THE VOLUNTARY BUTLER SCHEME - SINGLE REVIEW

The Voluntary Butler Scheme - Quinzhee (Split Records) 

The Voluntary Butler Scheme - Quinzhee

Release Date: 23rd December 2014

Multi-instrumentalist Rob Jones writes, releases and performs all his music under the pseudonym of The Voluntary Butler Scheme which is weird but, hey, what's weird these days that isn't worth investigating, eh? Apart from being a shelter made in a hollowed out pile of snow, 'Quinzhee' is also the title of Jones' attempt at a Christmas single, hence the release date. Opening with the lines "I'm building us a house out of snow, and if it doesn't melt then we'll know, that our love is unheatable and our love is unbeatable" shows that Jones has a penchant for the quirky and the fun as well as a tender, honest approach to the love in his life. Sounding very much like a mix of Jim Noir, Badly Drawn Boy and the Flaming Lips, The Voluntary Butler Scheme hasn't got a hope in hell of reaching the Christmas number 1 spot but this is by far the most fun Christmas song that has been released in some time so it's alright by me.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/thevoluntarybutlerscheme

Live Dates:

17th December - The Macbeth, London

SCNTST - ALBUM REVIEW

SCNTST - Self Therapy (Boysnoize Records) 

SCNTST - Self Therapy

German born producer Bryan Muller, AKA SCNTST, is being touted as a huge new talent on the techno scene and, to these uninitiated ears, the prospect of over an hour of modern German techno was not an appealing way to spend a Tuesday evening. How wrong I was. 'Self Therapy' is rhythmic delight that takes the listener deep in to the heart of club-land and then an extra mile or two further. Album opener 'Velour' is the first hint that this is going to be something a little bit special with its click-clack rhythm and dreamy melody giving way to bouncy, boingy bass noises. Once you're in to this album it's almost impossible to resist the throbbing, undulating melodies and beats that move from the click of a cricket to the pounding you get in your head the day after a REALLY good night out.

There are 14 tracks on this album and not all of them stand out on their own but the Flat Eric style organ bop of 'Percee Scan' and the woozy Parisian charm of 'Murder' are two tracks that do stick out like an accountant at a rave. Some tracks, like 'Throwback', go on a bit long for my money but then reviewing music that has been created for people to dance to is a bit of a pointless task. There are also moments of utter, explorative genius as well such as the stuttery, terrible mobile signal of 'So Though' and the Matt Bellamy dueting with Edith Piaf vibe of 'Fovea'. And then there's the downright party romp of 'King Of Beets' which is about as far from techno as you can get but still a hugely enjoyable track. This is a great pre or post club album to get your head bobbing and your shoulders loosened up so come and join the party.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/thescntst?fref=ts

FINNMARK! - SINGLE REVIEW

Finnmark! - Branno (February Records) 

Finnmark! - Branno

Leeds indie-pop fun from a band named after a tiny northern county of Norway? Don't mind if I do. 'Branno' is a single that I am a little late coming to thanks to the obscenely disorganised nature of my inbox/life but it's worth a 'shout out' as the kids would say due to its velvety loveliness. Musically it rattles around the Fall duelling with early Long Blondes (y'know, when they were still learning their instruments) but it's the baritone vocals mixed with the persistent organ drone that really seals the deal for me. This is quintessentially English indie with pop sensibilities and an entirely unique vocal style so it's A.O.K. by me. Nevermind what the Norwegians think....

More information: https://www.facebook.com/finnmarkpop?group_id=0

FLETCHER - SINGLE REVIEW

Fletcher - Open Up (Dramatico Entertainment)

Fletcher - Open Up

Release Date: 2nd December 2013

Sadly, this isn't a delayed single release by Ronnie Barker's character from Porridge. Gladly, this is the new single from Australian singer-songwriter Benjamin Fletcher and 'Open Up' is a tasty slice of munch. The relentless beat behind the child-like melody urges you to join in with whatever Fletcher wants you to do while his soulful yet fragile voice dribbles like syrup all over the lush layers of guitar, piano and percussion. I can imagine this song being used in a short film about surfing in Cornwall but, for some reason, listening to this whilst I sit next to my recently erected Christmas tree is giving me a somewhat nostalgic feeling. That and my cat's gone missing so I'm pretty bummed anyway. This one's for you Poppy.

