The Third Mind hit the beach, Ihsahn heads home, Suicide Silence live it up, Alex Dowling is all thumbs and more in today’s Roundup. Dunno about you, but I can’t wait for this freaking week to end. Trouble is, near as I can tell, mine’s not going to do that until the next one has already begun.
1 | The Third Mind | Claudia Cardinale
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The Third Mind, a new California supergroup with an all-star line-up of players, premieres the video for their second single Claudia Cardinale, from their self-titled debut out Feb. 14. Featuring Dave Alvin (guitar, vocals), Victor Krummenacher (bass, vocals), David Immergluck (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Michael Jerome (drums, percussion), with special guest Jesse Sykes (guitar, vocals), the album was recorded and mixed by Craig Parker Adams at the late great Winslow Ct Studios in Los Angeles. “When we came up with the track Claudia Cardinale, I told all the musicians to imagine that you’re on a sunny Italian beach in 1966 laying next to the gorgeous Italian actress Claudia Cardinale,” says Alvin. “The musicians easily captured the essence of Ms. Cardinal’s timeless beauty and power.” Of the video, which was created and directed by Krummenacher, he offers “I wondered if I could assemble an abstract film, where Once Upon A Time-era Claudia Cardinale subtly enters as the muse and takes us off on a journey back through time in California. Dave and I are both southern California natives who’ve seen a lot of change in our home state, so I tried to play with both the nostalgia of youth, that particular sexual longing that goes with youth, and also an existential flight back through time into the last 100 years or so of California; another kind of nostalgia. Hopefully we do our job as musicians, and we take you off on a trip through time, emotion, place and space.”
2 | Ihsahn | Stridig
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Ihsahn will release, the first of two five-track EPs inspired by and dedicated to his home county of Telemark on Feb. 14. The first Telemark EP represents the dark, brutal and aggressive side of Ihsahn’s compositional identity. With three new original songs and two ferocious cover versions, it represents a celebration of the defiant spirit that first inspired him to follow a creative path, forming Emperor three decades ago. Ihsahn explains; “The title of the EP is Telemark – it’s the county I grew up in and still live in, so the whole thing is situated there and very much inspired by that. So you could say it’s a roots-orientated album. I decided early on that I wanted this to be very purely related to black metal aesthetics. I wanted to distil the basic, bare bones black metal influences of my musical roots, given the overall concept, writing something for and from Telemark. I decided to do Norwegian lyrics for the first time, too. It feels very much closer to home in many ways.”
3 | Suicide Silence | Feel Alive
THE PRESS RELEASE: “California metal titans Suicide Silence will release their sixth studio album Become The Hunter on Feb. 14. Today, the band releases their new single, Feel Alive. For the first three singles, the band enlisted Scott Hansen of Digital Thunderdome. The trilogy which includes Meltdown and Love Me To Death is completed with the video for Feel Alive.”
4 | Alex Dowling | King Of Thumbs
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Irish composer Alex Dowling shared the single and video King of Thumbs from his forthcoming debut album Reality Rounds, due out Jan. 31. Reality Rounds was written for four vocalists (who each use customized wireless controllers to manipulate their AutoTuned voices in real-time) and synthesizer (performed by Grammy-nominated composer/pianist Pascal Le Bouef). The album was recorded and filmed live, and in full, at Princeton University by Four/Ten Media. Dowling built King of Thumbs around an imagined deck of cards that the performers recite at the beginning of this ritual. Halfway through, a startling interruption transports the listener to a new sonic environment where the choir’s whistling is transformed into a flickering texture, a type of artificial birdsong. The music has echoes of Aphex Twin or Oneohtrix Point Never seen through the prism of Bjork’s Medúlla.“
5 | Blasphemer | The Deposition
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Italian extreme metal stalwarts Blasphemer’s third album The Sixth Hour will be released on Jan. 24. The band commented: “The unholy crusaders have found their vexil: the phoenix.” Fundamentally a concept album, The Sixth Hour’s main theme is the way of the cross, i.e. the last day of Jesus Christ, the path that led him from the Gethsemane to Golgotha. The aim of the album is to depict Jesus as merely human, trying to transpose into music the agony he felt in the last day.”
6 | Lewis Knaggs | Wake Up
THE PRESS RELEASE: “In partnership with RSBC (Royal Society for Blind Children), singer-songwriter Lewis Knaggs today shares his touching new track Wake Up. Lewis explains: “This song is about pushing through the adversities and struggles that life can throw at you. The chorus is a bit of a realisation that we should try our best to be happy and thankful for being alive, even when life seems it’s hardest. It celebrates the things that help us stay strong and stable; friends, family and love. I wrote this when I found a new love, and it helped to make sense of a lot of things. To stop running from the past, enjoy the moment, and to live in the present as much as possible.”
7 | Common Kings | Queen Majesty
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Grammy-nominated band Common Kings have released their star-studded new single Queen Majesty, featuring chart-topper Sammy Johnson and reggae superstars The Green. Queen Majesty has a beautiful tropical tone enhanced by the many impressive vocal performances on this all-star cast. Common Kings’ style and music is a collection of inspirations orchestrated into an array of head rocking beats, feel-good vibes, and emotional fever. Their crazy, fun-loving attitude compliments Common Kings’ live sound, producing phenomenal hits with rock, reggae, pop, and island influences. These influences originate from each band member’s love for various genres, and widespread knowledge of music.”
