With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

Music reviews, gig reviews, fun trivia and extra added random stuff!

“Scrap The Monarchy” – The Krown Jewels April 13, 2023

Filed under: News,Rants,Review — justwilliam1959 @ 3:38 pm
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Kunt and the Gang a.k.a. the Kunts and now a.k.a. the Krown Jewels are back. They have previously released some cracking poppy, punky tunes about our “illustrious leaders” including such classics as “Boris Johnson Is A Fucking Cunt”, “Boris Johnson Is Still A Fucking Cunt”, “Prince Andrew Is A Sweaty Nonce”, “Fuck Off Boris You Cunt”, “Fuck The Tories” and “Rishi Sunak Is A Rat Faced Cunt”. Every one of these songs (and all the seemingly endless remix versions) are stone-cold pop classics and I can’t understand why they haven’t all been to the top of the charts and never been played on the radio, can you? Anyway, they are about to take another shot at the chart summit with a new song, “Scrap The Monarchy”. Marvellous lyrics, great hooks, and something to sing along to while you do your damndest to avoid the vile spectacle of the coronation on 6th May. The video below is, I think, an early version of the single which will be released on 5th May according to the Kunt and the Gang Twitter feed, on which they share what looks like an updated lyric video, click here to check that out. I love the lyric about King Charlie Tampon “He propagates the narrative, he’s a climate protester. But his best friend was Jimmy Savile, Britain’s foremost child molester” along with “and his brother Prince Andrew is a nonce case too”. They also mention the pegmeister himself, Prince William with lines such as “maybe we have pegged him wrong”. Get ready to download or stream this worthwhile, spiffing well needed tune on 5th May by clicking here. Oh and apologies if you are offended by nasty words and profanities there are a lot included in this post, a bit late for that warning I know. But maybe you should be more offended by the obscene wealth and privilege of the Royal Family and that in a so-called modern world, the UK has an unelected head of state. Do everything you can to get “Scrap The Monarchy” to the top of the charts!

If you want to sing along here are the lyrics. Printed here without permission, is that ok with you Mr. Kunt?

[Intro]
What do they do? What do they do? What do they actually do?
What do they do? What do they do? What do they actually do?
What do they do? What do they do? What do they actually do?
What do they do? What do they do? What do they actually do?

[Verse 1]
The coronation seems a good occasion to discuss
Why one family live in palaces, all subsidised by us
While folks rely on foodbanks, and we’re supposed to rejoice
As a crown is chauffeured round in a custom-made Rolls Royce
It’s time for this to stop, let’s give the royals the chop

[Chorus]
Scrap the monarchy, scrap the monarchy
Their pampered lives are vile while people live in poverty
In inhumane conditions, while out-of-date traditions
Mean we all pay for the royals to live in luxury, so
Scrap the monarchy

[Verse 2]
King Charles’s fingers are so fat, swollen, sore, and red
From swans that he gets fed and things he does in bed
He propagates the narrative he’s a climate protester
But his best friend was Jimmy Saville, Britain’s foremost child molester
And his brother Prince Andrew, he’s a nonce-case too

[Chorus]
Scrap the monarchy, scrap the monarchy
They turn a blind eye to their pedos like the BBC
They think they can pay for it all to go away
But covering up for nonces is their lasting legacy, so
Scrap the monarchy (Oi) Scrap the monarchy (Oi)
They stand for racist values and inequality
It’s time to have a vote, then stick them all in a small boat
And let them take their chances in some far-flung colony
Scrap the monarchy

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‘Ghost To The Light’ – Koagula April 12, 2023

