Runnin With My Rhythm

I'm sure we've all had those moments when we hear a track and  it starts with such great musical promise that we stop what we're doing and allow that rush of  excitement to rise up from our toes to around the midway mark in anticipation, and then the vocals come in and hope and everything else drop quicker than an elevator ride at Disney?  Well thankfully that's not the case with Alex Francis. Alex is one of those Singer/Songwriters that could warble about a chip butty and make it sound sexy & credible. Already a fan of this talented chap based in London but originally from Hitchin after I reviewed him back in in 2017 , I couldn't wait to get my ears around his forthcoming 4 track E.P Live In Munich, and boy it doesn't disappoint .   The first  acoustic  soul track  "Make Believe" had me melting within 30 seconds via accomplished musicianship and vocals that slid down like honey, Just as Opera singers can shatter glass via a high p...

I rarely offer up reviews straight away, I sit on someone's Twitter profile, not literally of course, apart from being extremely uncomfortable  it would probably get me  arrested?  But if I keep going back then it's for good reason and that's exactly what happened in the  case of  Road Man a.k.a Funk, Soul, Roots, Reggae man  Jon Petronzio  . When I checked out his work, and  I'll get  to his new album shortly, it was the discovery of his 2014  album "Light At The Speed Of Life" and the opening track "Dangerous Road- Feat John Browns Body"  that kept reeling me back for another listen.    Jons vocals are  very clean cut and while in a lot cases that could equate to boring, it's anything but, in fact there's a vulnerability in his tone and an honesty in his delivery which is all part of the draw. With  "Chosen"  and it's Old School Funk vibe, I was transported at the speed of a Starsky & Hutch Ca...

WHOA! rarely do I come across an album where my first thought is WTF! This guy must be stoned or a crazy genius ?  Well, let me introduce you to the stoned crazy genius that is Rapper Leech and his debut album Underbite.  Real name Aidan Nolan, he's from a  small farming town in upstate  New York called Mcdonough and was prized with the name Leech by a friend during his freshman year at College because he was so broke he never had any money for anything. hopefully that's about to change with his  9 track 20 min debut  album?  Apart from distant echoes of an early Asher Roth it's like no other rap album I've heard in recent times. I felt strangely stoned myself despite the fact all I was inhaling was caffeine & a kit kat.                                                                ...

The  recent Twitter follow by someone named  Cody James  stopped me in my scrolling  tracks because it sounded like a name that belonged to a superstar creative, intrigued, I checked it out pronto and turns out I wasn't wrong, b etter still he gets creative in my fave genre so I was eager to check out  "All Gas No Breaks Ft Mvstermind "  Don't expect crotch grabbing, or  spits of   "Yo look at the size of ma Rolex"  This is Cody James with his raw honest, emotional, relatable story, just as it should be.  "I been living broke for too mafucking long, Debt pulling up, debt collectors blowing up my phone I just pray my mamma get the things she wish fo Ain't no promises that Ima Ima make it home Aye Ima tryna give back for the shit she did Tired of living broke, I gotta change this shit Gotta monetize the dreams I had back as a kid. Ayeee" Cody James · ALL GAS NO BRAKES Ft Mvstermind Living in a small town in the Southern...

When the furthest you've travelled is to the local shops to pick up  a jar of coffee and a bag of mint imperials, it's rather mind blowing to hear that a young boy was on his own at 16 and went on to journey through  42 countries in search of  themself and their own unique musical sound. Welcome Dax Brook with his  debut release  "Only Human." I asked him, why so long & why now?     Dax: "Releasing a body of work (songs) has always been a dream of mine, I've written many songs for film and television but none really for myself. Only Human is the first of many songs to come. This is a personal labor of love project that finally found its way out of my system and into the world. "   And who inspires him? well, it turns out a very surprising mixed bag, from his dad's love of classic rock,  to his own curiosities in reggae and jazz and the likes of Sam Cook and Otis Redding.  I have to say, when I  hear...

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...

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 ...