Co-Pilgrim - Plumes

A second post for Blog Super Sunday and I'm back with something else to tickle your aural muscles and give you something to smile about.

What can I offer you? Well, I can offer you this, gentle, lovely readers (at least one of you must be gentle and lovely...admit it, go on...). The new album by Co-Pilgrim, called "Plumes" - and more specifically the new single to be taken from it, a wonderful track called "Pushover".

Of course I know by now you're all dying to hear it - so without further ado, here's a link to the video, so you can see/hear:

The first thing that struck me, apart from the lovely guitar sounds, were the harmonies. Such really clear, pitch perfect harmonies. I'm a bit of a sucker for anything like that and this track has them in abundance - it's a sort of Simon and Garfunkel-y/Alt-Country-y tinged wonderfulness that makes you feel a little bit like you're being hugged by a wall of comforting voices. 

Co-Pilgrim are another act that are new to thegeneral's radar, but a very welcome one - especially given my fondness for lo-fi, maudlin tunesmithery with wonderfully morose and sepia tinged lyrics. "Plumes" is a pretty excellent album which, given how much I've fallen in love with "Pushover" was a given. So, I urge you to give Mike Gale and friends (for it is they who make up this super act) a go...

You can check out the band's site here:

co-pilgrim.co.uk/

And you can make your purchase of the new album from here:

battle.greedbag.com/buy/plumes-0/

Do it. That's all. 

WhiteMoor - Horizons

Welcome to Blog Super Sunday, which doesn't really mean anything other than "Oh shit, thegeneral hasn't had time to update all week and now she's writing alllllllll the reviews in one go".

So, for this first post of the day - what can I offer thee, gentle readers?

I can offer you WhiteMoor, that's what I can offer you.

First of all, the necessaries - have a look at the band's website and if you'd be so very kind thank you please, have a listen to their latest (2nd) album "Horizons":

WhiteMoor

open.spotify.com/album/40bdO0VNyJp60bux3OnNDe

Although the album came out last year, the latest (and final) single from the record "On Top Of The World" came out at the tail end of Summer, and it's well well worth a listen.

WhiteMoor are from Derby and are very very new to thegeneral's radar - and a very welcome addition they are to it too. In fact, I'm slightly gutted I've missed out on them for so long! This album is a corker if you like perfectly honed indie that is well polished and has just a hint of maths-rock to it. They have great catchy, intricate riffs and vocalist Benny Ryan has a really excellent voice, powerful and just the right side of rocky emotion.

Standout tracks besides the last, awesome single are "Run Along" (a nice muted start with a lovely guitar pick) "Don't Hold Me Down" and opening track "High Lights" which is a brilliant start to the album.

Although this record has been out a while, if you haven't heard of WhiteMoor before, now is the time to get them into your life. And that's an order.

Thomas Truax with Brian Viglione - Feelin' Bad For Dracula

Boo! Did I make you jump? Oh. OK then. Play it your way. I'll just turn the other way and talk to the people that really care. Mother, are you reading this...?

It's Spooky Saturday on the blog and I'm very pleased to be bringing you an awesome record which is going to be released on Monday, just in time for Halloween. It's another exciting sound via those lovely lovely skeletal bods at the ghostly PindropPublicity (wooooooooooo) etc. OK, I'll quit it with the scary stuff before it gets old.

Anyway, here you go. First of all, the usuals - hoik your bones over to the iTunes page to have a listen to Thomas Truax with Brian Viglione and their new single "Feelin' Bad For Dracula"

itunes.apple.com/us/album/feelin-bad-for-dracula-single/id920127729

As previously mentioned it's out on 27th October, there'll be a video to follow and I'll verily update the page when that is out - but in the meantime, this is a corker of a track. It's very morose, mean and moody and lots of other things beginning with M and I loves it a heck of a lot. It's got a nicely dubby edge to it and Truax has a voice very much in the rich baritone style that really makes my thighs moist. It's darkly melancholy without being too over the top and it's a perfect accompaniment to All Hallow's Eve.

It's definitely well worth a listen and a purchase and if you don't buy it, I'm coming round to your house to trick or treat and I won't leave until you admit defeat and spend your cash on it. And nobody deserves to be scared like that...

Cats Park - A Taste of Heaven

Welcome to Sunday you big bunch of reprobates. How are you all doing? Well, I hope. ANSWER ME AND TAKE YOUR ELBOWS OFF THE TABLE WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU...

Ahem.

Anyway. I think judging by the tone of the opening sentence I'm in need of something to calm to troubled waters of my mind and I think I might just have it...and, because I'm nice, I'm going to share it with you. Possibly.

No, I am really.

I'm really a huge fan of electronica and I don't get to feature nearly enough of it on here. So, first of all, a clarion call - if you are an electronica act, please contact me (thegeneralmusicblog@googlemail.com) if you'd like your kit and kaboodle reviewing. Today's post features just such an act and I'm really pleased to introduce you to Cats Park.

First of all, hoik your lapels over to their bandcamp page and have a listen to their latest album "A Taste of Heaven":

catspark.bandcamp.com/

Whilst the album came out at the end of last year, the reason for this post is that (I am reliably informed) the band have made it to the first round of nominations for next year's (2015) Grammy Awards - and, from listening to the record it is easy to see why.

