General Mack’s Grapeshot – Steady Me

General Mack’s Grapeshot is the musical project of Australian multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer, Mitchy McIvor. Revel, Revel is the debut album from this Melbourne-based artist with the intriguing moniker. No doubt there is a story behind the name, could it be General Mack an Austrian general most remembered for commanding an embarrassing surrender to Napoleon? McIvor says his music takes inspiration from novels, short stories and poetry. An interesting selection of songs that criss-cross genres from poppy to rockist to psychedelic all with a healthy dose of somewhat retro guitar motifs. Damn fine production.

Maud the Moth – A Temple By The River

“An impressive re-imagining of the post-classical form” Says John Parry for Backseat Mafia one of my favorite music blogs. Maud the Moth is the solo project of Spanish-born and Scotland-based pianist, singer and songwriter Amaya López-Carromero. Maud the Moth serves as Amaya’s alter ego. Amaya uses her classical training as a platform upon which her eclectic songwriting and cathartic solo live performances rest. I recommend listening to her LP, The Distaff in one sitting, then at a later date select cuts you really enjoy to listen to again. Experimental music at it’s best.

Nana Horisaki – Torch

Scoppi is the second solo album by singer-songwriter Nana Horisaki, following on from her 2019 album Pot. If the previous album was a crystallization created by sharpening each sound in a closed room, Scoppi is a work that is consistently fun, with ideas, hesitations, and decisions that were made with free will and without any grudges, from composition to recording, all with Horisaki’s inherent stubbornness, which all make the songs strangely work. Horisaki’s sharp and critical playing style cannot be pigeonholed, and her light and funny melodies contradict it. A large thumbs up for the drawings, photographs and design by 浅沼弥沙 Misa Asanuma. The album is available from Kirigirisu Recordings, a limited edition label out of Tokyo who say they, “release good stuff from multiple genres”.

Speakers Corner Quartet & Tizzah – This Is How We Walk On The Moon

From the UK, the quartet is Biscuit on flute, Kwake Bass on drums & percussion, Raven Bush on violin, and Peter Bennie on bass with vocals courtesy of Tizzah. What a magnificently charming recording, a cover of Arthur Russell’s sublime This Is How We Walk On The Moon. The single is part of Speakers Corner Quartet’s original score for the BBC 1 show Mr. Loverman. The series unravels themes of family, authenticity, and queer desire through the experiences of its titular character. Fitting then that it’s ingeniously adapted from the original by the legendary Arthur Russell who’s queer sexuality ties in with some of the same themes from a similar era as the show.

Jetstream Pony – The Relativity Of Wrong

Quite the pedigree these folks have, Beth Arzy (The Luxembourg Signal/Trembling Blue Stars/Aberdeen) on vocals and percussion, Shaun Charman (The Wedding Present/The Popguns/The Fireworks) on guitar and vocals, Kerry Boettcher (Turbocat) on bass, Tom Levesley on drums, and recently joined by Mark Matthews (The Dentists/The Treasures Of Mexico) on guitar. Delivering their new album, Bowerbirds And Blue Things combining indie-pop and post-punk with energy and passion. Do not overlook.

Soot Sprite – All My Friends Are Depressed

I’ve been keeping a watchful eye on Soot Sprite from Exeter in the glorious west country of England. All My Friends Are Depressed could not be more timely as Elise Cook’s lyrics and emotive delivery challenges Dana Margolin’s coolness. Sam Cother on drums, percussion & backing vocals plays his part so well, I love the way his drums are recorded, crisp and loud along with Sean Mariner’s formidable bass. With their new album, aptly titled, Wield Your Hope Like a Weapon, Soot Sprite tackle the angst they and their peers must certainly feel right now. Curiously, the jolly romp of a video for All My Friends Are Depressed suggests a gleeful attitude with brightly colored balloons and clown makeup. Then again, the chaos that ensues tells of deadpan, very English dark humor. Love it!

