Mark Mathews – Black Heart Down

Mark Mathews_RingMasterReview

As a teaser for and invitation to his new album, The Raging Sea, British singer songwriter Mark Mathews releases new single Black Heart Down, a song to get the feet moving and spirit bouncing. It is a song which does not startle yet needs little time to spark an energetic response to its boisterous rock ‘n’ roll.

Half Spanish on his Mother’s Side and Northern Irish from his Father’s, Belfast bred Mark and his family was moved to the East End of London by his actor Dad, leaving a home town “heavy with stories of death and guns.” Mark’s musical tastes and heart was inspired, amongst other things, by the discovery of Sgt Peppers in his Mum’s vinyl collection and a freebie tape titled Sixties Mania that came with a box of Kellogg’s cereal. The emergence of Oasis was the trigger for Mark to pick up a guitar and write songs. Embracing the sounds and songwriting craft of other artists such as The Beatles, The Kinks, The Band, and Ryan Adams too, his music passion and career was soon a full-time involvement.

Since that start, Mark has gigged, toured, and busked around the world, been voted one of the best artists in London by readers of the Metro newspaper, and been awarded first place in the Indie International song writing competition and nominated for 2 Indy Music Awards for best live act. Either solo or with his band, Mark Mathews’ Late Night Players, he has shared stages with the likes of Andy Fairweather-Low, Frank Turner, Nigel Clarke (Dodgy) Luke Toms, The Draytones, and Dan Le Sac. With a quartet of EPs and a trio of singles also under his belt, Mark is ready to nudge even broader attention with The Raging Sea, and its lead, the highly enjoyable Black Heart Down.

The single has ears cupped in a melodic hug straight away, the alluring acoustic start matched in potency by the darker hues of the bass. They are quickly joined by the strong and inviting tones of Mark, his vocals continuing the warm beginning yet holding an edge and intensity which is soon seeping into the catchy chorus and the overall drama of the track. Continuing to stroll along, the song shares an expressive nature in sound and emotive character in heart whilst infectiously taking feet on a lively ride.

There are seemingly no major landmarks or striking elements to the song yet is as memorable and captivating as you could wish, carrying a craft in songwriting which alone sparks a want to hear more and indeed Mark’s new album.

Black Heart Down is released April 25^th as too is The Raging Sea on iTunes.

Upcoming Live Dates:

April 27th The Bedford London

April 29th The Cavendish London

April 30th Asylum Essex

May 6th Café Del Marsh London

May 8th Amersham Arms London

May 12th Dublin Castle London

http://markmathewsmusic.com/ https://www.facebook.com/markmathewsmusic https://twitter.com/markmathewssong

Pete RingMaster 25/04/2016

For more exploration of the independent and promotional services check out http://www.zykotika.com

The Abstracts – Smells Like Summer

Nov2

The Abstracts pic 2_RingMaster Review

Smells Like Summer is the new single from UK indie rockers The Abstracts, an emerging band no strangers to local and even stronger attention and acclaim since forming in 2013. It is a reminder as to why the Cambridge hailing band has become a potent and eagerly followed proposition on the city’s music scene, a slice of husky rock ‘n’ roll which is as accomplished as it is easy going.

The past couple of years have seen The Abstracts establish themselves as a potent live proposition with the band playing regular gigs in popular London and Cambridge venues. Equally the quartet of Felix Morgan (lead vocals/guitar), Ben Taylor (guitar/backing vocals), Ben Nunn (bass/backing vocals), and Mark Thomson (drums) has whipped up strong support from, alongside their music, being nominated for best local Indie band 2 years in a row, playing a BBC Introducing session, and 2 sold-out shows on the main stage of The Cam as well as supporting artists such as Nik Kershaw, Scouting for Girls, Dodgy, and Mark Morris from The Bluetones.

