| CD REVIEW TSM/ SLW Promotion special Jan. 2011, Part 2: Ghost – Last Red Ransom – Lavellion – Moot - Shot |
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Episode 2 in our TSM/ SLW Promotion special series, this time with Ghost from Oslo (Norway), Last Red Ransom from Atlanta (Georgia, USA), Lavellion from Hull (UK), MoOt from France (no idea where they're based) and Shot from New York City (NY, USA). Some really groovy Rockin' goin' on here, dudes! ---------------------------------------------------- The first steps to what would eventually lead to the formation of this Oslo based Norwegian band [placing the band on the lap, so as you won't confuse this outfit for the Swedish Heavy Metal/ Psychedelic Rock act (who've already released a 7-inch single on Iron Pegasus and a 2010 full-length on Rise Above), the split up Experimental Black/ Doom French outfit (only delivered a 2007 demo), or the Death Metal Polish band (who've released several demos during the '80s and '90s, plus a full-length album on Loud Records, but whose current status is “on hold”)], were made in 2002, when singer Kim Sandvik met guitarist/ backing singer Öystein Wiik. Songs were written and played through a cheap PA in the basement of Kim's house in the town of Nesodden (somewhere in the countryside of the country), but the melodies and consistent good-humoured laughter that came from the basement attracted the attention of Asbjörn Wiik, whom insisted on becoming the band's bassist. Several drummers were tried and rejected for a number of reasons, and it would take 1 ½ years before a good match was eventually found with Petter “Chris” Lein, and relocating to a town just outside Oslo possibly provided the band members with better means to sustain their musical aspirations...as up to then the band hadn't performed outside of the rehearsal room yet. In Summer 2006 Asbjörn decided to step down, and to replace him the band enlisted the finger picking Magnus Liseter. In 2007, it's the “new” quartet which first does its debut live appearance in Oslo's Skuretvenue on February 1st, then recorded the band's first 4-track demo Time Will Tell. And having gone through their first recording session, the guys felt there was something missing in their sound, and they knew they had to find themselves a second guitarist in order to achieve a fuller live sound, and early in 2008 they found the perfect guy to do that in André Berger, whom after finding his place inn the band and becoming a vital part in the songwriting process, made his first live appearance with the band in November of the same year. In early 2009 the band booked time at Nye Losjen Studio to record their 5-track EP Days Undercover with producer Marius Kristiansen, which they self-released in August, and with positive response coming even from press outside Norway, the quintet knew they had a good thing goin'. It certainly encouraged the band to write more new songs and start the process of making their first full-length album, which was recorded in March 2010, again at Nye Losjen Studio with Kristiansenbehind the mixing board. Meanwhile the band already had some local repute, and when they were offered to support Jorn at a local venue on May 15, they had that occasion coincide with the official release of their album. Which brings us full-circle to the album at hand, a true Classic Hard Rock with Heavy Metal touches masterpiece in the making. The “making” part depending largely on how much positive reactions the band's music might generate among music lovers into the band's style, of course! Oh, I know, even to this date a large majority of music lovers in general prefer to buy albums released through labels, letting themselves be ringed through the nose by label chit-chat and tomfoolery. But everybody knows that things in the music business have not been goin' well for quite a number of years, and the fact that bands as a rule don't profit much from album sales anyway (a large part of the sales revenues goin' to labels and distributors), this may be as good a time as any to start a new movement, whereby sales revenues go to the bands directly? Oh, forgot to mention you can find the music of this band (or at least the complete set of songs from the demo, the EP, and 5 songs off this 10-track, 46-minute full-length, which features re-recordings of one track off the demo and 2 off the EP) posted in the “discography” section of the band's own website (www.) ghosttheband.com. There's also a page of the band on MySpace, but with what they offer on their own website I simply neglected to check that out! 90/100 ---------------------------------------------------- Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Last Red Ransom is a studio project started in 2007 by Charlotti Kelli (vocals, keyboard, guitar, programming), Saint (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboard, programming) and Adair (drums), who've all had previous band experiences, and individually rocked stages with a chuck-load of bands including Sevendust, Nonpoint, Flaw, Kittie, In This Moment, 36 Crazyfists, and many more. Thus far extends the info bit on this band, as I've found none other available, except for recording details of the album, with which I'll not endeavour to bore you this time around. Better instead, to concentrate our attention to the band's music...and after giving the album a stunning 7 or 8 spins in the cd-player this afternoon (in all honesty, I've lost count, and couldn't care less!), I find there's no better way to describe this truly epic album than by using some of the band's own words, as appear in the bio they sent us: “...The album unfolds like the soundtrack of a dream screaming to awake. SWSV moves seamlessly through melodic Rock hooks, raw Metal, and Industrial soundscapes. The honey sweet vocals of Charlotte Kelli are laid side by side with her ferocious screams, and blend brilliantly with the warm sincere vocals of Saint. The vocal interplay between the two, soar in and out of cinematic and atmospheric keys, and heavy, scorching guitars, but stay anchored by the blistering and solid drumming of Adair bleeding into slick synthetic beats...”