Billy Tibbals - Nightlife Stories

 

I Loved Tibbals's debut Stay Teenage, you can read the review here. 12 months on, here are another six tracks. Although many are calling this an EP, I still think 6 songs constitute a mini album and the 21 minutes here would seem to underline that.

Nightlife Stories does sound more mature, more tongue in cheek and less Power Pop than the debut. It is still very 70s, maybe more Pop Rock, but the UK Glam Rock of my youth still rings through and is really well done. 

Produced by Chris Robinson and again on his Silver Arrow label, the album is really good at what it does, seemingly bringing that 70s fun to a new generation. Both Burn Out! and The World Revolves are pure 1974 Flares and Platform Shoes. 

The chorus is absolutely killer and with Tibbals spending the first half of his life in London and then in Los Angeles, the vocal style comes across as a little mockney, similar to Ian Hunter in Hoople mode. The falsetto comes across as a little Sweet, although it is overused a little at times which in the wrong hands would have made a couple of the songs a bit twee.

Out Of Touch is a bit more melodic Punk, certainly very New Wave. Nobody Knows is again New Wave, but treads into the US version of the 80s. Again, the vibe is Sparks' Whomp That Sucker. I'll Die is much more in your face, bearing comparisons to the likes of Heavy Metal Kids and Radio Stars.

The closer, Dream Away, brings back so many memories. A big Pop Rock ballad that reminds me of the great Granada TV Kids Pop shows such as Lift Off With Ayshea, Disco 45 and even ITV's Supersonic, even down to the fake opening and closing applause. Nighlife Stories is pure Fun!

You can buy the Vinyl Edition everywhere. The album is also available on all the streaming sites. For those of you like us who are Spotify averse, you can listen to the whole album on Soundcloud or You Tube here or here.

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Gramercy Arms - The Making Of The Making Of

 

As you'll have noticed, June has so far has had the Reviews coming in thick and fast as we try to catch up on the ones we are behind on. This was intended to be reviewed over a month ago, but the sheer volume that have come in as meant delays that hopefully we can rectify over this month.

Dave Derby's New York Collective follows up last years excellent Deleted Scenes album. Indeed, most of this follow up was recorded during the same sessions. It would be unfair to judge it as the Outtakes album,  Derby suggests it is like the B Sides album, as it stands up more than well with its relation.

Gramercy Arms are never gonna blow the windows out, but this does feel a little gentler, certainly more collective, as though songs were recorded on one or two takes and that gives it a special groove. There is even extra points for a splendid cover of our beloved The Loud Family's Don't Respond, She Can Tell.

It may be on the gentler side, but The Making Of The Making Of still wanders across genres. After The After Party may be the best example of this. It is a real jaunty affair that sounds like a Jangled up Del Amitri at time.

Pilot Light even heads right into the world of Power Pop and excels at it. Lux is a groove laden 70s all together now sort of thing, whilst Alaska drops somewhere between Wilco and Dropkick. The Title Track is primetime first half of the 70s with a wonderful arrangement and an ace Guitar solo.

There is even an Acoustic Version of Deleted Scenes's Never Say Anything that goes full on Americana, Country even, a truly wonderful alternate version. No one should think of this as the Bastard Son of a great album, it should be treated as a fine offering in its own right.

You can listen to and buy the album here. The album is available on Vinyl or as a download.

 

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Ward White - Here Comes The Dowsers

 

As long time supporters of Ward White, we are delighted to see him on Roger Houdaille's excellent Think Like A Key label. As you might expect, White continues his usual inventive take on Art Rock with his plummy vocal and unique storytelling, but at times this feels like his commercial album yet.

Whereas you normally expect the Bowie-esque stylings of Cliffhanger, with lots and lots of words, that takes on an extra dimension with its Guitar solo. There is also an out and out killer Pop Rock song in the opener, Continuity.

It doesn't end there. Our Town is so damn catchy with its killer chorus, slight Jangle and background Piano Pop, there's even some whistling. Pick Up Your Face is even as close as Ward White will ever get, it is a splendid song.

This is not to say that White has forgotten what he is about. There is still plenty of the wonderful storytelling that he is noted for. His writing lets you imagine the scenes of the characters and events that he betrays.

There is also the magnificent closer Speak, Harry. Superbly arranged, moody and melancholic, it is a fitting curtain on a fine album. The title track is also an example of what White excels at, 70s sounding smoothness, lyrical excellence and a hook all chorus.

Here Comes The Dowsers is his best album yet. There is plenty of what established fans will admire, but there are also lighter, poppier moments that will hopefully bring many more. The man masters his own patch, but it would be nice if there was more general appreciation of his unique talent.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on CD or as a download.

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Nihiloceros - Dark Ice Balloons

 

Brooklyn's Nihiloceros are a suitably noisy Trio, yet songs are built on complex arrangements. There is a bleakness lyrically with a sound that edges toward Grunge at times, but not the repetitive riffs that ruin that genre, nor the miserable is me vibe.

They do make you think of the late 80s and the Punkish tendencies of the better bands from that time, particularly vocally. Yet you also hear Post Punk, Husker Du and the Rhythm section even get a little Joy Division at times. There are even Power Pop riffs that catch you by surprise.

