Catching Up - First Blush and 8/7 Central

     SubmitHub is a site that allows artists to reach out to bloggers, video posters, and labels. There is a 48-hour time limit to respond to the artist. Sometimes, we don’t fully appreciate a song until after the the time has expired. Here are some examples of blogworthy submissions that deserve attention.

     Quoting content from the post on SubmitHub:

  "First Blush is the brainchild of Charles Sekel… First Blush's music centers around themes of depression and isolation, and the struggle to be optimistic while journeying through the darker corners of the psyche. Borrowing from sources as diverse as The Beach Boys and The Who to M83 and The Flaming Lips, First Blush melds its influences under a cloak of distorted and atmospheric textures."

     “Just Noise” by First Blush

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firstblushmusic

Website: http://firstblushmusic.com/

     Again quoting the submission from the band:

  “Our name is 8/7 Central; we’re a multi-national band currently based out of Brooklyn, NY. We are going to be releasing our debut EP this September in Berlin, Germany during our European tour to promote the record. We wanted to reach out to you guys and see if you’d want to back the single, 'Missile,' which was released on 8/7. Our sound has been described as a form of heavy new wave.”

     The members of 8/7 Central are Victor Crusner (guitar, vocals), Evan Banks (guitar), Stephen Kingslow (bass), and Florian Mewes (drums).

     “Missile” by 8/7 Central

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/87CentralMusic/

“Junk” by Vivienne Chi – A Song Review

     Our love for quirky percussion dates back to the introduction to the Flying Lizards’ cover of “Money.” The Flying Lizards used a “prepared piano” that included the London telephone book, an ashtray and other odd items resting on the piano strings. The piano took on aspects of the banjo. They also used a typewriter and a clattering snare (yes, a cluttered piano and a clattering drum).

     Near the start of the video for “Money,” a member of the Flying Lizards is shown using kitchen items (including a kettle) to provide the percussion. While it isn’t an accurate representative, it does provide a segue to “Junk” by Vivienne Chi. “Junk” does sound as if kitchen utensils were used. It’s both quirky and genius. It’s genius because the sound is first heard at the 0:46 mark, when Vivienne is asking what is hiding in your junkyard, a good place to find old kettles. And it’s genius because the sound of the kitchen kettles follows percussion that has the deep resonance of an orchestral kettle drum (aka timpani).

     A major difference between the two songs is that while “Money” uses spoken word vocalization, “Junk” is vocally lush, textured and varied. The lyrics are sometimes whispered and other times forcefully asserted. Vivienne explains that her song was inspired by a homeless person, who is always smiling and carrying herself well. “Junk” ponders who is free. “Maybe we’re missing something.”

     Vivienne Chi has relocated to London after living in Bristol and in Spain.  

     "Junk” by Vivienne Chi – A Song Review

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viviennechimusic/

Website: http://www.viviennechi.com/

     “Money” by The Flying Lizards 

“Slow to Reveal” by Instant Empire – A Song Review

     Launching a concept album has always been difficult. Now, getting the concept off the ground is approaching the impossible. In the 1960s and 1970s, music lovers would buy an album, drop the needle, and pay attention to each song. If the album was thematic and the songs were well written, the messaging was recognized. The Who had success with their Rock Operas (“Tommy” and “Quadrophenia”) and The Moody Blues were almost cult-like, until they announced to saddened followers, “We’re just singers in a Rock and Roll band.”  

     Today, most of us look for favorite songs from album releases and allow the other tracks on the albums to become disenfranchised. If an album has a continuing theme and communicates a concept, they are unrecognized. Indie Obsessive admits to being part of the problem and not the solution. We cheer for a return to the days of listening to entire albums, but continue to post only “favorite songs.”

     Instant Empire recently released a concept album – “Last of the Lovers.” Quoting material we received from a member of Instant Empire (Scotty Saunders):

  "'Last of  the Lovers’ is a relatively dark affair. But it’s punctuated, briefly, by moments of light  and  clarity.  It’s  an  album  which  struggles  with  the  relentless  march  of  time  but  is  consumed  with  finding  grace  and  beauty  in  life’s  tiny  moments. It’s desolate  yet  dense  all  the  same.  It’s  about  your  friends  and  lovers  drifting  away; the  distance  between  you  and  your  sun-bleached  childhood  memories; the emptiness and aftermath of  our addictions; the sadness of  watching the ones you love die; and our constant struggle against apathy."

     Instant Empire is in Denver, Colorado. The members are Scotty Saunders (vocals, lyrics), Sean Connaughty (guitar, keys), Lou Kucera (guitar, keys), Jacob Porter (bass), and Tristan Kelley (drums).

     “Slow to Reveal” by Instant Empire (Sheepishly, we are only posting our favorite song from the concept album.)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/instantempire/

Website: http://www.instantempireband.com/

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1266808142?ls=1&app=itunes

Lyrics of “Slow to Reveal” by Instant Empire

It’s true what they say - it’s all fun and games

Until it ain’t

The devil is real

He’s been walking with us since the apple peeled

He knows restraint and when to wait

He’s on the tip of the tongue, he’s in the nails that she paints

It’s true what they say - it’s all fun and games

Then it ain’t

The devil is real

He’s the perfect pitch in the hog’s slaughter squeal

He’s just slow to reveal himself

Whispers and sideways glances

Billboards of tongue-tied savages

Lemons sweating under the ruthless sun

Idiots smiling, having fun

Lemons sweating under the savage sun

Idiots smiling, having fun

Yeah, we’re having fun

Yeah, we’re having fun

It’s true what they say - it’s all fun and games

Until it ain’t

The devil is real

Hidden within, he is well-concealed

There’s a beast inside these city walls, evil lies where my shadow falls

It’s true what they say - it’s all fun and games

Then it ain’t

The devil is real

He’s in her hot, hot breath - he’s the revolver’s steel

He’s just slow to reveal himself

Whispers and sideways glances

Billboards of tongue-tied savages

Lemons sweating under the ruthless sun

Idiots smiling, having fun

Lemons sweating under the savage sun

Idiots smiling having fun

Yeah, we’re having fun

Yeah, we’re having fun

Yeah, we’re having fun

It’s true what they say - it’s all fun and games

Until it ain’t

The devil is real

He’s the blacklight in the neon night, too confused

He’s just slow to reveal himself