Playing with Fire – The Royal Foundry and Secret From Richard

     The Royal Foundry is the wife-and-husband team of Jared and Bethany Salte. They are based in Sherman Park in Alberto, Canada. Musically, The Royal Foundry resides in the Folk Pop genre, with a douse of Electronic. “Start This Fire” is a good example.

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

Website: http://www.theroyalfoundry.com/

     Secret From Richard provides a second blogworthy song with a title that includes the word “fire.” This is a band from Attleborough, Norfolk (UK). Overall, the song “Feel My Fire” doesn’t channel Kings of Leon, but the vocals do share characteristics with the Followill brothers.

     The standout feature of “Feel My Fire” may be the guitar lick that is first heard at 1:11. The lick doesn’t undeniably have an Asian flavor to the degree of the starts of David Bowie’s “China Girl” or The Vapor’s “Turning Japanese.” But the guitar does have the taste.

     The members of Secret From Richard are Jesse Baker (drums, vocals), Jason Sturman (vocals, guitar), Shaun Banham (guitar), and Louis Baker (bass, vocals).

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

“Help” by Amy Milner – A Song Review

     Amy Milner has a voice that doesn’t need help. A higher than average level of vocal processing may be used to mask a lower than average level of vocal skill. The song “Help” relies on reverb and other processing techniques, but they accentuate the power and purity of Milner’s voice, rather than covering limitations.

     “Help” is a gentle, emotional plea set in words that show a maturity that is typically beyond the reach of a 21-year-old. “You say you don’t care; and there’s no reason to wear that armor everywhere. I want you to know me; to know me.” That verse is followed by the first of many reverb-packed, stand-alone cries of “Help.” Each cry of “Help” is worthy of attention. But it’s the section that begins at the 1:49 mark that reduces the listener to an inarticulate utterance of “Wow!” At 1:49 Amy Milner reveals her vocal strength.   

     According to the press materials from her label (Aesop):

  “Between her debut single "Have It All" and new single, "Help," Amy Milner is quickly proving her deftness for writing beautiful and gracefully executed ethereal pop. Written on the same piano she inherited from her Grandparents and took lessons on when she was 5 years old, Help’s dichotomy is one of power and vulnerability, a gentle calm of Amy’s voice as she seeks light through clarity underpinned by a distorted bridge that teeters on the edge of collapse.

  The confidence in Amy’s songwriting comes in large part from the security she takes in that childhood piano, 15 years spent exploring the ins and outs of every cracked key and squeaky pedal evokes its own connection to Amy that allows her to write with such classic intent.”

      “Help” by Amy Milner

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

“Water on Mars” by Fauna Twin – A Song Review

     “Water on Mars” is a dichotomy. It is both minimalistic and highly textured. It is haughty, yet uplifting. I't soothing and yet somewhat disturbing.

     The song is the first release from Fauna Twin, a duo with roots in France and Wales. The members are Claire Jacquemard (Paris) and Owain Ginsberg (Llanberis). Until “Water on Mars,” the duo was known as PANKHABILLI.

     At the start of “Water on Mars,” the focus is on Jacquemard’s vocals and an uncomplicated piano, with some shoegaze guitar almost hiding in the back. At the 0:40 mark, the piano temporarily makes way for percussion. Instrumental transitions regularly occur as the song progresses. But the transitions are seamlessly held together by the grandeur of the vocals.

     “Water on Mars” by Fauna Twin

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