The Single Life; 7" of Fun - featuring The Growl, The Switch, and Echoes De Luxe

The Growl - With the Sharp End of the Trowel

…branding themselves as “Aussie Garage-Rock,” The Growl is a breath of fresh air and certainly not what you’d expect from this description.  As I listened to their single “With the Sharp End of the Trowel,” I found myself agreeing with what other journalists have said about them: “inexplicable and magical.”   With the music seemingly out of time…blended with haunting vocals, I found myself reminiscing about Jim Morrison’s approach to the Doors.  The lyrics to this song were dark and captured my attention quickly.  One of the lines in the chorus specifically got my attention… “a long way to heaven.”   It is obvious that they have reached deep within their own souls to get the listener to empathize with them.  This song may not necessarily be relevant to what we hear on traditional radio, but I believe it is very relevant to what is going in the world today.   I could easily hear this song in a new JAMES BOND or QUENTIN TARANTINO movie… If you are in the mood for music that will take you on a journey to the dark side of your inner most being, you will love this…over and over again!

 I give them 4 out of 5 Fish

The Switch - Heard It All Before

…in a town called Kilburn in North West London three chaps got together and decided to create music and share it with the world.  Together, Justin…Patrick and Giacomo are The Switch.  Their unique chemistry clicked immediately…and they are ready to take on the world.  I had the pleasure of being one of the first people to hear their single “Heard It All Before.”  I must say that when I closed my eyes I felt like I was back in the early 80’s in a back room jam with Geddy Lee sitting in with the Tubes...and Bono from U2 joining them on the “Oo Oo’s” towards the end of the song.    Not only were the songs reminiscent of that ilk, but the musicianship is top notch….the dynamics refreshing…the riffs catchy…the lyrics fun…and they have a relevant sound, similar to The Killers a few years back.

It is no surprise that a band reminiscent of times past has chosen to release their album on 7” Vinyl and create limited edition versions!  Excellent sound!  Love, Love, Love them…

…make The Switch to “Heard It All Before!”




www.itsallhappening.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/theswitchlondon

 I give them 4 out of 5 Fish!

Echoes De Luxe - Hold On

…the title track for Echoes De Luxe up and coming sophomore EP “Hold On” is mesmerizing to say the least.  From note one, it takes me to a place that doesn’t exist in my daily realm of tasks and to do’s.  It literally floats all around me with similarities to Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World,” and all of the memories that song conjured up.   Un-bridled with dancing guitar riffs similar to that of what I’d expect from an orchestral movement…it actually distracts me from what I’m doing, a nice change in my day.  Knowing that the industry professionals like Alex Newport (Jubilee, Mars Volta), Pete Lyman (Mars Volta, Death Cab for Cutie) had their hand in helping mix and master this EP comes as no surprise as it is sonically clean with the various musical instruments spread across the canvas beautifully….not to mention getting noticed by Janes Addiction guitarist, Dave Navarro.  Not only did he play their songs on his weekly radio show (Dark Matter), he invited the band to perform live on his shown support of the EP.

As a side note, the band finished this EP in an empty church in Silverlake, CA.  This also comes as no surprise as that is exactly what your mind will imagine when you listen to it.   I picture the lead singer floating around the church…chanting…”Hold On…I don’t want to leave you…Say Goodbye…” with an orchestra on the stage dressed in black…and children playing in slow motion…running in and out of the pews…but, that’s just me.  Hold on…whilst Echoes De Luxe takes you on a ride narrated by the melody of their story…



 I give them 3 out of 5 Fish!




--The Fish

Lapse/Eddie Brock - Split 7”

I got my hands on this split just a few days ago. I am glad I did. Both of these bands come from the Baltimore area and place wickedly fast hardcore. Both of these bands are killer. Killer riffs, the vocals kill and killer fast beats make this under eight minute split awesome….err killer!!

The first half of this slit belongs to the boys in Lapse. They start things off with the track, “Bonehead”. About a minute long, this songs starts off with an intro about aliens and then immediately kicks you in the balls…or lady parts, with such ferocity it feels like they are in your chest. This is one intense minute.

“Fall asleep. Sink subside.
So much to do, such little time.
Work is shit. Still I grind
Fall apart - overtime.”

