and the Dead Star Band ‘SpaceStation AM500’

    SpaceStation AM500 is the debut album from Timothy Alice & the Dead Star Band, a trio hailing from Buffalo, NY. Timothy Alice (stage name for Timothy Patrick Henderson) displays an astonishing number of influences in both his writing and singing styles throughout this record. With the help of Matt DiStasio on bass and Bub Crumlish on drums, Alice’s lyrics paint incredible pictures of an America we can all recognize today. You could be on the Great Lakes, in a sprawling metropolis, or the last bar on the highway between this state and that; each of these locations share a tale that Timothy Alice invokes with each track.

    The opening track, “2 Am,” paints a picture that many may find familiar. The promise and elation of this song invokes the feeling of many 2 am’s we’ve all felt while bar-hopping around New York State – still full of energy and grit, while openly wondering where the night is going to take you. “It’s 2 AM and this place is jumping. I’m just trying not to lose my head again.”  The song feels like a packed bar with 2 hours left before last call, full of vigor and hope.

    SpaceStation AM500 mixes soul, blues, R&B and folk roots into a delightful set of songs with so much heart and movement in them. The band excels at feeling like you’re on the road with signs flying by in the darkness during “Just Take My Hand.” “Shadow on My Tail,” the longest track on the album, really showcases the soul in Timothy’s voice and also features a ripping solo from guest guitarist Andrew Kothen. The album also features a love song to the Windy City. The soul in Timothy’s voice while singing “Oh, Chicago” makes me long for a city I’ve only ever been to twice.

    As the night grows longer and we get further into the album, “Honeypie” provides a tale of distorted love, building up to a cacophony that would be exception to see live. “4 Am,” the final track on the album, really highlights the difference two hours can make in a night. It tells a somber and sobering tale that we’ve all experienced in our lives, regardless of what time the clock is showing. With the help of an amazing band, Timothy Alice’s lyrics paint pictures of an America we can all recognize today. Whether he’s a in a league of his own or the product of a new generation of storyteller, he shows us all that we have a lot of great music and art coming our way in this next decade.

    Key Tracks: 2 Am, Just Take My Hand, Honeypie

    https://timothyalice.bandcamp.com/album/spacestation-am500

  • Juelz Santana Releases ‘#FREESANTANA’

    It seems like not even jail cells can keep Juelz Santana away from what has been his life’s true passion. On March 3, the veteran emcee released the 9thfull-length project of his career, #FREESANTANA. Santana – born LaRon Louis James – was arrested in March 2018 after he fled the scene when TSA found a gun in his bag at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Seemingly counting down the days until his rumored summer 2020 release, the rapper’s Twitter page recently posted on behalf of the incarcerated artist, acknowledging the one year anniversary of his incarceration.

    The surprisingly cohesive mixtape is packed with star power, featuring the likes of Lil Wayne, 2Chainz, Jeremih, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Dipset cohort Jim Jones, and younger Harlem native Dave East, along with samples of Drake’s number 1 record, “God’s Plan.” 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9QlboQlOhK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Juelz Santana uses the 36-minute project to touch on a myriad of topics. On records like “23 & 1,” “Do You Believe” and “In My Life,” he raps introspectively about past friendships and relationships, while reflecting on his incarceration. On “Pink Eagle” and “Ez Work,” he spends time reminding listeners that he’s a respected hustler, with plenty of street tales. The project’s outro record is a sample of Jay – Z’s classic record “Dead Presidents.” Titled “The Get Back,” with a feature from A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Santana reflects with a mixture of street tales, lessons and hope for his future post-release. 

  • Hearing Aide: The Wants ‘Container’

    Bubbling up on the Brooklyn DIY underground scene for the past three years with regular gigs at Bushwick’s Alphaville, The Wants are set to release their debut album, Container, March 13 on Council Records. Madison Velding-VanDam (vocals/guitar/synth), Jason Gates (drums/electronics), and Heather Elle (vocals./bass/synth) put their years of experience together to good use on a solid debut that has all the earmarks of a veteran band hitting their stride.

    The set opens with a quickened heartbeat pace and an arresting cacophony of noise. It’s at once danceable and pensive, and perfectly sets the table for what comes next. 80’s style post-punk finds present-day relevance in “Container” and “Fear My Society.” Industrial instrumental vignettes with starkly appropriate names like “Machine Room,” “Aluminum,” and “Waiting Room” nudge themselves in between the more traditional songs, tying together the whole into what feels almost soundtrack-ish.

    The Wants Container

    When the two concepts blend into one, the album hits on all cylinders. “The Motor” hints at this potential in the first half, but the late run of “Clearly a Crisis,” “Nuclear Party,” and “Hydra” shine brightest. Their unhurried punk aesthetic gets drenched in danceable grooves around an accessible rocking core, all without losing the industrial sound fragments introduced previously. Container builds to a satisfying finish, begging you to flip it over for another go round.

    Perhaps it would be deemed uncool to flash a broad smile while bobbing your head to these tunes, but it’s tough not to while thinking about the band recording in their all-too-appropriate studio space: a repurposed shipping container sitting in the middle of a dumpling factory parking lot in Brooklyn.

    Key tracks: Clearly a Crisis, Nuclear Party, Hydra

Built in Breakdance