FAUNTELLA CROW – Lost Here EP

Fauntella CrowFauntella Crow is a singer-songwriter/pop/folk duo from Los Angeles comprising of vocalist/pianist Sunday Lane and violinist/vocalist Jessy Green.  Lane, a classically trained pianist makes her first huge steps into the music world at large with this project, while Green has an impressive resume having previously worked with Glen Campbell, Wilco and alongside the legendary Dave Grohl in his Sound City Players (a project also featuring Rick Springfield, Stevie Nicks and other household names).  Fauntella Crow first came to the attention of many when they appeared at the 2013 SXSW Festival.

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THE SILVER SEAS – Alaska

AlaskaThe Silver Seas 2010 album ‘Chateau Revenge!’ not only raised the bar in terms of what they were capable as a band, but the release also came with a strong sense of cult adoration, with the UK’s Danny Baker becoming one of the band’s most outspoken supporters.  For those who were there, the band’s September 2011 performance in front of a select but fiercely loyal London crowd – just prior to an appearance on the BBC’s prestigious ‘Later…With Jools Holland’- remains something of a watershed moment.  Riding the wave further and coming up with an album that was not only equal, but better than ‘Chateau Revenge!’ was always going to be tough.  So, like Fleetwood Mac following the hugely palatable ‘Rumours’ with the over indulgent ‘Tusk’, with 2013’s ‘Alaska’, The Silver Seas have wisely chosen not to try and top previous achievements, but instead take a side-step and – at lease on the surface – offer their loyal fans something different.  …But fear not, it’s not so different…at least not in a frankly paranoid, coked-out and bonkers ‘Tusk’ sense.

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ALICE AND THE GLASS LAKE – The Evolution EP

artworks-000045011920-7gzs91-t500x500The brainchild of singer-songwriter Alice Lake, Alice & The Glass Lake explores various dream worlds of pop on this debut EP.  Taken at face value, it’s quite, quite lovely.  However, it shouldn’t escape the notice of most people that Lake’s pop fantasies and soundscapes owe so much to a few other artists who have graced us before, most notably Florence Welch and her million selling Machine.  Still, for those who enjoy very thoughtful pop, that shouldn’t – and doesn’t – make her music any less enjoyable.

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JEFF LYNNE – Armchair Theatre

In 1987, Electric Light Orchestra head honcho Jeff Lynne sat in as producer with ex-Beatle George Harrison on his hugely popular ‘Cloud Nine’ album.  The combination of Harrison’s gift for pop melodies and Lynne’s very distinctive production sound (often revolving around filtered harmony vocals and a gated snare drum leading to a very compressed sound) led to the album being a multi-million seller.  The sessions also gave birth to the greatest supergroup ever – The Traveling Wilburys, comprising Harrison, Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison.  While some people overlook Lynne’s contribution to the group, it is his studio expertise which, perhaps, brings the most to what we now think of as the “Wilbury sound”.

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ALMOST CLASSY – Almost Classy EP

almost classyAlmost Classy – a four piece outfit comprising members from all over the US – bring various elements of classic pop rock together on their debut EP.  Music fans will be about to pick out a myriad of influences throughout these five tunes and the active nature of the band’s arrangements are such that different people could well hear different things, but somehow Almost Classy blend their influences into a wholly enjoyable package that sounds like the work of a band far better than mere copyists.

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