The last single from the album "In My Room" is a corker. It's a really nice melding of perfect pop and trippy, wistful sounds. Vocalist Faijee has one of those voices that is instantly soothing and eminently listenable to and the entire album feels like a great crossover between good indie guitar songs and dubby keyboard goodness.

Some people feel that electronica can be a little bit one-note and a bit too samey. Cats Park prove that it isn't, that there's plenty variety in the genre and that they're not afraid to experiment with unusual soundscapes.

Definitely one to add into your collection if you're already a fan of the genre, or simply want something to listen to that will gently lower you into the world of electronic music without being too much, too soon. You won't have heard the last of Cats Park, regardless - definitely one to watch (and listen to) now and in the future.

Jon Byrne - The Bitch And Her Greed

Yeah. I'm back. Back and badder than a bad thing that went to Bad University and graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Bad. Read me and weep. Weep for my badness and realise you'll never, ever be as bad as me, even if you try and copy. So ner.

Now then, for this second offering today, I'm going in a totally opposite direction to the previous post and kind of semi slowing things down a little.

I'd really like to introduce you to the wonderful, wonderful sound of Jon Byrne. Eye candy with proper talent. Something for everyone. Just what we all need.

First of all, some necessaries - here's Jon's website:

jonbyrne.co.uk/

...so you can go and familiarise yourselves with his work so far, his blog and his all round genuinely lovely awesomeoness.

Now here's the link to his new single "The Bitch And Her Greed"

soundcloud.com/jonbyrneraretracks/the-bitch-and-her-greed

Before we go any further, I'd just like to thank Jon for taking the time and trouble to write my life story and turn it into a song...wait...what...what...you mean it isn't about me? Oh...must try harder next time.

Anyway, what can I tell you about it. Well, it's great. Yeah! Seriously, this is another kind of departure for the blog as it's probably one of the first times I've ever featured a more blues inspired artist and not before time either. Jon's style is superb, it's witty, it's laid back yet very caustic and his lyrics go straight for the jugular. "The Bitch And Her Greed" is a cracking little number, one of those songs that you need to hear only once or twice till it sticks with you. A genuine delight to listen to and someone who really does deserve to be heard, not only for the great music, but for his clever, urbane lyrics.

If you like a departure from indie, or really heavy guitar based bands - and want someone fresh and inventive to listen to then give Jon Byrne some serious time. "The Bitch And Her Greed" should become an instant classic.

The Black Delta Movement - The Trip

Happy Sunday everybody - and I hope today finds you all well and dandy. I love the way the light catches your hair, by the way. It really takes my mind off your bleary, red eyes.

What can I offer you for this lazy weekend afternoon?

Well, something pretty totes amazeballs, as I believe the youth of today say.

The Black Delta Movement. Oh yes. Just the name was enough to get me running to listen to them and I wasn't disappointed. They've got a new single out called "The Trip", which is a cover of the 1965 Kim Fowley classic - which, I'm reliably informed is a song he wrote after a pleasant sojourn to Llandudno one weekend, to take in the sea air, drink tea and eat scones*

It's probably not a particularly obvious choice for a cover, which is a good thing - I like bands that swerve away in directions you don't expect and their interpretation is a really good, solid one, that manages to instill the vibe of the original, but at the same time allows the band's own strengths and character shine through. The Black Delta Movement describe themselves as a heavy garage rock and roll outfit and that's certainly true of this, though this cover does have many psychedelic elements to it.

You can watch/listen to the new single here:

...and, if you love what you hear (and I hope you jolly well do, you ungrateful bunch of scrotes...) then you can then spend some of your hard earned pennies on buying the single from here:

itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-trip-single/id923791455

Check out their previous releases too, especially last year's "Ghost Dance" EP, very very much worth a listen/purchase if your funds can run to it.

You might not have heard them here first, but you should make The Black Delta Movement's new single an essential part of your autumn playlist.

(*this may possibly be a lie)

James Poole - Runaway

Here we are for a second time on this sumptuous Saturday and we're slowing the pace right down again. I'm absolutely intent on trying to make you weep buckets with my musical offerings this weekend. Following on from the last post, I'm now about to offer you something else that will induce all the right emotions, but not necessarily in the right order (to paraphrase Eric Morecambe).

For this second blog, I'd really like to introduce you to the wonderful James Poole. No, he's not in my front room, waiting nervously to shake your hand, but last week he kindly tweeted me to ask if I'd take a listen to his new single and maybe happenstance perambulate my way to writing a review of it.

First things first, you can listen to James' new single here:

Now isn't that just lovely? It's a proper heartbreaker - without being mawkishly sentimental. It's got a beautifully plaintive vocal performance married with a powerful piano accompaniment. It's what I often refer to as "rainy window music", you know what I mean? The sort of tracks you can imagine sitting indoors listening to, in the autumn, as dusk settles and rain gently trickles down the panes. 

If you'd like to hear more about James you can follow him on Le Twitter here: 

https://twitter.com/JamesPooleParty

https://twitter.com/JamesPoole_

and on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/JamesPooleHQ

and on YouTubes

https://www.youtube.com/user/jspvoice

Listen and love!