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 3:59 pm
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Koagula (a.k.a. Kell Chambers) who describes himself as a nomadic singer-songwriter recently released a new album, ‘Ghost To The Light’ and I have had some moments of pure musical pleasure listening to it. The album kicks off with “Every Feather”, which has shades of the Verve or solo Richard Ashcroft. Kell’s voice has a deep yearning on this track and the music is subtle but perfect. Next, it is a delicate and sublime mostly acoustic song with the title track “Ghost To The Light”. I can imagine myself chilling in the sun with a cold beer while listening to this. It has a vibe of mid-70s Floyd, particularly in the fade. Back in the days when he chose some great songs to cover I can imagine Rod Stewart covering “Fallen Magic”. The tune is a gentle David Grayesque deep ballad. “Vanish To The Velvet” opens with a drum pattern that evokes Bowie’s “Five Years” and then takes a sublime jazz route when the other instruments kick in. Kell’s vocals here soar with soulful intent and the delicious guitar solo takes me back to early Hall and Oates. If you like songs with a sad mood, but a real feeling of hope then “Discalceate” is exactly what you need. This is a real thing of ethereal beauty. I must confess that I had to look up the meaning of discalceate, I always love learning new words. Essentially it means barefoot or shoeless. At just over six and a half minutes “Daisy Sonder” is the longest track on the album and it borders on epic. I am looking forward to seeing this played live. I can imagine a crowd in enraptured quiet wonder as they fall in love with this breathtaking tune. The range of the vocals here are immense and come to the end you will want much more. The album was recorded at the magnificent Young Thugs Studio in York and the album closes with two largely acoustic tracks recorded live at the studio, “The Painter” and “Crepuscular”. The first has summer anthem stamped all over it and the second is every bit as good. You need this album in your life now, make it so!

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‘You Can Reach Me If You Try’ EP – Kindelan (Part 1) April 10, 2023

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 5:08 pm
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UPDATE – ok so when I wrote the review below, thanks to Spotify (and I believe that Apple Music and other streaming sites do the same) I thought it was the actual EP. But no, that is just how streaming services titled it. Incidentally, I have not edited my initial review below, so things like the EP title are not right, although the post title has been amended to show the EP’s real title, ‘You Can Reach Me If You Try’, which is out on 10th May. The picture above has also been swapped from the original post! Anyway, this means that I have some good news and bad news for you. Which do you want first, the good or the bad? The bad news first you say? OK then. The bad news is that at the moment you only have four great songs available from Kindelan’s upcoming EP. But the incredible good news is that when the EP hits the streets on 10th May it will include three more fabulous tunes from Kindelan. I am quite excited by this, so much so that I plan to review the additional three songs as part two of my EP review in the next few weeks! Is that OK with you dear reader?

Kindelan recently completed the release of her EP ‘Can’t Sleep’ with the release of the title track. It contains four gorgeous, blissed-out 21st-century R&B tracks. We have already reviewed two of the tracks here at Mayhem Towers when they were released as singles. Those two songs were “The Other Side” and “Feast“. I said that “The Other Side” is a great song, with both soulful and ethereal vocals and reminiscent of what the offspring of Nina Simone and Minnie Riperton might have sounded like toward the end. The tune has some sublime jazzy and folky twists and turns. The band is really tight and the production is perfect. I can imagine Solange doing a great cover of this song. The tune deals with the perennial issue many of us encounter in believing that the grass is greener on the other side. The lyrics are deep and I suspect that my interpretation of those words may be different from other people’s, but that for me is what makes a great song. I love the lines “We need the green, tell me why it always feels out of reach. I can see the other side one day I swear I’ll go there when I have the time“. I have previously compared Laura’s talent to that of Jeff Buckley and while I stand by that for some elements of “Feast” I sense more of Kate Bush here, from around ‘The Sensual World’ period. In fact, lyrically it made me think of the title track of that aforementioned Kate Bush album. When I originally reviewed the tune back in 2021 I said that it was sultry, moody, and jazzy and the guitar work is chilled and even eerie at times. That is still how I feel about the song, which Kindelan recently referred to as an unintentionally saucy song during her live set at the Welcome To The North showcase put together by BBC Radio York, Jericho Keys, and Young Thugs Studio.