Flip that son bitch around and it’s Eddie Brock’s time to shine. First of all, let me just say I love Spider-Man and fucking Venom is my favorite character in the series. I love when bands have awesome names.  Anyway the music, it’s as  fucking as awesome as the name. “Pointer Thumb Pinky” starts off their side but I really think the song “Absol” is the song that shines. Brutal, fast and angry. I’m in love.

“Why am I still here because I fear nothing
Negative thoughts plague my mind born
Fucked up life is dry so tell me what your
Life is like when the wall around you burn
And everything you had mixes with the dirt
I do not know what to feel no I do not know
What to say I have never held to faith when
My life is in disarray I know pain I die I’ve
Danced with the devil bit I’ve never seen God
It makes it hard to believe when negativity
Is all you got”

Get on the internet…well stay on the internet and point your mouse to the link below and get this split. Support independent and DIY bands. It’s $4, no excuses!!!

Lapse and Eddie Brock go good with: Infest, ACxDC, Crossed Out, Torn Off, Weekend Nachos, Wicans, Retox, Full Of Hell, Mind Eraser

-Cicatriz

Buy this Split here:  http://lapsenoise.bigcartel.com/product/lapse-eddie-brock-split-7

Two Royals by Penfold - Featuring The Last Royals and Royal Thunder

The Last Royals - Crystal Vases b/w Backseat Lovers

It’s sad, but my very profitable work as genealogist for the two royal families of New York may quickly be coming to an end.  You see dear waveriders, at the moment the future of these two grand bloodlines is in serious jeopardy.  Only one young man from each family is left to carry on each esteemed line.  In a bold stroke of luck for this writer the two men in question, Eric James and Mason Ingram, have decided to join forces in a musical venture appropriately titled The Last Royals.  I sincerely hope this title is in jest.  I’m not well suited for any other profession.

Now let’s talk about this musical venture, shall we?  These two debut singles taken from a recently released EP represent pop music near the summit of Mount Perfection.  Seriously, these songs are extraordinary!  The Last Royals describe themselves as ‘urban walking music’.  If that is true, you should expect to see people in downtown cityscapes either happily skipping along or walking at a quickened pace while undulating wildly.  I know that is how I would be transporting myself while under the influence of that soundtrack!

“Crystal Vases” is the first song on offer.  The vocals tell a bittersweet tale of a man admiring a vase that has survived a bad break up and now functions as an ashtray.  Would you think a song concerning this topic would be depressing?  While that is certainly a reasonable assumption, the music played behind this sullen tale makes it strangely jovial and celebratory.  The song is very well structured.  It gradually builds itself up from a humble guitar/vocal start, crescendos with added instrumentation to the chorus, then brings the energy level back down in order to build once again to the finish.  And then there is “Backseat Lovers”.  This synthesizer driven monster will have you bouncing off the walls!  I’m reminded of Cake at their funkiest.  The highest compliment I can pay The Last Royals is that after listening to these songs repeatedly, I’m most upset that I can’t have the instant gratification of immediately hearing more of their music.  Download these songs now!

Download Link - http://thelastroyals.com/

Royal Thunder  S/T EP

You know, sometimes it’s really not enjoyable being a royal appointee.  This is one of those times…but hey, it’s a job.  After having cut ties with my previous genealogist position in New York, I moved south to Atlanta where an old friend of mine put in a good word for me with the royal family of Georgia.  Upon my arrival I appeared before the court, ingratiated myself with the important parties involved, and thus became the new royal image manager.  The first order of business requiring my attention was to hear applicants wishing to become the ‘Official Thunder Manufacturer’ of the royal family.  Apparently the royals of Georgia were big meteorology buffs who already employed people in the positions of ‘Official’ lightning catcher, tornado chaser, hurricane designator, and cloudscape portrait maker.  ‘Thunder Manufacturer’ was simply the next position that needed to be filled.

And that waveriders is how I found myself sitting behind a table in an empty gymnasium, judging the merits of hopeful ‘thunder’ applicants, bored out of my skull.  You would not believe how many people took to the stage before me and simply yelled “BOOM!” as loud as they could.  It was stunning and baffling at first, but eventually it became mind-numbing.  That’s not to say there were no standouts, however bad they might have been.  First there was a one-man-band with two bass drums on his back and cymbals in his hands.  That guy was interesting.  Second, there was the smug DJ who simply laid his large speakers face down and played a series of bass tracks at extreme volume.  Yeah, no.  Lastly there was the old, manic traditionalist who brought in a thin sheet of metal which he expertly manipulated to produce the sound of a clap and several rolls of thunder.  Impressive, but not what I really wanted.  Thankfully Royal Thunder (how appropriate) eventually took the stage for their audition.