More information: http://fletcheruponayr.com/

Live Dates:

8th February - Abbey Pub, Chicago w/Mammoth Indigo

HEY, SLEEPER - EP REVIEW

Hey, Sleeper - Gone For Ten Fingers EP 

Hey, Sleeper - Gone For Ten Fingers EP

Berkshire. Home of...Berks. And Luke Roberts. Luke is the man behind the mellow loveliness that is Hey, Sleeper with a voice like Chris Martin before he went all Bono and a sparse approach to recording. This five track EP is a thing of simple beauty that shouldn't be overlooked just because it is standing in the corner at a party nervously fingering a bottle of Becks. 'Playing Cards' is your entree and it reminds me of the tender, more bleary eyed moments of Frank Turner which is a delightful thing in my book. 'Done Deal' on the other hand reminds me of little known but much loved troubadour Avert Francis with the gentle finger picking mixed beautifully with Roberts' intimate, heart rending vocal style.

Things a turn for the slightly jauntier on 'Home #2' but this is still undeniably reflective, introspective stuff of such delicate beauty that you fear each song might just blow away on a breeze before you've finished listening to it no matter how many times you've listened to it already. One lovely fact about this EP is that it was recorded on a Tascam 8 track which means you get every lip smack, voice crackle and reverberating guitar string as fresh and honest as it was performed. 'Could You Just' is the kind of song that you hear overdubbed as a depressed bar maid clears up on Christmas Eve knowing all she has to go home to is a cold flat and a drunk boyfriend. But, as said bar maid leaves the bar it starts to snow, 'Thomas & The Good Book' begins and everything is magical for the briefest of periods. Just magical enough to make her happy for a moment and surely that's all we ever need in life. Hey, Sleeper is an awful nom de plume but who cares when the music is this good? Not I, sir, not I.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/heysleeper?fref=ts

HANNAH GEORGAS - ALBUM REVIEW

Hannah Georgas - Hannah Georgas (Dine Alone Records) 

Hannah Georgas - Hannah Georgas 

Release Date: 25th November 2013

Earlier this year, I went on a bit of a positive rant about the specific areas of the UK that seemed to be churning out endless steams of excellent artists. Throughout the year, this here blog has become increasingly international and I'm on a new rant; bloody Canada. Canada is supposed to be lovely and safe and clean, Canada is not supposed to produce a stream of talented and soulful musicians that make me want to drink my own body weight in maple syrup and wrestle a moose. Hannah Georgas is the latest talented Canadian to arrive at the door of LWM and boy is she a talented lady?! The intermittent thrum of 'Elephant' opens proceedings with a distinct Feist-yness about it before 'Somebody' takes things up another notch mixing the Feist influences with Ladyhawke and Bat For Lashes style personality. Georgas' voice is so cool and unaffected that you feel under no pressure to hear her but you almost can't help being lured in to her fantasy world through an inexplicably ornate mirror. On 'Enemies', Georgas takes the music of the XX and cranks it up a bit whilst retaining the atmospheric sensibilities and singing "You're going to make an enemy of me" in potentially the least threatening way possible.

