When pro-Palestine protesters interupted the songstress’ show in Portland a couple
of days ago, she asked them to leave. In response to one who said: “I’m watching dying children. That hurts”, she answered this.
Spektor, who is of Russian-Jewish heritage and emigrated to the IS as a child.
She’s a longtime supporter of Israel, and has previously spoken out against
figures like Björk for allegedly spreading “false” information on a pro-Palestine
social media post.
TUTV: As long as the horrible genocide continues, any place is good enough to protest against it, even at your show, Ms Spektor, all the more so because the protesters did it
in a civil way. Nothing is more important than talking about the terrifying, human drama
in Gaza, nothing.
Artist: REGINA SPEKTOR
Born Regina Iljinitsjna Spektor (Регина Ильинична Спектор) Who: Russian-American singer-songwriter, and pianist Active: Since 1997 / 7 LPs (new one incl.)
Spektor on her FB page: “What a crazy world it has been. And still is.
I’m just so glad it IS… cause knowing us humans, that’s not always a given.
I’m full of extra gratitude and love for the world these days. Just glad to
be here.”
NME says: “As emotional as ‘Home, before and after’ is, there’s a playful, punk attitude to every experimental flourish. This is a colourful, energised collection of work from an artist who could comfortably stay in her own lane, but chooses not to. With twee, indie sleaze and ‘00s alt-rock all finding new footholds in 2022, Spektor finds joy in creating a world all of her own.” Score: 4/5.
Turn Up The Volume: Topnotch record. A pop opera backed by a symphonic orchestra. Every song enthralls. Every song is a Spektor fantasy about love, pain, about her heart and soul. She’s back in supreme style. Welcome.
Singles/clips: Up The Mountain / Coming All Alone / Loveology
– UP THE MOUNTAIN –
(Sublime pop earworm)
– BECOMING ALL ALONE –
(Symphonic mid-tempo lullaby)
Artist: REGINA SPEKTOR
Born Regina Iljinitsjna Spektor (Регина Ильинична Спектор) Who: Russian-American singer-songwriter, and pianist Active: Since 1997 / 7 LPs (new one incl.)
Spektor on her FB page: “What a crazy world it has been. And still is.
I’m just so glad it IS… cause knowing us humans, that’s not always a given.
I’m full of extra gratitude and love for the world these days. Just glad to
be here.”
Singles/clips: Up The Mountain / Coming All Alone / Loveology
– UP THE MOUNTAIN –
(Sublime pop earworm)
– BECOMING ALL ALONE –
(Symphonic mid-tempo lullaby)
Shaman progresses like a vicious viper working its way to a grandiose climax. Determined, but always wary of sudden danger. Shaman dumbfounds and flummoxes while the song’s tension intensifies and has a spine-chilling effect. From the duo’s upcoming album Trust No Leaders, out 1st of July.
A roaring riff slashes and thrashes throughout this psych-o-tic hellraiser. Add Lunadon‘s freakish vocals and you know that this brainbreaker will test the resilience of your stereo. Fucktastic! From new album Beyond Everything
7. ‘Striking Like Thunder’ by LOWERY MILLS (Canada)
This thunder and lighting corker strikes big time from the first chord on, to the final one. Classic riffage rock with an anthemic plangency, a flaming drive, and a mammoth chorus. Add aroused vocals and the overall result is an ear-popping champion you’ll have on repeat for a while.
These DIY misfits have a new 5-track EP out, titled DIGGING.
You can buy it on Bandcamp.
My numero uno cracker is the title track.
The band’s frontman sounds like his own meanest demon.
Threatening and ready to kick badasses. This uppercut goes
mental on schizophrenic guitars and merciless drums.
To hell with all ruthless power abusers. That’s the central sharp-cutting message
of this new Janis jackhammer that causes a racing rush of blood through your veins.
This cocksure swipe is stoked up by jagged guitars,
by a steadfast drums/bass force, and by biting vocals.
What do you think of this? Topliners Arctic Monkeys turning up their amps or Liverpool legends The La’s if they would have been a rapid-fire punk turbo. Sounds insane, right?