“Hazel Frustration” is perhaps my favourite track from this collection, at least today. Laura’s voice is sublime and rhythmically it has elements of Beyonce in her softer songs. The production of this tune, particularly the multi-part harmonies and the drums is set perfectly to underpin that delightful and fresh vocal. The whole EP was produced by Ed Allen and Laura Kindelan. The wonderfully produced video for “Hazel Frustration” was co-directed and edited by Nathan Luke, one of the most talented videographers I know. Check out the video below. The EP’s title track evokes Kendrick Lamar and has smoky late-night jazz vibes throughout. Laura’s voice is at its most soulful here even with some relatively dark lyrics. The band comes together perfectly here as they build the noise to a crescendo and then take it down to softer tones before getting loud again. The chorale-style backing vocals elevate the song to something that Brian Wilson would have been very proud of. I have compared Kindelan to many great artists in this review, but she is not a simple facsimile of any of them. She is an obscenely talented artist who soaks up influences like a sponge before drawing out just the magical drops of water that enhance her unique style and delivery. If you are not a fan of Kindelan yet, you will be after you have listened to this EP. Click here to find the EP on Bandcamp, it can also be found on all major streaming sites.

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‘Cheap And Nasty’ EP – Snapblades April 3, 2023

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 3:14 pm
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Snapblades have just released a new EP on Vinyl Eddie Records, the 8th release on the not-so-fledgling label based in York. Snapblades are Matt “Smell” Keeley (vox and bass) and Dan “Gottie” Gott (Drums, Guitars and vox). There are six tracks including two covers. Interestingly and perhaps groundbreakingly for the way the world currently exists and the way the music industry wants to operate, there will be no digital release of any kind for the EP. In the punk duo’s words, “No social media. No streaming. No Bullshit” That is a real old-school punk approach, but it might mean that they never get to read this review as I won’t have the ability to tag them anywhere! I am really keen to understand if the band’s no socials and no streaming experiment works, are you? They go on to say “Punk rock has become a form of prostitution. A popularity contest that no one can win! It never used to be this way. Punk was the sound of the streets. And those streets were angry. Very angry! Can people still muster the effort to find music, without it being spoon-fed to them? Snapblades offer up a social experiment: do people still listen to music press? (These are questions Snapblades will find out the answers to”. I suppose a big question is what exactly is the music press these days? The inkies are long gone, monthly publications are glossy and mostly backward-looking and that leaves us with online stuff, right? So perhaps most reviews of this EP will be online and on socials.

But all of that is a different discussion, what about the EP? It opens with the hard and heavy riff fest that is “Panto”. I am reminded of peak Motorhead with the speed and anger captured in this track. “Obedience” carries on where “Panto” leaves off and it has a euphoric 70s punk feel, maybe early Damned or the Adverts. The first of the two covers is Flint’s “Broken Toys” and the boys do this song some serious justice and it is my current favourite. “Shiny Shoes” has a feel of 70s punk once again, maybe Chelsea, or TV Smiths band again. “Flowers And Thorns” sounds like it might be a decent demo for a full-on metal assault, something I think this pair have in them. Instrumentally and vocally it is possibly the best-recorded track on the EP. The collection closes with a cover of Media Control’s “Anti Social” and it oozes old-school punk vibes. This is a damned good EP, that hits you like the Incredible Hulk on a sackload of whizz and gives you no respite until the end. Click here if you want to get your hands on a black vinyl or limited edition splatter vinyl from Vinyl Eddie Records. I have a question for Snapblades, have they deliberately chosen to do covers from bands that are also not present anywhere on social media, or is this part of their master plan and these songs are in fact secretly Snapblades originals? I am not being cynical here, just curious, because if they were in fact Snapblades’ own tunes, that would be very punk in my opinion! I hope to find out when I see the band later this month 🙂

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“The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte” – Sparks March 28, 2023

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 3:30 pm
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Sparks are back and oh boy are the Mael brothers on top form. “The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte” is in my opinion one of their best singles ever. It stands alongside classics like “Amateur Hour” and “The Number One Song In Heaven”. It is the lead single and title track from their new album, their 26th (if you count ‘FFS’, their 2015 collaboration with Franz Ferdinand), scheduled for release in May on Island Records. It is hard to believe that the first album came out more than 50 years ago, particularly given how fresh this new track sounds. It is a fine slab of 21st-century orchestral electro-disco with a hook in the chorus that is to die for!. The video, which features Cate Blanchett, is stunning, well-filmed, well-edited, and both weird and funny in equal doses, I love it! I am now trying to perfect my Cate Blanchett moves! The band is touring from May this year with dates in the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, and Japan. These dates include two nights at the Royal Albert Hall in London and an appearance at the Glastonbury Festival in June. Check out the video below and let me know what you think of the tune.

