Runnin With My Rhythm

Just like good food can excite your taste buds & leave you wanting more, the similar can be said for Music & my ears have just experienced a gastronomic gourmet in the shape of Album "The Rise And Fall Of Babylon"   First track up, Freedom, & anti Trumpsters are going to love this, with lyrics:  "Oppress us no more We've waited for this day Our rights have been taken Your rule is coming to an end The faster that we rise above And we scream from our lungs FREEDOM! GIVE US FREEDOM BACK  WE CRAVE FREEDOM  WE STAND STRONG"  Cue Kickass guitar and my automatic response was to whack the volume up to max & watch as my morning cup of coffee rocked into life on top of the speaker, who the hell are these guys?   Disciples of Babylon from California Hollywood, that's who.  Founded in 2012, Eric Knight -Lead vocals & Rhythm Guitar, Ramon Blanco on Lead guitar, Gui Bodi on Bass Guitar & Drummer Chris Toeller . ...

You'd think offering up a review would be simple wouldn't you?  You come across some awesome music, contact artist or band behind awesome music and offer them a review, they respond by saying "Thanks but no thanks" or " Great, thanks, what do you need? ".....Sorted?  Only it rarely works out like that much to my frustration. Music Reviews haven't changed much since I first started out, there's just more people doing it due to social media and many people charge for that service now.  But I'm not one of those people, I do it for Free because I believe in supporting artists/bands & good music. Eargasm started life as part of my Column at the Watford Observer, where individuals & record companies would get in touch and send in their latest music offerings for review consideration, I also peruse social media looking for something special.  I'm quite a tough cookie to crack & having been around the music block it's got to be dam...

Word Up!  it's only taken them 9 yrs, but holy moly some things are worth waiting for.  While Tom Craven has recorded & put out music as a solo artist over the past decade, The  E.P  "Take Courage" out on 30th July  is the first offering from  Tom Craven & The Chapter under the band banner, but I believe it's been to their advantage because the growth, the maturity, lyrically, vocally & musically has been well & truly nailed, Chapter and verse some might say? With a perfect blend of Folk Rock, acoustic, "Take Courage" is like listening to the soundtrack of a West End Rock/Tragedy yet to be written.  Kicking off the E.P & also debut Single "Parisian (Trial by Fire)" dramatic yet melodic, the leading man takes to the mic.  "The kiss of  life, the kiss of death, they'll save this kiss for you, A pinch of salt, the word regret & it echoes through & through"               ...

Where to start with the talent that is Minnie Birch? Plentiful as a Blackberry bush,  she's a  first-class female that puts the fact & fable into Folk. About to self-release an AA-side single John BarleyCorn/ Emeralds on the 13th July to draw attention to her second full-length album Tethered released at the end of 2017 ....... Is there no stopping this Hertfordshire lass?  Minnie has a  distinct sound, so even before her vocals enter the track "Emeralds" at 17 seconds you know whose music you're listening to. She said it was written post Brexit referendum & coupled with a personal situation left her feeling at a loss with the world  & thinking "We're not in Kansas anymore" a line from the Wizard Of Oz where Dorothy realises nothing is what it seems. In fact, there is many a lyrical nod to the Film, amongst them:  " With a Lions Mane & a Scarecrow Pride".  Minnie also created part of the percussion with her tap shows tha...

A Film I haven't seen yet is the simplest way to describe the new album "I Want Blood" by Suburban Dirts, but it's anything but simple.  Some of you may recall that back in December I reviewed the bands single  Eli a nd spoke about my surprise at them coming from right here in Hertfordshire?  Performing on the Americana/roots scene are John Wheatley - Lead vocal, acoustic guitar, harmonica, Chris Varley-Bass, David Austin-Drums, Vocals, David Moyes-Guitar, Jay Seymour-Keyboards & Joolz Addison-Violin . As I opened up the thoughtfully wrapped rustic packaging that dropped through the letterbox, I  smiled, realising it was just some of the words I'd use  to sum up the band.  There has without doubt been a shed load of thought gone into the making of this album, and there's a lot to say about it.........The wrapped CD slipped out of a folded card, a story in itself, but as an eager beaver I placed it to one side to read late...

As someone who hears, analyses and can appreciate every element of a track in minute detail from lyrics, cowbells, brightening effects to an accidently recorded studio trump, I've always considered myself the queen geek/nerd of music..........But cue Folk-Inspired Singer/Songwriter   Zoë   Wren who Is on another level, we're talking the chocolate hobnob of nerdiness here but it's fascinating for one so young, as is her new Six track E.P  Gold & Smoke out for official release on 3rd March. First to the music, as someone who is a bit wary when it comes to that medieval folk vibe,  I breathed a sigh of relief, not a  Nonny-Nonny-No in earshot.  In fact, ther e's a significant continuity throughout the E.P that flows like a gentle stream in the form of  Zoës vocals, beautiful is a thought that surfaces rather a lot, along with  pure.  There were also some lovely lyrics, so simple and poetic it took me back to courting days...

I was introduced to Amy & The Calamities via the jam-packed talent that I recently reviewed on   Spiritual Live No.2 Album. Amy had a track on it "Now That I Know This". She is also releasing her own 6 track E.P this week titled:  "The Suspects"  I'd assumed Amy & The Calamities were a band?  If I'd checked out Youtube first I would've had my answer? DOH!.....it was time to find out more. She is, in fact, Amy Wawn a solo singer/songwriter/ musician hailing from Zimbabwe, the added  "Calamities" came about after a jokey conversation with her best friend who coined the phrase after an open mic night in Cape Town, about the comedic mishaps on stage. It's also about the coming together of friends and spontaneous performances that give way to mistakes, As Amy believes, all part of being human, and part of learning and growing.    Now that's sorted it was time for me to check out the E.P. and first track Bless, straight away ...

Scrolling through Twitter when up popped an interesting black & white photo that caught my eye with the text Spiritual Records Live No 2.  I contacted the guys to find out what they were about and what they were up to?  Turns out Spiritual Records based in Camden London was set up in 2015 so that they could release some of the artists that regularly perform live at their Spiritual Bar. Hundreds of artists and bands have passed through these doors from general singer/songwriters to blues and folk. The credible  2017 X-factor finalist & Frenchman Kevin Davey White is also a regular and appeared on Spirituals first album.  After a couple of individual artist releases, this month saw the release of Spirituals Second 10 track compilation album, it was time for the audio fest test?  As the vocals began   "To Hell With Love" by Tommy Hare   I was hit right there...you know?  There! where a really good track hits yo...

I was looking to kick the new year off with some balls, when as if by magic along came "Great Reckoning"  a fairly new 4 piece hailing from  Tyldesley in Greater Manchester consisting of Lewis Tooby -Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar, Laiton Price-Bass/Vocals,  Andrew Pendlebury-Lead Guitar, Jordan Lawley White-Drums.   I always think there's a pre-assumption when bands/artists come from this neck of the woods, it's like when a singer says they're from Wales and no matter your age you automatically think Tom Jones and expectations are high?  As for  "Great Reckoning"?  Manchester can add another corker to the list, they certainly don't disappoint.    Drawing their influence from bands such as Queens Of The Stone Age, Foo Fighters & Royal Blood the band wouldn't sound or look out of place sharing the stage with any of their superiors and are equally known for their energetic live performances.  In 2016 the band release...