8 | The Dirty Nil | Christmas At My House
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Just in time for the holidays, Hamilton rockers The Dirty Nil have dropped Christmas At My House. Says Luke Bentham:
“Let’s be honest folks; unless DMX is singing it, we don’t need to hear Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer again. Let’s do away with some of these old and tired tunes and instead, celebrate Yuletide with a proper stomper. We proudly present Christmas At My House. Crank it up and let the eggnog flow, hail baby Jesus as well as the manufacturers of mid-to-low quality libations. Happy holidays, friends.”
9 | Set It Off | Catch Me If You Can
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Catch Me If You Can is that quintessential middle finger to anyone who doubted you or really wronged you in life or in your pursuit of your dreams,” says Set It Off singer Cody Carson. “I’ve personally and unfortunately experienced an incredible amount of this on our journey. I’ve been laughed at when I told people what I do for a living, I’ve been betrayed by my closest friends, and I’ve been told no time and time again. To me, that’s fuel, it’s motivation to show that this path is something that I was born to do. Success is the best revenge. My hope is that this song can reach out to anyone who needs an empowering song to pick them up and inspire confidence in themselves to keep fighting for what they truly want in life.”
10 | Montgomery | Microwave
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Hello! I play in a Toronto garage/pop-rock-type thing called Montgomery and we just put out our third EP How Your Life’s Played Out. We like play our instruments loud and write catchy music. We made a video for the first song Microwave to go with the release. As always we recommend you listen to these songs at the highest volume possible.”
11 | Gregory Vitale | Even If I Could
THE PRESS RELEASE: “After a long break from making music, singer/songwriter Gregory Vitale returns in a bold and inspired way with the release of his new single Even If I Could. His artistic renaissance began upon the construction of his new recording studio and collaboration with friend and renowned producer Jeff Martin (The Tea Party). Even if I Could has sonic textures that evoke memories of the best of the late heartfelt, gritty and compelling 1970s and 1980s rock as epitomized by the likes of Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp, with a modern lyrical touch, giving it a 21st century Americana feel.”
12 | Mr Robski | Bumpin’ (feat Adjoa)
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The newborn producer crew Mr Robski team up with Ghanaian singer Adjoa on their first single Bumpin’. Hailing from the square city of Mannheim (Germany) the eclectic duo combines their completely different musical backgrounds to something entirely else as they decided to create songs without the limitation to follow one genre, but with pop-appeal and catchy vocals. To follow that plan they have put in the studio work and are collaborating with different singers and songwriters. The first result of this efforts to get released goes by the name of Bumpin’. Featuring the charming voice of Adjoa, the song could be classified somewhere between Urban, Pop and Hip Hop, but is instantly recognizable with its sassy vocals, captivating beat and shattering chorus.”
13 | Shakewell | PlayaFool
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Shakewell, a six-piece funk band from Missoula, has released their new single PlayaFool, produced and engineered by Alan Evans at his Iron Wax Studios in Ervin, MA. PlayaFool, written by Shakewell bassist/vocalist Jordan Smith, is a Mayer Hawthornesque soul bop with a slight lean towards the vintage vibe. Shakewell is a funk brotherhood of lifelong friends and collaborators, all hailing from Western Montana. With a shared love for groove and songwriting, Shakewell constitutes an original blend of funk, soul, and rock n’ roll.”
14 | David Dondero | Laying At Your Feet
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Laying At Your Feet is the third single from David Dondero’s forthcoming LP The Filter Bubble Blues, due Jan. 17. The track itself is a bit of a respite from the rest of the sociopolitically charged LP. It’s a love song of the purest kind. Dondero describes the track as “a romantic love song for the greatest sculptor. An open letter to one of my best friends. It’s an open and cinematic song, and features bird sounds!”
15 | Josh Kumra | Stubborn Love
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The confessional song is the first track to be lifted from Josh Kumra’s upcoming EP Pull Me Back In, planned for release in April 2020. Raw and honest, it was entirely recorded and produced by Josh in his own studio. Speaking about the new single, Josh said; “Stubborn Love acknowledges the struggle of dedicating yourself to something for all the wrong reasons. It’s not what you’re pursuing but why.”
16 | Michael Malarkey | Shake The Shiver
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Multi-faceted musician and actor Michael Malarkey unveils another dose of indie-laden Americana with Shake The Shiver, the second single from his upcoming second full-length album Graveracer, due on Jan. 10. Shake The Shiver was conceived on Arturia’s KeyStep – which combines step sequencing with keyboard control – to layer the sounds and melodies he wanted before heading into the studio to re-record them, although some of the original demo sounds made it through to the final cut.”
17 | The Jab | Riot
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Chicago’s The Jab has just released Riot, the first single off the upcoming LP Consume, which will be released on Feb. 4. Jab frontman Jam Alker was showcasing his punk-blues aesthetic for major labels on the Chicago club circuit just a handful of years ago. With the world at his fingertips, he swapped his guitar for the needle and disappeared for nearly a decade. Jam says, “Riot is a social conscious alarm clock going off next to society’s bed. It’s a rock n roll call to action in response to the restless discontent and disempowerment so many feel in our society – a response to inequality, addiction, consumerism, violence. Riot is The Jab’s mission statement.”
