Tag Archives: music review

Music, music blog, music review

Sleep Deprived Music Review: Y'akoto

Leave a comment

Image result for y'akoto
http://www.yakoto.de/

Although, Y’akoto’s album, “Mermaid Blues,” was released in 2017, it is exactly what I needed to hear today. Sometimes people need to hear songs with emotion and a story. Something that lets you be sad for a minute and then says it’s time to move on from sadness. Well, that’s what I am taking away from “Mermaid Blues.”

Y’akoto has been called a neo-soul singer. So there are elements of R & B, jazz and the blues. I wish that there were more singers like her. There are tons of great singers but so many don’t sing songs that are authentic.

Y’akoto is originally from Ghana but has lived in Germany and many other places.

My favorite songs on the album are “Drink My Friend” and “Fool Me Once.” If it was possible, I would listen to the album at a blues club that has a dance floor. There aren’t enough good blues clubs in the world. So in the meantime, we can just enjoy Y’akoto’s music wherever we can.

Links

Y’akoto on Facebook

Y’akoto website

Y’akoto on Spotify

Music, music blog, music review

Sleep Deprived Music Review: Aspherium

Leave a comment
Aspherium

If you need some progressive death metal to inspire you, may I suggest Aspherium’s latest album, “The Embers of Eternity.” The album would be appropriate to play to get pumped up for battle – you know, if we were Vikings. Maybe you have your own battle that you need to fight.

Aspherium is a progressive death metal band from Norway. They might even be descendants of Vikings.

I have been watching a lot of documentaries and fictional shows about Vikings. So it seems fitting to finally do this review of Aspherium. The post has been waiting in the wings for their time to be revealed.

You could say that today they have conquered all of the other blog posts. If I could, I would listen to this album while on a horse in a live action role playing game. I would make sure that “As We Walk Through Ashes” is playing at some point. It’s my favorite song on the album.

Maybe just seeing the band live would be sufficient. It’s probably easier than finding a horse that wants to be a nerd. I read somewhere that the band is into gaming. What are the chances that they would do a concert for a live action role playing tournament?

Band Members:

Marius Skarsem Pedersen: Guitars/Vocals,
Bjørn Tore Erlandsen: Drums,
Torgeir Lyby Pettersen: Bass,
Morten Nielsen: Guitars

Links:

https://aspherium.bigcartel.com/

Links

Music, music blog, music review

Sleep Deprived Music Review: Alice Boman

1 Comment

Alice Boman of Sweden released her debut album, Dream On, a few days ago. So take whatever money you have left in your post-holiday budget and support Boman in some way – buy her album, go see her live, snag the merch.

Boman’s music on the album feels ethereal and hushed – like Boman is sharing secrets with someone she trusts. It’s quiet yet powerful.

“I took instruments and recording equipment to a house in the countryside of Sweden for a few weeks to get away from everything,” Boman says. “To just focus on writing and playing. No distractions. Sometimes you need that distance to get into a flow.” 

 It’s a bit of electronic pop combined with folk. My favorite songs on the album are “Don’t Forget about Me” and “Wish We Had More Time.”

Boman doesn’t remind me of any musical artist in particular. I read that she wrote the music while listening to Portishead. If you have heard Portishead, you’ll hear their influence on this album.

I would like to listen to this album at a beach house that not in a tourist area. Maybe Maine . . .

Video

Links

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Music, music blog, music review

Sleep Deprived Music Review: The Battles of Winter

Leave a comment
The Battles of Winter

The Battles of Winter released their album, At Once with Tattered Sails, in 2016 but it’s still worthy of mentioning. They haven’t posted anything on social media for several years. Hopefully, they are just going off the grid to make new music.

Some of their songs have a pirate theme. So maybe they are sailing around the world until they figure out if they want to set foot on land again.

