A Shameless Chorus: another singles roundup

By RingMaster Review on October 9, 2021 • ( 0 )

With her appetite for fresh and fascinating sounds in top gear once more, our friend, Shauna of Shameless PR and Canadian band Ummagma returned to the door recently with another clutch of intriguing artists and sounds she thought we might like to nibble at and we found…

As the release of their debut album looms, Canadian outfit Traitrs have released another compelling invitation to its highly anticipated body with new single Mouth Poisons. Released via Freakwave Records, the track follows the equally persuasive tracks Magdalene and Oh, Ballerina, only adding greater temptation and desire to check out the November unveiling Horses In The Abattoir.

Formed by Sean-Patrick Nolan and Shawn Tucker in 2015, the Toronto based band draw on the post punk/ synth pop inspirations of the eighties for their own inimitable sound. It is a creative tendering which fuses nostalgia and new instinctive post rock infused endeavour in one rousing proposal, one which is part trespass, part rapture and wholly evocative with the proof of its striking impact inescapable within those earlier offerings and esuriently compelling in the emotive incitement that is Mouth Poisons.

A wave of electronic atmospherics sweep ears first as the Josh Korody recorded single rises up, its presence already provocative yet welcoming. As swiftly, a heart baring bassline veins the song, synths a cloudy intimation around it and spirited but equally restrained rhythms. Like a mix of The Cure, Play Dead and Dead Register, the track continued to immerse the senses and thought, its darkly lit breath and captivating stroll driving thick temptation further enriched by Tucker’s similarly heart fuelled vocals and words.

Mouth Poisons proved quite simply irresistible, the finest moment with Traitrs yet and alone the purest reason to check out Horses In The Abattoir come November 19^th.

Another artist trying to tempt ears towards an upcoming new album is Alternative Folk-Rock outfit Lusitanian Ghosts. November 19^th sees the revealing of the band’s second album Exotic Quixotic but before then the Portuguese-Canadian-Swedish collective have released Soul Deranium through European Phonographic and fair to say it too makes one highly inviting lure to a larger companion.

Lusitanian Ghosts have embraced the traditional elegance and prowess of ancient Portuguese chordophones and other European string instruments in their music alongside the usual set up of guitar, bass and drums since emerging in 2015 but for their new offering the band has replaced the first with only chordophones like the violas Amarantina, Braguesa, Terceira and Campaniça. Even rhythmically they have used classic Portuguese drums like the Adufe instead of the standard snare and it makes for one fascinating and quickly infectious proposal within Soul Deranium.

Instantly, joyful chords draw attention, their melodic charm open temptation and soon strolling with eager triumph alongside the similarly involving, if darker lit draw of bass and inspiring beats. Straightaway there is a celebratory breath to Soul Deranium, the song inspired by the Portuguese Carnation Revolution which was a spark to the country’s modern democracy. It is an incitement though which fuels revelry for any creative and social rising in adversity and was under the skin in no time, a darker edge only accentuating that feel good spirit.

Soul Deranium quickly laid seeds of intrigue for that future outing with Lusitanian Ghosts, the wait to its arrival sure to be all bounce and pleasure with its lead track.

If you have yet to investigate and no doubt be caught by the majesty of …from Prince’s Park to Farsley – Volume I, the latest album from The Gorstey Lea Street Choir, then sweep yourself off with their new single Up With The Larks to see what you are missing.

The song is a seduction of beauty and crepuscular emotions, a track epitomising the evocative and radiant songwriting and sounds of duo Michael Clapham and Russ Phillips, two long-time friends who met in the mid-’80s and brought their long discussed creative union to life in 2016. Their new album hosts a diverse realm of adventure and imagination and also moments of alternative pop which flirts with perfection, Up With The Larks one of those irresistible occasions.

From the eloquent glassy strum of guitar to the atmosphere mist which wraps ears and indeed a similarly alluring vocal call, the song sows little other than seduction straightaway. Featuring the piano of Paul Cooper (The Great Divide) at its heart, the song soon bares bits full soul, the ballad becomes melancholic yet inspiriting ballad woven in emotive breath, inherent infectiousness and enthralling moody reflection.

A haunting romance of shadows, Up With The Larks provides all the temptation for latecomers to dive into the magnetic world of…from Prince’s Park to Farsley – Volume I and The Gorstey Lea Street Choir as a fascinating whole.

The first breath of the month saw Brooklyn-based Pas Musique unveil their new full-length Amateur Radio with plenty of reasons for itself being keenly explored coming courtesy of recent single Don Cheadle Superhero.

Described as electronic mavericks, Pas Musique was formed in 1995 as a solo project by Robert L. Pepper and over time evolved into an exploratory collective now consisting of Jon V Worthley, Michael Durek, Jesse Fairbairn and of course Pepper. The band’s sound is eagerly inspired by krautrock, aligning it with their own avant-garde inspired imagination and enterprise which as Don Cheadle Superhero shows comes with a narrative of intimation, creative dynamism and sonic temptation.

The track is a clamorous yet radiant affair, a noisy but intricately woven exclamation of sound and suggestion which harasses and seduces in equal measure. Adventure soaks every note and second, a line of menace equally adding to the dexterous instrumental persuasion gripping attention from start to finish. Like a fusion of Landscape and NEU! absorbed and warped by the warped uniqueness of Pas Musique, Don Cheadle Superhero declares itself a prime excuse to check out the Alrealon Musique released Amateur Radio.

Lastly we have Hard Shoes, the entrancing new single from Cravism X Maya Diegel. A slice of temptation woven in a soulful mix of R&B/ Lo-Fi/ chill hop, the song is a reassuring hand on the shoulder, a caress of inner hope and joy in a moment of shadows and doubt.

The track previews the Singaporean-French duo’s sophomore project, the Caryatid EP, and holds ears like a mix of Erykah Badu and Seratones. Its initial glistening start is a melodic dawn on the senses, Maya’s equally warm voice soon hugging the imagination in tone and word. As the track stretches its creative arms a fresh energy awakens a livelier joyful gait, a gentle swing which had the body swaying as keenly as thoughts took to the song’s heart bred reflections.

Like a returning summer’s day in the midst of a chillier autumn cast landscape, the Komplex Recordings released Hard Shoes simply weaved rich fascination and just as plentiful enjoyment.