! Of course, you don't get the same scenario for each song! There's songs which see Charlotte go through songs (album opener “Make Up”, the extremely heavy “October”, and album closer “Empire”) on her own in that sweet/ aggro alternation mode, one overall calmer track in which she goes sweet allover with the exception of some occasional short screamed moaning (“Always Been”), and then there's ”Seamstress” and “Synthetic Sleep” with solo vocal performances for Saint, and the album's instrumental “Passport” (actually a continuation of the synthetic ending of the preceding “On Word”, with additional piano play and extra “under water” beats as percussion. But for the most part the two singers complement each other, sometimes simply by backing the other up, but also by doing duet singing. With the guitars geared towards the heaviness of the riff, it's in the keyboards and programming that come the small details which complete the songs' pictures, and in some cases the overall image is a very symphonic one (be sure to check “Lay Down” for extreme reference) rather than atmospheric/ soundscape-ish. At the end of a couple of listening sessions, the relatively simple riffing will definitely give you a déjà-vu syndrome but, as mentioned in the band's closing comments of their bio: “...This ambitious debut will leave you glad to have experienced it with the strange side-effect of being satisfied and craving more at the same time...”...and by Jolly, they ain't kidding, because I simply cannot force myself to push the stop button on my cd-player (I've got a continuous repeat play function, see?), and it although I prefer the songs the lady sings on (in whatever mode pleases her), I find sincere pleasure in hearing the other songs over and over again as well. Well, all things eventually hàve to come to a natural end, and since I'm now writing this late in the evening (because that's how long I've waited to start the review), I'll be goin' to sleep with LRR's tunes well-incrusted in my mind. Gee, this is só addictive, so you stand warned! You can give each and every song on the album a repeated listening session from the “music” section at (www.) wix.com/lastredransom33/lastredransom, and you can even download the track “Lay Down” at (www.) lastredransom.webs.com...for free! Again, you stand warned. One listen may have the addictive effect of your wanting more and more, and somehow that might result in your wanting to have and hold the album. As a joke, I could add the warning to all of you out there not listen to this band's material unless you're financially solvent enough to sustain the addition it will inflict upon you. Hum...on hindsight you'd better take that for serious! LRR have definitely captured my heart and soul, and I dó want to hear more from this threesome! SWSV has definitely deserved its place in my 2010 year-lists, and I'm waiting with more than eager anticipation for the sophomore album by this band! 98/100 ---------------------------------------------------- Only around for a coupe of years now, Hull (North England, UK) based quartet Lavellion went through the initial line-up tribulations as so many young bands do, but soon settled their membership down to lead singer Luke Lavelle, guitarist Tom Hewson, bassist Nick Tyldsley, and drummer Danny Barrick. With influences ranging from classic rockers Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, to the modern swagger of Kings Of Leon, the band created a sound of their own which mixes balsy Blues riffs with an upbeat style and soulful vocals, definitely a sound which should appeal to a wider range of music listeners! The band's first 5-track EP Rock 'n' Roll Cabaret, recorded and engineered by Richard Jouanie, was released in 2009, and bacame available for download through Amazon and Napster in Jan. 2010. Early 2010 gigs saw the band play to an increasing amount of newfans, and notable tour dates with Voodoo Six and The Virginmarys certainly helped building the band's fanbase to an even stronger unit. Having spent most of the Summer on the road, the foursome still found some time at hand to record 3 new singles at Newcastle's Blast Studios (known from having housed the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Maximo Park and Therapy?...among others...in the past), the first of which (“Believe In Me”) became available for download through Amazon, iTunes and other online sale outlets from early October of late. Meanwhile however, the band's also burned the songs on an EP, which is available only during the band's shows. You can listen to the singles for free on the band's website (www.) lavellion.com, as they are released, or check out the band's page at (www.) myspace.com/lavellion (where at the moment also 2 songs off the band's first EP – which is otherwise also only available at the band's gigs – are posted, as are a couple of live videos). 