You bet.
Spiky guitars zigzagging madly all over the place, John Bonham-like
drum brutality hits hard, and Alex Turner‘s younger brother is singing.
Be ready to move like a nutter on
a pogo stick. Contagious pyrotechnics.
Dream pop splendor in motion, with shiny synths, bouncy basslines,
laid-back drums, sensual vocals, and majestic orchestration. This winsome
humdinger will find its way to your yearning heart and your restless soul.
This timeless Etta James gem is 55 years old. It was written
by Ellington Jordan and co-credited to Billy Foster and James.
Songstress Sam Casey‘s heart-and-soul touching rendition
sends shivers down your spine, with her goosebumps voice.
Casey about the video: It feels so vulnerable to see the results of my raw emotion and struggle that this is almost difficult to watch. As soon as we started filming, the lyrics (and most likely, the fact that I was crying between takes) took everyone to this dark yet loving place where tears were being shed, but there were hugs and kisses floating around all night.”
Desert Storm is a psychedelic thrill with the hypnotizing and repetitive dynamism
of Krautrock. Its vibrant vigor and steadfast swagger roll all the way.
Pounding drums push the track continuously, guitars glimmer,
and febrile vocals add a shadowy timbre. Bingo.
This synth dream-pop duo has their
debut album Soft Chaines out now.
A gripping work inspired by physical pain leading to psychological pain feeding doubt, despair, and anguish. Often musicians use their work to process adversity. That’s what happens on this album. The layered synth orchestrations add melancholic warmth and here and their guitars gently weep while Miller‘s voice is the wandering star in the middle. An enticing debut with a harrowing, human touch.
My favorite piece of the record is the opener The Order.
Last year the Scottish veterans excited critics and
fans with their 10th LP As The Love Continues.
One song, from the same sessions, didn’t make the album as it wasn’t finished yet at the time. But it’s now ready to meet the world. It’s classic Mogwai euphony with swelling layers of synths, sheeny guitars, and slow-paced drums. The finale is just Homeric.
Twinkling guitars draw you into this touchy-feely daydream from the get-go. The color is blue, the melody is melancholic, the voice is wondering. This is a shoegazy gem for heavyhearted hearts and vulnerable souls, a soothing score for all romantics among us. The vibe is idyllic, the tone is hazy, the end result is just wondrous.
I’m sure you know that feeling of awakening in the morning and your first thought is ‘I don’t want to get upand face the cruel world, out there, today‘. But some smart cells in your brains tell you that you have no choice as you can’t escape reality. Not today, not tomorrow, never.
That very moment smooth and soft shanties like this one help you to ease your
moody state of mind. By mingling shimmery guitar sparks, shooting synths, spirited melodiousness, and comforting vocals in a happy-go-lucky way you can imagine you’re
on a special satellite where life colors pink again.
Artist: REGINA SPEKTOR
Born Regina Iljinitsjna Spektor (Регина Ильинична Спектор) Who: Russian-American singer-songwriter, and pianist Active: since 1997
Spektor on her FB page: “What a crazy world it has been. And still is.
I’m just so glad it IS… cause knowing us humans, that’s not always a given…
I’m full of extra gratitude and love for the world these days. Just glad to
be here.”
Artist: REGINA SPEKTOR Born: Regina Ilyinichna Spektor in 1980
Who: Russian-American singer-songwriter, and pianist Active since 1997 / 7 studio albums so far
Album:BEGIN TO HOPE – 4th LP Released: 13 June 2006 – 15 years ago
AllMusic/Heather Phares: “The album’s big, glossy production and
preponderance of drum machines and keyboards inches Spektor toward
territory that isn’t exactly mainstream, but is closer to a more conventional
adult alternative singer/songwriter sound… The album feels like getting to
really know someone: at first, it’s polite and a little restrained, but then its
real personality, with all of its charming idiosyncrasies, finally reveals itself.”
Full review here. Score: 4/5.
Turn Up The Volume: Regina Spektor is the 21st Century’s Kate Bush.
