Under the name Martyr Art, multi-instrumentalist Joe Gagliardi III has been making industrial and gothic tinged music since 2004. Recording prolifically since then, his work has mixed original compositions and cover tunes, often in a style that leans heavily towards a darker sound. In 2019, he released ‘Through Soundwaves, Vol. 1’, the first in a planned series of four EPs bringing together most aspects of the Martyr Art universe. A mini treat for goth and darkwave fans, a moody stomping piece ‘Halloween (The Desire of Michael Myers’ showed off Martyr’s darkest side, while a brilliant cover of the Cure classic ‘A Forest’ teased with cinematic gothic moodiness before breaking into a brilliant industrial metal crossover sound that gave the source material a severe kick up the arse. With a little bit of a dark ambient sound creeping in during ‘In The Shadows of Philadelphia’ and a particularly mechanical re-imagining of an old Type O Negative classic thrown into the bargain, the EP had plenty to entertainment value for fans of the style.
Monthly Archives: February 2022
PRIMA DONNA – Atomic Love / He’s A Rebel
Although their origins stretch back much further, LA power poppers/garage rockers Prima Donna considered their self-titled full length release from 2018 to be a new start; the kind of record that really introduced the world to a band at their best. …And indeed, the bulk of its material showcased a more confident band; an act fully at ease with a commercial sound and a huge chorus or six. Over the next couple of years, some great singles emerged, with Prima Donna’s blend of timeless pop cool and garage rock flair eventually peaking on an unexpected cover of Bananarama’s ‘Cruel Summer’ driven by a massive fuzz bass.
VARIOUS ARTISTS – I Love To See You Strut: More 60s Mod, R&B, Brit Soul & Freakbeat Nuggets
The inaugural release from Strawberry Records, ‘Halcyon Days’, set out the new label’s stall with extreme confidence. Taking cues from the now defunct RPM Records’ ‘Looking Back’ series, its three discs came packed with cult mod tunes, alternative floor fillers and a whole raft of feelgood 60s sounds. With very little overlap between those earlier releases from RPM, it proved there was far more to be mined in terms of Zoot Suit gold. Simply put, ‘Halcyon Days’ was one of 2019’s finest anthologies; an unmissable box set for anyone with the vaguest of interests in underground mod sides and Northern Soul nuggets.
Sequels are often inferior by their very nature, and complied of stuff that wasn’t quite good enough to make the cut the first time around. ‘I Love To See You Strut’ features many of the same acts, and you’ll find reasonably well known cuts from The Who, Dusty Springfield, The Kinks, The Zombies and Manfred Mann among its many treasures – tunes that many devotees of 60s comps will likely already have elsewhere – but it couldn’t ever be considered a lesser listening experience.
Watch: Screaming Trees live in 1996 (full show)
When Screaming Trees visited the UK on the ‘Dust’ tour in 1996, it was very much a cause for celebration. Having already pulled out of that year’s Reading Festival line up and now having another hugely successful album under their collective belt, it was no wonder that fans absolutely joyous at their long-overdue return. In addition, ‘Dust’ was arguably their finest work to date. With its heavy elements counterbalanced by huge swathes of dark psychedelia and prominent use of mellotron, it was almost as if their retro sound had come full circle and harked back to the 60s inspired parts of albums like ‘Invisible Lantern’, but it also had the benefit of much stronger song writing.
GET THE FUCK OUTTA DODGE – It’s Not Our Fault Your Boyfriend’s Stupid
Get The Fuck Outta Dodge are insanely prolific. ‘It’s Not Our Fault Your Boyfriend’s Stupid’ is the duo’s fourth release in a little over fifteen months. Unlike most bands, a global pandemic didn’t slow them down. If anything it amplified their work ethic, since James (bass/shouting) and Ren (drums/more shouting) could effectively work within their own bubble, and their quick and cheap recording approach more than lent itself to working within a limited set up.