88/100 ---------------------------------------------------- Okay, before starting the actual review of this album, let's set the records straight from the beginning. MoOt & The Happy Makers is a French band and not, as erroneously claimed on the band's MySpace page, based out of Los Angeles, California! Heavily influenced by the BritPop era of the late '60s (Beatles anyone?), things for this band started in 2007, when lead singer/ guitarist/ occasional keyboardist MoOt went into a studio to record a couple of tracks. He would remain there for about two years to write, play, record and produce a complete album all by himself. That album, entitled Life Is Talkin' Misery, was released in April 2009 on both CD and vinyl, and also made available for download through the usual online sales outlets. In between having finished recording and the actual release, MoOt started looking out for musicians to take his music on the road, finding partners-in-crime with the likes of Velvet Slim (lead guitar, backing vocals, and occasional bass when Gulli plays the ukelele), NNL (keyboards when MoOt ain't playing 'em, and occasional acoustic guitar when he is), Gulli (bass, backing vocals and that occasional occasional ukelele) and Alan (drums & backing vocals). MoOt himself either plays acoustic or electric guitar, or takes place behind the keyboards. In May 2009 MoOt & The Happy Makers along with fellow countrymen The Poustifly were on a 6-gig tour of Liverpool, the place where for them everything began, playing at Aldo's Place, Lennon's Bar, Heebie-Jeebies, Hannah's, and the legendary The Jacaranda and The Cavern Club! Along for the ride were 5 cameras and the people to operate 'em, and webisodes were made for each day of the journey, with an extra for the departure day. 2010 started with a European tour, and the promotion of the album, leading to the LP running out of its first pressing. Meanwhile MoOt found contacts in the US to start selling the album on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Meanwhile the band was preparing the material for this live CD/DVD release. Now with a title like the one given this package, you would expect all recordings having been done in Liverpool, wouldn't you? Well,wrong thinking, because apparently the CD part of this album (which consists of 11 MoOt originals and a cover of The Beatles' “I Am The Walrus”) was recorded at Forge in March 2010. However, the DVD (with some 75 minutes of playing time) doés contain all 7 webisodes recorded in Liverpool, and as a bonus has a 9-track video selection of the CD audio material! If you don't mind this sneaky bit of tomfoolery, and it's the music what it's actually all about for you, you stand to discover a very nice band playing music which stands with one foot firmly anchored in the sounds of the Fab Four, but lives in current day times with all the advantages that brings...especially soundwize! Of course, the guys' native origin in mind, you would be correct in expecting a little bit of an accent, but with the excellent music being played that is but a minor default, except to purists! You can find some MoOt's studio tracks, live versions of “I Am The Walrus” and MoOt's “Julia Ann”, ànd 5 of the 7 webisodesat (www.) myspace.com/mootboots (the webisodes can be found in the blogs, by the way). Check it out! 84/100 ---------------------------------------------------- Although this New York City based band was founded only in 2009, rhythm guitarist/ backing singer Justin Best, lead guitarist Hector Marin and drummer have been playing together before in the bands Mother May I and Rain Of The Rock. They formed Shot (they were looking for a name to match their style, something that really screamed to the audience, and then someone mentioned the band's music made him feel like being shot out of a cannon...that was it) with singer Billy Sioux and a first bassist, whom was temporarily replaced by one Yusuke Narita. I guess this Japanese guy even contributed to the EP we have here at hand! To first continue the band history bit, a replacement for Yusuki was finally found a couple months after the latter's departure for the Orient (or was it just Michigan?) in a dude called Gracebo...from Spain of all places! During Summer 2010 the band took some time off from each other, Gracebo apparently traveling around the world to seek out whether any bassist would compete with him, Roach getting married to his long-time girlfriend, Besto was organizing a “Rally To Rock” to be held on the front lawn of the White House (or was that just a joke?) and Hector was sitting around trying to find new scorching guitar licks to be used in future Shot songs...which were gonna have to be rehearsed without Billy though, because he quit! The identity of his replacement already in place when the news of Billy's departure came through, was kept a secret to the general public until Nov. 10, when Chris “The Kraken” Keller was officially presented to the world at large through a blog on the band's band and MySpace page. About time we gave the ol' EP a goin'-over, right!? Quite simply put, the music harkens back to the days of the big Arena Rock and Sleaze Rock bands, and such influences as can be called are G 'N' R, Skid Row, Mötley Crue mainly, whereas I've justifiably seen early Aerosmith-on-speed mentioned as a comparison (for the music) in the case of the song “In The Streets”. That up-tempo pace is something you'll find throughout most of the 5 songs on the EP (check 'em out at (www.) shotnyc.com or (www.) myspace.com/shotnyc), the atmospheric short instrumental “Intro” and the tear-jerker ballad “I Won't Leave You There” the exceptions to the rule. That Best and Marin have been playing together for a longer time, is something that becomes quite evident when you hear how well in-sinc they are with each other. Marin finds exhilarating lead and solo parts for each song, and incorporates 'em in the music as a second siren chanting along (or rather in counter-rhythm, which make things a bit more interesting for those into music with something more than just a straight-forward melodic punch) the soaring Sioux whom, after all, is still the singer on the EP! The band posted a couple of short live videos with the new singer, but the quality of the sound is really not well enough. Nevertheless, from what iIve viewed it would seem that Shot has found itself a worthy new frontman, and I suppose we'll be able to check that out soon enough in a studio recording, as the band recorded some new tracks (or at least re-recorded some with the new singer) during December of late (finishing a session at 3 AM, after having been evicted from the studio by campus security. Can't wait to find out how the new guy performs in studio settings! 95/100 Tony. |