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Welcome To The North – Young Thugs Studio Friday 24th March 2023 March 26, 2023

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 4:26 pm
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This was a free gig put together by Young Thugs Studio and Jericho Keys of BBC Radio York. It showcased just some of the vast musical talent we have in the north. Kicking it all off in a packed room it was the Feens from Scarborough. Like all the acts performing it was a five-song set, “Eyes Open” and the new track “Eternal Sunshine” were particular highlights for me. This was the third time I have witnessed the Feens playing live and if you like your rock nicely polished but with an edge, you will love them. I can hear elements of Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, 10cc, and New Order in their songs, but those are just minor influences, the Feens have originality and energy in abundance. Next, from the other side of the room, a very Later With Jools style set up, it was the hugely talented Kitty VR. She performed a batch of sublime new songs that she has been working on for a while, she has produced them all herself, and based on this set I can hardly wait for them to be out in the world. Kitty’s voice was pitch-perfect and dazzled the crowd. Kitty has some torch singer tropes and some gorgeous torch songs with a soft blues feel with jazzy undertones. Next, it was a monumental banging DJ set from ace DJ Rory Hoy. We were tightly packed but easily managed some constant fists-in-the-air action and even managed to do as the song instructed when House Of Pain’s “Jump Around” came on.

Now it was time for the grand piano in the corner to take centre stage as Max Dalton, formerly frontman of the rather amazing York rock band Hello Operator. This was all about Max and the piano, although he did have some guitar and percussion support. His new material is very different from what he did with Hello Operator and has a real 1930s vaudevillian jazz in a smoky gin joint vibe and bundles of 21st-century attitude. Lyrically I was reminded of early Leo Sayer, songs that tell stories. Finally, it was up to Kindelan to close proceedings. I first saw Laura Kindelan playing live almost six years ago and I have been a fan ever since. Kindelan’s EP will be released soon, with a launch gig at the Brudenell in Leeds in June. The strength of the songs that will be on that EP are truly immense. “Feast” (an unintentionally saucy tune) and “Hazel Frustration” are my current favourites. This was the first time I have seen Laura perform with a band and what a fine band it is. The sound was fabulously well-mixed and crystal clear. The chorale-style Beach Boys harmonies were ethereal and otherworldly. This is modern R&B with a smooth jazz injection. Kindelan’s songs and music is comparable to Kendrick Lamar and her vocals at times evoke Nina Simone. I love the way Laura and the band use the space between the notes and sometimes embrace the quiet.

It was great to meet so many stalwarts of the York music scene in the crowd at Young Thugs, including Marnie Glum, Nathan Luke, and members of Sun King, Pennine Suite, and the Corsairs. It was also great to have the chance to catch up with Laura Kindelan and Kitty VR at the end of the evening. An immense thank you to Jericho Keys and Young Thugs for making this happen, when is the next one?

Click here to listen to the radio broadcast of the show on BBC Radio York, it is available for 30 days and also includes some interviews with all the artists.

The previously mentioned Nathan Luke was co-director and editor on this rather spiffing video for Kindelan’s “Hazel Frustration”.

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The Corsairs – Fulford Arms, York – Friday 10th March 2023 March 21, 2023

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 7:33 pm
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This was another gig put together by that wonderful human being Simon Pattinson for Northern Radar at the equally fabulous Fulford Arms. It was all for a great cause too and raised loads of dosh for St. Leonard’s Hospice. It was headlined by the Corsairs, but more of them later. Proceedings were opened by Everything After Midnight, this would be the second time that I have seen them this year. There is a portion of Wolf Alice and a dash of Pale Waves here. There is also a sprinkling of electric folk (think Traffic with a female singer), soft metal (maybe Evanescence), a pinch of British Prog, and obviously a huge amount of Everything After Midnight. Steph’s voice was always good and now she takes it towards greatness. I have previously suggested that Steph has vocals that remind me of Tori Amos and Ellie Roswell, and that remains true. This was a four-band gig and the second to take the stage was Lost Trends, who are clearly no longer lost and I am glad they have been found again. They have not tiptoed their way back, they came with a multi-megaton blast of sound. A long layoff for the Lost Trends boys, mostly driven by Covid, has not dimmed their power and passion one iota. They still have their usual “we can be better than New Order” sound, but now it is overlayed with some magnificent layers of Talking Heads-style NYC electro-funk. The north has produced some great guitarists, notably Mick Ronson and Bill Nelson, I think that we can safely add Pete Knaggs to that gang now!

