28 Degrees Taurus

We were originally going to shut down operations here for a couple of weeks while moving into our new (It's not new! It's 88 years old! - M.) Malibu Barbie Dream-barn but decided, after receiving a CD in the post and listening to the music, to take one last spin in our pink-plastic Corvette before calling in the moving vans. So here we find ourselves with a sparkling indie rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that deserves a number of second listens. 28 Degrees Taurus is the musical collective of Jinsen Liu (guitar, vocals), Greg Murphy (percussion, drums) and Brazilian born cellist Karina Dacosta (bass, lovely vocals), that formed in 2005. With a handful of previously self-released audio contributions, in various forms since their inception, the band now has a brand new offering to share and our ears are very pleased. How Do You Like Your Love? is the title of the new full length album which was recorded over the past year or so and, now that we've had the chance to listen, a high recommendation is in order. The psychedelic drift of seamless guitars are never overpowered by any single attempt at forced shoegaze, and this is a delightfully rare find these days. For more music, stop by the 28 Degrees Taurus MySpace page as well as the 28DT Sonicbids profile... and, if you just so happen to be in the general vicinity, today's featured artist will be performing live next Thursday, May 29 at almost local Lynn/Boston venue Gulu Gulu Cafe. Have a listen... very nice.

MP3: Waves Of Love
MP3: Low Light

Bullship

My last visit to Charlotte, North Carolina was just over ten years ago and I remember walking the streets of the downtown area they called Fourth Ward, thinking to myself how much of a lovely city it was. This was just before a big sports stadium was to be built nearby but I'm sure the place is still as progressive as I remember it. Some of you might ask what this has to do with our feature, while most might have already guessed that today's musicians call this beautiful city home. Bullship is currently a four piece, consisting of Sloan Mclaughlin (drums, vocals), Chris Holston (guitar, lead vocals), Jason Michel (bass, vocals) and David Collins (lead guitar), who originally formed in 2000. After a self-titled debut album and live performance dates with the likes of Adam Franklin of Swervedriver fame (who we featured right here), the band has a brand new full length release titled is/was. Both offerings are now available for purchase at CD Baby. You can check out more of this music at the Bullship MySpace page, then download a quite a bit and get some additional info while visiting the Bullship website. From the Ashes is our featured track of the new is/was release and it builds from the most basic of beginnings into a fuzz-tastic guitar flurry we can recommend for sure. The next live performance will take place next Thursday, May 29, at local Charlotte venue Visulite Theater.

MP3: From The Ashes

MML Update: The Secret Life of Sofia

As strange as it seems now, it was almost two full years ago when we originally featured Brooklyn, New York based artist The Secret Life of Sofia, including members Kyle (vocals, classical guitar, electric guitar, keys), Eric (guitar, vocals, bass, keys, percussion), Steve (drums, bells, keys, vocals) along with live addition Fraser (bass, percussion, vocals) and the outstanding track Hospital Inside Me [July 2006 review + MP3 download]. As an update we've been sitting on for a few weeks now, there is a brand new, full length release, titled Seven Summits, to announce and we highly recommend you take a good extended listen. The songs involved are actually true stories Kyle decided to interpret after a mountain climbing experience in Colorado. Although a complete departure from some of the earlier material we were originally smitten with, the new songs we've taken in are absolutely beautiful. For more music, you can visit both The Secret Life Of Sofia website as well as The Secret Life Of Sofia MySpace page. There are currently a handful of live dates so far this summer but that list will be expanding quickly... hopefully into the Midwest and specifically the Cincinnati, Ohio/NKY area.

Hats off to the band for remembering MML and sharing the new music with all of us....