Sevendials – Too High To Live

One of the more gracious fellows in rock ’n’ roll, Christopher Connelly reached out to let me know of his latest project, Sevendials. That was more than enough to nudge me into setting up a Zoom conversation. You need to know I relish the opportunity to have a chinwag with Mr. Connelly, not only because he is devout music nerd like me, he is also an all-round lovely fella. I recall one time we were on Zoom and I asked Chris what was he sipping out of that glass tumbler. “Whiskey!” He announced, adding, “Where’s your’s then?” I wasted know time and grabbed a bottle and poured myself a healthy dose. “Sorry” I said, “It’s Bourbon, I hope you don’t mind?” When you are drinking alongside a gentleman from Scotland and he is already a dram ahead of you, it’s polite to make sure he is not offended by your preference for something other than the Scottish nectar of the gods. The conversation continued along while watching each other replenish our glasses almost to the brim with each pour.. What we talked about I can’t remember, but I know for sure it was about music, probably a soliloquy or two about Bowie and no doubt a diversion into who was the biggest cunt we had encountered so far in the music biz. As I may have mentioned, I love chatting with Chris Connelly, he’s a lovey bloke. This time around we didn’t drink, Chris was intent on telling me all about Sevendials and the debut album, A Crash Course In Catastrophe. The full conversation will air on an upcoming volume of LEM, meanwhile, I have included a portion of our chat where Chris explains who is in the band. With absolute enthusiasm Chris talks about Mark Gemini Thwaite, Big Paul Ferguson and how Sevendials came to be. You’ll going to want to hear the full one hour interview plus cuts from the album. Too High To Live is one of my fave cuts so far. This is pure unadorned rock. Who needs bell and whistles when you have these fellas doing what they clearly love. Excellent!

Daffy – Splash

When you want a nice big slice of fresh Dubstep the city of Bristol is an enormous source for brilliant emerging talent. Producer and DJ, Daffy has deft hand at offering up exciting platters. Splash from the Cool It release is major! Just as I’m typing this I received news of Daffy’s Poolside EP…mere hours since it dropped. Do not ignore Daffy.

Zha – Quit Dreaming, Grow Up

I’ll let Zha explain this one, “This diverse EP blurs the lines between Bollywood, Dubstep, UK Garage, and Breaks. Quit Dreaming, Grow Up is a love letter to musicians who painfully balance the delivery of their art with the pace in which it is consumed and forgotten.” Makes sense to me. Excellent artwork by Kasper Plougmand. 

My Raining Stars – Stop The Time

This is the solo project of French musician and composer Thierry Halinaik ably assisted by multi-instrumentalist Casper Iskov who is also on production, recording and mixing duties. The album, Momentum has a haunting melancholy tone as captured in the black and white video for Stop The Time shot by Maud Anyways. Yes, there is a noticeable retro and “sounds-familiar” essence to Haliniak’s work and that’s a compliment.

Ella Janes – Smoke And Mirrors

This jaunty foot-tapper could momentarily divert you away from paying attention to Ella’s smart storytelling and very capable guitar work. Her new EP, I Bought Myself Flowers Today shows how well Ms. Janes understands her voice. Charming and confidant with hints of a bluesy-jazzy timbre. Each song suggests Ella Janes maybe searching for that comfortable niche to proceed with. Possibly, an odd idea, but I can hear Ella covering classic pop songs to full emotional effect. 

Hot Wax – Chip My Teeth For You

Full disclosure, I chatted with this talented trio before that were a sparkle in a publicist eye. Tallulah Sim-Savage, Lola Sam and Alfie Sayers wanted a little insight about the wicked world of the music biz, so Alfie’s dad (a long-time friend) recommended a Zoom chat with Uncle Norman. Next thing I know, they are signed, putting out singles, making videos, touring and getting gobs of great press. All the while the thundering noise these three rascals make is totally rock and fuckin’ roll! You don’t need me to jabber on, their LP, Hot Shock is just what the doctor ordered. Get it!

bdrmm – Lake Disappointment

Microtonic is the third album from bdrrm and as expected, it’s eclectic and damn good. Meanwhile, it came to my attention that “Microtonic is a VST/AU plug-in for Windows and Mac featuring a unique drum and percussion synthesizer combined with a pattern based drum-machine engine”. OK, back to the music, Lake Disappointment makes me appreciate bdrrm more than ever. They caught my attention early on and indicated there was not room for improvement but rather a venture into searching out new directions. This is adventurous electronic/alternative/shoegaze music and it’s fashioned by chaps from Hull. Top marks!

Alison O’Donnell & Gayle Brogan – Winged Sages

Oh, what enchanting music this is. The album A Colloquy Of Birds was they say, inspired by the folklore of birds. A collaborative enterprise written and recorded by two highly regarded artists. It’s almost five decades since Alison O’Donnell first drew attention with her folk-rock band Mellow Candle, much has transpired since then so you are advised to go to Alison’s site, read her bio and make sure you savor her genealogy. Pefkin is the alter ego of Gayle Brogan do make sure you read all about her music here. Truthfully, I’m inclined to tip-toe mindfully around anything with folklore as a descriptor, for good reason after all I’ve had more than my fair of exposures to “Hey Nonny Nonny”. This album ain’t that.

The photograph is by Joe R. Rifkin “The Great Escape” 2009 from a series of digital prints for a proposed short movie. Courtesy of Norman B’s collection.