Third, it was the turn of yet another fine York band, the Rosettas. Frontman Benji had a cold, but he didn’t let that get in the way of a pulsating set from a band that not only knows how to rock but also knows how to party hard. They are clearly all enjoying themselves and that infectious joy is shared by the crowd with some great dancing and singalong opportunities. “I Don’t Like This” is a great song for bringing the crowd together. Their choice of Blur’s “Song 2” as a cover was inspired and went down an absolute storm. A great band and most certainly one to watch for the future. The Corsairs may be a very young band, but this does not get in the way of their stunning ability to produce an absolute belter of a set. They may have started off a little understated but they really grew into this set and eventually knocked it out of the park. Current single “Jackie The Know It All” is a classy slab of prime Arctic Monkeys styling. There are some Kooks and Wombats influences in their songs too. These lads seemed to love their time on stage and undoubtedly converted many people that had not seen them before into fans. I hope that the Corsairs are around for a long while and I hope their first album, when they get to it lives up to the promise of their live set. I 100% believe that it will! As a footnote, I want to mention that someone actually left this gig early because it wasn’t “indie” enough for them. Seriously? What the actual fuck is indie anyway? Click here to take a look at Indie Chart number ones from the 80s. The usual suspects like the Smiths are included, but so is Jason Donovan. I can really feel a What The Fuck Is Indie Anyway article coming soon!

All the pictures, except the gig poster, were taken by Martin Swarbrick

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Erotic Secrets Of Pompeii – Fulford Arms, York – Thursday 9th March 2023 March 19, 2023

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 10:42 pm
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This was another show from the Northern Radar stalwart Simon Pattinson, he has never let me down with any of the lineups he has created so far. Would this gig be the first letdown? Read on to find out good people. First up was one of York’s finest young bands, City Snakes (look out for an interview with them here very soon). They were a relatively last-minute addition to the bill after the mighty Sun King had to drop out due to illness. and I have seen them in that position before. It never deters them in the slightest and I always feel that they play every gig as if they were headliners and they always look like they are having megatons of fun. This was an incendiary set to kick off the proceedings at the marvellous Fulford Arms. City Snakes get better every time that I see them. The rhythm section could be parachuted into the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and I think it would be hard to spot the change. “Spin Me Round”, “Paranoia” and “Mayfly” are awesome songs but the new single “Black And White” tops those with its fabulous blues-infused garage punk vibe. Get City Snakes in your life now!

Next, it was the turn of Black Skies, a band who have up to now played just a handful of gigs, although for me they sound like they have been playing together for years. They sound a little grungier, heavier, and probably better than Reef. There are also some slivers of the Spin Doctors in there too. They have some staggeringly good songs, notably “Soul” and “Reason”. Their drummer has all of Dave Grohl’s finest tropes and is clearly a key element of Black Skies’ engine room. One particular highlight in a great set was their smoky, heavy, swampy take on Nina Simone’s “Feelin’ Good”. This version problem took back ownership of the song after Matt Bellamy’s somewhat histrionic and over-the-top take on the tune.

I love the name of headliners Erotic Secrets Of Pompeii and until this gig, I had never heard of or seen them before. How can I tell you exactly what they are like? Well, I will attempt to do that by borrowing one of Rod Serling’s opening narrations from the original Twilight Zone TV series. “You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension – a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You’re moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You’ve just crossed over into the Twilight Zone“. Believe me, that sums up this great band really well. Imagine a laboratory that stores the DNA of thousands of rock stars. A lab assistant, unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, spills the vials containing Jim Morrison, Richard Jobson, Gary Numan, and Ian Curtis. The cleaner then accidentally blends them all in the dustpan and creates the Erotic Secrets Of Pompeii frontman. The band behind him could be a reincarnation of Bowie’s Isolar 2 touring band from 1978 but with Robert Fripp and Tom Verlaine added on guitar. Erotic Secrets Of Pompeii are a truly and wonderfully different band and one that is perfect for this century and this sad, mad world that we live in.