'Shortie' is Georgas' effort at an out-and-out pop song as she promises to "Dance, dance, dance until the cops come" and as fun as it sounds, she never really explains what she's going to do when the cops come. Are they invited to the party? Anyway, things take a turn for the mellow on 'Fantisize' before turning a sudden left turn down kooky street on 'Millions' which contains some mild swearing, a statement that "I wanna make a million buck, wanna make my millions" and a melody that seems to be played out on whatever instrument they wrote the music for 90s PC games on. 'Million's is certainly my favourite track on this album and if it had been recorded by Weezer or Fountains of Wayne it would be a sure fire indie disco hit. 'What You Do To Me' is sparse and minimalist but simultaneously seductive and a little threatening - perfect soundtrack music. The tender 'Ode To Mom' shows the depth and range of Georgas as she switches from muted guitar work to stomping, anthemic rock that should grace a festival crowd or at the very least an arena. Following on is the 80s pop throb of 'Waiting Game' which really should have been the opening music to a Judd Nelson film about trying to get 'the' girl that he works with but who just doesn't notice him because he's such a goof ball. Or something. Unusually, this album has a bonus track in the shape of 'The Hardest Part' which is a sassy, swaggering country-pop number with a dark heart and dead eyes. Georgas is at least as good as every other artist I've mentioned in this review but the fact that she is as good as all of them and she is just one woman makes her pretty damn special indeed.

More information: http://www.hannahgeorgas.com/

Live Dates:

19th December - Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver

21st February - Huxley's Neue Welt, Berlin

JONATHAN RICE - ALBUM REVIEW

Johnathan Rice - Good Graces 

Johnathan Rice - Good Graces

Release Date: 25th November 2013

Mr Rice describes this album as a healing record that he wrote as a way to help people he loves to come through some dark times which, as a sentiment, is pretty awesome. I've had one or two dark moments (haven't we all?) and if somebody had written me an album to say 'Hey buddy, it's alright, things will get better' then I would probably have had a good cry and then gone outside to fall in love with the world again. As the album begins with the gentle, sandy swing of 'Acapulco Gold' it is immediately obvious that Rice is in healing, empathetic mood and the fact that he is channelling Evan Dando's voice only makes this all the warmer on your ears. The slow stomp of 'My Heart Belongs To You' is somewhere between Flaming Lips and the Killers with Jack Johnson on vocal duty which is a group of guys I'd want around me if I was feeling bummed out so, again, spot on. Things get a little livelier on 'Nowhere At The Speed Of Light' which is full of jangly guitars, Rice's dreamy vocal and punchy dreams which make you want to get out of your funk and in to the shower, at the very least. Considering when this album was recorded and subsequently released, 'Lou Rider' is an incredibly timely stylistic homage to the much missed Lou Reed with Rice talking on that oh-so-cool rock star drawl and roping in some doop-doop style backing vocalists for extra soul effect. I think we're ready to put some clean clothes on now.

The hopeful, optimistic opening strains of 'Empty Head' are like opening your front door and immediately getting a smile and a nod from the postman as you feel the sun on your skin for the first time in days. 'Good Graces' immediately takes up the mantle with Dylan-esque lyrical structures and a bouncy acoustic riff that will help you walk down the street to the shop for some proper food and, most importantly, a little human interaction. The crescendo ending of 'Good Graces' needs to be played to a Springsteen sized crowd for maximum sing-a-long impact but for now it's just fine rattling round my head. As we hit the final third of the album, 'Surfer's Lament' is mariachi-lite music mixed with expansive vocal effects and Dick Dale guitars that transport you to a beach party in Hawaii where you are bound to be having a good time. The gently twanging guitars of 'Soldiers' would be perfect to wake up on said Hawaiian beach to the morning after the night before as the sea gently nibbles your toes and Rice's voice tickles your ears. To wrap it all up, 'That Summer Feeling' comes along as a kind of "my work here is done" message, Mary Poppins for the bummed out generation, if you will. Rice obviously understands pain and would be a good guy to have around if you needed a shoulder cry on so I'm glad, for his loved ones, that they have him but sad that this album only exists because some people had to go through dark times. Forget time, music is the true great healer here. .

More information: https://www.facebook.com/JohnathanRice