It’s noisy post-punk. If they are on a ship, then it’s acoustic post-punk unless they have a system for generating electricity. Whatever The Battles of Winter plays – acoustic or electric- is beyond cool. My favorite song on the album is “Love’s White Thread.”

 

Their music reminds me of Midnight Oil and Depeche Mode but with a dash of post-punk. The Battles of Winter calls London their hometown when they aren’t sailing.

I’d like to listen to this album on a pirate ship with Anne Bonny and Mary Read. We’ll just be over here waiting for the return of The Battles of Winter from their nautical journey.

The Battles of Winter:

Alistair Gale (vocals/guitar)
Lucas Manley (guitar)
Graeme Dinning (bass)
Martin Good (drums)


Music, music blog, music review

Sleep Deprived Music Review: Toronto Blessings

1 Comment
Toronto Blessings – Asleep

Toronto Blessings album, “Asleep,” will keep you awake for days.

The album feels a little aggressive and in your face but it’s not a problem. Music is like that sometimes. Life is not all rainbows and sunshine and neither is music. Case in point – Toronto Blessings is brutally honest with their lyrics and music.

Their music is more punk/alternative than anything else. The band used to be in a heavy metal band – Cavorts. Apparently, they got bored and wanted to do something different. So Toronto Blessings was born. You can still hear a bit of the metal influences. Maybe it’s the loudness . . .

 

You would think that their hometown is Toronto. However, Toronto Blessings are not from Toronto. They are originally from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England.

If we end up renovating our bathroom, I’m going to play this album. Dismantling the bathtub is going to require some aggression and a sledgehammer. Toronto Blessings is perfect for destroying things with sledgehammers and still being thoughtful about the process.

Band members:

Rik – Vocals/Bass
Dale – Guitar/Vocals
Murray – Drums/Vocals


Links

Toronto Blessings on Facebook

Toronto Blessings on Twitter

Music, music blog, music review

Sleep Deprived Music Review: Elliot Moss

1 Comment

Get excited because Elliot Moss will be releasing an album, “A Change in Diet,” on January 17, 2020. It will be released just in time for a new year, new you and all of that. There’s a month to watch the videos for “July 4” and “Barricade” while you are waiting for the album.

 

Moss writes and performs electronic music but not the kind that will get on your nerves. Think of it as electronic music with a heart and soul. My personal favorite songs on the album are “Barricade” and “Untroubled Mind.”

 

The music reminds me of some dubstep/electronic music that I have heard at music festivals. I miss going to hear music at festivals, just not a fan of the outdoor elements. However, I would weather most storms in order to hear Elliot Moss. He has the right mix of everything that is good – good vocals, good lyrics and good melodies.

Moss is from New York and still lives there. He’s going to be on tour so maybe you can catch up with him in a town near you.

\

I want to listen to this album everywhere. Driving in the city. Dancing around the house. Bike rides. Hiking trails. Coffeehouses. Everywhere.


Links
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Music, music blog, music review

Sleep Deprived Music Review: Kandace Springs

3 Comments
Kandace Springs

Indigo by singer/songwriter/pianist Kandace Springs was released in 2018. I’m a little late in noticing it but so grateful that the album appeared on the music radar. Springs is a class act. She expresses so much without being explicit.

 Her music is definitely jazz infused with R & B. Nothing about this album is like cheesy elevator music. She does a cover of Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” which is absolutely amazing. I also love “Unsophisticated” which features Roy Hargrove.

 She reminds me of Sade and Ella Fitzgerald but she doesn’t sound exactly like anyone else except herself. Springs lists both Sade and Fitzgerald as two of her many influences.

Springs is from Nashville but currently living in New York City. Fun Fact: Springs was invited by Prince to perform with him at Paisley Park.

It would be awesome to see Springs perform at a small jazz club. I will definitely be keeping an eye on tour dates.


Links

https://kandacesprings.lnk.to/listen
https://twitter.com/KandaceSprings
http://instagram.com/kandacesprings

Kandace Springs on Spotify