EP: Oh Joy - Joy For All

Oh Joy - Habits & Recreations

Info: Dublin alternative rock and indie trio Oh Joy released their debut EP, Joy For All, at the end of last month, following on the heels of singles, 'Dead Bee', 'Habits & Recreations' (above) and most recently, 'Peter The Nothing'. Formerly known as The Journals, Oliver Moyles, John McDowell and Alex Cummins took time out last year to head into the studio and work hard on creating something they felt they could be proud of with the help of Liam Mulvaney at Bow Lane Studio. 

The DNA of The Journals still ripples under opening track 'Habits & Recreations' (above), but it is immediately clear that Oh Joy have added a far heavier rock sound to their new material. Chugging bass and distorted guitar riffs coupled with smashing cymbals gives the single a sonic edge that will greatly appeal to fans of heavy rock such as myself, it is a quality single and we're off to a good start already.

'Dead Bee', (below) the first release from the forthcoming EP, opens gently with soft electric guitar and percussion, it's here that we can fully appreciate the uniqueness of frontman Oliver Moyles' vocals, pained and haunting yet crystal clear, a controlled tremble that stands out and delivers the mood of the song almost by itself. Latest single 'Peter The Nothing' dips it's toe in indie ballad territory, hitting James Dean Bradfield height notes, Moyles once again transposes emotion to the listener with great ease on a track that draws you under with it's balmy guitar sounds. 

Oh Joy - Dead Bee

Another highlight comes on 'Bless You', there's so much to like about this track, it's brimming with a sinister energy and loops effortlessly from moments of calm to chaos, where Oh Joy excel is executing the timing of these musical changes but also not becoming so preoccupied by them at the expense of retaining that sense of emotional abandon that characterises much of Joy For All. 

By the time you've waded through the first few bars of final track 'Mons' you realise the band are sitting on a potential 4 singles out of 5 which is some achievement for an EP release. 'Mons' is frustrated and lamenting, as well as ambitious in its reach, guitars bend and soar in and around the vocals and our ears, it's like a snapshot of where Oh Joy have come from since their new inception began, everything feels poured into this last track. These guys are the real deal, I've no doubt about that, and their song-writing talent and musicianship has always been evident, it's just so satisfying to see that they've channeled their determination into such a strong debut EP, they've been patient and strived for perfection and it's paid off.

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Album: mike benecke - call the waves

mike benecke - Astral Line

Info: From Los Angeles comes indie-folk musician mike benecke, whose debut album, call the waves, was released just last month, almost three and a half years after his self-titled debut EP. After time spent in punk and indie bands, Benecke dropped everything to focus on acoustic guitar, vocals and keys. His debut ep - simple, intimate, unproduced - was hailed "a stunner… one of the most intimately thoughtful and honestly heartfelt records to come out of LA in years" (la-underground), broadcast by the estimable taste-makers at KCRW Los Angeles, and was west coast finalist on NPR's 2012 Mountain Stage songwriting contest. Now, Call the Waves, mike's deput lp, flows outward from that spring. Leading a band of brothers, their drums, bass, keys, guitars, and voices create ghostly melodies, unique structures, and simple, unexpected songs. Recorded raw, often from a single take, Call the Waves haunting, transformative songwriting, takes on a life of its own. (think Sun Kil Moon, Sufjan Stevens, Cass McCombs.)

After my first listen of call the waves I admit I had mixed feelings, I liked what I was hearing, but felt too easily distracted away from listening earnestly. After a week of repeated listens it was growing on me until eventually I was fully appreciative of it's nuances and found highlights on all of its nine tracks. 'July Fires' kicks things off, and benecke's desire to be stripped down is evident here, it grew into a beautiful ballad for me as I absorbed the lyrics more, the gentle but forceful percussion courtesy of the tambourine adding a level of determination.

mike benecke - bloodsong

Second track 'bloodsong' (above) is pained and heartfelt, full on folk sounds abound, this time with intermittent drums; 'In the dark a secret river consumes itself, but in the heart, it pulls me under the deepest spell, tonight...will you carry me down to the shore, lead me into the flood'. The electric guitar progression reminding me of Damien Jurado circa 2008's Caught in the Trees.

The album's title-track is softly spoken in its delivery, and there's some really nice steel guitar slides to give it that true Americana feel, I think at this point of the album, after a couple of listens, I was starting to 'get' what benecke was up to, a sincere and honest album, but one on which the lyrical quality was backed up by genuine intention to create something that meant something on his part, not just a collection of songs he wrote to be recorded.

At the album's half-way point we come to the very pleasing 'half-life', so strange that this reminded me of early Mogwai in its purely instrumental moments, but it really did! It pushes benecke's sound from strong folk into another realm, ambient and moving with atmospheric effects. A single arrives in the form of 'my brain' (below), I loved this one, it took a small smidgen of honky tonk and humour and added it to a wonderfully upbeat piece of satire. This could have easily been on Father John Misty's epic Honeybear from last year.

mike benecke - my brain

Benecke comes back to the sound on the earlier tracks on the album with 'recall the waves' and 'chasing constellations' before closing with another highlight in 'birds', this one almost represents the two styles on call the waves, folk and upbeat indie in one, it's a crashing finish to the album with drums at full pelt and it was the tracks like these that made what would have been a good folk album a really good folk-rock one. Benecke seems to be well on the way to nailing down his sound here, call the waves is a more than good introduction and snapshot of what he's honing and his next album will be eagerly awaited around these parts.

You can download a name your price copy of call the waves at mike benecke's Bandcamp page here https://mikebenecke.bandcamp.com/album/call-the-waves

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Website: http://www.mikebenecke.com/

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Bandcamp: https://mikebenecke.bandcamp.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikebenecke

Video: Laura Sheeran - Light A Fire

Laura Sheeran - Light A Fire

Info: Laura Sheeran is an electronic and alternative pop artist, who also happens to be an extremely talented photographer and filmmaker, and she has just today released a new track and video for 'Light A Fire' which she unsurprisingly produced and filmed herself. My own introduction to Sheeran was through her photography, and until today I hadn't had the pleasure of hearing her music, with the above track set to feature on a forthcoming album, SPELLBOOK. Sheeran also plays The Bello Bar tonight with Bad Bones and Katharine Philippa and will perform some previously unheard material.

A dark and doom-laden bass-line opens up 'Light A Fire', with Sheeran's deep-toned and seductive vocals preempting the intense and spine-tingling atmosphere which is about to envelope us, the line 'Do you remember fucking in fever, dressing me down with your eyes, you made me feel beautiful' striking the listener in particular. Echoed vocals in the distance hauntingly help ratchet up the tension, the mythical and mystical quality of the song brought forward considerably by an almost Gregorian and operatic vocal on the songs chorus. All of this is wrapped in some sharp pounding electronic beats which reach an industrial tempo. 

Visually the video showcases the creative imagination behind it perfectly, hints of the tribal nature of the track are everywhere, the low light of winter capturing the tone and mood, with out of focus shots contrasting the songs softer and more ethereal moments before returning for it's crescendos. I'm a bit scared at how good this album could be, afraid and excited simultaneously.

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