It’s the energy that grabs you. I reviewed Benet Mclean’s ‘The Bopped and The Bopless’ back in 2016 and have not tired of it. So, it was a little trepidation I pressed ‘play’ on Mclean’s latest release ‘Green Park’. I mean, how can you top ‘The Bopped and The Bopless’? Mclean does not even try …
Single Review: “Accordion Song” – Mae Karthauser
A waltz! Something for double bass, vocals, cello, flute and piano. It’s gorgeous, the only thing that surprised me was the lack of an accordion! You can just hear it. This is listed as alternative folk, but it has a little bit of a jazzy flair in the arrangement. You can just imagine this being …
Single Review: “You Built A Wall” – The Way After
This is the new single from The Way After a band from London/Coventry, and it’s quite a tune! It starts off with a count off on the sticks, which gives way to a very pleasant indie rock number. But what caught my ear is the use of the string quartet on it, really lush strings. …
Single Review: “Carry The Load” – James Numbere
James Numbere is back and he’s brought us a gospel song that is just gorgeous. Mixed with African percussion, acoustic guitars, piano and strings this just hits the spot. The lyrics appeal to God for help in carrying the load, and recognises that we are after all human with very human physicalities – the lyrics …
Single Review: “Nola” – LOCKS
A bit of bluesy country in the playlist! I’m not sure whether I want to line dance or do the dosie doh, but it’s a bit of a jolly tune, and I love the fiddle playing. The double bass is up there keeping time too, and it sounds like they’re having a jolly old time …
Single Review: “Jouska” – Josephine Pascoe
This instrumental is… Full of life. In a time when the world needs to get up and celebrate what we have, this track hits the spot. Josephine plays the violin and flute on this and while you wouldn’t really associate the violin and flute occupying the melody line for jazz and funk, she does it …
Single Review: “Waves” – Marina Florance
Marina Florance, fellow Fresh On The Net moderator and my songwriting partner of three songs is back, and this song is gorgeous. Wow.. It starts off with her accompanying herself on guitar, and singing in the lower register of her voice. There is something really calming about her vocals that I love, she just makes …
Single Review: “Smoke And Mud” – The Kintners
Smoke And Mud – The Kintners This song is so dark. What do I mean? Well, firstly the chord progressions give it that really bluesy feel. This isn’t a bad thing. I love this song, it’s been on my radar for sometime as it’s been on bandcamp and it was sent to me as a …
Single Review: “Sai Ram” – Balladeste
This has a gorgeous Celtic feel, violin leading the way, and it just whisks you away across windswept greenery… It’s a gorgeous melody that just made me close my eyes and dream… It reminds me of something I’d hear as a romantic theme in a film, introducing the heroine with attitude, the leader, the heart …