MP3: Outside

Adam Heart

No, we haven't disappeared. Instead, your friendly neighborhood bloggers are currently still buried with nerves, finance and general moving type worries that have kept us away from this magic button machine during most of yet another week. As reparation for those bewildered souls who actually wondered enough to message us with their concerns, we now kick off a week of daily music with a glam-tastic artist from Central/Northeastern Ohio (pronounced "Ahia") we've been meaning to showcase for quite some time. Adam Heart is an impressive multi-instrumentalist who was originally born in Frankfurt, Germany, but now calls Ohio (please say it with me again... "Ahia") home. Adam's four piece backing band, The Children Of Light, currently consists of Dom Vercillo (lead guitar), Phoenix Rainbow (bass), Alexander Nevermind (guitar, effects) and Kyle The Great Elkins (percussion) who are loosely based around the small college/industrial town of Ashland, Ohio. With enough spare change, willpower and maybe even some sort of trashed, yet elegant, tour van... this troupe might just be paying a visit to your local venue very soon. Let's throw a couple of songs at you before momentum finds them featured all over the place.

MP3: Electric Prophet From On High
MP3: Okay To Be

Oh yes, this is a very good thing. To find the track we feel is a certain show-stopper you will need to visit the Adam Heart MySpace page and be sure to click on the song Strictly Ballroom Baby while there. As an added bonus, we have a late night television YouTube video version of the same song with the band playfully lip-synching as improvisation. Enjoy!

Heroes of Popular Wars

Another week away with a mountain of paperwork and un-resolved housing issues makes for a nervous murder of MML bunnies and a not-so-updated blog... however, we can now take a deep breath in bringing you a treat in the form of Brooklyn, New York based quartet, Heroes Of Popular Wars. I'm not sure that many bands we've featured recently can eclipse the balance of experimental electronica vs. acoustic/hungry guitar offerings that seem to fall effortlessly into the ear with what is believed to be a natural lead track in Goodbye. We've also attached the telephone-tastic song There's The Bell in order to seal the deal... just don't try to place an outgoing call while listening. More music is available upon visiting the Heroes Of Popular Wars MySpace page. The next live performance will take place at Philadelphia, PA venue M-Room (M-Room MySpace) June 11, followed by a second chance to fall in love June 13 at Brooklyn/Williamsburg staple Don Pedro's.

MP3: Goodbye
MP3: There's The Bell

The Sad Cobras

So we've been away from the blog for a week of painful home buying negotiation and a mountain of related paperwork we certainly wouldn't wish upon anyone. The chase (no pun) to become true adults and happy homeowners is far from over but we needed to take a deep breath in returning to another submission of music we love... in other words, please be patient with us. Today's featured audio treats belong to a Roanoke, Virginia based quartet known as The Sad Cobras. Aside from the tracks made available below, the members of this band are also involved with an impressive local music collective in The Magic Twig Community which includes additional projects The Young Sinclairs, Boys Lie, Sunking! and The Power Animals among others. After visiting all of these incarnations, a thought came to mind that we just might need to take an entire week to showcase all of this music. Our first listen, where TSC are concerned, revealed wonderfully off-kilter vocals in a DEVO-infused and highly recommended track Body Cast... which is a great place to start sharing the sounds. Here we go.

MP3: Body Cast




Body Cast is just one of the songs you will find on the brand new, self released album titled No More Graves and you can listen to more of it by visiting The Sad Cobras MySpace page. The next live performance will take place at Richmond, Virginia venue Nara Sushi (on the Terasu?) June 7 with previously featured VA favorite Hot Lava. The following are a pair of additional tracks from the new release. The mood is decidedly more subdued but equally lovely.

MP3: Bernice
MP3: My Fondest Memory

MML Video: Dana Falconberry

Our initial feature of Austin, Texas based artist Dana Falconberry happened around a year and a half ago [September 2006 review + download], just as the outstanding EP Paper Sailboat was beginning to land some well deserved attention. As an update, we bring you a brand new single, titled Love Will Never Leave You Alone, in the form of a YouTube video. This new track will eventually belong to the upcoming full length debut album Oh Skies Of Grey which is set for release, without any specific date, later this year. Tomorrow night, April 27, you can catch a live performance, with musicians Erika Maassen and Gina Dvorak rounding out the full band experience, at Houston, Texas venue The Mink. If this new single is any indication of what to expect from the new LP, we just might have another year end "best of" mention on our hands. Take a moment to visit the Dana Falconberry MySpace page also for additional info and music. Happy Saturday to all...

