It may not be as obvious as Manchester, Liverpool, or Bristol for producing great bands but over recent years we have found that Cavan in Ireland has been doing just that, our ears captivated by the likes of The Radioactive Grandma, Juggling Wolves, Ape Rising and Fertile Reptile among many. Now we add The Spiritual Leaders to the list, an indie rock trio which as their new mini album shows offer a rich and varied palette of sound.
The Spiritual Leaders consists of vocalist/guitarist David Reilly, lead guitarist/bassist/keyboardist Fergus Brady and drummer Cathal Brady. The band released a self-titled debut album in the closing weeks of 2012, a record introducing a sound seeded in the inspirations of artists such as The Smiths, Radiohead, Joy Division, New Order, Whipping Boy, Pixies, Stone Roses, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jeff Buckley, and Van Morrison but as within latest offering Albania Away bears its own individuality.
Recorded and produced by Rob Newman (Therapy?, Pet Crow) in Snug Recording Studios, Derby, Albania Away quickly fascinated with opener Picture on the Wall. An electronic thread led to a lively rhythmic shuffle and subsequent melodic jangle with an eighties indie hue. As Reilly’s vocals join the temptation the swing of the track is in full command, the song catching the imagination with its Lloyd Cole tinged character and boisterous sound.
Fatten the Calf follows and it too embraces an eighties indie/new wave lining around its infectious swing led by the seriously magnetic bass. Though seemingly slim in its textures, the wonderfully unpredictable song is a thick weave of enterprise and post punk nurtured suggestion while next up You Know Me bristles with more muscular rock ‘n’ roll attitude and a matching physical touch yet also has tinges of that post punk breeding within discord spun enterprise akin to The Pixies.
Predominantly instrumental, the outstanding Bell Jar is a captivating slice of melodic intimation with XTC-esque radiance to its atmospheric stroll while Temporary, which features Barra McGuirk on lead guitar and synthetic strings, made for beguiling acoustic companion, its stringed serenade a haunting pleasure.
Underwater With You superbly completes the release, initially an electronic teasing which is soon bound in melodic guitar wires alongside subtle but equally fertile rhythms and voice. It too has an evocative quality, an atmospheric air coloured by the band’s craft and imagination.
With every listen Albania Away captivated and fascinated with increasing strength, ears increasingly seduced by each passing minute; The Spiritual Leaders giving more proof that though still a relative secret beyond its borders Cavan is a hot bed of unique sound and real pleasure.
Albania Away is out now; available @ https://thespiritualleaders.bandcamp.com/releases and https://open.spotify.com/album/0nwrKNcbi3xF03VMQYUjqF
https://www.facebook.com/thespiritualleadersrock/
Pete RingMaster 14/05/2020
Copyright RingMasterReview: MyFreeCopyright
The track breeds an infectiousness which infests the whole of the release but as the following Lullaby reveals its character is as unique each time just as that of the songs themselves. The second song skips in and swiftly the imagination found itself basking in the darkly shadowed intimation of Schiff’s cello and equally inky toned bass. All the while DeLorenzo’s voice casts bait as somnambulistic as it is spirited; a fusion just as potent within the uncomplicated yet rich enticement of keys.
My Nature is a compelling blend of sinister seduction and menacing atmospheric intimation; it is also the latest single from Atlanta-based indie pop duo I Am a Rocketship and the lead track off of their fascinating new album Ghost Stories. It is a song which creeps into the psyche whilst manipulating the body with its infectious grooves and one which suggests indeed demands that the band’s bigger offering should be explored.
unpredictability and relishing the myriad of flavours and styles which inspire that wonderfully erratic but skilfully crafted landscape of ideation.
Nikavo is a musical union of producers Philip Winiger and Alexey Laduda; a pair whose respective informative musical years, the former embracing a love of the German electronic music scene and being part of industrial/ EBM outfit INHALT and the latter growing up “in the rigid, yet highly creative, post-Soviet space, playing the guitar and singing”, has found a uniting passion for dance music and analogue audio synthesis. It has resulted in a project and sound which has a broad smile to its presence and an almost mischievous instinct to experiment and explore.
preceded by a couple of melodic flames posing as singles to draw ears like moths.
With their new album, Coniphers, scheduled for release May 22nd, US rockers Lazaris Pit uncage their new single You Don’t Tag Me In Memes Anymore to also provide a ripe teaser to whet the appetite. The track is a boisterous slice of funk dipped indie rock with an almost rebellious lining of punk rock, the kind of song which inspires a want to know and hear more.
lures for its release are the singles Star Killer and Honey Lavender Girl.
Finally we have new temptations from Beauty in Chaos, the creative project of guitarist Michael Ciravolo (Human Drama, Michael Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel) which sees him link up with a rich host of musicians song by song. With new album, The Storm Before The Calm, due May 22nd via LA-based label 33.3 Music Collective, a trio of singles have raised the keenest of anticipation of its release.
Cora Cora Cora as mentioned is their first offering and sees the legendary Dave Barbarossa (Adam & The Ants/ Bow Wow Wow) featuring on drums. Fair to say the track immediately gripped ears with its almost sinister melodic lure which emerged from the initial blast of rhythmic temptation. That fruitful hook continues to wind across the song, increasing its intoxication as Woods potent tones swing on the creative threads of the band led by Duke’s ever magnetic craft.
The EP opens up with Feel It and immediately its organic catchiness descends as guitars and rhythms erupt. Its stroll is bound in infection, the fuzziness of guitars a great union with the cleaner cut melody of the vocals as a rich wiry hook lays a magnetic thread throughout the song. Darker shadows and drama only add to its richness and temptation of its nineties toned saunter
Their new offering is bookended by the band’s previously released singles, Carol’s Dead and Night School, an entrance and departure which is worth the effort of digging into Back-Street Boys alone. The first of the two more taunts than invites attention with its initial resonating throb of bass and lure dangling guitar but with the same impossible to ignore intrigue at its core. As tenacious beats increasingly swung their manipulative bait and the band’s twitchy vocals united in a just as lively and devilish static dance on the ears, the track enslaved as it stomped around with irresistible dynamics and attitude. Teasing with essences reminding of bands such as Gang Of Four, Artery, and The Fall across its more forceful individuality, the song is glorious and one of the best tracks of the past decade.
In saying that, the opening track of Fall From The Velvet Sky has a thick dark creative breath which reminds of Scottish band, The Filthy Tongues. The initial melodic glisten of Ghost Story is soon descended upon by emotive shadows, keys and rhythms united in their gothic intimation even before Denton shares his equally suggestive tones. The psych rock breath of those keys continues to light the haunting embrace of the song, its reflective stroll a prowling instigator on ears and imagination.
It is an outstanding start to the album quickly matched by the alt rock shenanigans of The Bean Song with its animated moves and virulent hookery. Darkly hued rhythms incite and entice from the first second, guitars and vocals casting a web of temptation which effortlessly worms itself into ears and body with the inevitable involvement achieved by its monkey tricks including exploiting the equally infectious lure of The Kinks with a big grin.
Though for personal tastes the release never quite reached those major heights again, its presence and enterprise is a lofty adventure that continues to beguile, next up Baby Doll providing a fiery blaze of punk shaped rock ‘n’ roll with progressive breath to its winds as melodic seduction fuels its great unpredictability.