This is the new single from Rubberband Girl and… it’s a cracker. It’s like a cleaned up “Hand In My Pocket” with a banjo in there, and the drums are “properly” recorded, not as gritty. The title reminds me of a segment of Top Gear which *shock horror* I’ve never seen but was having a …
In The Spotlight: Sammy Stein Talks To Jo Harrop
Jo Harrop is a vocalist whose personality flows into her sound. I have seen her perform in the intimate space that is Hampstead Jazz Club and more recently in the Piano bar in Soho, where my companion, Georgia Mancio, herself a wonderful singer, was greeted by Jo and invited to join her for a song. …
Single Review: “Angel” – Sinead Campbell
Wow. This is the 70s throwback I didn’t know I needed today. This has everything – a glockenspiel, electric piano, flute, guitar run through a wah and drums and bass with a pocket deeper than Elon Musk. But let’s salute Sinead’s vocals here – she goes from playful to straight down the line jazz and …
Single Review: “So We Find Ourselves” – Fink
Well this is a beauty of a track to start the month off with! This starts off so simply, just a piano and what sounds like a muted floor tom playing triplets. But it’s the vocals that come in low that sets it off because when the harmonies come in it’s spine tingling. They come …
In The Spotlight: Sammy Stein Talks to Cheryl Pyle
Cheryl Pyle is a jazz flutist who has been playing on the world’s stages for decades. She has played with many of the jazz luminaries and continues to be a dedicated and prolific artist. We decided it was high time for a Cheryl Pyle interview. Here, Cheryl offers an insight into her musical life and …
Single Review: “Japanese Knotweed” – Karolina Wilgus
This new single from Karolina Wilgus is genius. From the way the vocals are arranged over a hypnotising hip hop jazz beat this brings a lot of different things to keep you interested. For one thing, the vocals in the intro have an operatic quality, nicely layered so you can separate the alto, tenor and …
Album Review: “Mr. Bennett’s Mind” – Daniel Bennett Group. Words: Sammy Stein
‘Mr Bennett’s Mind’ (Manhattan Daylight Media, 2024) is the 10th studio release from the Daniel Bennett Group. Having reviewed several of their releases, this is a musical progression in the fullest of senses. The album was recorded at the iconic Big Orange Sheep Studio in Brooklyn, New York, and produced by Grammy-nominated producer MP Kuo. …
Blog interview: Lori Triplett
Hello Lori, how are you? You’re an artist from Nashville, how did it all begin for you? Hey Platinum Mind – thanks for having me! Yes, I’m based out of Nashville, TN, but grew up in a small town in Ohio called St. Marys. Music was always a part of my life growing up, thanks to …
Single Review: “All Black Everything” – Amy Gadiaga
Amy Gadiaga brought beauty and grace to this track… it starts off with a piano part that’s like a call to action for a jam session, and boy does the whole thing bring its a game from Amy’s bass line and the drums staying in pocket… Her vocals here are the star, with layered harmonies …
Single Review: “Retrospective” – Charlotte Adelle
The thing that struck me about this song was the atmospheric production of it. It’s epic, the single note on the piano keeping time, along with the swirling synths. This is beautiful. The chorus is where it got me though both lyrically and musically. The song starts off with the acceptance that no amount of …