The three members of the band set up their gear onstage, tuned their instruments, and proceeded to demonstrate their power.  All seven songs from their EP, counting the introductory track, were played in order.  It was uncanny how easily the band’s music could be compared to an actual thunderstorm.  The introduction utilizes the female lead singer’s haunting voice to create the first hint of tension, as if you can just make out dark clouds forming on the horizon.  You can feel something heavy is approaching.  “Sleeping Witch”, the first proper song, simulates the cloud mass rapidly overtaking your postion and the rain pouring down.  “Mouth of Fire” and “Low” represent the brunt of the storm.  Thunder and lightning abound and the rain is being blown almost sideways from gale force winds.  “Grave Dance” quiets things down for a few moments, as if you are in the eye of the monster swirling around you, but before long the full force of the storm has returned.  “Hotel Bend” mimics the sound of the storm winding down, and the last song “Deacon” proves that one needs to be cautious no matter how quiet and seemingly peaceful things become.  Many storms throw one last round of brute force your way before finally leaving the area for good.

Okay, now that I’ve gone on perhaps too long concerning what the music reminds me of, it’s time to acquaint you with what the band actually sounds like.  As I mentioned before, there are three members in this band.  Mlny Parsonz plays bass and sings, Josh Weaver strums the guitar, and Jesse Stuber beats on the drums.  Together they create some haunting, groovy, doomy, muscular, beautiful tunes.  Instrumentally I often think of the mighty Black Sabbath, but the vocals are another matter.  It is a failing of mine that I can not come up with an adequate comparison for Ms. Parsonz’s exquisite vocals.  I’m certainly reminded of someone but I can’t quite put my finger on it, and for that I apologize.  What I will say is that the vocals are truly fantastic, and are definitely a highlight of the listening experience!

Obviously after listening to Royal Thunder I had found my new ‘Thunder Manufacturers’.  All of the remaining applicants were dismissed, and I hurried to inform my employers of the hiring.  They were going to be thrilled!

-- Penfold

Praise Pours in for the Stone Axe/Mighty High split 7" Single

Ok, here's the conundrum.

We got on our hands one of the coolest pieces of split vinyl to come around in ages.  But we're much too shy to write about it ourselves, and we wouldn't want anyone to think we were illegally tooting our own horns on this release.  But we wanna spread the word.

So what we decided to do, was let others tell the story of how killer this split is.  So let's go--

Stone Axe/Mighty High Split 7"

"Impossible not to crack an illegal smile when you hear this.  Stone Axe are one of the best retro-metal acts around.  Kiss might've sounded this good if they'd learned to play their instruments.  There's no one better than Mighty High at making fun of wretched metal excess.  It's priceless."  -- Lucid Culture

"Stone Axe is pure old-school metal played with a power that is sadly rare these days.  Will leave you lusting for more if an ounce of rock and roll spirit throbs in your veins. Mighty High kick off a stoned punk squall that sounds like Queens of the Stone Age playing Rancid Covers.  Both tracks are well worth your time and money and it’s hard to imagine rock fans not wanting to track down at least one of the albums by these fantastic bands. Either way, with two bands of this quality on one release this is something of a must-have."-- Sonic Abuse

"Newcomers Ripple Music managed to get two highly explosive bands onto a 7".   Stone Axe's "Metal Damage" has me thinking of pre-Stained class Judas Priest, the kind of mid-1970's metal where band's took their time and built up the sound with a steady boil of activity. Mighty High's "Don't panic, It's Organic" is even better. The main riff is huge and dripping with 1970's fuzzed out goodness. This is the perfect tune for playing about two minutes after 5:00 on a Friday. Both bands deliver the goods on this album." -- Metal Mark, Heavy Metal Time Machine

"Ripple Music have a gem on their hands. An awesome set of tunes. Stone Axe delivers the goods once again.“Metal Damage” is a throw back to classic Judas Priest from the later 70′s to early 80′s. The best duo around to preserving music from the 70′s. Mighty High really rock with their contribution “Don’t Panic, It’s Organic,”a fast paced, almost punk-like rock song. Get yours today." -- The Soda Shop


Produced in amazingly limited supplies.  The only way to get this is to catch Stone Axe or Mighy High on tour, or get your copy at www.ripple-music.com