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‘Vertiginous Drops’ – Carol Hodge March 6, 2023

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 9:57 pm
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Carol Hodge, who has been featured on these pages quite a few times has a new album, her fourth, out on 10th March. I have been lucky enough to have been listening to it for a week or two and I can tell you that it is a fine collection of classy future classic songs. The album is called ‘Vertiginous Drops’ and it opens with a full-on production on “Best Will In The Word”. It is a song of good advice, common sense and perhaps most importantly hope. On top of all that it has some magnificent hooks and an uplifting brass refrain. “The Price” has a feel of Depeche Mode in its dark,bass-laden synth opening, but then it turns into an epic synthed-up power ballad when Carol’s vocals kick in. This tune made me think that an album of 80s covers by Carol Hodge would be rather good. “Grayson (Things Could Always Be Worse)” is a fabulous choice for first single from the album. It also has a darkness to it, but once again a vein of hope. Carol’s voice evokes huge emotion in this song. In a parallel universe “Grayson” would top the charts everywhere. I felt peak Human League, but far better vocals than that Oakey fella, when listening to “Never Run Out Of Things To Worry About” and if any track on this record was selected for a dance remix it should be this one. The multi-tracked vocals are ethereal, heavenly, and ravishingly luscious. “Clean The Slate” opens with a gorgeous choral vocal sound and builds to something that is stygian in its darkness with a heavy guitar onslaught, well at least I thought that was a massed guitar attack. Some of Carol’s best music has come from just her and a piano and while this album has immense scope and reach, “Giving It Up Now” is mostly Carol and her piano to the fore, the band is just a little more subtle here, at least until about two minutes in when the song takes off into the musical stratosphere and showcases the strength and range of Carol’s sumptuous voice. The song closes with the very clever coda of “all I can say with certainty is there will be uncertainty“. It sounds obvious, but not many have said it, have they?

If you love Carol’s ballads then you will adore “Oh, Amanda!”. The circus sideshow piano riff part way through adds a delightful eerie tone. I can imagine this track featuring on the soundtrack to one of Neil Gaiman’s darker tales. The next track, “Bitch, Don’t Break My Serenity” has a feel of someone digging through Brian Wilson’s brain and finding the stuff he was never allowed to record. In fact, a Beach Boys cover of this eldritchian style masterpiece would be very special indeed, perhaps with backing vocals by Carol herself and maybe Siouxsie Sioux as well. The harmonics and soft synth drone on “Wrong Side Of The Glass” got me thinking of ‘Alice Through The Looking Glass’. I know that isn’t the subject matter, but just a feeling the song gave me. It certainly sums up someone possibly reaching the end of their time, deep down a very sad and yet sublime song. The album closes with what I consider to be Carol’s finest song to date. It evokes a derelict cabaret theatre in 1930s Berlin in the way it feels musically. But lyrically it is staggeringly deep and suggests the underlying futility in this life of ours and maybe how small a part of the universe we are. A true masterpiece of an album on which Carol proves just how big her talent is.

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Mayhem Singles Round Up Part 3 2023 March 4, 2023

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 12:55 pm
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You wait ages for a Mayhem singles round-up and then three arrive in just over two weeks! Here is the third for 2023, it includes a massive fourteen songs that have been passed on to me or recommended during the previous few weeks and months, there are some amazing tracks. It features three bands that have appeared on Mayhem’s pages before. All three are from York, proving that the music scene in my fabulous adopted city is thriving. Let me know what you think of this great collection of tunes! You will find a YouTube link to each song in the title (or a link to the audio of the track) and a link to the artist’s website or one of their social media pages when you click the artist’s name. You can also find the link to a Spotify playlist of all these songs by clicking here.

“Rebellion” – Skylights

The angriest track yet from York’s Skylights, also perhaps their punkiest song to date. So it is their punkiest yet, and their angriest yet, but is it their best yet? I certainly believe it is! A band firing on all cylinders and absolutely on fire! Turnbull’s guitar work on “Rebellion” is sensational!