From the 2006 EP Paper Sailboat:

MP3: Sadie

I Love You Airlines

In continuing what seems to be an occasional theme here at MML, we have yet another good NYC artist with a penchant for interpreting various and highly listenable moments of the 1980s. After glazing over the promotional email and management pop/glam rock description for the band I Love You Airlines, we had a few listens and decided that there was more of a feverish urgency involved somewhere within the recordings. An extended visit to the I Love You Airlines MySpace page revealed, to our delight, that this New York City duo of Edi Kearns (vocals) and Paul Rechsteiner (bass) have bands such as Bad Brains listed as influences. There are also a number of additional tracks you will find while visiting, including a favorite of ours in Diamond Disguise from the latest self-released EP titled A New High. The next live performance will take place May 25 at Washington D.C. venue DC9 as part of the monthly electro-pop event Taint.

MP3: The Snow Leopard

Dead Leaf Echo: Pale Fire EP

At some point in 2006, we received a kind message from NYC based artist Dead Leaf Echo (DLE MySpace) and, for reasons we can only chalk up to dysfunction on our part, communication was lost before we could feature the band's debut release Faint Violet Whiff. The sound, at that time, was decidedly 80s with more of a Roxy Music feel than anything we could attach to the crop of proto-shoegazers that would follow a few short years later... but now we have an updated story to report. The New York City trio of LG (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Mike DiLalla (bass) and Liza B (keys,vocals) recently mailed us a new offering we can recommend without hesitation. Pale Fire is the title of this brand new EP, and what we believe is the the lead track from it was actually mixed by UK shoegaze/dreampop extraordinaire Ulrich Schnauss (Ulrich Schnauss MySpace). The next live performance will be a definite highlight of an event, sponsored by the lovely and growing Loveless Music Group (LMG MySpace), that is set to take place April 23 at local Brooklyn venue Rehab. Expect plenty of future updates on DLE from MML.

MP3: Pale Fire

Oh, and before I forget. The band is currently exploring the idea of adding an additional member in the form of a quality percussionist. Please contact DLE directly if you are interested.

Red Kitchen

Sometimes, it really is what the featured artist doesn't have that is a secondary draw after a few listens to the music. With no official website, label, or even any type of one-sheet submission, a simple email communication was all that was needed to create a stir here at MML. Red Kitchen is the music project of multi-instrumentalist Matt McClure from Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. As it was explained to me last week, every song Matt has recorded over the past seven years is part of an ongoing/extended concept album addressing an ageing man and his life as advanced Alzheimer's disease sets in. While this fact alone might pique your interest enough to listen, please know that the music we've heard is a cozily disheveled collection of anthems that stand well enough on their own without any further banter on our part. You can listen to more of these tracks and contact the artist if you so desire, by visiting the Red Kitchen MySpace page. Now that you have at least some sense of backdrop for the music, please give a listen and pay attention to the lyrics.

MP3: The Wake Or 110 Days

City Breathing

If anyone just so happened to ask if a song, ok... any song clocking in at over nine minutes, could hold our attention beyond a standard cocktail and cigarette, I would probably be looking carefully for signs of eye redness and/or a Frank Zappa printed t-shirt. This time, however, all bets are off as our collective attention is focused on an impressive entry in the form of a new Roses & Hello label release, titled Look How It's Snowing Upwards, Look How They Move Towards Heaven, from Brooklyn, New York based trio City Breathing. Current contributors Arun Antonyraj, Marwan Kanafani (no, not that Marwan Kanafani... - Michelle) and Ron Tucker have created a true gem in this debut full length album that had our heads spinning nicely after repeated listens. Additional music can be found on the City Breathing MySpace page and there is more information available upon visiting the City Breathing website. The next live performance will take place April 26 @ local Brooklyn venue Monkey Town. Once you give today's featured track exactly 3 minutes to build its lovely base, a shoegaze-threaded and quite epic departure ensues. Plenty of you MML regulars will appreciate this one.

