The River Hymn- The River Hymn

The River Hymn
The River Hymn
http://www.myspace.com/riverhymn

The River Hymn is the full length self-titled EP for experimental rock gospel-esque group The River Hymn, which consists of Morgan Bierlein on vocals/synth, Colin Colby on guitar, Justin Filor on fretless bass and Miles Landry on drums. Comparable to a more soulful Beth Gibbons (lead singer of British trip hop group Portishead), singer Morgan Bierlein’s ethereal vocals are complemented nicely by penetrating bass riffs, mesmerizing guitar and rhythm drums.

The album begins with “In The Water,” an instantly inviting and dreary track evocative of an early Janis Joplin cut. Bierlein’s emotive, whispery vocals see-saw from a soft gentle cooing to a climactic howl throughout the track. “One Eye Open” begins with soft guitar riffs a low key bassline, stiff rheumatic drums and Bierlen crooning “she’s passed out in the passenger seat again, with one eye open.”
Midway Colby, goes into an unsettling epic guitar tangent which convenes with Bierlein’s abrupt wailing almost instantly. “Procession,” is an instrumental piece that remains actual to its title by coming across sad, yet sexy, and provoking a mental image of a funeral procession. The track begins and remains consistent with the slow drumbeats, weepy accordion and melancholy guitar riffs.

The art featured on the eight track album is made up of five intertwined owls atop edifice-like rocks in the three sole colors of red, white and black. The band’s name is on the bottom right in all caps. The back of the album, also consisting of the before mentioned colors, features a female statue flanked by three shadows, which appear to be bears or rabbits. A flock of birds flies across the “bears” and statue.

Free Phish Download

Click HERE to get a free mp3 of the newly reunited band who'll be kicking off their tour Friday, March 6 at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton Virginia. The feautred download is "Harry Wood" performed at The Clifford Ball, a landmark concert event that drew more than 70,000 fans to upstate New York in August of 1996.

Image Via Internet.

More SXSW showcases

-Thursday night (that's March 19) showcase at Stubb's will feature 3oh!3, Katy Perry, Meat Puppets, Gomez, Andrew Bird and Ben Harper..
-The Arc Angels and Explosions In The Sky will headline two Auditorium Shores shows on March 20 & March 21 for FREE.
-M. Ward will be back at SXSW this year to plug his new album Hold Time.
-VICE Records has Emo's locked down for Saturday night's showcase, which will host King Khan & The Shrines, Black Lips, Japanese Motors, and The Sonics.
-The Decemberists will headline the NPR showcase at Stubb's with a song-by-song preview of new album The Hazards Of Love complete with special guests.
-Glasgow's Camera Obscura will showcase their forthcoming 4AD album My Maudlin Career with an official show.
-Echo and the Bunnymen have been reported by various outlets as playing an official showcase at Emo's on Wednesday, March 18th

PJ Harvey at SXSW!

British singer and songwriter PJ Harvey and collaborator John Parish will showcase at SXSW March 21 in support of their new record 'A Woman A Man Walked By,' which will be released ten days later on March 31. Other acts on the bill include Indigo Girls,White Lies, Razorlight, and Parachute.

The Meaning of Life and Reason of Being

The Answer

Travel By Magnet-Falcon Buddies

Falcon Buddies
Travel By Magnet
http://www.myspace.com/falconbuddies
Travel By Magnet, is the first EP by experimental, progressive quartet Falcon Buddies, consisting of Dieter Geisler on keyboard/guitar/vocals, Morris Ramos on guitar, Ian Eskander on bass and Victor Tizoc Trevino on drums. The album is truly a multi-instrumental art pop electronic explosion of psychedelic fuzzed-out garage rock which could easily be a blender frappe of Guided By Voices, Flaming Lips and Yeasayer.
"Bedsheets," begins with melodic piano and quickly escalates with serrated guitar riffs, swaggering bass, and light cymbal tapping. Geisler's vocals on this particular track draw similarities to Interpol's lead singer Paul Banks singing style but transforms through the progression of the EP. "Skaldabeast," is a dreamy triumph of schizophrenic vision which evolves from mere chanting to a psychedelic precision of Geisler bellowing, "I don't want to be afraid of this anymore, I don't want to be afraid of this anymore. I don't want to be afraaaaid." The last track entitled "To Red is Vain," is an 80% instrumental track which features what seems to be a whole band inclusion of vocals in "Ohhh ohhh ohhhhh ohhh" reiterated mid song. The track is suggestive of Yeasayer's 2080.
The album art is interesting and a bit difficult to understand. A close up of what seems to be cotton or synthetic stuffing graces the cover atop a bubble wrap and shipping manila envelope---a hook like object protrudes from the cotton/stuffing. The inside flap features a close up of red, yellow and blue wires held together by a little plastic clip. A great album to listen to while trying to gain inspiration for an unconventional painting or drawing.

Big Life-Three Leaf

Three Leaf
Big Light
Pitchdark Productions
www.threeleafmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/threeleafmusic
Big Light is the first self-produced debut album for San Marcos bluegrass-root-rockers Three Leaf. The quartet which consists of singer/guitarist Chris Brennand, multi-instrumentalist Jared White, bassist Kent Chandler, and drummer/percussionist Zac Catanzaro formed in 2000.
"Take What You Want," is a folksy ballad permeated with rootsy banjo riffs which reiterates the lyrics "steal what you need, use your nails, use your teeth and you will go far" through the song. Listening to the lyrics one would realize it's about growing up, getting caught in a corporate American dream and forgetting who you are. The album's second track entitled "Raw Monkey" is central to Three Leaf's sound incorporating fast guitar riffs, melodic banjo strumming, beat-crazy percussion, and Brennand's wailing vocals. The standout track "Opportunistic," is a well developed upbeat track about a band on their way to stardom. "Flagwave Shadows," the tenth and last track of the album is a slow paced tune consisting of melodic guitar and soft drumming which escalate towards the end of the song while Brennard croons, "love will leave you in the end, beautifully broken in."
The album cover which is mostly black features an illuminated cutout face. The posterior of the album reveals how the image on the front was created with a backlight. The focus of the album isn't on jamming or really on bluegrass, but more on the songwriting and arrangements. Comparable to a more eclectic, rootsy Yonder Mountain String Band album with the inclusion of percussion and drums, Three Leaf's Big Light is perfect to pop into the stereo on a chill evening or quiet night in.