Amartya Paul "Giant's Capture"

One thing I don't talk about very much on this blog is my job as a music educator. Outside of being a college professor I have also been a lifelong private piano instructor. Over the years I've watched interest in concert music (more commonly called "classical music") wain in favor of popular styles. This is understandable and faced by every generation. In recent years; however, I've been delighted in the number of pianists I've seen genuinely interested in music FOR the piano, and especially a new proliferation of piano music. 

So, imagine my surprise when I stumbled across a young Mr. Amartya Paul; an 11-year-old composer, pianist, and violinist who's just released a recording of a new composition titled "Giant's Capture." The piece is part of a series revolving around a mythological royal family and their adventures. The piece itself is aptly composed and has been performed by the pianist Deborah Offenhauser. "Giant's Capture" has a brisk pace with very appealing chord progress, pulsating left-hand percussive rhythms, and a Bergmuller-esque motif in the melody. 

Of course, it must be stated, that such a composition coming from an 11-year-old is extraordinarily impressive. I will be very keen to know what comes of Mr. Paul in the years to come. 

Lucy Wentworth "Whiskey"

One of the biggest perks of doing this blog is that I tend to get advanced copies of all the stuff that indie artists are working on. And let's face it, it's been a good week here on CMT, I've always said that the world is full of extremely talented young people making music, and our final entry for this week is no exception. 

Lucy Wentworth, a gifted singer/songwriter is set to release a new track titled "Whiskey" (man, what a great subject) on April 8th of 2022. The song is a heartfelt, sad, serene tune conveying a poised regret over some lovely instrumental beds. If you're a fan of acts like Lightning Dust, you are going to love Wentworth's style. Genuine and sweet, sad and profound is how I would describe her sound. Find more here. 

Mighty PLUTO "The Sophisticated Savage (Official Animated Short Film)"

One thing about the proliferation of YouTube and other video sharing social media is that there has been a deluge of cheaply made music videos in an attempt to get music out there (I am guilty of doing this myself) from the lyric video to the stock-footage video, and everything in between. So I was incredibly surprised and happy to see a wonderfully done stop-motion claymation short film video with a banging soundtrack by Mighty PLUTO. It's clear to see the creative forces behind this work took their craft seriously and put the necessary time and talent into the task. The piece chronicles the story of a young woman rescued from certain torture.

The song itself is quite modern and has a vibe I can get behind (get the F out of my way). If I had one gripe it might be that the song is too short, but this is just me being nit-picky, and hey, it did leave me wanting more. Speaking of which, I would be curious to see what these cats do with their obviously bright future.  

Buddy Greenbloom "(Better Off) I Remember Those Times"

Recently I had the pleasure of sitting down and talking with Buddy Greenbloom about his newest release "I Remember Those Times." Not only a gentleman, but highly knowledgable about studio production/engineering, AND a native of Tempe, AZ, where I got my start as a musician. Among other things we discussed were 80's new wave, finding soul in music, and his journey as an artist. 

One thing I love about talking to living/working musicians is really getting to the heart of what makes them want to create. It seems that buddy, like me, draws huge inspiration from those musicians who came before. "I Remember Those Times" contains the best parts of classic country, from the steel slide guitar to Greenbloom's twangy baritone, it's a heartfelt homage to the early Willie Nelson and Hank Williams style grit that just shines as a uniquely American art form. It is part of an album, a larger project that is set to release soon. 

Mirko Pirozzi "Vegetation"

Mirko Pirozzi is quite a diverse composer/performer his latest track available on his BandCamp page titled "Vegetation" is a raucous instrumental rock anthem that sounds like the most beautiful psychedelic romp possible. It begins with pulsating distorted guitar and morphs through an incredible development section complete with upper harmonies. For the most part, it sounds like this is a rhythm-section jam, but don't let that fool you, there are tons of sonic treats for your ears, not just in timbre, but also in terms of the way the piece unfolds from marching to dancing. What else can be said? Pirozzi has done it again. 

Joseph T College "Pressure"

Hip Hop producer, rapper, and musical entrepreneur Joseph T College is out with a new track titled "Pressure." The song has more than a touch of dancehall reggae (especially in its intro), and breaks into a swirling synthesized pad cascading throughout the track. Of course, College's bars are solid - it's the kind of skill that comes from years of practice, plus, I have to say, I'm kind of captivated by the timbre of his voice.  The real treat is the guest vocals done by a sweet crooning young lady. Overall, it's Hip Hop at its finest, and could definitely use your attention. 

Swill "Turn the Lights Back On"

I was happy to be passed along the new album by the band Swill and their newest release "Turn the Lights Back On" - it's one of the perks of running this blog, that I get advanced copies of music. Which I intend to take full advantage of. 

The first track I listened to was "Angels Cry," a bluesy, rugged, swinging-sounding song taking its cues from some of my favorite genres and twisting it into a unique new form... Like gritty glam but without the bombastic polish and artificial sheen, this is more soulful. The track almost reaches back to the influences that inspired so much of that rock from the '70s and '80s. 