MP3: A Memory of Fingerprints

For another track and our first mention of the band, please visit our previous post from Feburary... right here.

Phillip Eno

It's not often we have the chance to feature this much of the back catalogue for one artist but, when we do (and actually enjoy it), you can be sure that an audio experience well worth a few listening moments awaits. The first thing we need to explain is that Phillip Eno is not a distant cousin of popular namesake Brian... or any one person at all. Instead, what we have to share is the work of primary musicians/married couple Lito Vales and Nerissa Vales from Astoria, New York. Along with various friends, Lito and Nerissa have been churning out an amazing amount of music since 2002. The sound floats somewhere close to shoegaze, with strong electro-pop hints and a few other influences (Stephin Merritt) that are failing to register in my brain right now. We were originally only going to feature the few songs we received via email but, after visiting the band's label, Cactus Killer (Cactus Killer Myspace), we found a virtual treasure trove of outstanding music to download. The big news is that two new albums will be released, in the very near future, for 2008. For more information and plenty of additional music, you can visit the Phillip Eno website as well as the Phillip Eno MySpace page. Before beginning with the music, be sure to have a fresh cocktail and/or pack of cigarettes on hand for the ride. Very nice.

From the 2006 release Candelaria...
MP3: Young Thug
MP3: For The Love Of Renaldo Moon

From the 2005 release Comfort Room...
MP3: Fake #1
MP3: Holiday On The Moon

From the 2004 self titled release Phillip Eno...
MP3: My New Day
MP3: Ingrid

From the 2004 release Almost A Love Story...
MP3: You Say
MP3: Brood X

From the 2004 release ETC...
MP3: A Prophecy
MP3: Grand Avenue

Finally, from the 2002 debut release Manila Guerilla...
MP3: Quicksand
MP3: Sinking

Codpiece

Today it gets good and noisy here at MML as we bring you Long Beach, California rock ensemble Codpiece. The featured track is one of five that belong to a November 2007 self released EP titled Epic Code. Within this debut offering, you can expect to hear plenty of the influences listed on the Codpiece MySpace page as well as a few that had us sorting through our old music collection for comparisons. While the sound is decidedly JAMC, there is definitely Ramone(s) flavor as well as a hint of early Archwelder thrown in for good measure. You can catch the band live tomorrow night, April 10, by making your way to Los Angeles venue Mr. T's Bowl. Need a healthy dose of feedback? Yes?? We thought so. Now might be a good time to turn the computer speakers up a notch or two. Good stuff.

MP3: Whenever I'm With You

MML Preview: François Virot

Photo: Beatriz Lanchas

After a few days of welcomed but taxing family obligations and an unfortunate car engine explosion (don't ask), we finally have the opportunity to settle back in with some outstanding new music we've been listening to all the while. Our first feature of Lyon, France based multi-instrumentalist François Virot happened well over a year ago [December 2006 review + download] with a follow up on one of his noisier side projects, Clara Clara (Clara MySpace) almost a year later [October 2007 review + download]. Now we have the good fortune to report an upcoming full length release, simply titled Yes Or No, which will be made available through Clapping Music (Clapping MySpace) on June 5. Our first complete listen to the new album revealed a collection of songs that, while keeping with the previous theme of experimental campfire-folkiness, gave us a new take on Mr. Virot's warm and playful direction. For more music and information, visit the François Virot website as well as the much visited François Virot MySpace page. The next live performance will take place in Berlin, Germany on April 13 as François takes the stage at Madame Claude. The itinerary for a summer tour of the U.S. is also in the works and you can place a safe bet that we will be front and center for the Chicago show. The following two tracks are lovely and a highly recommended preview of the new album. Enjoy.