2010 saw the release of debut EP Calling Out for Strangers, inspirations from bands such as The Libertines, Green Day, and Led Zeppelin spicing their own enterprise within it, a mix again catching ears within Smells Like Summer. The single quickly coaxes ears with a melodic jangle and hazy atmosphere cast by the guitars whilst rhythms bring a darker but no less enticing shadow to the emerging body of the song. A sandy grain to the vocals of Morgan adds more potent texture to the engagement whilst the beats of Thomson swing with a smiling energy to match the track’s title.

Undemanding but firmly commanding, Smells Like Summer makes a lively and flavoursome impression on the first listen but increasingly more so with each stroll of its R.E.M. meets Libertines like shuffle. Fair to say it is not a track to whip the passions into a frenzy but one to certainly warm them up, ensuring subsequent encounters with the band will be more than likely taken under the wing of attention, The Abstracts again asking questions of national awareness.

Smells Like Summer is out now @ https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/smells-like-summer/id1041294698?i=1041294699

https://www.facebook.com/theabstractsuk https://twitter.com/theabstractsuk

Pete RingMaster 02/11/2015

For more exploration of the independent and promotional services check out http://www.zykotika.com/

4th Street Traffic – Innocence (Don’t Walk Away)

Feb3

4th Street Traffic pic 1

Welsh band 4th Street Traffic describe their sound as stadium rock, a tag which means very little to our mind, but when a song like Innocence (Don’t Walk Away) roars with an energy and emotion which reveals all in merely four minutes, there really is no need for labels. The new single from the Caerphilly quartet is a bellow of a song, a resourceful tempest of melodic tenacity and emotional drive leaving a rather healthy new interest and appetite for a band already no strangers to acclaim.

Formed in 2001, 4th Street Traffic has earned their spurs through an undeterred assault on the national music scene. Their emergence has constantly garnered increasing attention and support. From debut album Wake Up Call through to its successor, the 2012 Romesh Dodangoda produced Kick the Habit, the band has nudged and drawn elevated attention, a growing spotlight backed by extensive UK tours and shows including performing at Party In The Park in 2005. The second album was the spark to bigger things it is fair to say, especially once Kelly Jones and Richard Jones of Stereophonics came across it. An invitation by the pair to open up their Summer In The City concert in Cardiff City Stadium took 4th Street Traffic to even keener attention, that moment backed by the continually impressing and selling 2^nd album and backed by shows alongside bands such as Electric Six, Toploader, The Darkness, Mike and the Mechanics, The Stranglers, 10CC, Dodgy, We Are Scientists, The Enemy and many more. Taken from their similarly well received third album Claim To Fame of 2013, Innocence (Don’t Walk Away) is the first teaser to and step in a busy year ahead for the band, and with a new line-up in place re-energising their appetite, you suspect a successful one too.

The new single launches at ears with thumping beats and a blaze of easy going but alluring riffs. Their relaxation only moments in, then allows the potent tones of vocalist Alastair Britton to open up the narrative as a resonating dark bassline courts his every syllable. It is a magnetic start with a touch of a southern rock whisper to the brewing enterprise and energy. Taking on a pungent stride thereafter, one constantly guided by the crisp jabs of the drums, the track is an insatiable persuasion on the senses with every blaze of its melodic endeavour and flavoursome vocal call a powerful temptation. It would be fair to say that the song is not venturing too far from established climates in heavy melodic rock but equally expectations are barely fed and imagination given a healthy croon of fiery creativity to run with.

4th Street Traffic is looking towards having a strong and successful year, which if their new songs are anywhere as rampantly convincing and enjoyable as Innocence (Don’t Walk Away), will be a sure thing.

Innocence (Don’t Walk Away) is released February 9^th.

Check out upcoming festival dates for 4th Street Traffic:

May 3rd Main Stage – Sound Stock Festival / Essex

May 23rd Main Stage – Exmouth Festival/ Exmouth

May 24th Main Stage – Plymouth VolksFest/ Plymouth

Jul 10th – Main Stage – Volksstock/ Coventry

Jul 12th – Main Stage – Oakwell Festival/ West Yorkshire

Aug 15th – Main Stage – NHSOB festival/ Newport, S Wales

https://www.facebook.com/4thstreettraffic

RingMaster 03/02/2015