Album: Sam Brown - Wheel of Fortune

Info: Brooklyn based Sam Brown is a multi-instrumentalist song-writer who dabbles in a wide variety of genres spanning from rock to soul to experimental, electronica and beyond. Brown's sophomore album, Wheel of Fortune, was released a few weeks ago; "This new release "Wheel Of Fortune" is primarily a sprawling electronic double album, featuring lots of influences ranging from Hindustani music from his time spent studying in India to Moog-heavy electronic artists."

And sprawling it sure is, coming in with a whopping 34 tracks spread over almost two and a half hours in comparison to last years immense debut Yellow Cake's 14 songs. Things start nice and mellow on the opening 'Untitled', a dream-like movement of sound that is hypnotically carried by Brown's soft vocal. After the introductory Moog offering of '23' comes a psychedelic and disorientating experience with 'Black Is The Colour', this is certainly where Sam Brown excels, experimenting beyond normal boundaries and creating an atmosphere that is at once both dark and playful.

Sci-fi electro moods abound on the appropriately titled 'Heart to Starboard (feat. Fourth Shift)', there's tinges of 80's electronic music á la Tubeway Army with the vocalizer adding a new age edge to a track which again is a lot fun. 'Magic' could be the soundtrack to a classic retro game, colourfully zipping through the clicks and beats before further eyebrows are happily raised on the house and techno sounds of 'H Is The Most Precious Letter'.

Highlights from the rest of the double album (and there are many) come on the nu-jazz electronic 'We Don't Need Anybody', the whacky madness and funk grooves of 'Bass', the Aphex Twin-esque 'We Are Not Your Friends', the escapist trance of '77' and the sublimely delicious inertia of 'The Absinthe Fairy With Auburn Hair', one of my favourites. Wheel of Fortune is hugely ambitious and travels far and wide, there's a lot to digest but it's immensely pleasurable hearing an artist confidently taking experimentalism to new heights.

Like / Listen & Follow:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhoIsSamBrown

Bandcamp: https://littlelrecords.bandcamp.com/album/yellow-cake

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhoIsSamBrown

Single: Vulpynes - Terry Said

Vulpynes - Terry Said

Info: Dublin's Vulpynes are a two-piece punk rock/grunge band who have just released their first single 'Terry Said' on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify on Thursday. This month they will be supporting the Red Moon Bayonets in the Workman's Club next Saturday, 6th of August and also The Glimmermen in Tullamore on August 13th. 

Maeve Molly on vox and guitar and Kaz on drums don't hide the fact that it's all about the noise for Vulpynes, and there's no messing about with the hard rock edge of their debut single, 'Terry Said'. The track is a great mix of 90's grunge and contemporary rock, I'm sure there will be comparisons to the likes of The White Stripes but I think that might be a bit lazy and more optical than anything else. The guitar sears throughout the whole song and the thrash percussion and angsty vocals tie in together almost nonchalantly to create a superb sound, definitely looking forward to hearing more from these guys sooner rather than later. 

Like / Listen & Follow:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vulpynes

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/vulpynes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vulpynes

Single: Snippet - Falling Down

Info: Having released four albums and a slew of EP's and other compilations over the past few years, electronic DIY artist from Colchester, Snippet (aka Johnno Casson) is due to release his latest album, Future Melancholy Pop Music with above single, 'Falling Down' being the first release . Johnno was born in a wonderfully multi cultural Hackney, London and grew up to the sounds of British Pop music, lovers rock, ska & funk echoing around his head. 10 years ago he took the time honoured route of moving from the East End of London to Essex and is now firmly based in Colchester.

Snippets latest single is a full-on indiepop groover that recalls a more chilled out Black Grape or Primal Scream circa Screamadelica vibe. At just over three minutes long, 'Falling Down' spirals down through a variety of experimental pop sounds, there's a baggy 90's feel to the rhythm and glittering electro sound effects bring a whole load of happy feels to the fore. The track ends with an almost gospel cheer before abruptly finishing on its snappy and recurrent bass solo line. Happy music for happy people!

Look / Like / Listen & Follow: 

Website: http://www.snippetcuts.co.uk/

Like: https://www.facebook.com/snippetmusic

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/snippet

Bandcamp: https://snippetcuts.bandcamp.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Snippetcuts