MP3: Not The One
MP3: Where o Where a

Affordable Hybrid

As a complete departure from our most recent offerings here at MML, we decided it best to club you over the head with an excellent post-punk rock band we've had on full volume for the past couple of days. Affordable Hybrid is a young quartet from Vänersborg, Sweden with a current lineup consisting of members Samuel Järpvik (guitar, vocals), Joel Eriksson (guitar, vocals), Lars Löfgren (bass, vocals) and Mikael Björklund (destroying his drum kit). The band has been active in both recording and performing live since 2003 and has easily captured our attention with a sound I can only place between Fugazi and some of the more coherent material we remember from Jesus Lizard. Here is a first listen to a track that might even give Ian MacKaye a reason to smile blushingly.

MP3: Say Ah



Say Ah is just one of 13 tracks that belong to the late 2007 debut album, titled The Snake Was A Mistake, which was recorded over the summer by fellow musician/producer Dieter Schöön and released by the band's current label Tell Me That You Love Me. We've had a chance to take in the entire thing and all songs are equally impressive. For those who'd like to hear more, there is also an Affordable Hybrid MySpace page where you can find plenty of music, both past and present, and an extensive list of their upcoming live performance dates. The new European tour kicks off this Saturday, April 5 at the local (annual) Vänersborg music festival widely known as Fairfest (2008). We now leave you with another track that could possibly give you a semi-understanding of our earlier Jesus Lizard hint. Can you tell we like this band?

MP3: It Might Be Too Late

MML Preview: Tomihira

Back in the earliest part 2006, we received our very first music care package from San Francisco, California based artist Dean Tomihira. Contained within the bubble wrapped envelope he sent was a copy of an amazing 2005 full length release titled Play Dead. That CD ended up traveling with me, almost immediately following it's arrival, over to London, UK for a second visit with MML editor and now resident concubine (wife) Michelle [... cheeky git! - ed.] After listening constantly for the duration of what can only be described as a mutual courtship with the perfect soundtrack, we posted a brief write-up on the music [March 2006 review + download]. As a follow up, a couple of months later, we revisited Dean's music with an excellent New Order cover song [May 2006 review + Mr. Disco MP3] that made its way onto a certain tribute album you might also want to check out. There is plenty of music to explore on the Tomihira website and additional information to find at the Tomihira MySpace page.

Now we get to the good stuff... a new track has been made available for us to share with you. The mood is consistent with everything we've grown to love including an equal balance of Dean's unmistakable vocals and light tension that falls gently into the warmest depths of our ears. The upcoming, yet to be titled album is currently being tweaked and polished and, with much anticipation, we look forward to the finished product. We highly recommend you have a first listen (even if @ 98 kbps)...

MP3: Ringers Off (New for 2008!!)

From the New Order tribute album Community 2 (2006)
MP3: Mr. Disco

From the release Play Dead (2005)
MP3: World Class
MP3: Pillbox

Starfish100

We originally were not going to post anything this evening since my impacted wisdom teeth have decided to all sing painfully in unison today, but after a large dose of ibuprofen, I get to feature a band that we have been happily listening to for a few days now. Starfish100 is an indie pop/rock four piece from São Paulo, Brazil consisting of members Demys Schneider (vocals/guitars), Angelo Bijelli (vocals/guitars), Néo (bass) and André (drums). The band started out in 2001 when Demys arrived from London, UK and so they vocalize in both Portuguese and English. While the music is radio-friendly enough for a wider listening audience, there are also a few hints of a couple of late 80s/early 90s artists we at MML just so happen to love... both of which can found listed as influences on the Starfish100 MySpace page. While visiting there, be sure to check the videos and download some of the music. The next live performance will take place on April 5 at local São Paulo venue/club Berlin.

