Daphne Lee Martin offers another outstanding album with Frost
Daphne Lee Martin’s latest album Frost announces itself with a wave of knobby synthesizer, a bulbous sound that suggest the bountiful fulsomeness that her recording has to offer. Martin’s soundscapes consist of everything from modern keyboards, some vintage colors and styles, and more than a dash of rocking electric guitar. Her genius lies in her ability to weave an array of musical elements from the entire 20th century into one song, cohesively, impressively, seamlessly, to become a beautiful new creation that stands on its own merits, apart from influences.
Lowman impress with dazzling new Garden Of Eden album
Lowman’s latest CD Garden Of Rainbows is, indeed, an amazing growth of colors, tones, and many other special things. Sure to be included in many “Best of 2014” lists and in many awards shows, the album has a lot to offer to even the most discerning listeners while enticing people to get up on the dance floor. The title track is a sweet, Beatlesque confection of warm vocals and jaunty, fun keyboards. The album soon follows with a hip, mid-tempo rocker with a clever rhyme scheme. The remainder of the album comes across like more of this sweet variety of nuances, shadings, and outstanding instrumentation and vocals.
Mark Cutler does it again with roots nugget CD Dreamland
Mark Cutler has been a fixture in the New England roots music scene for some time now. The Rhode Island native’s latest album Dreamland continues his tradition of laying down earthy, soulful music with rich acoustic instrumentation around his mellow, flowing vocal, driving beats, and edgy guitar.
Lance Norris CD Untraditionally Handsome is country & western redneck delight
Lance Norris proudly wears his redneck attitude on his sleeve on his Unconditionally Handsome CD. Norris’s gravelly, whisky-soaked voice is rich and full of character, making you believe his tales from the trailer park. His songs come complete with chirpy, twangy guitar melodies that are packed with much musical integrity and earthy storytelling.
Machine 475 impress in their own way on Cosmic Highway CD
Machine 475 is a north shore band that’s unafraid to make music their own way. When the liner credits include a programmer, a sitar and synth player, Theremin and turntablist, and an accordion player with the same weight as a guitarist and percussionist, a listener knows he’s in for something completely different. Machine 475 are a much needed breath of fresh air on the greater-Boston music scene. Their latest album Cosmic Highway is a rush of rocking, space age instrumentals that will entertain as well as challenge.
Michelle Willson and her Evil Gal Festival Orchestra offer fine live album Fortune Cookie
Michelle Willson’s new live album Fortune Cookie Live At Scullers shows the artist in her most natural setting, a stage in an upscale Boston music venue. Rangy and powerful by nature, classy in her delivery, Willson reaches true musical heights in her interpretation of 1950s soul. Her Evil Gal Festival Orchestra consists of drummer Zac Casher, upright bassist Sven Larson, guitarist Mike Mele, pianist Shinichi Otsu, and reed player Scott Shetler. That force of nature voice combined with such A-list players can only make a fine showing of their talents.
Ron Levy’s Wild Kingdom offers another gem on The Lost Session album.
Ron Levy’s Wild Kingdom once recorded an album’s worth of music in a north shore recording studio. Those recordings, lost and forgotten when Levy’s record label folded, were eventually found and now they are being presented as The Lost Session and released on the Levtron.com site. Keyboardist/composer Levy was in top form back in those days, as was his Wild Kingdom players, and these songs, finally seeing the light of day, jump out of the speakers with startlingly good quality.
Oldjack reaches new artistic high on What Is Home To You album
Oldjack has been chugging along in the Boston indie rock scene for a few years now. They’ve competed in The Rumble and have shared bills with numerous respected bands in the city. Their new full length album What Is Home To You should cement their reputation as purveyors of fine Americana roots rock. Dan Nicklin’s rangy, emotive vocal and songwriting skill make their mark on each song, casting them all in a large looming manner, like each is a song that should’ve become famous a long time ago.
Ashley Jordan offers strong third album Nothing In Doubt; shows true potential
Ashley Jordan’s sophomore effort Nothing In Doubt is a strong follow up to her 2011 debut CD Liquid Words. Jordan’s new work has some sharper sounds with edgier electric guitars and more aggressive drumming. She’s still squarely in the singer-songwriter category. Yet, this time around she’s got more to say about people who’ve done her wrong. I hope for the safety of the boys she’s writing about that Jordan doesn’t have a background in karate or boxing for she will surely beat them to a pulp.
Br1ght Pr1mate continue to make unusual beautiful music on Night Animals CD
Br1ght Pr1mate are onto something big. They are a duo featuring vocalist Lydia Marsala and musician James Therrien who composes and plays music with a Game Boy chip. It’s a very recent musical genre requiring older computers and video game consoles. Therrien’s use of Chip tunes allows him to create a myriad of musical soundscapes that marries pop music to a sound similar to sci fi film scores and sound effects. This is the kind of music you’d hear on the mother ship if you’re ever abducted by aliens. Latest album Night Animals keeps it at once tight and experimental.