“Black And White” – City Snakes

These lads are taking the fast track from a good band to a great band. This is an incredibly accomplished tune and it is superbly produced. Bass, guitar, drums, and most definitely vocals are turned up to 11. A great tip of the hat to classic rock. You need to see this band live.

“Jackie The Know It All” – The Corsairs

This is the follow-up to last year’s classy single “B-Side” and it is a tune that sticks with you. It has shades of everything from the Kooks, the Pigeon Detectives, the Arctic Monkeys, and classic UK post-punk. All of that is rolled up with a first-class pop sensibility

“Soda & Lime” – Jonny Payne & The Thunder

This sounds like a classic US west coast song, but Jonny is based in Oxford in the UK. If you want a song that will make you feel good and have you singing along then put “Soda & Lime” on repeat. This will be added to my summer barbecue playlist.

“Time To Rest” – Juniper Nights

Soft acoustic style rock reminiscent of Travis at their peak. It has some dark jangly indie guitar but for me what really makes the track is the vocal performance, especially the harmonies.

“Talk To Me” – Fellow Robot

This lot is all the way from Long Beach, California. They claim to have started creating music to bring the character Fellow Robot to life through music. Fellow Robot is a 140-year-old robot who is the main character from the WIP novel ‘The Robot’s Guide to Music’ written by frontman Anthony Pedroza. I am more than happy to listen to fine rock music like this from a great band while I wait for the book to arrive. Their album is due in May and on the strength of “Talk To Me” it is definitely one to look forward to.

“After Midnight” – Ryan Brown

Ryan Brown is an abundantly talented teenage singer-songwriter from the USA. “After Midnight” is a hopeful pop song for these dark times and would give Taylor Swift a run for her money. Her backing harmonies and counterpoint vocals are haunting and add some real depth to a great tune.

“Harder Now (For Love)” – Senses

A great rumble of a tune, Senses from Coventry have aced it with this single. A bit 21st Century Small Faces with some Paul Weller thrown in, this is damned good.

“I Need You Tonight” – Short Wave Craft

A multilayered beauty of a tune with some excellent samples. If you like Moby, Portishead, Air, and others like that you will absolutely love this close-to-perfect track put together by Dominic Owen and Tom Carr. I could listen to this for hours, and I probably will.

“Made Me Happy” – Wesson

Some might say that not much great music has come out of Milton Keynes, if they do then point them straight to Wesson. This tune starts out like a 60s psych-folk track a la Traffic. But then it moves into a magnificent pop-rock song which sometimes has a hint of the 1970s Scottish band Pilot, particularly the guitar sound. The video, inspired by ‘Tron’ is fun too. <EDITOR – If any other Milton Keynes bands would like some coverage, do give us a shout. I am sure we could be wrong about MK music!>

“Outside Of Town” – M. Byrd

German singer-songwriter knows his way around a beautiful melody and some often dark lyrics, but there is a hopeful side to this track too. The song is about someone having to flee a war with their daughter. I can picture myself meditating life to this song, maybe while drinking a cold beer.

“Wendy” – Holly Henderson

This has a 60s girl group vibe and vocals that Rumer would be proud of. The instrumentation is classy and happy to step away at times from simple tones. A song that stays in your mind long after it is over. A real lesson in how to produce an uplifting and sometimes sad song. I will be playing Holly’s new album ‘The Walls’ now I think.

“Villain” – Alexa Dark

Alexa is Spanish/ American and was raised between Barcelona, Munich, London, Paris, and NYC. The influences from all of those places are apparent in this song which is expansive and cinematic, in both scope and ambition. “Villain” is more than worthy of being a Bond theme.

“Lost It” – Hanna Ögonsten

Swede Hanna Ögonsten’s Spotify bio says “I’m glad you found your way to my silly little music universe in this big cyberspace! Here you’ll find reflections and memories of mine dressed up in danceable alt-pop beats”. I think she is much better than silly and little, her universe is rather big and pretty smart. She is right in describing her work as danceable alt-pop beats though, and “Lost It” is a prime example of a song that is infectiously danceable and memorable. Check out her rather wonderful EP from last year, ‘Bby Boo, Ögonsten & You‘

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