MP3: Untrue
MP3: Por Mais Que

As if the songs were not enough... here is a great YouTube video for the track "Untrue"

MML Buzz: Uncut/Japan Release Date!

Long before the MML music blog existed, we inhabited a small, experimental corner of the internets in the form of a MySpace group page. During these not-so-glorious early days of late 2005, some friends were made and my first foray into the whole "dancing about architecture" type thing was born. Today's featured artist was the original subject of our affection and continues to be a staple of our daily listening regimen. The first exclusive took place last year [March 2007 review + video/downloadables] well after Toronto, Canada based quartet Uncut released their sophomore, 2006 full length album Modern Currencies. In avoiding another day late/dollar short (no pun) scenario, we've decided to give a timely announcement of the band's Japanese release date of April 2nd for Modern Currencies. The added bonus of two previously unheard tracks, in store for eager listeners such as ourselves, will accompany the new Japanese offering which will be made available through 51 Records (51 MySpace) next month. Word on the "mean streets" of Canada is that there will be more new music to follow, embracing the most recent addition of guitarist and resident camel tamer Chris McCann. We might just have to wait for the new material, much like a young boy sitting on the curb (baseball mitt in hand) hoping for dad to leave the pub to gather him for ball practice... meanwhile, there are a few treats from the past to revisit. Let's listen once again, shall we?

From the 2006 release Modern Currencies:
MP3: Darkhorse

From the 2005 release Those Who Were Hung Hang Here:
MP3: Copilot
MP3: Taken In Sleep

*Bonus MP3*: Taken In Sleep (Live) ...a long, long time ago

Secret Knives

So a holiday weekend we are not particularly interested in is well underway, and our knee-jerk response is to do the following: a) cook lots of food, b) drink, c) listen to music. Since we have an eight pound ham boiling away in Coca-Cola with onions (thanks Nigella) and our collective liver is now feeling especially dapper, it was decided to feature an entire EP of new music for all to listen. We originally received an email from a really nice bloke named Blink, who just so happens to run the Wellington, New Zealand based record label A Low Hum, late last week. After poking around his links for a while, we discovered that, aside from the annual music festival he hosts, there are a handful of quality artists who are a part of his label and definitely deserve a second take. Today's featured music is the complete debut EP release, titled The Wolves, from local Wellington, NZ outfit Secret Knives. Information on the band is scarce at best but, if you are a fan or are at least familiar with the 2005-era Swedish music onslaught from labels like Labrador, there is a high probability that some of these new tracks will be an enjoyable listen. Here goes...

MP3: The Wolves
MP3: The Thief (*especially recommended*)
MP3: The Cage
MP3: Not In Love
MP3: The Skeleton (*especially recommended*)
MP3: The Transformer
MP3: Kerze

The French Semester

First of all, we need to give a big thank you shout to those who are now visiting MML via proxy server from China! Very cool. Today's featured artist gave us an instant thought/memory of Sebadoh days upon first review but, after a few listens, we were almost certain at least one of the creative forces involved must be the proud owner of an old Strawberry Alarm Clock record... and yes this is a very good thing. The French Semester is a Los Angeles, California based indie rock quartet consisting of Riaz Tejani (vocals, guitar), Bryan Sullivan (vocals, percussion, keys), Gil Disloquez (bass) and Mark Bullivant (drums). The band's upcoming, full length release titled Open Letter To The Disappeared is currently available for pre-order through Germany based label Beyond Your Mind Records (BYMR Myspace) The next live performance will take place tonight at local Hollywood venue Relax Bar. Lovely to have another good Winter song to bring about the much needed warmth of Spring for those of us who endure seasonal climates... brrrrr.

MP3: Winter Song

*Bonus* Ok, so maybe I was not completely accurate with my comparison here... but the following is still one of my favorite songs/guilty pleasures of all time.

MP3: Strawberry Alarm Clock - Incense and Peppermints