Second up was "A Fable," which had a significantly nice contrast to "Angels Cry." This one carries a comedic sound, yet, as was the case with the previous, still expertly played. One thing I love is the narrative element... It's a story and it's like I'm waiting to hear what happens next. The line "be careful where you want to plant a seed" is a surprisingly good piece of advice these days. 

Then the title track: "Turn the Lights Back On" opens with a distant piano, sounding neglected and lonely. Immediately after the guitars and drums come in with blaring hard-rock. There's a punk element to this one. In its own way, it reminds me of The Romantics' "What I like About You" in its sense of groove. The catchiness is infective and ear-wormy in the best way. 

Out of Reach starts with sweet vocal harmonies, again, this has some punk elements but is more sophisticated in its composition. The instrumental breaks are pulsating and hit hard for sure. It almost sounds like a Rock n' Roll Military cadence for long hair-leather pants soldiers to march along with. I could envision armies of metal fans demanding organic music played on real instruments to be the standard again. 

On to the song: "Heavens Getting Crowded," the band is continuing with a narrative theme. This one is an anthem for sure. The guitars chug along with the drums accompanying playing beautiful leads; it sounds like something glorious. For this track, we get to hear the vocalist's sweet baritone, complete with ethereal-sounding backup singing. Everything is lovely with interludes and breaks. 

"Better Off" In this track the flanged guitars are keeping a low-key vibe which is a nice offset coming from the other hard-hitting tracks. That is until the chorus kicks in, then it's back to the ferocious element I've enjoyed since starting to listen to these gents. The vocals are passionate and raw. There's even some pandemic-related banter that echos everything we're all thinking which gave me a solid head nod and chuckle. 

With "Strange Addiction," we're back to the bluesy rock which made my ears perk up on the first track. Something I love on this track is the high end of the vocals. No one can say the singer doesn't have range. Again, it's another song that shows the lyrical aptitude of the songwriting in Swill. 

"The Contract" begins with subtle guitar rhythmically playing notes. It starts off with a very, almost folky vibe. This element is bolstered in lyrics with religious tones ("In the river Jordan we bathe"). It then breaks into a triple meter much like we'd expect from our favorite prog bands. I was not expecting this avenue in Swill's writing - and it's a welcome surprise. Again, it's a testament to their musicality. 

With "Don't Wanna Know," we're back to orchestral beautiful guitar singing - entering delayed vocals soar over the sparse instrumentation making for a tight performance. This is the kind of track that reminds me of cityscapes... Imagine the soundtrack for some kind of dystopian cosmopolitan place (think Bladerunner meets Batman) and then shoot a smokey music video in black and white. 

"Can't" has pulsating drums that bring this song to life. Highly effected guitars, which, if we were speculating, almost sound synthetic in their variety of timbre. Again, this has a very nostalgic feel to it, and it's not just because of the repeating line "can't forget her." The vocals have been so powerful up until this track, I'm heartened to know that the singer is able to navigate the subtleties of his musical expression. There are far too many singers who just try to show their power/register on every track. This guy understands dynamics. 

Finally, we come to "Rise Up" - We're treated to upbeat guitar riffs and drum intros lead into another very anthem-like soaring guitar lead. This one is optimistic and youthful. One thing that has stood out in virtually every track is how amazingly tight this band is. It's the kind of rhythmic coherence that can only come from years and years of playing together. 

Overall, I have to say that if there was one word to sum up Swill, it would be "musicianship." These lads know their craft extremely well and deliver on every track like their life depended on it. Giving them some ear-space is highly recommended. 

Alexis Gerred "Unbreakable"

Tripple threat vocalist, actor for stage and screen, and all-around passionate guy Alexis Gerred is out with a new single titled "Unbreakable." Right out of the gate, this thing hits hard - it's got a lot of 80's rock character to it featuring wailing distorted guitars, wild pulsating drums, and of course, Mr. Gerred's incomparable vocal technique. Where the song is wonderfully modern is the addition of a horn section making for a beautiful in-your-face style track that shouldn't be missed. 

As far as I know, this song, "Unbreakable" is part of Alexis's first EP. His ReverbNation page contains a lot of great music featuring a wide variety of styles. 

VAKERO FT El TiRA LETRA , BETOBEN LA SINFONITA , VARIOS ARTISTAS - MENTE A NA (VIDEO OFICIAL) REMIX

I am absolutely loving the fact that the Spanish-speaking world has made as many inroads into the global popular music as it has; this is especially true when it comes to hip-hop. Truth be told, it seems like the genre was begging to be created with the emphasis on thundering drums, the party (or fiesta) atmosphere, and a healthy love of feminine beauty. 

So this leads me to the above video, featuring Airon el Hijo de Mechi plus a who's who of extraordinary talent in a fantastically shot joint. Indeed it looks like our stars are having the time of their lives, and I don't mind saying I'm a little jealous I wasn't invited. Seriously though, even if you're not a Spanish Speaker, the groove is more than enough to carry you and hype up your senses for an amazing romp.