Michigan‘s songsmith JOHN GRANT was quite active after the release of his 2021
solo LP Boy From Michigan. Last year he recorded an album with his band Creep
Show, an EP with Midlake, and did a Nick Drake cover for a tribute album.
Now he returns on his own again, with his 7th album, titled THE ART OF THE LIE.
Press-info: “The Art Of The Lie is Grant’s most opulent, cinematic, luxurious album
yet and confirms Grant’s status as a modern electronic auteur. Grant likens the musical
flavours of The Art of the Lie to the sumptuous Vangelis soundtrack for Bladerunner or
the Carpenters if John Carpenter were also a member.
While undeniably a John Grant record, nestling humour into tragedy, bleeding anger into compassion, there is a musical ambition and nerve to ‘The Art of the Lie’ which offsets its
most political and personal moments.”
TUTV: Grant still has to come fully to terms with his homosexuality in relation with his parents, tormented by his Catholic upbringing causing mood swings, both lyrically and sonically. A record for lonely hearts and confused souls. Human, honest and genuine.
Singles/clips: All That School For Nothing / It’s A Bitch / The Child Catcher
This Australian rawk ‘n’ roll tornado released their second LP ‘Comfort To Me‘
already 3 years ago and they’re still touring it. It calls popularity and success.
But they found some time recently to record this belter. U Should Not Be Doing
That bounces forth and back, and funks and punks with big beats, schreeching
guitars, a sexy sax and Amyl ‘s sneering vocality.
2024 is supersonic Irish post-punk turbineSprints‘s breakthrough year.
Their rad riff ‘n’ roar debut LP Letter To Self, caused/causes exciting waves
among critics and old/new fans.
To keep the momentum going they dropped this new whirlwind stroke.
Truly hypnotizing from start to finish with velvety vocals and darkwavish synths
in the back adding a twilight tone. Top-tier tune. The on-repeat button was invented
for this kind of arousing thrills. Don’t miss this ecstatic MM jam.
“In and out
Inside again
I’m passing out
To ease the strain”
The British pop/rock team that scored three successful albums between 2003 and 2014 returned in 2022 for some live action. They all got in the mood again and wrote/recorded thsi brand new song Don’t Go Making Plans.
It’s an infectious, brassy tune that swings around with a dance-inviting oomph.
“Where’s everybody? Where’s everyone? / I’m coming out tonight, I wanna have some fun /
But these empty streets and shut-up bars/ Too broke to eat, to nowhere to dance.”
This rotating riff-ripper is just irresistible. It’s a head-spinning stomper that gets under
your skin from the get-go. A fervid upper with a jump-up-and-down with your fists in the air chorus that doubles your adrenalin production for 4 and a half banging minutes.
Think of the early zealous gusto and the buzzing drive of NYC’s celebs The Strokes.
In a normal world, this revved-up stunner of a tune should top all indie charts
all over the globe.
Rosie Rebel and her robust retro rock combo do it again. This one is for their beloved dog of six years and tour companion, Canaan, who now rocks his tail off, up there in the sky.
As we experienced before Typhoid Rosie always storm full steam ahead from start
to finish. This punked-up, harmonious chant with its sickly sticky chorus triggers your
best zigzagging moves. It’ll feature on their 5th album, called Last Words, which lands
on June 21.
“We’re not gonna leave you in this shithole town!
Get in the car, let’s go!”
10. ‘Nothing To Report’ by FOLD PAPER (Winnipeg, US)
This far-out trio is masterminded by the Nigerian-born, Michigan-raised and Winnipeg-based Chell Osuntade, who delivers almost-spoken-word lyrics searing
with intent. They produce a raw, jittery and energetic brand of post-punk.
Nothing To Report is a glorious cacophonous jackhammer going everywhere fast.
It rattles and rambles, motorized by schizophrenic guitars, a mean bass/drum
tandem and Chell Osuntade‘s sloganesque chant. Almost 5 minutes of razzle-dazzle turmoil, revved-up dynamics and jazzed-up rhythms. Think British mavericks black midi.
11. ‘So Desperate’ by SALEM WOLVES (Providence, Rhode Island)
Photo Credit: Black Cherry Creative
With this new piece, Salem Wolves taps into the human
psyche and a lost wrestler’s supernatural ambition.
Gray Bouchard (songwriter): “‘So Desperate’ is about recontextualizing what should be a moment of triumph as something grimy. If you’re ambitious or a dreamer, it’s easy to just focus on the goal, the stage, that moment in the spotlight when all eyes are on you. You tune out the noise, ignore your screaming muscles and tired bones, and march toward victory.”
Expect a riveting mid-tempo flare-up pushed by an agonizing vocalist,
an ironclad rhythm section, and mental guitars. Vehement emotionality.
This North Carolina outfit formed, fuelled by late-night jam sessions, where the only
rule was to keep the spirit of Tom Petty alive, with members who found themselves
veering away from their roles as backing musicians for solo artists.
With Cold they hit bullseye. It’s a bittersweet epic Americana
symphony that touches heart and soul. Splendid score!
The 82-year-old VU legend JOHN CALE is one of those artists who’ll never stop
making music until his final breath. Back in January 2023 he released one of the
finest records of that year with Mercy.
And he has already another one to offer.
It’s called POPtical Illusion and he will share it with the world
on June 14. The songs were written around the time he worked
on Mercy.
While you wait for the LP find
out how old(er) dogs still rock.
Common CultureCommon Culture is a rousing, fiddle-driven alternative folk band from Barnsley, England who fuse traditional and contemporary elements into an upbeat and energetic sound.