As you might expect, Dark Ice Balloons does get loud and heads down, but the difference with these three is that they can really play and that takes them into directions you might not expect, Hard Rock and even a little Prog instrumentally.

These aren't choruses that you are gonna sing along to necessarily, but they will certainly grip you. This type of album can be ruined by mindlessness, but when you have the chops and are not afraid to take things in different directions, you can make an album as good as this is.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, Cassette or as a download.

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Bottlecap Mountain - Electric Love Spree

 

We do love Austin Texas's Bottlecap Mountain. This is album Number 7 and as we've covered the previous three, there was no way we were gonna miss out. The band are one that evolves constantly and were as O! Fantastic Melody revealed their rockiness in parts, this new one again takes a different route.

The theme here is love, respect and kindness and that offers up a more laidback vibe. The songs concentrate on lower key arrangements. There is more simplicity, building compositions on a melodic strength that allows them to breathe. 

There is a Poppier feel, songs are built more on vibe and the strength is the sheer catchiness of the whole thing. Electric Love Spree may be the band's Summer Of Love album, but they do sound an act that is entirely comfortable in their own song.

The songs may be less complicated in sound, but they are just as engaging as what has gone before. In fact without the blasts, the album achieves much more than less, it underlines what a great band this is. Even the great Classic Rock of I Need Love could have let go, instead it washes itself in splendid Hammond Organ.

Peace Of Cake is a wonderful heartfelt storytelling song about family that may be Stewart German's finest songwriting moment, at over 7 minutes long, it feels more like 4. I've Got Loving For You is exactly the opposite, a chorus singalong that is a real altogether now 70s Pop song.

Tsarina Tsarina is all 80s Groove Smooth Pop and Freedom! 24 is more a campfire Bo Diddley Beat affair driven by more great Organ. There is even time for another 7 minute song in Really Gone which masters a Southern Rock direction. You just know that the next album will be very different and that is the beauty of this splendid band.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on CD or as a download.

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Lava Fangs - Sub Auroram

 

Melbourne quartet Lava Fangs return with their second album and great variety is provided by the sum of their parts. We know Jamie Coghill well from his adventures as The Jimmy C and he was in the respected Punks, Fez Perez with Stu Manchu, who went on to Sons Of Lee Marvin and Thee Argyles.

Both were reunited in 2016 with Guitarist Drew Horne and Bass Player Wesley Fahey to form Lava Fangs. All four sing and that adds even more to the genre hopping, aided by the twin guitars. The results are right up our street.

Coghill's Power Pop credentials are second to none, but the other three allow the band to venture down different roads from UK Beat and Psych Pop to 80S Rock, Garage Rock and out and out Pop Rock. There is great melody and riffs aplenty, but also the addition of the likes of Brass. 

Where Did She Go is the killer single with its mix of UK New Wave and jaunty 60s rhythm. Photograph follows a similar path with its Jangle Power Pop mixed with Psych Pop riffs and 60s UK Beat. Night By Day is a reminder of the great Oz Guitar Pop of the 80s.

The Psych Pop of Lost For Words, as you might expect, is heaven to my ears, a fine example of the genre. But it is the sidesteps that grab you most. The 80s Horror Pop of Dancing For Satan, the Garage Punk od Anticippointment and the jaunty Brass arrangement on Take Him Apartment.

Want Me, Need Me, Love Me even gores out and out Rock, a sort of Lemmy sings Classic Rock. Special mention must go to the moody closer, Under The Dawn which contains a jaw dropping Guitar solo outro. What a cracking listen Sub Auroram is. An album that ideally compliments what IDHAS is about.

You can listen to and buy the album here. You can buy the album on Vinyl or as a download there. The album is also available on CD on the Kool Kat label here.

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Listening To This Week Playlist

A more manageable 25 songs this week on a playlist that seems little Rockier than usual. There is no song preference in track order, just what we think flows.  I do hope that you can listen to all the songs across this week. The last listed is as great as the first and you have plenty of time to listen. 

This weekly playlist is solely for submissions, not the usual stuff that we dig out ourselves. All embeds open in new windows to aid scrolling. Links to the artists will also appear on I Don't Hear A Single Social Media sites over the next 24 hours. This will help you to discover more about the artists who appear here. 

Thank you for supporting the new music from Indie artists.

Alain Pire Experience - The Journey

Stonedog - Time Machine

Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam - Ibiza Rocks (Redux)

The Hollywood Freeway Ghosts - Is She Watching

The Roland High Life - Always Almost Ready

Marni - 99¢

Eurekas - Falling From Your Grace

Murphy Phillips - Feel Weird

The Unbranded - Novacaine

Julian Lahdesmaki - Part Three

Tina & The Hams - Can't Stop Dreaming

Following April - Landfall

Electric Candlelight - Struggle Street

Counterpart - Oleander

The Constellations - Save It For Somebody Else

Josh Phillips - How It Is

Small Boy - All My Friends

KID SPIRIT - Kid Vision

Trope - Callous

Zen Orchestra - Time

Snowcuffs - Uptown

Edgecliff - Heart To Glow

aldn - icantbelieveiletyougetaway

Kalligary - We'll Meet

Mope - Oh No!

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