From the very start their new pîece Taking Hold explodes like a firecracker. Peppy, bustling
and stimulating. It’s a highly encouraging mind-and-body booster incited by a dizzying pace, flaming violin play, electrical rapture, pepped-up vocals, and a delirious chorus.
There’s always a common culture light at the end of the tunnel.
Folk rock veterans Levellers should take them on tour.
“War, Hate, Distrust, Propaganda, Bullying and all the horrible attributes of life,
we don’t need it!! We have seen it all and it does not make us happy, let us break
the cycle and stop the unhappiness!!”
Wow! What a powerhouse debut smack this is. Terrifically vigorous
and puissant, with a titanic guitar-blazing and drum-hammering chorus.
This Boston collective knows how to shake their booty. They did it before and
they do it again with this instantly working booster and exultant chant.
A rotating bass riff dictates the jumping-for-joy pace, alternating female/male vocals add some more jubilation and on the chorus, we all can go nuts. And let’s not forget that brisk violin with a jocund vibe.
Cemento Atlantico is the electronic project of Italian
producer and DJ Alessandro “ToffoloMuzik” Zoffoli.
His new single is a mid-tempo techno boomer that spellbinds from start to finish.
Magnetic vibrations interwoven with hip-swaying synth eurhythmics and echoing
vocals.
Michigan‘s songsmith JOHN GRANT was quite active after the release of his 2021
solo LP Boy From Michigan. Last year he recorded an album with his band Creep
Show, an EP with Midlake, and did a Nick Drake cover for a tribute album.
Now he returns on his own, again. His 7th album,
titled THE ART OF THE LIE, will show up on June 14.
Album trailer
Press-info: “The Art Of The Lie is Grant’s most opulent, cinematic, luxurious album
yet and confirms Grant’s status as a modern electronic auteur. Grant likens the musical flavours of The Art of the Lie to the sumptuous Vangelis soundtrack for Bladerunner or
the Carpenters if John Carpenter were also a member.
While undeniably a John Grant record, nestling humour into tragedy, bleeding anger into compassion, there is a musical ambition and nerve to ‘The Art of the Lie’ which offsets its most political and personal moments.”
Grant already gave us ears sonic pleasure with these three tracks.
One mind-fucker (The Child Catcher) and two funky master blasters.
Singer-songwriter JOHN GRANT, born in Buchanan, Michigan 55 years ago and now living in Iceland, Europe was a former member of alt-rockers The Czars (1994–2006) and has so far 4 solo LPs on his CV and number 5 is recorded and ready to be launched.
Press info: “The Art Of The Lie is Grant’s most opulent, cinematic, luxurious album
yet and confirms Grant’s status as a modern electronic auteur. Grant likens the musical flavours of The Art of the Lie to the sumptuous Vangelis soundtrack for Bladerunner or the Carpenters if John Carpenter were also a member. While undeniably a John Grant record, nestling humour into tragedy, bleeding anger into compassion, there is a musical ambition and nerve to ‘The Art of the Lie’ which offsets its most political and personal moments.”
The daft album trailer.
The first track that is shared is called IT’S A BITCH.
Grant: “It was a blast making this track which is just about having fun with words, synths, dope rhythms and bass lines, and also making fun of post-COVID malaise. Plus, people get to ponder what a ‘hesher’ is. I loved going to the arcade in the 80s and watching smokin’-hot heshers hold court while playing Tempest, Stargate, Robotron and Asteroids, and while also blasting Iron Maiden and Rush on their Walkmans.”
You don’t hear John Grant
going friskily funky every day.
Artist: JOHN GRANT
Born in Buchanan, Michigan, U.S. – now living in Iceland, Europe. Who: Former member of alt-rockers The Czars (1994–2006) / so far
he made 4 solo albums.
Info:John Grant arrived at the studio to begin recording his fifth solo record,
Boy from Michigan, on 1st March 2020. “So, basically right at the beginning of
the pandemic nightmare and all throughout the Presidential campaign,” he says.
For Grant, lockdown was largely academic. He is insular by nature and removed
himself from his native America in 2011, decamping to Iceland. From afar, the US
Presidential race loomed large, though, igniting potent memories of the country
which shaped John Grant. 2020’s temporary destabilising of world order suits
Boy from Michigan’s intent just fine.
John Grant on working with Cate Le Bon for this longplayer: “Cate and I
are both very strong-willed people. Making a record is hard on a good day.
The mounting stress of the US election and the pandemic really started to get
to us by late July and August last year. It was at times a very stressful process
under the circumstances, but one which was also full of many incredible and
joyful moments.”
NME says: “The electro-pop artist’s latest punctuates intense and dark
examinations of contemporary masculinity with moments of breathtaking
beauty… It’s an album that does not only confronts the cult of masculinity
and its endless tentacles, but ultimately overcomes it.”
Score: 5/5.
Turn Up The Volume: From nostalgia and heavyhearted reveries to
upbeat electro grooves (The Rusty Bull / Rhetorical Figure / Best In Me).
When you, like me, live in an uncertain weather country (Belgium) it’s
great to have records like these to keep your moods swings company
on rainy summer days.
Keylines: “The American Dream is not for weak soft-hearted fool The American
Dream can cause scarring / and some nasty bruising / The American Dream is
not for weak soft-hearted fools” (from title track ‘Boy From Michigan.”
Artist: JOHN GRANT
Born in Buchanan, Michigan, U.S. – now living in Iceland, Europe. Who: Former member of alt-rockers The Czars (1994–2006) / so far
he made 4 solo albums.
Yesterday JOHN GRANT appeared on legendary British music show ‘Later… with Jools Holland’ performing that highly funky cracker HE’S GOT HIS MOTHER’S HIPS. Time to get your dancing shoes on, ladies and gents, shake and swing…
